Are You Ready For A New Fancy Car

How is Your Car Doing

 You  probably have to be of a certain age to get the maximum laugh from this. I found it to be a lot funnier than I would have two years ago. Why does it seem as though my car got old all of a sudden?

If My Body Was A Car

If my Body was a Car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a newer model.

I've got bumps and dents and scratches in my finish and my paint job is getting a little dull...

But that's not the worst of it.

My headlights are out of focus, and it's especially hard to see things up close.

But that's not the worst of it.

My traction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather.

But that's not the worst of it.

My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins.

But that's not the worst of it.

It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed. My fuel rate burns inefficiently.

But here's the worst of it.

Almost every time I sneeze, cough or sputter, either My Radiator Leaks or My Exhaust Backfires!


I hope you laughed with me!

Mary

Oh, So Beautiful

I know, I'm a little late to the Amaryllis Party as I am just starting to enjoy the wonders of the plant. Unfortunately, I did not get them planted as soon as I should have when they arrived from Burpee mail order. But, none the less I feel lucky that they are blooming.

This first one is a little different than what I usually buy. I tend to buy the bright red. I actually bought two bulbs of this color. Only one has started to open. I am pretty sure the other one will be coming along.

And, now the Bright Red.       Beautiful! 

As I have said many times, my house is very dark on the inside which makes it difficult to grow indoor plants. But, I keep trying by moving them to the light. But, I have been a little (lot) lazy lately. The many days of rain and darkness do not enable me to get much done around here.

This past Monday morning was fun to watch a dusting of snow falling when I opened the drapes. It was just like decorating a cake with a sifter full of powdered sugar. Most of it had melted by the end of the day.

And, now we are having some glorious sunny days until next week when the rains start again. Our reservoirs are filling and everything is turning nice and green. But, it is Cold. I stay in where it is nice and warm. However, I did go downtown yesterday and had lunch on Main Street and sat at the window and "watched the world go by" while I soaked up the lovely sunshine!

I am not sure when or if I will be getting back to writing about family. It is more emotional for me than I thought it would be. If you have noticed the next part starts about MY memories of MY past. Not easy for me. Day by day and trying to live in the moment.

It would be nice if I had a little more going on in my life that I could write about. My thoughts bounce back and forth thinking about things I would like to do with the house and garden  (that have gotten very difficult for me) and thoughts of finding a way to make life easier without moving. If money wasn't an issue I could just get on the phone and arrange for and hire what I need. Ya, it is called delegating. And, I like that word. I can dream!

Well, maybe I will work on some crocheting. There is no lack of projects to pull out of the cupboard. I'm thinking of finishing a large colorful mandala that I can use on my dining room table. Stay tuned.

I hope you enjoyed my pretty amaryllis. Thank you for letting me share them with you.

Wishing you a Wonderful Weekend.

Mary

Brothers - - - Sisters

THREE BROTHERS.                                                                                      

ONE BROTHER is my Twin

NO SISTERS.                       BUT, OH, DID I WISH FOR ONE.

Three pregnancies, Four babies. Each of my mother's pregnancies were four years apart which made it difficult to develop closeness as we were growing up. Of course that is only one of the reasons! My oldest brother was eight years older than me. And, my next brother was four years older. Surprise - surprise, my twin was my age. And, yes we are fraternal twins!! I couldn't begin to tell you how many times I have been asked if we were identical twins. Not so much these days because I think people are a lot more knowledgeable about science.

I don't know a lot about my oldest brothers growing up years other than what I learned later in life. When he was a little boy he developed Bilateral Mastoiditis which is a bacterial infection of the mastoid bone. It sits behind the ear and has air spaces that help drain the middle ear. If not treated is can spread outside of the mastoid bone and cause serious conditions including deafness and meningitis. At that time, surgery was the treatment of the day. Surgery was considered very serious and it was very expensive. Following the surgery he had to wear a helmet to protect his head/brain from any impact injury that could kill him. Some deafness persisted through his life.

