Month: August 2022

My chosen sister’s husband Barry died last week.  He had been ill for quite some time with an inherited brain disease similar to Alzheiner’s and had become unresponsive a week or so ago.

My niece and family had to leave for their new diplomatic assignment in Uruguay tuesday evening but only Lisa will be able to come home to support her mother.  Adam and his family live in the San Fernando Valley. 

Helene and Barry’s older granddaughter’s Bat Mitzvah was last saturday and my sister had been updating Barry daily on the preparations and then on the service.  

I know that people who seem to be no longer with us are still able to hear and so it is my belief that he was taking part in the service preparations, and the service as well, through the descriptions and waited for the completion of that event before leaving.                                                               As my maternal grandmother would say …

“May he have a mercy journey.”

I am unable to travel but was able to attend the service via the internet. 

I will attend the Celebration of Life via the internet and also talk with Helene when she is sitting shiva.

~~~

This week’s weather has been what the denizens of McCloud tell me is close to normal for this time of year around here … cool to chilly night (high 50s to mid 60s) and warm to an occasional hot day (mostly 80s and low 90s).  They have had a day or two with temperatures over 100 around the Mountain in Mt Shasta and Weed.

~~~

Every time I listen to the news and hear the latest from Putin’s War, I remember Hawkeye’s take on the Rules of war … 

“War has only two rules.  #1 young men die.  and #2 you can’t change rule #1.”

Of course, he was in a war where only men, mostly young men, were in the line of fire.  Now he’d have to change that group to “people” since young women are in all the US services and Putin is randomly bombing schools, theatres, hospitals, houses, playgrounds, apartment buildings, and anything that happens to be where his shells fall. 

Scorched earth and scare tactics.

As we Mothers for Peace knew and declared during VietNam …

~~~

Last week John tested positive for Covid and let me know right away.  I’ve tested myself twice since we had been working in close quarters on my computer, once right away and again five days later.  Both negative.

Fortunately his symptoms were not too severe and I have none so all is well.

~~~

I made a mistake last in week’s blog (noooooo, not me).  The hoop dancer in the Pageant was named Gilbert Costo who we called Skip.  Not that he will complain since, like most of my classmates, he is dead.  I just needed to make sure I corrected his information.

A belated goodbye Skip.

~~~

 And speaking of classmates, I made contact with another of our class members.  He is a retired MD who currently lives in Tacoma, Washington.  We had an hour long visit.

That makes two of us in California, one in Oregon, and now one in Wasington.  So that’s four that we know are still alive and, if not kicking, at least moving.

The four of us have agreed to make the effort to touch base at least every four or five weeks. To check on each other and pass on any news.  I hope we can keep contact. 

There were 67 in that graduating class and I believe it would be a miracle if there were more than a handful of us still alive.

Oh well …

~~~

The launch of Artemis I was scrubbed last monday due to a possible problem with the #3 booster engine.  They will try again next friday. I’ll be watching.

That may sound like a set back, but I think the creators don’t see it that way since this is scheduled to be a learning flight before sending Astronauts on the next step toward a Mars landing.  

I doubt I’ll live to see the Mars landing, but I will rejoice in the steps I will be able to watch in the interim.

~~~

At the risk of sounding like a Johnny one note …

Science has caught up with those seeing more and more doppelgängers.

“Scientists have long wondered about doppelgängers — people who look alike but have no actual family connection. Now, some researchers believe they can explain why unrelated people resemble each other. Plus, according to their study, there’s probably someone in the world who looks like you.  They may even share your same behavior traits.”  (Copied from CNN)

The report goes on to say doppelgängers share many similar areas on their DNA even when they aren’t closely related, i.e. not siblings or first or second cousins.

And Robin Williams doing the Limbo on roller skates in a commercial.

How many doppelgängers have you seen lately?

~~~

Still wondering about Climate Change?

An interesting article about it from BBC.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58073295

~~~

I’ve had a couple of weird happenings both following tiring days.

Both of those days I was involved from early morning and not arriving home until after 3 o’clock.  I am still on farm time usually going to bed around 6:30 or 7. 

We are on daylight time so it is still light until 8 or 8:30.

Both days I woke up, the clock said it was 7, and it was light outdoors.  I thought I had slept the clock around and it was morning so I was ready to get dressed and start my day.

Fortunately I texted my walkabout neighbor telling her I might be a bit late because of the previous tiring day and got an instant text back telling me it was 7 pm and so I could go back to sleep.

I need to learn how to set the alarm on my phone to 0700 so that if it wakes me I’ll know it is morning, not evening, and it is time to rise and shine.  

Strange adventures in this process of getting old.

Oh well … 

~~~

Mornings are getting later and later.  

Morning sun is not hitting the tops of the tallest trees to the west of us until just before 0700.  It takes another 15 minutes before it strikes the houses in our cul de sac and another 45 minutes before it hits my front porch.

