“Forward,” said Bear, “we can’t stay here anymore.”
“So much has happened here though. I don’t know that I can move on.” said Rabbit.
“You can stay if you want,” said Bear, “but life won’t wait with you.”
“It won’t?” asked Rabbit.
“No,” said Bear, “besides, up ahead there might be something wonderful.”
“You think so?” asked Rabbit.
“I think…” said Bear, “if you stay here, you’ll never know.”
~~~
Then last wednesday, a Masonic Brother and friend of Mark’s, who is a realtor and knew all about my situation (being rejected for residency at the Masonic “Home” in Covina), called to tell us a doublewide manufactured home in a planned community called Victorian Village just south of McCloud would go on the market the end of the week.
On thursday Ross took me over to see the house. It is two bedrooms plus an office, two baths, a completely new kitchen, central ac and heating plus a Monitor heater backup, inside freshly painted, a large porch off the north side of the house, a small garden area which I can redo to an herb garden with a lilac and lavender, a garden shed, and an auxiliary generator wired to kick in when the power goes out (after all, it is mountains and weather is a factor). I knew I could be happy there.
I met the lady who lives next door (Diane) and her son told me he takes care of the trash for his mother and another lady on the cul de sac (did I mention it was on a cul de sac so traffic will be about the same as it has been here or more likely less) and he would include me at no charge.
The land rental in the community is less than $500/month and includes water, trash, and snowplowing … which can be a big thing in McCloud.
The only down item was the lack of flooring. The carpeting had been torn out but the seller offered a $3,000 allowance in the house price to cover the cost of replacement (which was upped to $4,000 in the final agreement).
What was there to not like? I told Ross to make a bid.
The minute the place went on the market, Ross entered my bid.
Friday afternoon Ross called me to say we had a verbal acceptance which would be finalized on monday when I went to the Title company, deposited my “earnest” money ($1,000) and signed papers.
As a result, on the first of September, I will own a home in the small town of McCloud, which is actually more the size of a village. It is on the east side of the Mountain, only 11.4 milesfrom Mt Shasta via CA-89N – i.e. the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway. That is about the same driving distance as from where George and I lived for so many years into Mt Shasta.
I will end the rest of my years where I am comfortable, amid pines and firs, seeing the Mountain from a different angle, know where all the south County stores are, and have friends. In addition, the price was $100,000 less than the buy-in to the “Home” in Covina.
It was a miracle.
Thank you to all of those who aided with prayers, meditations, and positive affirmations.
~~~
The one remaining problem turned out to be not a problem. I have to be out of this place by next saturday. I checked out motels in re week-at-a-time occupancy and found one with a good offer.
Then I was talking with a friend who spends part of each year in Israel (where she is now) and asked if she would consider a house sitter at her place in Mt Shasta and she and her husband said YES. So I will be there for about three weeks until the sale is final (scheduled for the 1st of September) and new flooring is installed. In the meantime I am packing up things I thought I would have to leave behind but can now take with me!!!
I will keep you posted on the progress.
~~~
Weather remained HOT until it turned cold. Roller Coaster …
The Dixie fire is still out of control so we are again smoke covered a lot of the time.
There are several new fires. Among the larger ones are one to the southwest and one to the east. None are headed toward us.
… and for the first time in recorded history, there is NO snowpack on the Mountain and the glaciers which were there when I moved here are nearly non-existent and melting.
~~~
Next big step for changing my residence into a home is finding a flooring installer who isn’t already booked into October or later due to the influx of new owners in this area.
The carpeting had been torn out in my new house (it must have been soiled) and I am having it replaced with vinyl fake wood paneling. I had hoped it could be done asap.
One bid was for more than $8,805 and couldn’t start until the first of October.
Another bid came in close to the same cost but with an installation date of the 15th to 17th of September.
Then a nursing friend who married into a longtime McCloud family (the McIntosh clan) suggested I call a flooring provider who married a Bambino (also a McCloud clan) who works out of Redding.
So I got treated like family and the bid I accepted was with Jim Roth for $5,517.34 and it will be installed the weekend before Labor Day meaning I can move in the tuesday after Labor Day.
Only obstacle left is finding help removing the carpet stripping and the padding staples from the area to be refloored.
Positive thoughts needed … again.
~~~
Mark et al aren’t sleeping in the house any longer. They too are preparing to vacate Cold Comfort Farm in favor of the new owners and have taken to their sleeping set-up in their 40’ with pop-outs which they call the “Mansion”.
~~~
If all this sounds chaotic … welcome to my world.
~~~
Now, at the end of this episode of my life …
I am no longer waiting for a special occasion; I burn the best candles on ordinary days.
I am no longer waiting for the house to be clean; I understand that even dust is Sacred.
I am no longer waiting for everyone to understand me; it’s not their task.
I am no longer waiting for the other shoe to drop; it already did, and I survived.
I am no longer waiting for the time to be right; the time is always now.
I am no longer waiting for a quiet moment; my heart can be stilled whenever it is called.
I am no longer waiting for the world to be at peace; I unclench my grasp and breathe Peace and Love, Peace and Love in and out.
I am no longer waiting to do something great; being awake to carry my grain of sand is enough.
I am no longer waiting to be recognized. I know I dance in a holy circle.
The Covina “Home”, which isn’t really a “Home”, is out of the picture. I finally realized that, having been treated as a liar and a cheat by employee(s?) of the California Lodge, I really would never fit in with an atmosphere created by those who say they care for people but actually care for money, and so am calling it a lesson and will be withdrawing as soon as I am able to sign papers on another place to settle.
Some of the responses to my situation indicate that California Masonry is in deep doodoo having lost their way supposedly based on the Masonic tenet of “Relief, Brotherly Love, and Truth” to become a social club much like the Lions and others. The Elks seem to be closer to that list of beliefs than the Masons.
If any of you have been moved to put a hex on or call for Karma on Masons as a whole, please transfer your efforts to the California Lodge specifically. My son is a Mason and a good man as are many many Masons. It would seem to be a mere few in California who are causing problems, not just for me but to who knows how many others. Maybe just skip the hex thoughts and concentrate on the rule of three … what you give out returns to you threefold.
