Wind, sand, and fire

I could get used to this. Not only the lovely weather, but having the time to simply relax and do as I please. There are no big projects to be tackled and I'm a heck of a lot easier to clean up after than my daughter and grandson, or even the cleaning I do during my irregular visits to my son. Of course, I don't have nearly as much stuff with me as I have back home so there is less to put away.

This is my view from the couch. There is a jigsaw puzzle on the dining table so I've been eating on the tv tray (as well as using my laptop. To the right are two knitted dishcloths I've made up. The kitchen is compact but has everything I need. Down the hall to the right is the bathroom, and the last door you can see is the bedroom. It has an amazing amount of storage.

I will, however, be going home with more stuff. You know I can't resist thrift stores. So when I was invited to join two of the ladies, L & S, on Tuesday I jumped at the chance. We hit up three stores, Amberly's, Al, an the Goodwill and all three of us came away with treasures. I picked up a couple of t-shirts, a pair of shorts for Eli, a book, and a small plastic container. We stopped at Dunkin' Donuts (new to me) for coffee but no doughnuts! From there, we went to Kneaders -  bakery and coffee shop - for sourdough bread, and then to J.C. Penney for their clearance sale. We all found a few items; in my case, two blouses. In total, I paid $10 for the four tops I purchased. 

The weather changed on Tuesday, windy, cloudy, and cooler temps. Wednesday's photo was taken after we returned from shopping. It got darker still, but there was no rain. The weather channel showed an air quality advisory as well due to dust in the air. I moved some of the outdoor furniture, in case it rained, and covered some with sheets provided by my landlords to, at least, keep some of the dust at bay. That night was incredibly noisy with things outside and the bathroom vent inside rattling and banging. I managed to sleep through some of it, but was wide awake at 3 a.m. I got up, made some tea, and after talking to my daughter about 5:30 (it's 6:30 a.m. at home), I went back to bed and slept for nearly 3 hours. 

The canasta group met Wednesday afternoon, and I sat watching the first game. It is nothing like what I remember playing with my Nan (grandmother) when I was a child. But, when the first game was over, three of the ladies stayed and walked me through a game. Let's just say I need to work on my strategy. We played another card game called 2500. It too is a strategic game, but one I caught onto much more quickly. By mid-game I was ahead, but by the end, I came in next to last. As one woman put it, without the right cards, strategy doesn't win the game.

The winds had died down, so I did a load of sheets before I headed to Happy Hour. When I went to hang them on the line I discovered the drying rack had been damaged in the wind. I didn't want to bother my landlord that evening, so hung them as best I could and planned to call in the morning. The sheets dried quickly and I brought them in after dinner. 

Thursday started off quite cool, around 43F (6C), though no wind. I washed a load of laundry and sent a text off to my landlady about the drying rack. I didn't hear back until after lunch, so I hung everything on hangers and hung them to dry - first on a rack outside and then indoors when the wind picked up.

Thursday morning the social club offers coffee/tea, pastries and other items for a $2 entry fee. I decided to go, and I'm glad I did. There was a large group,  and only three of us who are renting or visiting friends here. After we'd all had our fill, the social club chair brought a few things to our attention. There are a few events upcoming, including a "heritage" potluck in February which I subsequently learned that attendees are asked to bring a food item from our ethnic background. When I mentioned shortbread at Happy Hour, one of the residents offered to give me the flour I would need. I'll make a small batch as I'm assuming, like every other potluck I've been to, there will be mounds of food.

The wind had died down some on Friday morning, so I took a walk over to Walmart to pick up a few groceries. It's a short walk, just a few blocks, and I brought a backpack to carry the groceries. It means I can't over shop! I really didn't need a lot, but still came home missing an item, tea bags! I have a few left so will wait until later in the week to make another trip.

I spent the rest of the day watching curling. Yes, there is an event being held in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan that is being streamed on You-tube. I managed to catch two games before Happy Hour, the end of the third when I arrived home from there and then another later in the evening. One of the teams that played in the evening, had been on the ice since early in the morning, competing in all four draws. I was tired, just watching, I'm sure they were exhausted.

One of the women at Happy Hour asked if I wanted to join them in the morning for garage sales. I said no, because I'll be watching curling. Next week, the park is holding their own garage sale, and I've offered to help set up for it. 

So today is more curling, more knitting or crocheting (four dishcloths completed), and in between some time out side enjoying the sun. Have a great weekend everyone!

P.S. I normally don't post about the news, but the fires in California are heartbreaking. I understand at least ten people have been confirmed dead, and over 10,000 homes have been lost. L.A. and the surrounding area has had limited rain for many months, and the dry conditions and the gusts of Santa Anna winds are creating the perfect storm. And, it doesn't seem the fires will be under control any time soon. Personnel and equipment from both Canada and Mexico have been brought in to assist as well.