Equinox is only about three weeks away. 

~~~

Seems this has been a week of endings, and rememerings, and acknowledging all I have for which I am grateful.

I don’t recall where I first read this but I now send it to my sister in memory of both of our husbands …

the day I forget to love you

the day I forget your name

… and then my own

I will turn in the center

of my intricate weave,

spelling your name in my dance …

your hidden name which

is simply, finally

         Beloved.

~~

Now to end the week …

The most beautiful way to start and end a day is with a grateful heart.  

So, ‘til next week …

Current status of the McKinney fire is 99% contained and burned more than 30K acres.

A civil suit has been filed naming Pacific Corp defendant/defendants as the source of the McKinney fire. PacifiCorp is the parent company of Pacific Power which is the source of electric bills in this area.  

It had been previously thought the source was human caused rather than a lightning strike.  Speculation was a campfire or something similar but final determination was the source was something with a newly installed transformer.

Climate change fire situation is building a case for putting all lines underground, a move which has been strongly resisted by power providers as being just too expensive.

Learned that Mark spent several days last week at the McKinney fire, not as a firefighter but as a volunteer helping where needed and representing his job as Emergency Response (coordinator? I don’t know the accurate job title) for the Episocopal Church Northern Diocese. 

~~~

The first of the Krim tomatoes has gone past the initial reddish blush around the blossom end and is moving into the black mature stage.  Krim tomatoes are a heritage variety.  They are beautiful as well as tasty.

The second one is entering the blush stage. Neither is any great size yet, but will soon be slicing edible.

All the smaller tomato sets are progressing nicely.

 ~~~

The Climate Change that was being passed off a few months ago as no big deal and no more than alarmist thinking would appear to be coming home to roost.

There are massive rains in areas not used to seeing not much rain at all now causing flooding bringing with it property damage, roads being destroyed, and deaths.  Yosemite is closed due to flood damage and fears.

There have even been floods in Death Valley, which hasn’t seen rain in who can remember when, causing road damage and closures.

California’s Central Valley floods are causing damage to fields ready for harvest.  There are records of some flooding in the past and warnings of more and worse in the future due partially to the subsidence of the land as a result of the drawing down of the subsurface water table by agriculture thereby causing a place for water to pool. In fact, the worst case scenario is the possibility of a rather large inland sea in the central valley. 

And these are only the areas about which I hear news here in California.

I am sure each of you readers have similar stories concerning your areas.

It’s all normal earth cycles and has nothing to do with human actions causing all this disruption.  Don’t believe the fear mongers.  We corporate stockholders are still making lots of money.

I think not.

~~~

I have been hearing the “discussions” on both the radio and tv centered around the division of church and state.  

I was reminded of one of the surprise finds made during my genealogical research. One of my found surprises was a declaration called “The Ten Thousand Name Petition”, written by Thomas Jefferson, comprised of 125 pages including (on page217) the signature of one of my Lawhorn grandfathers.  The petition was presented by the “Dissenters” requesting that the Virginia State governing body end the “Established Church” and institute “Religious Equality”, i.e. the separation of church and state.

The petition was published 16 October 1776.

Never heard of it?

~~~

Another event about of which you may have never heard is the Ramona Pageant …  It is held yearly (except during Covid) just outside a little town in southern California called Hemet in a natural amphitheater.  It is based on a book written by Helen Hunt Jackson.

Then:   

1946 & 47  were the years George, just ‘46 and I both years, were in the pageant.  In those days everyone except the leads were local people.

George sheep shearer  That meant he was one of the Indians who worked on the Ranch not one of those who hid behind big rocks on the hillside of the bowl, who stayed out of sight until someone (I can’t recall which character) yelled ah eee ta and the hillside was suddenly covered with braves, nearly bare except for loin cloths and moccasins and feathers in their hair, in a pose with one knee bent and a hand sheltering their eyes.  It always called for a communal exhale and applause. 

I was a dancer.  

I had to be a male dancer because I was taller than my partner (and most of the other dancers as well).

 I still have my castanets and can hum the music but can’t recall its title.  The musicians were Jose Arias and family.

Theresa Silva, who was my classmate in the class of ‘47, was a member of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, and played a Ranch working staff member with George, me, Skip Acosta (I still believe he could dance rings around the hoop dancers today) who was another Soboba, and other school mates.  I used to have a photo of Theresa but sent it to her a while ago and failed to keep a copy.

At the beginning of the show all the locals and the main characters paraded in from various places around the center stage and the seating area and disappeared to hiding places. 

We dancers had a hiding place in a stand of small trees and bushes to the left of the central action stage. When I was in the Pageant the late Spring was often pretty warm and so sitting quiet and without moving during the entire first act was a bit uncomfortable.  Especially in those  costumes.

I told my Dad (complained really) about the situation and for the rest of that season, as well as the following season in which I participated, Daddy saw that a cooler filled with iced cold drinks was waiting for us under those trees/bushes.

 and Now:  

It’s been 75 since I was a dancer in the pageant.  George, my dancing partner, and my best friend (who was also a ranch denizen in those play days) and many if not all of those involved in the Pageant in those days are all dead with only one exception of which I am aware. Theresa Silva is still a member of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians now living on the res and currently playing the speaking role of the tribal elder named Mara.

Fond memories.  

