30 May …
Tomorrow would have been George’s 90th birthday anniversary. Now he will never be more than 89.
Next year we will be the same age.
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In the past I have preached to my children and grandchildren to ALWAYS put things back in their place, or where you found them, so you can find them the next time you want them.
I failed to follow my own advice and as a consequence there are no pictures this week. I’ve lost (misplaced) my camera.
Oh well …
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Last weekend Paul and I were alone together again. We made the most of our time with lunch at Burger King (again … but this time in Weed and there were no tables for just two) followed by grocery shopping (topped off by a bucket of rainbow sherbet) and a trip to the library in Weed which turned out to be closed on Saturdays. Paul suggested I volunteer to work in the library on Saturdays and he would go with me.
We returned to the library yesterday afternoon and I discovered new things about the local Weed library (no jokes please). It has a large separate children’s section with a large collection of books which they effectively give away (the children can check them out and keep them as long as they like) and lots of reading “nooks” complete with pillows and lights. Wow …
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Weather has stayed much the same. This year we seem to be having April in May … rain, rain, rain.
The dogwoods are lovely. We have only one on the farm. I’ve been thinking of getting a couple more but haven’t yet decided if … and if so where to put them.
All the rain created a situation out in the solar drying area. One day last week I washed the kitchen towels and dish cloths and hung them out to dry. Before I could bring them in (it was dinner time), the rain began and they got a natural rinse. The next day, just as they were getting dry and I was getting ready to bring them in … the rain began again.
A total of five days and rinses, but they are finally folded and put away … very fresh and clean.
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I recently finished reading a book which was put together in a way I’d never noticed before … if it has ever been done. There were two interrelated stories which were occurring at different times (one in the early 1900s, the other now) and the pages telling each story were printed on different paper so the colour was different.
I tried to take a picture to show you.
Made me wonder who thought of that … the author? the editor? the publisher?
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While on the subject of books … I am still reading in the collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy. I just finished “War of the Worlds” by H.G.Wells. Interestingly it is different from the versions I have heard and seen, but not vastly so.
I have begun “A Princess of Mars”, one of Burroughs’ Jack Carter novels. I’ve never read any of them. I haven’t read the Tarzan novels either.
Before I started “A Princess…”, I read a bit about Burroughs. It is said he wrote what he considered “trash” just for the money and what he wrote turned out to be inspiration for Bradbury and Lucas. I can see the resemblance now that I am chapters into the book.
Oh well …
I have a collection of Bradbury on order at the library. Next read.
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Latest “disaster” on the farm is that the well pump is aging … fast. Over the forty-two years we have been on this land, we’ve had only two pumps. The last one died in the middle of winter … remember? It was one of the New Year’s surprises. So this isn’t too bad. After all, the load went from two oldsters, who bathed twice a week each, to a family of six (counting the kids out in the “cabin”), three of whom bathe every day, two of which bathe every other day, and me who bathes twice a week plus extra when it’s hot and I’ve been working outdoors.
We were on rationed water for a day and a half. Mark has it under control now and will be getting a new pump to have on standby.
He is also dealing with a dead hydraulic system on the Ford tractor, as well as his fire, church, lodge, and radio duties.
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A trip to Yreka last week showed me how unfortunate those who travel through on I-5 are. They miss so much. The locust trees are in full display. The alfalfa fields have had their first cut and are being watered for the next. The roses, both domestic and wild, are putting on quite a show.
Beauty before me.
Beauty behind me.
Beauty all around me.
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For this week remember …
If folks look at you quizzically when you smile at them, smile anyway. Smiles and kindness are contagious.
(I’ll bet you have smiled back at the telly more than once.)
So … ‘til next week …
P.S. The answer to the analog clock puzzle is … the hour number is the square root of the minutes number. Thank you Cuz Don.