No More Garden Chores

Hello,

Last night when I came home from work Clark asked, “Are you finished getting things from the garden for yourself?”

To my affirmative he then asked, “Do you want to go to the garden to pick the last things there? We could take them to the neighborhood meeting.”

 I have to confess that I groaned a bit inwardly because I was tired, but I said, “Yes, after I change my clothes.”

Just as we started to go we saw Leroy coming home from work. Leroy and I had talked about getting the last things out because we would not have enough time on Friday before the weather got much worse. I have this strong sense that nothing should go to waste. He was all pleased to go. He walked, while Clark and I rode there. At the garden we picked Brussel sprouts, cut the last of the Swiss chard, picked two lonely purple kale leaves, cut off three celery plants, cut parsley, chives, collards, and arugula leaves.

At the meeting people were a bit hesitant to take some greens, but we did pass out a few. We also took some of the dry soy beans that we had picked earlier. The produce that was not taken we left with the Mission of Hope which serves a daily free lunch. It was exciting to give all of that away.

This morning I zipped out to our front garden, pulled up the only brussel sprout plant, and the lone broccoli plant. There were five small cabbage heads on the stalk that we had harvested earlier. I also dug some more onions, cut off the rosemary, celery, and parsley. Tonight Leroy and I cleaned and cut up the rosemary for drying, while the celery and parsley went in the freezer and the cabbage in the refrigerator. Tomorrow I will tend to the brussel sprout and broccoli plant. We will eat the fruit and many of the leaves. The gardens seem to just give and give.

We also had talked about getting rid of our roaster. I asked last night if they would like it at the Mission of Hope. This morning, with that affirmative in mind I put it in the car and dropped it off. The cook was quite pleased to get it. When I said, “I have not used it in years and it did not check to see if it works. If it does not work, I will take it back.”

“If it does not work I would like the pan and the rack inside. But I’ll just plug it in.” he said.

Yes! It works, another thing out of our and it will be used somewhere else.

Now Leroy is thinking we should perhaps get rid of the dehydrator because we have not used it in the last two years. Not sure if I am there yet or not.

Paula

Photos

Hello,

Yesterday our set of photos (for the church directory) came in the mail. Leroy did not open it, because he knows I like to look at such things? It would have been ok if he had opened it. As it was I went through this set of thoughts and emotions.

I opened, pulling out first, the set of nine wallet size pictures. “Wow, we look good. We did not need to purchase that wrinkle smoothing, hair fixing, and blemish diminishing touch up. Our color choices were good for each and we looked good together.” I was pleased.

Next in line was the 5x7 set. It was now clear that there were some winkles to be seen, but not excessive, especially on that young guy, Leroy. My hair had some funky curls, but I suspect that is quite normal. At least my teeth were not stained and Leroy’s mouth, as usual for a picture, was closed with a hint of a smile. Our color choices were good and we looked good together.

With a little dread I looked at the 8x10. More pronounced smile wrinkles are visible on me, Leroy even has a wrinkle here or there. I also noticed a bit of my hand on his arm at the bottom of the picture. The guy had told us they would crop it so that would not show. I suppose that touch up could have taken it out. Centering probably dictated that the hand be left in. I had not planned to get such a large frame for this picture, but I might have to get the next size up so it can be matted. That somehow will make it more dramatic than I intend. Our color choices were good and we looked good together.

Because of copyright laws and ethics I cannot post a print of the picture for you. Consequently, you can imagine us just as young as the last time you saw us with happy looks on our faces. Fuzzy eye sight will make us look great, apply that too. Our color choices were good and we looked good together.

Paula

Life Moves On

Hello,

One of Leroy’s seminary classmates is retiring today after 40 years in the ministry. For some reason I have stopped to think about that for Leroy. He is officially retired, but it did not happen with any particular fanfare. He is still working half time in the ministry, and half time at the museum. He has gotten some recognition as he left jobs here and there, so maybe that was a partial retirement. Some days he talks about actually stopping working, but he does not want to quit entirely and cannot choose which job he would stop doing. So for now he will continue as is. I think he would like two full days off a week and sometimes maybe three, but otherwise he is content.  He does not know when his church job will end, but he expects it to last another year or two. As usual we do not know much about our future. I like my job and am not ready to quit either. Strange that we have these jobs we like when people our age are stopping. What happened to us? We simply did not follow the usual pattern.

Today we had a brunch at church. But we ate breakfast before we left home, otherwise we would be too hungry. Then about noon or a little later we went for samples at a food coop. We will eat an early supper because we have an early evening meeting at church. Somehow I think my body does not know what to think. It seems hungry much of the time.

We did get some buckwheat flour at the coop. Tonight we will make buckwheat walnut pancakes. However there will have to be a big side of vegetables because they were not represented at brunch. I certainly miss them.

One thing nice about the meeting at church tonight, we will get our four miles walking today. It is pleasant because the weather is just perfect for that.

Paula

Lovely Fall

Hello,

Leroy commented tonight, “It is November 14 and we are eating broccoli and pea tomatoes that we have just picked.”

The pea tomatoes are next to the house, have a tremendous supply of vine, and were low to the ground allowing them to survive the frost. We did pull them as there is not so much time left.

Leroy also dug up the small rosemary plant in the community garden. I am hoping to be able to save it over the winter and then put it back. I planted some more of the winter onion bulbs in the community garden. They just keep showing up around the house.

