Island Bound

Lost in Time

2011-11-08T23:20:00.000-08:00

Time passes and time escapes. In all, time allows to heal, reflect, and remember, and hold dear ones near. We hope to become a better person and learn that our lessons in life carry us to each new day for the better, even when some are lost along the way.

End of Summer and Welcome Autumn

2010-09-24T21:47:00.000-07:00

This year summer left so quickly it felt as if it never arrived in the Bay Area. Now the autumn equinox has arrived along with a beautiful harvest moon, and 80 degree weather! I ended the summer with my only A's game for the season, and fortunately they won.
It was one very cold summer and tomatoes from the garden took a hit. They say there's always next year, I'll have to go along with that, tomatoes being tomatoes! A mammoth sunflower graced the plot this year - I had been planting them year after year and they never came. This year they just made a surprise visit, the best kind! It also made for happy bees. The bird house gourds never made it, and then we had a pumpkin thief who made away with several coveted pumpkins from surrounding plots. One thing for sure, the hardy celeste figs sure tasted good, and replanting them at the garden was the best idea yet.

The Bridge to Healing

2010-05-15T23:56:00.000-07:00

Overcoming grief can be one of the most difficult things a person has to go through in their life. A weekend getaway to the coast with a close friend can be just the answer.

"We have come into this exquisite world to experience ever and ever more deeply our divine courage,freedom and light!" Hafiz

Bowling Anyone?

2009-11-19T16:54:00.000-08:00

While riding around Clearwater Florida, we came across this amazing house known as the Bowling Bowl house to locals. The mosaics were amazing as well. Imagine instaed of having shingles you have an entire facade in mosaics.
There were also flower pots made from empty wine bottles - I'd say they are definitely into recycling and drinking wine. I heard that Sunset magazine did a special on this house a few years back. If you are missing any bowling pins, you might want to check in with the owners of this house. The house reminded me so much of Berkeley, I'm thinking perhaps they are transplants!

Sunday Stitch & B*tch, plus the Best Part....Eating

2009-10-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my knitting buddies in motivating me back to one of the things I love to do best! Knitting and...... a great new recipe to try out. I found the recipe in my daughter's magazine which is called Sauveur. The picture on the cover looked so delicious, I wanted to give it a try. It is an Italian style foccacia, made with olives and cherry tomatoes. I changed the recipe a little and added cheese to the topping, all cooked in a black skillet pan..yummers! I also made one more foccacia, this one with mushrooms, roasted red peppers, olives and cherry tomatoes (the last pickings from this years garden harvest). I cheated and bought pizza dough from Trader Joe's, saved time and it very economical!! We all loved the meal, but it was too bad little Annika couldn't partake....yet.
Bonne appetite!

Where I'm @

2009-10-11T19:31:00.000-07:00

Ok, so it's been a while, I've been on hiatus...but lately, some days this is how I've been feeling.

Royal Crest Community Garden

2009-08-31T21:55:00.001-07:00

While I was visiting Warwick Rhode Island this past July, I had the opportunity to take long walks at my friends home on Cedar Pond. The residents there have the option to have a small plot on the property's community garden. While on my daily walks a nice surprise was when I spotted a rather friendly frog and a bunny having a meal. Larry told me that after I left he saw a fox and a large deer while he took his evening walks. That beats the two wild turkeys I woke up to one day just outside his patio door!

When Zuke Comes a Knocking

2009-08-11T13:39:00.000-07:00

Appreciating the simple things in life.

Finding Peace

2009-08-06T11:21:00.000-07:00

Florida

2009-07-16T18:28:00.000-07:00

The First Harvest

2009-06-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

Surprise surprise! my morning trip to the garden had more than just watering and pulling weeds in store today. Foolish me, I hadn't checked under those gigantic zucchini leaves, and look what was in store! I'll cook these up for dinner tonite, which will be a nice addition to my Thai eggplant dish. The raspberries are already devoured because I added them to my cereal today. I love going to the garden to see what's in store!

Pretty little "dirty" Things

2009-06-08T15:21:00.000-07:00

This kind of "laundry" is more than ok to hang out and announce to the world a new arrival is about to make her appearance! and in uniquely hand painted style! thanks for organizing Kellie!

Airing Out "Dirty" Laundry - Not.....

2009-05-13T19:41:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think there should be a city ordinance stating people must hang their laundry in their BACKYARDS and not in the front of the house. Especially when it's their underwear. I'm in favor of saving energy and love the smell of clothes that dry in the fresh air, however it irks me when it happens to be my neighbors hanging their panties in the front of our house.

Spring means Planting!

2009-04-25T12:46:00.000-07:00

We were hit with a most welcomed heat wave last weekend and that initiated getting our plot at the community garden ready for the season. Larry was in town and offered to dig up the raised beds for me - I don't think he knew what he was getting himself into! Well, the rookie gardener really showed off his gardening talents, and after two days the plot looks great! We planted 4 types of tomatoes, zukes, blue lake string beans, moved the icelandic poppies, and replanted the hardy celeste fig tree. Beyond being somewhat sore and wiped out from the heat and work, the growing season has begun and we'll just wait and reap the benefits this summer.
My double delight rose bush and bearded irises are currently thriving in the garden and the raspberries got a nice trimming. I even spotted some raspberry blooms meaning raspberries are coming! I spotted a woodpecker on the telephone pole early Thursday morning and he was going at it as woodpeckers do. Hearing him really marks the coming of Spring to Norther California- a welcome sound!

