Tag Archives: house sitting

Adventures in Monterey County: A Month of Pet Sitting

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Yesterday was my last day of taking care of Woody the Cat and Rocky the Dog. The Mistress of the house returned on Friday evening. Just like that my one month stint as a Pet and House sitter came to an end.

I love being in the Monterey county area. There is so much to do and see. A friend, Zee, came and visited for about a week. We paddled the Elkhorn Slough. Though there was wildlife it was a quiet day on the Slough. Two weeks later I returned to paddle it again. It was obvious that migration had begun.

“The word slough, which rhymes with “grew,” refers to a type of wetland. It winds its way through marshy, swampy ground. Like most sloughs, Elkhorn Slough is a quiet backwater to a larger body of water—in this case, Monterey Bay.”

The Slough is home to several sea otters. It is fun to take friends there and see how excited they get when they see these sea creatures. I know they look cute but they are wild and big. They have recently been having issues with a few in Santa Cruz who are taking surfers surfboards.

When I get to know an area better I can show it off to visitors. I became a tour guide for Zee. Each day we took a new and different sight seeing journey.

The Lone Cyprus

It took most of the day to travel the Seventeen Mile Drive, Pebble Beach. It is known for its stunning coastal views, famous golf courses, and landmarks like the Lone Cypress and Spanish Bay. For $12.25, yes there is an admission fee, we had the day to explore along the Pacific Ocean.

Another day we drove through the lovely little town of Carmel and ended at the Carmel River Beach. We met a kitty and her owner on the beach. It was the kitty’s first outing and oh my she was having a blast.

One of my highlights of her visit was the day we drove north to Capitola Village by the Sea. It is one of the oldest vacation retreats on the Pacific Coast. It was easy to spend time exploring this quaint town. It was very picturesque, a photographers dream.

Oh I almost forgot to mention the day we spent at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This Aquarium is world class. I love going places like this and let my child come out. It gets tiring being an adult all the time.

After Zee’s visit, I settled into my friend’s lovely home and enjoyed spending time in one place. When I am stationary like this I get things done on my rig. This was no exception. Jeff a friend of mine taught me how to repair my running boards and bumpers on the rig. They, from time to time get banged up because of high sidewalks or that occasional rock that I don’t see. This past winter I drove over something on the freeway and it cut up into one of bumpers. The trick is Surf Board Repair Kits. I still use them. Over time I have learned more and now use other kits too.

Looking Good

This time I had two to repair. It involves a lot of hand sanding and repeating the process many times. The people in the neighborhood got used to seeing me sitting on the ground, sanding. They would stop to talk. I was praised when I finished side A. It made me feel proud that I can take these things on. Then I finished side B. I am not going to share with you what I did to that side. Currently, my running boards are looking like new. Each time I look at them, I feel a sense of pride. I also feel accomplished seeing a job well done.

I value the time being in one place. I have an opportunity to be more involved in the local community. Each Saturday I explored the Salinas Farmers Market. I found a yoga studio near where I was staying, so I signed up for classes. I began to know the neighbors a little. It wasn’t until Mandy came home that I learned who was bringing the garbage cans in.

One day I met up with Charlotte, a friend and the minister who married Jim and me. It was good to have to time to visit my friend who lives a distance from me. It is a joy to have that time and not feel rushed.

I enjoyed having the animals around. I loved having them sleep with me at night. Dogs and Cats are two very different animals. Cats are more independent. Rocky asked for more of my time. I was more than willing to give it to him. I enjoyed taking Rocky places. He was a nice little companion.

Personally, I will always be a person of the feline persuasion. I have had cats off and on through-out my whole adult life. They have always been a joy. They are more independent and I am used to their needs, and maybe they fit my lifestyle better. They have different needs than a dog. And, I am used to them.

Would I take care of Rocky and Woody again? Definitely. I enjoy helping my friends and I like having some animal time. Would I return to Salinas and Monterey County again? Absolutely. It is such an amazing area to explore. And I need to get out on the Elkhorn Slough again and again.

