poppies

I've got Spring Fever, and I've got it bad.

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 01:26:00 +0000

1. Me, enjoying The Inn at Mavericks, Half Moon Bay, CA

2. Handsome surfer about to surf 40 ft waves, Mavericks, Half Moon Bay, CA

3. Seabird, Cayucos Beach, CA

4. Sunset from Pacific Avenue, Cayucos, CA

5. Searching for sea glass, Cayucos, CA

6. Mustard in bloom, Russian River Valley, CA

7. Winetasting, Dry Creek Valley, CA

8. New mascot at Artefact Design & Salvage, Sonoma, CA

9. Best brick oven pizza I've ever had at Diavola, Geyserville, CA

10. Great coffee and breakfast, Geyserville Mud, Geyserville, CA

11. Treasure for sale at Artefact Design & Salvage, Sonoma, CA

12. Great stuff at Vintage Home Collective, Geyserville, CA

Cat Got My Tongue?

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:19:00 +0000

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For the longest time now I've wanted to write, but something's up. I've got nothin. Nada. Zero. Zilch.

Today I submitted a Craigslist ad in 'Lost and Found' to see if anyone has found my voice. So far I've had no replies.

I've retraced my steps and the only clue I've found is this:

It appears to be a screenshot taken on or about January 1, 2012. Perhaps the pressure of eloquently writing some grand prose about the new year, new beginnings and all of that was too great and the voice went silent - maybe the voice just wasn't feeling it? Or, what if the voice had so much to say about the new year that it tried to get it all out at once and locked up?

I have no doubt the voice will return soon. When it does, I think I'll give it all the space it needs. If it wants to whisper, I'll let it whisper. And if it wants to roar, that'll be good, too.

Warmest Holiday Wishes from poppies

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 01:52:00 +0000

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noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 03:19:00 +0000

Happy

Thanksgiving

Yes, I know that the fowl above is not a turkey. Of course it is a chicken. I happen to be related to that chicken and her name is Pumpkin, which makes her appearance here on my Thanksgiving greeting very apropos. Now the little girl holding my grandchicken is very special indeed. That is Bailey, one of the loves of my life, and she has taken over my heart along with the others at the tippy-top of my Thankful List.

I wish you a Thanksgiving filled with love and laughter with family and friends. I only hope that I can control myself with the stuffing, or this girl is going to have to find herself some stretch pants. xoxo

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 02:33:00 +0000

made by heart.

Isn’t that just one of the nicest taglines you’ve ever heard? I’d like to say I came up with it myself, but I didn’t. I read it somewhere over the past week and have been trying to ~~steal it~~ remember where ever since. By definition, “by heart” means “by committing to memory” – as in “I can still recite by heart the first two stanzas of Paul Revere’s Ride that I learned in sixth grade” (I can). When I heard “made by heart” I thought it was such a sweet and honest depiction of a hand-crafter’s work.

For the last two days I’ve been working on lavender sachets for my Etsy shop. They’re lovely, the lavender scent is amazing and they’re a nice hostess gift for under $10. That’s well and good, but do you know why they’re made by heart?

The fabric is from Bella Notte, a US company where artisans craft and custom dye each fabric order using environmentally sustainable practices. When I found these embroidered linen remnants I almost passed out from excitement. This is my favorite fabric.

Each little rectangle of grain sack material was chosen to best complement the color of the sachet, and there was care in placement so the lovely embroidery could best be seen.

The thread used for the contrast stitching came on a beautiful old wooden spool. It was one of hundreds of spools I found in a big box at an estate sale. This dear woman left behind every color in the rainbow and I so wish I could have met her to thank her for this treasure.

The vintage button came out of a cigar box full of buttons my sweet friend Terrie gave me the first week I opened poppies. They are from her late grandmother.

I hope I'm not coming across like I'm tooting my own horn - this is what all hand-crafters do. And this is how your neighborhood shop owner thinks as well. Soon we will succumb to the whirlwind that is the Holiday season. Wouldn't it do us all good to think locally, consider the source of our gifts, and keep things more simple?

With Honor.

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:54:00 +0000

A big group hug to the men and women who are serving our country and to all of those who have served -

Thank you.

Wonder Where the Term "Nose to the Grindstone" Comes From.

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:22:00 +0000

Have you noticed I've been uncharacteristically quiet?

All of our staff members were talking about it today while busily sewing vintage grain sack pillows, herbal therapy wraps and eye pillows.

