98. An Old Pro

Maggie earned her Furry Friend's bandana for completing her initial three site visits last Thursday. She loves people and seems to enjoy going to the centers.  The patients derive such pleasure having the dogs visit.  There are quite a variety of breeds in our group which pleases the patients and seems to unlock memories of past pets.  The staff tell us that, almost without exception, the patients are much more animated and happier after our visits. 

We have still been pruning trees and bushes.  There are a few

lavender and daisies that need a little trimming but other wise if it didn't move we trimmed it.  There is quite a pile in the lower meadow for our andlady's son-in-law, Mike, to haul away to the green dump up the canyon this week-end. 

The apple tree had sent up some really straight branches and we couldn't stand sending them all to the green dump, so Bob helped me create a heart shaped trellis for a Cape Honeysuckle that I bought a while back.  I usually think simple, but with Bob on board it needed an arrow through it.  I have to admit that it certainly did finish it off nicely.  I'm the queen of close enough, but I'm glad he didn't let me deter him.  It's quite lovely and you can see it from the road which is nice. Now all we need is some steer manure and potting soil and it will be sink or swim for the Cape Honeysuckle.

97. Time and Mechanics...Hmmph

I just love the biggest part of the internet.  I actually glean comfort in the fact that because of the silly computer, even if I find myself alone, I'll never really be alone.  Friends, family, the Smithsonian, Sunset Magazine, just Google it and there you are.  Hours of time can be constructively wasted and you are stunned when you glance down at the time (conveniently at the bottom right hand corner of the screen) and find it actually has been hours!  What they really need to add is a timer.  You know, one of those digital kind like hair-dressers use when they are timing your perm.  Hmmm...I think I'll get one of those with a magnet and add it to my monitor.  Well, second thought, I'm supposed to be retired and not worry about the time, right?  Half the time I don't know what the date is, or even what day it is until it's time to sit down and catch an evening show on the television.  It is rather luxurious most of the time.  There is that word again, time.  It comes up time and time again when it shouldn't matter, at least not most of the time.

But I digress, our friend Pam sent us an email with cartoons of Hallmark's "Maxine."  I can't imagine anyone not knowing and loving the irascible "Maxine."  Most of us know someone who he surely must have used as inspiration for the character.  Our friend Jeff's mother, June, was the spitting image of Maxine, personality, cigarette and all.  The only difference was June never, ever wore bunny slippers.  I did not, however, know who the creator was.  Well, the email included that, as well!  It turns out he is Hallmark employee artist John Wagner.  Employed by Hallmark since 1970, Wagner's "Maxine" didn't appear until 1986 when they added the "Shoebox Greetings" to their line.  She is inspired by his mother, grandmother and maiden aunts.

The email came with lots of "Maxine" cartoons, but one struck especially close to home.  It is about mechanics, the bane of automobile existence.

  From about 1980 to about 1987 we had the pleasure of owning a 1955 Plymouth Belevedere.  I LOVED that car!  We bought it to teach the girls to drive in because we felt they would be impervious to harm when surrounded with actual steel.  I ended up falling madly in love with it.  One morning I was hustling myself off to work and it wouldn't start. I called the station on the corner a couple blocks away and had them send a mechanic.  He drove up in a tow truck and started fiddling under the hood trying different things.  Finally, he stood up, looked at me and said, "Lady, you have a problem."  Relieved, I said, "What is it?"  He actually said, "Your car won't start."  They wonder why we don't trust them.

96. Small Blessings

Each time I go outside I can't help but look at the apple tree.  It just looks like it feels better, which in turn, makes me feel better.  I can't really explain why, it just does.  Pleasure can be derived from such banal sources.  It's always just around the corner, waiting to be discovered.  We only have to be open to it, receptive in a passive way, not necessarily searching out right.  I suppose when you are young and have so many things pulling on you, stretching you in six different directions, never done, really, then you need notes on the bathroom mirror to remind you to keep your antenna ever vigilant.  Finding the pleasure in the little things is much harder, I guess, when you feel like every minute should count for something constructive.