As I make my way south to San Diego, I have had time to reflect on this month. I am glad I took the opportunity to stay in one place and be entertained by the dog and cat. Today, I am glad to be hanging out at the beach north of Santa Barbara. I enjoy being on my own again. It is good to have different options in my life.

Today I am thankful for a little dog with a big heart. Today I am thankful for a cat that is a warm and faithful bed warmer. Today I am thankful to embrace a different and unique lifestyle.

On to San Diego.

Meet Woody and Rocky: A Cat and Dog’s Tale

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Meow, Meow. Woof, Woof. Janet is here!!!!

Hi we live in Salinas with our owner and friend Mandy. Who are we? Woody the Cat, Meow. Rocky the Dog. Woof.

Rocky the Dog here. A few weeks ago Janet showed up at our door. I was so excited to see her. She has been here before. I like Janet and it is fun to see her. She takes me for walks. We walk near and far. I get a chance to sniff and check all the many dog mailboxes in the neighborhood and beyond. It is fun to have her here.

I don’t know why Janet shows up. This time she showed up and Mandy disappeared. She said words like vacation and Australia. Mandy talked about Melbin (Melbourne). A few days after Janet arrived, Mandy left. Now, here we are, Woody, me, and Janet. I miss Mandy but Janet is fun and she is a good substitute for my person.

Janet plays with me. I get the “zoomies” and run around the dining room table and leap on and off the couch. It is so much fun. It ends with hugs and pets. I really like ripping around the house. I also like my treats, a lot. And food, I like food too.

A few days ago another person showed up. Janet calls her Zee or Mary. She was here for a few days. I liked having a second person here. I got more attention and love. And, now today, just like that she is gone. I don’t know where everyone goes. Mary said she wanted to take me with her. I have a new fan. That is what happens when one is cute and spunky. That’s me.

Janet is still here though. Hopefully, Mandy will come through the front door at some point in time. I will be so excited to see her. She is my person.

Oh, and tomorrow Janet says she is going to give me a shower. Well that is going to be fun. I am up for just about anything. I will end up smelling pretty and all my beautiful fur will be fluffy and clean. Yay.

Meow. Woody the Cat here. I know you have met me before. I am the cat with the grand tail. I live with Mandy and Rocky. I am an older kitty now. I spend a lot of my life under Mandy’s bed. It is quiet and safe and I can stay away from Rocky when he gets too rambunctious. He is just a young spunky thing.

I may spend a lot of time in my safe place. But, I do like to come out. I enjoy getting pets and treats. Usually I show up in the evenings when the sun has gone down. I like it when the humans are comfortable in their easy chairs. I can hang out with them. I get a lot of attention and pets.

Check Out My Grand Tail.

I am allowed to be on the dining room table. Why? Rocky chases me and likes to jump on top of me. I can only handle his play for so long. Then I need a safe spot to view the living room world. So the living room table is my spot.

I have found my way to Janet’s bedroom. I like sleeping with humans at night. I share the bed with Rocky and Janet. We all like to hang out together at night. It is fun to have sleep buddies. I am always nearby for pets and hugs.

So here we are. Janet, Woody and Rocky. Janet is pet-sitter extraordinaire. She also does a good job with the house and yard. She keeps all things running. When Mandy returns, everything is in order. Mandy can pick up on her life with Rocky and Woody.

Today we are thankful for Janet coming to take care of us. Today we are thankful for food, fun, loves, pets and “zoomies”.

Today we are Thankful.
Meow, Meow. Woof, Woof.

Road Trip Chronicles: RV Life and Challenges

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My writing has been scattered lately and my posts show it. So…An Update.

I have been in San Diego for two weeks. The first week I was cat sitting for two pretty Tuxedo Kitties, Avril and Pete. They were very different personalities. Pete slept with me while Avril remained aloof. The best part of this sit besides the kitties…A Swimming Pool! On these warm summer days that pool was so refreshing.

I do not usually return to San Diego until November. By that time, the weather has cooled and being in San Diego is good. This year,….It Is HOT!!! Through the Labor Day weekend it is suppose to stay rather warm, even at the beach. Currently I am in Santee which is inland San Diego. It is close to 100 degrees. And, it has been humid. I am not used to this and I long to be back in the Pacific Northwest. Ah, alas, here I am.

