Actual Conversation

Me:  I went to the doctor for antibiotics.  I have cellulitis.

 

Other Person:  That's not a big deal.  You don't need to go to the doctor that.  It's a cosmetic thing.  Antibiotics aren't going to help you.  It's just fat under the skin.

 

Me:  (shakes head side to side)  Cellulitis.  Not cellulite.

Butterflies

On Saturday I went with two friends to a butterfly class at the DNR offices near Carlos Avery.  Our instructor was the famous local nature blogger and master naturalist - Ecobirder.  He spoke to us last year about dragonflies and we spent some time in the field collecting and identifying dragonflies. Because of the rain we were unable to search for any butterflies.  Instead we enjoyed  his photo. The Ecobirder is an excellent photographer.  We learned that butterflies are different from moths because their antennae have little round balls at the ends.  The antennae on moths end without any shapes or else with hooks or claws or feathery structures at the tips.  Butterfly abdomens are slim and smooth.  Moth abdomens are generally stout and hairy.  Butterflies are generally colorful.  Moths are generally black and white; but not always.  More butterflies are active during the day using the sun to keep warm.  More moths are active at night using their own flapping to keep warm.  Butterflies fly in a wicky wacky fashion and are difficult to catch in a net.  The flights of moths are straighter and somewhat more predictable.  Handling a butterfly will damage the powdery scales on their wings.  Dragonflies have sturdy wings and handling them will not do any damage.  But if enough scales are lost on a butterfly wing they loose the aerodynamic function and will be unable to fly.  The 2013 season has been hard on butterflies.  Having snowfalls late in April and into May is hard on these fanciful creatures.  So if you see any butterflies this summer, take a moment to appreciate them.

Under the Weather

I fell and hurt my leg 3 weeks ago and haven't recovered yet.  The swelling went down in all but one general area.  I think I was too sick to think clearly because my nausea, stomach aches, headaches, chills, increased leg pain, and extreme lethargy should have given me a clue.  I've been too exhausted to even fill the bird feeders.  A smart friend of mine said I should go to the doctor as soon as possible. So I did.  The doc gave me 20 more days on antibiotics and a suggestion to take two weeks off work.  Impossible, I thought, I'm way too busy.  And sitting on my red and blue couch for two weeks sounded dreadful.  Two weeks of lying around might heal my leg but I wouldn't appreciate it because I would go insane. How would two weeks off work sound good?  My first thought was an eco-lodge in Costa Rica.  I could lie in a hammock, binoculars and bird field guide in hand, a tall drink with an umbrella on top.  But there are monkeys in Costa Rica.  No doubt they would try and get into my stuff, darn monkeys.  Scratch that idea.  How about the Nile River?  Floating down the Nile with my leg elevated for two weeks, some tall boy fanning me with a big palm leaf, feeding me grapes.  But even that would get tiring after a couple weeks.  Instead I've decided to work a little less than half time.  Offspring #2 came by, mowed the lawn, and served me two meals.  She brought a stack of dvd's that will help pass the time.  Her company and the medicine have helped me feel better.  My neighbors brought me a stack of novels.  Many friends have offered to help me buy groceries or clean the house.  I'm lucky to have a strong support system.  The chills are entirely gone.  The other symptoms have faded but not left completely.  The strange thing is that I'm having olfactory hallucinations.  Every once in a while I get a whiff of nastiness and feel my house reeks of spoiled food.  Lucky no one else can smell the garbage smell. I know this because I've asked.  The house smells fine; it's all in my head.  I thought only old or unhealthy people got cellulitis but I was wrong.  Leg injuries are especially prone to cellulitis.  So today I stayed home and watched a movie, "Sicko," a Michael Moore documentary about the medical industry.  This probably wasn't the best choice on a sick day.  Michael Moore is so over the top he becomes almost comical lessening my confidence that he is speaking any truths at all.

