Daily Notes- October Eleven

The Day After The Hundred Year Hurricane.

Which angel is Michael?

Mexico Beach.  Gone.  How many stayed behind because they had no money to travel away to safety?  We had rain all day even up here in Maine.  But ours comes from up North.  It's cold.

I am reading another book--G is reading also--Riley is sleeping.  No more television.

I happened to catch some of Kanye in the Oval Office.  And stopped watching.  Came back later--I guess they had just returned to MSNBC and the two talking heads were just sitting there --eyes wide-- stunned-- speechless.  I guess it got even wackier after I tuned out.  Even Trump knew he had a big pile of "Oh-No" in his office.  Bi-Polar.  Possibly skipped his meds.  Lunch with the President.

What could go wrong? So invited the press corp.  On camera.  Live.   Get out the black vote.

Daily Notes- October Ten

Give Us Our Daily Bread

It's been a long Time since I baked bread.   Like this in the cast iron pot.  A good crusty boule.

It felt like religion when I baked bread - like the process was a prayer.  Perhaps remembering a Time when that was what it was.

I am foggy brained. It happens in Fall when too many spores and things are in the Air making my head stuffy, my nose runny and my eyes itchy or dry.  Death.  Decay.  Sadness.  Tears. But it also seems quite beautiful.

I am really wanting to set aside all the cleaning and get a few bundles of cloth and leaves into the dye pot.  The new Goodwill dye pot.   I can do chores while they steam.  So after I hit publish here--it's up to the Magic Attic (perfect name, Deborah) to get blank cloth from the bolt I purchased so many years ago. After it's hand washed (scrubbed) and rinsed I can let the magic begin.

The small restaurant pot still holds the sumac drupes and cider vinegar--- I take out a cloth and add a cloth, add thread and let it go--color keeps happening.  Today, a cloth with pattern.  To see what happens to commercial printed cloth.  It would seem to be the truth--that I wasted the other drupes.  Not knowing they could continue to give color.  It's all about being open to new information or knowledge. This sumac pot is small-- possible a quart size.  It holds only two small cloths at once. Not meant for stove top heating.  Meant for holding cut items to add to restaurant food.  I have more but they have drainage holes in the bottoms.  The ones with holes fit into the ones without.  The things I didn't know could be used this way.   I use them on the restaurant stainless table--in the garage as a potting bench.

And they can now be both.  For starting plants and for using the plants as they die in Autumn.

Daily Notes- October Nine

Style Files Photo

The Open Door.  Of a House or a Mind.

Something to consider as things get more and more angry.

I had coffee with a friend today.  The weather was quite nice so we walked.  Around Town.  On the walk I picked up leaves that looked interesting.  The shape, the color etc.  My companion usually picks up litter and recycling.  We are a good pair.  On a walk.

G vacuumed and washed the floor under all the potted plants.  I sprayed them for insects.  Now I have cleaning the fridge and mopping the wood floors with my Swiffer and Bona floor cleaner on my list.  And washing the windows.  We have new windows so they open in -I can do both sides- from inside the house. No ladder or buckets of water--or the hose.  All I need is blue window spray and a good supply of newspapers.

I found my missing drawing pencil set.  Ready to perhaps draw the chairs again.  Or the pepper grinder.  Or a leaf.

Daily Notes- October Eight

Art Propelled

Rust.  Ink.  Thread.  On my "to try" list.  Which is getting longer.

Changed the calendar page and added what remained important to the journal pages.  I still write, but not as often.  But if I were to write ...it would be how that book about the alcoholic dysfunctional family has caused me to be moody, have troubling dreams (again after so long of not dreaming at all) and return to what I consider "disturbing behavior".  The book or the family visit?   Both?

This why I keep to myself.  A disturbance in the continuum is never good.

A Reader commented that they had not remembered me mentioning a visit from anyone to my home.  Pretty much.  Our son.  He visits as a "wellness check" and because he is a kind man.

When we select friends (and family) there are those who come to you and there are others whom you must be the one doing the traveling.  We ended up with being the ones who had to pack up and go--always.  I just got tired of it.

I drew a two page "spread" of line drawings of chairs in my journal.  They have personalities.  If I could find the set of drawing pencils I purchased for drawing---well, the drawings might be even better.  But the pencils are lost.  Right now.

A large pot of garden vegetable soup is simmering--using the last of the tomatoes and green beans.  I am cooking it in the pot where I steamed cloth and rust water that one time.  If I poison anyone--it will just be myself. The pot itself has been scrubbed many times and I boiled water and baking soda in it for over an hour. It is either clean or it isn't.  I have to move on.

