Some old photos...some new photos...some simple goings on.
On a chainlink fence in The Valley...which I've come to learn that it is from the book "Death Spoon".
Somewhere on another busy street, on another day in The Valley...someone has offered many children's books. Propped against the fence, they stand ready and waiting for someone 🙂
Still life on wall...the leaves dance across the room.
An untold story...somewhere, at some point in time, a neighbor in the building owned this unique statue. Wondering...
Looking back...looking behind...what does one see? Does one need to look back?
I came across some new-to-me words. This image came from HERE. She has links for more word-goodness. Isn't that fun?!
A bold big sky, brilliant clouds...the best part of the day.
When the radiology department has a sense of humor! Now, isn't that welcomed?! It was for me. My toe is fractured.
We heard this outlandish trivia fact this week, confirmed HERE.
UPDATE NOTE: We are still fine. My sister along with so, so many are still evacuated. Today there was more wind than yesterday. It seems the little fires that have popped up are getting knocked down very quickly.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO ALL WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD AND HELPED
As Fred Rogers taught us...Look for the Helpers.
In the face of so much unease, hard times and more predicted for the near future, it is important to remember that there are so many Good People...so many doing the next, best, right thing.
In appreciation of their hard work, strong character and honest intentions...
THANK YOU
President Biden MAKES HISTORY With TWO New National Monuments in California!
Then I checked in on the fires, from the perspective of this White House meeting, below.
I was touched by the seriousness, completeness and professional manner in which each person conducted themselves. The probing questions, the instant communication of pertinent facts, which they had at hand...the transparency in the face of this huge crisis and the humanity reflected in their words and voices.
THANK YOU
President Biden TAKES ACTION on Los Angeles Wildfires with Top Officials!
I pulled out the little loom and some yarns with a particular intention. Now that I've begun though, I'm not sure where this will move to. I'll just let it evolve of course.
It will be a small hanging like the last one. I have a found, long rusty nail to hang it from. I actually took this photo with the loom upside-down from how it will hang. The thin area of blue (so far) is sky, the bigger woven section is the Pacific ocean, earth/sand and growth.
What have you been up to? What do you want to get back to? How do you move forward when stuck in the current moment, the story of right now?
May you do things you love
May you come up with solutions to move you forward
9:07 PM: I'm watching the "Breaking News" on a new fire. Upgraded to a first alarm, updated 9 minutes ago. 25 MPH winds, sustained. Gusts @ 44MPH - been gusting nonstop for the last few hours over Ventura County. All of these fire field notes will be irrelevant within minutes.
We just drove by there the other day when we went to La Conchita to gift the quilt. We reminisced about the local Harley store there, where he bought his beloved bike all of those years ago.
Plus, a whole new perspective on the clearing of the wash near city park. Was that brush dry enough to burn? Mmmm....
🤞
Live Coverage: Latest on SouthernCalifornia fires as region braces for more powerful winds
No evacuations or structures threatened at this time. Not predicted.
9:43PM: When you're up tracking a fire...you learn new things. The Ventura area is under a PDS Warning. I had no idea this term existed.
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WE ARE FINE @ THE TIME OF THIS POST
NOTHING IMMEDIATELY ON OUR HORIZON, ASIDE FROM BIG WIND
A boring update (thank goodnes for boring, eh?)
Greetings all. Over the past days, we have been notified that our power may get shut off.
So far we've been fine and have had power continuously.
Today's warning is that it is "likely" that our power will get shut off. You've seen them before, but the photo above shows the string of power towers behind our building. So, I imagine the threat to be quite real if they are to start a fire.
------So, if I don't respond, that may be why------
I ran out today to pick up a few non-perishable food items and to stop by our local California Automobile Club office. It turns out they stopped printing the "Tour Book" a year ago. Supposedly, they could not keep it properly updated. Everything is online now. I have used those Tour Books for my whole adult life. Another tradition and useful tool, gone.
Minor Annoyance
I wonder which straw will break the camels back and I will be forced to get a smartphone?
Minor Annoyance
I still am happy without one, but I can see the usefulness of them.
Anyway, for now we have power and no fires nearby.
People were out and about...racing around in the wind...driving as awful as always. Cutting other drivers off and basically being d.u.m.b.