Drives my sister crazy, but

Bird Songs

Language Comparison

Fair Starts Again

The Anoka County fair opened today.  As I drive by to work I've noticed them getting ready.  Two new pole barns were constructed this spring.  Then came the porta potties and the dumpsters.  The pronto pup wagon, the lemonade wagons and the cotton candy wagon arrived this weekend.  On Monday morning the rides arrived on their trailers but were not set up until Monday afternoon.  The fair opened this morning.  I saw a girl walking her spotted pony around the arena.  This afternoon the place was bustling with action.  The rides were going, the Ferris wheel was wheeling, and I could smell pork chops, onions, popcorn, and grease as I drove by with my windows open.  Families were arriving pushing young ones in strollers.  Girls walked by in long sleeved shirts and tight capris.  I saw a couple young men arrive in plaid shirts and ball caps.  Ah,the county fair; it a microcosm of our local community.  Today they had motorcycle races in the grand stand.  Although I'm not going to the county fair this year, I will enjoy it by driving by twice a day and taking in the sights, sounds, and smells as the traffic inches by.

Love Means Never Having To Say You're Sorry

I went to a 16th birthday party today and thought back to my own birthday party when I was 16.  My girlfriend and I went with another couple to a movie in Minneapolis.  He drove a yellow Camaro with a stick shift.  My girlfriend and I sat in the back.  We went to see "Love Story," starring Ali McGraw and Ryan O'Neal.  The movie is a romantic tragedy with Ali McGraw growing ever more beautiful as she dies from some unnamed disease (probably leukemia); a tear jerker if there ever was one.  Being a 16 year old girl who's sister died of leukemia, I probably cried more tears than the average viewer.  I loved this movie. I didn't like it when the doctor told the husband the full diagnosis but not the patient.  She figured things out though, eventually.  I should put it on my netflix queue so I can view it again through my adult eyes and compare my thoughts about love from then to now.  The main quote from the movie was "Love means never having to say you're sorry."  I don't think that is true at all now.  Such nonsense was easier to swallow when I was 16.

Probably Wouldn't Need Binoculars Too See This Bird

 

 

 

Quetzalcoatlus, one of the largest known flying animals of all time, compared to a modern day giraffe and human being.

Quetzalcoatlus lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now North America.

 

She's Feeling Broody

I've been keeping my chickens inside their coop and run lately.  With a hungry red fox in the neighborhood who has already eaten one chicken, it's safer for them to be confined.  I feel bad for them because they can't get much exercise and can't take many dust baths.  When I check on them in the afternoon I bring them some fresh cold water and a handful of dandelion leaves to munch on.  When I collect the eggs one chicken is always sitting on them.  Since the Buff Orpingtons all look alike to me, I can't tell for sure if it's the same chicken sitting on the eggs.  I suspect it is the same chicken because she makes the same purring noise when I open the egg collecting door.  She also behaves the same when I open the door.  She sits facing south.  When the door opens she puffs out her feathers and makes herself look 25% larger than she is.  She doesn't cooperate when I push her aside to collect the eggs.  She plants herself firmly on the eggs.  Once I have the eggs out she will stand up and leave the coop to get some fresh air and a drink of water.  I think she must have a strong broody disposition to stay in the coop during this weather.  I have to admire her.  She's trying to be a good mother.

Telegraph Avenue

I selected Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon because I enjoyed his other book, The Yiddish Policeman's Union.  This book is set in Oakland, California and centers around two couples.  The men co-own a record store called Brokeland Records which is on Telegraph Avenue.  The women have a midwifery business together.  The story has many twists and turns.  Michael Chabon writes with a talent that makes me stop to appreciate the beauty of his writing.  Lovely turns of word come during action packed parts of the story (as in the illegal unhitching of a expensive blimp owned by a pro-football player) and in the ordinary moments too.  The only thing I didn't like about the story was the over-use of the word mother--cker.  I know this word is part of the black vernacular and I wasn't really offended the first dozen times it was used.  In total I think it was used more than 150 times.  Aside from that, this was a very entertaining and well-written novel.

