Busy time of year out doors

One bleeding heart bush in the back flower box

It has been all  about spring time outside chores galore; this year as Jerry has recuperated from his April back surgery I was  left to my own on all weeding, mulch removal, trimming and garden flower bed clean up.  Rounds 1 and 2 accomplished but continuance mode is now in effect. Bird feeding is full speed ahead as the orioles have returned, the grape jelly feeders.  I have shown them before on this blog and although they were off to a late start this delayed spring, when we thought winter would never leave, they have been consuming the  32 ounce jars of Welch's Grape Jelly which we  buy at Sam's at the rate of two jars per week.  They have a delightful song and watching the young newly hatched at the jelly feeder is a lot of amusement right out the kitchen window.  In the photo below two orioles at their jellly house feeder while a gold finch sits  aside.  This year the red headed wood pecker and finches as well as occasional warblers have tried to snag some jelly but the orioles are quite defensive of their territory.  They bicker among themselves so do not tolerate any other species, except for the woodpecker who merely shows "my beak is bigger than yours so don't start with me."  

Orioles at their jelly house finch aside May 7.

I enjoy working outside but find that I don't want to spend as much time at it.  Instead with my morning work out trips to the YMCA, Zumba class and yoga, the morning is usually gone.  I would rather continue my physical fitness path adding a morning  walk.  Then by afternoon there are errands to run, appointments for hair cuts or medical, shopping to do, more social activities and then well, the  day is gone and we approach dinner time. My neighbor Diane,  who just returned from winter in AZ,  and I discussed how we are wanting more play time and less to do time. You get the drift, the day is gone. This has eliminated most computer time other than Facebook and email and newspaper reads all of  which I can do handily and  directly from my smart phone and tablet.  So the blog has been absent and looks like it may well continue to be for a time.  While Facebook is so handy allowing a quick photo post, there is  neither time nor space for me to ramble there about whatever  thoughts are fleeting, but it will have to do. It facilitates quick contact amongst multitudes of friends and family, cousins, nieces, nephews all who can merely click on their smart phones or iphones as well.  

The back yard  is heavenly scented with the
lilacs in full bloom from Ms Kim

In my career days I pondered how much time I would have to do whatever I wanted when I retired.  Today I  realize I don't have all the time I thought I would. I envisioned a retirement of lounging, reading, etc, in reality the words of my late Aunt Jinx have arrived, "you will work more when you retire than you did while you worked."  How right she was, household chores, outside chores, appointments, financial record keeping, yikes, time consumers.  My neighbor and I were talking about downsizing, then we know we do not want to live in condos or apartments but neither do we want  to have demands distracting us from our adult play activities.  In this area there are many landscapers and lawnmowers for hire;  we have hired a college student to mow the lawns while Jerry avoids such activities for the time.  But must admit he is not doing the same quality of  work, Jerry   often would mow twice a week in this spring weather while the grass is growing heartily.  We wonder why Jarrett cannot figure out how much extra work he makes for himself because he scatters  lawn clippings and then must  go back around with his blower to get them off the walks and drive ways, where if he mowed the other direction the clippings would go directly into the lawns.  We watch and wonder, at this young man who is a college sophomore, getting educated but not gaining sense. He seems to be more interested in mowing and getting gone. I have an enormous pile of clippings and rose branches, tree limbs and the like piling up behind the garden that we have asked him about hauling off to the local dump, but so far no movement.  Usually Jerry would have done this but looks like it will wait until we return from our RV trip.  By the way Jerry has the motor coach out of its house and has spent  days  power washing it and getting it ready to roll.  

Our Excursion and Jerry tinkering

Saturday Jerry took to his  riding mower for the back hill side which was starting to look like a hayfield.  He was quite happy with himself.  I was more than annoyed when I returned from an estate sale where I purchased naught realizing their prices were too much for nothing I needed, while happy with myself for resisting adding to our accumulations, annoyed because  he was on the mower and further had taken the rototiller to the garden bed.  While tilling he removed some new peonies that I was nurturing, they had spread from the mother plants along the fence line.  This annoys me, he does not distinguish  between fora and weed , it all goes. 

