A Boot Lace

Last autumn, before I had little PI, Lil
and I journed up the mountain for our
daily hike. 

It is a popular hiking trail and I often run into strangers along
the way. My attention drifted to an elderly Indian woman who had
been walking off the path among the weeds and shrubbery and would
suddenly stop, say a little chant and collect a piece of plant or
twig and place it gently in a worn should-strap straw basket.

As I watched her bend over a certain plant, the should-strap broke
and spilled the contents of the dilapated old bag. I went over to her
and offered assistance in gathering the bag's contents, of which
there were even some small rocks. Well, no wonder the strap broke.

She seemed to be very grateful for the help and it turned out the
bag was almost too heavy to carry in her arms. As I sat down on a
rock and started untieing my leather hiking boot lace, I said, " I
have an idea, " This boot lace is strong and perhaps we can weave
 the strap together again.

She objected that I give up my boot lace, but I assured her I was
nearing the end of my hike and I'd be home soon. It was her deft
fingers that interlaced the leather to the strap and it was soon
strong once more.

She appeared very grateful and assured me she would repay my
kindness. I told her it was "NO PROBLEM" as I continued my
trek down the trail with my boot tongue flapping in the dirt.

She appeared to be so interesting that I wanted to meet with 
her again and for the remainder of the summer I described her
to stranger I met and asked if they knew her. 

One couple said they knew "of" her but warned me to stay away
from her because she was a "witch" and could do both "good
and bad medicine." Well, I laughed at that and as winter approached,
I had to stay off the snowy, slippery mountain.

Just last week after several days of bright sunshine and higher
temps, I couldn't wait any longer and was inspecting the lower
muddy trail of the mountain.

There she was as if she suddenly appeared
from out of nowhere, the same weathered old
straw bag hanging from her arm and holy
moly, my boot lace was still holding it 
together. 

We chatted a few minuted like we were old friends, asking how our
winter went and entering into various little non-personal tid-bits of
conversation. She then said something that set me back on my
hiking boots-with-the -new-laces, heels.  She told me how grateful
she was for my kindness and that she had put a spell on some  "bad"
people who had wronged me. I know I gave a little nervous laugh
and said something like, "You didn't have to do that." (yeah, right)

But she had already started on her way and I doubt if she heard me.
I called the muddy dogs to me and we started for home.

I kept wondering if there was anyone in my crosshairs and what she
meant "by a spell."

So if there is, better watch out........No No...only kidding........
(I think)

Here We Are

 Here we are......The weather outside is frightful 
but the fire is so delightful and since there's no
place to go.....let it snow (rpt. 2X").  Words from an
old song that no one knows anyway.

My mailman says this is the worst winter of the 32 years he's worked.
Yesterday, I just gave up. I even said it out loud...... "I give up...... no more
shoveling or driving.  Depression babies are the original "preppers" and I
actually haven't been to a store for at least two months. I can even easily make
it into spring.

I suppose some of you are wondering how long I prepare for this. I don't.
D. babies are just natural hoarders. I have one room upstairs that I use
for (ahem) extras. Fresh fruit for my morning smoothie can be a bit of a
problem but I have learned how to ferment blueberries and pears. I
grow flats of microgreens and have many jars of various seeds. Potatoes,
carrots and turnips keep well in the cellar. The onions do well in the front
porch but will freeze in the back porch. Fifteen lbs. of organic oats from
Wisconsin, alone could keep one going all winter. I actually ferment that
too, with kefir.... yum and finally cook it in a crockpot.  There is a good
supply of Einkorn flour. Also bags of brown rice for the pups along with
their bags of food but Amazon prime will deliver quickly if needed.
The freezer hold their hamburger and bacon but in weather like this I
could just as easily put their meat on the back porch. LOL

Fresh organic eggs from the chickens and the tool shed has a good supply
of organic chicken feed. The hay shed is brimming with the sweet smell
of grass hay. When I put new hay in the coop, the hens love to peck through
it for seeds. Sorry chicks, it's the nearest thing to free range that you'll
get in the winter weather.

Everything is organic..... no GMO's. I even make my condiments. My
fermented catsup is dynamite.

The dogs get exercise from a treadmill. The poor little pups can't even
walk in the yard. They sorta "hop and lunge through the deep snow.

Am I bored? Never.... I learned how to make wifi from a wire coat hanger
and also how to make my own TV antenna. Ha..... maybe now I
can get rid of that expensive cable bundle.

If you stuck with me this long,  congratulations.
It's a boring subject but actually I love winter.  I could do with a warm day
once a week. By warm I mean anything above 32 deg. Yes, I'd settle for that.

18 below forecast for tonight. I have to turn on the 2nd heat lamp in
the chicken coop in spite of the fact that the coop is pretty well insulated.
Why don't I move to a warmer climate? I did live in
Florida for 25 years and I far prefer this to hurricanes and snakes.
I don't mean for this to sound like I'm complaining...... just showing
some of you what it's like to live in a snow country.

Marilyn's mother's motto was "Make your own sunshine." In case some
of you don't know, Marilyn is my best friend of over 60 years.  She
is the oldest of ten kids. I often mention her.

Take care of yourself, stay clear of the flu and make sunshine.

For the Love of "Pi"

Sweet Little "Pi"

I was just happily
going along in my
own world, loving 
my life as it was, 
training my almost
2-year old herding
puppy, when a little
elderly dog named
Pi appeared in my 
life. 

Who could resist those pleading
black eyes.  Here was my
argument with myself......
She needs a home, but, but, but
I stammered, "She's old. The vet thinks she could be over 10."  She'll become a
bright love in my life and then she'll die, just like my Cody was stripped away from
me a year ago.  I don't need another empty hole in my heart. But alas, the argument was
useless as she had already wiggled her way into my love circle.

"I'll get you, my pretty, you and your little dog, too."
My son thinks she looks like Toto. Ha

Life is pretty amazing, isn't it? Each day something magical and illustrious happens.
When the garden paths are frozen over with ice and snow flakes swirl, the indoor
attention-grabbing chores can be attended to.  I don't need the prodding of a Mercury
retrograde to finish the mittens I started knitting last winter  or to finally finish the new kitchen
curtains.  Ummm, it's also time to think about summer gardens and get the seeds started
indoors.  I'll never plant pumpkins again. They are space thieves.

I've also been eating my way through many flats of microgreens that are grown in
doors. See, I can have dirty finger nails all year round.  And books...... oh my goodness,
I have so many books waiting to be read. Here's one I'm reading that someone might
also find interesting..... "Nutrient Power,........Heal Your Biochemistry and Heal
Your Brain" by William J. Walsh.  This is one of my favorite subjects as I'm seeking
ways I can bring my invalid daughter to live with me.  Not a popular subject to very
many.

5 weeks since I last posted. Tempus really does fugit, what say?