Amazed

We went into Mound yesterday to pick up a few groceries and stop at the hardware store. The hardware store has a small nursery over the summer and I was going to look for a few annuals. When we pulled in the sign said 'All Plants Are Free' I read it several times, not believing my eyes. There were several people loading up carts and I joined them.  I was so surprised, I never have seen such a thing. Mark surmised they decided to give what was left away rather than dispose of it. It's a locally owned store. I'm going to write a thank you note. With mean, rude, greedy behavior being normalized, this was a real beacon of light. 

I'll attempt planting my bounty today. It's already hot and humid so we will see how long this wilting flower lasts.

We all know by now the big beautiful budget bill passed the Senate. It will sail through the house and then the reality of what this administration is all about will start to hit those in states that are solid MAGA. We will all feel it, but there are a number of states with high poverty levels who depend heavily on federal money. That's all I have to say. Except I experienced personally that there is still good among us.

Stormy

There was another overnight storm along with a tornado warning. The weather has been volatile this past week. High temperatures with very high humidity will do that. In my elder years I have become extremely heat intolerant. I use extremely because it really is. I am now, with our weather change and my age, a complete winter gal. It does keep the cats quiet, so there is that. My spirit has been willing to work outside, my limited common sense has told me nope.

Gatto does not care what I do as long as he can sleep undisturbed. He does have some grey cells up there.

Yesterday Far Side mention she made potato salad, which then made me want potato salad. This is slightly different from the standard, made with tarragon and vinegar, as well as mayonnaise. No egg. There is enough left for lunch. I have some burgers I made then froze that will accompany the potato salad. A summertime meal if ever there was one.

Eating. Not Fiddling.

It seems like every other minute I have another stupefying, demoralizing notification on my phone. So I think a topic of food and other less traumatic topics are in order.

I was rummaging through the refrigerator freezer and found an unmarked container. I really do need to get in the habit of labeling and face that I will not remember what is in there. I thawed it and found roasted eggplant soup. Yesterday was cool and rainy so why not enjoy a bowl of soup for lunch? No reason I can think of. Because we are in a stressful time I think a bowl of ice cream after the soup is just the ticket. So, we went for it. Then......

Why not indulge in a bit of excess with tortellini, artichoke hearts and Alfredo sauce? Yes, please. I will say, although good, I would like some broccoli in there next time. I have leftover so I think I will add some broccoli to it. When Rome is burning and I don't fiddle, why not indulge in good food? Why not indeed.

As an added bonus, how about a sun-loving cat enjoying her life of luxury on the screened porch? We all should be so lucky.

Rainy Days

It rained all day Wednesday and will be the same today. As I walked through the laundry room I heard drip drip. We have a leak in the roof and the drip drip was water hitting the floor. The high wind we had last week must have done something to a few shingles. We will need someone to fix it. Right now there is a large pot on the floor catching water. Lovely.

Gatto is brushing up on his tax law knowledge. He's so enterprising. The weather is working in Mark's favor. He needs to complete 80 hours of CPE (certified professional education). Gatto would rather snooze.

Rain and cool weather is perfect for baking bread and spending an afternoon finishing one book and starting another. I was also prompted by the weather to make dough for pizza. Rain, fresh bread and book and ending the day with pizza. I know it could get better than that, but not by much.

Take a Ride on the Way-Back Machine

I was scrolling through photos and came upon a couple I must have scanned at some time. This is 1990 or '91. Chloe, on the right, was a Dalmation/Lab cross and Jessie, on the left, was a retired racing Greyhound. Chloe was a ball of fire!

Nellie, also a racer, wrestling with Chloe while Jessie leaves the scene. I've had three greyhounds. The third was a puppy. I don't know her story, only that she wasn't from a racetrack breeder. Probably a show breeder who didn't think she was show quality. I got her from someone who couldn't handle the energy of a Greyhound puppy. I got Chloe the same way, our neighbor had her and she was too much for them. She was a lot of doggo.

It is strange to be without dogs. Since I was born they have been a part of my life, until July of 2023, when Keetah had a heart attack. Mark really misses them but I just don't have it in me to train a dog to living here. It was easier when I had a pack because the other dogs helped me with the newcomer. At one time I had seven large dogs. I didn't limit my overdoing to horses and cats. Really, I just gave the unwanted a home. Like the cats. So, cats have to fill the hole.