I am in San Diego because I have a year long relationship with my dentist. I am having an implant put in and it takes almost a year to finish the process. Bone implant – Heal. Three months later in goes the screw which is really the implant – Heal. Three months later the crown goes on and I am done. This time I had the screw put in. That means in December I get crown on and I am done. Yay!!

Maintenance of my Rig, EmmyLou is important. Without her I have nowhere to live or sleep. On my drive south I met up with my friend Zee, who lives in southern Oregon. We planned a mini-trip to Mt Lassen National Park. On the third day of our camping trip, I tried to start my engine. It made a weird screeching noise, and then it stopped working. My roadside assistance, Coachnet, helped me get her where she needed to go. . She was safely taken to Weed, California. There, she got a new starter.

I was very thankful to have a friend with me. I stress out about Roadtrek issues when I am alone. I am always sure that I am to blame and my life comes to a screeching halt. Zee kept me from chastising myself too much. And I had somewhere to stay while the rig was fixed.

While she got a new starter Zee and I went back to her home. It is so good to have friends who open their homes to me. I am grateful each time this happens. Two days later I picked my rig up and returned to Medford, Oregon so Mercedes could check her out. A day later she was ready to go and I headed south.

Baby Needs New Shoes

Yesterday I spent the afternoon in the Tire Center at Costco because Baby needs new shoes. Michelins are on sale and EmmyLou has been traveling hard. She has 186,000 miles on her and her tires were looking worn. I knew it would take at least two hours. I brought my camp chair in from the rig. Now I am sitting in the air-conditioned tire shop, entertaining myself. It is great people watching.

My Campsite View

It is so common for me to be busy when I arrive in San Diego. I thought it would be a bit slower this time. I don’t even dive into my medical or dental appointments until I arrive in November. I have been busy. Now with Labor Day weekend arriving I am hoping to slow down for the weekend. Maybe I can get the kayak on the water. Maybe I can take a bike ride. Maybe, Maybe, Maybe.

Practicing Yoga free,in Donnelly, Idaho at the top of the Ski lift

There you have it an update. Since May I have been to the Pacific Northwest, Vancouver Island, British Columbia and back to the Pacific NW again. On the way south, I traveled east to Donnelly, Idaho. Where better to attend a free yoga class at the top of the ski lift? After spending a long weekend with good friends I returned to the west coast.

In mid-September, I travel north to Salinas, California (near Monterey). I will house sit for Woody the cat and Rocky the dog for a month. I will also kayak the Elkhorn Slough and bike around Monterey and enjoy my friend, Mandy’s lovely home.

Today I am thankful for my rig. It is good to keep her tuned up and in good working condition. I am truly thankful for air conditioning. I am thankful for good friends who open their homes and hearts to me.

Today I am Thankful.

Woody the Cat is Checking In

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She is here!! She is here! Janet is here and is going to stay with me for the month of February. No kitty carrier! No chasing me around! No stressing out! I get to stay home!

Hi, everyone, Woody the cat here. Janet is back to take care of me while my companion and owner, Mandy and Rocky the dog go on holiday. This is the third time that Janet has been here to stay with me so I can continue with the routine of sleeping, eating, snuggling, suckling and loving. Not bad.

For those of you who don’t know, I am Woody the cat with a striking tail. It is my best feature and I like to show it off every chance I can get. Take a look at the picture and you can see my best feature.

My Tail

I live with Mandy and Rocky the dog. I love Mandy all the time, except when she tries to catch me and put me in the evil kitty carrier. When she finally gets me in there, I stay with Scott and Megan while Mandy travels. I like it at their house but I don’t like the process of getting there. Last year Janet showed up and while Mandy traveled I got to stay home. What a relief. And oooh, Janet likes cats.

Mandy & Rocky

She came a few days early to visit with us before Mandy and Rocky get on the road. I now have two humans to pet me and hold me and carry me around. I like that and I deserve no less. After all, I’m the cat.

So stay tuned I know I will be posting again. I sneak into Janet’s computer when she is out kayaking or biking or just out and about.

