Friday Five - Lots Of Sunshine

 Friday Five - Lots Of Sunshine

1.  We have embraced this week's beautiful weather here, walking and spending time outdoors each day. I feel a renewed sense of appreciation for S. California's year round temperate climate after watching last week's Arctic storm level so much snow, ice, and sub zero temperatures in Middle Tennessee, where my daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughters live. I am so thankful they did not lose their power at any point during the weather event.

2.  I spent a lovely afternoon with my brain cancer-stricken girlfriend. We sat outside in the sun for hours, first enjoying lunch, then iced coffees. She spoke about accepting that she will not likely beat the cancer this time around - it's her fourth bout, though first with it being in her brain. She seemed somewhat at peace, which is my only wish for her. That, and that she remain pain free.

We see her and her husband again tonight, for dinner at our water fronting social club where a guitarist, Happy Hour, and hopefully a beautiful sunset awaits.

3.  Speaking of which, the sunsets this week have been other-wordly in their beauty. They have literally stopped me in my tracks. And I wish to never, ever take them for granted.

4.  The Giant Birds of Paradise in the HOA area next to our home have been removed, and the opened up views have been wonderful. We're now enjoying sitting outside as often as we give thought to doing so, particularly at dusk when the homes atop the ridge begin to light up and twinkle.

During the day I'm enjoying watching the many birds fly overhead, particularly our local populations of Cooper, red tail, and red shouldered hawks.

5.  I am cooking up a storm for a series of entertaining events occurring this weekend. So far I've made and frozen an Old Fashioned Banana Cake with Cream Cheese & Ricotta Frosting, made the base for a sundried tomato bruschetta I'm bringing to a wine club event tomorrow, and prepped for making pumpkin and sausage chili in the morning, so it can meld a full day in the refrigerator before I serve it on Sunday.

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Today's Healthy Focus Plan - Walk four miles to and along the beach, file for online UK Visas for upcoming summer trip to British Isles (I am so badly procrastinating on this one, oof!), pick up this week's loss leader supermarket sale items, go through my shoe closet to remove shoes that I can no longer bear to wear due to my bunion, and also to make room for the six pair of new and comfortable boots and shoes I bought yesterday. Yes, six pair - it's how I roll! 😆