A Week Away....

I've been away for the past week. I spent the week in Indiana, staying with my aunt and uncle. They live near Nappanee amidst fields and farmhouses. As my son would say, it's camping dark out there. It was very good to see them (and some cousins as well) and be in a different place for a while. The weather was hot by my acquired Northwest standards, but lots of sunshine and a few thunderstorms which they dearly needed. The corn is struggling this year as well as most every other growing thing. But we had fresh melons, tomatoes, cucumbers, and sweet corn from the garden every day for dinner.

As I drove into town daily, I was rewarded with the lush green of the fields all around, clothes hanging on lines to dry, tidy farmhouses, and more horse-drawn buggies than I can count. Being in the middle of Amish country has a way of reminding you to take life at a little slower pace, that being "connected" doesn't mean spending all day on the Internet or having a working cell phone so you can be accessible every moment of the day. My cell phone didn't function out there (no coverage) and while this was a trip where I valued having access, it was manageable. I eventually bought a prepaid phone to be able to more easily do the business I needed to do while there. But I'm not so convinced now about those data plans and that 4G coverage. I got along very well thank you without all of that. So, I foresee going back to a simpler plan on my cell phone once my current contracts expire.

I met some wonderful folks out there; new friendships were sowed. In all, most folks I came into contact with were "midwest pleasant"; similar to the way I find people up here in Washington. It was interesting to see how much has changed since I was a full-time resident there, albeit a youngster, and how little some other things have changed. There are the requisite big chain stores cropping up in shopping areas along highways, but there are still brick roads in some of the smaller towns. The drive-in where I first had a milkshake is still there, but the building now houses a Subway (the drive-in was much better).The orthopedic medical supply manufacturers have their roots out there and they have a significant presence. But there are also small businesses that have been there a long time. The only time I saw a Starbuck's was in the Chicago airport. In all, the trip was unexpectedly refreshing and renewing.

So, I'm back to spend a day with my dearly beloved and then he is off to California for his regular week in the office. Sometimes you need to do things face-to-face. We will enjoy each other's company at our leisure once he returns. Coming home is always nice...

Living it...

The weather up here has been perfection. Not only has it been a week of sun and 70 degrees, but we have even had a few thunderstorms for authenticity. Real ones with lightening and thunder boomers over the house. Poor Roosevelt has run for cover several times. They have moved on now. Other harbingers of summer remain, however. The House Martins which take up summer residence in our chimney eaves are still here. The family is in full chorus day and night and since they are only about two feet from our bedroom window, it's lovely to listen to them. They will be gone as soon as the youngsters gain their flying credentials. Beautiful Western Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are about now. They are yellow and black and seem to be everywhere in the lawn/meadow/jungle clearing. John also found a nest yesterday with some brown eggs in it. Don't know what they are but hopefully it has not been abandoned.

John has actually been home this week to enjoy our summer. Tomorrow he is off to California where it is pereptually summer, if not picturesque. I had a busy week at work and it was such a joy to have him around in my off-work hours. Dinner would usually be in the works when I arrived home and the only decision I had to make was "red or white?".

On the home front, in his off-hours he has been digging a trench to lay conduit and run electricity out to the shed. It's a deep trench, but it looks nearly complete. He got the permit from the county, so we're official and all. Once that's done, he will speed through the rain gutter installation so we can place rain barrels before the rainy season arives. Meanwhile his hard work in the garden is starting to pay off. The garlic and shallots are drying in the shed and he picked the first peas yesterday. The addition of a couple "tents" have allowed the squash and tomatoes to gather enough heat to actually grow this year. Potatoes seem to grow well here and we actually had a little lettuce and spinach for dinner. The raspberries and rhubarb took off right away.

I've made more progress on the baby quilt only to decide that I want to adapt the design a little. So, today, I will make that alteration and I should be able to finish the top by end of day. Then I'll create the backing and it will be ready to quilt. I'm planning to have it quilted on a long-arm machine since it needs to hold up for a long time and that will also allow for more intricate quilting than I can achieve on my machine. The quilt finally told me what it wanted  to be and then it fell into place. It's like that with most things, I find.

Last evening, we drove into nearby Kingston (about 3 miles), parked the car and walked aboard the ferry. We enjoyed the 30 minute ride across to Edmonds where we walked 5 minutes to a restaurant (Cafe de Paris) to celebrate my birthday belatedly. The food was good, the ambience was relaxing, and the experience was magnifique! We noticed a couple of other places to try and will definitely expand our usual circle of "local" restaurants to include these across the water. We walked back and enjoyed the return trip while the sun started to go down. How civilized is that!

I will spend a week in Indiana later this month trying to sort out what can be done for my father as his health declines. There are things which must be done in real-time, face to face. I'll stay with my aunt and uncle while I am out there which will be a nice consequence of the visit. Life...

