Toot Toot!

Yesterday was a day of accomplishments.  In the morning I usually make a list of what needs to be done on any given day, and I consider it a good day if I can cross off one by dark.  Yesterday, I got everything on the list done, and then went over the top and did more.  How did that happen?!  Probably because I turned off the news and tuned in to some '50s-60's music...the music of my era.  I remember cruising Colorado Blvd. and learning/practicing new dance steps with girlfriends, starting with Bill Hayley and the Comets playing Rock Around The Clock.  Good times with good people.

I may try it again today.  Or not.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Drat!

As much as I hate to and as much as it goes against my grain, I'm going to have to ask for help from the computer nerds (and I mean that in a good way).  On our afternoon walk yesterday, the sun was hitting the hill across the road in a spectacular way, highlighting the golds and shades of green, and I really wanted to share that view.  I got a great shot and sent it to the computer, and that's where everything came to a screeching halt.  Ever since the last "update," I simply cannot figure out how to share a photo to the blog.  It either gets deleted or sent off to some never-neverland, never to be seen again.  It's maddening!  You'll have to take my word, it was a picture worth sharing.  This place isn't called Farview for nothing; there are daily photo-ops and I've taken literally hundreds and hundreds of shots.  I'd like to share pictures of Michael now that he's grown back his beautiful thick coat after his self-created summer butch-haircut.  Yeah, good luck with that.  Drat!

Remember once upon a time when I said I wasn't going to share a meal with Michael?  He knows me better than I know myself, and has me well trained.  Whenever I bring in a plate or bowl for a meal or snack, Michael appears from nowhere, sometimes from a deep sleep.  "What are we having today?" (emphasis on we).  "Why, yes, I do like Cheerios, and that yam is pretty tasty, too.  I'll have another bite, please."  Michael is nothing if not well mannered.  The one reject is carrots, neither cooked nor raw.  He's very polite and doesn't refuse the offer, but I find the pieces later tucked under his blanket.  Everyone to his own taste.

We are having a spell of absolutely perfect fall weather.  Remind me of this when we're in the depths of winter.

Guess what I'm hearing right now...a flock of geese just flew over, headed south for the season.  What a terrific sight.  I'd take a picture, but no.  Drat.

Stay safe.  Be well.

What's Left?

I discovered the antidote to Thursday's pity party.  What remains after a big Thanksgiving dinner?  What do you send  home with every guest?  Leftovers!  On Thursday, I would have cried in my gravy if I'd heated that TV dinner.  Yesterday, I plunked it in the microwave and hoped for the best.  Well, it was great!  It was just like having a plate of leftovers, which I would have eaten alone after Thanksgiving anyhow.  I'm not above playing tricks on my mind, especially when they have such a good outcome.  I might add that TV dinners have come a long way from those I remember from the '50s.  This one was actually delicious.

More leftovers came my way in the afternoon.  Cameron's church had held a big food drive, planning to serve those in need in the area.  Down in the valley, the news has been showing miles of cars and maybe thousands of people waiting in line for donated food, and the church wanted to help the community up here.  For whatever reason, not many showed up, and many well-packed boxes of nonperishable food were left.  Cameron and his friends were driving around, giving to those they thought could use it.  Cameron is aware of my aversion to shopping, and he thought of me.  We talked a bit while I thanked him, and he was off and away.  Omigosh, the box wasn't big, but so heavy I had to drag it into the house, packed with rice and pasta, cans of sauces, beans and soups, even canned fruit.  I hope Cameron knows that nothing will go to waste.

It was a good day.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Big Baby

I hate to admit it, but I fell into a blue funk full of the poor-pitiful-me's yesterday.  I had thought the turkey TV dinner would give some sense of the holiday, but couldn't bring myself to heat it.  It would have been a sham at best.  I took refuge in my usual way...I slept, waking up to take Michael out.  I don't plan these somnolent events, but they're my way of coping.  That's what big babies do.