Uprooted potentilla

Some mystery creature has been visiting at night and  uprooting newly planted things and then digging into the flower beds.  First it completely dug up a newly planted black eyed susan, leaving only a little  stem remaining across the back lawn. Days later it returned and uprooted a potentilla plant I had not yet put into the ground. Obviously it was not to its taste so it did not drag it off nor consume it.  I have  struck back with massive doses of crushed  hot red pepper flakes  in the beds, and that seems to discourage it.  But we shall see, others have  had the same problem. This has never happened before and is  getting on my last nerve.  It happens at night and we suspect a  raccoon, possum, weasel or the like.  

Mama robin perched atop rose bush  limb, ignoring the squawks                    

First robin  to leave the nest

 I am likely to replace the rose bushes that did not survive our awful  winter with other perennials, to simplify my gardening, eliminating the need for mulching over winter, removal of mulch in spring time and above all eliminating food sources for the nasty Japanese beetle that thrives on roses here.  I  just have much else to do and do not want to  be enslaved by my landscaping, much as I enjoy it. The robins who were nested atop the wreath outside our front door have hatched, the  birdies have flown off and we can remove the wreath and wash the siding stone...the first one to leave the nest was quite puzzled and squawked from the front stoop, "Mom, Mom now what?"  Mom merely looked the other way, unconcerned, "go get your own worms kid."  It's too bad some  human mothers do not  let their adult children grow and go, they could learn from the birds.  I wonder why some are such clingers creating a mutual lack of growth for the adult children and  lack of their own growth into something  beyond ever indulgent ever clinging parent hood. Maybe because I was raised to be independent and have always been so, I cannot  comprehend  all the  nonsense, but that's an essay for another time. 

Volunteer salsify

One last thing, the volunteer plant out back identified as salsify.  I left this to grow because I thought the  texture of the spiky leave interesting, lo a yellow flower and through Facebook, a friend identified it. The yellow flower opens in the morning but the pod enfolds it by afternoon.  I understand it is edible but so far I ma not tempted to eat it, merely enjoy the show. 

 This may  be  my update for several weeks, unlikely to have blog time  from the Goshen IN Fleetwood RV Rally. Looking forward to reuniting with friends  we see once a year from around the country. 

Sepia Saturday 228 The Sands of Time

A mention of  the sands of time,brings me immediately to recall American poet,  Henry Wadsworth Longellow's "Psalm of Life" that I memorized oh so long ago, back in school when we memorized poetry--it is with me still ages past. And yet this beautiful spring month is wistful for us for as May 23 approaches, the birthday of our late lost  son Steve, born May 23, 1964 and lost to the sands of time December, 2008, I feel a tribute to him  meets the sands theme. The heart ache that has become less painful with the sands of time but one that I suspect will never fully go away, the loss of an adult child. Sepians I give you my sands today...

1966 Steve and me

A Psalm of Life

BY HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW  1836

What The Heart Of The Young Man Said To The Psalmist.

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,

   Life is but an empty dream!

For the soul is dead that slumbers,

   And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!

   And the grave is not its goal;

Dust thou art, to dust returnest,

   Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

   Is our destined end or way;

But to act, that each to-morrow

   Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,

   And our hearts, though stout and brave,

Still, like muffled drums, are beating

   Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world’s broad field of battle,

   In the bivouac of Life,

Be not like dumb, driven cattle!

   Be a hero in the strife!

1976 Steve and me   Auburn, CA
Statue of Claude Chana,  French 1849  gold miner
in the famous California gold rush

2007 employment ID photo Steve

This is my Sepia post.  To see what others offer in this international community, go to the site here...http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2014/05/sepia-saturday-228-17-may-2014.html

Thru windshield across the Mississippi at
La Crosse  evening clouds

No, blogger family I have not abandoned my blog though it may seem so.  Just no tiome to write so many thoughts and happenings.  Those of you on Facebook can keep up. others, not so. You are indeed my family along with so many long time friends.  It's just that it has been the busy time again.  I have managed all the trimming. pruning, clipping and weeding  all on my own this year while Jerry is nicely recovering from his back surgery.  It takes a bit of time and spring does adventure near for days or so here and then retreat through the rain and the colder temps.  What colder?  Why just a few months ago 54 degrees would have felt balmy, today it's nippy and calls for jeans and jacket  again although I did wear sandals all day to show off my pedicure.    

