Still Kickin'

1)  Not much has been happening, and 2) it's been way too cold to sit and type with frozen fingers, but the denizens of Farview Farm are all alive and well.

We had sun for a few days, but it never warmed up.  Michael's outings have been brief at best, definitely of the get 'er done and get back in the house variety.  I'm just the escort and he gets to set the pace, but I'm all for keeping to his schedule on cold, cold days.  Since it's pouring rain and windy, I doubt today will be much different.

Thanks to Florence and Dan, we're decorated for the holidays.  They brought a small poinsettia that now sits on a tall stand away from the cats and just to the side of the TV so I can enjoy it daily.  Couldn't see the sense of putting up anything else for just me, and I hate to think what rambunctious Ralph would do to a decorated Christmas tree.  He gets older, but he doesn't change.

While it's not quite as cold today, we're due for a week or so of rain and snow.  Can't say we're looking forward to that.  I doubt the wildlife are either.  Once in awhile the tribe of turkeys marched through and Michael and I were startled the other day when a covey of quail flew out of the juniper in front of us.  Deer sightings have been rare...I miss 'em.

Happy holidays to one and all!

Stay safe.  Be well.

Can't Complain

Woke up yesterday to black and white...power out on the inside and snow outdoors, about four inches.  The electricity's back (obviously) and the snow's still there.  Everything is better than those days of hellacious wind and rain.  Given what has happened weatherwise across America, it's darned hard to complain about anything here.

Ralph and Celeste became permanent lap fixtures.  It was like moving boulders when I had to get up and, boy!, did I get dirty looks then.  Michael is not a fan of snow, as I hear some dogs are.  We went out several times, but he found the nearest twig or leaf to aim at and it was right back to the porch and into the house.

Florence and Dan were in the same situation down in Fiddletown, but they have a generator.  Florence and I agreed that flushing the toilet becomes a luxury, and the first thing I do when we regain power (no power, no water).  Texting is my main source of communication in an outage.  I do have a landline (which costs a fortune) for emergencies and in case the cellphone runs out.

The sun just rose over the hills and the sky is clear.  As soon as I bring in more wood, I'll put Stove to work.  No need for icicles in the house.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Brrr

It's cold, and about to get colder.  Low 30s in the morning, not heating up much during the day, and snow is predicted to our level by Monday.  Just what did I expect?  It's winter!  Michael and I don't spend much time out on the porch, grateful if we find a patch of weak sunlight to sit in.  The cats are darned near tapping their feet, waiting for me to sit down so they can be full-time lap cats.  I don't mind...they warm me, too.

Ralph has become an obsessive muffin maker, pummeling my arm to the point I actually pulled up my sleeve to check for bruising.  What's with that?

There is a commercial running now in which a young boy invites his grandma to dance.  It sure brings back memories of my own sons.  At a certain age, after school they were each required to dance two dances with me.  As I told them then, "Some day you'll be glad you know how to dance.  Most boys won't, and girls love to dance.  You'll thank me then."  (I love to be right!)

I'm pretty frugal with the firewood, but I think I'm going to weaken and light up Stove today.  It's cold!

Stay safe.  Be well.

Holding Pattern

Not much has been happening lately, certainly nothing worth writing about.  That really hasn't changed, but I figured it was time to put in an appearance again.

The turkeys had been keeping a low profile just before Thanksgiving, but they're back in droves now and are loudly proclaiming their recovered territories.  Like the gangs in West Side Story (1961 film), the Jets and the Sharks, we have the front yard gang and the back yard gang.  So far it's just been yelling, but I've seen this escalate into real battles in the past.

We've been in a holding pattern with the weather.  Sunrise and sunset are spectacular with glowing red skies.  Michael and I take advantage of our sunny porch time.  We need rain, but it's hard not to enjoy this weather in December.  Down in the valley, they've been socked in with daily fog.  In just a matter of miles, it's like we live on different planets.

By consensus, Christmas has been cancelled.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Dinner With A Friend

Michael and I got around to having Thanksgiving dinner last night.  I was surprised to find that the whole meal could be done in the microwave in a matter of minutes.  TV dinners sure have changed from the old days.  I had sworn from the git-go that I would not feed this dog from my plate, but somehow realized that it's just much nicer to have dinner with a friend.  I am very selective about what tidbits Michael gets...generally protein only.  We did try a bite of carrot last evening and I thought he'd eaten it, but found out he'd spit it out behind his blanket.  He feels about carrots like one of my Kids feels about peas.

Yes, we still need more rain, but the weather lately has been perfect, sunny and warm(ish) days and crisp, cool nights.  We've been going to bed earlier just for the pleasure of snuggling under warm blankets.  I do mean 'we' and I do mean 'snuggle.'  All four of us fit into my spot on the bed like a pack of huskies in the snow.

I may be the only two-legged in the house, but I sure don't live alone.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Hiatus

The passing parade of birds never ceases to fascinate me.  Right now the trees are full of busy, busy woodpeckers boring holes to stuff with acorns and the air is filled with their rat-a-tat-tat and raucous cries.  It's also the time of the dinky birds, those little bitty guys whose chirp is as tiny as they are.  They're partial to the nearly bare lilac bushes in front of the kitchen windows.  Michael and I watch them flit here and there from our perch on the porch.  There is no shortage of turkeys on parade, but, given the holiday, they're keeping a low profile just now.

Michael has become quite adventurous to the limits of his 20-foot leash.  For the longest time he's been heading to the right side of the walkway, choosing just the right juniper to favor with his attention and shuffling through the leaves.  In the last week, he's been exploring the left side, going into what used to be the herb garden and the huge rosemary bush.  I had started letting him off the leash when Florence would come by, but the last time, the little booger took off down to the road again.  That ended his free-roaming days and he;s back on the lunge line.

It's been way past chilly to downright cold lately, and we both look for patches of sunlight when we're outside.  Yesterday even the sunshine had no warmth.

Because of the chill, Celeste has once again become a lap cover.  The looks I get when I have to get up and displace her.  Ralph has become obsessed with making muffins on my arm.  It really puts him in the zone as he stares into space while kneading like a demented baker.

Another holiday without the Kids.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Good Sense

I did something yesterday that I haven't done in a long time.  I actually finished a chore that has been hanging fire for, oh, say two years.  It's amazing how one can see a thing that needs doing and then unsee it and ignore it, but by golly, I had done just that.  What the impetus was to do the deed, I don't know, but suddenly the urge was there and, uncharacteristically, I acted on it.  It took three full days of sticking to it without let up.  It's not like me to be so single-minded as I tend to become distracted and head in another direction; not this time.

In case it doesn't show, I have a tremendous sense of accomplishment.  That's a good sense.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Possible Solution

The Uninvited comes every evening just as the sun drops over the horizon.  I can't stop it from coming, but I may have found a way to get it to leave.  As soon as I hear the first nibble (bad table manners), I turn on the whole-house fan.  That makes one heck of a racket and hopefully scares it's socks off.  I may have to flip the switch one more time before the creature can't take it and all is quiet again.

There is a small drawback to this plan.  No matter how nice the day, the temperature plummets at sundown.  Even though the fan is on for just a few minutes, it does it's job well and sucks what warmth there is up and out of the house.  Oh well, worth it if it scares off the critter.  I'm guessing the Uninvited is either a mouse, squirrel, or rat.  There would have to be a noticeably large hole for anything bigger.

Wish me luck!

Stay safe.  Be well.

Things That Go Bump

What was that?  I know I heard a sound and thought it was out on the deck.  It could have been a wind or maybe one of Missy's friends come for a snack from her bowl.  Oh well, it stopped, whatever it was.

No, wait, there it is again.  Hmmm.  I don't think I like strange sounds on a dark night.  Volume off on the TV.  It's coming from there...no, over there.  No, wait, it's something rolling on the roof.  Oh crum.  What is it?!

