monday's mulling: the first big spring storm

Three days ago the hype from the weather forecasters began regarding the dangerous storm that would hit the Miami Valley Saturday night. Todd was going out of town for a few days, leaving late Saturday afternoon, and all I could think of was, "Great. Six months ago he was gone when the remnants of Hurricane Helene blew through here and I was alone, without power for 30 hours. Is this going to be another here-we-go-again story?" My next thought was, "If we lose power this time we are buying a generator."

Leading up to the storm, the day was pleasant. I raked some leaves from a couple garden beds, went for a quick hike at Hills and Dales, stopped by the grocery store to get a couple ingredients to make Dal, a lentil-based soup. My rationale to make this? If the power went out, I would have a legume/vegetable based meal that would last for 30 hours wouldn't spoil. Plus it's tasty and comforting (at least to me, it is) and if there was any storm damage, I could drown my sorrows in a bowl of Dal. I did put my corkscrew in the wine refrigerator (of course the wine would be protected in there).  Priorities, you know. My mind was going every which way.

At 8:30 all the local TV stations interrupted regular programming to track the upcoming storm. It was getting close south of here and lightening showed up in the sky. I went outside to check things out and the night sky was clear with some clouds, the wind was starting to pick up. Some stars and planets were visible so of course I opened the Night Sky app and found Jupiter and Mars. With those sightings, I was content to go back in the house. Ten minutes later, the sky opened up with torrential rain and the winds howled. The weather man reported that there had been a 74 mph gust of wind at a location two miles from my house. 

The weather drama shifted to the reporters who were driving around out in this storm to give live reports. Why would the powers that be send people out in these dangerous conditions? Ratings and real-life footage and those who want to keep their jobs.

Anyway, it took 30 minutes for the storm to pass, there were no confirmed tornadoes and Monday when it's light people will be able to assess the damage. At 9:32 pm (21:32) the weather threat was over and the weather specialist passed along these comforting words, "You all can go to sleep now." Not yet, I poured a glass of wine.

I had a different post planned for today but bumped it to next Monday's Mulling.

the daffodil house

"And then my heart with pleasure fills, and dances with the daffodils..."

A sea of daffodils brightens the drive along Ridgeway Road. These first spring flowers bring a sense of hope and new beginnings as they emerge from winter to herald the arrival of spring and a fresh start. A gentle breeze blew and daffodil perfume filled the air. I just stood there and enjoyed the moment.

it's that time of year

72° and sunny yesterday. We live on a corner lot and there is a garden that is begging for attention. The previous owners put a lot of ground cover in this space and over the almost three years that we've lived here, more and more weeds find their home in this spot. People see this plot coming and going and it needs a new look. Yesterday was the first day of pulling the ground cover and thanks to the early April showers, it's been fairly easy to remove. It took a couple hours to remove half of the pesky plants. I'm on a roll and will get the rest cleared out today. And yes, I like to garden with my bare hands. It keeps me grounded.

the friday feed: pizza

The first day of spring was one of those cold and rainy March days. Todd was on the phone with some people he consults for. (I know, I know...it's a common belief that you don't end a sentence with a preposition but in real life it's perfectly acceptable to do so. In case you were wondering, the idea that ending a sentence with a preposition is incorrect stems from Latin grammar, where prepositions typically precede their objects). There's your useful/useless info for the day 😊

I had an appointment with the oral surgeon to get my tooth implant placed and it took about an hour under local anesthetic to get that little screw into my jawbone. That drill was so loud and screechy and my shoulders were so tense for the longest 60 minutes that ever lasted. When I got home, I was exhausted and numb and after the novocaine wore off, a little bit tender. 

