It Is Raining

The rain is falling and has been for over a day .  We really need the rain following the drought and all the forest fires but hopefully it will not be so heavy and long that we have flooding and erosion of soil and mud .  We don't need that kind of a challenge .  My heart goes out to the homeless people who struggle so much day to day .  Do what we can to help through public service agencies !!!

Looks like I have some rescheduling to do for garden maintenance !

Happy Weekend .

Mary

Snow Flakes Are Close

Snow was falling this morning before sunrise very close to where I live . Just 500 foot elevation above my elevation of 2000 foot elevation . And , I was surprised that it is that close .  We had rain sprinkles here and enough wind to blow lots of leaves up to my front door .  The air is crisp at 43 degrees and it feels like WINTER .  But , not to cold for me to go out and leaf blow lots of acorns and leaves away from the front door .  It felt good to get out of the house even if it was for a very short time !

I had a good night's sleep with Ivy snuggled as close to me as she could get . Even though the house feels nice and cozy .  

OH , my gosh , I just looked up from the computer and IT IS SNOWING !!!  It looks quite heavy and I am so surprised .  I guess I won't be going to the grocery store like I planned .

I went to the front door and this is what I saw .  Snow on the umbrella !  The patio is quite sheltered with all the large trees hovering over the patio .

Went to the other door through the garage and this is the scene . Amazing !  And , what a blessing as we need the moisture so badly to nourish our parched soil .
How funny - my garden gloves sitting at the top of the big rock .  I guess I wasn't finished with my project .  If you can't see it - - - the words on my Peace Poll  says MAY The Moon Softly Restore You By NIGHT .  And , the other side says MAY The Sun Bring You Peace By DAY .  I chose that poll because my White (Moon) Garden is very nearby !

OH , HAPPY DAY !

Mary

Some More Cooking

It is a perfect cool cloudy day for some homestyle cooking .  And , I think some Sausage and Cabbage fits the bill .

This turned out tasting just as I remembered from making it many times in the past . And , I have a long past !  😊

Another nice dinner for the freezer for when I will not be able to cook for awhile when I have my right knee replaced .

Our weather certainly has taken a turn and snow is expected at the higher elevations , much higher .  Yes , it's that time of the year .  And , it looks like the predicted temperatures in the future are much lower than recently .  I have my living room gas fireplace on and it is nice and cozy in here . And , Ivy is snuggled even closer than usual !

 

I only have to leave the house for one thing today .  And , that is going to the post office to mail some packages to my Great Grandchildren .  No special occasion , just "I Love You" packages .

Will the Election be called tonight ?  Time to work toward unification!

Mary

WOW      Powerful Winds Have Been Wreaking Havoc

(newspaper source)

Across California .  And, in some places as strong as 125 miles per hour .  Here , the wind has been blowing fiercely throughout the day.  My power is still on but over 100 PG&E customers are already without power due to power lines down from the strong winds .

(newspaper source)

I hope and pray that people will be safe and there will not be serious results from injury .

Mary

Snow Flurries Falling Nearby

 Lots of scattered snow flurries nearby for all the Snowbirds .  Also we have been having rain showers for a few days . It is great to get the much needed water in this slow manner with hopes of no flooding .

Not long ago , I saw this " suggestion " for people driving in the snow who clearly drive to fast .

What ya think ?

Just look at my sad winter garden !

I am not so sure I will be able to do much in the garden this coming year with the way my body/joints are feeling .  It looks like there will be a lot of work to do !  And, the other side of the house is a lot more work . I'll just have to wait and see how my body is behaving !

A couple evenings ago I decided to get some yarn out and do a little creating .  Ivy has been wanting to be very close to me lately - which is nice .  I was sitting at the end of the sofa and Ivy couldn't get as close so she jumped up to the arm of the sofa and put her chin on the yarn and fell asleep .  It was so sweet and comforting !

Until next time .

Mary

Walking Through The Holidays

How do I feel ?  I really don't know . It is different than any other year .  For the most part I guess I can say that I am good , not great .  But, the best part is that I have a feeling of calm and peacefulness like no other time in my life .

My cactus plants have been blooming and this is a small one that has a nice pink/peach color .  Even with some neglect this past year they have bloomed .  I  always enjoy when they start to show some color .

