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Saturday, December 5, 2015
Crafting, still
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.
Friday, November 27, 2015
Being Crafty
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
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.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Signs of Fall
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....
Friday, August 21, 2015
Therapeutic Artwork
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Sewer in Shower, Bats in Chimney, and Medical Personnel Galore
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.....
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Dad Comes Home
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.
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Centennial Farm Celebration
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.....
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Adventures in Senior Care
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Epilogue
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 |
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Yard work, Fireflies, and a Sick Cat
Friday, June 12, 2015
Done, and On the Way Home
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.
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 |