Just the other day I got to thinking about the very funny show "I Love Lucy" and I wondered if my favorite scene was on Youtube.
Because everything is on Youtube, right?
Right!
The picture quality isn't very good, but the scene remains hilarious. It's about 4 1/2 minutes long -- well worth it to see the end!
Have a great weekend!
- Catherine
Showing posts with label everyday life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label everyday life. Show all posts
Friday, September 2, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Various and Sundry Things
"Various and sundry" is a phrase my mother always used instead of "random," but they amount to the same thing. So, here are my various and sundry thoughts for the day.
One is to see our newest grandbaby, who was born on my birthday back in June.
The second is to visit Number 6 at his new home. Hard to believe he has his own place now!
Our Charley-monster got hit by a car last weekend but his mangled back paw is on the mend (at least, I hope it is mending underneath that huge bandage!). He is walking better and even running now and then, and the xrays showed no damage to the hips or legs -- just the paws. God is good. As much as Charley has been a handful to raise (he's 10 months old now), he has wormed his way into our hearts.
My Aunt Muriel fell this past weekend and wrenched her knee. I took her to the doctor for xrays, and there were no fractures to be seen, thank goodness. But she'll be in a soft brace for a little while and she is frustrated by the whole situation. She worries about being a burden to me, although I've assured her over and over again that she is not. I've stepped up my schedule of stopping in to see her so that we can have a walk together (she's supposed to be up and around on the leg, not just sitting) and so that she doesn't feel depressed and cooped up. Yesterday I made Jersey-style sub sandwiches and took a picnic lunch up to her apartment at the assisted living facility. We had a great time and the subs were a nice reminder of the place that we both call home. Afterwards we took a walk outside in the breezy sunshine, enjoying the view from the hillside where she lives. I'm loving every precious minute that I have with her on this earth.
- Catherine
----------------------------------------------------------
I meant to play racquetball yesterday. Instead I bought a car. No, those two activities are not in any way related. It's just that the Explorer has had its day and I've been wanting to get something smaller for running around town. Enter the black VW Jetta with the manual transmission. I love driving this car! (I'm one of those people who really enjoys driving a stick, even in town.) ----------------------------------------------------------
There are two family things I get to do this week!One is to see our newest grandbaby, who was born on my birthday back in June.
The second is to visit Number 6 at his new home. Hard to believe he has his own place now!
-----------------------------------------------------------
Our Charley-monster got hit by a car last weekend but his mangled back paw is on the mend (at least, I hope it is mending underneath that huge bandage!). He is walking better and even running now and then, and the xrays showed no damage to the hips or legs -- just the paws. God is good. As much as Charley has been a handful to raise (he's 10 months old now), he has wormed his way into our hearts.
-----------------------------------------------------------
My Aunt Muriel fell this past weekend and wrenched her knee. I took her to the doctor for xrays, and there were no fractures to be seen, thank goodness. But she'll be in a soft brace for a little while and she is frustrated by the whole situation. She worries about being a burden to me, although I've assured her over and over again that she is not. I've stepped up my schedule of stopping in to see her so that we can have a walk together (she's supposed to be up and around on the leg, not just sitting) and so that she doesn't feel depressed and cooped up. Yesterday I made Jersey-style sub sandwiches and took a picnic lunch up to her apartment at the assisted living facility. We had a great time and the subs were a nice reminder of the place that we both call home. Afterwards we took a walk outside in the breezy sunshine, enjoying the view from the hillside where she lives. I'm loving every precious minute that I have with her on this earth.
---------------------------------------------------------------
- Catherine
Saturday, August 13, 2011
More treasures?
I briefly lost my mind today.
In my Uncle Bob's office there were two audio cassette tapes -- one of my grandfather's last celebrated birthday (he was 88 that birthday) and one of a visit made by his children (including my Aunt Muriel) during his final months in a nursing home, about nine months after the first tape.
I cried.
And cried.
To be able to go back 29 years in time to hear the voices of my grandfather and my aunts and uncles is a priceless treasure. Instantly I was transported back to my childhood days -- especially Christmas when all the family would gather in our home (we were the only children on that side of the family, so my mother had ample reason to insist that Christmas was at her house). I was not allowed to participate in the adult conversations back then, but I certainly heard them. Listening to this tape was like an immediate re-visiting of my childhood.
Hence the losing of the mind. I lay on the living room floor of my aunt's house, crying, laughing, and talking back to the tape.
The birthday tape is mostly conversation among the siblings. But I caught the remnants of my grandfather's native British accent, which he had worked hard to lose in his younger years, but which crept in occasionally anyway. For instance, "married" was pronounced "marrid" and "Cathy" was pronounced "Kethy." I heard my Uncle Norman's very broad North Jersey accent -- by far the most noticeable among all the siblings, that's for sure. No ambiguity about where Uncle Norman had been brought up!
The second tape is of my grandfather playing the little organ in the chapel of the nursing home. Mostly he played hymns, but he also played -- and SANG -- "O Danny Boy," a song he'd sung many times as a professional tenor (his side job when his kids were growing up). It is obvious that his vocal cords were totally unused to singing by then -- he was 89 at the time of the tape -- but I can still hear the WAY that he sang and, occasionally, a note that rang true both in intonation and tone quality from his youth. Fascinating!
I sang along with him on "O Danny Boy" and reveled in the virtual duet.
