Month: July 2020

More thoughts in the time of COVID-19 …

A couple hours late. Sorry. Annual check-up.

We had been having rather hot weather which broke with a vengeance last wednesday evening.  It began getting dark a little after 4. By 5:30 the rain had started and we were getting pounded.  The rain burst was so heavy I wasn’t able to see past the water sheeting on the front windows and there was a small river running down the driveway.  Lightning and thunder. 

It was the kind of storm George and I used to enjoy … so I enjoyed.

It had come in from the west, over Mt Eddy, which was a bit unusual.  Most of our storms come up the canyon from the south or down through Shasta Valley from the north.  Regardless of direction, the wet was welcome.

The lightning did start some fires, but mostly off to the east and southeast in the Modoc and Lassen areas.  I had hoped it would help with the fires, but no such luck.  Our fire zone is short staffed since several of our fighters are over on the Hog and Gold fires.  We are being covered by CalFire stations and southern Oregon.

The weather got warm again, but not as hot as north or south of  us, and the thunder storms were going around us.  Interesting …

For anyone who is interested in our fire situation, the local fire zone has a website … http://hmm4200.org/

~~~

The phenomenon of time speeding up as I age has hit an up-swing.  At least it feels as if it is gaining speed.  Days are getting shorter … quickly.  The sun isn’t coming in my east window until 0700 or later.  On the other end of the day, I go out to close in the chickens before 7:45 (1945).

And speaking of chickens … we lost one of the whites last week so we are down to 17 hens now.  No indication of what happened … not an animal.  She just gave up the ghost.

~~~

Mark has been thinning trees to the south and I can once again see into the meadow.  It is part of the mandatory clearing around residences required by the state.  The view to the south now is more open but holds all the variety I’ve seen for so long … fir, pine, birch, catalpa, cherry, maple, cedar, fern, meadow grass, yarrow, mullein, …

My head is full of photos.

~~~

Still no decision about whether or not the schools here will open or how.  Kamille may be back to work however.  She had been doing the morning and afternoon childcare duty in addition to her TA work and special tutoring, and parents will be having to go to work as usual.  

Of course, Mark’s work as Fire Chief is a 24 hour thing this time of year.  He drives a water tender (which requires a special license) and so takes his turn at the 24 hour shifts.  He was called out last evening, but the fire was controlled and his shift was shortened. 

And Tyler’s work with the animal shelter continues regardless.

However, my volunteer commitments are slowing down.  

All the bicycle and running summer events have been cancelled, so no amateur radio involvement this year.  And I may just call this the end of my volunteer radio communication days.  It isn’t as much fun as it was when George and I worked together.

Only this week and next remain for packing the free summer lunches for south county children and only three more months of the Tailgate produce events before the growing season ends in the central valley. That will leave only the commodities distributions and the landowners’ association activity.  

There will be lots of time for reading, thinning out forty years’ accumulation of stuff (remember I’m a Depression kid and saved everything … you never know when you’ll need “it”), spinning (and resisting the lovely fiber going on sale due to COVID lockdowns since my current stash fills the cedar chest), and who knows what else.

~~~

Reading? … still going strong.  Recently finished another of the Arapaho rez mysteries and am reading a fictionalized account of a passenger on the underground railroad.  And on to a new Steve Berry titled “the Malta Exchange”.  I really like reading novels by Berry and Rollins.  Their action moves fast.  But the big draw is the research they appear to do (or else they have fantastic research crews) because their story lines are built around history, up-to-date technology, and worldwide politics.  Currently, I am learning a lot about the Hospitallers and the Roman Church, both past and current.  It will be entertaining to see what those two authors do with COVID.

