3/8/18

What Just Happened?

For the past couple of days, Mike has been spending his time repairing a propane leak on the RV. Initially, he thought it was one the propane cylinders, or the fittings, or the valves. It was a process of experimentation and elimination, until he finally narrowed it down to the final culprit, a fitting on our generator. After multiple trips to the hardware store, he was able to get it fixed yesterday afternoon. He really is pretty amazing when it comes to fixing things. It's one of the reasons I married him. My dad was the same way. He's really nothing like my dad in other ways, but in this one important capacity, they are alike.

So my job has been to keep myself occupied, and there's been precious little to do...at least on my own...since we got here. I've been keeping myself occupied walking around a lot and trying to get back into the 10k step groove.

OMG...not another post about walking. Wake me when it's over.


I'm with you, Smitty. Yawn.


With Mike busy and me out walking, I've had a song going through my head. If you were born during the 14th Century, you might recognize it:

What are you doing the rest of your life
North and South and 
East and West of your life

And given all the traveling we've done in the past seven months, it's kind of appropriate with all those directional lyrics. But, truly, when you think about it, this trip has occupied our minds for at least the past year. And now we're here in Hemet, and the trip is in the rear view mirror, and I'm kind of wondering what's next. Sitting here for the next month will give us some time to think about it. We spend quite a bit of time going over all the places we've been and trying to remember the things we've already forgotten. I'm just glad I wrote it all down.

When we get home, there will be plenty to do...the CSA will be starting up again. We're splitting a share with Erik and Mae this coming season. There will be canning and bread baking and life will settle in. For the next month, however, I'm needing a bit of a plan. With that in mind, I was very brave out on my walk yesterday. I stopped in at the "E" Room where the "Golden Thimbles" group was meeting. As I approached the open door, I heard raucous laughter, and that seemed like a good sign. It really amounts to the RV park opening up a room and folks can show up with whatever kind of needlework they want to. The group meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1-4. There's also a group called "Crochet Time" that meets at the same time on Thursdays. That group is devoted mainly to hand sewing of any kind. So, maybe I'll take my embroidery with me today and join in. I would have taken their pictures, but that seemed a little weird, so I walked off and took a picture of the room from across the volleyball courts.


Look closely through the windows, and you can even see some of the ladies in there. If it would have seemed weird to take their picture while standing in the room, does it seem even weirder to walk far away and take a picture from there? Please don't answer.

Okay, so what else did I see on my walks? Of course, there were blooming things...I am totally loving the flowers. I can't identify all of them, but chime in if you know something.





Snapdragons, of course.


This one I know. This is bottle brush, or callistemon if you're inclined to use snotty botanical names for things.


This one is actually very close to our space in the park. I didn't recognize it right away.


But then I started looking at the rest of the tree...holy sh*t! It's a lime tree! And here we are buying limes for margaritas (not on our diet). This one happens to be in an unoccupied space, so we figure the limes are up for grabs.


Also...living things in the form of birds...pretty sure this is an Annas hummingbird. We have them in Oregon too.


And this guy was just singing his guts out. It's a Northern Mockingbird. There were quite a few along the way, singing to beat the band.


I didn't see this guy on my first walk around, but when I came through again, it was high up in the same tree where I'd seen it the day before. It's unlikely I'm going to get a very good picture of him. He's up too high. The best I'll be able to do is to catch him in flight, and that's pretty unlikely.


There's also some clever yard art around. No sign of the basset.


How about this one?


This one made me think of the dolls I purchased while we were traveling. It's going to be like Christmas when I get home and open all the boxes of fabric and souvenirs I sent to myself.


These birds are made from gardening implements.


Some cute wind chimes. I love a good wind chime.



And I love a good bird house too.


This one's for you, Padsworth.


When in wine country...


and living with other travelers...


Finally, I saved the best for last. There are bunnies running around the park. I saw three different ones yesterday. Or, possibly they're the same bunny and he just runs really fast.




Squee!

So I'm thinking now that Mike is finished with his repairs, we'll have more time to visit the pool together. I know he's wanting to play some volleyball. There's a visit to Temecula Quilt Company in my future, and I think I'll pick up some fabrics to make a St. Patrick's Day table topper I saw online. Not sure what's on the agenda for today, but maybe I'll be brave and head down to sew with some of the women.

15 comments:

Quilting Tangent said...

Fun walking along with you. I will be shovelling out.