~~~

I started watching “Sandman” on Netflix and lasted for only 6 episodes.  Was not able to establish connections between me and only a couple of the characters to keep me interested.

The androgyny of Sandman was a good touch but I didn’t understand why he kept his genital area covered with his hand in the  one naked scene.  Don’t know why it was necessary.

Oh well…

~~~

Now to end the week …

Everyone has a happy ending.   

If you’re not happy, it isn’t the end

• From a Dove chocolate bite

Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished.

If you’re alive

It isn’t.

• Illusions, pg 121, Richard Bach

So, ‘til next week …

Current status of the McKinney fire is 99% contained and burned more than 30K acres.

A civil suit has been filed naming Pacific Corp defendant/defendants as the source of the McKinney fire. PacifiCorp is the parent company of Pacific Power which is the source of electric bills in this area.  

It had been previously thought the source was human caused rather than a lightning strike.  Speculation was a campfire or something similar but final determination was the source was something with a newly installed transformer.

Climate change fire situation is building a case for putting all lines underground, a move which has been strongly resisted by power providers as being just too expensive.

Learned that Mark spent several days last week at the McKinney fire, not as a firefighter but as a volunteer helping where needed and representing his job as Emergency Response (coordinator? I don’t know the accurate job title) for the Episocopal Church Northern Diocese. 

~~~

The first of the Krim tomatoes has gone past the initial reddish blush around the blossom end and is moving into the black mature stage.  Krim tomatoes are a heritage variety.  They are beautiful as well as tasty.

The second one is entering the blush stage. Neither is any great size yet, but will soon be slicing edible.

All the smaller tomato sets are progressing nicely.

 ~~~

The Climate Change that was being passed off a few months ago as no big deal and no more than alarmist thinking would appear to be coming home to roost.

There are massive rains in areas not used to seeing not much rain at all now causing flooding bringing with it property damage, roads being destroyed, and deaths.  Yosemite is closed due to flood damage and fears.

There have even been floods in Death Valley, which hasn’t seen rain in who can remember when, causing road damage and closures.

California’s Central Valley floods are causing damage to fields ready for harvest.  There are records of some flooding in the past and warnings of more and worse in the future due partially to the subsidence of the land as a result of the drawing down of the subsurface water table by agriculture thereby causing a place for water to pool. In fact, the worst case scenario is the possibility of a rather large inland sea in the central valley. 

And these are only the areas about which I hear news here in California.

I am sure each of you readers have similar stories concerning your areas.

It’s all normal earth cycles and has nothing to do with human actions causing all this disruption.  Don’t believe the fear mongers.  We corporate stockholders are still making lots of money.

I think not.

~~~

I have been hearing the “discussions” on both the radio and tv centered around the division of church and state.  

I was reminded of one of the surprise finds made during my genealogical research. One of my found surprises was a declaration called “The Ten Thousand Name Petition”, written by Thomas Jefferson, comprised of 125 pages including (on page217) the signature of one of my Lawhorn grandfathers.  The petition was presented by the “Dissenters” requesting that the Virginia State governing body end the “Established Church” and institute “Religious Equality”, i.e. the separation of church and state.

The petition was published 16 October 1776.

Never heard of it?

~~~

Another event about of which you may have never heard is the Ramona Pageant …  It is held yearly (except during Covid) just outside a little town in southern California called Hemet in a natural amphitheater.  It is based on a book written by Helen Hunt Jackson.

Then:   

1946 & 47  were the years George, just ‘46 and I both years, were in the pageant.  In those days everyone except the leads were local people.

George sheep shearer  That meant he was one of the Indians who worked on the Ranch not one of those who hid behind big rocks on the hillside of the bowl, who stayed out of sight until someone (I can’t recall which character) yelled ah eee ta and the hillside was suddenly covered with braves, nearly bare except for loin cloths and moccasins and feathers in their hair, in a pose with one knee bent and a hand sheltering their eyes.  It always called for a communal exhale and applause. 

I was a dancer.  

I had to be a male dancer because I was taller than my partner (and most of the other dancers as well).

 I still have my castanets and can hum the music but can’t recall its title.  The musicians were Jose Arias and family.

Theresa Silva, who was my classmate in the class of ‘47, was a member of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, and played a Ranch working staff member with George, me, Skip Acosta (I still believe he could dance rings around the hoop dancers today) who was another Soboba, and other school mates.  I used to have a photo of Theresa but sent it to her a while ago and failed to keep a copy.

At the beginning of the show all the locals and the main characters paraded in from various places around the center stage and the seating area and disappeared to hiding places. 

We dancers had a hiding place in a stand of small trees and bushes to the left of the central action stage. When I was in the Pageant the late Spring was often pretty warm and so sitting quiet and without moving during the entire first act was a bit uncomfortable.  Especially in those  costumes.

I told my Dad (complained really) about the situation and for the rest of that season, as well as the following season in which I participated, Daddy saw that a cooler filled with iced cold drinks was waiting for us under those trees/bushes.

 and Now:  

It’s been 75 since I was a dancer in the pageant.  George, my dancing partner, and my best friend (who was also a ranch denizen in those play days) and many if not all of those involved in the Pageant in those days are all dead with only one exception of which I am aware. Theresa Silva is still a member of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians now living on the res and currently playing the speaking role of the tribal elder named Mara.

Fond memories.  

