Bill and I bought this house in October, 1998. His boys were coming to live with us. Dave stayed a few months, and Dan two years. When they moved we continued on. In 2008 I spent the summer in Napa where I worked from home. I swore I would never spend another summer in Phoenix.
We had a chance to buy a mobile home in Prescott, which I love. I have been saying we don't need this house, I want to move for years. Now, with only 3 days until 2 Men and a Truck show up to move furniture to a new home across Phoenix, I am realizing I am more attached to this home than I thought. This is one of the last nights I will sleep her.
Live is changing, which it always does. We move on and find new friends and new ways.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Thoughts on leaving Napa
I am not connected to this place in a real sense. I don't own land or grow grapes or make wine. Don't have cows or watch birds. Don't visit wineries or taste wines.
It is a place of my heart.
I was driving from Vallejo yesterday and day dreaming about things I love.
The golden brown hills that give California her name.
The patches of oak trees on the hillsides.
The black cows with the white waist bands lounging in a pasture below the farm buildings.
The way cow paths terrace around the hills from generations of cows taking the easy way home.
The wet lands as I enter the Napa area, spread over the acres with the river rising and falling with the tides.
Having just picked up my sewing machine, I was thinking how much I love it. The shop was filled surfaces, floors, walkways with machines waiting to be repaired. I told Darrell the machine guy about the 1935 machine I played with last year and how much I liked doing that. I was dreaming about being a sewing machine repair lady and how to learn that skill.
I dream of living close to but not with my daughter. Seeing my granddaughters and being available for last minute school pick ups or evenings out. Dinner together, having a beer. I want my husband to be with me, too. I'm dreaming of the day I can have all this at the same time. It's coming, it's coming.
I will be leaving Napa shortly, it seems like home. You can have two homes like you can have two loves if that's what the universe hands you. I will miss the cold wet winter and that is okay. I do dream of those LL Bean flannels and fleeces and waterproof boots. Things are changing.
It is a place of my heart.
I was driving from Vallejo yesterday and day dreaming about things I love.
The golden brown hills that give California her name.
The patches of oak trees on the hillsides.
The black cows with the white waist bands lounging in a pasture below the farm buildings.
The way cow paths terrace around the hills from generations of cows taking the easy way home.
The wet lands as I enter the Napa area, spread over the acres with the river rising and falling with the tides.
Having just picked up my sewing machine, I was thinking how much I love it. The shop was filled surfaces, floors, walkways with machines waiting to be repaired. I told Darrell the machine guy about the 1935 machine I played with last year and how much I liked doing that. I was dreaming about being a sewing machine repair lady and how to learn that skill.
I dream of living close to but not with my daughter. Seeing my granddaughters and being available for last minute school pick ups or evenings out. Dinner together, having a beer. I want my husband to be with me, too. I'm dreaming of the day I can have all this at the same time. It's coming, it's coming.
I will be leaving Napa shortly, it seems like home. You can have two homes like you can have two loves if that's what the universe hands you. I will miss the cold wet winter and that is okay. I do dream of those LL Bean flannels and fleeces and waterproof boots. Things are changing.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
The difference between thinking about walking and walking (from Facebook)
I woke up about six with a better plan than yesterday, which I might add, resulted in no walking except around the house.
I got dressed and drove to downtown Napa (five minutes away), bought a newspaper from a box and put it in my car, then walked (without coffee or food). Napa Creek passes behind Main street and there is a lovely walkway. Some vocal geese were marching out of the water to the other bank. I wonder who owns them. Anyone? God? The walkway only went a short way, so I doubled back past cafes opening up and the smell of bacon. Hum, checked the menu in the window, might be I will come back.
I checked my watch to judge the distance, it takes me about 45 minutes to walk two miles, yes, folks it is not called speed walking. I know, I know.
After half hour I crossed the bridge and went by the Oxbow Public Market but all was still closed. Back the other side of the street. There are many wine tasting establishments but one is in an old bungalow with a banner hanging from the porch rail that said Wine a Little, it will make you Feel Better.
The river's edge is quite thick with weeds and trees. Places to sleep if you don't have a bed. I think the homeless were waking and having their walks too. Everyone was quite friendly.
Napa Creek empties into (please forgive possible geographic errors) San Pablo Bay which is connected to SF Bay, so it is effected by the tides. It was bigger than creeks in my youth (remember in the Phoenix area, no creeks have water during normal times). Napa Creek is wide and calm and I think it's low tide. The road runs parallel.
