by Judy Handley | Nov 5, 2020 | 2020 Life Logs |
2020 Life Logs, Day 309: Keeping Busy
Date: Thursday, November 5, 2020
Weather: Mostly Sunny and Warmer; High 65, Low 56 Degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, Falmouth, MA
My lifelong solution to stressful situations has always been to keep busy. So, that’s what I did today. Watching this election play out is enough to make anyone half crazy, but I avoided thinking about it today. First, I had to get up and get Shadow ready to go to the Vet to be neutered. When Mark and I were doing self-sufficient farming, I always hated it when baby lambs were born and a few weeks later we were supposed to lop off their little tails. Couldn’t do it. So, our lambs always had long tails. I have put off getting Shadow neutered for six months for the same reason. I just can’t stand the thought of putting him through this sort of thing. But finally I decided to proceed with Shadow. More on that coming up.
This is how my day proceeded. I dropped Shadow off at the Vet’s office and went to Heather and Jed’s to pick up my leaf blower. I returned home and worked off my nervous election and puppy surgery energy by mowing and bagging leaves and then using the leaf blower to clean up the area. I think I could have continued to clean up every leaf in the wooded area around my house, but it was time to go pick up Ollie after school and then pick up Shadow. Ollie and I went to Petco to try and buy a special inflatable collar for Shadow to keep him from licking his incision, but they had none. I should have thought of this sooner, but I had been told that Shadow would come home with a cone to take care of this. Then this afternoon, someone from the Vet’s office called to ask if I had a collar. I told her I thought they were providing this, but she then told me that here are other types of inflatable collars that some dogs prefer. I had no idea.
As we found out at Petco, evidently these collars are hard to find these days. But Ollie and I were able to buy a new toy for Shadow, a Yedi. I dropped Ollie off, picked up Shadow, and I have spent the evening holding Shadow without the cone on to keep him from licking the incision. When I couldn’t do this, I put on the cone. He really HATES it. He seems disoriented as he can’t see and just stands in the middle of the floor. We’ll figure this out or I will figure out how to make a more comfortable collar for him. The good news is that he is eating, drinking, and going to the bathroom normally. Hopefully he will heal quickly and we get back to normal. In the meantime, I am really going to miss my walking partner.
I’ll spend tomorrow either sitting and holding Shadow or putting that cone on him and going out to do more yard work. I really do have to keep myself busy so I don’t obsess over this election. I watched Trump’s press conference on Fox News tonight and it put me over the edge. I just cannot believe he is willing to trash our democracy through his outright lies about the election process in this country. What a devastating situation for this country and our precious democracy. No matter who wins this election, we have a hard road forward.
by Judy Handley | Nov 4, 2020 | 2020 Life Logs |
2020 Life Logs, Day 308: Walking, Walking, Eating, Walking
Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Weather: Mostly Sunny, Still Windy; High 55, Low 53 Degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, Falmouth, MA
Yes, waiting for the results of this election is driving me to walk, walk, eat, then walk again. Unlike many others, I actually went to bed at midnight last night. I had eaten all the chocolate and popcorn that I could tolerate. I am not normally a binge eater, but obviously the apprehension of waiting for the results of this election is driving me in that direction. In the name of health, today I directed my nervous energy to walking. I got up and checked my phone to see what had happened with the election. I learned that I had missed Biden’s update last night and Trump’s 2:30 am rant. Otherwise, things were pretty much where they were when I went to bed. I decided to leave it at that and not check back in until evening. I went for a walk with Shadow, came back and had my morning smoothie, and then went for a much longer walk with the Shad. By this time, it had warmed up a bit and the sun was shining, so when we got home I did a second coat of stain and sealant on the sandbox and outdoor redwood table. It has to be above 35 degrees for 24 hours after applying a coat and today was the first day since last week with a projected overnight temp out of the 30’s. I had a 2 pm ‘date’ with Jane Woodin to go for a walk along the water at Falmouth Heights Beach, so after lunch I headed into town. I stopped by Heather and Jed’s to put a load of laundry in and then headed to the beach to walk with Jane. We actually ended up heading inland to walk as it was quite windy along the water. But we still had a wonderful hour of conversation while walking together. I picked up Ollie after school and we picked up Jonah and went to the Skateboard Park.
