Gifts from Bud

One of the guys who stayed here last weekend was Bud. We stayed in touch with him and his family even after they all moved away. We went to North Carolina to visit them and Bud took us rapelling.

But then Bud got married and moved to the Pactific Northwest. Actually, Om got to visit him a couple of times, but I hadn't seen him for probably 45 years. He brought me three gifts! First of all, I did not know that we have a mutual love of gardening, and particularly for playing with succulents. He makes these planters out of old records and then fills them with random goodies. (He also has a greenhouse and I am trying not to be jealous.) They are not hardy, but can stay outside for the summer. His wife Annie painted the little rock for me.

He also brought me this garden decoration. Since it's mostly white, it may end up in the Moon Garden. We'll see.

But probably the most meaningful is that he gave me one of his carved birds. These are made from a single block of wood. (Trail friend Glen also makes them- I've showed you some of his.)

I tried to get a lot done today. Did fairly well although it got pretty hot this afternoon. Edited, shopped (but forgot to take the pop cans, so they are still in the middle of the floor :/ ), worked in the Moon Garden, but didn't get as much done as I had hoped. Should go do some more now that it's cooler, but the nasty gnats are out, so I'm probably just going to give up and take a shower. Gave one of the gardens a long drink. I'm watering things in the Moon Garden pretty much every day until they get established. Took a road walk in the morning before it got too hot.

Miles walked in 2026: 205.5. Just a couple of road miles.

See 50 Year Reunion

Some 2025 Christmas Loot

Huh. I thought I showed you my Christmas gifts almost every year. But I didn't do it for 2024, and not everything for 2023. I'm not sure I can remember without the blog post. Oh wait, I think Om helped me get a different camera last year.

Anyway, This year was a year for the feet from Steve. I found another pair of the boots I like (on eBay because the company doesn't make them any more). Steve said, "You want USED boots, Mom?"

Yup, I wear the smallest size they ever made. This is my third pair. The first ones wore out. The second ones had defective plastic, and some of the buckles broke. I've been holding the boots on with velcro straps. Not ideal but it worked. So when I found a pair in the right size that were in good shape, I sure did want them. These should last the rest of my outdoor recreation life.

And here's why these are so perfect for me. My heels are VERY narrow. Most boots just slipe and slide or pull completely off my feet. These have a velcro strap across the heel that you can tighten down. No more slipping!

Steve said that wasn't enough. So I asked him and Omer to split the cost of new hiking shoes. The ones I have aren't totally shot, but if I can do the Sheltowee Trace this coming year I'll need a reliable pair of shoes. I think these are perfect.

But Steve bought those all on his own! So Om got me a couple of books. One hasn't arrived yet. That one is Ground Cherries of the Prairie, by my friend Stan Hagemeyer. I've heard him read portions of that at writer's group for several years, so I know that will be good. The other one, pictured above, is a true crime book, The Axeman about a serial killer in New Orleans from 1910- 1916. I've almost finished it, and it's great.

I don't have pictures of what we got from Josh. He always brings a big fruit basket, which is very thoughtful. He also brought mixed nuts and the large red candle that is on the dining room table in the pictures from Christmas day.

Neither of Omer's gifts from me has arrived yet, although I have notices that both have shipped.

I got back a bit of my motivation today and edited and worked in the kitchen. Then Om and I finished watching Truth and Treason, an excellent movie of a true story from Nazi Germany.

I walked on the treadmill some more, but even with that I doubt I'll make 500 miles for the year. I find the treadmill much harder walking than outside. If you are local you know we had a only a little snow, but a serious wind was blowing it around all day. It was a good day to stay inside with a blanket and book.

See Some Christmas 2023 gifts

More Christmas Week Fun

 Our gifts from Loretta came today. What fun! Mine is...

OK, I could tell from the sound when I shook it. But that just increased the anticipation. It's a puzzle!. 1000 pieces.

Om got this for me earlier in the season. He said he couldn't resist. We don't need more of this kind of thing, but it has been fun to press the button and see the campfire light up and the Christmas lights blink. Yes, it makes me smile.

