September 2026

 This episode starts with a very unusual hole in the sky on the evening of September 6th. 

On September 7th, it was Labor Day, so we brought Chinese food over to Win and Mimi's. I wore slacks by Banana Republic, and a satin top from Temu. My sandals are from Skechers. I had some black ones that were super comfy, but I wore them out on vacation last year.

On September 9th, I worked at the American Cancer Society again. I wore a very old pantsuit from Peter Martin. I got it at a store called Stein Mart. I used to love that store, but it has been gone for a long time. I think the pandemic did it in.  It was over 90 degrees that day.

On September 10th, I went on a walk in HB Central Park. This is the view looking across the lake.

There is an equestrian center there and apparently they have a Hug and Groom event on the first Sunday of each month. I would love to go one day.

Then I walked through the Urban Forest. It was a beautiful day.

That night, there was a retirement party for John from the HB Wetlands, where I volunteer on Thursday. I wore a dress from Connected Apparel. The food was catered by Fogo de Chao, and it was delicious!

Rusty has fluffy ears!

On September 16th, it was back to the American Cancer Society, I wore a top from F21 and a gypsy skirt from Connection. My shoes are from Talbots.

On September 18th, I wore a dress from BB Dakota. We took Mimi and win to get their vaccines. They got both flu and COVID, but I already got my flu shot, so I just needed COVID. My arm hurt a lot and I felt feverish that evening.

                                                    

I got my September Ipsy bag. Inside from top to bottom:

1) BISHA Essential Setting Powder in Tokyo Translucent.

2) Seraphine Botanicals Ribbon Blush in Whisper

3) Miss Glam Butterfly Precise Face Brush

 4) Benefit Cosmetics The Porefessional Primer

5) Juliette Has a Gun Powder Love Eau de Parfum

By September 20th the heat wave was over. We went to Verizon because my phone wasn't holding a charge and needed a battery. I wore a Michael Kors top and Lee jeans. My shoes are from Temu.

On September 21st, I took my phone to the repair shop up in Seal Beach. They fixed it in 2 hours, during which I walked around this beautiful beach town. I wore Lee jeans, a sweater from Ann Taylor, and a blazer from Kasper. My booties are from Jeffrey Campbell.

                                                 

On September 22nd, we had a CD mature at US bank, so we went over there and renewed it. I wore J Crew jeans, a Laura Ashley sweater and my Talbots shoes.

                                                

My September Birchbox came. Inside, from left to right:

1) Phyto Paris Phytocitrus Grapefruit hair mask.

2) Unicorn Glow Starry Mood Blush

3) Clearstem Pregame Face Mask

4) Authentic Beauty Concept Hydrate Cleanser for Dry hair

5) Wander Upgraded Lashes Treatment Mascara

On September 25th, we took Mimi to Stater Brothers market because she wanted TV dinners and pastries and we wanted to get a chuck roast. I cooked it in the crock pot for 6 hours and the meat fell apart beautifully. I wore a sweater dress from Abercrombie and Katy Perry shoes.

                                                 

This is the face I wake up to.

On Saturday, September 26th, the Salvation Army had a sale. I got a bunch of new long sleeved T shirts for Doc, since he needed new ones. I got a pair of Saucony shoes, a Marina Yachting sweater, a Tommy Hilfiger sweater and a Calvin Klein blouse.

I wore Anne Klein jeans, an East Indian top and sneakers from Nordstrom.

                                                 

On Monday, September 28th, I got my yearly mammogram. No results yet, but I don't think I need to worry. Last year, it took two weeks to get results. I wore a pants set from Temu. I got my necklace at an antique shop that was closing in San Juan Capistrano.

On Wednesday, September 30th, back to the American Cancer Society. I wore another dress from BB Dakota, but in a different color way than the green one. My shoes are Style and Co.

So that's about all for now! I leave on my trip on Monday, October 5th. I will be in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. I am getting very excited. We will be having a heat wave here, but it will be in the high 50s, low 60s there during the day. Stay tuned! 

Huntington Beach Wetlands and the American Cancer Society

 Back to the action!

On June 28th, we took my FIL Win to a medical facility in Newport Beach to get some tests done for his new pulmonologist. It took several hours. I wore my new maxi dress from Chico's that I got at the $2 sale at the Army. The weather down there was absolutely perfect.

Then, I didn't do anything exciting until August 5th. That day, there was a special survey down at the HB Wetlands. The idea was to estimate how many non-native invasive plants were growing, so we could estimate the manpower needed to pull them before they crowded out the native plants. We saw that someone built this den - pretty big. 

                                                 

This is Jessica showing us what we were looking for.