Stichery West

2009-04-06T15:07:00.000-07:00

Stitches West was held in March at the Santa Clara convention center. For those who are unfamiliar, this event is held annually and it is the knitters yarn smorgasbord!
Kellie and I attended and from the moment we arrived we walked around the hall like little kids @ a candy store. I won't mention how much each of us spent that morning but let's just say we're both stocked for premium yarns for well over the next year. There were literally hundreds of patterns, yarn spinning, kits, sock yarns, quivot (for those of you like me who didn't know, this is super soft wool from ox, it only cost what...$30/2 oz.!) It was my first time @ the convention and I though I'd died and woken up in yarn heaven! I tell you it was just exhausting feasting your eyes on the many different types of yarn and samples of clothing folks had knitted. At the end of the day Kellie and I were so hungry from this fest that we headed over to the best sough Indian food spot not far from the convention center and that was equally fantastica!!!!

2009-04-01T11:12:00.000-07:00

BROKEN RAINBOW
by Laura Nyro

The old people of the earth
Tell stories
An old woman
Of the old ways
She said -
"I recall my joy
In better days"

The young warriors
Of the open rainbow
Said "Tell me is it true?
Tell me, do some live
out of bags and rags
In the cities too?
Is it true?"
At the edge where I live
Home sweet home
America

Native American Nation
Caught in the devastation
An endless situation
What can I do?
The ghost of prejudice
Cuts thru the moonglow
Poet on a crying page -
Broken Rainbow

Broken Rainbow
Home sweet home
America

Respect for the Trees

2009-03-11T10:52:00.000-07:00

On Monday I came home to a horrifying site. The beautiful trees that graced the backyard of my apartment were all but killed. The workers were still on the premises so I confronted them about the way they were so called "trimming" the trees. Nearly on the verge of tears I asked them why did they need to "trim" the trees to a horrible site and the response was "it's best for the trees". Mind you I began an argument for the sake of saving the trees and trying to educate these workers. (I have yet to find their licenses for tree trimming)They tried to point out that if they only trimmed the tree that it would grow to 65 feet! Imagine that, a tree growing as high as it could!!!? My response "isn't that what trees do? and since when do we put limitations on how high a tree can grow?" Trees are suppose to beautify the area as well as provide homes to the many bird species which graced my balcony and bird feeder. I walked away speechless and choked up and returned to my balcony with my two daughters as we watched them continue to botch the trees. My youngest daughter said to me "my name means "respect for the trees" and they just cut me down!

I emailed the Arbor Society and here's what they say:
Dear Konami,
It sounds like they may have "topped" the tree. If that is the case, then you are correct. That is not the proper way to prune a tree. I'm sorry, but once a tree has been topped, there is usually nothing that can be done to repair it to its former state. Below are some links about the destruction of topping.

http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/filelibrary/5764/25901.pdf

12 Degrees and What else to Do?

2009-02-26T22:23:00.000-08:00

Rhode Island is a beautiful state and when I recently visited, the frigid weather made me want to stay inside and huddle by the heat. However, seeing snow on the ground and wanting to get out and walk around landed Larry and I in Newport Beach for the afternoon where we stumbled upon an ice carving festival. Amazing how one block of ice could be carved into something so creative.

Coming Full Circle

2009-02-12T13:53:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I traveled back to Long Island, NY. It was not that this visit was one out of my yearly visits back east, but this time I was with a very special person and we purposely stopped by my old house and our high school. Mostly it was an instrumental moment in that it brought back a flood of emotions, and too the things that occurred in that house at 180 Warner Road happened to change the direction of my life up to this very moment. There is a very large gap in the one year that followed my family's move to Elmont, and regardless of how much brain picking I do, that period of time just won't materialize for me. Needless to say, just being able to stand in front of my old house brought a sense of satisfaction and calm to years of unanswered questions. I questioned, how many of us are fortunate to have an opportunity to go back to a previous time in our past and then today stand present and experience that we have come full circle?

OUR NATION AND ITS' PROMISE!

2009-01-20T09:11:00.001-08:00

YES WE DID!

A Change HAS Come!!!!

2009-01-18T17:39:00.000-08:00

YES WE DID YES WE DID YES WE DID JANUARY 20, 2009!!!!!
Yes We Can!

Bringing in a New Year

2009-01-02T17:04:00.000-08:00

Laughter on one’s lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life.
- Hugh Sidey

A friend sent me some quotes and I loved this one. It makes me want to spend 2009 nurturing a good grasp of life and lightening up the load of what's to come!
Happy New Year!

Happy Holidazes

2008-12-24T21:32:00.000-08:00

and to all a good night!

Hey Monterey!

2008-12-11T17:24:00.000-08:00

I recently spent an awesome 2 days visiting Monterey. I hadn't been there in quite a number of years and going back always requires a trip to the aquarium to see the unusual sea otters. My dear friend and I were take-in with these little "sea dogs". We were fortunate to catch feeding time when we reached the aquarium. Can I just say the fur on these amazing animals is so water repellent that you can actually see it up close! The sea otters are native to the northern west coast and their fur was so hunted that they just about became extinct. The aquarium has been able to provide a sanctuary for the sea otters and many informative programs about them.
Another amazing site at the aquarium are the jelly fish! My eyes were just about popping out while watching several of these exotic jelly fish doing their "dance" in the water. I was able to video these amazing creatures and it doesn't come to actually seeing them in person.

