TA-DA!

This is a photocentric post. Beware.

It made sense that some commented in the prior post that it was difficult to judge the change without before photos. In the interest of full disclosure I have photos of the remaining mess. Along with age, it seems, comes a lack of shame. 

I do have a rest home for old Macs. 

Yesterday I finished with the remaining odds and ends. I decided to leave the relic of a treadmill open, hoping I will use it. I am supposed to do as much walking as possible and this does make walking easier. Gatto likes it as another choice of cat perch. Seeing the photo reminds me I need to put the smoke alarm back over the door.

 

This took me five or six days but I stuck with it and got it done. Mark called it clean and busy. I bristled. Busy? Well, maybe, but I've had a lifetime of horses and show rings and a collection of a kazillion photos and stuff. What's the point of keeping the things you like and not having them where you can see them? There is no point. I am not a minimalist, fair to say. 

The Cleaner

You ask, Sandra, what have you been up to lately? Well, now, since you asked. don't get excited, I've been slowly, cleaning and decluttering my office. Also known as the *if you don't know what to do with it, put it in here* room. The total of Sunday afternoon.

I have a household dust allergy. I have four room air purifiers. I have a room so full of dust I could build sand castles. Ok, maybe ant hills. I guess my brain thinks air purifies are automatic dusters or something. Anyway, the room is a disaster. Books, papers, framed photos and just..... stuff cover the desk, floor and the unused treadmill. I'm finding decluttering means rearranging. A new definition of the concept of clearing out.

It's hot and humid through most of the week. I had to turn the A/C on yesterday, which is something because I am stingy with that. Had I not, I may have melted away. I planned for this time to be used to clean and declutter rooms I tend to ignore. I think it will be room, not rooms at this rate of speed.

My best hopes you all are doing something much more fun than this. 

Long Ago

While I was working at cleaning my office I came upon a photo album I had brought home from my mother's house when I was clearing it out five years ago. I had not opened it until yesterday. There were a few photos that included Mark, Matthew, me and one of my brother whom I have neither seen nor heard from in thirty years. There's also a cute photo of my Afghan Hound, Fallon, as a large puppy and the Bulldog, Tilly, sneaking a peek from behind the plant. This was our house in St. Louis Park.

Matthew and Tilly when he was maybe five. He loved Miss Tilly. Matthew was a joyful child. The fates were with me when he was born an agreeable, creative and good-natured kid. We lived alone together for five years and I was never alone.

We can see by the candles this was his fifth birthday. He didn't look anything like his mama then or now.

I'm an onlooker while my brother, Robert, was having some sort of tussle with Matthew. Matthew was deeply hurt when Robert decided to remove himself from the family. He felt, rightly, that he could at least kept contact with his only nephew.

Mark surrounded by fluff. I'm holding my dog, Gisselle. Babette is next to Mark. Giselle was from one of Babettes litters. I was early teens when she was born. I was allowed to keep her.

My office clean-up stalled as I was looking through the album. There are several others I haven't gone through. I think I'll put that on hold until I finish my task at hand.

Another Day, Another Gatto

I was able to focus on tasks yesterday. I made bread and the wild plum crumble. It could use more sugar, those little things are sour. Picked tomatoes, did some tidying and, you know, stuff.

Friday is lunch from the local meat market/deli; philly sandwich and what they call autumn coleslaw. The one day of the week I do not make lunch.  

Today will be really humid, which means I'll try to focus on inside tasks. It's not as if there aren't plenty. I may not be seizing the day but I am seizing a cup of coffee. 

Nothing to Speak Of

Howard 

He was a good boy

I have nothing fit to print. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment. A feeling likely shared by many. So, I'll follow Boud's example and make a wild plum crumble. Prepare a chicken for roasting and perhaps finish mowing the lawn. 

Sad

A quiet, foggy morning. I've been foggy lately and I'm sure it's the constant underlying stress of the times. Israel bombing Qatar, a US ally. Russian drones shot down over Poland's airspace. I wish I were capable of living in a rose colored bubble. I know there are some who read this who believe we are going in the right direction. I'm not here to change your mind. I know I cannot. 

 

Simple Sunday

Hello all. It's been quite chilly here in the northland. I've almost, almost turned on the heat. Then I snapped back to myself. Frieda is thoroughly enjoying my use of a throw. She won't sit or lay on me without one. Don't try to figure her out. You can't.

