The Princess Lives On

 Are you enjoying the first days of March?  It's always been a very long month for me, so I take it one day at a time.

Mia sent me a little card, and inside the card was a drawing of grandma, and along with it came some of her own words that I will keep forever. 💌

March is my best friend's birthday month, so that's always nice, and I will see her and others soon when I visit my hometown.

We had sunny days all last week, but I don't count my chickens before they hatch, as winter is not quite over here, and we may get more rain and snow.  We got hail last week, and it's so interesting to hear hail and see it come down on your front porch.

I have been hearing the coooing of the doves in my neighborhood, which is one of my favorite sounds.   But along with them, comes the woodpecker, who is already pecking away at my house.  A beauty of a bird, but one of the most annoying ones living in the mountains. *acorn woodpecker

My son made a roasted chicken - it's a French dish called Poulet Franchard.  Oh my, was it delicious.  I had it over the course of three days.  Ingredients:  whole chicken, chicken stock, mushrooms, lemon, parsley, tarragon, garlic, carrots.

I went to the Chinese Restaurant with my brother-in-law, and had a good time.  I usually get take-out, but it was nice to go inside this time and have a bowl of soup before the meal, and just sit and talk and listen to stories.  I ordered the combination lunch plate - kung pow chicken, chow mein, fried rice, egg roll, crab & cream cheese won ton, soup, and pepsi. 🍚

Even though it's still winter, I saw these beautiful looking strawberries at the grocery store that I had to bring home.  California grows some of the best fruits and veggies.

I went into town to do some shopping, and had a nice chat with P. for a while.  I have met about four ladies since I moved here whom I can call friends.  These are like-minded women with perseverance, who have shared their stories with me from time to time.  While in town, I bought a few things.  Isn't this the cutest bunny for Charlotte?  My family loves the color mint.

Best breakfast burrito ever.  I asked for a veggie burrito, no meat, maybe with some bell peppers and onions.  He always makes special ones for me. 😊

For my new blog friends, you may or may not know that I used to love Princess Diana.  I used to follow her life, her fashion, and her charity work back in the day.  Nel and Jess were born around the same time as her sons, so I also had that in common with her.  I used to look at magazines of her fashion choices, and she was always so elegant and put together.  I loved her.  So, you can imagine how thrilled I was when Jess told me that Francesca was doing a biography report in school.

I am pleased to see that the children take an interest in her too, and that the Princess lives on in the hearts of many. 👑👒👠👑👒

My blog friend sent me a card in the mail, just because.  We have known each other for 10 years, and she wrote some very special words inside the card.  Thank you, Carla.  I appreciate your friendship too.  Carla is a salt of the earth woman, and whose blog, The River, I've enjoyed reading for many years.

A wonderful March week to you.

 

The Waterfalls In Winter

 Well, I finally managed to see the majestic waterfalls in the snowy season.  I've seen them in all the other seasons, but never in winter, due to the obvious reasons.....snow and ice, tricky road conditions getting there, and more.  We had a big snow recently, and the last day when the sun was coming out, the area was sparkling, so I thought it was time to see the falls once again.  For those of you who didn't see my last posts, these waterfalls are on California's list of beautiful places to see.  It is a mesmerizing waterfall, and can you believe they are on the outskirts of my town, about 10-15 minutes away?  My son came along with me, and when we got there, everything was covered in snow.  I thought the waters might be frozen, but it was still flowing, and there was snow on the upper part of the falls in the landscaped area.  When you first start out, the stairways were covered in snow, and the trails were icy, so you had to be careful walking down.  The boulders were so pretty all covered in white.  The moss trees that are so apparent in summer, were replaced with clumps of snow.  There was a little cabin near the general store, and all the picnic benches were covered.  I talked with a couple who traveled an hour to see them.  There will be lots of pictures on here today, so come along and see the waterfalls that are so pretty in the heart of winter.

When I got home and since it was Friday, I picked up some fish and chips at the local eatery on main street.  They never disappoint.  It was such a wonderful day.

Look who else is enjoying a snow day!  Nel lives only about 20 minutes from the snow line.

So, now that I've seen the waterfalls in every season, my son asked me which was my favorite.  The falls in Autumn are brilliant with the orangish colors in the landscape, during spring and summer you will find it green and tropical looking, but the winter season there is magical, and I would have to say that would be my favorite season to visit.

White And Red Velvet

 Well, the forecast said snow last week, and I looked out my window Monday morning, and sure enough, Snow!  It was a soft beautiful snow because it was right after a rain.  There will be lots of snow pics on here today because when we get a snow in the winter, the neighborhood seems to be content, and out there with their blowers, shovels, and car scrapers, chatting with each other.

The next day, the sun came out and melted the snow, but just for a while.

hmmmm, I am wondering what critter's paws were on the stump in my front yard. 

Even though it was snowing, it didn't stop me from going into town and picking up a few things.  I ran into my friend, A, and we had a nice visit.  Everyone knows everyone up here (literally).

The next two days, we got it big.  It was like a white calm filled the air, telling us to slow down a little.  The neighborhood was covered in powder.

I've been drinking lots of coffee to stay warm.

And then Friday, the sun came out and glistened on the snow making the whole area sparkle. ✨✨ So, I took a little adventure, which I'll share next time. 

I got Jess' gifts in the mail, and I loved them all - a piece of red velvet cake from a delightful shop, a box of See's candy, and a rose candle.

She knows all my favorite pieces.  She was still at home when See's opened up in my hometown, and we would go there often and pick out our favorite pieces and go shopping at Hobby Lobby next door.  She still remembers which ones I like.

And I guess we were thinking the same thing this week, cause I had a pack of red velvet cookie mix in the cupboard, and I made a batch. 

Jess and the babies received ashes on their foreheads at Ash Wednesday Mass.  *Ash Wednesday is a Holy day of prayer, reflection, and preparing hearts for the celebration of Easter.   You are required to abstain from eating meat that day, (and every Friday during Lent).  People get their foreheads blessed with ashes at Mass or a prayer service.  

Nel made some chicken espagnole and jambalaya for Mardi Gras weekend.  She got the recipes from a cookbook she bought at the Gumbo Shop, which is a Creole Restaurant in the New Orleans French Quarter.

 

This gave me a laugh.

Barbecue pork with broccoli.

And when you don't feel like cooking, a sandwich stuffed with so many things.....whole grain bread, ham, tomatoes, pickles, mayonnaise, lettuce.

I am the restless wind in love with a rose. ~Rumi

Last week of February - hope it's a pleasant one.