Falling Leaves in the Island City

2008-12-11T16:44:00.000-08:00

It's Fall in the Island City and on some streets there are spectacular views of the city trees making their winter transition. I took a drive around and caught some of the beautiful colors close by my neighborhood. Every time around this part of the year I feel melancholy and miss my former home state New York and need my fix so I drive around and feast on the California trees. Most of the time it does the trick!

Farm Fresh to Your Front Door

2008-11-24T17:25:00.000-08:00

One good thing about attending the annual Green Festival this year was signing up for a twice a month box of locally grown organic veggies and fruits. Since I haven't had much time to dig in the dirt at my own community garden plot, I figured it would be best to sign up for the "box". What I love about getting the box is the assurance that everything is organic and seasonally grown. Ever since reading Barbara Kingsolver's book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle I've been trying my best to eat seasonally and organically grown vegetables and fruits. My first delivery last week included leeks (which I promptly made leek soup),butternut squash, cranberries, fennel root, sweet potatoes, apples, oranges, kale, dinosaur collards, and green chard. While I'll miss digging in the dirt, I know I'm getting the next best thing minus a sore back and dirty fingernails!

The Annual Green Festival

2008-11-15T17:06:00.000-08:00

or....personally I call it the annual Lovefest, held in Frisco for the past 7 years. It's a total sensory obliterated event but when you leave you have enough green goods to last you a year- most of it for free! Top it off with the healthiest food for lunch along with all kinds of herbal and alternative foods to boost your immune system for handling stress and the flu season. Kellie, Jason, Mara and I once again braved the green alternative crowds and came home with some nice eco-friendly products and informative magazines to get us through the next year of living green. Unfortunately this year the speakers were mostly absent and we didn't find any workshops to attend. Perhaps the green movement has caught on and the organizers felt it was unnecessary.

Opportunity Knocks

2008-11-12T16:10:00.000-08:00

When one door closes another opens. We have before us the opportunity to get involved in the process of making changes to the old guard as we knew it. The last time I felt this excited about my voice being heard was in the late 60's and it was coined the Age of Aquarius. How exciting to see we have come together to fight for history being made and being a part of it. The catalyst for change has begun and I am more than ready to have my voice heard. Whether I will be participating in demonstrations or volunteering at my local organizations I will feel proud that we can make a difference! Incite hope in your community, we are all part of the collective for making our future better!

A New Day is Dawning!!!!

2008-11-04T21:00:00.000-08:00

YES WE DID!!!!!

Exercise Your Right - Making a Difference

2008-10-30T18:11:00.000-07:00

Here in Texas the lines to vote at the main library have been many miles long. Texas is one of the states that has early voting and I happen to be here visiting my daughter and 2 grandkids.
Being that I'm in the largest red state in the union, I'm wondering about those lines and what the outcome will be....Resist the status quo, be prepared, be educated, make choices, be open to change, whatever that means for you and mostly, make the commitment and get out there and vote!

Angels, Hornets, Skateboarding and more

2008-10-27T08:35:00.000-07:00

I recently learned San Jose has the largest skateboard park in the states, so of course I had to go see for myself. Now I don't skateboard, but my friend Karl's son does and he's quite the pro. I saw people out there trying out some pretty daring twists and turns on the slopes and could imagine myself maybe in younger days trying this sport out. This place sure is the kind of place a kid wants to hang out because between the music and prospect of meeting new friends, you can't go wrong! While Jimmy and Mutti tried out their skateboard skills, I went for a great bike ride around Lake Henderson. This was more my speed of trying out my wheels.
After the skate park Mutti and I hurried back to the island to catch the last of the blue angels who were in town for San Francisco's annual fleet-week. I should say next to being right under those high flying rockets, watching them from afar doesn't carry the same effect, but it was great seeing them anyway. We sat alongside the Hornet ship and threw rocks in the bay, while catching the Angels in the distant sky.

Another Hot Friday Night Out

2008-10-18T11:13:00.000-07:00

A couple of single girls hitting up the town on the anniversary of Alameda's book sale! What other way to spend a Friday night out, searching through stacks of books and finding that treasured book. Mara and I combed our way through the crowds, filled our bags with the treasures while paying next to nothing! This time both we raided the childrens' book tables and landed some great deals on picture books and bi-lingual books for Mara's classroom. Such a nice feeling for a hot Friday night out.

The Easy Life

2008-10-11T16:59:00.000-07:00

My favorite way to start off the day...Cozy up with some green tea, listen to the day wake up with my water fountain as backround relaxation, go have an hour & half massage, meet Mara at Borders to do homework, have lunch @ Chipotle and then walk downtown and see the California Classic auto show. I would say that it's been a very productive day. Now I believe it's nap time, lights out!

My Life as it Stands.........

2008-10-07T22:16:00.000-07:00

Big fish floating in the midst, making sure she stays upstream, "Unannounced and Full of Promise",like the break of day....