If nothing else, I'm well rested today.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Different

Almost 7 a.m. and here I sit at the computer.  On any other Thanksgiving in the past, the turkey, stuffed to the gills, would already be in the oven and I'd be moving on to other traditional dishes.  Three kinds of homemade cranberry sauce would have been made yesterday, and that's not counting the canned cranberry jelly that Craig always wanted.  Last year we broke the norm with KFC.  That was okay because we were all together.

This year is different.  No hugs, no kisses, no Kids, and that's because the love for each other is there.  They live out in the world and I do not, but no one is safe from the virus and none of us could bear to be the source of infection.  I had very satisfying calls from Deb and Dave yesterday.  It wasn't the same, but the sound of their voices was like touching their hands.  It will have to do.

TV dinners originated in 1953.  They were all the rage back then, and everybody had TV trays so we didn't have to miss an episode of 'The Life Of Riley' (William Bendix), Milton Berle, or 'Amos And Andy.'  I haven't had a TV dinner in decades, probably not since the '50s, but I'm having one today.  I sure wasn't going to roast a turkey just for me, but it's my nod to the holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  It will be different, but the tradition will go on.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Not One Thing

It was another beautiful morning.  Lately I've been a little wary as we walk out, wondering if the legs could make it the long way around or if we'd need to take a shortcut.  Yesterday I rejoiced, and I'm sure Michael did, too, as we made the full circuit.  We were on the home stretch when Michael wanted to make a little side trip down to the chickenless pen.  The fallen leaves are about ankle deep on the slope, but we were going slow, crunching as we went.  I'm guessing it was one of those hidden slender, twiggy bits that tripped me up and I went down for a three-point landing...two knees and a nose.  I think they call that a faceplant.  Michael was appropriately concerned at my unusual behavior.  Getting up is always a struggle these days, but I made it and we went to the house, me back to hobbling, without further delay.  The nose isn't broken, but swollen.  I look like I'd gone a round or two with Primo Carnera or Max Baer (champion boxers from the '30s).

If it's not one thing, it's another.

Stay safe.  Be well.

On The Mend

I once worked for a doctor who, when asked if he needed anything, invariably answered, "Time and a kind word."  That would be me, although I will say that I need a little more time than I used to these days.  I might add that I have appreciated the kind words, but find it funny that the word 'stubborn' seemed to work its way into every conversation.  I don't know where people get that impression; couldn't be farther from the truth, trust me.

Since I'm not quite ready to jump on a trampoline, not much got done yesterday but the essentials.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Time And Motion

I'm not going to be leaving a dust trail or set any records for speed, but given enough time, I'm at least back in motion.  Michael walks at a sedate pace, so he doesn't seem to mind that we walk in first gear (you'd have to remember stick-shift cars to get that one).  It gives him time to survey his territory, pick the best piddle spots, and bury acorns.  While he may look askance at my current hunched-over posture, he has the decency not to laugh as we creep along.  Regardless, we get the job done.  I have high hopes for today.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Time Out

It was one of those days when the mind says, "Yes, you can," and the body replies, "Just try it!"  Michael got short shrift with a few brief walks because I was pretty much chair-bound.  He showed his pique last night by sleeping in the other bedroom.  Who says dogs can't communicate?   The cats were quick to take advantage of my sedentary situation by forming one furry lump in my lap for the duration.

I'm hoping a one-day time out was enough.  Things to do, and fortunately no place to go.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Not Too Bad

As far as these things go, the trip to town yesterday was not too bad.  Having put it off as long as possible, I would have had to go, regardless.  The cold snap we had caused the trees along the roads to change into their fall finery...flaming reds, polished golds, and a hundred shades of green.  Every curve and hill in the road brought another spectacular scene, and the traffic wasn't too bad, either.

Our first stop was at the far end of town, not Michael's favorite watering hole because there are no shrubs or bushes, but he made do.  He never met a post he didn't like.  To get to Wally World, we had to get on the freeway and go through P'ville to the west.  I'll never understand why P'ville bothered to put up 40 mph signs through town because no one (but me) pays attention.  I think people see the Hwy. 50 signs and take that as the speed limit, and push that, even then.