~~~

I started watching “Sandman” on Netflix and lasted for only 6 episodes.  Was not able to establish connections between me and only a couple of the characters to keep me interested.

The androgyny of Sandman was a good touch but I didn’t understand why he kept his genital area covered with his hand in the  one naked scene.  Don’t know why it was necessary.

Oh well…

~~~

Any remaining errors are all mine. My apologies.

Now to end the week …

Everyone has a happy ending.   

If you’re not happy, it isn’t the end

• From a Dove chocolate bite

Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished.

If you’re alive

It isn’t.

• Illusions, pg 121, Richard Bach

So, ‘til next week …

The McKinney fire, as of Tuesday evening,  was 95% contained, and had burned over a total of 60K+ acres.  There were a lot of little fires all around which were quickly contained.  But the McKinney got nearly all the attention.  On one 30 minute local news report, the McKinney got 20 minutes.  

Smoke from this fire was blown north along the west side of the Cascades, past Grants Pass almost to Eugene leaving air at moderate to dangerous breathing levels.  The direction of the wind meant Dunsmuir, Mt Shasta, Weed, and McCloud were unaffected and our air stayed clear.

Son Mark got a great picture which caught the essence of forest fires in this area. It shows one of the water drop helicopters against the heavy smoke which was turning the sun a fire white with an orange halo.

Further weather info is … here in McCloud temperatures have stayed  cool at night with very warm days in Mt Shasta and Weed (in the high 80s to hot as much as 102º) 

The cool mornings have meant just a sheet or a light blanket since I open windows for cross ventilation at night.

I’ve had to add one of George’s flannel shirts over a t-shirt for my walkabouts.

I have only a couple of those shirts left so I will keep an eye out for the fall/winter sales and add a couple more to my wardrobe.  A tall friend wants some as well since they are long enough to reach the top of our tushes instead of ending on a level with our belly buttons.

~~~

I recently decided to read Christie’s Poirot short stories.  Didn’t make it past the first four.  

They were written using a repeat plot pattern that got almost claustrophobic.  Also, I am so tuned-in to Suchet’s depiction of Poirot, I had trouble seeing the little Belgian described by Christie.

Predictable repeating plot lines was the reason I quit reading Stephen King.

~~~

Does anyone remember Mort Sahl?  

He was often labeled a comedian because people (including himself) laughed at his not-so-subtle put-downs of actions of anyone famous, or infamous, enough to get their face and/or story in the newspapers of the day. And there were a lot of newspapers belonging to lots of people in those days and not as today when strings of newspapers (?) are owned by a single conglomerate with a single opinion.

He dressed casually, neither outrageous or corporate approved.  Usually what in those days we called tennis shoes or loafers, chinos, a white shirt with an open button down collar, and a pullover sweater.  He would walk on stage, whether big or small, with a folded newspaper of the day in his hand and begin commenting on what had been reported that day (or the past few days).

No one was spared.  He and all of us laughed at entertainment people, athletes, politicians … anyone and everyone was fair game.  All presented with an attitude of can-you-believe-this? without profanity or innuendo.

When he nodded and left the stage after a performance which had been a bit to the left, more suggested rather than in-your-face, so you always went home feeling instructed as well as entertained.

Of course, there is no longer any place for that kind of reporting, commentary, or comedy.

Too bad.

I miss Mort Sahl as well as the Smothers Brothers and Bob Newhart and Shelly Berman and others.

I can no longer recall Mort’s closing line, but I’m sure it was something like “Keep laughing.”

Oh well …

~~~

The woman who lived here before me was, or seemed to be, enamored with the colour yellow.  Her front yard was filled with it.  All the way from small, close to the ground yellow to tall in-your-face sunflowers.

I have always been the kind of person who tends toward subdued blues and soft purples with a touch of crimson here and there .

Guess what I’ll be planting next spring … starting with more lilacs, another butterfly bush, and some bee and hummer attracting plants.  I already have some shades-of-blue iris, given me by son Michael before he died, spotted around.

