Each year my parents send me paper whites. This year they also sent me an amaryllis Ken had grown amaryllis plants in the past, but this was my first. This one is quite remarkable; there were two blossom stalks The other remarkable thing was instead of two or four flowers per stem, this one has six blossoms on the first stalk Now there is a third stem with a flower bud! Beautiful. Thanks Mom and …
This season is one of transition. Loyal came and tapped trees here, hauled sap and boiled sap on Ken’s evaporator. I helped him finish and bottle the maple syrup Loyal found some filters that work better than any Ken and I had used. But after he had cleaned and hung them to dry, I had a feeling the KKK had done laundry in my kitchen. Contact Loyal if you want to buy syrup
It began before the lock down – when I wanted to deliver bread safely and not scare some of my younger friends Then there was my last delivery before lock down with lots of blowing kisses safely Those under twenty degree mornings of last week when a health care worker picked up the masks I had sewn That first warm day when I had a necessary errand
Last night I watched a show on Bill Holm, a Minnesota poet. I cried at the thought of his being dead, and cried at missing my deceased husband Ken as well. Ken and I loved Bill Holm and his work: poetry, essays, piano playing. We first saw him in nearby Amery, Wisconsin. After his performance I approached him and asked to buy the book that contained a poem he had read called Advice. I intended …
I have not been happy with the crust on my bread. Months ago I had tried adjusting time covered and time uncovered. I thought more uncovered time would result in a crust that was more brown and well, crusty. Last week I was distracted and left one batch covered and at a higher temperature longer. The result was better crust, but the interior was bordering on gummy. However I am headed in the right direction. …
Yup. Taxes ready to see Jeanne at Skally’s Tax Service. One of those glad it’s done tasks
The sun inspired me to return to sorting, clearing and cleaning. And I found a piece of wall as a result! I consolidated all photos and slides. I will sort through those soon!
Remember Ken’s chainsaws I couldn’t start? Well, I offered them to a younger guy, and he was downright excited about them. He took them only on the condition he could help me in the future. Last week he arrived with his tractor with forks bucket and winch attachments He carved out a few days to help clean up wood damaged in last summer’s storm. This afternoon he took his equipment home Thank you, Ryan!
Today, after a couple weeks of home exercise, I swam 50 lengths ( a little over 3/4 mile) in 45 minutes. Not sure if this is a personal best, recent old lady best or what. Just know that exercise is paying off more quickly than I ever expected. Swim strokes with power!
Thank you, Celia, for sending me caps! Here is a pair for the kombucha I brew And after a visit on bread dough day, she also found caps for my bread bowls for the dough’s second rise I am so happy to have these reusable caps so I can stop using one time plastic. Thank you so much!
