2011-08-31Irene

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Bang! End of August

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We lost power for three full days due to Irene breezing through, but are OK. Poor willow crashed. Dock broke loose on one end but was saved and re-secured before it got away like others did.

Yard cleanup underway and then we'll leave the building for a couple of months. No computering for a while! Photos when we return.

Summer's End 2011.m4v

Estrangement

I have another "long-time" person in my life, but this person is not a friend. This person has outwardly insulted me and several of my immediate family members and other loving friends over the past 15 years to the extent that I have now shut this person out.

Totally. OUT!

It wasn't only the insults, it was the game-playing and disrespect of feelings. I do not do shouting matches. I do not associate with people who do this. At ALL. There will never be a confrontation nor a conciliation. It is too late.

It took a great amount of tolerance from me to have it come to this. At first, I just turned away; the wound wasn't deep. The next time it happened I walked away and licked my wound. The third time, I ran away to tend to a deep wound and then I had completely gone away - bleeding profusely - to join others who were also stricken and injured in the same fashion. There is something seriously skewed in this person's way of thinking and inconsideration of reactions by verbalizing in such venomous manner. This person has a poisonous tongue. It is intolerable and treacherous behavior pointedly intended to entrap and tear apart.

Now "long-time" person wants to get together. It won't happen. My feelings of ill treatment are justified and today my bite punctures are repaired.

I'm reminded of an old-time tale of a frog and a scorpion.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One day a scorpion is hanging around the side of a stream. A frog happens by on his way across the stream. The scorpion cannot swim so he stops the frog and asks if he can climb on his back for a ride across the water.

“Do you think I am crazy?” The frog says. “If I let you on my back, you’ll certainly sting me and I’ll sink in the water and die.”

The scorpion replies, “hey just think about it for a second, I can’t swim. If I sting you, then you’ll die and I’ll sink and die too.”

The frog thinks for a second and decides that makes sense, so he proceeds to give the scorpion a ride across the stream.

About half way across the stream, the scorpion stings the frog. The frog screams “What are you doing? Why did you sting me? Now I am going to drown and die and you are going to sink and die too.”

The scorpion says “because I am a scorpion.”

In this irritating tale there is a disturbing truth: it really happens that people behave in incomprehensible manners with no other reason than, nobody knows why, "that is their nature."

This is a disease that lies deep in human nature. There are many examples, practically every day. We can laugh when they are just funny. But some are dismally tragic.

Sometimes they don't really know or understand life and friendships. I forgive that. Some people never find what they're looking for. It's pitiful.

Appreciation?

The Monday laundry blows in the wind - too much! I hate it when the sheet flips over the top line. I can't reach it to flip it back and if I reel the line in, the line soils the sheet as it rubs along. Sheets always seem to do this, but I'm simply not going to change the way they are pinned; the sun wouldn't do its job with the whitening and purifying process. And yes, I'm a bit old-fashioned.

Do you see the clothespin on the left bottom side? I jumped out of the box today - again. I grabbed the first thing of the correct size and weight and handy and pinned it inside the corner of the problem item. Threat altered!

I must tell Sue how much I appreciate the gift she gave me yesterday. It traveled far with her through several flight stopovers and held especially for a later presentation in a more relaxed environment.

I'll also tell her that I haven't found a non-conventional use for the exotic tea yet and will most likely just sip a cup soon.

The Gathering....

Just a thought......

I have to brace myself tomorrow.

Prospective encounters with others involves a certain amount of trepidation and realignment on my part.

There will be no sunbeam to skip with, and no breeze to dance with.

I do, I don't -

I will, I won't -

I'm able, I'm not able...

Managing will be my middle name. I will.

It's not about me.

True Friends...

True friends DON'T come with fragile stickers. Not at all. That's why I'm writing this for my friend who is now dealing with a difficult diagnosis. She will understand and even laugh a bit as she drives her rig across the country from South Carolina to California and back, regularly, seeing it all on her journeys of the trade.

Photos by Cindi

Dear Cindi,

I'm afraid I'm going to have to turn down your offer to trade Scaroidosis for Ed. Scaroidosis would get under my skin and not respect my space.

I don't want to share Scaroidosis with you either. That's a threesome that would be a sticky and tacky union.

I'm certain that I'd never steal him. You would just let me keep him and that would be no fun at all. I'd be out of breath all of the time!

If you had Ben (Gay) instead, I'd grab him in a minute. He'd be good to take to bed with me. Arthur (Rtis) is a "no-no" because he hurt me before and he always took me from joint to joint. Charley (Horse) makes me get up and go when I don't feel like it. Will (Power) would cramp my style and Johnny is cold right to the bottom. Al (Zymer) is always flirting with me and my other friends.

So you see, I guess I don't really want any companion anymore; especially one that causes me to have lumps and bumps. He sounds like a brutal and difficult cohabitant and besides, his feet are too big.

