Crafting, still

Well, my first craft show was a fairly qualified success. I sold nothing at all for the first 90 minutes, and probably for the last 90. In the whole six hours I managed to take in $126, about half of which was from one of my friends (thanks Gerry!). But I really like doing this stuff so will continue to pursue. Not sure that this bazaar (at the Eagles) was the ideal venue. There were plenty of people there selling stuff that wasn't handmade. The woman next to me was selling some sort of Amway-like skincare products, another woman was selling incredibly cheap-looking bracelets with "made in china" stickers on them. So it seems like this was more like a flea market than an art show. And I, at least, consider my stuff to be art. So, will continue to improve my skills over the winter and see if I can get into some actual arts and crafts fairs next summer. The local artist's co-op is also a possibility but I want to do some fine-tuning first as that's juried, and also costs about $50 per month. Etsy is another idea.

I was selling earrings for $7 and I'm sure in the right venue I could probably charge twice that. They cost very little to make, other than my time and skill, which I'm not worried about charging for as (a) I'm doing it  because it's fun and (b) no one could afford any of the stuff if I charged for my time.

Being Crafty

Getting ready to try to sell some of my crafts at a local Christmas bazaar. This is my first time. Wish me luck! All of this is done with polymer clay.

Going Home

Bright and early tomorrow morning I will at last be headed HOME. Dad is about back to where he was before his July tub adventure, and I think I've got an adequate support system set up for him. He will get meals on wheels five days per week and a housecleaner / general helper from senior services twice a month. I've also set up a little email group among his local friends and relatives, most of whom have told him to call for help any time.

We've had our first hard frost. I picked most of the apples from the tree in the front yard (best apples I've ever tasted, from a volunteer tree of unknown variety), mowed down the asparagus and peonies, ran the excess gas out of the weed trimmer, filled up the gas cans for the snow blower, brought in the hammock, put away the kayak: we are as prepared for winter as we can be.

Nancy and Gerry have been here for the past week. Weather has been intermittently ideal for cycling and then not so much. It snowed one day and two days later it was 70 again. But we've gotten in several good rides. Check out Nancy's blog www.adventureswithnancyg.blogspot.com for nice pictures of our adventures.

I once again find myself in that disoriented state... Is this my home, or is it on whidbey island? Should I be staying here at chippewa pines? Most of my dear, dear family is here, and every year I seem to appreciate them more. But I could say the same for my adopted family of friends out west. I miss my cat, my island, my ocean, my ferry rides, hills, Douglas firs, huge cedars surrounding my house. Sigh..... Guess I'll continue to be bicoastal.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Signs of Fall

Last night after Dad went to bed, I went out for a walk under the almost-full moon. A blanket of fog had covered the hay fields to a depth of a foot or so, frogs singing, moonlight reflecting off of the apple trees and the river.  Hard to imagine any place more beautiful.

I've really enjoyed watching the seasons change here at Chippewa Pines. It's definitely heading into fall now, even though we're supposed to have temps near 90 later this week. Goldenrod -- and thus, my allergies --- in full bloom, Dad's had the heater next to his chair on nearly every day (which requires me to take off all but the minimum of my clothing), and I even put the comforter back on my bed for one night.

 I'm still homesick and bored.  Dad likes westerns, and we've watched Daniel  Boone, Davy Crockett, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, High Chaparral, The Virginian, Old Yeller, How The West Was Won... all pretty good shows, I must admit, but I've got to do something else to keep me busy while watching, and I've played so much online sudoku that when I close my eyes I see grids of numbers. Clay projects are still entertaining me but I've got an embarrassing amount of projects done and can't imagine what I will do with all of this stuff....

Therapeutic Artwork

Finally got around to taking some pictures of the "therapeutic artwork" I've been doing in between eldercare duties in Michigan. Pictures aren't great as the only camera I have is my ipad and I can't seem to get very crisp pics. Too bad, as I really want to show off the fine detail...This is all done with polymer clay. Don't know what I am going to do with all of this stuff, but I can't seem to stop. 

Want one? Or several?