That cloth at the top is so evocative of my mood.  Little circles (bubbles) of anxiety.  Lines of tension. The rust.  The black the rust turns into when in contact with plant material.  The black of depressed thoughts. .........I'm going to take a Benadryl.

Daily Notes- October Seven

Art Propelled

Still hung  up on the dark side of cloth.  But on the stove top--a small stainless restaurant pot and vinegar and the last four sumac seed heads.  I read some of my notes on eco printing/cloth coloring and saw a notation "to keep the pink, use vinegar" so that's what I am trying.  Otherwise I get a really beautiful silver grey or pewter but would like a piece of pink.  If the vinegar doesn't work--well, another beautiful grey.

Goodwill today--earlier--Riley is getting his walk now that we are home.  It's cooler now so he can come in the car with us.  At home, he is having panic attacks when alone.  The three of us are showing our age.

G and Riley got home from their walk in the woods and they had collected "fall leaves in pretty oranges and reds" and an interesting fern--for my cloth printing.  Wasn't that thoughtful of the two of them?  I may need to set a pot cooking later today.  The new pot that will be the only one I use for this cooking of plants and cloth.  Food Safety.

I found some cute little Halloween bags with pumpkin faces--- for the twin boys who are the only ones who come to call.  Also a big bag of assorted candy--some of which I like.  Well, most of which I like.  But the boys will bet most and a toy.  From the attic.  Perhaps they'll get a bag of Beanie Baby worms, spiders and bugs?  I certainly have enough of those around.

I made G his favorite tomato soup yesterday and I have a chopped vegetable salad in the fridge that I made yesterday.  It's very good--lots of chewing.  Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, sunflower seeds and a coleslaw type dressing.  I'm going to add pumpkin seeds.  And some dry cranberries.  Make it Seasonal.  Ha!

Daily Notes- October Six

Art Propelled- Kuplenkoz

Sunshine but a chill in the air.  We are now in a "no news" time.  No watching. No listening.  We will still read the newspaper. But it's a Maine newspaper and Mainers care only about local things that have to do with Maine. There is nothing we can do until November when we vote.

In the meantime, I am collecting leaves that have colored in the night chill and fallen to the ground (for eco printing). I am tending to my email replies.  I am cleaning the house in preparation for visits in the coming weeks; my brother and his wife and at the end of the month, my son.  We rarely have company so--this has me in quite a nervous state.

I have the last of the "soon to be compost" tomatoes to process into final pots of soup or packages for the freezer.  I need to do it today.

I am reading what I thought was just a book of stories and recipes.  It is not.  The Comfort Food Diaries by Emily Nunn is heart-wrenching. Heart breaking.  Yes, there are recipes but there are also stories of people lost and found.  People broken and mended. A biography. I stop every so often because the tears have blurred my vision.  It's not a big book but it is taking me nearly a week to read.  So much of it is a shadow or echo of my own past.  Emily is taking this journey of recovery through her past and perhaps I should have done the same. Instead of just turning my back on who I was then and who my friends and family were then.

But today---I have laundry to do and tomatoes to blanch and peel.  And I will not watch or listen to any news.

Daily Notes- October 5

Art Propelled, again.

This is the last of what looked like a collection of eco printed fabrics -some with running stitches- all from different sources, I think.

I could make something like this (easily) with small drops of the rust water on mordanted (alum) fabric.  Circles.  Planets.  Moons.  I like them all.

Today I went to the doctor with G.  To write down and remember what he and his doctor discuss.  A very nice doctor.  A memory test or two.  A blood test for thyroid function which can affect memory and a CAT scan.  Also a flu shot.  G's doctor had a large supply--- my doctor had zero of the high dosage ones for the 60 and over crowd.

The Sun is out and the maples are glorious.  All the shades of gold, orange and red.  Our Town's Maine Street is crowded with people and cars.  Traffic was very bad, yet again.  I think its reunion week at Bowdoin. Homecoming.  A very long line at the Taco food truck.

I decided to examine the chopped crunchy salad I have been buying at the deli and make my own.  I sorted thru the last container:  chopped broccoli (mostly stems), cauliflower, sunflower seeds, shredded (very thin) carrots, raisins.  And the binder which I am convinced is mayo.  I will add pecans and pumpkin seeds.  I have a bag of radishes in the crisper drawer so will chop or shred them and add to the mix. I also bought dried cranberries-- mostly to add to my homemade granola, but I could also add some to the Crunchy Chopped Salad.