Please forgive me for my selfishness, but your generosity is well thought-out and very diplomatic as well. Oh, and cruel!

Your true friend, Gere

Note: (The bit about Ben, Arthur, Charley, Will, Johnny and Al has been taken from the experience of others, so no credit can be given here.)

Her reply:

"Leave it to you!! Brought a much needed smile and giggle though. Thanks."

Early Morning Shower

This shower came down hard - for 10 minutes at 7:30 AM.

My Friend, Joan

I don't know where to start. The beginning is probably the best, isn't it? The beginning was 1946. Two girls ending up in the same home room, each coming from different elementary schools and merging into "Junior High." We were 10. It was 5th grade. The school started with 5th graders and went through 9th grade.

I don't know exactly why we clicked, but we sure did. She was very shy, I was very bold. She had short dark hair, I had long blond braids. She was skinny and I was chubby. She had long polished fingernails and I chewed mine. Oh MY! I lead and she followed and we soon learned that we both could knit, crochet, and liked to draw and paint. It didn't take us long to be friends and the friendship lasted 65 years.

I really don't think many other odd couple girlfriends went on the huge number of double dates that we did! We both liked to dance, bowl, swim and we loved the beach. Were we "popular?" Nope! We were bookish - a bit, but not into the cliques and clans of the time. We mostly stuck to ourselves, but also had other friends that meant a lot to us at the time as well.

Oh! The secrets! Oh! The pains of marriages and growing families. We shared EVERYTHING!

Joan was an extremely creative and talented quilter in her latter years and I was into horses and crafts, but she lived down the dirt road and we got together often, still sharing, and aging together.

Joan developed breast cancer and went through the entire process of treatments and recoveries.

Not long after her breast cancer she seemed to go downhill mentally and it was soon determined that progressive Alzheimer's was to be her destiny. The long road took almost 13 years. I thrived and she withered.

Now she's gone. My best friend is gone and I'm sad. Our bright years together and our struggling times together are over...my memories dwell on scenes that are no more.

She took her memories with her and that's the way it should be.

Fishing on Our Lake

photo by Jen

The lake was built by my great uncle in 1959. It was once a cow pasture with a running stream. It's around 42 acres and deep. No motors, except electric are allowed. There are rowboats, sailboats, paddleboats, canoes, kayaks, pontoon boats, and others with both permanent residents and "summer people" swimming and fishing in the summer. The fish include crappies, largemouth bass, chain pickerel, pumpkinseed and redear sunfish, bluegill, yellow perch and both bullhead and channel catfish.

2005 Grandson and Son

Familiar Morning Scene

4th of July yearly contest "Weighmaster" station.

Heaviest bass caught wins.

Rub-a-Dub Dub.......

Not a winning catch in 2010, but grandson Alex is the winner here, after surviving a terrible car accident.

Good Day Fishin'!

WELL........

What can I say?

I should probably tell you that we fish "catch and release." (After photos are taken, of course!)

Gone Fishin'!

Beautiful Sunny Day

I Shot a Turkey!

Last night while washing supper dishes, for some reason I turned and looked out the living room window and saw this elusive turkey in my yard. I have been trying to get a shot of this little jake for a couple of weeks. He is an extremely cagey critter, always sees me first and dashes away. He usually comes to visit during the very early morning on grassy the side of the cabin. I would have to take his picture through the window that has a screen and that never works.

Well, they tell me the best shots are when you seize the moment so I dried off my soapy hands, snatched the camera and "viewfinder eyeglasses" and even turned the camera on before prancing quickly, in bare feet, to the front lawn and shot him! YES! Got him! 6:38 PM the deed was done. I'm so pleased to be able to share his visit with you.

After the Rain........

7:45 PM

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I want to show you my view from in front of Cabin Tranquillity. I dashed out onto the lawn when I looked out of my kitchen window while washing dishes and this is what I saw! Magnificent! It was, at first a double, but, by the time I got my camera, put on my "camera eyeglasses" and got out there, the double had faded. This is the largest rainbow I have seen in many years.

7:50 PM

It didn't last long, but I have it for keeps.

Meet James 2010

The Actual James Creation.

One of my 4-H'er's married this fellow around 25 years ago and they have 4 children. He works a full time job and, as a sideline to support his family, he cuts down and trims trees. He has just started trying to make creative carvings. When he cut down our old and very sick blue spruce family tree, I wanted to save a part of it so...........

I stood there and cried when it came down. Now it is called, "James Marshall," after my maternal great grandfather. James is the spiritual guardian of "Cabin Tranquillity" a primitive log cabin that was built in 1960. My parents had this built and came for summer vacations for many years, and we live here today. The carving looks a bit like my relative because I gave him an old photo to have an idea of what I wanted. I also gave him full artistic freedom to make it as he wished, except it had to be a bit whimsical. WE all love "James," don't you?

