It has occurred to me that, should I go missing, I must either give more thought to what I wear or embrace the eccentricities that are flourishing during this period of isolation. If I were to tottle off today, the APB would read:
"Sixty something woman disappears - last seen wearing light grey orthopaedic slip on trainers, multi-colored, hand-knit woolen socks, stretched out once-black shorts (elastic waist), over-sized 24 year old Juvenile Diabetes t-shirt (with holes), washed-out black cotton, zippered hoodie, and a permanently dazed expression. Approach with caution."
Of course, there are upsides to the description - I'd be easy to spot in a crowd.
I spent a great deal of time this chilly morning (yesterday it was 34 freakin degrees!) in the middle of a hummingbird kerfuffle. I have been replacing their feeder every other day but I neglected to put the new one out last night. They were not pleased. A male red-throated hummer confronted me (it was rather terrifying, actually) about a foot from my face and maintained that aggressive stance until I replaced the empty feeder with the full one. Geez.
I would have loved to have stood outside longer, listening to the sweet burbling of the resident wren, but I couldn't hear myself think. The back fence to the chicken yard was dotted with big, fat crow babies. Lordalmighty. It looks as though we have another bumper crop of them. I suppose, if you are a crow parent, you learn to ignore the incessant noise, but it can wear on your last nerve.
I am going to do a garden tour to allay any fears that my garden is toast (thank you for your concerned comments... :) ), as long as I can conjure up photographs. My old laptop is not getting along with my new phone, and is so far refusing to recognize any pics taken after May 26. Fingers crossed.
I am now off to be Zoomified with my co-workers. Joy.
Monday, June 15, 2020
Tuesday, June 9, 2020
Where to begin.
As I don't want to bruise my brain and try to accurately recount the activities of the past umpteen days of radio silence, I will just go along - willy nilly - and give you all the sordid details in no particular order.
The garden, she is done. Or mostly done. About 90 percent. All that is left is some seed-sowing and re-sowing (dratted red noodle beans!), and mulch. Because apparently I now live in the Sahara desert.
The sheep are shorn - and I was not injured this year - hurrah! That is because I set it up so that I was on the safe side of the fence, while the shearer (youngster that he is) did all the heavy lifting. I also donated both fleeces (fleeci?) to a local group of beginning fiber artists. Double hurrah!
The humming birds are here with a vengeance. Last year, I had to throw out nectar between filling the feeders and this year I can hardly keep up. I wonder if it has to do with switching to filtered water and organic cane sugar... you think? Thanks to having access to my yard, garden and deck 24/7, I am able to stand outside and watch the hummers only three feet away. They are tiny miracles.
There was a sheep breakout. Luckily, Apria was not aware of it or a party to it - it would have been pure hell to try and herd her back, since she is almost totally blind. The two fat boys didn't go too far, but it did take some time - and help - to get them back in their fence. It was totally my fault. I did not latch the gate. It took a lot longer to get them moving in the right direction, since my 'help' were cow men and there's a big difference to herding sheep and herding cows. And, there's Norman. However, they were eventually tucked back in with no damage done.
My youngest sister and our honorary fourth sister, Babs, were here for a weekend. Cindy was on her way back to the City, after an absence of over 3 months. Right in the middle of the protests. She planned carefully and closed herself into her cozy apartment until the worst was over. We are still worried about her, as the virus hit her area hard. We have taken to having a virtual cocktail together every Sunday evening. My middle sister is back to juggling many balls, with my mother, her husband and a client, and whatever bits of her life she can squeeze in.
I continue to work from home and had my annual review in which, I may oh-so-humbly report, I am outstanding in all aspects. Or - out, standing in my field...
I have rediscovered the Rhubararita. I have made copious amounts of granola. I have rediscovered my love of rice and beans. I am eating salad from my own garden. The resident chipmunk, Mongo, and I have come to an understanding. I leave him piles of nuts, he doesn't eat my lettuce.
As to the furry residents, Slimmie's first bout with vertigo was five years ago. As you may (or may not) recall, I found him flat on the ground, unable to stand, panting and drooling and crying. This time, I noted that he seemed to be confused and was crying. I checked him for injury, but could find nothing. When he threw up his dinner and then didn't have an appetite, I knew something was wrong. With all the protocols in place, we can no longer go into the vet's office - you have to wait in the parking lot, with vet techs running to and fro. My vet called me and said Slim's head was tilted and he was walking in a circle, so the vertigo was back. I now have to squirt one med down his gullet, twice a day, and crush his pill into his food. Which has to be soft AND good for a sensitive stomach, so he is greatly enjoying his expensive prescription diet. He is being so good about it, the little lamb.
