Musings …

Well, the geese weren’t around for a short time.  Seems a coyote found them in the bushes next door. I was feeling sad.  Then this morning, during my walkabout with my neighbor, they were back.

I was so happy to hear them again that I stopped to look up while they flew overhead, completely forgetting their propensity to poop in flight.

I am blessed with their return.  Hope the coyote has moved on. And was soooooooooooo lucky they didn’t poop while I stood there looking up enjoying.

~~~ 

And speaking of geese … I just saw an article about some area (I didn’t read the entire post and don’t remember whether or not the place was mentioned) where an entire flock of geese was being used as an insect control method.  

I knew of this use.  Can’t use chickens since they eat everything available, not just unwanted weeds and insects.

Additional thought was the use of goats in some areas to clear unwanted plants in fire-prone areas.

Geese and goats.  

Great combo …

~~~

Have recently been subjected to praises of air fryers by a neighbor and one of my sons.  I decided to get one which the neighbor will buy for me next time she goes to CostCo up in Oregon (no sales tax).

Will also ask her to check out the availability of electric tea kettles. I first saw one in a Cornish inn/hotel and didn’t know what it was or how to use it.  Now I want one.  It will take up less counter space than the microwave while delivering nearly instant tea water.

~~~

I also need to get some stuff for the extra room … sheets, bed pad, pillows, bedside rugs, bookcase, etc. Maybe someday on a trip to Yreka followed by lunch at Casa Ramos.

~~~

Recently, following the sale of the farm and the purchase of my current home, I learned I will need to file a tax report.  George and I hadn’t done a tax return in 40+ years (too money poor) so I have no idea what to do. 

Then I learned of an organization called JEDI right here in Mt Shasta who will do tax paperwork by professionals at no charge.  They even post a list of what you need to provide them by way of information.  And it doesn’t require an appointment.  

I will begin gathering the paper work and go sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Will let you know the result.

~~~

Also due to the real estate transactions I find I am the owner of an “estate” and need an attorney to make sure my children don’t get caught in the morass of probate when I die.

I never thought I would own enough to be an estate owner.  

That process will start with a phone consultation next tuesday with an attorney with whom in the past (as an amateur radio operator) I did  communication during an annual running event sponsored by the local Rotary Club (it hasn’t be held in the past two years).

Who ever thought I would need an attorney or that volunteer work would be a valuable asset …

Too bad there was no way to keep me out of Facebook jail due to my opinion about the difference between musicianship and burlesque-like performance.

Oh well …

~~~

To end the week, a thought from an indigenous young man …

A man slaughtered a big cow, lit the grill and said to his daughter, “Daughter, call our relatives, friends, and neighbours to eat with us… let us feast!”

His daughter took to the street and started shouting,

“Please help us put out a fire at my Dad’s house!”

After a few moments, a small group of people came out but the rest acted like they didn’t hear the cry for help.

Those who came ate and drank until late.

The stunned father turned to his daughter and said to her,

“The people who came I barely know them, some I had never seen before, so where are our relatives, friends, and neighbours?”

The daughter said, “Those who came out of their homes came to help us put out a fire in our house and not for the party.”

The lesson is that those who don’t help you during your struggle, shouldn’t eat with you at your party.  Those are the ones who deserve generosity and hospitality.

— Darnell Benally

So,‘til next week … Be among the ones who deserve to share in the party.

Long blog this week … 

~~~

Remember me telling you about hearing geese overhead and wondering why they were still here in winter?  Well it had a very simple reason.  Evidently some of them never went south this year.  There is a gaggle of adventurous souls (in pairs since Canada geese are monogamous) in the bushes in a line along the east border of my and my neighbor’s parcels.  

I saw them a few days ago when I heard them and went out to see what was going on.  The hen turkeys have been displaced by the geese.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera within reach, but it is now near my side door where I can grab it next time I hear them.

~~~

Last monday was my first time around the Mountain as far as Weed.  

I had my n95 mask with me and was at a table with five friends who were all also masked until we were eating, at which time we all had our masks down under our chins ready to pull up rapidly.  Talking through the masks was a challenge but we managed.  