I have oft commented that some people use Facebook as a blog, they go on an d on and on.  I do not do so nor do I set up diatribes there,  but admit that Facebook is so much easier, post  a photo here and there from the phone and download and comment.  So for those of you who do not join in, I miss you.  And I do try to check in on blog, but this time of year time  flies.  From workout in the AM to domestic chores and errands, pretty soon  the day wanes.  and I find myself  in the refrain of retirees, "where does the time go?"  I have lots of mental thoughts to ponder but little time at the keyboard. 

One backyard bird feeder

Gold finches gather off back deck  thistle feeder

Orioles busy feeding on  grape jelly

The birds are feasting. especially the orioles who consume copious amounts of grape jelly.  A quart in 3 days is not unusual.  Sam's club was out the other day when we stopped so I had to buy generic jars at the Quillin's market locally.  The orioles did not object.   I must be the only one in this neighborhood feeding them. Some locals complain they have not seen any--please call and I will send some of our hundreds your way.    Hope our next door neighbors who are  also Morrison's return soon from their winter in Arizona because Tim feeds the birds and our birds await.  Rather expensive here meantime. 

End of our street cul de sac  blooms abide

So bloggers there has been scarce online time, please follow on Facebook.  l hope to catch up soon, but   ???

Sepia Saturday 226 Muses and leaps over

This week's prompt left me wondering what photo to share to match these muses.  The multitude of our photos left me with no inspiration, so I took the liberty to go off theme.  This weekend in the States is the 140th  annual running of the Kentucky Derby ; my bucket list includes attending the Derby because I would love to wear a  fancy hat as the ladies do there and stroll through the stands. Here is a link to a site about the Derby for more information about the horses.http://www.kentuckyderby.com/horses

 We watch the Kentucky Derby on TV annually.  One year we were in Las Vegas where I had booked us in January to escape the northern California fog; by the time May rolled around it was sweltering in the adult play land and we spent the heat of the day indoors, placing bets and watching the Derby on a big  screen at one of the casinos. This year we will be rooting for California Chrome, a long shot but a horse that is surprising many people.  

But the photos I share today are not of Derby horses but jumpers, car hoppers, a stretch of the expression, but an activity that must require finesse and synchronization, as much as dancers. 

 This first photo comes from http://www.old-picture.com/american-legacy/012/Jumping-Horse-Over-Car.htm .  

 Horse Shows. Ralph Coffin Jumping His Horse Over Sylvanus Stoke's Rolls Royce.
 It was created in 1916 by Harris & Ewing. 

This next photo I found while web surfing some time ago and set it aside to use someday.  It is from the National Photo Company, 1923 and I have found is famous and used today in note cards and posters.  Jack Presage on Tipperary.  I know nothing more about the rider or horse but wonder what was going on back then that  would inspire people to jump over autos with horses.  

This is my offering for the prompt.  To see what others in the Sepian world are offering, click on this link http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2014/04/sepia-saturday-226-3-may-2014.html

Typosphere vintage renewal in typewriters

While I have dropped many of my former magazine subscriptions for lack of time to read them, one I have kept is "Treasures" which covers the gamut from antiques to collectibles, two of my passions. This May 2014 edition featured "Typewriters:Soft Return"  by Jason Zasky with photos  by Richard Port on pages 22-27.  Besides the nostalgia,  and history, I learned of current day  type writer repair services; such craftsmen are few and far between but notable.  One repair service is Bill Wahl of  Mesa (Arizona) Typewriter Exchange; Bill runs the business started by his grandfather in the late 1940's.  Another is  Tom Furrier of Cambridge Typewriter in Arlington, Massachusetts. As mentioned most lack a web presence. Neither have apprentices and both are a soon to be  last of their breed.  If you  think "so what, who uses a typewriter?"  get a copy of this magazine and article.  I was amazed to learn that police departments, including the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department and the New York City Police Department still use typewriters today to complete reports they must do in triplicate.  Fascinating, and almost unbelievable in this day of computers and so many smart machines.  The collectors are also out there as well as the EBay sellers and buyers.
. 

