Mountain Quarries Railroad Bridge

I grew up along the Sacramento River, and my husband grew up near two forks of the American River.

A match made in River Heaven, you might say?

Over the weekend, we took a stroll over the Mountain Quarries Railroad Bridge outside of Auburn.  Built in 1912, the bridge was the longest concrete bridge in the world during that time.  The railroad ties were removed in the 1940s, and guardrails weren't installed until 1984.  The bridge is also known as the No Hands Bridge and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

As part of the Auburn State Recreation Area, with views of the American River Canyon and its Middle Fork, Mountain Quarries Railroad Bridge is a popular place to hike.  Most people were dressed for to kill for hiking--new boots, backpacks and fancy water containers.

So what were these city slickers thinking?  The hardest thing you have to do on this short, easy trail is to avoid the mud puddles.  No doubt, this is a family friendly location where you can take the kids and walk the dog at the same time.  I saw a woman wearing muddy flip flops while pausing to look down at the river.  She must have been a local and was used to the cold weather.

A man clutched his miniature pinscher against his chest as he walked by.  The woman walking behind him looked at the ground and kept walking.  She didn't want to be seen with him or the dog.

"This is the way we walk our dog," he explained.  It almost sounded like an apology.

What's with these "Manly Men" and their tiny, spoiled dogs?

I wanted to see how high the American River got after a lot of rain and melting snow.  Well, I was disappointed.  Sure the river was running, but not fast enough or high enough to reach the No Hands Bridge or the Foresthill Bridge above us.

Yesterday, Gov. Jerry Brown proclaimed that it was the end of the California drought.

D-U-H.

Ribbon Rose

I've always considered myself a highly-creative individual, but that doesn't mean I "get" any project put in front of me.  This Ribbon Rose "kit" was a freebie, but didn't offer any step-by-step illustrations.  Also, the ribbon included was plain--not wired.


Ribbon Rose

1 yard wired ribbon, 1-1/2 inch wide
Straight pins
Hot glue gun
1 inch bar pin

Pull wire on both ends of ribbon and gather up ribbon so it creates a loose ruffle.  Gather one end of ribbon, folding over twice and secure by wrapping excess wire around edge.  Start center of flower by loosely wrapping gathered ribbon around center of flower.  Crimp edges to give flower the effect of petals.  Pin back of flower to stay in place and hot glue the edges of back of flower.  Remove pins.  Hot glue bar pin.

Viola!  A Ribbon Rose Pin.


Arlene's Comments:  Viola?  You've gotta be kidding!  I'll wait for one of my roses to bloom, take the best one, then pin it to my clothing.  With the real deal, that makes it a lot easier, don't you think? 

Farewell to the Winter Garden

My husband and I had good intentions, and we thought we knew what we were doing.  Last fall, we started our first winter garden with healthy nursery flats of peas, lettuce, brussels sprouts, and broccoli-cauliflower hybrids.

At first, the lettuce started to grow, and I harvested enough for a few salads.  But the younger leaves attracted a lot of slugs, and those slugs were like your average thieves in the night.  No matter how many slug pellets I scattered out there during the day, it wasn't enough to kill them.

How many times I'd go out to the garden and find all these little slug babies making holes in the lettuce leaves?

So the holidays came and went.  Today, on this dismal day in March, I went out to the garden for the first time this year and wasn't too surprised with what I saw.  Sure, I expected the usual weeds and mud.  The good neighbor fence which came with the house survived the storms and is still standing.  Three years ago, we were hoping it would fall over in one piece so our neighbor could get the insurance money to replace it.

Now that I have writing projects, I've found that I seldom leave the house.  Yes, I'm afraid of getting Writer's Block, and I'm afraid of missing deadlines.  I don't want to chase activities and have such a good time that I don't think about returning to my work.

I heard about this nationally famous landscaper in Sacramento who likes to take any existing suburban land and pour concrete over it.  For about $100 an hour, he can tell you where to lay the concrete and where you should install the fountain as a "water design element".  By doing this, you won't have to worry about weeds or having to work in the yard, again.  You can look forward to sitting in the backyard and listening to gurgling water. 

