Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Winter Solstice - a Winter Wonderland
I found a quote that I feel that expresses my feels for the world and our future. A Hopi legend says "We are the ones that we have been waiting on." I don't think I have ever heard a more empowering statement. I hope that you will feel that empowerment and make it part of your life. Additionally, I ask you to make this a gift to all that you know.
Blessings!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Preparations for the holidays
Work becomes an encumbrance at this time of year. I should just take a couple of days off and get it all done. I have one more gift to get-something Hannah Montana for Gary's granddaughter.
Tonight my goal is to get the presents, requiring shipping, wrapped and packed.
We have a major snow event tomorrow. The weather people can't agree how much some say six to eight. I have heard one say a total of fifteen. Maybe my day at home will be tomorrow!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Winter has arrived!
Gary has the snow blower up and running. We had about 4 inches of snow on Wednesday and he successfully got most of the driveway done before something got sucked up into the blower and clogged it. Yesterday he tried again and one of the belts slipped off. While it is physically difficult for him to heave and shove this tractor-beast around, I do think he enjoys getting it to work.
The big discovery doing this job was that the legs of his pants get wet from the snow. Another was that his monster, eskimo coat that we bought last winter is too heavy for him to work in. He has found a good pair of pants and a jacket online at Cabela's, but they are $100 each. I suggested that we drive up there tonight and check out the material before we order. We may even luck out and they would have the set in his size in the store. I need to get another pair of polypropylene glove liners anyway. I love the ones that I have, but they are getting very worn. I like them as they do their primary function well (keeping my hands warm) and the bonus is that I still have some tactile sensation while wearing them. They make excellent driving gloves.
Today is the last time Fabian's will be coming to Milwaukee until late spring. I am going to go over there at lunch and get several pounds of shrimp to put in the freezer. They are a Galveston company who drives up here every five or 6 weeks to sell shrimp, crab meat, and oysters. There is nothing like shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico. Yum.
We got all the Christmas cards in the mail yesterday. Now we move on to get packages wrapped and in the mail. I got two parcels done last night. I need to get two more done tonight. That will leave the remaining two for tomorrow. I am not sure when I am going to get to decorate.
Decorating may be an interesting adventure this year with the new cat. I do hope she is not like my friend Ellen's cat who loves to climb up in the artificial tree and sleep!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Thanksgiving well-spent
The children, as children do, have grown into fine adults. Sara is now 24 and Christian is 22.
We took the train down on Thursday. The train is such a lovely way to travel. When we are in England or Europe, we always try to take the train. It is so stress-free. You can sleep or read comfortably. I have never been able to read in a car so traveling by train is aways a treat.
My persistence with Orbitz landed us rooms at the Hyatt Regency Chicago for under $100 a night. We ended up with adjoining rooms, allowing us to talk even more.
Ann had brought a watercolor that David had done for me a long, long time ago. (David has been dead now for four years.) She had found it looking through some of his things for something entirely different. I took it to Michael's on Sunday and picked out a very nice frame and matting.
While in Chicago, we did get to all three museums of note: The Art Institute, the Field's Museum, and the Museum of Science and Industry. We didn't get any shopping done, except for those few items that we purchased in the museums gift shops. I had planned to go to Macy's or Bloomingdales, but simply ran out of time.
It was good to spend time with friends you see infrequently. It was good to be thankful for the opportunity to travel, to eat well, and be with people you love and who love you.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Ginger
My darling dog, Ginger, died this morning. She collasped yesterday evening. The diagnosis was bleeding into the lining of the heart. She was eight years old.
She had come upstairs from the den and simply laid down and couldn't get up. Gary and I struggled to get her into the car and got her to the emergency vet within an hour.
She was a wonderful dog. Her gentle, kind spirit will be with us for a long time. I have wonderful memories of her.