Over and over again through my lifetime, my mother and her sisters would try to figure out just whose voice I had inherited. One aunt swore that I had their mother's voice -- but Grandpa put an end to that when he noted that his wife (my grandmother, whom I never met due to her early death) had been an alto. In my classical years, I was a lyric soprano. So, not Grandmother's voice.Listening to these tapes, I'd say that I really inherited the female version of my beloved Grandfather himself -- a lyric tenor in his professional days.
The pop group ABBA had a song in the early 1980s (or maybe late 1970s) called "Thank you for the music." It is most appropriate for me to say to my Grandpa Newark -- thank you for the music.
Treasure indeed.
- Catherine
In my Uncle Bob's office there were two audio cassette tapes -- one of my grandfather's last celebrated birthday (he was 88 that birthday) and one of a visit made by his children (including my Aunt Muriel) during his final months in a nursing home, about nine months after the first tape.
I cried.
And cried.
To be able to go back 29 years in time to hear the voices of my grandfather and my aunts and uncles is a priceless treasure. Instantly I was transported back to my childhood days -- especially Christmas when all the family would gather in our home (we were the only children on that side of the family, so my mother had ample reason to insist that Christmas was at her house). I was not allowed to participate in the adult conversations back then, but I certainly heard them. Listening to this tape was like an immediate re-visiting of my childhood.
Hence the losing of the mind. I lay on the living room floor of my aunt's house, crying, laughing, and talking back to the tape.
The birthday tape is mostly conversation among the siblings. But I caught the remnants of my grandfather's native British accent, which he had worked hard to lose in his younger years, but which crept in occasionally anyway. For instance, "married" was pronounced "marrid" and "Cathy" was pronounced "Kethy." I heard my Uncle Norman's very broad North Jersey accent -- by far the most noticeable among all the siblings, that's for sure. No ambiguity about where Uncle Norman had been brought up!
The second tape is of my grandfather playing the little organ in the chapel of the nursing home. Mostly he played hymns, but he also played -- and SANG -- "O Danny Boy," a song he'd sung many times as a professional tenor (his side job when his kids were growing up). It is obvious that his vocal cords were totally unused to singing by then -- he was 89 at the time of the tape -- but I can still hear the WAY that he sang and, occasionally, a note that rang true both in intonation and tone quality from his youth. Fascinating!
I sang along with him on "O Danny Boy" and reveled in the virtual duet.
Over and over again through my lifetime, my mother and her sisters would try to figure out just whose voice I had inherited. One aunt swore that I had their mother's voice -- but Grandpa put an end to that when he noted that his wife (my grandmother, whom I never met due to her early death) had been an alto. In my classical years, I was a lyric soprano. So, not Grandmother's voice.Listening to these tapes, I'd say that I really inherited the female version of my beloved Grandfather himself -- a lyric tenor in his professional days.
The pop group ABBA had a song in the early 1980s (or maybe late 1970s) called "Thank you for the music." It is most appropriate for me to say to my Grandpa Newark -- thank you for the music.
Treasure indeed.
- Catherine
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Treasures
No, this is not the long promised vacation post with pictures.
It's not even a post about my 35th high school reunion, although I will eventually write about that too.
This is where I tell you that I am cleaning out my aunt's house in preparation for selling it. And I have found many treasures, including a sterling silver napkin ring engraved with the name of my great great Aunt Ada, along with the year 1896; including a tintype of one of my great great grandfathers; especially including a photograph of a soccer team of young men in England in 1911, featuring my own grandfather - who played so well that they wanted him to play for England and who gave it all up to come to America. The photograph was presented to him on the day he sailed, never to return to England and never to play soccer again. It must have been a hard choice, but I sure am glad he made it. Here's to you, my wonderful "Grandpa Newark!"
-Catherine
Monday, July 18, 2011
Ah, the weekend
Saturday afternoon was spent at one of my favorite spots on this earth: Provo River Falls in the High Unitas mountains of Utah.
The river is a perfect torrent this year due to an extraordinarily long winter and wet spring. Indeed, summer is here only in fits and starts it seems, for after the sun and heat of the weekend, we are back to cloudy, cool weather today.
I'm consoling myself with these pictures (taken last year, but it's the same this year):
The main falls are so full this year that you get sprayed by them when you stand near the edge.
Further up the mountains -- more falls.
This is a view of which I never tire, looking upriver from the top of the main falls.
Our last week of work has arrived, and, with it, the last week for me to enjoy the company of Numbers 4 and 4.5. Provo River Falls is on the list for a repeat visit this coming Wednesday afternoon: lazing by the river, wandering up the mountainside, just letting the sound and the beauty restore our spirits.
- Catherine
The river is a perfect torrent this year due to an extraordinarily long winter and wet spring. Indeed, summer is here only in fits and starts it seems, for after the sun and heat of the weekend, we are back to cloudy, cool weather today.
I'm consoling myself with these pictures (taken last year, but it's the same this year):
The main falls are so full this year that you get sprayed by them when you stand near the edge.
Further up the mountains -- more falls.
This is a view of which I never tire, looking upriver from the top of the main falls.
Our last week of work has arrived, and, with it, the last week for me to enjoy the company of Numbers 4 and 4.5. Provo River Falls is on the list for a repeat visit this coming Wednesday afternoon: lazing by the river, wandering up the mountainside, just letting the sound and the beauty restore our spirits.
- Catherine
Friday, July 15, 2011
Nylon fallout
Much has been made of the Duchess of Cambridge's choice to wear sheer pantyhose with all her outfits during the Wales' recent tour of North America.
Why is the wearing of pantyhose a newsworthy item?
Oh yeah, because several years ago, the fashion pundits and designers decreed that women should be bare-legged at all times. Even in the snow.