I walked a few blocks then crossed again to Main street. I was actually entertaining ideas of getting in my car and driving to get breakfast as my 45 minute walk was complete. But I got sensible and picked up the paper and started back towards yummy smells, about 4 blocks away. I had a bagel, egg, and bacon sandwich and coffee and spent time reading the paper. Pleasant.
I'm reading a book about having a healthy brain. It describes of course, exercising makes you feel better. To demonstrate, I came home and took care of about four chores before climbing back on the computer to write.
Hope you are all having a wonderful Sunday.
Toni
I got dressed and drove to downtown Napa (five minutes away), bought a newspaper from a box and put it in my car, then walked (without coffee or food). Napa Creek passes behind Main street and there is a lovely walkway. Some vocal geese were marching out of the water to the other bank. I wonder who owns them. Anyone? God? The walkway only went a short way, so I doubled back past cafes opening up and the smell of bacon. Hum, checked the menu in the window, might be I will come back.
I checked my watch to judge the distance, it takes me about 45 minutes to walk two miles, yes, folks it is not called speed walking. I know, I know.
After half hour I crossed the bridge and went by the Oxbow Public Market but all was still closed. Back the other side of the street. There are many wine tasting establishments but one is in an old bungalow with a banner hanging from the porch rail that said Wine a Little, it will make you Feel Better.
The river's edge is quite thick with weeds and trees. Places to sleep if you don't have a bed. I think the homeless were waking and having their walks too. Everyone was quite friendly.
Napa Creek empties into (please forgive possible geographic errors) San Pablo Bay which is connected to SF Bay, so it is effected by the tides. It was bigger than creeks in my youth (remember in the Phoenix area, no creeks have water during normal times). Napa Creek is wide and calm and I think it's low tide. The road runs parallel.
I walked a few blocks then crossed again to Main street. I was actually entertaining ideas of getting in my car and driving to get breakfast as my 45 minute walk was complete. But I got sensible and picked up the paper and started back towards yummy smells, about 4 blocks away. I had a bagel, egg, and bacon sandwich and coffee and spent time reading the paper. Pleasant.
I'm reading a book about having a healthy brain. It describes of course, exercising makes you feel better. To demonstrate, I came home and took care of about four chores before climbing back on the computer to write.
Hope you are all having a wonderful Sunday.
Toni
Friday, July 10, 2009
Friday morning
Good Morning to all you interested and disinterested folks.
I'm home alone in Napa and seeking electronics, there's no TV and I can't get my favorite morning radio show to stream from KEZ99.9 in Phoenix. Don't know how to get a radio station on the stereo, but I imagine there is a way. So I am having coffee and wondering how to entertain myself. Sad, huh.
Wendy called, an acquaintance of my daughter's who has a guest set up that I might stay in. She would like a house sitter for the first two weeks of August to take care of six cats while they vacation. I am going to meet her today to take a look at the set up and decide if I want to help out in August. It might be a good time for hubby to visit.
I love being with family and waking up seeing smaller granddaughter asleep in the other twin bed is a total hoot. There is however, no storage space. Most of my stuff is in the rustic basement, computer, sewing machine, most clothes, crafts, etc. I came to stay and didn't know if I would be here or in an apartment, so I did not scrimp.
I know what you are thinking: go visit wineries!! Maybe. This is a beautiful area of the world, I should be out enjoying it. I am so spoiled by all the good people at work, then having my spouse home for the last few weeks, I haven't even begun to adjust to being alone. This will come. This will come.
I'm off to get ready for the day and whatever it brings.
Toni
I'm home alone in Napa and seeking electronics, there's no TV and I can't get my favorite morning radio show to stream from KEZ99.9 in Phoenix. Don't know how to get a radio station on the stereo, but I imagine there is a way. So I am having coffee and wondering how to entertain myself. Sad, huh.
Wendy called, an acquaintance of my daughter's who has a guest set up that I might stay in. She would like a house sitter for the first two weeks of August to take care of six cats while they vacation. I am going to meet her today to take a look at the set up and decide if I want to help out in August. It might be a good time for hubby to visit.
I love being with family and waking up seeing smaller granddaughter asleep in the other twin bed is a total hoot. There is however, no storage space. Most of my stuff is in the rustic basement, computer, sewing machine, most clothes, crafts, etc. I came to stay and didn't know if I would be here or in an apartment, so I did not scrimp.