Thank you all.
Then early last friday evening (a week after the rejection with no contact inbetween) I got a call from someone named Judy saying she had wonderful news for me. All had been forgiven, the collective mind set had changed, and they would like me to move into the “Home” asap.
I was gobsmacked!
I received an email following her phone call, and after much thought, I responded (with my responses in red italics) …
On 8/13/2021 6:03 PM, Judy Figueroa wrote:
Dear Mrs. Dibelka,
I would like to thank you and your son for taking the time to speak with me earlier today.
As we discussed, I will be happy to continue processing your application for admission. I am sorry you feel the staff did not trust you as this was not our intention. –I never indicated I felt it was staff as a whole. I felt welcomed by all those with whom I interacted. It was only the one person who chose to believe Zillow over us! One person !!!- Your application was going well, you picked your apartment and received your TB test by our nurses. Staff did not intend to give you the impression you were not eligible for admission. –I say AGAIN, no staff member with whom I interacted gave me any impression other than that they approved of me. It was the staff member who decided that on the word of Zillow, which is reliably unreliable, that I was trying to cheat and lying about my finances and therefore should be rejected. If that was one of the staff I met, they are a good actor.- There seemed to be a misunderstanding –misunderstanding is an understatement– and I apologize for the upset –mental and financial– this has caused you and your son.
Our number one priority is for your safety and well being –I wish I could believe that now. Trust can be broken soooo easily and takes time to mend.- I understand you have sold your home and will have no where to live. If you agree we can rush the process of the application and get you moved in. We would be pleased to have you move to the Masonic Homes. Please let me know your decision. As part of the financial review, there are documents required to complete the assessment process. I will be glad to send you what is needed regarding financial documents. Please feel free to call or email me should you have any questions. My phone number is (626) 251-2230
Judy Figueroa Executive Director
–I am thinking and evaluating and will let you know my decision as soon as the dust settles. Wilma J. Dibelka –
Sooooooooooooooo, stay tuned. With hope and heavenly assistance all will be well.
My next move is to find a place where I can live, comfortably caring for myself as long as possible, while being close to, but not with, Mark and his family. In the meantime I will settle somewhere while putting everything except day to day essentials in storage. At least I will now be able to keep some of the furniture (and kitchen ware) which has usefulness, meaning, and memories for me which I thought I had to get rid of because of the smaller space in a Masonic “Home”.
Oh well …
~~~
Weather had remained HOT. The entire state from the California lower central valley to southern Oregon has been under a pall of smoke due to the Dixie fire. Smoke density varies from area to area and from day to day. Ash was falling in Weed and Mt Shasta last thursday.
A RED RED sun, when seen at all, was becoming the norm.
Then yesterday, miracle of miracles, we saw the Mountain for the first time in days and blue sky with a few scattered clouds.
This morning it was almost cold (55º) and clear with light wind.
~~~
Last week, while Kamille and Paul were in Baltimore visiting her parents, Mark and I watched a movie called Greenland, an apocryphal film concentrating on people’s reactions and behavior during devastation by impacts all around the Earth, the result of the passage of Earth through fragments of a comet made of more than ice. Blame, fright, loss of belief in the Golden Rule, resignation … not much positive. Reminded me a bit of atomic scare times back in the 50s when there were predictions of behavior between those who built underground shelters in their backyards and those who didn’t but expected to share and be welcomed by those who did.
George was working in the far west of the San Fernando Valley at the time. We lived in Pomona, which is about sixty miles from Chatsworth where he was working, and our oldest son was a toddler. Our decision was that if a bomb landed on LA between us, and George couldn’t get home so we could be together, we would each go outside to watch the show, think of each other, and accept fate.
One of the top films at the time was On the Beach in which everybody, actually everyone not already dead from radiation, said their goodbyes and swallowed cyanide pills.
~~~
A necessary change, as soon as possible, is to rent a postal box so I will have an address. My email, this blog site, and my phone number will stay the same.
Am still learning how to use my cell phone, and am making slow progress. Main problem seems to be inability to “touch” lightly and having finger pads larger than the spots on the phone. Too many years of using a slight push such as on a microwave isn’t a help.
Oh for the days of dial or pushbutton phones.
~~~
Nature around here in south Siskiyou County is in flux. Fruit and vegetable crops are big but not maturing in the expected way. Evergreen trees are dying … in fires, due to drought, from pine beetles taking advantage of their weakened condition, from lack of direct sun due to smoke, and other stuff.
We will survive this. But it is becoming clear the growing zones are moving as the deserts move north.
Over 100º in Portland?
Oregon on fire all around Salem?
Another BIG California fire. This time far west southwest of us in Trinity County.
~~~
As I said before, I had been a bit ashamed of having made my farewells and now, much like the bad penny, having to say, as did the poltergeist, “I’m baaaaack.”
It’s been a bit like being an actress playing Gertrude in the final act of “Hamlet” where everyone dies. Having given the very best performance of my career, lying completely still for the remainder of the scene, hearing the final lines then a rustle which sounded like the stage curtain coming down, and the start of applause, I got to my feet while smoothing my costume getting ready for the curtain calls only to find that the curtain was still raised.
But the re-entry/curtain call has gone better than I could ever had hoped. Everyone has been so supportive and welcoming. I’ve had two welcome back meals so far this week, with one more planned. I will resume my monday Community Luncheons with friends next week. In addition, I will be able to keep my library connection with the two best librarians in the County because they are open via the drivethru window on mondays.
~~~
Tired of all the b—s—? Me too. I trust what the Universe has in store for my future, and therefore the overall tone of these blogs will improve. I believe in miracles.
We can’t always choose the music life plays for us, but we can choose how we dance.
I’ve been absent from this blog for several weeks. My son and I had been busy trying to get me settled in a California Masonic “Home” in Covina. My only asset was the property my husband turned from raw land into an off-the-grid homestead which I sold to a young couple with dreams of independent living similar to that of George and I forty-five years ago.
The initial hiccup in my admission to the “Home” process was over a $153.00 unsecured debt.
