Interesting Day

I started out in a blah mood.  A friend and I used the word curmudgeon this morning, and that's how I felt. Or is that just men?  I roused myself a little bit to make my week's supply of oatmeal/banana breakfast muffins and did some laundry, but mainly I listed to The Other Bennett Sister, which is good but long.

I had planned to sit on the balcony as soon as it was warm enough, but the roofers were busy working on a nearby apartment, and it was loud - that and all the children in the neighborhood out playing, it seemed.

Elise took her house plants out to visit mine, and it looks so pretty.  Not much sunshine, so they should enjoy the fresh air.  That's where I'm going when I finish writing this.

The family left this morning for a camping trip, so I went over to check on Luna the cat.  I realized once I started walking that I was overdressed in a long-sleeved T-shirt and jeans, but I plodded on.  People were out everywhere, and it lifted my mood.  In one alley, a father and son were sitting in camping chairs reading their books.  Several families with children had water tables and wading pools set up in this back yards.   I heard some horn-honking on the main street and found a drive-by birthday going on with balloons and lots of laughing.

I was walking along feeling pretty upllifted when something happened that has never happened to me before.  I lived in 5 Southern states for  over 60 years and never came upon a snake.  I've seen dead ones and ones cats were carrying but never actually came face to face with one (except for that one in my house in Mississippi, and I've tried to wipe that from my memory).  Not until I moved to a state where I was under the impression for the first 2 or 3 years here that there were NO snakes here.  It wasn't until last year that I realized that there are, in fact, SOME snakes, garter snakes mainly, but no poisonous ones.  I don't really care whether they were likely to bite me; I just knew if I ran up on one, I would have a heart attack first.

And I did just that and didn't have a heart attack.  It wasn't near the rock wall that I always avoid but right past the birthday party on Emily and Ryan's street.  I thought it was dead and stopped and stared at it.

And took a picture.

And then turned around to find something to throw at it to see if it was dead before I walked by it.

And it wasn't!

It just nonchalantly crawled over to that big crack and got in it and headed for the blackberry bushes.  I took this picture from the safety of the street.  Heart rate didn't go up much, and I made myself watch it and think Oh, gross, gross, gross, I'm not going to react or faint or throw up.  I was really pretty proud of myself.  Knowing it wouldn't hurt me gave me courage.  I would NOT have lingered at all for a big unpredictable one.  This one only wanted me to go away, so I did.

I have to admit, though,, that I wasn't really anxious to feel around in Emily and Ryan's flower pots to see if they needed watering and didn't poke around much at all in the flower beds.

I went in to sit with Luna the cat for a bit to make sure she wasn't lonely.  She has a self-feeder and automatic watering bowl, so I knew she wouldn't be hungry or thirsty but might like some company.  I cleaned her litter box but never saw her.  All the bedroom doors were closed, but I opened them and called her anyway.  I looked downstairs all over the place.  I went out back and sat on the patio in case she had gotten out while they were packing the car.  No Luna.  I finally had to leave, but I'm a little worried.  She's been sick lately but had been feeling better.  I called Emily who said she was "probably okay" but maybe hiding in their closet.  I'll go back tomorrow and try again.

I was feeling so proud of myself that I walked by the rock wall on the way home - in the street and not on the sidewalk.  I stopped and looked at the garden, which is looking good and not needing watering yet.

Everything is nice and lush and so pretty and finally HOT!

I tried not to think what kinds of things might be hiding in these places.

Millions of blackberries blooming along the garden path, but I won't be stomping through there this year.

This is the only picture I've gotten from the camping trip.  Lovely!

It's Lake Wenatchee State Park, only a 2-hour drive from here.  I know they're having a ball.

Oh, and another one just now.  Kate kept saying how tired she was, and then she said, "I'm getting so cuddly cozy and I'm putting myself to bed."

I see Graysen back there probably planning her fire.  Ryan said he was going to try to let her build a fire, since that's one of her main bucket list things.

Playing camping yesterday. 

I got the honor of a visit with them yesterday.  I surprised them with a Happy Meal and kept them about 3 hours while Ryan finished up with the camper.

They couldn't eat at first for having to talk so much.  There's a lot of catching up we had to do.

Birds and cats and the differences between girl ducks and boy ducks.  "This is what I know.  Boy ducks are fancy  and have green necks, and girls ducks are skin-colored and plain," according to Katherine.

