THE LETTER "F"

I should re-tell my "art" story since I'm taking a drawing class.

Rewind life back to when I was a sophomore in high school.  I chose to take art, because I wanted to learn how to draw and paint.  The art teacher (her name is branded on my brain like the brands on a cow) was a tiny person, one might say she was pretty.  I remember her taking us upstairs and teaching us how to draw a focal point in a room.  That was so cool.  One day she sat some fruit on a desk and told us to draw the fruit best we can.  This was early on in the class.....before she actually taught us anything.  Well, I thought that my completed picture might end up in the Louvre one day, but instead it was returned to me with a big F.  Yup, right out of the gate I had failed terribly.  Never, since primary a/k/a kindergarten, had I ever gotten an F in anything.

I panicked, cuz this would damage my chances of getting on the honor roll.  I quickly went to the principal's office and asked if I could drop out of the class, explaining that Mrs. ____ had just given me an F.  Back in those days, students had no say in anything, but the principal was kind enough to agree to let me drop out of the class.  And, that my friends, was the end of my drawing.

Fast forward to today.......Some sixty years later I'm taking this online drawing class, it's free, has no grading formula, nor do I have to worry about competing with someone who was born with a knack for art.  They say it's never too late, and so this is why I'm going to try to learn a few things so I can dabble with a pencil and sketch pad. 

Deep down inside of me, I admit to being revengeful.  Never will I forgive that pretty little sawed-off witch for demeaning me the way she did with that grade.  I wouldn't say anything if this was at the end of the school year, but this was right out of the gate.  Bless Me Father, but I hold grudges.  Yup, cannot help it.  Grudges are heavy and can wear a person down, but there are a few in my backpack.  Am not proud to admit this, but it's the truth.

In yesterday's online class, the teacher showed us how to draw cubes, cylinders, cones and domes.  The project was to draw a combination of those shapes connecting one to the other, like drawing a cube (box) and drawing a cone-shaped glass on top of the box.  This is the kind of easy-peasy art class that suits me to a T.  

Am working on my second zentangle.  The boyfriend went through his woodworking supplies yesterday and found a couple of sketch pads and a pastel-chalk kit for drawing.  Man, that really got me excited to see what this Flunky can come up with.  Those who know me well, can imagine the F word I'd take great pleasure in calling that teacher face-to-face.  

Ta-ta for today.

FIRST DRAWING PROJECT

At 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, I began my drawing lessons.  Mainly learned the two methods of moving one's hand and moving one's arm when drawing straight lines, wavy lines, parallel lines and spiral circles.  The individual project assigned was to use those kinds of lines and spirals to draw an abstract piece.  She compared our project to zentangle, and I love zentangle. 

Zentangle is an art therapy that helps one relax and focus.  It's not only great for one's mental health, but it's fun and brings out a creativity in us we may not know exists.  A friend of mine introduced me to zentangle a few years ago, and I was amazed at the concept.  I personally think of it as meditative.  Actually, when I started with this drawing class, I totally forgot about zentangle.  My plan is to buy a sketch pad that will be strictly for doodling tangles.

I'm attaching a picture of my first drawing project, using wavy lines, parallel lines, spirals and straight lines.  The art teacher told us to use our imagination and have fun with it.  So, that's what I did and this is what I came up with.....

Project No. 1

One thing for certain, there's no right and wrong with doing zentangle.  It's basically a form of doodling that relaxes the mind and body.  One gets pulled into it, to where nothing else matters.  I guess that's the whole purpose of our creative spirit.....and we all have one, we just have to find it and bring it alive.  

REMEMBER DRAWING AS A KID?

 

Here is a link to a free course on learning to draw for beginners.  I watched the first video and feel the gal presents herself in a simple, understandable manner.  That's an important quality in any teacher.  Just thought maybe there's another like me who'd like to privately fuss around with a sketch pad and pencil.  I'm still at the level where I draw stick people, trees and little houses with peaked rooftops with smoke coming out of the chimney.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ing1x95WZ_I&list=PL-i_GDP6hCKlHXwGiguwu5z3xtYPhjrQK&index=3

My daddy's auntie was an artist, having painted quite a few pictures.  I was never privy to any of them.  My daddy was a lefty and he'd draw for me little horses and rabbits.  Obviously, he had an undeveloped talent, maybe a titch of his auntie's artistic ability.  It's my thought that just maybe there's something inside of me, too, that may respond to the teachings of someone who draws.  I have an unexplainable interest in art, not the abstract stuff, but rather the likes of Van Gogh and Seurat, the inventor of pointillism.  One day I just might do a blog series about Seurat.  I'm intrigued mostly by those who have a style of their own.  

