Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Roxane and I met at the PG golf Grill this morning to plan our plein air classes. We sat on the cold foggy deck and talked and wrote. Slowly the sun came out. The staff was helpful and the cemetery is right there. SO we will be using this spot for one of our classes.

Only two weeks until the classes start. I hope I will have improved in walking.

Monday, August 30, 2010

The flaming eucalyptus trees are beginning to bloom in Monterey on Lighthouse ave. Bright red and orange clusters of blossoms. Brings smiles to my face when I see them.

On the other hand the pink ladies are now blooming on my street and the ones in my yard have been eaten by the deer. I notice the deer did not eat my neighbors flowers. What gives?

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Drove out of foggy Monterey with three friends to sunny Carmel Valley to a friend's house for a board meeting. she had fresh banana bread and hot coffee. The meeting was fine, we all get along and are glad to be together.

I hung out at home in the afternoon working on a sewing project and listening to Speaking of Faith on the radio.

Saturday, August 28, 2010


Went to the sports center this afternoon to start riding a stationary bicycle to heal my knee. It took me awhile to realize my son and his family were also there. I was noticing these good looking people before I realized , hey they are my family.

I was surprised to see so few people in the center in the middle of a Saturday afternoon.

My knee already feels better.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Perfect day, fog in the morning and sun in the afternoon.

Did my Physical Therapy exercises in the morning and then went to the noon sitting. I gave a talk about the half day sitting tomorrow morning. This will be a first for this group.Looks like it will go well. I have to give another talk tomorrow morning and then I am free for the weekend.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Met with my friend Rick today to share our journals. He has been writing everyday for the last 30 years. He uses a variety of inks and glues objects to the pages to reflect his writing. Needless to say his work is beautiful

After spending time with him I want to write more and create a beautiful journal. My journal is functional not beautiful. My mind just doesn't work that way.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Met a friend for lunch at Loulou's on the wharf. Sat outside on the wharf talking and eating fish and chips. the winter birds have started arriving.


Toward the end of lunch I noticed that the fog was creaping over the hill from Carmel.

After two days of heat I will not complain about the fog.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Another hot day, fog should be in by tomorrow night. Went to Earthbound farms to write with Roxane in the morning but really it was too hot.

I am working on the prescribed exercises to strengthen my knee.

Slow day, sitting around waiting for the house to cool off.

Monday, August 23, 2010


The physical therapist is hopeful that my knee will improve significantly. Yea.

the sun is here and today was a bit too warm. We are having a balmy evening with a full moon.

My goal is to be able to walk two miles. now I can walk two blocks.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Watching the Simpsons tonight while multi tasking with my computer. So many obnoxious commercials. Usually I watch non commercial TV. Luckly we have a remote button to stop the sounds.

I don't much like TV but I still persist looking for the elusive good show.

Well maybe I will go back to reading again.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Took a slow short walk on the waterfront after dinner with a friend. First walk there in two months. Lots of brownish jelly fish and some schools of sardines creating ruffles near the wharf.

The summer birds are gone and the winter birds have not arrived. Lots of families walking around. Sat on a bench while my friend took a walk. it felt so good to be by the water again.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Went to the evening talk with Shohaku Okumura at the Cherry Center. Gallery full of quiet respectful people. As usual he was a kind thoughtful speaker trying to explain what Dogen meant in his writing.

tomorrow he will give us a workshop. We are so lucky

Thursday, August 19, 2010

The ten year old boy came over after school and asked if I could sew him a black glove. He had some black stretch fabric. We used his had as a template and I cut out a pattern and sewed up a sample by hand. The first one didn't fit at all but the next one was a little closer. he never told me what he wanted to use it for and I didn't ask.

When he went home he left the two imperfect gloves on the table. Maybe I will save it for him and give it to him for a gift. Or maybe he is through with the glove use. I don't know.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Traffic was slow this morning on Del Monte Ave in front of the Convention Center. Huge transport vans were slowing loading up the antique cars from the weekend events. Police were directing traffic. Two lanes were blocked.

Finally I was through the mess and on my way home.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Saw the knee doctor today and will start physical therapy next week. I'm getting stronger.

Sun was out all afternoon and there is a chance we will see the stars tonight. Maybe the season is going to shift.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Drove out to Beautiful Carmel Valley this morning for an appointment with Dr. Patricia Wolff. the sun was bright and the hills were enchanting. Lots of people heading into town, not so many going my way to the village. I forget how beautiful it all is.

