Changing of the blankets.

I've been sleeping under an electric blanket, which no longer works. I carried it along in Nov. to Ohio for a visit to my son's family, knowing I'd be sleeping in the basement. It worked great, but when I got home it wouldn't heat up (which took a couple of days for me to figure out!)

So I've kept the bedroom warmer this winter, and used a second covering at times. But now it's definitely summer, so I threw the sweet blue blanket in the wash and pulled out an old friend. For the last 10 years I had a queen size bed, but it wouldn't fit into this bedroom in this apartment when I moved here 3 years ago. So I purchased a twin size. I wish I'd at least gone for a double, because I'd gladly exchange some floor space for more bed comfort!

I spent many hours knitting this lightweight blanket. I made one for several other relations way back when. I haven't been using this for many years. The reason had to do with my last cat's claws catching in it all the time. So it's been packed away all this time, and since the cat died about 2 years ago, I guess I could try it again.

 And, no, I didn't have a pattern, but kind of made it up as I went along! It was fun.

But strangely enough, it wasn't warm enough for me after 2 night...so I've put the nice clean blue blanket back on the bed. Perhaps I'll put this knit one on top when winter comes!

Today's quote:
“To become fully human means learning to turn my gratitude for being alive into some concrete common good. It means growing gentler toward human weakness. It means practicing forgiveness of my and everyone else’s hourly failures to live up to divine standards. It means learning to forget myself on a regular basis in order to attend to the other selves in my vicinity. It means living so that ‘I’m only human’ does not become an excuse for anything. It means receiving the human condition as blessing and not curse, in all its achingly frail and redemptive reality.”
Casandra Brene' Brown

The rest of the story of my outing Saturday

Kathy Phillips was one of my good friends that I met at the Tailgate Market on Saturday, (and I waved at about 4 others) and we chatted for a bit about our basil plants, and the huge day care center being constructed on the site.

 It's about square looking from this corner, with doors all opening on this side near the parking lot. We were standing about 10 feet higher than that ditch where the building is...but it will be at road height at the other end.

There is a great need for Day Care in Black Mountain. It will be interesting to see how this building is finished.

My basil waiting for some dirt (soil)...Kathy offered me some from her big bag of potting soil. I will think about whether I need a whole bag myself first.

Today's quote:
“Worrying about scarcity is our culture’s version of post-traumatic stress. It happens when we’ve been through too much, and rather than coming together to heal (which requires vulnerability) we’re angry and scared and at each other’s throats.”
Casandra Brene' Brown

Anyone noticed the anger being expressed by those who don't want to wear masks? I still haven't seen it in the mask-wearers...but they are angry about police killing black men. Always something to be angry about.

On the problems between differences (in America)

I'm missed a couple of Sepia Saturdays...sorry about that. I'll be reading what you all composed.  In case you missed it (easy to do) I had a heart attack a week or so ago, and spent 5 days in the hospital. Now I've been home a week, and am slowly getting back into some kind of routine. Being alive still is the name of my game. I don't seem to have many physical limitations, beyond low stamina.

Now let's see what SS has to make me dig into archives to share...

Bread and Roses 1912-2012

6 hrs · 

On May 28, 1963, the Woolworth sit-in took place in Jackson, MS. "This was the most violently attacked sit-in during the 1960s. A huge mob gathered, with open police support while the three of us sat there for three hours. I was attacked with fists, brass knuckles, and the broken portions of glass sugar containers, and was burned with cigarettes." -- John Salter, seated in photo with Joan Trumpauer Mulholland and Anne Moody (author of Coming of Age in Mississippi). Photo: Fred Blackwell

The ongoing racism that is flashing now in Mineapolis with the recent police-caused death of George Floyd...it just continues. It's called racism.

But it's part of the hateful attitude that is separating people from each other, which focuses on differences and then is fed by determined people who want to feel better about their identity by blaming any problems they may have on a different kind of people.