Current video watching is a Brit series, as usual.  The Brits and the Aussies do good tv.  However, I do have to say those Brits appear to be a randy sort … spending a lot of time snogging and shagging, especially in suburbia.

~~~

Last friday was my oldest son’s sixty-fourth birthday anniversary.  I remember that birth day clearly.  It was mid-summer and hot.  I was staying at my folks’ place since medical care there was what we could afford (my mother was the day nurse in the newborn nursery).  I was afraid George wouldn’t get to us (the baby and me) in time since he had to keep working and it was a three hour drive to get to Hemet.  But he made it with time to spare.  

It was all a Blessing.  My first born continues to be a blessing. He keeps me supplied with hand-poured Prayer candles and the memories are good.

~~~

It seems to me this blog, which used to be far-ranging, has gotten rather insular … turned inward by age, COVID, and now the turn in seasons.  We are nearing 140 days into the COVID lockdown here in California.  

I wouldn’t say I’m doing “fine”, but I am doing “okay”. 

How about you?

~~~

Two communications last week … one genealogical, one familial … another death … my generation continues to disappear.  

“Life will break you. Nobody can protect you from that, and living alone won’t either, for solitude will also break you with its yearning. You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You are here to risk your heart. You are here to be swallowed up. And when it happens that you are broken, or betrayed, or left, or hurt, or death brushes near, let yourself sit by an apple tree and listen to the apples falling all around you in heaps, wasting their sweetness. 

Tell yourself you tasted as many as you could.”           

… Louise Erdrich 

I’ve decided to follow the advice recently posted by Dan Rather.  He said to call someone every day.  I have a list of family and friends, and I’ve started.  If you are a reader and would like to be included, let me know.  I’ll put you on the list.

So … ‘til next week … 

More thoughts in the time of COVID-19 …

Heat … it can be fatal.

Yesterday it got me.  I went out early to pack the lunches for kids (118 this time).  No problem.  Warm, but not unusual for summer here.  

By 0900 finished there and met friends in the park with apple fritters, coffee, masks and distancing.  Warm, but still no problem.

By 1030 I was at the monthly Tailgate produce giveaway to do my volunteer “check-in” thing.  Had shade and water.  Sign-ins went well.  Only four people refusing to wear masks.  I took names and locations so if we have a cell develop and need to do tracking, we can start with them.  Also had one rather adamantly vocal objection to the census (I had a census worker with me handing out late filing advice).

Produce was in boxes so there was little or no interaction between volunteers and recipients and had one rather loud complaint about having to tote a box to her car and not being able to choose what produce she wanted.

There were plenty of cantaloupes however.

By time to go home (1300), temp was in the high 90s.

Got home and that was it !!!

Now for the backstory …

Way back in 1951, George and I made a trip to New Mexico to visit Carlsbad Caverns (there’s another story there, but it will wait for another time).  We were going across the bottom of the states since we were living in southern California then. 

Crossing the desert into the southwest corner of Arizona was HOT.  I was riding with my feet out the window (you could do that in those days … no seat belts).

We stopped in Gila Bend for gasoline, I got out to go to the toilet and wash my face which was salt crusted … and passed out as I opened the door to return to the car (our beautiful, white, Chebbie coupe).  The next thing I remember is being led to the house of the station owner across the highway, put on his living room couch with a wet cloth over my face, and being forced to drink tepid, salted water.

Seems I had a heat stroke.

I never learned the name of those lifesaving folks, but I’ll never forget them.

And ever since then, I’ve been very sensitive to high temperature.  It is mostly controlled by having learned what to do and how to act.  In point of fact (to quote Mrs. Chelm), it has been years since I bonked out.

However, yesterday something went wrong.  By the time I got home and got the groceries unloaded (that may have been the final straw), I was done for.  I was red in the face and covered with salty sweat.

I spent the rest of the day and all night on my bed.

But I’m much better now. Even managed to do up yesterday’s dishes.

Still when you step outdoors and 70 degrees feels cool, you know you’re having a heat wave.

Today all I have to do is go to the library, pick up Tyler’s spinning wheel from the friend who restored it, and do a wee bit of shopping (orange juice and salad greens).  Won’t be out of the air-conditioned car very much.

~~~

The far north central part of California is on fire.  Fortunately, they are all between 60 and 100 miles away.  Some evacuations are in effect, but none near us.