My little gal IVY has been a very sick little gal . She is a rescue cat and certainly has had some issues . Her adoption was considered an "AS IS" adoption because she was resistant to being touched thus making care and treatment very difficult. Most often change of behavior patterns can change very slowly . And, it was a couple weeks ago that I thought she was exceedingly restless . Her annual vaccination appointment was soon . But, I noticed a teeny little worm when I was vacuuming ! My response was "oh, NO . As you know , I have been letting her go outside on occasion . AND , I have not been faithful in giving her the monthly Advantage (multi) medication which is so unlike me !

Well , the long and the short of it is that I told the Vet that I thought she had worms .  So along with her rabies vaccine she was given another vaccine for outdoor cats as well as deworming medication.  I was of the thought that she may have come to me with the worms but with further review of her file I noted that Rescue had giving her deworming medication before adoption .  It looks like I was a bad mommy !

She was so sick the first day after the Vet visit . Did not want to be touched and slept all day except for food/water and litter box .  After a few days she is doing great and is like a new cat . No more frantic running through the house or staying up all night thus keeping me up all night . I am so so happy that she is feeling better.

I have continued my efforts in trying to find a doctor who will assist me in procuring some medication that will help me with my Seasonal Affective Disorder . After contacting about six different medical offices - no luck ! I did find one that would see me in six months .  Another one was a four month wait for a TELE-HELP phone appointment !  Hard to believe !  Just like so many things in our current social order - or - disorder .  We have had so many dark , wet , cold days of late .  I have started using Light Therapy again , but have not noticed any help .  I will continue working on a solution .

Sending Holiday wishes as you travel along these Holidays !

Mary

It's Been A Week

And, what a week it has been !!!  Not one that I would ever want to repeat !!!  But, now it is time to get caught up with all of you .  Periodically ,  I have started to post and then I would get distracted by my own thoughts or something external .  That's the way it has been going .  So I will include those snippets in this post that I was trying to send you .

TUESDAY - Power back ON About One Hour Ago At 2:30 PM and will go off again in one hour .  It has been a very rough time for me since the power was turned off  Saturday evening .  Other than trying to find something healthy to eat , the biggest challenge was trying to stay warm in a house that persisted on staying about 51 degrees .  I found myself putting on more and more clothes and periodically crawling under the covers with hopes of going to sleep for awhile in the middle of the day .

On Sunday morning I was awakened by thunderous noise of fiercely blowing winds that even caused the house to give a slight squeaking noise . The wind was blowing so vigorously ,  like I have never seen nor heard before and estimated to be 50 to 60 miles per hour ! And, the wind persisted throughout the day . Along with the wind came tree branches , leaves , leaves and more leaves and pine needles and the ground surfaces were covered with a blanket of mess !

The On and Off of power is such an unknown and a very fluid schedule .  Because a tree on the next street over fell and hit the nearby power pole we were without power a half a day longer .  It can be very exasperating when there is no way to find out what is going on other than the old fashioned "grape vine" !  But, you have to leave the house to get information in that way .  When they say the power is going to be turned Off , that means that every service we are accustomed to having other than water . But , that means only COLD water , no HOT water !

THURSDAY - yesterday was quite a remarkable day .  About 11:30 AM I decided that I needed to get out of the house and find a place to get a cup of hot coffee .  So, I was raking enough of the driveway so I could drive out .  And, while I was raking a lady was walking by and started talking to me . I mentioned that I was on my way to find some hot coffee . She said she was from the shop at the corner of main street that is a sporting goods shop that sells outdoor gear for outdoor adventures . I knew about the store , of course .  Anyway, she was telling me about a product that they have for making hot water/ coffee AND that she would bring me one tomorrow morning ! And, then I drove down to main street to find some hot coffee .  And , I heard that some places on main street had power and we did not because of the fallen tree nearby .  So I stopped at a restaurant that looked like it was open.  They had hot coffee and ALSO were serving a small menu .  The stores on either side of them did not have power .  I had the very best hamburger and hot coffee with cream !!  They treated me wonderfully and it was a great heart warming experience !!  I felt like two angels came into my somewhat overwhelming life and brought me joy, comfort and caring .   LIFE IS GOOD .

The generator will hopefully be installed soon . A neighbor offered to help me set it up as portable with outdoor cords, but I have not had the wherewithal to be a part of installing it .  The electrician is scheduled to come and provide an estimate .

My doctor appointment has to be rescheduled with the oncologist because the hospital did not have power except for urgent issues .

