Thursday, October 10, 2013

October 10 2013

As the nights get colder and the days shorter, here's an update on what's going on here. First, Hyla has started kindergarten in "big kids school" and while the first week was rocky, she's now loving it. And her grandpa, as you can see here when Brian met her after school recently.











Next, while I haven't done very much with my ABR rescue group since Sadie left us, I do keep up with helping with paperwork (actually non-paperwork as it's all electronic). There were two young girls, Nini and ChouChou, that were the Gabor sisters of the web site. I must have sent several dozen welcome letters to potential adopters for each one. Everyone, I mean EVERYONE wanted to adopt them. Here's Nini, obviously completely content in her new home. I just wish all the great dogs could find as a loving home...
















Garden news is mixed (as always). Strangest thing is that the three different kinds of full sized tomato plants we put in didn't produce much at all, and we didn't get to taste one until after October first - and that was sill-ripened. As will be all the rest (all four of them) since the nights are cold enough now to burn the leaf edges. We've stripped out all the remaining cherry tomatoes and will either eat a lot of fried greens or just wait and see if anyone turns red. Green beans produced lots, garlic fair, chilis only three in the whole season, less than one per plant. Very disappointing after last year's great harvest. We still have potatoes, arugula and kale in the garden cage, along with some very large marigolds, but it was a really sparse year for most things. On the up side, this is one of the best years for fall color I can remember. I guess what hurts the vegetables helps the trees - or so it seems.

















As I was driving to class one day along the back roads recently, my eyes saw (but my brain did not register) a bunch of animals. My brain said to me, "What weird looking deer", and as I slowed down to try to figure out just what was wrong with this picture, it became clear: not deer at all. See for yourself.. apparently the new in thing of having sheep or goats do the mowing has come to the backwaters of our place. Thanks to our neighbor George for the great photos.








And lastly, my loyal calligraphy group of old got together at last (almost two years in the planning) for a dinner out. And it happened on Marilyn's birthday, so we not only had a nice chance to catch up but also CAKE! As you can see, cake can always make me smile. Such a sweet bunch of women, I'm so glad we met and have continued to stay in touch. Note the "Shalom" tees Marilyn, Barbara and I are wearing. I wore mine to class one day and they both wanted one for themselves. So I told them as long as they'd buy the shirts, I would do the screening. And so I did. There was one very strange moment when (after a decade's absence) I put my own very old shirt on the platten to align the design, and it wouldn't align! Apparently even Hanes Beefy Ts shrink a bit after several decades of washing. But it took me way too long to figure out just why, no matter which way I tugged the fabric, it just wouldn't line up. I am not getting smarter with age.















So that's it for now. Best news this week is that my friends Harriet and Alan got married - after only 28 years of consideration. Great folks, and great news. And next week I'm off to visit Mom again, leaving Brian to tend whatever needs tending here. Flying is always such an adventure...