Not So Demure

Max playing in the leaves

2009-11-24T13:57:00.001-08:00

And what is it with hanging your head over the edge of the stairs?

Winter may be creeping up...

2009-11-24T13:45:00.001-08:00

October was cool and we all thought that winter was getting ready to slam into us. Instead November arrived with weather we expect of September. Glorious weekends full of sun and mid-50 temperatures. However, today we are noticeably colder and wet. Snow is predicted for tomorrow night and Thanksgiving day.

I will be spending 2 weeks of December in NYC. Work beckons. I am doing a project for the New York City Transit, working with a team from TechProse. We are developing a master specification for their capital asset programs. It should be fun. Except being away from home in December.

I am scrambling to get packages wrapped and in the mail. Christmas cards are next on the list, but I have to write the Christmas letter first. I have one sewing project that I am trying to finish so it can also go in the mail.

The positive aspect of a trip to NYC is that I am getting to meet up with my friend, Sally, who lives across the river in New Jersey. She and I are meeting to go to a concert and dinner.

T'is the season for peonies and iris

2009-06-23T08:35:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of the peonies and a yellow iris in my garden.

Report on Max sent to GRRoW

2009-06-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

GRRow is Goldren Retriever Rescue of Wisconsin. They'd asked for an update and this is what Max had to say:

Hi –

My name is Max and I told my mom to let you know that I am doing just fine at my new forever home. I have been in my new home for almost three weeks and things are going pretty good. I have some new lessons to learn, but I am catching on.

I share my new house with three cats. The old man is about 15 years old and he told me in no uncertain terms that I was not to nose him. I forgot a couple of time and he slapped me across the nose, but it didn’t hurt because he didn’t put his claws out. He comes and sits in my mom’s lap and I can put my head next to him and we both can get pets. He told me that he lived with other Goldens before and knows that they are OK—for dogs. The other two are young like me. They run and are so fun to chase. But they are getting curious and I am sure we will all have great fun in a month are so.

My mom has a bunch of child gates that she uses to block me out of certain areas, like the room that has the cat litter boxes. They smell so good, but she won’t let me in there. I tried a couple of time and she shook her finger at me. I felt bad, so I try to pretend that door doesn’t exist. I walk right by and don’t even look.

Last night was a little scary. We had thunder and lightning and it made me shake. But my daddy got up and sat with me until the worst part was over. But this morning was great. After I ate my breakfast, we went for a walk. All the ditches had water in them and some of the culverts had little furry animals living in them. It was great fun to splash through all the water and to sniff all the little animals. When we got home, Mom spread a bunch of towels all over the floor and I got to roll around in them. Towels are great to throw in the air.

Mom says I have to go to Obedience Class. She keeps telling me that the class is more for her than for me. I don’t know about it. It sounds like work to me. I’d rather go to the dog park. She takes me to the fenced dog park in Grafton. Boy, is that great! She doesn’t let me stay as long as I would like. She says I have to build up my stamina (whatever that is).

Yesterday there were three other Goldens at the park. We had a great time playing. Other dogs tried to join in, but they just don’t understand how Golden play works. It is just too hard to explain to them.

Mom took a couple of pictures of me last night and I told her to share them with you. As the summer goes along, I will get Mom to send more stuff.

Introducing Max, our new Golden Retriever

2009-06-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

Gary and I adopted our 4th Golden Retriever on Sunday.

He is a year old and is a special needs dog. He was turned over to Golden Retriever Rescue of Wisconsin in January with elbow dysplacia (hereditary). He has had his orthoscopic surgery and is now as fit as he will ever be. He takes an anti-inflammatory when he is sore, but otherwise is health.

The big recommendation is to make sure that he get a good walk each day. And that certainly doesn't hurt me either.

Day 1:
1. He successfully emptied the toy box (toys inherited from Ginger) and now has toys scattered on all three flours of the house.
2. He only asked to go out once during the night.
3. The old cat, Percy, gave him two firm swats on the nose for being all too familiar. (The other two haven't ventured out yet. But it is early days.)
4. He suffered a little separation anxiety. He is OK if he can see Gary or me. He fusses if he thinks he is shut up and can't see us.
5. He is eating well and is really bounding around.

Day 2:
1. I got his city license.
2. Max visited the vet for his initial check-up. I got his annual supply of heartworm meds and flea stuff.
3. He loves riding in the car.
4. He found my emery board and made mince meat of it.