I have been weeding as vigorously as I am able (I started to say “can” rather than “am able” then I could hear my Grandmother saying “You can if you’re able”) so … as I am able from a sitting position on the garden seat/kneeler I bought for myself.  

I left all the garden tools I had been using (for the new owners) when I left the farm as they are no longer usable by the new me.  I plan to take (or have one of my sons take me) to get a new set of weed pullers, a hula hoe, a rake, etc. so I can garden at my new pace and positions.

~~~

On to more discovered doppelgangers.

In sorting and identifying old pictures, I came across one of members of the University of Illinois chapter of Theta Sigma Phi, which I believe to have been the women’s journalism society, taken at the University of Wisconsin in April of 1930 when Susan Shaffer was a member.

Not only was I able to identify George’s mother (she was a student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) but I also found women who resembled my mother, me, and a friend of George’s and mine from our stay in New Mexico the summer after we were married.

Interesting.

~~~

I have been an off and on fan of the PBS series called “Secrets of the Dead” which deals mainly with archeological findings from exploratory digs.  I am able to access all of that series via PBS Passport.

The one I recently watched dealt with the truth vs myth question concerning King Arthur.

King Arthur has been an interest of mine from the days of Tennysons’s Idylls of the King.  That interest was fed by my trip to Cornwall back in 1994 when I had the good fortune to take tea at his home with Geoffrey Ashe who was the go-to authority at that time for all things Arthur.

I was on a tour with five other women and Geoffrey was tour guide for part of that tour.  He showed us the possible sites of Camelot and Arthur’s grave (in the ruins of the Glastonbury Cathedral) among other guesses based more on hope than on truth as far as it went at that time.  

I have since learned there was a strong ruler in Cornwall where ruins of whose “castle” is probably among those being unearthed on the island at Tintagel.  Those digs seem to indicate a wealthy “ruler’ and the scholarly guess is that wealth, accrued during the Dark Ages, was the result of commercial connections with sea access to areas to the south now known as parts of France, the Pacific ocean facing coast of Spain, and all the Mediterranean sea countries.  The trading commodity was tin. 

While eastern Britain progressed after the departure of the Romans by becoming owners of land establishing themselves as farmers and husbanding cattle and goats and other food animals,  the western part of the island (mainly the southwestern part) prospered by trading their tin needed for the production of bronze.  That trade made it possible for a strong ruler and his people to prosper without farming or hunting.

This Secret of the Dead made a lot of sense even if the mythology is more magical and romantic.

Geoffrey also taught me how those cathedral walls could be made so thick without oodles of large flat stones and why some gates were called “kissing” gates.

I wish I were able to make a return visit to Glastonbury and Cornwall and had a chance to join Geoffrey for another cuppa and a talk.  

He died last January just short of 100.  

I wonder what he would have to say about the new finds and what they appear to say about the legend.

There was also a book written recently advancing the theory that Uther Pendragon was a clan leader in the northern border area who united the Scottish clans to protect the lands north of Hadrian’s Wall, while at the same time the AngloSaxons, whose bones indicate they that interbred with the indigenous Britons, became a settled people.

The likelihood, based on archeological finds all over southeastern Britain, is there never was a real war requiring a “British” King known in legend as a Great Warrior King.

Oh well … so much for magical, romantic dreams.

~~~

Another does-anyone-remember-this conversation starter.  

Anyone remember when the place you go for gas became rather than a service station where you went to get gas (which was pumped for you) and they would clean your windows, as well as check tire pressure, the water level in the radiator, oil level, and a plethora of other services like sweeping out the back of the pick-up became simply a gas station where you buy gas and have to pay for the air for your tires?

I do.

~~~

A demonstration of real cooperation and kindness was recently seen when the young people of the Jackson Country Oregon Future Farmers of America offered their county fair stock area to the FFA young people of Siskiyou County as a place to show their animals for judging and hold the sale of their stock.  

The Jackson County fair had been held just a week or so ahead of the scheduled Siskiyou County Fair which was canceled this year due to the McKinney, and many other fires, causing mass evacuations in Siskiyou County and the fairgrounds used as relocation areas.

It is the money raised by the sale of those animals which FFA kids, regardless of County, rely on to continue raising animals and also put some funds aside for further education.

Without the kindness of their Jackson County counterparts, Siskiyou County kids would have gone without this year.

~~~

I was able to get the BeeBalm repotted.  Poor thing had begun to show a touch of despair.

I hope to be able to get the site for the new Butterfly Bush ready for transfer to its new place where it can cut the glare from the neighbor’s white fence which is a bother for my west facing windows during afternoons.

If I can get the weeds cleared, I’m sure John can help with the transplant.

~~~

There are at least thirteen tomatoes set on the two Krim bushes which were given to me by Mark.  They are from little fingernail size or a bit smaller to a couple table sized one of which is starting to change colour.