It's wise for us oldies to find ways to occupy our minds, in ways other than listening to the world's woes.  Turmoil is contagious, and watching and listening to the media can pull us into the sewers.  That's just not an acceptable way for us to live out our days.  It's that business of taking charge of what we feed our minds so we are able to live at a higher level of thinking.  

The construction workers across the road are busy as ants moving dirt in preparation for the new addition to the growing campus out here.  It's interesting to watch a project that starts out as a cornfield and will eventually end up being a top-draw home for the aged.  I'm not getting into the business of aging, cuz that's another train of thought that can lead to the business of waste management.  Get my drift???

In a way the boyfriend and I are hunkering down and are not going to be socializing with bigger groups, cuz of my upcoming surgery.  I swear I've waited over a year and cannot and will not jeopardize myself by catching the Covid critter that cancels any surgeries.  My cautious self is kicking into gear.  We've learned that it's better to be safe than sorry.  Another phrase that's come to us from the wisdom of the past.

Last evening we enjoyed happy hour on the deck, along with the boxelder bugs and bees.  Boxelders are attracted to the warm sunny side of houses. They're around all summer, but come out in late fall to look for places to hibernate.  While sitting out there sipping a vodka-tonic-lime, I finished reading J.D. Vance's Hillbilly Elegy.  Gotta say that J.D. gives the reader an honest look into his life.  The key word for me is "honest." 

GRAIN-STORING STRUCTURES{

Silos fascinate me.  I've posted silo photographs taken in the past, and this is the most recent one.  It's on Cuddy's daddy's farm.  The vines add an extra layer of autumn beauty to its well-kept brick structure.  

The word 'silo' comes from the Greek word siros, which means 'holding grain.'  Silos were originally used to store grain and keep it safe from bugs and moisture.  

The first silos were made of stone as far back as 1700-1800 BC. 

This one pictured is in exceptionally good structural condition.  Wouldn't it be cool to make it into some kind of a silo house or tree house, or whatever might come to mind?  I can't help but wonder how they stacked the bricks in perfect circles?  This was back in the 1800s or early 1900s. 

Stone Granaries - Portugal

Pictured on the right are stone granaries located in Lindoso, Northern Portugal.  Aren't they about the most fascinating ever?   I'd give anything to see them up close in person.  Talk about a chunk of super-cool history.  I've never seen anything like them before.

Not one day passes anymore that I don't find something online in some corner of the world that is positively mind-boggling.  Having lived the first 8 years of my life in an old 3-story stone house, my interest and appreciation for stone structures just cannot ever get satisfied.  When we're driving on our trolleys and I spot a house or barn or out-building made of stone, we back up the car so I can take a picture home with me.  

NATURE IS RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR DOOR

It's fun to take an afternoon trolley and search for ways people incorporate the natural elements to decorate their homes.  Like this photo.....where someone insightfully transformed a tree stump into an autumnal vase for flowers. 

It's that business of using what is available, rather than spending money for a fancy planter with a hefty price tag. Once we buy the fancy planter, then we have to find a place to store it out of season.  

While we were away on our 5-daycation, I was on a wild hunt for birch branches.  We inquired at an information center in Walker, Minnesota, where one might legally find birch branches.  Last thing we wanted to do was get charged with trespass or vandalism to private property.  The best advice was to go walk the hiking trails and look for birch branches that had fallen on the ground.  Well, our hiking days are over, plus walking those trails in desolate areas isn't the wisest place to be these days.  

When we got back home, I went on Etsy and found a place in Wisconsin that sold birch branches for crafting, so that was my solution.  Now I have four cut-to-size branches ready to be made into a handmade decorative project.  Incorporating nature into our home is important to me, as it connects us to the earth and has calming effects.  This is how the two of us explore the natural world, work with the natural world, and appreciate the parts of the natural world that most people never see....or think to see.  

When we go into the up-north woodsy gift shops that sell gorgeous pieces, I don't go with the intention of buying.  I look for ideas on how I can make it myself.  Gathering the materials is part of the creative process.  Most of these stores don't allow customers to take photos, but Bless Me Father, I have sinned.  So be it.  

Pine cones will be included in this year's holiday project making.  I've been finding ideas on FB and Pinterest that I'm able to use as a basic idea.  Rarely do I make something that's exactly like someone else's.  It's the idea that I'm after, not a duplicate.  There's the business of wanting one's final design to reflect one's personality.  That's the fun part of the creative process...putting forth into the world something as our eyes see it.  It's not the final piece only, it's the artist's perception that's equally intriguing. 

Another path that I've not taken yet is the business of drawing.  This winter I just might find an online site that teaches the basics of drawing.  That would open up a new way for me to be creative while outdoors.  One more thing on the old bucket list.......guess I'm gonna have to live to be an old bucket!  (giggle) 

PEACE AND CONTENTMENT

Sunday seems the appropriate day to emphasize the value of peace in our lives.  Maybe we don't have peace on earth, but we can have peace within ourselves.  