Chi-Town

2008-09-28T16:48:00.000-07:00

Autumn in Chicago and a walking tour of the downtown! I didn't realize how much historic architecture there is in Chicago. The last time I visited it was sub zero temps and all I could think of was hot chocolate and a corner away from the famous windy city streets. Today my friend and I walked over 3 miles (our feet can tell the stories) but we saw some pretty amazing buildings and art. The Harold Washington library is said to be the largest public library in the world, and on the corners of the building sit four huge owls. Chicago's Millennium park holds an interesting sculpture called Cloud Gate, but resembled a metallic kidney bean in my eyes. There was also two tall monoliths with changing photo's and a waterfall that commences after a rotation of pictures from the mouth of the person in that particular photo. The walking bridges reminded me of the bridges in Paris along the Seine. Well, that's alot of walking in a city famous for Al Capone, Bugsy Malone, Batman and the Untouchables!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame.....

2008-09-14T23:16:00.000-07:00

Friday nite at the A's vs Tex-ass game with my friend Cathy was full of catching up and a surprise that landed in my seat. Somewhere around the sixth inning a foul ball off a Tex-ass batter hit the second level and magically landed in my seat (right behind my gluts!) It was a good thing i was sitting forward- but that's because i was cold and trying to huddle under my blankey. Of all the times I was at a game with Mutti trying to catch a ball, one just lands right in my seat without looking. You had to see the look on Cathy and my faces when i reached and pulled the ball from right behind me, we laughed and then went about our conversation as if nothing out of the ordinary happened!! I had a good laugh and at the end of the game one of the security guards came up and said, "i like your style ma'am, you just caught that ball and went about your business" I put my prize in my backpack and watched Tex-ass beat the A's 7-0. I guess for me Tex-ass was more that night than just a ballgame.

Chinese Autumn Festival

2008-09-14T14:10:00.000-07:00

Moon Festival

Mark your calendar!
Sunday, September 14th

Scooping the Moon

Written By Katherine Metz

This painting depicts the worship of the moon and the Moon Goddess Chang
E. According to Chinese popular religion, she was believed to live in
the moon and was closely associated with the immortals. It is said
that you may see her dancing on the moon during the festival.

According to the annual cosmological cycle, her yin (feminine) force
was most powerful on the night of the full moon, the fifteenth day of
the eighth lunar moon - this year, September 14th. On this day
Chinese families, especially women, worship the moon to receive Chang
E's magical strength. In this beautiful painting, a woman adjusts a
shallow, water-filled basin to better show the perfectly round moon
reflected in it. One cannot help thinking that this is a perfect world.

Sing a Song of Sixpence.....

2008-09-07T17:45:00.000-07:00

A pocket full of rye.
four and twenty blackberries baked in a pie

When the pie was opened,

the blackberries began to leak.

Wasn't that a dainty dish

to set before the queen?

The queen was in her kitchen,

counting out her money.

Her daughters were in the bedroom

eating bread and honey.

The maid was in the garden, hanging out their clothes,

When down came a blackbird

and pecked off her..........heavens no!

Still basking in our summer dayz, we went blackberry picking on the hidden gem of the old Alameda belt line this morning. We came home with enough blackberries to make pie for tonite's dessert and jars of freezer jam to make it thru the winter.
dessert anyone?

Last of Summer Dayz

2008-09-05T17:45:00.000-07:00

Summer finally arrived in northern California this week! Everyone is complaining about how hot is is and I'm loving every last second of the heat and sweat. I'll never really figure out these northern Cali folks who like the cold and fog in June, July and August cuz where I come from it's hot and tank tops are the fashion! I went to Santa Cruz 2 weeks ago to visit the beach, well the ocean was pretty but I had to wear a sweater! Well, ya gotta love these northern Cali beach days, just don't come out wearing a bikini, because the fashion here is wet suits!

A Dozen Eggs Later.....

2008-08-20T22:04:00.000-07:00

When I arrived home from Florida, I could hear little cheeps coming from my lovebirds Rudy and Naato's cage. Two weeks later I took a peek into the nestbox and saw two little heads hiding in the corner. This week who should exit their home?....two baby peachface lovebirds! Little did I know when I bought home one of the parents that they would become a pair because I thought they were both the same sex, wrong! One year later here I sit with a total of 4 lovebirds. All I can say is that it's a good thing that this psychic was sitting across the table from me at a friends birthday celebration, and quietly said to me "I wouldn't get rid of that second cage if I were you". I had no idea who she was until she pulled out her card and pushed it across the table to me and my jaw dropped. Oh, I just noticed Rudy has laid 3 more eggs, guess they don't call em lovebirds for nothing!!!!

Summer Harvest Time!

2008-08-08T20:04:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite seasons is summer, and that's because I get to harvest what I've planted in my little community garden plot. These heirloom tomatoes, round squash, oregano and double delight roses are just some of the goodies from this years planting. Last weekend while celebrating my friends birthday, she let me pick plums from her backyard trees and I quickly made plum freezer jam. She has a beautiful waterfall that she had built in her backyard, and just sitting there listening to the sound of the water melts your stress away. Well, my plum jam should last me through part of the winter when I like to sit in the kitchen with a cup of tea have some toast with my homemade jam and read a good book. mmmm.....