Great Patriots game last night and then I started reading another book from the new shelf-- The Comfort Food Diaries.   It wasn't what I expected.  Deals with the author (and her siblings) and alcoholism.  I am one third of the way in.  The reading is sometimes tough on one's heart (it all seems too close to home) but the recipes "read" as amazing.  And Southern, so it speaks to my beginnings as someone who learned to cook in the South.  At the 30% point I am ready to pack up and move back to Georgia for a biscuit, fried apple pie and some BBQ.

Daily Notes- October 4

From Art Propelled.

As you may have gathered--this week I am channelling the dark side.  Blacks and rust.  I really am tempted to pile more fabric and rust water in the new (old Goodwill) kettle and steam away.  Dark again today and 60 degrees but it feels colder.  I think it's going to rain off and on. Putting the kettle on would warm up the house.

New author-- Elin Hilderbrand.  I read her newest- The Identicals.  It wasn't great but it wasn't awful so I plan to visit the library and see what else is on the shelves.

I am tired.  Not because I am doing work but...just tired.  Sleepy.  Could be seasonal change. Or the early darkness which I call the Dark Times. Or the corduroy pants and sweater by association with darkness.

G and I managed -in cooperation-- to move the cutting/art table into the room where my sewing machine and ironing board are located. (we had to disassemble it and keep track of the parts)  The room was (possibly still is) G's "office".  He doesn't do any office stuff now that he is no longer the owner of a business.  So, generally, the room is not in use except to store boxes of stuff.   Since my  former work space has become the guest room--------I needed a new workspace -- using the dining room has not been appreciated.

There was the perfectly sized space next to the sewing machine for the cutting/drawing table after I removed many boxes of electrical parts and pieces from the remodel.  Even a tall lamp so I can see where I am cutting and measuring my squares during the Dark Times coming. I found my father's box of important papers.  Looked through them.  Also a folder of my mother's papers was in the bookcase I cleaned out.  I haven't looked at them.

I found my paternal grandparent's marriage certificate with the original spelling of their names and their countries of origin.  Russia and Serbia.  Balthazar and Aloisia in 1914.  I knew them as Joe and Louise.  American names.  I have their wedding picture from the day the certificate was handwritten. My grandfather seated with my grandmother to his left with her hand on his shoulder.

The past is swirling around.

Daily Notes- October Three

From Art Propelled

We got all sorts of household things done yesterday.  Goodwill had a different pot from the one I had not purchased Sunday ($10) for what seemed like too high a price.  But after thinking about it--it seemed okay.  When I arrived in that department and shelving unit--there was a very tall sturdy pot, with lid and nice handles sticking out from the sides.  Easy to lift.  Five dollars.  Aluminum.

At the cash register I was asked if I qualified for the "special pricing" of the day?  I asked what that might be.  Senior Citizen Day.  I said loud and clear--"why yes, I'm 72".  So the pot was four dollars.

We also visited the discount store Reny's and G selected bags of bird seed for all the birds we feed all winter.  And we realized at the checkout that they had no working cash registers.  All by hand on paper with calculators.  G read off the long series of barcode numbers on each bag. I hope the clerks got extra pay.

And last but never least......the rally in Mississippi.

Daily Notes- October 2

From Art Propelled this image and the one from yesterday by Lotte Helleberg

More eco prints from a Swedish artist working in America.  She has a website.  I think the leaves she used for this are fresh pecan leaves.  Clamped and steamed.   I haven't tried clamping.  Yet.

Another cold dark wet day.  A bad start here as my husband was messing around (literally) here on the computer and I found I was locked out of my blog this morning.  And, of course, he forgets what he has done.  The stress here seems impossible somedays and I just grit my teeth and hope things can be straightened out.  Memory issues are like walking an emotional tightrope.

We will be going out later to Goodwill to see if the kettle I didn't buy Sunday is still available and then to a store to buy a future Christmas gift while "supplies last".

The homemade Brownies are indeed "very dark" and quite delicious.  I had two very thin slivers.  So much dark chocolate and caffeine late in the day is not good for sleeping.  The recipe asked for dark unsweetened baking chocolate and cocoa powder.  Only ⅓ cup flour.  The boys at the greenhouse would have cleaned the pan in less than five minutes.