I had a bit of shopping to do at Wally World and as we cruised the aisles, I found myself humming "Star Of The Show" (Thomas Rhett, 2016).  If Michael could wave, it would be like those of the reserved Queen of England as he receives praise and accolades from his fans, young and old.  A girl with Down syndrome spent a good while gently petting and loving on him.  He was equally gentle with her.

Done with shopping at last and eager to make our getaway, I trundled the cart out to the truck, and waited while a gentleman pulled into the parking spot next to mine.  He got out of his car and said, "May I unload that for you?"  "Well, maybe just that bag of cat food, if you have time."  (Why do they keep adding 'bonus' pounds?  I'm looking for something I can lift!)  Nice Man insisted on packing everything into the truck, keeping up a humorous chatter all the while.  There are good people in the world.

One more brief stop, then it was back through the woods.  Michael understands, "Let's go home!"

All in all, for a trip to town, I can honestly say it was not too bad.

Stay safe.  Be well.

What Are You Doing?

We did, indeed, get a break yesterday and had beautiful, warm(ish) weather for our walks.  Michael, without meaning to be, is such a funny, quirky dog.  It's perfectly normal for him to stop and sniff any recent scat on the drive, be it rabbit, deer, possibly coyote, or, heaven help us, some nighttime traveling dog.  I'm used to these pauses, but lately, on the nice days, he is making a different kind of stop.  I'd see him nosing the ground, scuffling the dirt around.  "What are you doing, Michael?"  I finally realized he's burying acorns.  Is he part squirrel or a conservationist?  There are a ton of dropped acorns so our outings take a little longer now.  Being Michael, he is selective and only picks special ones to save.  Go figure.

I mentioned that I've started watching reruns of NYPD Blue.  It started in the '90s. I watched the series then and it's like seeing old friends now.  It's fun to see a very young Nicholas Turturro as a rookie detective.  He has risen through the ranks and today is a sergeant on Blue Bloods, mentoring other newbies.  Nice to see he stayed with the force.

I'm trying to get the Kids to tell me how they're going to spend Thanksgiving, thinking we could share the holiday vicariously.  Clay says he's probably going to spend the day napping, and Dave went off on a riff about fast-food restaurants.  I long for the good old days.

Stay safe.  Be well.

About Time

I'm going to blame it on Michael.  He has lousy timing, for sure.  Either that, or Nature was getting her kicks yesterday.  Every single time he asked to go out, the rain would have stopped or lessened.  Okay, jacket, hat, gloves, leash, and out we'd go.  Every single time as soon as we stepped off the porch, Nature turned on the shower and we'd get soaked.  Michael had needs, so it wasn't like we could turn around, go back in the house and wait it out.  He may have a favorite spot for the big job, but a piddle place is more like a treasure hunt.  Here?  No.  Okay, maybe over here.  No.  And it's not like one hike of the leg will do.  Michael is an equal-opportunity dog with an endless supply and he shares the wealth here, there, and everywhere.  I was running out of jackets and the living room was draped with those waiting to dry by the time he called it quits for the day.  Michael rather liked the massage he'd get with a towel when we'd come in.  For him, that was pleasure.  For me, it was a necessity.  His very thick fur holds water like a sponge and would soak carpet and his bed(s) and blankets.

From what I can see of the sky this morning, it looks like we might get a break from the rain today...or maybe it's just waiting until we go for a walk.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Snake In The Grass

Well, that was interesting.  We were on our first walk of the day and nearing Michael's favorite big-business site.  He was looking for just the right spot and I was looking for treacherous squirrel holes when a three-foot snake claimed the right of way and slithered past, headed for a patch of tall weeds.  Fortunately, I am not afraid of snakes and I'm not sure Michael even saw it.  I'd been able to see the head and will admit I was relieved that it was narrow and rounded and not diamond shaped so I knew it was not venomous.  The coloring told me it was a common garter snake, and they are welcome in my yard.  This guy (an assumption because I can't tell male from female) was close to three feet long, so I guess he's been around for a while.  It's just rare to see them.

That hellacious wind of the night died down shortly after sunrise, and it seems all trees are intact.  It wasn't even very cold.  Clouds were big and puffy until early afternoon, when they got organized and the rain began.  This was serious rain, but on the steady, gentle side, not a deluge, and very welcome.  Hopefully, it will put an end to fire season.