I know what you are thinking: go visit wineries!! Maybe. This is a beautiful area of the world, I should be out enjoying it. I am so spoiled by all the good people at work, then having my spouse home for the last few weeks, I haven't even begun to adjust to being alone. This will come. This will come.
I'm off to get ready for the day and whatever it brings.
Toni
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Summer Morning in Phoenix
I've forgotten how much I like the early mornings in our pool. Last summer slipped away as I was in Napa, and I didn't even inflate my easy chair.
At 5:30, the back yard is still shaded as the sun is low behind my neighbor's property. They have lovely palm trees just beyond the fence. Bird condos. I can see them hopping in their hallways, noisily awakening their spouses, and kids, chirping, " If you have work to do, get going. It will be a hot day!"
I set up the sprinkler to take care of the small plots of grass, get the Sunday paper, my sun hat, and reading glasses and shoved off. I feel like a light weight. Just use one foot to paddle away from the pool cleaner hose. It's all shade and very, very peaceful. Bill is still sleeping.
When Bill wakes up, he gets in the pool, too. Larry, our cat, comes along. He is such a good cat, he is almost a dog. I entice him to within arm's reach. He lays on the cool deck and revels in being scratched by mom and dad with wet hands. Crazy cat!
The lawn is all watered and I have nothing that must be done just now. I think how I can do this any day, every day, if I please. Monday is the same as Sunday. Whoa!
Soon I have finished the front page and I'm getting a little chilly. Bill stays in awhile, I move a padded chaise to a shady spot as the sun is rising and starting to spread rays. Who knows how much time passes, who cares. Not us. Finally Bill gets out and heads for the house.
He needs a hair cut, and I offer. Got him all trimmed up, and he doesn't even have to tip me.
Then it's off to First Watch for breakfast. I eat a wheat germ pancake and bacon. Lots of syrup. I'm slowly but deliciously killing myself.
I realize I must be driven to the store as my car is in the repair shop. Getting out on the black asphalt l am aware it is very hot and will get much hotter.
And so it goes...
Have you noticed when you travel out of state and people learn you are from Phoenix, they wonder where you tan is. I avoid the desert sun, but I must tell you, I had a truck driver tan after being in California last summer. Good, good.
At 5:30, the back yard is still shaded as the sun is low behind my neighbor's property. They have lovely palm trees just beyond the fence. Bird condos. I can see them hopping in their hallways, noisily awakening their spouses, and kids, chirping, " If you have work to do, get going. It will be a hot day!"
I set up the sprinkler to take care of the small plots of grass, get the Sunday paper, my sun hat, and reading glasses and shoved off. I feel like a light weight. Just use one foot to paddle away from the pool cleaner hose. It's all shade and very, very peaceful. Bill is still sleeping.
When Bill wakes up, he gets in the pool, too. Larry, our cat, comes along. He is such a good cat, he is almost a dog. I entice him to within arm's reach. He lays on the cool deck and revels in being scratched by mom and dad with wet hands. Crazy cat!
The lawn is all watered and I have nothing that must be done just now. I think how I can do this any day, every day, if I please. Monday is the same as Sunday. Whoa!
Soon I have finished the front page and I'm getting a little chilly. Bill stays in awhile, I move a padded chaise to a shady spot as the sun is rising and starting to spread rays. Who knows how much time passes, who cares. Not us. Finally Bill gets out and heads for the house.
He needs a hair cut, and I offer. Got him all trimmed up, and he doesn't even have to tip me.
Then it's off to First Watch for breakfast. I eat a wheat germ pancake and bacon. Lots of syrup. I'm slowly but deliciously killing myself.
I realize I must be driven to the store as my car is in the repair shop. Getting out on the black asphalt l am aware it is very hot and will get much hotter.
And so it goes...
Have you noticed when you travel out of state and people learn you are from Phoenix, they wonder where you tan is. I avoid the desert sun, but I must tell you, I had a truck driver tan after being in California last summer. Good, good.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
At my age there aren't that many firsts
Yes, I am pretty sure this is the first time I watched the Presidential Inauguration and speech all the way through. I am also pretty sure watching the Cardinals and Eagles game all the way through was a first. Both were touching but not enough to make me start trusting politicians or football players.
Friday, January 16, 2009
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