The Southwest Chief, Take 2

We leave at 6:00PM from Los Angeles Union Station.

We are kind of hoping we get dinner tonight, but are not sure of that fact. We'll probably grab a number 19 at Langer's on our way in. :-)

Our current itinerary takes us through Southern California and over to Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, a quick stop in Iowa and finally across the Mississippi and into Illinois, where we end the trip in Chicago at 2:50PM.

It will take just 3 hours less then 2 days to make this journey and I can't wait for it to begin. Unfortunately, we are in the Roomette, once again. It was over $1K more for the bedroom.

I am glad we will travel most of the California leg in the dark, since that's what we know best.

I want to see the states that I rarely visit, like Northern New Mexico, Southern Colorado and Kansas and Missouri. I won't get them all (I am looking at you, Kansas!), but I will get to see some of those states once again.

See you on the other side of this journey.

Bye Makenna

Just 24 hours to go before we leave this sweet baby, for 10 days.

To say the least, we are worried about the fact that she has had us both through all of the Covid "Lock Down" time.

We need to see our Son, so that is what we have to do. Leave her in good hands and we will see her on the other side.

Hopefully, still Covid free.

I chose the safest way I could and I hope it will be sufficient.

We love you, Makenna.

Returning To Wixom

My Water Post For Today.

This week we return to the Wixom area.

We won't make it there til Saturday evening, but I thought I would show it off now.

This fountain is right in the center of town, where several roads and railroad tracks cross.

Just out of the picture is the Library on one side and the Police Station on the other side.

A very serene area of Michigan.

I hope you enjoy.

Salad On Saturday

I found 3 cucumbers on my vines the other day.

So I bought some salad to take advantage of the bounty of my garden.

I picked a few carrots, which were huge! Very yummy.

Then I found 3 tomatoes! Woot!

I found a small corn cob, that had not gone bad...yet. I had one that I picked the day before and it was all dried out, so this one could be eaten.

You can see one kernal in the photo.

It was a good salad, but of course now I need to worry about being gone for 10 days.

Strawberry Supermoon

I ignored the full moon on its first night.

My Husband went out and got a great picture just before midnight on 6/23.

He posted it and I was impressed with the photo.

His photo just had the tree in the front of the house.

So on the next night I went out to see it for myself.

It was earlier in the evening and so it was lower in the sky then his photo.

As you can see, mine has the flag that hangs on the garage.

But it was so lovely and I took a few photos, which I also posted on Facebook.

I went to bed and woke up a few hours later at 5:30AM.

When I went for the paper, there it was again, making the final descent as the sun rose in the eastern sky.

Always so pretty to see.

Enjoy.

In Process: The Hill Trees (2021)

I finally started trimming the pine trees on top of my hill.

Stupidly, I should have paid the landscaper who took care of the rest of my trees, to do them, too.

Oh well, so I get to go up, once again.

Considering we got almost no rain this year, the trees did real well.

I still have the last 2 trees on the left side to do, but the other three seem to be done and the one in the back (that you can't see) is complete, also.

While I was up there, my Husband finally did the back hedge. It really should have been done a month ago and he suffered for that. It is taller than it normally is. We like to keep it at fence height, so that is not what it is this year. It is a little bit higher.

Moving along.

A Cloudy Sunset

When I was out watering the plants, I saw that the sky had clouds in it.

Always a good hint that the sunset, when it comes, will be beautiful.

About 10 minutes to 8PM, I looked out and this is what I saw.

I love God's work.

Worth me keeping an eye on it, as it happened.

Father's Day Gift That's A Preview Of Our Vacation

Sunday was Father's Day and I got my Husband an AMTRAK 50th Anniversary shirt for the occasion.

We consider ourselves lucky that we will ride on trains during their 50th year.

In good news for passengers (especially us) they are bringing back their regular menu this week.

Just in time for our journey. I was less than impressed with their menu for the pandemic.

Adding to all that, LAUS has a special lounge for us AMTRAK passengers.

I can't wait to see it.

The Front...Without Plants

We got the water line fixed on Monday, so I can get back to working on the plants in front of the house.

In case you care, it only took 2 hours for the plumbers to find the problem and replace the cracked piece of piping. Yay!

Here is what the house looks like now. Nice and empty, right?

We will move the two hanging baskets a little closer to our leaving, because you hardly see them from the front of the house.

Otherwise, the watering seems to be working so far and the plants are not being eaten too much.

A Sad Water Post

My Water Post For Today.

I went to get the mail on Thursday and saw a small amount of water. I wondered if we had a leak in our sprinkler lines.

I talked to my Husband and he finally checked it out on Saturday.

By that time the leak had gotten worse.

He called the water company and they found that it is the part that goes from the main line to my house. Thus, our responsibility.

The plumber has been called for Monday.

So for now, we have water on the front side walk.

Moving My Plants

1st off: Happy Father's Day to my man.

He made me a Mom and made himself a Dad.

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As the days count down to vacation, I have been working on moving plants to areas that get watered.

I want them to be settled and thriving, especially in this very hot time...yeah, tell me how that is working out for you.

I had the space for the corn all figured out and it does look good where I placed it.

The gerbera's look just fine in front of the garden plants.

Garlic over to the far (stage right) side.

The hard garden plants to move over are the tomatoes and cucumbers.

I like the shade location, but water is not getting to them in enough quantities.

I was thinking of either moving it over toward the blueberry bush, or somehow getting the sprinkler on the other side, clear of some overgrowth.

It feels like bathing suit time for me.

Go out there and make adjustments to the sprinkler heads.

Garden's, it never ends.

Spatchcock Chicken

Today is Juneteenth. The first time it will be celebrated as a Federal Holiday.

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I had a $7 off any meat purchase and so I saw a Spatchcock Chicken that was $14.

I have looked at it every week in the store and with my Husband's consent, we purchased it.

It was extremely easy to make. Just take it out of its wrapping and let it spend an hour in the oven.

I will not purchase it again (unless they bring down the high price), but I appreciated the chance to taste it.

Pride Month

This windsock has hung in my den for decades. I have no idea when I got it or why.

The other day I thought, well if it is not exactly a pride windsock, I don't think anyone would mind it standing in for one.

So I hung it up in the front of my house.

I have no problem acknowledging that I have many friends in the LGBTQ community. I worked in Broadcasting and it kind of attracts creative people, of which a percentage are members of this community.

Celebrating people of different cultures and groups, was always something that Public Television did and does. From many...one. That is America.

Happy Pride.

Stevenson Ranch On Day 1 Of Aqua Fit

We didn't really decide what to do before bedtime, try to go to aqua fit class, or wait until Saturday at Golden Valley.

I always felt like the outdoor pool at Stevenson Ranch was the best location for a post-covid class.

I ended up trying for it and let my Husband decide for himself. He got his act together, too.

We were not sure what supplies we should bring, but we managed to make do.

I was not sure if the showers were open, but I had decided I did not want to use them, no matter what. So we set up the car with a towel and bag over the seat, so that we did not get it wet.

I did not change shoes after the class, but next time I think I will bring a pair of shoes so I do not drip onto their floor, as I exit.

Otherwise, it seemed to go pretty well.

Yes, that is my Hubby off in the distance.

Aqua Fit Is Back At LA Fitness!

I have not exercised in the pool since March 13, 2020. It has been a long haul.

My group on Facebook: Aqua Fit at LA Fitness has not only students, but also instructors.

The first one to post today is an instructor and she is teaching at the outside pool, as of tomorrow.

This is great news for us all.

I just hope my elastic is still working on the swimsuit. :-)