As I watch a car cut in and out of two lanes of traffic, I think what's your hurry? Where's the fire? - and I'm reminded that that old cliche could be a real truth here. Even if I doubt it, and feel that they are just being rude...one never knows, eh?
Minor Annoyance
I had to call about the gift card we got, that stopped working after one use - with more than half the money still on it. Supposedly they will send me a replacement in 7-10 days.
Minor Annoyance
An appointment needs to be rescheduled when we can drive in without fear of not getting back home again...a 'taking care of business' call needs to be made to address other important stuff.
I'm not in the mood for those calls...
They feel like a Minor Annoyance, even if necessary.
Minor Annoyance
Minor Annoyance
Minor Annoyance...
WE ARE FINE
What feels truly important? What does one do with the minor annoyances?
May you live your life as best you can
May you recognize what you can, need to, want to do and do that
May you also be okay with flip-flopping around in certain moments
Another new month rolls around, just as they always do. It's been beautiful Fall weather here...bright, cloudy, breezy and in the mid 70's to low 80's. Perfect.
Today we had an errand to a Big Box Store, one we hadn't been to in ages and ages. It was decided that Big Box Stores are very over-stimulating!
Her 1 Level Tiny House dream come true after severe health problems
She stumble onto these things, these videos and plays them as she completes other tasks, like weaving. Or she ejects herself from her tasks and escapes to another world. Lately, they have been the spending and downsizing clutter kind. There is living on a smaller scale and nature and a million other interests, coming in spurts, sputters and binges.
This gal evoked so much empathy as she told her story. So inspirational. We all have a story of some sort or another and I love hearing of the humanity in these small slices of life.
WORDLE LIFE
10/24/24
The family VOTES were in. It would be the parents tasked with the job of filling buckets with SOAPY water and using it to scrub MOSSY rocks along the 50 yard pathway. All of the children had outvoted the two parents, claiming that they had the most BOSSY parents of anyone they knew. Obviously this cleaning task was payback in their minds. Why did we ever have 10 children anyway? father asked. I don't know, answered mother, but, we're drastically outnumbered for life!
10/25/24
Their TALKS were READY. They focused on our BROWN skinned citizens. It is important to include everyone in this process of moving forward. With everyone respectfully included, the CROWN of glory would truly belong to all. He had GROWN from this experience, he thought. This thought brought a FROWN to his brow, making him wonder, "What was I like before I opened my heart in this collaborative experience?"
10/26/24
The neighborhood RAVEN tapped on the living room window. Ever since she'd become friends with the raven, she was able to ERASE her fear of large birds. She'd come to the habit of leaving it a TREAT on the exterior windowsill. The only DREAD she'd experience is when it flew at great speed, right towards that window. But, she was getting over it day by day and she'd come to feel that these interactions were the CREAM of the crop of her daily living. That was until the raven did not land gracefully and managed to BREAK the window. Glass flew everywhere and made a mess of the plants and trinkets that sat on a table just inside. What a WRECK! she thought as she swept up the shards of this bird and human relationship.
10/27/24 (To be read in an English accent)
Oh my! the little girl exclaimed. It smells awfully FISHY in here, she added. So SORRY my dear, her father replied. Just pop off to the STUDY while I clean up. I do feel a bit SEEDY, she said. SADDY Papa, she said, while leaving the room. He turned back to that fish, wondering how one fish could make the table so SANDY and the kitchen so smelly.
The RUINS were on top of the mountain in the distance. First they would need to make their way through the WHEAT fields. They marveled how the FAWNY grain danced in the breezes. The younger adventurers were GAWKY in their growing bodies and told BAWDY jokes amongst themselves. It was going to be a long trip, their teacher thought.
10/29/24
Everywhere you looked in her apartment there was a PLANT on some surface or another. Some even hung from the ceiling! I'll have to admit that it was a TONIC for one's soul. But, that calm was quickly broken when you saw her relaxing on the couch in nothing but a TUNIC!
10/30/24
She wanted to paint to earn money. However she only had enough cash to buy the paint, canvases and brushes, so she decided to STEAL the EASEL. She was quickly caught and wondered if she could use her new paints in the slammer.
10/31/24
He NEARS the inner office. It's the holiday season, so everyone he sees yells MERRY something or another. PEDRO does not celebrate the winter holidays, which everyone else thinks is WEIRD, but it makes Pedro very calm and happy.