Dinnertime rolled around and I was in no mood to plan or fix any dinner. Time to order pizza. Typically we get a large pizza with sausage or pepperoni and a couple vegetables. This time around, I ordered two smalls: veggie for me and pepperoni, sausage, and mushroom for Todd. He was busy doing whatever so I picked up the pizzas and on the way home I was cold so heated seats for the bum and a warm pizza box for the lap. Ahhhh...nice. And then a glass of wine with dinner. Life was fine after that.

warm pizza box that sits

on my lap makes the drive home

so very cozy.

morning frost

Another chilly, sparkly morning ~ 

wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

It's been a quiet week. I did manage to get in a few walks in between the rainy days: a couple quick walks around the neighborhood, one to the cemetery to say hi to Mom and Dad, and one at the nearby MetroPark. There's a spot at the park where a sea of cheery yellow winter aconite greets hikers after a walk up the big hill. It's like they're saying, "Yay, you made it!" All around the neighborhood, the spring flowers are poking through the ground and the mostly yellow blooms herald the beginning of spring. Yellow flowers - the promise of sunshine.

Of course a couple trips to the grocery store to buy a few things, mainly for dinner. Back in the day of cooking for six people, I spent Sunday afternoon planning meals for the week and made my grocery list according to the meal plan. Monday morning I would go shopping. Those days are long gone. Most times I have an idea of what dinner will be but on those days where the inspiration doesn't hit until the later afternoon, that's when I go to the store. I parked by this car and the license plate gave me a smile. Also, the store has added loss protection sensors to the carts. In the past when driving home, I'd see grocery carts two and three blocks away from the store and wondered why sensors weren't on the carts. Guess someone got tired of walking around retrieving the carts.

When we babysat our grandson during his baby sister's birth, I kept a few M&Ms in my coat pocket to encourage and reward good behavior. A very busy, inquisitive, almost 3-year old needs an incentive not to stand up in the grocery cart or to hold Didi's hand when walking in a parking lot. The other day, I reached into my pocket and found one of Owen's M&Ms. I wish I could send it to him. He's having a bit of a time getting used to the fact that baby sister is here to stay.

My dear friend had a bicycle accident. She hit an uneven piece of pavement which caused her to fly off her bike. She injured her right shoulder, sprained her left wrist, and her whole body hurt as a result of the impact. Thank heavens she was wearing her helmet. Before her injuries, she was making tabouli and had prepared the bulgur wheat. 

The day after her accident we were talking and she almost pleaded, "Can you come over and cut up the tomatoes and chop the parsley for my tabouli?" She couldn't lift her arm or move her wrist.

"Of course but I've signed up for a yoga class and I'll be there after that." On my way to her house, I stopped by a tea/coffee shop run by a British couple and bought a cup of chamomile tea with extra honey in it for her. It's her favorite. It's such a charming place - a little bit of England in Ohio.

 

monday's mulling: law and order

Last Thursday night while Todd was watching some March Madness basketball, I went in the other room and turned on "Law and Order," a TV show that focuses on the criminal justice system and takes place in New York City. This episode's story was based on Luigi Mangione, the young man who is accused of fatally shooting the United Healthcare CEO on December 4 outside the Hilton Midtown Manhattan as the victim was walking to an investors conference.

This episode really hit home. On December 4, my friend and I, along with our daughters, had landed in New York, two hours after this shooting happened. Our hotel was just a few blocks away from the Hilton. A little excitement to start our few days in the city.

The show's storyline followed the story of Ethan Weller, a young man who felt abandoned by the American healthcare system and with just a few differences, it paralleled the shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside of the Hilton Midtown Manhattan. Just for something a little different, I decided to make a comparison chart between the two young men who had a beef with the insurance industry,

Both these young men were turned into folk heroes, expressing society's disdain with the insurance industry. Many people believe that the shootings were justified and that these young men shouldn't be punished for calling attention to something that needs to be fixed. I'm glad the "Law and Order" writers didn't provide a verdict as it would have been hard to seat a jury with people who had not seen this. This was very thought provoking but I wish it hadn't been aired. The show made me feel like the jury would side with the defendant and to make killing a legal form of protest is a scary thought.