Nearly all of those pundits and designers are men, by the way. And they wear long-legged garments pretty much all the time, unless they're at their beach home in the Hamptons or the South of France.
I hereby applaud the Duchess's choice.
Yes, she has fabulous legs and could go without hosiery. But if you're attending a formal or professional occasion, you should wear hose to finish off your outfit.
I'm guessing here, but I'd say that 80% of all women "of a certain age" have less than fabulous legs. I'm in shape, but the skin on my gams and my feet definitely shows the wear of 53 years.
I need hosiery.
I even like hosiery -- because it gives my legs a polished look.
For the last several years I have eschewed wearing dresses and skirts because of the hosiery-is-so-last-century issue. But not anymore. I'm happily going back to sheer hosiery (which, thanks for Her Royal Highness's favor, will more than likely begin to include many more choices for us to wear!).
To the fashion designers and pundits, I say: Neener, neener, neeeeeeeeener! In one 12-day trip, you've been undone by a 29-year old woman with a better sense of style than you'll ever have.
- Catherine
Why is the wearing of pantyhose a newsworthy item?
Oh yeah, because several years ago, the fashion pundits and designers decreed that women should be bare-legged at all times. Even in the snow.
Nearly all of those pundits and designers are men, by the way. And they wear long-legged garments pretty much all the time, unless they're at their beach home in the Hamptons or the South of France.
I hereby applaud the Duchess's choice.
Yes, she has fabulous legs and could go without hosiery. But if you're attending a formal or professional occasion, you should wear hose to finish off your outfit.
I'm guessing here, but I'd say that 80% of all women "of a certain age" have less than fabulous legs. I'm in shape, but the skin on my gams and my feet definitely shows the wear of 53 years.
I need hosiery.
I even like hosiery -- because it gives my legs a polished look.
For the last several years I have eschewed wearing dresses and skirts because of the hosiery-is-so-last-century issue. But not anymore. I'm happily going back to sheer hosiery (which, thanks for Her Royal Highness's favor, will more than likely begin to include many more choices for us to wear!).
To the fashion designers and pundits, I say: Neener, neener, neeeeeeeeener! In one 12-day trip, you've been undone by a 29-year old woman with a better sense of style than you'll ever have.
- Catherine
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
It's Wednesday and I am lame
I didn't get to the weekly Hodgepodge today -- my apologies to Joyce, who always has such great questions for us!
Yesterday was my 53rd birthday and everyone has been asking me if I did anything fun.
I worked all morning.
Then my aunt took me out for lunch at Ruby Tuesday's. THAT was fun.
Then I worked some more.
Then I went to the salon to have my hair colored. I had a little nap while I was under the dryer (fun). I'm told my mouth was hanging open but I wasn't snoring.
Glad to hear it.
Then I did some yard work (fun), shared a glass of wine with my next door neighbor (fun), and took over the digging of dirt (un-fun) so that Tim could attend Tuesday night prayer group at church (good for him).
It was the digging that did it. I couldn't move when I got done.
But it took care of my weight training for a while, that's for sure!
No, I don't do weight training, but that's a mere technicality, right?
- Catherine
Yesterday was my 53rd birthday and everyone has been asking me if I did anything fun.
I worked all morning.
Then my aunt took me out for lunch at Ruby Tuesday's. THAT was fun.
Then I worked some more.
Then I went to the salon to have my hair colored. I had a little nap while I was under the dryer (fun). I'm told my mouth was hanging open but I wasn't snoring.
Glad to hear it.
Then I did some yard work (fun), shared a glass of wine with my next door neighbor (fun), and took over the digging of dirt (un-fun) so that Tim could attend Tuesday night prayer group at church (good for him).
It was the digging that did it. I couldn't move when I got done.
But it took care of my weight training for a while, that's for sure!
No, I don't do weight training, but that's a mere technicality, right?
- Catherine
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Taking one for the team
I got to play my favorite position of catcher at today's church softball game.
Unfortunately, the bat got thrown one too many times and I couldn't jump away fast enough.
So I've got a knot the size of a tennis ball on my right thigh muscle. It's already turning a lovely shade of purple too.
I'm ready for another dose of ibuprofen and some analgesic muscle cream. And then to bed. With a good book.
I already had the chocolate cupcake that I felt I'd earned. Maybe I'll deserve another one when I try to get out of bed tomorrow morning.
- Catherine
Unfortunately, the bat got thrown one too many times and I couldn't jump away fast enough.
So I've got a knot the size of a tennis ball on my right thigh muscle. It's already turning a lovely shade of purple too.
I'm ready for another dose of ibuprofen and some analgesic muscle cream. And then to bed. With a good book.
I already had the chocolate cupcake that I felt I'd earned. Maybe I'll deserve another one when I try to get out of bed tomorrow morning.
- Catherine
Monday, June 6, 2011
I can't even figure out how to start this blog post. It's meant to be a weekend update but I'm afraid my brain is still not willing to switch from weekend to Monday.
So I can't think very well.
Where was I? Oh yes -- we had two days of absolutely glorious weather. I hit the Farmers Market early Saturday morning and then spent the rest of the day working around our yard.
Plants were purchased.
Plants were potted.
There can be no real garden until next year because we have too many other urgent tasks around the farm this year. But the garden-to-be was roto-tilled, and Tim will work the soil well before we start gardening in earnest next summer. The plan is to till the soil twice this summer and mix in some good fertilizer so that we are up and running next summer.