Day 3 (today):
1. I have a splitting headache for most of the day, so Gary has had to "baby-sit."
2. He likes popcorn.
3. He doesn't like getting his ears cleaned.

More as we progress.

Spring is really here!

2009-05-09T15:08:00.000-07:00

I can safely say that Spring is here. The Baltimore Orioles are back! And the ruby-throated hummingbirds are back. We just saw both at the feeders.

The Red Breasted Grossbeaks are here as well.

Lots of competition at the bird feeds! Fun to watch.

For Earth Day

2009-04-21T17:54:00.000-07:00

Earth-Song

Mine and yours;
Mine, not yours,
Earth endures;
Stars abide—
Shine down in the old sea.

–Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82)

21 April -- It is snowing.

2009-04-21T05:48:00.001-07:00

Our first daffodil

2009-04-17T15:11:00.000-07:00

New Compost Bin

2009-04-14T10:38:00.001-07:00

I know. I must be really off my rocker to get excited about a new compost bin. But, guys, this one is large enough to contain tons of leaves. And that is important where we are. Last year I raked and put most of the leaves under the big area on the north side that is basically forest land. Others I spread over the garden and covered with a black tarp in the hopes that black would create heat and accelerate decomposition.

This weekend was sunny, but cool. I got about 2 hours done in the yard and I have a huge pile of dead leaves and plant remnants to put in the new compost bin. I was going to set it up yesterday or today and now we have rain, sleet, and snow. Fortunately, it is warm (33) enough so nothing sticks, but cool and nasty enough to discourage me from working outside.

Last night I had an appointment with a young man who hopefully will till my garden and lay the concrete tiles back as a nice walkway down to the lower patio. (When we had the sunroom added, I pulled up all the concrete tiles and stacked them with the intention of reusing them. He was open to doing the work and will get back to me with a price. I hope that it is affordable.

We do have the beginnings of daffodils. No flowers, just green leaves. The only green in the yard.

Missed the snow bullet

2009-04-06T07:19:00.000-07:00

(Sigh of relief) The storm and snow stayed south of us. We got some light rain, but nothing more.

Sunshine has returned!

One day of spring, one + days of winter....

2009-04-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

I am sorry to be so mono-focused. But I am getting tired of snow and the prediction of snow.

Yesterday was an early spring day. The sun shone. Temps in the 40s. Gary helped me move the wonderful benches that Chris made me at Christmas moved down to the lower patio. I started the massive chore of cleaning up the yard. Only got a small portion completed. But it did feel good getting a good dose of Vitamin D. (Did you know that Vitamin D is misnamed? It really is a hormone.)

Shuffling leaves, I found two little crocus popping up their little yellow heads. It warmed my soul. I then walked into the house and heard the weather report. 7 to 8 inches of snow on Sunday. What a downer!

Today is gray. It has not started snowing, but it is the right temperature. Gary brought in wood for the fire place. I am going to settle in with a book and a martini in front of a fire.

It's Winter with a Touch of Spring...

2009-03-30T09:43:00.000-07:00

Now doesn't that headline sound like some marketing garble. Well, it's true. Winter forced his way back on to my life by dumping 3 inches of snow on my front lawn on Saturday night. Never mind that it is mostly melted. And the weather report says we are to get more on Wednesday. I think the Wednesday stuff must be part of the blizzard happening in North Dakota.

The good thing is that the air feels warm. I know that that sounds weird. It is 34 degrees. But it feels and smells warmer than February did.

I tried to get into the sewing room this weekend, but gave up. I shampooed the carpets in my bedroom and the hall instead. I know that isn't a creative thing to do, but it is something that needed to be done. I did shampoo about 2 foot into the sewing room. Does that count?

My goal for the month of April to clean up the sewing room. It has become a dumping ground. I would like to get in there and do some sewing. I have a very neat jacket pattern that will be perfect for when the weather is warmer. I also have the parson stool to finish reupholstering, a quilt that needs me to order the stitching pattern for the borders, and a pile of mending.

I think I need to establish the 15 minute rule again. You spend 15 minutes a night working at the project. You'd be surprised how much you get done.

Spring by any other name...

2009-03-23T12:34:00.000-07:00

In most parts of the country, today would be a winter's day. It is 40 degrees with a 15 mile-an-hour wind coming off Lake Michigan. It's that damp cold that goes to the bones. Rain is marching in. I got an email from one of my local gardener friends reminding me that this time last year we were shoveling more than 12 inches of snow.