He was not a strong and robust child and was not able to be involved in the usual boyhood activities. His young life was filled with physical abuse as well as emotional. When he was old enough to get a job, our father took his wages because of the medical bills when he had mastoiditis!  Horrid, absolutely - Horrid! Our mother was super religious and at some point during his life (maybe high school) he was sent to seminary to become a Minister. He hated it and returned home after a year.

He was drafted into the Army (even with his partial deafness) and served for three years in the Korean Conflict. He worked in clerical positions.

His gift of Musical Talent and Absolute Pitch (gene inherited from mother - father was pitch tone deaf ) was wonderful for it gave him a great deal of enjoyment. He was very accomplished with piano and organ and performed many concerts as well as church organist for years. I will always remember hearing him play all the beautiful Classical Masterpieces like Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Chopin and so many more.

He was very kind, thoughtful, loving, generous, curious, supportive, hard working and had a great sense of humor. We had many phone conversations and we laughed a lot. Through the years I was able to drive to Oregon and visit for a few days.

He was the only family member that I had a healthy relationship with. Sadly, we did not have more time.

He was very intelligent and eventually became a very successful Computer Software Developer in the 70's with his own company and worked as an Independent Contractor. Eventually, he married at age 39 and they had a lovely home in Portland, Oregon. He was very outspoken about NEVER wanting children for fear he may not be able to be a good parent because of his childhood experience.  So Sad.

Unfortunately, he suffered for five years fighting Metastatic Cancer. But, at age 65, he passed away from an Aorta Rupture while away in an Arizona Airport when he was on a business trip in 1997. I miss him So Very Much.



MIDDLE BROTHER

There are many adjectives for a middle brother. In my situation, I think the most accurate would be INVISIBLE. I would say "He kinda slipped under the radar". I would say he was the least scathed by the family dysfunction. I recall that he did not get along with my older brother and they fought a lot.

My recollection of him is of a Very Good Looking Young Boy who had lots of friends and was away from home a lot. His physique was very compatible with being a football player in High School where he was very popular with the girls. He was active in Student Body affairs and was President of his Senior Class. He worked an afternoon and weekend job in a large Garden Center/Nursery and developed an interest in Horticulture and Forestry. 

He served three years in the Military in Korea when he was drafted by the Army. He was near the dangerous 38th Parallel which marks the boundary between North Korea and South Korea.

Eventually, he attended University of California Berkeley and earned his Bachelor's Degree. As mentioned he was interested in Forestry but determined that employment would be more profitable in business. His professional career took him to employment with IBM where he was able to obtain his Masters Degree in Computer Technology paid for by his employer. He remained with IBM until retirement.

He also was married and decided that he also would not have children! They built a house within commuter distance of San Jose IBM in Santa Cruz Mountains (which fed his love of Forestry). Not long after retirement he became ill and passed away at age 68. I do not know the cause, but I do know it had something to do with the abdomen.

We definitely were not close. He had very little to do with me through the years other then when as a little girl, he tried to molest me - and I ran like Hell!


Additional Note. My siblings and I were expected to have an education beyond High School. But, under no circumstances were we going to receive any financial help from our parents. We worked a lot at home taking care of many things and had after school jobs as soon as old enough. We also worked a lot of jobs to pay for our advanced education. For some reason, it seemed as though we seldom were able to please our parents. And, unfortunately, there really wasn't a bond with one another.

Well, there will be more to come another day.

Have a Good Week.

Mary

Catching Up

Winter Storms - - - Flooding and Power/Satellite Outage - - - Lengthy Typed Post Disappeared - - -A Little Knitting - - - Pioneer Cabin Tree Falls.

How is that for a few topics?               Yes, just as the National Weather Service reported. We are having the largest weather event to strike this area in the past 30 years.

With the day after day of dark skies, sometimes fog (very unusual), rain (frequently very heavy) and cold temperatures, my activities have been less than productive. It  just feels so good to lie on the sofa with soft yummy cozy warm blankets and stay warm. And it helps to have a nice cup of tea or maybe cocoa nearby.