1st day of spring sunset

The first day of spring started out rainy, windy, and chilly. You never know what Mother Nature will bring in Ohio. Some years have glorious first days of spring, other years, not so much. 

I stayed in the house for most of the day cleaning, organizing, disposing, not paying attention to the time, and not thinking about what to have for dinner. 6:30 (18:30) rolled around with no inspiration for what would go in our bellies. So I ordered pizza.

On my way home from the pizza shop touches of pink showed up against the gray sky. Hmmmm...wonder if we would have a sunset. At the stoplight looking down the road where the hill began, the clouds started to part revealing the brilliant orange sunset. It was like sunrise in reverse. As I got closer to the hill, the sunlight illuminated the road in orange. It was so pretty and I so wanted to take a picture but cars were behind me.

7:42:47 pm (19:42:47)

7:42:53 pm (19:42:53)

7:43:27 pm (19:43:27)

 

from a daffodil's perspective

While walking at Hills & Dales the other day, the daffodils were starting to bloom, some of their trumpets reaching toward the bright blue sky. What a pretty view they have. How to get the daffodils, trees, and sky all in one shot without having to sit on the muddy ground and turn into a contortionist? Flip to the selfie mode, lay the phone on the ground, position the phone to capture the daffodils, and push the button (made sure my face wasn't in the picture). It took a few tries but it was fun to see what the daffodils see.

Yesterday morning we woke up to frost on the ground. I took my phone outside, got on my knees, flipped the phone upside down to get the camera to its lowest possible location for a different perspective.

the friday feed: pierogies

Although neither of us are Irish, Todd and I like to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with an Irish meal: corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes. 

A little while ago, I read an article about Miami Valley Meals, an organization that recovers and transforms food into meals which are then distributed through a network of nonprofit partner organizations that serve those experiencing food insecurity. The chefs, support staff, and volunteers provide nourishing meals that honor the dignity of people in need of assistance. As a fundraiser, MVM was selling handmade pierogis filled with potatoes and cheese. I ordered two packages and one of these would be the potato component for Todd's and my St. Patrick’s meal. 

The pierogi pick up was very easy and efficient. Drive down to Miami Valley Meals, take the driveway on Washington Street, drive to the tent, give your name, the friendly staff hands the order to you, and off you go. How easy was that? It sure beat going to Costco on a Sunday afternoon and to buy a corned beef and other items. While  bobbing and weaving through the Costco crazies, we stopped in the wine department and bought a few bottles of rosé Sancerre, one which would go with dinner. (Wish I could have opened a bottle and had a glass (or two) to keep the anxiety levels down while winding through the aisles of humanity).

The international St. Patrick's meal came together harmoniously thanks to the food representation from Ireland, Poland, and France, and an American cook. Wish all world politics would be as easy as bringing food to the table.

A Polish dumpling...

Pierogi with a purpose

to conquer hunger.

The pierogi fundraiser raised almost $12,000.00 for Miami Valley Meals.

After reading about what this organization does and how grocery stores, restaurants, farmers markets, and large wholesale food stores donate food to them, I decided to volunteer once a week. Three chefs inventory the weekly food donations and put their heads together to create about 4,000 meals a week. They never know what they’re going to get or how much, but no food goes to waste. Volunteers like me plate the meals, wipe down the counters, fold towels, and other tasks that the chefs ask us to do. I've met people from all walks of life and heard their stories about how they became volunteers. For me, it started with a pierogi order.

spring is here!

Today is the first day of spring! 

On the vernal equinox, also known as the spring equinox, the length of day and night is nearly equal in all parts of the world. Vernal translates to "new" and "fresh." Equinox is derived from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night).