I don't know what it is, but something has moved into the attic (crawl space) and is rearranging things to suit itself.  The living room has a pitched ceiling, thus the rolling sound.  I am faced with a real conundrum.  I sure can't get up there myself, and the space is too tiny for a grown man.  I can't send one of the cats up there to dispatch the critter, and wouldn't anyhow.

The Uninvited (great scary 1944 movie with Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey) appears to be nocturnal.  Not exactly how I want to spend my evenings, listening to things that go bump in the night.  I really have to give this some thought.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Workin' It

Dang it!  I took a couple of good photos of Michael yesterday and wanted to share them, but, and it's a big but, thanks to a few 'updates' to the system, I can't.  I'll work on this and try again soon.

Michael is so darned smart and he knows how to work it to his advantage.  When we go outside, I sit on the porch and Michael does his thing.  The routine had been that he'd hit the bushes first thing and do his business, then we'd sit awhile together before going in, timing of my choice.  Well, he decided that he could extend our time by telling me first that he didn't need to go, he just wanted to sit with me and enjoy the view.  That was alright with me, we do that anyhow, and then go in.  Now we go out, he says he just wants to sit, we sit, and then I'll say, "Well, what do you think, ready to go in?"  "Oh, no!  I have to find a bush, Mom, now!"  Then, of course, we have to sit a bit longer.  I wish Michael could go outside on his own, sans leash, but he has a penchant for going down to the road and I can't let that happen.  Well-meaning people up here pick up any "stray" dog and take them to the pound.  Facebook is full of such incidences.  It costs a bundle to get the animal out, not counting the worry because they didn't come home.  Don't tell Michael I'm on to his plot.

Ralph has started something new and it happens every day.  He'll come up on the arm of my chair, reach over, and start making muffins on my arm...that kneading thing cats do, and he really works at it.  I wonder what he's thinking as he pummels, staring off into nothing, and why start this now.

Many thanks and appreciation to all veterans, today and always.

It's going to be another beautiful, sunshiny day.  Yay.  We'll spend a good portion of it outside, I know.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Light My Fire

(Light My Fire, The Doors, 1968)

It rained almost all day yesterday.  Michael didn't dawdle on his outings, but we still came in thoroughly chilled.  The time had come to light up Stove.  I'd been making do with a puffy jacket (in the house) and the heated beanbag, but it just wasn't enough with the dampness.  Bringing in wood is more of a challenge this year.  Difficulty walking will do that to ya, but I got the job done.  After a year, I had to rethink Stove's intricate flue system...open this thingy and that, make sure the other doohicky is closed...okay, go for it!  Boy, it sure felt good.  Ralph and Celeste finally peeled themselves off my lap and stretched out before the hearth, and Michael lay full out instead of lying curled up in a ball with his tail covering his nose.  They probably wondered what took me so long to light a fire.

The sun is out today.  Stove may get another day off.

Stay safe.  Be well (and warm).

How Green Is My Hilltop

One of my all-time favorite movies is 'How Green Was My Valley' (1941, Maureen O'Hara,Walter Pidgeon, Roddy McDowell. Donald Crisp, Sara Allgood).  It certainly comes to mind now because, after just the few days of rain, my hilltop has burst into technicolor...green!  (Which is funny because the film is black-and-white.)  When Chuck came over on Tuesday, he said my driveway is almost invisible, covered with the same green as in the fields, and I, who sits on the porch and goes no farther, can see that the little pathway from the drive to the house changed color almost overnight.  Helper Dude is going to have weed-eating job security this year.

Up above, the oaks are turning brown and there is the constant patter of dry leaves hitting the ground.  Michael shuffles through an ankle-deep carpet of rustling leftovers to find his favorite spots to piddle.  Our morning outings are brief in the damp and chill, but we do enjoy getting out in the afternoons to find a patch of sunshine out of the breeze.  When it's really nice, I leave the front door open so the cats can get their dose of vitamin D, too.

Looks like we're going to get more rain today.  It'll keep the green going and growing.

Stay safe.  Be well.

I See A Pattern

A definite pattern is emerging, this one day on, one day off thing.  I haven't decided whether to go with it or try to overcome it, but it's there.  After that day of waiting for he who never came, I got so much done yesterday, stuff that has been hanging fire for ages.  True, I move at a snail's pace, but I did keep moving.  I'd like to keep the momentum going, but the creaks and groans getting out of bed tell me this is going to be a do-nothing day.  Ah well, Scarlett, tomorrow is another day.

Yesterday was also Visitors' Day.  Florence came with a very welcome shopping delivery and had time to sit and chat for a bit.  I so enjoy her company.  Chuck also stopped by later on.  He is kind enough to take my trash down to the big road, and he likes to talk.  He's a man with a vast history of world-wide experiences to share.

Michael provided a reason to take breaks throughout the day.  He does this mind-meld thing, sitting directly in front of me and staring intently into my eyes until I get the message.  "You.  Will.  Take.  Me. Outside.  Now."  For a nonverbal dog, he makes himself very clear.  On these recent chilly days, sometimes all he wants is to lie in a patch of sunlight.  I'm okay with that.

I think today will be a sit-and-plan day.  That's the pattern.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Wait, Wait!

Song for the day:'Wasted Days and Wasted Nights,' Freddy Fender, 1974.

Eight o'clock came...and went.  Then 9, 10, 11 o'clock.  No technician.  A little after 11:30, I got a recorded message saying the technician had been delayed and would arrive at 1 p.m.  About 1:30, a real live person called to tell me the appointment had been cancelled and would have to be rescheduled.  "When?"  "Next Monday."  Aaargh.  A whole day wasted waiting.  There's nothing n my life that can't be put off, but it was the principle of the thing.  I didn't want to get started on something and get interrupted.  I'm a good example of the theory that a thing in motion tends to stay in motion, and a thing at rest won't do a darned thing (my version).  The call did allow me to give directions, although it was tempting to let the next guy sit on a washed-out road waiting for help;  Naw, I'm not that mean.

I was entertained throughout the day by marathon reruns of "Third Rock From The Sun."  I watched that series back in 1996   I'm not much of a one for comedy shows because most, in my opinion, are just inane, but I still laugh at the antics and witty dialogue of John Lithgow and the cast.  The day, overcast and chill, wasn't an entire waste.

The hiccup in the DVR hasn't gone away.  All I can do now is wait for next Monday.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Rolling The Dice

Boy, you just never know what you're going to get.  After several truly lovely days, yesterday started out misty, not quite foggy, and chill.  It never did warm up much and we didn't sit long on the porch even after the dampness went away.  I had gotten so much done on Saturday and was still fired with ambition yesterday...until I got up and moving and the body said, "Enough!"  I listen to the body.

The dreaded time change is coming soon and I'm already working up a good mad.  It's dark late into the morning now and it's just going to get worse.  I'll never understand what Daylight Savings Time is saving me from.  Sigh.

My satellite service is sending a technician out today, due sometime after 8 a.m.  I sincerely hope I have an opportunity to give the guy directions.  GPS always sends the gullible up to the far end on the Gray Rock loop, and I'm not lying when I say you can't get here from there.  The road is nearly impassable at the best of times, and will be impossible after that deluge we had.

The one highlight yesterday was a call from Tinka in Louisiana.  She always lifts my spirits.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Gadabout

Town twice in two days...I'm absolutely giddy (and exhausted).  Both visits were for medical examinations, first me, then Michael.  Through a staff faux pas, my visit took over two hours.  Aaargh.  Then I miscommunicated time frames to Florence and Dan and they were here to pick us up for Michael's visit to the vet two hours early.  That turned out okay because we went out to lunch.  That's twice in a year for me!  Due to Michael's calm demeanor, he's allowed to go into restaurants.  Aside from the fact that he is a Certified Support dog, he goes under the table and is never seen.  His examination went well, and he got a much-needed pedicure, to boot.