It's Summer Today

Summer. Today. Right now. Don't know how long it will last but it's lovely. Temperatures will reach 80 by the end of the weekend and no rain is in sight for many days. As predicted by the locals, July 4 brought warm weather and sunshine. Mornings are in the 40s. Folks from the mainland are in abundance over here as they come for their vacations in this always beautiful part of the world. Somebody pinch me, please.

I will travel to California tomorrow to particpate in a baby shower for my grandbaby. I'll return on Sunday. The beauty of reward points. John has a list of things to do while I am away and nothing to distract him :-).

We returned Buddy to the shelter yesterday. We were going to continue to try to integrate him into our household, but in speaking with the behaviorist at the shelter, she recommended that we return him. While we might have managed the housetraining and the containment issues, her concern was for dear Roosevelt who was living in the bathroom in protective custody. As she explained, Buddy's very strong prey drive made it unlikely that we would successfully be able to keep him from chasing and possibly harming him. And if he harmed the cat, he would no longer be eligible for adoption and would have to be euthanized. So, we returned him and, in all fairness, he was enthusiastic about going into the kennels. Perhaps we weren't quite what he was looking for either. But we surely enjoyed his affectionate personality, if not his incredible stubborness. So, for now, we'll keep our options open and perhaps we'll find a dog that loves cats. Roosevelt is enjoying his return to his status of Number One.

I'm off to work. Hopefully it will still be Summer when I finish...

Whoosh!

That's the sound of time speeding by. Since the last post, we have spent a week in California and had the opportunity to see family. Jake and his girlfriend came out to Sacramento where  Iwas attending a conference to have dinner with me. We spent several lovely hours talking and catching up. John didn't get to join us as he taveled between Sacramento and Redwood City each day (at least 2 hours one-way), so he arrived too late to have dinner with us. On Friday, the conference ended and we traveled to Brentwood (just northeast of San Francisco) to visit with Kate and Morey. I got to see the grandbaby bump, which was a treat. When I was pregnant, my mom never had the chance to see me in that state and I'm sure she would have liked that. But she didn't have the means. I'm glad I am able to participate, even on a small level.

Since returning from that trip, we settled back into the routine well enough. The weather in California was 90 - 100 degrees. When we flew into Seattle, it was overcast and 65 degrees! Our little piece of heaven. John says it's a lot like England weather. I say it's just about perfect. They are calling it Junuary, but summer doesn't really start until early July out here. Meanwhile, I'll take these temperatures over those in the rest of the country without complaint.

Last weekend, we traveled across the water to an animal shelter in Lynnwood to look at some lovely dogs. We felt that we were ready to love another dog. Of course, it's unlikely that one just "looks" at dogs when they go to a shelter and we discovered a guy that, by description and looks, would be a match for our household. He was described as a "gool ole boy who likes naps and snacks" (fits right in, we thought) and is a perfect gentleman on walks. So, he made the trip back across the water with us. He is a 6 year old Walker Treeing Coonhound (purebred no less). His name (now) is Buddy. We quickly began to learn more about Buddy and his dna-driven behaviors. He is strong willed (makes our former hard-headed brown dog look like a marshmallow), disciplined, trained to compete in treeing competitions, and thinks Roosevelt might be a raccoon posing as a cat. We have adapted our previously quiet routine to keep them separated at all times and will try a traing regimen to see if we can reprogram his laser-like focus on the cat from one of tracking and treeing (a game Roosevelt is not willing to play), to perhaps one of tolerance and ownership. We also are concerned that if he gets a scent or sees a small animal, the Invsible Fence and whatever shock it produces will not deter this guy as he is trained to ignore obstacles and get the job of treeing done. The fence people are confident they can contain him and we'll begin training in another week, after he has had time to bond with us. I'm hopeful that he is trained not to chase something unless he is directed to do so by command. His story is that he appeared to have been on a competition and got lost. He was found on a forestry road up north. Since arriving at the shelter a month ago, he has been neutered and I hope that has a mellowing effect on him. Meanwhile, he has lots of great qualities and we're getting to know each other. He's a big love and likes to cuddle.

On the same day that we got Buddy, I also got a phone call about my dad. He is developing advancing Alzheimer's and I have entered the ranks of others in my generation who get to care for an aging parent. He lives many states away which complicates the process and we're looking at ways to bridge that or perhaps to relocate him out here.

So, we're adapting to our new-normal and that is not without it's bumps. But, it is what it is. And time just keeps whizzing by.... 

Summer---Where Art Thou?

First full week since vacation. John went off to California and the rain came back. Along with the rain came cooler temperatures as well. Although it's June, I had to run the furnace several days. Otherwise, the house was staying around 65 degrees and that's a might cool for my taste. A dry day is promised for today and John has looked at the long-range predictions and some actual summer-like weather is approaching. In Northwest terms, that means I can leave the jacket at home soon.

