That time of the month

 

It's time to pay the bills.  


At the suggestion from a friend I began keeping a ledger of my bills almost from the beginning of my independence. I find it not only keeps me organized but I can, at a glance, see the tough times and the boom times.  We freely admit that we are in a trough of trying times at the moment but when I peruse my ledger I can see when I was in desperate times.  It helps to keep things in perspective.  

 

This is better than a diary.  I could go back even further, but my dog ate my first ledger.  I was lucky to find another just like it.  With the advent of our on-line lives these books just don't seem to be readily available.  I am an on-line bill paying devotee. However, it is so much faster to open this book to locate any transaction with date and amount, no ID, password, or security question.  No downtime, except when the dog ate the book.  What was my monthly outlay fifteen years ago? Easy, reassuring, and a reminder that tough times get better and better times don't always last.

The book keeper's reward. Parker Lusseau Bakery in Monterey is located in one of the famous old adobes. It's so tiny there are only three little tables inside, more outside on the porch and along the side.

They make the most amazing soups and always offer a selection of two which is perfect for us. No need to decide as we just order one of each and share a taste or two.

Parker Lusseau is an environmentally responsible bakery/cafe.  The plate, bowl, napkin, and even the utensils are compostable.  We pack our plate and utensils home to our compost bin.

Breath of Life

Do you realize that every other breath you take is a gift from the sea? During the process of photosynthesis oxygen is released from phytoplankton. It doesn't matter where you live.

Every day more than 2.4 million pounds of plastic trash is dumped into the sea, and most of it comes from the land.  When we head home after a day at the seashore we must take what we brought with us away. We can empower our children with the responsibility of cleaning up after themselves.

Plastic waste circles the globe via currents and massive gyres.  Plastic debris is mistaken for prey and eaten by fish, sea animals, and seabirds which can kill them.  Harmful chemicals leach from plastics floating in the oceans poisoning and killing sea life, including phytoplankton.

If breathing is precious to you use less plastic. Buy less plastic.  Re-use the items that you already have.

A growing number of communities world wide are banning the use of plastic bags. Sea turtles and other marine animals and birds don't know what a plastic bag is. The shape of a plastic bag signals "jelly fish" to them and they go after it. These animals and birds starve to death with bellies full of plastic.

Plastic mustn't be abolished. The use of plastics in medicine is essential. However, when we are checking out at the market the choice of "paper or plastic?" should no longer be offered. BYOB should now be Bring Your Own Bag.  m & v

Companionable Silence

This is livin'. Sitting in the garden with your best friend.  No need for talk. 

Thursday night

In honor of a little boy who finally found a home with kind strangers and now makes a home with me.

Happy Birthday

Today is my birthday and I've chosen these Polka Dot jellies to be my card to me.


They have no brain, blood, bones, or heart.  They are 95% seawater.  They are beautiful and many people fear them. It's that other 5%...  Their tentacles are loaded with stinging cells which, when stimulated can shoot out like a harpoon to stun their prey, then draw it back in for a meal. With the warming of the oceans the jelly fish aren't endangered, just the opposite; they are actually increasing in numbers.  They have negatively impacted coastal industries, including fishing, and when they arrive in large numbers at popular beaches they can drive people away.  So, what can we do to help? One thing would be to think more about how we buy our food. Is it local? Is it in season? Check the label and see where your food comes from.  Your food really shouldn't be logging more air miles than you do.  Read Barbara Kingsolver's book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and when you go to buy your vegetables for the week, use a reusable bag. m & v

Sanctum

The garden in the morning before anyone else is awake.  Before the business of the city begins to hum.  Just the newspaper on the walk, a cup of coffee, and the freshness of the morning air.