Quick Ridearound

I couldn't resist a short ride around the lake to see what is blooming today. I did find some new colors showing off. The Hawkweed were pretty. 

The peonies have started to open. I'm waiting for a particular one to bloom as it is a white one, but in the meantime the pinks are nice!

For many years I made elderberry jam and I see that the bushes are still flourishing and berrie blossoms are beginning to show. If you have never tasted this treat, do it! Labor intensive but worth the work. (I have recipe)

White and rather small iris are blooming on the other side of the lake and I think they were planted last year or I either missed them or they were finished.

Now for my attempt to plant poppies from seed. I scattered them in an old piece of plastic pipe up by the rock garden. First I had my yard guy fill the container with new soil. After scattering seed, I lightly sprinkled water on the planting three days in a row. We had a little rain one afternoon. I think what happened is that the water washed the seeds to one side of the container and this is what I see today! Yikes! Time will tell how this works out!

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I did cut some more wild spearmint to root. The first batch I made last year are doing just fine and spreading well in the front flowerbed!

What's Up?

I have had several of my followers and friends ask me, Where are you? What are you up to? Why haven't you been blogging like you used to?  Well the fact is that I haven't been inspired lately. It was such a relief to learn, after several diagnostic tests, that I don't have cancer or major conditions with my body except one. That is a flare of intestinal issues and I will be having a consultation mid-February with a doctor before doing anything at all. Soooo I've been kinda relaxing and puttering around in here. Looking out of the windows is a constant activity and I do know what is going on in my neighborhood pretty much! Now for some boring activities that have engaged my efforts and time for a couple of past days. Beware! This is NOT exciting stuff. 

* I cleaned and polished all of the items on the fireplace mantle and then the mantle. * I G.I'd the humidifier really really well. * I moved my slacks from the small bedroom to the larger one. * I cooked a pot roast in the slow cooker, sliced it up, froze the slices. * I sliced and cooked batches of fresh carrots and frozen yellow string beans. * I made strawberry Jello and beat it with Extra Creamy Cool Whip for a sweet treat.* I put away the freshly-laundered clothes that are done for me bi-weekly. * I cancelled Schwan's delivery food service because I have decided not to order $60.00 bi-weekly just to have free delivery. I am only one person. * I wrote letters and paid bills. * I vacuumed the kitchen, dining area and bathroom. * I gave my four plants their weekly drink. * I dusted and polished the tops of two dressers including what was on them. * I had a helper come and take away and ship some items to cousins in three different states. * I filled the salt and pepper shakers, the sugar bowl, the cookie/cracker jars. * I took out the trash. * Each day I attempt to walk seven to ten laps from one end of the cabin to the other - a 30 ft. length one way - * I am forcing myself to drink water. None of this involves other personal care. Washing dishes, making bed, researching topics on computer of course are other time-consuming things that get me through the day. So far, no mood to read or create anything. I am waiting for warm weather!!!! Be sure I am NOT depressed at all. I know the rhythm of seasonal changes and just try to stick it out until it gets warmer. I'm not climbing walls.      

Sentimental Pumpkin

For many years I enjoyed going to the orchard, picking out some gourds and pumpkins and decorating the cabin porch. Now I only put one out there, next to "Henry the Hen", the small orange one.

You see, it is ceramic. It was my mother's. It was given to her at the skilled nursing facility where she spent the last years of her life after a fall, shattering her thigh bone. It was filled with an arrangement of colorful real flowers of the season. Every resident at the facility received one. She decorated hers! After she died, I took it as my own and love how her decoration has lasted and I cherish this special pumpkin! It makes me laugh as it must have made her do the same after her artwork was completed! I find it funny that some things really matter!

This is a happy pumpkin and is loved!

Bleak

Donned my hat, gloves, lambswool scarf and jacket with many pockets filled with hankies, and went for a very short buggy ride this morning. I wanted to be sure to get a couple of pictures of the cabin after the lawn guy has blown leaves, cleaned it out a bit and covered the things that need covering. I know he'll return to repeat the leaf blowing and mowing one more time. The peak of color has risen and is gone. Temperature at 11:30am is only 59°. It will be a very long wait for me to see pretty and be warm.  I simply do not like cold. Yes, I know, quit your fussin' and deal with it. You knew it would happen. Well I don't have to like it - NOT AT ALL.

Until next year in April this will be what I  hope to see.

At least until then I can read books by the fire and watch TV and dust a bit. I  can look out and see what is going on. My new eyeglasses help. AND....It's warm in here!

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Moving Forward

 What is a SEM murmur?

Midsystolic murmurs — also known as systolic ejection murmurs, or SEM — include the murmurs of aortic stenosis, pulmonic stenosis, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and atrial septal defects. 

What is a 2/6 murmur? Faint but easily audible.

Systolic Murmur Grades are based on the intensity of the murmur.

My physician noted in the checkbox for 'heart' that I have a 2/6 SEM.

Anyway, for now I've decided not to have the  removal of a cataract in my right eye, at least for a year. I'm doing OK and I'm not as angry now.

The last of the Oxhearts sits in my 12" pottery bowl and I really hate to think of cutting it!  I may save another  packet of fermented and dried seeds from this one, as it is the perfect example of the heritage variety. Isn't it beautiful? It measures 4" across and is heavy with meat, few seeds, and actually smells good. It is a feast for the eye!

My daughter is processing all the rest from her garden today and they will be made into tomato sauce. There were many, though smaller than years before, due to the drought.

