The family holiday ended last wednesday. They were home in time for Hallowe’en.
Siku and I survived without trouble although he really missed his “walks” with Kamille. I‘m learning how to play his you-stomp-and-pretend-to-bark-and-I’ll-run-frantically-around-in-circles-barking game. Fortunately, I get to stand in one place and play until he’s panting hard and lies down.
I am glad they are all home. I missed them. Tonight I’ll be cooking dinner … meatballs in sauce over pasta, baked butternut squash with tahini, a green salad, and strawberry-cream cheese cups. When I’m not cooking every night I can get creative.
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Our weather is still dilly-dallying. One morning last week it was way below freezing at dawn. Lately it has been above freezing, but just barely. And the birch trees are still wearing yellow.
Last year the oak trees held onto some of their dead leaves all through winter. In Spring the nodules where the dead leaves were still attached didn’t bud. At harvest time this year, the trees were LOADED with acorns. And again the trees are not losing their dead leaves.
It is a conumdrum.
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The annual Hammond Landowners’ Association general membership meeting was last Saturday. As usual, it was too loud, too many people (for me), and too much going on all at once.
The main topic was fire and the chance of this area being next. There is a local firesafe council which is quite active. They are providing chipping service for all the slash piles which folks are clearing out around their residences and along the road easements.
And on the subject of emergency needs, I put in a word for amateur radio. Looks as if we will have at least two new hams soon. We have even begun talking about a Hammond Ranch radio net, possibly on tuesday evenings.
I have begun the planning for the club’s involvement in next year’s local events. So far there are six events on the list running from mid-May through the end of September. I really don’t think we can commit for more than seven what with summer work and holidays. I intend to do Headwaters again, unless someone else wants the experience.
I do enjoy doing these events and, of course, I’ll tell you all about them.
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My foray back into genealogy hit a snag. My first trip back to the LDS Family History Center wound up being a I-am-so-glad-to-see-you-again fest with the two Sisters with whom I used to work that not a bit of research got done. My second try was on Hallowe’en and, although I was told they would be open … no one showed up.
I will try again tomorrow. I recently became aware there is a g-g-g-something grandfather in the Finch line who fought in the Revolutionary War. That will be interesting research.
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Still no word on the redistricting commission. I found out the other applicant from Siskiyou County is a lodge brother of Mark’s. I’d still like the choice to be me (two friends have volunteered to be my driver for any trips required if I am chosen), but if not me, I’d like it to be the other Siskiyou resident.
I’m not sure when the next winnowing takes place. They are still accepting comments on those of us who applied, so I’ll repeat (since I’d really like to be chosen) … if you think you know me enough to comment the link is
https://applications.shapecaliforniasfuture.auditor.ca.gov/application/15937.html
and the place for comments is down at the bottom of the page. Thanks in advance.
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I recently found this on a blog I follow …
“One thing you need to get through life is to have a sense of humor — which means seeing the humor wherever you can find it.
“For instance, I found the Food Service absolutely hilarious. They’d ask me what I’d like to order and I would ask, ‘What’s on the Kosher menu?’ ‘Meatloaf and Mashed potatoes, Salisbury steak and Mashed Potatoes, Roast Turkey and vegetables.’ I ordered the meatloaf — ‘Sorry, we don’t have that.’ OK, I replied, the Salisbury steak — ‘Sorry, we don’t have that.’ No problem, I’ll have the roast turkey. And sometime after an hour they delivered a chicken dinner.”
It reminded me of a story told years ago by neighbor who worked as a flight attendant in first class on American Airlines.
On a flight to Paris, she got to the last first class passenger and offered him a beef meal. He asked for a chicken meal and she told him they were all gone. He said “You mean I have no choice?” to which she replied “But sir, you do have a choice. You can choose whether or not to eat it.”
Thanks Lynn. That story still makes me laugh and I’ve used it as an example many times over the years.
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I spent part of last weekend setting aside the Fire Cider. It will be between 4 and 6 weeks before it is ready. Then I’ll start using it. Flu shots make me sick (at least they have in the past), so this is one solution to immune boosting.
Also spent some time organizing my herbal recipe notebook.
Making jars of Dream-y Foot Salve to give as gifts is next on the list. And I might try some bath salts. I’ve never made them.
I’m thinking of contacting the local Winnemen Wintu tribal offices to ask if there is a local herbalist who would be willing to teach me. I know quite a bit about herbs and their uses, but it is mostly from books using what local plants I can identify or grow such as yarrow and feverfew and comfrey and elderberry. But I’m betting there are useful, local, native plants about which I know nothing.
I’d like to learn.
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So, to finish this edition… a note from a Rebbe …
“We can endure much more than we think we can; all human experience testifies to that. All we need to do is learn not to be afraid of pain. Grit your teeth and let it hurt. Don’t deny it, don’t be overwhelmed by it. It will not last forever. One day, the pain will be gone and you will still be there.”
and one from me …
Sometimes all you need is someone who can make you smile.
‘Til next week …