She had never seen snow when we moved to Wisconsin two years ago. I'll never forget that morning I let her out in her first falling snow. She stood very still, tail erect and nose quivering. Then she started a long wild dash around the yard and frolicked in sheer joy. She loved the snow. This Monday's snow was for her. She was delighted and immediately went out to roll in it. For a California dog, she really enjoyed Wisconsin. I don't care if it snows again this winter.
I remember the first time I saw her. I have a picture somewhere from that first day that I will scan and post. She is about five weeks old and is sound asleep. I picked her up and sat with her sleeping in my lap for an hour. It was love at first sight.
Love comes in many forms, but the dedicated, unconditional love of a dog is a true gift.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Letting Clio Explore
Percy, the grey tabby, took one look and immediately went downstairs. (But no hissing or growling.)
Naturally, there was a great deal of conversation and a great adventure looking into closets, whipping around shower curtains, and standing at the edge of my sink where I am trying to wash my face. (Cats always express such utter amazement that we humans put so much water on ourselves. I am sure that they think it is most inefficient.)
She reluctantly returned to her room as I had to go to work.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
I think the right name is Clio (aka CoCo)
I am getting a very strong mental image of Clio Laine when I ask her about her name. I tried out Clio this morning and seems right. Gary said it suits her. However, I am not going to commit. Give it a couple of weeks.
Monday, November 24, 2008
CoCo and snow
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
The Great Apple Hunt
"Wisconsin is a new home for Gary and me and this has been our second autumn here. We have spent several Saturdays and Sundays driving around and admiring the beautiful fall colors. During those drives, we have discovered another Wisconsin wonder, apple orchards. And that discovery, as so many new discoveries do, prompted ar question—how many varieties of apples grow in Wisconsin?
With over a hundred apple orchards in Wisconsin, the state is ranked 12th in annual apple production with over 1.5 million bushels produced a year. Many of those apples are the common ones found in the grocery stores, such as Delicious, Golden Delicious, Fuji, Honeycrisp, and MacIntosh. We knew about those and decidedly have our favorites. Now our search focused on finding apples we have never tasted. What we found were hundreds we had never heard of. We quickly realized that this was a multi-year project.
A quick search of the internet provided us with list of apple orchards of over forty orchards in southeastern Wisconsin. Where to start? We decided to explore antique varieties.
An antique apple is generally defined as a variety that is over fifty years old. That magic number is related to the advent of refrigerated box cars which arrived on the scene in the 1940s. Refrigerated box cars allowed apples to shipped great distances and doomed many apple varieties that didn’t travel well. Another common characteristic of an antique apple is that it has a historical record of someone first recognizing it as a distinct variety.
We located a very famous apple, Calville Blanc d’Hiver. This French apple was first recognized in the early 1600s growing in Normandy and was served as a dessert on a special plate to Louis XIII. Thomas Jefferson fell in love with this apple when he was ambassador to France and had several trees shipped to Monticello. The apple is pale green with light red freckles on the side that faced the sun. It has a lovely crisp bite with a distinctive spicy flavor. It stores well and is excellent for both cooking and eating.
Another apple that has become a favorite is Cox’ Orange Pippin. An English variety originating in the early 1800s, this apple is perfect for eating, juicy and intensely flavored. Ripening here in late September, it is a very delicate apple that makes outstanding cider. Often this variety is cited as one of the finest apples ever grown.
Arkansas Black, as the name implies, has a dark red skin, with crisp light green flesh. It originated in Benton County, Arkansas and was first described in 1886. This smaller apple stores very well and is good for cooking and eating.
Our collection has grown during the fall. We have focused on apples that store well. We’ve carefully wrapped our prizes individually in newspaper and are storing them in a cool part of the basement to tide us over the winter.
When you select apples to store, choose only the apples that have a stem and have no bruises, nicks, or cuts. Also, don’t store apples with potatoes, as potatoes emit a harmless gas that causes apples to ripen more quickly.
Those apples that do have a bruise or nick are prime candidates for applesauce, canned apple pie filling, or cider.