After dark, the fun began.  With the first soaked ground, the big, bumbling rain beetles emerged to bang against the windows.  There are a lot of them this year.  The bugs would hit the glass from the outside and Ralph nearly lost it while he would bat at them from inside.  He evidently thought we were under attack and would be our protector.

It was quite a day, start to finish.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Yesterday And Today

Yesterday was such a pleasant day.  The weather was as nice as it's been since the chill hit.  I didn't need my puffy jacket in the afternoon and even left the front door open.  Michael asked to go outside, but not for serious business.  He just wanted to lie on the front porch and soak in the sunshine.  I was happy to comply.

We made a quick trip up to Gray's Corner.  There's something about Michael that draws people to him, and thus to me.  "May I pet your dog?"  "What kind of dog is he?," etc., etc., and then they will inevitably tell me about their dog or dogs they've had.  A gentleman yesterday was close to tears as he told me about Thelma and Louise (another film reference), his long-haired doxies who had died.  We agreed that as hard as it is to lose a dog, it's harder to live without one.  Michael likes to go to Gray's corner.  Not only does he get attention, they have a nice selection of shrubbery.

And then there's today.  A howling wind blew in during the night and it's still going full bore.  No rain yet, but it's been predicted, and I believe them.  A flock of nine turkeys hung out here all day yesterday.  I doubt I'll see hide nor hair (or feather) of them today.

Ralph is such a brat.  Celeste, like Michael, like to sleep in of a morning.  Ralph, like me, gets up early.  He roams around alone in the dark for a bit, but gets bored with his own company and starts to pick on Celeste.  She wakes up cranky and a cat fight ensues.  She chases him through the house and gives him what-for, then she goes back to sleep and he starts to pester me.  And a good morning to you, too.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Update

The computer did another update this morning.  I have yet to find out what pitfalls and traps await, but I'm sure they're there, they always are.

Being Sunday, and no football games with either Steelers or Vikings, I binge-watched episodes of 'The West Wing.'  This was a series that ran from 1999 to 2006 (Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Allison Janney), but it could have been taken from yesterday's news, given that 'The West Wing' had Democrats in office at that time.  The corollary to my statement that change is inevitable is that 'the more things change, the more they stay the same.'  World problems twenty years ago could have been taken from today's headlines; we were fighting the same enemies then that we are now.  Missile threats were happening then, too.  There was, however, a respect and dignity that is sadly missing today.  It's an old series worth watching.

Not so long ago, Michael and I would head out the door hoping for a cool breeze on a hot day.  Now we both look for patches of sunlight to warm us, and I don't take a breather at the picnic table in the shade.  Today's chore will be to bring more firewood to the porch.  Stove always reminds me of the voracious flower in 'Little Shop Of Horrors' (1986, Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Steve Martin), bellowing, "FEED ME!"  Everything at Farview demands to be fed.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Adapting

Michael is having as much trouble adapting to the time change as I am.  He seems to run on clock time rather than the position of the sun.  We go out several times a day, but now he asks to go out after dark, too.  I don't do well walking in the dark, so he's limited to the area where the porch light reaches.  It's also pretty darned cold, so we don't stay out long.  He seems to be okay with that, thank goodness.

The virus is causing all kinds of lifestyle changes.  I'm not looking forward to the holidays this year.  All family gatherings have been postponed for the duration.  I'm trying to decide whether to go down to town for KFC for a reprise of last Thanksgiving, or to get a TV dinner and save myself the trip.  Porch visits, rare as they are, have become the new norm, but when the real rainy weather gets here, those will also come to an end.

I've said for years that the only thing we can count on is change.  It's up to us to accept and adapt.  I'm trying.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Freaky Friday

(Freaky Friday, 2003, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan.)  I'd rather use 'Freaky Friday' instead of 'Friday the Thirteenth' as a reference film because nothing gory happened yesterday, it was just weird.

