Humor in the Pump Room...

Been rather busy on various projects, all of which are doing doing well. At some point in the last few days I did something to my right foot, like a mild sprain, possibly from hauling the gravel for the new wood shed. They've been some heavy loads, and this may have caused it.

Yesterday, July 13, I went to Santa Rosa to have my car serviced at one of the old Saturn dealers, now a Chevrolet dealership. Times have changed, but I am grateful they still had trained Saturn mechanics. That appointment took all day so I went to a mall in the area and took in a movie. After a hefty bill, I went home and went to bed early.

Today my foot was pretty sore from yesterday so I decided to take it real easy and try to put my foot up off and on during the day. I was checking on my new water meter I put in to help monitor my water usage. This may seem strange but it is useful to know where your water is going and how much, especially when it's my well. I'll tell you more later when all the facts are in.

When I went to the pump room tonight to check on things I found a little frog on top of the telephone. It was the last place I expected to see a frog, especially that high, and at eye level. I just burst out laughing for almost a minute. I grabbed my camera and took some pictures.

I had seen it there before as it hopped on the floor by the pump. I'm guessing it came in for the cool floor, but I wonder how many bugs it will find in a new room, but I won't question a frog's logic. I mean, this room is not likely to be visited by turkey, which roam the grounds here and eat anything small that moves.

So yes, this may be a wise place to hang out. But if my telephone bills start having some riveting calls I'll know who's to blame. OK, bad joke, I just could not resist that pun, but I just thought this frog on my phone was the funniest thing to me, so I thought I would share this moment with you.

Still Green Grass...

I'm so happy to see so much green grass... and wild flowers out at this time of year. After years of little rain fall... or all coming in large amounts... and then running off... we had a normal rain fall. The forest... and meadows look green... and almost lush on July 1. I don't miss all the rain we had this winter and spring. I spend a lot of time inside and I was ready to get out and start my projects. But now that the garden project is at a stopping point for the moment... it gave me a chance to get away and visit relatives.

My travels took me to Marin county... and the Sacramento area. I spent an evening in San Francisco overlooking the ocean eating a very enjoyable dinner with family. Bonfires could be seen on the beach even on that foggy night... which is very typical weather for late June.

The next day we went to Martinez to pick up my Aunt who was coming from the Sacramento area. We spent a very enjoyably day relaxing and preparing to meet the wife of my late Father's best friend's wife... from Denmark... who's husband had also passed recently. We had dinner in Sausalito at a very nice restaurant. Our table overlooked San Francisco bay and it was quite enchanting. The evening passed all to fast as we returned to my cousin's home to spend the night.

The valley was hot on the last day I traveled... and I did get an afternoon start... but it was very pleasant and enjoyable to spend time with my aunt and a few minutes with her husband. I was very happy when I came back over to the coast. The temperature must have dropped 15 to 20F... but still comfortable for shorts and a t-shirt.

That was fun to get away for a short time... and a change of scenery... not that I don't enjoy Quailhaven... I do. But... getting away just makes me appreciate this place all the more. And even better was the extra growth on the tomato plants in just a few days.

Last night... June 30... I went to see Twilight Eclipse... the opening night... at midnight... or 12:01AM... so it was June 30. The place was sold out... and I was very happy I had bought my ticket weeks before. The movie is the third in the series based on books by Stephenie Meyer. I have not read the books... but I've been told... by some... the movies are following the books closely... and not going off on some tangent as many do.

I arrived thirty minutes before the show... and found the theater was nearly full. But I did find a good seat... and sat down to hear lots of teenage girls... talking away. I guess I was lucky there were many adults there as well. But the crowd was well behaved for the most part. I just found that opening night for a film... that has a following... can be a lot of fun. This night did not disappoint... and I was very happy with this movie.

I arrived home and went to bed about 3AM... and felt like a young adult staying out late. I knew I'd pay the price of staying up so late at night the next day... and I was not idle... as I went to a friends house at the last minute to serve as a... fire keeper. Even today... I'm still not up to speed... but... would I do it again? Oh YEA!!!