My 1961 Underwood portable typewriter.

 For me this  is of interest because I still own my Underwood Portable, the Golden Touch model that was a  present in 1961, my  junior year of high school in western Pennsylvania.  It has traveled with me to California in the 1960's, our son used it to learn to type and in school, and it crossed the country back to Minnesota here when we retired. For a time  my elderly mother in law used it to keep her records. When she went into a long term care facility I brought it back home and today it is  sentimental to me  having been a part of my households for over 50 years and still in tip top shape complete with its original suitcase box and even the  booklet that it came with .  She is certainly not as portable as my smart phone or tablet as she has substantial heft and solidness, but she is gorgeous today and worth admiration.  

I learned there is an anti modern trend, an anti-culture  of preteens and college students who are newly discovering typewriters and are fascinated by them.  I recall seeing a typewriter for sale a year or so ago in western Pennsylvania and  being amazed, "who'd buy that."  Oh what a surprise to read of the new appreciation.  There are some bloggers out there in the typosphere, "Adventures in Typewriterdom" is but one mentioned in the  magazine article.  Typosphere, a new word, I love that. 

Notice the  lovely golden ears that supported
 the paper up as I typed. 

Back in the day, we all took at least a semester of touch  typing in high school regardless of  whether we were in the academic college preparatory trac as I was, we would be expected to submit typed papers in high school and for sure  that would be a requirement in college.  Today I know so called college graduates who never had to  research nor prepare a paper through their f years of college.  Of course the students in the commercial classes who were  bound to go on to business training and careers took typing and as I recall  most of the  guys in vocational classes as well. Learning to type  was expected, a  skill that would serve me all my life and still does today as I sit at keyboard.  Of course I have the smart phone and tablet and  can swipe with the best, but the feel of the keys is basic.  After reading this and taking her photos to send along to the deditor's request for photos of what we have, I  spent a bit of time tickling her keys.  That solid feeling is still there.  And  you know I have worn  the letters off computer keyboards in the past, but on the Underwood, as heavy use as she had in her day, the keys are just like new...no wearing away of the letters.  But then she's neither plastic nor made in China. 

George L Hossfield

Look at  the booklet which closed with a message from George L Hossfield, ten times winner of the World's Professional Typing Championship.  Yes there really  was such an event. I have scanned the cover and opening and closing pages...what a trip, proof that they really don't make'em like they used to and quality and value last to become vintage.  Years back our 19 year old granddaughter was visiting and had not seen a typewriter before, she was not interested.  Little would she know that  the anti group would  try to revert, as the typosphere culture kids  take great pride in trekking portable typewriters with them to Starbucks and the like and showing off the sound of the keyboard.  It is purely accidental that I kept the typewriter and I admit when we moved from CA Jerry said, bring it along,  you might want to use her someday.  I am glad we have her and was happy to read about the remaining  relevance of type writers. I even found a package of old time Co-Rec-Type-Rite Out with her. That was the kind that had to be positioned atop the paper and the same error keys re-struck to erase. Read what Mr Hossfield says about spelling, correct English and  taking pride the work you turn out.  More lost skills and another reminder of what made me me.  This will fit Facebook, "throwback Thursday."

Booklet cover original

First page

Mother Nature's Car Wash, rainy day humor scamming the scammer

For the past week I have been meaning to get the car washed, especially on those lovely balmy days yet  I did not make it to the car wash.  Today we are enjoying a wet soaker all day rain and on my way to the Y and Zumba I remembered the late  Marian Wilson, a grand, eloquent elderly