I kid you not. It's not just between races. It's between those who have more and those who have less.  Lack of tolerance exists between neighborhoods, or clubs, or especially sporting teams and rival schools. It represents the differences in political parties, as well as those with different ancestral roots.  It's also the basis for many wars between different political divisions called countries. These are the invisible areas that create borders along the ground, which are sometimes fenced off, and sometimes just invisible no-man's-land.

Being angry, and unhappy, and then having these emotions spread into daily life...into violence. An awful situation. What is fair and legal is pushed with that anger into breaking the law.

Only love defeats hate (Dr. Martin Luther King.) Think for a moment of someone you disagree with completely, maybe someone who is powerful and hateful themselves.  And then think of how you might someday be able to forgive that person/persons. This is the challenge of love. It takes imagination for me to even consider someday finding forgiveness for the awful hateful people in our lives today.

Here's a link to a great article on racism in America today, published May 28, 2020. 

"They Too Are America" by Karen Leslie Hernandez 

The daily TV news is focusing on the violence and what they consider worthy of attention, not the many leaders who are working to find justice and a peaceful answer to the situation of George Floyd's death at the hands of a white policeman.

And I'm sharing my post back to Sepia Saturday this week!

How about a quote:

“Spirituality is recognizing and celebrating that we are all inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us, and that our connection to that power and to one another is grounded in love and compassion. Practicing spirituality brings a sense of perspective, meaning and purpose to our lives.”
Brene' Brown

morning notes

Musings in the morning...
once a week, I gear up right after waking, and combine all my little trash bags around the place into one big one, and smash all the cardboard boxes flat, then take them to the corner of the building where a collecting corral has a bunch of trash bins. There's only one that's bear-proof, which we use for kitchen garbage during the week, but lots that are available to use only on trash pick-up day. This works most of the time.

I was making coffee next...feed the fish...then read my friend's blogs, and comments...both making and just reading what folks say about mine. I'm down to keeping 2, and nobody ever reads the family tree one. It's mainly just a historic storage library about the ancestors.

And this one, I usually have recent photos of things around my life. Plants, animals, and the natural scenes I see. They have become much more limited with less outings in daily doings.

It usually takes an hour - sometimes more - to catch up with everyone I follow. I don't know how many there are now. Lots. And about every week I add another one that made an interesting comment on someone else's blog. I don't know if everyone does that, but as some folks just stop blogging, that's given me some new ones to get to know.

Today has freeze warnings for tonight (it's May 8, Friday). All the plants are cozy inside except the gardenia. It will be given a cover, though it's tucked under the little porch roof also, next to the building.  It's survived several frosts that way.

Today's plans? I don't think I'm going out. I talked with 2 of my buddies yesterday, and texted the other one...so I'll probably just do the texting check-in today. Just do some things around the house, oh, maybe go to laundromat.

So, sipping my coffee, reading other's blogs, I've taken out trash and used the first 45 minutes of my day. I choose to postpone the blogs which are most thoughtful until later, preferring lighter reading first. I used to read comics first, but have given up that 20 minute pursuit for more - what shall we say - realistic communication with real people. And I often get some laughs.

Then there are the rest of the daily things...nebulizer treatments, shower and dress, eat something, take blood pressure, take my pills, brush hair and teeth...this usually takes till noon when I awake around 7-8 am. If I sleep in till 9, lunch is sometimes at 2. Oh well, this is retirement.

Today's Quote:

“The universe is not short on wake-up calls. We’re just quick to hit the snooze button.”

Casandra Brene' Brown

Surprise sale of a mug!

 I was pleased to have another local Black Mountain potter know that I'd made the mug which a friend had chipped. It has B. Rogers on the bottom.

And in case you don't yet know, potters are a very friendly bunch. There may be a low level of competition, but generally we know that a customer will go for one person's designs rather than another, and it's all good. We often send people to another potter, which is what Sarah Vekasi did for me, since she knew I'd made that mug. And I had kept one back to remember all the work of hand painting those glazes (3 coats). I contacted this new person, and even became her friend on FaceBook. And we met and exchanged mug and money on the hood of her car, while wearing masks and social distancing, and both went home happy.

