Bean Bag Blues

Here it is toward the end of May and I'm back in the puffy jacket and heating the bean bag again.  It's cold!!  There were reports of snow just up the road a piece.  What's up with that?  Michael and I didn't dawdle on our outings because of the icy wind.  Even in the sunshine, when there was sunshine, had no warmth.  Talk about unpredictable.

A word about medication.  I really appreciate my insurance.  One prescription would be nearly $500!!  As it is, I'm in the $50 range.  Good grief!  Who's getting the profit here?  'Nuff said.

Ah well.  Things to do, places to go.  Drat.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Taking The Lead

Michael was his usual noncommittal self when I opened his package yesterday.  I was pretty excited, though, to find an extra-long lead or leash, what I know as a longe line.  What he does not realize yet is that his Cousin Sandy had sent both he and I a measure of freedom.  It means I can loop the lead over a post and Michael can do Michael things while I can get a start on the weeds in the front garden.  He will not be exiled to the house and I will not go into guilt overload.  Of course, now I've lost my excuse to just watch the weeds grow.

Michael came to me as a support dog.  I didn't think I needed one. As I said, it turns out I do.  I hate to go anywhere without him now, even out the front door.  After double-checking, he accompanies me to doctor appointments and to Walmaet.  He isn't permitted at the local (only ten miles away) grocery store, so I just don't go there much anymore.  Serves 'em right.

A pretty chill wind was blowing yesterday so we did not give the lead a trial run.  It was enough to dig out the puffy jacket again.  Nature is having one of her pendulum mood swings with tank top to turtleneck weather.  Knowing what the summer will bring, I'm not complaining.

Truck is going to the shop today to get his A/C fixed and have a well-baby checkup.  Whoop whoop.

Stay safe.  Be well.  (And thanks, Sandy.)

Mail Call

We just got back from taking the trash down to the big road (fell asleep yesterday and didn't make the run).  It's a good thing I wake up early because the big truck makes our stop at 5 a.m., and he's punctual.  Michael thought I'd flipped my lid when we went out into the dark, but he's a pretty much go-with-the-flow kind of guy.  I took the opportunity to pick up the mail, which I certainly do not do every day.  Almost all I get is junk mail and bills, and I'm in no hurry for either, so it was a surprise to find a small package in the mailbox today.  An even greater surprise was that it is addressed to Michael.  I'm used to "How are you...and how is Michael" in a conversation, so it shouldn't come as a shock that he is now getting fan mail.  The postmistress must think I've taken in a gentleman...at least related.  I'm waiting, and making Michael wait, until daylight to see what he's been given this time.  Nice way to start the day.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Coming Attractions

Looks like the grape harvest is going to be a bumper crop this year.  We'll see if I get to enjoy any before the birds and squirrels get them all as they have in years past.  These are seedless Red Globes.  There is another vine on the other corner of the now-delapidated garden fence that is a Thompson seedless.  My two vines seem kind of dinky when I'm surrounded by acres of vineyards.  To each her own.

Yesterday's visit to Vampire Hall (there are those bats again) went well, trip to town notwithstanding.  I did ask about bringing Michael with me and got an iffy answer.  On reflection, I've decided that's not such a good idea.  I hate to leave him home, and have realized he is not just a support dog, he's my support dog and I didn't even realize I needed one.  These are outings he wouldn't enjoy, but I do miss my constant companion.  He makes leaving the house so much easier when we go together.

Stay safe.  Be well..

Just A Word

The bat house.  All it needs is to be hung, and possibly painted with a Welcome sign (no, bats can't read and it might scare them).

I want to say a word or two about my friend Florence.  We've been friends for lo, these many years now and her skills never fail to impress.

Back in the dawn of our friendship, we were both single.  I had moved into a condo with a large, unfinished backyard.  Florence took one look and said, "You need a deck," and started the search for materials.  Like the bat house, Florence found and used recycled scrap lumber and built the perfect addition.  No plans, no instructions, just Ta Da!  She invited me up to her cabin in Hayfork.  I knew she had built it herself, and didn't know what to expect.  What I found was a charming two-story rustic cabin with as many amenities as the remote area would allow.  Simply amazing.

Florence is in the process now of building a greenhouse and somehow got sidetracked into bat houses, probably because of excess scrap lumber.  With Florence, nothing goes to waste.  I was happy to contribute a little when I had my deck replaced.  As in The Field Of Dreams  (1980, Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones), "If you build it, they will come."  In this case, if you need it, Florence will build it.

Another trip to town today.  Evidently this is to be a weekly event for awhile.  Aarrgh.

Stay safe.  Be well.

California Gold

Strewn like handsful of gold coins across the property, pockets of California poppies have popped up everywhere.  These are in the weeds out by the 'garden,' now defunct.  The dreaded foxtails have put out their wicked seed heads already.  Were it not for the flowers, Helper Dude would have whacked the weeds down, but he knows better.  Out of the pounds and pounds of wildflower seeds I've strewn over the years, the poppies are the only ones to survive.  Oh well, it's a case of 'take what you get and be glad that you got 'em.'

Yesterday was my day for celebration, beginning with my daughter's annual and traditional rendition of Happy Birthday, guaranteed to start the day with a smile.  Clay called later in the day from New Hampshire, where he'd gone to watch the NASCAR race, and I heard from my other sons via texts, even from Hawaii.  I heard from my niece, also in New Hampshire, and had a lengthy conversation with a  great-nephew, her son, in Massachusetts.

In the afternoon, Florence and Dan said they'd be stopping by, a welcome visit.  When they arrived, Florence brought out one of her latest creations...a bat house!  I am thrilled, and it's a timely gift.  I've had an affinity for bats ever since I was a little girl and my parents took me on a trip to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, where we watched the swirling funnel cloud of bats streaming from and returning to the cavern twice a day.  This was long before the cavern was open to the public, and it was as it had been in the beginning.  It's the start of mosquito season here, and the bats won't be far behind.  The thought of having a sanctuary for the furry, leather-winged creatures right here is grand.  Dan and I engaged in one of those 'remember back in the day' conversations (Florence is the baby in our group), beginning with the old wooden box-style telephones that hung on the wall and rolled on from there.  They'll be back next week to hang the bat house on the barn wall.  I am excited!

It was a better-than-good day.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Time Out

Lately I've been reminded of my dad, who, when asked, "How are you?," would launch into a detailed description of what he considered his current health (he was fine).  "Daddy, people don't really want to know everything.  It's a courtesy question."  "What am I supposed to say then?"  "Well, just say you're fine."   At the next social encounter and in response to the obligatory question, he spoke right up, "I'm fine.  That's a lie, but she made me say it."  I've had some health issues lately that are not worth going into and so took a few days' time out away from the blog.  I need to get back into the swing of things and will try harder.

Nature flipped a switch early this year and we went from pleasant to hot in a day, from heated bean bag to open doors and ceiling fan in the blink of an eye.  I sure am glad I had the screens replaced when I did; perfect timing for a change.  On our last trip to town I discovered that the A/C in the truck wasn't working, and have an appointment next week to get that fixed.  (Didn't I do that last year?)  Michael and I choose the timing of our walks carefully depending on where the sun is.  Those weeds that have shot up are already turning brown.  I think it's going to be one of those years.

I haven't got a picture yet, but one of the double peonies opened up yesterday.  Gosh, they're such pretty, pretty flowers.  I have my daughter and Craig to thank for these.

I have a lot of trips to town in my future, but today is a time out and I'm darned well going to enjoy it!

Stay safe.  Be well.