Where The Wild Things Aren’t.....

Time for a Roadtrek adventure. We left home, drove north through Wisconsin, then east through the UP and crossed into Canada heading for a rendezvous in Quebec City.

One of our favorite things to do while we RV anywhere is to watch for wildlife. We especially love heading out west to see pronghorn, bison and bears....oh my! So we’ve been driving east along the bottom of Ontario Provice and then into Quebec. Very rural......zillions of trees.....and yellow signs saying (in French and English) we should watch out for deer and moose crossing the roadway. The signs say it is especially “dangereux” at night.

Hah. So far we’ve spotted one turkey, five black squirrels and a flock of about 30 sandhill cranes.

Maybe we’ll try a night time ramble......

Book Club and A Slippery Slide......

The other day my book club discussed Forty Autumns by Nina Willner. I will admit when this non-fiction book was listed as the choice for May I wasn't sure I wanted to read it, but since I was hosting the meeting I was "guilted" into it. Thankfully.

I learned so much about Germany after WWII. I had no idea other than remembering the Berlin Wall and the day that came down. This book traces a family that is separated by the division of Germany - and follows them for several generations. As the statement on the cover reads "A family's story of courage and survival on both sides of the Berlin wall."

As we talked I realized I was probably eight to ten years old when much of this happened so it was in my "orbit" but not in my conciousness. I was a kid, playing in a lovely Midwest suburban town. Freedom was part of my "take-it-for-grantedness". The story of Germany under communist rule, and the way the East German's painted the picture of the "evil" on the other side of the wall.....the West just waiting to destroy their wonderful country. And East German leader Erich Honecker's complete control of the press and the information that was presented as "factual" to the people living under his iron thumb.

And then I saw something on my feed about an interview Leslie Stahl had with 45 after he'd won the nomination but prior to his inauguration. She was at a panel discussion recently and talked about that personal interview. While she did not focus on his relationship with the press - she did ask one very pertinent question. As the article states:

"CBS "60 Minutes" correspondent Lesley Stahl has revealed a candid remark made to her by then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2016. Stahl told a group of fellow journalists at the Deadline Club Awards Dinner in New York City earlier this week that Mr. Trump had admitted his consistent attacks on the media were meant to "discredit" journalists so that negative stories about him would not be believed.

Stahl was the first television journalist to sit down with Mr. Trump for an interview following his election victory. Their wide-ranging on-camera interview did not delve into Mr. Trump's attitude toward the press, but Stahl said on Monday night that in a candid, off-camera meeting earlier that year, she pressed him to explain his barrage of insults aimed at journalists, and he gave her a clear explanation: "I said, 'You know, that is getting tired. Why are you doing this? You're doing it over and over. It's boring and it's time to end that,'"

"He said, 'You know why I do it? I do it to discredit you all and demean you all so when you write negative stories about me, no one will believe you.' He said that," Stahl told the audience, adding, "So, put that in your head for a minute."

Yes....put that in your head for a minute. Maybe it really grabbed my attention because of Forty Autumns and its story of the loss of freedoms we take for granted. Put that comment in your head a minute....really....think about it.

He does it to "discredit you all and demean you all so when you write negative stories about me, no one will believe you."  

And sadly....it seems to be working.....

First Fawn.....

I've been using my "watching eyes" for the last two weeks.....it's been a cold spring, but still, I was watching for a fawn. Last year we spotted several families....one doe even had triplets. The trees are greening and it is getting warmer.....so I've been watching.

And yesterday, while walking Fenway in the morning I spotted the doe just next to the stream and there was her obviously new born baby. Of course my phone was in the condo.....so no picture. I just stood and enjoyed the moment, the doe watching me, me watching the doe and her spotted fawn. It could barely stand on wobbly legs.

Dave took Fenway out again in the late afternoon and came back with a big smile on his face. Success! Walking back down the bike path to the condo, just ahead, there they were, up from the stream.

He slowly approached and the doe walked off the path, standing just into the bushes on the hillside. But little guy/gal got confused and turned around. It stood there for a moment and then began to walk toward Dave and Fenway. He could see the mother watching....but the fawn kept coming so he and Fenway stood still. A biker came up from the other direction, saw the baby and he stopped too. It was a stand off.

Little wobbles came a bit closer and then turned off the path and dropped down near some tall grass to hide. Dave and Fenway slowly walked past, spotting the fawn and then the mother.....and came home.

So glad we got to see the start of fawn season.....I know, I know, we have way too many deer in the area and they eat people's gardens....but it was their land first. And I love to watch them...especially little Mr./Miss Wobbles.....

Let’s Swap Channels......

I woke this morning to news about more White House drama. Once again I think.....this never ends. And yet, so many American citizens are now accepting 45's questionable behavior as the new normal. Nevermind the crew he's gathered around to "advise" him.

And then I stop myself and try to think about "the other side" and what keeps them so loyal to the man now sitting in the Oval Office. I simply do not understand. But I have a plan.

I'd like to "challenge" someone who is supportive of the President to swap with me. I'd like to agree to change places for one week.....and honestly try to adopt the other perspective.  I will agree to only listen to Fox News and watch Fox TV and my "partner" will agree to only listen to NPR and watch one of the major networks.

We will promise to suspend disbelief and critical thinking and just listen to "the other side"....and after the week we will get together and have a thoughtful, quiet and respectful conversation.

I'm wondering how this would work. Would I be able to listen and not critique....would I try to accept the reporting as truth? Could I? Is there a happy medium ground? I don't know.....but I am willing to give it a try.

Anyone want to join me?

The End of One Mother’s Day.........

It's Sunday, May 13, 2018 - Mother's Day in America. Here in Port it's a pretty nice day - no rain, wind is down.....a good day for an early morning walk up the bike path.

