A Little Older, but None the Wiser!

I just got through a stressful half hour trying to get onto my blog. I had to reset everything with google’s new guidelines. So tell me, how was that suppose to make my blogging experience more enjoyable?

Okay. Done bitchin’

Well, I, the Boss and Mickey Rooney turned another year older last Thursday. Strange that since both my parents have passed, I no longer celebrate my birthday. When I still lived close to home, my Mom would make me a German chocolate cake with peanut butter icing from scratch. It was the only gift I asked for. This year hubby paid for my Rosettastone Latin American Spanish course. It’s coming along nicely and has helped me with my volunteer work, since most of the people I come in contact at the Food Bank are Hispanic. Extremely grateful for my being able to communicate with them, are those who not only are unable to understand much English, but who are also nearly illiterate. In the past, if I was having difficulty explaining an item, I would point to the Spanish version on the package. However, some could not even understand that. I then realized that they could not read. Sometimes we take for granted the simplest things, like an adult being able to read.

And I put the Woody back in storage for another year. Charlie, Pud and I had an enjoyable year surfing the lake. But soon the winter draw-down of the lake will begin. However watching and hearing the southern migration of water fowl is somehow soothing. It let’s us know that the hush of winter will soon be upon us. Can not wait to crack open a nice bottle of wine in front of a crackling fire. Ahhhhhhhhhh…..life is good!

And one of the Peas emailed that she is now Dr. Sweet Pea. So I lift my glass to her. Well Done!

And for anyone who has ever passed a kidney stone….I say, thank God for hydrocodone. I endured the last two months ridding myself of one. Do you know what the horse chestnut hull looks like? Imagine squeezing that through a straw. Enough said!

And in closing, a thought about aging that most generation millennia forget. Always remember, "Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill."
Tis,
SF

Gray is the New Beige

Since Pea number one is thinking of gray and yellow for her wedding party, I decided to speak with some friends and family about this whole gray thing. The consensus was that the older the female person was, the less likely they wore that color. However, there were also some pros for wearing that color, especially from the male view. Didn’t have to worry much of color coordination and it hid such things as gravy spots and clothing wrinkles.

Youngsters seemed to be stuck on this color. Of course with youthful glow, great hair, no wrinkles and nice shapes, how could gray look bad?

On the other hand, I tried on some gray tops recently. It aged me fifteen years. Back on the rack they went, with me leaving the store with a bagful of tops in sherbet colors of yellow, peach and pale green.

When I spoke to my sister-in-law about this, she said gray has become the new beige. I looked at her and then remembered something she had remarked to me about years ago as we were walking through a parking lot of a pricey department store. We saw nothing but BMWs, Lincoln Town Cars, Mercedes’ and even a Rolls thrown in for class. They were all the same beige color. I think Champagne was the technical name. And the women who drove them had beige hair, beige clothing, beige shoes and handbags. The Beige Women. Plus they all had what we jokingly called “The Handbook”. You know, the unwritten rule book that women of this type all have and follow to the letter. How to wear your hair, what clothing to buy for each season or occasion, where to buy it, acceptable cars, and so on. Human Lemmings. Her title, not mine.

I don’t believe gray has quite hit that level, but I do see a lot of young women wearing it. And they can pull it off. We older folks have an on-going battle trying to keep color in our cheeks and our hair, than to wear gray.

Okay, I’m off my soapbox for now. I personally don’t care what color scheme Pea chooses. I’ll be looking at her and C. Everything else will fade into the background.

So in closing, love to all the Peas. And by the way, Happy Belated Birthday to Pea #1. I have some fresh roasted coffee and a few other things for you. Send me an address or are you still coming to Happy Valley? Pea #2……….ohhhh, it’s a guy thing. Pea #3……how’s the new apartment and Dutch? Pea #4……where the heck are you? In the ocean or home? And I have added another Pea from up by the East Cameron Homestead. Pea #5, who I believe has also moved. Hope things are going well for you and yours. Can’t wait to meet your little Peas at the wedding.
‘til later,
SF

Ooooh alright, I'll take the test........

Here's a request from Pea number one to answer a few questions.

1. What's your staple meal (ie. what meal do you cook most often when you can't be bothered to be adventurous)?

Pasta w/Roasted Grape Tomatoes & Garlic. If you scroll back thru my blog you can find the recipe. I always have the ingredients on hand.

2. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Well, let’s see…………the senior lady that others wish they didn’t have the inhibitions to be. You know, the woman with the long, natural curly hair tied back with a colorful scarf, rice paddy style, loose-fitting clothing, large hand made tote, always smiling. And when she passes you by, you get just a hint of exotic Casmir perfume. That’s what I want to be.

3. What book are you reading at the moment (if any)?

Wicked Philadelphia: Sins in the City of Brotherly Love by Thomas H Keels. What a great read! And on a more serious note, Escape from Davao by John D Lukacs. Not for the faint of heart. Story of the daring WWII escape from a Japanese prison camp.

4. How do you relax?

I have an icy cold Russian Vodka on the rocks with whatever nosh does it for me that day while watching a Tivo’d episode of House or a cooking show.

5. What color are the interior walls of your home?

Linen white. Period

6. What is your guiltiest pleasure?

I love to make spring & summer roll wraps. And then devour them until they come out of my ears!

7. What time is bedtime and getting up time?

Usually around 10PM and then up at 6AM. With three cats and a dog demanding to be fed, you don’t sleep-in at this zoo.

8. How long do you spend reading blogs (per day or per week)?

A few minutes to check in on all my Sweet Peas, every couple days.

Well, that's that. Now it's off for a leisurely ride in the Solstice with my long curly hair tied back, comfortable loose-fitting clothes, tote filled with an al fresco lunch and just a spritz of Casmir.
Life is good!

Love to all the Peas,
SF

String Beans, Sunflowers and Sugar Snaps………..

Three weeks ago I watered my garden with Miracle Grow because earlier this spring I couldn’t find any composted horse manure (the best kind) at the local nurseries. If you scroll down the pics in pairs, you’ll get an idea of the pre-fertilizer garden and pics from this morning.

My corn, cukes and sunflowers. Not quite the 3 Indian Maidens, but close.

Next is the Sugar Snaps, Dill and Hummingbird Feeder.

Next the San Marzano tomatoes and more Sunflowers, mixed in with Golden Red Beets, Swiss Chard, Parsley and Scallions.


Next my 'happy miracle', the self-seeded mixed Garden Lettuce we have been enjoying since the beginning of May. Plus the Blue Lake and Roma Green Beans and Basil. And one sweet and one hot Pepper. And some Mesclun Lettuce, Radishes and hiding behind the lettuce, an Italian Pumpkin sharing a pot with another 'happy miracle' Tomato (unknown what kind as of yet).

WOWSER!!! That stuff really works.

And now I give you my Bramble Rose Fence. And Charlie with his summer coat. The neighbors thought we had gotten another dog. He really doesn’t look like himself.

And I found this little fellow either sleeping-in or sleeping-off a nectar high.

And I tried to keep Charlie off the freshly vacuumed loveseat by blocking it with pillows.

Didn’t exactly work out.

And here is Pud working away at the computer. No wonder I sometimes come into the office to find the ‘screen’ printed.

And in closing, since it has become public, I can now congratulate Pea number one and C on their upcoming nuptials next year. Can’t wait to dance at your wedding!
Love to all the Peas.
‘til next time,
SF

Okay, I’m Baaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Wowser! It’s been crazy busy here the last few weeks. We are nearly finished with the smoke and fire damage clean-up and repairs. And the demolition of the neighbor’s house begins tomorrow. The odor from the ruins hasn’t reached “dead deer along a hot road” yet, but it’s been pretty wicked with the summer-like weather we just had. Sooooooooooo, it looks like our anticipated quiet summer is going to be filled with the sounds of construction.
Okay, on to the next saga. Hubby and I met his brother at a store to purchase a new TV for another brother. While there, we decided to look for a front-loading washer and dryer. Found one we liked, went home to research it and decided against it. Went back down to the store the next day, purchased two mattress/box-springs and a French door refrigerator. (NOTE: Think carefully before buying a fridge manufactured by LG. Every shelf on the door and interior has cracked on our 4 year old Kenmore {made by LG}, with the freezer area rusting away.) Both bedding sets fit our antique beds, although you need a stepladder to get into hubby’s. However, even after measurements were taken and assurances made that the fridge would fit, it didn’t. Oh, it would fit the space, but we wouldn’t be able to pull out the long center drawer. Back it went on the truck. Ran around to four other places in search of another and found nothing but LG’s, fridges manufactured by LG, or name brands at the bottom of Consumer Reports lists. The August issue of CR is suppose to be updating their review of refrigerators. So we decided to wait another month before replacing our lemon. Personally, I wanted to U-haul it up to the Sears store parking lot and set it on fire. But calmer minds prevailed. Oh well…….
I’ve been keeping track of most of the Peas as some moved into a new nest and bought a “little girl in a dog suit”, aka Dutch.