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hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

That just tickles my funny bone. poppies is just me, and I've been sewing so much, I look like this:

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Yes, those would be spools of seam binding hanging from my ears - very handy while I'm hand dying the gift ribbon! Crazy busy lady, indeed. Somehow I signed myself up for two Holiday craft fairs on the same day. Thanks to a few good friends, I'm covered, but I'm working like mad to build up inventory.

Yesterday was eye pillow and herbal therapy wrap day

Today I completed five new vintage grain sack pillow covers, but no photos yet. I'll be listing them on the website in the next few days.

Time to call it a night. Enjoy the full moon. ;-)

Boo.

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:35:00 +0000

Happy Halloween!

I wanted to thank everyone who played along with our Thirty Days of Pet Costumes on our Facebook page. Some of your comments were hysterical! I think it's safe to say that the two favorites were:

Joe the Plumber

and...

Cha cha cha Chia Dog!

Tonight I can't wait to hand out candy at my daughter's house while she and her Ninja and Princess go trick-or-treating. I think it goes something like "One for you, one for you, and one for me." I'll be in big trouble if there are any M&M's in sight!

My big question for the evening - will the Grandchickens dress up??

Have fun, and be safe!

And what is the link between pet costumes and cottage style living, you ask?

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:54:00 +0000

In case you've missed poppies' Facebook page, I've been running a series entitled Thirty Days of Pet Costumes to take us through to Halloween. I think the silliness started here, about a year ago

and more recently this one struck my funny bone.

While I posted this morning, it dawned on me that some might question why a woman with a cottage style accessories shop would choose this path. In fact, I said to myself, "Am I off target from my social media plan, displaying a dog in scuba gear instead of the latest grain sack pillow cover?" Well, after I stopped "laughing my a** off, rolling on the floor", I realized that this is an example of poppies' definition of the cottage style experience - it's simple, relaxed and comfortable, but also unconventional, a little quirky and usually one-of-a-kind. Steadfast rules don't work here. Some days you'll see something wonderful that I've just finished sewing, but it's more likely you'll see a pig in a leotard. (Actually, there is a pig in a leotard, here).

Today when I came across this photo of two penguins walking down the beach wearing little sweaters, I couldn't be more excited. They met the criteria: animals. in costume. adorbs. But then I continued to read the article and learned that these little guys were survivors of the 2011 New Zealand Oil Spill. When they were oil soaked, their sweaters prevented them from preening (and poisoning) themselves, and kept them warm before and after they were cleaned by cleanup workers.

There is a need for more sweaters and a worldwide call to knitters by Skeinz, a New Zealand yarn shop, to make them. I can't wait to start. If you knit, or know someone who does who would like to help out, the pattern and delivery instructions are here.

I believe the one in the orange sweater is giving a "high five". xoxo

Mantra for Today

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 20:36:00 +0000

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Have fun this weekend!

iHonor Steve

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:56:00 +0000

Yesterday we lost a great visionary, and the internet has seen a huge outpouring of sadness and sympathy over the death of Steve Jobs. The heart and soul of Apple, yes, but to me Steve epitomized the idea that one person can make a profound difference. Following is my small tribute to this bigger-than-life man who has inspired me to take more risks, dares me to follow my curiosities and by his example has stirred in me the need to find my intuition and learn to trust it. Quotes from Steve Jobs, photos from my Pinterest board Black, White and Sepia.

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"When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: 'If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.' It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something."

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"Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

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“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.”

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"You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

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“I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.”

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"That's been one of my mantras -- focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains."

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“We don’t get a chance to do that many things, and every one should be really excellent. Because this is our life. Life is brief, and then you die, you know? And we’ve all chosen to do this with our lives. So it better be damn good. It better be worth it.”

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"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything -- all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important."

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"You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers."

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"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true."

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"On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself."

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"It’s more fun to be a pirate than to join the navy.”

R.I.P. Steve

Calgon, Take Me Away!

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 02:42:00 +0000

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I was going to entitle this blog post "Wanderlust", but the definition "very strong or irresistible impulse to travel" didn't quite define the feeling. Then I thought maybe "Escape"would do, but "remove oneself from a familiar environment, usually for pleasure or diversion" seemed really narcissistic and that's not where this is coming from either. And then I remembered the commercial long ago where the woman slipped into the tub, closed her eyes, and the Calgon bubbles took her to her happy place. Yep, that's more like it.