The drive to town is absolutely gorgeous this time of year.  Trees along the way are turning color, reds and golden yellows sprinkled among the green pines.  If you have to go, it certainly makes the trip more enjoyable (as does the company I keep).

Hopefully, all this gadding about is over for awhile.  I'm more than ready to retreat into my hermitage.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Nicer Than The Next

Nature has been her usual capricious self.  After the worst storm I've ever seen, the last few days could not have been better, warming up to the 70s, with just a light breeze.  Michael and I have spent a good deal of time on the porch, and when Florence and Dan came by yesterday, we stayed outside for the pure enjoyment.

There will be no such lollygagging today.  I have an appointment in town, and tomorrow Florence will ferry us to Michael's vet visit for his annual checkup.  After being home so long, it's getting harder and harder to leave, said the self-proclaimed hermit.

Ah well, things to do, places to go, and not much else going on.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Made It!

It got pretty dicey here yesterday.  I've been through some storms, but nothing like the unrelenting wind and pounding rain like we just had.  I'd be lying if I said there weren't times I was scared, and my thoughts were always for the trees.  Michael asked to go out several times, but once out, he wouldn't step off the porch.  Finally in late afternoon, it was either find a bush or burst.  I'm sure he felt better, wet or not.  Thankfully, we kept power until last night.  When it did go out, I was drained from the tensions of the day and just went to bed.  Obviously, it was a short outage.

It's raining still, but without those hellacious, damaging winds.  I can deal with this.  I'm just grateful we made it through intact.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Can't Get There

Just doing a little proactive investigation yesterday, I called to see what the possibilities were of "public" transportation.  I haven't driven since before the Caldor fires and don't even know if the truck will start.  Florence has been so generous with her time, but I don't want to take advantage.  What I found out was, "You can't get there from here."  The biggest service in the area, Dial-A-Ride, does not come out as far as Fair Play.  If I could get a ride as far as the little bridge on Bucks Bar, they could pick me up there.  If I could get a ride that far, I wouldn't need them at all, now would I?  The only other service, a private concern, would charge me a measly eighty dollars! for a round trip.  Personally, I find that rather prohibitive.  It would behoove me to get out there and check on Truck, and to stay in Florence's good graces.

It was a blustery start yesterday morning, and today is a rerun.  By afternoon, it was warm and the sky was blue.  Michael and I spent quite a bit of time out on the porch.  The forecast is not so good today, nor for the days ahead.  It's hard to imagine, but we're supposed to get five inches of rain in one day soon.  Yikes!

True to form, not much if anything got done yesterday.  The day before wore me out.  I'm starting to think about lighting up Stove, if not for warmth, to take away the dampness that seeps in during a rainy stretch.  It's pretty obvious I'm not going anywhere.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Day On

I don't know where it came from, but yesterday morning I was hit with a wave of ambition.  It's been so long, at first I didn't know what it was.  I tried to ignore it, sure it would soon pass, but that was a no go.  It kept niggling at me until, fine!, I'll get up and do something.  Hmm, let's start with something easy.  Maybe if I put in a load of laundry it will go away and leave me alone.  Two loads washed, dried, and folded later and the itch was still there.  How about if I do a quick clean up in the kitchen?  Nope, I tried that.  Everything got put on hold so I could watch The Great British Baking Show, but my eyes kept straying to the dust-covered coffee table.  Starting with the furniture in one corner, I had worked my way, dust rag in hand, halfway around the room when I was saved by the arrival of Florence and Dan.  Believe me, they got a heartfelt welcome, and it wasn't just because of the groceries they brought.

It remains to be seen whether there will be any residual effects today or if it was just a 24-hour bug.

Stay safe.  Be well.

A Poe-m

The writings of Edgar Allan Poe made a tremendous impression on me when I was young, due in part to a high-school English teacher with a flair for the dramatic.  Hearing him read 'The Tell-Tale Heart' sent shivers up my spine.  We had a good, long, steady rain last night, enough to bring out the rain beetles and Poe once again came to mind.  Sitting alone with the cats and dog, a tapping at the darkened windows...here, then there, is enough to bring up 'The Raven.'  "...suddenly there came a tapping, As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door."  Turn off the sound on the tv to better hear what I thought I'd heard.  Yes, there it is again.  Even now, after thirty-odd years, that random tapping at the window out in the dark quickens my heartbeat.  Rain, tapping, ah yes, the beetles are back, and I return to my program.

Who says there's no drama here.

Stay safe.  Be well.

One Day

A pattern has been developing...one day on, one day off.  A day of ambition is followed by a day of recuperation.  Yesterday was a day off.  As long as something gets done, I'm not complaining.

There have been more sightings of bears in the area lately.  That only makes sense.  After the fires, they are out of their habitat and looking for food.  I have only seen deer.  A gorgeous buck came by the other day with his harem, a wonderful perk of living here.

Nature favored us with a lovely, almost-warm afternoon yesterday.  It was one of those days when Michael asks to go outside, not to piddle, but to just sit on the porch and enjoy being outdoors.  I'm a willing partner.

It's a warm, sunshiny morning.  We'll see if Nature switches gears for the afternoon.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Blow Hard

Boy, did we ever have some wind the other day!  It was one of those days when the constant thought was save the trees, save the trees.   Up here on the crest of the hill, we get wind especially hard so it wasn't an idle thought.  Luckily, no damage was done and we didn't lose electricity, another concern.  Let's just say Michael and I didn't spend much time out on the porch.

We've also had a tremendous drop in temperature, enough that I've had to hunt up the bean bag to heat in the microwave and wear an 'outside' jacket indoors all day.  I'm not complaining!  The cats are once again piled on my lap and on each other and Michael seeks patches of sunlight.  Acorns are dropping like mini-bombs.  If Michael and I weren't confined to the porch, we'd have to wear safety helmets.

I've unexpectedly had a burst of housework ambition and have been busy with that which should have been done, and wasn't.  Dusting, of course, has been saved for last.  As I've said, aversion to dusting is an inherited trait.  My mother said that was the reason she had girls, so they could do her bidding for that chore.  My boys weren't so lucky.  I was an equal-opportunity mother.

Nature is stretching her seasonal muscles, what with the wind and the cold.  It's light enough now to see that it's going to be a grey, overcast morning.  Who knows what she''ll come up with for the afternoon.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Hot Stuff

During hot weather, I attempt to keep cool (a relative term) with a glass of ice water by my chair.  I drink the water, then crunch the ice cubes.  This summer I drank enough water to float a battleship and crunched enough ice to sink the Titanic and still sweat like a horse.  Oh well.

The onset of cooler nights has sent me in s different direction.  After sundown, the doors that have stood open for months get closed and I head to the kitchen to make a cup of cocoa or hot cider to sip and warm my hands.  Cats that had the sense to lie in front of doors hoping for a breeze once again pile on my lap for warmth.  The bedtime battle for blankets has begun.  If I don't get settled before they do, the fifty-pound behemoths weigh them down and I don't get my share.

We got a good steady rain last night.  There is still standing water on the deck, and that's a good thing.  If nothing else, the rain might help the firefighters on the line at the Caldor fire.  My robe and long-unused slippers feel good this morning.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Not My Style

I am an avid fan of 'The Great British Baking Show."  I am in awe of these amateur contestants who work against time to create fantastic bakes and create such works of art.  Presentation is the end-all, be-all for the winners, and that would be my downfall.

Feeding a family of six, the main goal was to make as much as I could as fast as I could and get it to the table before there was an insurrection.  Everything was served family style and did not require the niceties of a decorative sprig of basil or artistic placement on the plate.

