About Chatting with Oneself

I'd often stop by the plaza early Sunday mornings before heading to the hospital to visit Hal.

That was when I noticed the Grey Ones, those few souls who don't want to be in the crowds that come later. They just want to be around a few other people before they quietly head home.

I began to notice this group when Hal's life was winding down and I wasn't in the mood to do my errands with lots of life around me.

Mostly the Grey Ones were women, some speaking softly while examining the wares on the shelves.

"Make a note for later," I thought, "Don't speak to myself when out in public."

Good idea.

Now that I'm on my own and have many attributes of a Grey One, I speak aloud to myself in public but not enough to alert the staff that I may need a keeper.

Don't know when I stopped worrying about it.

I like those moments when a fellow-traveler is chatting to herself, comparing the price between the peas and corn, then she catches my glance and knows immediately that I'm a member of the club.

We smile at one another and walk on.

I Thought I Had A System

In the fall, usually on a day that turns your bare hands blue, I get around to storing things in the shed.

This past week, since the weather was behaving like a prelude to spring, I thought I'd just get a head start and pull out the feeders.


I re-discovered a lot of stuff/junk but not a sign of a feeder.

The untrimmed rose bushes weren't helping and I picked up couple of gashes before telling them what their fate was going to be just as soon as I found the clippers.

Then a thought popped into my head--bloody well about time---seems to me the feeders would be first on the spring recovery list so, where would I put them?

Under the porch swing, that's where.
And sure enough---

So, bring on the birds.

The Kitchen Is A Done Deal

This was the only wall in the kitchen when I first moved in. I couldn't replace the dated european style doors so my first step was to paint them out.
Eventually I also painted the dishwasher panels to match the stove.

Now that Steve the Carpenter has done his magic, the room is updated.


Best of all, the room now has two walls.

A Measure of Winter

Here is my measure of how winter is progressing.


This was the highest the snow came to wiping out all the letters.

Right now the sign is completely open to viewers, looking a little worn, but that's the story of this household.

Family Within Family

Meggie came to visit recently.

She is married to one of my children but they haven't lived together for years.

Families have changed a lot in one generation. After the separation, Meggie said she didn't want to leave the family, just her husband, so we continued to embrace both of them.

I have a couple of former daughters-in law who like to maintain the family contact and are cordial to their exes at family gatherings. Another one drifted away but she knows she is loved.

That's a lot better than everyone taking sides over what is already a painful situation.

My son Scott is the head of the west coast clan and he gathers up every member for special occasions, Christmas, Thanksgiving, whatever comes along.
I get to tend the eastern division, with plenty of help.

We spent an amusing evening with Meggie working out ways she could get a divorce without breaking the bank, so various people have assignments to check out the aspects.

Seems to me that the TV series, "big Love," about Mormon families with a few wives for one man isn't too far off the mark.