When that issue seemed to be settled, I was scheduled for admission interviews. Those interviews went well and it was my impression that the employees at the Masonic “Home” approved of me as an addition to their residential community, and were even rather excited over the life experiences and talents I would bring with me.
I was packed and ready to start the next part of my life.
Then the following happened …
This is my post on Facebook following three days of non-responses to my calls to the Masonic employee who handles admissions to the Covina unit asking for clarification.
I am back at the land where I lived for 45 years but sold (I have until 1 September to leave) because I am now 91 and, since I am now physically diminished and have always been technically challenged, I am unable to maintain it any longer. I had planned to move into a California Masonic retirement community which they call a “Home”, but that is in abeyance because Zillow told them I sold too low. Zillow added about $200,000 to my sale price because they listed a house on the property without any Zillow employee ever seeing the house or the land. No appraisal was involved in the sale since the agreement was that the new owners bought AS IS. All Zillow’s “appraisal” was on paper using local sales references . BUT the house is in miserable condition due to the years of neglect while my husband was dying. He was aphasic, right side paralyzed, and nearly blind when he died. My application to the Masonic “Home” was denied because of the Zillow report. Some employee of the Masons decided (or so it would seem) that I am a liar and a cheat and was trying to cheat the Masons of their share of my “assets” by making a gift of that $200,000 to the people who bought the land knowing the value is in the land and house needs massive repairs.
I am appealing that decision.
Following that post, There were several supportive responses which I forwarded to the employee in charge of my application. So far, no response.
This morning I saw this on Facebook and thought how closely it matches my situation with the Masonic Homes of California.
Too often people form inaccurate conclusions, misinterpret information they are given or unfortunately distort truth for their own gain.
Beware … It would seem that if you need Masonic help make sure you bring enough money.
In the meantime, I am back in the area, hoping to find a place where I will live out my remaining years.
So here I am … back to the blog which will soon have a new title.
~~~
On another, equally upsetting topic … California is in the grip of the worst fire season in recorded history. The Dixie fire in the Sierra Nevadas in the Lassen National Forest is essentially out of control and aimed to cross the stateline into Nevada.
Siskiyou County is not currently in danger.
The Dixie has so far burned an area the size of Washington DC in 15 minutes, has burned over 500,000 acres total at the last count, and has laid a deep smoke pall over all of the state north of the Tehachapies.
This morning at dawn the sun looked small through the smoke and was a dull, deep red colour.
A cousin who lives in San Luis Obispo posted the following …
What a puzzlement, you might say. Not really. You just need to understand what you are looking at. First image: a “firestorm” so hot that it burned out cars, but not the trees.
Second image: a fire so hot it reduced a home to nothing but ashes (no framing, no appliances, nothing!) but left the trees.
These images are from the current fire in California that destroyed the town of Greenville (just as an identical fire did the town of Paradise 2 years ago).
My response … Gaia knows where the danger to her health lies and it isn’t with nature.
~~~
And that’s it for today. Next week I will share what has happened in my search for a home.
“It’s time to go.” said Bear.
“But where are we going?” asked Rabbit.
“Forward,” said Bear, “we can’t stay here anymore.”
“So much has happened here though. I don’t know that I can move on.” said Rabbit.
“You can stay if you want,” said Bear, “but life won’t wait with you.”
“It won’t?” asked Rabbit.
“No,” said Bear, “besides, up ahead there might be something wonderful.”
“You think so?” asked Rabbit.
“I think…” said Bear, “if you stay here, you’ll never know.”
… and …
Don’t hesitate, just jump. Build your wings on the way down.
It has been HOT … at least by normal for this area. Saturday it got up to 107 at 7:30. By bedtime it had dropped to 105. That had to have set a record for south Siskiyou County.
~~~
Mark, Paul, and I leave early tomorrow morning for my first trip south in forever. It has been twenty-five years since I was last there.
I will be taking some packed bins with me to leave at Helene’s until I can rent storage space. She and I will begin getting used to sharing living space which we will be doing beginning the 6th of August until I can move into my apartment.
Thursday afternoon Mark and Paul will tour the Tar (La Brea) museum, learning center but not the Pits which are still closed due to Covid. Helene and I will go to Covina to look at my future apartment. We will all meet in the city near the Tar Pits for an East Indian dinner together (Helene knows a great place). On friday Mark and Paul are doing Disneyland and we will be back here on saturday.
My next trip down will be the first weekend in August when I move to Helene’s.
~~~
Another change triggered by this relocation … I had to choose between a desktop landline phone or move into the 21st century and bow to an in-the-pocket phone. I anticipate difficult learning which will start on this trip south. But then, I’m still pretty sharp mentally so it may go easier than I anticipate.
~~~
Back to fire information …
Haven’t been hearing air support for a few days. Guess they’re busy with other fires. There is a new dangerous one east of McCloud in Burney which has already destroyed buildings but is no threat to here.
I haven’t heard train whistles for a loooooooog time. Then I found out why …
One of the few remaining wooden trestle bridges is no longer usable. Got smacked by the Lava fire a few days ago and when the bridge is replaced it probably won’t be wooden. Trains are currently being routed over Donner Summit east of Sacramento so I may not hear train whistles again before I relocate.
Another interesting event … Last wednesday a helicopter super scooper going for a refill at Lake Shastina near the Lava fire had to make an emergency ditch into the lake. Pilot got out and waded ashore ( low water level possible cause of ditching?).
And speaking of low water levels, here’s a look at what the drought is doing to Lake Shasta to the south near Redding ( I have no idea who the guy in the selfie is but he must be from the mid-west somewhere).
The bridge is the I-5 with the train tracks below. That train tunnel which you can see over his shoulder hasn’t been seen for such a long time most folks had forgotten it or never knew it was there.
~~~
And a follow-up to last 7-7 (Sir Richard Starkey’s 81st birthday) … I received this from a friend in Los Angeles …
About ten years ago – MonsignorWeber (Archivist at the San Fernando Mission who was in his 70s at the time of the story) and regional Bishop Wilkerson made their yearly visit to the chapel on Anacapa Island by helicopter (it’s in the archdiocese of Los Angeles).