Loose teeth - 3 of  them - and whether the tooth fairy will show up on the camping trip if she's needed.

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News and weather report.

Kathrine told Emily later that "Mimi held me when I bit my finger."  I wish it was as good as it sounds, but I did get her a Band-Aid and hugged her with her back to me. I had on my mask, and they held their breath!   Not quite the same but SO much better.

I'm going to go outside and drink my tea and listen to my book and enjoy the last of the day.  It looks like a good week coming up with some temps in the low 80s and almost no rain.

Lost in a Sea of Computers

For someone who had never heard of computers until I was past middle age, I sure do feel like I can't exist without them now.  Especially now when I don't have a lot of other things to do.

I'm afraid the computer I got last year that I thought was going to last me forever and be just what I wanted has been nothing but trouble.  I don't know if it's me or what, but I've had a problem several times with it refusing to charge and not even turning on.  One time one of the girls broke the screen.  Another time, I dropped it - not far but enough to irritate it, I guess.  Ryan has taken it apart more than once and resorted to using Super Glue the last time.  I feel like I want an 18-inch screen, but maybe that's the problem.  It's just too big and awkward for laptop use.


So this last episode I won't go into detail about, but it's the old familiar turning on for 3 seconds, beeping and turning off.  Ryan is about to set off on a camping trip so won't be able to help me for days.  I took out the USB charger, and the shiny thing stayed in the opening.  Broken.  I started to order a replacement and then cancelled the order, then felt sorry for myself a little bit.

I have my old, old Dell computer. my first laptop, that still has my pictures on it but is Windows 7 and no support.  I wore most of the keys off doing transcription, and then a couple keys fell off, and I may have lost a few more trying to fix those.  It's possessed and scrolls up and down at random, so it's just sitting there waiting for me to rescue those pictures before I toss it.

I have Mike's Chrombook which is small but reliable.  I let the girls use it for ABC Mouse when they were over here.  I have to use it as a guest and don't have my favorites or personal links, and besides it makes my heart hurt to think about how much he loved that little computer and never wanted anything else. 

My sweet daughter, Elise, one of the two daughters who tries to fix anything bad that happens to me, insisted I take her very nice computer since she only uses her phone.  I protested and found 100 excuses, but I tried it, and I think I can breathe again.  I set up a second account, and there were all my favorites and all my buttons and all my "stuff."

I think I'm going to (maybe) say good-bye to this beautiful giant silver thing and start over.  Seems a shame, and I might be convinced to have it repaired, but I need a plain old reliable computer that won't cause me so much frustration.

So this is my new temporary new home, and I can type with all 10 fingers instead of just my index finger, like on my phone, so it's blog time again.  

Not that I have anything to say.  Almost nothing at all but still checking in so as to not disappear.  

This happened yesterday, and I'm more thrilled than I should have been about it.

I heard Great Clips had re-opened, so I checked in and had 95 minutes to wait.  I would have waited 2 days because this person, and I'm sorry to say I don't even know her name, cuts my hair just like I want it.  

She patiently posed for a before picture and got to work.  It's the fastest haircut I've ever gotten, and I tried not to think of those scissors flying really close to my ears.  No conversation needed or wanted!  But then she didn't dry my new haircut like she did before, so I was left to walk home in the rain - but still happy, although I was a teeny bit worried about it.  I like to see the results before I leave, but this is a new time, and we take what we can get.

So I dried it, put my mask back on (upside down) for an after picture.  Yes.  Pretty close, and I didn't take any time with it, just blew it dry.  I'm threatening to color it, but I can't get up enough nerve.  

The girls vote for purple.

I had a nice Duo conversation with them yesterday while they ate lunch, and that's always fun.  I got to see newly painted fingernails, props for a gender reveal party across the street (It's a girl for the sweet neighbors), and what was for lunch.  We had discussions about school, hair growing out, and their upcoming camping trip.  

Just a few pictures in my camera, and that's enough of my nothing weeks.

That's Sally the salamander, in case it looks a lot like a worm - which I think it does and hope to never have to hold it.

When Ryan delivered my chairs, the girls got to come in - masks only and proper distance away - but it was pure joy.  They were so excited to find their old friends in the toy bins and played and laughed and didn't want to leave.  Maybe soon they can come back more and more.