Cathy and I did a hike today on the NCT. The weather was gorgeous. We did an easy three miles. Actually, the same as the very beginning of my big hike, which she also did with me. That was just over 2 years ago!

And, I seem to be on a serious puzzle jag. I redid this one called "Loveable Pets." I last did this 3 years ago. It's 550 pieces and a little harder than it looks. Just hard enough to be interesting.

Then, I found this one in my stash. It had never been opened. It's a high quality puzzle by Audubon, but the pictures are very dark. I was thinking it was going to be quite hard. 500 pieces, non-standard cut. Ha. Easy peasy. I had it done in about an hour and a half. The odd shapes helped because when the colors were muted or muddy, I could just go by the shapes. It's called "It Was for Ripeness." I'm not entirely sure how that relates to the photos, but I guess most of the plants were forming seeds, or had frost on them. Not sure how the waterfalls fit in. Anyway. It's now been done.

I did some volunteer stuff today and cleaned up the kitchen yet again.

North Country Trail, US 10 to Wingleton Rd and back. 3 miles

See Loveable Pets in 2021 See the last time I hiked this section

Whose Rock?

  While on the hike, someone gave me this rock they had painted with a cute little bird. My deepest apologies, but I can't remember who. I'd really like to know because my kitchen has lots of primary colors, and I want to hang it on the wall. On the back is a heart and the word Jan- which I think is for January, but I'm not sure of that either.

Have a sunset... just because there was a nice one.

In other news: I installed some other pieces of software on the new computer. Computer transitions are the total pits. I also recorded 10 chapters of News from Dead Mule Swamp. The files have to be edited to clean them up, but I had the house to myself today, so I wanted to get started when it was quiet here. Also errands, database, and some other stuff.

See Christmas with Marianne

Ralph Revealed!

  The rest of the bell choir people have to wait till Christmas to find out their secret pals. Since today was my last practice with them for a year, I learned who Ralph is, and I also revealed who I was giving gifts to.

Last week I got a bottle of Coke with the message based on "Going on a Bear Hunt:"

"You are going on the "Trail" Hunt!
You're going to find a looong one...
When it's a beautiful day
You'll be sure to find your way...

Oh Oh... is the temp going up???
A humid sticky Heatwave!
Can't go over it,
Can't go under it,
Will have to go through it.

Hot and sweaty 4X

This will refresh you , as you cool off in a bubbly cold stream.

The picture is cactus in a hot desert.

Today, Ralph said (I'll just do the different parts):

Oh Oh... getting really tired?

Time to find "Sunny"...
Is he over here??
Is he over there???
Want to keep in contact...

Write the blog 4X

Have a cup of coffee, pamper those tired feet!
Will be following your adventures, unitl your "Trail Hunt" is complete.

The picture is a Christmas tree, and the words "write" and "blog" are scattered around the page.

And Ralph turns out to be Penny Fort. This week there was the smily mug- bright yellow of course, some foot soak salts, and foot cream!

In other news: You know I went to bell choir practice. My final performance (for a year) is this Sunday. I worked on accounts this morning, but was out in the trailer at 10 am. It was a fairly mild day, and tomorrow is going to be even better, so I'm trying to really focus. But I still didn't finish the next project. Cathy came over and helped for a while. We made a decision that involved different hardware, so there was another store stop on the way home from bells, and I had to go to UPS to return some wire baskets that aren't going to work. We'll see if I can make myself do more this evening. I'm feeling just a tiny bit tired.

Still 23 BIG ITEMS to complete- (39 done). 42 small ones to do (34 done). 14 days to go. Two weeks. No time to even think about the scope of what I'm proposing to do... just keeping my head down and working toward being able to leave.

See Who is Ralph?

Who is Ralph?

  Bell Choir is having holiday fun this year with secret pals. We each filled out a questionaire about various things we like. Then we wadded the papers into balls and had a paper ball fight until the director called "stop." Then we kept the paper we had. We were to give small gifts to the person we got.

My gifts are coming from "Ralph." I suspect someone has a grandson! But I'm getting much more than some simple gifts. Week One, I got a small bag of trail mix (which I put in my trail food), and a letter with a picture of a pathway lined with flowers. The words are adapted from "Going on a Bear Hunt." It says:

You are going on a "Trail" Hunt!
You're going to find a loooooong one...
When it's a beautiful day
You'll be sure to find your way...