John arrived home Thursday before I did and discovered that the bird feeders had been molested. Both were laying on the ground. They were empty in the morning but we believe it was our large friend Winnie (the bear) who stopped by for some fast food. And we found the wind chime that was hanging near one in a real state, all discombobulated and wound around the tree branch.Methinks someone was a tad irritated at finding no fast food. We agree to remove the feeders for a while so as not to encourage our visitor.

Still on the topic of wildlife being where it shouldn't, Roosevelt brought a mouse into the house the first night of John's absence. He brought it upstairs and was playing a game of (what else) cat-and-mouse in the computer room when I awoke to the sounds at 3:30. I turned the light on, closed that door, stuffed a towel under the door and returned to bed, hoping the dirty work would be done when I got up at a more reasonable hour. Unfortunately, the cat just wanted out of the room for his breakfast and quickly disappeared, leaving me with the wee intruder. I wasn't able to convince him to voluntarily run out where I could capture him with my trusty mixing bowl cum mouse trapper device. That's probably due to the loud scream that exits my lips whenever the mouse runs. Involuntary, embarrassing, and completely ineffective, I know. Anyway, I left a mouse trap in the room and closed the door, securing it with a towel and hoping that I would return home from work to a fait accompli (French term translated here as "dead mouse"). Apparently, no one else in this house understands French (except for my resident rodent control manager and he was away). I arrived home to find that Roosevelt was busy with a mouse downstairs! This seriously complicated the situation. I was able to capture the small creature and release him into the garden. And then I had to return to the computer room to see what might (or might not) be there. Was the downstairs mouse the same one that was in the computer room, or was it a completely new visitor? Well, the towel under the door had a very small opening which I feel certain wasn't there when I left it. So, perhaps the cat cleverly made a small exit route available to the mouse and then waited for the inevitable. In any event, no mouse was in the trap. And although I did not see any scurrying, I also placed a tall bucket with a small towel taped to the outside in the room, advised by a work mate that this method would successfully contain small scurrying creatures because once they use the towel to climb into the bucket, they aren't able to scale the smooth walls inside to escape. Then I closed the door, replaced the towel securely under the door and left it that way until John arrived home Thursday to check the room for a dead or live mouse. He found none. So, I will believe that the downstairs mouse was, in fact, the one from upstairs. For now. And I have ordered new ultra-high frequency sound blasters to deter the wee terrorists from even thinking about coming into the garage where our prey-driven feline likes to "hunt". Yesterday, I gave the garage a thorough cleaning and removed the birdseed to the shed. Today I'll spread peppermint oil along the bottom edge of the garage door. Truly, I'd much rather have bears visiting.

John spent a busy day outdoors yesterday planting some trees and cutting the grass. The cool wet weather is good for grass. It grows fast and long. I am trying to accomplish something with my baby quilt that may not be possible. But I haven't given up yet. Today I will go to the sewing store and seek advice. However, I did get a new machine that embroiders and that will come in handy for lots of future projects as well. This coming week, we will both be in California. I will attend a conference and John will work in the office. The sunshine will be a welcome change. And we'll have an opportunity to visit a bit with Jake and with Katie & Morey. It's all good....

My Summer Vacation...

We were away on vacation visiting family in Tennessee. The countryside is really pretty out there. In a nutshell, the following thoughts:

12 hour travel days, 90+ degrees, "it's not the heat, it's the humidity", patios and breezes, Cardinals (the bird), fireflies, laughing, pink T-shirts, the Red Top Bargain Barn, "lock the bathroom door!", a vegan, an Atkins follower, and 5 omnivores go into a restaurant, squirrels, more squirrels, Bluebirds, beets, air conditioning, swimming pool, Buddy and Ella, Jack Daniels Distillery, David (not Davy) Crockett, Stones River National Park, pushing the C-button, watch that bottom step, watch that top step, 5 minute showers, shoes, more shoes, let me fix your back pain, canning pickles, Big Lots, lower (much) gas prices, Dana Carvey, eating outside every day every meal, baby bunnies in the garden, new fencing, baby bunnies trying to get in the garden, '53 Corvette, picnic tables at a winery, arriving back home to 65 degrees, ahhh...

Priceless.

Visiting Wild Life...