Incidentally I gave Sarah some popsicles as a tip, that's what she wanted. And I'm happy to show you her beautiful mugs too!

Sarah hand throws and glazes her mugs, uses her own decals of dogwood, and writes a meaningful word on each mug. Facebook has her listed as Sunshine Pottery, in case you wish to see more of her work.

Today's quote:
You cannot shame or belittle people into changing their behaviors.

Casandra Brene' Brown

Happy Mother's Day

My mother around 6 years old, and her mother (my grandmother Mozelle Munhall)...around 1924.  Yes, my mother kept her photos in one of those black paper albums, but decided to be creative with how she framed most of them.

My mother as a young woman.

My mother and my other grandmother (Ada Swasey Rogers), my dad's mother.  Taken about the time that my dad and mother got married (and lived in his parent's house in 1939. Both the grandparents' houses were similar in San Antonio, Texas.

 My oldest son Marty, when he was 2-3 years old. (I gave him the album with all his baby photos)

Marty preparing for his baby brother, Russ, to share Marty's 4th Christmas, both stockings made by my sis, Mary.

August, 1967, there's baby Russ being considered by big brother Marty.

A scanned Polaroid photo of me holding son number three, Tai, when visiting my parents for Christmas, 1979.

Below is my sister, Mary, after giving birth to her daughter, Lisa, in 1971.

Today' quote:

Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.

Casandra Brene' Brown

Young men in suits

A couple of young men, dressed up in suits (see the end of post...for Sepia Saturday this week.)

So this is my sepia photo for this week. My father is standing between his mother and father. I think they probably are dressed for church, thus the white summer shoes and stockings on my grandmother. Dad wore a shirt and tie every day of his working life. So did Poppy.  This was in our back yard in Dallas, TX in 1942.

In my life, my sons aren't required to dress up in suits. Except for the occasion of weddings.  When my oldest got married April 22, 2019, we all were dressed up!

That's not quite long enough ago to merit a Sepia Saturday post.  But you go with what you have, right?

Russ (best man) and groom, my son Marty.  Marty's coat of velvet with embroidered swags on the left side...and a nice satin vest, a bit of his wilder nature coming out for this, his second wedding.  I think this once would have been called a smoking jacket. For work he wears a polo shirt with his employer's logo on the sleeve.

Myself and my son Russ. I think Russ started work as a consultant wearing suits, but has now gone more casual with polo shirts with a collar, and left the necktie behind. Maybe not when he makes presentations. I'll have to ask him.

My son, Tai on left, having fun telling his half-brother Russ an emotional story.  Apparently Russ liked hearing about it. Tai is now working at a high school helping at-risk students move toward attending college. I don't think he would wear that new suit very much...but he's set for weddings now!


And the Sepia Saturday prompt shows 2 very young men dressed in their suits...I do wonder what the occasion might have been, something an Armenian culture would promote.

Today's Quote:

“One of the greatest barriers to connection is the cultural importance we place on ‘going it alone.’ Somehow we’ve come to equate success with not needing anyone. Many of us are willing to extend a helping hand, but we’re very reluctant to reach out for help when we need it ourselves. It’s as if we’ve divided the world into ‘those who offer help’ and ‘those who need help.’ The truth is that we are both.”

Casandra Brene' Brown

Repotting on the porch...

When I started, lots of sad little plants that spent the winter inside...but the new "organic" bag of dirt has been added to their new placements...with a bit of the old.  I know that may mean any diseases might be carried forward, but hey, the dirt in empty pots was outside freezing all winter, so maybe that killed off any organisms. At least that's what I hope.

 Rosemary is much happier in the bigger pot.

 Lavender is happy to help the fairy in their new location.

 And the 3 big stems of Kalancho have been divided to share pots with 3 coleus plants.