Still nothing showing on the White/yellow.

~~~

For all you lovers of a good scare … yesterday was National Roller Coaster Day !!!

~~~

I recently read this on Facebook …

Years ago, anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. The student expected Mead to talk about fishhooks or clay pots or grinding stones.

But no. 

Mead said that the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was a femur (thighbone) that had been broken and then healed. Mead explained that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die. You cannot run from danger, get to the river for a drink or hunt for food. You are meat for prowling beasts. No animal survives a broken leg long enough for the bone to heal.

A broken femur that has healed is evidence that someone has taken time to stay with the one who fell, has bound up the wound, has carried the person to safety and has tended the person through recovery. 

Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts, Mead said.

We are at our best when we serve others.

Think about it.

~~~

Now to end the week …

None of us are immune to life’s changes.  How we move through them is what defines us.

Choose to be grateful, no matter what. 

So, ‘til next week …

 Late as usual.  But then better late than never, right?

~~~

Thunder, lightning, heavy rain tuesday night beginning around 1915.  Quite an interesting way to end the day

The McKinney fire along the Klamath between Yreka and Happy Camp is the largest in California, including more than 60K+ burned over so far about 50% contained as of this morning with 5 known dead, four of whom were found in the area of their homes.  They evidently had not evacuated.  

The fifth death was a woman who George and I met when we were lookouts on Paradise Craggy.  She had been at Buckhorn in the Six Rivers area for years and died at her duty site when access was cut off.

Fighting the McKinney is using all the regular equipment and personnel provided from both local and surrounding areas including Hot Shot units.  

Among other lightning fires was a small one northeast of the McKinney just two miles south of the Oregon border which was quickly contained due to the plethora of firefighters in the area and another northeast of Happy Camp moving west.  Happy Camp is the center of the Karuk tribe which owns the local Casino in Yreka, a section of which they offered to be used as an evacuation location, and is deeply involved in environmental affairs.  Many tribal members are US Forest Service firefighters.

There were multiple lightning fires in the south central Siskiyou area as of this morning, all small and easily contained because firefighters were ready.

There were even fires very close to the ocean in Humboldt and Del Norte counties.

Oregon is also experiencing multiple fires over their state, but I haven’t been following them closely.

Anticipating the need for firefighters by being ready  reminded me of a local smoke jumper who carried special clothing with him in his backpack.  

He would jump into the fire area, spend the time required fighting the fire, and when his shift was over he and others in his firefighter group hiked out.  As they got close to the regrouping area, he would stop to take out the special clothing and arrive in camp dressed in a rumpled but identifiable tuxedo complete with a black bowtie.

Talk about class.  I’d bet I may be the only one still alive who remembers how that goofy act made us all lose some of our tension as we laughed and relaxed a bit.  

But maybe not.  If there are any of the kids who were in high school at the time (they’d be in their mid to late 60s now), and were in one or more of his classes, maybe they remember too.

~~~

Interesting (in more ways than one) happened a couple of days ago.  I had ordered an item over the net to be delivered to my home.   When it arrived and I began to unpack it, wonder of wonders … the packing consisted of several copies the Comics from an ( undated) New Hampshire Sunday paper.

It was like being very young again when all daily papers had a Sunday Funnies section.

Talk about a time warp.

I decided to iron out the wrinkles and put aside a copy to add to my genealogy cache.  A treat for all of those in the future who never knew the “fun” of the Sunday Funnies which were exciting, funny, and clever, all without any questionable language or what was once considered to be improper clothing.  Something all the family could share and enjoy.

In fact, the skirt and top I wore to my senior prom was made for me by my mother based on a character in Terry and the Pirates.  While most other girls were in pastels for our Senior Prom, as was I for my Junior prom …

But for the Senior Prom, I was in a slim, fairly straight skirt with a small slit over the right ankle and a semi-fitted tuck-in top in black with an understated but bold pattern of vines in shades of green and flowers of gold and light yellow.  Date pictures weren’t a thing in those days and so no photo.  Haven’t found a family photo either.  Sorry …

~~~

Usually in May, the fir trees sport fresh, light green new growth tips.  It used to feel as if they were dressing up for my birthday.

Climate change seems to have set back that display.  No show in May, but they are dressed now.  As pretty as in the past.  Just a surprise.

The blaze of California poppies we had been enjoying this spring and summer have finished their cycle of seeding and fading, and so have been mowed by the Village groundskeep er.  They were such eye candy for so long, the area looks naked now. 