One of the passengers in the small group was a young man whose name Msgr didn’t know.
“What is your name?” , Msgr asked.
– “Ringo.”
“What do you do?”
– “I’m a musician”.
Then the Msgr asked … “Do you make any money doing that?”
~~~
I am coming down to the wire with packing. My thinking is changing from Depression Kid thinking (i.e. SAVE EVERYTHING, you might need it someday or you’ll find another use for it) to more current thinking (done with it or it’s broken? just toss it and buy a new one).
For Better or For Worse knows all about it.
It is taking a long time for the behavior change (and it still isn’t second nature), but more than eighty years training is a lot to be unlearned.
I’m not good at moving. Packing the kitchen stuff is taking the most attention and time.
~~~
No thought to end this week’s post.
So ‘til next week …
~~~
~~~
21 July …
And here it is next week already …
The high heat spell has dissipated and it feels more like “normal”. Temperatures in LA were on the high side of warm, but everything there is air conditioned.
~~~
I have yet to learn how to use the camera function on my pocket computer, so there are no supporting photos for the following. I will learn and post what I see on the next trip.
The road trip was interesting. I did a lot of rubbernecking.
The trip down the canyon was a lot like usual. There are more and more clear cuts visible from I-5 and a whole lot more residential construction on the hillsides.
Magnificent views but …
The scars from this year’s fires were quite visible.
The redbud and dogwood season was over so the scenery was mostly greens and post-burn blacks.
The new bridge near La Moine is rather splendid compared to the old narrow, twisted one.
And the water level in the lake is rather spectacular (see last week’s picture for reference). At Lakehead the river feeding into the lake is a mere creek.
However, in Redding the Sacramento River still looks healthy.
Coming north we could see the smoke cloud from the Baranca Fire south of Tahoe. Fortunately all the fires around this area are essentially out, meaning they are now in areas needing only watching and are being allowed to burn themselves out.
The BIG fire, and it’s not near, is the Bootleg fire in Winema Forest in southeast Oregon which has already burned over 537 square miles, an area larger than Metropolitan Los Angeles and about half the size of Rhode Island, and is creating its own weather.
Climate change? What’s that?
~~~
Other notes about the road trip …
Pygmy goats are the thing. I saw them along I-5, in residence yards and in fields. Guess it’s a good thing they are so cute and pleasant to look at as well as ecologically helpful.
I remember when a lot, if not most, of the “freeways” were separated by oleander bushes. They were pretty, were windbreakers, and kept oncoming headlights from hitting you in the eyes. Most of them are now gone having been replaced by low physical barriers or just wide, unplanted separators. There was a story years ago about hobos using oleander sticks to spear their hotdogs when roasting them over a median fire resulting in two or three deaths (oleander is very poisonous … beautiful but deadly). Maybe that was the reason CalTrans has gotten rid of oleanders. Of course, now it is all your life is worth to try to get to the median on foot.
There are still rice fields which are flooded, but the number is about two-thirds the usual. It seems strange to see those flat, dry areas.
The fruit and nut orchards are a mixed bag. There are healthy looking plantings, dead areas, areas with dead plants uprooted and piled in rows, mixed areas of healthy-looking trees with dead trees mixed in, newly planted areas with what would appear to be drip-irrigation lines, areas where the trees haven’t been pruned into productive configurations and so have unruly tops, trees replaced by grape vines dead – productive – and newly planted, some areas rather heavy with tumbleweeds, areas loaded with ripe fruit falling on the ground (mostly citrus further south, but some nuts and stone fruit) probably due to a lack of harvest workers, and not as many beehives as I remember. Vineyard harvest appeared to be pretty well covered by pickers with lots of fairly new cars and chemical toilets in evidence. Look for fruit and nut prices to go up, but grape and wine prices may be safe, at least for now.
The central valley area is covered with water wars political signs such as “Dam Water makes FOOD”. The irrigation canals in the area are still running, but are below their usual depth. Diamond Lake above the San Fernando Valley is still full, but there was no water going down the spillway into the LA area. The LATimes is warning of impending water restrictions and possible rationing. Already lots of front yards have been replaced with desert landscaping or are browning off.
There are still duck wedges overhead. That was nice to see, but with the ambient noise level they couldn’t be heard.
Amazon is a strong presence in the lower central valley and the LA area with huge “production” buildings (and I mean HUGE … some looked to be acres in size) in more rural areas and warehouses all over the place. Bezos has become, or is the process of becoming, the ruler of a rather large fiefdom with its own laws and controls.
Google is also becoming a large presence in LA. Old time buildings like the MayCo and Bullocks are becoming Google headquarters.
The increase in population is evident in the plethora of high-rise apartment buildings, the traffic situation, and the return of smog … although the smog is not yet back to the density it had when we left forty years ago.
I would not have known I was in LA except for recognizing some of the street names on off-ramp signs. Had I been on my own I would have been lost in a very short time and they might still be looking for me.
One sign of the perilous financial times is the number of homeless settlements ALL over the area with the exception of OLD residential areas where the streets are so narrow with all the street parking (single car garages were the style when those houses were built and so now street space is essentially only one car wide).
Anywhere the sidewalks are more than a person and a half wide there are settlements.
On many of the overpasses across the freeways there are settlements (sometimes on both sides of the street).
The settlements are made up of small RVs, camping tents, makedo structures of tenting material with cardboard and whatever, and some merely piles of belongings and trash. It seems sad that most of those areas are not clean. I guess the current population, like everyone else, has gotten so used to having others do most everything for them they don’t know how to clean up after themselves.
The public places seem to be clear however and big venues such as Griffith Park have round-the-clock security. I was told the PD keeps a close eye on the homeless “cities” although it is impossible to clear them out.
The other security issue currently requiring security is increasing anti-semitism. Jewish temples and shules have full time guards.
One pleasant aspect of being back in that area was the number of Bougainvillea vines and Jacaranda trees, even yards with citrus trees.
~~~ The reason for the trip south, other than for Mark and Paul’s Disneyland day, was for me to scope out what will be my new digs and to reconnect with Helene.