By the time I got home, it was dark, but I took Shadow for another walk. We walked on the path through the woods behind the cottage and then headed out on the road. The fourth house up the street from my house has been empty since I moved here two years ago. Tonight as we passed that house I heard a man calling to me from across the street asking if I had heard about the big coyote. No. What big coyote? He explained that last night he had seen a very big coyote walking down the street and he suspects that it is living under the abandoned house. Great. That is Shadow’s favorite place to relieve himself. I thanked the man and as I walked away, he called after me telling me to be careful. I acknowledged and walked on and he called out again telling me that I really need to be careful. I am thankful that a neighbor that I have never met before would take the time to make sure I am aware of such things. About two months ago Shadow started barking during the evening for no apparent reason. Then I noticed the scat of some large animal in the woods behind my house, right next to my back steps, and in Shirley’s yard down by the water. I have a feeling that large animal is the big coyote. Every night before bedtime, I take Shadow out for a walk on the path in the woods beside the cottage, around the house, and sometimes down to the water by Shirley’s. I need to do that right now, but I think I’ll skip the walk on the path in the woods. If I come face to face with the big coyote, I would rather be in an open area where Shadow and I might be able to make a slow and careful retreat without tripping on one of the vines in the woods. Just writing about this is making me a little nervous. Maybe I need some popcorn before heading outside!
by Judy Handley | Nov 3, 2020 | 2020 Life Logs |
2020 Life Logs, Day 307: Election 2020
Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Weather: Mostly Sunny and Windy; High 47, Low 36 Degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, Falmouth, MA
I don’t know about you, but I agree with the Democratic slogan indicating that this election is represents a battle for winning back the soul of our nation. Whoever thought that on Election Day in the United States of America, fences would have to be put up around the White House and stores would have to be boarded up in some of our cities for fear of violence? Certainly not me. We are in a nation in deep need of a leader that can begin to bring us together. We are a nation in need of a great deal of reflection on some of our current election practices and a nation deeply in need of healing from racial strife and the coronavirus. I don’t see any of these things happening easily or quickly, no matter the results of this election. But if the status quo maintains, I don’t see any of it happening for a very long time, if at all. We have allowed ourselves to become divided. “United we stand” has lost its way.
We are probably not going to know the final results of this election tonight. Depending on how things go, it could take days or weeks to know the final outcome. In the meantime, there is a lot of apprehension. I wish I was one of those who can just ignore all of this until the final results are in. But I cannot. So. I will sit and watch, eat chocolate, and hope for the best. I did cave tonight and cooked a comfort food favorite of mine for dinner. I don’t eat wheat and limit carbs like pasta to a minimum, but I made chicken tetrazzini tonight. I haven’t made it for years, but making it and eating it tonight made me feel better.
My father was born on this day in 1903. Hayes Winfred Martin would be 117 years old today if he were still living. He died in 1973 when he was only 70 years old. But after all these years, I still always think of him on his birth date. His father was a big time Republican, but during the Great Depression, when my father was trying to provide for his young family, he became a die-hard Democrat. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was held in reverence. I came along much later than all of my other brothers and sisters. But even when I was very little, long after FDR was gone, listening to my father made me think FDR was some kind of god! It took me many years to figure out what those initials even stood for. If my dad were still alive, I know he would be hoping for a Biden-Harris victory tonight. In this we would stand united
by Judy Handley | Nov 2, 2020 | 2020 Life Logs |
2020 Life Logs, Day 306: Exhaustion
Date: Monday, November 2, 2020
Weather: Mostly Sunny and Windy; High 47, Low 36 Degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, Falmouth, MA
Many Americans are exhausted watching these pre-election days play out. I am one of those Americans. But I find that I simply cannot tear myself away. I just have to know what is happening, play by play. But today I got an unexpected break from that with an issue that needed immediate attention and was even more exhausting. I got up, did a few chores around the house, and prepared to take a shower. So far, so good. But before hopping into the shower, I went ‘potty’, flushed, and then heard an unwelcome gurgle. Uh-oh. The water was filling the toilet and not going down. I watched for a few seconds and then the water went down. Okay, I flushed again to make sure everything was working right, but the same thing happened. I thought if I kept flushing, maybe I could clear whatever was causing the problem. That was the wrong thing to do. On about the fifth flush, I heard some strange water noises, so I went down to the basement to check things out. There was water everywhere. Not a ton, but obviously every time I had flushed, all of that water was just going into the basement. But how? And why? And who should I call? Where exactly is my septic tank? That last question led me to Peter Baranowski. He and Karen lived in this cottage for a year and Peter has been doing basic maintenance for Karen’s Aunt Shirley next door since her husband died. Peter would know what I should do, so I called. Peter came right over and we started calling plumbers and septic tank maintenance businesses in the area. The first plumber didn’t answer, so I left a message. The septic business that deals with