Even though I have been diligent in energy conservation and sleeping in the living room (the warmest room) with the thermostat set at 67 degrees, my Electric Bill was $220.00 for the past month! My heart goes out to the folks that do not have proper protection from the elements and others that have been impacted with structural destruction and devastation.

This is a tree down along a nearby roadway that caused a multi-vehicle accident. Night time darkness sure adds to the danger.

This is the  Little Community Park and Creek that is a five minute walk from where I live. The area has been closed to through traffic due to roadway flooding. The water from my little stream (roadway culvert drainage) is one of many tributaries that flow into The Creek.

The next photos are of my yard a year and a half ago when I was working on the culvert/stream to insure it would flow and not back up in my yard.

This photo of The Creek is more typical without all the flooding.  It is so lovely!

There are many photos in the newspapers of  flooding and heavy rain damage.

A few days ago when our First Power Storm started, I was working on my second post about family. Not an easy post to write. It was about 1:00 AM and suddenly all the power and satellite went off and my long post disappeared from the monitor. I tried everything I could think of to find it. But it was gone - gone - gone! Talk about being upset! I was beside myself! I guess that is something they used to say?  Not sure when I will get to writing it again. But, I will.

Two more colors of Bamboo Bloom Handpaints Yarn

                        Kimono on the Left  side.

                     Fallen Petals on the Right side.

                                       I really like the pattern and these colors.

                             

SAD LOSS OF SEQUOIA TREE     

And, not just ANY Sequoia - But, "The Pioneer Cabin Tree"

Pioneer Cabin Tree Falls

This information has been taken from Big Trees State Park wesite.

On Sunday, January 8 at approximately 2:30 pm, the iconic Pioneer Cabin Tree, one of California’s oldest tourist attractions and a beloved specimen of a rare California native species, fell.  During one of the wettest periods in several years, a combination of trunk and root decay and storm water runoff appears to have brought the giant sequoia down at its base, shattering it and a nearby cedar tree. No one was hurt.  Flowing water and fallen tree branches are current public safety concerns being addressed by state park staff. Almost a foot of rain has fallen at Calaveras Big Trees State Park near Arnold in the last two weeks, with more than three inches falling Sunday.  Since then over a foot of snow has added to the unstable trail conditions at the Park

The Pioneer Cabin Tree is one of the best known giant sequoias, which grow naturally only in a few locations on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. The giant sequoia is the largest tree species in the world, with some trees reaching a diameter of 27 feet. The Pioneer Cabin Tree stood approximately 100 feet tall and was 22 feet in diameter at breast height – this is as it stood in recent times. The tree is located in the North Grove of the state park within a relatively large sequoia grove containing more than 150 specimens roughly 2,000 years old.

Lightning strikes in the 1800s hollowed out the Pioneer Cabin Tree’s base and later knocked off its crown and opened up its side. In 1881, the Pioneer Cabin Tree base was squared off and enlarged. Similar to Big Stump, the base of the 1850 Discovery Tree at Calaveras Big Trees State Park, the Pioneer Cabin Tree helped visitors experience the enormous size of the ancient sequoias. For sixty years, tourists rode horses and carriages through the Pioneer Cabin Tree, and in the 1920s automobiles passed through it. Thousands of visitors posed for photos at the tree.

Calaveras Big Trees State Park became a state park in 1931 to preserve the North Grove of giant sequoias.

The Pioneer Cabin Tree was one of the last of the historic tunnel redwoods in the Sierra. The Palace Hotel Tree and Smith Cabin Tree remain standing in the more remote South Grove Nature Preserve at Calaveras Big Trees State Park. The California Tree in Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove and three coast redwood tunnel trees in northwestern California are other storied sequoias in public parks.

This is the water flow along the fallen Pioneer Tree.

Photo taken in early 1900's - I think.

Well, I am a little "caught up".

Hope you are Healthy, Happy and Safe.

