Friday, December 31, 2010

2011 soon here

I've always been slow to pick up on remarks this time of year that begin with, "Last time I'll ________ this year!" I think "really!" Then it dawns on me that this is no abstention statement, it's simply a remark on the imminent change of year. Ok, so I just had my last glass of wine, my last walk to the river, my last dinner, my last (i hope) email, my last ...(actually i think that was 2009 - i'm not saying!). It is silly, and I am no fan of New Year's Eve. It has never proved more exciting that when i was 5 or 6 and awaken by my grandmother (for whom i am named); she opened the curtains to show us the fireworks in the sky over New Orleans. We were in her high 4 posted bed in great grandmother's house on St. Charles and Second Street (the iron fence is still there, but the huge house is gone, replaced by an apartment building).
I think I always have higher hopes for an entire year than possible to accomplish in 365 days! Thus New Year's Eve seems more an accounting of disappointments (such as, that Sarah Palin did not disappear from the scene or screen). Let alone the more personal reflections on the state of my Homeopathic work! But then I am delighted with the unexpected turn out for the qigong. And truly 2010 was wonderful in surprises: Mr. Lee being the biggest - ha! in the smallest of packages.
I don't want to take my family for granted; my children, their beautiful wives, my amazing grandchild are my biggest DELIGHT - beyond my expectations!
I think it is the shadow of poverty, of war, of misery, of injustice in the world that darkens the year's turn for me...I want everyone drink clean water, if I can ... my joy is diminished knowing this is not so.
(go to www.dropinthebucket.org)

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

supposed to be warm


but i'm chilly inside; supposed to be sunny - but we've got clouds too - think i've got a touch of cabin fever. Enjoyed playing dolls with P, so much that i'm still carrying a doll with me and she's gone home!
about to dress up for a walk to the river and to check on the state of ice and of snow. I need to feed the goats! I need to check the chicken's feeder. I'm stalled here.
Mr Lee's looking at me; he anticipates my least move - what a face! well, i'm going to get moving and see just how much snow attaches to him walking to the river and back!


Sunday, December 26, 2010

First human prints in the snow to river

I shoveled out a section of the chicken yard and amazingly the hens took a walk and peck outside; leaving the light on all day has garnered me 4 eggs the last two days! Fed the baa-ing goats some corn and brought fresh water; they seem intent on finding other goodies under the snow. This evening I hiked to the river without Mr. Lee, as I worried it would be a bit much. Transfixed on the patterns the snow made falling from the trees. The forecast is for more snow tonight, but this evening the sky seems lighter - we have enough.
And this morning played with P, blowing bubbles and rocking baby, tossing new balls and singing "grandma, grandma..."! We ate popcorn and fed some to baby and we fashioned a hammock of sorts out of a scarf for baby. I was fueled by an expresso made with my new little maker - it is perfect. Oh, happiness to be snow bound with P and Mr. Lee (and dear Katrina!).

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas White Christmas

I am truly big with presents; the NOOK has hooked me and i know i need to eat but damn, i gotta figure out this new tech tool. I got on FB on Nook. Now i need to download a book. I did take a break and try out my new much needed snow shovel, every time i clean the deck, I look out and it is covered again. I now think that 12 days of Christmas with one gift each day, like bubble stuff one day, doll another, ball third and so forth would be easier for the little ones, and for old nanee too - i posted my TOMS show pic on TOMS page, but i need to redo as the first pic was tiny. Mr. Lee scored big time; he's napping too.
Got 4 eggs for Christmas from the hennies and gave the goats some hay - may take a walk if i can tear myself away from my new toy. making some veggie soup with broccoli and beans, some pesto and pasta.
joy, joy to the great world as it turns, we turn -

Friday, December 24, 2010

I know why I'm excited

It's Christmas eve and she doesn't know what tomorrow is, i don't think she does; but nanee is excited for her. Tomorrow is a difficult concept anyway; and Christmas is a celebration very low key here and there's no TV at her house! But the larger world sets an atmosphere of anticipation that is difficult to escape; and i am curious to see what she thinks of the baby that coos and mumbles mama...
Daylight brightening, I need to fill the bird feeders and open the chickens. Katrina plays with one of her n
ew toys.
Mr Lee sleeps.
Evening after a most most delicious Christmas Eve dinner at the Blue house: Baba cooked a roast, mashed potatoes and roasted brussel sprouts - i brought a pomegranate salad and Mindy made a delicious pecan pie...i groan!
the stockings are getting fat!