It seems that the more interaction we have with others, the less peace we have within.  We get swept into their life situations, and then we naturally drag them home with us tucked in our minds.  This is how drama spreads.

Then there's the business of peace of heart.  We've all had our hearts broken, but eventually a sense of peace replaces the pain.  We come up with ways to shelter our hearts.  When that peace sets in, we are content.  Contentment makes poor men rich, and discontent makes rich men poor.  

It's a satisfying achievement in life to reach the point where one has enough.  The desire to always want more, more and yet more.....well, it must be wearing and exhausting.  The less we have, the less there is to worry about.  The faster we race through our days, the more we miss along the way.  Sadly, we may pass by the wild violets while we're busy looking for roses.  

UPDATE ON THE FUN GUYS

Hare's Foot Inkcap

A couple of blogs ago I posted a photo of fungi and asked if anyone could put a name to it.  Well, after lotsa googling, I found the answer.  The scientific name is Coprinopsis lagopus, and its common name is Hare's Foot Inkcap.  

Day before yesterday we visited Cuddy's parents' house.  As we were leaving, they called our attention to the lilac bush that's blooming in their yard.....IN SEPTEMBER.  Huh?  Lilacs are one of the first of springtime's arrivals.  So what's going on?

The boyfriend came across an article written a couple of days ago about the lilacs that are blossoming in Iowa.  Here's what the article says: 

"Typically a harbinger of spring, lilacs have made an off-season appearance in Iowa this August and September.  Lilac bushes that lost their foliage over the summer have blossomed in pale purples as the season ended.  Just as stress brought on by Iowa's 2020 hurricane-strength derecho led spring-blooming trees to blossom in the fall, the fragrant favorite, which normally blossoms in May, has been 'tricked' into blooming for a second time.

". . . . .This out-of-season bloom is usually triggered by stressful environmental conditions during the summer growing season such as heat, drought, severe defoliation from disease or pest, and/or heavy pruning."

Cuddy's Resting Place
Beneath the Tree

We visited Cuddy's burial site.  Man, my heart literally ached to think of that sweet little boy that brought us so many happy times.  His daddy buried him in the front yard where he loved to watch the cars drive by.  He is sleeping in his little bed, covered with his blanket, along with his favorite toys.  The monkey was his favorite.  It's a sweet place, and I've been given permission to put something by Cuddy's grave if I want to.  The four of us agree that it was Cuddy that brought us together in a warm and wonderful friendship.  We treasure them for entrusting their little guy to our care.  We don't take that lightly.

I sat out on the deck yesterday crocheting.  The bees were flying around, but they didn't bother me.  After all, it's their world, too.  Temp today is forecast to be in the low 80s with possible storms later this afternoon.  We're invited out to spend the evening with four special friends.  Whenever we get together, it's guaranteed to include laughs, plus we are able...the six of us...to pretty much solve the global problems.  The host and hostess always serve yummy drinks, snacks and food, there will be puppies and kitties, so it's the perfect backdrop for a fun party.

Ta-ta.

THE ROAD TO FREEDOM IS BORDERED WITH SUNFLOWERS

Got a text this morning from Debbie with another amazing photograph that she took on their farm.  One can look at this photo and feel the tears well up. 

There's one of our states that would reverently salute the flag and sunflower.  Yup, it's Kansas, the Sunflower State.  A Sunflower can be found in every county in Kansas.

This photo is particularly inspiring because sunflowers represent positivity and prosperity.....two critical elements to our beautiful United States of America.  If you remember my blogs about Van Gogh's paintings, sunflowers represented joy, loyalty and spiritual enlightenment.  To me, this picture promotes the plea for unity, rather than divisive hostility.  

The sunflower's resemblance to the sun has led to its connection to the Divine Light that nurtures and sustains spiritual enlightenment.  It's bright yellow petals bring happy and warm feelings that lift our spirits.  

 More than ever before in my whole life, it feels like America needs the magic wand of this flower.  May we all have the strength to stand tall, stay optimistic and hopeful. 

MYSTERY FUNGI

Debbie sent photos of fungis (fun-guys) growing in their farm pasture.  If anyone knows what they're called, please share.  

I did find articles on fairy rings.....circles of mushrooms that appear in fields, lawns or woods.  In folklore, fairy circles are places where the fairies gather to dance.  A fairy ring is said to be a portal to the fairy realm.  Fairies like their privacy and protect their boundaries, so if you go inside one, you might get stuck dancing around in it.  Naturally, there's a scientific explanation for these rings, but it for sure is another example of the  circles we find in Mother Nature. 