Maybe I’d better concentrate on brushing up my ASL and teaching our group some basics.  Talk about a challenge.

~~~

Mark’s family is in lockdown.  Kamille and Paul were both tested positive (I think I told you that).  Paul tested negative at his next test and went back to school monday, but Kamille is still positive and is in quarantine.  At least her symptoms are lessened and she can begin to eat again. 

Mark is still negative but is maintaining distance in case he is a carrier although his tests have all been negative.

I saw him yesterday as a result of misplacing my phone.

I stopped putting it in my pant’s pockets because it kept falling out and I knew it was only time until it was broken.  So on monday I put it in a pocket the jacket I had taken with me and left them both in the car.

At the end of our meal, one of my friends cleared the table of all our trash.  I had packed about half of my lunch/dinner to take home for my dinner, but didn’t think of it as I went out the door, still chatting with some of the others.  

The friend who had cleared the table then went with me to the library where I returned the books I had gotten last week and we both got new books.  As we parted, my friend said that  she must have tossed her take-home pack in the trash when she tossed the table stuff because she couldn’t find it.  At the time, I didn’t know I didn’t have my phone so we split up and both went home.  

When I got home, I couldn’t find my phone.

Panic …

I thought to call my phone and listen for the ring.  

Stupid!  

How could I call my phone since I didn’t have my phone? So I went next door.   I didn’t think to go back home and have the neighbor call my phone since I thought I had already checked there.  

I then used her phone to call the Community Center where we had lunch and asked that they check the luncheon trash and was told it had already been collected.  So I decided to retrace my steps and went back to Weed. 

In the meantime, one of the city employees, the one who had told me the trash had been collected, went out to check and the trash was still in the dumpster,  but when she called my number, which I had left with her, there was no ring heard.

When I got there I asked to go back and listen for myself.  Still no sound heard.

As a last resort, I needed to go to Mark with my tail between my legs, since I knew he’d know what to do next.  I had tried to call him, but he wasn’t answering.  So I went to find him back in Mt Shasta.  When I found him, we met (at a distance) and he had learned about my phone and said “Mom, your phone is at home either in your office or one of the sofas.”  Seems there is a way to track your phone.  I need to learn how to do that.

Although I thought I had checked everywhere, I trusted his know-how and went back home to look again … this time in the office and the sofas.  

Nothing in the office. That left the sofas.   I had put the phone in the jacket pocket but for some reason hadn’t recognized the extra weight and evidently when I tossed the jacket over the back of the sofa, neck down, my phone had fallen out between cushions.  I let Mark know, and also let the lady at the Community Center know.

Did you know an embarrassed red face creates heat? 

End of story.  

I need to find one of those contraptions that go over your shoulder to carry my phone.

~~~

So here’s another tale to end the week.

I recently rejoined Facebook (I had been in FB jail for quite some time, probably over a statement I made stating that I think female solo musicians should look like musicians and not like burlesque performers) and saw this post … 

It is long but well worth sharing …

“I was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing I noticed was the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for me.

He handed me a laminated card and said, ‘I’m Wasu, your driver. While I’m loading your bags in the trunk, I’d like you to read my mission statement.’

Taken aback, I read the card. It said, ‘Wasu’s Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest, and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment.’

This blew me away. Especially when I noticed the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!

As he slid behind the wheel, Wasu said, ‘Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.’

I said jokingly, ‘No, I’d prefer a soft drink.’

Wasu smiled and said, ‘No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, lassi, water, and orange juice.’

Almost stuttering, I said, ‘I’ll take a lassi since I’ve never had one before.’

Handing me my drink, Wasu said, ‘If you’d like something to read, I have Good Housekeeping magazine, Reader’s Digest, The Bible, and a Travel + Leisure magazine.’

As we were pulling away, Wasu handed me another laminated card, ‘These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you’d like to listen to the radio.’

And as if that weren’t enough, Wasu told me he had the heater on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for me.

Then he advised me of the best route to my destination for that time of day. He also let me know he’d be happy to chat and tell me about some of the sights or, if I preferred, to leave me with my own thoughts.

‘Tell me, Wasu,’ I was amazed and asked him, ‘have you always served customers like this?’

Wasu smiled into the rear view mirror. ‘No, not always. In fact, it’s only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard about power of choice one day.’

‘Power of choice is that you can be a duck or an eagle. If you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you’ll rarely disappoint yourself. Stop complaining! Don’t be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.’

‘That hit me right,’ said Wasu. He continued and said, ‘It is about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.’

