Skunks and Junk

Re-entering the real world after three weeks in Hawaii has been hard, particularly the last few days. I know you're thinking, "Oh poor you." I know. People died in Oklahoma yesterday; many others lost everything they own. I do have some sense of perspective. But this is my blog and I get to use it to whine a little, now and then. This is one of those times.

I wrote earlier about how I was having trouble getting back on my my normal sleep schedule. That has improved a lot, but I'm still find the idea of sleeping until 10:00am appealing. I finally got all the suitcases unpacked and stored away and the dirty laundry sorted into piles -- bleach, lights, reds, darks, dry cleaning -- even though I haven't eliminated all the piles yet. I'm still sorting and editing photos, thinking about how I can share them with you.

My head didn't want to work at all yesterday. I sat down several times to try to write a post but it just wasn't coming together. I had really bad news the night before and I just couldn't get my mind off my friend, Judy. I received an email from her last week, thanking me for the mother's day ecard I sent her and telling me she was out in California to take care of her son Scott, who was going to have minor back surgery. The really bad news we got this week was that Scott died at home, two days after the surgery. Judy was with him and, as you can imagine, she is devastated. They are trying to determine the cause but don't know yet. 

My head and heart are filled with painful memories and, in talking to mutual friends, dread the fact that I know what's ahead for Judy. Judy realizes that too, and told one of our friends to, "Ask Annette. She knows how I'm doing." All I can do is make myself available to her whenever she gets back. The days and nights will be long. 

I tried all day yesterday to shake the feelings. Then about 3:00, the news about Oklahoma starting coming in, particularly focusing on the children in the eradicated elementary school. My heart sank even further until I just had to turn off the television, not able to absorb any more. 

My usual comfort system, playing with the dogs, wasn't working because the dogs weren't here. They were at the groomer. Something else that happened in the last few days was that Ruffles got skunked late Wednesday night. I bathed her once in peppermint shampoo, all I could find in a panic. That helped some. The next day I made the concoction recommended on the internet -- baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and liquid soap. That helped even more. By the time she got home yesterday there was just a trace of odor left and when she came in the door, both she and I started feeling better. Lucy, too. 

Dog therapy, laundry and busy work got me through today and although still sad, I'm coping much better. Enough to go through some Hawaii photos to find a memory that really made me smile the day it happened. We were at Bellows Beach on Oahu for the day. Next to our "setup" was a woman with two little girls. All three spent most of the day digging a big hole in the sand and were having the most marvelous time. I watched them with glee, laughing out loud at times, particularly when the little baby girl would shove sand in her mouth, then turn and laugh at me. 

 
It made me smile today. I hope the same for you. Thanks for stopping by.   

Challenge - Day 19: "Reflection"

Christmas morning, 1967, I woke to find what every kid wants from Santa sitting under the tree for me -- a puppy. She was a brown and white fox terrier with a big, red bow tied around her neck. I fell for her instantly, of course, and named her Priscilla. She was a very smart dog and soon learned all kinds of tricks, including how to persuade my mother, who had never let a dog sleep in our beds, to let her sleep with me. 

One day, while passing from our kitchen to the dining room, Priscilla caught her reflection in the mirrored doors of a piece of furniture. Here is a photo showing the piece, with my baby brother leaning against it when he was first learning to walk. Wasn't he a cutie?

Back to the story. The dog saw herself in the mirror and thought it was another dog. Immediately she went on the defense. She barked, whined, scratched, sniffed and generally tried to scare the intruder away. Then she walked back around the corner, as if to leave, turned, and crept back to the mirror to catch the other dog unaware. This process went on for maybe half an hour. With each pass Priscilla tried something new to catch her rival. Mother and I sat as quietly as we could, trying not to distract her. Neither of us had ever seen a dog put on this kind of performance and we wanted to see how long it would continue. Finally Mother had pity on Priscilla and tried to convince her the other dog was not real. She opened the cabinets door to let her see, and the dog dove into the space, growling and snarling. She backed out, totally confused, and began running all around the house, looking for the one who got away.

It was a show I have never forgotten. If it had happened in the days of home video and "America's Funniest ...," we'd have won some kind of prize, without a doubt. I've never again seen a dog see its reflection in a mirror, even though I've tried to bait other dogs into a similar situation. I guess "Priscilla and the Mirror" will just have to be part of our family legend, never to be repeated.

Thanks for stopping by today; I'll see you tomorrow. 

Challenge - Day 9: "Where You Sleep"

It has been quite a day for me and my head is buzzing with thoughts about the past and plans for some serious writing on my novel. I received (and answered) a long email today from my former journalism teacher, about whom I wrote in a post last month when I reconnected with my best friend from high school. My friend and I have been texting back and forth all afternoon, working on getting me off my ass and motivated to finish my novel. In the middle of all of that, I baked a pina colada pie and a huge chicken and biscuits casserole for my husband's poker game tonight. My body is tired, but my mind is firing on all cylinders. Now let's see if I can switch gears and get to today's topic of my self-imposed writing challenge. 

