Tuesday 4 Spring

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

1. Many of my neighbors have chickens.  Have you ever raised them for fresh eggs or is the grocer your go to for them? Also.. would the sound of a neighbor having them bother you? 

I think our neighbor was raising them, but I have not heard anything for a while. Maybe she moved them to the other side of her yard. Our city is not zones for farm animals. The city next to is and all the streets have to have horse trails. Some of the Disney horses have been housed in Norco. If I lived in Norco and didn't have my physical issues, I would try it. 

2.  How does the change in seasons effect you personally? Are you happier in some seasons , do allergies get to you, do you perk up or down due to weather? 

I do love spring, but it does bother my allergies. I like mild summer days, but we are hot, 90+ from July - Oct. Our fall does not get here until the end of October. I enjoy fall and even winter. We don't get cold until January - 50/60's. day and 30/40's at night. We have mild winters compared to most of the country. It was beautiful today. Sunny, 74 and breezy and I got to work in the backyard. Getting ready to root some plumeria cutting and repot a tomato plant.

3.   This week our youngest family member is in France.  She will see Paris, Provence, the Riviera, all very exciting for a young teen.  Most of us don't ever do anything that big...but even the smallest things can have a big effect on us.  What experience do you think stands out most for you in your memory?

Since you mentioned the youngest member, I would say the trip I took to Mexico for 6 weeks the summer of 1971 after 10th grade. I went to Mexico City with a friend and her family because her sister was getting married. We went by car and it was a great learning experience for me. I took a novel with me to read. I think it was Nicolas and Alexandria by Robert K Massie.(The last of the Romanov Dynasty) 

I am not fluent in Spanish. I learned most of it in school and some from one of my grandparents. I was able to practice while I was there. We went to several beach cities where I first tried fresh shrimp and fish from the sea. We went to Guadalajara where we went shopping in a huge open air farmers market. I tried new foods, and I made new friends. We drove through Taxco, a well know silver city. We drove to Acapulco and saw the cliff divers. We got to stay one night at the Swimmers village from the 1968 Olympics. Each apartment had its own mini hot spa/pool. They had a great botanical garden there. I ate black beans instead of pinto beans. The family I stayed with were Christians and we had dinner together as a family and the grandma, the matriarch said the prayer. I just checked and it is 2280 miles from Los Angeles to Acapulco. It is a trip I will never forget. I did miss my family. My mom was so happy she bought me the Carole King Tapestry album to welcome me back. I still have that album!

All 4 of my trips to Hawaii have been so special! The first was in 2000. I went with my sister cousin and Aunt for a Christian Conference, and we had the best time. I went in 2009 with my husband for our 35 anniversary. We went in 2012 for my niece's wedding. My husband, dad and I spent a week in Oahu because dad wanted to go to Pearl Harbor and see the USS Missouri since he served in the Navy. Then we flew to Maui for the family wedding. The last time we were there was in 2018 and with our family and grands. God willing we will go one more time in 2026.

4.  What do you look forward to in each of the year's seasons? 

I love the Christmas season! This past January, we took a Mexican Riviera cruise out of Long Beach and it was great. Spring has been great so far. I have been enjoying tie in the backyard while the nights are cool and the mosquitoes from hell have not arrived yet. I have a few plumerias I have to transplant so I will do that this week. The weather will be cooling a bit this week. 

We haven't really made plans for the summer, but I do turn 70! We were supposed to go to Hawaii in the fall, but it has been postponed until next spring. Also depends on what losses we have from the crazy stock market and over all poor economy and how it effects our son's job. We will wait and see.

My Website is at Susan's Garden of Friendship The link is to the left. Lots of inspirational pages too. I hope to see you there!

Saturday 9: Vision of Love (1990)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) The lyrics refer to "sweet destiny." Do you believe in destiny? I believe that I am a child of God and He has a purpose for me. It may change through the years, but I feel He guides me and hopefully I stay on His course.

2) This week's artist, Mariah Carey, has something to fall back on. She studied cosmetology and worked as a hair sweeper in a salon. When you get your hair cut, do you socialize with the stylist? Normally I do, but it is hard to talk with a mask on. So I was in and out of there pretty quickly.
 
3) She isn't likely to turn to cosmetology any time soon. Mariah is currently on the best seller list with her autobiography, The Meaning of Mariah Carey. Was the last book you finished fiction or non-fiction? Biblical fiction, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, based on the Biblical book of Hosea.

4) So far, more than 800 people have reviewed Mariah's book on Amazon. Do you review products/services online? Yes I like to review products before I order them. I buy more thing on Etsy.

5) When she was a high school student, she was nicknamed "Mirage" because she skipped class so often. Did you ever play hooky? Only once.

6) Mariah doesn't apologize for spoiling her dogs, who have been known to travel by limo. Do you know anyone who treats their pets like people? We have a loved and spoiled dog. She is well cared for, but we don't take her everywhere with us. We have a special heart for doxies.

7) In 1990, the year this song was popular, Martina Navratilova won the Wimbledon Women's Singles Tournament. How's your tennis game? I haven't played since High School.

8) Also in 1990, Pope John Paul II toured Mexico. Have you ever visited our neighbor south of the border? I think we were there about 18 years ago. Our church rented a bus and we went to Puerto Nuevo to eat Lobster and shop. We got to see movies on the bus. I think one was Remember the Titans. Oh and I went on a 3 day cruise to Ensenada in 2004. 

In 1971, I went to Mexico City with a friend and her family because her sister was getting married. We went by car and it was a great learning experience for me. I took a novel with me to read. I think it was Nicolas and Alexandria by Robert K Massie.(The last of the Romanov Dynasty) 

I am not fluent in Spanish. I learned most of it in school and some from one of my grandparents. I was able to practice while I was there. We went to several beach cities where I first tried fresh shrimp and fish from the sea. We went to Guadalajara were we went shopping in a huge open air farmers market. I tried new foods and I made new friends. We drove through Taxco, a well know silver city. We drove to Acapulco and saw the cliff divers. We got to stay one night at the Swimmers village from the 1968 Olympics. Each apartment had its own mini hot spa/pool. They had a great botanical garden there. I ate black beans instead of pinto beans. The family I stayed with were Christians and we had dinner together as a family and the grandma, the matriarch said the prayer. I just checked and it is 2280 miles from Los Angeles to Acapulco. It is a trip I will never forget. I did miss my family. My mom was so happy she bought me the Carole King Tapestry album to welcome me back. I still have that album!

9) Random question(s): There are Gofundme campaigns for many purposes. Have you ever solicited funds online? Would you? I never have. I don't know if I would. Guess it depends. I have helped others. I don't want my kids to do that for us so we have already made the arrangements for our funerals and all expenses paid. They would just have to get food for the gathering. 

 It was almost 100 today. Will someone send their fall weather our way please.