Shirley’s septic tank next door couldn’t come for a few days. They put us on the waiting list. Another place apologized and put us on their waiting list. More calls. On the seventh or eighth call, I got an answering machine message giving me the name and cell phone number of someone. I called the cell phone number and left a message. While Peter and I were waiting to hopefully hear back from someone, we decided to do our own investigation. I went to the basement while Peter flushed the toilet, and we found the water was coming out of the overflow pipe. Duh! We used a snake. Nothing. We then decided to try and solve the issue ourselves. Peter asked me if I had followed his advice when I moved in here and left the concrete block that he had placed over the spot where the septic tank is located. Indeed, I had. It is in the wooded area behind my house. While Peter went home to get some tools, I got a call back from one of the messages I had left and a man named Shawn said he could come to pump out the septic tank today. Hurray. I knew that wasn’t going to solve our problem, but it was moving in the right direction. He said he could be here in a couple of hours. In the meantime, Peter returned and raked the leaves away from the area surrounding that concrete block. Then we got our shovels and started digging. About a foot down we hit paydirt. It took awhile to dig all around the septic tank lid and get all of the dirt off the top. Once we swept the top off, Peter used a shovel to try to lift the solid concrete lid, almost three feet in diameter and two to three inches thick. Heavy. But he did it and we discovered that the tank was full, but not above the drain pipe coming in or the drain going out to the drain field. Hmmm. Obviously there was a blockage between the house and the septic tank. But that’s all we could do without a powerful snake to go into the drain pipe. Peter went home and I made more phone calls. The story goes on and on, but the bottom line is that Shawn from Falmouth Cesspool arrived, used the huge suction hose to try and clear the drain pipe from the house, and then emptied the septic tank. After he thought he had cleared the drain pipe, he had me go in the house and flush the toilet. It worked. We had no idea what was blocking the drain pipe, but whatever it was had been sucked into the tank of his pump out truck. If the blockage happens again, I’ll have to call in the ‘big guns’ with the electric snakes with cameras they use for diagnostic purposes. But for now ,things are working. Shawn has to return in two weeks to install a new lid that will make pump out easier in the future. And I still have not cleaned up all the water on the basement floor. I not only have to get rid of the water, but I have to disinfect everything. I was just too exhausted, probably more mentally than physically, to deal with that issue anymore today. I am just so thankful that I didn’t have to live for two or three days without running water in the cottage. Clean up can happen tomorrow. It was 4:30 pm before I had time to take Shadow for a walk and then get to today’s planned job—canning chicken mineral broth. I made the broth yesterday and left it in a huge pot on the back porch overnight as the temp was going to be in the 30’s. For once, I am glad the temp today stayed in the low 40’s so that the broth was fine while I dealt with the septic issue. Tonight I have been busy canning. Starting basement reorganization was also on my list for today. Now that will happen tomorrow by necessity.
Tonight, when it was time to write today’s thankful note on my thankful pumpkin, I had to decide between so many things. I am thankful that I have friends who are willing to drop whatever they are doing to come help me out. I am thankful for the people that answer the phones at some businesses who, when they cannot help you, are willing to spend extra time giving you names and numbers of others who might have the time to help. I am thankful that when a very busy Heather and Jed heard about my ‘issue’, they were willing to drop everything and come to my rescue. Not needed today, but so thoughtful.
I am thankful for a daughter-in-law who took the time to send more photos of their new puppy today. In a picture of Ziggy holding Lenny, Ziggy looked happier than I have ever seen him in a photo. He hates having his picture taken, but it didn’t look like he minded today. And in another photo, it is obvious that Coco will take good care of Lenny. I am thankful that they seem to have found the perfect way to fill the hole in their hearts left by the loss of Alfie. There was so much to be thankful for today, but in the end, what I wrote on my pumpkin was, “I am thankful for friends who I know have got my back.” Maybe it should have been that I am thankful for having so many things to be thankful about.
Now I am going to sit in front of the TV and catch up on the political news of the day while canning the last load of chicken broth. Exhaustion is going to be replaced by anxiety tomorrow as we await the first results from this very consequential election.
by Judy Handley | Nov 1, 2020 | 2020 Life Logs |
2020 Life Logs, Day 305: I am thankful for . . .
Date: Sunday, November 1, 2020
Weather: Mostly Cloudy; High 56, Low 36 Degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, Falmouth, MA
It is the first day of the month of thankfulness, so I started my day by writing my first thankful message on my thankful pumpkin. “I am thankful for . . . my grandchildren who keep me young at heart.” And my day was full of examples. Jonah had a soccer game today but only one parent could attend, so I didn’t get to see him play. But after the game, Jonah and Heather stopped by and I was taken aback a bit when I saw Jonah in his soccer uniform. I have seen him in soccer uniforms since he was three, but today he looked so grown up. Maybe it is the new uniform or maybe he is growing up. Let’s hope it was the uniform. They stopped by to pick up Ollie and Sam who had come over this morning to help me with yard work. We used my new leaf blower to corral the leaves and we used their lawn mower to mulch and bag them. I could do this work by myself, but working with them was so much more fun.