Friday Evening

Saturday Evening

We've had three days of on and off showers. It is appreciated, although the rain has stopped the outdoor momentum. In between showers my hay guy was able to get half of my winter hay supply delivered. I am always relieved when I know I have enough hay for the beasts. They also got moved to different pastures so they are up to their bellies in grass. Pasture season does give a financial break. 

I try to keep forward momentum going, not think too much about what lies ahead. What lies in my immediate future is some sorting and winnowing. It's too wet to work outside and I have put blinders on regarding the abundance of unused things I have taking up space. I have a difficult time letting go. Sticking things in large plastic bags which I stuff in any space I can find is ridiculous. I don't want my son to go through what I did when my mother died. I must keep reminding myself of this.

Anyway. This hot mess was a very good dinner. Neighbor Bill brought me some red bell peppers which I used with grilled steak. Very good, even if I do say so myself. We should always remember to tell ourselves 'good job' once in a while.

 

Cool and Sunny. Not Me....the Weather.

A bouquet of basil.

I picked it, didn't feel like doing anything with it at the time. It's a bouquet for the moment. It's been chilly this week. Next week we jump up to the mid-to-upper 70s F. The leaves on the ash trees are already changing color. Autumn is on the way. We had a good rainfall last evening, which was very timely as everything needed a watering. 

Tripod kitty doesn't really care about any of this. Her biggest concern is that her servants remain obedient. We've been well trained, she needn't worry.

I roasted more tomatoes  and think I will use them on a pizza for this evening's dinner. This sounds like a plan. You know your world has shrunk when the plan for the day comes down to what's for dinner. Ah, well. A day in the life.

Autumn Happenings

Good Morning

We are in the 50s F this morning. Cloudy and blustery. Sort of how I've been feeling these days. To be a cat, with the only thing on the mind is the birds eating berries off the dogwoods. 

I took advantage of the cooler weather yesterday. I made bread, biscuits and....

 

stuffed zucchini, using a large zucchini Neighbor Bill gave me. The second time this year he's brought me a large one. He doesn't use those that get lost under the plant and get big. Different culinary tastes, which often works in my favor. I will be preserving a lot of tomatoes this year, as Bill has been bringing me boxes full and I have five plants just now starting to ripen. Roasting and freezing is happening. Some will be dehydrated and turned into pesto rosso. I've already made and froze six small jars of pesto genovese. It's that time of year. It's said traits often skip a generation. I am very like my grandma, bib apron, food preserving and all.

Last Day of August

The glory of morning.

 

Good Sunday Morning.

Turkey Day Every Day

Gobble Gobble

For several years now the turkeys have been raising their turklets on the property. Sometimes there is an entire village of them. I got this photo from a distance so not the best quality. They move calmly, mama looking around while babies check things out.

I've been busy playing catch-up outside. There is so much to do and I know it won't all get done, but I'm making a dent. 

And Yet Another

Back to My Regularly Scheduled Program

Which seems to be cats.

Frieda is a strange one. She enjoys sitting in the Wassily chair. Not soft, slanting backward, yet she sits in it a lot.

Give Gatto a box and he turns it into his castle.

Our weather is perfect this week. I spent two afternoons trimming the honeysuckle on the east end of the house. The end with all the window. Windows with no view other than leaves. They grew so fast this year they towered. I knew when I put them there what they are and how tall they get. I'd put several different shrubs in this place and they all died. I have honeysuckle growing everywhere so I dug them up and waited. They did not die. It's been me against the bushes for decades. They are close to winning.

I'll spend this afternoon doing more much needed maintenance. I'll use the weed whacker for as long as the battery lasts, which isn't very long with this one. The forecast has me hopeful, I may be able to get a lot of deferred maintenance done. If my body holds up. I limit myself to a couple of hours a day if it's physical. My definition of physical, that is. How is it the last week of August?

Trees. Guys.

Dude!

Don't tell me he isn't a gentleman of fashion. 

He got me, so I got him back. It's the story of my people. Xcel Energy tree trimmers have been here for several days removing branches from proximity to the power line. The boss lady laid down the rules the first day, saw different guys the next day and did it all over again. Do not mutilate my trees. Do not mess with the ancient pines, just make the channel through the middle as you see has been done before. Every few years I need to repeat myself. They are told to be aggressive. I have to tell them better not. The second group mutilated a cedar tree for no apparent reason before I got to them. I told those guys I didn't want to see that again. Long ago I had a guy call me a ball busting bitch. I thanked him.

