“Remember, the entrance door to the sanctuary is inside you.”- Rumi

Established in 1868, Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) honors those who have died in military service for the United States. It’s a day of reflection and remembrance for their ultimate sacrifice. When I was little, my mom and dad would buy red poppies for us to wear, but I haven’t seen them in a long time. It’s also a three-day holiday and lots of tourists are here, but it’s still early and cloudy, so it’s not too crowded on the roads or the beach.

DIL asked for suggestions about flowers for a hanging basket near their front door. When I replied that I thought a fuchsia would be pretty, she snortlaughed and said, “Ring-ring-ring, 1980s calling, Grandma!” I had never before thought that a purple-pink fuchsia dated me as being OLD, haha. It was a great joke…UNTIL she saw mine, asked what it was, and I was able to identify this amazing creation as a…fuchsia!

Before it gets so hot and dry that everything dies a slow and painful death, here’s a few pics from the garden: The raspberries aren’t ready to eat, but oh so pretty cherry red. Still thriving; a decades old bottlebrush.

I read The Velveteen Rabbit to both Angels and I’m not sure they loved it as much as I did, but it did give us an opportunity to have a chat about my favorite part. T ran to his bedroom to find his dad’s teddy which now belongs to the…

On a Sunday stroll in the neighborhood… A May gray morning is the perfect weather for a walk. My hydrangea is blooming and yes, I know I could turn the flowers blue with the correct fertilizer, but I decided to allow them to retain their natural hue without intervention. At…

How does a three year old know me so well? Her mom purchased a bottle of perfume and it came with a fancy little cosmetic bag full of samples. Apparently, as the story was told to me, Angel Girl told Mom she had to “save the bag for Grandma” ‘cos “she loves stuff like that.” She was a thousand percent correct. I LOVE gifts with purchase because it’s like discovering a surprise treasure chest. How did she know?

I walked to the beach during a May gray morning and sat on top of my usual picnic table to overlook the Pacific Ocean, hoping to see a whale or some dolphins. I didn’t get lucky this time, but there was a crowded lineup of surfers out there and I…

My phone is too full of photos so I’ve done a complete Marie Kondo: delete, delete, delete. These are some great ones I thought I’d share before they’re gone forever… You can’t see them, but I DID. Eight, yes EIGHT orca whales! Leaping and breaching, one right after the other…