Looking Up

Evidently Robin (he's too tiny to be Batman) has chosen the downstairs for his living quarters because I could find neither hide nor leather wing in my part of the house.  I haven't been downstairs in a couple of years, so he's on his own.  I'll admit I've not spent much time looking up at the ceiling, especially at night, but I kept looking up last evening in case Robin decided to be like the bats at Carlsbad Caverns to come out and forage upstairs.  I guess it could be worse, otherwise people could say I have bats in my belfry.

Camille has added a peacock to her menagerie, and is hoping to find a peahen to join him.  Some people find their screams irritating.  I don't because they remind me of our many wonderful camping trips over in Williams, where peafowl abound in the campground.  When forty or fifty of these magnificent birds fly sixty feet up into a tree to roost and their highly decorated tails hang down, they glow like a Christmas tree in the sunset.

While going to town is low, low, low on my list of favorite things to do, it won't be so bad today because Truck has a/c.  Michael will go with, of course.  With this latest heat wave, he's come to learn that if I go to the other door in the living room with leash in hand, he's going to get a cool hose-down and he's ready for that!

Stay safe.  Stay cool.  Be well.

Be Specific

Remember how thrilled I was to receive Florence and Dan's gift of the bat box?  Remember how I said I couldn't wait and hoped for new residents?  In a classic case of 'be careful what you wish for,' I do, in fact, have a resident bat.  The problem is...it's in my house, not the bat box.

Last night, well after dark, Michael gave me The Look that said he needed a trip outside.  Given the uneven ground, thanks to Robert and his burrowing buddies, Michael knows I don't leave the porch at night.  With him on leash, I turned on the porch light and he headed for the juniper a few feet out.  Unnoticed by me, a bat must have been snacking on insects drawn by the light and decided that if I was going to provide such goodies, it would just move in.  It came in, again unnoticed, when I opened the screen door and held it for Michael.  It wasn't til later when we were ready to go to bed that I noticed the swooping, circling bat overhead.  It kept going way too close the the whirling ceiling fan.  I know bats have their version of radar, but what if this was a beginner?

Ordinarily, this wasn't the first time, I would turn off the inside lights, turn the porch light on, and leave the screen door open   The problem was, Ralph and Celeste are inside-only cats, and Michael can't go outside off lead.  The four-leggeds had noticed what I hoped would be a visitor and not a resident by now.  It seemed prudent to turn off the fan and the lights and go to bed.  The cats did not join me.  Their night vision is better than mine.

I'm hoping to find the tiny little guy hanging somewhere in the house today, sleeping off the night's adventure.  Bats in this area have only a four-to-five inch wing span.  Then I'll think about putting a sign on the bat box saying, "Bats welcome here."

Stay safe.  Be well.

Livin' The Wild Life

It changes daily.  It could be a comedy, a drama, a tragedy, a melodrama, or a mystery, but it's always interesting.  Coming home in the morning after my visit with Joan, I pulled up to find a spike buck in the driveway right in front of the front door.  Now that's awesome.  I stopped and we just looked at each other before he took off, not in frightened leaps and bounds, but calmly like visiting royalty.

It's not so much fun to see one of Robert the Raider's progeny skulking on the deck, headed around the corner to Missy's food bowl.  I no longer have a single potted plant out there, closing the greenery smorgasbord, so I can't imagine how the free-lunch information gets passed down through the generations.  Did I mention the Missy has a friend she also invites for a meal?  It's a big, fluffy (well, unkempt is more like it) apricot-colored cat, sex undetermined cat who now comes almost daily.  Ah, well,  what's one more mouth to feed?  (I don't feel that way about the squirrels.)

It happens every year, but it's always so sad.  A mama turkey will come by, proudly leading a choo-choo train of tiny turkletts, talking to them constantly to keep them in line.  Then, slowly or sometimes day to day, the babies will be one less.  This year, Mama's train got shorter very fast until she was down to one.  I haven't seen her for a couple of days now. That's sad.

I haven't opened the book yet today, but I know it will be interesting.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Lollapalooza

Had to get Truck to the shop early yesterday so didn't have time to shout the good news about two great days in a row, and I limit my computer time to mornings only (except on bill-pay days).

Joan was a bit later than planned on Tuesday, so when I got to town we decided to go straight to dinner.  You know how it is when you meet with someone you haven't seen for ages?  Those awkward pauses when you try to think of something to say next?  Well, there was none of that!  We talked and laughed (oh, how we laughed!) and ended up closing down the restaurant four hours later.  It was dark by the time we walked back to the hotel.  I don't drive after dark anymore, but found out Joan had planned a stay-over and had booked a double room.  Okay, discretion is the better, and safer, part of valor.  We ended up talking (and laughing) until midnight, and then woke up at five to start all over again.  Knowing it would be our last visit together made our parting bittersweet.  It was a friend and a day to treasure.