You are going on a "Trail" Hunt!
You're going to find a loooooong one...
But when obstacles pop up,
It might be hard to find your way!

But before you hit the "Trail" Hunt!
Going on that loooooong one...
Your Mystery Ranger "Ralph" will be
Here to help you on your way!

Week 2, I got a picture of a lovely red bug in the grass, and some decorative table fringe. It may have to be saved for "some" post-hike celebration. The picture is grass- like the green swishy fringe.

The new parts of the poem are:

OH OH... Grass!
Can't go over it...
Can't go under it...
You'll have to go through it!

Swiiiish
Swiiiish
Swiiiish
Swiiiish

After you are home from your "Trail Hunt," this will remind you of the wonderful fields of grass you were able to swish through.

Last week, I got fish jumping in a river. It came with a single packet of really good coffee. I drank it on my low energy day and it perked me up.

The new words are:

Oh Oh... a river!
A deeeep cold river!
Can't go over it,
Can't go under it,
Will have to go through it!

Splash splosh! 4 times

But at the end of the day there's nothing like a hot "cup-o-Joe to help warm you up. This one's on me.

And yesterday, I got a whole orchard full of apple trees, and a little apple pie. I had the pie for dessert last night.

Oh, Oh... an orchard!
With big red juicy apples!
Can't go over it,
Can't go under it,
Will have to go through it!

Pick some! (4 times)

Just think of the yummy pies you could make with all those wonderful apples.

I don't think anyone is getting any better gifts than I am! Thank you Ralph- whoever you are. (I'll know who my pal is before I leave on the hike.)

In other news: Dang! I REALLY wanted to cross off the next big item on the trailer. I did a little accounting, and a little bit on food and then worked my tail off on the trailer. But I discovered that I had to do part of the next piece before I could finish this piece, and then I had to wait for stuff to dry, so I also worked on yet another piece. I would have worked past dark if I could have finished, but I had to fiberglass in another brace, so it has to dry overnight anyway. But tomorrow is looking good. Seriously. I managed to do 2 small jobs, but I added several more.

27 BIG ITEMS to do (35 done), and 34 small ones to do (20 done). 27 days to go.

See Bell Choir Day

The Rest of my Loot

  As previously mentioned, the boots were my big gift, but I got some other nice things. Steve sent me this huge map. It's a Geologic Map of the US. It sort of looks like elevations, but it's actually rock type which, incidentally, mostly conforms to the topography. I love it! If I can find a poster frame large enough (it's huge!), there is even a place on the wall where it will fit.

Two of the corners are held down with gifts, and two are not. Want to guess? I won't make you. (hint- It's not the mug or the channel locks!) Upper left is what's left of a fruit basket from Josh. We've eaten a lot already. And lower right is a cookbook from Magdalen House sent by my neice, Jo-Anne. (who says I can call her Jo-Jo, which makes me very happy for some reason!) I also got a gas card so I can afford to drive a few places to hike that I might otherwise pass up because of the expense.

In other news: Well, no walking happened. My exercise was confined to shoveling snow. We got maybe 4 inches, but it was really wet and heavy. Where the plow filled in at the bottom of the driveway a foot deep, I decided I might as well shovel that by hand. I got 3 packages ready to mail and went to the PO. Did some other errands and bookkeeping. That about took care of my day. Got in and out of the driveway with no trouble. Well, more editing and accordion practice. I'm not going to bother telling you that every day. Sufficient to say that I'm trying to maintain a regular practice time.

See Maybe I've Grown Up

Greed, Gluttony, and Sloth

 
Today was largely a non-starter. Well, OK, I did manage to write a little bit in the morning, but after that my brain totally shut down. Of the last 12 nights, I have alternately slept and not slept. Today that all caught up with me. All I managed in the afternoon was to read a little for entertainment. So much for the sloth part.