Sewer in Shower, Bats in Chimney, and Medical Personnel Galore

An eventful and stressful morning at Chippewa Pines. First, I had to get Dad up at 8am, several hours before either of our usual rising times, because the occupational therapist was due at 10 am and it takes Dad that long to get dressed and have breakfast. Just after the OT arrived, cousin Jerry arrived to install the grab bar in Dad's bathroom. Then the visiting nurse called to say she was on her way.

 A couple of days ago I finally figured out that the water that has been appearing intermittently in the basement hallway and shower (which hasn't been used in years, more on that later) was occurring when both toilets upstairs were flushed in quick succession. Bubbling up through the shower drain, yuck. Dad of course wanted me to use the same plumber he used last time (which turned out to be 8 years ago) so I spent a while riffling through his box of old receipts to find the name. Just after the OT left, the plumbers arrived, followed almost immediately by the visiting nurse. Cousin Jerry needed to drive down to the corner hardware store to get some supplies but was now blocked in by all the other cars. About this time I realized I was shaky....all I'd had for breakfast was a piece of toast ....so had to quickly down a sandwich while running up and down the stairs to check on the plumbers, talk to the nurse, talk to Jerry, re-do Dad's meds due to the nurse's Coumadin-check results, and record upcoming OT and PT and visiting nurse appointments on the calendar.

The downstairs shower hasn't been used in years because some of the tiles had fallen off and dad could no longer get in there to fix them. There's water damage and although I know Dad would like to just have the tiles replaced I think Jerry and I have convinced him that just replacing the whole thing with a fiberglass stall will be cheaper, easier, and likely a longer term fix. So one of my projects while here at the coffee shop is to find someone to come out and give us an estimate. Meanwhile I believe the plumbers have unclogged the drain so at least there won't be sewage in the shower anymore. Unless the septic tank needs to be cleaned. Only God knows when this was last done, and she's not saying.

My other project involves bats. While Jerry and I were investigating the source of the leak in the basement yesterday, Jerry was up on the roof to check the flashing around the bathroom vent. While there he happened to shine a flashlight down one of the chimneys and whooo!!! started a big ruckus of squeaks and chirps. I went out at dusk and confirmed that there are bats flying in and out of the chimney, and also that you can hear them quite clearly at the basement fireplace, where, thankfully, the damper is closed.  I've found several bat-control specialists in the area. Stay tuned. I do love bats but having a colony of them in the chimney seems like a bad idea.

Taking a deep breath.....

Dad Comes Home

Dad came home from rehab on Sunday. He was supposed to stay a few days longer but Medicare said no. So far he's doing OK at home, able to get around the house using his electric cart, get to the bathroom on his own, etc. The doctor was able to get his urinary tract working again, which was a huge relief to me as I though I was going to have to learn to catheterize him, A daughter should NOT have to do that! His biggest issue right now is that he can't raise his arms much above chest level. He can dress himself except for the shirt, which so far I have had to help him with. I hope PT will help with that.

I'm quite impressed with the level of elder care resources that are available here. Yesterday an RN came to the house and spent a good two hours there assessing his condition and explaining how the system works. We will have a nurse 1-2 days per week and PT probably two days per week, 60 days all 100% covered by medicare. There's also a bath aide available (which my dad rejected.... we'll see how it goes), and a social worker who can help us set up whatever he will need after the 60 days is up.

Courtesy of cousin Jerry we now have a nice ramp going to the front door, which means dad can now ride his cart right out to the garage. Courtesy of daughter Vickie we have a LifeStation emergency button, which dad actually put on and has promised to wear. Waterproof and with a 1000-foot range, it should keep him from spending another week in the tub. Anyway, he will use the walk-in tub from now on.

I am enjoying the local farmer's market.... vine ripened tomatoes, cukes, melons, eggplant, and right now, the famous Michigan Red Haven peaches are in. I bought a peck of them this morning and will be peeling, slicing, and freezing for Dad this evening.

I am in the compulsive phase of a new hobby, millefiore (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millefiori)
 using polymer clay. It reminds me of quilting in many ways.... you make lots of "canes", which are then analogous to quilting fabric or quilt  blocks, and then you get to play around with slicing and  combining them in pleasing ways. Also like quilting in that everything I make looks (to me) beautiful and it's hard to stop. So far I've been covering glass jars and ceramic cats, but soon I'm going to try out some earrings. Guess what all my friends are getting for Christmas? Leslie referred to the jars as looking "psychedelic", which made me think.... hmm, I wonder if I could sell them at the pot stores in Washington as "stash" jars? One of these days I'll post some pictures....