Monday, December 20, 2010

when here, we blow bubbles

I have yet to remember to buy bubble stuff, but i've finally made a good dish soap mix that works fairly well. Bubbles send my mind drifting. small ephemeral spheres; poof - thought gone. like the words sometimes in the old brain - or names! the weatherman saying this is the coldest December in years, this week promising to remain unmeltingly cold. But i did manage to drive up the road this morning for qigong.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

oopse


the torture of the slow older brain never ceases to jolt; walked back from putting my few Christmas cards in the mailbox only to realize that the mail has most probably come and that Mindy and Baldwin picked it up on their way to play date and that that was why our mail boxes were empty altho Robin's was with package!!!!!!!!!! And since it is Saturday I think it best that i hike back up and retrieve the letters so that they won't get horribly damp over the weekend. phooey. But first i am going to walk to the river to check on the state of ice, always the place of drama this time of year. So far it is a grey day but mercifully no more snow. Today I may not dance as much as walk !

Here's a picture of the river; not as much ice as i had imagined - tho creek is frozen most of the way to the river. Looks like I am OK with the mail; turns out it is Robin's mail from yesterday. One egg today, two yesterday - after several days of none but the soft shell egg always eaten.


Thursday, December 16, 2010

just me and mr. lee


Snowed in a crusty concoction of snow and sleet and ice with a huge pot of cushion squash soup that is delicious only more than enough for me and a score. Enjoyed a hike up to the blue house to play with DD and sew a bit on Mindy's solstice project while Baba cleared the road. Back here with Mr. Lee I am all warm still with the rum spiked tea and doll play. Lucky me. Truly lucky me.
In the mornings I am doing a little dance; well, to be honest, whenever I think of Diane. A silly serious healing shimmy. Must be some Goddess direction I may dance into, hoping for that.
I fear I have put my tree up way too soon, it is drying and shedding. Just 9 more days, i say as i sweep underneath.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

trying to take a picture of me & mr. lee



It is difficult to capture oneself at arms length while holding a wiggly dog, albeit an 8 or 9 pounder! It is awful hard to get both subjects in the box. It helped when i turned off the flash, but then there was little light on the floor. Miss Katrina had to be in the shot too! Oh, what silly things to amuse us on a cold ass day. All of us braved a walk; Katrina lingered at the old pond while Mr. Lee and I made it to the icy river. Much more amusing this winter than last with Mr. Lee here; he's perched on my chair looking into the green house growling. Must be Oskar in there. Ah, yes, Oskar is curled in one of the cat beds. Time for me to step into my quilted down coat and go close up the chickens. Last night I closed then early all proud of myself. Upstairs getting dressed for Susan's celebration, I looked out to see one hen outside trying to get into the coop. Arrgh.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

getting to look...


like Christmas, P likes to look at the "baby and mama" hanging on the Christmas tree; i take down the little nativity scene and we look at the tiny baby. Now we're over the sink trying to blow bubbles with my dish soap with a wand i just bent from soft wire - it isn't working! But P's talking to the bubbles and happy!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

a day without


A day without best face in the hollar is becoming more bearable since Mr. Lee bounded into nanee's house. After our longest walk so far, Mr Lee got a bath in the sink - how nice to have a dog you can bathe in a sink! He even submitted to a bit of clipping burrs - and his curly fine hair is beginning to cover his back in a soft thin coat.

Friday, December 10, 2010

here comes Mr. Lee


How sweet 40 degrees can seem, when above freezing has not been seen for days! I open the door and Mr. Lee rushes forth smelling goat - quicker than the eye can follow he's face to face with Pablo. We all look on...luckily i had my camera. A second day at Tractor supply for cracked corn, decided keep a bag or too in my car for added traction this winter. And a return to Pet Smart to look for Kingsley's favorite raw hide treat which this Pet Smart doesn't carry - being, I suppose, far smaller than the store in Houston. But I did leave with a pack of rawhide rings - one of which is half eaten on the rug!
ah, too short these days shrinking towards solstice; i will be glad to get on the other side of December 21. Good soup tonight with Alma; she brought a delicious concoction of mashed turnips which didn't taste but slightly of turnip. And she comes with the best of conversation!