Consolation is we can now anticipate next spring when they will return.

~~~

Current reading is a clutch of mysteries.  Are you surprised?

What has kept me interested lately are the varied setting and times … Japan, England, New England, Ireland, Latin America, Scotland, Africa, (and other places that never existed) and in times that also have not ever or yet existed … and on and on and  on …

As was once said, books are as good as and sometimes better than a passport.

I am currently in Victorian London before motor cars.  Will soon be going to several different areas of England in the company of a Belgian and his WW I veteran companion.

P.S.  Not about reading but worth sharing.

Spent some time with a trip with Saturn (via NOVA) with, passing by, through its rings, some of its moons, and a fiery death on its surface by a scientific satellite named Voyager WOW.

Remember the name of the space vessel in the first StarTrek movie? 

~~~

Over several days in a row, a small hummingbird would visit the blooming roses.   I enjoyed watching her (I was sure it was a female because she was small) and began to think I needed to put out a feeder for her.  Couldn’t find anything for the $10 I remember paying for each of them back in the day when I had about six or seven in the area of the pergozabolis at the farm, but the one I bought last week was close to $75 plus tax including a starter addition of antibiotic for the first filling.

At the farm, there was a red tailed bully who seemed to spend all day keeping watch and chasing off any other hummer who dared to encroach on his territory. I used to get so angry at him and tried everything I could think of to discourage him without damaging the others.  I never succeeded.

In pictures and videos, I’d see feeders surrounded by a clutch (or whatever they call a bunch of hummingbirds) and wish I had that in my yard.

Then I hung out the new feeder where I could see it from the couch in the living room and waited.

The first to visit was a little female.  The second was a slightly larger red breasted, red tailed bird, which I think is a male, who soon made an entrance and established himself as a bully-in-charge.

The little bird I had become used to seeing didn’t return for a couple of days, but when she did the bigger red tail turned out to truly be a bully and chased her off, preventing her from feeding.

I was angry and, as the farm, I started thinking of what I could do.

I was told a neighbor had the same problem when she first put out a feeder but now has a shared feeder, so I planned to go ask her what she did.

Then last friday, before I could make the visit to my neighbor, the little hummer was back.  For a bit, she flew off when challenged.  Then, as I sat watching, she found her moxie and started chasing red tail.  Now if he challenges her, she turns and follows him as he flies away after trying to intimidate her.

By saturday a coalition had developed so that at least two little hummers would come to feed at the same time.  And, miracle of miracles,  they began to take turns chasing the bully.    

Just tired of all the b——t?

~~~

The first two Black Krim tomatoes are set. 

But no sign of the White (yellow?) 

Oh well …

~~~

I’ve been collecting petals from the Peace rose on my front porch as she loosens her grip on them.  Last saturday she was down to the last Rose of this summer.

I’m drying the petals and letting the seed buds stay on the bush.  I want to see if she provides hips and, as my personal horticulturist (son John) says, to watch her through her entire cycle.  

In addition, I’ll have petals for making rose oil.

~~~

In a previous blog, I spoke about the Village tree with multiple coloured of leaves.

Well, a cousin sent me a link to a multi-coloured tree …

Thanks Roxie.  It was pretty, but it isn’t the tree here.

So I’m still looking for information….

~~~

Last monday, one of my fire alarms chose to announce its low battery at 0400.  I don’t know how to change them.  How could I not know?  There had always been someone else to handle that, that’s how.  I might have tackled it with the three step stool I have if now at 92 I had better muscle control.  

Instead, I called Mark.  Poor guy.

Turned out he was awake anyhow, working, and was here in about 30 minutes.  He had the batteries in all four alarms replaced in less than 30 minutes, had the sweet spot setup ready for John’s computer visit on Wednesday (Mark had planned to come out monday to deliver), and, as long as he was here, he connected the DirectTV to my internet. 

         We both took some deep breaths and, since by then it was the time each of us usually wake up, he left for home and I started my day.  What a way to start a new week. 

So now to end the week …

None of us are immune to life’s changes.  How we move through them is what defines us.

Choose to be grateful, no matter what. 

So, ‘til next week …

P.S. Sorry about the repeat of the poppies. Still learning how to insert photos.

Weather for this past week started with temperatures of 105º or more in Yreka and about the same in the Weed/Mt Shasta area.  Multiple heat warning notices have been issued by weather agencies to areas here in south Siskiyou County as a result.

Last thursday it hit 102º about 1600 here in McCloud and again on friday at 1430.  I had the blahs sunday so I just stayed indoors.  No walkabout that day.

I don’t know how long it has been that hot and persistent here, if ever.  Fortunately I have a heat pump and overhead fans, so with the overnight open windows, the house stays comfortable.

The week ended with a thunder, lightning, and heavy rain event which began around 1900last evening and continued over an hour as it moved to the northeast.  Welcome rain and at a time when it wasn’t tempered by daytime heat so no or little evaporation.  