I have two large bags of red peppers in the fridge--I must use them, freeze them or give them away.  This is the way of the garden.  Waiting so very long into the season for a red pepper and then suddenly too many.  When it would have been so nice to have two or three each week in August and September.  So 12 or15 in October.  All at once.  I think I will slice and fry a few of them with an onion and perhaps fold into a soft flour tortilla.  Or look on the internet for a recipe.

Daily Notes- October One

From Art Propelled

Minus the running kantha stitches-- this looks like my recent eco printing cloth.  The dark ones.  I can see how the running stitches give it added dimension.  Dark thread in the light areas and light thread in the darks.

At Goodwill I looked at a few steamer pots they had on the shelving where they put old beat up old kitchen things.  Ten dollars seemed like too much.  I could be mistaken.  We'll see if they are still there next week.

I could always use what I already have--like the compost bucket.  It was/is a newish kettle and lid combo and has never been on the stove.  I just need to insert the steamer basket I already own. And perhaps a can to raise the basket above the amount of water I want to use.  Well, that seems like an interesting plan.  Then I don't buy anything (dual usage) and don't have to worry about whether I contaminated my Revereware soup pot with iron water.  I have scrubbed it 10 times.  Still worried. But it's iron and not lead.  Any comments are welcome.  I haven't made any soup in it since the cloth steaming so no one's been poisoned.  And I have other cooking pots that I can easily use to make future soup.

It was stupid of me to use a cooking pot.  But I hadn't ever used iron/rust water and didn't think it through until AFTER.

But I pinky swear not to make any soup in the kettle I steamed cloth and rusty water in.

I have an overdue book on sadness and food to read---G and Riley are both asleep as I write this.  Both snoring away.  We turned off the television.  Trump really limited the scope of the FBI so I have no hope left regarding the new Judge for Life.  So-I baked a pan of brownies.

Daily Notes-- September 30

Pluto has left the building (in my sign) and after months of investigating what I think might bring me JOY, I am going to develop (the stars say) a masterplan approach to pleasure.  I could elevate a hobby or favorite activity into expert status.  Woo Hoo.  Beaded bracelets.

Yes, Dear Readers, I have been a bit glum lately-- I blame it on watching the news.  I blame it on standing on the scale at the doctor visit.  I blame it on the contact dermatitis that comes and goes and always itches.  I blame it on the coming Fall cleanup of this house.  Dusty corners!!! Windows!!!! I blame it on my knees which threaten to give way as I walk or climb stairs.

So--Tomato season is over and IF the Patriots game goes south early--I'll blanch, peel and package the remaining tomatoes and get a start on the peppers.  If the game goes well--I'll do tomatoes tomorrow.  I can also make more soup as I ate the last bowl for lunch yesterday.

We watched the first two episodes of the Miniaturist on PBS last evening (recorded).  G gave up midway in the first episode.  I had read the book (Jessie Burton) and really enjoyed "seeing" it.  1600's Amsterdam. I was left wondering what other viewers who hadn't read the book made of it all?  It meanders.  In any event a feast for the eyes of this reader.  And I plan to re-read the book and watch it again.

I sorted out my bookcase Saturday afternoon.  Took books to Goodwill today.  No one needs 10 dictionaries.  Bartlett's Quotations never got opened.  Found about 8 blank journals.  I can STOP buying any more of them. I also found an invitation from the American Embassy in Budapest to dinner and dancing on the 4th of July in 1980 something.  McDonald's was there serving Big Macs to diplomats.  For the Holiday.  About five guys and their wives were the McDonald's staff for the cook out.  Memories.  The Special Sauce came in a diplomatic "pouch" by plane.  Which made us all laugh.  We didn't go to the dinner or dance as no one mentioned to the wives that we would need to pack evening wear.

I also packed up and moved all my cloth.  We ( G and I) are trying to figure out if my cutting table can fit in the office with the sewing machine.  I like cutting cloth in the dining room but not everyone (G) thinks it's the proper place to do cutting.

Football Time.

Daily Notes- September 29

Balance.

I am looking for ways in which to balance what I want with what is possible.

I am going to have to learn how to stop bad behavior and reward good.  And tell the difference. That's the hard part--telling the difference between what I "think" is good and what I "know" is bad.

And I keep getting it wrong.

That seems to be the theme of my Life.  Keep getting it wrong.

Daily Notes- September 28

A Lovely Bowl Of Soup.

Warmer today- not a corduroy pants day.  Two loads of laundry.  No rash.  No great emotional turmoil via the television interviews.  Several plants re-potted.  Pots washed and saucers scrubbed.
A good day out of the Senate--surprisingly.

