29 June …

 

Trip to Medford was not normal this month.  Our appointment was a bit later which threw off the regular routine.

Road Work

And there was a long stretch of road work just north of Weed which slowed us a bit.

23 June 2016

It was sort of hazy, but we watched the Mountain as we went north.

In addition, going to Oregon every month means shopping isn’t as important on every visit. This month we went to only the restaurant supply store and CostCo after the retinologist which meant we were done in Medford by 1130. We decided to head for home rather than eat up there. We made it to Yreka a bit before 1330 and headed for Casa Ramos. Special of the day was a quesadilla plate.

Yum …

~~~

Some things I didn’t get around to telling you about last week’s radio event …

I came home with a box of bananas … not a hand, a box.

I had been told to take them from one rest stop to another but, when I got there, they didn’t want them so we left them in the back of the pick-up and I brought them home.  Banana bread, banana muffins, banana cake … and sharing.

The river was flowing FULL which was spectacular.

The flower display this year was different.  The ceanothus was in full display, but the azaleas had not yet opened.  I saw only two Shasta lilies. There were yellow lupine but no blue. It was all eye-candy, but I was driving alone and needed to be on station so I didn’t have time to stop and take pictures.

The Castle Crags catered after-ride dinner this year was excellent.  There was marinated bar-b-que chicken breasts which were set out serve-yourself style with two pasta salads and fresh bread and butter.  And, of course, the Dunsmuir Brewery provided a couple of kegs of pilsner and IPA.

And I forgot to tell you about the rider who was doing the 100-mile course with a straight-across, non-displaced fracture of his left knee cap. He was wearing a wrap, but …

Mountain bikers are interesting people.

The amateur radio operators are still getting compliments. 

They like us. They like us. 

They really like us.

Next up?  Mt Shasta 4th of July.

~~~

On the current list for harvest …All Heal

 

 

all heal,

 

Harvestthe first of the lavender, motherwort, French thyme, oregano, and elderflowers as well as more yarrow, lemon balm, and apple mint.

Tinctures, washes, and oils to come.

Mock Orange

 

 

The mock orange has burst forth, but it is strictly for pretty and aroma … not for drying.  If you know something about extra uses, please tell me.

 

~~~

The radio club’s involvement on the Castle Crags event so impressed some folks from the Cycle Siskiyou group they asked if we would be interested in doing a couple of other events.  I will be presenting the request to the club at the next meeting.

They are talking about a fairly flat ride through the Tulelake area which would include Captain Jack’s Stronghold, the Lava Beds area, and the Internment Camp with lectures and historical presentations at each rest stop.

The other ride they mentioned would be a circumference ride around Medicine Lake, maybe to coincide with the autumn indigenous PowWow event.

And we got another request from the Shasta-Tehama group.  They need five operators for Whiskeytown. 

The planned events sound interesting but

All of these are quite a distance from home and might require overnight stays someplace. That could be a drawback. The club will need to be very careful, and possibly set requirements and limits, so we don’t work ourselves out of existence.

~~~

It has been a bit since I last posted a word of the day … but this one caught me. 

I love rhyme and rhythm and unexpected results.  How about you?

tohubohu  … chaos, disorder, confusion

My first thoughts … possible confusion, but the rhythm and rhyme of the word itself belies chaos and disorder.

Of course, that could be said to add to the confusion.

~~~

Last monday morning, as I was out in the garden, a doe came past with her fawn.  Naturally … I didn’t have the camera.  Oh well …

Doe and Fawn

But I did have the camera handy when she brought the baby into the backyard yesterday. (Sorry it isn’t a really clear picture.  I’ll try again later.)

 

~~~

Small Aggressive Cat (AC for short) is learning.  He is a very smart animal.AC

While I work in the garden he follows, talks, and plays. Then as soon as I finish, he no longer tries to run along between my feet (troublesome at best) but now takes off directly for the area where I give him his morning milk and kibble. Then he waits, calling, until I make it around there.