You've heard the saying, "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb." Today in Dayton, Ohio, the March lion was roaring with rain, wind, and cold. Eleven days until the lamb weather takes over...maybe.

wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

Last Wednesday we left Cleveland very tired and so happy with our new, little family member. On the way home Todd was talking on his phone and missed our usual exit for the last leg of the trip. He didn't notice at all that he had passed it. The next exit was coming up, he was still chatting away with no indication that he would take this one. Me: "Are you going to take this exit?" Him: "Did I miss the last one?" Duh. Anyway, this alternate route took us through downtown Dayton and he suggested that we get a drink at the bar at the new Ardent Hotel. Cheers of joy to our new granddaughter, Hallie! 

What did I cook last week? Beef barley soup. A good ole neighborhood grocery store has the best meat department. You go up to the counter, take a number, and tell the clerk what you want. A couple weeks ago I ordered beef shanks which were in the back room and had to be cut. They came out wrapped in butcher paper. I like the butcher paper. It takes away adding plastic and styrofoam to the landfill. I also made a St. Patrick's meal with corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes (wait for Friday's post), and with the extra cabbage, slaw with a rice wine vinegar dressing.

Last Thursday and Friday were gorgeous days...sunshine and temps around 70°. It was glorious! I took a walk around Dayton and the next day at Hills & Dales MetroPark. On my Dayton walk, I was hurrying back to my parking spot; time was running out. I got to what I thought was my spot and my car wasn't there. Panic. Deep breath. I checked my parking spot number on the app. Right number...just the wrong block. Whew!

Thursday night was a perfect night to watch the lunar eclipse. I did wake up periodically to take a look at this celestial event, saw the moon turn red, but didn't make it to the eclipse. Moonlight and the night time quiet are so peaceful.

Friday the trail at Hill & Dales called and signs of spring were all around. Buds on the trees, daffodils in various stages of blooming, winter aconite's yellow bed of flowers covering the ground, lots of hikers taking advantage of this gorgeous weather. A playground and shelter are at one end of the trail and that area was filled with young families enjoying the sun and celebrating a birthday. Such a happy day! After a cold, gray winter, sunshine, warm weather, cheerful yellow flowers, and being outdoors really do lift peoples' spirits.

Our two days of lovely weather succumbed to heavy rain and strong winds. Our neighbor lost a tree and her neighbor lost part of his roof. The big excitement in the neighborhood will come when the tree removal trucks and grinders arrive to do away with the fallen giant.

 

five years ago

You've seen it - this large spherical mass with protruding red spikes plastered across the television and the internet. It's an image that became all too familiar when the coronavirus, aka COVID-19, shut down the world at this time five years ago. Medical artists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention created this popular coronavirus image.

(CDC’s digital representation of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 by Getty images)

In my former home's back yard, I had three raised 8'x8' gardens and grew different varieties of cherry tomatoes, Costata Romanesco zucchini, herbs, garlic, and radishes. In 2019 a tomato fungus wiped out all but one of my cherry tomato plants. I had a few packs of sunflower and zinnia seeds so I got out my trusty little tiller, plowed the dirt, randomly threw the seeds over the bare space, and raked the dirt to cover them. In a few weeks, my garden was bursting with color. The birds, bees, and butterflies loved that spot. 

Yesterday this photo from my pollinator garden popped up on a Facebook memory. This zinnia was so colorful and cheerful and back in 2020 it was the screen saver on my computer. It made me happy. One day during the lockdown Todd came in the kitchen for dinner and glanced at the computer. "Is that a picture of the coronavirus?" I told him he needed to take a break from the TV.

monday's mulling: whew!

How Todd and I felt after we spent a week in Cleveland watching our little grandson during his parents' hospital stay after the birth of their daughter. 

We read umpteen books and Owen got attached to Richard Scarry's Best Story Book Ever. It's a large book with lots of pages with lots of pictures and words. It takes a long time to read. Owen watched his parents leave for the hospital Friday morning and was teary all day. He missed his mama and dada. He asked me to read the Best Story book Ever at bedtime. What a stall tactic! Todd read it to him a couple times at lunch - again stalling his nap time. Little rascal knows what he's doing. Anyway, I hid it after a couple days, told his parents where it was and they agreed that the book could go missing for a while.