On the Move North for the Summer

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I have been traveling. Woody the cat and I departed company at the end of May. Mandy, his owner, and friend, and Rocky the dog returned home. And, just like that my time in Salinas came to an end. 

It was a good month with a lot of kitty time, kayaking “The Slough” and riding my bike. Salinas and Monterey County is such an interesting area. It is the home of Monterey and Carmel, where the views are amazing and wealth abounds. It is also the home of many hard workers. They work planting tending and harvesting the crops of many things that we eat every day. Artichokes-check, cabbage-check, Strawberries-check, Garlic-check, check and check. The soil in this Salinas valley is so rich and something is always growing here. 

Memories of Salinas

As a Tour Manager, I remember taking tour groups through this area. We would stop at “The Farm” to learn more about this culturally rich area and the hard-working men and women and children that still harvest the food we eat. One group was even offered to get off the bus and help the workers harvest celery. The driver and I refused as it had been raining and these were seniors. The driver didn’t want to get his bus super muddy and I needed to protect my tour group. 

Salinas is Steinbeck Country. It is the home of John Steinbeck and his family. Have you read The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men or Cannery Row, and many of his other books? Steinbeck wrote often of these hard-working people and the perils of the working man. Salinas has a museum, library, and more dedicated to John Steinbeck. You can even have a meal in his childhood home. 

My trip north was a good trip. I found State Recreation sites and State Parks to camp in. All of them are on my list for a return visit. One was on the Salinas River in northern California and the other was on the Willamette River in Oregon. I may be kayaking on the Willamette on a return visit.

The most memorable part of the trip north was visiting with friends. Mary and I were able to catch up, in-person in southern Oregon where she lives. She is getting ready to raft a few rivers. That is her June activity. I had the opportunity to swamp for her on the North Fork of the Flathead River several years ago. It was work and it was fun. We are planning a trip in the fall into the southwest, not involving rivers and rafting.

On June first I met up with Pat another Roadtreking friend. We had made plans to meet at Scenic Beach State Park near Seabeck, Washington about nine months ago. Why? Great Blue Herons and Eagles feeding on Midshipmen Fish that come in the spring to breed among the oyster beds, and an opportunity to see nature happening close up. I also had the opportunity to photograph all the action.

Now I am on Whidbey Island, arriving just less than a week ago, to house sit for another summer in the same lovely home I was in last year. Ooooh, more amazing sunsets. It has to become summer first. People who live here tell me they are still waiting for spring and summer to arrive. It has been raining, a bit. 

And…guess who was here to greet me? Birdy Boy? If you have followed my blog from last year you will remember the posts about my relationship with a sweet little Song Sparrow. He is still here and is back to sitting on my arms and legs and singing up a storm. It is so fun that he remembers me. I have been enjoying the low tides this week while waiting for spring and summer to arrive.

Summer is off to a good start.

A Month in Salinas

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Today I realized that my month in Salinas, CA is almost up. It feels like I just arrived when in truth I have been here for three weeks. Time has a way of slipping by.

What have I been doing with my time? What spectacular places have I discovered? How is the whole house-sitting thing going? What is next and next and next?

Here are some of the things I have been doing with my time in northern California.