 

~~~

I recently learned that a young relative (I’ve told you about him before … his great-grandmother was my cousin) is a ham.  He told me his Uncle Marvin (his great-grandmother’s brother and so also my cousin) had gotten him interested in amateur radio. He is planning to bring his family to visit next autumn.  Maybe, if he’s here at the right time, I’ll get him and his older son involved in a radio event.

That would be interesting.

~~~

Friend Liz will arrive next sunday.

And a letter from cousins Merna and Gordon say they will be here the 11th.

Too bad I have no time to be bored.

~~~

My middle son used to say “Coincidence?  I think not.” Last week I saw this …

Coincidence is the Creator’s way of staying anonymous!

So … ’til next week …

 

 

22 June …

 

 

I will start this week with a brag … or two.

First some background.  Yesterday I sent John into Weed to get some toilet paper.  I had mistaken a pack of paper towels for a pack of tp.  Oh well …

Weed is a small, POOR town. 

As he left the store, John found an open purse,  in a cart, containing what appeared to be a significant amount of cash.  He immediately took it into the store to see that it was safe.  In the store, clerks were busy (or inattentive) and it took some time and frustration to get the purse into a safe place.

This area has been experiencing some problems with vagrants and homeless folks.  The clerk to whom John finally was able to give the purse seemed to class him with those others. Really dumb.  Had he been one of them he would have pocketed the cash and disappeared.  Right?

At any rate, John came home and shared what had happened.  I shop at that store.  I know the financial status of the town.  I know the clerks at that store.  I called to tell the manager (who went to school with my sons) that I thought it was an unfortunate handling of the incident.

As a result, we learned the woman to whom the cash belonged had returned, crying, and was reunited with her purse.

And on another subject … my other son opened his church to any and all for support and sanctuary following the Orlando incident.

These incidents made me so proud of my sons

~~~

Radio stuff was prominent last week and weekend.

At the radio club meeting wednesday evening, there was a discussion in re the security watch we contract with the Mt Shasta Chamber of Commerce 4th of July Committee for vendor protection.  Questions in re responsibilities and liability had come up and caused some concern (and a little animosity) as had the request for extended hours without an offer of extended compensation.  Resolution took a few prickly minutes, but seems to have been handled.

~~~

Several problems arose at the last minute concerning the Castle Crags Bicycle Event.  George got them resolved … not easily, but they were resolved, and the event went well. 

There had been rain on wednesday, and thursday, and friday.  Saturday, for me, started with the drive up the road to Mumbo SummitArrival where there was snow on the ground.  The temperature was 32° and within half an hour it was snowing.  Result?  Lots of cold fingers and toes and red noses.PCTIt is an interesting location at the top of the mountains where the Pacific Crest trail crosses the road.  This year we met with hikers from North Dakota on the trail.

That was between 0800 and 0900.ClearingBy 1100 most of the snow was melted and the sun was breaking up the clouds.Set-up

 

This year my station folks were “Star Wars” people.  The boom box was blaring out the Star Wars soundtrack and there were two Princess Leia’s,Obi an Obi Wan (who welcomed riders into the stop), and a Tuskin Raider.  I carried Yoda on my chest.  But there was no Wookie.

Oh well …

We saw 153 riders through that stationClown (one of whom was a clown).  That was about half of the total participants (the others were on different courses). The count made me smile thinking about the Anderson ride a few weeks ago where the total participant count was 85.  As one rider said … “Siskiyou Rocks!”

The volunteers at Mumbo are talking about being girl scouts next year with badge sashes and badges for things like eye make-up and lollipop licking and cookie selling. I wonder if we’ll be required to wear bobby socks and beanies? And what would make a good sound track?

The radio club’s health and welfare efforts were VERY appreciated.  We had two riders who needed “rescuing” … one with an electrolyte problem (he was overweight and had not eaten anything before he began the 23 mile CLIMB up to Mumbo) and one with a severe thigh problem after about 50 miles (he was only a week past physical therapy for a fractured femur). 

At the end of the day, two riders had not returned but they were two guys from the Bay area who had started late due to weather and were first time mountain bikers. The rain had washed away some of the route markings at the far south end of the course.  We tracked them almost to Dunsmuir so the guess was they got lost on their way through that area and probably wound up at the Dunsmuir brewery where they could refresh and get directions.

It was a long day.  We left home before the sun was up and got home after 1800.RR ParkI finished my stint down at Railroad Park, admiring the old snow plow.

Sunday was a let’s-just-veg day.