Well, if you are on my Facebook page, you already know that we enjoyed company for breakfast yesterday. This lovely creature came right into the yard/meadow/jungle clearing and emptied three bird feeders. When we caught sight of him (what was that large black thing laying under the tree?), he had already (easily) opened them up and was laying on the ground enjoying a snack. The birds were not too happy about the competition. He stayed about 15 minutes and then walked along the edge next to the woods (where Zoe liked to patrol), stopped and postured when he saw the statue of Zoe sitting out there, and then walked into the berry bushes and the woods. While John was busily taking photographs, I called our knowledgeable friend to see if we were supposed to report this "sighting" and was advised no, unless he's threatening or dangerous we should enjoy the show and let bears do what bears do. And that's what we did. I suspect our hard-headed brown dog had secured her/our territory against just such intruders for the past three years as people kept telling us that we are "right in the middle of bear country". We'll see if he stops by for a snack on a more regular basis now that she's not here to defend us. What a great way to start the day! No caffeine needed.

John arrived home on Thursday after a second week in California. He rearranged his travel schedule because we are on our way to Tennessee later this week. We'll take a much-needed but too-short vacation and visit with my sisters and spouses for a long weekend. The weather promises to be warm and fabulous and it's a part of the country neither of us have seen. Let the good times roll...

I actually started piecing the baby quilt! Last week was so busy that my evenings were taken up with pressing work-related "stuff" and I had no time to get going on it as I planned. But I'm liking what I'm seeing now. Friday, I took a day off and we went into Seattle to talk with our new financial planner about our, well,  financial plans. Of course, they look at "worst-case" scenarios when looking at your financial future and the not-worse-case scenario doesn't look too bad. But that worse-case situation has me pretty much looking for a sugar daddy at age 90! Not really though, as the worst-case is a pretty unrealistic set of circumstances, not even accounting for a change in living costs in all that time. I certainly don't intend to have a mortgage into our nineties. And cable can definitely go!  It was a good meeting and a necessary look at how to plan for a life chapter which is increasingly close at hand. A good kick in the pants.

I joined a weekly study group 3 weeks ago to prepare for a certification exam I want to take. One can't be too marketable in this day and age. But I swear that this will be the last thing I will undertake to validate my over-achieving personality. Anyway, we "meet" via a telephone conference once a week for an hour and a half. It runs through June. After that, I 'll sign up and take the lengthy exam, and hopefully become "Board Certified" (which is different than "certifiable").

Today I have set aside the day to really make progress on my grandson's quilt. The weather is supposed to take a turn back to our more customary cloud cover and cool temperatures. The suitcases are out and accumulating vacation stuff to be packed. Three more days and we're outta here! What happens with the sisters, stays with the sisters!

Mother's Day...

It is absolutely beautiful up here! Finally, the temperatures have achieved a respectable 70-plus degrees and there's not a raindrop in sight. The mornings remain chilly. It was 31 degrees on Thursday morning last week. Bu that just means good sleeping weather.We did some chores yesterday; mowed and washed the deck. Today I'll get the table set up properly outside so we can begin al fresco dining. We'll try out the pizza pan that works on the grill tonight. I managed to cut out the pieces for the baby quilt yesterday as well and will begin piecing it this week while John is away (again).

It's Mother's Day today. We'll go up to a little cafe in Chimicum for lunch to note the occasion. It's in a wee town (called Chimicum, no less) on the way to Port Townsend, about 40 minutes drive from here. Folks say it's worth the trip, so we'll use today as the excuse to check it out. The saying goes that "a mother is only as happy as her unhappiest child" and today I can say that I am pretty happy. They all seem to be in a good place. Son Jacob is (physically) in Australia where he has been since the end of last month for a conference related to his new Director position. First time out of the country! Daughter Kate is preparing for our first grandchild later this summer and is happily settled in her married life. Daughter Karen is making a difference to kids who are challenged and challenging. She has challenged herself as well by running Marathons. Son Gareth continues to use his skills in support of workers. We are proud of each one. Makes "Mother's Day" a no-brainer.

We spent Friday evening at a going-away gathering for some folks in my department at work, It was held at a cabin in Seabeck, along the Hood Canal and with a lovely view of the mountains. It's a pretty part of the world. John made gnocchi and I made a (vegan) marinara sauce for the event. Everyone brought something and it was a nice way to begin the weekend. Work is busy these days and I am looking forward to our (short) vacation in a couple weeks. We will travel to Tennessee and spend time with the 2 people who have known me the longest. My sisters! It's all good...

Flora and Fauna...

The Ocean Spray is in bloom. It's native here and it looks like a lilac bush but the white flowers are on the ends of the branches, giving it a look of, well, ocean spray. We have lots of it at the edge of the woods and along the driveway. More this year than before, I think. The daffodils and the tulips have nearly finished. The Scotch Broom is in bloom now as well, though we don't have any on our property. It's not native but is prolific. Bright yellow flowers on bushes nearly everywhere. When you fly into Seattle and make the approach over this side of the Sound, you can get a good picture of just how much of the stuff there is. As the weather warms a bit, it will be time to get fuchsias hung on the front porch.

