Making changes...

Welcome to our temporary home for the rest of 2010! Yes, we have decided to take ourselves "off the road" for now. Why? Richard is loving making his exotic and domestic wood creations to sell in fine arts and crafts shows. San Jose is a great central area for top notch shows. There is an awesome "full meal deal" shop in Sunnyvale for him to create in! Sandi (our very first position from housecarers) has become a dear friend and offered us a place to roost.
We are open to compensated house pet sitting. If interested, please give us a heads up and we can check our show schedule and see if it's a fit. ;-)
Sharing our digs with you...

entry hall into living room...kitchen dining to the right...3 bedrooms/2baths to the left

Lots of windows and skylights for bright cheery spaces

"back yard" is patio...behind fence is a very sloped yard gone "natural"

view of east hills from living room and dining room...with all the rain it looks like Ireland ;-)

Buddy and Daisy snuggling with Richard watching TV

Meggie and Pepper enjoying the sun! We have 4 critters to love and help take care of while here.

Cell phone reception is touchy in the hills ;-) what a view!

Dear sweet Sandi...she has an easy going disposition, a great sense of humor and I've never met such a helpful person...what a joy! We all get along great. I'm learning how to use a dishwasher. We actually unpacked our suitcases completely for the first time in almost 3 years. Richard has taken over a good portion of her garage for his "shop". Sandi and I call it his "man cave" after all he is living with 2 females. He's feeling good about not having to continually pack up and unload or set his equipment up in someone's back yard to work. It's a new adventure for us and we will keep you posted as things move along!
Peace, Joy and Love to you all

Ps You can follow us on FaceBook too ... just search for marybradleyblack or marybradley2012@yahoo.com

Cat and Dog musings...just for fun!

Excerpts from a Dog's Diary

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Excerpts from a Cat's Diary

Day 983 of my captivity:

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.
They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets.
Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.
The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.
Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts,
Since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Bastards.
There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event.
However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.'
I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.
Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking.
I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.
I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges.
He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.
The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly.
I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now......... (author unknown)

Laughter is nature's best medicine ;-)

Mixing things up!

Finishing up in Capitola...how did I get so far behind? Eeeeks, it's been over 5 weeks since we left. On November 3rd we headed to San Jose, spent 10 days with Sandi and looked after Daisy, Buddy, Meggie and Pepper while she went to visit her Mom and Dad. It was then up to Sacramento on the 13th to spend the weekend with Richard's sister and her husband Paul. Monday we were off to Napa, the wine country of California, for 2 months. We have had 4 weekend craft shows since we've been here...ending this weekend. I have been lax in my blogging since joining the world of FaceBook. I had a few more pics to post of Capitola along with Buddy and Daisy in San Jose.

Loved walking along the Duck Path that runs along Soquel Creek for a few blocks down to the lagoon at the beach. The heron is always a good sign for me. We absolutely fell in love with Capitola and would live here in a nano-second! Our entire month here was simply magical.

Never leave a place without flower pictures! Two of my favorites along the path...roses &

hydrangea's

Sweet little Tutti took a liking to sleeping on my blanket

Nattie, when she was awake, loved getting her head rubbed!

One day Cosmo plopped down on the desk next to my computer and...

promptly fell asleep! Too funny!

If you want to know where your critters are simply turn on the T.V! It's like a magnet...all of a sudden here they all come ready for some lap time!!! Doesn't matter what home we are at, they are all the same ;-)

Here is Buddy and Daisy in San Jose

Oh good golly Miss Molly! She's peeking through her doggie door to see who's moving in to her house! She watched us the whole time we unloaded the car.

What a little doll she is! Our only critter here in Napa and she is my constant companion.

She follows me from room to room. Here she is looking super cute getting ready for a walk.

Richard likes to call her gismo and I call her bouncy dog...she is the easiest little doggie!

A couple of blocks from the house is, of course, vineyards! Looks mighty different from when we where in Calistoga in July. The harvest is over and the vines are turning colors...beautiful.We wish you all a Merry Christmas and the happiest, healthy New Year!

It's October already?

Wow, it really is fall and we are into our 3rd year of being "on the road" pet/house sitting. It's a joy for us to take care of people's homes and pets so they can go off and do what they do and know all is well at home. We have been so blessed to meet the most wonderful people. Truly, we have a place in our hearts for you and all your great critters. I may not remember where I put my camera or my cell phone at any given moment and can't say how many times bags have been searched through... for what again? However, I can tell you each place, person and critters name where we have been. Every leaving of a critter is a tug on our heart but in our wake we have made new friends! Thank you, thank you, we are so grateful you chose us as keepers of your nest!
Our 3rd year started out in Solana Beach, CA for Aug and Sept. We did many show venues in the area and had friends visit as well. We made it to Balboa Park, the infamous San Diego Zoo, Old Town and did a 2 hour boat tour of the bay. Beautiful it was with everyday beginning with a walk along the beach! Love it, love it, love it ;-) We really enjoyed the time we were able to spend getting to know Tom and Nancy too. Such a wonderful experience.
This month finds us up the coast on the Monterey Bay in Capitola. Such a delightful place with the cutest critters and the loveliest people. Gayle and Joe are the owners (30 yrs!) of Gayles Bakery and Rosticceria (www.gaylesbakery.com for their history and your drooling pleasure). It's an icon here so if you are ever in the area please stop in and have a bite. I could honestly write a blog on each of the most delectable things we eat ...oh, what a treat it is! They are 2 of the most creative and delightful people we have had the pleasure to meet. What a fun and interesting story their life is and they are off to Turkey for 2 weeks and Egypt for 2 weeks. Which brings us to pictures...