I was going about my morning computer routine:  write the blog, check FB, play a few games of solitaire until it's light out.  I'd just posted yesterday's entry and was moving on when, blink!, the power went out.  Oh great.  With trusty flashlight in hand, I went to call PG&E.  "We are aware of your outage and power has been restored."  Umm, no.  I called back and worked my way through the robo-buttons until I was connected to a real live person.  The nice lady gave me the same info and I assured her that I was still sitting in the dark.  "Hmm, let me check a little further."  She was a little embarrassed when she came back and told me that 718 houses were affected (in the dark) and that the problem should be fixed in about 3 hours.  That put the kibosh on whatever plans I might have had for the morning.

Cat on lap, we watched the sun struggle to rise behind a bank of black clouds over the mountains in the east.  About the time power was restored, we gained full sunshine.  Then Nature pulled her routine and moved the clouds overhead and a cold, drizzly rain began.  Michael needed his walk, regardless, so we went out.  We didn't stay out long.  I brought in firewood and put Stove to work.

Oh well, what did I expect on Friday the 13th?

Stay safe.  Be well.

Pity

I feel very sorry for the next people to live at Farview Farm if they have not used a wood stove.  It's not like flipping a switch or turning a dial, and it's not like a fireplace.  It takes planning and time.  For starters, there are two doors.  The one in front has a glass insert; that's to watch the fire and to reach in to get the creosote out of the cold chimney after a sweep.  It's too small to insert wood.  That's for the second door on the side, easy peasy, given the logs are the right length and chunks are not too big, and to shovel out the ashes.  There are two vents on the side, both of which must be opened before starting a fire.  The bottom one stays open, but the top one gets closed when the blaze is going, don't forget or there's the possibility of a chimney fire...not good!  If Stove is cranky and slow to light, there's a little door in front for a tray for ashes that fall through the grate that will darn near guarantee to get him started.  Don't leave that one open, either.  There is a little knob on the side to adjust the blaze.  I got it set after some trial and error and have never needed to turn it again.

I find that a few pieces of kindling on the bottom, then maybe a piece or two of pine if I have any, topped with three oak logs is the recipe for success.  An all-pine fire will build up creosote faster than you can say Jack Robinson.  Then comes the waiting.  Don't leave the room.  There is a magnetic temperature gauge on the chimney that must be watched.  It needs to get up to 300-degrees (takes awhile), but never go over 600.  Six hundred is the danger level and calls for an immediate shutdown.  Three hundred, great, then shut the top vent and you're good to go about the business of the day or are set for the evening...or until you need to add more wood.  If more wood is needed, be sure to open the top side vent again before opening the door, then shut it when the deed is done.  Very important.

Yes, I pity the newcomers to wood-stove heat.  It's a process.  When I finish on the computer this morning, I will spend a little time heating the living room again.  It's another cold day.  (Yes, sometimes I dream of thermostats.)

Stay safe.  Be well.

Supervisors

The cats are in charge.  They make sure I get my morning workout...every single day!  As I've said, by some cat magic Ralph and Celeste become 50-lb, immovable objects when they come to bed.  I sleep on my right side and both felines curl up in the curve behind my knees.  Michael is over on his pillow.  None of us moves during the night, that's the agreement, the pact, and it works.  The thing is, I wake up before any of the others.  Just turning over is hard enough because those two furry boulders will not move!  The contortions I have to go through to get my legs out from the covers would make a saint cuss.  Yelling doesn't help...I've tried that.  No, I struggle my way out with my knees to my chin, and end up laughing.  My supervisors make sure I get my exercise and start every day with a smile.  Once I'm up and at the computer, their work is done and they both go out to the kitchen for breakfast.  Aaargh!

Stay safe.  Be well.

More Of The Same

It's cold, just about the same as yesterday.  I'm slurping down my coffee in the hope of drinking the mug before it gets cool.  Hot coffee on a cold dark morning is my way to start the day.  Not much I can do for frigid fingers.  When I get out of bed, Michael moves over to my spot, I'm guessing to get whatever residual warmth I might have left.  He is not a snuggler like the cats.