To me, cakes were boring and pretty much reserved for birthdays, six spread out across the calendar.  Pies were more my forte, and I say with some pride that my Kids never took bought cookies in their lunches during all their years in school.  I passed on cookie recipes for a measly couple of dozen.  Those would have been gone as soon as they came out of the oven.  I needed recipes that could easily be doubled or tripled, and I remember the one for molasses cookies that started with five dozen.  The goal was quality and quantity, and little to no decorating involved.

No, I'd never make it on TGBBS.  I might win Star Baker in the pie category, but would fall flat on my face in the artistic arena.  That's just not my style.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Food For Thought

I am surrounded by extra-special nice people.  Florence and Dan quite literally kept me alive during and since Caldor with food and good company, as well as rides here and there.  Cousin Sandy calls frequently to say hi and spread cheer.  Chuck came yesterday and voluntarily vacuumed my carpets, something I've not been able to do in some time and they were deplorable.  I am grateful for one and all.

It took Ralph a while to recover after his terrible experience in the great outdoors.  He didn't come out of the bedroom for two whole days, and he's just now starting to run zoomies through the house and torment his sister Celeste.  I'm glad to see the old Ralph back again.

Michael is a perfect host, greeting guests, sitting by their side for awhile, and then retiring to leave the grownups to talk.  Yesterday was a bit different.  Chuck, when he visits, sits on the loveseat.  Because he was moving furniture and giving the rug a good cleaning, he would periodically sit and rest...on the loveseat.  Michael became uncharacteristically territorial and jumped up to take Chuck's space.  "My mom, my couch, my space, Dude."  He was polite, but firm, and would not move, leaving Chuck to perch on what was left of the edge.

We're due for a twenty-degree drop in temperature in the next few days.  I can't say it won't be welcome.  Summer is not my favorite season.  Florence was inspired by an offhand comment of mine about lima beans and, don't you know, made a big pot of beans and ham hocks, and was kind enough to share.  Ahh, fall is here for sure.

Stay safe.  Be well.

The Great Outdoors

While it may hold great allure, Ralph found out yesterday that the outdoors is not all it's cracked up to be.  I can only assume that he snuck out while Michael and I were going out for one of Michael's potty breaks.  All I know for sure is that I was on a phone call when I saw a panic-stricken cat running frantically back and forth in front of the screen door on the outside.  Leaving my caller waiting, I opened the door for a cat who bolted inside, headed for the safety of the bedroom, and wasn't seen again for the rest of the day.  I double checked for any other ways of egress, and found none.

I am ever so grateful that I was in the right place at the right time to see my little red-headed miscreant, because up here there really are lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

Ralph spent the rest of the day repenting.

Stay safe.  Be well.

That's A First

In many ways, Tuesday was a day for celebration.  It  was my first time away from home since before the Caldor fire and everything felt new.  Dan was a welcome addition on our outing.  He's always good company, and so we three amigos set off on an adventure with Florence as the chauffeur.  As Florence said, conversation in a car is always good.  The weather was mild and traffic was light, and we arrived at the doctor's office early.  I got dropped off and those two went off to explore the 'town' of Cameron Park, essentially two shopping malls and a medical complex.  The doctor was running late (what a surprise) and then I needed lab work, so we got a late start toward lunch.

There was no debate and we agreed on a familiar Chinese restaurant in Diamond Springs.  We were almost giddy as we walked into the place, masks in place.  It was the first time we'd been able to eat inside since the pandemic restrictions, longer than that for me.  The food was good, our waiter was friendly, and the company was great.

The ride home seemed almost too short, and the day was done.  It was a good day.

Stay safe.  Be well.

More Rambling

Chefs will now tell you to remove bay leaves before serving a dish.  Back in the day when my Kids were little, all we knew was not to eat them.  I told my Kids that these leaves were special and whoever found one could make a wish while licking off the sauce, same as  breaking a wishbone.  My Kids hunted for bay leaves like they were buried treasure in their dinner and no one was in danger of choking.

We got a couple of hours of steady light rain last night, maybe enough to do some good this time.  I'm glad it stopped, because Florence and I have our day planned.  This includes a doctor's appointment (me), a hardware store (her), a few other stops, and then the grand finale, having lunch out!  The last time I ate out was back in April, I think, when Michael and I had hamburgers at Bones Roadhouse.  I'm sorry my little friend can't come along this time.  I've explained to Michael this is a girls-only outing.

Six-thirty and it's still dark outside.  It's getting dark at six-thirty at night, too.  Boy, the seasons change fast.  Someone asked me the other day how I was fixed for firewood, this while I was still turning on the ceiling fan for the hint of a breeze.

Celeste is a lap sitter.  Ralph is a bedtime snuggler.  She wraps herself around my ankles when she wants something.  Ralph takes the more direct approach by tapping on my shoulder.  Siblings, their personalities are so different, same as my Kids.

Omigosh. what a gorgeous red sunrise through the remaining clouds, a great way to start the day.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Rambling

Now that it's officially fall, I have a hankering for a pot of dried lima beans and ham hocks.  It's the next best thing to a seasonal tradition, but I fear it's not to be.  I can't figure a way to make a little pot of beans and, being just one, it would take more than a week of the same meal night after night.  By then those beans would create enough methane gas to fuel a rocket ship and Michael would probably move out.

Either the weather has the vultures confused or the big birds have chosen a different meeting place to gather for their annual migration.  This event usually takes place about the twenty-first of September,  There are a few more of the big birds overhead than usual, but nothing like the massive numbers I've seen in the past.  Canadian honkers (geese) used to fly over in the thousands on their trek north or south, but no more.  I've seen and heard a couple of vees fly by, but that's it.  Another disappointment.

I don't know when or why I quit reading or working on crafts, but it's been years now since I've picked up a book or a hank of beads to turn into something special or put foot to the pedal of the spinning wheel.  I thought of the wheel the other day when I had brushed out another puppy-sized ball of fur from Michael.  What beautiful, cloud-soft yarn that would make.

I wait every week for the next episode of 'Vera,' a British mystery show on PBS, my go-to channel.  These are very involved, not bloody, murders set in gorgeous countryside locations.  I watch so many British productions that I'm no longer confused when drivers get out of the 'wrong' side of the car.  I'm a latecomer to 'McCloud's Daughters,' an Australian production, and am learning a new accent and idioms.

While I spend most of the day in my chair, my mind travels far and wide.  Keeps things interesting.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Namaste

As if we didn't know, the huge Harvest moon is a sure sign we're in transition from summer to fall...a couple of cool days and nights and then the heat lands again with a thud.  Ah well.

Florence and Dan stopped by yesterday.  Florence always comes in laughing.  She has taken it upon herself to keep the water trough in the goat pen filled, not because there are goats now, but because the resident vultures use it as a swimming pool.  She says there are always six or eight of the big birds splashing or floating.

A small herd of four deer wandered by on the driveway in front of the house, taking their time and enjoying the view.  They are one of the perks of living here.

Michael continues to shed.  The trash bag was full but light, stuffed with huge balls of fur.  I hope this stops before we get down to bare skin.

Ralph is so into our bedtime snuggle routine now that he beats me to bed, tapping my shoulder if I'm slow to lie down.  That's okay, I like it, too.  Michael snores, Ralph cuddles, and Celeste is tucked in behind my legs.  All's right in my nighttime world.

Cardboard accumulates at an alarming rate.  Glass and plastic can go in the recycle bin, but boxes accumulate.  Helper Dude is coming next week to make a dump run and get the north end of the deck back in shape.  I'm looking forward to that.  HD and his family had to evacuate during the worst of the fire here.  After 23 days, they were allowed to go back home, unsure of what they would find.  I can only imagine their relief to find their house still standing, among so many that didn't escape the flames.

Stay safe.  Be well.

The Brush Off

When a dog like Michael sheds, it is momentous.  His coat is thick, rich, lush, and mainly black as ebony.  Just as I never understood why chickens moult just before winter, I don't understand why Michael loses his insulation just before the start of cold weather, but lose it he does.  When he starts looking a little ragged around the edges and clumps of fur drift across the room like tumbleweeds, I know it's time to get out the slicker brush and go at it.

