A Solo Walk and My Average Steps

Last Wednesday inspired by Sara’s Walks around Long Beach and other towns, I decided to have a little walk around downtown Ventura and see what I could see.

 

I love how inviting this Rose Arbor and Gated entry are to this cute little house.

 

It’s a good idea to look up in downtown Ventura. Along Main Street there are a lot of older buildings that have some unique architecture and designs.

 

I was drawn to this arched doorway and the unique designs.

The upper window caught my eye. I wonder what the room is like up there. It seems like it could be a great bedroom for Anne of Green Gables.

 

This Historic Landmark Home has been turned into a restaurant.

It’s too bad the elaborate Schiappapietra Mansion is no longer standing.

 

The Restaurant is called Landmark No. 78. The bougainvillea arbor entry is in all its glory!

 

This next place I walked had an area that was called China Alley. My interest was piqued so I did a little research.

 

China Alley Memorial

The Chinese settlers arrived in Ventura in the 1860’s. They were highly skilled farmers and designed the irrigation system for the area. Approximately 200 of these Chinese immigrants lived in China Alley, located in front of the Ventura Mission. The Ventura fire department provided insufficient protection for their wooden shacks from fire, so they formed their own fire brigade.  They were also known to lend their services for other fires in the community.

With this solo walk and my daily walks with Willow this week my average steps were 11,118! On the Wednesday that I did this Ventura walk I also walked with Willow so that was a 13,707 step day and the rest of the days we walked I had over 10,000 steps.

My goal is to try to get over 10,000 a day. Some weeks just don’t work out that great but I still plan to walk everyday. It’s good for us women to keep moving…

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!

The Pouring Teapot ~ Tea Blogathon

This week’s Gracious Hospital-i-Tea Blog-a-Thon is all about Teapots. Share your teapots and any stories behind them.

This was the first teapot I ever owned. Royal Albert Moss Rose. I bought a complete tea set when travelling to the UK on a Christian music tour/outreach in 1973.

These are the dishes I registered for when Dear and I set our wedding date. They are Pfaltzgraff Yorktowne. I did not register for China. I was happy to get both of these teapots as wedding gifts.

 

Dear and I bought this teapot in 1975 after we were married. It has a cylinder that you put the tea leaves in and it sets right down into the boiled water and the tea steeps without a tea leaf issue when you pour the tea into the cup. I don’t have access to the teapot right now to show you the cylinder.

When my parents were in their 70’s they went back to their hometowns in Russia and started a church and ministry to their relatives and others who lived in their village. These teapots were a gift to Dear and I from them from Russia. You would use the large one for hot water and the small one for a strong steep of tea.

They also brought us back the red and gold samovar. The Samovar on the right is a purchase I made from Goodwill. The little metal samovar is a gift from my SIL.

This teapot is a gift from my good friend Jody. She purchased it on a mission trip to China.

I found out during the blogathon that this teapot is from a nesting set of 3 pots and this is probably the creamer. It’s from Japan made in the ’30’s.

I purchased this during the blogathon at TJMax because of the English tourist spots pictured on it. Did I mention that I love the UK and love travelling there?

On Mother’s Day I purchased this Teapot at the Rose Bowl Flea Market. I just read The Wind in the Willows for the first time this year and this teapot seemed perfect to remember my quest to read Children’s Classics in 2008.

Last but not least, I finally made the plunge and bought myself an electric tea kettle this year. It’s fabulous. The water heats so quickly and I don’t have to worry about leaving the flame on under the kettle!

To see more Teapot Stories visit LaTeaDah at Gracious Hospitality.

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!

Fun Monday ~ Beatrix Potter Collection

Mariposa is hosting Fun Monday this week and her assignment is to post about a collection we have. I have lots of collections but I’m choosing my Beatrix Potter Figurines to show. The photos are not great quality but you’ll get the idea…

These were mostly collected in the 1970’s. I got a fair number of them while travelling to Great Britain in 1973 and 1974. They are all F. Warne & Co.Ltd. Beswick, England.

