Faux Double Ball Boxwood Topiary Trees on Sale at Costco and Online posted by Ruth Paget

On today’s Costco run I saw people buying faux double ball boxwood trees (about 4 feet tall).  

Topiary trees look good on either side of doorways.(Versailles and other French chateaux use this decorating feature.)  

This faux tree lets you have this landscaped look inside your home with little maintenance (maybe dusting). People in colder climates can have year-round greenery with this topiary  tree.

The following link to a faux double ball topiary sold by qvc follows:

https://www.qvc.com/nearly-natural-34-boxwood-double-ball-topiary.product.H472389.html?colorId=000&sizeId=551&ref=GBA&CID=GGL-SP-GGL%7CSP%7CBrandProducthomedecordecorativeaccents%7CHMD%7CPLA%7CX%7CX%7CStatic%7CX%7CACQ%7CX%7CX%7CX&e4=ACQ&e5=PLA&e6=HMD&e7=16923249340&e8=Cj0KCQjwoMXQBhDcARIsAH-eEtsSbqNfzxnmSuV0VraeLThp9u3c1h-yDX4zCmYZVZvmVbNFoh-jzj4aAuZIEALw_wcB&e9=SRCH&e10=PROD&e11=5349761714&e12=169836202068&e13=pla-2489895218392&e17=H472389-000-551&e24=g&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=16923249340&gbraid=0AAAAAD3-fzlEbrbB7XH1Xb9f_sd2O7rkG&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoMXQBhDcARIsAH-eEtsSbqNfzxnmSuV0VraeLThp9u3c1h-yDX4zCmYZVZvmVbNFoh-jzj4aAuZIEALw_wcB&sc=entry

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

United Announces Seasonal Non-Stop Flights Between Monterey and Chicago reposted by Ruth Paget

United announces seasonal non-stop flights between Monterey, California and Chicago, Illinois for a 4 1/2 hour flight.

Art and architecture lovers have a choice of world famous museums to visit here and architecture tours by boat and bus.  

Information about this new flight service by United follows:

https://www.montereyairport.com/press-release/united-airlines-announces-seasonal-nonstop-service-between-monterey-and-chicago

Note: I lived in the corn cob Marina City Tower close to the boat in the photo after graduating from the University of Chicago.

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

PG&E Money Savings for Using Time of Use Plans reposted by Ruth Paget

Using electricity during off-peak hours for laundry machines and dishwashers for example can save on electricity bills with PG&E Time of Use Plans.

I have reposted information on PG&E’s time and use plans below:

https://www.pge.com/en/account/rate-plans/time-of-use-rate-plans.html

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

UChicago’s Chicago Minds Fundraising Achievements to Date and Guiding Principles reposted by Ruth Paget

The University of Chicago’s. Chicago Minds Fundraising Achievements to date in 2026 follow along with guiding principles for university fundraising efforts follow:

https://news.uchicago.edu/story/university-chicago-launches-ambitious-campaign-chicago-minds?s_src=N26395&mkt_tok=MjUwLUNRSC05MzYAAAGh7z-Trf1eRCbhZnbQw0Kw5LE0mFbjGqlRoG_yLljnucFDV3n1bafN1mylzCTZn2yUgr69wH7jw6aNwdnL1W5DxPJAPrlLD3ERGHefJ5-tNNaRr6Y

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Cleveland Orchestra’s Kasower (Principal Cello) and Walters (Solo English Horn) Hidden Valley Concert on May 27, 2026 reposted by Ruth Paget

The Monterey County Weekly online calendar lists an upcoming concert at Hidden Valley Music Seminars in Carmel Valley (California) featuring the Cleveland Orchestra’s Mark Kasower (Principal Cello) and Robert Walters (Solo English Horn) on May 27, 2026.

Event information and ticket purchase details follow on the link to the Monterey County Weekly online community calendar:

https://www.montereycountynow.com/events/#/details/masters-concert-mark-kosower-cello-robert-walters-english-horn/18802867

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Gaming the Gods Course Hones Analytical Skills at UChicago reposted by Ruth Paget

The Gaming the Gods course at the University of Chicago Divinity School challenges students to identify religious and belief systems present in games like Halo and India.

The class learns about insider/outsider analysis skills as one of the class outcomes.

Students are invited to bring in content from their studies outside the class such as in economics and art history to enrich the class experience for all students as they analyze the games.

Many students are learning about foreign cultures and religions through gaming imagery in the 21st century making game analysis a necessary skill like media literacy.

The University of Chicago article on the Gaming the Gods course follows:

https://news.uchicago.edu/story/please-play-syllabus?utm_medium=05.21email&utm_source=UChicagoNews&mkt_tok=MjUwLUNRSC05MzYAAAGh6rBPisKWxgFkMPrctnu1smQvweUMz_uZursjGo9Rwf1rNpAoW10BZHihQNeOGUsfQmkFuXP6v2lqqsiPZJjTT9jAT2GXfPCm3k3Ni2fs0C4DsMo

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Sweet Pea Shrub Sightings at The Market at Pebble Beach, California by Ruth Paget

Sweet Pea Shrub Sightings at the Market at Pebble Beach, California by Ruth Paget 

While drinking my Peerless organic coffee at The Market at Pebble Beach (California), I used the Google lens app to identify a sweet pea shrub grown by the side of The Market. 

The sweet pea shrub is originally from South Africa and grows well in coastal conditions like those at Pebble Beach. 

It requires frequent watering when first becoming established, but once it is established it can withstand drought conditions. The sweet pea can be trimmed to a hedge with purple-magenta flowers poking out of the hedge like those at the Market at Pebble Beach.  

More information about the sweet pea shrub follows: 

https://www.thespruce.com/sweet-pea-shrub-profile-5074216

Happy Garden Strolling! 

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games