                                                 

A good view of the Talbert Marsh.

                                                 

We have to clear all these tumbleweeds.

It's hard to see, but these little seed pods belong to a good native plant.

Jessica found a snake hole and the shedded skin.

This is another plant we want to preserve.

The plant in the middle is a bad boy.

Coyote footprints. They are seen fairly frequently, hunting in the marsh.

Nice native plant but imported from Australia.

After that, I stopped by the American Cancer Society to sign up to volunteer for them one day a week. Sadly, an elderly lady drove her scooter against the traffic light and was killed.

On August 7th, we took Win to Costco to get his food for a couple of weeks. I haven't worn this top in years, but I still like it. My jeans are from Hudson and my sneakers are from Nordstrom.

Rusty kicks it on the cool floor in the hallway when he's hot and tired.

On August 10th, I had my annual physical. It seems like all is well. I wore a dress from Cece and Alfani sandals.

On August 11th, I went to get my car smog tested. I wore a vintage dress with my Jack Rogers sandals. It passed, so I'm clear for 2 more years. 

I got my Birchbox. Inside, from left to Right:

1) J Hannah nail polish

2) Coconut Milky Oil Shower body wash

3) Sunkissed Glimmer Compact

4) Sunkissed Shimmer Brush highlighter

5) Selfless by Hyram Centella and Green Tea Daily Gel Cleanser - using this now

On August 12th, I did my first shift at ACS. It's very interesting - we took all the donated clothes that weren't suitable to sell to the various churches and organizations that help the homeless. I wore a top from INC, jeans from Levis and Temu shoes.

I got my Ipsy bag. Inside, from left to right:

1) Real Perfection Sponge and Case

2) Sonage Skincare Luster Eye Cream

3) Innisfree Retinol Green Tea PDRN Skinbooster Serum

4) Milani Cosmetics Keep it Full Nourishing Lep Plumper in Luminoso

5) Rated Green Cold Brew Rosemary Balancing Scalp Mask

On August 14th, I renewed another CD at US Bank. I wore a dress from Susana Monico and Nautica sandals.

On August 18th, I met a friend for lunch at the Memphis Cafe. I had a catfish PoBoy, which was delicious! I wore a silk top from Tahari and satin pants that I got at the Army last year but never wore since I didn't have a matching top. Now I have one that looks good.

On August 19th, I did my second shift at ACS. I wore a top from Joseph A and jeans from Bebe. We went to the home of an elderly couple who are moving to Florida. They wanted to donate a lot of their artwork to the ACS, so we picked it up and took it back to the thrift shop, where I cleaned it all up.

I get no privacy. He has opinions.

On Saturday, August 22nd, I had some errands to do. I wore another vintage sundress with no label and sandals from White Mountain.

On Monday, August 24th, it was roasting hot here. We are in a weeklong heat wave. I walked around Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley. I haven't been there in years. The Egyptian geese have made the park their home.

The park had a big homeless problem a few years ago, but it's all cleaned up now and looks beautiful.

Lovely giant egret.

More of my Egyptian friends.

On August 25th, I had some errands to do while Doc took Win to the pulmonologist. I wore a dress from Amazon, and some Temu sandals.

Today, it's back to ACS. I am wearing jeans from Vince and a top from White House Black Market. My silver metallic shoes are Vince Camuto and my necklace is INC.

                                                  

My September Birchbox came! Inside, left to right:

                                                    

1) Beauty Pie Eye Makeup Remover

2) Ofra Skin Vitamin C Cleanser

3) Ahava Hydrating Dead Sea Mud Soap

4)Taste Beauty Hydrating Face Mask

5) Grande Lips Hydrating Liquid Lipstick

On August 27th, we had a total lunar eclipse! It was on and off cloudy, but I got these pictures.

Our refrigerator was making noise, so I googled it and it said that the most likely cause was the exhaust fan being occluded by dust and dog hair. You think so? I cleaned it and the sound disappeared. 

On August 28th, we went over to my in-laws house to set up Mimi's pills. I wore a home made (not by me) dress that I got at Savers for $4. My sandals came from a shop in Indianapolis.

On Monday, August 28th, we just went dog walking and that sort of stuff. I wore a dress from Ann Taylor and Kenneth Cole sandals.

On Tuesday, I went to Wells Fargo bank to open a CD. I wore a skirt from Banana Republic and a top that has no tag that I got at some thrift shop somewhere. My black sandals are Alfani.          

                                                  

Back to ACS on September 2nd. I wore a dress that I made back in the 1980s and the Alfani sandals to work in the Discovery Shop.

So that's about all for now! It's Labor Day weekend, and one month until my trip to Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine! See you all soon!