Elkhorn
Kayaking with friends in the Slough
  • I have discovered the Elkhorn Slough. The Slough is in the center of Monterey Bay and is managed by the Nature Conservancy. One can hike or kayak and bird watch in and around the Slough. I have taken full advantage of it’s close proximity to Salinas. I think I will kayak for an hour or so and then three hours later I am returning to my put in at Moss Landing, hungry and happy for a day on the water. And, oh the wildlife I have seen. It is definitely a place worth exploring.
  • The Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary in Pacific Grove was alive with Butterflies. By the time I leave on March first the butterflies will also be migrating. I am glad I saw them. It is a special place.
  • Calla Lily Valley at the north end of the Big Sur Coast was in full bloom. After enjoying the lilies I made my way out to the beach and admired the beautiful Pacific Ocean.
  • Wineries abound in this area. I spent my first Saturday afternoon at the Folktale Winery, tasting wine and listening to good music.
  • I have done a lot of walking around Salinas. I have enjoyed looking at the well cared for and lovely homes in the neighborhoods.
  • I have explored the coastal communities. I have been in and out of several state parks and explores some of the local wildlife refuges. I love being outside and exploring the natural settings.
  • And then, there is Woody the Cat. He is a darling boy who I am glad to have met. This cat craves affection. He snuggles with me every night. I have found him sleeping next to my face, on my head and under the covers. He is a delightful boy, a charming personality.
  • My bicycle has two new tires and is tuned up for another season. It rides well. It is always good to find the good bike shops in town.
  • Although not submitted, my taxes are complete. This is the first year in many years that I have done my own taxes. Turbo Tax made it relatively easy. My “accountant” Cynthia (not offically my accountant) will review them with me before I submit them. It is good to have friends who understand accounting and are willing to help. I am thankful for Cynthia’s help.

I could go on but as you can see my time, even when I am in new places, is a mix of adventure, and getting things done. It is no different than yours. We go have fun and then we do taxes.

Where to next? I am returning to San Diego for most of March. My dentist and I have an ongoing relationship of many years. I am returning to San Diego to once again get involved with dental work. Oh joy. I once told Jim, my husband that he should have checked my mouth before he married me. With his usual roll of the eyes, he laughed and proceeded to love me, no matter what.

Today I am thankful for the opportunities that continue to gift my life. I am thankful for the dentist. I am thankful for Woody. Today I am thankful.

Woody the Cat Tells His Tail

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Hi, I am Woody the cat. I am new to this experience of telling my story. Janet says that Elsie, her kitty, would write on here and I decided to try.

I live with a really nice person. Her name is Mandy. I also live with a rather rambunctious dog, Rocky. I like living with them. They let me cuddle and visit when I want to. If Rocky gets too much for me I go to my private retreat, under the bed.

Mandy likes to travel in her “Roadtrek”. It is a big, well to me, a really giant house on wheels. When I look out the front window I see another one that is not quite as big in the driveway. Mandy has gone on holiday. She leaves and then she comes back. I have no idea where she goes. As long as she comes back I am good with that. I am also glad I don’t have to ride in it, I am not sure about this riding in a moving object. Rocky goes with her. Phew, I have some dog-free time to do what cats do, sleep, eat, sleep, get brushed, sleep, and snuggle and cuddle and sleep. I am good at snuggling and cuddling.

I am resting

When Mandy goes away I often go to Scott’s and Megan’s house. I like being there but I don’t like having to be caught and put in a tiny box and driving in a car to get there.

Guess what? This time when she left, I got to stay here. I am really happy with this arrangement. The day before Mandy left, Janet showed up. Ooh, I have heard she likes kitties. I don’t know where she came from. I have no idea how long she is here. No one ever tells me anything. Maybe it is because I don’t care. I am a cat.

Janet says she is house sitting and cat sitting for me. I am good with that. And…I get her all to myself. She is really nice to me and I get my needs met and a little more. I am good with this arrangement. I sleep with her every night. She lets me snuggle by her head or anywhere else I want. I get petted and sometimes she carries me around. She also feeds me and gives me treats. What else can a cat ask for? Well…I would like to go outside but she says no, even though I tell her it is OK. Sigh.

Look at the tail. My pride and joy.

Before I go take a look at my tail. My tail is beautiful and I carry it proudly. It goes straight up and then curls to my back. It is a fine feature and one of my best. All kitties should be so lucky.

It’s nice to meet you and I might just write again. It depends on when I can get to the computer. It depends on whether I am sleeping.

Here, There & Back Again-Adventures Along the Way

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The View From Whidbey

In the third week of June, I left my house-sitting job on Whidbey Island and resumed my nomadic lifestyle. I traveled to southern Utah to celebrate my dear friend, Sharon’s, ninetieth birthday. I was surrounded by family and friends. I reunited with her family, one I have known since I was a young girl. I made new friends and enjoyed all those that I do not know at all.

