Day Trips, a Medical Update, and a Bathroom Reveal

At the Marine Memorial Museum with early San Franciscans

It's months since I've posted!  Sorry about that.

Here are a few updates before I pretty much switch to Instagram, if you'd like to follow me there. Instagram is short and sweet, easy to use, and more personal.  I'm turning into a lazy old lady.

Some recent adventures:

1. You may have seen this photo on Instagram a couple of days ago.  I was at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center undergoing a cardiac catheterization to check my coronary arteries for blockages.  Good news: all is normal.   This stemmed from my diagnosis of atrial fibrillation last winter and a couple of earlier tests that were inconclusive.

 Worrying about this test and the two that preceded it has taken a lot of energy since January. Thanks to all the pals who listened, soothed, and encouraged.  You know who you are!

2.  A few weeks ago Jerry and I went on a bay cruise from Fisherman's Wharf.  We might have been the only English-speaking people onboard, except for the couple who sat across from us, who spoke Scottish.   Sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge was a bucket list item of mine, and I dangled a post-cruise visit to Fort Mason (read: insect habitat) to get Jerry to go.

The vistas were splendid, and I highly recommend checking it out (Red and White Fleet, $32 each for seniors). We took BART and the F Muni streetcar to Fisherman's Wharf and left the car at home.

On board

Sliding past Aquatic Park and Ghirardelli Square

The Marina and the Palace of Fine Arts

Crissy Field and the Presidio

Approaching the bridge

And...

...under!  Looking toward the Marin Headlands

Afterward, the Scottish couple was off to Chinatown (she wore a sleeveless shift on this journey; Jerry and I were in fleece), and we were off to:

Jerry's pay-off and a relaxing oasis in the city.

Butterfly hunting

3.  We've also been out to Angel Island to hike and to see what's up since the last time we were there, c. 1976.  The brief boat ride (10 minutes) departed from Tiburon.  We hiked, and then took an hour-long tram ride around the perimeter of the island and then hiked some more.  Good views from everywhere.

Leaving Tiburon

Ayala Cove, where the boat comes in

Searching roadside weeds for butterflies

Historic US Immigration Station, now open to the public

The tram that circles the island 

View from the west side of the island

 

The butterfly hunt continues

4.  Our bathroom remodel is finished!  Many thanks to my sister, who designed it, and to Geoff Semans, the contractor who put it all together.  For four months, Jerry and I  slept in my studio  to be out of the way of the construction, which got way old!  So did sharing a bathroom (spoiled!). 

 

Before

This space was converted from a master bedroom closet by the previous owners, and we'd done little to it since we bought the house in 1984.  Petite but handy and all mine.

 After

New tile floor,; more compact toilet;  new vanity, quartz countertop, mosaic splash, shower door, recessed lighting, and medicine cabinet

 

  

The small magnifying mirror has been a godsend for this blind old bat doing her eye make-up (from Amazon, of course )

And that's it!

I've also been to two quilt shows, and maybe I'll get to posting photos from those.  So much for ending the blog...