The next day I had a doctor's appointment and Michael went with.  She made arrangements to obtain a Disabled placard for Truck.  That will save a lot of steps.  As usual, whenever I have to go to town I do as much as possible in one trip, and we went to Wally World where Michael met his adoring subjects.  I didn't have a long list, but threw in some treats for both of us just because.  At the checkout stand, I started to unload my cart when the lady behind me came up and said, in the most polite way, "I'm going to pay for your groceries."  What?!  She calmly denied my protests and repeated, "I'm going to pay for your groceries."  I have heard of such things, but never expected it would happen to me.  I was literally overcome.  Another entry in the memory book.

Truck got serviced and whatever needed fixing fixed, and is running like a top.  Good old boy.

It was a lollapalooza of a week, for sure.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Lost It

I don't know what happened.  The morning started out as usual, and then I fell asleep.  I fell asleep for eight straight hours!  It was as if I'd been zapped by ray guns.  Not only that, but when I woke up, I went to bed and slept another five hours.  Talk about a lost day.

While still awake in the morning, I got a wonderful surprise call from a high school chum.  We've maintained our friendship for sixty-four years!  She and her sister are on a road trip across America and are in Reno now.  The best part is that Joan is going to drive over and we're going to meet in P'ville next week.  I can't wait!

I'm hoping today is not a repeat of yesterday.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Under The Gun

Yesterday morning PG&E put a notice on FB that our area was due for a rolling blackout beginning at five o'clock.  Well, we knew that was going to happen, but I did appreciate the heads up.

I needed a plan.  What could I get done that required electricity while we still had power.  Hmmm.  I rediscovered that which I already knew:  I work better with a deadline, otherwise I'm inclined to put it off til tomorrow, the day after, or not at all (like dusting).  I got several loads of laundry washed and dried, made sure there was lots of ice, filled the water dishes, including the basin outside for the wild things, and put a big pitcher of water in the fridge.  The lack of water in an outage is the worst of the worst.  I recharged the cellphone.  Knowing I wasn't going to cook anything, I had an early dinner from the microwave.  Closer to deadline, I took Michael out and hosed him down again.  I even ran the whole-house fan (which I always forget I have).  All of this was done in slow motion because the heat was so oppressive.

And then we waited.  Five o'clock came and went.  While watching the local (five o'clock) news, I saw an announcement that the blackouts would start at six.  Okay, an hour's reprieve.  And we waited.  And...nothing.  Boy, we dodged that bullet!  Since today is purported to be equally as hot, the gun is still loaded.

Stay safe.  Be well.

The Iceman Cometh

(Apologies to Eugene O'Neill, play, 1939.)

Wow, it got all the way down to 72 last night,.  That's a nice daytime temp, not so great for sleeping.  Even Ralph was up and down.  That first bedtime cuddle is lovely, not s'much when he wakes me two or three times more by patting my face after I've finally gone to dreamland and I'm required to "assume the position."  Ah well.

I'm using ice at an alarming rate and am seldom without a glass of ice water by my side.  My refrigerator is equipped with an ice maker, a marvelous invention.  Back in the day, we had metal ice trays with a handle to loosen the cubes, later followed by plastic trays one could twist to release the ice.  The problem with both types was that "someone" in the family would leave maybe one or two cubes for the next guy instead of filling the tray.  I'm grateful for the large bin in the freezer.  We're at that stage when rolling power outages are a real threat and I could lose my supply of lifesavers.  While it tries to keep up with my daytime demand, it works overtime at night.

I've read that a dog's thick coat acts as insulation against heat.  Michael sure didn't seem comfortable yesterday.  The only relief I could offer was to take him out on the deck and hose him down and leave him to drip dry.  I think (hope) it helped.

Today's temps are predicted to rise even higher.  Sigh.

Stay safe (and cool).  Be well.

Summer Deja Vu

It seems to me I've been here before.  No, wait...I have been here before!  Summer hit like a ton of bricks yesterday.  It was back to open doors and windows, ceiling fan and ice water.  Lots of ice water.  Fingers crossed that PG&E doesn't decide to cut our power (we all know that's coming sometime).