The Badger fire (the one Mark was on) is on its way to being out.  A neighbor (RN) left to work on the Hog near Susanville yesterday (the road between here and Reno has been closed for several days by that fire).  One of the student live-ins from our station leaves this morning for the Hog. He had said he was interested in becoming a wildland fire fighter and will have a good resume when this season is over.

Sunrise this morning was deep red orange from the Hog smoke and there were two small fires in Montague east of Yreka north of us.  Both quickly contained.

I do believe we are in fire season.  Maybe the new seasons for California are rain and boggy roads followed by drier, anxiety-prone, pre-fire followed by a-bit-scared evacuation prep followed by FIRE SEASON followed by where’s-the-rain? followed by mop-up followed by here-comes-the-rain and flooding followed by take-a-breath it’s snowing followed by melt and boggy roads and …

Oh well …

~~~

Still no decision about how, or even if, local schools will open next month.  Current home plan is for Paul to go to a classroom once or twice a week and home school the rest of the time.  But we’ll see.

~~~

Now seems to be the time for Pantheists to remember and model behavior for the lesson that …

In this universe, all activities, events, and entities are related. Everything in the universe has value and instructs us in some aspect of life. Everything is alive and is making choices that determine the future, so the world is constantly creating itself.

We are all connected to all things.  Whenever we harm anything, it causes harm to ourselves. If we destroy the air, then we will be affected by what we breathe. If we poison the Earth, we poison ourselves. We must respect our Mother Earth and She will respect us in return. 

We must open our eyes.

With the wisdom and time for reflection that old age provides, we may discover unsuspected relationships.

Allow me to honor and respect the things You, the Creator, have made. Let me see the beauty of all things. 

(adapted from STANDING ROCK SIOUX  –  Vine Deloria, Jr)

So … stay safe … ‘til next week (and even beyond) … 

More thoughts in the time of COVID-19 …

This morning there was an interesting non-surprise …

Tyler’s car (an open-air jeep) had been visited in the past by a bear who had been inside, sampling a sip of lemonade left in a cup.  It was a small bear, identified by a paw print left in the dust on the back seat (I told you it was an open-air jeep and we live on dirt roads). 

A week or so ago a neighbor had a small to medium print in their driveway.

This morning, as he was coming up to the house from his apartment in the old barn, Tyler’s dogs froze and one sort of snorted.  Tyler looked to the left and there was a small (for bears) brown bear just a few yards away.  The bear looked at the dogs, shook its head, and took off headed west toward me at the chicken house.  I guess I was in the hen house, watering the chickens and filling their pellet dispenser, because I didn’t see any of that.

Seeing a bear was a non-surprise because we live in a WUI area (Wildland Urban Interface) where we cohabit with the indigeneous animals. The only surprise element was because I had left a sled with a bag of chicken pellets sitting out in the path to the chicken house.  I had been too pooped to haul it the rest of the way last evening and was surprised this morning the bear hadn’t found it.  

The encounter would indicate the bear’s regular path is from the east open meadow, across our living area, to the Durney Creek area and the houses on Elderberry.  

That reminded me of the morning I stepped out the back door to meet a bear coming out of the woodshed, the door to which had come open with wind (since there were no claw marks to indicate the bear had opened it nor anything in there to attract a bear).  We were both a bit surprised at such a close encounter (about a yard) so I stood still and the bear, after glancing at me, walked rapidly away through the backyard.

As long as the local wildlife leaves the chickens alone, we have no problem.

~~~

Last friday my primary care provider held drive-thru COVID testing.  The whole family went through.  Have you done it yet?  What an experience.  I think that swab reached all the way, past the sinus, into my left frontal lobe.  And to think that, as long as I’m working with food sharing, I should do this every fourteen days to make sure I’m not infecting others …

Oh well …

~~~

Only five more weeks of packing lunches.  As I have said before, the older I get the faster the days go by.  Now it has been less than a month since the equinox and the morning sun is already far enough south to be rising over the Mountain.  

