Monthly Archives: January 2013

Lily Comes Home

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This picture of Lily was on The Ionia County Animal Shelter Website.

Sylvia and I met  Lily on our first visit to the shelter.  We were not going to adopt that day, and Lily was not yet available.  A few days later, the shelter listing was updated and had this to say about Lily:

My name is Lily and I am about 7 years old and a Siamese Lynx Point mix.  I am spayed and up to date on all my vaccines and am FELV negative.  I lived with 59 other cats in the house and they came and brought me to the shelter.  I am a very sweet girl and love getting lots of attention.  I can’t wait to find me a new home and new family to love and care for me.

Today, Sylvia and I returned to the shelter.  We visited with lily for a while and talked with the director about her.  We took care of some formalities and then we were able to bring her home.

Lily and the old man.

Once we were home, Lily went to the heated basement where she has food, water, litter and a comfy bed.  Right now, she is getting acquainted with her new surroundings.  We’ll get better acquainted with her later.

Visitor in the Poplar

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A Warm Greeting

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Yesterday afternoon, I had an appointment with my primary care physician.  This was to obtain a clearance for the foot surgery I have scheduled for February 6.

As I checked in, Rachel was at the desk.  She looked at me and said, “Charles?”  I’m not usually greeted by my given name.  It’s been 56 years since Sylvia changed my name to Chuck.  That’s what most people call me.

Nevertheless, I answered, “Yes.”

Rachel then said, “Boy, am I glad to see you.”

Incredulously, “You are?”

With a flashing eye, a grin and a chuckle, “Yes, you are the last patient for today.”

“Monday?”

“Yes, they are the worst.”  We both laugh.

I suppose she’s right.  It’s hard to tell.  Since retirement, my Mondays seem to be no problem at all–most of the time. 😉

I’m cleared for surgery next week.  I see the podiatrist on Friday.

Two Ships Birds that passed in the Night Morning.

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I was sitting here at the computer this morning, replying to comments that readers had left on this blog and counting my blessings.  I noticed some movement out on the snow covered lawn.  It was a hen pheasant.  Soon the male appeared.

I reached for the camera knowing that I couldn’t shoot through that window.  The blinds, though open, were down.  The glass was decorated with a mix of winter precipitation.  I went to the other window.  And waited.

Soon the male came into view.  He was running.  She was coyly following.

The male, on the run, leads the female across the lawn.

I am amazed at how fast these short legged birds can run.  They ran a little further up the hill and stopped to look behind.  They want to make sure there is not a fox or a coyote in pursuit.

Looking back to see if anything is stalking them.

After checking carefully, they turned and ran into the brush of the fence row where they disappeared from my view.

I wonder if that the same silly male that flew into the side of our house recently.  Or maybe it’s his cousin?



Was It Really 40 Years Ago?

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Forty years ago, we called San José, Costa Rica home.  Our purpose was to learn the Spanish language and Latin American culture.  Before the year had ended, we were living in Quito, Ecuador and beginning to learn that language and culture is not homogenous across Latin America.  I’m sure you’re aware that language and culture is not the same in each region of our nation.

Sylvia and I spent 5 mornings a week in classes.  Our afternoons were spent in study.  While we were in class, our younger son was in a pre-kinder.  Our older son was enrolled in a nearby English-language school.

On Saturday, we would board a public bus and ride north to Cartago.  Cartago is the ancient capitol of Costa Rica.  It was also the site of a Saturday market.  Farmers brought their produce where they sold it at the largest farmer’s market that I have seen.

One of our favorite characters was the older fellow who sold oranges.  Our Spanish was limited and he was patient with us and we all laughed.  A lot.  For us he came to epitomize the industry, warmth and humor of a wonderful group of people.

Sylvia stand beside the Orange Man.

We enjoyed our weekly trip to the market in Cartago.  We would return from the trip with two or three bags full of fresh fruit and vegetables.  I sometimes wonder what it is like there today.

Sylvia Hits the Ceiling

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The project started last week in the guest room.  It’s a continuation of the work Sylvia has been doing on the ceilings.  It involves wetting the “cottage cheese” that the builder installed, and when it has softened, scraping the bumpy, lump plaster off.  This leaves a smooth finish on the ceiling and results in a room that seems much brighter.

Work has begun on the guest room ceiling.