~~~

Kitten report … He is still small, but he thinks he is big and is beginning to act that way.  He bosses the hens and now puts them away in the house before I get out to close them in for the night.  He allows me to stroke him and pick him up, but is no longer content to settle.  He wants down and wants his food. 

I sort of enjoyed the “kitten”, but he is meant to be a working cat, so this change is good. 

He appears to be a survivor.

~~~

Last thursday, on my way into town as I went down the hill, an interesting animal crossed the road. It had ears like a coyote and a nose like a fox.  Its coat was red, not the grey-brown mix of a coyote.  It was small for a coyote, but large for a fox.  I’d never seen one like it that I remember.

Later, at the Family History Center, I was talking with a friend who grew up in this area and he told me that many years ago there was a fox farm on Old Stage Road (must have been the 30s when women wore foxtail boas).  The farm was surrounded by a nine-foot fence.  One year they had a twenty-foot snow storm.

He also told me the foxes they were raising had an odor similar to that of skunk, just milder, which is noticeable during mating season when the males are marking territory.  We have experienced skunk odor around here this spring.  It has been fainter than usual skunk and we have seen no overt sign of skunk actions. 

Maybe we have one or more representatives of the fox-coyote cross sharing residence space at Cold Comfort.

                                       ~~~

John is here.

First task was to get George and me back on track with our computers.  George was having email trouble and I was having photo scanning trouble.  All seems to be resolved, as least as resolved as it can be when dealing with computer dinosaurs. Fortunately, John understands both computers and parents as well as teaching methods.

Next came getting plants into the ground.

He brought cherries from Marysville.  I first thought to make some jelly or preserves.  Then decided “No”.  We will enjoy eating them fresh. I may make a cobbler.  And when they’re gone that will be it for this season and we can anticipate next year’s season.

21 June 2016 NightTuesday night, John took his photographic equipment out and took this time shot of the mountain in Solstice moonlight.  See the star tracks?  It gave me chills.

~~~

FHC last week was a challenge.  A lady brought in two very young girls (ten or eleven years old) with the idea of getting them started on full family trees.  She had done no preparation with them. 

We tried to get them started.

“What is you mother’s maiden name?”

“What’s a maiden name?”

“What name did people call her?”

“Carrie.”

“What is your grandmother’s name?”

“Nonnie.” (i.e. Italian for Grandmother)

Add to that effort the idea that my research partner’s style leans toward rapid demonstrations using her own tree … “See, this is my great-great-grandmother and if I check this …”

One girl started drawing a version of Celtic knots.  The other kept looking out the window.

I wound up giving them pamphlets containing suggested questions to sit down with relatives and ask, and explaining how they could then come back with some answers and we would begin to build a tree.  I don’t know if I did any good.

Oh well …

~~~

And my rant for this week …

I find it interesting that more and more people (in the following cases the “people” are young white women) are able to hold and support completely opposite and often conflicting views of a situation at the same time with nary a hint of disconnect or disorientation.

Case in point … subtle racism as in “She’s not like us. Her skin is too dark. She is not acceptable in our clique.” while spending time and money on tanning beds to get skin as dark as possible.

Or … deploring sexism, rape, and the demeaning of women while letting it be known that being dragged into a violent bed is exciting and desirable.

~~~

Tomorrow morning John leaves and it is George and my monthly trip to the retinologist in Medford.

So … ’til next week .,..

 

Smart people aren’t smarter than me.  They’ve just read a book I haven’t read.

