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 We went to a community meeting to learn more about the Good Shepherds Goat Service. Yup, we wore masks. These signs explained the benefits of utilizing the herd instead of weed whacking the hillside for Fire abatement. This is Bear, the guard dog.  He guards the herd and alerts the Shepherds who are in an RV near the herd.  There are 100 goats in the herd. There are very young goats and a variety of breeds in the herd. The herd was very happily eating the alfalfa near the sidewalk. The mama goats got a little pushy about getting their fair share.  The Shepherds have a family farm in the county where the herds lives when not on the job. Two young couples share the caretaking duties. They have chosen this lifestyle because they are all aspiring musicians and artists who need a flexible job for their chosen lifestyle. The car has a surfboard on top and drums inside. Watching the goad herds has been great fun. They have alienated a lot of pandemic boredom for us. Just l...

  The coast is a different climate zone than the inland valleys 20 miles away. The cool, moist air gives such depth of color to the leaves and blossoms. These simple ground covers are breathtaking.  This plant is 90% Thorny stalks that end with a few leaves and a beautiful flower. I suppose the thorns discourage animal life from eating the tender leaves and flowers. Thorns as protection. Need to remember that.  This plant is best viewed from below looking up. Squatting down to take the picture was a nice healthy fitness moment that provided me with joy and beauty to replace some recent frustrations.  This home has a patio in the front yard with a fireplace. I could imagine sipping a glass of wine with friends as we enjoyed the warmth of the fireplace after the sunset. Life is good. I feel blessed today.

 Sadly, my replies are flopping on blogspot. I am sending reply emails. Thank you all for your support. 

Life is good. Sometimes, I forget to let go and let God. This week was one of those weeks. Tough week. Don’t you just hate problems or dilemmas that don’t have solutions? I’m a “fretter” in those kinds of situations. Think. Think. Think. Search for a solution. Research for possibilities. Cry. Pray. DS lives in one of those states that is having a dire Covid surge. There are only 17 adult ICU beds available in the entire state. In the surging states, the pediatric Covid rate has gone up 84 percent during the month of July. The local hospitals have canceled all elective surgeries. The Governor has mobilized the National Guard to assist hospitals. The Guard has no medical personnel because they are already working in local hospitals. All of the state’s congressmen have implored FEMA to send medical assistance. Today, the newspaper reported that a Covid patient died in the ER while awaiting an ICU bed. The leading Health Science University projects they will be short 500 hospital beds by S...

 A most unusual plant in a garden of delight. Have no idea what it is but the garden was xeriscape. Cala lilies are so very tall. The gardens inspiration. Some homes, steps from the ocean, that could be featured on a coastal magazine cover. This one was the winner for me. It took me back a hundred years in time. Everything about it was breathtaking. It even had a carriage house the would only fit the smallest car you can imagine.  Above the window they named it Seaside Cottage.  And since I was in the romantic mood of nostalgia, this took me back in time to The Three Musketeers seaside vacation home. Celebrating yesterday’s pain free walk without medication. It’s been 6 months since I felt that way and I have missed it. The journey is much harder when exercise is limited. I remember my starting place. Getting out of my car and walking into the doctor’s office was excruciating. Getting around the house was done carefully to ensure I wouldn’t Heaven forbid, fall. When I was...

  Fig tree. Leaves look far smaller than the Bible led me to believe. That would be very revealing on a breezy day. Beautiful blossoms. No scent per DH. My allergies don’t allow me to sniff deeply. Gorgeous brick planter ring around this tree. Most of these homes have professional landscaping services. 

 That is a VERY old cactus.  The goats are clearing 25 acres of hillsides. Someone asked the cost, the HOA is paying $20K for the service.   Pretty gate.                                                                                                And the big finish.                                                                                                Be happy! 

  When I first started my journey I was in the honeymoon phase. Things were going along swimmingly. I felt happy and confident.   After a few months, those happy, this is easy feelings started to fade. The journey feels unfair, like it’s taking up too much of my free time. Tracking, weighing, measuring, cooking and reading about success strategies isn’t that much fun anymore. The work begins to feel annoying and downright unpleasant at times. Thoughts echo in my head. I don’t want to! Just one! And I wonder what brought that up? I worked hard for 7 days and then I weigh in and see to a loss that feels much too small compared to the effort I’d put in. Then it happens. A slip or binge and my confidence evaporates. My emotional foundation feels shaken. I was shocked that it happened. But I was doing so good! Oh no! Say it isn’t so!     But this time I was armed with new knowledge from all those blogs I copied and pasted. Reading blogs showed me that struggling is a univ...

 Evening walks entertainment. Wanted to see the goats so went for the longer walk. There they are with the Shepard at the top of the hill.  Walking around the block brought me to some more beauty. Talked with one of our newer neighbors children. Children just love dogs so it’s an easy conversation.  As we neared home I saw this on a tree.  The flowers are so beautiful and in the breeze they appear to vibrate softly. It’s good to remember that beauty is everywhere if only I take the time to look for it. DH had to go into the store to pickup a prescription so it was an opportunity for him to pick up a few things that weren’t available on our last order. Found some small Turkey thighs and some Turkey sausages. We eat a lot of chicken for health reasons but it can get boring after a while. Turkey is a very nice change since we both like it. I cook it over indirect heat on the BBQ to avoid heating the house this time of year. He also got some Wild salmon. Don’t know what ...