11/1/24
He sat down with his tall mug of STOUT ale. Looking around he noticed there was a SPATE of men alone drinking ale. They must have all descended after SNITS with their mates he concluded. It was a SILTY slope to solve one's problems with ale he pondered. As if by SIXTH sense, his wife strolled into the pub and sat down to join him.
May you explore things that interest you
May you have a heart for others
May you focus on the current page, before you turn it once again
How big is your horizon? How far can you see? How does your hope soar?
We went to VOTE today after The Well...then I watched the above rally. When the stylus in my hand touched the screen, thus marking my vote for Kamala/Walz my eyes welled up. As I listened to Michelle Obama, I wallowed in my ever-growing admiration of her. All these years later, she Wow's! me!! But when she got to the part in her speech about Women's Reproductive Rights & Freedoms, I full on wept. For in every word, I not only heard the stories of the women I've known through my lifetime, but I saw myself. I saw myself in a way no one has articulated in this way or so well. For, she not only painted a picture of (young) mothers and families...those wishing to have children or those who struggled with a decision to not have a child...but, she brought out her biggest umbrella to cover all of women's reproductive health needs, at many stages throughout their lives. She was passionate, powerful, eloquent...she was all of us. And she spoke for us and stood with us and then, as if that was not enough...she held us as she served up our stories to the men of America. She spoke caring and love and truth.
I am so very proud to have cast my vote on this, the first day of in person early voting. I am so proud to have cast my vote for myself and for all of us.
The polling place we went to, the one we've gone to several times in the recent elections, was busy at just after 12:30 PM. The parking lot was packed and the building was busy with activity. Folks stood outside chatting with each other. And just as I completed my ballot, I heard a poll worker say that all of the machines were in use and that voter would have to wait a moment. As I stepped away, another poll worker alerted him that my machine was available.
Today I wear my hope in the fact that none of these things usually take place in my area. It is usually not very crowded and has easy parking There are usually many machines unused, standing in waiting. Folks walk in and out without communication. While, there were no long lines, it just felt different this time around. And while it may not be true, I need to believe that it is because hope lives in the ribs of Democracy. May this be so and may the nightmare of the influence of him finally be over. May we awake with joy.
And while no one is saying it anymore, so close to election day, my deepest thanks to Joe Biden, who truly did put his country first. Let us not forget that.
When the future is the present, I will rest in the thought that my very small donations and my vote...that my texts to ones I know, to share information...or my scant posts here...that my very small steps...I will rest in the thought that I too have spoken.
Heart full and fingers crossed.
May you remember that the sun shines on behind the clouds
May you weep from your heart, may you feel joy from the bottom of your heart
May you keep your eye on the beautiful, wide horizon
There are all kinds of housekeeping. Depending on where, the type - how literal, the time pressures...how personal it is...well, sometimes it feels good, sometimes one procrastinates. I did do some here on the blog and am moving forward with the blog from here. I think I'm procrastinating with some of the other housekeeping on my to do list.
Anyway, today I've got this...
I found this pic above online, somewhere (I forget where, so I can't give credit) and screenshot it to show Grace. It sat on my desktop for so long and now I'm putting it here. Isn't it amazing? I want to be this human. I feel such centering and calmness from this face.
I've still been doing WORDLE stories and I'm still in love with the creating of them. Here's the latest batch.
WORDLE LIFE
9/24/24
They brought their TUBES to the river with them. It always made them HAPPY to float down the river together, while holding hands. The gas station on the way there has a HANDY air pump to blow them up. They've had these tubes for years, they're that HARDY.
To work on the alloy TUBES you have to have a HAPPY disposition, be HANDY with tools and have a HARDY constitution. (N&J)
9/25/24
The GEARS were grinding. He checked and saw the transmission fluid was awfully RUNNY. He sat down on a small BRICK to think. Leaning back against the PORCH pillar, he thought, this one is beyond me, I've got to pass the TORCH to someone who knows more about cars than I do.
9/26/24
She stood at the podium, waiting to speak. We're here to update you on the ORBIT of the CV19L, she began. While we haven't TAMED the universe as a whole, we like to think we've captured one small corner and are set for future explorations. At the close of her speech, she said with sincerity, THANK you to each one of you who has played an important part in this exciting process. The room erupted in clapping and cheers.
They spoke of the old the PEACH tree at their old place and agreed that the MARSH here would not support that kind of growth. This made them LAUGH trying to imagine a fruit tree growing in this swampy land. Aw, come on she teased, you just have to have FAITH and anything is possible.
