Hello everyone! How are you doing? We are fine here. The Coronavirus has everyone a bit nervous. The hand-sanitizer business is booming! They were completely out of it at our drug store.
Here are some other…
Random Happenings at Home in San Francisco
Coyotes
I got Chief back after he spent a month in L.A. with our daughter (we had some travel). It’s good as he gets me out walking and we’ve had some fine weather. This is the view from the dog park where there is a sign about coyote sightings. Right in the middle of the city! Our neighbors have seen them in the early mornings and late at night. Scary.
Avoiding Organizing Our Taxes
So my office was not “sparking joy”… and the tax papers were not even out.
I decided to take everything off the one bulletin board on the right that I use for inspiration. First, I pinned pretty pictures followed by fabric, trims, etc. that have caught my eye…
Cleaned My Office
Before I knew it my office was ready for me to tackle the tax organization…or have a glass of wine 🙂
Green Thumb?
This just must be a fluke (knock on wood). We’ve had this fiddle leaf fig tree for six years and it gets about a half-gallon of water once a week and the occasional liquid plant fertilizer.
Creating A Cozy Ambiance for Winter
So apparently Spring officially starts on Thursday, March 19. Until then (and probably beyond), I’m using battery operated and real candles and Duraflame logs (they are supposed to burn cleaner–plus they are easy).
What To Watch on Television
Have any suggestions? We are watching the old series “Friday Night Lights” on Amazon Prime…but it has commercials. Man are we spoiled?!
Our cable/internet bill is about $300/month!! And that doesn’t include the separate internet that I have in my office. Some people are getting off cable now…and using streaming services. Have any of you tried that?
Small Ways To Feel Happier
Did you read my recent post 26 Small Ways To Feel HAPPIER? Well, one of them was to keep postcards handy and mail them once or twice a week to tell people how you feel about them. I got these at the art museum. Amazon has some.
For just around $8!
Last week, I got a postcard in the mail from sweet Annie from Most Lovely Things (proves she read the post 🙂 She is out from Connecticut to attend the Design Influencers Conference downtown with me. Hopefully, we will all learn a few things! I’m going to be showing her around.
So, that’s just random things from my neck of the woods. On Thursday, I’m going to be showing what I wore to the conference along with some of my pals. Stay tuned and have a wonderful week!
PS. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram…lots of fun over there 🙂
I love all your photos. They are super neat. Just like your desk and the rug on the floor. We have a fig tree in our backyard. I got the sapling from the nursery . During the season, it bears plenty of fruits and half of them get eaten by the squirrels.
Oh my god , a Coyote!! It’s scary, indeed. Even more, terrifying is the coronavirus threat. I request all the readers to give the utmost attention to health and hygiene. The office had a drastic change after the cleanup, or do you have a magic wand? The tree is going to outgrow the roof, but it looks good. Have a great week ahead, Mary!!
Yes…I’m more careful taking Chief out.
Sooo much good advice here…I loved the Komiskey method haven’t watched the Stranger, watched Anne with an E….I guess we all need to make our own hand sanitizer!
My daughter works as an O.R. nurse and she said it is more serious for older folks than younger or healthy adults…I’m in the afore mentioned catagory. I’m stocked to the helt on “you name it” supplies. I’m pretending it’s hurricane season with the addition of hand sanitizer! Jen just came back from the Shetlands (two weeks ago) and said a guy had just traveled from China to get away from the virus, so he came there for a Festival with hundreds of people all in close contact!!!! What was he thinking?! She’s germ obsessed anyway, so this really freaked her out. Her number one “go to” for cold and flu season is plant based (Brand “Alive”) Vitamin C 1000 mg 2x a day and 20 mg of zinc 1x a day. She’s rarely sick. The number one place alot of people miss is the gas pump filling your car. She carries sanitizer in her car for door handles, pump, and steering wheel. Gosh, didn’t mean to go on so long! Old people, ya gotta love’um! Best wishes to you and hubby. Love your apartment and that baby boy, Chief!
P.S. If you see a coyote close by when walking Chief, blow a whistle several times loudly. They hate it because their hearing is so acute and they’ll move away. They can stalk your animal. (Lived on Kodiak Island in Alaska. There we carried weapons for protection, whistles and portable radios to let them know we were coming so they could move off and we wouldn’t surprise them…or us!).
Glad to know that Chief is back in SF. That means we get to have Chief pics! We’ve discussed cutting the cord for years and chicken out. The sports thing is a problem—their big ace. I’ll look into you tube TV. As for hand sanitizer…gone in Lawrence, KS. It makes my two large boxes of Purell wipes I bought for trip supplies look wise instead of well, over the top! There are many different recipes on the internet for making your own hand sanitizer. The basic is 2/3 of 60-90 percent alcohol—any kind from rubbing to grain/vodka and aloe vera gel. I’ve been married 44 years and when asked the secret, I say one person needs to be the paper person and one person needs to like to cook. Thank God, my husband is the paper person. Taxes filed last month and the return is in the bank. He’s always tracks the info he needs and Wham! one day just gets it done. I cook. Works for us. As for Linda S. comments about the flu crisis, I think it is at best naive and at worst callous. With no flu shots available to help deter or at least reduce impact of this new virus, more people will be affected. More people will die. Be cautious and smart. Have a great time at the conference…and maybe whip up some designer sanitizer to take along!