I'll be here in Michigan until October 22nd. Trying not to think about that being more than two months away. I've been away from home since April 18th, except for the less than 3 weeks between my bike trip and getting the dreaded Dad In Tub call. I am enjoying watching the seasons change here, and there is definitely a hint of fall in the air already. Cecil has finally arrived to cut the hay, and it's been fun watching the various pieces of antique farm equipment.... I doubt if he's got anything that was manufactured after 1960, and I know one of his tractors is a Farmall from the '40's as it's very similar to Dad's.

Thomas Evelyn Cat has gone to friends Leslie and Dave's house for the duration, has made friends with my god-dog, Maggie, and is being tolerated by the other three cats in the household. Friends and neighbors Gerry and  Margaret are insuring my house does not get turned into a meth lab while I'm gone. I'm sure my yard has grown up to weeds and the horsetails and blackberries have taken over the hillside, but that can wait until my return.

Centennial Farm Celebration

Yesterday I drove up to Standish, my dad's home town, to attend a celebration in honor of the family farm receiving their official "Centennial Farm" designation. I wish my dad had been up to going, as it was just a great time.

My great grandfather, Albert Hagley, started the farm. Dad's father, Rollie, continued and passed it on to Dad's brother Louie, and now Louie's son Tim and family are running the place. Tim has done quite a bit of research into the family, and found that Albert, prior to starting the farm, was one of the major movers and shakers in Omer, Michigan, which was a happening place in the lumber heyday of the turn of the century. He ran a shingle mill, dry goods store, and I think even a hotel there. He built a fine house in Omer, and another one of similar design on the farm, which is still there today. Unusual for it's time, the house had carbide gas lighting, and running water from a 400-foot-deep flowing well. The water was even piped to the barn. It's the house my dad grew up in, and Tim's daughter and family live there now.

There must've been around a hundred people at the celebration. Tim had come down a couple of days before to borrow the 117-year-old dinner bell my dad has, which was originally at the farm. It was fun to have the bell there and Tim and I both got to ring it. Tim promises to return it to Dad's house soon. I got to see some relatives I hadn't seen in quite a while, and a few I didn't even know I had. I met Cindy Hagley from Duluth, around my age and one of Albert's progeny but I have lost track of just how.

One day earlier this week as I was going to bed, I thought I heard faint "meows" coming from outside. I figured one of our outdoor cats was moving her kittens again, and didn't think any more about it. The next morning when I got up, I opened one of the built in drawers in my bedroom to get my clothes, and out jumped poor little Princess. Kitty had spent a cozy night in the drawer and seemed only a little upset about it.

This week cousin Jerry will build a ramp to Dad's front door, so that hopefully he'll be able to ride his little electric cart right out to the garage. Dad should be coming home sometime in the next week or two. Last week I had the house (at least the main floor) professionally cleaned and it looks so much better! Someday soon I will tackle the basement.....

Adventures in Senior Care

Awake during the 3am worry hour this morning, I finally gave up on sleep so was up well before sunrise. I went for a walk out the driveway, mist rising off the field, a few remaining fireflies sparkling in the grass, a couple of deer bounding away, and a couple of stray cats. Cardinals, blue jays, and orioles singing. It is beautiful here.

I am back at Chippewa Pines while my dad recovers. He fell in the bathtub and was there for eight, yes, eight days before being found. One of the neighbors had tried to visit him two days in a row and couldn’t rouse him, so called me. Police and ambulance ensued. Miraculously, no broken bones, but he spent 5 days in the hospital and now is in rehab for an indeterminate amount of time. Lots of colorful bruises and scrapes, and he is very weak, but mentally still fine. He's now able to get around a bit with his walker but still can't get up and down on his own. 

Doesn’t he have one of those life alert buttons? Yes, but won’t wear it. Doesn’t he have a walk-in tub? Yes, but won’t use it. I suspect both of those things will change now. At least I hope so.