The McKinney fire isn’t anywhere near contained and has claimed four lives so far, but it didn’t grow much from the 56K+ acres it was yesterday.  There were a couple of small lightning fires in the Weed/MtEddy area which were handled well and rapidly.

~~~

No Senior lunch this past monday because evacuees from the McKinney fire down river were evacuated from northwestern Yreka near the Oregon border west of I-5, are being housed in the Weed Community Center.  Dogs, cats, and large animals are being housed in various spots across the County.

I went to Weed yesterday for a library run and a stop at Raven Tree in the Mt Shasta mall (which is really a small el-shaped row of shops) for a hummer feeder and the makings.  It seemed only right to add a station for the hummer who has been calling each morning for several days.

~~~

There was an interesting event in the neighborhood one day last week.  There were five emergency vehicles at the next door neighbor’s house … two local fire company units one a medical unit, an ambulance, and a CalFire medical unit.  

Like an old fire company horse who hears a call and is ready to be harnessed and go, this old emergency nurse’s first reaction, when I heard the call on the scanner and saw the units arriving, was to immediately go next door.  Second thought was “nope” knowing there was no way I would be of any help at my age and needed to stay out of the way.

The activity made me think of a time we were dealing with a bad situation in the Emergency Department and a family member kept trying to push his way past me into the area where the doctor and another RN were trying to work and I was needed at the activity.

He was screaming as he tried to shove past me and I kept blocking him.  A lot of what he was screaming was not decipherable until he shouted “YOU’RE A REAL BITCH!”

By then my patience was wearing thin because the situation at the trauma area was pretty busy and I said in as controlled a voice as I could manage “You want to see a real bitch, just keep trying to get past me.”

He stopped, looked at me, and went down the hall into the waiting room and sat there until the patient was stabilized and I went to get him and bring him into the room.

Of course, my 6’ (at that time) to his about 5’5” probably helped.

Interesting things you remember …

My neighbor is scheduled for heart surgery to repair a faulty valve any day now.

Turned out she was having a breathing problem.  

I’ll go over for a chat when she gets home from surgery.

~~~

I am once again fascinated by the dancing trees which I am able to see out my east facing living room window when there is any breeze.  

One tree has rather long pliable branches and waves with slow, gracefully sweeping moves, much like a sedate waltz.

The others (aspens) go all aquiver and scintillate like they are doing the jitterbug with glitter falling.

Nature’s entertainment.

~~~

Heard an article on NPR the other day about corporations.  It seems they are “corporations” or a “business” in many legal situations where being a single entity is an advantage.  Such as if a manufacturer of a weapon or drug or something like talcum powder results in damage or death to an individual, only the manufacturer or provider can be held responsible and sued as a single unit.

While in other situations, such as political donations, corporations are recognized as a collection of individuals each able to donate and so a single donation of one million to a campaign fund becomes multiple donations and 1million becomes ??? million while your donation, no matter how large or small, stays a single donation and the corporation’s voting influence on a President or any other elected official is ??? times more than your one.  

From one comes many …

Doesn’t sound quite right.

~~~

Near one of the entrances to Victorian Village where I live is a tree with two colours of leaves.  I looked as closely as I could manage and couldn’t see any sign of grafting.

I’ll try to get John to take a picture of it next week.

Any  horticulturalist out there know what this tree is?

~~~

There is a new neighbor in the Village.  She is in the unit previously owned by Jim who moved to an extended care facility.

We know she has a son, daughter-in-law, and two grandsons who live in the area, but not much else about her.

Maybe I’ll stop to say hello some morning when I’m out on a walkabout, sort of like the lady who came calling on me when we first moved to Mt Shasta ino the little house where we lived before the house on the farm was built. She introduced herself as a representative of the Neighborhood Welcome Committee.

The final empty house in the Village is still empty.  In the opinion of many of the current residents, it is too overpriced.

~~~

Canada geese have been crossing overhead headed south east.  It’s a bit early for migration so it must be the fires.

An area of northwest Yreka and down river was evacuated saturday because of a fire, being called the McKinley fire which was moving east. The Weed Community Center was the evacuation center

The power was out here from 0430 to 0458 due to a transformer caused fire in a wooded area just off I-5 in the Castella area.  I knew the time because my backup generator came on and woke me. 

The fire started pretty big because they were calling for additional pumper engines and personnel as well as water tenders and water drops using helicopters.  Power was turned off in all overhead lines in the area.  The fire was at 25 acres by 0740.  By 1030 they had released all but two pumpers with crews and were doing mop-up.

~~~

It’s probably due to my age, but I’m seeing more and more doppelgangers.  I watching an interesting tv show a few days ago and I saw William Shatner, Gregory Peck, a middle aged Shirley Temple, Robin Williams (doing the limbo), Nichelle Nichols, and a couple others whose names I don’t remember.

Seems we aren’t as unique as we were led to believe, as least in looks.

~~~

To end the week …

Some of your worries are relevant. Others are not. You need to differentiate between your real concerns and the imaginary ones. Step back, take a deep breath, and assess the situation logically rather than emotionally.  You’ll find that nothing’s as bad as you think.

So, ‘til next week …