Every so often in this woman's life the need to "fly the coop" (forgive me, Grandchickens) arises. This feeling isn't loud and aggressive, it's really just a small tug. Small like a little pebble in your shoe. That persists. Until it drives you crazy. I see it as a little voice telling me it's time to stop and take good care, and I've learned over the years to heed the message. So off I go for a week or so to recharge, to reintroduce myself to nature and to replace the keyboard with paper and a pencil.

With this spirit I share from my Pinterest boards "Take me Away" and "Dreamy":

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Hope you've enjoyed. I'll see you next week!

When the Moon Hits Your Eye Like A...

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 21:38:00 +0000

What a difference a week makes!! Just after I whined about not having any ripe tomatoes, they all started turning at once. I heard that beautiful heirlooms are $1.99 a pound at Whole Foods Markets today, but if you're in my area, come on over. We'll have more than we know what to do with in the next few days!

The beauties in the back are the San Marzano variety. I'll be cutting each in half and putting them on a parchment lined baking sheet, sprinkling them with sea salt and a bit of olive oil and roasting them in a slow oven for about 6 hours. They are very meaty with few seeds, and they melt in your mouth when cooked this way. I actually freeze them and use them all year.

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I just had a Caprese salad for lunch and will be having my favorite - Greek salad - for dinner.

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This weekend I'm going to see if I can find a pizza sauce recipe (do you have one?) and maybe try grilling a pizza margherita. Yum!

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I have to admit, I'm now ready for autumn...you really can feel a bit of crispness in the air and pretty colored leaves are just beginning to line our streets. Doesn't it inspire you to start cooking? In keeping with the theme, this week's Pinterest share is from my "Foodie" board. Enjoy!

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What will you be cooking this weekend?

Can a Cobbler Fix Flip Flops?

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 22:58:00 +0000

I truly hope so, because I broke my favorite black Havaianas yesterday! A cottage style girl cannot go without her flip flops, so I'm going to challenge my local shoe repairman Misak (everybody thinks his name is Tony because he bought Tony's from Tony years ago and promised not to change the name) to glue them back together. I'll keep you posted. By the way, refusing to let summer go seems to be working - it looks like we're going to have lots of ripe tomatoes this weekend!!!! So happy.

This week's Pinterest share is from my Loving Life board - hope you enjoy it. Coincidence that most of the photos depict summertime? I think not.

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Have a great weekend! ;-)

It's not over until the fat tomato sings.

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 20:51:00 +0000

I don't want to sound like Debbie Downer, but I will go mad if I hear the term "end of summer" one more time. I'm not ready. This would be why.

This is the bounty from my tomato patch. Year-to-date. This one tomato. It was picked yesterday.

Better perspective. A dinner party this does not make.

This was one day's harvest from last year's garden. One day's.

Bon Apetit.

I still have tomato and avocado salads to make,

Caprese salads to share.

I'd like to make sauce.

I've been working on this for a very long time. I'm emotionally invested.

And we're close...

...very close.

So the brakes are on, and the flip flops stay out. I will be wearing white after Labor Day and cannot be persuaded to look at a fall sweater (sorry, Ronnie). Summer is hereby extended until I find at least one big fat red juicy ripe tomato in my garden and I've had my fill of Greek salad and BLT's.

Who's with me?

Pink, Turquoise and Oregano Loving Bees

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 02:24:00 +0000

{As a follow-up to The Great Sunflower Project,

I counted one lonely bee on my sunflowers

during the 30 minutes.

I did, however, observe three happy bees

on my flowering herbs.

They like oregano very much.}

And as a follow-up to my addiction with Pinterest, I have been able to contain myself by only Pinning once a day after lunch. These are from my board 'Pink and Turquoise' . Lately I can't get enough of these colors, especially when they're together.

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So there you have it. I've never given very much thought to photography before, but the more I look through these and play with Pinterest, the more intrigued I am to become a student of the craft.

Hope you have a beautiful weekend. And I sincerely hope our neighbors to the east are spared and kept safe.

I'm Hunting for Bees! The Great Sunflower Project

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 03:02:00 +0000

It seems as though everything in my garden has gone a bit haywire...our corn is 10 feet tall and I kid you not, our tomato plants are over 6 feet! We have tons of green tomatoes and are just hoping that we'll get our late warm summer days in September and they'll ripen.