Around Sleepy Hollow Town

2008-08-08T19:52:00.000-07:00

Seen in different places around the little Island town....a friends rooftop sculpture and tree art. And then Alameda's own annual Park Street Art and Wine fair. I found these two artists booths with some very unique art work.

Hey Ma! Are You Making Corn Cake?

2008-07-25T21:07:00.000-07:00

Oh non alors! Have you ever tried to cut corn off the cobb and then have it fall all over the counter and floor? Gone are those days. I saw this nifty trick on TV while slacking around over at my Aunt B's. You know that bundt cake pan you have in your cupboards, well pull it out and use it to cut the corn kernels off the cobb with absolutely no mess! Just place the cobb right on top of the center circle piece - it fits just perfect!- then get a sharp knife and slice downward. I tried it myself and had everyone in amazement! I added the cut kernels to the shrimp dish I was making for dad. And you thought your bundt cake pan was only for making cakes! Well try it and see for yourself. No fuss, no muss!

the Other Bay Area

2008-07-13T15:34:00.000-07:00

Florida bay area where the temps and humidity are high and rain is falling with
thunder and lightening. These bay area beaches are beautiful, the kind I like! The sand is white and powdery, the water was 80 degrees on Saturday and very clear. I watched a few pelicans fly by, a pirates ship, and my nephew and brother enjoying the warm water after 8pm. The sunset was splendid and I even caught some fireworks that were leftovers from the 4th. oh, there were coconut trees on the beach as well!

Small Town 4th of July Parade

2008-07-09T00:03:00.001-07:00

pink station wagons, Alameda high school cheerleeders and even the Buffalo Soldiers came out!

Small Town 4th of July Parade

2008-07-08T23:21:00.000-07:00

Billed as the longest parade west of the Mississippi, Alameda celebrated its' annual 4th of July parade with the usual fanfare. This year there were more horses than floats or those gas guzzling cars that seemed the norm year in and year out. I'm guessing high gas prices nipped that in the bud! I for one was more than happy with that since the exhaust from the cars and floats idling is not so pleasant to breathe in. But I would suppose some weren't too happy with all that horse poop that had to be scooped up!

A Day in San Francisco

2008-07-01T22:48:00.000-07:00

What else better to do but take off a day from work and take advantage of SF MOMA's first Tuesdays which means free entrance to the museum! The Frida Kahlo exhibit is currently on view and it was fabulous. Frida's painting reach out and speak volumes to the viewers. You can't help but feel her emotions when you are looking at her paintings. There was also two rooms of rarely seen of black and white photos of Frida and Diego Rivera that I enjoyed just as much as her paintings. After the museum I went thru Yerba Buena gardens took photos and soaked in some sun, then over to Thirsty Bear for a pitcher of sangria to celebrate the first day of July.

National Knit in Public Day

2008-06-24T21:00:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was National Knit in Public Day, so I headed to Borders with my books and knitting. Mostly I was studying for my Physical Geography course and met Mara for a studying marathon at Alameda's new Borders. It was such a beautiful day that I had a hard time concentrating on my books, but I was able to get a few stitches in regardless. Heavens forbid I don't join the other knitters out there for National Knitting in Public Day!

Dragon Boat Racing Day

2008-06-13T20:00:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday marked the official date for Oakland's Dragon Boat Racing Festival. I found out that in China, Dragon Boat Racing is the only National Holiday. Dragon Boat Racing dates back over 2,000 years to the Chinese legend of Qu Yuan. After being exhiled from his land, Qu Yuan, threw himself in the Milou River. In an attempt to save him, local fishermen wildly beat their drums and splashed the water with their paddles to prevent water dragons and fish from eating his body. The modern Dragon Boat Race is based upon the reenactment of the race to save Qu from the waters terrors. The drummer is considered the "heartbeat" of the dragon boat, and leads the crew throughout a race with the rhythmic beating of a drum to indicate the timing and frequency of paddling strokes. The drummer may signal commands to the crew through a combination of hand signals and voice calls, which directs the crew to perform at their peak. A drummer is mandatory on the dragon boat during racing events. There were many teams racing their dragon boats from very early in the day. The races ended with a huge group picnic for the racers. I had never seen the races so I was very excited to chance upon them while I was out studio hopping with my friends.

Ikebana and Koto Show

2008-06-11T22:24:00.000-07:00

I had a great time at the Nichiren Temple annual bazaar this year. There was a wonderful Koto performance by the group Marimo-kai. About 5 different koto instruments filled the hall along with a man on the congas and three ladies on flutes. They serenaded us with an assortment of traditional japanese music. The koto (琴 or 箏) is a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument derived from Chinese zither Guzheng. The koto is the national instrument of Japan. Along with the performance was an incredible flower arrangement display (ikebena) by the Tachibana school students.

And Flood-gates Opened Up

2008-05-28T13:43:00.000-07:00

Let's not even mention water shortage! The parking lot at my job was flooded knee deep in water on Tuesday. A city worker broke the main water valve which quickly flooded our parking lot and then a 10 foot sink hole opened up in front of the building. The water reached pretty high before cars were able to drive out, leaving some with damage. This was the one day I decided to park in the lot because I had lots to carry in and that's when Murphy's law reared it's ugly head. Since I parked on the far side of the building- uphill, I waited thinking the waters would never reach my car. Wrong thought! I ended up having to be pushed over the parking lot divider between our neighbor and thru the shrubs. No water damage for me, but what an adrenaline rush!