‘I take it that has paid off for you,’ I said.

‘It sure has,’ Wasu replied. ‘My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year, I’ll probably quadruple it. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on it.’

Wasu made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles. 

I hope we all decide to soar like an eagle and not quack like a duck.”

—  Summer Grace Vanni

So,‘til next week …

Latest event in the Village was the removal last monday of the holiday wreaths on the street lights.  I guess we are all on notice that the holiday season is over.  

Next up is Candlemas (today), but I don’t know of anyone who celebrates that in any way.

~~~

Some unidentified space radio signals, coming from somewhere in the Milky Way, which recur approximately every 18 minutes were recently “discovered” by a research student.  It reminded me of one of my favorite movies “Contact” and another recently released movie “Don’t Look Up” the starting point of which is the discovery of a potentially dangerous (to Earth) comet discovered by a graduate student.

The discovery of the radio signal has ignited a lot of back-and-forth in several talk forums, both scientific and social, with several possible sources both spatial and physical offered.  I will be following these discussions.  

I’ve been a SETI follower ever since the Sagan days.  At one time I even offered the use of my computer for help in tracking radio aberrations, but that was in the days of ultra-slow dial-up and so my involvement went nowhere.  

I think the big ears array out Hwy 89 to the east near Hat Creek is now a SETI outlook.  I’ll have to check into that.  Might be worth a field trip.

~~~

California has returned a swath of land to the local coastal Sinkyone (and that is not a spelling error but rather the indigeneous tribes’ phonetic spelling … ovidtest.gov) which includes a stand of redwoods.  The tribes will manage the land along lines taught by their Elders.

I hope I live long enough to see the results of proper land management.

~~~

I recently came across an Antwerp flash mob which was good fun … “You’re the one that I want” … and most of the mobsters were either not yet born when the movie came out or were most likely pre-school.  Enjoy … !!!

~~~
Made my first go-round-the-Mountian last friday.  Left home about 1030, did some banking and got a first try (at the Raven Tree shop in Mt Shasta) at learning what the local Ravens might appreciate.  Will set out a small offering in the morning, watch as I can, and bring what is left (if anything) into the house at dusk so squirrels, racoons, bears and other nocturnals are not encouraged to get in the habit of coming up onto the porch.

Then went on to Weed to the library to return some books and pick up some new reads for the coming week.  For me, reading with an actual book in hand is absolutely the best.  

That opinion is not meant to be  dissing electronic reading.  Just part of my “I choose for me … you choose for you.” philosophy as is Bingo as a social thing.

I am still reading the Gaslight series by Thompson, but only three more in the series to go.  Soon I will have to find a replacement.  Maybe go back to the Mary Russell series. 

And I have leads on a couple of other series which I’ll  try out.

Available mysteries without lots of gore, explicit sex, and profanity are outnumbered by the hard core stuff and not always easy to find.

Oh well …

I think mondays will be my regular Mt Shasta and Weed days.  We’ll see how that works.
~~~

I am still watching for Jenny on her morning walkabouts and joining her for an abbreviated version whenever.

I think I told you that neighbors to the east down the street from me had started an unscheduled walkabout of their own, possibly inspired by Jenny and (to a lesser extent) also me.  Susan is not able to walk by herself following a stroke and a fall which resulted in two broken wrists.  As a result she uses a seated walker which she pushes, walks slow, and drags one foot slightly.  Husband Dave doesn’t like going at her pace so we do it without him and he keeps tabs from home windows.  

I went to “visit” them last friday afternoon and after a bit of social time (more about that in a later blog) we agreed Susan and I will meet occasionally after our “therapeutic” naps and do a short, non-strenuous walkabout … me with my walking stick and her with her walker.  

First outing was yesterday and Susan and I were joined by Jenny who had to drop out after just one circuit because of her tendon problem. We were moving too slow for her ankle’s need for movement/exercise.  

The complete circuit is a quarter mile so Susan and I did okay.  Jenny does four circuits when moving at her own pace.

~~~ 

One of the hosts of “The View”, Whoopie Goldberg, was suspended by ABC News for two weeks after she drew criticism for declaring that the Holocaust was “not about race.”