Peas

 

This is the advice that my neighbor gave me regarding the fox bothering my chickens word for word.  If you knew him you'd know I'm not making this up.  This is what he wrote in an email: As to the fox, try this.  Dig you a Fox Trap!  Based on your estimate of the size of your prey, dig a hole slightly larger than its length and width and four or more times its height.  Sprinkle some hardwood ashes into the pit.  Place dry, easily breakable sticks over it.  Only enough to support leaves and clippings to disguise the trap.  Use frozen (canned will do) peas around the firm edge.  Hide in a nearby cover.  When the fox comes around to take a pea, kick it in the ash hole.

Ordinary Grace

My book club read Ordinary Grace by William Kent Kruger, a Minnesota author. I wasn't too excited about reading this book because I knew he was a crime writer and I'm not a big fan of crime fiction.  But because it was a book club selection I went ahead and got the book.  I picked it up and started reading and loved it so much I could hardly put it down.   The story moved so fast and the writing was so exquisite at times I had a hard time going to sleep at night.  If you really want to know how good this book was I will tell you that I spent an extra five minutes on the stair climbing equipment at the gym (35 minutes instead of 30). Usually I'm anxious to get off that machine as soon as possible. All his books have been set in Minnesota. I suspect this story is set in New Ulm because a brewing company dominates the town but that isn't the name of the town he uses in the book.  The story is about a summer in the life of a 13 year old boy.  The boy is a preacher's kid and a middle child and somewhat of a juvenile delinquent except he has a kind heart.  Many things happen during his summer; a death, a murder, and a suicide.  I was sorry that I had to miss the book club meeting about this book because I heard they had a lively discussion and the moderator struggled to get a word in edgewise.. 

A Splendid Day

Yesterday Offspring #1 got hitched.  I bought a long dress for the occasion which was a good plan because when I bought it I didn't know I'd be falling through a deck and be sporting one very ugly leg injury.  The long dress was flattering and beautiful - a red carpet dress.  I enjoyed every minute in it.  I knew it was hard to zip up.  I didn't want to ask Offspring #1 to zip it so I thought I'd be smart and tie a shoe string to the zipper tab and pull it it myself like you can do with a wet suit.  Not only did that not work but I tied the knot so tight Offspring #1 had to spend 5 minutes cutting the string off the zipper.  Live and learn.  I borrowed a beautiful crystal necklace with matching earrings and a silver handbag from a friend at work.  The ceremony was at the Fort Snelling historic chapel.  And it was lovely, thoughtful, beautiful, and elegant.  Tears were shed because people were overwhelmed with emotion.  I got to walk my son down the aisle and I will always remember that walk because it was awesome to stand beside such a handsome and good man.  The ring bearer was cute and did pretty well coming down the aisle until too many camera phones appeared and he stopped.  A preplanned bribe positive reinforcement in the form of a Transformer toy was shown at the front row and he ran the rest of the way down the aisle, forgetting to give the ring pillow to the best man. The flower girl smiled and walked elegantly down the aisle.  Beautiful vows were spoken.  I was so overcome after Offspring #1 said his vows I slapped my father's leg in a "Did you hear how beautiful that was " kind of way.  I suppose I surprised him quite a bit.  I'll have to explain myself later.  The reception was a few miles away.  The appetizers were amazing.  I had a spinach and cheese thing in phyllo dough that was good.  I saw teriyaki chicken strips on tiny wooden stakes, taquitos, shrimp cocktails, and filled strawberries being handed out. When the bride and groom arrived there was a grand march.  The DJ lined us up to be announced.  We were instructed to proceed to the dance floor for a photo and go to our seat at the table. She lined us up.  Parents of the bride are first.  I was second.  Bride and groom are last.  As we stood there waiting I realized I was the only person coming in alone.  I had a short lonely moment there.  But when I walked in and they said my name, a table full of nephews and family members hollered out my name cheering for me and I remembered - I am not alone.  I have many relationships with people who love me.  I am actually quite rich with family and friends who are in my corner.  So my lonely moment disappeared instantly and I felt very fortunate.  I raised my arms up in victory. For dinner I had the vegetable Wellington. I had roasted vegetables inside a phyllo dough and served with a red sauce and rice.  It was so good.  For cake we had two options - vanilla with vanilla bean filling or chocolate with ganache and Baily's creme filling. I really enjoyed the chocolate cake.  Toasts were made.  For our song Offspring #1 and I chose "Simple Man" by Lynryd Skynryd.  The song was a good choice except for the long length of it.  The entire evening went very well and I am very grateful to the bride's family for hosting such a wonderful ceremony.  The entire day was more than I ever dreamed it could be.