But this Jersey girl couldn't resist just a few tomatoes. Thus, this year's garden comprises the following:
Exactly three tomato plants in big 5-gallon pots.
To put it in better context:
Behind the tomato plants is the vast expanse of what will be next summer's garden.
I also have fresh herbs growing in pots on a sunny bench at the edge of the woodland:
I cleared a bit more of the thorn thicket that has been taking over the side of this property for the last umpteen years. I can't bear to take a picture of it because hours and hours and HOURS of effort thus far have resulted in a clearing of perhaps five feet by five feet. There are many, many more feet of densely tangled thorn branches yet to be cleared. This promises to be a years-long job, by my calculation. God only knows what I will unearth as I slowly clear it all away.
Yesterday we played softball and I actually hit the ball. I fouled out, but I did hit the ball. Major accomplishment, believe me!
And now, Monday awaits!
- Catherine
So I can't think very well.
Where was I? Oh yes -- we had two days of absolutely glorious weather. I hit the Farmers Market early Saturday morning and then spent the rest of the day working around our yard.
Plants were purchased.
Plants were potted.
There can be no real garden until next year because we have too many other urgent tasks around the farm this year. But the garden-to-be was roto-tilled, and Tim will work the soil well before we start gardening in earnest next summer. The plan is to till the soil twice this summer and mix in some good fertilizer so that we are up and running next summer.
But this Jersey girl couldn't resist just a few tomatoes. Thus, this year's garden comprises the following:
Exactly three tomato plants in big 5-gallon pots.
To put it in better context:
Behind the tomato plants is the vast expanse of what will be next summer's garden.
I also have fresh herbs growing in pots on a sunny bench at the edge of the woodland:
I cleared a bit more of the thorn thicket that has been taking over the side of this property for the last umpteen years. I can't bear to take a picture of it because hours and hours and HOURS of effort thus far have resulted in a clearing of perhaps five feet by five feet. There are many, many more feet of densely tangled thorn branches yet to be cleared. This promises to be a years-long job, by my calculation. God only knows what I will unearth as I slowly clear it all away.
Yesterday we played softball and I actually hit the ball. I fouled out, but I did hit the ball. Major accomplishment, believe me!
And now, Monday awaits!
- Catherine
Friday, June 3, 2011
And we danced!
Pocatello summers are full of outdoor community activities, and a big favorite on Wednesday evenings is known as "Revive@Five." This is a free, open air concert held in Old Town, hosted by one particular (rotating) restaurant each week, and incorporating the Wednesday version of our semi-weekly Farmer's Market. Tons of people attend and the atmosphere is light and fun.
This past Wednesday, I took my 88 year-old aunt to Revive@Five. I am trying to make sure that she is involved in the greater Pocatello community as well as the more insulated community of her assisted living residence. Revive@Five features both music and food -- two of my aunt's favorite things -- so it seemed a natural fit.
We arrived shortly after five o'clock and set up our lawn chairs. The band was good -- very good, as a matter of fact. Their repertoire of new country as well as classic pop/rock songs was well-executed and full of crowd-pleasers. As they swung into "My Brown-Eyed Girl" my aunt turned to me and said, "let's dance!"
I laughed because I thought she was kidding.
She wasn't.
We made our way to the cement pad that serves as the dance floor on Wednesday nights. To my utter surprise, she began to move her feet in time with the music. Then followed a little shoulder action. Then a saucy little wag of the head. No wild movements, but she danced.
And danced.
And danced.
The only time she didn't dance was while she was eating her Greek Gyro (her first).
Two hours later, I took her home.
She beamed the whole way.
If I live to be 100, I will never forget the night I danced with Aunt Muriel in Old Town at Revive@Five.
And that saucy little wag of the head.
Who says you can't live a little in your twilight years?
- Catherine
This past Wednesday, I took my 88 year-old aunt to Revive@Five. I am trying to make sure that she is involved in the greater Pocatello community as well as the more insulated community of her assisted living residence. Revive@Five features both music and food -- two of my aunt's favorite things -- so it seemed a natural fit.
We arrived shortly after five o'clock and set up our lawn chairs. The band was good -- very good, as a matter of fact. Their repertoire of new country as well as classic pop/rock songs was well-executed and full of crowd-pleasers. As they swung into "My Brown-Eyed Girl" my aunt turned to me and said, "let's dance!"
I laughed because I thought she was kidding.
She wasn't.
We made our way to the cement pad that serves as the dance floor on Wednesday nights. To my utter surprise, she began to move her feet in time with the music. Then followed a little shoulder action. Then a saucy little wag of the head. No wild movements, but she danced.
And danced.
And danced.
The only time she didn't dance was while she was eating her Greek Gyro (her first).
Two hours later, I took her home.
She beamed the whole way.
If I live to be 100, I will never forget the night I danced with Aunt Muriel in Old Town at Revive@Five.
And that saucy little wag of the head.
Who says you can't live a little in your twilight years?
- Catherine
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Yes, I know it's Wednesday
It's Wednesday and I didn't get the weekly Hodgepodge completed -- or even started for that matter. It's been an entire week since I last blogged, as you can see. And that's not because the week was full of drama, it's just that it was so busy with everyday life!
Yard work has begun! Tim and I have been outside on as many lovely evenings as possible. A special delight for me is the little bit of woodland area that is located between our lawn and our side fence (it runs nearly the entire length of our front and back yards). Old tree trunks, purple wildflowers, red tulips, yellow daffodils and as yet unidentified bushes all reside together in that area, and it reminds me a great deal of where I grew up in NJ.