I think I'll save my money and take my chances with the weeds.  My husband and I can go back to buying flats of more familiar vegetables, then prepare the soil for the annual vegetable garden in late spring.  When you think about it, concrete, summer and Sacramento are an ugly combination in the valley heat. 

  

Knitting to Rip

I had no clue of what people did once they retired.

When I retired, I figured women would knit and crochet for charity, and that was it.  That's what retirement was all about.

So that's what I did.  I joined a crochet group and a knitting group.  I went to meetings and made items for charity.  I hung out at yarn shops and fondled yarn.  I even attended conferences and got run over by women and their rolling luggage packed with yarn.

My three-year "career" as a charity knitter ended with one preemie cap.  I used Size 3 circular knitting needles, special baby yarn and followed a pattern.  After finishing that project, I didn't want to make another one.

Since I don't have children, I had no idea on how big a preemie's head would be.  I had to go to the supermarket and study the grapefruit display to get an idea.  By the time I donated my finished project, the preemie hat looked like it would fit a tennis ball. 

That was my sign.  I was done with charity knitting.

After I quit charity knitting, I made scarves because my knitting instructor told me that you can learn all kinds of stitches when you make scarves.  I made scarves for Christmas presents, but never saw anyone wear them.  I kept making scarves, and  made enough to outfit all the skiers in Lake Tahoe for years.

There's a problem with wearing scarves in Sacramento because it never gets cold enough.  If you look at most patterns for hats and scarves, the instructions ask for two strands of yarn.

But I get a lot of encouragement from knitters.  They tell me not to rush.  They tell me to take on a challenging pattern when I'm ready.  They tell me that all it takes is knowing how to do the knit and purl stitches.

Liars.

Most women learn to knit when they are four years old.  They teach classes.  They publish patterns and books.  And when they aren't teaching or publishing, they are taking classes from the experts and dropping names.

I am still a beginning knitter.  The truth is, I can only knit and purl.  I can't knit and carry on a conversation  at the same time.  Don't insult me and tell me it's easy to make socks.
 
 I "knit to rip".  I knit to relax, but if I don't like what I make, I rip it and start again.  You can say I am a "green" knitter because I can use the same skein of yarn over and over again.

Someday, I'll pick out some beautiful yarn, complete a sweater, show it off, and wear it. 

Someday.  But not now.

 

A Need to Purge

If I had the chance to do it all over again, I'd clutter bust my home long before starting my retirement.   I was so sure I'd go back to work, so I thought I'd be buying some time before having to do some major cleaning.

I can't say I was born with the "cleaning gene".  I'm certainly not housewife material.

I've finally learned to enjoy retirement, and I'm looking at getting rid of possessions that I can live without.  I love my books and magazines, so I'll always have those around me.  And with every interest, toy or hobby comes all the goodies that come with it.  I need to toss unwanted and unused items so I can bring more interesting things into my home that are of value and matter to me.

Purge or whatever you want to call it.  If you happen to hang onto things that you don't want or need, it's all such a waste.

Trust me.  Don't wait until retirement or wonder if the Kings are leaving.  Just clean house.  And do it now.

Rainy Days and Mondays

More storms and rainy days are predicted for Sacramento.  On rainy days, I like to spend hours in bookstores or yarn shops.  If I'm in the mood, I'll do some baking.

I attended some Wilton cake decorating classes in the past, and my instructor suggested that we shop at WinCo to save money on sugar and flour.  She also informed us that shortening other than Crisco was the stuff to buy for our frosting recipes.  When I did a lot of charity baking, WinCo was the place to get my ingredients in bulk.

Today, I decided to celebrate the rain and bake some chocolate chip cookies.  I heard a woman ask her child what kind of decorations that he wanted on his birthday cake, and I saw him point to a bulk container of miniature M&Ms.  So when they left, I decided to bake chocolate chip cookies, using miniature chocolate chips.