My eco dye works was SPECTACULARLY successful.  A good soak in a stronger alum solution and the addition of "iron" or "rust" water to the wrapped packages of cloth and plant material.  Then a 45 minute steam in foil packages.  Left to cool completely.  Then opened and left to dry without rinsing overnight.

The depth of color transfer was impressive.  And it didn't wash out as it has done in previous tries. But I do like those paler versions--they play well with the darker versions.  One or two cloths is very dark but I can still see the leaves and the veins.

Well, the FBI is going back in--in a limited scope (deal with issues in the scope of the hearings) for one week.  Via Trump.  At 4pm Maine Time.  Breaking News as they say.  A rare reversal.  Perhaps this will cause the Judge to back out.

Daily Notes- September 27

Art Propelled- Julie Nelson

If you believe the women....raise your hand.

I will be away most of the day and will miss the hearings.  But my hand will be raised, in Spirit, for all the women out there with unspoken stories.  Afraid no one (would) will believe them.  I believe.

I witnessed young men (boys) standing outside a door waiting their turn when I was away at college.  I did nothing.  I said nothing.  Who would I tell.  Who would believe me?  I didn't even know their names.

And now---watching this unfold....it came back--this long forgotten memory.  How many of us are there with the same forgotten memories?  Raise your hand.

Daily Notes- September 26

Rain.  Humidity.

I think it rained all night.  G and Riley told me.  I slept and didn't hear anything. This morning I opened the front door and walked out into 90 or 99% humidity.  Depending on which of the outdoor monitors you believe.

The windows out front were wet--so I went back in and got a towel and scrubbed them down.  I may go back out with some Simple Green and make them a bit cleaner.

I picked tomatoes while I was out with Riley.  We go out to "get the paper" and then he sniffs and wanders to see what has happened overnight.  Who came to visit.  When it's hot, I water the Grow Boxes.  And I use the plastic bag the paper comes in to hold tomatoes that I pick.  Today--well, it's the very end of summer out there.  Dead, dry tomato vines on some plants.  Some still hold a few ripening tomatoes.  Some peppers are turning from green to red.  The parsley looks good.  The fig tree has about 20 figs on it.  Remember we root pruned it early in the Summer.  I had hoped to see leaves grow--the figs are an added bonus.

Last summer I dragged the fig tree into the garage to keep it warm enough to ripen the figs so I could make fig preserves.  That didn't work too well so I just picked all the figs and had them in the kitchen with a very brown ripe banana to "gas" the figs into a ripe state.  It worked.

My daughter brought me a tall branch from another variety of purple smoke bush.  Larger leaves and more color to transfer to cloth (I hope).  If today continues to be dark--I'll make more cloth.  Use my rust water for the first time.  I also have some things--dead flowers etc--to use for cloth.  I wrap it tight, tie it with string and then steam it for 45 minutes.  This time, went the steaming is done I will let the cloth cool for a day and then open it.  More Time to transfer color. I use alum as a mordant.

I have many more tomatoes to blanch, peel and freeze.  Enough green beans for one more pot of vegetable soup (for me).  G is on his second batch of Tomato Basil soup.  I have kale and beans for my second favorite soup. Unless I use the kale to make a frittata.  I like that, too.

Daily Notes- September 25

How I see the Moon.  Thru so many tall trees.

It is COLD today here in Maine.  Rain coming.  47 degrees when I got out of bed.  Gardening season is over.  Time now to put things to rest.  I have plants that need to go into their places or into the "training bed" gardens beds out back.  Again.

My semi annual visit to the dentist this morning.  My teeth always are super sensitive after cleaning.  And then, to make me even less happy--bill paying, the news, and the need for lamps on before noon.
And wearing socks.  And corduroy pants.  And thermal long sleeved tee.

I got the crunchy vegetable salad at the deli in the grocery store (after the dentist).  Cranberries, sunflower seeds, broccoli-other things too small to identify.  Crunchy.  Perhaps some kale.  I purchased it because it looked very fresh.  Most days it looks wilted and soggy.  It was delicious.  I tried making this salad at home and....well, there must be some sort of secret ingredient.  Probably mayo.

We were watching the UN speeches on MSNBC today and Trump announced that he was "doing a very very good job...the best anyone had ever seen"----and the audience started laughing.  Members of the UN see Trump as he really is.  Why can't America?  He toasted the UN and hoped they eventually "got it right"----- there was a lack of applause when he finished speaking.  The commentator said it was "breathtaking in it's lack of respect". Bravo UN Membership!!!!!

