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.