It's taken forever, but my sunflowers have finally bloomed! And just in time - tomorrow is The Return of The Great Bee Count! This is my second year participating in The Great Sunflower Project, a study put on by San Francisco State University. Started in 2008, the project has enlisted people from all over the world to observe their bees on Lemon Queen sunflowers, with seeds provided by Renee's Garden. Because it's been found that both honey bee and native bee populations are in trouble, this project was started as a way to gather information about our urban, suburban and rural bee populations.

Here's how it works. I will sit in a comfy chair with a notepad in my lap and for 30 minutes I will watch. my. sunflower. And I will carefully take notes. I will count bees. I know this sounds simple, but as I tend to do, I stress out about doing it right. My instructions seem simple: as a bee lands, I note the time, then keep an eye on him because I also need to note what time he leaves. Perhaps you can understand how complications can arise when a second and third bee arrive, my cat jumps on my lap and the phone rings.

I am told that I should see a bee pollinate about every 2.6 minutes. If I do a count and see more than 3 bees in 15 minutes, my garden is doing better than average (I will be so proud). If I see fewer than 3 bees in 15 minutes it will mean that my garden has "low pollinator service" (how embarrassing). All kidding aside, according to the study over 20% of the gardeners in last year's count never saw a bee! That's not good. So wish me luck, and if you'd like to participate next year, you can join in here.

Seasonal Garden Party

Turn That Frown Upside Down

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 22:42:00 +0000

I've gotten myself into a bit of a frenzy from hearing so many dark and gloomy headlines this week. One of the downsides of being a member of the super-sensitive society is that I hold all of this stuff in until I'm ready to burst. So I'm off to the gym to release some steam - Week 1, Day 3 of my new running program - I'm using this Couch to 5K app to get me going again after not running for gulp...15 years. So far so good. The super easy format prompts you verbally when it's time to warm up, run and walk, kind of like having a personal trainer by your side for 30 minutes.

I just looked through my Pinterest board "Makes Me Happy" to help me lighten up a bit as well. Thought I'd share some of my favorites.

image source

Incidentally, my current running style is pretty much like that of the baby chick above...Happy Friday everyone, and I hope you have a terrific weekend.

It Starts With a "P", Ends With a "T", and I Think I'm Addicted.

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:09:00 +0000

It's Pinterest. This inspiration site has got me - hook, line and sinker. If you're not familiar, here's the bio from their FAQ page:

"Think of Pinterest as a virtual pinboard - a place where you can create collections of things you love and "follow" collections created by people with great taste. We know you have great taste in something. Our mission is to make Pinterest the best place for you to share your taste with the world."

Once a member of Pinterest, you create your collections (called "boards") and "pin" photos and ideas that you find stirring to the appropriate board. You can follow others and they can follow you, you can leave a comment on pins, "like" them, repin them, or simply scroll through and enjoy.

Not only is it fun to see other Pinners' choices, but I also get lost in the boards I've put together for myself. It's similar to pulling out a book that draws you in with its beauty - be it on decorating, photography or whatever else moves you. For me, it is nature and the simple cottage style of living.

I want to share some of my pins with you. Below each pin is the name of the board from which it came. Do any of these resonate with you, too?

{poppies}

{lovely cottage style}

{black, white or sepia}

{makes me happy}

{pink and turquoise}

{dreamy}

{beauty in nature}

{my style}

If you'd like to get started on your own Pinterest account, email me and I'll send you an invite (the quickest way to get started). If you're already there, check out my boards here. Perhaps we'll follow each other?

I need a bigger bucket.

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:31:00 +0000

Bucket list (buck·et list)

noun

informal

a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during his or her lifetime

: An Outstanding in the Field farm dinner is at the top of my bucket list

Two nights ago I checked an item off of my bucket list. I've dreamt of going to a farm dinner hosted by Outstanding in the Field, and my wish came true on Tuesday night. I’m bursting and must share.

First, a little history. Jim Denevan, the founder of Outstanding in the Field (OITF) brings diners to their food by way of an 80-foot-long dinner table that is set up in a field, ranch, dairy, vineyard or community garden. These delicious alfresco meals reconnect us to our local land and to the farmers and food artisans who tend it. The ingredients come directly from the fields in which the great table sits and the individuals who work so hard to cultivate them share equal billing with the guest chef, and sit shoulder to shoulder with the guests.

As we entered the beautiful grounds of Tres Sobores, we were greeted by one of the many happy staff members of OITF. Imagine yourself arriving at a famiy reunion and having your cousin come out to greet you…yep, they’re that friendly. The young man explained that we would first gather in the olive grove, and to get there we were to walk between the rows of grapevines and make a left.