The stay with Helene, while awaiting my final move, will take a bit of adapting for both of us. Her husband is mostly mentally gone due to an inherited neuro disease, so essentially we are both widows and can mostly please ourselves. She is a late evening/night person (midnight is normal) and I am a rural morning person (I wake up around five). So I’ll stay up with her until 8:30 or a bit after and do my regular morning stuff (Mark will have installed my computer during my interim stay) while she sleeps in. In addition, Helene INSISTS I will learn how to play MahJong.
One day Helene and I made a trip to Covina to look at the available apartments and choose the one I want held for me, My unsecured debt of $2,1530 which was incurred during the caretime with George and which is $1530 over the $2,000 allowed by the residence for admittance is in resolution action with a recalcitrant debt holder and is all that is delaying my move. As soon as that is resolved (prayers and positive affirmations gladly accepted) I will make my final move.
My choices were between the regular floor plan and a new plan. The new plan had a walk-in tub with only a handheld shower and the closet opened off the bath area … both “no” for me.
The regular floor plan was much roomier than I had anticipated and the “patio” area was much wider. I will have a place to take my morning tea and just sit outdoors. It will suit me well.
Four units in the old floor plan were available … one facing south, one facing west, and the others facing east. The south-facing one was out, as was the west-facing one, both because of exposure to afternoon heat and glare and to my morning affinity. I chose the east-facing one I wanted. I will have morning sun and afternoon/evening shadow. The view will not be maximum for a year or so, but is more than acceptable (more about that in a later blog). The large grass and tree area to the west is more widely used by residents and visitors and so, although it is a larger green area, apartment patios are more public.
There is a good-sized rose garden beside my path to the dining area (which is designed like a mid-class restaurant with tables for four and offers three choices of dinner entree each day) as well as to all the facilities (gym, craft area, beauty shop, etc.). The rose garden doesn’t have a “Peace” rose but when one of the current bushs dies, as all plants do eventually, I will pay to replace it with a Peace, one of the roses my Dad helped develop.
Available facilities are mixed …
The library is a no-go … too many westerns and romance novels for me. I’ll set up some method to use the LA County system at the Covina branch.
The gym attendant is also a fitness trainer.
The beauty shop denizen does pedicures. I may start doing a monthly visit for a hair trim and manicure in addition to the pedicure. Go fancy in my dotage.
There is a driver and transportation available (for medical and dental appointments, etc.) which I will explore for trips to the library for mysteries and fantasy and history books, a grocery store for personal desires, the local LDS church for genealogy research, and who knows what else.
An in-house medical staff is always available.
And there is a high octane “housemother” (always moving in fourth gear or overdrive) who has been more than helpful throughout this process.
Overall, this community would seem to have no resemblance to what has been termed an “old-people-warehouse”.
~~~
My local farewells are down to two. I had brunch with Sara monday and she says she will be coming down to visit. That leaves only my librarians.
~~~
I doubt there will ever again be such a long blog. However, for all of us now, here’s this week’s reminder …
Wherever you’re going, you’ll get there. But right now you are here … enjoy. Happiness is the result of the way you see life.
Beatles legend Ringo Starr is not asking for much as he turns 81. All he wants is for fans to say, “peace and love” at noon Wednesday, his actual birthday. Or post it as a hashtag. Or think it. Anything to spread good vibes at midday your own time. Send Peace and Love around the world.
~~~
Fire danger is calmer but seasonal expectation overall is still high.
In the “Learn something new every day” category …
Last wednesday after the blog was posted the information in re the fire situation was …Too Smoked In Right Now To Use Air Tankers On Lava Fire … followed at sundown by … Pulling folks off the line due to pyrocumolonimbus and potential column collapse. Had no idea what that was, so looked it up.
Now I know …
Looks like it could be lethal. No wonder they called the fighters off the lines. But fortune was with our defenders this time. The cloud column did not collapse.
Also on wednesday afternoon a new fire broke out down the canyon at Lakehead.
Thursday the dawn was “fiery” as the sun tried to find a way through the smoke. We had been clear of smoke from the Lava and Tennant fires since the wind had been mostly from the south. But now with the Salt fire just 10 miles north of Redding, we’re in its smoke path.
Friday morning the closest fire, the LAVA, was reported as “23,849 aces timber and bush, 27% contained”. That was more than 4,000 acres overnight, but no apparent further cause of anxiety for us. The SaltFire down the canyon is being managed on the east side of the Sacramento and apparently is no danger to us up canyon.
More to learn about wildland fire fighting … super scoopers … reasons those pilots are super heroes and why this drought is sooooo dangerous (look at the water levels in those lakes).
I now consider this fire fully under control. Haven’t heard air support since sunday afternoon and those I know who were evacuated are back home.
~~~
Tired with hearing/learning about fire behavior? Okay … on another topic …
My goodbyes are progressing. Another hug-filled farewell yesterday … Breakfast at the HiLo. I will miss those ladies with whom I shared volunteer time, and I will miss the HiLo.
Lunch scheduled with a school friend of Michael’s who became a hairdresser and is going to spiff me up before my move.
Telephone call sunday with a friend who used to live just down the road a piece was good for an update and it was nice to hear her voice again.
The mug mementoes for my Librarians arrived and will be delivered when I make my final book return in a week or so. One (for the wonderful friend and defender of the library) reads “I am the Librarian. To save time, assume I know everything.”The other (for the younger idealist who is also a friend) reads “Librarians are subversive. You think they’re just sitting there at a desk, all quiet and everything. They’re like plotting the revolution, man. I wouldn’t mess with them. – Michael Moore” I am anticipating the LA library, but will miss this source of pleasure.
~~~
Weather abated a bit. Sunday night it was below 60.
Then the heat came back. At least it wasn’t humid.
This morning the low was 57. However, increasing heat is predicted to be here until the coming weekend.
Oh well …
~~~
Flora report …
Iris bloom was spotty this year. Maybe the heat? A couple of the species didn’t bloom at all even though the leaves look okay.
Both the apple and the plum trees are loaded.
The catalpa dropped all its blossoms in less than four days. Maybe took the heat for a bit then decided enough-of-this and decamped.