 

 

15 June …

 

Last sunday there was a rip in the Force …

 

The attack in Orlando brought some thoughts to the fore.  The officials stated they would be investigating this as a terrorist act. 

Duh …

It is interesting that Americans seem to think a terrorist act can be committed only by foreigners or those with whom we disagree politically or morally.  Why?  Isn’t terror terror?  Is it terror only when committed by “others”?

Weren’t Sandy Hook and Oklahoma City and Mother Emanuel and Virginia Tech and San Ysidro and the University of Texas and Columbine and Aurora and Umpqua CC and way too many other events acts of terrorism?

In my mind terrorism is terrorism and hate is hate … PERIOD.

And to see some say the shooter was Muslin and a Democrat so that makes it a sure thing POTUS and Democrats all will automatically blame Republicans and gun owners … ???

Except for a geographical distance, I could be among the personally affected grieving mothers, grandmothers, aunts, cousins, and friends.

Life is getting SCARIER and SCARIER … for more than one reason.

~~~

By this time next week, the sun will have started the trip back south.

~~~

Here follows the Saga of the Orphans …

Thursday's Kittens

I found two beautiful black, blue-eyed kittens in the summer chicken house the evening of the 9th.  They were out there, calling.  I don’t think they could eat any of the chicken feed.  I believe they were looking for companionship. One came to me readily.  The other was a bit more reluctant.  But I gathered them and took them back to the house.  Their bellies seemed too flat.

I can only guess that either their mum abandoned them or somehow she has gone missing.  We have some neighborhood dogs who are allowed to run free (although that is illegal), some coyotes, and a bobcat or two in the area.

At any rate, I felt they needed to be fed … and cuddled a bit.

Then we took them out to a spot where, in the past, I had seen Mumcats hide kits and tucked them in with a couple of rags for warmth.

Friday morning, when I went out to take care of the Lady hens, I took out some body-warmed milk (I had put some in a bottle and tucked it in my shirt) and checked on the kittens.  Surprise !!! There are three of them. 

The two from the night before were ready to be picked out of the cubbyhole and fed. The third was a bit reluctant, but learned how to lap up the milk with no difficulty and joined the other two in my lap when they were finished.

At the midday feeding, all three were out in the open, soaking up the sun. When they saw me, they all came around to feed and then climb up for petting and soothing words. I was a bit concerned about them being so out in the open since we have rather large hawks and owls. But I decided I would feed them and cuddle them, but otherwise I had to let Nature take its course.

Saturday morning was a bit of a downer.  Only two kits.  By saturday evening, still only two and they had begun to follow me away from the hidey-hole.  That could be dangerous.

So beginning sunday morning I took care of the ladies first, letting the kits cry.  Then when I went to them, I played with them first rather than wait until they were fed.  After a short playtime (I want them to stay used to being touched), I poured their milk, saw that they found it, and immediately left.

Monday morning the two of them showed up, but the runt was slow and didn’t eat as much.  Monday night, I could hear the runt but was unable to get to it or lure it out, so I was holding my breath. 

AC

There has been no sign of the runt since.

 

The aggressive one began calling me and following me (underfoot) every chance it got and has begun purring when it gets to me.

 

And as of this morning … no further changes.

~~~

Next saturday is the first of the summer radio events.  Currently I’m scheduled for two posts.  I’ll start at Mumbo Summit (my regular station) and then go to Railroad Park when Mumbo closes.  The radio operator scheduled for RR Park has to leave early to officiate at a wedding so I’ll be the relief operator.

Who knows where I’ll go next. 

All I do know is that I’ll be back in the park in time for the catered dinner.

~~~

For the first time in a whole lot of months, I had a new breakout of the staph … this time on the inner aspect of my right wrist.  Staph 12 June 2016At first I thought it was my allergy to cat hair, but yarrow for the itch worked only a very short time.  Then, sunday morning the area was red and swollen and when that happens, cellulitis is not far behind.  I started the meds right away when I saw the swelling. 