9/28/24
She forgot that SPORK was a real word, but he was usually RIGHT when it came to vocabulary. The real IRONY is that it was her mother that was the English teacher and now information is apt to DRAIN through her BRAIN like a sieve.
9/29/24
She hung up the PHONE. This will be a real TREAT, she told him. Just look at the beautiful burnt UMBER on the FLYER! They planned to take the WIDER, longer route to the CIDER farm... and each one couldn't wait to be a RIDER on the local mini train.
9/30/24
It was a CORNY murder mystery show. They kept the clues CLOSE the vest, or in this case, close to the main detective's CLOAK. He wore a dark gray cloak in every episode. But, in the end the cases were always solved in a CLOUD of confessions.
10/2/24
They liked to play GAMES together. Their favorite had a SEPIA board and STEEL game pieces. Her favorite was the tiny SHELL.
10/2/24
I wanted to WRITE about it because it WOULD make such a good story. Just thinking about the success of that writing had me letting out a loud WHOOP in celebration. Now, if I could just get back on the WAGON and buckle down to the task at hand!
10/4/24
She had so many PAINS. She MIGHT have more pains than anybody, anywhere has ever had. Plus, she was so TIRED. She was more tired than anyone ever. She might hold the TITLE for the most pains and tiredness.
10/5/24
He felt JUKED by the rest of the underground team. But, it didn't make sense that he cared, as he was always a LONER anyway. He thought being a MINER was actually a strange choice for him, as he would really need these guys if there was an emergency.
10/6/24
He felt like it was a race against DEATH, where he RACED to get all of his WARES into the truck and ready to go. His PAGER was safely tucked in his front pocket. He was exhausted and all he could think of was a cold LAGER when this was all over.
We have also been playing new games along with WORDLE. We are playing alphaguess and unwordle (hard for me) sometimes.
The other night, I decided to write a story with the alphaguess words. I got it in 13 guesses, so a longer story than the WORDLE ones. haha I again wrote it with the words we'd used, top to bottom, in order. I wasn't sure how these words would connect, but they did!
Anyway, pretty fun and keeping the old brain alive.
Her memorywas fading, but considering what she'd been through, it was a miracle she could recall anything at all. She removed the napkinfrom her lap and went to get the narcoticthat the nastydoctor had prescribed for her. It had been nearlya decade since she began this home treatment, inserting the needlestraight into her belly. This disease had become her
nemesis, yet she carried on each day. Returning to the table, she sucked up the last noodleand devoured the singlepancake. Now she was ready to present her speechto the narrow minded medical board.
🪶
This weekend we went to Pow Wow for about an hour or so, which is never enough time for me. It was hot, over 100°, so maybe it was enough. lol We ate frybread (I got a sticker) and sat/stood as close to the drummers as possible. We met local democratic politicians, running this year, saw some cool masks and saw faces we'd seen for the 24 years we've been attending. It is amazing to me that last year's PowWow feels like it was so long ago! It will be hard to wait another whole year again, especially since this year's Pow Wow was the best it has been in years. I am grateful for the joy I feel when hearing those songs and drums and being within this cultural experience.
There were a lot of masks, which I found to be a new thing...and different and interesting...especially since I had just recently visited Susan Barrett Merrill's site exploring the masks there.
Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, with Kipp Mueller in the background.
I can't find the words to express how much this means to me. This men in this family are such strong singers/drummers.
This morning's sky painted hope & mourning, thoughtfulness & reflection and feathers of dreams across the sky.
My mother once told me that it is impossible to compare when shopping for mattresses. She said you could never find the the exact same mattress in two places to compare prices. Each one, in each different store had some little quality or differences in certain aspects.
I say, even though they are both oranges, one is a Navel and the other is a Valencia.
Now, here I sit thinking that there are other things you can't compare either. I'm pretty sure there is a long list, but today I'm thinking of insurance or phone/cable/internet services and prices. Trying to compare would likely kill off your last brain cell.
I'm pretty sure dumping this here, in writing...yelling at the world, will not provide much, if any relief
I'm also pretty sure that all of this will remain true tomorrow. So, day is done and so am I.
The past week, days strung together...some racing by, some dragging on and feeling so long...but, each one holding moments of magic, relief, extreme laughter...some pondering & considering...there was honoring age and relishing the age I am now...In these days, there has been profound beauty and gratitude.