It has been miserably hot and humid. Minnesota has turned into the tropics. I had to turn on the ancient AC unit and once again it didn't let me down. Cooler, but still hot and very humid today. I'll take winter any day over this.

Hot

The first day of summer. The end of the peonies. I have somewhere around 20 peony bushes and didn't get any in a vase until yesterday. These two varieties bloom last of all the others so they survived the fierce storm from a week or so ago. The only thing I don't like about peonies is the short blooming season.

Matthew came for a visit yesterday, bringing lunch. It was a pleasant afternoon and we do enjoy the company. The company was pleasant but the heat and humidity outside was stifling. Today and tomorrow will be worse. I spent the afternoon with a fan and an audiobook. Wise choice.  I also spent time prepping a cold pasta salad for dinner. 

Today will be low-key, with the heat index in the triple digits. Equines will stay in the barn, which is an old Dutch style, high rounded roof, set down into a hillside. It stays much cooler than the outside temperature. The horses are old and the heat and humidity is hard on them. They will likely stay in tomorrow as it will be a repeat of today. They are barn babies.

I saw that the east coast is in for some storms. Stay safe east coast pals.

Snoozing in Sunshine

In the kitchen this morning I saw the reflection of Gatto looking like he was sleeping in the ferns. It was clearer than the photo, but I still had to post it. Gatto floating in a bed of ferns. Seems appropriate.

I'm sorry I have been AWOL lately. When I get something in my mind I stick with it and I have become focused on a deeper cleaning of the house. Considering the condition of my mobility it is a slow process, but one which I am actually accomplishing. The downside is I cannot focus on more than one thing at a time, so blogland gets ignored. Then I feel bad and out of the loop. It's really quite interesting how this little community of friends I've never met can mean so much to me. The truth is it does.

Too Hot

Yesterday slipped away from me. There was PT, then lots of errands. The Culligan man came out to change the filters on the reverse osmosis system, I made bread and spent time talking on the phone. Yep, I still do that. Before I knew it, there was late afternoon and I was done for the day. I never did get here to see what was up. 

Gatto and Frieda spend considerable time bird watching. Frieda is a chirper as she dreams of the hunt. Gatto just watches. We've had a lot of rain. Somewhere around six inches. The grass is long, the gardens are overtaken and everything is emerald green. Unfortunately, with the rain comes the humidity. It will be hot and the air will be thick with that punishing moisture for probably the rest of the summer. I feel the weather of the South has moved north. Ah, well.

Last evening was another quick and easy meal made from leftover pork loin roast. Right up my alley.

I've got a bunch of things I need to do before the heat ramps up. I will check in with everyone later today. Until then, stay cool. 

Caught

 

The assassin has been apprehended.

The toddler-in-chief is having a tantrum over the protests and is threatening blue states with increased ICE presence for increased raids.  His parade did not please him. 45 million well spent.

I am not going to turn this space into my angry place, but after Saturday I believe I am allowed a bit of anger mixed with sadness. As we all are, really. It happened here but it could have happened anywhere.

Adding a bit of brightness. Heirloom roses from a dozen years ago.

Some sweet and sour. Like life.

Standing Up

 

Yesterday was a deeply disturbing, sad day in Minnesota. As you likely know, a state representative and her husband were murdered by a now known, but still at large man, leaving their children parentless. He also attempted to assassinate a state senator and his wife, shooting both multiple times. Somehow, they survived. We all knew it was only a matter of time, with the hateful and inflammatory rhetoric coming from the highest places in our national government. Knowing does not make the shock and sorrow any easier. 

There was a shelter in place warning which included the planned protest at the state capitol. People came anyway, some saying they came because of this assassination. People showed up across the state to tell our government we will not submit to authoritarian rule. The massive numbers across the country and the world say more about the dissent than anything I can say.

I saw yesterday the response from MAGA. Exactly what I expected. I believe the true believers are irredeemable. I and the majority of my country will not stand for the crowning of a king. The seating of a dictator. The rule by oligarchs.

Another Tour

A couple of weeks ago I took you on a tour of my former neighborhood. When I was out and about on Tuesday I made an attempt to take some video out the car window. A thing I haven't done before and it shows. 

This is the view of the very small town of St. Bonifacius. It's the closest to our house but in a different county. A busy highway runs through it so it is not exactly a bucolic sight.

