Groundhog day

Everybody, let's pretend it's Groundhog day and we are repeating yesterday for just a while. I had every intention of posting yesterday but there was just too much going on! So...may I present Saturday...once again!

First enjoy these shots of the neighborhood featuring a glorious sunny sky.

As I revel in this beautiful weather, let me toast all of you with a Shandy. My friend Cheri told me about this drink that is simply equal parts beer and sparkling lemonade. She described it as refreshing and she is absolutely right! I googled shandy and there are actually recipes that put you through a lot of trouble but what could be easier to remember than equal parts? You definitely need to try it.

Just two simple ingredients to create a refreshing afternoon drinky poo!

Here is the Shandy in a pretty pitcher I purchased for $2 at a yard sale. I have a thing for this type of Mexican glassware and I’ve pictured it with some glasses I got from Marshall’s when I moved here back in 2000. Blue is my favorite color so these make me very happy. But what makes me even more happy is a calamari taco and some onion rings. Perhaps not the most caloric conscious of lunches but oh so tasty!

The little side table was a gift from a friend, I love it!

Well, despite the gorgeous weather, we are expecting a temperature drop and some drizzles tomorrow night and into Monday morning. Oh, summer can you be far away? Whenever it gets cold here I find southern Californians fall into one of two categories. They are either in deep denial continuing to dress in shorts, tank tops and flip flops or they are dressed for a trek in the arctic. There doesn’t seem to be a happy medium with us!

In the meantime, I continue to plow through the Amelia Peabody books as I sip my Shandy. The Amelia Peabody series is a series of mystery novels written by Elizabeth Peters featuring Egyptologist Amelia Peabody Emerson. The novels are part mystery and spy thriller with glimpses of Egyptian life and interspered with a little comedy. The series spans a thirty-eight year period from 1884 to 1923 and is primarily set in Egypt with some installments including action in England and Gaza.

The author Elizabeth Peters - ok, I want a pith helmet!

The book features a number of things I find fascinating like Egyptology, the Victorian and Edwardian periods and the early 20s. I find Elizabeth Peters to be a wonderful writer who knows how to draw the reader into a good story. If Dan Brown (The Da Vinci Code), Stephenie Meyers (Twilight) and JK Rowling (Harry Potter) are authors considered to have drawn people back to reading, Elizabeth Peters would be the author who never got you to leave in the first place. That's my two cents!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Hi, hope you are all reveling in the New Year!

Some fun news, I found a yard sale in the neighborhood yesterday while on my morning walk and came away with a great little stash! A fabulous crochet handbag, a pair of comfortable slippers and a wonderful framed poster to add to my collection of travel posters.

The bag is totally lined and has a zipper top and quite roomy.

These were very comfy, wore them all day yesterday, and at only $2 they were better than anything I could have found at Target.

Gorgeous! A fabulous find at only $7 (down from $10) and a worthy addition to my collection of travel posters (see Art of the Casa).

The woman who was holding the yard sale was retiring and planning a move to Portugual for about a year and then to her native Scotland, which as you know is also home to my boyfriend, Gerry Butler.

Hi honey!

My big plan for the day is perhaps to do a little grocery shopping but mainly I plan on spending the day outside just chilling and enjoying some sunny weather, FINALLY! I'll catch up on some reading while outside. Right now I'm plowing through the Amelia Peabody series written by Elizabeth Peters.

A totally bask worthy day!

And speaking of reading, I would be remiss if I didn't mention my trip yesterday to the Friends of the Library yesterday. I purchased a chicklit for $1 but Bob, one of the volunteers, sent me home with a mess of magazines for free. I couldn't believe the haul, I almost felt guilty.

Which should I read first?

I'll get to them later. First the Sunday paper and dining al fresco. The weather is delightful and warm and you're welcome to join me!

Have a gorgeous day!

Happy New Year!

When last I left you…back in October that is…it was raining the proverbial cats and dogs.

Though we’ve had a few sunny spots in between, California has been soaked to the gunnels. Personally, I’ve had enough of rubber rafting as transportation every time the San Diego River crests. It’s the New Year and I’m ready for some new weather!