Retirement has given us the blessing of extra time each day to spend how ever we each see fit, even if it is something that someone else would consider a waste of time.  Have you ever done something and then stood there and thought 'Who is ever going to care that I did this?'  If I have derived pleasure from doing it, what does it matter? Our schedule is still filled with obligations, to be sure, but there is still time to do more 'leisure' activities.  Taking Maggie with Furry Friends has turned out to be rewarding and great fun, a small and simple way to give back, bring a little pleasure into what could be a dreary  existence.  I can't say who derives the most pleasure from the occasions, I just know it makes me count my blessings.

95. A Sigh or Two

Our apple tree sighed with relief yesterday, almost audibly.  It has been neglected for six years, at least that is the last time we tried to trim it.  I'm sure, no, positive it had not been tended to for probably twenty years or more.  We were afraid to go too crazy six years ago, so we didn't trim it near enough, apparently.  I have killed several lavender bushes because of the word "ruthless" in conjunction with the word trim.  There are varying degrees of ruthlessness and apparently mine can fall in the killing level.  But as you can see this poor thing was a mass of limb suckers and branches criss-crossing each other, a fruit tree no-no. Well, I would imagine that it is a bad thing for most trees.

 

I went to the "completely amazing internet," typed in "trim apple trees" and lickety-split, there were tons of sites.  I chose one that touted pictures, scrolled down to "neglected trees" (an understatement) and  "Voila!"  Armed with credible information, gloves, trimmers big and small, plus the newly acquired Fiscar extra long handled limb lopper and saw combo, my mostly eager husband and I set out to free the tree to fresh air and a new lease on life.  One comment that helped spur on the trimming was "to clean out center branches enough to allow a bird to fly through."  Now that is brutal trimming.  But ten hours of unrelenting sawing and chopping later a small bird could indeed fly through the naked tree.  We may not get many apples this year, but we didn't get one last year, so maybe in a couple of growing seasons we will get some.  They are wonderful apples and really great cooked.  Hopefully our energy will prove fruitful.

 Not much goes to waste at our house and since apple wood has a high sugar content, it makes for great fuel for the Franklin.  Bob is now industriously at work trimming and chopping the branches into little logs for future fires.  It has to cure for a while, but that's OK as we have time a plenty.  My busy wood worker keeps a small stash of kindling and short ends available, too.  He hates it when people are afraid to get rid of even the smallest pieces and they end up with mounds of wood useless for anything except a snake condo.  That makes me sigh with relief!

It was such a beautiful day out here at our Gopher Hill Cottage that it felt good to breath in the fresh air and do some physical activity.  Actually, it felt more like October because the wind felt like a Santa Ana.  It really blew last night and this morning we found the small chuck wagon that Bob made turned over on it's side.  It's about three feet high, so that was quite a breeze. There wasn't much damage done, but it is time for a tune up and some re-painting.  There will be no damaged chuck wagons allowed on Gopher Hill.

94. Mind Body Continuum

My handy husband has  finished Maggie's new bed.  The last coat of varnish and the addition of stars completed the project today.  Our poor little dog has been waking us up in the middle of the night shivering with cold and having our sleep disturbed makes Sharon not such a happy girl.  Bob has elevated it with an airspace between the bottom and the concrete floor, which even with carpet can get really cold.  A comforter instead of a beach towel will hopefully help, as well.  I know, I know, she is a dog, but her back is also shaved and the little darling has never spent a night outside and if she has any say, she never will, besides we all need our beauty sleep!

I read an article that said the older a person gets the less sleep they need.  I'm suspicious that they didn't actually study seniors.  I, personally, don't know any senior of the male variety that can't sleep at the drop of a hat.  Bob has always been the king of power napping.

A number of studies have concluded that a short period of sleep during the day, a power-nap, does not have any measurable effect on normal circadian rhythms, but can decrease stress and improve productivity.^[44][45]

 ^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm#Determining_the_human_circadian_rhythm}

 Twenty minutes and he's ready to start all over again, rejuvenated and fresh.  I tend to get really cranky unless I'm not feeling well, then I'm cranky anyway.  Even when I was young, I needed a good eight hours and I still do.  I watched a segment by Deepak Chopra on the Dr. Oz show one afternoon.  Dr. Oz creeps me out a little for some unknown reason, but I have always admired Dr. Chopra.  Another dear long-time friend, Sue Clark, and I used to have long talks about Dr. Chopra and his approach to healthy, happy living.  He extolled the virtues of sleeping as much as possible between the hours of ten and six.  Circadian rhythm plays an important part in those particular hours.  The link above to our old friend Wikipedia proves to be extremely interesting, if you are so inclined.

