Month 26-

Wow, so much goes on and I just can't keep track.  But I do want to.

Week 106-September 11-14, 2014

     On this 13th anniversary of 9-11, I sat in a classroom of third graders.  That tragic day occurred before they were born, yet many knew of its horror.  With details out of place, one girl spoke confidently of the twin towers in Chicago, they were anxious to make their personal connections.  I can still feel the profound sadness of that day, watching the news as the second plane hit, walking downstairs to tell Colin.  I was glad to be with children.  The current terrorism of Isis is alarming. I hope I don't take for granted the security, peace, and freedom of our life here in Rough and Ready.  I made Fred and I delicious chicken sandwiches with garden bounty and homemade bread.

     The remainder of the subbing day went well, as always.  It feels good to be a teacher.  I enjoyed reading old favorites, How I Became a Pirate and Heckedy Peg.  I got to start my birthday celebration early, dinner at Pine Street Burgers!  Is is got dark, the call of an owl in our oak by the bridge lured me.  It was like a picture book to see the screech owl nestled in the hollow hole in the blue oak.
     The next morning I woke to deer in the yard, one of my favorite sights.  

This morning the clutch of male turkeys were squabbling, they were rather noisy.  
     I fetched Alexa on the way home from productive mill time.  It's hot, a record September for California.  We headed to the pool.

     Refreshed, Alexa dressed up to go shopping with Grampa. 

She picked out lovely birthstone earrings for my birthday.  I made a tasty pasta dish with more of that leftover chicken and garden bounty, sherry, butter and cheeses helped, and garlic too.  

     I was amazed by the Facebook birthday greetings.  I also picked up my free Starbucks for my special day.  After dropping Alexa with Jenn at K-mart, I headed to Roseville shopping.  I don't get to do that much, and it sounded like a fun day.

I found really cute dino fabric to make curtains for Alexa.

It's the one on the left.

     In my 57 years I am learning two garden and growing strategies.  Right plant, right place.  Let it be wild, learn to eat what thrives, all volunteers welcome.  I guess that's four strategies.  

This is probably this best year I've had for growing.

Day 740- September 10, 2014

     Oops, I over watered the garden again.  The tomatoes are on the verge of bounty.  The little acorn squash continue to form.  I'm keeping the peas moist, and should see them poking through any day now.  Time to pick raspberries again, I'm putting down lumber wrap, then sawdust for the weeds around that area.  
     I visited Janet Miller to share my feedback on her children's adventure novel, The Treasure of Zeno Archimedes Smith.  I feel privileged to be a part of her project, writing a book is no small task.
     Tuesday morn the power was cut to the mill for the installation of a new pole.  Thus, a nice afternoon bicycle ride from White Cloud to Skillman.  

Eddie's chain broke, so we didn't quite make our destination, but I didn't mind.  I was getting tired on the way back!  This is part of Root Hill, a gnarly walking spot on the trail.  

Mark had the right part to fix the chain.  We sat on the patio at Harmony Ridge Market for about an hour before the fellas dropped me at Northridge to meet my F'n friends.  

I was delighted to be greeted by Chloe Donnelly, a former first grader, now a senior.  She is a senior, and she still enjoys writing.  I'll find some of her writing, and go back to see her.

     On Wednesday, I went to yoga class.  I'm always grateful for that opportunity.  Once home, I washed my hair, got it in curlers, marched down to the neighbor's to trade raspberries, which I had picked in the morning, for basil.  I trudged back up the hill with basil, green beans, juicy peaches, and blackberry cookie cupcakes. To quote Eric, "To die for..."  Good trade for me, generous neighbor Stephanie is a treasure.  I made tomato sauce with a bag of tomatoes from the DeMartini's.  I found room in the cramped freezer.

Day 738-September 8, 2014

     Sunday started with some raspberry picking.  I made another batch of zucchini basil filo to take to Scott's new house.  I brought some of my cucumber soup too.  We headed there to help rip up flooring.

 Serene and Savannah were painting.

Grampa Orv would approve of the lovely shade tree in the back yard, and there is a lovely Japanese maple out front.  Chucho is very happy.

I am so satisfied when we do things with our kids.

Of course, we watched the 49ers spank the Cowgirls.

Home about 7, watched a good movie based on the first black Navy diver, and then Ray Donovan.  Perfect Sunday.

     Today at the mill more 1x4, about 1400 pieces today.  I helped for a couple hours in the Charter afterschool program.  I enjoy the kids very much.  The K-2 group got a reading of Heckedy Peg.  The older kids got homework help.

     We celebrated Mom's 75th birthday at Kanes.

Day 736-August 6, 2014

     First stop at the Master Gardener's Bite Me tomato tasting event.  My favorite, Kellogg's Breakfast.  Next stop, a cover crop class at Peaceful Valley.  Fun morning.
     I picked up Mom and Eddie for Nevada City Uncorked, a wine, beer, and food tasting. A birthday treat for Mom's 75th.  

 I didn't drink enough water....  lots of laughs and fun.

Day 735-September 5, 2014

     Three more days already.  My neighbor Dan and I were laughing yesterday morn, "Didn't I just pay my yearly post office box fee?"  Each day is still savored as a gift.  Half days at the mill are kind of nice, time to do things at home too.  Yesterday I had a delightful hour in fourth grade at Bell Hill.       