 The geranium is peeking around the post, now in a hanging pot.

I just added new soil to the gardenia in the big pot, and the last 2 coleus are in a nice big pot.

But I still have the succulents to do...and the orchids. A gardeners life is never done.

And now (Wed. May 6) there are going to be nights with possible frost, and even a freeze expected. So I just hauled everyone back inside again. Good exercise. They've had a few days of sunhine and even up to 80 degrees. Such is spring in Western North Carolina.

Today's Quote:

Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.
Casandra Brene' Brown

For the birds

 Yes, by the color you can tell, though my phone camera can't exactly focus on a Cardinal that far away.

The dogwood has just about lost all it's blooms, while the maples are decking themselves out in leaves as well.

 There's Big Windy (I think,) with lots of green on it's slopes.

And my first hummingbird on the feeder.



Today's quote:

Spirituality is recognizing and celebrating that we are all inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us, and that our connection to that power and to one another is grounded in love and compassion. Practicing spirituality brings a sense of perspective, meaning and purpose to our lives.
Casandra Brene' Brown,

Indoor plants

This orchid doesn't know when to quit.  Yes, still blooming. I admit to thinking it really wants a bigger pot...that root is reaching for some nutrition...just going right over the top of the little pot. But I can't make a bigger orchid pot without the studio. So I'll be putting it into another pot when something moves up to a bigger one.  Shifting pots. I even have some old mugs that aren't used for drinking out of any more.

 One of the African Violets on the kitchen windowsill is in bloom!

 The Kalancho in the bedroom has been blooming for months also. I've now put up my lacy summer curtains in the bedroom. And the Kalancho has just been taken outside and divided into 3 more planters. (More on that later!)

 And another violet is bursting with huge leaves.

Quote for today:

We cannot selectively numb emotions, when we numb the painful emotions, we also numb the positive emotions.

Casandra Brene' Brown

Mom's cornbread

 I cooked it in my large skillet...rather than a square 9 inch pan. I just haven't got one that size.

 so it was finished in 20 minutes rather than the 40 my mother's recipe called for.

It was pretty darn good, but very thin for my favorite way of eating it. I would split it in half and spread butter on it, then toast it till it was warm again, then drizzle honey on it. It tasted great that way...but I think I prefer less corn meal these days...it was kind of gritty.

Mom's Cornbread:
Flour - 1C
Bk Pwdr - 3-1/2 t
Salt - 1T
Sugar - 3 T
Corn meal 1 c yellow
Egg, slightly btn - 1
Milk - 1 C
Shortening/butter 1/4 C melted

Sift flour, add dry ingredients, sift again, add cornmeal, mix.
Combine egg, milk and melted shortening, cooled.  our into flour mixture and stir just enough to moisten dry ingredients, no't beat.
Turn into greased sq. pan adn bake 425 degrees 40 min. - cut into sqs. serve hot!

Quote for today:

Faith is a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty.

Casandra Brene' Brown

Exciting times

I think whatever is going to happen in the next few months will indeed show the better side of humanity. And possibly the worst side as well.  After all, the Yin/Yang, Tai Chi symbol shows how right in the heart of the biggest area of light is the tiny beginning of darkness, and in the heart of darkness is the little glimmer of light.

 Yes, I brought home a new geranium...with lots of buds on it. Flowers are for sale at our nursery in Black Mountain, NC. And I bought some potting soil too.

 These little coleus (colei?) will need to be transplanted in the next week!

 I can barely say the name of this new hanging plant... a lot of different colors.

And just look what's happening on the rose bushes! These weren't trimmed back in the winter, but it doesn't seem to bother them at all.

I don't like the way red (and yellow also) just blasts away in digital photos.

Today's Quote:

1. “The dark does not destroy the light; it defines it. It’s our fear of the dark that casts our joy into the shadows.”

2. “Cruelty is easy, cheap and rampant.”

quotes from Casandra Brene' Brown, I'll bring some more soon.