MIL

Yesterday I posted a youtube of Herman's Hermits playing the Mother In Law song.  This song was on the first record I ever bought.  In case you don't know, a record is a black round piece of vinyl that plays music when a needle is laid on it and it is spun around at a rotational speed of 33 revolutions per minute.  I loved that record and must have played it hundreds of times.  I forgot the sentiment.  I plan to be a much better mother-in-law than the one in the song.

So Excited About Tomorrow

Tomorrow I will be a mother-in-law!

Looking at the Bright Side

My leg is healing from falling through the deck.   Every day the swelling goes down a little bit more.  I have been forced to slow down and take things easier.  As I sit outside soaking my leg in epsom salts I realize that I never just sit and enjoy my yard. I'm always planning, doing and going, going, going.  Just sitting and observing feels wonderful and interesting.  I watch the woodpeckers come to the peanut feeder.  I see a tiny white moth struggle through the grass (that needs cutting) for 10 minutes.  The pesky chipmunk comes right up to my feet.  The squirrels, so ever-present in the winter, are no where to be seen.  I think I saw a monarch.  The clouds float by and the wind moves the tree branches around.  A person could spend a lifetime studying the yard and not learn everything there is to know about it.

A Greedy Fox

A greedy red fox got one of my chickens on Saturday.  The fox must have been watching us because as soon as we left on an errand it nabbed a chicken.  After we were home and noticed the piles of feathers but before we could put the chickens in the coop the greedy fox tried to nab another chicken.  I yelled at the fox to put the chicken down and he did.  She hid in the tall grasses for a few hours but she is alive and thriving.  My chickens will stay in the coop for the next few weeks until this fox decides to move on.  I hope the chicken's death was swift, the poor thing.

Down

I have been feeling down, way down.  I have been feeling the effects of falling through my deck down about 6 feet.  I landed on my feet though.  If I was chubbier I wouldn't have fit between those 16 inch joists. I'd still be dangling there with my legs kicking. As my fall started my thoughts were all about denial.  This was not happening is all I could think as my fall happened. I wasn't badly hurt.  I have some bruises and scrapes.  My biggest problem is the bruise on my right shin that has swollen to grotesque proportions.  My right leg is bigger than my left leg from mid= thigh to toes.  I've been following the "RICE" instructions of rest, ice, compression and elevation except for the compression. I haven't done that.  I alternate between a bag of frozen strawberries and a bag of frozen broccoli. Being a couch potato has given me time to contemplate my carelessness.  I was working on replacing the deck boards in the hot sun on Sunday. I was hot and sweaty and probably needed to take  a break when I foolishly stood on the end of a board that tipped me down between the joists to the ground below.  I was lucky the board missed me when it landed.  This deck is a much bigger and slower job than I imagined.  I have a very important event on Friday at which I want to look and feel my best.  Lucky for me my dress is a long one and my bruise won't show. Gravity - she can be a bi-ch sometimes.

Chocolat

Say Chocolat like this - "sho-co-la."  Chocolat is a sensual novel much like it's name.  Joanne Harris wrote this story as the first of a series of three which I have been reading in backward order.  Now I am done with her series but not done with her.  Her writing is so good I think I will want to explore her other works.  Vianne Rochet is the main character - a single mother of Anouk and the owner of the new chocolate store in a small town in France.  Her antagonist is the village priest, Francis Reynaud.  He takes a great dislike to Vianne because she opens a chocolate store next to his church at the beginning of the Lenten season.  Reynaud tries to be good and dignified and helpful but he can't seem to shake his rigid, judgmental and snooty attitudes.  The story is about small town life where everybody knows your business which is both a blessing and a curse.  Joanne Harris is a great author and I loved her story.

