A view from the kitchen window. If they haven’t hatched yet, I expect babies to emerge pretty darned soon. Thankfully, the rain has stopped. I’m happy not only for us and our water-logged property and for those who live in the Hudson Valley who have experienced flooding, but also for mama robin. She could use a break.
Finally, a day without a flash flood, flood, severe thunderstorm, or heat advisory warning – at several points we had all of those warnings at the same time.
Working on the next painting. I considered this basket vase a while back but concluded that the handle was a bit too complicated for me. I’m still tweaking everything, of course, and have lots of detail to add.
This morning, while making our second cup of coffee, I saw this card tacked to our bulletin board:
I saved it because it holds such happy memories.
Four years ago, after a somewhat late start, we started on our trip home from California – in our CR-V – where Don had been performing Escape to Margaritaville in La Jolla. That first leg on our journey was magical. We headed north through Orange County, then Los Angeles County, saw Stella for the first time, stopped in Santa Monica and swam in the ocean in the very late afternoon, and headed up the Pacific Coast Highway. We had no idea where we would stop for the night, but we knew we were very, very hungry.
As we drove through Malibu, our search for a good place to stop and have some dinner grew more and more frustrating. We finally found a little place called Gravina, an Italian restaurant. We had no idea whether it would be good or bad, but we were desperate. It turned out to be one of the best meals we’ve ever had. It was late, there weren’t that many people there, it was intimate and lovely and way more expensive than we’d planned. But we went for it and, oh my goodness, it’s such a strong memory for us. I’m thinking of all of these things as we prepare to say goodbye to the CR-V – hopefully, at some point this week. I’ll write a separate post about that car, a car that took us eastward on a new journey in our life.
I’ll miss her. When I stop and write even a little about her, I start to cry. I’m going to take some pictures of her today.
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
yes my sister-in-law lives in Pacific Palisades so on our yearly visit we love the drive along PCH
That highway has wonderful memories of our drive to Carmel for our honeymoon.
Because of Covid we have not been able to travel.
We pray next year will be different.
Yes, one of my first road trips when I lived in San Diego was a drive up the PCH to San Francisco. It’s gorgeous.
Stay safe, Linda.
Your new painting is beautiful! I really love the colors. But of course green is my favorite color. Thanks for sharing. Have a good day.
Thank you so much, April.
Stay safe.
I understand completely your connection to your special vehicle. They carry us to and from some of the most memorable journeys of our lives. They create a private world sometimes where we let loose emotions we can’t share anywhere else. I’m glad your weather has taken a turn for the better and love the story of mama robin. Enjoy a sunny day!
Thank you, Janet.
Stay safe!
Three cheers for the Intrepid Mama! And to all of you who have managed to make it through the days of deluge! I’m so glad you finally have a day without rain.
Your new painting will be lovely. I’m in love with that Roseville vase. The double handles make it especially interesting and I love the colors.
I know what you mean about parting with a vehicle in which you enjoyed some wonderful journeys. And this is just the best as memories go. I’m glad you saved the Gravina piece as a reminder. It sounds like a grand journey, or at least what you shared here!
It’s called a ‘basket’ vase. I really love it.
Thanks so much, Jeanie.
Stay safe.
Great start on the painting!
We also have powerful memories with our past cars. Some cars I wish we still had to drive. It’ll be fun to read your piece on the CR-V.
Enjoy your break in the weather! ;)
Thank you, Donna. I will miss the CR-V.
Stay safe.
I really love the painting. It speaks to me. Enjoyed your trip down memory lane about a trip, a car and a meal. Brought back many memories for me, too, of traveling with my husband along PCH and heading East from California. Great story. 💚😎
Glad you’re getting a break in the weather; we are, too, and it’s heavenly. The rain and humidity have been just too much this year. Nice to see all your beautiful pics of nature, too.
Thank you Caroline. Yes, it’s been a bit too much this year! I’m ready for some dry weather.
Stay safe!
That is a great shot of mama robin! It is sweet how you keep such a close eye on her! That is a tricky vase to paint but you have made a good start! I am wondering how many vases you own and if you will keep painting each one?
I don’t know. I have a lot of Roseville, but not all the pieces are vases. I’ll keep painting them for at least another 2 or 3 paintings and then I’ll have to move on to something else.
Stay safe, Ellen.
In the last month I have sold two of my husband’s trucks. He passed away from Covid Pneumonia in April. I miss seeing them in the driveway. It seems to make everything so final with them gone too.
olivia, I am so so sorry for your loss
Thank you.
Oh, Olivia! I had no idea your husband had passed away. I can’t even begin to imagine how much you must be grieving. I send my love to you and my prayers in this time of unspeakable loss. I wish I could give you a hug.
Much love,
Claudia
Thank you Claudia. He was in the hospital two days before they put the ventilator on him. Since it was covid we could not see him. We got to see him the day before we decided to go with comfort care. His lung had collapsed and his kidneys shut down. The hospital tried to get him off the ventilator for a month with no success. We were married 35 years. I am ten years older than him and I survived covid. He had no underlying health issues. I have since had the vaccine. His thoughts on the virus were that it was fake. He never would have gotten a shot. The comfort care was just oxygen and he was still sedated. I held his one hand with my gloved hand and his sister held his other hand. He passed peacefully in an hour. It was sad but we know we made the right decision. It was just machines keeping him alive. Thank you again for your kind words.
Bless you and yours, Olivia. Much love.
Wow! The color is fantastic! I love looking at it.
Sometimes the unexpected turns out to be so memorable especially when we splurge a bit.
Some one said, I think Anthony Bourdain, that you have to put up with a lot of mediocre experiences to get one great one.
Wise words!
Thanks, Kay.
Stay safe!
Oh I love the memories. I remember your writing about Stella and how you both fell in love with her. I’ve passed on my CR-V and I miss it but its gone to a good friend and so I see it all the time. Hugs!
We can’t even pass ours on. It’s been driven to death!
Stay safe, Linda.