Other than the fact that Truck has A/C, we made a rather disappointing trip to town, only to find out that the dreaded, evil squirrels had been at the engine again and the nice man wouldn't even attempt a smog check, knowing Truck wouldn't pass.  I can't get an appointment to have the damage repaired for another week.  At least I can drive...so far.

Heat like yesterday puts the kibosh on any weak plans to get anything done, so I spent the day with prerecorded episodes of Julia Child.  I love Julia Child.

Looks like today is going to be more of the same.  Oh goody.  These are the days I dream of thermostats.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Two In A Row

On Monday, I did something I rarely do.  The weather was right, overcast and cool, and I took Michael out to lunch.  It's always nicer to eat with a friend.   I knew Bones Roadhouse had an outdoor patio where Michael would be accepted, so off we went.  Our timing was perfect.  It was early in the lunch hour so we had the patio to ourselves.  I hadn't been to Bones in years, but their juicy, messy, loaded hamburger was as good as I remembered.  Michael enjoyed his plain meat patty, medium rare, too.  We sat in companionable silence and just enjoyed the outing.  (That's something I rarely do, too.)

Yesterday was Vampire Hall day...again.  They always draw a sample first to send to the lab, looking for I don't know what.  The results came back quickly for a change and guess what!  Whatever they said meant I didn't have to go for the pint-a-day routine.  I'd call that good news.  Even better, when I got home there was a call telling me that the oncologist said I didn't need any more such therapy and I don't have to go back.  Wahoo!

Two good days in a row...hey, I'll take ti!

Stay safe.  Be well.

Music In The Air

Covid put a crimp in so many aspects of our lives, gatherings being just one example.  With some easing of restrictions, it was a great pleasure on Saturday to sit outside with Michael and hear an outdoor concert at Windwalker Winery just over the hill.  These music festivals were an annual summer weekend event and a number of nearby wineries participated.  Maybe it's a sign that a new normal is on the way.  One can hope.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Who's There?

I heard a sound, the sound of a creature close by crying in distress.  Until I got up to look, I didn't realize just how close the creature was.  A little turklett, less than six inches tall, was on the porch, on the step into the house, looking in the screen door and crying for help.  I've had stray creatures come on the property many times in the past, but never so young and never so close.  "Where's your mama, darling?"  As I went to open the door, Baby ran off the porch to the side.  Turkletts aren't as fast as quail, but they're pretty darn fast and there was no way I was going to catch this one.  It ran off down the slope and around the corner.  All I could do was hope for the best.

It was such a relief as I went back into the house to hear Mama turkey in the backyard do what all mothers of lost children do.  First she gave Baby a good what-for scolding and then comforting sounds of relief.

I love a story with a happy ending.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Wowzer!

Ohmigosh, you should see this place!  Helper Dude came yesterday with the intention of using Fu Manchu to mow down the west field and the many other overgrown shaggy areas.  Fu said he'd gone into retirement (make that re-tirement).  He is so old that one of his tires has split.  "No problem," said HD.  He has a weedeater that could take a man off at the knees.  He fired it up and went to work.  In what seemed like no time, he had cleared the west field,  along the long driveway, the backyard, the front yard, around all the buildings, and a good portion of the north field.  The man is a machine!

In literally a matter of days, we had gone from slogging through tall wet weeds to crunching through tall dry fire fodder.  It wasn't a matter of aesthetics, it was a necessity.  I feel so much safer.

It is such a pleasure to sit outside and look at this place the way it should look.  Michael isn't so pleased because he's lost his favorite relief stations in the weeds.  He can still water the junipers, but has to go public with the big jobs.  He'll get over it.

To say it was a good day is an understatement.  Helper Dude sure earned his pay and a good rest.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Hard To Believe

Wow!  For the past few days, the temperature has dropped at least thirty degrees.  Believe me, I'm not complaining, it's just hard to believe that the puffy jacket is back on duty and Ralph is back in the cat cave.  He's sitting on my robe-covered lap right now.

It's perfect weather for today's project.  Helper Dude is coming early to mow the west field.  Even the strong winds have died down.  Nature is giving us a real break.  I've been so worried about fire danger.  Hot spots have been popping up all over the valley and I sure don't want to be the cause of disaster up here.

Yesterday was not Michael's best day.  I took him to the vet for shots and a desperately needed nail trim.  Michael has an extremely low threshold for pain.  They had to draw blood for a test, give him a shot, and clip those long nails.  I was in the waiting room and heard his screams for each event.  It's the only time he's vocal, and it breaks my heart.  As a reward (for him), we went to Walmart where he, as always, was fawned over by his many admirers, children, women, and men.  I think it took his mind off the terrible prior events.

