Rhubarb and Screens

Hello,

Leroy and I planted some early crops in our new community garden spot. There were a lot of grass roots along with some rocks in there. Our volunteer who tiled had a hard job. Leroy lucked out by having his leg not be quite healed so someone else did it. While we were there I went over to the old garden spot which has a mountain of dirt on it. Last year we had transplanted some rhubarb there. It is growing nicely this year so I picked some of it because we never know when machines will came to tackle the mountain. Chances are good that the rhubarb will get run over in the process. We will try to transplant it once more. There was one arugula plant that was growing quite nicely the last time I looked at that garden. Even though it was going to seed already I picked quite a lot of it. The winter onions are also in great shape. The machines did not run over their home or they just could survive. At any rate I picked one of them and it was quite tasty. Some of them will be moved to the new garden spot. I am hoping that lamb’s quarters in a bit more time.

I like to take the screens off the windows for the winter. I like looking out the clear glass. It has gotten hot so suddenly. Both of us are hesitant to open the windows in the morning to let in the cool night air. I did put on two screens earlier and today we got out eight more. That leaves only two more to get out. I will also wash the windows before I get out the last two screens.

I try not to work on Sunday, but this was the exception for a while. Leroy helped too and that made it all move along faster than when I work alone.

Paula

Phone Lost

Hello,

I lost my phone sometime yesterday. It is not an expensive phone so that is not an issue, but inconvenience is an issue. All those phone numbers that are stored on there are now lost to me. I have a feeling I lost it from a jacket pocket that has a long slit so it is not really for storing things other than to perhaps warm a hand. Leroy and I have both looked in the car, I cleaned out my purse, we also both, standing in different places, called that number to no avail. I have lost my phone in the past. It was only after I replaced it that I found it between the car seat and the frame of the car. My plan is to wait at least a week before I say it is absolutely gone. Course Miriam and some others feel that this is the opportunity for me to update to a smart phone. I had planned to do that, but not just yet. How did we survive back in the day when a phone was just one in a house and securely attached to the wall?

My Fitbit has stopped working. It is just totally blank. I did not see a notification that the battery was low so I am wondering about what has happened there. I now remember that the battery two pack that I bought the last time had one battery that did not work. The company had told me they would send me a replacement. That battery never came so I am powerless. I really hesitate to go buy another battery in case it is the device that is not working rather than the battery.

Should I replace it with a zip or get a wrist type? I must think about the pros and cons. I was not sure that I wanted to have one on my wrist, but there are certainly some advantages. Such as not having it clipped to my pants where I cannot easily see it in public. Would it be more or less accurate? It seems that so many material purchases require a lot of decisions to be made. We are awash in choices.

Now if we could just figure some of these things out including what car to buy next we could just let the world go by.

Paula

Summer is here

Hello,

Summer is here, but it may be only for a day or two before some other change blows in. This morning the down comforter came off the bed, the duvet is washed along with the pillow shams. Both Leroy and I were too hot last night.

Even though my body would like more gradual changes, I know I should not complain. I saw a note from a friend who lives in Nigeria where the temperature was 110 F. That luxury, air conditioning, is not a part of their life. I now say, “Adjust body and get over it.”

The temperature in the house is fine; however I do know that some are running the air conditioning. Amazing that a short week or two ago we were getting snow with furnace function as a priority.

The blooming trees are showing forth their beauty. I like to go somewhere and be surprised by the display.

Since his skin cancer removal, Leroy has just now started to ride his bike to work. He seems quite pleased to be back in the saddle. I have not ridden my bike since last November or October.  Suspect my seat will be sore for a while when I do.

I am not sure why I did not go out today. It would have been nice to go down by the lake. Leroy tells me that the geese have hatched. I always enjoy seeing the babies.

Paula

Porch Windows and Butter

Hello,

Saturday I washed the two porch windows because sometime in the winter a bird had pooped on one of them. That splatter always caught my eye and irritation when I was on my way to somewhere. So with the nice weather I was happy to have the breeze blowing in and the dirt going out. Leroy even came down and helped me by vacuuming a little in the area. I pulled out a wooden toy/storage box that we keep there. For some reason there was a bit of dirt and debris that had accumulated behind it, can you imagine? When I was done with the windows I used the remaining water to wash the floor a bit. I now have a happy feeling every time I walk into this area. No visible bird poop and not so much dirt/dust.

Last night I was looking for something in the freezer when I said, “I am going to use this butter that I had last year when Miriam’s family was here. At that time Andy complained about it being stale or freezer burned. I cannot explain why it could still be in the house when they come again this summer.”