This is our road and my pasture with the mares happily eating grass. This was the worst of the videos, of course. I had to take it from a distance and through the front windshield.

Later we went to the small town which is the center of the township we live in.

Somehow a certain person managed to take a photo of her feet.

Home sweet home

The mares decided to take a break from pasture.

 

Once upon a time I grew roses, lots of them. All that now remains is two rambling rose bushes. There is no amount of neglect able to do them in. 

Tomorrow will be a day for the history books. A military parade in the United States and nationwide protests. I wish I could participate but it's not possible. Know that I am with you all over this country of ours.

A Step Too Far

https://www.threads.com/@buddy_edgewood/post/DKt7qckJteE?xmt=AQF0G309GJw3IJcEWGK9z0gMxBdD8MrSqoLmWb6e5hlmUw

Just a Note

Little Miss Naughty Pants

Frieda and I both overslept this morning. It's understandable as it is gloomy and drizzly outside. Yesterday morning was wasted but I did plant tomatoes and get part of the lawn mowed in the afternoon. Mark got another flower bed weeded. We may be finished with outside cleanup before the first frost.

 

The Wheels Go Round and Round

 

How life in the good old US of A is feeling lately.

It was a busy one yesterday. A rare occasion for me indeed! We also had a couple of inches of glorious rain. Today I'm back to my normal, so here I am, wrinkles and all. Yippee!

Happy June 1st

Cattin' Around

 Becomes Cats Gettin’ Down

as the temperature goes up.

Authors and Such

I recently reread (listened) The Great Gatsby, as we all know wrote by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This led my thoughts to Saint Paul and my former community. Fitzgerald was born in Saint Paul where his family lived in this property in the Hill District, which starts on the bluffs of the Mississippi River and continues for a few miles west.

This is on the eastern end, I lived closer to the western end. James J. Hill had a "home" right on Summit Avenue, on the bluff looking down to the city. Hill was a robber baron of the railroad form. 

Fitzgerald moved to this townhouse on Summit with his wife, Zelda, in the 1920s, where he wrote Gatsby, The plaque in front indicates which was their home.

Another Minnesotan was Sinclair Lewis, not T.S Lewis, brain  fog.  He was born in Sauk Center, Minnesota, which is North Central, I think. I went there often enough for a horse show, so I really should know for sure. This was his home on Summit, not too far west of the Fitzgerald row house. This home was somewhere along the way given the name of The Lemon Meringue House. 

 

Summit Avenue is several miles long and it and the blocks to the south and north is a historic district. The governor's mansion is on Summit, kitty-corner to my former house, one block north on Portland Avenue. 

A brief tour of my hometown and the area where I lived for thirteen years. As I have aged I find I miss it every-once-in- awhile.

My former home.

Image taken from Zillow.

** Added as an afterthought

       James J. Hill Mansion**

I Think I Am Back

I took a short blog vacation to concentrate on the many things needing doing that weren't getting done. I succeeded to a certain degree. I got a little painting done and some weed pulling. There is still plenty of both to do, hopeful I am up to the task. We had two days of steady rain which kept me inside, so----

I made bread.

Sandwich rolls.

There was also a rhubarb clafouti which did not photograph well.

Mark found nirvana when he saw meatballs in the sauce. He is easy to please.

Matthew was here this morning to dig up some honeysuckle. He has landscaped much of their yard with plants he finds here. He said he would have paid $60 each at Bachman's for the three he brought home. Yes, he surely would have. We have an abundance of dogwood, honeysuckle, elderberry and fast growing red cedar, all of which he has used at his home. I'm happy to have been of assistance.

This is Gatto's reaction to the morning activity.

 

Hey all. I found a burst of motivation and won’t be online for a couple of days. Once I sit down to the blogs I don’t seem to get up. Letting you because my past absences have been worrisome to a few. 

Happy Dance

Finally

Rain started about 6:00 pm yesterday and has continued through the night and into this morning. Rain is forecast through tomorrow. Hallelujah.

 

Portrait of Granny With Cat

Beware of man using phone camera.

He is sneaky

About four days ago we were 90F. Yesterday it reached 55F and it will be in that range today. Needless to say, but I'll say it anyway, the heat is on. The sun is shining, so that is a positive. Actually, not be 90 degrees is a positive.