This is NOT the three hour cruise she signed up for!

Here’s a shot of the weather we woke up to on Christmas morning. Funny, it doesn’t look like sunny SOUTHERN California does it? Whenever the weather gets this soupy I always pretend I’m in foggy London town!

The sun trying to peak through the Christmas fog

A soupy mess

Though we are now into the New Year, I am still basking in the afterglow of Christmas. It was a relaxing, lazy day and I watched a few DVDs, the Dr. Who Christmas special and watched Elf a million times! I also created a new drink I call Bonnie’s Jingle Bells, just some vodka, cranberry juice and sparkling lemonade.

Get your Tardis in gear - it was a great episode!

Elf!

I had it with a late lunch/early dinner holiday fare of roasted chicken, roasted veggies, mashed potatoes and cranberry from the can. Just the basics and - I know – it was the jellied cranberry that comes out shaped like a tin can! I haven’t had that since I realized how easy it is to make homemade cranberry sauce. Somehow it just seemed nostalgic.

I was visited by the ghost of Christmas Past - cranberry shaped like a tin can!

New Year’s Eve and day just seemed to fly by in one big woosh! I decided I didn’t want to cook so I went for some takeout Chinese food. It seemed somehow apropos and reminded me of the movie A Christmas Story. Remember when the crazy dogs from next door ate the Parker family’s turkey resulting in dinner at a Chinese restaurant dining on duck or what they called Chinese turkey? Anyway my dinner was delicious and I am particularly fond of a dish that features eggplant and tofu. Not traditional but yummy all the same.

I love that TBS runs A Christmas Story marathon every year!

And speaking of the New Year, I wish you all the very best in 2011!

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas

Just a few Christmas memories of a very young me interspersed with a little Christmas decorating. How well I remember...

Trying my best not to nod off during midnight mass!

I don’t care if I did grow up in Hawaii, Santa did not come in on a surfboard or an outrigger canoe! He flew in with a team of eight reindeer and landed on the roof. I know because I’m sure I heard them one Christmas Eve!

My mother’s one rule when decorating the Christmas tree, tinsel was not to be thrown on willy nilly, it went on one tinsel at a time!

And while we were decorating the tree, we listened to two Christmas albums, one was a children’s chorale and the other was the Jackson 5. I can still hear Michael Jackson singing I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause!

I remember making festively decorated candles with my mother and using milk cartons as the mold.

Christmas dinner was usually a repeat of Thanksgiving, lots of turkey and stuffing, yummy!

Waking up Christmas morning very early and the torment of having to wait for my parents to get up.

Sometimes my father wasn't able to join us on Christmas morning because he worked as a pilot and was either working or on call. It pretty much was like that on any holiday.

One of my favorite Christmas gifts was a life-sized stuffed dog, a poodle that had a little squeaker on the tip of its tail.

I loved watching a Christmas Carol every year. It was an old black and white, filmed in the 50’s and I shiver every time Scrooge says…are there no prisons, no workhouses? My other favorite Christmas movie is White Christmas.

I would like to wish everyone of you…

Peace,

Love,

Joy

and much, much happiness.

Merry Christmas from Bonnie Sadie and The Gato

I'm back!

Unleash the hounds!

It's good to be back!

The reason for my abrupt disappearance is that real life took over - I accepted a job. The reality was tho I flourished in blogville, realsville was another matter. So off I trudge each Monday through Friday from 8 to 5 to a job that may not be my dream job but it is the job that pays the bills and other sundries.

Since returning to the work a day world I’ve noticed a few things….

Hosiery: Have you noticed no one wears stockings anymore? I always wear pantyhose or tights when I am in anything that closely resembles a skirt or dress. My sister says it dates me and I guess I am old school in that regard.

I hear the 70's calling my name - remember when L'eggs came in an egg?

My wardrobe: I have not worn any of my work clothes in almost two years and I discovered something BIG! My working wardrobe has become a little ill fitting. In other words I must have lost some weight! While that’s GREAT it also presents a dilemma, I NEED new clothes.

If only!