On the other end of the spectrum, Peanut has a yeast infection in his ear. He is definitely NOT a lamb, when it comes to treating it. Much chasing and rassling proceeds his ear meds. Then I and all things within a four foot radius are covered in ear med droplets. So. Much. Fun.
Lovey, feeling left out, threw up three times on the sofa cover. Apparently, she ate her bully jerky too fast. I am working my way through the wine cellar.
(Sorry for the absence of photos - mine are not appearing in Blogger, for some reason. I will try and work it out and put them in the next post.)
The garden, she is done. Or mostly done. About 90 percent. All that is left is some seed-sowing and re-sowing (dratted red noodle beans!), and mulch. Because apparently I now live in the Sahara desert.
The sheep are shorn - and I was not injured this year - hurrah! That is because I set it up so that I was on the safe side of the fence, while the shearer (youngster that he is) did all the heavy lifting. I also donated both fleeces (fleeci?) to a local group of beginning fiber artists. Double hurrah!
The humming birds are here with a vengeance. Last year, I had to throw out nectar between filling the feeders and this year I can hardly keep up. I wonder if it has to do with switching to filtered water and organic cane sugar... you think? Thanks to having access to my yard, garden and deck 24/7, I am able to stand outside and watch the hummers only three feet away. They are tiny miracles.
There was a sheep breakout. Luckily, Apria was not aware of it or a party to it - it would have been pure hell to try and herd her back, since she is almost totally blind. The two fat boys didn't go too far, but it did take some time - and help - to get them back in their fence. It was totally my fault. I did not latch the gate. It took a lot longer to get them moving in the right direction, since my 'help' were cow men and there's a big difference to herding sheep and herding cows. And, there's Norman. However, they were eventually tucked back in with no damage done.
My youngest sister and our honorary fourth sister, Babs, were here for a weekend. Cindy was on her way back to the City, after an absence of over 3 months. Right in the middle of the protests. She planned carefully and closed herself into her cozy apartment until the worst was over. We are still worried about her, as the virus hit her area hard. We have taken to having a virtual cocktail together every Sunday evening. My middle sister is back to juggling many balls, with my mother, her husband and a client, and whatever bits of her life she can squeeze in.
I continue to work from home and had my annual review in which, I may oh-so-humbly report, I am outstanding in all aspects. Or - out, standing in my field...
I have rediscovered the Rhubararita. I have made copious amounts of granola. I have rediscovered my love of rice and beans. I am eating salad from my own garden. The resident chipmunk, Mongo, and I have come to an understanding. I leave him piles of nuts, he doesn't eat my lettuce.
As to the furry residents, Slimmie's first bout with vertigo was five years ago. As you may (or may not) recall, I found him flat on the ground, unable to stand, panting and drooling and crying. This time, I noted that he seemed to be confused and was crying. I checked him for injury, but could find nothing. When he threw up his dinner and then didn't have an appetite, I knew something was wrong. With all the protocols in place, we can no longer go into the vet's office - you have to wait in the parking lot, with vet techs running to and fro. My vet called me and said Slim's head was tilted and he was walking in a circle, so the vertigo was back. I now have to squirt one med down his gullet, twice a day, and crush his pill into his food. Which has to be soft AND good for a sensitive stomach, so he is greatly enjoying his expensive prescription diet. He is being so good about it, the little lamb.
On the other end of the spectrum, Peanut has a yeast infection in his ear. He is definitely NOT a lamb, when it comes to treating it. Much chasing and rassling proceeds his ear meds. Then I and all things within a four foot radius are covered in ear med droplets. So. Much. Fun.
Lovey, feeling left out, threw up three times on the sofa cover. Apparently, she ate her bully jerky too fast. I am working my way through the wine cellar.
(Sorry for the absence of photos - mine are not appearing in Blogger, for some reason. I will try and work it out and put them in the next post.)
Monday, June 8, 2020
Haloooo!
Thought I'd pop in to announce that I am still alive. The longer post I had planned for today got forestalled by Slimmie getting hit with vertigo again. I will be back!
p.s. The quilting books are actually packaged and in my car! I'm hitting the PO on the way to the vet.
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Slow on the uptake and giveaway results.