And an even better day to have our daugther, son-in-law and two grandsons here for another walk (with Fenway and her Cousin Sadie) and then a snack-type-lunch and a game of dominoes. Conversation and laughter and togtherness....all I could wish for to celebrate this Hallmark holiday. Only thing better would be if we could have also seen our son, daughter-in-law and two other grandsons from Washington State. Distance makes being together quite the challenge.

But, as always since 2010, it's a sort of bitter-sweet holiday. Thankful to celebrate being a mom to two pretty amazing adult 'kids" but for Dave and me the day always brings back memories of our two special moms.....and for a moment, once again, they are sadly missed.

I think of them today as I arrange the flowers Dave bought and enjoy the ones from our daughter and family. Both of our mom's loved their flowers....and my mother-in-law gave me a few tips on arranging store-bought ones. So as I trimmed and put them in the vase I thought of both of them....and even more when I walked past the iron plant I kept from my mom's memorial service and saw that today it was blooming again.

Floral heartstrings......mom memories and mom celebrations......part of my day....

....now if only I'd won the game of dominoes!

A Murder of Crows....

A murder of crows....why is this the name for a group of crows? Why not a flock? Or a bunch? The Oxford English Dictionary "suggests this is an allusion to 'the crow's traditional association with violent death' or 'its harsh and raucous cry.' If you've ever heard dozens of agitated crows in full cry, it really does sound as if they're yelling bloody murder."

Fenway and I walked the bike path yesterday morning - about 9:00. It's our traditional "do your business" walk. It was a lovely spring-ish day and I let my eyes roam from one side of the path to the other....looking at the trees that were beginning to leaf, listening to birds, watching for deer, noticing brigades of Mayapples beginning unfurl their umbrella leaves and march through the woods, low to the ground.

And then I heard a crow....and another and another. So we kept on walking. I know a great horned owl has a nest somewhere up our path. I saw one fly overhead one day a few years back....and twice, about this time of year, I've been lucky enough to spot the fledglings jump/fly from branch to branch in tall trees...testing their wings.

And I know that the loud, raucous, noise created by a group of crows can be a signal that a big bird of prey is in the area.  Sure enough....as I got closer I could see four or five crows crowding around one tall almost-bare-tree. They dived, and perched, and called, and dived again. Pestering something.

So I stood still and watched. It was a bit of a distance, and of course I didn't have binoculars, but I could certainly see the crows...and the branches they surrounded. And then I saw something else - large wings unfolding and a large bird flying...away from me, crows in pursuit.

Spotted it again this year - came home with a smile on my face.....my morning with a murder of crows.....

Where Did They All Go.......

I was working on a quilt the other day....no surprise....when Dave came into the kitchen and said something like "I bet you've made more than 100 quilts." No.....not possible.....but what if?

So I went back into my quilt photo album, where I used to keep a picture of each quilt I made, and then into the folder on the computer and began counting. It's not completely accurate but the final total was 136! Now granted, I started quilting about 35 years ago.....so it's sort of a lifetime's work. But I was surprised by that number.

Most are not bed quilts.....probably a dozen or so. The rest are lap-size quilts for cuddling while enjoying a book or watching TV and many are wall-hangings. Two were created using my mom's tablecloths after she died. Others feature some of Dave's photos scanned onto fabric.  I began to wonder....Where are all those quilts?

I wish I'd kept a better record, but paging through the photos I realized that many had gone to friends....Sally, Janie, Phoebe, Denise, Susie, Marykay, Marcia, Lynn. Others make their homes with relatives.....my kids, my mom and mother-in-law, my grandkids, my cousin, my sister, my nieces and nephews, my godson. There are at least a dozen baby quilts scattered through the years and probably a few more to come. A few went to VITAS Hospice for their Inpatient Units. Two others were made for strangers who lost a loved one and asked me to make a memory quilt out of special garments. Three went to non-profit organizations that were willing to sell raffle tickets....a way for me to support their missions.

My quilting methods evolved over the years and that's probably what kept it interesting. I started with patterns and very few colors.....but now I mostly make up my own, use some three dimensional elements and just "wing it". Art quilts? I have two quilts in process right now, one for us and one for my bestie up in Alaska. Another is still an idea hanging on my design wall....fabrics chosen, but no pattern as yet.

And so it goes.....from the first with very few colors and huge blocks and handquilting....

....to some of the more recent.....

  

  

 

I love to quilt......I wonder what fabric idea will spring to life next and I wonder where it will find a home.....

A Quick Comment.....

Just sort of scratching my head once again......wondering how many time I will wake up to talking heads saying “Breaking News”.......and “New Facts”.....and 45 is “furiously tweeting this morning”.....and “major contradictions in the statements.”

A spool of thread continuing to unwind.....once again reminds me of the day-by-day trudge through Watergate........

It's Not His Fault.....

As far as I know there are three dogs living in our condo building....Fenway, June and Rikki. Fenway is our Boston terrier, June is a calm, sweet black and white basset hound who lives on the second floor and Rikki is a little white poodle-type (I forget) who lives next door.

When the dogs go out Rikki and his owner usually go out the garage door. June and Fenway exit through the lobby doors. The glass lobby doors.

June and Fenway get along just fine when they meet in the elevator or in the hallway or along the path. June slowly wags her wonderful long tail and Fenway sniffs her and then they basically ignore one another.

The other day, exiting through the lobby, I noticed that the bottom of the glass door was full of "nose smears". Right about 12" off the floor. Right about June/Fenway height. Reminded me of smeared car windows when the kids were little.

Now I can't blame this darling little face with its pushed in nose......

....so it's June's fault because she her nose is longer and pointy!

That's OK June....we love you anyway........and I love seeing those nose prints. To me it says "dogs are welcome here!" I wouldn't have it any other way......