My fella wasn't too sure about this process in the beginning, but with a little practice and patience, I think he's come to enjoy it.  Now all I have to do is pat my leg and show him the brush and he comes right to me.  It's up to him where I get to work, right side, left, shoulders, back, belly or butt.  So far, I've curried enough fur to create two good-sized Pomeranians or maybe six long-hair Chihuahuas, and we're not done yet.  Michael is a serious shedder.

We lost power again for a couple of long days and nights.  I don't know if PG&E is covering their butts or punishing we who complain, but it's a real thing now and comes out of nowhere.

There has been a real cool down in the weather (yay!) and there was a dab of rain last night.  Not enough to do any good and probably not enough to even settle the dust, but I'll take it.

Besides giving Michael the brush off, I need to get some routine back in my life.  I thrive on the tried and true, and lately all there's been was chaos.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Unexpected

I had been fretting for the last few days about getting to the polls to vote.  Even though I might get to the truck, how was I going to get into the building to cast my ballot?  (Yes, walking is a problem.)  Back in the day, eligibility to vote came at age 21.  I'm proud to say I have not missed an election, local, state, or national in all this time and I sure didn't want to break that record.  I also like to vote in person.  I like the sense of community, the gathering of the people to make their voices heard.  Ah well.  So be it.

Cam called in the afternoon to say her grapes were ready for picking and I could send Chuck down on his way for the trash run.   I mentioned my frustration over voting and she sympathized.  Chuck did come by and I relayed Camille's message.  Well, who's going to pass up the offer of free fruit?  He came back soon, laden with the sweetest, juiciest, seedless green grapes.  I'll admit it, I gorged, and grapes were dinner last night.

Night was falling (comes earlier now) when Cam called again.  She was at the polling place and had found out they offer curbside service and did I want her to come get me.  Oh, yes, please!  She did and we made it with 13 minutes to spare.  It didn't take that long to fill out the forms and we were back on the road in no time.  You can imagine I was one happy lady.

The day was full of unexpected surprises.

It was a good day.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Nostalgia

Oh, I still watch cooking shows, but not with the same verve as in the past.  I used to think "Oh, So-and-so would like that!,"  or "Not on a bet."  I have two bookcases full of cookbooks and a folder chock full of loose recipes garnered over the years, all gathering dust.  I don't cook anymore, not even for myself. and my last Thanksgiving with the Kids before Covid was KFC.  That's just pitiful.  I could be drummed out of the kitchen!

Tucked in among the Julia Child books and so many others, is a small black notebook in which I started writing recipes when I was first married to the Kids' dad.  Some were from my mother, but not many.  Even back in the day I knew she wasn't a very good cook.  She excelled at baking pies, but I think she had maybe five spices in her cupboard.  She cooked midwestern bland (no offense intended), and we ate out frequently.

Not long ago, my son Larry's lady asked for my recipe for Beef Stroganoff.  Maybe Larry is also feeling nostalgic.  What with the fires and all, I didn't get around to finding that little black book until just the other day.  It's a fairly simplistic recipe as written, and if I were ever to make it again, I'd make a few changes.  Take it for what it's worth.

BEEF STROGANOFF

Cut 1-1/2 lb. sliced round steak into thin strips, dust with flour and a little pepper.  In a large skillet, brown meat in margarine.  Add 1 can sliced mushrooms, drained, 1/2 chopped onion, 1 minced garlic clove, and cook until softened.  Stir in 1 can beef broth, cover and simmer about 1 hour.  Stir in 1 cup sour cream over low heat for 5 minutes.  Serve over buttered noodles.

Now I'd use fresh mushrooms and quite a lot more onion and garlic.  Back in the day, I was cooking for a family of big, healthy eaters and would have doubled the amounts, even as given.

I wish Hawaii were closer, maybe I'd get a dinner invitation.

Stay safe.  Be well.

For Real?!

It's been so long, I wasn't sure I knew what I was hearing.  Michael knew, and was asking to go outside last night way past his normal visitations.  Hey, when a guy's gotta go, he's gotta go, so out we went.  It was raining!!  No, for real!  Real rain and real wet.  Wow!  We sat out on the porch for the short duration and it was wonderful...the sound, the smells...just wonderful.  It didn't last long, but rain came again in brief spurts over time and I rejoiced.  This, however, was followed by thunder and lightning over the hills and once again I was in 'Please, No' mode.  Dry lightning causes fires.  My hope was that the lightning would strike in already burned-out areas.  I haven't seen the news yet, and am happy in my ignorance.

We're due for a ten-degree drop in temperature today.  Be still, my heart!!

The day had been hotter than Hades, but the night was a winner, for real.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Nothing Ventured

In my last post, I mentioned that I was going to venture out and make a little trip down to Mt. Aukum for a few things.  Yeah, well, that never happened.  I have good days and bad days, and as soon as I left the computer I knew it wasn't going to be a good one.  I went nowhere.

Howsoever, all was not lost.  I got a note from Florence saying they were going shopping and asking if I needed anything.  Hmmm, yes, please.  My friends came yesterday with the required items plus some real treats.  A Heath candy bar has me salivating like Michael with a Milk Bone.  As much as anything, I enjoy visiting with Florence and Dan.

It was a good day.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Bad Timing

PG&E is not making any friends in this area; not the worker bees who bust their butts on our account, but the higher-ups who decide to cut power for thirteen hours in nearly100-degree weather.  There isn't a good time to lose electricity, but this was classic bad timing.  No lights, no water, no fan, no flush...no fun.  Yesterday was just plain miserable.  I did remember the gift of bottled water so none of us dehydrated like prunes.

After the evacuation, it looks like bears have taken over South Lake Tahoe.  They roam the streets, break into homes, rummage through trash bins at their leisure, and create havoc in general.  They  obviously enjoy the use of hotel swimming pools.  As with so many things these days, people are asking if this will be the new normal.

After weeks of defying mandatory evacuation (orders which have been rescinded) and being stuck at home, I'm going to venture out today for some necessities.  Wish me luck.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Just Ranting

Once upon a time there was a 'Do Not Call' list where one could report scam calls for follow up.  They were evidently so inundated by what are now robocalls that the service is no longer available.  I sure could have used it yesterday.  The first call came at six a.m.(!!), waking me from a sound sleep and scaring me silly.  It was a call to tell me there was 'suspicious activity' on my Amazon account in the amount of over a thousand dollars...they just needed to confirm my identity.  Yeah, well, I don't have nor have ever had an account with Amazon.  Click.  I received five more identical calls in the next four hours, all coming from different phone IDs.  Next came the robocall telling me my vehicle warranty was about to expire and needed attention to remain in effect.  The thing is, Truck is a 1998 and his warranty ran out years ago.  Aarrgh!

Then there are the calls for donations for this or that charity.  "Hello?"  "Oh, thank goodness you're pleasant.  You should have heard the rude lady on my last call."  Click.

As long as I'm on a rant, let's talk about TV commercials.  Bribing a kid who won't eat her broccoli with a French fry is just wrong.  Advertising chicken that has only been fed grain and no animal by-products is wrong.  On their own, free-range chickens are omnivores that will eat lizards, tomato worms, and sometimes each other.  I miss the Geico 'Hump Day' camel.

Well, I feel better now.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Freedom!

The mandatory evacuation order here was finally lifted yesterday!  Having cancelled all appointments, it's not like I had any place to go, but the knowledge that I couldn't leave was oppressive.  A great weight has been lifted.

To add to my euphoria, it was a cool day, so much so that I didn't need to turn on the ceiling fan or pick up the spray bottle once.  That was a most pleasant change!  Michael and I made extra trips out to the porch just to enjoy the day.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Sound Track

As I've said before, there is music playing constantly in my head.  The last few days I've awakened to Mr. Rogers' theme song, "A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood," because it has been so fitting.  Clear blue, smoke-free sky overhead and cooler temperatures have been such a relief.

