As you can see we weren’t the only ones in Orange County trying to escape the heat yesterday. Continue reading
Motorcycle Ride to Newport Beach
Reply
Author Archives: Janice
Magic Lantern Hybrid Tea Rose
Our Weather has been very hot lately, and I haven’t spent a lot of time outside. This morning when I went out to look at the front garden, I was thrilled to see my Magic Lantern Hybrid tea rose in bloom. It is such a beautiful coppery orange color. Hybrid teas are the most popular type of rose. Not only is the blossom gorgeous, but as you can see below, the bud is also a joy to look at.
Hybrid tea roses usually produce one bloom on a long stem, which makes them perfect for cut flower displays. Hybrid teas are also popular because they continue to produce flowers all season long. My Magic Lantern has a light fragrance, although many tea roses have a much stronger scent. Magic Lantern is a very vigorous variety and is easy to care for. This plant is now in a large pot at the front of our house. It gets morning sun and seems very happy there. It does like frequent watering. I originally planted the Magic Lantern in the lawn at the side of our house. Three summers ago, a guest, when leaving, backed over the plant and flattened it, splitting the main stem. I dug up the bush and transplanted it to the pot it now grows in. I thought it was the end of my beautiful Magic Lantern, but as you can see, it not only survived, but has thrived. Now you know why I say it’s a hearty variety, and I’m especially fond of our Magic Lantern Hybrid Tea Rose. You might want to add one to your garden.
Candy and Kites in Bodega Bay
While staying in Napa, California, and planning a visit to Bodega Bay, friends emailed to tell us about a store there owned by long time friends of theirs. Second Wind specializes in kites, toys, sweets, and fun. Above is a bowl filled with sweet salt water taffy we bought there. We’d never seen so many flavors and we wanted to try them all. The shop was also filled with every sort of kite imaginable. We met Elaine, a very welcoming lady and one of the two owners. She took the photo below of me and my husband and our dog Annika in front of the store. We had a great time looking at the games, puzzles, wind socks, ground spinners and too many other items to mention. If you would like to learn more about this delightful store, take a look at their web site, www.secondwind.com.
On our way back to Napa, we drove through the town of Bodega, where we stopped at the old school house where Alfred Hitchcock filmed The Birds. You can see the building in the two photos below.
It was a busy day with lots of exploring. I wonder where we will be off to tomorrow. Right now I’m going to enjoy a piece of that yummy salt water taffy.
From New Zealand to Napa California
Last April I spent three weeks with our daughter who lives in New Zealand. While there I purchased this stove top espresso maker. I wrote about it in the posts titled Coffee in New Zealand, and Love my Stove Top Espresso Maker. One of the things I love about it, is its portability. Above you see a photo I took while preparing a cup of espresso on the stove in our 5th wheel trailer, during a recent trip to Napa California.
Delicious espresso ready to enjoy. Another plus with the stove top espresso maker, is how quickly you can prepare a single cup of coffee, which I often do in the late afternoon. Our daughter recommended that I buy the stainless steel version rather than the aluminum variety which I did, even though it was a little more expensive. Being coffee lovers we also have a Keurig coffee maker which uses pods, and we use it most days, but for size, flavor, and convenience, you just can’t beat a stove top espresso maker for a robust cup of coffee.
The Completion of a Knitted Blanket
I belong to a lovely group of women called The Crafty Ladies. The group meets once a week, to knit and crochet items for those in need. I’m a knitter, but a slow one, which is why I’m so pleased to have finally finished my latest project. This blanket will go to Orange County Child Abuse. The Crafty Ladies, is a group of ladies who generously give their time and talent creating beautiful items which are donated to several different organizations. We meet on Wednesday mornings at the Norman Murray Community Center in Mission Viejo, and although we officially start at 9:30 a.m., many of the members are there by 9:00, because it’s always so lovely to sit, chat, and do our needlework. Below is a photo of the yarn I used in the above project. There is also a photo taken in the very early stages, and you may notice that I used circular needles when knitting this blanket.
With the completion of this blanket, it’s now time to choose colors for my next project. For me this is one of the most exciting parts. Once I’ve made that decision, I’ll be sure to show you the beginnings of the next blanket.Please stay tuned.