Back at the house Leroy got out the ladder and cleaned the low gutters. When Clark came home they went a little higher and even repaired a shingle that had come loose in the last big wind storm.

That wind storm was a furious distributer of leaves. Many of the leaves from our trees that had not come loose went on down the street. In our yard I found some leaves that I believe were from a ginkgo tree, or maybe not a ginkgo. I have no idea where there is such a tree. This has to have come from several houses away.

I pulled up the marigolds from our front garden. All that is left now is one Brussels sprout plant, a broccoli plant, a cabbage that is forming new little heads, and some small carrots. Before we leave for Thanksgiving in DC, I will pick most of those things. They are doing such a good job I dislike disturbing them. Also as Robin said, “They look pretty.” They are a nice green color.

Paula

Sleep Patterns

Hello,

I have been walking up early since the time change. Most of the time I feel rested, but it would be nice to sleep easily beyond 4:30. This morning when I got up to go to the bathroom, I noticed the computer’s lights were on even though I had turned it off before I went to work yesterday at noon. Because Leroy only spent a little time at home I doubted that he had used it. I tried to get the screen to light up, but not luck. Neither the mouse nor keypad made a difference. I tried the on switch with no luck in stopping the humming. Sleep seemed more important so I went back to bed wondering if we had lost the use of the laptop, and why do I not save my things every day? All of that rumbled around in my head for about an hour. Leroy also seemed to be restless, but I did not start a conversation.

After falling back to sleep I commenced dreaming. When I dreamed that my wallet had been stolen out of my purse, I woke up wondering if I should go check on that. Now the lack of a computer working seemed like a very small thing indeed. I knew it was time to get up when I heard Leroy say, “Oh darn.”

It was late enough that we needed to move more quickly for him to get to work on time. One thing that made it easier was that he took the car instead of the bike because the prediction was for rain when he comes home. He does not like riding in the rain.

When informed about the computer, Leroy held the on button for some time and it turned off. I turned it on this morning. It worked, but it took it ten minutes to spin, update, and restart. It now works and I am grateful for that. Can I live without a computer? It would be quite the adjustment.

Paula

Winter is coming

Hello,

Yesterday I did not take the time to write because I had a long to do list. One thing on there was to wash and hang out clothes. Because they were not quite dry before I left for work, I spread them out on the beds. The clothes line is now in the shade all morning so not as much drying going on. Winter is coming.  

The water in the bird bath on the deck had a little skim of ice on it. Winter is coming.

Yesterday I dug all of the winter onions that were in the front garden. They could survive the winter and maybe even reproduce before spring, but I do not need as many onions as I have around here. Plus Leroy wanted them out of there. Winter is coming.

The broccoli in the community garden is now very fine. With two nice heads that are not quite as big as they will get. I left them there for others or me if I get them before the next big cold snap. Winter is coming.

This morning, on the way home from Tai Chi, I drove past the garden to check on the Swiss chard. I could not stop and pick it because I needed to go to the bathroom. But I hurried back on foot, and cut off most of it. I left a few small leaves thinking that they might make it. I also picked some more arugula and cilantro. They like the cool weather. Winter is coming.

Last week I spotted a tiny blooming violet. It was taking advantage of the warm after the cold so --- spring is coming!

Paula

Church Brunch

Hello,

Today was the brunch for women in our church. I set off with my fruit salad in my backpack along with a change of shoes. As I was crossing the parking lot that many people use I was surprised to see it virtually empty. I started thinking, is it the right day, the right time? There were a few traffic cones stacked close to the crosswalk. Next to those cones was a red car. A tripod was on the other side of the car which had the hatch door lifted. A man was close to the tripod which was aimed at the new medical building. When he saw me coming, “He said could you use some half used AA batteries? Or do you know someone who would? If you do not I am just going to put them in the garbage. I am a photographer from New York. These batteries might have a bit more life in them.”

When he stopped for breath, I said, “I will take them and if I do not find a use for them, I will recycle them. It is so much better than putting them in the garbage.”

“Oh I do not want you to go to any work about them.” he said.

“I probably would use them we use rechargeable ones now. I do not mind recycling. How many do you have and do you have a bag for them?”

“I think there is about 30,” he said, “I do have a bag. If you could wait a minute while I gather them.”

I do not think there were 30 but it was quite a few. Leroy figured he did not want to risk getting a picture so he kept changing the battery. He had a lot of cases that would hold batteries.

When I came out of the brunch, he was still there. He waved and came over. This time he asked, “Would you like some air freshener. I thought the motel room smelled of smoke so I went to a store and got some, but then decided to complain and the hotel people took care of it.”

I told him I probably would not use it as my husband does not tolerate many fragrances, but he said, “I have the receipt with it so you could return it. I am just going to throw it in the trash. And here are three more unused batteries.”

“Or I could find someone to give it to,” I said.

Now I think maybe I will return it and give the money away, how do I ask someone if they want air freshener. They might think I was trying to hint that they needed it.

Guess this guy found the right person to keep all these things out of the trash for a little while.

Leroy was quite pleased with all the half used batteries. He put two in a flashlight and it was bright indeed.

That was a lot of talk about what went on outside of the brunch! The brunch was a good and uplifting experience.

Paula