I agree with Ms. Goldberg.  It was not about race.  It was about religion.  Those sent to the death camps were forced to wear the Star of David and were reviled as Juden.  Neither the badge nor the title were racially based.  The cause was Hitler’s hatred of Jews … maybe an attempt to deny his own Jewish heritage?

“The View” and ABC News owe Ms. Goldberg an apology and need to read up on history. 

~~~

Words for contemplation …

I’ve seen a better day, but I’ve also seen worse. I don’t have everything that I want, but I do have all I need. I woke up with aches and pains, but I woke up. My life may not be perfect, but I am blessed.

So,‘til next week … 

Weather has been pretty consistent.  Made a trip around the Mountain with neighbor Jenny yesterday.  She drives. I have yet to give it a go.  Am planning on next week.

Here in McCloud there is still snow piled up at the street sides where snow plows cleared and around 18-20” on the flat with a few bare patches.  But there is no obvious snow on the Mt Shasta side of the Mountain except above the tree line.  

Although morning temperatures are below freezing, days are pleasant in the 50s.

~~~

Amy, the Aussie pup who lives at the end of the street and was not quite a handful in size when she arrived, is now a bouncy small armful.  Her owner shares her and the older mini-Aussie whenever I’m out on a walkabout at the same time as he is out with his “ladies”.  I’m too old to start raising a pup now, but this sharing fills my “puppy” fix need.

And there is the part-Dalmatian named Jewel  who walks (runs) with Jenny when she makes her therapeutic walkabout every morning.  However, Jewel is usually too busy checking out to see who or what was out and about during the night to waste time with neighbors.  

Last evening there was a brave rabbit scouting the open space across the street.  I’d seen tracks, but this was the first close time I’ve seen a rabbit.  

That got me thinking about the community garden handled by the two neighbors down the street from me.  Mark and Dave are good neighbors who maintain the garden and share garden produce with neighbors.  I wonder what, if any, trouble rabbits give them.  

I talked with one of the gardners yesterday and he told me a greenhouse is being added to the garden this year in order to extend growing time.  Maybe an additional round of fencing across the bottom of the existing fencing with small enough mesh to keep rabbits out? 

But after all, I’m not on that committee.

~~~

And speaking of Dave … there was a large white vehicle at his place last evening after dark (about 1930 – 2000) with flashing lights and blinkers, but no noise makers.  I don’t know how long it was there, and I wasn’t where I could see the vehicle markings as it left.

Guess I lived in a rather isolated place for all those years where anything unusual which I could see from the house was worth investigating.  Now I’m turning into the little old lady who notices everything unusual in our small neighborhood.

~~~

My daily walkabout now includes a round starting at my driveway, out to the main entrance to the Village, back to the cul de sac with a go-around, then back to the starting point at my driveway.  Maybe in a few days I’ll start doing a second walkabout in the afternoon.

Next step will be making one complete round with Jenny – she has measured it at a quarter mile.

I’ve probably already told you all this, but my progress in increasing stamina is exciting to me.

~~~

There is a major crossing place at the intersection between the north and south parts of McCloud with the business district (if you can call one long block a “business district”) on the north including the “Company” houses, The Company Mercantile (now shops and a hotel), the old time hotel, the churches, schools, library, and post office. To the south includes some smaller scattered residential areas, the golf course, and the cemetery.  

I live on the south side of highway 89 and so have to cross the “Freeway” to get to the post office and the grocery store.  There is a fair amount of view in each direction on 89, but the trucks come through at a rather good clip so caution is advised.  I’m not sure what the speed limit in the area is, but I am told it used to be lower until truckers complained they couldn’t get up enough momentum at that speed to get up the hill headed toward the local kids’s sledding and beginner ski area known as “Snowman’s Hill” and the turnoff to the ski park which is the spot where the downhill slope begins.  So to accommodate truckers, the speed limit was raised.  Now to get across 89 requires attention.  

Someone suggested an elevated crossing for locals (vehicular, bicycle, and foot traffic) but we all know what chance that kind of suggestion for a small village like McCloud has of ever seeing even a planning meeting.

~~~ 

Just had a call from a former amateur radio connection.  So far I haven’t found my handheld radio and so haven’t been on the weekly net.  He plans to make a visit, and that will be nice. 

Or maybe I’ll find my radio … or maybe the horse will learn to talk (to quote the moral in a folk tale).