James-First Year

From a magnificent old spruce tree's tremains, "James" was created. This is his first birthday celebration.

At the VERY end of this clip, his buddy "Wylie" has a comment.

Clam Pasta

For all food lovers who are on a very limited grocery budget, I would like to share one of my creative experiments that was successful - as far as we are concerned.

Is taste and enjoyment of a meal ruled by constrictions of a sparcely stocked cupboard? Is a meal hindered and constrained by meager supplies? NO! Is the cook restricted to no exploration or inventiveness? NO!

A two-serving meal or three-servings if appetites were moderate, was enjoyed by this couple last evening.

Ingredients were as follows:

1/2 of 1 pound box of Ronzoni Trio Italiano Pasta

($1.00 on sale**Used 1/2 so 50¢!) reg. $1.49

Two 6.5 oz. cans of Snows (by Bumblebee) minced clams in juice

($1.00 ea. on sale) reg. $1.83 ea.

One 15 oz. can of Progresso white clam sauce

($1.19 on sale) reg. $1.79

Method used:

Empty the 2 cans of minced clams, including juice, and the one can of white clam sauce into a teflon pot. Heat very slowly and when it is steaming, add the uncooked pasta. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until all liquid is absorbed and the pasta is ready. (About 15 minutes, as I remember.)

Serve in large pre-heated (in microwave oven) soup or spaghetti bowls. Top with grated Parmesan/Romano cheese.

There is enough left over for today's lunch.

Total cost: $3.69 Thanks to ShurSave Gold Card

and Tuesday Senior Shopping day!

Don't ask me "Where's the salad?"

Our vegetable intake is just fine.

Today's Discoveries

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

°

First of all you MUST listen to the songs sung by Max Bygraves! A wonderful discovery this morning after my wander to take photos. Below is the link to his biography. I just bought - via iTunes - his album entitled, "Singalongamaxbox." There are 30 songs and 2 1/2 hours of happy happy. He is dozens of well-known singers and entertainers all put together into a very special gentleman!! Even if you don't lean toward this type of easy listening music, listen anyway. You can't help but be elated and joyful like me! ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

http://www.maxbygraves.com/index2.htm

Now for the earliest part of my morning........

I went grocery shopping early and returned as usual past a home with flowers in the yard. I guess I've never really REALLY looked at that yard. WOW! I just rushed home, unloaded the cold stuff and went back - this time with my eyeglasses and camera. No one was home so I boldly drove up into the drive and snapped away. You will soon see why. I absolutely LOVE taking pictures, especially when I'm alone and no one is watching. I'm a very happy person today. It ALWAYS pays to "stop and smell the roses" and especially if you love Mother Nature and Her beauty.

Name That Bird!

I'm privileged to watch my hummingbird visitors through the cabin's dining room window. It's a good thing that I don't have as many fly in for my home-made nectar as many bird watchers do, because then I wouldn't be able to name them. One-at-a-time they come and only once in a while does a "swoop and bomb" occur. I've deducted that their sparse numbers are due to the wildflowers in this area. Every July the first one will arrive and look for my feeder. Only then do I make it up, using one cup of boiled water with 1/4 cup of white granulated sugar and a drop of red food coloring. The old feeder has been broken and repaired several times, but is definitely still in service. I wash it only with hot water and never use detergent or disinfectants. MY birds like to rest on the perch while drinking. They dip, lap, raise up, look around, and dip again to their heart's delight.

How many hummer watchers can name their birds by their distinctive body shapes, attitudes and actions? I can - easily!

•The dainty and very delicate one is "Tidbit."

•The shy one, that is always here for only a short sip is "Shrinker." He's VERY wary.

•One has a very rough coat (plumage) and it's name is "Scruffie."

"Scruffie"

•There is a very very slim, long and trim-bodied critter and its name is "String."

•The short bodied and plumpest one I have ever watched sometimes sleeps on the perch for a long time. Therefore, "Slug."It comes at sundown when I can't get its picture.

Those are my "regulars." There are more. One at a time. Several more. Not named - yet.

I think I'll name this fellow that came in this morning "Chunkie."

It's very difficult for me to photograph them. I do much better with flowers, bushes and trees that don't move before I can get the camera set up and put on my"camera/computer" eyeglasses.

"String" just flew in at 1pm. He's late!

"Shrinker" came in at 730 pm. It took him a long time to settle down to drink.

It's Tourist Season in the Lake

July 4, 2011 Here they come!

When a neighbor's lakefront fandangle broke loose from its moorings it came our way to rest. In no time it was further embellished with live occupants.

The tourists have arrived and settled in now.

I told you about our visitors in my July 28 blog: "Oh, and....we just might have pink ducks and geese and also black flamingoes next year here at the lake. We have had company on the lake's floating log."

July 23 - here is why:

I even made a computer "creation" of next year's possible result.

August 1 - We have our ducks in a row today!