The meadow is full of yarrow and the St John’s wort is quite nice.
The comfrey joined the catalpa and is awaiting better weather.
Only a feeble effort from the sage.
Dandelions this year were almost nonexistent and went from bloom to air-dancers rapidly.
And because of drought and the watermaster’s diversion of water flow, the trees (mostly pine and fir so far) are dying. It’s sad to see and doesn’t bode well as the danger of fire increases.
~~~
To end with a note from Ringo who just turned 81 …
Oh my my, oh my my … you can boogie … you can fly …
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”.
~~~
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.
~~~
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.
~~~
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.
~~~
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.
~~~
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.
~~~
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.
Fire season is here and I know some of you will be concerned about us. So here’s a current report. I’ll try to indicate wind direction, fire spread direction, and distance from us. These will be quistemates from Forest Service reports as well as local re[poprts.
All local CDF (CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION) stations are on high alert.
Last week we had a series of rather strong storm fronts come through complete with heat and thunderstorms. Most of our storms come from the west and then up the canyon, but these went from northeast to southwest which felt strange.
There were several lightning caused fires around us, but none nearer than thirty miles and all headed away from us.
The closest fire is the Lavafire.
Sunday night it was at 220 acres. By noon today it was over 1,400 acres but headed northwest away from us toward the Lake Shastina subdivision which is under evacuation orders. It started with a downstrike which smoldered. If we were in the picture, we’d be way out of the frame on the right.
For those who don’t know, when a juniper or other tree gets hit by lightning (or fire), the tree can smolder above and below ground for days before rising above groundand becoming visible.
As of 8 this evening it has jumped Hwy 97 which is closed from Weed north to the Oregon border where they have fire concerns of their own.
This is in Hornbrook which is waaaaaay north of us, almost to the Oregon border, and in an area which burned over last year and so is not a high priority.
This is the Tennant fire also way north of us on the northwest side of the Mountain. It isn’t in a populated area however it was thought to be caused by a vehicle fire. It had jumped 97 going north west and so is waaaaaaay to the north of us.
A recent addition is way south down to the west of I-5 in the Crags … not near any residences and not vigorous.
This is just an example of a controlled burn that you have undoubtedly heard about. The firefighters purposely set the duff on fire while monitoring it closely. It is a way of constructing a fire break and very beneficial.
This is the kind of thing that really scares us. This is the remnants of a campfire constructed by someone probably from out of the area and left before it was completely out. You can see where it escaped from the fire circle.Fortunately it was found by a local and contained.
And this is an impression of the Paradise Fire which destroyed the entire town of Paradise last year (painted by one of my kids).
But we are okay. Thanks for your concerns and protective affirmations.
In the category of how-time-does-fly … Paul McCartney turned 79 last friday.
Congratulations to all of us who made it past 64 and are still being fed.
~~~
Comfortable, early summer weather returned last thursday with temperatures in the 70s and no wind. It lasted not quite two days.
Friday made it into the 80s.
Saturday, sunday, and monday it was in the low to mid 90s with night lows in the mid 60s.
Yesterday was comfortable.
Today we are supposed to return to record breaking high temperatures.
Oh well …
~~~
Remember coincidences?
First coincidence … The Librarians centered around Shakespeare followed by Midsummer Night’s Dream overture on Sirius.
Second coincidence … Russell, Holmes and Hammett in San Francisco following thoughts of Sam Spade.
Third coincidence … Shakespeare … Again! Last wednesday, during family tv time, Doctor Who was back in time to 1599 after the death of Hamnet. The episode centered around Shakespeare but this time with a touch of the Marx Brothers (the Doctor’s companion was introduced as coming from Freedonia) and also Lewis Carroll (Elizabeth I was the Red Queen).
Shakespeare and Mendelssohn – – Hammett and Spade – – Librarians and DoctorWho.
Coincidence cycle complete.
~~~
While thinning out the accumulation of forty plus years, I found two peacoats. One was past saving. The other was well worth the effort to restore it to use. I have passed it on to our elder grandson since he will be here next winter where they still have winters while I will be in southern California.
I got curious about the history of the coats. I knew that when my Dad and my husband were in the Navy (Daddy in WW I, Yangtse Patrols after the Boxer Rebellion and George in WW II, and Korea) peacoats were regulation issue although it seems the Navy has since decided they are no longer useful. Too bad.
Daddy had told me that the Navy uniform (bell bottoms etc.) started in the sailing days when a sailor was apt to find himself in the “drink” and needed help to survive.
Bell bottoms, made of dense fabric (canvas from the sails), could be knotted or tied off and used as floats. The kerchief had many uses such as sun protector, tourniquet, and small tool holder. The white hat, referred to as Dixie cups, was sun protector and easily identified on land or sea.
Contrary to popular myth, the thirteen buttons are not representative of the original colonies. They came about when the drawstring holding up pants was replaced by a waist button and a “crotch” flap. Over the years side buttons were added to the original top seven on the crotch flap for ease of access. The use of buttons was never changed because they are easier to replace than a zipper would be, and besides zippers once rusted in salt air.
Cracker Jacks have a long history.
But I wondered why “pea”coat? Easy answer … original version was worn by harbor “pilots” hence a “p”coat which became peacoat.
“pee”coat is not only incorrect, but a bit insulting.
A recent Google search shows 1940’s era peacoats selling for as much as eight hundred dollars … Wow!
You now have more answers for your next game of Trivia.
TMI ???
Oh well …
~~~
A week or so ago, a Blast from the Past arrived. A couple George and I had first met back in the days when we were new to this land … Jon and Alice … dropped by to say hello. I wasn’t here, and so they left a note.
They own land just down the road from us, but never developed it. Yet, every time they came to spend some time on their land, one or both would come visit.
The last time I saw Jon was a couple of years before George died. Jon was here for dinner and I couldn’t remember whether Europeans (Swiss) eat salad before or after the main course. It made for laughs and fun together.
But when I saw their note I couldn’t remember who they were. I knew I knew them because the combination of names was niggling at the edges of memory. And it was addressed to George and Wilma so I knew it had been more than three years since I’d seen them (so Alzheimer loss of short term memory didn’t apply).
