Nothin' to say...

Here it is...a cloudy Saturday morning. I'm sitting here thinking...and thinking...and thinking and I can't think of a thing to say!

Written later in the day - why would I even try to write anything in the morning? Anyone who knows me knows I can NEVER think until after 9:00am!

Pickled asparagus

It was a gorgeous day yesterday so we took a drive out to buy artichokes at Pezzini's farm stand. The artichokes are especially good at this time of the year! I'd include a picture here but we ate them last night - a yummy dinner on our deck which we accompanied with a nice glass, well maybe it was a couple glasses, of wine.

I love pickled asparagus so grabbed a jar from the shelf and quickly took it to the counter where Gary was paying for our artichokes and strawberries. When it rang up at $11.99 I thought Gary was going to have "the big one!" I was actually a bit surprised too, thought they would be in the $6 range.

But they are sooo good! And it's always fun to get my husband going!

Good-bye Toby

In February I mentioned that Toby, our adopted Bichon Frise, was having a dominance issue. Well, I am SO sad to report that despite many $$$ spent with agression trainers and our personal dedication to working with him we have had to return him. Bichon Furkids Rescue will be working with him to see if they can resolve his biting in home situations and then re-home him. He is now spending 10 days in quarantine before he goes on to the next step in his life.
We were so fond of him and he is so smart. He took quickly to every training we did with him EXCEPT biting! And he is so cute! But with our flexible full time RVing lifestyle, which includes lots of visitors, we just couldn't see that he would ever be totally rehabilitated.
We are devastated but had to say Good-bye Toby.

"Kitty, kitty, kitty"

No, that's not Inky, the cat that lives under our deck, is it? (See September 17, 2008 Blog post) This is just one of the very large bobcats which live - and hunt - here at Laguna Seca. Isn't he a beautiful animal? While I was taking my photos he made a big dive toward a ground squirrel but came up empty handed.

Chaos...but life is still good!

Just thought I'd let you know how our day is/isn't going:

I'm in the Sound booth at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (checking decibel levels for Skip Barber Races,) our home (Escalade fifth wheel) is still at Camping World (convection oven just came in yesterday so they will be installing it today), Toby is at the groomer in Carmel Valley, Gary was out getting mail etc, bought two new batteries for the fifth wheel (which had gone dead last night while we were spending the night at Camping World-30 month batteres which we have had 30 months plus 12 days-boy do they plan that!) when he heard a BIG thunk in the truck so he is at Natale's getting something done (that won't be cheap)

Gary didn't do so well in Tahoe (I think-I don't like to know!)

Oh, woe is us!

THEN...I'm going through my E mails and here is the "Real Simple Magazine" thought for the day! Wonder what our "secret order" is for today?

"In all chaos there is a cosmos, in all disorder a secret order."
– Carl Jung

We go to the snow-South Lake Tahoe

"I think I'll just stow in Betty's suitcase."From our window at Harvey's

West Fork of Carson Creek

Can you see the white dog in the snow?

Most of us Californians don't get much snow where we live so we "go to the snow" so here I am writing from the warmth of my room and enjoying the glorious snowy scenery of Lake Tahoe and the mountains!

We dropped the fifth wheel off at Camping World in Gilroy yesterday morning. The convection part of the convection/microwave oven has failed so it will be replaced, thankfully it is still covered by the warranty. We will pick it up on Thursday on the way back to Laguna Seca.

Back to the snow story...we again chose to drive the scenic Highway 88 up to Tahoe and were treated to the breathtaking beauty of new snow, the result of the latest snow storm last weekend. Although it was cold, in the low 20's, the sun was shining and the snow was dropping from the pine trees, often times startling us when it plopped onto the windshield.

I love to "GO TO THE SNOW!"

From my window-flowers in the rain

Even in California we love Spring!
While it was raining earlier this week I looked out my window and thought I actually had an artichoke growing on my plant! Grabbed my camera and took pictures of my "artichoke," and also the miniature roses and narcissus blooming in my container garden. Raindrops on the plants sparkled when a ray sunshine popped through. (I don't think they are very evident in these photos.)
After further inspection I see that my artichoke bloom is, in fact, not an artichoke at all -- darn! I DO have an artichoke plant in this pot but the flower belongs to another, unknown species to me, plant!
Vivian, my daughter-in-law to be someday, has a green thumb and loves to layer bulbs and plants in pots so I never know what will pop up!