And, I ate- possibly not too much- but the wrong things. Three of those sleepless nights were due to unhappy tummy from eating too much or too late. (Two were due to hyped-up brain that wanted to wrestle with projects and plans- and so I did just that). Last night... no idea why I couldn't sleep. Have I now created an every-other-night habit? I sure hope not. Gluttony. No more food today for sure.

Greed. OK, I'm just making it work with the deadly sins theme because I haven't yet shown you my Christmas loot. But, still, it's a nice pile.

From Omer, I got a better reading lamp, which I requested. Hooray! I can see so much better. And it fits with our vintage furniture pretty well.


Steve asked what else I wanted, and this was my choice. An air compressor. We now have two cars, the trailer, a snowblower and lawn tractor. It's really hard to keep all those tires up to pressure without powered aid. I am happy.



Loretta sent me some cuties with my trailer theme: coasters, a little towel, and a key cover. Fun


Josh brought us a nice fruit basket, and Om also gave me a little cash which I will put toward camping equipment.

The only other news is that I'm going to bed early. This should be a night to sleep. Hope to wake full of energy and motivation tomorrow.

See Food with a Chance of Sun

It's Almost Always the Little Things

 
Had a good sales day at the Shagway Arts Barn vendor event. But I want to tell you one little story. OK, two.

One of the other vendors, Chris, had seen me eyeing little drink cozies that she makes. We met a couple of years ago at Shagway, and have often participated together in work days out there, and sales events.

I don't like drinks in cans, and I don't need more stuff, but not only does the barn motif appeal to me, the colors and everything about it just strikes me as pleasing. Now, these are very reasonable, and I could certainly afford to buy one. I told her I was thinking about buying one to use as a pencil cup. I have been using an old tin can. Well, she gave it to me!



This is the epitome of the saying, "In a world where you can be anything, be kind."

And this inspired me to clean off my little chairside table top, above.

Chris makes lots of nice quality craft items for sale. Here is her booth from last month. She's on the left and her sister, Jan, on the right. Look her up at local craft and vendor events.



My other little story is from the booth on the other side of me. Dixie was lovin' up to her human mama, Amanda. Dixie also gave me plenty of doggie kisses and snuggles. She was a real sweetie.



These are nice reminders that although once in a while there is a big event that makes us joyful, it's usually just some little thing. This is what "My Quality Day" is all about.

Thanks, Christina and Dixie.

PS, and Ellen, because that little patterned towel I have on that table to catch drips or whatever, was a gift from her a couple of years ago.

	See Trail Work Day
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Christmas Day 2018

 
It was calm and pleasant here.


The antique creche never got set up, but Omer found two others we had been given as gifts that we hadn't used in years, and I enjoyed seeing these. The simplicity of the white ones is appealing.



And this one is a puzzle- all the figures fit into the stable frame for storage.



I got nice gifts: art supplies and small funnels I asked for, new dishcloths (much needed), the camper ornament and towel from Loretta, and Steve sent the square camper pot for me to try. It's interesting. I might have to blog about it separately. Steve also paid for the vinyl for my trailer floor (when I get back to working on it this spring). Josh brought us a fruit basket and trail mix.


We had a yummy meal with no fuss at all- serve yourself from the kitchen- and we are JUST FINE with that. Lots of leftovers for the coming days.



I've been reading a book and working sporadically on formatting the print copy of DMS Mistletoe.

Following so many friends on Facebook and seeing that you have had a wonderful day as well. Merry Christmas!

	See Christmas Day 2018
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Squirrel, Sharks, Sun

 
The current squirrel spends a lot of time running across the roof. S/he spends a small amount of time checking to see if I've changed my mind about feeding him or her (no). The deck is also a great place from which to survey the kingdom.



Omer brought me a little gift. These gummy sharks taste horrid, but hey, I love 'em because they are sharks. And blue.



And just because it's always a novelty here to see the sun in winter (and this year even more so than usual), I bring you Monday's sunset, followed by this morning's sunrise. They look like the exact same sky! Weird.





In other news: It's pretty much all other news. I took a walk out back, but most of the day was spent writing. I finished Dead Mule Swamp Mistletoe and started editing it! And I had a meeting this evening. Now I'm going to get back at that.

	See One Unique Shark
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