 

Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Mopsy Flopsy and Cottontail, Mrs. Rabbit

 

Mr. Benjamin Rabbit, Mrs. Flopsy Bunny, Mrs. Tiggywinkle, Sally Henny Penny

Goody Tiptoes, Timmy Tiptoes, Tailor of Gloucester, Johnny Townmouse

 

Lady Mouse, Samuel Whiskers, Hunca Munca, The Old Woman who lived in a Shoe

 

Aunt Pettitoes, Little Pig Robinson, Pigling Bland, Amiable Guinea Pig

 

Jeremy Fisher, Mr. Alderman Ptolemy, Sir Isaac Newt, John Joiner

 

Ribby, Tom Kitten, Jemima Puddleduck, Mrs. Tiggywinkle

27 figurines in all. I posted Mrs. Tiggywinkle twice to fill in the collage and because she’s my favorite. I was having a “senior moment” on a couple of the figurines and couldn’t remember their names…

For more Fun Monday Collections visit Mariposa’s

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!

Safely Through Another Week ~ John Newton

 

Safely Through Another Week ~ John Newton

Safely through another week God has brought us on our way;
Let us now a blessing seek, on th’approaching Sabbath day;
Day of all the week the best, emblem of eternal rest,
Day of all the week the best, emblem of eternal rest.

Mercies multiplied each hour through the week our praise demand;
Guarded by almighty power, fed and guided by His hand;
Though ungrateful we have been, only made returns of sin,
Though ungrateful we have been, only made returns of sin.

While we pray for pardoning grace, through the dear Redeemer’s Name,
Show Thy reconciled face, shine away our sin and shame;
From our worldly cares set free, may we rest this night with Thee,
From our worldly cares set free, may we rest this night with Thee.

Here we come Thy Name to praise, let us feel Thy presence near,
May Thy glory meet our eyes, while we in Thy house appear:
Here afford us, Lord, a taste of our everlasting feast,
Here afford us, Lord, a taste of our everlasting feast.

When the morn shall bid us rise, may we feel Thy presence near:
May Thy glory meet our eyes, when we in Thy house appear:
There afford us, Lord, a taste of our everlasting feast,
There afford us, Lord, a taste of our everlasting feast.

May Thy Gospel’s joyful sound conquer sinners, comfort saints;
May the fruits of grace abound, bring relief for all complaints;
Thus may all our Sabbaths prove till we join the church above,
Thus may all our Sabbaths prove till we join the church above!

Saturday Morning Fun!

 

We started our beach walk at 6:00 AM today! The sun has not shown up in all it’s glory yet…

The colors in my photos change as the sun comes up over the hill.

We saw a lot of crabs today. The tide was not as far out and we couldn’t get as far on the sand this week.

 

The Pirates were afoot and we snuck by their ship.

 

Dear braved the surf while I took the higher road.

 

“Here’s looking at ya”

We finished our walk on the beach and were home by 7:45 AM. I then got ready to head out to San Marino, California to meet my nieces, sister, and mom for a birthday breakfast.

 

On the way to breakfast a car fully engulfed in flames was worth a photo! :0)

Julienne Restaurant in San Marino, California

My sister Kathy and her daughter Michelle

 

The sisters, Michelle and Melissa

My niece Debbee and me

My Mom

I decided on the Earl Grey Tea. Look at that pretty little bag the tea leaves come in.

A Gruyere omelette with scallions and avocado and rosemary potatoes.

 

Me, my mom, and my sister Kathy

 

Kathy and her daughters. Happy Birthday Kathy.

And yes it is hot in Southern California today. This was the hottest my outside temp registered when I hit Woodland Hills. (109 degrees)  Notice that I’m standing still in traffic so no one was in danger when I took this shot. We’re breaking records today. Thankfully it is a lot cooler than Woodland Hills in our town…

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!

May Birthdays!