It's getting to be a regular sight these days.  Another deer in/by the chickenless pen yesterday.  This was a forked-horn nonchalantly strolling, stopped to check us out, and then did that sort of rabbit-hop bounding thing when he left.  Michael just takes it in stride.

He does get minimally excited on trash day.  He knows he's going for a ride.  I don't know why he reacts this way because he never rides up front.  As soon as he's in the truck, he gets behind the seats and lies down.  Every other dog I've had wanted to sit up front and see what's going on.  Not Michael.

Since I go grocery shopping only once or twice a month, I buy as many fresh vegetables as I think I can eat before they wilt or go bad.  I get so hungry for vegetables.  Last night's dinner was homemade egg foo young...nummy, and there's always enough for two meals.  There's an eggplant waiting for next time.  I never fix eggplant without thinking of my son-in-law, Craig.  He also loves them.  My daughter absolutely hates the purple globes, but it's a sign of her devotion that she fixes them for her husband.  (I don't know what she eats on those nights, but it sure ain't eggplant!)

I did not light Stove yesterday, but made do with a cozy lap robe, the heated beanbag, and two cats.  The problem is that when I get warm, I fall asleep.  Thank goodness for the DVR so I can go back and check on what I missed.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Another Day

Well, heck!  I took a photo of last evening's most beautiful sunset to share, but the computer gods won't let me.  I hate it when they take a process that had been so easy and make it impossible.  Take my word for it, the sky was stunning.

We're up to almost 30 outside this morning and a balmy 48 in the house.  That's because I broke down and lit a fire yesterday.  I knew I had to when I could no longer feel my face or fingers.  One of my sons chastised me soundly in a text when I mentioned that I was thinking about putting Stove back in service, but didn't want to deplete the woodpile.  "Light the blankety-blank fire, Mom!"  Given such orders, I'm gonna do it again today.

I'm still getting used to the new/old Standard Time.  Six o'clock and it's already starting to get light outside.  That's not the problem, it's that it also gets dark about six.  Michael also has trouble with that one because he's ready for his last walk of the day about that time.  His needs are a little more urgent than mine.

Michael is, if you haven't guessed, one of the best dogs ever, but one thing he is not is a guard dog.  If I'm not paying attention, the only way he tells me something is going on is to watch him constantly.  Yesterday we were on one of our walks when his ears pricked up and he focused on the chicken(less) pen.  I followed his stare and sure enough, a buck casually walked out of the pen.  He might have been looking for some leftover chicken feed, or perhaps was just curious.  At any rate, we stood and gave him time to make his getaway.

Today's chores will include going around and turning off the water to some of the outlying pipes.  Should have done it sooner, but never anticipated freezing weather this early in the year.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Oh Hail!

Yesterday's weather ran the gamut, well, all except heat.  It was sunny for a short bit before rain clouds rolled in, and then all hail broke loose.  There were even a few flurries of snow, enough that there were some leftover patches when Michael and I took a brisk morning walk.  He's wearing his thick winter coat, but I had to pull out the gloves and hat with ear flaps.  The sun did come out for our later walks, but the east wind did not encourage dawdling.  In the evening, I had my first cup of hot cider of the season.  Just holding the mug was warming.

It was a pretty good preview of what was coming.  It's 25 outside this morning, and a steamy 43 in the house.  My hot coffee was barely warm by the time I brought it from the kitchen to the bedroom.  Ralph has decided my lap is the warmest place to be, leaving Celeste to fend for herself in the cold.

Stove is looking better and better.  Wood conservation is one thing, frostbite is another.

Stay safe.  Be well.

What She Said

Emmy commented yesterday that happy days are here again.  That was one of FDR's campaign songs.  He served four terms in office and that led to the 22nd Amendment that limits a president to only two terms by law.  I know I'm happy that the stress of waiting for election results is over.  What a relief!  I have valued friends on both sides of the political fence, some with whom we discuss politics and some with whom the subject is never broached.  I respect their opinions.  Regardless, we all had to be glad to see Americans dancing in the streets...it's been a long time since there have been laughing and singing crowds instead of protest marches and the need for police presence.