On another note...my son, the fine dining chef, is onto a career change. After 30 years in a professional kitchen, he'd had enough. A lifelong friend of his suggested he look into being a paramedic, which is what this friend did four years ago. He likes it, they are paid well and have benefits. The first step is EMT. He passed the final exam on Friday and quit his job. I think we can assume he was ready for a change and I also think he will be good at the job. If he finds the work suits him he will go onto paramedic training. I'm proud of his ability to make such a drastic change at this stage of his life. Life in a professional kitchen is all stress, all the time, and he needed out. He's taking his Yorkie up to northern Minnesota for some camping and hiking today, something I think he needs.

So, while I'm the granny living with too many cats, my only child is moving forward. Good on him.

Don't Mess With Frieda

The hallway monitor.

The rain passed us by yesterday. Bah and humbug. My weather app says it will rain today, but that's what it said yesterday. We have wind up to forty miles an hour, so that's a yikes. I went to PT yesterday and feel I am getting back on track. She has helped me a lot. I plan to start getting on track, as in getting things done. Yes, I will moniter my tendency to overdo. Truly.

 

Dog's Life ( Don't I Wish!)

My beloved Howard knew how to enjoy life.

He was a unique character. I know they all are, but this guy had an exclamation point after his name. He left this life in 2017 and I still miss him. I was blessed to have three bassets in my life. They are living, breathing cartoons.

This will be our last abnormally hot day for the month. I think. Rain is coming in tomorrow and it will be welcome. After that I hope to be able to get my remaining flower beds in some sort of shape. Time passes too quickly.

I don't know what I will do today. I know what I should do, but I don't know if I will do what I should do. I have been listening to a book that has grabbed my attention. This Is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter. She has an appropriate last name for a murder mystery writer. I do enjoy a good who-done-it. This one is good.

May we all be like Howard and enjoy the moment.

 

The Small Things

Aren't they pretty!

It's me again. I hope all you mothers had a lovely day yesterday. It was hot here, 90F. Too hot for May. Too hot for me at any time of the year. I had a quiet day, which was fine. Later in the week we will cool down and I can return to garden maintenance, with more restraint this time. Wild violets are blooming all over the place. I wish they were in flower all summer, but the plant itself is pretty and is a great ground cover.

It's laundry day. I'm listening to the sound of the washer sloshing the water about and a cat munching on kibble. Not a bad way to start a day. Of course, there is coffee.

Howdy

I'm feeling much better today. I was good yesterday and did the exercises I was given to help bring my back to where it was before the ouch happened. We have sunshine and mild weather today so I'm going to take the opportunity and mow the yard. Tomorrow will be the same, which is good, as mowing is a two day project. I think I will leave the weeding to the master weeder, Mark. He thinks that's a good plan and I agree. He's spent three days cutting down saplings and he's still not finished. This whole area would turn into a forest in about three years time if allowed. The speed at which they are seeding and growing, I'm not certain it won't happen anyway. One small pasture has grown a forest of beautiful flowering trees. Who knows where they came from. I planted wild flowers in there years ago when I thought I would try keeping bees. I was finally convinced I had too much on my plate already and it would be, well, insanity to add something more. 

 

A couple of days ago I made ice cream, chocolate chip and walnuts. Note to self....chocolate chips freeze into little rocks, don't do again. Other than that, it's good. I had another dinner based on leftovers last evening, ham. I don't make casseroles often, so it's always a tossup as to how it will turn out. It needed something to brighten the flavor, maybe some heat, like red pepper flakes. 

That's about it. Enjoy the day. Practice moderation. Or not, if you are Val!

Good Morning

I actually have a few things to relay. Sunday afternoon I decided to weed one of the flower beds. It seemed like a good idea, I could be outside and I would be productive. I did most of the 2 1/2 hours by bending because with my tight back it is the most comfortable position for me. Fast forward to Monday. Ouch! The old gluteus and corresponding back thigh muscles were on high alert. I was in some serious pain. Yesterday, Tuesday, still painful but more manageable. I went to PT in the morning, told her my tale of woe. She kindly told me it won't be the last time I forget I'm not what I used to be. In the wise words of the venerable Bette Davis "getting old ain't for sissies". 

On the way back from PT we picked up lunch. I made ice cream later and then had a couple hour visit via phone with a friend who will soon be moving back to the Twin Cities. Somehow, I felt busy all day. When ones' world is narrow the smallest of things fill the space.

The day ended with making dinner, doing a few games of solitaire on my phone and going to bed. Life ambles on.