My allergy doesn’t swell.

Fortunately, I had a supply of the necessary meds.  My previous medical provider had given me an open script once we learned what worked.  But he is no longer my provider and so cannot refill prescriptions for me.  That means the timeline for making the decision in re choosing a new provider has been moved up. Not tomorrow, but within the next few weeks, I need to see a new care provider and have a new medication supply available in case this occurs again what with all the current stress.

Wish me luck …

~~~

Pullets

 

Pullets (they are no longer chicks) have been moved out of the brooder.  

 

Soon they’ll join the Ladies.

~~~

The rose which has tried valiantly for years to avoid the deer long enough to bloom finally made it.Late Rose

~~~

Sometimes it doesn’t do to read the obit page.  Last week I recognized three names, only one of the three older than I am.

Other than all that, this has been a rather uneventful week …

Radio club meeting this evening …

 

So … ’til next week …

 

You are living in a beautiful world. Appreciation is the key.

 

 

 

8 June …

 

 Last week, I forgot to tell you that the radio club’s classes for those who wanted to become hams (or upgrade a level) went well.  Only one of those taking the class failed to get their license and that was because she missed part of the training due to a family situation.  She’ll make it next time.

We will be welcoming them at the next club meeting and inviting any of them who want to join us in the summer health-and-welfare events to tag along as trainees at the Castle Crags event in a couple of weeks.  I think it would be valuable to any of us to be trainers/mentors. 

Another radio item has come up. 

The Cascadia fault off the coast of northern California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia is getting a LOT of attention. Authorities are doing drills and retrofitting and directional sign posting concerning quakes and tsunamis and are including hams because amateur radio is available and working when “modern” stuff fails.Earthquakes

Lately, California has been gently rocking … no real big ones.

And no clusters around or under our volcano but clusters under Mount St Helens … again.

Stay tuned.  Life is interesting.

And still another amateur radio linked item …

For the past several years, the radio club members have done security watch from 2100 to 0600 for the vendors at the Mt Shasta 4th of July event.  This year they are asking we do it from 2100 to 0900.  Depend on the hams.

There will be a discussion of this situation at the next club meeting.  It should be a doozie since I’ve already found myself in a “thing” with one of the members.

~~~

Last thursday was another volunteer day at the Family History Center.  I rarely do two weeks in a row, but I had to switch a week last month because of a radio connected meeting.  We closed the center early this session since my partner had to be in Yreka at 1400 and we hadn’t had any clients.

The Sister with whom I was working is one of the chatters, so I didn’t get much research of my own done.  Oh well …

Next session will be the 16th.

~~~

One evening last week, George and I watched a movie titled “Everything is Illuminated”. 

It was not at all what I had expected. 

The first part of the film was full of word, cultural, and slapstick jokes.  There were a lot of static shots which led  you to think about what the character was thinking or doing.  It didn’t move very fast.  I wasn’t about to turn it off, but it didn’t impress me.

Then … all of a sudden … in just one short scene … it all changed.

By the time it was finished (?) I had been intrigued and challenged and reminded and shocked and confused and surprised and impressed and … and … and … and there were tears in my eyes.

If you don’t want your beliefs or opinions challenged, avoid this film.

Now I want to read the book.

~~~

A big issue on the news and the net last week was the killing of the silverback in the Cincinnati Zoo after a four-year-old managed to make his way into the gorilla’s living area.  The child had repeatedly announced he wanted to go in there. 

Some reporters equate those who think that killing was ill-advised with anyone who supports inhumane meat “farms” such as beef feed lots and swine dungeons and movement-restricting chicken cages.  I’m not sure I get the connection, but I resent the comparison.

After watching the video a couple of times I see no reason to have killed the animal.  The child shows no signs of fear or distress.  The animal seems to be confused by the uproar overhead and trying to protect the child from the ruckus and the shouting.  At one point he tucks the child into a corner and puts himself between the child and the uproar.  When he moves the child, he handles him as he would a young gorilla, including putting an arm around the boy … no intent to harm.