Hoping that the forecasts are wrong or change, but for now it seems Sunday will be nasty: sleet then snow with temperatures the next two days in teens....I've got good books, I think i am prepared!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

bah hum why bug?


It's a mania, Christmas; unavoidable if you are a grandmother. Wal-mart, a world unto itself, presents multitudes of dilemmas: for me, what doll? In one sense the choice was easy: there was only one doll of color; problem, he (interestingly, he) was not as "interactive" as some of the other "baby alives" peekabooing and mama papaing in front of me. Baby alive; what's wrong with baby really inanimate? Will they make grandma alive ? I realize that "interactive" means battery operated; i buy a large pack of double A's. I make a very simple decision; since the cuddly cooing baby and the baby doll of color together cost less than the doll that poops, i go for the two. I am so overwhelmed by the doll issue, that i forget nerf balls - which i really want. I don't want to return to Wal-mart until well after Christmas. I must say that I did enjoy lunch with Andi and then shopping for her Christmas present; we went to Pet Smart also and got a present for Mr.Lee and premo doggy fud and most expensive Greenie (for his teeth). My new pet sleeps in a tight little ball; he had a run in with a cockle-burr today and i had to cut some of his top knot, there are still a few burrs in his tail, but he fights the comb. I will have to wage war on burdock in the spring. ah!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Fearless Dog


spunk. Irie walked away and Mojo stayed with Baldwin. Mr Lee fearlessly went after the goats; of course, he hasn't been butted yet - Mojita tried, but little Big dog dodged the horns. He was delighted to meet Mojo and Irie - fortunately, since they will live with us for 6 weeks this winter! I thought that Mr. Lee had also scared off Oskar the stray cat, but Oskar showed up this evening - though will no longer allow me to pick him up. May be a tussle to get him into carry cage to take to neuter clinic! Baldwin is the hero of the day though, beating out Mr.Lee by a long shot. He got the water running again and he improved insulation of the spring house - and cat door to green house. Let me forever remember to turn on the light in the spring house in NOVEMBER and to plug in the heat tape so that the pump lines don't freeze up. Writing notes on calendars for 2011. My Zen master for the day was the pump.

Mista Lee, Mister Lee, Mistah



He's adorable in spite of a near skinning hair cut; he's smart - of course, poodle and Bichon Frise mix. He's taken to Katrina's napping place on one of the ladder back chairs. Katrina and Mista Lee both slept in my bed - tho Katrina jumped off (not sure where she hung out). But with all my excitement I totally forgot to check the spring house to see if heat tape was plugged in to keep pump from freezing, let alone turn on the light. This morning, low low water pressure, then nothing! Need to thaw out the pump and pray that it is not frozen up too irreparably - Baldwin coming down to help. I should have checked all this before i went down to visit with Dad; very remiss on my part!
Mr. Lee is named after Tricia's father's driver who became dear friend of the family. I hope he will be happy here - so far he seems very settled in and I am smitten. Tricia sent a coat, leash, toy and puppy biscuits - he's more interested in trying to get Katrina to play. Look forward to seeing how he likes Irie and Mojo - well, back to the pump.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Disgust

Just watched FOOD INC; in spite of having read Michael Pollen's Omnivore's Dilemma, it was horrific to see the feed lots up close, the killing floor for pigs, the chicken tunnel dark housing - and all animals so fat they can hardly stand - no wonder they contribute to obesity in the consumers. And gross obesity of Corporate monopoly - unrestrained power, unregulated business.

enough snow already!

coa

this was yesterday, and the top picture is this morning
i am attempting to coax myself into shoveling out the chicken yard - have 3 pairs of pants on! the hang up is whether to eat before or after; after last winter, i am going with after. After exertion in below freezing blowing snow because body energy will be used for heat. If i eat a good breakfast and then go out, i will be chilled because i will be using energy to digest. Of course, i could be in error and the test is impure as i've had two cups of tea and 1/2 of a biscotti. tally ho!