There hasn't been a hummingbird at the feeder for two days so I took it down and sanitized it for storage. I miss them already.

The schools in this area have started. Now I know the summer is ending and I don't anticipate the coming of the next two seasons but will try to get through the best I can. I think the trick is to keep busy, mind and body. 

I did another photomanipulation because the shadows in my neighbor's image caught my eye.

It's Hereeeeeee!

Big fat flakes came down for a short while early this morning. When I looked out at 6:45am the temperature gauge told me it was exactly 32° and the frost was everywhere, though light. Ok - First frost - First snow - Third day of November. NOT better late than never but that isn't my concern. Mine is to be sure I'm ready, with the help of others that is. 

Yesterday I got the 'bright' idea to call the place where we bought our golf car several years ago to see if they did storage. THEY DID! When they gave me the charge for this service I immediately told them to come and get it! That way it won't have to be hooked up here with the heavy duty wire that gets plugged into the porch receptacle so the switch can be turned on on regular intervals to keep the batteries charged. It won't have to be covered. It will sit indoors in a facility where it is safe, warm, charged and cared for and I can have it delivered back (in about 6 months from now) whenever the warm weather returns. Hey! The price was so minimal and fair for the entire service, and the payment will be due upon its return, I feel great relief!

I made a feather for my hat on this one! See?

The Yard Guy has just about completed winter preparations yesterday. He blew some more leaves, did a final mow, covered the porch swing, stacked the porch chairs, brought the large snowblower out from the shed and started it up. It is now stored in the carport, ready for use. He raked the stones around in there for better coverage and distribution to make the area smoother. He turned on the switch at the heat tape control box for the water supply protection. That tape goes underground from the well into the pump shed. It then goes around the switch and storage tank in there and out again to cover the pipe that brings it into the cabin. This pipe goes through and under the carport roof and into the log wall. I'll still have to trickle water when the temperature gets around 15° just to make sure nothing freezes. The only thing he has yet to do is to bring into the carport the container of ice melt, and the snow shovel and fill the gas cans. I brought in the silky swinging craft hoops from the porch for the winter. That was easy but I couldn't have done any of the other preparations without his very competent help. I'm not his only responsibility around here. He takes care of many others after school and on weekends. You see, he is a school teacher and his wife is as well. They have a family of several teenagers and are very busy people involved in multiple activities. I am sooo fortunate to have this help. 

Nightwalker

Nope! Not hunting for worms! Actually I thought I'd try to capture the Hunter's moon last night at 6:30 pm when I first saw it through the dining room window - it beckoned me to give a try at a capture. I didn't bother to set up a tripod and just went out there, camera in hand.

Hunter's Moon signals the time to hunting in preparation for cold winter months ahead. Yes, I'm resigned to the fact that winter is coming. I've been trying to prepare in my own way.

It was really dark out there and the car was gone and I soon realized that I always used it to guide me from the side door to the corner of the cabin. Believe me, I was VERY careful! Two shots and back in safe. Yay! It was REALLY dark out there!

My results are not spectacular but I did it! Can you tell where the sky ends and the lake begins? I cannot!

For a closer look, tap image.

Change

I can't believe summer is already over and soon the natural world will turn orange, brown, grey and white. AND COLD.  It seems as if the days are flying by, like what happens as the roll of paper gets smaller and the end is near. I have been able to keep pretty busy, sometimes doing nothing which is busy on a different scale. I did manage to vacuum the kitchen and living room this week. Major work for me now. The other day I was a social butterfly, chatting with the trash pickup man, the Schwan's delivery fellow, the mail carrier woman, the potter, my brother, and then a neighbor who was walking his dog. He stopped to help me with the filling of distilled water into the golf car batteries with a special system of doing it all at one time. Soon after, another neighbor made a special delivery of a bag of her home-made cookies! Killer Cookies, I might add. Soon things will have to be covered - the porch swing, the golf car, the air conditioner. I plan to have my lawn and yard guy help with this after he cleans out the flowerbeds and gutters and blows leaves. He does the snow removal as well. Perhaps he can use the Mister's great blower. It needs to be taken from the shed and put into the carport for easy access. A gasoline supply will be needed. I still see a couple of hummingbirds at the feeder but sure hope they leave before frost! It is time!

When I watch TV, which is for the morning news and weather and the suppertime updates, I know I have nothing to complain about. My health is fair for my age and as long as I have books to read, my computer for communication, shelter, warmth and food, I know I'm one of the lucky people in a safe environment. I also know this could change in an instant, but for now I'm going with the flow of good vibes, good friends and neighbors. 

The photos below are from last year.

It's Nature's way.

for a closer look and to be prepared, click on an image

Time...

OH! It is the time of the year when the warmth of the lake water starts to diminish and cool down drastically. We had heat on for the last two nights and, though the days are nice, the nights are moving into change. When we are older we like to be warm. Nature rules, again!

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Onward...

"Nature is the thread that connects us all."

This is a quote from one of my very favorite TV shows, Mountain Men which is regularly found on the History channel. I would hate to miss an episode as this show really has captured my interest.

I almost can't believe it's November already. Not many pretty colors this year. Too wet. BUT! I found a couple.

The cabin is stripped of it's enhancements of pretty plant life, and we're almost ready for snow. I say this because the golf car isn't yet covered. There may be another day or so I can venture out and find a shot or two.

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 James awaits his winter attire. I hear his teeth chattering already! By the way, mouse count-5, vole- 1. Trap reset almost every morning.