As I reached for the chips, I realized that I lost my keys.  Someone left a bin of flour open, and I could barely see my keys poking through the flour.  I had flour all over my hands and clothing as I finished the rest of my shopping.

When I bake, I don't like using a lot of ingredients or spend a lot of time in the kitchen.  But when I bake cookies, I want flat, crisp cookies.

I usually tweak recipes to make them mine.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup butter
1-1/2 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons vanilla
2-1/2 cups flour
1/3 cup Dutch cocoa
2 cups miniature chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

1)  Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs, baking soda and vanilla.  Mix well.
2)  With a spoon, spatula or your hands, add Dutch cocoa, flour and chocolate chips to the mixture.
3)  Measure cookie dough by heaping tablespoons.  Flatten and shape each cookie between your palms.
4)  Place about 8 cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for approximately 25 minutes.
5)  Cool cookies on a cake rack or a plate.

Recipe yields approximately 24 palm size cookies.

A Cure for Cabin Fever in Sacramento

People tell me I'm lucky because I have four-legged children and legless children.  In other words, I have two rescue dogs and two tanks of freshwater fish sharing my home.

The weather in Sacramento hasn't been at its best.  My four-legged children are the best companions for this retiree, but when it comes down to days and days of rain, I see nothing but muddy paw prints all over the house.

Today was no different.  More paw prints on tile and wood, so I decided to take a break from my loving children.

Since last Halloween, I've been writing about neighborhoods in the United States.  Last week, I got to write about Sacramento and surrounding cities, including West Sacramento, Roseville, Davis, Orangevale, and Elk Grove.

That was such a treat.  I finished over 30, 300-word articles and easily made my March 20 deadline.  At the same time, I was reminded that I don't get out too often when it comes to visiting local attractions and tourist destinations.  So as I wrote these articles, I told myself that things were going to change.  I would start visiting local places at least once a month.

Today, I finished articles on a San Francisco Bay Area city, got bored with the project and called it a day.  Knowing the Crocker Art Museum was closed on Mondays, I stuffed my pockets with coins and decided to park in that area.  From there, I took a leisurely walk along the Sacramento River and took photographs.

As a child, I grew up along the Sacramento River and a slough with no name.  There have been times when the river was high, but my family never experienced a flood.  Although the gauge underneath the Tower Bridge was covered at the 26-foot mark, I still felt safe.

I walked across the bridge and bumped into a man who was also enjoying the break in the weather.  Although I was born in Sacramento and spent all but about a dozen years living in Sacramento County, I've never walked across the Tower Bridge until this afternoon.

"Well, am I in West Sacramento?"  I asked the stranger.

"Over there!"  He laughed and pointed past the temporary fence at the end of the walk.

So I smiled, waved and wished him a nice day before heading back to the Crocker.  He probably figured out that my temporary break from my furry children and suburban life was over.  I needed to go home and fix dinner.   

Magnus, My Love

When I was single, my father used to tell me that single people who weren't in a committed relationship were usually "married" to the job or material things like an automobile or a house.  In other words, he was politely telling me that I was married to a job while in pursuit of buying a house.

Someday, my house will come.  That was the major goal for me when I was single.  The job and the house had become "the boyfriend".

Goals and priorities change over the years.  Like a lot of my friends, I am now that "old married lady" with about 10 years into retirement.  Surprisingly enough, this is the best time for me because my time is my own.  No longer am I answering to an alarm clock or the Big Boss Man or Lady whenever they cracked the whip.  I'm living like the bumper sticker that says, "Retirement:  Don't Wanna, Don't Have To".

This month, Magnus the spinning wheel came into my life.  He is a handmade spinning wheel from 1993 (#160) and made by Magnus Drudik of Salem, Oregon.  I was told Mr. Drudik was very popular when he created these wheels.  Some women waited up to six months for his creations, and each one had a different design.

