It's been fun . . .

Porter Pond

Kiddo talked Grampa into going fishing Friday and we had a great time. Grampa had already dug up the worms; very hard work as the ground is extremely dry. Those suckers were really deep down. But with a half dozen or so we were off to Porter Pond. Grampa used a rubber worm so Kiddo could have the real thing. Kiddo now puts the bait on his hook but is still having a bit of trouble getting the fish he catches unhooked to throw back. He'll get there. He really does enjoy going fishing especially if it's in the truck! Must be a man thing.

I just returned from my two mile walk and I was able to bring home five, yes, five hazel nuts! Haven't seen any in quite a few years. They don't have worm holes in them so I'm hoping we'll actually be able to eat them after we let them dry out a little more. The smell of grapes  permeating the air and I stopped to eat a few. Not too many ready yet. It does seem early but perhaps the lack of rain is pushing the season. Kiddo and I walked downtown Friday evening for ice cream and marveled at how low the river is. We are in desperate need of rain.

Yesterday Grampa and I went to a car show at Loos Company in Pomfret. We left about 4:30 and the place was starting to get packed. We visited with friends we haven't seen in a while before heading home for supper. Got some lookers for the '37 Ford but no buyers! May hit up a few more shows this Fall. Trying to talk Grampa into a ride up to New Hampshire for a shopping trip. He needs new duds for school. Yup, he's back at PHS again so I want him to look neat! Boy, speaking of neat, I've been on an ice cream bender and have been dropping the good Chocolate Ben and Jerry's all over myself. Had a big splotch on my cheek yesterday when I went to gas the car. Good thing I checked myself in the mirror before I got out to the pump! Not cute.

Quote:  Mind unemployed is mind unenjoyed.  ___Bovee

Very happy, impressed and not surprised . . .

According to his wife, the best RC flyer out there.

P&D's Pop got a phone call today from the engineering teacher at PHS who told him about the plans for his classes this year. It looks like Grampa will be helping out with building model airplanes and a solar/battery powered car. That is such cool beansies. I'm so glad they recognized this man who is so capable and helpful on just about anything that has a motor, drives or flies! He is ingenious and did I mention  my best love? Yes he is. He was also invited to go up North on a fishing trip but he declined, not too intrigued. I believe it shows how much the guys at the high school appreciate him. So very nice to know that his knowledge and intrinsic understanding of things mechanical is needed and helpful to a bunch of teenagers and they like him and understand how much he's learned about living a good life tinkering and always figuring out new ways to do things and he's willing to share his expertise with them.

Speaking of new ways to do things the orthopedic doctor in Willimantic put me on a six day regimen of prednisone for tendinitis in my right shoulder and sciatica on my left side. Whoopee! I think I'm on the mend. Will start PT for the shoulder after Labor Day - three days a week for four weeks and will see Dr. Scarangella at the end of October to make sure all parts are in proper working order. Will go to see younger sister tomorrow; younger brother and his wife should be home this evening from their trip to Alaska and Seattle. I'm sure they'll be exhausted but happy. That has to have been a great, exciting trip. I'm still working on understanding how my Panasonic camera works and I have learned a little. So much more to know - I know so little it's like a pin prick on an iceberg - so much embedded in that fine camera. I'll never get to the end of it all but will make a little dent if I can only have some patience!

Quote:  All nature is a vast symbolism; every material fact has sheathed within it a spiritual truth.  _____E. H. Chapin

Yup, some energy and zest making a come back . . .

Just for fun

I have no idea why this body does it but every few months it feels like it's sixty and in slow decline mode and then, pop, I'm back in fine fettle at forty-two and alive to life. Had a very good day with younger sister and her childhood friend who stays in Moosup for the summer before heading back to her home in Florida. Old friends have great memories and we  had a lot to laugh about also shared the pain of losing loved ones and best friends.

Today is clear, crisp, dry, bright and ever so beautiful. Mother Nature has given us a scintillating October day in mid-August. Wow. We started out at Lizzy B's where my friend Linda has finally retired from her full time night job as a nurse in Rhode Island and now looks 20 years younger as she works as hard as ever at the restaurant and grocery store she has taken over when the owner went bankrupt and left Linda a mess. She's still way too busy but at least she's not working night and day, only days!