We were offered a glass of Tres Sobores’ Por que no? wine, a delicious red blend, or a Gin-arita made with organic pomegranates from the property. I, um, had both. A few delicious hors de’oeuvres were passed and each picnic table had a beautiful salumi tray.

We were then welcomed by Jim and Leah of OITF and the property owner, Julie. Under the shade of the olive trees, a glass of wine in hand, you could feel the comraderie beginning to develop among the guests. We all could sense we were in for something very special.

As is tradition at these farm dinners, we walked the property of Tres Sobores. Julie told us of its history and we learned much about the different grapes they’re growing and of the 100% organic methods they use. We were introduced to their lambs and guinea hens, (otherwise known as “dinner”), and we picked and ate ripe strawberries from the organic garden, still warm from the sun.

In keeping with tradition we were then led to the long stretch of table with its white tablecloths, framed along its curve with grapevines, and topped with twinkling wine glasses. If it wasn’t apparent before that Jim and his crew have been doing this since 1999, it was now – the string of chairs gently curving along the tableside were perfectly in line. This was such a magical sight, and I saw a sparkle in Jim's eye as we all got our first look.

We were invited to pick any seat and each of us had our own dinner plate from home in hand…another wonderful tradition upheld. As Jim states in his farm to table cookbook, “The dozens of individual plates set down the length of the table effect an incredibly striking visual testament to the diverse community we create every time we set up that table. “

Dinner was served family style starting with huge grilled Baja scallops. Big bowls of salad with farm fresh vegetables and fingerling potatoes were brought out followed by heavy trays of spit-roasted lamb and guinea hen married with a moro bean and chard ragout. We finished up with sweet and tender peaches and cherries topped with crème fraiche. All of these courses were perfectly paired with Julie’s wines, and during the dinner we met many of the growers who provided their part of this generous feast.

On this beautiful day in this glorious spot of heaven called Tres Sabores, dozens of strangers gathered together in the late afternoon, came together to enjoy the fruits of the land and the labor of the chef and growers, and left as kindred spirits.

Although I’ve crossed this incredible experience off of my bucket list, I'm adding another one right back on – I have the burning desire to experience another dinner with Jim and his crew at a Secret Sea Cove location somewhere here along our California coast. Perhaps next year. And if you find yourself at one of the 68 remaining farm dinners this season (there's a very good chance there's one near you), please tell Jim and Leah I say hi.

Mom and Merry-Go-Rounds

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Sat, 07 May 2011 22:55:00 +0000

You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back.

~William D. Tammeus

My mom was always the one jumping up and down waving both arms...every time around.

Happy Mother's Day

to all the moms

who do silly things

to show their love.

"Never iron a four-leaf clover, because you don't want to press your luck". ~Author Unknown

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:59:00 +0000

May the road rise up to meet you,

may the wind be ever at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face

and the rain fall softly on your fields.

And until we meet again,

may God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

All photos from my visit in 2006 - where the land is greener than green, and the locals treat you like an old neighbor. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Gratitude. Right now.

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 19:43:00 +0000

As an update to my last post: no, the San Francisco area didn’t receive snow. Websites devoted to the possibility of flurries were created, people were on the ready with makeshift sleds, but it was a no show (no snow).

Today we woke up to tsunami warnings.

My heart is breaking thinking of what the people in Japan are experiencing right now. This thing hit at about 2:45 in the afternoon local time. The last I saw on the news, it is the middle of the night and near standstill for the folks trying to get out of Tokyo to get to their loved ones. Those being interviewed are still trembling from the sheer intensity of what they experienced. 8.9 is mind-boggling.

We experienced the 7.1 magnitude Loma Prieta quake in 1989. It was scary and it was strong. There was a lot of damage in the town of Los Gatos where I lived at the time. To comprehend the intensity of an 8.9 magnitude, I just had to Google “Richter Scale for Kids “ to understand. There it explains, “The Richter scale grows by powers of 10. An increase of 1 point means the strength of a quake is 10 time greater than the level before it. Here's how it works: An earthquake registering 2.0 on the Richter scale is 10 times stronger than a quake registering 1.0. A quake registering 3.0 is 10 X 10 or 100 times stronger than a quake registering 1.0 A 4.0 is 10 X 10 X 10 or 1,000 times greater than 1.0 and so on.” So is my math correct – 8.9 is almost 100 times greater than 7.1? Unimaginable.