Mary

I Can Dream - Can't I

Look at this sweetheart! I know I should stop looking but there is always hope.

ABOUT MAX

"Max is a handsome approximately 3 year old, rescued Pug/ terrier mix about 16 LBS. He has adorable white sock on his front paws. He is current on his vaccinations and been neutered and micro-chipped. He is so expressive with beautiful big brown eyes with a tail curled up over his back, he also has a beautiful shinny coat. Max is laid back, loves to be on a lap and loves being held, he enjoys watching people and other dogs. He is house trained and also uses potty pads. Max is loving, gentle, so affectionate and is a loyal boy. He is good with children, plays with other dogs and gets along with them. Max rides well in the car and walks on leash, he enjoys lots of love and being touched. He will be a wonderful companion and deserves a loving home."

He is less expensive than the others that I have looked at and he is about one hour away.
Just, maybe, if it doesn't rain I will take a drive to see him on the weekend.

Sounds like trouble! LOL.    Don't ya think?

Mary

Do You Like This

I think this is such a good sign that I "got out the needles"! It seems like a long time since I have had any interest in doing something that I usually really enjoy.

This lovely yarn is a Thick - Thin Yarn that is Knit with the thin sections and Purled when the Thick part of the yarn comes along on your right hand/needle. Like most Cowl patterns the length and width can be adjusted easily by the number of cast on stitches and number of rows. I like that there is a dramatic effect with very little effort.         The Yarn Does It!

Last Friday, the new yarn came in the mail - Bamboo Bloom Handprints (Universal Yarn) in this beautiful color - Koi Pond.

Since it is such a "fast knit" I was able to finish this Interrupted Cowl designed by Heather Hill on Saturday.

Do you like my model? I have had "SAMANTHA" for a very long time. I must "let her out more often".                                                                                                                                                          

Actually, she made her debut in 2009 wearing a long red scarf called Canterbury Memories knit with Lamb's Pride (wool-mohair blend) worsted weight yarn. It appears as though the pattern in no longer available on the internet.

Wishes you a Beautiful Day.

Mary

Family Origins

In the past I would never have thought that I would ever be a person that would be as transparent on my blog as I feel I am about to embark upon. I realize there are many bloggers who "put it all out there" and that has never been a problem to me. In fact, on occasion I have felt that I have gained some insight into a particular situation that may be applicable to my own life. However, if this candidness is a problem for you please just return on another day.

Growing up in the 1950's it was not uncommon to see magazine covers depicting life as interpreted by the famous artist, Norman Rockwell.

No matter your age, most everyone is familiar with this popular family Thanksgiving dinner interpretation. Unfortunately, as a people we are getting close to not recognizing this picture to be anything other than "just another picture".

The following images by Norman Rockwell have significance for me as I reflect on my early life.

But first, I think it will be helpful to briefly discuss a little about who was my family.

Father - French decent - born into a Catholic home in Minnesota on a farm in 1902. Left home and school at age 14. I do not know how many siblings but at least eight and two died at birth. On a brief occasion I met 1 Sister (that would be my Aunt) and on several brief occasions I met 1 Brother (that would be my Uncle). That's about it for my experience with my father's family.

Mother - German decent - born into a Lutheran home in Minnesota on a farm in 1902. She was one of 13 children (6 boys and 7 girls) in what was portrayed as a close supportive family. Her birth order was 11 of the 13. And, the 12th child died at birth. I think I met all of my Aunts and Uncles during a brief visit to Minnesota when I was 10 years of age.

My parents married in Minnesota in the year 1928.  Father age 26. Mother age 26. She had earned her teaching credential and had been teaching in a One Room School House with a wood burning stove. I do not know any information about my father during his young adulthood.

One very significant fact that has vastly effected my life is that following my parents marriage they left Minnesota for a six week journey in a Model T Ford to make their home in Los Angeles, California.

Do you see the picture that is developing?         NEVER did I meet any grandparents nor did I have any relationships with Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.

That's it for today. There will be more coming in the future.

Please have the Best Weekend possible and - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mary