In no particular...

...order. Here are random bits in no particular order that have happened within the last two weeks!

One thing, kind of a big thing, I have noticed about Texas is the weird weather. The morning will start off beautiful with sunny skies, and then by early afternoon the weather takes a turn for the dramatic. The skies darken, it rains hard (somebody call Noah) it starts to thunder and lightning and if you're lucky (!), it starts to hail like in this picture. This is the side yard looking towards the neighbors. All those white things on the ground is hail. Later in the evening the rain came down so hard a little river formed between us. Thank goodness there wasn't a twister. In San Diego they report "micro-climate" weather on the news, here it's called "your severe weather climate." Wow, emphasis on the severe!

OMG - Tim McGraw had given a private concert at The Del Coronado and who was there on the beach but two of my besties, Cheri and Gloria. They ended up with a free concert, on the beach, no one was shooed away. This is SoCal at its best, just a relaxed state of mind!

I decided to do a bit of snooping in my sister's craft room. It is jam packed with all kinds of whatnots and such but I couldn't help but be attracted to these buttons like some clever little bird ready to fly off with something shiny.

 Don't forget Mother's Day is May 10th. I also found this cute plaque while rummaging around. So warm, so bright, so real, so right, so kind, so cool, it's clear mom's rule!

 Japanese yummies in Texas - yay! I was so happy to find these in an Asian market. It would be so much better if it were fresh but these fit the bill ok. I also found some crystallized ginger, sweet and spicy at the same market.

I picked up this teapot for one at the Goodwill in San Diego just before I left. I couldn't resist. It's by Tracy Porter and was only $3.

I only just opened it today and found a lovely surprise. Take a look! A little flower painted at the bottom of the cup to wish me a happy day!

Oh, now here's a little gem of a portrait of me done in 1997. Notice how short my hair is. This caricature of me was part of an Admin Day celebration the hotel (I worked at Hilton Hawaiian Village at the time) put on for us. It was a fun luncheon full of surprises. PS - the dog in the picture is Noelani our family boxer.

The bunnies were purchased at San Diego Goodwill around Easter, the glasses are brand new and shouldn't be left lying around like that! They are a dark brown surrounded by mint green and helped me pass my eye exam at the DMV. The note card to the right of it is one I just fancied. It features birds and bird cages.

In my last post I did mention that I would tell you about a fun shopping experience I had.at The Marketstreet in The Woodlands, TX. The website seems so snooty but I found everyone in the shops to be very friendly.

Here's the Z Gallerie. I haven't been here since I can't remember.This was a cute display with a bed done up in white and chocolate with adorable twin bears.

 I loved the Kate Spade store. It was bright, colorful, friendly and just so darn expensive but there sure were a number of lovely things.

Trina Turk has an equally lovely shop. Too bad I had nothing but moths flying out of my coin purse!

So on a totally different subject, besides being May 4th, did you know today is Star Wars Day? No? I just found out myself! I leave you with this gem from Yoda, the greatest Jedi Knight ever:

 Do or do not. There is no try.

Peace out!

Max, we're not in Kansas...

...I mean, San Diego anymore! I find myself a fish out of water, a liberal now plopped among conservative republicans and tea party people. It must come from all those years of living in California and Hawaii!

I have recently indulged my penchant for seeking out second hand stuff! The first two photos came from a Katy, Texas Goodwill store on the drive to my new home in Magnolia. I have not bought retail for over a year and honestly, I don't miss it. 

I didn't really think much of this light coverup/sweater but when I put it on, it suddenly came to life, I love it! This is from Dressbarn of all places.

 I love the colors on this top from Westbound Petites. The only problem with it, if you can call it a problem, is that it blends in with my skin tone so I might look a little washed up. But I really love a good paisley print and this more than qualifies.

This is a silky pair of relaxed crop pants with a drawstring on the bottom of each leg. It's navy blue with a cool pattern and vaguely reminds me of India. It's from Zenergy by Chico's. Can I tell you how much I LOVE Chico's!

And here is my selfie wearing the sweater (don't you love how I cut my head off and focused too much on the sink?). I love how the front has a soft cascading ruffle. The sleeveless Susan Graver blouse underneath is silvery and matches great with the gray tones of the sweater. The blouse is from a San Diego Goodwill and I think you can tell where I took this picture!

During a recent outing (which I'll post about later) we happened upon young lady on horseback. She is not a police officer rather part of a local security force doing her rounds.

 I can now consider myself a local Texan as I went and got myself a library card! I thought this sign was awfully cute!

 Yes, that's right. Maraschino cherries soaking up some moonshine. It'll set your throat afire! It wasn't bad when I mixed it with a Dr. Pepper Cherry soda. Think I'll take a nap now!

Are you all looking forward to the weekend?

Here's some news...

...actually, I'm not even sure where to start. But here's the BIG news, I have picked up and moved to Texas! I've been in the Lone Star state for two weeks and I'm slowly acclimating. It's nothing like southern California, the vibe is completely different, but the people here are nice.

A beautiful shot of Texas blue bonnets. Thanks Lady Bird!