1997 Florence (MIL seated) with
Marian Wilson, standing

 woman  from Newcastle who lived in the senior mobile home court and  befriended Jerry's mother when we moved her there. Here is a photo of Marian in January 1997 at our home where we hosted an 80th birthday party for Florence, MIL.   Marian was a no nonsense, take charge independent lady who took pride in ensuring  her surroundings, home and attire were always neat and pretty, tidy, just as she kept herself, nicely made up and "all put together" as she said.  She kept her car sparkling clean all the time as well.  One day when I went by MIL's it was raining cats and dogs and there was Marian in raincoat and rain  boots squirting something over her car which she had pulled out of the carport nearly onto the road that wound past her home.  I stopped to ask what she was doing, and she  informed me she was using "Mother Nature's Free Car wash" and just to help it along, she was squirting Joy dish soap over the car, she offered to do mine too.  Marian was in her 80's and it was all I could do to not burst into laughter but I knew better, she would have likely squirted me with dish soap.   Now today I did not squirt dish soap over the car but it  got a good washing as well as road dirt on my drive back and forth so it will still need a car wash soon. I can hear Marian from the beyond, "back it out of the garage and  squirt it with Joy, use Mother Nature."

Meantime today back home, I never answer the phone when the caller ID shows,  "unknown" or "unavailable" or especially 800 numbers, but right after I ate lunch I was standing near the phone and picked it up to be greeted by a "hello Mam" an East Indian sing song voice of a man who  claimed to e calling as a Microsoft contractor with a windows server about my computer (I almost laughed out loud).  I asked him "what computer?" to which he  responded "Mam do you have your computer on?"  And again I  asked"What, which one and mumbled"  I smelled a rat and decided to amuse myself so began my time scamming the scammer...he continued to explain something about my computer "rejectifications" (no kidding that was the word he used) to microsoft updates.  I continued with my act as tho I'm a non techie old lady saying, "what, is my computer doing...who are you??   huh...." he kept saying "don't worry mam,  I am going to fix, can you please turn on your computer?" I knew I had him and said it would take me a long time to go to the room with the computer,  that I am slow, meantime I was Googling uh huh..sure enough a scam. .I acted even stupider responding to his questions..and said, "oh my computer is not turning on..." He tried to assure me he had time to wait and I should not to worry he would help me. He said my computer was slow because of a virus and he would help me.  I told him it was old and always was slow, just like me.  (Ha ha)  He continued with his sing song solicitation..that he got my number from the microsoft  customer service and was calling to  get this taken right care of today, he continued I was infected, the virus "is blocking everything...and Microsoft cannot call you...I am calling from off shore."  .(.BS this fool thinks I am falling for this) After stalling and mumbling more feeble like nonsense to him and then saying  the computer doesn't work, I will have to get help...and his responding "well mam can you turn on another computer I can help you from it." ( In my questions to him I told him I have 5 computers,,actutally it's 4) I got tired of toying with him and hung up. He called right back and apologized for being cut off, this time he identified himself as "Jerry" ..I cut him off saying "Back off you  jerk off, this is a scam get lost before I report you to the FCC" and I hung up, no more call back. 

Please be aware, these clowns have been pulling this stunt on the unsuspecting or under informed for about 4 years. Here is but one answer that Microsoft has on their website..." It is a SCAM!!! Microsoft does not do that nor do they have partners who do that nor do they hire sub-contractors or people or even get volunteers to do that. There are probably thousands of such companies out there doing this every day - we get two or three messages like this (or more) every day asking about it. You are the lucky ones who recognized the scam enough not to be sucked into it and end up with identify theft, infections, hacking of your computer, convincing you to buy software or services you either don't need or that don't really exist at all, and all sorts of nefarious tricks. You'd be surprised by how many contact us AFTER they realized they'd been suckered asking what to do. Do not waste time talking to these people, do not give them any personal information whatsoever, do not be tricked by what they may get you to see on the computer - in fact, don't do anything they suggest on your computer or even visit websites they recommend, and for heaven's sake don't give them access to your computer."  My Google search shows this particular scam has been around since at least 2010, so nothing new out there and they operate by WCField's philosophy, "there is a sucker born every minute."  They spring up like dandelions in the spring and change their business names and locations, BE AWARE and never answer their questions....or take some time to amuse yourself as I did today not having much else pressing.  This is good humor for a rainy day and we are laughing about it here....maybe I will begin to answer more of these calls and act dumber. who knows I could try speaking Spanguish and or my version of Polish to them.  Pretty soon they will avoid this landline phone number like the plague, wouldn't that be a treat to be blacklisted by scam artists. By the way the phone number on this call was 888-505-3020 both times. 