There IS a section of this woodland that needs major clearing because it has developed into nothing more than a dense thicket of thorns -- and I have the deep scratches to show for my efforts so far! I hope to have that cleared by the middle of June, with an eye to planting some graceful bushes in that section (no thorns allowed!).
I have a thing for garden gnomes, and there are now four of them situated at random in the woodland area. To my eyes, they fit right in. Indeed, you need to walk along the border to spot them in their little hiding places.
My aunt continues to adjust to her life here, and I have taken to running up the hill to see her during my lunch break. Yesterday I took her with me to do some errands and she enjoyed the outing. I know there are times that she misses her old home and her old ways, but I also know that she loves having us nearby and that she is much less lonely than she was before. The pain in her knees has decreased significantly with her daily exercise class and she can walk much more easily than she could before. Best of all is that she is safe, with people monitoring her medications and making sure that she eats properly. I'm thankful to have these last years with her so close by, I must say. We talk about the old times as well as what is new. Although the conversation sometimes goes in an endless loop due to my aunt's impaired short-term memory, I enjoy it. And I know it does her good.
So that's it in a nutshell -- garden gnomes and all.
- Catherine
Yard work has begun! Tim and I have been outside on as many lovely evenings as possible. A special delight for me is the little bit of woodland area that is located between our lawn and our side fence (it runs nearly the entire length of our front and back yards). Old tree trunks, purple wildflowers, red tulips, yellow daffodils and as yet unidentified bushes all reside together in that area, and it reminds me a great deal of where I grew up in NJ.
There IS a section of this woodland that needs major clearing because it has developed into nothing more than a dense thicket of thorns -- and I have the deep scratches to show for my efforts so far! I hope to have that cleared by the middle of June, with an eye to planting some graceful bushes in that section (no thorns allowed!).
I have a thing for garden gnomes, and there are now four of them situated at random in the woodland area. To my eyes, they fit right in. Indeed, you need to walk along the border to spot them in their little hiding places.
My aunt continues to adjust to her life here, and I have taken to running up the hill to see her during my lunch break. Yesterday I took her with me to do some errands and she enjoyed the outing. I know there are times that she misses her old home and her old ways, but I also know that she loves having us nearby and that she is much less lonely than she was before. The pain in her knees has decreased significantly with her daily exercise class and she can walk much more easily than she could before. Best of all is that she is safe, with people monitoring her medications and making sure that she eats properly. I'm thankful to have these last years with her so close by, I must say. We talk about the old times as well as what is new. Although the conversation sometimes goes in an endless loop due to my aunt's impaired short-term memory, I enjoy it. And I know it does her good.
So that's it in a nutshell -- garden gnomes and all.
- Catherine
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Rainy Days and Mondays
Yes, I know today it is Tuesday. But we had both a rainy day and A Monday yesterday.
I was driving down the street toward my house around 1:00-ish. In the last couple of blocks, I noticed the police cars. As I neared my driveway, I noticed the Sheriff's car. As I started to turn into my driveway, I noticed the cop with an assault weapon, strolling out the front of the drive, followed by a cop in a car who was turning around near my garage.
Let me also note that I had the Charley-Monster in the back seat and my aunt in the passenger front seat.
Because unexpectedly, I was taking my aunt to the Emergency Room.
But first I had to stop at our house to drop off the dog and pick up my hubby.
Back to the assault weapons.
Seems a mountain lion was spotted resting in the window well of one of the houses in my neighborhood. See the story here in the Idaho State Journal. Be sure to click on the little thumbnail pictures underneath the big photo -- so that you can see the living breathing mountain lion who was more than a little irritated by the flash of the homeowner's camera. That is a face I would not want to encounter up close and personal.
So, there we were, having to take my aunt to the ER because her blood pressure was doing crazy, scary things and she was very unwell. Not a good situation at all. And we also were worried about the Equine Gang of Seven out in the pasture. It's unlikely that a mountain lion would attack horses in a neighborhood, but it isn't completely unheard of.
On the way to the ER, I suddenly remembered that Charley was out on his chain in the back yard. I panicked. We couldn't turn back so I started praying.
Five minutes later our next door neighbor called Tim to ask if we'd heard the news and to see if she could return Charley to the safety of indoors. Bless her!!
Assault weapons done.
Three and a half hours later, it was determined that my aunt had a severe potassium deficiency.
Two mega-sized "horse pills" of potassium later her heartbeat and blood pressure were back under control, and she was feeling much better.
Thank you God, I breathed. (We will go to the family doctor this morning for the follow-up and some instructions about her diet and potassium needs.)
Tim came to pick us up at the hospital and reported that the mountain lion in question is an old tom who wanders through this outlying part of his range once every couple of years. He's more than likely already back in the hills by now, but we'll all be careful for the next little while.
And it's still raining!
- Catherine
I was driving down the street toward my house around 1:00-ish. In the last couple of blocks, I noticed the police cars. As I neared my driveway, I noticed the Sheriff's car. As I started to turn into my driveway, I noticed the cop with an assault weapon, strolling out the front of the drive, followed by a cop in a car who was turning around near my garage.
Let me also note that I had the Charley-Monster in the back seat and my aunt in the passenger front seat.
Because unexpectedly, I was taking my aunt to the Emergency Room.
But first I had to stop at our house to drop off the dog and pick up my hubby.
Back to the assault weapons.
Seems a mountain lion was spotted resting in the window well of one of the houses in my neighborhood. See the story here in the Idaho State Journal. Be sure to click on the little thumbnail pictures underneath the big photo -- so that you can see the living breathing mountain lion who was more than a little irritated by the flash of the homeowner's camera. That is a face I would not want to encounter up close and personal.