We traveled from San Diego, California and powered through Arizona

Saw a lot of the Arizona desert

 and overnighted in Las Cruces, New Mexico (yet more desert landscape)

 After a quick breakfast, we left New Mexico for Texas and spent the night in San Antonio.
So close and yet so far from the Riverwalk and the Alamo. No time for sightseeing!

A big Texas welcome, oh, and drive friendly!

Dawn over San Antonio from my hotel window

Finally arriving in my new home Magnolia, Texas

The cat and dog came with me of course. Before we left, Maxwell went for a shave and a haircut at the groomers. Here's a pic of Max before and a cute one that my sister took after.

Give me a head with hair!

Max after

Here's Kitty who turned out to be a great traveling buddy

So this brings you up to date with all the news that's fit to print. I hope you are enjoying your Sunday. 

By the way, what are you doing?

It's only a paper moon...

...well, not really. It's the Supermoon rising over USD Immaculata, Bay Park, and Tecolote Shores in San Diego. 

It was gorgeous!

Here's the supermoon over Hawaii taken by a friend of mine at 10:15pm last evening.

Hope you are all doing well!

I awoke this morning...

...to find my kitty, Kitty sitting on my chest, one eye closed and the other staring intently at me as I woke from my slumber. Did I mention he was also swatting my mouth with his paw (I do not care to know where that paw had trod lately…kitty litter came to mind, UGH). Kitty was staring so hard that I was beginning to receive his thoughts telepathically… you will awake now and open a can of tuna and feed me on your finest crystal Yes, that’s my kitty!

This is Sylvia. As you can see her kitty is massaging her head and is no doubt planting

 evil thoughts like you will fall into a deep sleep and when you awake you will feed me more tuna! 

This Halloween marked the first time, I did not buy candy (even for myself!) and the house was dark except for the glare on the TV. I felt like the Halloween Grinch but it’s only because for the last two Halloweens there have been no trick-or-treaters on my street. Two streets in back of me however, it’s like party central with tons of kids. I’m not really quite sure how that happened but back in 2000 when I first moved here there were trick-or-treaters galore. Now nary a one!

Maybe no one came because I had these in my front yard!

In spite of all this Halloween was celebrated  as usual and here are some pictures to prove it…

My niece Lehua at first decided on doing Dia de los Muertos

But, she ended up with the tried and true!

This is Carlos her equally scary vampire husband

Some of my friends like to get their pets involved, here are a few...

Baby Kitty dressed as a pirate - stand and deliver! Your candy that is matey.

Margo the Schnauzer singing... I'm an old cow hand from the Rio Grande. In her every day life Margo is a pampered princess and I'm not kidding!

Yet more Halloween pics:

Britny (yes, that's how she spells her name) as Morticia

Cheri surrounded by Dia de los Muertos

A Halloween classic with my niece's kids, Bryan, Miles and a very young Victoria

A new classic, my niece Jamie and her little strawberry Victoria. What a difference a year makes!

That's all for now. Have a great Sunday!

Picture this...

… me in bed, Sunday morning around 11ish (yes, I was still in bed) having finally succumbed to cold that is keeping fellow work mates away from said work in droves. Ugh! Struggle to turn on TV with remote, must make note to check vision, can barely read TV screen even when squinting. Hear meow and heavy footsteps. Focus to see Kitty coming into sick room with biggest dust bunny ever clinging to chin. Wait, whaaaaa???? Not dust bunny at all! Good grief it’s a decapitated little mouse. Aaarrrghhh! Must now get out of sick bed to pick up what is left of poor little mouse and put in trash outside. Kitty was so proud of delivering mouse to me and here I am unceremoniously putting it in the trash bin. Can’t be helped, just know I am loved!

A stare off with a catnip filled mouse

What is it with cats? One minute the world is in peaceful harmony and the next it’s going up in flames! A few weeks ago, I came home from work and kitty was fine. Much later when it was too late to see the vet, the cat had a lump the size of a watermelon on the side of his head. The next morning the vet took us in to find out Kitty had an abscess. Two hundred plus dollars later and after a good long cry for me and Kitty, we went home supplied with antibiotics and pain meds (pain meds meant for me I’m sure). If I thought Kitty looked odd with a huge bump, he looked stranger now that the whole affected area had been shaved. It looked like someone took a bite out of him. He is my bizarro Frankenstein kitty!

Kitty making himself at home on some clean laundry

So, yes, I am stuck at home with a full on cold. Sore throat, slight cough, sneezing, runny nose and a very foggy head has kept me in bed most of the day. I am trying to treat it with sleep, a little sunshine (this always makes me feel better), some ibuprofen, tea with lemon and honey and Airborne. I swear Airborne makes getting through a cold much easier than without. We shall see what tomorrow brings.

Whilst at home in sick bed, managed to catch this interesting little bit on CNN on the price of a Starbucks Grande Latte around the world…

Make mine a pumpkin spice latte which by the way contains NO pumpkin in the Starbucks version!

Look forward to healthier days ahead and 

to all my bloggy friends in the UK stay safe and dry!

Happy first day of summer!

Who is this little beach bunny?
My niece Victoria enjoying one of the great things about summer in Hawaii!