"The loveliest fairy in the world:  her name is Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby."  

~Charles Kingsley, The Water Babies, Ch. 5)

STAGHORN SUMAC

Before leaving our beloved northern campsite, I took photos of the fall foliage surrounding it.  The winner of the most colorful award was the Staghorn Sumac bush and its reddish-brownish fruit.  We're familiar with this plant, as it is native to roadsides from Quebec to Ontario to Minnesota south to Georgia, North Carolina, Indiana and Iowa.  It gets its name from its coarse branches covered with fine hairs that resemble deer antlers in velvet.

Around 100 species of birds utilize the Staghorn Sumac as food and for shelter.  Among these birds are the woodpecker, robin, Sparrow, towhee, tanager, bluebird and wild turkey.  

Close-up photo of the berries

 During my online research of the Staghorn Sumac, I learned that its fruit is called lemonade berry cuz its ripe fruit makes a very pretty, very tart beverage when infused in water as a sun tea or hot steeped tea.   "Simply boil the berries in a pot of water for a few minutes to make Hot Staghorn Sumac Tea.  Cover the berries in boiling water, then turn off the heat and let the berries sit for 10-15 minutes.  6 berry clusters typically make a nice pitcher of tea."

Sadly, our roadsides are sprayed with chemicals, so my inclination would be not to make this tea unless I knew it grew in a place where spraying is not allowed.  I have strong opinions when it comes to covering Mother Earth in a blanket of poison.  The process is cleverly camouflaged as 'vegetation management.'  

"Vegetation is the basic instrument the Creator uses to set all of Nature in motion."~Antoine Lavoisier

Now in September, the Staghorn Sumac leaves turn a rich red color.  Native Americans smoked the dried red leaves in their pipes.  If the sumac branches were large and straight enough, they were used to make pipe stems.  Everything in life has its purpose.

THE EYE IN THE SKY

 Today I begin by posting a photo of last night's moon......

Not a day goes by that the news media doesn't splatter us with human-induced bloody violence.  We humans have created a world that we weren't designed to live in.  Why else do people use drugs, alcohol and food except to escape reality?  We rush around in chaos. But, Mother Earth Herself keeps calm like the ticking of a clock.  We humans have even replaced the beloved ticking clock with indifferent digital displays. 

The moon teaches us how to love.  There's a saying, "Love as the Moon loves; it does not steal the night, it only unveils the beauty of the dark."   How many of us look to the sky as a source of reflection and relaxation?

A person who loves the moon is known as a selenophile, from the Greek words selene (moon) and phile (lover).  The person who loves stars is an astrophile, from the Greek words astro (star) and phile (lover).  We humans are amazing when it comes to labeling, aren't we?  There oughta be a separate dictionary for the words that are pinned on us during our brief stay.  

Every person and creature is blessed by the moon.  The moon is a nightly source of guidance and illumination for man and creatures.  The moon is a guiding force through dark times. We don't have to be astronauts to appreciate the moon and its phases.  Nope, we can be ordinary souls and simply look up to the night sky and be assured we are not down here alone.  We always have the moon to talk to.

I'll close with a couple of my favorite moon quotations......

The Moon can only fill up once it becomes empty.

And it can only shine in all its glory

once it's gone through its darkest expression.

~Carl Jung

   Moonlight is sculpture;

sunlight is painting.

~Nathaniel Hawthorne   

MATHEMATICS

Today's USA Unilingo online word game introduced me to a new word:  RHOMBUS.  I struggled my way through Algebra I and II, and didn't dare to tackle geometry cuz that would've derailed my chances of getting on the honor roll.  If there's anyone out there who also lacks this knowledge, rhombus is defined as a quadrilateral with both pairs of opposite sides parallel and all sides the same length....i.e., an equilateral parallelogram.  A rhombus is sometimes also called a diamond. 

My brain quickly picked up on the idea of writing about mathematics.....a topic I've never written about in all my 16 years of blogging.  

Did you know?

• Every odd number has an e in it.
• Eleven plus two is an anagram (a word, phrase or name formed by rearranging the letters of another) of twelve plus one.  The answer to both equations is 13.
• Roman Numerals have no sign to represent zero.
• If you shuffle a deck of cards properly, there's a greater chance than not that the exact sequence in the deck has never been seen before in all of recorded history.
•  When two even numbers are added, the sum is always an even number.
•  The number 4 is associated with death in Japanese and Chinese cultures.  Many Chinese hospitals do not have a 4th floor.)
•  At sixes and nines, the result of the sum (6 x 9) + (6+9) is...69.
•  One way to remember the shortened value of PI (3.1415926) is to count the letters in each word of the question:  May I have a large container of coffee.
• Math is as important as language.  Math is sometimes described as a kind of language.  Math is a system of communication that must have vocabulary, grammar, arranged order and people who use and understand it. 
• It was Galileo Galilei who said, "Mathematics is the language God has written the universe in."