Visit Dr. Deepak Chopra's web site

You can visit his site if you want more information on how to live a fuller life.  He is a doctor of internal medicine, as well, and looks at things from more than one point of view.  Certainly, you can take this or leave it, but an open mind is a good thing.

I'm off to the chiropractor to align my body so my mind can be on track.  Keep your fingers crossed.

93. Little Treasures

Well, mending my grandmother's quilt has turned into quite a project.  It 32 years old and certainly worth my effort.  She made it at a time when you could go to the dime store and buy fabric for 39cents a yard.  I'm sure lots of the fabric was purchased there because they have almost all decided to become tissue paper at the same time.  Fortunately, she must have splurged on the white fabric for the back and the main fabric on the front or I would be in a dilemma as to how to repair and not lose her hand stitching.  It has been well used, which is what she would want.  

She didn't start quilting until after my grandfather passed away and then made at least 9 that I know of.  Bow tie was the pattern they were all made in.  She embroidered her name,birthday and date of completion on a corner square, which quilters are wont to do.  It just makes the quilt all that more precious.  I don't think I have any other example of her hand writing which is a little sad.  I have her tortoise shell hand mirror which she personally gave to me when I told her how lovely it was.  She said if I liked it I should have it and not wait until she died.  I cried.

One thing I have learned is that I definitely do not  have the patience for quilting!  Why anyone would consider this fun escapes me.  Not only is it one very expensive hobby, if done right, but my middle finger on my right hand is really sore, even with the band-aid. Just a wimp I guess.

When I have finished, it will be good for another few years.  I don't keep it on the bed anymore because Maggie thinks that is her domain and with her bouncing you can almost hear the hand stitches popping.  I keep it draped over the "pain in the behind to clean" brass headboard that I use as a quilt stand.

We have a small quilt that Bob's great-grandmother made, as well.  It is covered with butterflies and more 39cent fabric.  I'm not sure that I will tackle repairing it.  We are still a little cranky with her because she took all of Bob's fabulous metal tanks and half-tracks she was supposed to keep til their return, to the war scrap drive the minute they drove out of the drive way to take his daddy back to Fort Ord in Monterey, CA.   They were made to scale military equipment with all movable parts that were used in simulated battles on sand tables by military brass. Cotton had won them playing craps with army buddies.  A little boy's treasured possessions.  Bob was the only boy out of all the cousins and I guess she considered him the thorn among the roses.  Still it was mean spirited.  I'm sure she never gave it a second thought, but Bob has carried that in his heart a long time.  They didn't take up much space under the house and the war effort could have done without a little boy's treasure.  I hope in my years as a parent and grandparent I haven't accidentally done something so thoughtless. Just one more thing to worry about!

92. Post Script on the Balsamic

Just a post script on the Balsamic Potato, Onion and Kale recipe.  It was just fabulous!  I steamed the kale in a skillet first, as kale can be bitter.  While the kale steamed I nuked potatoes sliced thick with the skin on for about 10 minutes that gives the toughest part a head start. While all that was going on I sliced an onion.  The oven was preheating to 400degrees.  In a large pan I melted about 1 T. of butter and a good drizzle of olive oil.  Drain the water off the kale and place all ingredients into the pan, stir well and then douse with about a cup of cheap balsamic.  Save the good stuff for something else.  I gave it a salt with Kosher salt (my personal favorite) and some garlic powder. Put the whole shebang in the oven and let her rip uncovered for about 30 minutes. The balsamic concentrates and becomes absolutely heavenly.  Just wanted you to know.

91. Ode to Balsamic

Balsamic vinegar could be considered by some to be one of the elixirs of the gods.  But, as much as I use it, especially white balsamic, I would never have thought of dousing potatoes with half a bottle.  I've been repairing an old quilt that my grandmother made for us and watching the new Cooking Channel.  What a lovely way to pass an afternoon!  A British phenom Jamie Oliver was making Balsamic Onions and Potatoes with Pork Roast.  I only made the potatoes but I'm sure the pork roast was excellent, as well.

http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/jamie-oliver/index.html

                                Photo:Jamie's Balsamic Potato and Onion Bake

I left out the rosemary (not really a favorite herb of ours) and cut the butter to 1 T. but otherwise followed the recipe.  My, oh my!  It was fabulous!  I went to the market and got some kale to add to the mix next time. When I bake random vegetables again I'll try the balsamic on that, too.  Now that on W.W. most vegetables are O points the veggie bake really tastes good.  