Along with the arrival of Spring flora has come the arrival of the birds. The Goldfinches are returning in increasing numbers and the House Martins have been here for the past two weeks.They are busily making their nest under the eaves of the chimney. They're quite a sight as they take to the sky to collect insects for their dinner. As we were outside last night for one last walk, the woodpeckers could be heard in the woods as they worked well into the evening. Perhaps they're in there creating totem poles. They certainly work hard enough.

I wish I could say that's all the "fauna" that returned this week. The high frequency mouse blasters that I installed last year kept us mouse-free for the season. Nary a one. Then in the wee hours of the morning Thursday I was awakened by crashing sounds downstairs. A quick peek from the stairs didn't reveal much so I returned to bed (John was away) and, just for safe measure, closed my bedroom door. When I awoke, Roosevelt came round the stairway to say good morning, but didn't accompany me downstairs. He didn't even come when called for breakfast. Finally, he began to call me! He kept going to the front door and when I finally followed, I could see it. At the bottom of the stairs there lay a mouse. Probably dead by most assessments, but I have learned that appearances are not always truth. So, no dog to help me out on this one, I retrieved the handy mouse-catching bowl, placed it over the "gift", and finally took it outside where all was thrown into the grass and remained there until the head gardener returned that evening. As they say in crime stories, he's the "cleaner".

We had breakfast with friends yesterday before doing all those weekend things that wait for us all week. John spent time mowing and gardening. I did my regular errands and then took a trip to the quilt shop at Port Gamble. I didn't find the fabric I want, so another trip to another shop is needed. Oh dear (she says, feigning fatigue). We received the life-size statue that honors our dear old hard-headed brown dog. She sits in the lawn/meadow/jungle clearing looking out into the woods as she would do when she was with us. We'll add a tree to shade her. It's unnervingly life-like and although the color is different, the shape is true. I added a collar yesterday. We're not over missing her yet. Maybe we never will be. But, gradually, love replaces and edges out the grief. We're getting there...

Happy Earth Day...

Mother Nature has pulled out all the stops here. It might rain a good deal, but when the sun shines there's no prettier place. Spring has finally and stubbornly come to stay. It is predicted to be the first day above 70 this year with sparkling blue skies, snow on the mountains, green popping out all over, and flowers blooming everywhere. I will add to that today by sowing some wildflowers and John will work in the garden. The shiny red tractor was deemed to need a new battery which was replaced on Tuesday and it has had its first run of the season. It's getting light by 5:30 and sunset is after 8 which makes for less cocooning and more activity.

We took the ferry over to Seattle yesterday and visited the SAM (Seattle Art Museum). They have had a special exhibit of works by Paul Gauguin which ends this month and we enjoyed the narrative by the docent as we walked through each gallery. We had lunch at Pike's Pub where I got a tasty vegan sandwich! It was a lovely day for a field trip and it was the first time we have ventured over on our own without guests. We're determined to take more of these weekend walkabouts this year. Lots to see in this state.

We have been thinking about a way to honor our hardheaded brown dog and the way she blessed our lives. She loved her time up here, always vigilant, always watchful of anything that might intrude on her/our territory. So, we have ordered a life size statue of a Labrador in a sitting pose and will place it outside in her favorite corner of the lawn/meadow/jungle clearing, looking outward into the woods. We'll plant a tree (dogwood, what else) next to her as a way to remind us season after season that her spirit stills abides.

John is back to California this week and I have busy times at work. Spring showers return later this week. But, for today, we will celebrate sunshine...

Comings and Goings...

We found out that our grandbaby will be a grandson. Very exciting news and it sure makes shopping a lot easier! Twenty (ish) weeks to go. Looks like Labor Day weekend could be busy.

John arrived home on Thursday after a rainy week in California. For once, the weather up here was better. It's definitely looking like Spring. Today we planted a few things and John tilled one of the garden beds. The shiny red mower refuses to budge from its cozy place in the shed. A call to the repair person is needed.

Our lovely old girl Zoe said goodbye to us this week. She had grown weak quite quickly and had difficulty even rising from her bed. She refused food and water and we knew she was ready to leave. It was in her eyes. Monday, the Vet came to the house and eased her away to that other place. The weather was simply beautiful and fresh air was coming in through the window. She was loved and she was peaceful. It was the last kind thing we could do for her...

Difficult Days...