Missed two photo ops yesterday. A red-shoulder hawk was sitting as big and pretty as you please on the bluebird house by the garden. Of course by the time I was set to get a photo it flew off into the woods by the spring. I did try to chase it down but failed. Later on a turkey buzzard landed right in front of the same bluebird house and again I was too late. But it's still fun to try to catch these critters on camera.

Went for a walk through Moosup today and met my cousin Michael who walked a short way with me. He had already walked his mile or so at 6 am! Good grief, that's too early to be out of bed! He was on his way for his cup of Jo at the Cumberland Farm Hang Out. I generally wave to him and his buddies when I drive by. As much as I do complain about Moosup I still feel comfortable and safe walking the daytime streets. We won't talk about the black, back alley nights.  It's too bad people in general never improve. Some are and will always be dim-witted, crude, vulgar cave dwellers no matter the century they inhabit. But of course we still have the good, kind, generous souls who make living sweet and just. Sometimes both inhabit the same body and there is a mighty struggle - good does not always win.

Quote:  I find successful exertion is a powerful means of exhilaration, which discharges itself in good humor upon others.   ___Chalmers

I needed that II . . .

Spink's Beach Bric-a-brac

P&D's Pop took us for a ride to his old stomping grounds at Quonset, RI. Wow, we hadn't realized how long it's been since we were there and we had collected sea glass at the end of the road. The end of the road no longer exists as a place to collect sea glass - it's a big time sea time naval company complete with gates, trains and monster warehouses. But as luck would have it we weren't allowed to barge through the gate at the port where all the Audis and Porsches land but the guard told us how to find a nice little beach where we were able to collect some shells and sea glass. Naturellement I brought my old camera, I was afraid I might fall or something and didn't want to chance the Panasonic, and although Grampa had reminded me to bring the extra battery I inconveniently left it in the car so I only took a few photos. But that was fine because it was just pleasant to be walking along the beach with no one around. And it was especially pleasant to be with my boon companion.

Quote:  Nature has given us two ears, two eyes, and but one tongue, to the end that we should hear and see more than we speak.    ___Socrates

I needed that . . .

It's good to have someone to come home to who just takes you out to a monster Margarita  Lunch when he knows you're in the throes of medical turmoil. Yep, I needed that good lunch of Blueberry, Strawberry Salad with Grilled Chicken  and the whopping Margarita served in a tall water glass. It was imperative today of all days because although I passed my doctor's appointment with flying colors I finally have a doctor who looked at me and said, " You're an excellent patient and you know what's going on so I'm calling in a prescription for Bactrim so you'll have it when you need it; just use it for three days." I really appreciate his doing that because the fiasco of trying to see a doctor when you have a UTI is outrageous. He said some people, like me, are just genetically prone to UTI's and since I know when I have one he wants me to treat it immediately but only for three days. Love this man. If I get a fever then of course he wants to see me but otherwise my next appointment is in a year. Yay!

Life has been pretty smooth other than the aches and pains of growing up. Kiddo's birthday party yesterday was the best yet. He invited 6 friends and they had a ball in the pool and on the water slide his parents had rented for the day. Kiddo got a little beat up by the slide but all in all 'twas a great party. Grampa stayed home and baby sat the Hot Rod which he put out by the garden with a for sale sign. Since it was VJ Day a lot of people came by the house. There was a lot of looking but no buyers, at least not yet! I've been having fun with the Panasonic Lumix but still have so much to learn. Even though I have the ebook written by Graham Houghton I've sent for the hard cover. I still prefer a book book when I need to read something really important. It should be in tomorrow but I doubt  I will improve any time soon!

Younger brother and his wife are in Alaska and I'm certain they are having a wonderful excursion. Just the thought of them at Glacier Bay brings back wonderful memories of our sojourn in 2006. I'll see younger sister this week and hopefully bring one of her childhood friends who is in Moosup for the summer up to visit her. Also had a really nice visit from older brother and his wife this past week. As I said, life  is good.

Quote:  The wise are instructed by reason; ordinary minds, by experience; the stupid, by necessity; and brutes by instinct.   ____Cicero