Come along with me through some related, or maybe disjointed thoughts...
This 'sampler' from around June 1st, relates to Jude's post. A spirit animal peace post. I started it, but got sidetracked when my hawk and turtle looked cruddy. haha I'm sure I'll get back to it one day by adding color and the peace signs I imagined. We'll see. LINK
As I gather this post around me, as one gathers the many layers of a long skirt...a long life, ripe with eras and decades and phases of me...as I roll these separate bits around in my mind, I ponder the many "me's" I've been and those "me's" still unknown to me...I think: Who am I in this moment?
Who have you been? Which parts do you hold in loving memory and which parts do you hide under the layers? What would happen if you de-layered your life skirt and hung it all out on the line or laid it bare on a grassy hill as Grace has done? What would happen then?
I've been watching some of the videos on this channel. I find Eryykc interesting, as one who studies human behavior, a habit...as one who works with children - who often get their first diagnosis and support. When a child gets a diagnosis, often for a lifetime, there is very little conversation about how this will look as they grow older - out of the classroom and into the world. Anyway, he mentioned recently that he was reading the book: "The Tao of Pooh". I thought "Hey, I have that book and have never read it"...so I pulled it out. It was the perfect book to read over the past few days.
I started with the correct pronunciationof "Tao"...because it is one of those words that feel unnatural to me, (even while reading this book) so that my brain is stays stuck on the "T"!
When I got to the uncarved block, I needed to draw it. Thus start hours of reading, drawing & reflecting.
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Unique pre-op art!
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Several days ago, whirligigs came to mind. My friend has moved into a beautiful home, with a wonderful outdoor space. What fun could be had led me to this book: "Making Whirligigs & Other Wind Toys" by Sharon Pierce. J. made the Indian in a canoe from this pattern (you may remember it). I gave that book to her "builds with wood" husband years ago.
Then I fell down the rabbit hole, as they say.
I looked for real ones and found so many. However the one in this video was jsut way cooler than the cheap or cheesy ones! I saw it HERE, but if you watch on YouTube (click over from the video below)...you'll find dozens and dozens of videos. I've always been fascinated by whirlygigs, especially the handmade, original kind.
It of course didn't stop there, because I recalled that years ago, I found this book and bought it ~ "Whirligig" by Paul Fleischman, which I talked about briefly back HERE (you can see the one J. made here too).
Beautiful blooms outside of the main entrance.
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LINK It seems to have been the week for discovering very elder women on YouTube! I had not heard of this lovely woman and really enjoyed these two short clips about her. I think the documentary would be interesting to watch, so I know I'll be poking around some more.
Waiting and sitting bedside, gave me lots of time to play my beloved 'hand-held solitaire and new found love of drawing. Both relaxing escapes for me. J. said that he wants me to doodle draw a pick guard for a future guitar build he's been manifesting in his head 🙂 That would be fun.
When I stepped outside to move my car into a more convenient spot, I was hit with a wall of heat and met by a fierce, very strong dust devil. Leaves, thick twigs and various other natural or manmade bits were swirling around so fast...banging down on my car. My first thought came out of the ominous feeling I had and I said aloud to myself that "this is not good". I later learned this was very close to the time the brush fire nearby, up North began.
When I got my car into a new spot, I was greeted by this crow, calling and calling nonstop. His call was fairly spaced out, singular sounds that almost sounded like barking! Do you see him?
We played WORDLE on paper. Playing it on paper verses the computer was kind of like the Hangman game I played with my mom when I was a kid. But I found this way harder! Trying to visualize and recall letters that could be used, were used in the right or wrong place was so hard for me. He could do it so much easier!! But, even when I had the pen in hand, writing it all down, I still messed it up by giving him wrong information feedback on the letters he'd used! 🤣 Oy.
Upon leaving, we did indeed smell the very strong brush fire smell and saw the very brown sky out of the large picture windows. I drove home with this image, pausing to snap a photo between the trees and the sky at home.
The 5 Freeway, near Gorman, CA. When I went to bed last night it was at 4400 acres. I awoke to it being 11,000 acres 0% containment. This article has it at 12,000+ acres, 2% contained as of this afternoon.
As of this post, it is 87 degrees and there is some wind, at maybe 17 MPH