So, there we were, having to take my aunt to the ER because her blood pressure was doing crazy, scary things and she was very unwell. Not a good situation at all. And we also were worried about the Equine Gang of Seven out in the pasture. It's unlikely that a mountain lion would attack horses in a neighborhood, but it isn't completely unheard of.
On the way to the ER, I suddenly remembered that Charley was out on his chain in the back yard. I panicked. We couldn't turn back so I started praying.
Five minutes later our next door neighbor called Tim to ask if we'd heard the news and to see if she could return Charley to the safety of indoors. Bless her!!
Assault weapons done.
Three and a half hours later, it was determined that my aunt had a severe potassium deficiency.
Two mega-sized "horse pills" of potassium later her heartbeat and blood pressure were back under control, and she was feeling much better.
Thank you God, I breathed. (We will go to the family doctor this morning for the follow-up and some instructions about her diet and potassium needs.)
Tim came to pick us up at the hospital and reported that the mountain lion in question is an old tom who wanders through this outlying part of his range once every couple of years. He's more than likely already back in the hills by now, but we'll all be careful for the next little while.
And it's still raining!
- Catherine
Monday, May 9, 2011
The rivers are rising and the horses are wet
It's raining again -- the third straight day.
The Portneuf River, which runs through our town, continues to rise from the Spring runoff, with less than a foot to go to the official flood stage. In fact, it has already overspilled its banks in one or two of the city parks.
Rain, of course, breeds mud, and my kitchen floor is a lost cause. The sweeper never gets put away, nor does the mop.
Only it looks like they have been left out just for show because the floor stays clean for only, oh, 15 seconds or so after I get done with it.
Watching out the kitchen window this gray morning, I could see a few of the horses standing disconsolately under the overhang of the loafing shed (a.k.a. The Barn, but really, it's a glorified loafing shed). I observed two of the sorrels, Rusty and Ritzy, move out from under the overhang and make their way slowly and gently into the alcove of the shed.
Only to come rushing out into the rain milliseconds later, ears pinned.
Stretch, barrel-racer non pareil, is in the alcove and doesn't want to share it with anyone else in the Equine Gang of Seven. The dominant male of the Gang, Stretch always has the last word. If he doesn't want to share the shelter, it ain't gonna be shared, folks. Even in the rain. Even with the mares whom he "protects."
There is no gallantry in the equine world.
May you stay dry today.
We won't.
- Catherine
The Portneuf River, which runs through our town, continues to rise from the Spring runoff, with less than a foot to go to the official flood stage. In fact, it has already overspilled its banks in one or two of the city parks.
Rain, of course, breeds mud, and my kitchen floor is a lost cause. The sweeper never gets put away, nor does the mop.
Only it looks like they have been left out just for show because the floor stays clean for only, oh, 15 seconds or so after I get done with it.
Watching out the kitchen window this gray morning, I could see a few of the horses standing disconsolately under the overhang of the loafing shed (a.k.a. The Barn, but really, it's a glorified loafing shed). I observed two of the sorrels, Rusty and Ritzy, move out from under the overhang and make their way slowly and gently into the alcove of the shed.
Only to come rushing out into the rain milliseconds later, ears pinned.
Stretch, barrel-racer non pareil, is in the alcove and doesn't want to share it with anyone else in the Equine Gang of Seven. The dominant male of the Gang, Stretch always has the last word. If he doesn't want to share the shelter, it ain't gonna be shared, folks. Even in the rain. Even with the mares whom he "protects."
There is no gallantry in the equine world.
May you stay dry today.
We won't.
- Catherine
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Rainy Randomness
It's a rainy Saturday morning here -- the kind that makes you want to stay in bed. Alas, we have two dogs and so there is no staying in bed.
Tim is recovering from having his gall bladder out on Thursday. He's had more pain than we had anticipated, but all seems well in general. And he is MOST thankful that the nonstop nausea he experienced for the last several months is now at an end. Yay for that!
Today's to-do list includes vacuuming and tidying up, just in case we end up having a Mothers Day lunch/picnic at our house tomorrow. For some reason we are doing things on the fly this year, which is fine with me.
Our local Farmers Market has resumed its seasonal business now that we are in the month of May, and I intend to make a trip there this morning. Although there aren't many vendors this time of year, it's a fun 30 minutes or so to see what's available. Probably I can pick up some organic root vegetables (last season) and see what the crafts vendors are offering.
In 22 days, Number 4 will be a married woman. There are several festivities planned during the two days before the wedding, including a bachelorette party, a bachelor party, and a BBQ dinner. Should be great fun! I'll be singing at the wedding, which means that a part of today and every day until then will be spent practicing. The choice is a song performed by Celtic Woman:
- Catherine
Tim is recovering from having his gall bladder out on Thursday. He's had more pain than we had anticipated, but all seems well in general. And he is MOST thankful that the nonstop nausea he experienced for the last several months is now at an end. Yay for that!
Today's to-do list includes vacuuming and tidying up, just in case we end up having a Mothers Day lunch/picnic at our house tomorrow. For some reason we are doing things on the fly this year, which is fine with me.
Our local Farmers Market has resumed its seasonal business now that we are in the month of May, and I intend to make a trip there this morning. Although there aren't many vendors this time of year, it's a fun 30 minutes or so to see what's available. Probably I can pick up some organic root vegetables (last season) and see what the crafts vendors are offering.