Needless to say, I'm whelmed-over by those who are mathematically gifted.  There's actually a word for not understanding mathematics.  Dyscalculia is a condition that makes it hard to do math.  Unlike other subjects that are more concrete, math deals with numbers, symbols and what I call confusing equations that can be difficult to grasp.  

When we were kids, the learning institutions separated us into classes of smart and dumb.  It would have been wonderful if our individual abilities would have been praised, rather than compared.  Those who are gifted with good old-fashioned common sense may be the most gifted of all.  When I think about it, the honor roll separates kids and puts them in jars.  Kids on the A honor roll are put in the great gallon jar, kids on the B honor roll are put in the pretty good pint jar.   Those who earn C-F grades are tossed aside and placed in thimbles.  Can vividly remember 'cramming' the night before a test.  It mattered not to me if I'd retain what I crammed to learn, cuz the only thing that mattered to me was the grade.  To me, a C was no better than an F, and I did not want to live in a thimble.

My brain is starting to hurt.  Think we're going to get in the Subee and go for a trolley today.  We're in mid-September....the most gorgeous time of the year.  Gotta make the most of every day.  

Ta-ta. 

This is the morning after our 60th class reunion.  The boyfriend and I were high school classmates.  What a night.  Our small class has dwindled down, but 17 of us got together for drinks, dinner, pictures and reminiscing.  Honestly, I know families whose heartstrings aren't as strong and tight as our class of 1964.  The party started at 4:30 p.m., and at 10 o'clock we were among the last to drive out of the parking lot.  Hands waving out the windows and calling out 'good-bye.'

There's one word that describes last night the best, and that is BLESSED.  Some of us are fortunate to still be alive.  All of us find ourselves in total disbelief that we are the age we are.  Seems like we were young, then we woke up one morning and we had unknowingly aged to where we are now.  The likeness among us humans is remarkable.  Yup, blessed is the word.

The message passed around last night.....we must make the most of the moment, cuz we never know when things will spin out of control and life will change or go away.  Some of the gals are widows, and I listened deep to them share the business of having to face life alone, simply struggling to live life by the minute, then the hour, then the day....until life was bearable.....but never to be whole again.  

The saddest part of our reunion, for me, was when we first arrived.  We walked in with another couple and there he was.  One of the guys who always joked and teased.  Sadly, a metal walker gave him balance to stand.  My silly side returned to high school days, and I teased him as I walked closer to him.  That's when I realized he was looking at me but his usual laughter was nowhere in sight.  I kept babbling, and then I realized he didn't know who I was.  My heart sank, as I asked him, "Do you remember me?"  His eyes looked into mine and he whispered, "No."  OMG.  That's when I recognized his malady.  I carefully explained who I was, that we sat close to each other in study hall, and are good buddies.  Dear Lord, why are good people taken from us, while the rats are left to crawl the earth?  There was a funny part to our 'disconnected connection.'  He said to me, "You sure don't look like you did in high school."  Lesson:  with dementia comes honesty.

My boyfriend mentioned this morning that last night felt like a farewell party.  It was the best reunion we've ever had.  After graduation, we scattered in different directions, lived out the decades, but now when all's said and done, it feels like we're still teenagers in school.  What an incredible life blessing.  We know the future is going to be hard, but no matter what we're handed, we must accept and forge ahead until that final moment when it's our turn to wave good-bye.  So sad, my eyes are swimming in tears.  

That is a snapshot of our 60th.  We have treasured photographs, but privacy is as precious as my classmates.

CHEF'S HERB GARDEN

We came across this adorable herb garden on our up north adventure.  It was one of those times that we'd driven past it, and I asked the boyfriend to please back up the car so I could take a photograph...

These homes are lakeside.  It's fun to find one of these private little sanctuaries, where people dabble with their favorite hobbies, like nurturing an herb garden.  They leave me wondering about the person who tends this herb garden, is it a guy or a gal, young or mature, what style of cuisine they enjoy the most, and my curiosity keeps creating different scenarios.  All the answers live within the red house that's framed by two trees.  

FRIDAY THE 13TH......SO WHAT?

This meme came on my FB feed this morning, and it describes my mother and me to a T.  She always told me she was traveling the world as she sat in her rocker reading one book after another.  She, like me, enjoyed the books with lots of pages.  

Well, today is Friday the 13th.  Superstitious is not a word that describes me, but it described my mother.  She went berserk if I opened an umbrella inside the house.  The imp in me would always walk under a ladder, just to taunt her or maybe test my luck.  Someone who has a fear of Friday the 13th is labeled as triskaidekaphobic.  