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Woke up with a poem in my mouth



we have fallen into a story

the forward and backward of mind

an illusion of time


you sit large in the chair rubbing your nose as

a child might, self placating

occasionally flicking your other hand

in the direction of your crotch

auto-erotic


I imagine that it might be enough

the sound of my voice and

I won't have to undress.





MHN (12-4-10)





got tree

Was quick work to use my chain saw to cut down a small cedar; now I have light in the evening that amuses. Woke up with a poem in my mouth. Planning to make cookies today as my jars are empty and I have no treat for Pearl and her people tonight for dinner! Suiting up to go open the chickens.

Friday, December 3, 2010

washing


something about water, about playing in water
especially in winter we need a dose
of liquid crystals
running down our fingers, wrists, elbows
oopse
wetting our clothes.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

home, home, home!


It was an adventure returning home, caught in the limbo of Charlotte airport as one after another flight to Roanoke was canceled due to fog until a young woman came up to me, "Mary - Mary North." She had heard my talk on homeopathy at the Blacksburg Library and we have mutual friend in Floyd, we talked about driving, another woman who had already spent 48 hours in flights from Germany, said she'd like to join us, and then, voile a knight - man who had just arranged a company car and wanted company. It turned out very convenient for me as Baldwin picked me up at the Carilion hospital entrance. What a day! This is a picture of my friends: Pres in the middle in front of his new house in the Bywater of New Orleans with my great friend Sharon and her husband Trailer (Sharon noted that we have been friends for 50 years!). Pres's house is wonderful - the rest of his block is 47 (i think) artist apartment units which he built. Home and Pearl this morning; she is a major delight. oh, but the cold has settled in; plan to leave the light on in the chicken house.







Sunday, November 21, 2010

dispatch from Nawlins and coast

so far the food has been very good; the weather superb. Yesterday in 'Nawlins to see Pres' new house all a color in the byewater. His design is wonderful with inner courtyard, solar on roof, roof veggy garden, black bathroom, wonderful staircase (with voodoo designed panels!), voodoo tarot paintings in the big front door. Pres has out done himself collecting objects of interest from auctions, a mooracan mirror of inlaid camel bones, two African chieftan arm chairs inlaid with ivory i think - wonderful carpets - a bit heavy on the Sallie Ann paintings and none of Pres's great collection of art - But the walls are to die for, clay mixture over sheetrock - feel so warm - amazing. fun to see Pres and his house and to finally meet Sallie Ann. Lunch at Satsuma where at an adjacent table was a man i knew i knew, but since I wasn't sure I said nothing. We then went to the neighborhood park where arts' had tents displaying their work. Philip Thompson was there and while I was talking with him the man from the restaurant came up saying, "Blacksburg?" and i turned around to see the same face! ah, yes, Catherine Snyder's recent x, Chris Beattie (?) who now lives in New Orleans. I introduced him to Sharon, Trailer, Philip and Pres. Was a good day. Got to meet Sharon's new grand daughter, Emory - oh, so precious - definitely puts the want of baby flesh into your heart. Got to go to walk thru the pine trees with Trailer and Sharon (we hope to coax Sharon out!).

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Fly Away


I've packed. After much deliberation, I am leaving computer and memorizing passwords; question remains: pat down or radiation (full body scan)? Last night I asked Mindy and Baldwin who both answered immediately: Baldwin, "scan;" Mindy,"pat down." I laughed - wasn't the responses I would have imagined. A split decision, I'm just going to be inspired. I should ask Ez who has done more traveling than anyone I know.
Looking forward to some warmer weather and to seeing my friend. Hope to maintain my cool and to not get fusticated by my Dad. ha. Wondering if the air still smells of petrochemicals. Wondering if there is any sea food to eat - and what about my favorite sushi places? Planning on doing qigong with Sharon so I won't miss all of my routine. Walking thru suburban mcpalaces on the bayou instead of circling Red Bud. Into New Orleans to meet Sharon's new grand-daughter, Emory; play with Aiden, try not to miss Pearl!