What turned my head when it came to Magnus?  He is made from Oregon myrtlewood and Oregon tiger maple.  Since I lived near the California-Oregon border for 10 years, I've always admired myrtlewood.  In fact, I've always admired wood.  Back to the time when I took a woodshop class in junior high and completed every project assigned to me.

This is my second time around for learning the art of spinning.  I tried it in 2005, but ended up selling my Louet S-10 to a beginning spinner and her kilt-wearing boyfriend.  Someone told me it simply wasn't my type of wheel.  A spinning wheel is a machine, when you think about it.  If you don't like it, you won't use it.

So, I've been spinning every day.  Whether it's 10 minutes or 2 hours, it doesn't matter.  I'm enjoying spinning, now, and a lot of it has to do with the beauty of my spinning wheel.  I've got the whole learning process ahead of me, and there's no end to learning an art.  I like being around spinners who have a passion for the art of spinning.  Whether they know it or not, they inspire me.

Oh, yeah.  Thank you, Mr. Drudik.   

8th Annual Destination:Art! Goes Traveling - Sacramento, March 18-19, 2011

"You playing in the rain?"

My husband's text message came at me as I dined on sashimi and watched the rain coming down.  Nothing like killing time in a restaurant with a good meal and hot tea on a rainy day.  I spent 10 years living near the California-Oregon border, and decided not to let the rain intimidate me.  I took a break from my ongoing writing project just to "play in the rain."

"Come back later . . . I am sleeping.  (Yes, cookies need their sleep, too)."

That was different fortune to come with the cookie.  Since the 1970s, I always got the fortune cookie which read, "Your lover will never leave you."

Ah, but they do leave, don't they?

Destination: Art! is an annual event where Sacramento residents can get acquainted with participating arts and crafts shops, galleries, and studios.  I spent most of Friday visiting six Sacramento destinations and was rewarded with demonstrations and an art project to work on at home.  At each destination, you get your "passport" stamped, and when you've visited all destinations and completed your passport, you turn it in and hope to win one of six art baskets, generously packed with art supplies and projects to please any highly creative individual.

Like me.

I had a wonderful time at all these destinations, but the way it goes, you watch these demonstrations, then make plans to visit again when you're not just going there to get your passport stamped.  Each destination shop is different, but as you race to the next one, you can't help but feel inspired.  It was a creative way to spend a rainy day.

1)  The Bead Fetish (1725 L Street, Sacramento). www.thebeadfetish.com  Beads, beads, beads and classes.  After the demonstration, I was given a kit to make my own pearl bracelet with a charm.
2)  Art Ellis (2508 J Street, Sacramento). www.forwhatyouneed.com  Making paper beads and leaving with a kit.  Lots of beautiful paper to choose from, so I bought a starter package and a few sheets for under $5.  This is place for book binding projects and supplies.
3)  Gatherings (650 Fulton Avenue, Sacramento). mona@gatheringsgift.com  Lots of one-of-a-kind cards and gifts.  The shop is gearing for Easter, with bunnies, eggs and carrots.  Received a kit for a rose ribbon.
4)  The Paper Garden (2601 El Paseo Lane, Sacramento). www.papergardenboutique.com  I took an Asian-themed card class (see my photo of all the cards I made in a couple of hours) from the Paper Garden this month, and signed up for other classes in April.  Stephanie had a class going on and plenty of customers in the store, and I guess I forgot to ask for my destination project.
5)  J. R. Flamingo (1139 Fulton Avenue, #A, Sacramento). (916) 481-1139  All the beautiful fabrics in this store make me wish I had skills as a seamstress.  I was fascinated with the felting demonstrations and hope to take a class or two.  I received instructions and fabric to make an origami iris.
6)  Babetta's Yarn and Gifts (4400 San Juan Avenue, Suite 20, Fair Oaks). www.babettasyarnandgifts.com  I'm no stranger to this place for yarn, classes and knitting supplies.  Babetta was giving out ladder beads for a necklace or bracelet.