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Thursday, August 24, 2017

Mind Wandering

It's interesting what little bits of flotsam float around in my noggin.  Sometimes it's like a gentle flow, going around little flat rocks of conscious thoughts.  Other times, it's a churning sea of space junk.  Whoa.  I'm not sure where that came from.


This morning, I was up early in the frosty August morning (anyone notice the discordant adjective there?), re-covered Lovey in her fleece blanket and tried to talk myself into finishing my iced coffee.  Brrr.  It was 46 degrees, for crimineysake.  I was bound and determined to get all my morning chores done and be out the door early, since I have to leave the office early on Friday - trying to make up some time so that it all doesn't get deducted from my PTO.  I was in fine form until.... I went to feed the barn cats and discovered the dairy farmer trying to round up a recalcitrant cow, who was leading him on a merry chase.  Unfortunately, his morning helper is less than helpful, having only one speed, which is reverse.


I drove past the farmhouse and positioned my car across the road, hopefully blocking one escape route.  I then got out and got a rake and covered another hole.  This cow is a particular problem and the only reason she is not hamburger is that she is a good milker.  It's good to live in an area where a cow on the road does not throw people into a panic - nor do they sit in the road and blow their car horn because you are holding them up from IMPORTANT BUSINESS.  Two fellows in a dump truck stopped and got out to help and the four of us were able to get her moving in the right direction.


Needless to say, I lost the advantage of an early-leave.  I had to double back and feed the cats, then drive into the city.


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I think the eclipse has melted the minds of quite a few people in the city.  I had to slam my brakes on six times, in order to avoid hitting the nimrods who a) threw their car doors open without looking to see if traffic was coming; b) walked out into the road between two parked cars - being mesmerized by the IMPORTANT BUSINESS on their phones; c) kept walking after the light turned green because (see b).  After a while, you wonder if you wouldn't be doing the world a favor by hitting some of these idiots.  But I didn't.


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I know that quinoa is the new hot thing in grains, but I have to admit to finding it incredibly irritating.  It's so tiny that it gets in between ones teeth - it reminds me of chewing on sand.  Which brings back unhappy memories of childhood on the beach.  The only thing I liked about the beach as a child were the sea shells, the birds and the mysterious piles of seaweed.  Other than that, it was hot.  Sand gets everywhere and it chafes.  All of the photographs my mother took of me on the beach at St. Pete shows a blond tot that looks like she bit a lemon.  Apparently, I took out my unhappiness by systematically snapping the plastic pants of my giant cousin of the same age.  He finally had enough and sat on me.


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My Cayuga duck, Cordelia, has taken to laying her egg in their pool.  What is up with that?  Does she just splash around and then - oops!?!  I am only getting one egg in the hut - thank you, Dimples - but am not complaining, as I am still (yay) up to my elbows in eggs.  I know the end of the bounty is near - evidenced by enough feathers in the coop to stuff a mattress - but I am very thankful that I am still getting plenty.  It will be interesting, as I slowly let the flock's numbers drop to a more manageable amount.  I am thinking a dozen.  Only 18 to go.


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I have officially killed my fig tree.  This makes me very sad.  I will have to start all over again, but am waiting until spring.  It will be rather a relief to be able to use more than a third of my dining room this winter.


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I have also been thinking about friends and friendship a lot.  I am very, very lucky to have such wonderful friends.  I don't have tons of friends, but I have the very best of friends.  I think that having friends is the most important thing in a person's life.  You know who you are and I love you.

18 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I'm with you on quinoa. I certainly don't see what all the fuss is about.

kymber said...

crap about killing your fig tree...that suckS! i think the eclipse that we saw none of is screwing with my brain - headaches for days now! but the blackberries and blueberries are finally ripening - woohoo! i, too, have also been thinking about friendship a lot. because i don't don't leave the Manor very often (only when i have to!), my internet friendships have become very, very important to me. and yours, and your very uplifting comments mean the world to me! i love reading about all of your daily craziness - it does me a world of good!

your friend, always!
kymber

Ed said...

My home county made the headlines about two decades ago for voting to give county law enforcement the authority to arrest cows found in the roadways... I kid you not!

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

Your post made me smile. I like finding out what is floating around in your mind! People would stop to help round up a cow here, too. I think that's a good kind of place in which to live. -Jenn

Goatldi said...

Ed wow now that is an interesting use of valuable officers. Wondering what the rate of enforcement was?
Susan I so enjoy your blog and have added you to my blog list.

Michelle said...

Hmm; I've never had quinoa get caught in my teeth. You do know you have to COOK it first? ;-)

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

That is funny to have an egg in the pool, and I'm sorry for your fig tree loss. Sounds like you need a weekend off from all that driving too. I hate driving into town. College is back and oh my gosh, there are idiot drivers. I love to have quinoa once in a while. Glad you had help with the round up too.

Mama Pea said...

Hee-hee, laughed and laughed at Michelle's comment regarding quinoa! Have you tried pasta made with quinoa? We really like it.

As usual, love reading your entertaining mind wanderings. Just wondering how you would explain your tardiness at work if you had to. "I would have been on time but I had to wrangle a cow." 'Course, methinks your work associates are well aware your life is a bit different than theirs. And I applaud you for it!

Theresa Y said...

Ahh, life is good Susan. Good friends, good eggs, four legged friends to keep us company. Who could ask for anything more? (Well, maybe red tomatoes). If you use the black quinoa even after you cook it, it's still crunchy. Try the lighter versions.

Susan said...

Right? I don't mind it hot, mixed with lots of other things, but, then, what's the point?

Susan said...

Kymber, dear, the feeling is mutual. I know - about the fig tree. It was coming along so well. I do still have my Meyer lemon tree, which must now realize it's on its own pretty much. It's a scrapper! I don't blame you for not wanting to leave your little paradise. I don't think I would, either. xo

Susan said...

Where did they lock them up? In the cow-pokey? Sorry. I couldn't help myself - only one cup of coffee this morning...

Susan said...

Jenn, I don't think I could live anywhere cows weren't a welcome sight - wherever they appeared.

Susan said...

LOL! Yes, I did cook them! And rinsed them, and all the rest. Maybe it was because they were cold, in a salad. I just find the little-bittiness of them tends to put me on edge.

Susan said...

Now, quinoa pasta is whole nuther thing! I like it very much. The local group doesn't even bat an eyelash with my tardiness excuses. It's the honchos in NYC that have trouble grasping my life.

Susan said...

Isn't it, though? I have never tried the black variety and now will be sure NOT to. This was the white quinoa. I think there's a red variety, too, no?

Theresa Y said...

Yep. There's also a tri-colored one I use a lot. It has black, red and white. Quite festive in the Fall if I do say so myself.

Goatldi said...

Bawhaaaaaaaaaaa! rim shot