Wednesday I had a nice caprese plate ready for Fred and Jeff with a cold beer.  Jeff's helping with our bridge rebuild.  Yesterday I pulled 16 penny nails from reclaimed 2x12s.  I get more confident with the hammer after each swing.
     Pop treated the five of us to their favorite Mexican restaurant, Casa Lupe, in Yuba City.  It was a fun little evening adventure.  I like our favorite in Wheatland better.

     Today I planted a patch of peas.  Seeds were three different sources, from Costco this year, saved from my '10 bounty, and an '05 seed pack.

Scratching about and pulling and digging put a smile on my face.  I headed to the mill about 11 to stack about 600 pieces.  After work, Fred and Jeff worked on our bridge, I made more cucumber soup.  

Fred surprised me with a nice double IPA from Pennsylvania, Dirt Wolf.  Nice connection to the garden!  

Day 732-September 2, 2014

     Happy anniversary to me yesterday, two years retired from teaching!  Each day continues to be savored.  I'm grateful for the flexibility in my time, the good health to enjoy it, and the loving friends and family that share the adventure.
     I'm going to report backwards from today.  I helped Fred with one job at the mill, then caught the 11:15 Bikram Yoga class.  I hadn't been since April.  I felt excellent, strong and balanced.  The goal is once a week.  Let's see if I can get back at it.  Fred received a well deserved hour long massage.
     Day 731-Labor Day.  I puttered all day.  Picked raspberries, caught up on paperwork, re-potted an orchid, stuff like that.  Scott and Savannah joined us for a late dinner, then spent the night.  They just got keys for their house in Sacramento.  
     Day 730-Sunday.  We rose early for a journey to Santa Rosa.  First stop we fetched Trevor in Healdsburg at the Salli (Salvation Army).  I brought a picnic and peach cobbler.  We relaxed at Colin and Cora's.  Fred made blocks for Pax.  Trevor has some pretty nice drum riffs with them.   

We walked to a local park.  Paxton climbs everywhere.  

Princess E'lora surprised us, excuse me, Princess Daniella.

Travel on this day went well.  Being a holiday weekend, it's something to plan carefully.  Depositing Trev about 4:30, we passed this cool farmhouse on 128.

It wasn't much past dark when we got home.  A new episode of Ray Donovan was waiting for us.
Day 729-Saturday Alexa had a sleepover, so the day started with Grampa making us eggs, bacon, and toast.  She liked watching Grampa change the front brakes on his truck.  She and I went to our favorite place, the library.  She colored a dino picture and checked out a dino book.  I took her home.  I spent the rest of the day preparing for our Santa Rosa visit.
Day 728-Friday  Over 10,000 board feet of cedar, 2x6 decking for Kubich Lumber.  

Then I picked up Alexa from Kinderland.  As we were walking to the car, "And how was your day?" she asked so sweetly.  Exciting road work was happening when we got home.  Rich helped her operate the tractor.

She was standing on this roller, and simply leaped off.  Fortunately I was there to catch her.  No fear!

We went for a swim too.  Friend Laurie stopped by to talk. We ate tacos kind of late, Alexa was too tired to even eat. She slept well all night long.  
Day 727-Thursday  I enjoyed preparing for a dinner party for the folks, Eddie, and neighbors, nine in all.  I roasted my first leg of lamb.  Neighbor Bonnie said lots of garlic and lemon.

Here's the menu for the eve:  fresh figs from Scott's tree with blue cheese, a pecan, and pear basalmic reduction; hummus or cream cheese/spiced plum sauce (our plums!) with pita chips; Greens cookbook offered a filo recipe with zucchini as the key ingredient---to quote our friend Eric, "to die for";  cold cucumber soup (cucumber and zucchini bounty, are you surprised?) ditto Eric's comment.  Those were the appetizers.  Raspberry Moscow Mule was the most popular drink offering, it is my version of the Blackberry Moscow Mule I had made last week.  

Roast leg of lamb (after a few Martha Stewart videos and directions from our favorite, Dad's Own Cookbook), oven roasted potatoes, tabbouleh with arugula (garden bounty driven), rosemary garlic bread with the cream cheese garlic topping that Eric would say "is to die for."  Fresh peaches made amazing peach cobbler, a recipe adapted from RaeAnn Elzea, butter crust and custard filling.

A lovely evening, I wish for all to have such splendid dining. As Colin said in a text to me earlier in the week, "the best meal is made by hands among love ones :]"
Day 726 to 721-Wednesday Hmmmmm....  What was that Edward Norton film where he had "lost time"?  Pictures are helping me remember.  Well, that Friday was Rascal Flat and Sheryl Crow concert.  

Mark and Laurie, Alice and Eddie went with us.  Mexican food at our favorite place in Wheatland before.  Sunday was another epic motorcycle ride.  Lunch stop in Plymouth at Taste was, to quote Eric, "to die for."  

Eddie, John, and Eric were with us.  We were the only two up.  Ice House Road and Mormon Immigrant Trail are always favorites.

     Raspberry bounty calls for picking every two or three days.  They take awhile to gather.

     

Saturday, August 23, we did morning chores.  Then headed to Oroville to pick up our lamb.  We got a box of peaches from our new friend Dave at his farm stand on 70.  We checked out trucks as we begin considering the mill needs around that.

 I love Martha Stewart!

 Freezer space is full, so I've taken to preserving fruit in alcohol.  These are raspberries in vodka.

On Monday sweet Alice brought us enchiladas at the mill.  I had made roast beef sandwiches, so she shared and we had dinner!

Wednesday I had a home day to sew curtains for our bedroom.  Satisfying, for sure!