Then this afternoon I had a long Skype video conversation with Justin and family. Coco introduced me to Blanco Brown and his version of the “Git Up” song and choreographed dance. My challenge is to learn the dance and send her a video of the results. Not sure that will happen! Ziggy is working on programming three-dimensional computer games, which I think makes me feel old, not young. But I really enjoy listening to his excitement about his computer programming adventures. I got to see bits and pieces of their Halloween costumes—Justin a unicorn, Coco a vampire, and Ziggy a piggy bank. I didn’t get to see Jo in her costume of gold, but she did join Justin and the three of us had a great conversation. We talked about politics, and on a happier note, we talked about a puppy they were going to meet later in the afternoon. Losing Alfie last week was very traumatic for all. They have known for a while that Alfie’s time was limited, and in anticipation, Jo has been researching livestock guardian dogs that could help protect their animals, especially the goats, from wild dogs in the area. She has been looking at sheepdogs from Turkey and from Italy. And this week she found a male puppy Italian Maremma Sheepdog in the town next door. So, they were going to meet the puppy after our phone call. Jo sent lots of wonderful photos that show it was love at first sight. The puppy is a white fur ball, just as cute as it can be, and now the newest animal acquisition on Finca Maravilla. My favorite photo was one of Justin holding Lenny, the name they chose for new puppy. Justin has always loved animals and he looked particularly joyous holding Lenny. Congratulations to Justin, Jo, Ziggy, and Coco on the new member of their family.
by Judy Handley | Oct 31, 2020 | 2020 Life Logs |
2020 Life Logs, Day 304: Fall Fun Early; Lonely Halloween Night
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2020
Weather: Sunny and Cool; High 47, Low 33 Degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, Falmouth, MA
The Goldstones were going in all different directions this morning. Heather left early to take Sam to his rowing session near Hyannis. Jed and Jonah were headed to help a fellow Scout work on his Eagle Scout project.
Jed dropped Ollie off with me and we proceeded to have some Fall fun. I bought a leaf blower last Saturday just in time for a week of rainy weather. Ollie has offered to do yard work for me this fall, so he has been anxious to see how the leaf blower works. It is a battery-operated Ryobi, a little heavy, but very quiet for a leaf blower. Ollie had a great time learning to use it this morning. He worked until the battery needed to be charged and then came inside for some hot chocolate to do some Halloween artwork for me. I asked him to decorate three paper lunch bags–one for him, one for Sam, and one for Jonah—that we would then fill with candy. Because the family really wanted to go to a Crooked Coast concert this evening at the Falmouth Drive-in Theater, it was doubtful that they would get to go Trick or Treating. It is probably just as well because of Covid. But because they love Trick or Treating so much, I bought some of their favorite candy to fill the bags. Ollie also had to make a birthday card for his good friend Raylan whose party he was going to attend at 1 pm. It was time for lunch before we knew it and then I took him to Raylan’s house for an outdoor party with all the kids in their Halloween costumes. I came home and tried out the leaf blower. I have always hated them because they are so noisy. But this one is not and I found that it exceeded by expectations. Raking is really hard on my back, but I can use this leaf blower with no problem. Ollie was so cute this morning. He told me to watch him use the leaf blower and then when he is not here, I will know how to operate it. And I must say, he was a good teacher. That was basically my day.
On Halloween evening, I usually go to Heather and Jed’s to man the door while they go out Trick or Treating with the boys. Since I was not going to do that tonight, I am home alone. There are very few children in this neighborhood, and none dropped by. The cottage is hidden from the road by a wooded area and the driveway is long and dark. Since I have never met any of the families with children, coming down that driveway to the ‘unknown’ is probably a little too scary. Hopefully by this time next year, life will be a little closer to normal and Trick or Treating in small neighborhood ‘bubbles’ will be a safe activity. Then I can be the Halloween doorman at the Goldstones once again. Not sure how you spent your Halloween evening, but however, I hope it was a happy one. I can’t see that Halloween full moon quite yet as it is hidden by the trees, but I plan to enjoy it in about another hour. We won’t have another Halloween full moon for about nineteen years. And don’t forget to set back those clocks. If you are like me, you are not looking forward to a 4:30 pm twilight.