Monday, November 15, 2010

I buried Griffin today


I found Griffin this morning in the green house curled in an unmoving ball, so thin and so light - he must have died yesterday afternoon while i was at the seminar in Blacksburg. He would not have made it through the winter and I am relieved he didn't have to suffer longer or let out his moaning meow. I'll miss his pawing at the glass door and his passive slow motion move thru the day. As far as I know he never caught a mouse or bird in all of his 17 years, while his brother, Merlin, was a masterful hunter. Griffin is buried above Greystroke.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

a taste of what i learned today


I think this is the fourth of Robin Murphy ND seminars that I have attended, maybe 5th; this evening I am energized by the moringa leaf tea and cacao raw fudge and wanting to share some of the amazing information. There is always fascinating information from the seminars: last time and this time he talked about activated charcoal, specifically bamboo variety. This in powder form is a great detox, 1/2 teas. in water - but it is has a score of other uses. Poisoning being perhaps the top of the list. A poultice can be made - its pretty messy and stains - but a poultice can suck the poison out of a wound (even snake bite). It can also be used as a mask to clean the skin...and Robin swears by a tooth powder of charcoal powder and baking soda! I came home and mixed some in can cat food for my cats one of whom needs a miracle! More tomorrow!

Friday, November 12, 2010

swinging


I am amazed at how strong DD is: she swings her legs holding onto counter and chair. Upstairs she climbs up the high bed and clings to a post before sliding down.

Fortunately all the chickens survived last night with their small chicken doors gaping open until I came home from Giles after 9. Hiking up thru the pines to the blue house with a full belly I amused myself with the stories still spinning in my head from the evening at Ann's. Talking about virtue in the Blue taxi traveling home; virtue as opposed to morals!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

another halcyon day


Yesterday was wonderfully productive in our "web" rehearsal - Bob's direction took the writing into dramatic territory, into a place that was more moment - out of the space of past mourning - allowing the works to blossom. It was exciting.

hiked the mountain before i left yesterday and just completed a circuit today before i again journey into Blacksburg to retrieve friends for our celebration of Pat at Ann's.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

thoughts


woke myself up last night screaming, "get away bear!" Lay in bed remembering my camp nick name, Mary Bear, because I would scare away the black bears banging on a cooking pot on hikes in the Smokies. I loved hiking and spent most of camp (at age 13) on hikes in the mountains of North Carolina; the bears there are larger than the bears around here. In retrospect I would have loved to go back to camp the next summer but for some reason we were not allowed; i doubt it was financial, I suspect my mother's horror when she heard that i'd been on a 5 day hike and had not changed clothes in that time! I was drifting hopelessly away from southern ladyhood!
My camp experience was a seed of my later feminism which was no doubt fertilized and nourished at Sarah Lawrence. I still have a hard time understanding what's not to like about feminism. But I realize my father could easily set me straight on this if i would stop to listen; but my ears clog up the minute he suggests i need to go to a beauty parlor (" I've never know a woman who doesn't like to go to the beauty parlor," he actually said to me).
At a basic level, feminism means to me that I have dominion over my body - hence, I am strongly PRO CHOICE. It means that women have equal rights to men; but this is still far from true. Still not equal pay! I associate feminism with a sensibility that abhors injustice.
This is a subject to which I will return!


Tuesday, November 9, 2010

while a rumor of bear...


runs thru the pines, I plan to take in my bird feeders tonight and perhaps bar the downstairs door that has no lock!
Read a fine article on the state of feminism today which was in the October issue of Harper's. I think there is much to think about; much to discuss and friends in Blacksburg are starting a discussion. It frightens me to see the hatred against Planned Parenthood. ach do!

Monday, November 8, 2010


There are many things to like about Jonathan Franzen's FREEDOM, but I had to stop the other night to write down a sentence on page 444 which thrilled me: "He became another data point in the American experiment of self-government, an experiment statistically skewed from the outset, because it wasn't the people with sociable genes who fled the crowded Old World for the new continent; it was the people who didn't get along well with others."
All day I took time to search for the second PO Box key which I put in a safe place 12 years ago; it was a second look in the tea caddy on my dresser that proved successful. grrrrr. A second incident of Griffin pooping inside; and i had only let him in for moments. So disgusted in myself that i hardly fussed at him.
Was a wonderful morning of Qigong and a halcyon day for a walk this afternoon.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Persistence will get you there or here!


