February - 2021

Feb 28, 2021
1 min

How to Watch a Spring Training Game!

What a fun day! We suited up (Angels gear, of course) and I made a baseball party on the backyard patio so we could watch the game outside, and pretend like we were in the stands at the Spring Training game! It just feels like the world is right again when it's baseball season. I have to take to my bed for a day at the end of the season, but I guess if there was no end, there would be no beginning. And the beginning of baseball season is magical. There were lots of new player

Feb 25, 2021
2 min

Spring Training and Tears!

I've loved baseball since I was a wee one. My dad used to take me to Chavez Ravine (Dodger Stadium) to watch games -- both Dodger AND Angel games quite often - and we always had a good time (even though way back then, the traffic at the stadium was still awful!) And I always got some kind of souvenir, or pennant. In fact, my bedroom walls were decorated with pennants from all of the teams that the Dodgers and Angels played over the seasons that we attended games. I wish I had

Feb 24, 2021
2 min

Flash Freezin' !!

Well, I'm going to report to you two things that I have been doing for the last week, that I think has made a difference in how I feel physically. First, I'm drinking at least 1/2 my body weight in ounces of water each day. That's a huge increase for me. My husband's law firm sent these fancy water bottles to each of the lawyers, and they're super high tech. Their brand name is Hidrate. They do a couple of neat things, and have encouraged me to drink more water, which I thi

Feb 23, 2021
1 min

Amazing Progress on the Tower Garden!

It's hard to believe when you look at the before and after of the Tower Garden. It's made such great progress -- and I thought at the beginning that I was going to be the only one in the history of Tower Gardens to be a failure! But actually, I think that they're fool proof! It was great fun to go out to pick the fresh lettuce from the Tower for our dinner salad. I am already thinking ahead about what I can plant for the next season. I'm thinking strawberries, maybe some cuke

Feb 22, 2021
3 min

Weekend Getaway at Palisades Park!

On Saturdays, we like to mark the weekend by "getting away" somewhere -- which these days, is sometimes around the block. This weekend, though, we were picking something up at a friend's house in Santa Monica, and so we decided to take advantage of the change of scenery, and go to the park that overlooks the ocean near the Santa Monica pier. It was a lovely destination, and we had a tasty picnic -- even though it was a little windy. The funny thing is though, when Robert and

Feb 22, 2021
1 min

Lenten Friday Pizza!

I FINALLY make something for you that I have made before. In previous videos, I have often made recipes for the first time...so I never know how things will turn out! But this pizza is something I've had made multiple times -- and always with great success. I have made it for family dinners, just Robert and me, and for fancy guests too! I think it would work well as an appetizer as well, if you cut it into smaller slices. The Grand Padano Parmesan cheese does add a little zip

Feb 18, 2021
5 min

Yoga with Chrissy (& Jill)!

I've been doing yoga with Chrissy for almost 10 years! And I know that my body thanks me for it! It certainly helps me continue to get into the garden! When Covid hit, we moved our yoga sessions online, and so I now see Chrissy every Tuesday and Thursday via zoom! It's not exactly the same, but almost! The one big draw back for me of doing yoga online is that I can't see very well (an understatement) without my glasses, and normally I need to take my glasses off for yoga. So

Feb 17, 2021
1 min

Retirement Cupcake Celebration!

To be honest, retirement feels a little odd. There's great joy in the beginning of a new chapter. And I am proud of both Robert and my professional careers, the work we did, and the people we impacted for the good. For both of us, it felt like it was time to step away. Time for someone else to take over the reins, to continue the work that we had done, and continue to build good for the world. But that's the part that feels odd. I don't think that either of us feels like we a

Feb 16, 2021
2 min

Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras is always a fun day -- even here in Southern California! We don't have traditional Mardi Gras parades, like they do in New Orleans. But those were cancelled this year anyways. And besides. We have sunshine! Thinking of all of you in freezing temps...saying prayers for your welfare! Having pancakes for dinner was such a fun tradition when my daughters were growing up. They could never believe their good fortune that pancakes, syrup, and whip cream were on the menu!

Feb 15, 2021
3 min

Berried Treasure!

First of all, let me say that the thumbnail for this video, which shows me in front of the raised bed garden, and shows a close up of my face, reveals something that I am a little self conscious about. I have a large scar on my nose. It's about a 2 inch long depression and irregularly shaped. I've had three incidences of basal cell carcinoma, in the last ten years, all on my face, of course. A result of baby oil and the beach at 16 years old, I am sure. So I always wear sunsc

Feb 14, 2021
1 min

The Best Valentine!