The following week I traveled north through Utah. I kayaked lakes and rivers, biked along the byways, and kept my hiking limited due to an ongoing ankle injury. Utah never disappoints me. There is always magic there and it draws me back time and again. I waved to Salt Lake City as I drove by. This city was my first real move away from home in 1976. Yes, I have almost always had a nomadic tendency.

I gradually made my way into Idaho. After exploring the City of Rocks National Reserve in southern Idaho I stayed in Boise with good friends for two weeks. Linda and I are like sisters. We hike and walk together and even tube the Boise River together. It is so much fun to have friends that have a sense of adventure.

When I left Boise I returned to Donnelly, ID, where I spent my 2020 Covid spring, summer, and fall. This time I was there for ten days. It was long enough to see one of my favorite chiropractors, go to the Farmers Market and kayak a section of the Payette River. It was an action-packed ten days. I would have stayed longer but I had a plan.

Linda, Mary, Phyllis, Janet

Mary Z, Linda, and I became friends back in 2016. I met them on that fateful desert trip. I ended the long weekend, breaking my ankle, delaying the sale of my home, and my imminent departure into my full-time RV life. The three of us have remained friends. Our last great adventure was traveling the White Rim in the backcountry of Canyonlands National Park. It has been a while since the three of us have been together.

A Gathering of Friends

We decided to meet up on the coast of Oregon. After some quick decision-making, we reserved a group site at one of the campgrounds near the town of Florence. With that one decision, it became a gathering of friends. We invited a few friends to join us for this group camping adventure on the coast. There were six Roadtreks(our RVs) and seven people. Two dogs and one kitty also joined the laid-back festivities.

Since I bought my Roadtrek in 2013 I have met wonderful, interesting, and unique people. I had no idea how this single purchase would change and enhance my life. I have traveled with some of these people. Others I meet in the desert during the winter months. Sometimes it is purely by fate that we meet at all. Recently while I was making my way to Boise two Roadtreks passed each other, we waved and there were my friends from Michigan. And, as with the Canyonlands trip, sometimes we leave our Roadtreks behind (safely watched over) and head to the backcountry in high clearance vehicles and camp, once again, on the ground. Almost anywhere I travel there are people who are waiting to have me join them for a day or two or more.

Linda, Mary, Pat & Pancho the Dog-Hiking during the Coastal gathering

People who RV are a welcoming, adventurous, and fun lot. I have become friends and or acquaintances with many. When I travel cross-country, I usually have people to visit, places to stay, or others to go camping with. When traveling distance it is so joyful to break up the monotony of the drive, by meeting delightful people. I have learned of unique and interesting places to explore. There is laughter and catching up to do. Sometimes serious and heartfelt conversations help relieve the stress of making major decisions on my own. I treasure my RVing friends. I treasure my friends. My Roadtrek may have been the catalyst to meet others yet several friendships have gone beyond the RV. I treasure all these friendships.

Today I am thankful to have discovered a lifestyle that has opened my world. Today I am thankful for good, good friends. Today I am thankful for by-chance meetings that create change in my life. Today I am thankful for my Roadtrek, for my friends and for a sense of adventure.

House Sitting Review

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Today is Elsie’s and my last day in this beautiful home. We have had a good month. Elsie likes the room to run and I have enjoyed the quiet and beauty of this home. I have learned a few things.

  • I don’t need 2500 square feet to live in. When I first arrived I went from my bedroom to the kitchen. After finally giving myself permission, I expanded my space to the den and sun room. The formal dining room and the master suite were areas that I explored very little, if at all.
  • I like being still. I liked having a place to come home to after appointments and walks.
  • I really like being surrounded by beauty.
  • A good hot shower was a delicious treat for me. The shower in my RV is a bit on the small side.
  • Another treat is having a washer and dryer handy.
  • I enjoyed Therese’s art room. It is light and airy and has really good vibes.
  • As I lay in bed at night it was a delight to hear the coyotes howling in the canyon. I really like coyotes.
  • I like chicken sitting but I would not choose to be an urban farmer. Fresh eggs were a treat to be savored.
  • When the hip bursitis got bad I fell in love with the couch in the den. It was one place I could lay without any pain. It is a magic couch.
  • Sometimes it is good to have someone take care of your home. A week ago one of the drip irrigation pipes broke. I went outside to find water rushing down the driveway. This neighborhood is so quiet, it may have taken a while before anyone noticed this.
  • I like the pool but I am not sure I would like the maintenance and upkeep.
  • I liked having a garden that I could play around in. I love pruning and making a yard look nice.