It seems it was only a day or so ago that I was watching the sun move slowly north (and yes, I know that isn’t the scientific explanation, but it is my perception) and shining in my window earlier and earlier each morning.  It was nearly 0620 before that happened this morning.  

Thinking of packing lunches … we still have no idea what the coming school year will be like.  Some Oregon schools are offering the choice to attend in-person or attend on-line.  The problem in making the choice for Paul would be more social than academic.  There is little or no problem with teaching him at home.  Learning to play well with others is a bit of trouble when access to “others” is severely limited.  If you live rural, the neighbor kids can be more than walking distance away.  

And Kamille works (worked?) for the school district, so this situation is impacting the family that way.

I predict 2020 will be seen as a fulcrum.  What and how widespread the changes in everyday life will be is anybody’s guess.  And when I add my age to that equation …

But enough gloom and doom …

~~~

Paul’s swimming is in full swing.  He did well enough last summer as a 7-year-old that this year he is a member of the beginners’ swim team and no longer just a wannabe.  In spite of general lockdown, they meet two days a week in small groups to practice with each swimmer being carefully restricted to their own lane.

~~~

The issue with the reservoir is still simmering.  I know it isn’t good to wish harm or bad luck onto others, but I can’t help hoping karma is in operation.  The land developers who subdivided this area sure left a big mess for those of us who bought here.  They made promises with fingers crossed, failed to provide for an owners’ association with power to oversee, left road access questions unresolved, hedged on the requirement to prove adequate sanitation and well sites, and that’s just the foam on the top.  Those of us who bought early had little or no problem with the uncontrolled aspect of the area.  We bought with the idea of self-sufficiency and cooperation.  It worked for a lot of years.  Then folks who were used to city amenities and had a sense of privilege began arriving and …

But hind sight etc. and here we are.  I had trusted George’s and my little haven would last and both of us would die here, leaving a good place for the family.  

Bobbie Burns was right about the best laid plans …

Oh well …

~~~

My current “TV” viewing is a series out of New Zealand.  The scenery is interesting as are the culture references.  The main character is aged about 50 and he keeps surprising his younger cohorts with words like “collywobbles” and “canoodling”.  

Fun …

An aside is the length of each episode … between 90 and 100 minutes each.  Seems strange to remember that when I was young, the running time of movies was a mere 60 to 70 minutes and saturday at the movies meant two full length features.

Speaking of movies … 

Have you learned yet that my mind runs wild with off-the-wall connections which lead me on convoluted paths off through the back 40?  So … 

Speaking of movies, I was recently involved in a challenge to cite a single line of dialogue which was a giveaway to the movie such as “Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.” or “I’ll think about that tomorrow.” or “Round up the usual suspects.” or “Come on, babe, why don’t we paint the town?” or “Are you crazy?  The fall will probably kill us.”

But somehow no one thought to add “Badges?  We don’ need no stinkin’ badges.”

~~~

Finally, for this week …  

I find I am grateful for each morning … 

Regardless …

 “Each soul must meet the morning sun, the sweet earth, and the great silence alone.”

     –Charles Alexander Eastman, OHIYESA SANTEE SIOUX 

So …  ‘til next week …

More thoughts in the time of COVID-19 …

Well … the catalpa is finally in bloom, but mainly in its very top.  The lower branches are fully leafed with few blossoms.  

Strange …

~~~

Last week I went to what was advertised as a class in using herbs for healing, a subject in which I have been interested for quite some time.  It was held at the local Seventh Day Adventist church.  I should have known better.  

No fault of the Adventists, but I should have anticipated the missionary aspect.  

Still, during the rather short herb presentation, I did learn more about cayenne.  I was unaware of its ability to blister skin.  It seems like a no-brainer now that I know.  Guess I just never thought of it.  When I was a kid, my mother used to use a “mustard” plaster on my chest when I got bronchitis and she always put some kind of oil on my skin before putting the plaster in place.  Now I know why.  

The speaker told of an experience he had when flying intercontinental … his feet got cold so he powdered them with some cayenne he had with him.  Ten minutes went by without feeling any heat, so he added more.  Ten more minutes he did it again.  And again … several more times until he felt warmer.  When they landed an hour or so later, he put on his socks noticing his feet looked a bit red, stood up, and nearly fell over with the pain.  The next morning his feet were blistered.  

Lesson?  It takes time for the heat to be felt so be patient. 

Too much of something might not be a good thing, right?

