Currently 10/12/2020: All Good Things Must Come To An End

It's been a different kind of week around here, with the transition from our RV trip to returning back home being less smooth than it normally is. In giving it thought, I think it's because our trip was magnified in the impact it had on us as a result of being stuck at home for so much of 2020. It really was a magical trip, likely due to the combination of the colder, foggier weather making our coastal walks feel very ethereal, the discovery of some truly fantastic local eateries, the abundance of marine animal and bird sightings, and our joint decision to keep on with our RV'ing in light of the pandemic.

It also may be the result or realizing that unlike in times past, we weren't returning home to a whirlwind of social activities. 

Plus, I've been shopping non stop since we got home, trying to locate the new mirrors for our four bathroom remodels (more below). Although I know the end result will be worth the effort, it's a bit draining in current practice. I'll see something and think, 'Yes! That will work!' and then bring it home only to discover that, oops, it's an inch to large, or not quite wide enough, or doesn't look quite right, etc.  I'm thiiiis close to being finished, however, so just a little bit longer and I'll be done. At which point I'll be very pleased, I'm sure.

Otherwise, Currently I Am . . .  

Baking  Raspberry Crumble Bars from the Barefoot Contessa. I used to make these less frequently than I do now because the specialty raspberry jam called for is a bit pricey. However, since discovering that Aldi's carries a better quality raspberry jam for a song, I've been making them more frequently to my husband's delight. I left a few out for him to enjoy fresh, and then set aside the rest to share with friends at an upcoming beach sunset picnic. 

Never more so than this year do we appreciate S. California's mild climate allowing us to continue to gather outdoors!

Cooking  Pollo asado, BBQ Chicken Stuffed Baked Sweet Potatoes, vegetarian chili, and this delicious sounding Spicy Noodles with Pork, Scallions, and Bok Choy from Eating Well magazine that I'm making for dinner tonight.

Source: Eating Well

Excited  We finally have the installation dates confirmed for our bathrooms/laundry room/hall linen cabinet remodeling project. The job will begin on November 9, and conclude on or before December 23. This will be the seventh time we've done business with this company, and they are 100% efficient in making their timelines, so I know without a doubt the job will be completed in time for Christmas.

The renderings for our new master bath cabinetry.  We have added 50% more storage space, even after removing drawers from the middle section of the lower cabinetry to make room for a new pull out laundry hamper.

Plus, yeah, we decided to move ahead with ordering a new travel trailer to replace our current travel trailer. We decided on this 2518 version from TrailManor, the same company that manufactured our current folding travel trailer. Additional amenities in the new trailer are more open floor space, a larger fridge with freezer, an automatic turn on for hot water heater, a dedicated shower, and additional cupboard and drawer space. It should arrive in about two months.

Fully opened and ready for usage. Our version will have a slideout in the rear, adding an additional 28 sq. feet to the walk around floor area,
which will feel massive compared to our current setup.

Folded down and ready for towing and/or storage in our garage. It really is pretty amazing technology.

Playing  I really missed my guitar while we were gone, and I am so happy to be able to play it again now that we are back home. I also worried, needlessly as it turns out, that my hard-earned finger playing callouses would heal during our trip. Truly though, as I'd been warned many, many times, guitar playing is painful until those important finger tip callouses arrive!

Watching  A new documentary addressing climate change, called Kiss The Ground, which was recommended to us recently by friends. They said they really needed another couple to watch it so that they would have someone to discuss the documentary with, and we were happy to oblige even as I hoped it wouldn't leave me feeling powerless. It didn't! It actually left me feel hopeful, and I highly, highly recommend. 

We also rewatched Helen Mirren in The Queen via Netflix, and both my husband and I were struck by how similarly the queen is depicted by both Helen Mirren in The Queen, and Claire Foy in The Crown. So either Ms. Foy copied Ms. Mirren, or, more likely, the queen really is 'that' way. Either way, it's made me pause and consider how odd the institution of a monarchy seems to be in the midst of a parliamentary democracy such as Britain has. However, not my dog, not my fight, as the saying goes.

Buying   These Bucilla felt kit mermaid Christmas tree ornaments, which just became re-available for ordering after being out of stock for months. My granddaughters are going to loooove them, and I can't wait to start working on them once they arrive, which should be this week.

And as I mentioned above, lots of back and forth trips to several home decor stores as I look for mirrors for each of our four bathroom remodeling projects. The good news is that mirrors can be found for a song compared to having them custom cut by a glass company. And they are all so pretty in that they are framed, as compared to traditional cut glass mirrors. So though it's a bit of a hassle dragging the mirrors back and forth as I buy and return, buy and return, I'm pretty close to being done. 

Current top contender for our downstairs powder room.

Enjoying . . . my natural hair color after decades of having it highlighted. I made this change primarily due to COVID and not wanting to be in a hair salon for hours on end getting it touched up, but it turns out my natural color at this point is a dark blonde woven through with silver, so it still looks highlighted, just in different tones.  And since I no longer have to hurry in for touch up appointments, we're having our hair stylist cut my husband's hair just a bit shorter each visit so that we can spread our joint appointments out to every eight weeks instead of every six. Overall savings for both changes comes to over $700 a year, which I'm now using to pay for house cleaning service instead, so a definite win-win.

The top third is 'all me' as they say, and I'm not hating it!

And finally . . . 

Thinking About . . . the state of our country. I've done my part - my ballot has been completed and returned - and I can only hope enough of my fellow citizens feel as I do. The phrase, 'Never have I ever!' comes to mind fairly frequently these days.