The California coast is a “couple of cycles”, or series of waves, into the tsunami. My favorite beach communities are experiencing damage. The harbor has been destroyed in Crescent City, a town up north. Road closures are in effect. High tide will hit this afternoon.

I know. I tend to be an alarmist. I tend to become riveted in front of the TV or computer listening to the latest feed from CNN. My bad.

But here’s the thing. This is the time to send a huge collective bubble of love to the people in Japan still reeling in fear. And more importantly, and closer to home, it’s another very real reminder to be grateful. So very grateful for this beautiful day we’ve woken up to. Tell your loved ones how much you love them. Smile at a stranger. Try to make someone’s day a little better today.

Peace.

Hmm. Watch the Oscars or Go Sledding at Twin Peaks?

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 02:09:00 +0000

This is what’s happening in my neck of the woods:

Snow in San Francisco? I suppose that is website- and Twitter-worthy. After all, it hasn’t snowed here for 35 years – not since February 5, 1976 to be exact. So while waiting to see just what happens when the unsettled cold air mass from the Gulf of Alaska arrives, a little helper and I went around my cottage to see what was blooming.

Bailey, my little helper

The hellebores are always the first ones to delight. Just when I start to get antsy about getting out in the garden I can count on these to brighten up the grey days - and these are super easy to care for.

I only have two varieties but will probably add more to my garden since they are so easy – even in shady spots. I like them best in hanging baskets, since their flowers tend to hang down and you can enjoy them better this way.

blurred photo taken by little helper while giggling
I just discovered clivias several years ago and planted quite a few. They thrive in full shade and put on the prettiest show in early spring.

I love when these little pansies drop seeds during the summer and surprise me with new plants in the spring.

Here are my favorites: wild violets. They arrive before all of my annuals wake up, creating a bed of pretty color. As everything else grows back around them all spring and summer, they gently fade away, dropping plenty of seed to ensure another show next year.

Hope you’ve enjoyed this little ‘walkabout’. Wherever you are, it won’t be long until you see little signs of spring, too. As I typed this last sentence, little beads of hail were falling through bright sunshine. I’m looking forward to a weird and wonderful Oscar weekend - enjoy yours, too!

Marathon Training with Roger

noreply@blogger.com (poppies) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 03:57:00 +0000

You may have noticed that I haven’t blogged for a while. Yep, you guessed it - again I’ve been stuck. I learned from one of the best out there that it takes a good six months to find your voice as a new blogger. I suppose you have to write during that six months, not just wait for your half-year benchmark? So write I will, especially since my sweet friend Amy from Verde Farm in West Virginia has given me the gentle nudge. This is where the magic of blogging comes in – the amazing and supportive friends you meet along the way. If you haven’t met Amy, read about her farm and country living journey here. Thank you, my blog Angel.

This morning I took a beautiful hill walk in my Mill Valley neighborhood, Day 2 of my new fitness regime. Without going into great detail about the length of time it’s been since my last workout, suffice it to say I’ll be ready for my next marathon right around the time I win the Pulitzer for my blog. Yes, I’ve been stuck in this aspect of my life as well, but I go forward with great optimism!

With each step onward and upward, the endorphins started kicking in, and I realized as I continued on the hike signs of spring were everywhere – daffodils are blooming and fruit trees are blossoming! As I became lost in thoughts of starting seeds for my spring garden, I came upon this:

Now I suppose I should tell you right off that I need glasses for distance and never wear them. When I saw this up the road I was sure that this dog was in distress, stuck and struggling for his life. The rock wall is almost six feet tall, and you can tell by the dog’s expression that he was near death, probably hanging there overnight. He was weak and unable to bark or wiggle his way free….right?

As I went for my cell phone to call for help, two lovely ladies rounded the bend and promptly called out, “Good Morning, Roger!”

It turns out that this Roger wasn’t stuck, hanging or near death.

It turns out this Roger is vertically challenged and this is his perch. And this dog spends his e-n-t-i-r-e day here greeting every passerby.

The ladies tell me he is famous. People are known to stop their cars here to say hello.

I discovered that Roger likes a good scratch.

Roger and I became fast friends and we made a deal. I would come by each day and give him a head massage, and he …uh, hmm. Actually he didn’t commit to anything. But I think he’ll be looking for me, and I guess that’s a good way to keep me honest and on track. Good Dog, Roger.