Michael and I went on five or six walks during the day.  It was good to be out in the sunshine instead of glued to the television.  I even went grocery shopping 'up the road a piece,' as we say.  The good mood was contagious.  Even with masks in place (and I saw few to none without one for a change), customers were smiling and chatting.

What Emmy said, "Happy days are here again."

A pretty hefty storm blew in overnight.  It's calm now, but still too dark to see if there was rain.  Changing times.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Changes

Nature pulled one of her quick-change tricks again.  Temps had been in the low 80s-high 70s for quite awhile...nice fall weather.  Yesterday morning while it was still dark, I heard a pretty good wind blowing and robe and slippers felt good.  When it was light enough, I saw the deck was wet (I knew I should have blown off all those leaves last week).  It turned out to be the warning shot over the bow, as it never did truly rain...just a heavy mist sort of day.  The real stuff is due today or tomorrow, and they're saying it could snow as low as Pollock Pines.  I looked at Stove, but decided just to keep my puffy jacket on and maybe heat up the bean bag.  Celeste did her part as a lap warmer.  Stove will be called to duty soon enough.

Watching daily election results has been exhausting.  My sleep patterns have been thrown completely out of whack and I hardly know whether I'm coming or going.  I've participated in every presidential election since I turned 21, the legal coming of age back in the day.  I've voted for, and I've voted against, and we woke up the next day and went on with our lives.  This time is different.  This time is scary.  Riots, shootings, threats, lies.  It's politics, for crying out loud!  We are a democracy!  We are Americans!  We need to act like it.

Morning and evening, the deer are on the move.  It's rut season and the bucks are strutting their stuff, following the does or even the scent of the females.  I've seen forked horns, three-pointers, and one grand fellow with a full rack.  When the wire gate to the hay barn was breached, I knew that some had decided to help themselves to the alfalfa.  Gotta keep up their strength, ya know.

Politics, weather, whatever comes next, have me thinking about the Bette Davis line in All About Eve (1950), "Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night."

Stay safe.  Be well.

Manna

Michael is a dog of discerning taste, especially when it comes to treats.  There are at least five different kinds of treats in the kitchen, one of which will stay there, stamped Reject.  Every dog I've ever known in the past was happy to take whatever was offered, no questions asked.  Michael, not s'much.  First comes the sniff test.  "Hmmm, that has possibilities.  We'll see."  Michael has impeccable manners, gently taking the offering from my fingers.  He's not a snatch-and-grab kind of guy.  If the tidbit meets his high standards, he'll lie down to eat it right then and there.  (He also lies down to eat a meal from his bowl.  Go figure.)  Failing the first test, I get, "Um, no.  I don't think so."  If urged, he will politely take it and then poot! he spits it out.  I made the mistake yesterday of not paying attention.  My mind was elsewhere when I gave him what I thought was a goodie.  It's still on the floor by the door this morning.  Maybe some wandering minstrel dog will come by and think that bag is manna from heaven.  Or not.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Breathe

I was no more capable of writing a coherent sentence yesterday than I could fly without wings.  Time has restored a little of my equilibrium.  We have no choice but to go on, so might as well get on with it.

As Michael and I were on our morning walk, headed for the garden area, a doe had the same destination in mind.  We must have been downwind from her because we saw her before she was aware of us.  There was that special moment when we all stopped and just looked at each other.  I love living here.

Missy must be gearing up for winter.  It usually takes her a couple of days to empty her food dish, but lately it's a one-day meal.  I put a nice bed out on the deck for her, but have never seen a sign that she's ever used it.  Funny little girl.  Michael and I see her out and about in the yard, usually in the afternoon.  She has no fear whatsoever of the dog, and Michael might just hum a few bars as he watches her (about as vocal as he gets).

The weather guys have been saying there's the possibility of rain in the next couple of days, and wouldn't that be welcome?

I really must reset the clocks.  Getting up at what turned out to be 3 a.m. is ridiculous, even for me.  It's going to be a long day.

Breathe, just breathe.  This, too, shall pass.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Waiting

In limbo.  On tenterhooks.  Holding my breath.  Fingers (eyes and toes) crossed.  Words are rocketing around in my head and I'm speechless.