Sharon's Random Veggie Bake                        

The plan is to empty the veggie bin.  A random stalk
of celery, a couple of carrots, a couple zucchini, some cauliflower and broccoli, bell pepper, part of a butternut squash, a yam, a potato, an eggplant (you get the idea) and if you are thinking about this in the store you might add a turnip or rutabaga.  Always, always onion, garlic, salt and pepper.  (Simply un-American otherwise) If you are shy on veggies, then open and drain a can of green beans and add. Clean, chop and roll around in a plastic bag with olive oil and the seasoning of your choice.  Go crazy and try different spice combination's.  How do you know unless you try? Place on a  large baking pan or large skillet with heat proof handle (cast iron is fabulous) and bake, uncovered or else they just steam, in a 400 degree oven until nicely caramelized.

Now, try it the next time with a cup of balsamic vinegar, too!  With W.W. only the potatoes are counted as points, the sweet potato less than the white.  The only way this would be easier is if the veggies cleaned themselves.  I suppose there is a bag of frozen vegetables similar to this is the store, but then who would clean out the fridge?  It is always a conundrum.

90. Even the Lowly Lizard

Do you ever have days, I'm sure most of you do, where you have this list planned in the back part of your brain of great things to accomplish and yet...the sun feels so fabulous on your face.  You stand in the middle of the yard, close your eyes, take a deep relaxing breath, let go and just stand there soaking up the delicious warmth.  All of the resolve to accomplish meteoric things, in this one moment seem to disappear from memory.  It dissolves into nothingness.  Your body becomes a sponge that wants to take in the entire Universe and help make it wondrous.  If only the whole world could experience that momentary sense of peace.  Even the lowly lizard knows the value of basking in the sun's warmth.  Why is it so hard for us mere mortals?  Why do we have to put notes to ourselves on the bathroom mirror to remind us to relax, calm down, do random acts of kindness.

When I had a nail salon in Arroyo Grande, CA several years ago, I used to go to the little coffee kiosk across the driveway and treat myself to a decadent hot drink.  I would often leave an extra dollar and tell the hippie-like little pixie that worked there to buy the next person's coffee.  It was a little secret we shared.  One morning after my covert 007 generosity had been planned a 25ish lady came in and my cohort exclaimed, "This is your lucky day, this lady wants to buy your coffee!"  The lady turned on me and in a cross voice said, "Why?"  Isn't that just a little bit sad?  She had to know why, she couldn't just say "Yippee!"  How much ulterior motive could I have for buying her coffee? Is it some underground movement to conquer the world, some secret squirrel cult that lulls the angry beast into submission with cups of hot caffeine?  But we can't stop trying, trying to make the world see how easy it can be to spread a little secret pleasure, pleasure for the giver and the receiver.  At least most receivers.  I wonder if somewhere that lady occasionally still questions my motive?

Do your self a favor and don't just assume that person on the street corner with the cardboard sign will use that dollar for drugs.  What if, just what if, they really are starving, they really don't have anyone on  their side.  What if that  dollar or small change does  stand  between them and starvation?  We don't give to each and everyone, but sometimes our sweet Tracy taps on our shoulder and we drive around the block and give them a couple of bucks.  What does it hurt?  I've never been so broke that I couldn't afford a dollar.  Tracy never had much but she never failed to work at the food bank and each holiday packed baskets for the needy.  She lived on $600. a month and SHE worked the food bank.  Just tell me who the winner was there.

The world is a better place because of those little acts of kindness.  Join in the heart warming pleasure of making a tiny difference in someone's life.  If not the person on a corner with  a cardboard sign then a few cans of food for your local church or food bank each trip you make to the grocery store or maybe the cup of coffee for the next customer in line.  Just around the next corner could be any one of us.  At the very least go stand in the sun and breath deep, who knows what crazy idea you may come up with.