Given a better handling of the incident (clearing people away from the area, limiting the employees in the area to those used to interacting with the silverback, etc. as suggested by several people used to dealing with those animals), I believe the silverback would have taken the child to handlers just as the gorilla in Chicago did a few years ago. 

Jane Goodall, while not pointing fingers, would seem to concur. 

End of rant …

~~~

I heard an interesting comment in a discussion last week.  Someone used a paraphrased quote (Twain, I think) which essentially said  “When telling someone who you are, never say something like ‘I’m a farmer.’  You are not a farmer.  You are someone who does a lot of things one of which is farming.”

Got me to thinking.  I often identify myself as a farmer’s daughter when actually I am a wife, mother, nurse, gardener, writer, lover, poet, genealogist, cook, spinner, knitter, grandmother, friend, relative, nature appreciator, philosopher, wannabe photographer, bed-maker, … but you get the idea. 

In addition, I am the daughter of an intelligent man who, among other activities, farmed.

Who are you?

~~~

Summer continues to come on.Meadow 8 June 2016This is the first year I can remember when the meadow was abloom in white.Wild GarlicIt is Wild Garlic.  It has always been here, just not is such profusion.Star FlowersAnd there are so many of the very small flowers.  Mainly they are blue-eyed Charlies and star flowers.  This is the best I was able to do in order to share their wonder.

Iris & PeoniesHowever, I did get pictures of the late iris out front by the bell and the peonies.

~~~

Finally …

Dirty Fingernails

 

 

a comment on the season …

 

 

 

and a thought for this week …

“We think, ‘I’m not a fool today. I’ve learned my lesson. I was a fool yesterday but not this morning. Then tomorrow we find out that, yes, we were a fool today too.’

“I think the only way we can grow and get on in this world is to accept the fact  we’re not perfect and live accordingly.”
–from “The Illustrated Man” (1951) by Ray Bradbury

 

So … ’til next week …

 

 

 

 

1 June …

 

Yesterday was the anniversary of George’s birth.  I am grateful for that natal day.

~~~

It was brought to my attention last week that the term “SAG wagon” in relationship to the bicycle events for which we do radio communications was not clear. 

SAG stands for Service and Gear.  The SAG wagons are pick-up trucks or large SUVs, capable of carrying people and bicycles, which follow riders along the courses in order to be available in case of any need or emergency.  The radio folks are there to keep the center of operations aware of what is going on with the riders and if there is an emergency, or just a rider unable to finish the course, the location of the need is known.  Because amateur radio is heard by all hams, everyone knows what is happening as opposed to the use of a cell phone where only two people know.  Our events cover mountainous areas where there is little or no cell phone signal anyhow, so hams are valuable.

In addition, SAG wagons do what is called a “sweep”.  They go over the course one last time after all participants are supposedly back at the start-finish area making sure all riders are safe.  One year I followed a mother, on a bicycle with a child in a carrier behind, for the last several miles of the course to make sure both of them were safe.

And last year we lost track of two riders behind the Crags (a particularly difficult area).  It took two sweeps of the course to discover they had gone off course to skinny-dip in the river.  Worth a laugh, but it could have been serious.

For those of you who consider participating in such an event, make sure the planners provide stocked rest stops (and water stations) and SAG wagon coverage.

~~~

One evening last week, on the national news, it was reported the town of Bristow in Oklahoma was hit by a tornado. 

Wow …

Small world. 

That’s the town where, more than sixty years ago, George and I spent a night in a small, funky motel where a very pregnant cat slept under our bed. 

At that time, Bristow was quite old west.  The steak at the local bistro covered a plate the size of a serving platter and came with whole, HOT chilis on the side.

As an aside, we are as sure as we can be that is the place our oldest son was conceived.  Must have been the cat.

~~~

I’ve been watching the PBS shows featuring Steven Hawking.  What a trip.

I understand some of the principles (laws, theories, etc.) in spite of having failed every Physics class I tried.  But, so far, the shows have left me with more questions than I have received answers. 