God save America.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Transition

Change is inevitable.  It's up to us to try to keep up and cope the best we can.  I was fortunate yesterday to have a friend who allowed me to rant and rave (she did a little of that on her own) regarding the current political situation.  We had done our bit by voting, but there's naught we can do about the outcome, so....

After all these years (over 35), Steve's extensive family has become my own, and they and I reach out now and then to keep in touch.  Yesterday's news regarding one of the cousins wasn't so good, in fact it was downright dire.  I've not seen her for years and years, but I'll hold on to the memory of a chubby, laughing woman who was a nonstop talker.  She could talk the leg off a table, and never an unkind word ever.  She will be sorely missed by her family when her troubles are ended.

It was full daylight when I awoke this morning.  After my evening nap in the chair, I'd awakened to a late-night PBS special with music from the '50s...my coming-of-age era, and I watched and listened until the end.  I remembered cruising Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, CA, with the radio playing, and practicing new dance steps with roommates at school.  The beat was steady and the words were clear.  Ah yes, things change.

Unlike days of yore when we would sit up all night to learn the outcome of an election, we probably won't know for awhile what our fate will be from today's vote, but...we'll cope.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Back In The Day

One thing about getting older and not much is happening in your life, there are plenty of file drawers in your mind to open and pull out a memory or two.  On one of my many cooking shows, the chef recently made a batch of beignets.  Oh gosh, the memories those brought back.  Once upon a time and what now seems long. long ago, we had company...lots of company, and they stayed for days.  Upstairs and down, this house would sleep 17 people, and in case there was overflow, there were air mattresses to pull out.  I'm not a breakfast eater, but, oh man, I could make breakfast for a crowd.  You can't make just a few beignets and they are only good when fresh and hot, but they sure are nummy and a crowd pleaser!  I developed a recipe for baked French toast, sprinkled with dried cranberries; a lot easier than standing and frying each order, and just as crispy and browned.  I had a lot of producing chickens then and had a seemingly endless supply of eggs.  I never minded being a short-order cook in case of stragglers.  Everyone was on their own for lunch as I was busy with the animals and planning dinner.  We played games, everything from poker to Parcheesi.  There are cabinets downstairs jampacked with board games, now long unused.

A number of those dear friends are long gone now, but I can see their faces just as clearly as I can taste the beignets.  That was a good memory drawer to open.

Stay safe.  Be well.

What A Way To Start The Day

I awoke in the wee dark hours of the morning to the faint beep and sigh of the electricity shutting down.  Yes, again.  What had we done to offend the power gods this time?  With no clock, no telling what time it was.  I went back to sleep.  With last night's huge, bright Harvest Moon, it was hard to tell if it was still moonlight or a rising sun (turned out to be the sun) when I woke up for real, thanks to the time change.  It evidently was a pole down or a blown transformer because they'd fixed it in about four hours.  I get a satirical kick out of the mechanical voice at PG&E:  "You may contact us at www.etc., and your wireless phone will not work during an outage."  Duh.  If I don't have electricity, I can't use the computer, and if I didn't have a landline, I wouldn't be calling.  I got the last laugh because I hadn't yet reset the clocks!

Michael and I made a trip to town yesterday.  I had several stops planned, but derailed for something I rarely to never do.  We stopped for a fish-and-chips lunch that took much longer than I'd thought.  The gentleman behind the counter was evidently the clerk, cook, and bottle-washer, ie, the only one there.  Michael likes fish.  It took hours to get the feel of grease out of my mouth, so it will probably be a long time before we do that again.

On our way out yesterday, I stopped to drop off my ballot.  Turned out I was just the second voter that day.  However, I was told that our little community has one of the highest numbers per capita in the county.  Others were coming in as we were leaving.  El Dorado is politically active!

It being Hallowe'en, I bought a bag of candy at one of our stops.  Not for trick-or-treaters (we've never had any), but for me.  I OD'd, and that was dinner.  Back on track today.

It being November first, ordinarily I'd start planning for Thanksgiving dinner.  Not this year.  Fingers crossed for 2021.

Stay safe.  Be well.