But it is Spring. Some iris rhizomes that I had dumped in the wine barrel next to garage last autumn have little green things poking out. The lawn has this hint of green under the brown. The first of the migrating birds are stuffing themselves at my bird feeders.

But how I really know it is spring--the days are longer than 12 hours of daylight. This morning's sunrise over the lake started at 6:50 (I see that from my kitchen window -- the sunrise, not the lake) and sunset (we won't see it today because of clouds) will be at 7:09.

Light really does say that winter is receding.

Spring is coming!!

2009-03-18T09:47:00.000-07:00

Red-breasted robin
First to dance in my dead grass.
Today is bursting spring

I saw my first robin yesterday. Certainly a harbinger of spring if there ever was one. I also saw an osprey. At this time of year, ospreys are making their way up to Lake Superior.

Yesterday was glorious. I had to be inside all day, but it was still nice to know that it was in the low 70's and sunny. Gary had the house open to the fresh air and the cats were running from window to window to catch the different smells.

Today is cooler, but Mother Nature let us know yesterday that Ole Man Winter is on his way out.

Ten "T"s -- Assignment from Linda O

2009-03-09T15:25:00.000-07:00

I asked and she parsed. I got a "T". You are to think of ten things that begin with your letter and say what they mean to you. I did not accept the obvious and did not put "ten" on my list.

Tea—a drink, a special time of day to relax, a ritual. When I work at home, Gary and I stop for tea at 4 pm.

Tulips — a much needed harbinger of spring. Here in Wisconsin we are hungry for Spring. There was snow again last night.

Taxes—done for this year. I’m getting money back, but it is already spent. At least it is income instead of outgo!

Thursday—one of my favorite days. I’m not sure why, but I like the name.

Thunder— rain storms, lightning and thunder. I love thunder and lightning. I especially enjoy the duo in the middle of the night. I lie snug in my bed and watch the light show on my walls. And then count…one Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi…one second for each mile from where the lightning struck, and then boom!

Talisker—single Malt smooth, complex, smokey. Created on the Isle of Skye (the only distillery on the island). A favorite of that famous Scot, Robert Louis Stevenson, who wrote "The king o'drinks as I conceive it, Talisker, Isla or Glenlivet" (The Scotsman's Return from Abroad, 1880).

Trane—as in Blue Trane by John Coltrane. Nothing more needs to be said, just as this music needs nothing more. Complete as it is.

Trek—as in Star Trek. Yep, I’m one of those.

Technical Writing—my chosen profession. A set of skills and experiences that defines my professional life.

Two—for Gary and me. We make a good two.

Frozen, literally, maybe mesmerized is a better word

2009-01-28T11:45:00.000-08:00

For the last month, I have been frozen in my tracts. The weather, of course, has not encouraged the flow of anything. We had one week where the high temperatures were in the low single digits. And the political events have enthralled me. I just wanted to sit, skim all the political blogs, and listen to the pundits spew.

I've begun the thaw. Outside temps are rising. Ok, ok, most of you will say rising where? The highs are now at least in the double digits. I celebrated over the weekend with a high of 24. It actually felt balmy.

The mesmerizing world of Obama is moving. I can let go of some of the commentary and start focusing on the things in my life that need attention.

FIRST Robotics has fired up. I am late in joining the fray. Kick off was January 3. My team, Bay View High School, has got a very good design and is making progress on programming the new controller. The game is a good one this year. If you are interested in see an animation of the game, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnGfbGzEFrM

The FIRST Wisconsin Regional Competition is mid-March. With Bryan's help, I created a ticket that can be used by the Planning Committee for handouts and advertisement. My next task for them is get the invitations for the VIPs designed and printed and in the mail. Isn't that what the weekend is for?

I am reading David Weber's Honor Harrington series. This sci-fi series reminds me of Forester's Horatio Hornblower. You get all the military strategy and the excellent development of characters. I am into book nine -- with six more in print and a new one out in March.

With a bright, sun-filled day, my blood is slowly beginning to move again.

Winter Solstice - a Winter Wonderland

2008-12-24T06:22:00.000-08:00

May the blessings of the season be yours, whether you celebrate the feast of the lights, the return of the sun, the birth of a savior, or the gift of life, rejoice in the light and hope of the future.

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!