A good portion of the day has been spent watch the progress of the fire toward Lake Tahoe, feeling deep sympathy for those evacuees and firefighters.  I know this isn't the only fire devastating California, but the Caldor is in my home environs.

A 40-year retirement party was held on TV last evening for Lonnie Wong, a local news reporter.  I met Lonnie when he was a rookie covering some event at Cal State University and I was a student.  We happened to be at a table outside The Pub (great clam chowder) and got to talking.  I've followed him all these years, one of the staples of a local channel.  My, how time flies.

Missy, the little semi-feral outside cat, comes around every couple of days to chow down on food I put out for her.  She allows me a few pets and then gets down to business.  She was one of my worries when the fire was so close.

The fire left and my appetite came back.  I've developed a passion for bananas and grapes and they're on every list I've given my benefactor Florence.  (That's the cue for "Yes, We Have No Bananas.")  They'd last longer if I had any vestige of self-control.

Stay safe.  Be well.

More, Please

I can't say I'm a big fan of heat (high 90s), but I sure did appreciate the clear blue sky overhead all day yesterday.  Keep 'em coming!  I haven't seen the news yet today so I don't know how it's going up at Tahoe.  That should come to a screeching halt!  (As long as I'm issuing orders.)

There's not much new to report on the home front, and that's okay, too.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Good Tidings

Dave, one of my avid fire watchers, excitedly called early yesterday morning.  "Mom, there are no fires at all in your vicinity!"  I had already noticed that there was little to no smoke in the air for a change.  That, and Dave's news, finally allowed me to take a deep breath.  What a relief!

I scared myself silly in the afternoon.  I was in the kitchen and glanced out a window in the breakfast room.  Oh no!  I saw two patches of bright orange across the road on the hillside.  OMG, not only fire, but fire so close to home.  I thought, "Well, we're for it now."  Looking closer, the patches weren't moving.  Oh good grief, they were patches of sunlight, something I hadn't seen in a long time.

There's some smoke today, not bad, but there.  I'm going to hold onto the good thought.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Two Little Words

Two words are constantly on my mind and on my lips.  Just two words, sometimes said in rapid succession, sometimes aloud, sometimes alone and often to others.  I don't think I have ever meant Please and Thank you more heartfelt or sincerely.

Please keep us safe.  Please let the west wind blow.  Please let the power come back/stay on.  Please protect my family and friends.  I ask for a lot, and much has been granted.

Thank you for another day.  Thank you for my loved ones.  Thank you for Florence, my friend and provider.  Thank you for Michael and the cats.  Thank you for the firefighters who work in the midst of this terrible disaster.  Thank you for the huge favors granted and so much that cannot be named.

The smoke is better today (not good, but better).  Thank you.

Two more words.  Stay safe.  Be well.

Drip, Sniff, And Surprise

Wow, I thought the smoke was bad yesterday, and it was, but nothing like this morning.  I can't even see the edges of my property, let alone the hills.  Feelings on days like this are a mixed bag of relief and sorrow...relief because it is just smoke, sorrow because others are suffering the fear and devastation of the raging fires to the north.

Tissues were close at hand all day as eyes dripped and nose leaked.  It was even hard to take a deep breath.  I don't need a crystal ball to tell me today is going to be more of the same, or worse.

I was still at the computer in the morning when a car came up the drive.  Turned out to be two deputies who were patrolling in the event of looters (bastards!) and had seen my open door.  It gave me a chance to thank them for all they're doing.

Florence came in the afternoon on one of her mercy missions.  I'll never be able to thank her enough for bringing groceries and other needed supplies, plus it's grand to see my friend even for a short visit.  Not only did she bring necessities (which always includes bananas), she handed me a bag with a McDonald's burger and fries!  I can't count how many years it's been, and I shamelessly bit in, relishing every morsel.

I don't mind watching reruns on TV, but I could do without a repeat of smoke-filled air.  Drip.  Sniff.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Good Reason

Eight a.m.  I can't remember the last time I slept this late, but there's a good reason for it.  My neighbor Chuck, who did evacuate, called at 4 a.m. to see if his house was on fire.  Websites showed it might be.  After fumbling and stumbling around in the dark with my walker, I could finally answer that we were safe for the time being.  There is much less smoke here this morning, so I'm guessing the backburns they were setting worked.  I can never say enough good things about the fire crews, ground and air.  True heroes.

Well, let's see what today will bring.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Dull Is Dandy

Under the circumstances, an uneventful day is just fine.  What is shown on the news is very unsatisfactory regarding our area as the attention is now elsewhere, but in a way it's a case of 'no news is good news.'  It means we're not in imminent danger.  Yay.  The fire is raging up toward Kyburz and again, bless the firefighters.

A friend stopped by.  It was as I feared.  He and his wife did evacuate and are staying locally, but he is not allowed to go back to his house.  He has sneaked past by hiking up to check on things, but cannot drive up his road.  Florence and Dan must have done some smooth talking to come here.  The word is that the evac orders may not be lifted for a month.  Aarrgh.

One can live under sustained stress just so long, so a dull day was just fine with me.

Stay safe.  Be well.

No Kidding

It's been a rough week, no lie.  With all that others have gone through and lost so much, I feel pretty wimpy complaining of more days without power.  The silence and darkness just added to the fear of seeing more, closer smoke and waiting for flames to appear.  At one point the Caldor fire was just over the hills to the east, but thanks to the heroic efforts of ground and air crews, it was stopped.  Helicopter and planes worked well into the night, 11 p.m., to stop the spread.  Bless them one and all.

No power, no TV, no way of knowing where and what was happening.  It made me a crazy person.  The only way to recharge the cell phone was to sit in the truck for an hour.  Michael must have thought I'd gone batty as we sat with the engine running and not going anywhere.  Having disobeyed the mandatory evacuation order, I didn't think they'd let me back in if I left.  Florence, Dan, and Dave, my guardian angels, brought supplies   Don't laugh, bananas were high on the list.

It's great to have the computer back again.  It will be wonderful to have hot food.  Running water and flushing toilets are a luxury beyond words.  Michael and the cats were getting bottled water, courtesy of F&D.

As with life, there's no way to know what's going to happen next, but for the moment, we're here and safe.

Stay safe.  Be well,

Let There Be Light

These are dark days for California, and quite literally for Farview Farm.  The Caldor fire has wreaked havoc and devastation for so many.  On Tuesday, I had arranged for a housekeeper to come put a dent in just the living room; a trial run as it were.  That's about the time the smoke clouds were rising over the hills to the east.  There was no way of knowing where the fire was or which way it was going.  The irony did not escape me that I could be dust free and buried in ash.

Then the power went out.  Losing touch with the world was terrifying with no way of knowing where the fire was going/coming.  Believe me, ordinary days and nights without light or sound are very, very long.  About midnight on the second night, sheriff's deputies came through the area announcing mandatory evacuation orders.  After great consideration, I decided to stay put, but scared out of my wits.

The landline phone went out, but I had my cell and was able to stay in touch with family.  My brother-in-law Stan kept me informed on the fire's progress, telling me it was to the east and going north.  The town of Grizzly Flat has been destroyed.  I haven't seen the news yet today.

Power was restored yesterday afternoon.  The difference in attitude, the relief!  I'm back in touch with the world and happy to be here.

Stay safe.  Be well.  God bless the firefighters.