Hi! I'm 10 year old Tutti and just adorable they tell me. I live with 2 feline friends who are a tad bit bigger than me. I'm just a mere 5.5 #'s...better keep and eye on me.

Love to nestle in on this cozy place when it isn't occupied by Cosmo...(As you can see, I am enjoying taking pictures of this little cutie! And we feel like a mother hens watching over her)

Here lies sleepy little Natty. She is 17 years old and of course, sleeping is a top priority. But she has a healthy appetite, loves to be a lap cat and "oh please," she says "rub my head and ears some more and I will purr for you"
Who is peaking through the plant but Cosmo. Not sure his age, maybe 9 or 10? We heard he was a scrapper with a lot of energy and is slowing down a bit. He has decided to hang out where I am...here in the office on a bed by the window or in my lap! He loves to be petted and can be quite demanding about it...LOL!
This is River Lodge...their home. The back yard is on Soquel Creek that runs into the lagoon at the beach
Courtyard in front of front door...has a really cool outdoor kitchen, wood fired oven and hot tub
breakfast nook where Natty likes to sleep...see her on the chair? looks onto the 3 tiered yard
living room with wonderful windows all around to enjoy the wildlife that abounds
looking back the other direction to cozy chairs for t.v. viewing and lap time for the kitties ;-)
Office room window...truly a room with a view!
yard and gardens


taking a walk along the creek and up the hill...this is the view looking back toward their property
little shops around the lagoon where the creek runs
the pier of Capitola and to learn more visit here: http://www.capitolachamber.com/capitola.html
We were fortunate on the way here to have the time to drive all along the coast (HWY 1) I've been wanting to do this since I was a kid and Richard never had (good thing or we may not have gone this way. It's wild and beautiful but winds right along the edge...we both tend to get a bit car sick) The gorgeous, rugged coastline around the Big Sur area.

ending with a picture of us ;-) More to come I'm sure!

Two months in Solana Beach...

This is Tuffy, a neighborhood stray who, 9 years ago, very decidedly adopted Tom and Nancy and would not take no for an answer. Here he is being very put out because they are packing the motor home and he knows what that means. So, we all get a cold shoulder from Tuffy.

It's us! Pulling in to take charge while Tom and Nancy take off on a summer adventure up through California, over to Utah, Colorado and ending up in Kansas to visit relatives before heading back home in September. They will then trade in the motor home for an airplane and head to Chile for 3 weeks. It's alway interesting to us where people are heading off to.

Here they are all packed up and ready to go. We had a wonderful visit with them before they left and we're looking forward to the 3 days they will be home in September. Sometimes we meet people that we are so very comfortable with and feel like we have known for a long time. It's the added blessing of what we do.

Time to get Tuffy to "come around" and see that we just want to love and care for him!

He seems to say "well in that case, could you do that a little more to the left?" It's been a little over a week and we are all settled in happily. This is a beautiful home within walking distance to the beach...Fletcher's Cove to be exact.

This is the wonderful deck over looking the back yard. The windows are open all day with an average temp of 75-82 degrees with a nice breeze blowing.

Local flora...my fav Bird of Paradise and Bougainvillea in all colors!

Have to have that sunset picture. This is just up the road at Cardiff by the Sea.

The tracks that the Amtrak and the Coaster travel on. The coaster is so cool...it runs from Oceanside (North) to San Diego (South) at the Embarcadaro. Great prices, no traffic or parking issues! We decided to try it out...what fun!

The last stop on the coaster is right across the street from the Maritime Museum.
The U.S.S. Midway... It's 1001 ft long! I couldn't get far enough away to get it all in the picture

A statue of the infamous "kiss" a sailor gave a nurse after coming home from WWII. You can get an idea of how big it is by the people standing next to it.

The Star of India...very cool ship. The Star of India is the world's oldest active ship. She began her life at Ramsey Shipyard in the Isle of Man in 1863. You can read the rest of her story on this link: http://www.sdmaritime.org/contentpage.asp?ContentID=48 The website has the story of the other historic boats here.

This is a tribute to Bob Hope, all done in bronze statuary. For a span of over fifty years beginning in 1943, he dedicated himself to entertaining soldiers, sailors and airmen of the armed forces in the many battle fronts and remote outposts where they've served throughout the world.
We walked up and down that boardwalk, had fish and chips, of course, and could barely walk back to the train station we were so tired! Just one of our first adventures here in the San Diego area. Lots to see and do. We'll see what we get done.