Lunch: Ok, have you ever noticed people just chilling in their cars having coffee, reading, writing bills, whatever. I always thought that was a little weird but I must tell you that I have since discovered the joys of having lunch in my car - I know, just plain weird! But it affords me a chance to chill, get a bite to eat and read my latest book. It’s also warmer in my car than it is in the office so I get to warm up a bit. My car has suddenly become more than a vehicle that takes me from A to B, it’s become my own little sanctuary.

Wait a minute, I'm NOT the lunch! I sit in my car and have lunch!

The dog and cat: Kitty is just fine and has adjusted to my new schedule. Sadie though is a creature of habit and has gotten used to walking twice a day. Now I must get up extra early to do a quick walk around the block. She cannot just go in the backyard, she MUST take a walk or she will pout and things may get dicey in the house if you know what I mean.

Sadie and Kitty in front of their window on the world but check out the computer in the upper left. I got that in 2000 but it seems so clunky now.

Getting up on time: UGH , so hard to do now that the weather is chilly and it’s the rainy season. It has become more and more difficult to kick those blankets off at 5:30 in the morning.

I would like to send a SHOUT OUT to some pretty awesome blogger friends who have inquired after me whilst I was on my little hiatis. They are...

Sal, who is about to become a mom, at Candycane is Married
Anita sitting pretty at Castles Crowns and Cottages
Barb crafting up a storm at The French Elements
Helga awesomely outrageous at Helga von Trollop
Bonnie cooking up something yummy at From a Writer's Kitchen
Penny creating something lovely at Angel's Door

Thanks for sending out a holler wondering where on earth I was. It gives me the warm fuzzies to know that people enjoy following along with me as much as I enjoy following along with all of you out there. I know I'll have fun catching up on the latest!

Hope you are staying warm and enjoying the last weekend before the Christmas holiday!

It never rains in California...

...it pours, MAN it pours!

Our corner of the world anxiously awaited a BIG rainstorm to blow through last night. Well, I waited and waited and waited some more but nary a drop fell in our neighborhood. The morning news reported that it rained and thundered and lightninged (ok, I know there is no such word!) apparently in PARTS of San Diego. Whataaa? It finally came for us around 10:30-11 this morning with a vengence! However, it seemed that as quickly and ferociously as it came, it stopped. The whole day was one big drizzle after the big downpour.

Batten down the hatches!

Current weather conditions:

Currently: 64°F Rain
San Diego, California
Currently: 18°C Rain
Wind: North at 0 MPH
Humidity: 77%
Dewpoint: 57°F
Barometer: 29.89 inches

Raindrops keep falling on my...

Forecast for the week

Rain swept street in front of my house.

Sadie softly snoring through the mid-morning rain storm safe in her bed. She's snuggled in her serape that I got at a neighbor's yard sale for $1.

Kitty positioned himself on Sadie's other bed in front of the picture window in the living room. He was resting peacefully until I disturbed him - sorry Kitty.

Hope you are managing to stay dry wherever you are in the world!

Mid week interlude

Photographs du jour, taken on our morning walk. Just little bits and bobs going on in our neighborhood.

A little peek into a garden

Feeling a bit naughty, who would miss just one banana?

I love figs. I know it's a wierd fruit with a funny texture. As a kid I loved fig newtons and fairly recently a friend's grandma made a fig cake and it was delicious.

A neighbor's grape vine, they look like champagne grapes I think.


I thought this vine was pretty.


Gorgeous flowers


Funny sign on a local business.


An amusing little fellow with some magic mushrooms!


Door knocker on a garden gate

Notice how the garden is in a circle? I call it the San Diego version of Stonehenge.

A remnant of happier times

If you like pinwheels, I'm sure Martha Stweart can show you how to make one.

A mail box almost hidden by the vines

Allrighty then!

Hello kitties!

It's Mikey, a furry little dynamo!

The lovely Sadie who did not want to pose for this picture!

Is it Halloween yet?

This house is always about Halloween every year

This is more my speed!

And finally, Sadie and I saw a great bumper sticker that said....

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons for you are crunchy and good with ketchup!

Enjoy the rest of your week!