Actually I can explain, Leroy and I do not use butter or margarine for any reason. I buy it for those times when we have company. Obviously that does not happen often enough. If we want something on bread we use peanut butter. Or we might pretend to be Slovaks and just eat plain bread.

At any rate that butter has been my possession for a long time. There are still two sticks or half of the pound to use. It will be a serious challenge for me/us to use this in two months. Leroy grew up eating margarine and seems to prefer that, if given a choice. Even though it is so old, I cannot throw it away. I must use it. It can be hard to be tied to one’s principles, especially those that were acquired as a child. Childhood principles can be seriously ingrown.

Paula

No List, No Book

Hello,

I have not had a list of jobs in the last few days. That definitely has affected my job outcome. Instead of being focused, I float around in my mind and then in life wondering what I should do next. Frequently I think of something to attend to, but something else that might have been more important, remains unfinished.

I have worked on the picture puzzle that I got out on the last day that we had snow. This has kept me indoors. I finished all the easy parts of that and only the sky with no clouds stretches out empty.

Leroy on the other hand made a mental list today. He announced rather proudly, “I was able to cross off all four things on my list.”

He has stolen my line. I have to get back in the groove.

One of my problems right now is that I do not have a good fiction book to read. I have two nonfiction selections that are about half read. However, I still like to have some fiction around to give me some escape or entertainment. Course, Leroy feels that my fiction books are not entertainment, but serious. That is true, but I know it is not real so it is good.

This afternoon I went out once again to pick up trash. I went up our alley and down the street that is on the other side. I got two full grocery bags for my effort. It does not look so bad to go past, but there are many things that are flat on the ground. I also pick up each piece of plastic that I see even if it is just a broken piece of something. I figure that plastic is so bad for the earth I should eliminate it from my life, but I do not know how to do that.

Paula

Old Age?

Hello,

This afternoon Leroy and I went to a birthday for a woman who was celebrating 90 years. It was an open house, arriving within the first half hour almost made us feel late as the room had plenty of people in it. This woman and her husband live in a retirement community situation. They are still quite independent as they can still drive. After we were seated, I looked around the room and noticed that it was full of rather active old people. How the culture has changed. My grandmother died at 87 when we all thought she was quite old.

The 90 year old celebrant looked much younger than my grandmother did when she died, certainly more vibrant. I believe my grandmother just gave up since she was not really ill, but the Dr. said she just wanted to die. There was no retirement possibilities except to go live with family and I believe that my strong willed grandmother would have been a trial for any of her seven children to take on.

After the party we visited a 98 year old guy in the same facility. He is still quite mentally sharp and could carry on an intelligent conversation. His physical body is not doing quite as well, but he seemed to feel well and alert.

Even though we have not yet retired, I wonder, how long is left for either or both of us. How do we prepare for that? When I think about where to live I get a bit stressed because no completely right answers come to mind. We talked with someone who is planning to downsize. All of their things have now become a burden. We do not have as much as many people, but it is still a bit of a burden because I do not want to just throw it away. I must start living more completely in the here and now because I cannot solve that issue. When the day comes it will all get done.

Paula

Outside

Hello,

Today, I did manage to spend some time outdoors. Two loads of clothes dried on the line. I have recently talked to two people who have commented that they cannot hang out clothes where they now live. It is written in a policy for the neighborhood. When and why did clothes drying in the wind become such a negative? I see it as a very big positive. Both for giving me an excuse to be outside enjoying nature as well as the help it gives to the earth. Some things have gotten changed around in our minds. It would appear that some feel clothes dryers that are mechanical contribute to the luxury and the good life so much that clothes lines are banned.

Where will Leroy and I live when we do retire? Will I be able to do the things that I value such as hanging out clothes and having a garden? There are certainly many issues to consider besides what city should we live in.

In the afternoon, I went out and walked just the street in front of our house while picking up trash. It was fairly clean, but I still managed to fill a grocery bag full which I transferred to the large bag from the city. I know someone else who picks up trash when they walk. They told me they do not pick up cigarette butts. I did pick them up even though extra effort is required because of the small bit of stuff, however when we picked trash up with the college students one of them told me about the damage that those stubs do to the environment.  I cannot remember the details, but it was not good, so I made the effort and picked them up.

Leroy is outside now working in the raised bed gardens in front of the house. We have not planted anything yet, but that will happen soon. I do have chives and winter onions that are ready to harvest. That pleases me.

Paula