In 22 days, Number 4 will be a married woman. There are several festivities planned during the two days before the wedding, including a bachelorette party, a bachelor party, and a BBQ dinner. Should be great fun! I'll be singing at the wedding, which means that a part of today and every day until then will be spent practicing. The choice is a song performed by Celtic Woman:
- Catherine
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Transitions and jungles
A jumble of thoughts for today:
My aunt is still transitioning to her new life out here, and I continue to pray that she grows to love it more and more. She thoroughly enjoyed going to church with us on Sunday, even though our services are pretty far from the traditional church that she is used to. She greeted my friends, enjoyed the pastor's sermon, enjoyed the music(!), and ate a very healthy plate of our potluck lunch. A good day.
My hubby and I are reclaiming our back yard little by little from the years of semi-neglect. It has been fun to figure out what is growing and to start making decisions about where there should be bulbs planted next Fall. A goodly number of the bushes and trees that line the side of the property are dead (or more than half dead anyway), so a clearing operation is underway there. I've made it to the halfway point, measuring in linear yards -- however the worst of the jungle is nearer to the front of the property, which means that I still have more than halfway to go in terms of sheer volume.
Hank and Charley have been outdoors a lot more, which makes for healthy appetites and good sleepers.
Comes to that, the same applies to hubby and me!
My muscles are sore from yard work -- apparently racquetball is not a suitable substitute for squatting on your haunches, trying to clean out debris from inside the cluster of stems that form a bush. My "glutes" have been protesting.
I can't decide which is sweeter here at our new place -- mornings or evenings. The kitchen is completely flooded with beautiful sunlight in the morning, which makes me want to get up and going. But then the evenings spent outside with my hubby are incredible. And the lawn just glows in the long evening sunshine (darkness doesn't fall until about 8:30 this time of year).
All in all, it's sweet and serene here and I am drinking it in.
And now, although the sunny kitchen beckons, it's time for the kind of work that brings in the paycheck.
- Catherine
My aunt is still transitioning to her new life out here, and I continue to pray that she grows to love it more and more. She thoroughly enjoyed going to church with us on Sunday, even though our services are pretty far from the traditional church that she is used to. She greeted my friends, enjoyed the pastor's sermon, enjoyed the music(!), and ate a very healthy plate of our potluck lunch. A good day.
My hubby and I are reclaiming our back yard little by little from the years of semi-neglect. It has been fun to figure out what is growing and to start making decisions about where there should be bulbs planted next Fall. A goodly number of the bushes and trees that line the side of the property are dead (or more than half dead anyway), so a clearing operation is underway there. I've made it to the halfway point, measuring in linear yards -- however the worst of the jungle is nearer to the front of the property, which means that I still have more than halfway to go in terms of sheer volume.
Hank and Charley have been outdoors a lot more, which makes for healthy appetites and good sleepers.
Comes to that, the same applies to hubby and me!
My muscles are sore from yard work -- apparently racquetball is not a suitable substitute for squatting on your haunches, trying to clean out debris from inside the cluster of stems that form a bush. My "glutes" have been protesting.
I can't decide which is sweeter here at our new place -- mornings or evenings. The kitchen is completely flooded with beautiful sunlight in the morning, which makes me want to get up and going. But then the evenings spent outside with my hubby are incredible. And the lawn just glows in the long evening sunshine (darkness doesn't fall until about 8:30 this time of year).
All in all, it's sweet and serene here and I am drinking it in.
And now, although the sunny kitchen beckons, it's time for the kind of work that brings in the paycheck.
- Catherine
Saturday, April 30, 2011
A Week
My husband and I flew East last Monday in order to bring my aunt back to live near us in Idaho, which we did on Thursday.
In between those two seemingly simply events there were four days of tears, persuasive arguments, bewilderment, accusations, laughter, acquiescence, loving memories, and memory loss.
That we succeeded is nothing short of a gift from God.
I'm still emotionally processing all that has occurred. In some ways, this was far worse than my mother's death.
I'm thankful my aunt is here. And I continue to fervently pray that the transition for her, as it progresses, is an awakening to a life no less full than that which she remembers.
Thank you, all, for your prayers and support this week!
- Catherine
In between those two seemingly simply events there were four days of tears, persuasive arguments, bewilderment, accusations, laughter, acquiescence, loving memories, and memory loss.
That we succeeded is nothing short of a gift from God.
I'm still emotionally processing all that has occurred. In some ways, this was far worse than my mother's death.
I'm thankful my aunt is here. And I continue to fervently pray that the transition for her, as it progresses, is an awakening to a life no less full than that which she remembers.
Thank you, all, for your prayers and support this week!
- Catherine
Friday, April 15, 2011
Friday Trivia
While shampooing my hair this morning with shampoo (note that the word is both verb and noun), I began to wonder how we got such an odd word.
Sham-poo. Sham as in fake? Poo as in, well, poo?
Well, as you know, that's not it at all.
And since I am sure that you are all agog to know the origin of the word, here it is:
From Dictionary.com: 1755–65; earlier "champo" to massage < an inflected form of Hindi cāmpnā literally, to press.
Sham-poo. Sham as in fake? Poo as in, well, poo?
Well, as you know, that's not it at all.
And since I am sure that you are all agog to know the origin of the word, here it is:
From Dictionary.com: 1755–65; earlier "champo" to massage < an inflected form of Hindi cāmpnā literally, to press.
And from Wikipedia: The word shampoo in English is derived from Hindi chāmpo (चाँपो [tʃãːpoː]),[1] and dates to 1762.[2] The Hindi word referred to head massage, usually with some form of hair oil.