Here is the beginnings of a list of what I will look for when I am ready to move back into a sticks and bricks type home. The longer I stay in one place the more I begin to long for a sense of permanence. I continue to recognize the longing for community. It is hard to do when one is “on-the-road”.

I am not done with this house quite yet. I move back in for two weeks over Thanksgiving before my house sitting gig is done. It has been a fun and interesting adventure.

Today I vacuum and dust and clean. I want my friends to come home to a happy and well cared for home. I know they will have many tales to tell.

Tomorrow Miss Elsie and I move back into our small house on wheels. We are going to camp on San Diego Bay for a few days before venturing off to visit friends.

Today I am thankful for good friends, lovely homes and my Roadtrek RV.

 

Friends & Urban Farming

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I have been in San Diego for a week. My re-entry to this community is usually a bit hard. I don’t think it is the memories. I feel it has more to do with me trying to decide if this is still my home.

Last winter I rented a studio at the beach for 3 months. It was delightful to be near the beach, yet I found I was lonely. When one disappears from their friends for a long period of time, well they move on and in some ways so do I. I wondered how I would feel coming back this fall.

My month long home

Things are different this time. For the first month I am here I am house sitting for good friends in a large, beautiful home that has a feel of a retreat in the middle of a busy city. Both Elsie and I are enjoying the space. There are ample opportunities to sit outside, by the pool, looking over the canyon and a cozy, protected side deck and yard.

Having this space has offered me the opportunity to invite friends over and enjoy their company. Many of my friends are curious about my current home, so they arrive in ones or twos to visit, catch up and take a look around. And, because the house comes with six laying hens, people can go home with fresh eggs.

I am learning about chickens. When one stopped laying a few days ago, I was concerned. Like all good techies or techie wanna-be’s, I headed to the internet to read up on why one of the girls is not laying.

  • Did you know that when daylight hours are decreased hens will stop laying? Yep…so I wonder if this is the reason that she has stopped laying. Chickies need 15-16 hours of light to lay eggs. Our daylight hours are decreasing, so this might be a normal event.
  • A chicken needs around 20 grams of protein to lay an egg. In addition to protein, chickens need: calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, fat and water.  A chicken also needs a lot of protein to grow feathers; feathers are approximately 80% protein. So a chicken only has enough protein to either lay eggs or moult, it doesn’t have enough protein to do them both at once.
  • Too many goodies-table scraps and such may also cause them to stop laying because they are not getting the nutrition they need from their main food source. OK I admit it, I have been table scrapping them. This stopped yesterday.
  • If they are dehydrated they will also stop laying. Chickens will drink around three times as much water by weight as they will eat. I don’t think that is a worry as I change their water every other or third day.
  • Are their nesting boxes clean? They don’t like them damp or dirty. Guess what I am doing this afternoon?

Now, you too may know more than you ever needed to know about the urban chicken craze. I had two pet chickens when I was growing up. I am enjoying being around them again. They are funny and personable.

I am house sitting for a month and then plan to camp and visit other friends for about 10 days and then return to chicken farming for another couple of weeks. It has certainly upped my game. I am relaxed and sleeping in and am enjoying exploring my new neighborhood. It is a beautiful area. For those who know the city I am in Tierra Santa and some of the trail heads to Mission Trails Regional Park are a mile away. Sweet.

I am enjoying seeing all my friends, a little bit at a time. I still do better in small groups. Large crowds continue to overwhelming to me. For all my San Diego friends. I am back and I plan to stay until January 2019. Please give me a call or email or text. I love this time of the year because I catch up with all of those who have been part of my social community for almost thirty years. I love all of you.

Today I am grateful for friends near and far. Today I am grateful for this lovely home and retreat. Today I am grateful for chickens. Today I am grateful.