He's back and he's staying this time; meant to be, i suppose - now if Alaska and Oskar can just not fight, we'll be happier with the situation. And on this coldest morning without daylight savings, how can i not admire the homing instinct of this cat, especially since this wasn't exactly "home",but a place he'd staked out. Now I am hoping that he, Alpha cat, can frighten the skunk away who I surprised slinking under the deck as I went to close the chickens just home from the NAACP Freedom Banquet. Luckily I was not sprayed, nor was the house.
I enjoyed the banquet, especially relevant speaker, Wornie Reed (Prof. of Sociology at VT) who spoke about the disproportionate number of African Americans in prison. I learned that Virginia has a particularly high incarceration rate of blacks - mostly for drug crimes. I knew Virginia prohibited ex-cons from voting, ever, but i had not known that Virginia is one of only 2 states who do this. He talked about how this impacts the family; the increase in single family households. Another reason we need NOW to find some to run for governor of Virginia; I want Tom Perriello . A friend suggested Rick Boucher.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

begging


Here's Griffin! Can't really see the incredible thinness of him; can't hear his moan that can be heard all the way up at the Blue house.
I am enjoying Jonathan Franzen's FREEDOM; indeed, masterful dramatization of life in the USA - "freedom?" ah! freedom to not be free; freedom to corrupt self, family and earth...

my problem with elephants

Many years ago (well when Ezra was applying to college - 1990) I went to a psychic. Besides declaring almost immediately that my son would go to Texas (Ezra then applied to UT Austin!); he said, "You are very spiritual person, tho not religious." He then proceeded to tell me why: In a previous incarnation you were a member of a religious sect in India which the government banned. All members of the sect were brought to a clearing where there was a large stone. One at a time people were led to the stone, told to put their head on top - at which time an elephant stomped on the head! Ah, I thought that seems possible as I have never been a church goer. I tend to think that most organized religion causes brain damage, but i hadn't thought, squash. Nevertheless, this may partially explain my donkey persuasion.

On another note I have exiled poor pathetic Griffin to the green house after his use of my rug for toilet. This for the second time in few days, causing me to scrub a rug in the cold sleet that suddenly fell from a grey cloud. I have little patience for him as he is able to negotiate the cat door out of the green house - but fails to go to the door from the house. He's old. I feel awful looking at his scrawny pale orange body very very slowly making his way back to the green house when I won't let him back into the house. The green house is warmer, he has a snug fur cat bed in there. I hate that he can make me so angry. At least he has stopped his loud moaning meow.

Friday, November 5, 2010

its cold! freeze fear


cold here, cold all around here. But we're warm and eating oranges inside, DD can manage a clementine all by herself. Taking a basket and clippers out to the garden to gather greens for the worms and me. Definite need for another soup; if i don't make a pie with Alma's pumpkin, i may make soup which is probably a good idea as i have these lovely granny smith tart apples in contention; it so depends on a mood or ingredients available.
we may even have snow flurries tonight and tomorrow - if we're considered "high elevation" by the clouds that be. Being from the swamp lands of New Orleans, this is absolutely high elevation at 2 thousand feet.
Thinking over yesterday's blog "alter" (thanks, Faith!), I do want to let it out that I'm not considering a dog yet - only imagining. And when it comes to the figuring and contortions of the electorate, specifically the voters for Griffith or Hurt, I can't say I know the persuasion that works for them, nor the "connections" they make, only that it seems poorly thought through. I am admittedly of the Earth First lean, pro choice, pro sex education in schools, pro gay marriage, pro health care - and so forth. ah..................

Thursday, November 4, 2010

what did i mean?


I changed the "arter" to after, but i was sort of intrigued with arter! I should a artered, instead of spending the day at the polls. Today the kind secretary at the Auburn UMC (where we do qigong) handed me a small picture of a border collie pup from the paper - a sister of the puppy she recently got for her family! We've chatted about dogs, she went several years between dogs. So dogs seem to be coming at me!
"If you do what everyone else does, you won't lead an extraordinary life." The quote is from my friend whose dentist told this to his children; he bicycles to work in Roanoke, travels to Africa where he offers free dental work and he is 80 and still working.
It was good therapy to go out into the fields yesterday with my chainsaw and cut down small scrub pines and locust. Like splitting wood, hard work does seem to help dispel aggressive feelings - anger. I do think that we may have hit on something discussing the out come of the election before we began qigong: that some of the "tea party folk" compartmentalize notions and fail to make connections. In this sense, they cannot see the idiocy of their words - the lack of logic, the no facts. for example, the notion that abstinence works, when it has proven to not work (statistics on teenage pregnancy point this out). We could have talked the morning away! "Aren't we wise!" as Katharine Heath might say!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