I dearly love where I sleep. It is my favorite place in the house. I spend a lot of my time there. It's where I read most of the time, watch television and surf the web/ check email/ browse Facebook, etc. on my iPad. I share this space with my husband and two dogs. Maybe I should more correctly state that my dogs share this sleeping space with my husband and me . . . if they have to . . . reluctantly. But most often the dogs and I share the bed in the evenings, with my husband coming in at 10:00pm to watch "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" followed by "The Colbert Report." My husband usually has to revert to trickery to claim his space, but that's a whole post in and of itself.

For years I have been a bed linens junkie. I have silk sheets, high thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, bamboo fiber sheets, flannel sheets, "Raining Cats and Dogs" print sheets. You name it, I probably have it sheets. But my most recent find and now new favorite sheets are made by Eucalyptus Origins and sold at Bed, Bath and Beyond. The sheets are made of a fabric called Tencel which is produced from the wood pulp of eucalyptus trees. Now I realize that, once again, I have probably fallen for someone's brilliant marketing scheme for using the byproducts of paper-making, but I don't really care. I love these sheets and have already bought a second set. The fabric is strong and smooth without being too heavy and has that all-important "feels great on my skin" factor. They have a moisture control capability that is essential for, let us say, menopausal women. So far they have not pilled up when washed (I hate that) and come out of the dryer looking perfect and wrinkle-free. Not that I would even think of ironing a sheet, but the idea of wrinkle-free makes me happy. The sheets stay cool and are deep enough to cover our mattress with memory-foam topper without slipping off. This is important, too. I hate it when I have to re-stretch the fitted sheet over the corners every morning. I find myself longing for the feel of the sheets whenever I pass by the bed during the day, wishing I could climb in for just a few minutes . . . often I do. 

Years ago when I was in Scotland with my sisters and Maureen, we stayed at a hotel that had a long advertising flyer (about 8 inches by 20 inches) on each bed. It said something like, "We guarantee you the best night you've ever had in this bed or your money back." I saved it then because I thought it would be great fun for a single woman (me) to frame it and hang it above her bed. Somehow I never got around to doing that, but I still have the sign and have been thinking that I might use it now. That's how much I love where I sleep. 

Thanks for stopping by. Gotta' go now. My head is still buzzing.  
 

Spring Has Sprung

Wow, three weeks in the Caribbean and when I get home, Spring has arrived. Our whole yard exploded in green and in blossoms. Trees that were still bare with buds just beginning to show are now fully leafed out. Fortunately we had someone tend to the yard while we were gone and she kept it mowed and trimmed. Otherwise we would have come home to a jungle.

The same is true throughout the Texas Hill Country. After almost two years of severe drought, there was enough rain this winter to bring back our sentimental favorite, the Texas bluebonnet. My sisters informed me as soon as I got home that, if I was going to see how beautiful the bluebonnets are this year, I had better get myself out there this week. The blooms were at their peak and in some places, were beginning to fade. So even though my suitcases are still not unpacked and the laundry hasn't even been started, Scott and I packed up a picnic lunch and both dogs yesterday and started driving northwest. 

Our route took us toward Johnson City and Marble Falls before we turned off on RR 1323 toward Willow City and the famous-for-its-wildflowers Willow City loop. It is very hard to photograph on the loop because it is a private road with no shoulders and signs posted by the owners to stay on the road. I tried a couple of shots, but didn't have much luck. 

From Willow City we traveled on to Llano and had our picnic at a park under the Llano River bridge.

The dogs were not thrilled to be tethered too far away to beg easily for lunch, but this was a very nice spot for a picnic. 
 

It is so good to see the rivers flowing again after almost every one in the hill country was dry or nearly dry during the drought.
 

After lunch we took RR 2323 out of Llano toward Prairie Mountain. On this quiet road we had much better luck stopping to take photos.

It is a rite of passage in Texas to have your photo taken in the bluebonnets as often as possible. Dogs have that right, too.

Indian Paintbrush

Agarita

Agarita in barbed wire. Can't get much more Texas than that.

 I love it when you can see blue along the road, as far as the eye can see.

Soon we reached the little community of Prairie Mountain. The school there was once the school, church and community center for the neighboring German farmers and their families. It is now a historical site, complete with marker. On weekends, volunteers at the school are happy to tell you about the history of the community. They told my sisters that they had never seen the proliferation of white prickly poppy like they have this year. 