In the meantime, here’s a reminder …

Helping ourselves doesn’t need to mean pushing others out of the way.  It can be asking for help when we need it.  Be kind today. If you’re generous-hearted with others, you’ll get the help you need.

So,‘til next week … 

Late blog … chaotic life … world changes … 

So how was your week?

~~~

My upper GI track has been a bit of a problem for some time. I had a “scan” last tuesday to try to pin down why.  I have no idea what kind of a scan.  There are so many different ones now.

Result ??? 

Good news … The cyst on my pancreas hasn’t changed and poses no danger.

Also good news … nothing obvious for the localized discomfort in my upper abdomen.

Bad news … nothing obvious for the localized discomfort in my upper abdomen.

Sooooooooooooooo … onward toward a difficult diagnosis.

That’s probably too much information. Sorry.

~~~

Weather has been mostly clear and had been cold but seems to be mellowing.  Temperatures in the 50s expected today.  Temp at dawn was 32º with frost on the ground.

Yesterday’s walkabout was a slow quarter of a mile … down to the corner where the two Aussies live (an older one and a pup … they weren’t out yet) then back to my corner and down to my neighbor Jenny’s house and back.

Later today I will take my walkabout over to the big red barn for a pedicure (I’ll count the steps).  I can no longer achieve the positions necessary for doing my own toenails, so I indulge myself.

The walkabouts are good for improving my stamina.  Win-win.

~~~

Partially due to winter conditions, my world is quite narrow right now.  

The Juncos are still active harvesting seeds from the snow piles which resulted from the street clearing.  

There were two mated pairs of geese on the roof near the pond at the hospital, but no sign of goslings or fledglings, and a few ducks.  It’s been a while since there has been a wedge overhead.

I’ve seen the fox (in silhouette) a couple more times.  Both times at dusk.

The resident bear must still be in hibernation, or what has taken the place of hibernation with the changing climate situation.

And no further sign of raccoons or deer.

~~~

I am enjoying holding a real book in hand while reading.  I went through the first three in not quite four days and there are more waiting to be picked up at the library.

I am planning a trip ‘round the Mountain next week.  Wish Me luck.

~~~

And to end this short posting …

It’s okay to cry and okay to be sad.  Never blame yourself for how things turned out. Never tell yourself you can’t do better or this is the end of the road. 

It’s okay to fall but never okay to stay down.

So,‘til next week …

It has been an interesting week weatherwise.  Snow still on the ground, but melting, with icy spots making walking and driving a challenge.

The sky vacillates between clear blue and clouds in various forms and layers.  

And temperatures between below freezing to mid-50s.

~~~
Had a bit of a problem arranging a new primary medical care provider.  Wanted to switch to a female FNP rather than a male PA.  Took time and persistence, but I have been able to make the switch … on paper.  However, to handle a current question (problem) I have to see the PA and can’t see the FNP for at least two weeks.

The need to adjust to the new style of medical care will take a bit more time and adjustment.  

I’m from the generation when you had a doc who really knew you (sometimes from birth) and responded to you based on that knowledge rather than like now when who the doc or other person in charge of your care depends on what your current problem is and where you are … one caregiver for general office visits, another for emergent care, another for in-hospital care, another for follow-up or referral … none of whom actually know you or your personal history (and may not know any of the others) and who depend on paper (?), or on-net reports, and/or machines to choose diagnosis and treatment … often depending on information we as individuals can access on WebMD and the Mayo Clinic web sites.  In fact, I have been in an exam room and watched as an MD or a PA opened their laptop and did just such a search.

I do not think that is an improvement  In fact I’m sure it is a disservice and leads to missed diagnoses and improper care.

So I am holding positive thoughts and keeping an eye on whatever faces me.

~~~

Also have been handling a change in banks.  I think that is also resolved.

The bank I had been dealing with was a local which was bought out by a much larger fiscal corporation which started attaching unexplained charges to my account.  So I contacted the local employees who had become friends, explained the situation while assuring them my discomfort and decision had nothing to do with them or their past care of me, and asked that my account with them be closed.

Just another example of big money valuing profit over the customer.

~~~

Haven’t yet had a chance to make contact with the local library.