the day after


Well, I was inspired for a short time by Mindy's note that November is national blogging month and was wont to blog each day; Mindy's going ahead. I didn't blog yesterday after too long standing and "greeting" voters at the polls, growing cold and sore, losing faith that BOUCHER would be reelected and hungry for hot soup (which I am getting around to cooking now). I guess I will set a more realistic goal to blog every other day (and I don't know about the end of the month as I will be visiting Rudy).
The saving grace of yesterday was that after setting up BOUCHER signs at D-3 Bethel and greeting early voters with two Auburn HS students until Tom arrived, I went home to baby sit grand daughter. For 3 hours I played in the world of a bright 2 year old and forgot about elections. I had to return to the polls immediately after she left and spent the long afternoon at Bethel. Taking a break to vote at Auburn, check in at Armory and the library, calling Pilot. What what now? The anxiety that runs through my blood is President Obama's election in 2012 considering the nasty ads and signs of this year! Sigh!
I held a little puppy, indeed little at 8 weeks, a chihuahua, shivering and licking. Very cute with that endearing puppy smell - but the parents in the car were not so cute, overweight and pointy nosed. So life goes on in the hollow with out a dog.

Monday, November 1, 2010

The Days of the Dead


I hope i know why the election surveys are skewed: yesterday i got a call which i would normally have hung up on, "do you care about gun control?" ach, yes, only not in the way you mean! I want control so tight you can only bu
y a gun if you live outside of a city - and no hand guns and no automatic weapons! But i answered the four questions just so I could register a vote for Rick Boucher!
Woke up this morning to see if alarm worked and to attempt to prepare for tomorrow when I have to be at Bethel polling place before 6 am to set up Boucher signs and meet voters until another volunteer shows up, hopefully in time for me to get to the library to greet voters there. I'm pretty well scheduled until 5 PM when I have to clone myself and be in Pilot and Bethel simultaneously! I am debating which place is the more important.
Of course, I thought 2008 was an important election year and indeed it was; but this year is very important too!

Sunday, October 31, 2010

HALLOWEEN


I have never, not in 37 years, had a trick or treater in the hollow. I've carved pumpkins, roasted pumpkin seeds, occasionally made pie (which i plan to do this year with my little pumpkin grown by Alma as soon as i remember to bring 1/2 and 1/2 home). I buy candy some years, we eat! Perhaps it is a lack of enthusiasm; i was spoiled by Mardi Gras - a true masquerade! I had a Halloween pin once i liked: "this is my costume!"
But Halloween is not enough of a distraction from election day in two days - which seems more the scary event. Delighted that the rally for sanity in DC garnered over 220,000 people - now, if only, the elections will prove thoughtful.

Monday, October 25, 2010

who's in the hollow


Pigeon is looking better, almost completed molting, now Bilbo parakeet has started shedding his feathers! Strange to be down to two cats; we had to relocate Oskar after he attacked Baldwin and Mindy's Alaska, leaving two fang wounds in the neck. I assume Oskar did in my Greystroke. Katrina seems elated that she's top cat as poor moaning Griffin who is a living skeleton of a cat hardly counts as a competitor in any way. Griffin has actually perked up these past two days, jumping up on the deck bench to beg! He loved licking the soup bowl with remnants of Alma's squash soup. Perhaps when I return from my visit south, a dog will find me - us!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Making Plans


I kept procrastinating about making reservations to visit my dad; i had to finish District D democratic schedule for election day, i had to finish LET THE GREAT WORLD SPIN, i had to enjoy yet another glorious fall day, i had to clean out the chicken coop. I finished the book last night, cleaned the coop (partially) this afternoon, i completed as best i could the schedule of poll greeters, i hiked up Red Bud, happily descending to hammock with Mindy and Baldwin while Pearl twirled nearby! So I did it: I will be leaving on November 17th and returning on the 30th. I hope my friend Sharon will be up for a quick visit to Texas during that time and I hope that Thanksgiving with Dad is more fun than it has been in the past (tho I guess it will be dinner at a casino!).
Had wonderful guests this weekend: Charlotte (Katharine Heath's daughter) and Saundra (Katharine's son's wife's sister), good food and good talk. I'm hoping that Saundra might even return for a visit in February when I have promised her snow!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

young blood?