I Am Committed

There comes a time in a project when you become committed.  Thinking about doing a project is not committed.  Planning a project is not committed.  Even shinning out the money for a project at the hardware store is not committed because you could return them.  On this deck resurfacing project I now feel committed because the old materials have been torn off.  Many thanks to my children for their hard work and assistance.

Happy Independence Day

Drama

Last night while the chickens were enjoying some freedom in the yard, one of them started squawking in a panicked manner.  I went outside to check it out and as soon as I did all the chickens quieted down.  Five of the six chickens gathered near the coop.  I looked around and didn't see anything.  A few minutes later Offspring #1 came home from his walk.  He heard the noise and saw some chicken feathers on my mowed path.  We went outside to investigate.  On the south side of the property on the path, near the windmill, was a big pile of chicken tail feathers.  Ten yards to the east was another pile of chicken feathers that were downier in nature.  A few white downy feathers were strewn towards the house.  The trail of feathers told a story.  Something had nabbed one of the Buff Orpingtons by the tail near the windmill.  The animal got a better hold of the chicken and dragged it towards the house.  I was sad to think of loosing one of my chickens but this is a risk I take when I allow them to roam.  Since the remaining chickens were nervous and staying by the coop we decided to put them away for the night even though there was another hour of sun left in the sky.  When the last chicken had been put to bed and all given fresh water we were about to go inside when around the corner of the north side of the house comes the last Buff Orpington.  I caught her and pulled her into my arms.  She smelled like blood.  We looked.  Most of her long tail feathers were missing and she had a square inch or so of bare skin back there but otherwise she seemed fine.  I didn't see any blood.  She acted fine too.  I gave her  three reassuring strokes with my hand.  I hope she interpreted them as reassuring but I really don't know.  Maybe she hates being petted.  I put her to bed with her sisters.  She looked fine this morning as well.  Who tried to nab my chicken?  I think it would have to be a dog or a fox.  A dog wouldn't have given up as easily when people appeared on the scene.  I think it was a fox. 

Emoo

Across the river from my house is a farm that has cows.  I assumed it was a dairy farm but I learned they raise cattle for beef. Sometimes I hear cows crying.  Now that I know the cows are beef cows I know they're not crying because they want to be milked.  The cows I hear crying are probably mother cows crying for their young who were taken away.  I've listened to a cow crying the last two days.  I can hear it mainly at dusk and dawn when other noises are less. Last night the cow cries were not as intense than the day before.  This cow sounds so sad.  It breaks my heart to hear her.

Close One!

I had a close call this morning.  Due to construction in Anoka I was on plan E as far as getting to work on my motorcycle.  So many of the roads I usually take are closed that I chose to drive down Ninth Avenue between Main Street and Coon Rapids Boulevard.  Ninth Avenue is a residential street with a few stop signs.  And there is construction on that road as well but I knew I could get through even though there is a sign posted that says "local traffic only."  As I turned off Main Street onto Ninth, there was a dump truck ahead of me.  I gave it lots of space.  As the dump truck crossed an intersection it slowed and stopped in the middle of the road. I pulled a little closer as I waited for it to proceed but not too close.  The dump truck just idled in the same position for about 30 seconds.  My eyes widened as I saw the lights come on that indicate he shifted into reverse.  Motorcycles don't have a reverse.  I started peddling my feet to move my bike backwards as fast as I could go.  The dump truck roared back toward me faster than I could peddle backwards.  I didn't hear any back up beeping sounds but that might have been because I was screaming so loud.  I was about to jump off it and let it lie in the road when I saw the dump truck was veering toward the curb.  He was parallel parking a dump truck.  How often do you see a dump truck parallel park? The truck driver's decision to crank his wheel is what saved me.  If he hadn't been turning toward the curb I would have been road kill.  I don't believe he ever saw me or heard my little Suzuki horn beeping constantly.  My heart was pounding and I owe another dollar to my swearing fund.  Lucky for me I was alert and saw those back up lights right away and took immediate evasive action.  Wow, that was a close one!

Big Ant Nest

We found an ant nest in my front yard sticking out the grass like a green, hairy carbuncle.  It's about 15 inches high and 18 inches in diameter.

And it's full of medium black ants.  So having a insect friendly yard is a good thing right?