Category Archives: Friends

Heathrow

Posted on 2024-11-30 by Holly

Flying toward sunrise, it is 0715 in the morning. GMT. The clouds below us are textured in lumps and bumps appearing like a layer of meringue. Red at the horizon flows into rose to pink before vanishing into pale blue. … Continue reading →

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Amtrak Delays

Posted on 2024-10-19 by Holly

The fire watch for the area has been called off for the moment.  There is still an active fire in San Leandro, but not here. I can occasionally smell smoke if the wind is coming just right from the south. … Continue reading →

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The noisiest restaurant ever

Posted on 2024-10-03 by Holly

We had offered to take our hosts out for dinner. The first place that we had considered had a rather eclectic menu. When confirming our reservation, the lovely woman on the phone mentioned that it was “open mic” night starting … Continue reading →

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It was supposed to be …

Posted on 2024-09-12 by Holly

Nanortalik, Greenland today. And it would have been, had not there been more ice heading down the eastern side of Greenland along with more winds and the threat of high seas. So instead we have set out for the Canadian … Continue reading →

Posted in Cruising, Friends, Military | 2 Comments

Ms Fiddle Fern

Posted on 2024-06-02 by Holly

Another Nora Corbett – I started her 23 May 2024 and finished her this evening. She is stitched on 32 ct sapphire linen with the called for DMC, a substitution on the Caron Waterlilies since there weren’t more than a … Continue reading →

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and now found

Posted on 2024-03-06 by Holly

As should be obvious, as soon as I didn’t need my mail-in ballot anymore George pointed to it sitting on my sewing table partly buried. It should have been obvious. But then, we often don’t see things directly in front … Continue reading →

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Car time

Posted on 2024-01-04 by Holly

Driving for errands is not my idea of a good time. In today’s case, I headed from Berkeley to San Jose. The purpose of the trip was to pass off a couple of old camera bodies and associated lens. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Cross-Stitch, Friends, Home | 2 Comments

brilliant supper

Posted on 2023-10-20 by Holly

and one that I didn’t have to cook. Nor did George for that matter.  Our neighbors two doors up the hill invited us. He is a retired architect who loves cooking. Those are roasted potatoes, roasted Brussel Sprouts and .. … Continue reading →

Posted in Around Berkeley, Friends | Leave a comment

Figs!

Posted on 2023-10-11 by Holly

Remember when I mentioned (ok, so it wasn’t all that) that it took forever to get through immigration in Seattle? The lovely couple standing behind me in line turned out to live in Oakland less than 20km from where I … Continue reading →

Posted in Cross-Stitch, Friends | 1 Comment

Flowers

Posted on 2023-07-19 by Holly

This lovely bouquet of flowers appeared on our doorstep today. It was sent by a friend and fellow stitcher who decided that I needed cheering up. I like doing things for other people, but often feel guilty when anyone does … Continue reading →

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Driving

Posted on 2023-06-01 by Holly

(me nuts?). I can’t say that I really enjoy driving anymore. Perhaps it is that the roads are more crowded or the drivers are bad or…. anyway – I use the car when I have to but not usually on … Continue reading →

Posted in Around Berkeley, Friends | 3 Comments

Getting Better

Posted on 2023-03-28 by Holly

and most of today was sensibly spent curled up with stitching, a cup of peppermint tea and a warm comforter.  Audiobooks might have played a significant part in my days entertainment along with some YouTube videos…. The Fortune Teller is … Continue reading →

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another day, more coughing

Posted on 2023-03-27 by Holly

Figure I might as well tell you that bit up front. I am most definitely feeling better, but still coughing. I do sound better, even to myself! I spent most of the day sitting in warm spots, moving whenever the … Continue reading →

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Short expeditions

Posted on 2023-03-26 by Holly

Besides exactly what I would expect (M&S, Sainsbury’s) there are also two rather popular and easy to find purveyors of food stuffs – Lidl & Aldi. Yes, even though the UK has bailed on the EU, it hasn’t stopped those … Continue reading →

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BST

Posted on 2023-03-25 by Holly

stands for British Summer Time. Obviously one has to own both the time and the season. This wasn’t a day on which I was feeling all that great, so I didn’t go anywhere, or do much of anything. I am … Continue reading →

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Sawgrass Mills

Posted on 2023-03-08 by Holly

I am not sure how many years ago it was that I had a back to back through Miami/Ft Lauderdale where the ship offered a trip out to Sawgrass Mills. In all honestly, it was to their benefit to get … Continue reading →

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Red Eyes

Posted on 2023-03-07 by Holly

The best thing about taking a red-eye is that it is always the low point of the day. It was a typical United Flight – boarding is by privilege. What I found interesting, unlike daytime business hour flights,  is that … Continue reading →

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Bridges, traffic

Posted on 2023-02-10 by Holly

and other bits of insanity. Getting in/out of the Port of San Pedro is insane. Yes, there is a cruise terminal. But really, it is a huge, industrial shipping port. The kind that moves thousands of containers a day. Passenger … Continue reading →

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flying Virgin Australia

Posted on 2022-11-25 by Holly

Oh joy, while a partner to United, and Air Canada – they are not a partner to the European members of Star Alliance (read Lufthansa which has been my frequent flyer affliction for decades). Especially since flying cattle car, I … Continue reading →

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phones, zoom, stitching

Posted on 2022-08-11 by Holly

It looks like Thursday is going to turn into my socialization day. Or conference day. But with stitching. I have had one standing Thursday night call for ? maybe a year? with a friend who lives in the middle of … Continue reading →

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