I had a very happy childhood. As an only child, I was the apple of my parents' eye, and a cherished little girl. What a gift my parents gave to me - and I am so grateful. This weekend reminded me of that happiness, in a couple of ways. First, though my parents are certainly responsible for the love and safety of my childhood, there was always someone else who was in my life. And that was Robert. Because Robert and I met each other in the first grade, and began to be fast frie

Feb 11, 2021
1 min

Tower Garden Update!

Two days of 24/7 impeachment coverage, means that being in the garden is even more important these days. It's such a lovely distraction. AND I can tell that some of my daffodils are going to bloom this week. I'm positive. AND I know that my Valentine is taking me to Armstrong nursery for a treat -- so I have lots of plans! But here's the big big news!!!!! I got an appointment for a hair cut!!!! I'm going to do it in my backyard, and double mask. And I know that my stylist wil

Feb 10, 2021
1 min

Baking Amish Bread!

This was a really good lesson. Just keep persevering! I simply wouldn't give up! At every turn of this recipe, I was sure that it was not going to turn out. I thought that the yeast was too globby. But it wasn't! I thought that that my problems with the stand mixer would have made the dough un-bakeable. But it wasn't! I thought that my kneading was less than successful. But it wasn't! I just kept going...despite my doubts. And I am telling you, this bread turned out wonderful

Feb 9, 2021
2 min

Winter Seedlings: Successes and Failures!

First of all, I look like a cockatoo. I thought I looked pretty smart from the front - but when you can see your hair from the back, it's not pretty. And here's the other more hilarious thing. I had to spend hours editing this video because the angle from which I shot the video -- mostly just recorded my chest. Yup. Every video shot was 10 % plant, and 90% Jill's chest. Robert thought this was absolutely hilarious. He kept asking me how the video was going...because he though

Feb 8, 2021
2 min

SoCal and Signs of Spring!

The weather here has been unbelievable. I even had to take off my fleece when I was digging in the garden! I can see that it's cooling off a little this week, which is actually good news because I just planted some cool weather crops - and my Tower Garden, it seems, prefers cool weather days too. On days when it's above 70 degrees, some of the little plants in the Tower Garden wilt. So I don't know how they will survive a SoCal summer -- but I have faith! I will update you o

Feb 7, 2021
1 min

Super Bowl Betting and Feasting!

It was a fun Super Bowl Sunday at our house! Mostly because my husband indulges me. I like to celebrate and entertain -- and he's been a good sport during quarantine being my only party guest at most of my celebrations! How did I get so lucky.

Feb 4, 2021
1 min

Loom Knitting with Julia in DC!

This was so fun. Being with my Julia and learning how to loom knit! I wasn't immediately good at it -- but that's ok. I am going to persevere. And Julia is so fun to tease. But she's a really good loom knitter -- and she showed me not only the woolen caps that she made, but also, she made a beautiful scarf! And that seems hard to do on a ROUND loom! Julia is a born instructor, and she could make a professional loom knitting video (which this is not because...well, because of

Feb 3, 2021
2 min

Alphabetizing my Spices! (And my hair... again!)

You know it's bad in quarantine when you start alphabetizing your spices. Although I have to say that I really loved doing it. (Except for the turmeric which made me mad.) I'm going to blame everything on my friend Marilyn. She has been alphabetizing her spices since the 1980's - and I've been jealous since then...so really it was about time. I spotted my spice rack on an infomercial a while back - I've had it several years...It's called Spicy Shelf, Deluxe Stackable Shelf. J

Feb 2, 2021
2 min

Val Pal Day!

Every year, on each holiday, when I open up the holiday bins, I am always surprised about the treasures that I find. There are treasures for every holiday...but probably the most enduring treasures are the memories that accompany them. The Valentine's box brought back such fun memories of my colleagues at the girls' high school where I taught for almost 25 years. I mentioned that Tom was the social coordinator for the faculty. What I didn't mention is that I was his assistant

Feb 1, 2021
1 min

Valentines in the Garden

You can probably tell by now...we're into holidays in a big way. And that's because I'm all for celebrating..whenever possible. It lifts spirits, and puts a pause on real life in a healthy, fun way. Something to look forward to. Something to punctuate the everyday-ness of life. Red hearts on sweaters for Valentines, shamrocks on tablecloths and tea cups for St. Patrick's Day, fuzzy bunnies in the centerpiece for Easter, and bows on the ceiling for Christmas. And there's lots

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