 

So many people I love are having birthdays in May. In Picture order not birthdate order…

My niece Annie, May 16th ~ My friend Lucy, May 20th ~ My niece Debbee, May 12th

Jan my good friend in Washington, May 14th ~ Jody my good friend in Washington, May 24

My nephew Levi, May 27th ~ My dear Father Moisi, May 25th ~ My sister Kathy, May 23rd

Beautiful people who bless me with their love and friendship. A very Happy Birthday to all of you in the Merry Month of May!

I’m off today to celebrate my sister Kathy’s birthday at Julienne, a lovely breakfast spot in San Marino, California. Hubby and I walked the beach at Emma Wood at 6:00 am this morning :0) so I’m getting a lot done this morning. I’ll probably crash when I get back from eating yummy morsels. Have a wonderful weekend everyone. I’ll be posting my average walking steps on Monday. Keep walking (Lord knows I need to if I keep eating well at all these lovely spots around town!)

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!

Photo Hunters ~ Candy

The theme this week is Candy. I decided to make a trip to my favorite candy shop in Southern California, See’s.

 

Look how sweet the See’s saleslady was. When I told her I was taking photos of candy for Photo Hunters she asked if I’d like her to take some out of the case to photograph. What a good sport..

 

I’m just going to post all the photos from the store because I don’t ever get tired of looking at chocolate.

 

 

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!

I think I showed a lot of restraint and only came away with 5 pieces.

For more Photo Hunters click over to Tnchick’s!

Back to Emma Wood With the Tide Out…

We had a wonderful sandy walk at Emma Wood State Beach in Ventura, California last Saturday. We were so pleased to see the tide out far enough for a true walk on the beach.

 

 

These little Sanderlings were scurrying about in full force digging in the sand with their long narrow beaks.

 

I was excited to catch this Pelican with my camera.

 

And these Cormorants were an added bonus!

 

 

We had fun exploring some of these pools.

 

We saw many sea anemones

 

We also saw crabs, mussels stuck on rocks, and a Jellyfish!

Lord willing this coming Saturday we are going to try to do a walk here again at dusk.

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!

My Sweet Niece and Me and Vitiligo

 

I love this photo of my sweet little niece with her Aunty ellen b. Look at her great eyebrows. After we left Dallas she cut two bottom teeth within the week. She’s just 3-1/2 months old. Before we left for Dallas I had my first ever trip to the dermatologist because my face was discoloring. I thought I was getting brown spots. At my visit the dermatologist discovered that I’m not getting brown spots but instead I’m losing the pigment in my skin, a condition called Vitiligo. It’s the same condition that Michael Jackson has. I’m not wearing any cover-up in the photo above so you can see my loss of pigment especially next to my dear niece’s perfect baby skin. So from now on if I post any photos of myself out walking you’ll see me with my Dallas souvenir on…

 

Here I am last Saturday at Emma Wood State Beach with my new UPF50+ hat with a 3″ rim. The areas of my skin that are losing pigment are very sensitive to the sun so I need to add extra protection. A sunblock with helioplex broad spectrum uva-uvb and avobenzone 3% are highly recommended for protection. I’m using a Neutrogena product that has both of these ingredients in it. The only downside to this condition for me besides my vanity, is the fact that I don’t wear hats well and then the added condition of bad dented hair from the hat after my walks!

Between my back issues and my face issues I was happy to have memorized ~ 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ~”Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Have a wonderful day y’all and keep on walking. I’ve had a good week of walking and I’ll be posting my average steps every Monday from now on.

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!

Sky Watch ~ May Gray

 

We usually have what the weather people call “June Gloom” around Southern California but this year they had to come up with a new one “May Gray”. As you can see from the photo above on a beach walk hubby and I had last Saturday morning, the skies are gray. The last couple days we have been back to sunny and slightly blue. We are suppose to reach temperatures in the upper 90’s by Friday here and the 100’s in the valleys. Yuck, that’s hot for Spring!! Have a wonderful weekend all you Sky Watchers!

For more Sky Watch photos head over to Wiggers World.

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!