We’ve started building our “to taste” list for next year, noting the time of year that they ripen (from July to November) and which orchards have them. With so many to try, we simply get fascinated with the names: Chenanago Strawberry, Duchess of Oldenberg, Egremont Russet, Esopus Spitzenberg, Karminj De Sonnavile, Orleans Reinette, Swaar, and Yellow Bellflower.
As for the number of apple varieties grown in Wisconsin, we still can’t give you a solid number. It looks like it is well over 150. Hum, how many years is it going to take for us to taste all those varieties?"
Sunday, November 9, 2008
The Changing of the Closets
I do still have shoes to go through, but that shouldn't be so bad as I have bought only a few pair this year. Part of the job is getting all the leather shoes cleaned and polished. I think I will wait until next weekend to do that.
I have good clothes that I haven't worn in several years that I am sorting out to give to a local program that provides clothing to women entering or re-entering the work force. Others will be bagged to be sent to Good Will.
The motivation for all this activity is today's high -- 29 degrees. Gary saw a few snow flakes this morning. We probably have a few more weeks of autumn, but winter is giving us her first few kisses. I'll be delighted if she holds off the first real snows until December.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Autumn Photos
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Sometimes brownies don't even make the cultural divide
Today a lovely young Inidan woman brought a large dish of brownies into the break room. Smiles and congratulations were extended all around. Innocently, I pick up a small brownie and returned to my desk. It was a brick. I suspect that woman pulled the brownies out of the oven when the instructions said and couldn't believe that they were done. They probably were very soft and perhaps a little runny. She put them back in until they were "set." (For those readers who may never have baked brownies, you should not over bake as they dry out very quickly.)
Death, Demons, Ghosts, and Autumn
All of us that carry the blood of my father carry the taint of demons. Some of us manage these beasts better than others. Joe, I fear, was more consumed by his. Some of our demons age with us and, like us, get old and tired, diminishing in their threats. Others seem to be ever present and just as haunting as when they first appeared. I hope that Joe's diminished as he aged. I also hope that in death that he found peace.
I do know that Joe has joined my pantheon of ghosts. They kept me awake last night. (Oddly, my mother doesn't join them. She comes by herself.) These four, now five, seem to be having a great time and tend to all talk at once. They will get quieter as the week goes on.
Autumn has fully arrived in Wisconsin. Gary and I drove around this weekend and took some pictures that I will post later in the week. The colors are outstanding this year. The weather has cooled slowly, allowing the trees to put on a brilliant display.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Dis-ease
I did have another fever episode about 3 am this morning. I thought I was done with this part of the illness. Consequently, I didn't get out of bed until 7 am. And to work at 10. I figure if I get 5 hours in, I will be doing good.
Friday, October 10, 2008
This was the week that was...I think
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Master Gardener Class
On Saturday, I volunteered cleaning up a 4X20 bed in front of the Grafton library. The two ladies who initiated the project three or four years ago are in their seventies and needed some assistance. While two of us showed up to help, they persisted in doing the majority of the work.
Classes are on Tuesday nights. Last night we had a plant disease expert talk about plant fungi, bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that affect plants. It was a good talk.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Starting Chapter 4 and Autumn
Autumn is here. Cooler today. Highes to be in the low 60s. Yesterday was overcast. Today we do have some sun.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Beginnings
LO is my friend, Linda. Catch her at http://lowriting.blogspot.com/
Professionally, I am a technical writer. I have been in management, but I am now back as an individual contributor--and I love it. I hadn't realized how much I missed the writing. Currently, I am exploring a different kind of writing. I am attempting to write a novel. I have almost completed chapter 3. Two friends have reviewed the first chapter: one is excited and wants more and the second hasn't presented me with her opinion.
This novel intruded in my life as a dream. The characters popped out fully formed. The dream was about their relationships and, so far, the novel is as well. I know that this sounds inane, but I really don't know where these characters are taking me or the book. I am just along for the ride and the writing.
After I get a couple of more people to review, I may post some it here.