It’s been so rainy that the hay fields here haven’t been mowed yet, and they are full of wildflowers. The tall grass is just beginning to turn golden-brown. I almost hate for the hay guy to come to mow. 

When I got here the lawn was all overgrown into foot-high weeds. Dad’s got probably close to an acre of lawn so of course there’s a riding mower. (When we first moved here,almost 50 years ago, before we had a riding mower, mom, dad and I used to take turns at the mowing, a couple of loops each around the lawn.) Anyway, I got it about half mowed, did a tight turn, and suddenly the dang mower won’t move anymore. Still runs fine, just won’t move. Seems like something needs repair every time I’m here. 

The late night that I got here, as soon as I walked in I could hear loud mewling from the side porch. Two or possibly three brand new kittens in the pet carrier that I have now christened the birthing house, as this is the second batch that’s appeared there this year. Surely they must have just been born that day, small as mice and still wet looking. After I went to bed I heard the mother moving them, and haven’t seen them since. Not even sure which cat is the mom. Pretty sure it’s got to be either Fluffy or Buffy, as they are the only outside cats that are tame enough to come up on the porch. But there are at least 2 other cats hanging around outside, and of course we’ve got the three mostly-indoor residents Snoopy, Princess, and Tiger. They are all very affectionate to my dad. But with me here, only Snoopy is friendly. Princess is indifferent, and Tiger is fearful. I think Princess is really mourning for missing my dad, as she spends all of her time just lying at the foot of his bed.

Weather here has been perfect for the past few days, sunny, 75, humidity at a reasonable level. After riding the very pleasant 30 mile round trip out to see my dad, I spent yesterday afternoon napping in the hammock by the river.

Epilogue

Flights were all on time, and after a nearly four hour layover in Las Vegas, and a bonus stop in Sacramento, I got into Seattle just after 10pm Thursday night. As usual Southwest had my bags coming off the conveyor just about the time I got to the baggage pickup. I grabbed them and went out to the courtesy van area to call Motel 6 for a pickup. When I called from the courtesy phone at the curb, they didn’t answer, so I called information from my cell and asked for “Motel 6 Seattle Airport”, which is what my reservation said. Their next pickup wasn’t for 45 minutes so I got their address and grabbed a taxi instead. Got there, and they had no record of my reservation, which I’d prepaid through Hotels.com. They called the other Motel 6, which they say is often a confusion, and they had no record of me either. Finally got through the telephone maze at Hotels.com to find out there is actually a THIRD Motel 6 near Seatac, so back I went in another taxi, the cost of the two taxi rides now basically negating the savings I’d made by booking at Motel 6 in the first place. And this place didn’t even have an airport shuttle, so I thought I’d have to take yet another taxi in the morning.

Still on east coast time, I was wide awake before 6am the next morning. This being Seattle, there was a latte place right outside the motel, and the nice guy there pointed out to me that the light rail station to take me into Seattle was only a half mile down the road. An easy 10 minute walk and I was on the train. 

Train, two buses, a ferry, and a car ride, and I'm HOME! Mount Rainier is out in all its glory, birds are singing, sunshine, blue sky, quiet. I am so, so happy to be here. Why would anyone want to live anywhere else?

When I retrieved my bags from the baggage claim  the one holding the Spatz bread and pickled bolgona was soggy and smelled like vinegar. Sadly, the pickled bologna jar had leaked all over the bread and it was a soggy mess.  Bologna is OK but I guess I’ll have to wait until my next Michigan trip for that crispy goodness of toasted Spatz. I was lucky to snag the two loaves, too, as Spatz is just about to go on their annual 2 week vacation and everyone back there was stocking up.

Picked up Thomas Evelyn Cat from Dennis and Char's house yesterday and he spent the first couple hours home hiding under the bed, but this morning he jumped into bed and cuddled up to me so I guess he's adjusted. I let him out on the upstairs deck this morning while I sat in the sun catching up on reading the local paper, and he managed to crawl onto the tree overhanging the deck. He had an adventure climbing up the tree and looked like he was having fun but eventually I coaxed him back down. Guess I gotta do some tree trimming

My bike made it here but is still at the bike shop. My local mechanic found that whoever had put the bike together last had tightened up the stem and aerobars so tight  that it has dented the handlebars. So I'm getting new handlebars, and a new stem to boot, one that will bring the handlebars a little closer to me. It's only money. It's only money.

