Countdown to Japan

After waiting 3 years because of Covid, my March-April 2020 2023 Japan adventure is only weeks away! Hannah and I have secured all our plane tickets, reservations and accommodations. I've bought a new suitcase and backpack and other less essential travel items in preparation. So far, it seems like the cherry blossoms are right on schedule for our arrival!

New Year with Old Friends

As Leo would say, "Oh, my..." has this year started off with a bevy of blessings in the form of visitations with old friends. Together we laughed, we remembered, we mourned, we cherished our time together, then and now.

Johamy, Matt and Bear spent a night en route from San Diego back to their home in Seattle. 

We love each other like sisters.

Patti and Ziggy drove from Colorado Springs to see her new grandbaby in LA. She tore herself away from the family for a few days in Laguna. We hiked when the sun shone and worked on a collaborative art piece when it rained.

And ever the agent, Patti introduced me to Nzinga Moore, an actor in Costa Mesa who will appear in the next Bare Bones playreading. Patti has such amazing energy. She's a joy to have around.

After Patti left, we drove up to snowy Idyllwild, where Ava, Jason and Miss Pickles came up the hill for a few days. Honestly, we did more than just lay around by the fire, but we laid around by the fire a lot, too.

Ava looked seasonal while working on her laptop.

And Jason treated us all to his famous shakshuka for brunch.

To end the month, we drove from Idyllwild to La Jolla to tour the old neighborhood and meet up with longtime friends Leo and Helen, who haven't aged a bit in the years we've been gone from Birdrock.

Helen still adores Buddy and Arwin, her 14-year-old cats, still plays tennis and still cares for a beautiful garden in the house she's lived her entire life.

Leo still has a great laugh and an enduring positive attitude about life.

(And Bahia Don Bravo is still serving burritos.)

Leo and Helen at the oceanside park that Helen's mother made.

Finally, we visited with our favorite next-door-neighbor Kristen Luther with her beau, Carlos. If you look carefully, you can see Maile, Jake and Noah as little kids on Kristen's old sweatshirt.

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !

and gie's a hand o’ thine !

And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught,

for auld lang syne.

Birthday in Tecate

If we have an occasion to celebrate and some $ in our pocket, we love returning to Rancho La Puerta in Mexico for a tune-up to our wellness routine. Morning hikes, stretching, yoga, massage, pickleball and other sports plus super healthy food and inspiring vistas on sacred native grounds all combine for real rest and recharge.

This is the outdoor dining space for breakfast and lunch.

Morning hikes begin before sunrise.

John turned 66 on the hike up to "Alex's oak."

Above the clouds...

... feels like heaven.

A snowy egret on a rock by a tree.

We were fortunate to be in Mexico for La Posada, a re-creation of the Christmas journey from door to door (la puerta a la puerta) in which Joseph and the pregnant Mary seek a place of refuge for the night. 

La posada means "shelter" in Spanish.

People walk the journey and sing in a call-and-response fashion, asking for refuge and being turned away twice before they are welcomed by a stranger. They celebrate with banuelos, churros and sweet treats, including a pinata for the children.

La Tuna, musicians from the University of Baja, joined the festivities.

Feliz Navidad!

Thanksgiving at home

Our home overflowed with friends, family, gratitude, generosity and love this week as we hosted Regina, Ben & Russell, Howie & Barby and seven Osmanis for Thanksgiving. So much delicious food. So many good feels. Great way to kick off the winter holiday season! 

No idle time in Idyllwild

John has this thing about firewood. He must have been cold a lot when he lived in Minnesota. With all the wood (pine & avocado) he ordered and stacked in Idyllwild, he'll never be cold again.

TreePeople were encouraging planting by giving away free trees. We planted two of these beautiful Purple Leaf Plums and a Montmorency Cherry tree. Hoping for blossoms someday.

After working in the yard and hiking in the forest, we've always got a pile of muddy shoes. That's how we know it's been a good day. :)

First signs of winter

After three days of stormy weather, the air is so clear that you can see from the mountains of Idyllwild to the Pacific Ocean, a distance of 63 miles. 

Snow and the last few clouds linger on the hills above our cabin.

But the chill in the air doesn't deter us from hiking in the snow.

Afterwards? A glass of wine by a roaring fire.

Neighborhood Walk

As beautiful as it is in sunshine, Idyllwild feels a bit magical in clouds and fog. These pix were taken walking around the neighborhood.