Slowing Down for a Season

A Portions of Mary's growing beach glass collection.

Being new to California keeps the weather here a surprise to me.  It feels as though winter is over here!

December was particularly cool here as long time residents bundled up saying it had been a long time since it was this cold. Even I could be seen wearing a light jacket, a sight rarely observed by my friends in Missouri’s much colder climes.

Since the start of the New Year however, the temperature has begun to climb again as Mary and I walked on the beach with shorts and short sleeved tops.  We spent three hours walking during low tide in search for more beach glass, Mary’s most recent obsession.

We have so much glass that she is now parceling different colors out to give to neighbors, as shovelfuls accumulate on the coffee table in bowls and vases, each labeled as to where they will end up.  Let’s see, Mike and Roz get a mixture as a farewell present when they leave, fixtures on the outside brick wall will be filled with different colors, and decorative vases are to be filled and delivered to a few other neighbors.

I have been instructed to pass on the smaller slivers of colored glass and leave those for weekenders and vacationers.  We are to be focused on the larger more unique and decorative pieces. I am fully agreeable, partly because it is my nature but also realizing that at least this is a free hobby.

The whole point in remaining at the Beach House was to slow down and save money for our future trip to Hawaii, walks along the beach picking up a few pieces of glass fits the bill there.  Visiting neighbors and sharing a bottle of wine constitutes a great evening out, though Mary has recently located dance studios in nearby Ventura that we hope to try.

The first of the year also means time to catch up on paper work, even though Mary has been keeping up with it, there still is a pile to go through both with yearend stuff as well as a list of new year things to address.  I try to look at it early in the day before it warms up and time for a walk, but not so late as to miss my nap.

Yes, I’m spoiled.