On the way back stopped at Earthbound Farms store and picked up some fresh food.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

I am looking for a small dish pan to buy, Now I have been to two stores where I thought there might be one but no, the stores have sparsely filled shelves. It looks like they are not replenishing their stock.

Tomorrow I will go to Target and if they don't have one then it's on the internet.


Our economy is slowing down.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

I finally saw the elusive deer that have been visiting my yard. I was walking on my street at dusk and they were walking up the street. two adults and three small young deer. They are so quiet. They froze and then turned down a neighbor's driveway away from me.

The naked ladies are blooming in front yards, tall pink flowers with no leaves. the leaves come after the flowers die back. The deer don't eat them.

Seeing the deer made me happy and yet I feel for my eaten garden.

Friday, August 13, 2010

I water the front yard. The deer have ravished the sunflowers and the sweet peas and everything else. I watch the plant struggle to send out a new leaf and then it gets eaten. Should I just pull these plants out or continue to watch them suffer.

the sun came out at noon. Yea

Thursday, August 12, 2010

A friend of mine plays tennis several times a week and she is my age. I am practicing walking without a limp. Maybe this is the first step towards tennis.

Went to early morning zazen at the Cherry Center this morning. As I was leaving I realized that the fog was actually beautiful and the pine trees and the oaks. Everything was perfect.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Blue sky, sunshine, shadows. We are all luxuriating in the sunshine. And then the fog came back in. a passion flower vine is climbing the huge old oak tree by my yard. It looks like the tree has big red blossoms.

Went to a chaplain meeting at Community Hospital to review the recent New Yorker article about the difficulty in our culture to work with dying and living fully while one is still alive.

I love the New Yorker.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

I spent the morning ripping out a long seam I had sewn in a garment. It took longer to take it out then it did to sew it. Tomorrow I will resew it carefully.

I edited some of my essays on my computer.

And then I went to Ocean Sushi for lunch.

Monday, August 9, 2010

I am always looking for the best market to buy food. Lately I LOVE Grove Market in Pacific grove, A wonderful meat counter, some pre cooked foods, fresh local veggies and fruits.

I like that you can buy small portions and that there are not so many choices. Today I bought local organic tomatoes and cooked ribs for dinner.

I love the taste of real tomatoes.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Spent the wet cold day in the house. Had a meeting in the morning and then worked on my computer in the afternoon. I am making a big effort to protect my knee and it weems to be working.

I watched the newest episode of MAD MEN on TV and now I can do whatever I want. What do I want to do.?

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Went to the 5pm movie named KISSES at the Osio, An Irish film about poverty and children who run away from home. sad. Reminded me of my work as a social worker.

then we went to
Turtle Bay for dinner.

Friday, August 6, 2010


I'm reading THE WIND UP BIRD CHRONICLE, a novel by Haruki Murakami. I had avoided it for years because I thought it was too hard, but no I am enjoying it after all.

Went to breakfast with friends at the Lighthouse cafe in Pacific Grove and had eggs benedict. Yummy.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Went to Staples to order some printed envelops for the Zen Center. Only one person behind the counter. Only one person ahead of me , a woman trying to design a business card for her new business. I stood for awhile and then went behind the counter and pulled out a stool to sit on while I waited.

45 minutes later it was my time. I knew what I wanted and was finished in 10 minutes.

I wish I were more patient.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Received my one page MRI report this afternoon. I wish I understood it better. I have mailed a copy to my brother for his advice. What does this really mean?

Another cold foggy day, no sign of the sun.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

It took awhile but finally Roxane and I met up to write together at the Works in Pacific Grove. We wrote but mostly we talked about our upcoming writing class we are teaching in September, Plein Air writing. We are deciding on where to take the class. It is all coming together.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Went for an early morning Appointment for an MRI, my first ever. I was the only patient around. Lots of staff. They greeted me with open arms. where are al the patients?

It was not so difficult, lots of sounds during the 25 minutes I had to hold still as they took pictures of my knee. Maybe I will learn what is going on, or maybe not.

In the meant time I am walking carefully, resting my knee and being grateful to be able to walk at all.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Had dinner at Fifi's in Pacific Grove tonight with my sister Patty. We always go there when she comes to visit. wonderful french food. Now I feel too full and wish I hadn't eaten so much.
It was soooooo good.