So, there you have it, dear reader! Trivia to start your weekend.
You're welcome.
- Catherine
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
I am sore; SORE, I say!!
Good heavens! One afternoon of softball, followed the next day by a session of racquetball, and I can hardly move.
On Sunday I used muscles I didn't know I'd had for the last 35 years.
On Monday I aggravated them with racquetball.
Today they are taking their revenge.
Must. Drink. Water.
And pop ibuprofen.
And do laundry.
And pack for another trip.
And get to work!
Happy Tuesday to all.
- Catherine
Good heavens! One afternoon of softball, followed the next day by a session of racquetball, and I can hardly move.
On Sunday I used muscles I didn't know I'd had for the last 35 years.
On Monday I aggravated them with racquetball.
Today they are taking their revenge.
Must. Drink. Water.
And pop ibuprofen.
And do laundry.
And pack for another trip.
And get to work!
Happy Tuesday to all.
- Catherine
Monday, April 11, 2011
Warm Homecoming
I'd been away for over a week when I arrived back home yesterday. The 2+ hour drive from the Salt Lake airport to my home in Idaho was 2+ hours too long this time -- I couldn't wait to get back after the stress of the last week!
I admit it -- I did a little speeding where the Interstate was wide open.
So sue me.
Just south of town, I got a call from hubby, saying that he and Number 7 wanted to go to our church team's softball practice and did I want to meet them there. The day was sunny and breezy, and sitting out in the sunshine watching my two best guys sounded great and incredibly relaxing to me.
Once at the park, I quickly got roped into actually playing -- well, practicing, since that's all it is at this point. Games start soon, though.
I have not played softball since my Senior year of high school, folks. That's 35 years!
But many of my good friends were there -- plenty of women on the team -- so I jumped in.
And had an absolute blast!
It was NEVER this fun in school! I had no coordination and no athleticism at all in those days, so I dreaded the annual softball season. Compared to the other girls, I was pretty awful.
But I suspect that the change for the better now is due in part to my recent switch from right handed-ness to left handed-ness. I discovered my natural left handed-ness last year when I started playing racquetball. Seemed only logical that that would carry over to softball, and it certainly does.
I'd have played much better in school if I'd known I was naturally left handed.
It makes me want to call my mother because she is the one who insisted that, as a toddler, I learn to write with my right hand (as parents often did in those days because the right hand was the "correct" hand).
There is a teensy-weensy part of me that wants to say, "See????? You should've left well enough alone when I was little!"
Oh wait -- Mom already knows. Scratch the phone call.
After practice, we went to the local sporting goods store to purchase a glove for a lefty player, plus a couple bats and balls. Once home, hubby, Number 7, both dogs, and I trooped out to the back pasture (still unsullied by horses this season). We played catch, we had batting practice, and we discovered that our pasture is the perfect place to practice fielding grounders.
Charley, forbidden to capture the ball and slobber all over it, nevertheless ran in a constant triangle during the game of catch -- from one person to the next. Hank explored the pasture and occasionally hung out with us.
All in all, I think yesterday afternoon was THE best homecoming ever!
- Catherine
I admit it -- I did a little speeding where the Interstate was wide open.
So sue me.
Just south of town, I got a call from hubby, saying that he and Number 7 wanted to go to our church team's softball practice and did I want to meet them there. The day was sunny and breezy, and sitting out in the sunshine watching my two best guys sounded great and incredibly relaxing to me.
Once at the park, I quickly got roped into actually playing -- well, practicing, since that's all it is at this point. Games start soon, though.
I have not played softball since my Senior year of high school, folks. That's 35 years!
But many of my good friends were there -- plenty of women on the team -- so I jumped in.
And had an absolute blast!
It was NEVER this fun in school! I had no coordination and no athleticism at all in those days, so I dreaded the annual softball season. Compared to the other girls, I was pretty awful.
But I suspect that the change for the better now is due in part to my recent switch from right handed-ness to left handed-ness. I discovered my natural left handed-ness last year when I started playing racquetball. Seemed only logical that that would carry over to softball, and it certainly does.
I'd have played much better in school if I'd known I was naturally left handed.
It makes me want to call my mother because she is the one who insisted that, as a toddler, I learn to write with my right hand (as parents often did in those days because the right hand was the "correct" hand).
There is a teensy-weensy part of me that wants to say, "See????? You should've left well enough alone when I was little!"
Oh wait -- Mom already knows. Scratch the phone call.
After practice, we went to the local sporting goods store to purchase a glove for a lefty player, plus a couple bats and balls. Once home, hubby, Number 7, both dogs, and I trooped out to the back pasture (still unsullied by horses this season). We played catch, we had batting practice, and we discovered that our pasture is the perfect place to practice fielding grounders.
Charley, forbidden to capture the ball and slobber all over it, nevertheless ran in a constant triangle during the game of catch -- from one person to the next. Hank explored the pasture and occasionally hung out with us.
All in all, I think yesterday afternoon was THE best homecoming ever!
- Catherine
Saturday, April 9, 2011
The Sandwich Generation
I never thought I'd be in a situation that makes me cry as this one does.
I thought that grief for my mother was the worst, but now I'm not so sure.
I have a very elderly aunt.
I thought it was garden-variety, old age senility, but now I think it might really be Alzheimers.
She has no kids of her own. All the decisions are mine now.
It makes me ever more grateful that my own mother passed when all her faculties were still working just fine. She would have hated being in a situation like that of her eldest sister.
Please, God -- show me the way.
- Catherine
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)