Outcome? I finally remembered and made contact.
~~~
Oh, by the way, another series of coincidences seems to have started.
Sometime last week I had a conversation during which I learned the local small airport in Montague had been used by the Air Force during WW II as a bomber base during the defense of Alaska and the Aleutians. Doesn’t sound very exciting. Nothing like the Bulge or Iwo Jima or Anzio or Omaha Beach or any of the other battles which filled the news in those days.
Then the new issue of Archaeology magazine (July-August 2021) arrived.
One of the articles was titled “LETTER FROM ALASKA The Cold Winds of War” … seven pages, complete with pictures, about the invasion of Kiska island by the Japanese, its occupation, and the eventual recovery of Kiska out on the far west end of the Aleutians.
I was a teen during those years and thought I knew most everything about the US Navy during that war. But I had never heard of Kiska. I knew a Japanese sub had once come close enough to the Oregon coast to fire onto US soil and about the fire balloons meant to spread panic by setting northwestern forests on fire. But I never knew the Japanese had occupied US soil from June of 1942 until August of 1943, or that there is a spot off the west coast of Kiska where a stern portion of the destroyer USS Abner Read (DD-526)
including at least seventy of those who went down with her, has been declared by the U.S. Navy’s Naval History and Heritage Command a “fitting resting place for those who perished at sea”, a “war grave”, and “a hallowed site”
… not unlike the USS Arizona.
Seems you’re never too old to learn something new.
That’s the first coincidence in a new series. Stay tuned.
P.S. DD-526 was repaired, returned to service, and went down during the largest naval battle of WW II, Leyte Gulf.
~~~
Another find among the boxes of genealogical stuff … a tightly rolled photo, in very fragile condition. I tried to unroll it and opened about an inch and a half before the paper began to turn to dust. I saw enough to see that it is a panorama of a military-style bivouac which would indicate it is most likely either my grandfather Curtzwiler with the California National Guard during the San Francisco earthquake in 1906, or George’s father with the Illinois 33nd during the final 100 days of WW I.
It is obviously something of historical value and, if it is to be identified and survive, it needs an expert.
A friend, who is a photographer, put me in contact with a man who works salvaging photos and documents for museums, etc. I will be mailing the photo off tomorrow for an estimate.
I’ll let you know what happens.
~~~
There is someone out there who has nothing to do with their time other than make up silly omens.
At 9:21 last monday it was “the 21st minute of the 21st hour of the 21st day and the 21st week of the 21st year of the 21st century”.
Did anyone notice s/he wasn’t able to fit in the month?
Oh well …
The chief beauty about time is that you cannot waste it in advance.
We were back to cold, wet weather for a few days. I even began using a lap robe again while on the net.
Redding and the area at the foot of the Mountain to the south was in for heat, but no sign of it here … yet. Prediction is the high 80s today. At 0700 it’s still a bit chilly.
~~~
Climate Change is doing strange things to the flora around here.
Oak trees are still dressed in leaves from three seasons … there are dry, brown leaves from 2019 alongside semi-dry dark green leftover leaves from 2020 now joined by rust-brown budding leaves from this year.
The lilacs near the house have not yet lost their blooms. The blossom clusters are still in place but they are a dry orange brown.
I can’t imagine what is making plants hold on to “dead” blossoms and leaves. It doesn’t seem to have anything to do with seeds. Any suggestions?
Some of the iris are in bloom. Others are not even showing buds.
~~~
We all know of Churches with adjacent grave yards. We know them mostly as leftovers from the past or as actually being in the past. The one I remember most clearly is at St Clether’s in Cornwall where I found the grave of a woman who died on the day I was born … exact day, month, and year.
Here in south Siskiyou County, “cemeteries” in current use are Mt Shasta Memorial Park in Mt Shasta, Winema Cemetery (white) and Lincoln Heights Cemetery (black) in Weed, Foulk family grave area and Gazelle Cemetery in Gazelle, and the McCloud Cemetery in (where else) McCloud. There are also several very small family plots on some old-time ranches in this area.
In addition, there is a small area adjacent to St Barnabas Episcopal Church in Mt Shasta where ashes of parishioners are honored. I guess it is not rightly a grave yard since there are no graves. But it is listed on the genealogical web site called “Find a Grave”.
There is a building across the road from the Memorial Park in Mt Shasta which was built as a Lutheran Church (my friend Elizabeth Ramey was one of the original members there). It is now a theatre and acting/dancing school. And there is the Cabaret Theatre (the Old Pink Church) in Ashland, across the state line in Oregon, which has been a dinner theatre for several years.
That can never happen to St Barnabas because of the sacred “memorial” area. I wonder if that was in the minds of those who originated the use of the space, or if it was just a fortunate side effect?
~~~
Mornings outdoors are reminding me of seasonal change (even if it is unusual change times). Woodpeckers are busy clearing trees of the larvae hatching under the bark. We have red headed peckers here and their Rat-ta-tat is nearly as good as a snare drum street beat.
Another bird reminder of past times is that I am hearing chickadees. Not as many as we used to hear when the children called them one’-two-three birds because their call sounded like waltz time.
~~~
And speaking of birds …
The chicken flock is in decline. With the family life changes in store over the next few months, keeping chickens is not a priority.
Two more of the hens are gone. They are all getting old and laying has dropped off. The flock hasn’t been renewed for two years. We are now down to eleven hens … four blacks, three browns, one barred rock, and three whites.
An interesting sidelight is that we are still getting the average six eggs a day.
One of the latest to die was Picasso, she of the malformed beak. I never understood how she was able to eat enough to stay healthy and productive with that twisted beak, but she did okay for quite a long time.
Lesson there? Never discount someone as “disabled”.
After in depth research, Mark found they likely died from worms which probably came from the wild birds which forage in the chicken yard. It is an infestation of a parasite which lodges in the trachea and suffocates the host. The flock is now being treated with an anti-parasite medication and we are unable to use eggs while they are on the medication. Probably more than you wanted to know.
