Conveniently, my orthopedist is located very near the beach town of Encinitas. Since we were so close, Steve treated me to lunch out.

Our favorite Italian restaurant, Trattoria i Trulli, did not disappoint.

Again, proximity dictates our fun. We have been very eager to see Cannon Art Gallery's Ansel Adams: Early Works (September 22 – December 1, 2019).

This amazing exhibit consists of intimate master prints from the 1920s through the 1950s which depict Adams’ transition from pictorialism to straight photography, and provide a fresh look at this legendary master of the American landscape. Presenting 42 photographs, several singular examples are included in this exhibition, including some extraordinary rare prints. We were incredibly impressed.
We learned so much about this artist we thought we knew. For instance, up until a critical meeting in 1930 with master photographer Paul Strand, Adams had been dedicated to his career as a classical pianist in San Francisco and enjoyed photography only as a hobby. He was captivated by the tonal quality of Strand’s negatives, which he described as “full, luminous shadows and strong high values, in which subtle passages of tone were preserved.” Strand’s images inspired Adams not only to commit himself full-time to photography, but also to follow in the master photographer’s style of “straight” photography—unmanipulated black-and-white photographs documenting landscapes and scenes of everyday life—a departure from the romantic, hand-painted images of the pictorialist photographers that dominated American photography in the early 20th century. Wild right?
I loved this print of Mt. Robson, with handwritten note to his friend William Edward Dassonville. In the 1920s, Dassonville created a velvety surfaced photographic printing paper that was a favorite among Pictorialist photographers, though the formula is now lost.

The image that called to me was one that surprised me, Coastal Road (c.1953). I know it appeals to me since road trips aren't on our current horizon. This work expresses Jack Kerouac's quote, "...the mad road, lonely, leading around the bend into the openings of space toward the horizon." So very, very incredible. This exhibit demands a more thorough savoring. 
Of all the prints, Steve appreciated this image most. Clearing Winter Storm, taken from Inspiration Point, is Adams' most celebrated Yosemite view. This is the earliest known vintage print of this seminal image (a 1938 date appears on his original typewritten label), which just surfaced in 2005. So spectacular.

After my third visit to the Orthopedist Spine Specialist, I do not know much more about my current situation than I did seven weeks ago, when this all began.

X-rays of my C1 vertebra were taken (not easy because it is behind my teeth and my mouth can't be opened that far currently).
Dr. Z looked at them and was happy to report 0% movement of the fracture, meaning the brace is doing what it's suppose to do, stabilize while healing.
The unknown component of this process is the progress of the actual healing. That can only be determined with a CT scan. Since three months is the minimum recovery for this kind of break, that is when my next CT will be (~November 26th). I will know, definitively, on my next doctor's appointment, in early December, if all my diligence and homeboundness has paid off. So for now, I remain patient and at home. Keep sending those healing vibes. I still have a ways to go!

Staying local has given us great opportunities to connect with friends we haven't spent time with in ages.

Mark and Carol visited with not only fun travel tales and wonderful family updates, they also came with a picnic lunch, enjoyed for hours poolside. Friends certainly make life better.

One of the best cures for whatever may ail you is Vitamin N (nature). Temecula is surrounded with numerous preserves and hiking trails. Since I'm staying off the road for awhile, we have discovered nature in our own housing tract. Today, I decided to bring my camera to share it.

This path meanders alongside a flood control basin. I love the birdsong that emanates from it.

Our elevation change comes from a Water District road leading to a tower. This dirt path is lined with wildflowers. It delights us that so much is still in bloom. Temecula has an amazing inventory of native plant species. Wow.
Note the cool spider lurking below the flower. I did not discover him until I viewed this photo on my computer. I love those surprises.
Everyone knows how I feel about butterflies!




I've seen this hawk several times. My goal is to get a better image of him. He is so gorgeous.

The world is a little less fabulous with the passing of my mom's little sister, Dorothy.

Flying in for visits from Chicago, as a kid, Dort was always larger than life. The glamorous Auntie who came to California to visit and to shop. Wow. I never knew anyone like her and I idolized her.
I am extra sad because, to me, my Aunt Dorothy was the last remaining piece of my mom, a piece I've been holding onto for the last 33 years since my mom preceded her in death. I miss them both!

Pink's song Can We Pretend has some pretty appropriate lyrics. My college friend, Julie, shared it and this vintage photo with me during last night's sleepover. Being homebound gives me a lot of time to reflect while replaying old memories.

Julie, Denise & Annie ~Palm Springs 1986

The Library Shop is taking submissions for their 3rd annual Matchbook Story Contest! There is just something about it that intrigues me.

Stories must be about 50 words or less—short enough to fit on the inside of a matchbook cover. The winner will receive a $50 Gift Card to the Library Shop, 50 copies of the printed matchbook, publication in the SDPL e-newsletter, and a limited exhibition of your Matchbook Story in the Hervey Family Rare Book Room. The entry fee is just $5, the deadline to submit is November 15th, and all proceeds support the San Diego Public Library! What more of a reason does one need?
Last year's winner was Cristina Schaffer with. "The smell of garlic sizzling woke me up. Mom was home. Hadn’t seen her in four days. Mahjong. Sometimes she won, mostly she didn’t. I dressed for school. At least I got fried rice and spam this morning."

Let's do this! It's for a good cause and how fun if one of us won!

Recently, I received a very sweet email from Kathy in San Jose, "I found a your Little Free Library.  Wondering if you’re interested in a donation of a bag of books. I’m happy to bring them by, if you are interested."