I agree, the prickly poppy is everywhere; I've never seen it like this. As a biology student, I have to guess that the drought and extreme heat of the past summer must have triggered some dormant seeds. Whenever I think of prickly poppy, I think of my college days at Texas State University. (It was Southwest Texas State University then.) There was a lab instructor in the Biology department named Ruth Cressen. The subject of her master thesis was the white prickly poppy. Let's just be kind and say Ruth knew everything there was to know about this flower and would share her knowledge with you. To this day I cannot see prickly poppy without thinking of her. Ruth, if you're out there, please tell me why we have such an abundant crop this year.


We left Prairie Mountain and headed back home, down Hwy. 71 to Hwy. 281, Johnson City, Dripping Springs and Wimberley. Since it is always a little warmer here than in the counties we visited today, our flowers are mostly gone or past their peak, except for the ever-present yellow composites and the humble prairie verbena.

The verbena is also thicker than usual this year, especially in my front yard. Since it looks so pretty, I am not going to mow for a while, at least until the verbena fades. At least that's the excuse I'm giving. I won't even think about the yard until I get my suitcases unpacked, laundry done and photos of the Caribbean uploaded. Stay tuned for at least a couple of blogs and photos about that trip. Until then, stay safe and enjoy the beautiful weather. It will be too hot too soon. 


Thanks for stopping by.

 

What I'm Doing Instead of Writing My Novel

I've had a great big dose of self-realization lately about how undisciplined I have become. Remember that I took the NaNiWriMo challenge, to write 50,000 words of my novel during the month of November? Well, it's not going so well. Here's what I've been up to instead of writing.

Jigsaw Puzzle: Scott and I bought a great puzzle at the gift shop at Mammoth Cave during our October RV adventure. It shows a collage of post cards from many of the country's national parks. Here is the poster that came with the puzzle.

Even though it was a 1000 pieces, we thought, "This shouldn't be too bad; look at all the words and small images. They will be easy." So we started off on a quiet Sunday morning. Scott put the pieces on the spare poker table, which made a really good puzzle venue. You could lean on the padded railing and contemplate without having stray pieces stick to your arm and fall on the floor and get chewed up by the dog. We quickly put the border together, congratulating each other on our prowess.

Then came the word pieces, like "Hot Springs," some of which really were easy to find. 

Lucy sat nearby, fascinated by all the activity.
 

  
Seven hours later it looked like this. Not as much progress as we had hoped for almost a whole day. 

  
Little did we know that we had done the easiest part. The middle of the puzzle was a killer, which we worked on for at least three more days over the next two weeks. Those big letters that said, "America's National Parks?" Those were the worst and had to be assembled using puzzle shape alone, which is not my forte. I'm better at color. Scottie saved the day and got them done. Ta dah!

Another RV Adventure: Around the second week of November, we discovered the moon would be full and the temperature cool after a cold front had blown in, so, like all normal people, we headed for the beach. Seriously, Scott and I love to go to the beach in the fall and decided, since we still had Maureen's RV, to drive down to Mustang Island for a couple of days. There were a few people at the campground, but the beach was almost deserted. As promised, the moon was full. Here it is, just beginning to rise in the east ...

 ... while behind me, the sun is setting in the west. 

 I spotted these tracks and found the little guy not far away.

  
He did not cooperate by staying still for his photo. After many attempts, this is the least blurred one I got.

  
We spent most of the next day walking on the beach and reading. I went in the water for a little while, but it was too cold for Scott. The dogs would have nothing to do with it either.

We kept them tethered at the campsite, but they still had a good time. Lucy may be sitting on a pillow outside, but she's still on guard duty!

Grandparent's Day: Last week my girl's school sponsored Grandparent's Day and a Thanksgiving lunch. Her grandparents were not able to come until lunch time, so she asked me to come spend the morning at her school and attend the music program as well as the lunch. I jumped at the chance and had a wonderful day.

Did I wish I were home, writing that novel? Not for a minute. It will get done someday, when there aren't any more days like this one. I've learned to grab those moments of joy and hold on as long as I can, for they are few and fleeting. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, and thanks for stopping by.

Songs of the South

Fellow intrepid travelers, I have just returned from a twelve-day RV adventure through the deep south. Thanks to Maureen, Scott, Ruffles, Lucy and I were able to borrow Pal, her RV, and head off to find fall color and cooler weather. 

Our first stop was not a camping night, but a visit with my friend Leah in Baton Rouge. Another friend, Linda, joined us for dinner and we had a delightful time. During our conversation, Linda and I again talked about how we share the characteristic of having a soundtrack constantly running through our minds. I roll through life accompanied by the music that has brought me there and it was certainly true during this trip.

As we left Baton Rouge the next morning, my brain tuned in "Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight."