Rose & Lavender Butter & Guests Who Should Appear!

2008-05-27T17:44:00.000-07:00

Guess who dropped in to visit our island bound city?- none other than Milton Freewater's "Cheaper than Vitamins" Teri!!! and her son Tom. I am so jazzed to meet Teri and visit with her family right here in the bay area.
We spent this very special day making Lavender and Rose butters - you guessed it: the lavender buds and rose petals came right from our community garden plot. Mara found the recipes on-line and we figured we give it a spin. For the preparation, Mutti and Yuki carefully powdered the sugar, Kellie picked off the lavender buds while Mara, Teri and Yuki chopped rose petals and whipped the butter. I bought some pre-baked bread to spread the butters on and the resulting flavors were just delicious! Now while all this butter making was going on, I made us a strawberry rhubarb pie served with homemade lychee martinis and a mint lemonade for those who don't partake. Here's a toast to all!

Comme le Temps Passe

2008-05-24T16:27:00.000-07:00

Or as we say in English; as time goes by. The grand opening of the new Alameda Cinema was today and what best should be playing there but my favorite movie Casablanca - on the big screen! Mara & I stood in line to enjoy Bogy, Ingrid, and the usual suspects at a moment in time in Morocco. After the movie I came to thinking about how time does go by and what we do with that time. Some of us go thru life quickly waiting for each next event to happen and miss enjoying the moment we are in. Then there are others who I recently came to know said while enjoying their daily “snoogie” they sit back and watch time pass by. For some of us we look at past events in our lives wishing we could go back in time and change how we may have done things, or wonder what could have been if.... Moreover how do we handle skeletons in our past that suddenly make their debut? I’ve found myself thinking these thoughts as I ponder my own life’s events. What if we could magically change those moments? Would we be happier or wiser, or do we sit back and know that the lesson in those moments make us who we are today?

Just recently another friend said to me “you know we are getting older” and I rebuked this immediately, thinking I would not commit to older but perhaps being wiser and becoming better at life. Hmmm…“we’ll always have Paris” or as les gens français would say; C’est la Vie. Well whatever you do in life, hold it precious and as Bogy said “here’s looking at you kid”.

Raspberry Beret & Early Harvesting in the Garden

2008-05-21T14:50:00.001-07:00

I'm so happy that Mara and I got an early and eager start in planting our veggies this season. Now is the time we sit back and reap the bennies! and berries! Our radishes are coming in so quickly that we can hardly keep up eating them. Now it's artichokes, snow peas and raspberries. Well I'm certainly not going to complain about that because having fresh picked raspberries for breakfast and then artichokes for dinner can't be beat! This is also a good time to start making bottles of raspberry vinaigrette, so I'll get my bottles ready this weekend for production. The unseasonably hot weather helped the tomatoes and snow peas kick in nicely. I'm even seeing little figs on the hardy Celeste tree I brought down to the garden since it wasn't producing on my patio. One thing for sure is we'll be well fed this summer, and that's a good thing since gas prices are sending us to the poorhouse!

Island Bound Annual Garden Tour

2008-05-19T09:08:00.000-07:00

Alameda celebrated it's annual garden tours yesterday. Although it was late in the day I was able to catch a just a few of the garden tours on my block. It's amazing to see what's growing in your neighbors backyards and how beautifully landscaped each yard is. In front of my neighbors house were 2 artists painting some of the delphiniums and ferns planted in the front yard. I found myself admiring the little garden cottage that my neighbors built for their personal "mental" escape from the kids. I could picture myself sitting in the cottage enjoying some tea with my garden friends. Well that prompted me to go up to my own patio (for my little slice of heaven) and admire my new friends on their sock feeder and listen to my water fountain and let my worries drain away.

Birds of the Island Paradise

2008-05-16T12:45:00.000-07:00

Recently I purchased a bird "sock" feeder to hang on my patio. My thought was that maybe I could attract some wild birds to come and visit. I have been pleasantly surprised these past few steamy & very hot days! Lately while enjoying my breakfast & dinner on the patio I've spotted several wild finches stopping by for a meal. The finches are a beautiful yellow color and they even allowed me to get close enough to admire them on the sock feeder. Luckily I hung the sock feeder in such a way that those pesky squirrels can't get to it without falling off and scaring away my new friends. I'm also seeing lots of hummingbirds flock to their feeder, back from their winter retreat.
This morning while riding my bike to work I spotted 2 woodpeckers on the tree out front but they were too far up to get a good picture. There are two other birds very close by. That would be Rudy and Naato my pet lovebirds. They are busy sitting on eggs and their 2 new babies that hatched 6 days ago! Imagine my excitement when I arrived back from Texas and heard little chirps coming from the nest box! I can't wait to get a shot of the new babies once they fly out of the coup. Stay tuned for more......