I do not completely understand the multiple universes idea, but it does make sense to me, as does the idea that my brain has decided before I make a conscious decision.

I do understand the Venturi and Doppler effects and wave theory.

However, I may never understand the thinking behind the Big Bang theory.  How can the universe have started from nothing?  Isn’t it a law that matter can neither be created nor destroyed?  And the question about where was the starting point … mind-boggling.  According to Hawking it was at the end of my nose.  Figure that one … I am the center of my universe!  And you are the center of yours.  So there are infinite universes.  Questions ???

I’m not sure my non-Physics mind can cope.

In addition, I get uncomfortable watching Hawking so much.  How about visuals to help me understand instead of so many pictures of him?

~~~

Thursday at the Family History Center was interesting.  I was working with a Sister who is all business.  Some of the others like to chat and discuss family and food.  But not Sal.  With her it is “Hi. Are you well?” and then down to work.  And that is fine.  When I work with her I get more genealogy done.

We had only one client, but he was a challenge.  He was an elderly Italian gentleman who had read about a WW II Italian with a similar last name and with a fantastic war story about being a prisoner and escaping by sea (by swimming), re-capture (I think) and then it gets a little convoluted. 

Our client was IMPRESSED by the story and wanted to know if he is related to that hero.

Sal and I both worked on it for nearly two hours.  We did make headway, but that question is going to need a lot more time.

It is interesting how many folks want to learn about ancestors because they want connections with royalty or heroes or celebrities rather than just to know more about family.

~~~

A bit ago, son John gave me a thumb drive to carry on my key ring with the idea of putting George’s and my health records on it so they would be available in case of an emergency.  Sounded like a good idea.

So when we were at the retinologist’s last week, I took it along and asked that they copy George’s records onto it.  I planned to do the same each time we see a care provider.

The folks in the retinologist’s records office were more than willing to give me a copy his records … just not on my thumb drive.  They gave me an entirely new drive.  The reason was that they fear downloading a virus or whatever from someone else’s drive.  I brought theirs home, copied it onto my computer and then onto the drive on my key ring (their drive was physically larger than the one on my ring).  I now have a new drive to use for something else.

BUT … that led to some interesting thoughts.  If medical offices (and Emergency Departments?) are afraid to plug my thumb drive into their system, for fear of infection, in order to retrieve information  … what is the use of carrying it?

I can understand the concern, but wonder what I can do about making sure our information is available if needed. 

With the proliferation of those determined to subvert technology for their own purpose or purposes generating a need for wariness and protection, of what use is the technology?

~~~

The laying hens are settled into their summer digs.  They move between houses without problems since we talk with them a lot and they are used to being handled. 

Chicks

So are the chicks … and they are getting big.  Out to the brooder house they go as soon as smaller holed wire gets in place.

The local animal population is getting more visible.  

Doe

 

The doe is back …

Cat and one of the cats has claimed the courtyard as her own.

~~~

As I was on my way out to the ladies’ summer digs a bit after 0600 the other morning I thought about dawns six months from now.  As I went down the path I noticed the meadow was in full sun, the breeze felt and smelled great, the yarrow is coming into bloom,Iris the iris are amazing, Pine

 

the new growth on the pines is shining in the morning sun, there was bird song in the meadow and trees and a rather loud woodpecker off to the west.  

 

Six months from now it will still be very dark and cold this time of the morning.  Oh well …

~~~

With the change in daylight, my morning schedule is undergoing a revision.  When mornings are dark, I stay indoors and do indoor house stuff or write or read or surf the net until it gets light and warmer.  But now that it is light by the time breakfast is done, I will be going out early and doing the indoor stuff after 1000 or so when it warms up outdoors.  Takes a bit of time to get used to the new routine.  But the catalpa has begun to leaf out so the time for mornings outdoors is here.

~~~

To end the week …

 

Feel genuine gratitude for all that’s good. That’s really all you need.

 

So … ’til next week …