I don’t believe I am being naive or callous…Is it concerning? Yes. Will I take precautions? Yes. I’m just not going to worry about something that may or may not happen.
Linda, I’m with you! There are two strains of the Coronavirus. One is deadlier than the other and affects few while the other milder strain is overcome by the majority of people who have been infected. The flu has killed many more people than the Coronavirus.
Try Virgin River on Netflix. Love the view from your office. I don’t think I would get anything done if I had a view like that. Be careful with the coyotes, they have no qualm about small animals. We have some in Lincoln, NE especially around the dog parks and our one lake. Scary to think they come into the city, but the habitats are changing for the animals too.
Yes…we watched Virgin River…thanks. Waiting for the next season.
Oh and one more thing…your fiddle is just gorgeous! I found a local fiddle leaf expert Claire Akin who hosted a webinar. Even since I watched it mine has been thriving, especially after purchasing her Fiddle Leaf food. (plus I realized I was under watering it) For anyone struggling with growing them I highly recommend taking a visit to her website!
“Catastrophe” on Amazon is laugh-out-loud funny. Carrie Fisher’s last role (the husband’s mother).
Grace & Frankie, of course, on Netflix.
Willow & Thatch is a blog about period dramas, if you are interested in that sort of thing.
Sounds great. Thanks Diana!
Hi Mary Ann,
I’m not worried about the corona virus, from what I have read it is being blown out of proportion…there are way more deaths associated with the flu. I’m more concerned about my 401k taking a hit, but over time it should correct itself. At least I hope so!
Sounds like a fun time at the conference with the ladies…hope after attending you will have some helpful information to share.
I still haven’t done my tax preparing…maybe something I should work on today!
Linda
Try utube tv. We switched to this from cable a few months ago and could not be happier. Around 50 per month 😃
Thanks for the tip, Amanda!
My husband and I just finished The Stranger on Netflix!!! It was soooo good!
Also–we were paying $215 for cable/ internet and decided to cut the cord in January. Went to YouTube TV and have never looked back. We. Love. It. Super easy and tons of storage for all your programming. I will say we got bad news this last week–we live in Kansas City and evidently the Royals’ games will not be broadcast. That was one of our “musts” when we went to YouTube TV. BTW–we still have our internet through Google Fiber. I think we’ll be able to get the baseball games for $25/ mo. through another source–so, still cheaper. We are saving $100/month!!! Good luck!!
Good to know, Lynda!!
Mary Ann,
I had to laugh about ‘organizing the tax info’ description. I really don’t like doing them and will often organize closets and drawers as a stall tactic. 🙂 I finally finished and am ready for the tax appointment. Phew.
I enjoyed your “how to be happy” post and while I know most of those tips, a reminder is always welcome.
Enjoy the conference.
xo,
Karen
Good job, Karen!!
Where did you get the bulletin board in your office ? Really nice. The views from your apartment are awesome..
Pottery Barn, Elaine. There is a link under Shop Our Home.
Hi Mary Ann! Just wanted to suggest you watch a Netflix show my husband I just finished. It’s called The Kominsky Method, staring Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin. There are other characters with many other well know actors. We’ve enjoyed it, but warn you there are plenty of F bombs in the dialogue. Thanks for your lovely blog. It’s in my daily reading rotation, along with many others written by some fantastic women! All the best in 2020.
We loved the Kominsky Method, Marguerite!
Hi Mary Ann, always enjoy your posts so much. It appears we’re close to the same size, so I’m always interested in your outfits. You’ve inspired me many times! Concerning the postcards, does the set include envelopes or is it a true postcard? And by the way, have the glass of wine. ☺️
Just the card, Liz. Come back on Thursday or Friday for what I’m wearing at this conference.
I must say, I always enjoy reading your blog!
We live In a large city that has coyotes too! Be careful when walking smaller dogs and don’t let your cats out.
As far as suggestions for something to watch, we have been enjoying “Anne with an E” which is available on Netflix. When I first saw the advertisements for it, I was not really taken but I am very glad that we gave it a try!
Best wishes, Sonya
Loved “Anne with an E”, Sonya!! Thanks for your comment. Any other shows??
We cut the cable cord two years ago.
Amazon Prime $9.91
Netflix 12.99
Britbox 6.99
Acorn 5.99
Fios internet 49.99 (w/Netgear range extender)
YouTube TV 49.99
We are down to $135.86 mo.
(and we switched to T-Mobile unlimited over 55 plan for only $60 mo.)
No cable hurrah.
Great info., Margaret…I will see if I can convince Howard. We will need some Sport package.
We use Hulu for regular American channels and all live sports, which was essential for my husband, who watches American sports and English soccer. We have been cable free for two years, no regrets. We watch Britbox , Acorn, Netflix, Amazon Prime and PBS. Learning curve was fast.
This sounds great. My husband like European soccer too.