Here are a few pictures from my last days in Michigan:

This summer's street art in Midland is all made from bicycle parts

They've painted the old Curry Parkway bridge bright red. I love it!

More Midland street art

Kayaking down the Chippewa River

More of that bike-parts street art

Yard work, Fireflies, and a Sick Cat

In downtown Midland, Michigan,  for my afternoon stop at the coffee shop.

It rained the first three days I was here, but yesterday morning dawned bright and clear and perfect for biking. I went into town on one of the rainy days and bought a cheap pair of pedals, since my fancy clip-in ones and my bike shoes are on my way home with my bike. Yesterday I gave them a 25 mile workout. It was so nice to just feel like I was meandering on the bike rather than trying to get somewhere.

I wish you could see the fireflies here! The last few nights they have been just everywhere, thousands of them spread out over the fields, even in the rain. I’ve never seen so many. I sat out on the porch last night with all the lights off just to watch them.

A couple of days ago I had to take poor Snoopy Cat to the vet. This poor kitty, who is about 12 years old, has had terrible intestinal issues for years. He is on a special diet and dad at least tries to give him medication twice a day, although sometimes he can’t catch him.  But still the poor thing gets so bound up he ends up screaming in pain and going back to the vet several times per year. On Monday I am taking him in to have a surgery that may help. I sure hope so.

It's supposed to start raining again tomorrow so today I am trying to get yard work done. Dad mowed half the lawn yesterday, and today I was going to do the edges, steep part of the hill and river bank with the DR trimmer. I hauled it out of the barn, checked the oil, filled it up with gas, and much to my surprise it started right up on the very first pull.  I knew this was too good to be true... now the actual mower part won't engage. So it's going to the small engine repair place this afternoon. Hope it's just a simple something that has come disconnected, as some trimming really needs to be done... the jungle is encroaching. Anyway, I finished mowing the other half of the lawn and the driveway, sawed down part of a dead tree in the front yard, and added it to the ever-growing brush pile. One of these winters we are going to have a BIG bonfire. 

Done, and On the Way Home

I guess it's time to catch up! I am at the airport in Portland, Maine, waiting for my flight to Michigan. I'll finish my trip home on June 26th.

We rode into  Bar Harbor yesterday afternoon, after skirting through just a bit of Acadia National Park. Our last 2 days of riding we had perfect, sunny weather, nice roads, rolling hills through the Maine woods, with occasional glimpses of the ocean.

Our first day out of Freeport I didn’t ride at all, as I had a sore throat, not to mention a poor attitude about riding 75 miles of hills. Fourteen hours of sleep seem to have cured me, though.

We had a great final banquet last night, said our goodbyes, and this morning I walked my bike a half mile down the street to where the bike shop was supposed to be, but wasn’t. So rode a mile or so in the other direction to find the other bike shop listed in our information, and got it set up to be shipped back to the Whidbey bike shop to be reassembled and waiting for me.

So my totals for this trip are 1,970 miles (which means I rode in the van for 500+, a good sign that I probably won't do any more of these long tours....) and climbed a total of 48,385 feet. I'm glad I did it, but I'm glad it's over. 

Lesley and I entering Acadia

This put a big grin on my face!

View from my room in Bucksport, Maine

I met up with my high school friend Dave M. in Freeport. Had not seen him in 40 years! He's held up pretty well, dontcha think?

These are the EFI-ers on our trip. (having ridden Every F-ing Inch)

At the finish line 

LL Bean mothership

It's a bit blurry but conveys my joy at getting a whole, fresh Maine lobstah! I ate 2 of these during the last few days.

Leslie, Vickie, Lesley

At LL Bean

Group getting ready to ride in the morning

Impressive bridge going into Bucksport. There is an observation area in top of that tower.

I liked this old house

Creative use of snow shovels

We went through a couple of towns that had these old stores with the old Rexall Drug signs in front, and soda fountains.

My victory dance in the waters of Bar Harbor