When we would be able to receive info from PG&E it would look similar to this - - - San Francisco, CA - - - Due to a widespread dry, offshore wind event on Tuesday, Oct. 29, through midday Wednesday, Oct. 30, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) confirmed today that it is in the process of implementing a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) to approximately 597,000 customers in Northern and Southern Sierra, North Bay, Bay Area, Santa Cruz mountains, North Coast and Kern County. As of 1 p.m., approximately 500,000 customers are without electric service as a result of PSPS.

TODAY - it is wonderful to have Power.  I haven't been able to keep track in my mind what days I have or have not had power!  There are still fires burning especially in Southern California but the weather conditions have improved statewide, however, that could change in an instant .

The Chrysanthemums in the front yard are blooming beautifully similar to this photo that I took last year .

I have started to clean up from the wind storms .  I have filled 20 trash barrels - yes 20 !

It is a beautiful day and I am very tired and hopeful that I will feel more rested in the near future .

Value each and every day as if it could be the last .

Mary

Power On - - - Power Off - - - And Repeat

The citizenry of the California Red Flag territory are NOT a happy bunch of people !

A THIRD Power Outage is projected for this weekend extending into Monday due to anticipated high winds in California north-west of where I live .  The many , many , many fires throughout California are truly a disastrous reality !  This is not fun for anyone and unfortunately this seems to be a new normal for this time of year with all the the unresolved issues surrounding these disasters .

This afternoon , my generator is scheduled for delivery and an electrician is scheduled to come out next Wednesday to assess and provide an estimate for installing a Transfer Switch and everything necessary for me to have limited access to power for refrigeration of food and whatever other priorities I have with the new six electrical circuits provided with the generator .

I am very concerned about my appointment with the Oncologist that is scheduled for Monday afternoon .  It is a thirty minute drive south-east of here .  I sure hope I can go and get the final report .  I don't know if they will have power or if I will have power .

One of my neighbors has a new generator and has been using it in a very limited capacity prior to full installation .

It is difficult to explain how disruptive and stressful all of this is for me when I am so much better off then thousands of people throughout the state .  Until you have been totally cut off from any type of communication with your world it is a reality you never want to experience ! The constant unknown of when , how long and being alone compounds the entire situation .

Throughout all of this, be assured that I have not lost sight of how fortunate and blessed I am to have the life I have !

The Very Best Wishes To Everyone .

Mary

Why Is There So Much Noise

The noise in my little corner of the world has been unbelievable lately .  How can that be when I live in a "quiet (most of the time) little country town" ?  Yesterday (Sunday) morning I was awakened with very very loud "air traffic" above my house . Helicopters were circling above and seemed to be quite low .  On Saturday there was a similar situation about five miles north at a Residential Gated-Community that prompted lots of questions on social media.  Reportedly , the air traffic is PG&E (Pacific, Gas and Electric) who are surveying the power lines throughout the area . I have heard the helicopters in the past, but not this intensely.  California has certainly responded to the serious need for fire prevention !

And, if you follow my blog you most likely know that there has been an overabundance of tree cutting with chain saws and wood chippers .  Soon the pile of logs across the street will be split and the power equipment will be screaming some more !

And, to add insult to injury ,  three houses down my street the jack-hammers have been working for days removing a cement foundation !

HELP, HELP my ears are hurting !!!  No , not really . 

The Clematis on the fence is in full bloom . Such a beautiful  sight .

This has been the strangest day !  Earlier this morning the Painter left me a message that he won't be able to paint today because his mother passed away this morning .  And , twenty minutes ago while the sun was shinning it started raining very heavy and doesn't look like it is going to stop soon .

And , I think I will stop now and return another day !

Mary

Enough Already

Please, no more Three Digit Temperatures for awhile !!!  It makes it so difficult to get very much accomplished when the climate temperatures gets to a certain level .

And, it is very challenging to keep the garden watered .

When I went out today for some errands it was 103 degrees .  I had to pick up some cat food for Ivy because her supply was empty .

I have been trying to find out if the recommended X-ray test has been scheduled . When I call , the message says that there is a 45 minute wait for "a representative" !  What is happening to Our World ?  I went to the clinic today to have blood drawn for my lab work . My next appointment with the doctor is in ten days . My most noticeable symptoms have been very swollen ankles which I have never had difficulty with .  I sure wish I could get more answers to what is going on with me . I really think I am dealing with inadequate care and I do not know what more I can do about it !!!