Daily Notes- September 24

Last Call For Summer.

Equinox.  Fall into Winter.

I went to my doctor's appointment today.  It's actually on Thursday.  So I get to "go" again. Tomorrow is my dentist appointment--would be great if they also sent me home.

I stopped in at JoAnn's and got a set of drawing pencils.  The B series.  I had plenty of H.  I got the set that came with a sharpener, eraser and rubbing sticks.  In case, I decide to draw away from home and my very own pencil sharpener.  The eraser because I have them but finding them is not easy. And I got to help someone with a supply list for a drawing class she is taking.  We couldn't find anything labeled Conte crayons.  There were some black charcoal sticks but I was remembering Conte as being a creamier type of crayon.  I used them in figure drawing class.  Back when I was very young.

I also found a few really nice fabrics at JoAnn's which doesn't happen very often.  The prints were nice but the fabric thread counts leave much to be desired.  I will wash and dry them before cutting,

That's my news for today.  Grilled cheese sandwiches with baked beans tonight.  In case you were wondering.

Daily Notes- September 23

Art Propelled Image.

Balance.  That's the word for today.  Goodwill.  I found a book for a dollar -Julie and Julia.  I have the movie saved in the TiVo files.  But sometimes you want to read the story.

I also found, for $3, about 2.5 yards of an Alexander Group fabric--Everglades.  All the colors I like. Shades of red, turquoise, green, gold, orange.  Long, graphic leaves.  Will work as a binding and as a nice stripe or square cut across the long leaves.  When we used to visit California every October--I would buy many, many yards from the Alexander Group line.  I'm sure some of them are still on the shelves in the fabric closet.  And I suspect they will co-ordinated well with this newcomer. I have always liked the same colors.  The slim lines of light turquoise light up the other colors.

Read A Likes recommended Mary Alice Monroe if I enjoyed reading Jude Deveraux and Nancy Thayer.  Close but not very good.  I won't try any more.

I haven't been reading much lately anyway.  In late August to October allergies affect my eyes.  Making them dry and sticky at the same time.  Making me very tired.  No stitch.  No reading. Just me and Hallmark which is finally getting on my nerves.  This infatuation may be close to ending--but Christmas movies start on October 29th.  Eighteen New Ones.  Plus all the old ones I liked.

I am baking granola right now--it smells wonderful.  Cinnamon, vanilla, coconut plus coconut oil, almonds, oats, maple syrup plus my additions of pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.  Next time I may try subbing some honey for some of the maple syrup.

Grace has me interested in finding my drawing pencils.  Drawing myself and the Full Moon. I can draw--I just don't do it much at all.  Perhaps Grace will get me back to it.  To the Attic.  Pencils.

Daily Notes- September 22

Vincent.  No one does it better.  Looks like muscari bulbs under the trees and a few red tulips.

I am here, directly from work teaching Bulb Planting, with the odor of eucalyptus on my hands.  None grows here so I asked our floral department to order me a bunch.  Twelve dollars with my discount.  Many, many pieces of cloth will be eco printed.

My favorite soccer playing associate employee has joined the Navy.  He'll be gone before I return on October 22 for the last class I teach.  He'll do Navy training and then hopefully be able to try for the SEALS.  He has given up on the FBI.  I always call him My FBI Man.  I told him, if he comes to work--at any time in the Future--in his uniform--I want them to call me so I can come in and see him.  Of course, I didn't mention that I would cry all over him.  Best I keep that to myself.

Another employee--I have a real soft spot for these sincere, hardworking kids--joined the Air Force--as the only way to go to college.  We were eating lunch one day and he walked toward the lunchroom in his full uniform  and (I was told) my face broke out in the biggest smile and I ran to hug him. So handsome. So proud to have done this to make a Future for himself.  No mother.  Father an alcoholic.

And they told me only 4 signed up for the Bulb class.  But I had more copies made and I had a full house--all seats taken.  A good class.  And at the end--I tell them they can ask me anything--not just Bulbs. So we got into composting, brown tail moths, Japanese beetles.......... it was good.

I am tired, my voice is shredded and I need a shower.  But, it felt good to be out in public and it felt even better to go home early when I was done. I even found a few good sized boxes (in the warehouse) for sending things to people during the Holidays.

Well, I'm going to take a nice, long, hot shower.