89. May Your Cup Runneth Over

The new year is in full swing.  It has been beautiful here, but today I'm going to get some silk long johns!  Even with new double-glazed windows this precious little cottage IS FREEZING!  Maybe it's because we are getting older, but what ever the reason, we wait patiently each day for the sun to finally peek over the ridge of hills and warm this canyon.  That doesn't usually happen until about 9 o'clock.  You can't plan much outside after 3:30 because that's when the sun sinks over the ridge on the opposite side.  Our friend of too many years to count, Jeff, came to visit here just after he had retired.  He pulled a chair out into the middle of the yard and said, "Since I retired I have been sitting outside with a glass of wine and a good cigar to watch the glories of the sunset...I just don't usually do it at 3:30."  Silly, but true. 

This time of year most people focus on trying to lose the cookies and other goodies that cling to their hips and tummies.  Then, of course, as if that isn't enough, I think of our burgeoning closets.  Some how cleaning after I take down the Christmas fal-de-rah takes a hold on me and one thing leads to the next and I find myself knee deep in the closets.  If I could just figure out how to get inspired to do that before Christmas others might benefit from my over flow.  But, no, I am struck only after the holidays.  Never the less, it just feels so good when I finally get around to getting rid of things.  

We have a favorite thrift store in town that is cleaner than most and they always have a couple of friendly fellows on staff at their back door to welcome your donations.  It is all so well run and we must not be the only folks who think that because I have purchased some of the nicest things there.  While I have been losing weight, I couldn't just run out and buy a new pair of jeans, etc, so I would head there.  I can't tell you how many things I have found with the tags still in place, obviously never worn.  When my weight would go down again, I would take those back and buy more.  One pair of jeans I fell in love with, I bought even though they were two sizes too small.  I hung them on the closet door until I was able to zip them up!  What a motivator that was!  Thank you, New Image Thrift Store!  Now that I am only 4 pounds from my goal weight I occasionally go to Kole's and splurge.  I am NOT saving my old clothes!  Do you hear me Universe?!  I'm loading them up this week and heading to...you guessed it!  New Image Thrift Store here I come!

I think the internet gives us so much information and a means to re-connect with lost friends.  It also makes us aware of how rich and diverse our planet really is.  But one of my favorite reasons for loving cyber space is all the fabulous photos we would never otherwise get to enjoy.  Here is one of

our favorites.  As with most internet things, I have no idea who to credit.  So, I think it is meant for all of us to enjoy and learn from.

Truly, may your cup runneth over!

88. Ahh, God's in Her Heaven...

Well, we certainly hope your holiday was as special and fun filled as ours was.  Our house was full of laughter, family and friends, just what you always hope for especially on special occasions.  Our dear long time friends from school days, Bruce and Dorothy, arrived on the 30th and were able to stay until the 3rd.  We spend a fair amount of time with them through out the year because of our part time jobs proctoring, but we are mostly working and don't have much time to play.  We filled each minute with short trips locally, long conversations and just plain fun.  

I love telling Dort something funny because she laughs from the tips of her toes to the top of her head.  I've only seen Bruce mad three times in the 50 some years I have known him.  Once was on the occasion of Bob's and Bruce's 60th birthday party.  It involved summer sun and half a dozen sun shades...some EZ-Ups and some not so easy ups.  He got very quiet, red in the face and then disappeared for a few minutes.  We finally wrestled the last one up and Bob said, "Well, we deserve a drink."  Bruce said, "Go ahead, I already drank one in the garage."  We all just busted up laughing! Disappearance explained!

We spent January 4th putting the Christmas decorations away.  Bob likes having an artificial tree more each year because real trees dry out so quickly no matter what you do that he swears I would take it down Christmas day if I could.  The beautiful fake one we bought...Hmm, maybe 3 years ago already has the lights on it.  It has a lovely form and fits the corner perfectly.  Then we go to a tree lot and buy lots of boughs to place on the front door so you smell it as you come in.  Others are strategically placed around the living room in  pretty pitchers of water where their fragrance fools your senses into almost believing the impostor is real.  (Bob isn't convinced) Our tree was up from after Thanksgiving until we jolly well felt like taking it all down.  I don't have to stress that a dry stick will suffer spontaneous combustion while we peacefully sleep.  Ahh, God's in Her Heaven and all's right with the world.

A new year stretches out in front of us and we hope it brings happy hearts all around.  I don't know if I'll live long enough to see financial riches, but hope springs eternal!