Tomorrow evening we'll be going to our 60th class reunion.  Now, if that doesn't put the ancient caps on us, I don't know what does.  Of course, life's blessing is that we never feel our age, but always remain a kid in our heads.  A good chunk of our class has gone on to their pie in the sky, and those of us who remain will gather as forever friends.  We're kindred spirits.

Oh, by the way, pie in the sky reminds me of the piece of homemade coconut cream pie the boyfriend and I shared on our way home from our 5-daycation.......

This pie was the real deal....the kind our mothers made from scratch.  I personally lean on boxed pudding mixes to make my pies.  The boyfriend told me to go up to the pie pantry and pick out one and we'd share a piece.....

Pie Pantry

My overeater's brain wanted one piece of each, but I chose the coconut cream that's on the far right.  I'm drooling just looking at the picture.

We ate our one piece slowly, savoring every bite.  There's less guilt involved when we share a piece of sweetness.  Plus, there's something spiritual about sharing a piece of pie....a communion of souls one might say. 

But, then, I can make climbing a tree into a spiritual experience!!!!! 

WHAT AND WHO CAN WE TRUST?

Have spent a few hours watching YT videos that talk about online dating scammers.  These predators aim for the vulnerable widow or widower who is left without a partner, is lonely and needs affection and attention.  The human need for love can be so powerful that it paralyzes and conquers common sense.  These vulnerable souls will  send thousands of dollars to these predators, most of which live in Nigeria.  It's good to educate ourselves on this manner of deception.  Over the years, my trust in humans has been compromised so many times, that I'm like the Macadamian, the hardest nut to crack.  

Scams have been around for centuries, taking the form of fraudster and imposter.  I learned long ago that if something sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.  When we were little kids, our parents read stories to us.  These stories were called fairy tales.  Little Red Riding Hood taught us not to talk to people we don't know.  The story was written in 1697 in France, so this business of trusting people is not a new human barrier.

We hear about people who live double lives.  They have two spouses in two different cities and even have two sets of children.  Imagine learning about that!  The first thing that comes to my kooky mind is Lorena Bobbitt. 

Living in 2024, we live in a world of surveillance.  Cameras are everywhere.  Homeowners pay big money to install surveillance systems in their homes.  When they go on vacation, they're able to watch what's going on inside their homes.  Funny how we grow accustomed to living in danger and taking precautions to stay safe.  

We forget the extent to which we are being watched.  Cameras have taken the fun out of shopping, for me, anyway.  I guess if one isn't doing anything wrong, there's no reason to get paranoid.  My mind easily conjures up scenarios where someone slips drugs in one's purse that's sitting in a shopping cart.  In an instant like that, I'd thank high heaven if my being framed was captured on camera.  

Cell phones, cameras, the internet and aerial photography track our every move.  Everywhere we go, we are leaving a footprint of our whereabouts and our activity.  One wonders how much data about each of us is stored somewhere in cyberspace.  Everything we do is collected, saved, searched, correlated and analyzed.  

Then there's Alexa.  Oh, she's a wonderful assistant to have in the house, even though the boyfriend and I didn't invite her to live with us.  We hear that she will play music on command, read the latest headlines, control other home devices, play games, tell jokes and stories.  Alexa can find your phone, set timers, and tell the time.  Alexa can check the weather, provide cooking instructions, remind us to take medication, and can assist with lots of other requests.  

Alexa is a cloud-based voice service owned by Amazon.   "Amazon knows everything you say to Alexa, and keeps that data indefinitely--which can be a lot of information.  If you use Alexa for voice-activated shopping, it knows what you're buying and when.  Text a friend using Alexa, and Amazon knows the content of your message, and also has access to your contacts." 

Where am I going with all of this?  Well, I guess if we can't trust each other, how are we supposed to trust a man-made device?  Who's to say we're hearing the truth about Alexa?  Wouldn't this be a clever way to listen in to our household conversations and activities?  Can we be sure that Alexa doesn't have a camera hidden inside?  They tell us no, but why would we trust corporations that control the world?  Are they casting this appealing and helpful bait out to us little fishies?  And, are we gullible enough to bite and swallow their bait?  All under the guise of convenience.  Is Alexa too good to be true?

NORTH FOREST FINDING

Getting back to our up-north trek, we were leaving the Federal Dam Campground heading south on highway 84, I think it was.  We were turning a corner when the boyfriend said to me, "We've been here before.  Look at that cemetery."  He steered us into the peaceful Ponto Lake Cemetery.  Sure enough, we had been there before.  The reason we remembered it was because of the two Indian grave houses.  

Indian Grave Houses

These grave houses were built over a grave to protect the deceased from the elements and prevent wild animals from digging up the body.  These houses also served as shelters for the spirit.