Linda M @ Pieceful Kingdom said...

It looks wonderful there in Hemet. I was very hesitant to join our quilt guild, then once I finally did it took me about 2-1/2 years to go to one of the "Bees". It was such a great thing for me. I could stay home 24/7 and not mind it. But going to Bee every week has brought some new friends into my life and it's pretty fun to just sit around doing some hand work and chatter. I hope you at least check it out and I hope you have fun!

Charlotte M. said...

Be brave, go and sew. If it isn't your thing, you don't have to go back, but you might meet some nice folks.

Alice said...

It looks like you actually found quite a bit to amuse yourself. Love all the flowers. Last time I saw bottle brush, we were in Australia. The white and purple irises are gorgeous too. Have fun sewing with the group. Laughing is always a good sign!

Karen said...

Who chipped that bunnys ear bite?
Goodness. Poor Thing.

Unknown said...

Better picture of the Hawk's tail - rounded on the end - definitely a Cooper's Hawk. Also bunny picture 1 and 3 are same bunny - see the big chuck taken out of his ear. The males fight terribly.
It's probably a bit of a let down from all the excitement of everyday a new adventure to be in one place now. I remember as a kid traveling from one end of the US to the other when my father was transferred and just loving each new moving on day. I bet you felt that way to when your father was transferred. We always stopped at all the "sights". It was just so much exciting and interesting fun. We were stationed 7 years in Texas at both the Air bases in Lubbock and Amarillo. Parts of your trip brought back some happy memories.

crazy quilter said...

This looks like a fabulous place. Be brave and go sew with the ladies, it will be fun to find out how far everyone has traveled. In Texas we call those birds made from garden tools, wait for it....Yard Birds! Lol keep on having fun.

WoolenSails said...

Looks like the park is a nice place to go for walks and everything is blooming. We got snow again, have had enough. I see at least two bunnies, one has a missing ear piece, the other has normal ears. I see there are a nice variety of birds in the area too.

Debbie

thatfabricfeeling.wordpress.com said...

I live in NJ and we just got several inches of snow, which is pretty, but overrated after a long winter. I grew up in L.A. and actually just came back from visiting my parents and siblings there. I adore the greenery, flowers and wildlife that you've shown. Don't get me wrong, I love living where I do...but only if I can visit California every few months or so to get my sunshine fix! Thanks for letting me live vicariously thru your gorgeous photo shots!!

piecefulwendy said...

I have to admit, I'm feeling kinda sad that your trip will soon be done, but I know you and Mike will find new fun things to do, and what incredible memories you have from this trip! Your states must almost be all filled in now, right? I do hope you pop in and sew with the ladies; I agree with the earlier comment that you don't have to go back if you don't enjoy it. If anything, it will give you some good stories to tell Mike! Thanks for the pics of the beautiful flowers. Nothing but snow here; so ready for Spring!

quiltzyx said...

More pretty flowers! I feel like I should be able to tell you what they all are, working for landscapers. But I don't usually see what the look like, I'm only typing the names!
Fun yard art & love the bunnies. MaryAnn has some ceramic bunnies in the ceramics shop. I've thought of painting one, but I know that I would want it to look REAL, like your photos, and don't think I have the skills for that! Oh well, I could always make a white bunny....LOL

Junebug613 said...

Oh I love the bunnies! Sometimes it's hard to decide whether to go sit with a bunch of strangers, but sometimes it's entertaining and fun you should definitely do it. If not you don't have to go back and you can always leave if you are uncomfortable. That Mike really is a handy guy isn't he? Smitty and Sadie won't know what to do when they get home.

Karen said...

I went back through to gaze at the flowers again. Sigh.
And thank you very much for the humming birds .
We won't see hummers for two months yet. Bigger sigh

Angie in SoCal said...

You're out in my neck of the woods now. I live in Riverside.
My mom lives in Temecula so we're down there quite often. When I first went to the shop, I wasn't into Reproduction fabrics, but now it's my go to place for tiny prints.

I enjoyed your walk.

Brown Family said...

We call those bunnies Cotton tails. We have then in our neighborhood. The Best thing I did was join a hand sewing group. We mee5 twice a month and rotate houses. With 11 of us, we only have to hostbtwice a year. 5he hostess provides lunch. We play Farkle and have avgrea5 time. Joining strangers migh5 bebhara, but after a couple of times it 2ill get easier