Easter is not the same this year, so what?

There was no donning an Easter bonnet today as it has drizzled one of those April rains, showers for May flowers...nevertheless,  happy Easter day and joyous season to all blog friends and followers; today we greet the day "He is Risen!"  I have been more absent than I like  from this blog as busyness consumes my time while I continue with double chore duties, some full time nursing duties and itch to get outside to begin the annual challenge to arthritis in my hands.  After a  very long winter abundant  pruning, raking. cleaning  of the lawns, flowerbeds as well as a sleepy rose garden will begin to whimper for attention. 

 Jerry's back surgery  Wednesday (April 16)  was a splendid success; the surgery which began at 12:25 PM  took less than an hour, by 3:00PM he was up walking so we were confident that we would be back home by  4:00PM.  Ah ha not so fast there,  when he was unable to "pee", the surgeon had warned about this, a common complication for men of older years, during surgery the bladder catheter caused his prostrate to protest angrily, to swell and prevent urination necessitating reinsertion of a tube catheter and bag which threw a wrinkle into the smooth mix, delayed our departure for home and is a minor annoyance until Tuesday when it will be removed.  His miraculous back surgery to  push the spinal jell back between the discs was a cake walk, he has a  one inch incision which was glued back together so no stitches, staples, and so far so very good.  Minor swelling and very slight bruising where the  muscle  was  prodded to push back the gel.  Just as we heard, Dr Watts, the newest Mayo neurosurgeon is a rock star and well deserving all his acclamation.  A genuine pro.   We are thankful.  Nevertheless some restriction of activities as all is not normal, not yet, but it will be soon.  Thus I am  busy attending to everything and the patient.  Although I disdain people who use Facebook as a blog and write their experiences ad nauseum, I admit to using it heavily, especially because it is so easy to post directly from my smartphone or tablet and update all at a moment. Certainly I do not post the length I do here (unlike those annoying ones) but Facebook is a  good way to get the word out toot sweet to many simultaneously.  

Shrine Fountain courtyard

I have previously mentioned that I am likely to return to Catholicism and have had a few recent experiences validating that choice.  On April 10 I joined some local Catholic women friends on a Lenten pilgrimage to the La Crosse Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  It was a beautiful day and after we climbed the mile hill to the shrine, sopping all along the way first at the Votive Chapel and all the saint statuary, attended mass, then walked back down to eat lunch at the cafeteria.  More information  about this local shrine, is online at this link    http://www.guadalupeshrine.org/   Once again I felt that deep sense of peace, blessing  and reassurance that  I only find at the Catholic churches and masses.  When this happens I recall my grandmother's admonition to me when as a child at mass in Latin or Polish neither of which I could understand I would fidget, "Patty be still and let the beauty be in your soul."  What made no sense then is perfectly clear to me now. Here are but a few photos.  

Shrine  Unborn memorial

Votive chapel at the shrine, first stop on the hill

I felt that same sense last night when I attended the Easter vigil mass at the local Catholic church last evening.  Father Havel's homily seemed destined for my ears as he wove a tale of his deer hunting experience into the Easter mystery and concluded many things happen in our lives that we cannot understand.  Try as we might our human reasoning fails us. But Easter reassures us all in God's good time, all will be revealed.  

We are doing Easter very differently this year, I purchased the ready to warm and serve meal from our local Festival grocery and am now happy I did so, pleased to have all the trimmings ready without extensive effort on my part.  This is a new experience for us; Before I would disdain this thinking "ICan  can fix that easily" today I am glad to have it available.  For only $29.99 we have 1.5 pounds of sliced,home cooked old fashion bone-in  ham with sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, wheat rolls and fruit salad.  There is more than enough for us and I picked up a fresh bakery apple pie onto which I drizzled caramel for desert, although Jerry sampled it last night, as he said, "to be sure it's OK for Easter."  Yes less fuss.  Long ago gone are the Easter days in California when we hosted huge events.  We are downsized and with good fortune soon will be on the move again.  