Two For Two

Dave decided to ignore my heat warning and came up anyhow, a tremendous, welcome surprise.  If I've missed anything during the pandemic, it's been my Kids.  Oh, we've kept in contact, but a text or call just aren't the same as a face-to-face visit.  Dave, always generous, arrived bearing gifts.  Some necessities, some luxuries, and a bag of deconstructed tacos.  In a recent conversation, I mentioned I had a craving for Taco Bell tacos...it's been years.  All the fixings were in the bag in little containers.  All I had to do last evening was put them together.  Yum!  KFC one night, Taco Bell tacos the next.  I'm living high on the hog here and shall become positively portly.

It was grand to spend the better part of the day with my son and really get caught up.  During our time together, I received a call from Larry, my Kid in Hawaii.  It was almost like a reunion.

Later in the day, Florence and her crew of goat wranglers came to pick up the girls.  With their departure, it is the end of Farview Farm as a real farm.  I think of all the animals and fowl I've had over the years, and I'm sad, but it's for the best.  All things in their own time.  Florence sent me photos of Sheila and Tessie's new home.  Beautiful manicured acreage and a barn that is the equivalent of the Taj Mahal.  They'll be happy there.

It was smoky yesterday, but nothing like today,  There are fires burning to the north and east of us, but I don't know yet how close.  Smoke is so thick now it hangs like a heavy fog.  I can barely see the hills across the way.  Scary times.

All in all, it was a Grade A day.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Burp!

Oh, excuse me!  That came out of nowhere, but should have been expected.  Florence and Dan stopped by in the late afternoon and brought dinner!  What a treat.  Lack of appetite has been an ongoing problem for some time, but you'd never have known it if you'd seen me tear into that box of KFC  All conversation came to a halt as I crunched and munched and wiped greasy fingers and mouth.  Omigosh, it was so good.  What I couldn't finish then kept calling my name later in the evening...nothing left but bones and empty containers now and I make no apologies.  A huge thank you to my friends.

Sheila and Tessie are scheduled to leave today.  Catching two goats in a large field is going to be quite a production.  I think the trick will be treats, and goats' natural curiosity.  I'll be sorry to see them go, but happy they're going to greener pastures.

Today is supposed to be the worst of the latest heat wave.before we get a break.  Dave thought he might come up, but I gave him the choice to opt out, as much as I want to see him.  It's not true that misery loves company.

I think I dreamed of fried chicken last night.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Do Not Disturb

With soaring temps, there's only one place you can find me... asleep in my chair.  Sleep is the only way I know how to escape.  Actually, don't worry about disturbing me because it's never a deep sleep and once a welcome phone call is over, sleep, like the heat, descends and I'm gone again.  Sure doesn't leave much blog fodder.

Arrangements have been made to rehome the girls.  All that remains is transport.  Their new place sounds heavenly, and they'll be joining a herd of 17 other goats.  They deserve this.  It has me thinking back to the day when it took me all of 10 miles to convince Steve that we needed to get a pair of goats, Lucy and Esther.  Little did I know what adventures lay in store.

Smoke from the northern fires blankets the hills and valley.  While not a good thing, it does provide some blockage from the direct rays of the sun, the worst of two evils.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Hell On Wheels

Florence and Dan sent an unexpected text that they were coming to visit in the afternoon.  Well, it would be grand to see them, but I was worried about sitting on the porch because the heat was soaring,  I needn't have worried.  When they got here, they simply said, "We're coming in."  Nobody has been in my house since the beginning of the pandemic, and it shows,.  Dust and cat fur abound.  My pride took a big hit and it was a hard pill to swallow, but friendship means more than neglected housework. The reason for their visit was to bring the loan of a wheeled walker.

The inability to walk is now the bane of my existence, and it's difficult to get from one end of the house to the other, let alone from the living room to the kitchen.  The walker has a seat so I can rest when I've made the trek from here to there.  Old age hits hard, but, hey, ya take help when it's offered.  I practically whizzed down the hall on a trial run after they'd left.  What a difference.

Florence fed and watered the goats, something I've had trouble with of late.  She's also going to try to rehome them.  It's time to let go, and Sheila and Tessie deserve better care than I've been able to provide.  It will be the end of an era, but the right thing to do.

In addition to the walker, my friends brought an assortment of goodies.  Believe it, I gorged on donut holes and ice-cold watermelon chunks later on.  The best part of the day was sitting together as we had in the old days, just two years ago.

The walker needs a horn so I can warn traffic of my approach.

It was a good day.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Fruit Du Jour

Breakfast: 1 banana.

Lunch:  2 peaches.

Dinner:  2 sliced tomatoes sprinkled with sugar and balsamic vinegar.

Bedtime snack:  1 banana.

See where this is going?   I'm approaching the fruit that will go soft first.  Today will definitely include the strawberries and a couple ears of corn while they're still crisp, but I've got my eye on that honeydew melon.

I don't plan on posting a daily menu, but I'm still in the thralls of all this bounty.

The smoke was so bad yesterday it was like perpetual twilight.  The sun was a dim orange ball that never broke through to shine.  The only good thing was that it was somewhat cooler.  Poor California.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Bonanza!

Did I say I craved fresh?  Well, I hit the mother lode of fresh!  Another call from Camille, another, "I'm going shopping.  What do you need?"  She told me where she planned on stopping on her way back from Sacramento and if I could have, I'd have danced a jig.  In summer, Hwy. Sixteen is a veritable farmers' market.  There is a particular strawberry stand renowned for the most perfect, big, sweet and juicy berries.  There's never a dud in a box.  Steve stopped there so often and we ate so many that we both ended up with a strawberry rash.  With much restraint I said, "Just one, please."  One must know one's limitations.

However, I lost it when Cam said she was also going to stop at Davis Ranch.  People come from far and wide to buy produce at Davis Ranch.  What began as a sweet corn stand has expanded and become a cornucopia of vegetables, all picked fresh daily.  I started by telling Camille, "Just four ears of corn, please," and then lost it.  "Oh, get me one or two of whatever looks good."

I'm going to overdose on fruit and vegetables.  Camille had also stopped again at the peach orchard, and bought a flat to split.  There were strawberries, a honeydew melon, red peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, yellow summer squash, sweet corn, of course, and right now I can't think what else.  It took several trips to get it all into the house.  This personal shopper business is great!

It was a good day.

Stay safe,  Be well.

Kindness

One of my biggest issues right now is walking, so I don't do much of that anymore.  Getting around the house is hard enough, and I was worried about getting the trash down to the big road.  Swallowing my pride, I finally asked a seldom-seen neighbor if he would consider swinging by on his way down and take my stuff with his.  "Consider it done," and he did and will.  Nice man.

What with one thing ad another, Camille and I don't talk often these days, and it's been ages since we've seen one another.  She called yesterday.  "I'm shopping at Costco.  What do you need?"  She was whizzing around in one of those electric carts, and I got a running commentary as she cruised the aisles.   There were only a few things I really needed, but anything fresh was high on the list, and bananas sounded good.

When she came by later, she'd also stopped at a local peach grower and she shared a couple of his renowned bounty.  (I traded her some yakisoba packets.)  The best part of this home delivery was that Cam had time to sit and have a long-overdue conversation.  Due to Covid, it's been ages since we've seen each other and it was so pleasant to sit on the porch and play catch up.

The first thing I did when she left was bite into one of those perfect peaches.  With juice running down my chin, all I could think of was my kind friends.

It was a good day.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Crime Doesn't Pay

It's more than a little alarming to find a notice in your mailbox announcing that the County Superior Court is going to issue a bench warrant for your arrest if certain actions are not taken within twenty days, even more so when you realize that the date mentioned is long past.  The notice was without an envelope so I can only think it was originally put in a neighbor's mailbox and they finally put it in mine.

This saga began back in April when I was pulled over and given a citation for out-of-date tags.  It was a fix-it ticket, but it was the first and only ticket I've ever received in all my years of driving.  The print was teeny-tiny and/or nearly illegible.  The only thing that was clear was smog needed.  No big deal, right?  I went on line to pay back fees, but found I couldn't until a smog check was performed.  Time was ticking, but these pesky health issues took over and everything got delayed.