Katherine dancing in her daddy's boots, her Rooster Valley graduation hat, and some dress that is her absolute favorite.

Graduation was nothing like we thought it would be.  No carnival.  No pony rides.  No cotton candy.  No HEAT.  It was just a family drive through, but it was better than not having one at all.

Final words video.

We're about to have spring/summer, I hear, and it's about time.  There's going to be reading on the balcony, taking walks, visiting in the sunshine, gardening.  So ready for it to happen.

Trying to Remember

It's a struggle to remember what I did on what day.

I have seen some members of the family at least once every day this week, so that makes a good week.  It may have just been a quick chat from the sidewalk or a visit when they're out riding bikes, but it was a good thing.  Except for Katherine's bicycle crash right in front of me.  I forget how much it hurts me for them to get hurt.  We've had several video chats.  The girls call whenever they want to and then forget I'm there sometimes, but I don't mind.

I just got to watch them get all excited about a Purple Cow that Emily was making them.  I sure hope it's as good as they think it's going to be.  Maybe I'll get a picture soon.

Okay.  Overall consensus was GOOD! And I heard the slurping noises, so it sounded good.

So Monday:  I knew Debbie was moving this week, so I texted her to see if we could visit one last time.  She said she was free all day since Steve was working, and she had no furniture in the apartment.  I went by and got us a Starbucks, and we went across the street to the little park and sat on a bench in the sunshine.  I doubt we were 6 feet apart, but anyway.  It was such a nice visit, and I'll miss her.  We will have texting and phone calls and maybe play some on-line Mah-Jong later on, but it won't be the same as if she were just up the street.  She's going to be surrounded by her family, and she'll be getting her house all unpacked and set up.

Happy days in Kansas, Debbie!

And Tuesday I cooked again.  I made our old Mexican casserole that I used to always have at Christmas time.  It's so easy with nothing to cook but the rice and just opening  a lot of cans.  I don't have an after picture, and the before one doesn't look wonderful.  But it was.

My old stained up recipe.

I'm going to try this as soon as I get to the grocery store.  Noreen's pretty card and handwriting, and she says it's delicious.

I then made Eleanor's sugar cookies.  I loved mixing them up and patting out the first 2 or 3 batches, but I don't have the patience she had to do those tiny little cookies, and I was over it after a while.  I wrapped up some of the dough and froze it for later on.

I put some heart sprinkles on some for the girls and sent them with the casserole that night.  I also took some up to Noreen who is able to have her little grandsons visit her now.  I took the third ones to Pam and Marvin, my downstairs neighbor.  I can't have all those cookies in the house.  I did put a little box of them by the coffee pot so Elise and I can have a few with our coffee.

I met some new neighbors yesterday afternoon who are so sweet.  A cute little kitten followed Elise up the stairs and just came in with her.  Her ears are the biggest part of her, but she's so loving and playful, climbing the little trees and running up and down the stairs.

Our cats were not happy to see her, so we couldn't keep her inside, and I was worried about leaving her outside all night.  I sat on the stairs a little bit, hoping someone would come along and claim her.  Elise had knocked on a couple of doors and asked, but then I remembered some new people had moved in across the sidewalk from us and went to their door.  I had already posted Lost Kitten on the community page, but when I asked her if they had a cat, she said, "Oh, no, is she out?"

It was a fun visit.  They've just moved from Mercer Island, and she has a mother in North Bend.  They'll be looking at a house when their lease is up in 6 months, but they want to be in walking distance of the school because there is an 8-year-old and a 5-year-old.  The 5-year-old is a little girl who had on kitty ears and a tail, so I bet she and Katherine will enjoy each other when we can get them together.  They have 2 cats, a goldfish, and a gecko named Orange.  I never thought when I woke up yesterday that I would be holding a gecko, but I asked if I could.  He's beautiful and not squirmy at all, so warm and plump.

From this angle he looks like a baby bird.

So it was a happy ending to the day for the kitty.  I think her name is Lunala maybe?

I've made myself go into the sewing room for at least a while every day and am getting some things done on the quilts.

Emily brought over her favorite (and only) overalls.  She's calls them Uncle Buster's overalls.  I don't know the story there, but I don't think Uncle Buster was ever that small!