It's been a tough few weeks of late. Our hard headed brown dog shows increasing signs of age and the deterioration that comes with that. In her case, she has episodes where she is unable to stand or stay upright. Her back leg(s) seem to give out. When it happens and John is not here, she and I just have to stay put until she seems ready to try to move. Ten minutes seems like a lifetime. When John is here, he can lift her to her bed and try to help her lie down. It's a difficult and worrisome time. We had concluded that it was probably time to say goodbye and wish her well in that other place. We even got as far as signing the papers, paying the fee, and gathering in the lovely room at the Vet's where these things take place. But, after talking with the Vet, we agreed to see how she might fare over the next days. When she's not in the throes of the "episodes", she looks pretty good for a gal of 94.  He is a kind man and he obviously cares for both his patients and their families. And while he would do whatever we thought was best, he was able to help us put some specifics to the "quality of life" issue that predominates our concerns. So, we'll see how the good days: bad days ratio plays out. Yesterday was a bad one. It may be that John and I are not the bravest or hardiest souls in the household. To see her struggle and be helpless to help is heartbreaking. She has more heart than ability these days, but she steadfastly maintains her role in the pack. We want to do right by our lovely girl. If only it were clear what that is....

A Little of This and That...

It snowed here last Sunday. Enough to stay on the ground overnight. Yesterday the sun was shining and the daffodils have opened up. Whew. Mother Nature is in a frenzy. But Spring is definitely "winning" and it gets greener by the day. I look forward to dinners on the deck before long.

John has been digging a patch for some black raspberries. That has kept hm busy for about an hour each evening and most of yesterday. It was my day to do the fetch and carry routine as I made trips to Costco, Sears, Kinkos, World Market, Petco, Home Depot, and Central Market.In between I threw in a little laundry. No wonder I was tired! Today we will have breakfast with friends and then the fellas will install the shiny new microwave-convection-lots of other stuff oven. We plan to hit the local Nursery in the afternoon to get some half barrels for planting herbs and tomatoes.

John returns to California tomorrow for 4 days. The hard headed brown dog and I will muster on. I have some interesting projects at work just now to keep me busy. Let's see what the week brings....

Lion v Lamb

March is turning out to be a "conflicted" month. It doesn't yet look like Spring but it's milder than Winter. Still somewhat cold but the first daffodils are blooming. The ground is so sodden that I took a step into the grass earlier this week and, as if on a slip n slide, I went sliding right down into the muddy, watery, mess. And then I was a muddy, watery mess. Had to strip off in the garage and take everything (coat included) upstairs to be laundered.

John has been away since last Tuesday. First he did the usual work week in California and then on Friday evening he flew down to Los Angeles and is spending some time with daughter Karen. She is running the LA Marathon today and John will drop her at the start and then he and Chris (her boyfriend and an all around good guy) will drive to Santa Monica to watch her finish! Go Team Grant!! Then he'll hop a plane back home and I will pick him up later tonight.

It has been a long week and his absence has been felt. The hard headed brown dog has needed careful watching as she seems to have developed some weakness in her back legs. They appear to give out on her from time to time. I don't know what this means or how serious it is yet, but lifting a 60+ pound dog is not something I can do on my own. When she is up, she seems to be fine and her movement is not restricted. But the extra vigilance means I am not as free to do other things that want doing.

Still, being the only one to accompany her outside has meant that I am privy to all the activity out there. On the nights when it has been clear (and there have been some), I was able to watch the dance that Jupiter and Venus have been doing this week as well as spot my old favorites like Orion's Belt and the Big and Little Dippers. When it has rained, it hasn't been a soaking rain but a misty one. The woods are full of birds, some of which make their way to our feeders during the day. There is much singing in the woods in the morning. And we have a mystery thief who has taken a fancy to the blocks of suet which we hang for the birds. The first night, I failed to capture both sides of the holder when I hung it and the door was easily opened. The freshly hung block was no where to be seen. I put a new block in the holder yesterday, making sure I had secured both sides, and this morning, the holder is dismantled. The suet is gone. I suspect a fat raccoon thinks these are candy bars and is making off with them. He hasn't successfully managed the second block as it hangs on a smaller branch. If he is eating the whole block, it won't be long before he will be too fat to climb anything!

Looks like a lamb of a day so far although rain is predicted (when isn't it up here?). Think good thoughts....

A Grandmother by Any Other Name...

Grandma, Nana, Mimi, Mamaw, Gammi, Granny, Gram, Gran.....My personal favorite is Gram, but any would do. Yup, the beans are spilled. We are about to become grandparents for the first time! Sometime in late August or early September. Just like that, the world changes. And that "gift quilt" I have been talking about in earlier posts is, in fact, a gift to that grandchild.

On other fronts, John is feeling much better. The cough still lingers as it does when these illnesses strike. But he is far more functional today than a week ago. We went to breakfast yesterday with some friends and then ran a few errands. This week we received the new dishwasher and it is so much better than its predecessor. We had one small "incident" when regular dish soap was used in place of dishwasher detergent for its first run. But we'll put that behind us and move on for the sake of the marriage. Let's just say that bubble baths hold little appeal for me now.