Gotta get moving.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Mission Accomplished

It might not seem like much, but I had a real sense of accomplishment yesterday.  For reasons not worth going into and beyond my control, I had not swept my front porch  in probably a year,and it showed.  Spurred by some long-dormant ambition, yesterday was the day to accomplish the deed.  The wind was blowing in the right direction to take the mountain of accumulated leaves away from the house.  Raking on top of sweeping would have been just too much.  My mother always said you never get a second chance to make a first impression.  Fortunately I haven't had much company and those who had come had been here before.  It was notable, however, that the first thing Florence said on arrival was, "It looks so nice."  She and Dan had come to put the bat box up on the feed barn.

I so enjoy their visits, and they had time to sit on the now-clean porch and talk.  As an added bonus, we've all been vaccinated against the virus and were able to share hugs.  I have so missed hugs!  Not only was it several degrees cooler, the breeze was coming in from the bay and it was actually pleasant to sit outside.    We never lack for topics of conversation, but then it was time for them to do that for which they came.   I had used up what energy I'd had and they certainly didn't need supervision, so they went out to the barn on their own.  In what seemed like no time at all, the bat box was installed.  Hopefully residents will move in soon.  They will certainly be welcome neighbors.

For the cherry on top, Florence had brought a gift of cut-up watermelon.  I haven't had watermelon in years.  After they left, I had watermelon for dinner...and then for dessert.  I'll have watermelon for breakfast today.  Juicy and sweet, I was in hog heaven.

I'd say it was a day of missions accomplished.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Back On Track

Yesterday went pretty darn well, I'd say.  For openers, it was a few degrees cooler.  When the nights have been in the 70s, any relief is welcome.  I'd wondered if Ralph was going to change his nighttime routine when it was too hot for even a sheet so there could be no cat cave, but I needn't have worried.  He evidently likes the routine of a bedtime cuddle as much as the cave.  There is something so comforting in the touch and feel of his soft warm body snuggled up to my side before drifting off to sleep,  I would have missed him terribly, even as I understood.

The biggie of the day was getting to Mt. Aukum.  I'd ended up calling AAA for assistance with Truck and the no-gas situation.  They came to the rescue, and the nice man put in three gallons, but I was still worried, and with good cause.  It took the better part of the day to work up my courage, but with more appointments next week I loaded up Michael and headed out.  The gas gods were on duty and we made it.  Truck has an 18-gallon tank, and he guzzled 18.3 gallons at the pump.  Man, I'd been driving on fumes!

Michael likes going to the cookie store in Mt. Aukum.  His supply of little cookies at home was low and I'd planned on buying him more.  They not only were out of the small size milk bones (I buy a 20-lb box), even their freebies were the largest.  Michael wasn't disappointed because I always carry treats in my pocket, doesn't everybody?  A lady in line must have heard my conversation, because we'd no more than gotten in the truck when she came out with a handful of the big bones that she'd broken into chunks for him.  Luckily, I hadn't started the engine, because it turned out to be a rather lengthy introduction and I'm in conservation mode.  Michael had made his usual stellar impression.  Nice lady.

It was a good day.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Leave Of Absence

Let's just say it's been a rough few days.  Even I get tired of whining.  It's just best to shut up when you hit one of those patches, so I did.  Looking forward to better days.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Made It

Start to finish, it was one of those days.  The first inkling came when the power went out while I was still at the computer in the morning.  Oh great.  No power, no water, and I was due at Vampire Hall.  After the heat spell we're having, a shower was mandatory.  The PG&E gods must have been laughing as they left me a whole ten minutes before deadline when they waved their wand.  I made it to the Hall with three minutes to spare, but clean.

I really felt bad for the vampire assigned.  It took her four attempts at hitting a productive vein.  After the last visit, I'm beginning to think I'm being used to train new phlebotomists.

I knew when I left the house that I was low on gas.  Surely I could make it to town and back (she said).  One eye on the road and the other on the gas gauge and fingers crossed on the wheel, I headed home.  With the needle dipping lower, it was decision time.  Try to make it to Mt. Aukum and risk getting stuck on the road in 90+ degree heat, or head for home where I might have options.  I opted for home...and made it just as the needle went into the red.  Whew.

I had things to do, but decided I'd earned a nap.  My mistake.  The TV had been on when I closed my eyes.  I awoke to a blank screen.  NOooo!  We'd lost power again.  No water, no ceiling fan, aaargh, and no lights when it got dark.  We still had no electricity by 10 p.m. and I gave up.

I won't say it was the best day, but we made it.

Stay safe.  Be well.