Getting used to the 'new' normal is a bumpy road, to be sure. I have seen a few prickly comments on Facebook about people being tired of hearing about the new normal. That's too bad, as I don't think we will ever be back to what we were used to. I was working in the garden yesterday, when I had a panic attack - I had forgotten to clock into work! At least I knew what day it was, but didn't remember it was a holiday. I calmed myself down and carried on.
After many fits and starts, the new carport went up (halleluiah!) My neighbor's granddaughter's husband had it whipped into shape in no time. I toted pieces and parts and held things upright. How nice it is to work with someone under 40... with muscles.
There has been a lot of activity in the garden - seed planting (four kinds of beans, cukes, beets, radishes) was done first. I had to put up the fencing before venturing out with my seedlings. Sunday I put out onion starts and yesterday was the big push. The fence went up and tomatoes, summer squash, more cucumbers and some of the peppers went in. I also planted some sweet peas in the flower bed, and put in the remainder of my herbs (marjoram, English thyme, French tarragon, and parsley). My sage is still plugging away, as is the Greek and golden oreganos.
I managed to keep a grip on myself, vis a vis the tomatoes, this year. Instead of the 18 plants of last year, I have nine this year. I have two black cherry plants, two pineapple, a tie-dye, a beefsteak, an ox heart, and two I can't remember. Thank you, as always, Marianne! I think she was very grateful that I didn't try to con her into starting all my seeds this year. Her daughter and granddaughter and granddog are self-quarantining with them. It's crazy.
I have four kinds of cucumbers this year, and four kinds of beans - two climbing and two bush types. I am also trying a different kind of 'radish'. I am one of six people on the Earth that cannot grow radishes. I am trying a variety that grows radish pods - or rat tails. They have started to pop up, so I am taking that as a positive sign. I have kept a bed free for winter squash, as I really miss having it in the garden. The seeds have germinated, but they're not quite ready for prime time.
I will leave you with a few shots of other parts of the garden, and a totally gratuitous shot of "Slimmie", bless him.
Giveaway Update:
If I have it right, these are the quilting book recipients:
DFW - Quilting Bible
Ladybug - The Art of the Handmade Quilt
ErinfromIowa - Lap Quilting
Cindie - Little Quilts
Please email your mailing address to swomersley at gmail dot com, and I will get them packaged in on their way!
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| The "new carport |
There has been a lot of activity in the garden - seed planting (four kinds of beans, cukes, beets, radishes) was done first. I had to put up the fencing before venturing out with my seedlings. Sunday I put out onion starts and yesterday was the big push. The fence went up and tomatoes, summer squash, more cucumbers and some of the peppers went in. I also planted some sweet peas in the flower bed, and put in the remainder of my herbs (marjoram, English thyme, French tarragon, and parsley). My sage is still plugging away, as is the Greek and golden oreganos.
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| Necessary equipment |
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| Squash bed straight ahead; flower bed behind; beans, far left; tomatoes and peppers front left., |
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| I am trellising cukes, with rat tail radishes sheltered beneath. You'll have to take my word for it - it's early days. |
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| The tire brigade - perennials and tomatoes |
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| If you biggify, you'll see I GOT BEANS! |
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| Trellised beans and cukes (more) in the far bed. Tomatoes and peppers in the near bed. |
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| Chives, lemon balm and comfrey are rampant! |
I have four kinds of cucumbers this year, and four kinds of beans - two climbing and two bush types. I am also trying a different kind of 'radish'. I am one of six people on the Earth that cannot grow radishes. I am trying a variety that grows radish pods - or rat tails. They have started to pop up, so I am taking that as a positive sign. I have kept a bed free for winter squash, as I really miss having it in the garden. The seeds have germinated, but they're not quite ready for prime time.
I will leave you with a few shots of other parts of the garden, and a totally gratuitous shot of "Slimmie", bless him.
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| My lovely lilac |
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| Hellebores with bee balm |
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| Front deck geraniums |
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| Luxurious in his vastness |
If I have it right, these are the quilting book recipients:
DFW - Quilting Bible
Ladybug - The Art of the Handmade Quilt
ErinfromIowa - Lap Quilting
Cindie - Little Quilts
Please email your mailing address to swomersley at gmail dot com, and I will get them packaged in on their way!
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
How about a giveaway, while we pass the time?
I have had to face the fact that I am not going to learn to do all the things that I want to do. Plus, there is that pesky lack of focus....and, when it comes to quilting, there is the math....