Tea Tasting vs Sake Tasting

2008-05-13T22:39:00.000-07:00

A friend and I went tea tasting at Numi Tea Garden in Oakland. Numi has a wonderful circular entranceway leading into the main room. They also have a huge wooden tea storage chest with over 50 drawers of tea for sale. For the tea tasting there were 18 different variations of Pu Erh tea that were blended by Numi for a future selection. For those who aren't familiar with puehr tea, "this is China's mystery tea - the process to create puerh is still a secret. The tea is aged, fermented. Like wine, the longer the aging, the better the tea. Its marvelously rich body, slightly earthy and mellow character is very popular for its health properties - namely known to eliminate cholesterol and drunk with or after meals as a digestif". It's amazing how differently people's taste buds determine which flavors they prefer. While my friend and I preferred the lighter, mellower blends, others liked the stronger, bold and bitter blends. I had never gone tea tasting before so I didn't know what to expect. I thought to myself is this going to be like wine tasting and we'd have to swish the tea around in our pallet and then spit it out? Luckily that was not the case! The only similarity between tea and wine tasting I noticed was that we started with the lighter blends and moved to the darker blends. By the time we finished with the 18th blend I had had my fill of tea and couldn't taste one more cup of tea. My friend made a comment and said, it's funny how now a days we go tea tasting instead of sake tasting. I guess we're getting up there in age!

From Where I Lay

2008-05-07T19:37:00.000-07:00

Lazy hazy late afternoon day in May lying on the island city beach. Just lovin' reflecting here, feet catching the unseasonably cool breeze and watching the windsurfers and birds take flight. It's always nice to hear the waves rushing ashore to clear the mind. The brown pelicans are still enjoying their winter break in the Bay Area, and the snow geese have their little hatchlings learn the swimming skills of their parents. Even the famous San Francisco fog allowed a glimpse of the city skyline. It still feels cool out but being on the beach somehow smooths the rough edges of a long day at work.

Hot Friday Nite Out - for the Book Worm!

2008-05-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

Girls Friday night out on the island- and what an exciting one it was! Mara and I took a trip over to the annual Friends of the Library book sale - (the members sneak preview). There were so many stacks of books, from mystery to sci-fi to foreign language. While I was busy perusing the children's books Mara combed thru the fiction and cookbooks tables. I found a book of essays by my favorite author Barbara Kingsolver, and Mara scored a few of the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series. At times it was hard competing with the local bookstore collectors, you have to be assertive with the stacks! We were surprised when we found out we were closing the place down! Hats off to another great annual book sale. Hmmm, now it's time to cozy up with our books and relax!

May Day! May Day!

2008-05-01T11:33:00.000-07:00

May day in the garden this morning was a wonderful treat and great way to start the day.
The double delight rosebush is exploding with blooms right now and "raspberry beret" has tiny little fruit buds already forming! Mara's strawberries are going at as well! The celeste fig tree seems to be doing better since I moved it down to the community garden, maybe we'll actually see some figs this year. We've already been munching on the easter egg blend radishes from one of the raised beds! What a surprise to see some volunteer poppies springing up and in bloom. This is going to really be a green thumb year!

$1 Oyster Night

2008-04-27T16:13:00.000-07:00

On any given night around the Bay Area you can chow down on oysters for $1/piece . A few of us hit the town for a few dozen oysters and a side of martinis. We are on the search for the best eating spot for our $1 bargain. Mostly it has more to do with relieving a stressful day at work, sitting back with our dozen or so oysters and sharing some libations. Cheers!

Earth Day in Alameda

2008-04-22T11:58:00.000-07:00

Alameda celebrated Earth Day at Washington Park. Earlier in the week I saw an ad in the local paper stating that the electric company would swap your energy grubbing halogen lamp for an energy saving floor lamp. Well I happened to still have one these halogen lamps- yes I know...anyways Mara and I headed down to the park (I rode my bike and Mara walked- we are serious bout saving energy!) and in return received a nice looking floor lamp. I'm really happy to have gotten one of the lamps since the electric company had stopped giving them out years ago. I'll say one thing, it was really alot of work putting that lamp together and squeezing the white cord into the narrow post!
There were all kinds of displays and handout about being more energy efficient, responsible recycling, and I even traded in some batteries. Happy Earth Day! Let's all do our part and be kind to mother earth and perhaps ride your bike or walk today! Besides gas is inching up on $4/gallon!!! Who can afford that?

Spring has Sprung!

2008-04-18T23:25:00.000-07:00

Finally signs of Spring are showing their colors around my neighborhood. Checkout the wisteria blossoms on my neighbors house. I wait for these to bloom every spring, right after they bloom my friend Woody woodpecker returns as well. Hearing his pecking early every morning signifies the start of spring for me! I can hear my daughter say: "mom, he's back!"

GONE...But Not Forgotten

2008-04-18T23:14:00.000-07:00

Off Island Cross Island

2008-03-30T20:55:00.000-07:00

Off Island, Cross the states to sunny Florida I flew. Yep, actually left the island and got a taste of the tropical weather in Orlando and Spring Hill. Didn't visit the magic kingdom in Orlando but did see some pretty magical vegetation in my Dad's yard which is in the small town of Spring Hill- one hour east of Tampa. The Florida aloes in the front yard make our California aloe seem like midgets! and I'm always surprised at his king sago palms which grow like weeds! The most magical plant of all is a red amaryllis I gave Dad several Christmases ago, which he planted in his yard after it had flowered.
It continues to flower and now sent out another new plant. It hadn't bloomed yet when I visited but I took photos anyway. Dads' grapefruit tree put out so many giant grapefruits that I was fortunate enough to bring some home (shhhh). Well back to the Island to see what Spring has in store!