Preparations for the holidays

2008-12-08T10:02:00.000-08:00

Cards and two packages are in the mail. Four packages to go. The tree is up with some struggles. (We got the pieces stack and forgot to put the screws in the base. I went to turn to tree and it collapsed. Cats fled!) The new little LED colored light are perfect, but two strings aren't enough and one of the two strings is bad.

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!

Winter has arrived!

2008-12-05T06:48:00.000-08:00

Winter has settled in here. Low temperatures were 5 degrees Fahrenheit last night. Yes, that really is a single digit. Normally, we don't have these low temps until January. I hope this is not a precursor of things to come.

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!

Thanksgiving well-spent

2008-12-02T10:20:00.000-08:00

Gary and I spent Thanksgiving Day, Friday, and Saturday in Chicago with my dear friend, Ann, and her two children, Sara and Christian. Sara and Christian are my godchildren. We ate and drank and talked and walked.

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.

Ginger

2008-11-27T04:26:00.000-08:00

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.

Letting Clio Explore

2008-11-26T06:25:00.000-08:00

This morning I let Clio out of her bedroom to explore the top layer of the house, which consists of four bedrooms and two bathrooms. I didn't have to worry about her escaping down the stairs to the rest of house as Ginger, the Golden Retriever, had posted herself at the bottom of the stairs. Ginger would have really liked to be upstairs, but listens very well and stayed as this very effect block.

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.

I think the right name is Clio (aka CoCo)

2008-11-25T06:52:00.000-08:00

Cats rarely get the right names. People just don't listen hard enough. Some people get the first consonant, but mess up the rest of the name. I know that CoCo is not the right name for the new kitten. And, as T.S. Elliot reminded us, a cat has many names, only a few known by humans.

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.

CoCo and snow

2008-11-24T08:16:00.000-08:00

My friend, John, adopted a new cat, Bernie. Kitten fever had been building for the last couple of months, but it really set in when Bernie arrived on the scene. Sooo... Gary and I talked to a rescue organization that specializes in purebred cats, Speciality Purebred Cat Rescue. We now have a new baby in our house, CoCo.

CoCo is a Sabel Tonkinese, about one year old, and has the curiosity level and activity level of a ferret. She is in to everything. She also has one of the longest tails I have seen on such a little cat.

Unlike John's experience, I would be hesitant to refer anyone to the agency where we got her. When we arrived at the home where several animals were kept in a small, clean (but a pretty strong cat pan smell) in a basement room. We had already seen CoCo on the web and figured that she was the one for us.

When Gary sat down in the chair, CoCo immediately got up on the table behind him and put her front paws on his shoulder and leaned around to give him a rub on his cheek. Needless to say, that kiss sold him immediately. (Men are so easy.)

When I get around that many cats, I tend to tune out the humans and didn't hear that that the woman had a cat in another part of the house that had a virus (cold like). Gary did. Unfortunately, I didn't get that information until Sunday.

CoCo was sneezing and coughing by 5 pm on Sunday. Fortunately, she was cloistered in guest bed room, but, unfortunately, I hadn't been as fastidious with my hand washing and I certainly hadn't changed my clothes. My first concern was Percy, our big, old (16+), grey tabby. His last set of boosters was two years ago and I had no information on the duration of the vaccine. (Vaccines, including rabies, can be one, two, or three years.) CoCo had hers at the beginning of November. I called the woman and she confirmed that there was a virus in the house and it seemed to be a mild upper respiratory infection that lasted for four or five days.

I do know that there is no medicine for a virus, but by 7 pm I had worked myself into a snit. Gary knows me well enough that when I get like this that you just let me go. I piled the cat in the car and went to the emergency clinic. (CoCo, BTW, does not like driving in the car.) So with the cat yelling, we arrive at the vet. The vet examines the cat and says she is very good health, but really can't hear her breathe as she is purring too loudly. But in those short, minuscule points between purrs, the lungs sound OK. She does feel that this cough is one of these short viruses and tells me what I already know--unless any mucus is cloudy or colored, she won't give any meds. And that Percy will probably get it. Wonderful!

CoCo seemed relieved to be back in her room by 10 pm. Three car trips in a little more than twenty-four hours were way too much excitement. I too was very glad to get my shower and flop into bed.

My whole reason for telling this story is to tell how angry I am at this service for sending a cat home with someone who has another cat, when they know that the cat has been exposed to a virus. I would have been disappointed not to take her home on Saturday, but I would have gladly paid my fee to hold her and come back to get her in two weeks.