Today the rain is about gone so I went out to take a few more pictures. The "artichoke flower that isn't an artichoke flower" is sprouting these cute little purple flowers, the miniature rose is being visited (is that a bee or a fly?) and the bleeding hearts plant is blooming.

Toby update

Toby has now been living with us for three weeks. He is SO smart and learns quickly. We think he is very close to being THE perfect dog! HOWEVER, he has one idiosyncrosy which we are working on with him: he is very protective of our house. He is so friendly and affectionate to visitors UNTIL they move! Then he goes into an agressive mode. Scares the bejeebies out of everyone! Other than this he doesn't even growl!

We're working on socializing him so he knows we all love the people who come into our home.

Toby's one week anniversary

From Toby:

Today is my one week anniversary living with Betty and Gary! It has been a good week. I think I will stay forever.

The first couple days I was shy and did a lot of observing but I sure got over that quickly. I'm now showing my true outgoing and gregarious nature. I've met a lot of people and am always friendly. If I do say so myself I am really quite a popular guy here at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. (I have been exhibiting my alpha side with Jorden, Betty and Gary's 17 year-old grandson. Every once in awhile I give him a grrrr to show him I'm boss - I think I will get over that soon though.)

Boy, is it fun to play here. I start in the living room, run and make a long jump, skipping all three of the steps up to the bedroom, then another HUGE leap up onto the bed and then back to the living room. I do this a bunch of times. My people think it is so cool.

At night we are all comfortable as long as I stay in my area at the foot of the bed. I do love to sleep.

My walks are fun - there is so much space here to run and sniff.

I'll stay in touch.

Love,
Toby

Note from Betty: I know this is silly - just give me some time - I'll get real soon!

Meet Toby Thomas - our new adopted Bichon Frise

Hi,

I am in my new home and I'm very sure I'm going to like it although I am pretty shy now. Right now I am just observing as I sit on the sofa with my Gary.

On the way home we made a stop at the In 'n' Out so Betty and Gary could grab a burger. They ate outside in sight of the truck so they could watch and see how I reacted. I am proud to say that I was very good. (although I did bark a bit.) I dozed the rest of the trip to Monterey.

I was reluctant to go up the steps into my new home so Betty carried me, then she turned around to close the door and I jumped out and took a little run! Betty, Gary and their 17 year old grandson Jorden were shocked and at first ran after me so I kept running. Then they remembered that foster parent Russ had showed them that I will lie down if they lower their hand and say "down" First they said "Stop" and then "down" so I stopped and waited! I am such a good dog! (And they have definitely learned a little more about me!)
I am so happy that I will be moved from the "Available Dogs" to the "Happy Adoptions" section of the www.bichonfurkids.org website!
Love,
Toby Thomas

Its been two years since our Bichon Frise Murphy died at age 17-1/2. Up until now we just couldn't interest ourselves in getting a new dog. We knew we would eventually want another Bichon (great disposition, small dog and, since they have hair and not fur, they don't shed!)

Then randomly this past Tuesday-I hadn't checked it for months and months- I happened to see the link for the bichonfurkids in my favorites and went on to browse. Toby popped out. Should we send an application...oh dear
BICHON FURKIDS RESCUE is in LaCosta in Southern California...that's a long drive...oh well we'll make the drive if...we'll send it and see what happens. And so we E mailed it off - making sure we included information on Murphy, who was adopted from the Carson (CA) Shelter in 1989 and our other adopted dogs from the past: Great Dane Dutchess, Dalmatian Pepper, poodle/beagle Nikki plus our Irish Setter Tina (not adopted), Kikki the calico cat (adopted), Nanny the goat, Billy the cockatiel etc. etc.

Since they didn't have a home inspector in our area we were instructed to complete a home inspection and E mail photos of the exterior and interior of our home. We made sure we explained that we are full time RVers living and traveling in our fifth wheel.

Bingo, we were approved! Then...the foster parents called; they weren't in Southern California, they were just up the road (freeway) from us in Oakland! So close...this was becoming more and more like it was meant to be. (PLUS..the foster dad's name is Russ-the same as our son!)

It WAS meant to be!

So, this morning we drove two hours to Oakland. When they opened the door and we saw Toby, it was love. So here he is, at home with us - our new dog Toby. Isn't he cute?