A couple trips to the grocery store kept us on our toes. Owen likes to stand at the end of the cart vs. sitting in the kid seat. That's just asking for an easy tumble out of the cart. So I told him that if he stayed seated, he would get 10 mini marshmallows when we got back to the house but if he stood up at the end of the cart, I would take a marshmallow away. He got 7 marshmallows when we got home and tried to negotiate the other 3 back.

And just the everyday stuff...fixing his meals and after meal clean up, bath time, playing inside and outside, reading, taking him to the potty and having to talk about the word Charmin on the toilet paper, the hand washing routine after the potty, taking walks and cawing at the crows. He likes his routines and I quickly learned not to mess with them or there would be a meltdown.

But it was a wonderful week. Owen amazed us with his creativity...how he built a beehive down in the basement and we had to buzz around before going in the hive. His parents have read Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons to him a gazillion times and he has memorized the story. He "read" the book to us. Wow...what a smart little guy. One day we were in the backyard and Owen was helping Grandpa cut the grass. All at once he came running across the yard and excitedly said, "Didi, the moon is in the sky!" The wonder of a little child is so innocent, so profound, and so inspiring. 

The elated but exhausted parents brought their baby daughter home last Monday. This grandma still has her mom ears and boy does that little girl have a set of lungs in the wee hours of the morning! We had Owen's monitor in our room and I heard every bump and cough and other noises he made. When that little guy wakes up, it's full speed ahead. 

Our time in Cleveland came to an end last Wednesday when the other set of grandparents came to take their turn helping the kids adjust to life with two children. I cried when we left. I do miss all the hustle and bustle, but you know, after you've been away from the familiar, it feels good to return home. As Dorothy said in The Wizard of Oz, "There's no place like home, there's no place like home." I just wish Cleveland were a click of the heels away with some ruby red slippers.

 

put on those dancing shoes!

 Art by Patricia Saxton

“Dance and you’ll feel better.”  - James Brown

“You dance love, and you dance joy, and you dance dreams.” - Gene Kelly

“Dance first. Think later. It’s the natural order.” - Samuel Beckett

“When you dance, you can enjoy the luxury of being you.” — Coelho

“Dancing is silent poetry.” - Simonides

“Feet’s job is to walk, but their passion is dancing.” - Priyanshu Singh

“Some of my happiest moments have been dancing.” - Claire Danes

“Do it big, do it right, and do it with style.” - Fred Astaire

“Dance for yourself. If someone understands, good. If not, no matter.” —Louis Horst

“He who cannot dance puts the blame on the floor.” - Hindu Proverb

“There are shortcuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them.” - Vicki Baum

“Dancing is like dreaming with your feet!”  - Constanze Mozart

"Forget your troubles and dance!" - Bob Marley

daylight saving time

Clocks sprang forward on March 9 as Daylight Saving Time began across most of the United States. Hawaii, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah don't observe this time shift and remain in standard time year-round. Time change has been a hotly debated topic for quite a while and I, for one, would like to stay on one time for the entire year. 

Even though it's still winter, I can feel spring in my bones. It's more than a change of seasons. It's a rebirth for the earth and the spirit. Just on walks around the neighborhood or walking through the grocery store, people seem to be smiling more. There's a "spring" in their step. Spring arrives next week! Typical of Ohio, we will get another blast of cold weather even though the calendar says it's spring, but it won't last long, and then in another three months people will start complaining that it's too hot, but not me 😊 Bring on the sunshine!

the friday feed: pi day

Today, March 14, aka 3/14, celebrates Pi, 3.1415926535...

Someone, perhaps a creative math teacher or an English teacher with a mathematical mind, created a genre of poetry specific to March 14 and designated it as Pi-ku. Pretty clever to play on the haiku genre. 

Haiku is a three line poem following a 5-7-5 syllable pattern. Pi-ku is a three line poem and follows a 3-1-4 syllable pattern.

March 14th

it’s 

geek Thanksgiving.