Scaredy Crows

2008-03-28T13:32:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been hearing and seeing a group of crows hanging about the redwood tree outside my front door. First thought was doom lies ahead, but then after doing some research I have a different outlook on the crows. I've now made the crow my spirit guide to transformation and rising above all the worlds' madness. Look for these friends in your neighborhood and send them good energy to look over you and yours!

"Crows are regular visitors to my back yard. They always appear in groups, and although their "caw, caw" sounds of communication sound monotonous to my untrained human ears, each caw actually has a different meaning. This complex vocabulary is one sign of crows' intelligence, and is also an indication of their significance as power animals.

As we can't, without paying careful attention, understand the language of crows, so we can't always see beyond our own cultural limitations. These limitations include specific moral codes of right and wrong and a set of rules which accompany these codes.

The history of human life on this planet is often one of conflict and war because of differing moral and religious beliefs. In order to truly create a new age of peace and harmony it is vital for us to be able to transcend our particular cultural limitations and to hold in our hearts what we share as spiritual beings in human form.

Crow is the bird which symbolizes this transcendence. When we meditate on and align with Crow it can teach us to know ourselves beyond the limitations of one-dimensional thinking and laws.

Whenever crows gather they always have one bird which serves as a lookout. This can teach us to be watchful about what we believe, to test our habitual ideas about reality against a more universal standard.

This bird can also teach us to be watchful about our automatic judgements of others, and to appreciate the many dimensions both of reality and ourselves. Crow reminds us to learn to trust our intuition and personal integrity, to create our own standards, whether or not they match those of the world around us.

It is said that in the courtship process the male crow's voice takes on a singing quality. This tells us what the basis of sacred law is. There is one unfailing principle by which we can test our principles, that of unconditional love".

Snowing Petals and Haiku in Alameda

2008-03-20T21:24:00.000-07:00

This time of the year the trees are blossoming all over the Alameda Isle. It looks like it's snowing flower petals all down the streets! For some this is a beautiful time of the year, but for others it's becoming allergy in the lower realms.

Haiku - Seasons

by Veronica Ann Cech

New life bursting forth
Refreshed from winter's slumber
Rejoicing in spring.

Sun toasted tourists
Fully oiled and close to done
Sweating out summer

The wind blows past me
Scattered falling leaves abound
Visiting autumn

The snow dusts my hair
Icy northern winds do blow
Surviving winter

Farmer's Market March Gladness

2008-03-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

Mid-March at the Farmer’s Market means asparagus! Konami and Mara have been taking advantage of this special time of year and they are lucky that “the world’s best

asparagus” is sold right here in Alameda.

Both women were tempted to buy from the German bakery (cherry poppy seed coffee cake and fresh Bavarian pretzels!), but settled instead for a basket of early strawberries.
Holen Sie auf den köstlichen Strudel!

Fetchin for Fingerless Gloves

2008-03-17T13:16:00.001-07:00

Fingerless gloves have become the latest knitting fashion craze. I looked up the history of these gloves and found :A woolen variety became popular in the early 1980s, largely due to the example of English pop star Nik Kershaw.

Fingerless gloves are also known as "hobo gloves", due to their association with homeless people.

Well I'm not certain us fingerless glove gals want to be called "hobos" but these gloves sure do come in handy at the farmer's market when you are fetching for your money and you won't have to take the whole glove off. Recently I made a pair of these gloves for a 10 year old who even provided the yarn. She mailed me a nice thank you card saying "thanks for making me hand made goods" well that sure brightened my day! Another pair was made for the local nursery "Thompsen's". The owner said in return she'll barter something from her shop! hmm..do I see a 6 pack of veggies/flowers coming my way?

Sunday Afternoon on the Island

2008-03-17T10:04:00.000-07:00

Mara and Konami went to their first Ravelry knitting meeting at the Alameda Free Public Library. Kellie was feeling "off" so she didn't make it. The women in the group were all excellent knitters (it put us to shame, but in a good way) and a couple were also spinners. Being in the group certainly is a good way to network and catch onto some neat knitting techniques. One of the Ravelry knitters also shared a technique unrelated to knitting, which was "how to keep your birds from laying eggs" Konami's ears sure perked up because her lovebirds have just laid a second set of eggs and, following the advice of a psychic, fortunately did not get rid of her second bird cage. The first set of eggs didn't hatch but the word is this second clutch may indeed succeed and little baby lovebirds will become available. However, this is where the train stops! More later on Nato and Rudy the active lovebirds.

Thursday night and the mariachi band

2008-03-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

March 13, Otaez celebrated their second year anniversary on the island. We gals attended the event and had free appetizers for lunch and dinner (hey, a girl has to eat!). In the evening the restaurant featured a mariachi band and the Sauza tequila models. The restaurant was packed and everyone seemed to be having a good time--but who wouldn't be having fun with mariachi and tequila!

Hanging out on the Island

2008-03-14T11:47:00.000-07:00

This blog will be about "the Bay Area island life". Most postings will be about Alameda, but we'll also venture out to other Bay Area locations.