However, it looks as if I will be making trips to the Mt Shasta/Weed area at least once a week and so will resume my relationship with those librarians where it was broken last autumn.

~~~

So much is in flux … weather, primary care provider, ability to overcome fear of driving, et al … and as a result this post will be short.

But here is food for thought … for all of us …

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

So,‘til next week …

The old year ended with sightings of and visits from local wildlife with whom this Village shares space.

I told you of the tracks leading down my drive from the street to my back door which I didn’t recognize.  Turns out they are/were the tracks of the four wild turkey hens which habitually visit my neighbor to the east who puts seeds up in a tree near her front door.  I don’t put out seeds so the bear won’t be enticed.  But maybe seeds during hibernation season can be acceptable.

At any rate, last wednesday evening the hens checked out my front yard area and one came up to my back door steps … again. Then they continued down Chelsea Lane toward Jenny and Terry’s house.  

Thursday as I sat at breakfast before full dawn light, I saw them as they came over the fence from the now closed RV park and headed toward the seeds in my neighbor’s yard.  I couldn’t get to my camera, but I’ve left it close to a window where I will be able to see them if they return. 

A bit later that same morning I saw the resident fox, which is about the size of a medium-sized cat but was identifiable by its typical foxtail.  It was making its way toward the greenery fence to the east.  It was still too dark to distinguish colour, but I’ve been told it is red.

~~~
It has been COLD.  Days have been staying around freezing all day (according to the thermometer just outside my office window) with the exception of an hour or two in the early afternoon.  Friday it was 17º at dawn and tracks out my office window were deer, fox, and turkey.  By 0800 the temp had dropped to 16º.

Saturday was good until late afternoon when light snow moved in.  The Mt Shasta family had been here since 0800 and we shared the Rose Parade (which has changed a lot since I first sat on the curb overnight with friends in front of an open-all-night place, with access to hot drinks, wrapped in blankets and sleeping bags … no bleachers in those days), followed by a Plocinik/Baltimore pork and kraut meal (no dessert apple pie because Paul ate the filling the night before … oh well), and then watched the Rose Bowl game (a real nail-biter even though I’m not a football fan … and the wrong team won). But by then the snow was getting heavier, so they left to get around the Mountain (which had been glorious at sunrise … both Kamille and I took pictures) and were safe at home in good time.

Sunday was quiet with leftovers and the Vienna Orchestra’s New Year’s Eve concert repeat on PBS. 

Monday snow started lightly a bit after 0730.  Was moderate, but steady, until 1000 when it increased.  It snowed all day.  The grounds keeper started the plowing about 1600 and trash pick-up was on time.  Neighbors, who needed to go out, picked up my mail for me.   

The DirectTV was out (satellite problem but the hotspot on my phone was functioning for computer access with no problem).

A good day to stay indoors.

~~~
There are no overhead power lines in the small community where I live. This year’s unusual fire season ended with arson investigation reports reports citing causes attributed to down power lines starting with the BAD Delta fire in mid-Californian and ending (so far) with the late season destructive fire near Denver. 

Among the problems noted was a down tree which caused the 50+ hour blackout here.

I have never liked the overhead aspect of central power.  Now I am wondering how much Pacific Power bills will increase in order to pay the power company fines.

I am also wondering what it will take for folks to go solar, at least for individual homes.  I’ve even given thought to checking to see if somehow a deal could be made with the local solar provider if all the houses in this Village went solar at the same time, factoring in the California state tax support as well as the mass sales.

Wouldn’t that be an interesting power statement?

~~~

New Years’ Eve was a surprise for me.  I was in bed asleep by 2100, which is my normal habit, when the first gunshot woke me.  It sounded like a rather vigorous shotgun just down the street from my house.  I don’t really know where it originated and I don’t plan on asking.

However, I wasn’t prepared for it since the most New Year’s noise usual at the farm for the 45 years we were there was an airhorn and nearby large bell bongs with an occasional gunshot, at a distance, which started at midnight and lasted about 15 or 20 minutes.

The “celebration” around here, including the near part of McCloud itself and the area down Squaw Valley Road toward the golf course, started at 2100 and lasted intermittently until after 2400. 