Notice at the end of each grave house there is a small opening.  This was so food could be placed inside to sustain the deceased on his way to the Happy Hunting Grounds.  The day we were there and took these photos, there were a few quarter coins on the ledges of the openings.  The boyfriend made sure to place a quarter there as a sign of our honor and respect.  

I zoomed in the photo so you can see the quarters laying on the ledge.  This was our private spiritual ceremony in the North Country Forest.

LARGE-HEARTED MOTHER NATURE

My love for the lake country can only be expressed by this photo that the boyfriend took of me while I was waving my arms to the water gods.  The wind blew waves onto the shore and nearly pushed me over.  That's why I needed to anchor my right foot into the sand.  This is Leech Lake, where we spent summers on and in the water, plus at Agency Bay which is across the Onigum Road.  Talk about a baptism into the world of Mother Nature. 

I walked up the beach and picked up a few small rocks to take home and put in my Memory Jar.  A tear falls down my face as I think of being by the lake and not knowing for certain if we'll ever return.  It's that business of making the most of meaningful moments.  Just the fact that one is still able, after fifty years, to feel these soothing forces of Nature, is really special.  The vacations that have meant the most to me have been by and in the waters of creeks, lakes, rivers and oceans.  I love rainy days.  Nothing is more comforting to my soul than an overcast rainy day.  Add a roll of thunder, and that's where it's at for me.  

We are blessed to live in a part of the planet where water is plentiful and safe to drink.  Another blessing we take for granted on an ordinary day.  The first 8 years of my life my family didn't have running water in our old stone house.  We had a water pail on the kitchen counter with a common drinking dipper.  It was white enamel trimmed in black.  Saturday nights we took our weekly wash in a galvanized tub in the kitchen.  We pumped the water by hand into pails and carried it into the house. 

Just a bit ago I received a text from my sis-by-law Debbie along with a picture of this morning's sunrise by their place.  She sez it's okay if I share it here......

ALL IS NOT GLITZ AND GLAMOUR

It's important to me that I don't only write about the good parts of my life.  Social media can be deceiving, so I need to include the not-so-nice parts of our daily existence.

Yesterday we received an email from our AARP credit card company alerting us to suspected fraudulent use of the boyfriend's credit card.  The purchase was made with his card in Houston, Texas.  Quickly I called the number and spoke with a gal who explained that the card would need to be destroyed and a new card issued.  Somehow, somewhere, someone managed to steal his number, whether it was at a gas pump or in a retail store.  

While we were gone on our beloved up north adventure, we stayed two nights at a Corp of Engineers Recreation Campground.  Our two Coleman camp chairs were stolen.  When we reported it to the rangers, they advised this was the first theft they were aware of at the campground.  When we left there, I placed the two Coleman chair bags on the picnic table along with a note saying that whoever stole our chairs might as well have the bags to carry them in.  I also wrote that we are among the givers of the world, and not the takers.  I signed the note from 2 lifelong campers, and this was the first time someone had stolen from our campsite.

While on the interstate, we encountered a big pickup following us......a road rage incident......the pickup wildly veered from lane to lane and wouldn't let up......he kept revving up his motor and following us closer and closer.  I don't think I've ever been that scared.  It wasn't as if we were holding up traffic, we were keeping the same speed as everyone ahead of us.  Finally he passed us like a flying bullet, and we can only hope he didn't kill someone.  

This stuff happens every day, but our current society, along with social media, has us focusing only on the glitter and not the guts of real life.  The other day when we learned about a guy in Kentucky shooting randomly at cars, seriously wounding five motorists, it made me sick to think what's happening to our world.  Anyone who thinks they are safe and  immune from scary and dangerous situations simply doesn't have their head screwed on straight.  

That's it for today.  It's lunch time, and my tummy is growling.  Ta-ta till the morrow.

B&BREAKFAST

Our first B&B stay perfectly suited our tastes......both our taste for food and taste for the outdoors.  Had it been raining, breakfast would've been served indoors around the fancy dining room table.  Both mornings, the two of us were the first to take our coffee out to the patio under the pines.  As others joined us, the hosts asked if we'd prefer breakfast outside.  All were in agreement, yes, absolutely yes.  

Both breakfasts were served in four courses.....beverage, fruit, entree, and dessert.  

Bed of arugula, cantaloupe, mozzarella cheese,
crispy prosciutto and balsamic vinaigrette glaze--
DIVINE!

Fried potato hash and
Crepe filled with provolone cheese and asparagus

At the time, I was so consumed with the experience and visiting with our breakfast partners, I forgot to take a photo of the fan-sliced strawberry served with a chocolate brownie topped with peanut butter cookie.