This summer was the summer of love for my library! It was actively visited. I delighted in looking out our kitchen window and seeing people hovering there. They really are "bird feeders for humans". It was even photographed for my friend Kathryn Reed's blog post Tiny Libraries Bring Books To Neighborhoods Throughout The World.

Steve found a new, fun hiking buddy in his brother. Today, they tackled Monserate Mountain (my favorite local spot).

Its Trail Loop is a 4.1 mile lightly trafficked path that is rated as difficult (it has a 1,381' elevation gain in the first 1 1/2 miles). Oh man, I'm a tad jealous.

Joy, for me currently, is found in my mailbox. The stroll to it, twice a day, is part of my daily routine now that my wings are clipped and I'm staying home.

While not easy to write since I'm not supposed to lean (note my handy prism glasses), I'm still corresponding along. I have always believed in the saying, "It is better to give than to receive". And boy do I delight in sending mail. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy receiving it as well. I so much so 💗 the United States Postal Service.

Often when we read news stories, we wonder "how did it end". I thought about James South, all day today on his birthday. In September, I posted his wish to receive 100 cards for his special milestone.

Not surprising to me, this World War II veteran received nearly 100,000 cards, according to the VA North Texas Health Care System (woohoo! Yay team). Mr. South became a fan of receiving letters while serving in World War II. During the war, his then-girlfriend and later wife of 55 years, Sophie, wrote him a letter every day. How very awesome is this!?

In honor of our neighbors' Halloween/ toddler's birthday party, we dusted off some old costumes and got festive.

After partying with a plethora of 3 year olds, we headed home.
Steve's brother and sister-in-law arrived armed with a delicious home cooked birthday dinner along with celebratory cupcakes. Tasty and touching... all of it. What a lovely day with family and friends.

Over the past six weeks, since fracturing my neck, I have been given numerous and varied books to read. When I opened my most recently received package, I laughed. Barb knows me well.

"In an age of obsessive productivity and stress, this illustrated ode to idleness invites readers to explore the pleasures and possibilities of slowing down. Beloved author and illustrator Roman Muradov weaves together the words and stories of artists, writers, philosophers, and eccentrics who have pursued inspiration by doing less. He reveals that doing nothing is both easily achievable and absolutely essential to leading an enjoyable and creative life. Cultivating idleness can be as simple as taking a long walk without a destination or embracing chance in the creative process. Peppered with playful illustrations, this handsome volume is a refreshing and thought-provoking read."

Since idleness has never been a part of who I am, I look forward to this book guiding me through the next several months of healing. I'm going to need all the help I can get.

I discovered one of my favorite quotes years ago, "Postcards: The Haiku of Correspondence".

It was brought to my attention, belatedly, that I missed an important postal milestone. On Tuesday, postcards celebrated their 150th anniversary! Introduced as a way of sending a simple message, postcards quickly evolved beyond their practical purpose to become the universal souvenir that brightens everyone's mailboxes.
In Austria-Hungary, Dr. Emanuel Herrmann (a professor of Economics from Vienna) wrote an article in the Neue Freie Presse pointing out that the time and effort involved in writing a letter was out of proportion to the size of the message sent. He suggested that a more practical and cheaper method should be implemented for shorter, more efficient communications.

His recommendations impressed the Austrian Post, who put them to practice on October 1st 1869, resulting in the Correspondenz-Karte, a light-brown 8.5 x 12cm rectangle with space for the address on the front, and room for a short message on the back. The postcard featured an imprinted 2 Kreuzer stamp on top right corner, costing half the price of a normal letter. Gott sei Dank the postcard was born!
Postcards have certainly evolved over the years. I am a bit of a Deltiologist (one who studies and/or collects postcards) and do gather them from most places I visit. What an inexpensive reminder of where we've been and where we can look forward to returning to one day.

It has been years since we have been to Universal Studios and since I have some spare time, I have been spending it going through the handful of old photos in my keepsake box. I love these two from 1971 at Universal Studios. I thought I'd share them and some history, too. 

From the beginning, Universal had offered tours of its studio. After Carl Laemmle opened Universal City in 1915, he invited the general public to see all the action for an admission fee of just 5¢, which included a boxed chicken lunch. There was also a chance to buy fresh produce, since then-rural Universal City was still in part a working farm. This original tour was discontinued around 1930.
Shortly after Music Corporation of America took over Universal Pictures in 1962, accountants suggested a new tour in the studio commissary would increase profits. In 1964, the modern tour was established to include a series of dressing room walk-throughs, peeks at actual production, and later, staged events. This grew over the years into a full-blown theme park. The narrated tram tour still runs through the studio's active backlot, but the staged events, stunt demonstrations and high-tech rides overshadow the motion-picture production that once lured fans to Universal Studios Hollywood. Photos do evoke memories and I absolutely love these.

I love watching movies and certain television programs. With my new 'predicament' however, sitting up for long periods of time causes me grief. The only relief is to get horizontal (something I do several times a day).

My sweet husband bought me these stylish Prism Glasses (thank goodness for Amazon). These specs are optical glasses that allow me to watch TV while lying flat on my back (my happiest position to be in). The only drawback is the fact that they are incredible heavy and they leave divots in my nose (hence the yellow foam earplug absorbing some of the weight). No one said this healing process was going to be pretty!
And what are we watching you might ask. We are hooked on the series This is Us. We cry every night but at least it isn't for any personal reasons. Oh man, what a ride this show is.