As I mentioned last time, it is as if this house has some kind of warranty that is at its expiration date as several things have seemed to fail all within a short time. Perhaps it's those damn solar flares. Who knows. The last to go was our hard drive for our satellite TV. After some lovely chats with the "technicians", we received a new hard drive unit only to be stymied by a set up process that insisted we had two remotes and were attempting to program them both to one location. But we don't and we weren't. Several more conversations with the "technicians" and some more of our life minutes used up and now we have a new remote on its way. I believe the technical/expert explanation was "Sometimes they just stop working and who knows why". Really?  We gave up and watched a streaming video that evening and John figured out how to get the old remote to talk to the new receiver the next day. But we still have a new remote due to arrive any day.

John will be going to California again this week and at the end of the week he will fly down to LA to watch daughter Karen run in the LA Marathon. Go Team Grant! He'll return home on Sunday. Life will continue as it does up here in the quiet. Hopefully, I will find the time to work on that quilt. Till later, this is Gram signing off...

March Fly-By...

Weekend! John arrived home on Thursday night with a cold, possibly the flu. He is in the thick of it now so we will miss the Farm Breakfast this month. He's "off the grid" and I am plying him with chicken soup. Fortunately the Central Market keeps a steady supply of chicken soup going among their 8 or so that they have on their soup bar. My vegan kitchen lacked some of the necessary ingredients to create a pot of it on the spot.

I brought a little work home with me yesterday and will probably see to some of it over the weekend. I came home early yesterday to monitor said ill person. Working from home allows me to get quite a lot done in a short time since there are not the usual distractions and interruptions. I have been reading a book titled "Quiet: The Power of the Introvert in a World that Can't Stop Talking" and it certainly validates my preference for periods of solitude, especially when I want to work. Actually, it validates a lot of my persona.

We experienced some snow showers last week. None of it stuck to the ground at home, but some local areas received as much as 7 inches. I'm really done with that winter thing now. Somewhat warmer temperatures and a little sunshine would be nice. I'm ready to put the chairs back on the porch and get some hanging flowers up. John was right about the heat pump. It was low on freon. The "heat pump guy" charged it and replaced some little part while he was here yesterday. He didn't see a leak, but my resident AC expert will bring a leak detector kit home and check it out more thoroughly. At any rate, it's working just fine now.

Today I will do the usual errands and then I will try to get some quilt time in. I was distracted last weekend by a sudden compulsion to work on a jigsaw puzzle. So, it's another weekend. Too short, but welcome all the same. And it's March. Time surely seems to fly...

That's a load of old pooh....

Totally enjoyed the three-day weekend mini-vacation and the short work week. I could do that every week, I'm afraid. I think I'm more productive in both spaces. We unexpectedly got a load of horse manure from our lovely friends, so John's weekend took a different turn. And he has continued to move it around during the week. The plan was to use a trailer that could just dump it out so the fellows wouldn't have to shovel it this time and they could dump it right into one of the garden beds. Unfortunately, the trailer was so big that it couldn't be maneuvered close to the garden and when it "dumped" the darn stuff didn't slide out. So they ended up shoveling. And because the trailer was so big, we ended up with twice the usual bounty. That's a lot of you-know-what! And it's in a big pile on the lawn/meadow/jungle clearing. Not the landscaping feature one would plan.The robins are having a field day with it.

We ordered a new dishwasher yesterday. We have never been pleased with the Maytag that was in the house and missed the functionality of the Miele we left behind in Cali. So, week after next, we will no longer be tolerating unwashed dishes and silverware. Lovely. Funny how time flies and here we are nearly 3 years in this house, finally getting around to this.

On the home-ownership front, this house must have had a short warranty that is expiring quickly. I noted the crumbling gate pillars last week. Now the heat pump is behaving strangely and one of the gutters seems to have "split", and so we (John actually) hear a drip from the bedroom when it rains. And one of the little louvers on the dryer vent outside fell off! A large ladder is needed for a couple of these fixes. John and our friend Bob are talking about going in together and buying a large ladder; infrequently used but necessary. It's all in the details, eh?

So, the man-made stuff is vexing, but Mother Nature has been actively producing and readying for a Spring show. Loads of buds are appearing on the trees and bushes. The crocus are up and look so delightful. Daffodils and tulips are almost ready to bloom and they have multiplied since last year. John found that the garlic and shallots that overwintered in the garden are growing and will be ready to harvest before he plants the spring seeds. We had some hail last evening which is still on the ground this morning as it's 27 degrees. We are slowly moving away from wintry weather, though.

Today is a quilting day. I have a small project I'd like to complete and then I'll turn my attention to color selections for the gift quilt. John is off to Cali this week so the animals and I will carry on as we do. And then it will be March. Lion or lamb, I wonder...

Carpe Diem...