Oh well …
~~~
Once a week I talk with a cousin back east and last week, while sharing memories, I remembered the times (when I was young and child-sitting, at their vacation house on Balboa Island, for one of the wealthy families in my small town) when I would go out after the kids were asleep, wend my way through the back thoroughfares to the inner bay, and take a private swim. What made the memory indelible was that often the water glowed.
There are several places (and times) when and where ocean waters light up, usually a shade of blue or blue-green.
Watching waves break when the sea is phosphorescent is spectacular.
Swimming in glowing water is magical. (Both pictures from the web)
Just one of my Pacific memories … along with grunion hunting.
~~~
I seem to be attracting coincidences lately. The last episode we watched of “the Librarians” was built around Shakespeare’s plays (with a lot of recognizable quotes if you know any Shakespeare). When I came up to get ready for bed, I turned on Sirius and Mendelssohn’s Overture to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was playing.
Then a couple of days later I was reading one of Laurie King’s Russell books set in San Francisco during the 30s and found Dashiell Hammett was one of the characters. I had just decided a couple of days before that maybe it was time to become reacquainted with Sam Spade.
Since events etc. come in threes … I wonder what coincidence will come next.
~~~
I was recently reminded that (to paraphrase Dickens) “It is the worst of times. It is the best of times.” and on that note I will borrow from Mary Anne Perrone …
I no longer wait for a special occasion; I burn the best candles and eat cake on ordinary days.
I no longer wait for the house to be clean; I understand that even dust is sacred.
I no longer wait for everyone to understand me; that’s not their task.
I no longer wait for the other shoe to drop; it already has, and I survived.
I am no longer waiting for the time to be right; the time is now.
Temperatures have cooled off a little more than a bit.
Last friday, as the heat spell began to break, Mark was sitting at the table downstairs gazing out the window to the north just after the sun came up and before the temperature began to rise. The north windows were open, as were the upstairs windows, and he noted that although there was no breeze blowing there was cool air flowing in via the north windows and most likely out the upstairs windows.
His observation made me smile. That was part of the heating/cooling system built into this house. Too bad the “envelope” house never seems to have caught on and been further developed.
I recall seeing pictures of a house somewhere in Scandinavia where the idea was taken to the extreme by actually building a house inside a greenhouse.
It is still a good idea. The concept worked for us for over forty years, although not perfectly … partially due to our lack of architectural training.
The volunteer rambling rose just outside the backdoor is coming into bloom. Small blossoms but such a vivid red.
I also have a two-toned bronze iris in bloom which came to me (by way of my friend Carole’s family’s gardens) from Red Bluff through Redding and finally from Carole’s place here on Hammond Ranch. Mark plans to take a few corms from those iris, as well as some of the “Michael” iris, to add to the iris bed at the church. I’m hoping to locate the black iris John gave me so it too can find a new home. Somehow the iris which was white with bright blue, thin “blanket” stitch edging which had been given to me by my Daddy’s cousin Isabel too many years ago to count, disappeared during the move north.
Oh well …
And so far no blossoms on the catalpa. Maybe it is deciding not to bloom this year.
~~~
Last friday, after an unproductive day, I began watching a tv series titled “The Haunting of Bly Manor”. First episode was really scary.
Who has read Henry James’ “Turn of the Screw”? I found a way to read it on line … free, and am finding it difficult reading.
The lesson with the printed word may be to stop expecting today’s speakers and writers of “English” to write and speak by the rules of grammar which I learned in school more than seventy years ago because Henry James, who wrote in the late 1800s, wasn’t writing by those rules either.
Story evaluation will have to wait until I finish reading and watching this latest telly version.
~~~
Last week I had an “Iris” adventure in addition to, or maybe because of, the previously mentioned involvement of Mark in expanding the iris collection at his church. Quite by accident I saw a photo of an iris, ostensibly taken in a garden somewhere west of Baltimore. It was striking! Shades of teal highlighted by shades of pink. Most of the time I am hyper-aware of PhotoShopped colours … but I know teal is one of Mark’s favorite colours. Naturally, I thought a start of that particular iris would make a nice gift for him and so started searching the web for access.
I researched all the iris corm retailers I could find … without success. As a last resort I turned to Facebook. There are “friends” I follow on Facebook who live on different continents in differing weather zones. Thinking the iris I was seeking might be specific to a certain area, I put out a broad ranging request asking if anyone had seen or knew of it. I used the snip and sketch feature to copy and post the picture I had seen.
I received several responses. Many people were intrigued. Many suggested I try some of the retailers I had already tried. But no one had a solid lead.
However, one of my contacts in the UK suggested a mail order source for which the address was in Nevada. They had the picture of the iris in their online “buymore” ad. It seemed a bit strange since they advertised “seeds” and I had never heard of raising iris from seeds. But I decided to give it a look (reminding myself to not give out personal information, especially not financial information).
When I called the phone number given, a recording said the number was either busy or out of order. I should try again later.
Another part of their online presence advertised “Cape Jasmine” seeds using a picture of what was obviously a gardenia bush.
Something was out of whack.
So I called a reliable iris garden in Oregon and was told they had never seen or heard of that colour in iris. Many hues and mixes of blues, purples, greens, yellow, reds, whites, etc. but nary a blue-green such as teal.
By then it was obvious I was on a wild goose chase but I was intrigued.
It turned out the Nevada site had copied the same PhotoShopped picture I had seen and added it to their scam site.
Final information … someone in China is running a fairly successful scam (judging from the negative comments from folks who invested hundreds of dollars in their “rare” seeds). They are using a legal mail forwarding site for their sales.
Oh well … it was an interesting way to spend an afternoon.
And by the way … iris can be grown from seeds. It is a complicated, tedious, and lengthy process employed mostly by dedicated hybridizers so there is the wild card chance that someday there will be a teal and pink iris.
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It seems last week was stuffed with adventures.
Have you ever heard of the Trocks, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo? They are an all male ballet company, all of whom are excellent dancers. They dance all the classic roles, i.e. both male and female roles (the ballerina roles are danced en pointe).
In addition, they are fun jokesters. They honor classical choreography but with tongue in cheek. Check out the high point of Swan Lake here …
