Wednesday, April 13, 2011 — Getting ready for Friday

I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone at the Mendocino Stories event this Friday evening. There are so many people up here who have not yet heard Mike, Julian and Leah play. They are each fantastic on their own and wonderful to hear when they get together. I can't wait. If anyone is planning on coming but has not been to the Mendocino Hotel before, I would recommend coming early. I think they open up their doors for dinner at 6:30. Best about then if you want to get a really good seat. Actually, there aren't many bad seats the way they have arranged the stage in the middle of the overall space. It's a great place to have a fun evening.

I'll be having family/musicians here and the "Frog" awaits them. That's "Functional rooms over garage." Not original with me. I stole (borrowed) it from the sister of a friend. I've always had a soft spot for frogs so it works for me. It's a great place to hang out and the wifi makes it a good spot for the kids to watch movies or do research. Not many kids this time around. Larkin is turning out to be a winning tennis player and will be competing over the weekend. I'll miss him but we're going to have to adjust to him being somewhere else next year. He's just on the verge of choosing where he'll be going to school next year. He has great choices but seems to be gravitating to San Jose because of their aeronautics program. Time will reveal all.

I checked out the situation at Pacific Textile Arts this afternoon. All the nails are pulled from the larger building south wall and some from the smaller library exterior. The big electric heaters that protruded from the ends of each building have gone on to their next resting place. It looks so much better not having them sticking out from the end wall exteriors. Greg Tregoning is doing the wall replacement work and I have lots of respect for his command of a situation. He thinks things through in a way that inspires confidence. We were just told last week that we cannot final the buildings without painting them. So that will be the next challenge.

I am going to Italy next week to visit Steve, Susan and Mira. I'll deal with the painting situation when I get back at the beginning of May. When Skip and I visited the Italian residents at the end of 2009 it was October. It will be fun to be there in April this time. Should be warmer than where I'm coming from. I don't think I remember a cooler spring here in Fort Bragg. Not complaining. Trees and plants are showing that they know it is spring and that it will soon warm up. I love walking around the garden and checking the tiny buds on each different tree. There had been some speculation from Carlos that the new Gingko Marilynn gave me might not make it. I said, "no touching it." It is now showing lovely new Gingko leaves before the other two. I'm watching the weeping elm given to me by one of the MLPA groups. It's going to be a beautiful tree and I hope they'll all come to the Taurus party to see it. I'll post some pics of it soon. I learned about Katsura trees from Shozo and Alice. They have a gorgeous one in the entry courtyard of their beautiful Japanese garden. I now have two conventional Katsuras and one weeping Katsura. They are looking magnificent with their luscious new green leaves with the tiny fleck of rose color that accompanies each leaf. I just received a call from the local nursery this afternoon asking me if I was still seeking a white blossom Dogwood tree. I'm not quite sure where I'll put it, but yes, I do want it. It will just feel right to have a Dogwood in our garden.

I've now finished three books about plant based nutrition. I find myself veering further and further in that direction. I'm sure I'll never be a vegan, but I'm thoroughly enjoying trying out many of their suggested dishes. And I am leaning toward a more heavily vegetarian cuisine. I am losing some weight and did well with a little competition of losing inches that the local Curves has been conducting this month. Feels good. Nice to get a glimpse of my old body. I am reasonably confident that I can see this through. Wish me luck.