It's a long weekend and just what the doctor ordered. Feels like a mini-vacation. We attended the annual fundraiser for a school in the area last night that focuses on creative arts. They produce a mystery dinner theater and hold a silent and a live auction. We got two other couples to go this year and it was such fun. The theme was disco and it certainly brought back memories of the 70s. Wow, did I just say that? Anyway, I managed to get a couple of the silent auction items I bid on. One is a black and white photograph of dogwood flowers up close.

Today is a quilt show at the fairgrounds and I'll go see what inspires me today. It will be a good pace to be on a rainy Saturday. John has lots of soccer to watch today. Tomorrow promises to be pretty dry, so outside jobs can wait.

Finally the stairs have become too much for our Zoe girl. She had a little difficulty coming down them Monday morning and John ended up carrying her part way. Then Monday night she just couldn't convince herself to climb them at bedtime. So, she has spent the nights downstairs this week and although she would probably like to be nearer her pack, she settles down pretty quickly and has slept well. She is otherwise fairly robust and continues her usual routines.

There is probably more to say, but it is, after all, my mini-vacation and I should move along. Carpe diem and all that...

Up, Up, and Away

John went flying with our friend Bob 2 weekends ago. He caught some nice pictures of places we haven't been. This is top of Mt. St. Helens and you can see the dome that is forming and the steam rising from it. Then they flew as close to Mt. Rainier as they were allowed back over Olympia and the State Capitol Building and on up the Hood Canal to Port Townsend airfield where they stopped for lunch. On the way back, they circled the house. It was a good day. I stayed home to have a massage (already scheduled) and then work on taxes. What can I say....

As you can tell, the weather that weekend was fabulous. We're back to rain, but it's only the light variety. And the temperatures are in the mid-forties. Not bad. Not snow.

The gate is finally in place and working! Actually, it makes a big difference to my every-other-week "home alone" existence. At least I'm assured that no unannounced visitors will visit. Now we discovered that some of the stones on the entry pillars have fallen away and underneath is that same type of disintegrating concrete that was originally used to mount the gate mechanism. Well, right now it's not in a place that can be seen, so we'll play around with some "repairs" and if push comes to shove, the pillars will just have to come down. They look nice, but not essential now that the gate is properly mounted on posts. Home ownership....the hits just keep on coming.

Otherwise, it's been pretty much the usual routine of work-home-work-home-weekend! I'm composing a color palette for a quilt I'm starting. It's in that conceptual stage where perfection is still possible. The tulips and daffodils have poked their green stalks through the dirt, anticipating spring. We might have lost the crocuses to our wet winter this year. Some of the trees have buds already. And the light is starting and staying longer each day. I drive to and from work in daylight if not sunshine. That's a relief. Speaking of driving to work, that should happen pretty soon so watch this space for more to come...

Olympia WA and the state capitol building

 Mount Rainier fly-by

Sunshine visits the Pacific Northwest...

The weather has turned unusually warm. It's early February and it's over 50 degrees. The sun is brilliant and the colors look so clear and intense. Everyone is out and about. There was a line at the car wash yesterday. Cars lined the road next to a walking trail in Silverdale. These Northwesterners don't waste time. When it's nice out, even for one day, they are outdoors. We went to our monthly Farm Breakfast, not so much for the food anymore as to sit and chat with our friends. Good times. Today John will go flying with this same friend, Bob, who is a pilot. He will take many photos of parts undiscovered by us so far. I already had a massage scheduled for this morning, so I'll stay on the ground this time.

John was out of town last week, so the Z-dog and I went about our business as usual. He arrived back on Thursday. The people who are repairing our gate were supposed to complete that task last week but did not. John will pester them this week to finish it. It's been 4 months now, so it needs to be done. Friday we had an unsolicited visitor (compliments of an open gate) trying to sell us frozen meat. I should put a large "V" on our garage door for "Vegan Household".

We just confirmed the plans for our visit to Maui later this year. It's nice to have it on the books and I look forward to the visit. John will be visiting daughter Karen in March to watch her run the LA Marathon. I don't know how much actual watching he can do when they are moving, but he's going to support her as best he can. I will stay home with the hard-headed brown dog. We don't like to leave her any more than we have to in her old age. We will be going for a short visit to Tennessee in the Spring which means she'll have two stays at the kennel this year.

All is quiet on the front with regard to the Mouse Wars, nary a one all week. Perhaps John has become like the Farmer character in Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit books. The mice have been warned to stay away from his vehicle for fear of not returning. They have steered clear of the house all season since I put those high-frequency noise producing thingees everywhere. Roosevelt has had to make do with a limp ball-toy that he regards as his prey.

It must be the weather and an unseasonal urge for spring cleaning, but yesterday we successfully unloaded our old eye glasses for recycling at the local optometrist's office and took a variety of cell phones to Best Buy where they will recycle them for free. We'll tear down some boxes today and John will take them and the old couch cushions (recently replaced) to the local recycling facility this week. Small things, but feels good to get them completed. And on that note, adieu....