Meantime Peter Cottontail guards remaining Easter goodies array here.  Yesterday there were Jelly bellies and pastel creams with assorted candy corn, all too accessible walking by..Happy Easter again.

Springtime and hopscotch trivia

Just a week ago some white patches now all gone

Alleluia, spring has arrived,  although our ground remains  hard. impenetrable while wet where thawing begins despite some  nights taking it back to freezing temperatures.  Our long winter of discontent  has vanished taking with it our complaints and the last patches of snirt, those dirty icy blots.  The warmth of the sunshine even accompanied by cool or cold air beckons us outdoors.  Nothing like  fresh air, blue skies and  sunshine to renew  ourselves and shake the winter away.  Sunday, I went on my first 2014 long outdoor walk, sans jacket, only my long sleeved shirt. 

  I had posted photos onto  Facebook of a local home where the owner adorns the barren branches of her shrubs with plastic Easter eggs. I admire her ambition which produces a  pleasant colorful sight in contrast to the unbudded brown branches of her shrubs.  And  then farther along the street stop to admire our wide open streets, little traffic in this small midwestern town this day, other folks are out walking their dogs and one young boy dribbles his basketball on his way to shoot hoops at the elementary school lot. 

Elm Street   La Crescent

The city is  in the process of removing many of the old ash trees around town, replacing with different varieties  to  avoid tragic infestations from the emerald ash borers, larvae of which may have frozen out over our severe winter.  Perhaps that was one good thing about a long hard freeze.  It worries us, we may have to remove two or three of our  stately older ash trees on our property.  We will have an arborist check them again soon, two years ago they were good and  so far we have avoided the bug  but experts tell us there is no escape.  Such a shame to lose those stately antique trees but we like other locals do not want to experience the misfortunes of this epidemic.  

Old nest high up in the tree

I noticed a left over nest clinging  high atop one of the trees along Elm Street and marvel that it had the tenacity to stay put all winter long, a testament to the bird or hawk that constructed it.  Soon green  leaves will adorn the limbs and shade the walkways below.


I spotted my first 2014  hopscotch along the way and could not resist jumping it.  There was no sign of the children who drew it, I assume girls because we were the ones to delight in this in my day.  Posted to Facebook it elicited comments of not having seen these since our own childhoods and how children today especially in California are most unlikely to know what hopscotch is.  I  became curious about it's origins now.  It was a taken for granted activity growing up in Pennsylvania where we chalked up our alleyway. although I do not remember having colored chalks such as are available today.

Hopscotch in La Crescent

  It is reassuring to live in a town  where children still play hopscotch and outside games.  This design looked a bit different than what I recalled drawing out as a child and I learned it is the "modern design"  figures, my style would be "vintage."  I read that an ancient  type of hopscotch may have been played in Roman times but the first recorded English speaking references to it are the late 17th century England called scotch-hop or scotch-hoppers.  It was described in Wikipedia as a game where young boys hopped over "scotches in the ground" which I think might mean scratches if it were on dirt.  This has tweaked my interest in  learning more about this old game which we often hopped along to rhymes.  

One last tidbit,yesterday we saw the neurosurgeon who scheduled Jerry's back surgery for April 16, a hemi- laminectomy and microdisectomy  which is minor in the grand scheme of surgeries and  expected to be a breeze, performed under anesthesia but at the outpatient surgical center.  The surgeon said Jerry is a prime candidate, physically fit or he was until this set back, healthy and not overweight and not a smoker.  So we anticipate positive outcome from this surgery which will involve a minor  one inch incision on his back which will be glued, no disc replacement, no metal rods, no muscle cutting and his full recovery should be swift, a month or less.  This is the best news in months and he is really anxious to hit the road in our motor home. The surgeon is a youthful new doctor coming  down form Mayo in Rochester, MN who explained everything so thoroughly that I had no questions at the end of the consultation.  Relief is imminent  for him now which he welcomes, has been a long siege these past  months.