cleaning – FIRST DATE, WORST DATE EVER!

Mama Bird Rules the Roost

June 9, 2021June 8, 2021 Posted in birds, cleaning, closets, dogs, girl friends, incubation, memoir, nest, porch, purging, UPS, ZoomLeave a comment

(re-run) A mama bird built a nest over my front porch three plus weeks ago. I was away, and when I came back, I startled her. I am now using my side gate to come and go. It’s not easy doing it this way for a couple of reasons. I have to weave my way… Continue reading Mama Bird Rules the Roost

The Case of the Missing Creepy Portrait

May 19, 2021May 17, 2021 Posted in antique store, antiques dealer, beach, bees, cleaning, closets, cupboard, eyes, memoir, Monterey Bay, pandemic, portfolio, portraitLeave a comment

When I had an antique store and people were constantly bringing me stuff to buy, I acquired some large portraits from the 1800s, the kind where the eyes follow you around the room. I hung three of my favorites in the upstairs back hallway of the big marriage house, only to find out years later… Continue reading The Case of the Missing Creepy Portrait

Mama Bird Rules the Roost

April 29, 2021April 28, 2021 Posted in birds, cleaning, closets, dogs, girl friends, incubation, memoir, nest, porch, purging, UPS, ZoomLeave a comment

Staying Fit without a Fitbit

March 16, 2021March 16, 2021 Posted in cleaning, dancing, dogs, exercise, fitbit, gardening, gophers, hiking, memoir, Monterey county, moving, succulents, Zoom, ZumbaLeave a comment

Today, before and after Zoom Zumba, the ladies were discussing how many steps we take during one class and how many calories we burn. This went on for a while, and I signed off. I don’t need a gadget to tell me if I am getting enough exercise. I have dogs. They need exercise daily.… Continue reading Staying Fit without a Fitbit

Musical Cleaning Day (waiting for plumber)

March 11, 2021March 11, 2021 Posted in Bill Withers, CD player, children, cleaning, dogs, Isley Brothers, memoir, music, musicians, pandemic, plumber, poem, purge, reflux diseaseLeave a comment

I am cleaning today. The plumber said he’d be by mid-morning, but it wasn’t not looking good. I worked on a review for a new children’s book coming out next month. I watched some Dry Bar Comedy while I digested my breakfast. That is no longer a multi-tasking feature of my aging body. Reflux. It’s… Continue reading Musical Cleaning Day (waiting for plumber)

Letting Go

February 17, 2021February 16, 2021 Posted in best, California, cleaning, Craigslist, humor, memoir, online sales, relationshipsLeave a comment

(re-run) My cars sit out in the summer. There’s no way they can go into the garage. Fires are burning north of here and have been for weeks. The Bay Area air is smoky. I look at the blue plastic tubs of flammable clothing and think, “It would take days for all of this to… Continue reading Letting Go

Spring Cleaning in February

February 2, 2021January 31, 2021 Posted in air purifier, antique, Australia, cleaning, fundraiser, Jack Russell terrier, koalas, memoir, music, nursing home, pollen, rain, singingLeave a comment

(re-run) It started with a koala bear. A bunch of them. Some musicians were having a fundraiser for Australia, the fires, and the koalas. It was a donation at the door. Two and a half hours of music, and I knew three of the performers. We got there early and sat in the third row.… Continue reading Spring Cleaning in February

No New Year’s Resolutions for Me

December 31, 2020December 31, 2020 Posted in best, California, chorus, cleaning, dancing, dating, firsts, girl friends, hiking, humor, husband, memoir, relationshipsLeave a comment

(re-run) Today’s the day I am supposed to resolve to do better, work harder, exercise more, and eat clean. Guess what? I learned long ago to do things in baby steps. It takes twenty-one days to form a new habit. Sometimes I can do it if I don’t think too hard about it. Like yogurt.… Continue reading No New Year’s Resolutions for Me

The Six Stages of Thanksgiving

November 26, 2020November 25, 2020 Posted in California, cleaning, dancing, dusting, exercise, food, friends, holidays, humor, live music, memoir, relationships, ThanksgivingLeave a comment

(re-run) I am having Thanksgiving at my house today for nine or ten people. I say that because my brother in law may or may not show up. There is lots of football to be missed if he comes ninety minutes north to my house. It will be me, my three kids, my two sisters,… Continue reading The Six Stages of Thanksgiving

How to Relax for Bed

July 3, 2020 Posted in ASMR, best, California, cleaning, humor, ironing, laundry, memoir, relationships, relaxation, shop owner, vintageLeave a comment

(re-run) I closed my online costume shop last summer. I donated 500 dresses to a charity for third world girls and sorted through my aprons, pulling out all the hostess ones, the sheer ones not for cooking. I had 150 of them. I gave them to my local thrift store, the one that knows vintage… Continue reading How to Relax for Bed