~~~

Spent the 4th very laidback.  The day started out clear, but clouded by mid-afternoon.  All was quiet until a little after nine (I was already in bed) when the sounds from the fireworks shows could be heard.  They didn’t last long.  And no fires started.

I wonder if celebrations of the 4th will stay the same as before or begin to resemble this year’s style?

~~~

Another death … 

Years ago, George and I had dinner partners named Elaine and Don Wirth.  They lived about half a mile south of us as the crow flies, about two miles via the road.  We had dinner together every two weeks, one time over there … the other here.  

Elaine and I giggled together, did Weight Watchers together, took walks together, shared recipes, you name it … we did it.  And we really were Mutt and Jeff.  She was short and pudgy.  I was tall and, even at my fattest, wasn’t pudgy. 

Don and George were so far into model trains that they spent evenings going to various model clubs, a lot of time building layouts, watching train videos, comparing the “steals” they found at shows and sales …  

The day after Thanksgiving was always a big one.  That’s the day all the model train nuts, of all gauges, in central far northern California and inland southwestern Oregon get together at the Armory in Medford to talk, sell, buy, whatever. The four of us always went and, after wearing out all possibilities at the expo, we would go to McGrath’s Fish House for fish and chips.  

He was a Brit who, as a child, had been evacuated from London during the Blitz to a farm in Cornwall.   She was a Canuck farmer’s daughter from north of Toronto, eh.

Back in the early 2000s they moved to North Carolina to be closer to their daughter.  We never saw them again, but didn’t lose contact.

Don had myasthenia gravis.  He had to have his eyelids removed and caring for him was getting to be a full time thing.  They were together back there for only six years before Elaine died of bladder cancer.  We still kept in touch with Don via email (I learned to use the largest font available so Don could read it).  A bit over a year ago, he stopped writing, but was still reading the blog.  The last time I had a sign that he was reading the blog, or having it read to him, was three or four months ago.

Don died the day after George’s sister did … 30 June.  

~~~

Time for doing the lunch packing is getting short.  I was reminded yesterday there are only five more weeks.  My how time flies as you get older.  

The number of lunches is now up to 129/day.  The local boys’ and girls’ club opened as did one of the local parks’ play group.  Some interesting rules … no adults allowed on those sites other than those working with the kids.

Did I tell you a local chef is planning and overseeing the lunch program this year?  Last week on the days I worked we served a taco salad one day and a tortellini salad the other, both complete with fruit and cheeses.  The kids are eating well.

I always end up with an aching lower back (counter heights are made for people shorter than six foot), but I also end up feeling useful.  And I get to bring home scraps for the chickens.

Today is library day, so I’m looking forward to a new book or two.  Maybe a gaslight era mystery.

~~~

The neighborhood brouhaha is still in full swing.  Interesting times …

It’s said that when we least deserve love is when we most need it.   If, in response, I destroy you, I destroy myself.  If I honor you, I honor myself.

–Hunbatz Men, MAYAN

So …  ‘til next week …

More thoughts in the time of COVID-19 …

Another death in the family (not COVID).  George’s younger sister died monday last.  There are now only two of us left in that generation.

~~~

Weather has been doing the “No such thing as climate change?  Hold my beer.” 

