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.