Category Archives: Uncategorized

All across Canada, the last weekend in July is a bank holiday–that is, the banks and governmental services shut down for a three-day weekend. But in Victoria, it’s more than a three-day weekend. It’s Symphony Splash weekend, this year nicely … Continue reading →

For those of you suffering with unbearable heat in places like, say, Sacramento or Texas or anyplace on the East coast, I’m going to suggest that you might want to pass on reading this post. It might make you a … Continue reading →

This may look like I’m fishing for presents, or at least birthday greetings, but it’s not. It’s just that not only does July 30 happen to be my birthday (the 53rd this year, if you’re keeping track), but it also … Continue reading →

I can’t believe how easy it is to make butter. This is not a metaphor. I’m talking literal butter here, the kind you spread on good, home-baked bread, like the kind my BF makes. It’s really no big deal. A … Continue reading →

I awoke this morning in Vancouver, Washington, in a big, soft bed with a line from a song in my head: “We take so much for granted when so much comes free.” It’s a great song, “Falling in Love in … Continue reading →

It was the last day of our stay on Kauai. We looked at each other the night before and said, “How do you want to spend the last day?” Every time we get a little sad, hating for vacation to … Continue reading →

Well, not really. It was used as the model for the fictional Bali Hai in the movie, “South Pacific,” but here on Kauai, the famous triangular peak is known by its Hawaiian name: Mt. Makana. It serves as the backdrop … Continue reading →

The only problem with vacationing in Hawaii is that all your friends hate you for it. It’s impossible to write postcards (those old-fashioned 4×6 things with photos on them of impossibly beautiful, and sometimes faked, images) or emails or, yes, … Continue reading →

This is my annual Christmas poem, this year written to honor a new baby born Dec. 8, 2010. She’s the daughter of Christina and Mitch, Dick’s nephew and niece-in-law. (See my earlier post, “Welcome to the world, baby girl,” for … Continue reading →

Yesterday I visited my friend Judy at her home in East Sacramento. She greeted me at the door in a fuzzy winter hat. Her hair stuck out at odd angles from underneath it, and she immediately put her hand to … Continue reading →