If any of you are quilters, future quilters or have an interest in quilting (and have more focus than a fruit fly), I offer the following:
the Patchworker's How-To Book (top)
Lap Quilting with Georgia Bonesteel
The Quilting Bible - the Complete PhotoGuide to Machine Quilting
The Art of the Handmade Quilt
Little Quilts
I think, since there are a few of them, we will just have it be a first-comment, first dibs giveaway. I'll post the names in next Monday's blog post.
Friday, May 15, 2020
Poof!
And (seemingly) just like that, spring has sprung. While I was inside, whining, nature just plodded on, doing her thing.
I do feel, however, that I was justified in my endless whining..
Just when I was ready to sigh with relief that the worst of the roadblocks between me and getting out in my garden are finally past, I wake up to this on my weather app (I didn't even include the hail and tornado charts - too depressing)
I guess spring can 'actually' start tomorrow. I had made a very quick sortie into the office to make sure there were no burst pipes, piles of important mail, etc. There was only one casualty, the office plant.
Poor thing. I was only able to buy it a little bit of time, by moving it by the only window and heavily watering it before I had to decamp. Who knew it would be months before I could return. There was a delightful lack of traffic and no end to open parking spots.
I am hoping that things calm down so that I can start to harden off my seedlings. Time stops for no seeds and my squash plants are busting out all over the little greenhouse.
I am hoping to get some things in the garden this weekend, and to finish prepping the remaining three raised beds. I am itching to get things moving along. I will feel so much better, knowing that I have my own food resources. I had family and friends on the lookout for flour for my neighbors (she is 94 and still baking up a storm) before someone found one remaining bag of King Arthur flour an hour and a half south of us! I had baked them some Anzac Biscuits - I am baking out of boredom - which only take one cup of flour and are mighty tasty with a cup of coffee or tea. She said her husband ate most of them - a compliment, since they contain no chocolate. I used a KA recipe, but switched molasses for the dark Karo syrup, as I don't use it and was out of golden syrup.
Tomorrow I finish dismantling the old carport wreckage so that I can have the new one put up on Sunday. I found two little elderberry starts in the front yard that I want to protect until they are large enough to transplant - I love free plants!
It's hard to believe that Memorial Day is looming on the horizon. We are still pretty much in lockdown mode, as our area has not met the benchmarks set up by the governor. Even when we start to loosen the restrictions, I will not be sallying forth with confidence. There is too much that is unknown about this virus and I still have friends and loved ones who are vulnerable. Meanwhile, I am digging this work-at-home thing!
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| You can always count on forsythias to boost your spirits. |
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| Two days ago - my tender plants bundled in towels and fleece blankets. |
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| Seriously? We are pretty much smack-dab in the center. |
I am hoping that things calm down so that I can start to harden off my seedlings. Time stops for no seeds and my squash plants are busting out all over the little greenhouse.
I am hoping to get some things in the garden this weekend, and to finish prepping the remaining three raised beds. I am itching to get things moving along. I will feel so much better, knowing that I have my own food resources. I had family and friends on the lookout for flour for my neighbors (she is 94 and still baking up a storm) before someone found one remaining bag of King Arthur flour an hour and a half south of us! I had baked them some Anzac Biscuits - I am baking out of boredom - which only take one cup of flour and are mighty tasty with a cup of coffee or tea. She said her husband ate most of them - a compliment, since they contain no chocolate. I used a KA recipe, but switched molasses for the dark Karo syrup, as I don't use it and was out of golden syrup.
Tomorrow I finish dismantling the old carport wreckage so that I can have the new one put up on Sunday. I found two little elderberry starts in the front yard that I want to protect until they are large enough to transplant - I love free plants!
It's hard to believe that Memorial Day is looming on the horizon. We are still pretty much in lockdown mode, as our area has not met the benchmarks set up by the governor. Even when we start to loosen the restrictions, I will not be sallying forth with confidence. There is too much that is unknown about this virus and I still have friends and loved ones who are vulnerable. Meanwhile, I am digging this work-at-home thing!
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Welp. Things WERE getting a tad boring.
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| Shattered! |
Other than that excitement, things have been grinding along. I decided to get all my little (and getting smaller) ducks in a row to ease me into retirement, so there have been phone calls and emails about the state of the market (stinks), the future of the market (stinks) and my options. My new motto is 'whatever'.
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| Lovey highly recommends retirement. |
Meanwhile, my Meyers Lemon tree and I are waiting impatiently to be able to outside and stay there.
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