I’ll be prepared for it next year.

~~~

Monday, in the snow, a neighbor dragged his holiday tree down the streets to the local burn pile area.

That triggered memories of George’s feelings toward holiday trees.  He loved them.  Just a few days after Thanksgiving he would go out and pick the “perfect” tree” from somewhere on the farm, cut it, trim it for shape, set it in a bucket of sand which would be kept wet thereby keeping the tree green and delaying the drying out until the tree was finally taken down sometime around the end of February.  He loved the tree lights and the miniature village he always arranged around the base of the tree circled by the layout of some of his h-o gauge model trains.  His rationalization was that the lights and the smell of the evergreen kept the positive/happy feelings available.

I miss all that.
~~~

As I face another week and year, I found this affirmation particular apt …

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; that’s not their task.

I am no longer waiting for the other shoe to drop; it already dropped, and I survived.

I am no longer waiting for the time to be right; that 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 hope.

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 that I dance to my own drummer in a holy circle.

I am no longer waiting for Forgiveness.

I believe …

      ― as per Mary Anne Perrone

So,‘til next week …

Short but Heartfelt …   

~~~

Visits from both sons (and families) recently !!! 

~~~

Interactions with all neighbors (including the hermit next door) last thursday with only two exceptions (one out of town … the other with a berm too high for me to scale … I’ll get back to them when possible). 

~~~

House is warm, fridge-freezer-cupboards all stocked, and back-up generator working as expected.

~~~

Relearned how to tie a Navy kerchief.

~~~

One puzzle left unsolved … a set of animal tracks in snow alongside the car under the carport.  Will be solved, just don’t know how soon.

~~~

 Only two days left in 2021.

“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 …

Each of us must understand that our time in this world is so short that darkening it with useless arguments, jealousy, not forgiving, discontent, and bad attitudes are a ridiculous waste of time and energy.

Whatever the problem, remember that our journey together is too short.

No one knows the length of our trip. 

Appreciate.

Be respectful, kind and forgiving.

So,‘til next week … Wishes for a Blessed 2022 for all of us.

Yesterday was Yule … Equinox heralding the change in the Sun’s direction at dawn.  Longer days are coming.

And today is the 141st anniversary of my Nana’s birth in Fort Scott, Kansas.  

~~~

On another, less personal note …

It will be interesting to see what the storm predicted for the 22nd and 23rd brings.  Mark said the family will be here, with dinner, the 25th regardless.  He drives a 4×4 pick-up with proper tires, so Snowman’s Summit between here and Mt Shasta should be no problem.

I hope to make one last swing for mail and a short grocery stop later this morning.  I want to get bottles of sparkling cider to share with my neighbors on Boxing Day.

~~~

Those of us who usually enjoyed the Met’s live in-theatre broadcasts were deprived of that pleasure this season.  Instead, we were gifted with audio streaming over Sirius including the one with Garanca to which I had looked forward but missed due to Covid.  

They will run from New Year’s Eve into Spring, as the actual season would have, and include four I will be watching.  Reports to follow (as if you cared).

~~~

George and I had to be tested for syphilis before being issued a marriage license in October of 1952. I wondered why but didn’t question.  Then recently I saw this …

https://www.history.com/news/chamberlain-kahn-act-std-venereal-disease-imprisonment-women

~~~

Preceding the latest predicted “storm”, there have been lots of birds … a few ravens, lots of juncos searching (evidently) for conifer seeds, and on tuesday evening a lone robin red breast dropped by.  I wonder what it was doing here since they are usually harbingers of Spring.  It sat very still, on one of the posts in place as a snow plowing guide, just across the street from my office window until the snow began.  

~~~

The last few days there have been what seemed like a lot of sirens on Hwy 89, probably due to drivers who don’t know anything about black ice and drive as if it didn’t exist. George and I used to monitor fire and CHP frequencies to keep up on what was happening in our area.  Then later I relied on a Weed resident who monitored and posted information on Facebook.

Now I’m in McCloud and hear the sirens with no way to satisfy my curiosity.  Guess I’ll have to ask Mark to find the local frequencies so I can monitor whenever I hear the sirens.

~~~

Still have not learned how to download the pictures on my phone for use.  Sorry.

But I did find the camera I’ve used for years and know how to transfer photos, so I will work on that.

~~~

During the holiday season, the History channel posted the following … it omits Hanukkah and some others, but is interesting in re of a lot of practices.

https://www.history.com/news/8-winter-solstice-celebrations-around-the-world?cmpid=email-hist-inside-history-2021-1220-12202021&om_rid=d1e0c7c6f9cd1bd795585832b18d8c47db18da133669769ef6c111f38fbc682a&~campaign=hist-inside-history-2021-1220

~~~

It is currently snowing visibly.  Trip to town will wait even if the cider sharing will be for New Year’s rather than Boxing Day.