For our Memory Book

B&B continued

School shootings are now the norm.  What a sadness for our children.  They don't deserve this kind of introduction to life.  I am pleased to see that parents are finally going to face responsibility for their children's actions.  Having worked with the juvenile justice system, up until now the parents were not responsible for their children's criminal actions.  It's high time that changes.  Why on God's green earth.....in today's school-shooting society.....would a father buy his 14-year-old son an AR-style gun for Christmas!  

Okay, let's get back to our 5-daycation.  Yesterday I posted photos of the front porch of the B&B.  Here are a few of the ones I took outside and a couple of the downstairs......

Shadows on Bricks

Water Fountain Beside Mansion

Fairy Village Beside Fountain

Breakfast Served Outside

Entry Hallway Looking in Parlor Piano

Facing Dining Table

Breakfast Beneath the Pines

We enjoyed two morning breakfasts served beneath the pines.  We were joined by an accountant, a nurse practitioner, a microbiologist, an agriculturist, a pastor, and a symphony violinist.  Talk about a motley crew.  We shared, we laughed, all the while enjoying the plated presentations.....which will be tomorrow's post.

NICOLIN MANSION B&B

Now that I'm back, I'd really like to share parts of our 5-daycation in the north country.  The first two nights were spent at the Nicolin Mansion in Jordan, MN.  This was our first stay at a B&B, and, honestly, it couldn't have been better.  The owners are a precious young couple, and we had more fun staying there than we could've ever imagined.

Front Porch

This B&B is on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered the finest residence ever constructed in Scott County, MN.  

Thank heavens for the internet.  Without a Google search for places to stay near Jordan, we'd never have found this pearl.  The boyfriend and I don't travel much anymore, but when we do, we squeeze every drop out of the experience.  For us, quality is paramount over quantity.  The next couple of days I'll share our time spent at this inn, the people we met, and the memories we brought home with us.

It's always good to get back home.  We decided that the insane traffic and modern road systems are enough to make us want to stay put in our little Venny nest.    

5-DAYCATION

After a 5-daycation, I'm back to the keyboard, raring to go.  Gotta say that I miss writing my daily post, but it was a fine time to gather photos about which to write.  Our trolley took us first to a 2-day family reunion, which was unforgettable and fun.  For me, spending time with my family bloodline means the world.  Family can be a blessing, and family can be a biological curse.  The family that I have found welcomes me and loves me as though I was a sibling, rather than a second cousin. 

Our trolley then took us 'up north' to the tall pine trees and lakes.  We first started going up north to the Walker area back in 1966.  Increased traffic, round-abouts and drivers that don't care about other drivers....well, that made us aware that the 'up north' we hold in our memories no longer exists.  The small cabin resorts have been replaced with multi-million-dollar-mega-mansions sprawled along the shore lines.   

We visited Nisswa, where we ate breakfast one morning.  My intention on this trip was to bring home with me a sweatshirt from Nisswa.  Walked into the gift shop adjacent to the restaurant, and there it was.....the perfect sweatshirt in my size.  I grabbed it off the rack and plopped it down on the check-out counter. Being the bracelet nut that I am, I chose a small beaded one.  The gal checking us out said, "Oh, heck, you can have the bracelet."  End of season sales, plus a helping of kindness made me one happy little girl.

We visited Walker, drove the Onigum Road, drove up to the Federal Dam campground, and ate at the Brainerd Maid-Rite restaurant.  They now serve maid-rite sundaes, so we each had one of those and shared a piece of homemade coconut cream pie. 

This was our first time Subaru camping.  Yup, we slept two nights in our Subee, at a favorite Corp Park.  We managed to get a camp site next to the shower house, so it was perfect.  We're happy that we tried this abbreviated style of camping, cuz now we know we can do overnights.  Motels give me the willies.  First of all, there are less amenities for more money.  Then I've heard horror stories about people bringing bed bugs home and infesting their own homes.  I'm far too squeamish to lay my head down on a pillow that's covered merely with a pillow case.  My head starts wondering who drooled on the pillow the night before.  That's where I get off the cocoa puff train.  

It's good to be back in our nest.  Today is very overcast, actually looks like nighttime is setting in at 8:30 a.m.  Heavy dark clouds are crawling across the sky.  We were blessed with absolutely ideal autumn weather while we were away.  Couldn't have ordered better.  I did bring home a few mosquito bites, souvenirs I wasn't looking for nor did I purchase.  Those little pests are part of the up-north experience, like it or not.  

Think today we're going to unwind and catch up on our YouTube vlogs, the daily updated video blogs.  They're a new style soap opera.  Oooooh, now it's thundering and lightning and raining.  What a perfect cozy-in day.  

It's good to be back.  Ta-ta till the morrow.