This week, attention has shifted to the other end of the house.  The dining room and kitchen were Sylvia’s Monday/Tuesday targets.  Wednesday, she did some clean up in those rooms and moved into the dining area.  She had to stop before finishing.

This morning in the dining area.

Looks kind of bare, doesn’t it?  After breakfast, we cleared the family room (the open area behind the camera).  Needless to say, a lot of items are piled up in other parts of the house.  I’m not going to show you that. :beam:

The final step is to paint the smooth ceilings.  We love the results that we see in the rooms that Sylvia has already done. :awe:

Blowing in the Wind

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Wind damage on barn.

Bitter cold, strong wind, snow.  That has been our weather this week.  On Monday I went out and scraped the light snow cover from the driveway.  It was bitter cold.

Afterward, I returned the tractor to the barn.  I shut the engine off and heard a loud rattling sound in the north end of the barn.  In the words of the song, “Just one look.  That’s all it took.”  There was a hole in the barn wall.

Outside I could see it more clearly.  The wind had whupped blown off a piece of the plastic that covers the upper wall.  I found it about 275 feet out in the neighbors cornfield behind the barn.

Today

Sylvia is resting today after scraping the ceilings in two rooms. My job is to enforce that rest.  Otherwise the Energizer Bunny that I’m married to will be overdoing it again. 🙄

In prep for my February 6 foot surgery, I had an EKG and had blood drawn for testing this morning.  Sylvia kept me company.  Afterward, we stopped by the Lake Odessa Library where Sylvia traded one stack of books for another.

We returned home for lunch, which I was ready for after 17 hours of fasting.  That chili and corn chips hit the spot on a bitter cold day like this.

To enforce further rest after lunch, we got in the car and made a run to the Ionia County Animal Shelter.  They let us visit the kitties.  There was one fellow that wanted to start adoption proceeding immediately.  He’s a nice guy, but won’t be coming home with us later.  He has long hair, and that won’t do for us.  Lots of other guys and gals that need homes and that would be more welcome.  Stay tuned . . .

Foot Surgery Scheduled

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Last week, I reported on my first trip to the podiatrist.  On Wednesday, I went back for a followup.  The steroid injections in the bunions have helped, but not as much as either of us would like.

We’ve scheduled surgery on my right foot for February 6.  I have to have lab tests done and obtain a clearance from my primary car physician before surgery and the pre-surgery session with my podiatrist.

Friends and family members who have been through this have been [mostly] encouraging.  Only one story was about a woman who had one foot done and decided the pain was too much.  I am well acquainted with pain, and can handle a bit more of it.

My Weak End

Saturday morning found me with a wonky tummy and an achy body.  I missed the annual chili dinner at church.  They had cancelled the sleigh ride for lack of snow.  Looks like this week will make up for that as snow is falling and the forecaster keeps saying at least a couple of inches today with more to follow during the week.

Sunday morning wasn’t much better for me.  While Sylvia’s car whisked her off to church, our TV took me to the church of Charles Stanley in Atlanta.  We spent the afternoon listening to old time radio online via archive.org.  Later, Sylvia opened the DVD of The Music Man, which she had received for her recent birthday.  Although we are familiar with some of the music, we had never seen the 1962 movie with Robert Preston and Shirley Jones.  Also in the cast were Buddy Hackett, Paul Ford and a very young Ron Howard.

Another Country Heard From

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On Monday of this week, I received an e-mail from England.  It was a distant cousin of Sylvia who had read the blog post I did on Mary Baxter Yallup in 2009.  Mary was Sylvia’s great great grandmother.  Distant cousin Carol Kimberley is researching the Baxter family, had found the blog post (actually there were four of them) and wanted to know if I had more info on Mary.  I sent her copies of what I had.

Mary, you may recall, was pregnant again when she took her daughters and went to visit her parents during the week of the fair.  Her husband, George, went with her, but quickly returned home “to work.”  He didn’t go home to work.  He left Mary a note and left for America.  Another account says he wrote from Cleveland, Ohio.

Shortly after posting my first story about George Yallup and Mary Baxter Yallup, I heard from [distant] cousin Peter Yallup.  He was able share some more of their story.  Later, a cousin whom we see about once a year, shared a 1913 newspaper account that reported on the family.

George and Mary showed a lot of grit and determination, characteristics which I see today in their great great granddaughter, Sylvia.  I’m so glad to have made contact with Carol and to be reminded of Mary Baxter Yallup, who ranks high in my short list of heroes.