Here it is, not even a full two weeks past the equinox, and last saturday it was in the high 80s (over 100 in Redding) … slept with only a sheet.  Sunday was a high of  62 with a wind chill of 50 from the north northwest strong enough to sway evergreens with trunks 24”+ thick … comforter needed for sleep. Last night in the 40s … comforter.

~~~

Problems and blessings based on/at the reservoir have come around again.  The visual blessings are there most of the time.  The problems are also there most of the time and erupt every few years.  They have gotten worse over the last few years and are now at the critical stage.  Maybe this time a solution can be found and implemented.  

A lot of the problem has to do with the owners of the land surrounding the reservoir, the Siskiyou Land Trust, and their stated purpose for the land.  When they acquired the land the idea was it was to be a wildlife sanctuary.  But they allowed it to be used as a recreational area and that has led to trespass on private roads which in turn led to parking, trash, trespass on and in the water (which does not belong with the land but to irrigation users down river), and obstruction of road passage for fire fighting equipment and others.  I plan to attend the Board meeting of the Land Trust next tuesday.  And in the meantime, we are trying to decide how we will handle the situation over this coming “holiday” weekend and I am doing a lot of research concerning rights of access, easements, and all that stuff.  

One of the visual blessings was mine last week when on the two early mornings as I drove out (I leave the house a bit after 0600 on tuesday and thursday) the reservoir had a top dressing of mist.  That always happens when there is water in the reservoir and the temperature difference between the water and the air is just right,  I’ve written about it before.  It is always beautiful.     

Another blessing has been the continued presence of the Canada geese and their fledglings.  There are a lot of them … so many that they form rather large gatherings and hold parades across meadows and roads.  More than once I’ve had to stop and wait while one of their parades crosses the road.  Sooooo … why does a goose cross the road?

~~~

Weekday mornings have been noisy lately, and not just the birds.  Folks have been busy clearing the areas around their buildings (I told you we are in a high fire probability zone) and the crews are out early chipping the piles of slash left along the roads.  Work starts about 0630 and is done by noon when the humidity drops.  I’m usually awake by 0530 (which is why I don’t answer the phone after 2000 – 8 pm), so the early morning roar isn’t a problem for me.

~~~

As I was going north to Yreka one day last week, I noticed the first cutting has been made in the alfalfa fields ( the first hint was the perfume of the fresh cuttings) and the second bloom is already showing.  Later I saw two 18-wheelers,  loaded with bales, heading south.  Due to irrigation capabilities, this looks to be a good year with possibly four, or even five, cuttings.

~~~

My most recent read was a book titled “The Old Religion”.  It is a gothic horror story (I’ve got strange tastes in reading matter, and if you too like that genre look for “Harvest Home” or “The Other” … I think they were both by Tom Tryon).   

But what I want to share is an edited excerpt from an interview the author (Martyn Waites) did recently.  

“They voted. I think it’s just dawning … that they’ve been lied to, or at least I hope it is, and all the things they’ve been promised won’t be happening.  In fact, their lives will be substantially worse than before. Normally I would say they deserve it for what they’ve done, but unfortunately they’re dragging the rest of us down too.

“ … The {lies} were believed, unfortunately. A dangerous fantasist has taken hold of a scared populace and is insisting they do something that would make them palpably worse off.  I quote Chesterton in the novel: ‘When people stop believing in something they don’t believe in nothing, they’ll believe in anything.’  That’s our country at the moment.”

He was talking about the UK and Brexit, but it sounds pretty much like another country and situation I can think of right now which is very much in the news.

~~~ 

Last week I saw an article in the New York Times about the Coney Island hot dog.  Seems it was “invented” by a man named Feltman shortly after the Civil War (1867) and he called them “Coney Island Red Hots.”  The name “Nathan’s Coney Island Hot Dogs” came later (Nathan had worked for Feldman).  Nothing was said about the original recipe (which was Mr. Feldman’s grandmother’s) being kosher but the name Feldman makes me think it must have been.  I buy only Hebrew National or Nathan’s now because they are kosher which means they are required to be unadulterated by throwaway meat bits.

Oh well …

~~~

Time now to get on with the other chores and here’s a reminder to hold onto …

Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.

Heroes are the people who do what has to be done, when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

So …  ‘til next week …