Happy Birthday, Mom

Yesterday was Mom's birthday and Kate had the thoughtful idea that we should take flowers to her grave in tribute.  We took carnations, because they're her favorite, and I had the florist make them blue,  because that's her favorite color.  The whole affair was messed up due to other factors, but, still, it was a nice idea and I'm glad we did it.

I was surprised that the florist simply took a can of blue spray paint and literally spray painted the white carnations blue.  I had no idea that was how it was done.  Luckily, the paint smell wore off and the carnation smell reasserted itself before we got there.  Sort of artificial ... but I wanted blue.  Mom was the queen of spray painting things gold -- so I guess it's fitting.  On Sundays sometimes we would take a drive and she would stop by the roadside and gather dried pods and thistles that she would take home and paint gold and put into wonderful dried arrangements.  We called it her "gold period," like Picasso's "blue period."

I'm not really one for visiting cemeteries.  It's my belief that the person doesn't linger around a graveyard but goes on to a different type of being.  If the people we love are still in communication with us, they are probably more in touch with us in our everyday lives -- where they were a part -- than in a place as foreign as a cemetery.  And it bothers me a little to remember that the body we touched and loved -- empty as it is --  is under the ground succumbing to natural and necessary processes.  

So, I'm not a big cemetery visitor.  There's nothing there to draw me.

I have, however, developed a theory about the communion of saints.  Mom always said that she thought dead people were unaware of the living.  Her reasoning was that heaven should be perfect bliss and that the people in heaven couldn't be happy if they knew their loved ones left behind were suffering or in pain.

I, on the other hand, believe that it's possible to be at peace and still be aware of the suffering of others.  The book "The Lovely Bones" makes sense to me and it seems reasonable that those who die maintain an connection to the living through love as long as their loved ones remain behind.  As time goes on, that connection would naturally become more tenuous as the next generation ages and dies and eventually all the people you knew and loved would be with you and you would no longer need or want a connection to the living.

Of course, this is all just theory, but it makes sense to me.  I guess someday we'll all know.  

I haven't felt much like writing recently.  I don't know why, but I'm just going with it.  I suppose it started when Linda and I went to Hawaii last Sept.  I meant to write an essay about her bravery and good spirits while facing an incurable and debilitating brain disease.  But it never got done.  Somehow it seemed too personal and too sad.  The other things going on around here are the same.  I just don't feel like sharing right now ... I'm holding even the trivialities of my life close.

The rabbits have become a burden.  I can't believe I'm saying that, but it's true.  I have always gotten so much joy from their sweet faces and soft fur.

Andy will be 10 years old this spring.  Poor old guy.  He's had a testicular tumor for quite a while now.  His second testicle had shriveled away to nothing, but now it's as big as the other one, so I can only conclude that the cancer has spread to the second testicle too.  He has a solid floor in his sleeping area and has always been very clean about doing his duty out on the wire, but now he pees nearly every day on the solid part.  The pee mixes with feces and makes a wet mess that solidifies into cement on his rear end and back legs.  I have to clean him every couple of days -- an unpleasant chore for both of us.  If I can get a good weather day, I need to replace the solid floored area with wire.  I did that for Genny's cage because she's never been very fastidious with her bathroom habits.  Maybe that'll help him -- but every time I look at him I wonder if the vet should put him down.  He's outlived most rabbits by two years and I hope he's not suffering.  I guess as long as he has a healthy appetite ...

Genny is just Genny.  When I look at her, I think of a beautiful dumb blonde.  She is unquestionably beautiful, but she just doesn't have any personality.  She seems utterly indifferent to me and her surroundings as long as she's fed.

Charlie is a problem.  When I got him last spring, he was a curious and affectionate baby bunny.  When he hit maturity, he became high strung, nervous, and territorial.  He has bitten me hard enough to break the skin and leave impressive bruises several times.  When I brought him in for a brushing yesterday, I had to stand over him and lean my body away because he repeatedly lunged for me and snagged my sweater with his teeth.  He seems terrified and aggressive, even though I've tried to treat him gently.  Whenever I get him out of his hutch, he immediately releases a dozen poos and, often as not, pees as well -- so I think he's frightened.  I'm going to try to spend more time with him and try to convince him that he's safe, but he's really wearing on my nerves.  No one likes to be bitten and peed on.  I don't need another challenge in my life right now.

[ A small success:  When I took him out to get his picture, I decided to bring him inside for a little cuddle time.  He not only DIDN'T pee on me or bite me, he actually seemed to fall asleep in my lap for about five minutes.  Baby steps ....]

Maybe later I'll write a bit about my knitting.  Keep in touch.  

Jurrassic Mall

 When I was in Danville, I ran across the type of oddity you can only find in a small town. I decided to  have my hair cut so I would look nice for the Friendship Spinners annual retreat.  I selected a small hair salon in a strip mall, walked in the door, and WHOA!  I was confronted by three enormous dinosaur skeletons!  One of them was a crocodilian beast with jaws at least five feet long and huge teeth.

