First I’ll apologize for the late posting of this weeks’ blog. Things went a bit haywire yesterday and we were all (except Paul) awake for a lot of last night.
Second I also apologize for the spelling and grammar errors in monday evening’s report … but … Fire season is here.
All local CDF (CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION) stations are on high alert and US Forest Service speciality units are also here as is the state Incident Command unit. On monday there were already 16 HotShot crews on the Lava fire and they were able to make night water drops because the winds died down a bit.
The report yesterday morning was “Due to strong, erratic winds overnight and dry fuels the #LavaFire grew to an estimated 13,330 acres yesterday afternoon into overnight. It is 20% contained.”
Then late yesterday afternoon the winds shifted again and the Lava Fire took off south around the Mountain toward the USFS plantation area and the Mt Shasta City dump.
This morning’s report was “#LavaFire grew to an estimated 17,591 acres yesterday afternoon into overnight. It is 19% contained.” and here’s what it looked like at 0520 this morning from our direction. The wind has now shifted to coming from the south again. The glow to the far right is the arm reaching for the dump and the city of Mt Shasta is behind the ridge and trees.
And the Lava isn’t the only dangerous fire in the area. The other is the Tennant Fire which is further north and no danger to us (since to get to us it would have to go through where the Lava has already burned) but is threatening the cities of MacDoel (which has been evacuated) and Dorris up close to the Oregon border.
A post on a local “info” site asked “Why don’t they control the fire?”.
A Captain (?) in charge of one of the local units (a friend of Mark’s) whose men had been fighting all day for control in dust and 100+ degree temperatures responded “Why didn’t we think of that?”
Sad thing is the one who posted the original inanity either didn’t or wouldn’t read the response or is incapable of understanding it. Like the local woman whose response to every post involving an accident or some other danger/tragedy is “Praying”.
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On to more “normal” stuff …
Last week there were separate FB posts urging that dental care, eye care, and a couple of other health care concerns be added to MediCare coverage. The list included foot care.
I am no longer flexible enough to do the job on my toenails and my experience with that problem has been that a good pedicurist trims and smoothes nails, manages cuticles, exfoliates feet and lower legs, then finishes with a foot and calf massage during which skin tone is assessed for circulation and other clues to overall well-being.
Price? $35/40.
Cost to customer? $40.00 Cost to government? $0.00
While a podiatrist (DPM) did nothing, the one time I went to one, other than slash nails with a tool which resembles that used to sever links in a metal chain (or to cut open vehicles involved in an accident with someone trapped inside) and then rasp off the rough edges.
Price? ~ $200.
Cost to patient? ~$40.00 Cost to government? ~$160.00
I do hope whoever writes the bill for the suggested additions to MediCare is aware of this difference.
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Plant report …
The catalpa has made a move toward spring/summer. Her leaves are still small in size and not as prolific as in the past. However, she has begun to share some blossoms. They too are smaller and fewer than in the past but are more than welcome.
My Daddy had a green rose of which he had been fond when I was growing up. I don’t remember any special story in relationship to it, but he had a cousin in Upland who was a flower gardener and I suppose Daddy’s rose had come from Isabel.
Quite some time ago I found a nursery which offered green roses like the one Daddy had, and I bought one.
They specialize in “Heirloom” roses and indicated the provenance of their green rose as China by way of the American midwest and southern California … so I thought it was a good chance it was the same.
One day last week, Mark asked me about my green rose but when I went out to show it to him I found that due to weather and animals and who knows what else, it was dead. Sad …
I went back to the place I had gotten the first bush and they are still growing them. I resisted buying another (and an additional one for Mark) since neither of us is in a position to give it a place and proper care right now. But it is on my list for as-soon-as.
Mine will go into a pot for my new patio.
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I thought I would never find food too HOT for me … but I did.
I buy and store single-serving prepared meals which I fix when I am eating alone. I had gotten one from Stouffer’s FITKITCHEN series which was called Spicy Chicken Chorizo (a protein bowl) whose ingredients were listed as “chicken chorizo, turmeric riced cauliflower, yellow and red bell peppers, black beans and onions over brown rice with spicy smoked tomato sauce”. The only peppers listed by name other than bell were poblano and ancho, neither of which I had ever encountered as hot. No chili pepper was listed and there were no separate ingredient listings for the chorizo or the smoked tomato sauce.
Additional notes on the carton advised it was “Protein that leaves you satisfied” and “Remember to hydrate”.
I can usually taste the flavor of different peppers in seasoning … but this was so incendiary I couldn’t finish the bowl nor could I taste the flavors … only the heat. I was able to eat about half before my esophagus rebelled. I plan to cut the remaining with additional rice and make sure I have a nice, cool salad as well.
You have been warned.
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The move to my new digs is coming closer and I have been thinking about whether or not to continue blogging. Current thought is probably “yes” since I’m an egoist and like to share my thoughts. But the blog will need a new name since I will no longer be a denizen of Cold Comfort Farm.
The address for the blog has always been ccf.dibelka.us (because it is part of the family domain) and I don’t want the complication of having to change that.
Soooooooooooooo … I am trying to think of a new name retaining those initials … “ccf” rather than meaning Cold Comfort Farm would become C ? C ? F ? and the blog would change from “Thoughts from the farm …” to become “Thoughts from …”.
Put on your thinking caps. All suggestions will be considered.
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In anticipation of my move, I am making my farewells one at a time. I’m not sure I could handle saying goodbye to people and involvements all at the same time. I am a bit of an introvert (maybe more than a bit) so a party is out of the question.
I have even started on the list of “involvements”. I am no longer a volunteer for the food activities of the local Great Northern group, i.e. no more Tailgate produce parties or free lunch preparation sessions. I will miss the people and the productive feeling of those days.
I had also become a regular at the monday senior lunch program at the community center. It had been curtailed by COVID but had resumed shared meals, for all those vaccinated, a month and a half ago and after a slow start is almost back to full capacity.
I met a lot of locals at those meals and made some friends, rather than just acquaintances, including a couple of women with whom I shared working the free lunch preparations, a great young man who had gone to school with one of my sons (he is in his 50s and is a member of the servers), and a couple who were helping me remember what little Spanish I retained from my time in New Mexico. Those goodbyes will be separate.
I did a group goodbye last monday (probably more for me than for them). I got a bag of fruit snacks (the kind you put in kids’ lunches) and passed them out while saying how much I had enjoyed the shared lunch times. I received gentle applause.
At least no one cheered.
Because of the fires, there were fewer folks at lunch so the leftovers were sent across the hall, where the Incident Command post for the Lava Fire had been set up, to be shared by the firefighters.
It was a good day.
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Last week I received a gift from a friend with whom I share widowhood (her husband died just a month before George).
It was a memoir of the loss of her husband. It is extraordinary! However, it is a bit long to add to the blog. And in addition, I do not have permission to share it … yet. But here is a summary …
Sometimes you have to let go of the picture of what you thought life would be like and learn to find joy in the story you’re living.
Good advice for all of us regardless of our situation.
So ‘til next week …