Others are jet-setting around the globe. Others are holding-down the homefront. Gosh, to be young again. Grab hold of every offer given Peas and you’ll never have regrets!
Next time, I will take you on a tour of the gardens, some pics of “summer” Charlie and other amusing things.
‘til then, love to all the Peas,
SF

Everybody is Okay........

Well, Peas..........it's been a nightmare of a May so far. Late Wednesday afternoon I was sitting at the dining room table working on my laptop, when Charlie jumped to his feet and started acting weird. The cats shot off down the hallway and as I looked out the sunroom windows, all I could see was thick smoke. As my brain was trying to wrap itself around this sight, the phone rang. It was Marina next door asking me if my house was on fire. I jumped to my feet, ran to the back door and said, "No, but the next door neighbor's is!"
Twenty long and frantic minutes later the first fire truck arrived as I watched the house next door become fully engulfed and my siding start to melt as the flames leaped towards our home. They put a hose on the burning remains next door and concentrated the other trucks on hosing down our house.
Now let me fill in the blanks of what was transpiring in that first half hour. Hubby had been up at Geisinger getting a cat scan and then had headed west to a meeting. At 4:10PM the first 911 alarm was called in. I ran next door to see if anyone was home. The neighbor's elderly and quite ill mother lives downstairs. The three grandkids almost always get off the bus at 3:30. The wife's car was parked next to the house. Through the smoke I could see that the security bar was on the back door. As I then ran around to the front, a man across the street was screaming to me, "Is there anyone in the house?" I told him about the grandmother, grandkids and mother. However, the flames were shooting out of every door and window. It spread so GD fast. The man, soon to be a Good Samaritan, then shouted to me that I needed to move my car and vacate the house. Not being able to drive a stick, I threw him the keys to the wagon and the sports car. He moved them to safety, out of harms way. Then I leashed Charlie and left him with Marina next door. We could not find the cats. There was no time to look for them. I had to leave.
Then the frantic call to hubby to tell him to come home immediately.
Long story short, no one was at home next door, the cats were fine, we only have fire damage to one side of our home, but soot throughout the inside. It could have been so much worse.
Now I know when some one says they 'escaped with the clothes on their back', how true that can be.
We have restoration people working the last two days, and they will be back again next week to do the whole house inside and out. What a nightmare. But I have learned three valuable lessons. 1. Don't stop to save keepsakes. Grab your loved ones, your pets if you can, get them into a car and moved to a safe distance. 2. As a precaution, all photos, family keepsakes, jewelry, etc., should be kept in a fireproof box. Even if it is a pain-in-the-ass to get them out now and then. 3. And as harsh as it may sound, (my fireman grandson scolded me on this point) don't stay in a burning home trying to find pets that have gone into hiding.
A month ago we had another house fire that did not end as well. The husband foolishly tried to extinguish the flames, was immediately overcome and died in the fire.
So to all my Peas, we are okay, slightly barbecued, but much wiser to how quickly our world can be turned upside down.
Next you hear from me, I will talk about much more pleasant things. My garden, Charlie's summer hair-do, recent projects and the general goofiness that is a part of daily life at the Lake House Zoo.
Big hug and smootchies to all the Peas.
Love,
SF

Feels Like Home…..

The weather was so beautiful here on Easter Sunday, that we put the top down on the Solstice roadster and started our migration northward.
Hubby and I spent a very relaxing and enjoyable visit at the East Cameron homestead. It’s a magical place. There was much laughter, hugs and smootchies, fantastic food, met a new beau (he’s really nice), got a phone call from up North, Grammy looked terrific, the barn looked awful, and then there were the Brazilians. Holy Momma!
Unfortunately the time sped by way too quickly as I forced myself not to cry at parting. All the way home I had Randy Newman’s "Feels Like Home" on replay in my mind. It seemed to fit my mood. (And I still can't get that %#&$ video link to work.)
So in parting………….you know, lasting friendships are those that you can pick up right where you left off, no matter how much time has passed.
Love to the Peas,
SF