The original guys are back at it. They are pleasant, friendly men. I asked the one who was walking around with me as I pointed out what I wanted and I asked him if he would like to see a horse. Yes! I showed him Mr. Big Stuff, Zing, who put on a fancy strutting show. He was a show horse and never lost the flair. The young man asked me my name. When I told him he smiled large and said 'Spanish'. I said yes, it is a Latin name. He took photos of the big guy and it felt like I made his day. He asked if it was expensive to keep horses. Yes, it is. It's worse now than it used to be. The average joe is being priced out. It's a common story. 

Other than bossing a bunch of men around I have been doing little to nothing. Tomorrow is supposed to be the start of a week long break in the heat and humidity. The yard and gardens are calling my name. They will be bossing me around for quite a while.

Progress

Me playing coy when Mark held his phone up and said 'smile'. I created a monster when I showed him how to use it. I had PT yesterday. We discussed my progress and where we go from here. I told her I felt I'd come a long way, that I knew I'm never going to be completely erect ever again, but it's better and I am able to walk more. She seemed satisfied with this. We decided I'd come back in a month to check if I'm progressing or at least holding steady. I am coming to the end of a nearly year long journey with her. She is the only person who took the time to know the issue and do something about it.

The PT did suggest walking sticks, she gave me a pair to try. Wow, where have they been all my life! I came home and ordered a set. They are so much better than a cane and with them I have two weapons to wave in the air. It's a win-win.

The heat and humidity is supposed to lessen on Saturday. Saturday cannot come soon enough for me. Just making this simple pasta dish had me soaked with sweat. I think cooking may be off the menu until Saturday. Whatever is done will be done in the airfryer.  

Okay, time for some toast and another cuppa joe.

Rainy Days and Monday

We had a day without rain on Sunday, but not without stifling humidity. Then rain came along in the early evening and it's still raining this morning. If the extended forecast is correct we will need this moisture later on.

I decided I would make bread. This is a whole wheat rosemary loaf. It's good with sandwiches and soup. Being Monday, it's laundry. The horses are staying in the barn today. I know it may seem odd to many that I keep these beasts in sometimes, but we have black clay soil. It's awful when wet. Well, when dry, too. When it's soaked it sucks people in and won't let go. I have found myself face planted more than once as my foot has been held in place while the body is in forward motion. Lovely. For the horses safety, especially geriatric horses, they stay in because this stuff is tendon popping and also the landscape is rolling. I'm cautious.

Gatto sandwiched between bread. I'm a regular comedian! I am too like my father, which is preferable to the other option. I have PT tomorrow, it's down to every three weeks. I stopped my exercises last week because I was in so much pain I just couldn't. For some reason I'm moving better than I was. It's not a reach to believe I may have been overdoing. I tend to be this way, all or nothing. Go figure.

On that, I think I'll toast some rosemary bread and drink coffee while the washer washes.

Happy Sunday

I came across this while scrolling my phone. Yes, I will admit to doing this. It made me smile. A well-known, wonderful song with a slight difference. 

https://www.threads.com/@music.lei/post/DNayUuHMZcz?xmt=AQF0AI0Sn--lmCHzaBQFI2idmjktP3vE5UtAf--hXJYNJQ

I loved to dance. I still do. I'm not the queen, but I still dance.

Having a Caturday

Get that thing out of my face, human.

We've had lots of rain with more coming. We can use it. For a short time it was coming down at 1" per thirty minutes. That didn't continue, thankfully. Being at the top of a hill means flooding is unlikely. Still....

It feels like life is on pause. That's how I can describe where I'm at. I have a feeling I'm not alone. Going through the motions, as the song says. The motions today will be making bread, straightening up, scraping the cats with a shedding blade and once again the %@#*? moment of wondering how this became a cat house. I guess because I let them in.

 

Forty-Four Years

One this date I made a second attempt at marriage. There were certainly rough patches, but here we are.

My mother, father, brother I haven't heard from in over thirty years and seven year old Matthew. We are squinting into the sun.

Our friends and witnesses, Dan and Terri.

 I feel I shouldn't be forty-four, much less married that long.

All Flowers and Sunshine

The phlox are out of control.

None were actually planted here, it was another flowerbed that started this invasion.

This vase was tipped over during the night. The glass didn't break, the water did spill. One of two culprits. I'm sure you can guess who the two are. Someone had tight naughty pants. My grandma crocheted the small doily. I bet that's a word the youngers don't know. 

We have a break in the heat for a couple of days so this afternoon will be spent on the mower. What would I do if we lived in a condo? Mark will never live in a condo. He audited a condo association long ago and, well, let's say he couldn't wait to be done. We may end up in a nursing home but it won't be a condo.