My hairdresser later told me that these guys are the handiwork of a local dentist, who has his office next door.  He and his son are paleontologists on the side and rent these REAL dinosaur fossils to museums. Before shipping them, each skeleton is assembled to sure all the pieces are there and in good condition.  Likewise, when they're returned they must be assembled and examined for damage.  So, the dentist puts these monsters up in an empty storefront where a tanning salon used to be, right next to the beauty salon.

Talk about unexpected surprises!  Who would have guessed there would be dinosaurs in a strip mall in Danville?  

Thanksgiving Delayed but not Denied

We finally got around to eating our Thanksgiving dinner yesterday -- the Saturday after Thanksgiving proper.   A nasty flu laid all of us low in turn and we decided that, discretion being the better part of valor, we should postpone any holidays involving the mass intake of food.  Even so, we had one casualty after the feast but she claimed it was only because she ate her pie too quickly.

Kate does the big hands thing over our feast

Penny smirks (?) at the camera

Jeff and Penny survey the turkey (Ally is taking all these pictures)

So, this Thanksgiving we're thankful that we all eventually felt well enough to celebrate.  We're also thankful that -- for the first time in years -- we had planned to celebrate as a nuclear family and that no one else's celebration was affected by our inability to participate on the proper day.  We're also thankful that we can be flexible and roll with the punches.

Don't believe this lying face -- he got PLENTY of turkey

Most of all, we're thankful that all four of us were together -- even if part of the time we were heaving and miserable and grousing at each other.  We survived the Thanksgiving of 2012!  (I sure hope the Mayans aren't right because I'd like another shot at this next year.)

Portraits of America

My husband says that we live in Mayberry and sometimes that seems to be true.  On the 4th of July, in particular, you see that small town spirit. One of the highlights of the day is the 4th of July parade.  This is no high tech spectacle with tarted up floats.  Instead, it's a true celebration of community.  Anyone can participate and most do!  

The "floats" mostly consist of open cars and pickup trucks with signs and bunting attached to them. Every group in the city wants to be represented, including the church, the various teams, and every local politician.  Even the retirement home with its air-conditioned van creeps along the parade route, full of smiling seniors.  Adding to the noise level, all the firetrucks and police cars in the parade blare their sirens. 

This antique fire truck is promoting the local feed store.

Those who aren't actually in the parade, line up along the parade route with blankets, chairs and coolers.  The children bring plastic bags to collect the candy that will be thrown from each of the floats.  Restaurants and other businesses hand out coupons and politicians hand out fliers as they walk the parade route.    

Families grab a piece of shade to watch the parade.

Streets lined with chatting neighbors.

My favorite float!  Go Teaparty!

The local cub scout pack.

 

Kids love to ride in the parade. 

The end of the parade heads up the street.

When dusk falls everyone comes out to see the fireworks.  I knew my new camera had a special fireworks button and I spent most of my time during the fireworks display looking for it.  Finally, I just took a video and looked it up when I got home.

Brandi, if you read this, many thanks to you, your husband, and your family for the sacrifices you made to keep our little corner of Americana just this way.  

New Stuff

After taking a photography mini-class at the Friendship Spinners retreat, I decided to buy a tiny Canon Elph to supplement my big Canon Rebel.  Anne Littlebird, who taught the class, said that some of these little cameras are very good and have the added advantage that you're likely to actually carry them with you.  She also noted that you don't need all the bells and whistles of the latest model or a huge pixel size to get good photos.  So, I looked around a little and picked up a used Canon Powershot SD780 IS (12 MP and 3X optical zoom) on eBay for $38 ($28 + $10 shipping).

What a deal!  This little red cutie is a little beat up, granted, but I'm loving the pictures it takes.  Moreover, I love macro and this camera has a digital macro setting that goes practically microscopic.  I think I'll really enjoy having it on our upcoming trips and not lugging the big Rebel all over the place.

Another recent and cheap pleasure has been the discovery of Spotify.  I loved Pandora because I could make my own radio station and teach it -- through my selections -- to play the types of music I prefer.  Spotify is even better.  With Spotify, you actually get to select your songs and create personal playlists.  I can't believe it's free!  It's amazing!  So far, I've got a playlist for my  "girl power" favorites from Katy Perry and Pink, a playlist of old torch songs from the 30s and 40s, and a playlist of Celtic music.

Last, but not least, I finally got my new drivers license -- about six weeks late.  Oops.  It had, by definition, been four years since my last driver's license photo and the lady at the DMV pointed out the difference in the photos and cut out the old one for me to keep.  Cool, huh?  

Back on the Horse?

This morning the prodigal returned to the gym.  There was no fatted calf, but I do feel better for doing it.  I was so good for about nine months ... I went faithfully three times a week.  Then Christmas and vacations knocked me off the horse and I never got back up again.  So, today I'm back on the horse.  Send good enabling thoughts my way -- especially in the morning when I really want to stay in bed. 

I'm almost done with my first project from the yarn I sent to the mill.  It's 50% Andy and Genny's wool and, as I work with the yarn, it's developing a beautiful bloom.  It's got such a halo, in fact, that I'm sure I would never want yarn that's more than 50% angora except for trimmings or other specialty uses.  The pattern is The Emperor's New Scarf by the very clever Lucy Neatby.  Isn't it gorgeous?  I think the best description was that it looks like an art deco tree (upside down in this picture).