Oh well …

Blessings of the Holidays to ALL.

So,‘til next week … May you be Blessed in the coming year!

First real snowstorm since I moved off the farm started the late afternoon of saturday the 11th and has been going on and off ever since.  

Started anew this morning about 0730 and has been going ever since.  Total today, so far, about another two feet.

There has been some melt and a young (50something) neighbor has been clearing the part of my front porch leading to my front sliding door and the section of my driveway from the street to under the car port until this morning when he came up, started, gave up, and went home.

The electricity is doing okay either really or with my back-up generator.  That’s how I am able to write this.  And the Monitor heater is keeping the house warm. 

It’s about 1330 and the local grounds keeper is out on his snow equipment opening up our Village streets. I have no plans to go anywhere.  I picked up the mail yesterday afternoon before this latest low pressure flow started.  

At least we aren’t having wind problems with the snow.

John told me this morning that snow was coming in horizontally down in Dunsmuir so we cancelled his visit for this afternoon and rescheduled for friday.  

Mark is down in the Bay area on his job for the diocese and reports are that they are getting hit with oodles of rain.  My current prayers are that this evening he gets back to Mt Shasta safely.

Another interesting aside is that I’ve been seeing juncos flying past my sliding door (in both directions) for two days.  This morning I happened to be at the right angle to see one fly out from under my carport.  Maybe there is a nest up there somewhere.  Guess I’ll have to keep an eye out for bird droppings and see what I can discover.

The amateur radio club was scheduled to be having their holiday party this evening.  I hadn’t planned to go since I don’t want to be trying to come home after dark but it probably didn’t matter since I doubt there will be any party tonight.

~~~

Another side effect of all the snow is that the DirectTV dish antenna doesn’t seem to be functioning properly.  

I remember how George used to have to go out and sweep out the dish in the backyard.  Sometimes the snow depth was nearly chest high and after putting steps out to the dish (when we were using one of the BIG dishes) he would then have to dig down to the lower edge in order to free the dish so it could be repositioned.  

It was a bit easier when we got a small dish and it was on the lower edge of the roof … just take out a broom and sweep it out.

I think I’ll just wait this snow out.

There is leftover Thai pho with noodles and a slice of cranberry pan cookie for dinner this evening.

~~~

Last week I found a BBC series on Acorn, which carries Brit shows and which I can see on my phone, based on Agatha Christie short stories. Not Marple or Poirot but stories with sort of mysteries.  Those have been my settle-in-for-sleep “reads” since I have yet to move my library card to the McCloud library.  I can’t seem to make contact with the librarian to get there when the library is open … Covid you know. 

Oh well …

~~~

The new Cumberbatch movie was available on HBOMax (which my granddaughter shares with me) and I decided to watch it since the reviews of Cumberbatch’s performance were glowing.  

I lasted almost 10 minutes and then switched it off.  I usually enjoy Cumberbatch no matter what.  But this was based on such a bully of a character that I just couldn’t watch, no matter how masterful the acting.

The only other movie I walked out on years ago was “The Piano”.  When I realized the husband was going to punish his wife (I can’t remember what she had done to deserve punishment but I remember she loved to play the piano) and was going to do so by cutting off some of her fingers … well, I have no idea how the movie ended.  

Senseless violence, both physical and mental as well as pointless profanity (in my opinion), are the reasons I don’t watch a lot of modern movies or tv series.  The mystery series I do watch don’t deal with a lot of visual blood or cruelty.  Turns out they are mostly Brit, Aussie, Canadian, or Kiwi productions.  Clues, non-violent characters, and mental challenges are more interesting to me.

~~~

It is 1420 and the snow removal continues as does the snow.  My street and the short section of my driveway are plowed.  Feels sort of like the old winters when George and I first came to Siskiyou County.

It will be interesting to see what the night brings.

~~~

I’ll try to have pictures for next week.

~~~

In the meantime …

Writing is the shaping of letters to represent spoken words which, in turn, represent what is in the soul.

     The Muqaddimah of Ibn Khaldun

So … ‘til next week …