Just an ordinary story 'bout the way things go,

Round and around nobody knows,

But the highway goes on forever.

As we turned north on I-55 and headed through Mississippi, every road sign pointed to Jackson and so did I.

We got married in a fever

Hotter than a pepper sprout.

We've been talkin' 'bout Jackson

Ever since the fire went out.

Just outside of Jackson, we picked up the Natchez Trace Parkway. This is a beautiful, historic road that winds over 444 miles through Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi, from the Mississippi River at Nachez to Nashville. The parkway is part of the National Park system, so it is beautifully maintained, with numerous pull-outs, parks, historical markers and rest stations along the way. It a perfect ride for an RV because the speed limit is lower (50mph) and no commercial vehicles are allowed. There is no development on the parkway either, which means you don't have gas stations, restaurants or anything else for that matter. You have to exit for the individual towns along the way if you have needs. 

I was surprised to see cotton fields along the Parkway, especially with cotton still unharvested. I thought it was picked earlier than October. You know what song is coming, except I couldn't help but sing it the way we did when we were little.

Oh when those cotton bolls get rotten

You got a lot of rotten cotton

In those old cotton fields back home. 

 

  

We camped at Tombigbee State Park in Tupelo, Mississippi one night and, being in Tupelo, Elvis was "always on my mind." The predominant song wasn't one of his though, it was the Alannah Myles tribute, "Black Velvet" that I sang all night, thinking of that sweet boy. 

Black velvet and that little boy smile.

Black velvet and that slow southern style.

A new religion that will bring you to your knees.

Black velvet if you please.

The Natchez Trace Parkway ends in Nashville, where it merges into Tennessee highway 100. Right there, where it merges, sits the Loveless Cafe. It used to be a cafe and Motor Court, but now it's just a cafe, and what a cafe. Those of you who watch Food Network have no doubt seen the Loveless on there several times. Diners, Drive-in and Dives filmed an episode and Bobby Flay challenged their "Biscuit Lady" to a Throw Down. 

The food is simple, down-home food cooked perfectly. We ate there twice, on the way up and again on the way back down. Both times I thought of the singer Patty Loveless. I don't have a clue about whether she is related to the Cafe owners, but I love her voice. 

If my heart had windows

You'd see a heart full of love just for you. 

The next leg of the trip took us up into Kentucky, where we really began to see some fall color. We visited Mammoth Cave and did the Historical Cave Tour and then headed east to the mountains and Cumberland Falls State Park. What a beautiful park. Kentucky has it designated a Resort Park for good reason. There are cabins, a main lodge (built by the DuPonts,) swimming pools, riding trails for horses and hiking trails for humans. I bet is wonderful spot for a family summer vacation. But in the fall it is quieter and the color is spectacular. Take a look.

The whole time we were in Kentucky I was either singing "Coal Miner's Daughter"

Well I was born a coal miner's daughter.

In a cabin on a hill called Butcher Holler.

or "Kentucky Rain."

Kentucky rain keeps pouring down

And up ahead's another town that I'll go walking through

With the rain in my shoes

Searching for you

In the cold Kentucky ra a a a a a ain

In the cold Kentucky rain.

It also rained several times while we were there, something my soul needed, but it didn't help get that rain song out of my head. 

Our last day in Kentucky was spent on the Bluegrass Parkway, which takes you through the "horse country" near Lexington and along the Historic Distillery Trail. We stopped at the Four Roses Distillery and bought some bourbon for the poker guys, but Jim Beam was just down the road. Every time I saw the sign I thought of Hank Williams, Jr. This was before I knew about his recent, stupid remarks about the President. But, even if I had known, I probably would still have sung - 

Lordy I have loved some ladies

And I have loved Jim Beam

And they both tried to kill me in 1973.

When my doctor asked me

"Son, how'd you get in this condition?"

I said, "Hey sawbones, I'm just carrying on 

An old family tradition.

 By this time we are getting tired of being on the road and are ready to be home in our own bed. The problem was that we were still a long way from there. We spent the last few days driving on interstates, later into the night that we had been to make up some time. Here my mind scanned through all the trucker songs I knew, particularly Eddie Rabbit's "Driving My Life Away" and Kathy Mattea's "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses." Here are some shots from the road.

Sunset, near Oxford, MS

Some of that Kentucky rain

Fall color on the interstate

Along the Bluegrass Parkway

Our last tourist stop was in Vicksburg, MS where we visited the Civil War Battleground and National Cemetery. I wasn't singing "Dixie," "Yankee Doodle" or anything else here. I guess the death and tragedy took up all the bandwidth and there was no room for song.

It was a good trip and we had a wonderful time. Sometime later I'll discuss the pros and cons of RV travel, but for now I'm just happy to be home. Thanks for stopping by.