My New Vegetable Garden

This Spring my project has been a vegetable garden.

This has always been in the works after I completed... or at least got working... my new water tank system. Having a well that only puts out less than a gallon per minute means you have to store water to use in big spurts.

Too often I would take a shower and have it run out of water. But I found that if you trickled out the water... at about one gallon per 20 to 30 minutes into a tank... you could have a dependable source for water and replenish when you were not using it... like at night... even in the driest months. So now I have about 5000 gallons in reserve... which could come in handy in fire season.

I have planted 18 tomato plants... of varieties... Early Girl... and Sun Sugar. Being a pasta lover I eat a lot of Spaghetti sauce... so I wanted to see if I could raise my own... and eventually can them for the year. This time I think my neighbors are going to get a lot of tomatoes... depending on the crop.

Everything is set up to automatically water the plants on a soak-er hose... which is happening as I write this... 10 minutes per bed at low flow. So far this seems to be working... and the plants are thriving with new growth and buds for tomatoes already.

So in a few months... and weeks ahead... I'll tell you what happens. Stay turned...

Summer Solstice or Midsummer

This day... the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere... has old traditions in many cultures around the world.

When I went to Denmark with my parents... in June of 1973... I witnessed bon fires. This was supposed to be ancient pagan ritual where they burned a pretend witch on a bond fire. In my research I also learned the fire was lit at night to ward off evil spirits as the sun returned southward.

In Native American cultures... some will celebrate each season as it passes with different rituals depending on the tribe. One... is the turning the head of the Turtle... a symbolic mound... and a rock for the head... to point in a different direction depending on the season. Fresh dirt is placed on the mound... and flowers are placed by each individual in attendance with their prayers.

But what ever your culture... in the northern hemisphere it is the beginning of summer. I like to be warm... and enjoy this time of year with its many outdoor adventures and projects. Despite my Danish heritage... I prefer to look at each season as a new beginning... and a chance to reflect... and start a new. It's another chance to re-focus... and re-connect with family and friends.

Father's Day

What is Father's day to me? I'm not a father... nor am I married... or have a significant other person in my life. But to me Father's day is about my Father... and honoring him.

As it happens... I worked on my new vegetable garden today. So why is that significant? Well those who knew my late Father knew he was an avid gardener. Some referred to my parent's hillside garden... Squirrel Hill... as a miniature Golden Gate Park. He... and my Mother... were continually working on it as a labor of love... and showed it off to nearly anyone who wanted a tour.

I learned much of my gardening skills from both my parents... although... gardening is not one of my favorite things to do. Working on my new vegetable garden... to me horrors him... and all he taught me.

Tonight... I'll light an oil lamp... to remember the good times... and positive things he taught me... for... Father's Day.

About this Blog

Welcome to my first blog to the world. I hope what I write... will stir your imagination... and perhaps... stir you to action... to the world around us... and to other... challenged souls... amongst us.

Why I decided to add one more service... one more task... is beyond me. What with Facebook... Twitter... Care2... webmaster to several web sites... and others computer related tasks... I have more than enough to do. Perhaps... and I'm sure this is the case many times... I'm stretched to thin.

Perhaps it was just to learn how to use Blogger... and so help others. Also in my mind was to have a voice to some of the... uh... crazy happening going on around me... which I have no control over... except to voice my protest... and perhaps to inject some sanity into some rather... selfish... and a term I like to use a lot... challenged people.

I do like to inject some positive... constructive... solution oriented comments. As they say... Are you a part of the problem... or part of the solution?

Also I want this to be a sort of public diary of what is going on in my life. I don't expect to update this daily... but I might decide to do that sometimes... but to let people know... what I'm doing.

So that's what this blog will be... or at least as I see it at the moment. Over time I'm sure it will change... and evolve... and hopefully for the better. As they say... Time will tell.