Because of Truck's antiquity, my local shop couldn't perform the test, but they pointed me to a place down in town.  It took a while to get an appointment, and when I did, they opened the hood and said, "We can't do it.  A part is missing."  Aarrgh.  The locals could fix it, but they were booked for nearly two weeks.  When they finally replaced the part, they told me to drive it for awhile before the smog check.

There I was, driving around with out-of-date tags, a citation in my purse, and an appointment, at long last, for the necessary smog check.  As I wrote, Truck passed.  That was the same day I found the notice of intent to arrest.  It was last Friday, and I spent the weekend with visions of being hauled off in handcuffs, not a pretty sight.  Yesterday, Monday, I finally got fees and penalties paid and can breathe a sigh of relief.

Take my word for it, crime does not pay.

Stay safe,.  Be well.

Holding My Breath

Good old Truck.  Good old reliable Truck.   At twenty-three years old, things can get iffy and I had to take him in for a smog check.  'Please let him pass.  Please let him pass.' kept going through my mind.  Finally the nice man came back into the office, sat down, didn't say anything at first and then, "It's done.  You're all good,"  Whew! and I could breathe again.  Even  the man said he'd been worried.  We high-tailed it out of there like they could change their mind.

Later at home, Michael and I were just sitting, trying to cope with the heat, when he lifted his head.  That's about all he does to show interest.  I followed his gaze and there was a buck grazing on the marjoram in the front garden.  Not just any buck, this boy had a four-point, three foot tall rack.  I mean big!  You don't see something like that every day and it literally had me holding my breath.  Wow!

I'd call it a good day.

Stay safe.  Be well.

How Dey Doo Dat?

The most amazing thing is happening.  I'll switch to a program I want to watch and a notice from my network provider will come on asking if I'd like to skip commercials.  Would I like to skip commercials, the bane of my life?  You betcha!  And it works!  How in the world do they do that?  It doesn't come up every time, so I don't know what the criteria are, but I'm all for it when it does.  Ain't technology grand?

Stay safe.  Be well.

Count Me In

I admit it.  When Michael came here to live, I unabashedly tried to to buy his affection.  It was milk-bone biscuits for any and all occasions.  Go outside, go potty, come back in and get a 'good boy' treat; in fact, get two.  Go for a ride in Truck, get two treats...always two.  It started with some medium size bones left over from Bessie Anne, but then I realized Michael was getting perhaps more treats per day than were good for him.  However, by then the precedent had been set and we all know how Michael thrives on routine.  Okay, we went to a smaller biscuit, two at a time.  He crunches up one, and then stands, glancing at the pocket where treats are kept, waiting for number two.  Any hesitation on my part and I get The Look. Okay, fine...and I produce the second.  Michael is happy and goes on about his business.  We're down to mini-mini size milk-bones now.  It isn't the size, it's the number.  Don't tell me dogs can't count.  And Michael is such a good boy.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Rambling

There have been times in my life when things became so overwhelming that I figuratively pulled the covers over my head and 'dropped out' for awhile.  The Vietnam War was one of those times.  I read and watched everything in the news until I couldn't stand it.  I couldn't do anything about it so I quit watching, reading, and listening and devoted my energies to my family and friends.

When the pandemic began, I watched in horror as the death toll rose...and rose...and rose.  Seeing refrigerated trucks outside of overfllled hospital morgues brought me to tears.  I'm aware we are experiencing another surge, but I don't keep a daily tally now.  I can't.

January Sixth was a day of infamy, something out of a political nightmare.  I was glued to the television for hours every day, trying to make sense of the mayhem brought by Americans against their own.  I couldn't.  I still can't.  Now I stick to local news once a day in the morning, period.

I'm learning to cope with the changes in my life that age and illness have wrought.  It seems the only thing I'm responsible for now is my attitude.  It needs a major overhaul, and I'm working on it.

Michael is snoring in the doorway, Celeste is off somewhere crooning to her piggies, and Ralph is lightly patting my shoulder for attention.  All's right in my world.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Pause

I'm dealing with some health issues that are of no interest, and not much is happening at Farview Farm right now, anyhow.  I am taking a break from writing on a regular basis, but if anything good happens, you'll be the first to know.  In the meantime...

Stay safe.  Be well

Different

Michael is...come on, go with me here...a horse of a different color.  I've had any number of dogs in my lifetime.  All good, well-behaved dogs, each with a distinct personality.  Michael is in a class all his own, and living with him has taken some getting used to.  I don't know if it is the  training he received to be come an ESA (Emotional Support Animal) or his own reserved nature.  He seems to have no interest in anything but me.  Oh, he'll lift his head at a new sound or a car driving up, but that's it.  He seems perfectly happy to walk at my slow pace, and never, ever pulls on the leash.  If I've had to leave home without him (which I try not to do), he doesn't rush to greet me on my return.  "Oh, you''re back," and goes back to sleep.  He likes people, walking like royalty among his subjects, but doesn't seem to require the attention.  When I get a small lick on the hand, I feel like I've been given the Academy Award, and my heart swells when he comes for a butt scrub or a head rub...it's not often.

Michael came to me at exactly the right time in my life.  I didn't think I wanted or needed another dog.  I hope I fill whatever needs he has, as he has mine.  We're a good pair.  We're just different.

I'm happy to say that this morning is much cooler.  We're oh so ready for a break.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Wicked

After a week of soaring temperatures, I have a lot in common with the Wicked Witch of the West (besides attitude), in that "I'm melting!"  This sustained high heat really takes the starch out of a gal.  The spray bottle and ceiling fan have been my lifelines, and I am ever so grateful that we've retained power.  Nothing has gotten done, and I mean nothing.  Were it not for Michael, I'd probably have never left my chair.  I do take him out in the afternoon to try to cool him off with cool water from the hose.  The cats spend the day downstairs where it's a bit cooler, only coming up after dark.  It's been wicked.

Nothing happening, nothing to write about.

Stay safe.  Stay cool.  Be well.

I Need A Keeper

Evidently I need a keeper, and Ralph has assigned himself in Charge of Sleep.   In addition to his duties as Nighttime Cuddler and Reveille Caller, he now has the added responsibility of determining when it's time to go to bed.  His internal clock is better than mine.  And how does he make the bedtime announcement?  At the self-determined hour, he jumps up on my lap and proceeds to march back and forth across my legs until I'm driven to distraction.  "Alright, alright!  We'll go to bed!"  Satisfied that he's done his duty, he then leads our small parade down the hall to the bedroom.  Go figure.  Ralph keeps me in line...and laughing.

I had nightmares about going to the lab yesterday after the debacle with the firetrucks, etc., last time, but one does what one must.  This visit went off without a hitch, and riding in the air-conditioned truck was a respite from this gawdawful heat.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Whole Lotta Shakin'

 Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On, Jerry Lee Lewis, 1957.

Michael and I were sitting on the porch at 3:50 yesterday afternoon when we felt it.  The house groaned and shook and I could hear glassware tinkling inside.  Michael just lifted his head.  Yup, that's an earthquake.  Down in the valley they were not uncommon, but pretty rare up here.  I waited, but didn't feel any aftershocks.  Then I got a text from my friend in Fiddletown who said she thought her propane tank had exploded.  She's south of me and, according to the news, the quake was felt more farther to the south.  A little later, Deb called, saying she felt it down in Woodland, over seventy miles away.  Holy Toledo, it was a big one.  Watching the news, they said there were at least forty 'shifts' in the earth over in Nevada!  From the last I heard, there have been no fatalities and little damage other than rock slides on the roads.  Californians take quakes pretty much in stride, but outlanders get pretty shaken by the shaking.  Having seen what damage these tremors can cause, I'd say we lucked out with this one.  Makes for interesting conversations, though.

Stay safe.  Be well.