We were brain storming (old folk- "brain storming") at the end of our Planned Parenthood meeting the other morning, jacked on coffee, about how to attract some young blood to our table; we didn't finish and put it on the agenda for next meeting. The same subject has come up often at the Riner Museum meetings; I anticipate it at other meetings. On the ride home, it occurred to me that what are old people for if not for sitting on boards; the young are working, have kids, pets and PTA. But we do this idle brain storming because we fear that the next generation will not desire to matriculate onto community boards - ever! What we should pay attention to is the scary fact that there are more of US than them; who is going to take care of us if we don't do all we can to make a hospitable and vital community for our children!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

walked up to top of Red Bud


Clouds coming into heavy masses as I took up my afternoon walk and veered up, steeply up, the north face of Red Bud to the top! There are less of the massive oaks which populated the top when 37 years ago I moved here - the drought, no doubt, has killed a couple. But the top has still a powerful feel. I see where turkeys have recently passed, their scratched ground left. The deer have left scat. I can see far and no house but the blue house. I had meant to come up before the leaves so thickly obscured the ground to look for 'sang, but I'm too late. On the way down I recognize places where I know it grew (and years ago i had planted some). O perfect day!

Sunday, October 17, 2010

some sweet potatoes


Half of the booty in the sweet potato patch; well, depending on the voles (lets see: moles tunnel, eat grubs; voles use the tunnels, eat vegetables). The taters were ummy last night, if a bit charred, roasted with peppers and onions while Elizabeth and Chris and I swung on the front porch drinking wine (they smoked). Chris brought delicious spicy edamame and chicken salad and I had also made squash/chard fritters...we ate seconds and thirds, finished the wine and got the old house warmed up real good! I sure am glad that Chris is semi-retired. This old house can use some visiting, me too.

Friday, October 15, 2010

light and color

for some reason, i can't go out without my camera in pocket. the light is magical in the fall; yesterday I kept thinking that i could capture falling leaves as one can a snow flake in the still shot. Played with DD this morning; named the two dolls that stay at Nanee's, Ami for the no face Amish doll and Suzie for the Africa doll with beautiful big eyes and a batik dress (i want so badly to decorate the Amish doll - someday when DD agrees, we'll have to paint a face on the Amish doll - i guess I respect the plain dress, but it is soooo against our nature or for that matter nature's nature!) . Walking thru the woods memorizing one of my poems (Node) for our next production; i like the poem more than i thought i did, i like the ending lines: "this winter's gluttony of despair has knotted here beneath my right breast / I have to find the timbre to restore vibration to this still spot."

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Bears gotta climb


We couldn't just go outside without our friends, could we? And a delicious fall day is a good day for a climb. We will soon need a tree house, so we can easily get up there with our animals.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

a new tool


I think of myself as more of a tree hugger than lumber jack, but I've got a new light weight battery powered chain saw and i'm going after little trees cluttering up the fields. Yesterday I cut 20 or so little scrub pines and piled their small trunks up for a rabbit hiding place. I trimmed a wild apple; well, I began the process! I have many stored memories of chain saw safety, from years of cutting wood for heating the house - I'm a dangerous woman!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

350

On 10-10-10, I gathered basil from the Blue House garden and made two jelly jars of PESTO with extra garlic and walnuts - l leave out the cheese to add later. It lasts well in the freezer and a tablespoon full in soup in the winter sends me to thoughts of summer. In an effort to lower my carbon foot print I did not go out, but walked in homage to trees. In respect to this land, in dear close breath with the wing of dragon fly and bird. In what little I presume to know of my soul, it hosts a connection with earth, a comfort and a howling sorrow at what appears to be a lost respect by humans of this connection. What can we change but ourselves: I fall back into the nest of my hollow, walk again and again the river, seeking and not seeking. Lying down with my face to the sky.