This morning I woke to a wonderland of snow. Mother Nature successfully blanketed my ire. Snow is still new enough to me that I still am mesmerized by its beauty. The transformation of the landscape is amazing. While the ground is cold enough to hold the snow for awhile, the ambient temperatures will be in the high 30's today so the roads will be clear.

The first dusting of snow

2008-11-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

Winter has arrived with a dusting of snow-our first of the season. Temps in the teens and twenties.

Not much time this morning, but I wanted to share these with you.

The Great Apple Hunt

2008-11-14T09:17:00.000-08:00

I've just written an article for the Ozaukee Master Gardener's newsletter, The Best Dirt. I thought that I would post it here as well.

"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?"

The Changing of the Closets

2008-11-09T13:13:00.000-08:00

Well, at least this job is almost done. I have all the summer clothes moved to the guest bedroom closet and all the winter clothes moved to my closet. It was quite a mess. Normally, I perform this exercise twice a year. Last fall it didn't happen because I wore jeans and sweaters while working out of the house all winter. This spring it didn't happen because I shattered my left wrist. Fortunately, I had had a huge throw out when we moved from California to Wisconsin. But even so, there is this mound in the hall that needs to be dealt with and the sort/move has taken me most all day. Normally, this is a job that requires 2 or 3 hours max.

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.

Autumn Photos

2008-10-24T18:08:00.001-07:00

I promised photos from last weekend. Here it is the next and I am getting around to posting the photos.

The door is to an old building that appears to be a windmill in Menomenee Falls.

This next photo is off of 107th and Mequon Road.

Sometimes brownies don't even make the cultural divide

2008-10-21T12:28:00.000-07:00

Companies create their own rites to celebrate. Here at Metavante women who are newly pregnant announce their status by bring in a dish of home baked brownies. On the surface, this appears quite innocuous. However, a large number of the software developers are from India. Brownies are not part of their normal diets and the art of baking brownies is not part of their skill set.

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

2008-10-21T06:26:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, my nephew, Joe, died. He had not been well, but I don't know all the details. The obit in the Tucson Citzen reads "STEAVENSON, Joe Kevin, passed away at St. Joseph's Hospital, Tucson, AZ on October 19, 2008. He was born on October 8, 1965 in TX. to Joyce Blackburn and C.B. Steavenson. He is survived by the love of his life, Cindy Bartley, and her children, Christy and Davey; his mother, Joyce of Sapulpa, OK, and brother, Trent, of Kyle, TX. He was preceded in death by his father, C.B. Steavenson and brother, Russell."

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.

Dis-ease

2008-10-14T12:25:00.000-07:00

This cold thing is consuming me. I went to Doc-in-the-box yesterday because I have bacterial conjunctivitis. I seem to be avoiding the normal sinus infections or bronchitis. So for now, only antibiotic drops for the eyes. No contacts for the week.

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.

This was the week that was...I think

2008-10-10T18:01:00.000-07:00

Prehaps this entry should be labelled "Whip OUT."

A simple explanation: Gary had a cold; now I have a cold. And no progress has been made on any front.

This morning, after a solid night's sleep, Ginger and I walked across to the park and took a couple of pictures. Actually, Ginger just sniffed around and charged in all the leaves.

This picture shows our new dock (the neighborhood, not our personal). I thought the light was just perfect. The Milwaukee River is across the street from our house. When you open my front door, you see the neighborhood park that fronts the river.

No progress on the novel. I guess you could say that the drugs for the cold are interfering with the channelling.

Master Gardener Class

2008-10-08T08:28:00.000-07:00

At the first of September, I join a Master Gardener Class. I have only lived in the "fer nort" for two years. I know none of the plants here and less about how to feed and care for them. Master Gardener classes will help with both of these. Additionally, I am meeting a splendid group of people.

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.

Starting Chapter 4 and Autumn

2008-09-30T10:37:00.000-07:00

I have written six paragraphs in two days. The muse is not whispering in my ear. I guess I should be glad I have been as productive as I have. I need to have some quiet time to not thing about anything. I guess that won't be today.

Autumn is here. Cooler today. Highes to be in the low 60s. Yesterday was overcast. Today we do have some sun.

Beginnings

2008-09-29T09:04:00.000-07:00

LO has inspired me. I've thought about this activity for sometime, but have had reservations. One is the time element. Can I be disciplined enough to keep it up? Two is how do I keep it interesting. My promise is to do both.

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.