About a month ago I did a superman move into the house when I slid on a slippery wooden step. I had a bruise and was a bit stiff. But then my thumb started hurting, and playing the clarinet really reminded me it hurt. So I went to the clinic. An x-ray showed no broken bones and I was given this splint for a week. After dutifully wearing the splint morning and night for over …
The winter after Ken died two of my favorite yarn shops were selling out; one was closing and the other was focusing on weaving supplies. I returned to an old easy thing – “necks.” In the cold winter it’s nice to have a scarf that doesn’t have flapping ends. They were thick and soft Merino yarn. I made some and then was asked to make some shorter for friends whose glasses had steamed up. Here …
Last year I skipped a tree. There were two dogs, multiple dog beds, and I was alone. This year I asked Loyal to cut a tree. My request was that he find one that is competing or shading the garden or otherwise needs to go. That’s what we have always done Two years ago I made an origami star; although it has a slight hole I can use it again. The angel is pressed paper. …
When the weather gets cold and I am running the cook stove, I also render lard. It used to be from our pigs; now I get it from my friend Josh, and keep some and return some rendered lard to Josh. Last year Loyal rigged up this handy cutter. And both then and this year he chopped the lard for me The cook stove is ideal as it is a large, low heat surface. So …
Covid has come close to home. First Loyal’s partner had a housemate test positive. Then two younger friends were quarantined as a school fellow tested positive. So Loyal and I had a frank discussion. When he enters my personal space after being with other people he and I wear masks. Since I asked him to wear a mask it seemed right for me to make masks. I used up some cotton quilt fabric I had …
I have voted every time I could. Once I took two days off school while I was in college, and traveled 800 miles round trip to vote. I consider voting the minimum act of civic responsibility. This year, during Covid 19, I have requested mail in ballots. Please develop a plan whether mail in, mail in ballot dropped at a site, or in person voting. Whether you agree with my decisions on candidates or not, …
This pile of red oak was here before I arrived. It was cut on this property, and Ken helped mill and plane it; he worked at a local mill in exchange for getting wood sawed and planed so he could build. This pile was intended for the flooring on part of the main level. The other flooring is tiles he made. A divorced friend asked about it once. Ken explained that someday it would be …
So, a while back I received a package via FedEx that should have gone to 235 EAST not me at 235 WEST. Then Loyal texted from out of town had I received the package he had ordered for me that he had tracked and was reported as delivered. No. Later that day I got a call that a woman in a second floor apartment on Pine Street south of Turtle Lake had my package. She …
Yesterday the roofers came. There had been a leak before Ken died around one of the skylights. Ken’s quick fix didn’t hold. I asked around and found a very good roof guy. He was clear about price and possibilities of what he might find under the old metal roof I held off until after Loyal had done the bat remediation. Bats pup in spring and then around mid August they establish their winter homes. So …
This book resonates with both my dance and zen experiences. We need to observe both the thoughts and physical reactions in life situations. The author writes of healing our bodies from extensive, multi- generational trauma. He quotes recent studies that demonstrate how we carry and react in different ways to trauma. As a healer he wants to work for both physical and spiritual healing rather than only the cognitive work. As someone who has worked …