I'll do my best.  The straps are fraying, and there's a hole in the back.  I think I can do some damage control.  Maybe.  There are also some leotards of the girls' with various tears and holes that I'll work on too.

I've read a couple of wonderful audio books - Dutch House by Ann Patchett, The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes, and have turned down more than that.  I just can't listen to a book if I don't enjoy the reader's voice.  Or the subject matter.  I did stick with The Death of Mrs. Westaway even though it went on forever.  I thought I had figured out the answer to the mystery, or one of them, but it took them until the last couple of pages before they let me know I was right.

Others are Clock Dance by Anne Tyler, The Widow by Fiona Barton, and The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides.  I'm right in the middle of The Scent Keeper, an e-book.  I wish it were audio because it's beautifully written, and I can't do other things if I have to stop and look at the words!

Except for our little bit of sunshine at the first of the week, it's not been really warm and conducive for walking or sitting outside.  I still can't believe I can't enjoy my balcony yet without wrapping up in a blanket.  I probably wouldn't be enjoying it much this week though.  The roofers are here and will be into next week.  The girls sure would be loving it though.

The weekend will have rain and thunder, according to Graysen, so I'll just plan to snuggle up inside and do more reading and more sewing.  Thank goodness for audio books and e-books.  I think the library is getting geared up to re-opening in a few weeks, and that will be nice. Barbers and hair salons too.  I'm past the point of desperately needing a haircut and have learned to like my new neglect hairstyle, but it will be good to have that option again.

We're still not ready to embrace total togetherness yet with the family.  I guess we'll just gradually ease into something pleasing to us but safe.  Ryan probably has work to do next week, and maybe I can watch the girls outside again.  After 3 months, it will be so exciting for them to come back here and remember all the things they used to play with.  And maybe meet the new kids next door.  I think we're all ready.

Katherine

This baby is 5 today.  The last one, the baby, but no longer a baby.

I was there when she was born and have been in her life almost daily since she was 8 months old.

You always wonder if you're going to love the second child as much as the first.  The first 9 months we were living here were difficult with Mike's health always being first on our minds, then losing him, and Emily starting her new job.  I felt overwhelmed with how much work taking care of two children under 3 was.  I loved her from the start, and she got used to me, but it took a while to form that bond that we now have, one where she looks at me with love in her eyes and whispers, "Mimi," when she sees me.  And one where my heart just melts when I hear her little voice and see her face.

We never had a day that there weren't cuddles and hugs and kisses.  She just fits perfectly in my arms, and there's nothing better.  Except the last time I touched her was March 12th - six weeks ago.  I wondered how we were going to make it being separated from each other, whether she would forget me and how sad it was going to be not seeing both girls every day, but both girls have done well with the new rules, and it seems almost as if the few visits are even more special.

Katherine started counting down to her birthday probably around February when Graysen turned 7 and she realized age 5 meant kindergarten and going to the same school as her sister.  This last week has been unreal with all her excitement, planning her birthday tea party and refreshments, inviting me every day, telling me how many more days it was every morning.

I didn't get to share much of her last day of being 4, just a quick visit on their way to the grocery store, but Emily sent an album of pictures that show just what a wonderful day it was.  I think she will probably remember this day simply because of it being so different and everyone working to make the best of things.

First, their next-door neighbor brought over the birthday sign. There can be no doubt about what's going on at this house.

They were all four walking to the grocery store to get her a birthday doughnut and stopped by to say hello.  Looks like she got a hummingbird balloon too.

Her portable "throne" is so funny to me.  She is perfectly capable of walking or riding her bike or scooter, but on a hike last week, they borrowed a stroller because of her possibly not making it all the way and not wanting to carry her.  Now that she experienced that, it's become her preferred method of transportation.

They stayed busy all day, walking to the park to decorate placemats (and fingernails) with jewels for the tea party.

A trip to the garden to plant some seedlings and check on the other plants.

They love the new truck a lot, and so does Ryan!

I'm not even sure what this is.  Chalk maybe?  It looks good enough to eat.

New matching nightgowns and a movie and popcorn plus some bouncing before bedtime.

And on the morning of the real birthday.

Cupcakes have arrived - with kitty paws - from across the street and a bunch of pink balloons from next door.

They're expecting some drive-by birthday wishes before the party.  

I bet I'll have some more pictures after the fancy tea party.