I haven't gotten much done for the last few days .  Feeling more tired than usual .  Psychologically , it is difficult not knowing what is going on medically .

Until next time .

Mary

Fire Season Is Here

And has been here in our county for quite some time with daily grass and wild fires .  Our protectors (the Fire-men and women) have been very dutiful and diligent in curtailing the flames from invading surrounding properties and grasslands .

To make matters worse , we are experiencing an EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING with temperatures in the 100 range .  When I went out to the pharmacy yesterday the temperature sign at the Garden Center said 104 degrees !  Yes , that is very HOT !  Fortunately , these elevated temperatures are expected to last only a few days !

It seems as though my little neighborhood which is very close to our Historic Downtown has been receiving a lot of attention from the "powers that be" who manage fire prevention and tree trimming around power lines .  This truck was across the street from my home this morning .  I am very appreciative to have this type of prevention activity .

Since the horrible fires of the recent past , California is doing a lot of proactive preparedness and prevention .  There have been town-hall meeting and there is certainly a heightened awareness through out the community .  It is Good .

My garden is doing well as long as I do the hand watering in both morning and afternoon .  With this hot weather it would not take long for all my hard work to be for naught .  Everything would be dry and dead . Don't want THAT !

Hope Your Week Is Going Well .

Mary

The Cleanup Is Starting - Between The Heavy Rains

There is so much to do every which way I look .  And there is only one remedy and that is to just start .  So, that is what I am doing .  I have already filled 8 trash barrels with branches, leaves and weeds and it doesn't look I have even started .  
I am not sure how many plants will not make it through the snowy winter .  The Yellow Chrysanthemums and Mountain Grass are in question .

Some of the neighborhood flowering trees are slowly starting to "pop" some blossoms .

I certainly have not had a great amount of energy to get a lot accomplished during our long unusually cold, wet and white winter .  I am looking forward to turning my energy switch (sunshine) on and turn the (winter) switch off !

A Good Week to All Of You .

Mary

In Time Past

Like many others, for years I always had a seasonal flag hanging from the front of my garage .  The flags were in lieu of a front door decoration since my front door is somewhat hidden from street view . There were many flags in my collection ( probably still in the garage) , however, there was one that I was particularly fond of . It may be because during those years we seldom would get snow at this 2000 ft elevation.  But, as you can see there was one year that warranted a very special recognition of the season .

No snow today but another rain storm predicted to start later today .  The sky was bright and sunny earlier but now the sky is darkening at noon time. I was able to run some errands yesterday but still need to take the household waste to the dump . Hope to do that today before the rains start, again .

Well, I didn't get to the dump !  I got side tracked and started to clean up the patio and driveway .  I have had some concerns about falling over some of the deadwood limbs and stuff that has fallen on the cement where I walk .  What a mess !   I sure hope I can find some help with the outdoor maintenance .  One of my neighbors have had a lot of trees fall and there are a lot of trucks over there and it is being cleaned up .  Maybe, I will get to the dump tomorrow if the rains don't start .

I heard on the news this evening that come Saturday we may have a temperature of 70 degrees .  That would be so nice !  It's been weeks, maybe months (at least it seems that way) since warmer temperatures .

What a Winter !

Hope everyone is doing well , at least dry, warm and safe .

Mary

If It Isn't Rain - It Is Snow

These lovely Daffodils are fighting the good fight and trying to stand upright ! But, the pounding rain and snow makes for a big challenge .

The camellias are anxiously awaiting some drier and warmer weather .

Water - water  - water everywhere !

It is really a big mess outside .    I had to manipulate a little drainage revision since the black drain that goes underground is clogged .

A little food prep of Chicken Thighs with artichokes and tomatoes.

And Baked Beans for a winter day.

I thought this photo was quite lovely !

These photos are from the last snow that fell a few days ago .

Yes, that is a lot of snow for this part of the state of California .  I hope this is not going to become the norm for us.

With the weather that has been keeping me indoors, I'm getting a lot of cleaning-out and downsizing accomplished .  It won't be long before my file cabinet will be photo worthy .  I never want to waste time again looking for a "certain paper" .  It will be wonderful to have my home organized again like it has been most of my life .

Good wishes for Good Days and Comfort as you live your life to the fullest and rising above any obstacles that are burdening You.

Mary