New Laptop and Monitor

I just got a new laptop and monitor, which I LOVE, but I need to learn my way around them. I also got a new version of Photoshop (my old version was 13 years old!) so I have a bit of a learning curve to master. Hopefully I can load a photo here….

This is one of my favorite photos from our Alaska trip. It’s actually my screen saver right now. Glacier Bay.

Great weekend, everyone!

(carole)

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The Sunset Wasn’t a Total Bust

We dropped by the beach last night because I saw some nice clouds that could make for a good sunset.

But first, my favorite Sea Lavender….

It looks especially good this year because of all the rain.

The sunset itself wasn’t that great….

That dark object is a pelican, one of many that fly over the beach.

But the clouds make such a lovely pattern. And that’s another pelican.

I also liked the way the sun was making the clouds turn pink behind this Mexican Fan Palm.

Great weekend, everyone! And Happy Cinco de Mayo!

{carole}

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Revisiting Temecula

We had not been to Temecula since before the Pandemic, so spent a sunny Saturday up there. So many new shops….

I love this display of succulents.

Another view.

There was a very cool store selling stuff from Provence, like these tablecloths.

I found this pretty amusing.

Great weekend, everyone!

{carole}

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Camouflaged

Our cat Yuri likes to sleep on a chair in our bedroom that has a fake-fur throw on it. It’s sometimes hard to see him there because he blends in so well!

A rare photo of Yuri looking straight at the camera. Usually he turns his head as soon as he sees it.

Great weekend, everyone!

{carole}

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I’m reposting this photo I took back in 2009 during the St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City. I think he just epitomizes the day, don’t you?

Great weekend, everyone!

{carole}

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Two Different Sunsets

As you may have seen on the news, California has been having very unusual weather (one newscaster called it “historic.”) It’s been unseasonably cold–down to the 30s F., and very rainy. The good news is that the drought may be over. California also has the most snow in North America! Kinda’ crazy.

Anyway, while the weather has been strange, I managed to shoot two sunsets.

I don’t remember ever seeing so much lavender in a sunset.

After this shot, we had hail and very strong winds. Usually spring starts in February, but not this year. That’s OK.

Great weekend, everyone!

{carole}

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More than Neighbors

I haven’t been taking many photos lately, so thought I’d serve up some prose for a change. I’m sorry, it’s kind of long.

Recently, I watched a highly-rated Korean drama called Reply 1988. It wasn’t until almost the end of the series that it hit me: I’d experienced a lot of the same things. My husband was surprised that I didn’t notice. I guess I got caught up in the story? Anyway, the drama was about families who lived in the same neighborhood and how close they were.

In my experience, there were two families besides mine who did everything together. One family lived next door and the other was across the street. We went freely into one another’s houses. The mom next door (I’ll call her “B”) would just walk in our back door to announce an incoming storm or to bring beautiful gladiolas from her garden. Freshly baked goods too. (She made the absolute best cinnamon rolls.)

Our families spent nearly every holiday together. On the 4th of July the family across the street had a picnic. That mom (“R”) was a fabulous Italian cook who made the best pizza I’ve ever had. At Christmas she would invite all of us over for coffee and dessert. We had frequent picnics together and the food was always so good.

In addition to holidays, we celebrated birthdays and anniversaries. R made a beautiful cake for my parents’ 25th wedding anniversary.

The six adults had a weekly ritual that lasted for decades: every Saturday afternoon, usually around 3 p.m., they had coffee and dessert and great conversation. If it was at my house, I’d listen in. I learned so much from these convos because our neighbors were so decent, so honest and so kind. I knew I could count on them for anything.

One of my earliest memories is of going across the street and just sitting in the family room while R ironed and watched her favorite soap opera. I felt so safe there, so comforted. It sounds incredible, but every time R saw me, her face lit up with the most beautiful smile. Every. Single. Time. She gave the best hugs too. Whenever I got home from college I’d run over to R’s house and we’d spend hours talking about everything. I didn’t have the best relationship with my own mother, so this unconditional love meant a lot.

B was such a fun mom. She’d load all of us (she had four daughters who are still my friends) into her station wagon and regale us with funny stories. She was kind of the definition of “madcap,” but in the best possible way. We’d go to the pool or she’d drop us off at the movies. B was so generous and was up for anything.

Our family never used a taxi or airport shuttle. It was always one of the neighbors who volunteered, no matter what time of day. One time we landed in the middle of a blizzard and they still showed up. When we returned from vacations, someone from one of the families came running to greet us. I miss that.

R’s husband J took a lot of home movies. We had fun watching them because he’d put the projector in reverse making everybody walk backwards. We laughed at all the funny hairdos (Mom cut my bangs ridiculously short) and clothing. R is gone now, and so are B and her husband RT. It would be impossible to watch those home movies now without crying.

B’s husband RT was the quiet one in the group, but so intelligent and kind. He always teased me, but in the sweetest way, and always with a twinkle in his eye. A true gentleman, like my dad and J. It’s kind of funny, most kids wouldn’t want two extra sets of parents, but I loved having them. Only J is remaining, and we are still in touch, although he lives in another state. It is always good to hear his voice. [I’m so sad to write that J was put on hospice and passed away just last week. It’s almost like losing my parents again.]

J was very handsome (kind of a cross between Gregory Peck and Rock Hudson) and funny as all get-out. He was a great storyteller too. J had such a quiet dignity about him. He also teased me by calling me “Miss (my mom’s maiden name”) and I would say that’s not my name and he’d laugh. He was also one of the most generous men I’ve ever met.

When our relatives would visit they were always kind of astonished that we had that closeness with our neighbors. They didn’t have it, which surprised me. This was the norm for us.

It’s kind of extraordinary that three families got along so well. I never heard a harsh word from the parents, and I was friends with all the kids except the ones who were much younger. What’s really cool is that all of us “kids” (except my brother, who was too ill to travel) went on a cruise of the Eastern Caribbean. We had such a great time! I loved spending time with the younger ones who had become such wonderful people.

R’s son was closer to my age, so we hung out a lot. We never had a cross word, which is pretty cool. B’s daughter S has been a dear friend for decades. I could see her bedroom windows while I was at the kitchen sink washing dishes, and she would jump up and down so she could see me. (Her windows were pretty high up.) R’s daughter JN was developmentally disabled, but we had so much fun together. JN had a phenomenal memory and never missed a birthday or anniversary. I would meet R and JN in Las Vegas for a weekend and JN knew Las Vegas like the back of her hand. Sadly, JN passed away recently, but I’m thankful to have grown up with her.

Although we are now scattered around the country, we still stay in touch, and some of us traveled together in the pre-Pandemic days. I feel incredibly blessed to have grown up with such an amazing group of people.

Great weekend, everyone, and Happy New Year!

{carole}

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Merry Christmas…

…to all who celebrate. Hope you all have the happiest of New Years too.

{carole}

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August Sunset

We’ve had unusually cool weather in the spring and most of the summer. We barely got out of the 60s in the spring and the first two months of summer. Now it’s warmer but we’re only in the 70s or low 80s. Not that I’m complaining! Anyway, I’ve found that warmer weather can produce some nice sunsets.

The contrast between the cloud formations was pretty dramatic.

I love the pastel colors here.

Great weekend, everyone!

{carole}

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Sideways Siberian

Can’t believe I was able to capture this–usually Yuri looks away as soon as I get the camera out.

Great weekend, everyone!

{carole}

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