Posts from the ‘Front Porch Musings’ category

Bear and me

Two is not three.

We should be three.

Bob is 5 minutes away but it seems like more sometimes.

Sometimes, I would like to just go and GET HIM HOME.

But.

All is going well, under the circumstances, for Bob.

And this challenging time for all of us will hopefully be just a memory soon.

Meanwhile.

Bear and me.

We have to live and work and walk and have treats.

We do.

This photo is from 8/17…last Saturday evening, from Bear’s and my evening walk.

Last weekend, there were people around the teepee and I didn’t realize that it was part of the campground until yesterday.

Last evening, after a very difficult day of worry over Bob (SILLY/STUPID…but there it is) and a full day of work and it was hot, etc., etc. – Bear and I went for our walk and I took the camera and hoped to see the rising moon and also to explore what this campground calls “the Nature Trail”.

Bear and I discovered that the “Nature Trail”, included the teepee and also that since there was no one else around…off leash it was, quiet and peaceful and watching the moon, enjoying the big sky and open views.

Bear and Me.

A visit with Mr. Bob!

No photos…BUT, I saw Mr. Bob…in hospital.

Bear and I made a run to Wal-Mart which was agony on my part as I am not a huge fan of Wal-Mart but it was a one-stop shopping choice that we could do early.

We proceeded to our river venue for a walk and then whizzed past the veterinary hospital and finding the “customer” part of the lot clear of vehicles we zipped in for a check on Mr. Bob.

The hospital vet met with me and said that Bob was cranky (NORMAL!!) but doing well. She said that he was eating a lot…in fact they needed more of his food :)! – go Mr. Bob!!!

She convinced me that it would be good for him to have a visit so we were set up in a room for some time together. Bob settled with me and we had a good snuggle, chin scratches and a long talk about things.

Dr. Scherr was about for an emergency surgery but he saw me and was waiting for the surgical dog to be prepped so we had a chance to talk briefly. He had reviewed Bob’s history and assured me that we had done exactly what he would have. He also explained a bit more about the procedure to fix things and told me that this particular surgery, while post-op 2-5 days can be tough…at day 7 the results are worth it.

I came away feeling better having seen and held Bob, having more info on the procedure and hearing Dr. Scherr’s confidence.

We await some test results due tomorrow (Monday) morning.

As always, these challenging life things bring a lot of other life issues into perspective.

A short time ago, I discovered Heather Lende‘s books and blog. This past week she wrote about her decision to be ‘present in the moment’ with her grandchildren. That has stuck with me this past week with the travelling, my birthday and the various responses to both. Being ‘present in the moment’ for Bob and for Bear have been so helpful in dealing with the other vagaries.

Bob, Bear and I – we are good.

I appreciate all who have communicated with me genuinely and positively – you have helped all of us and I constantly feel buoyed up by your thoughts and prayers.

Onward!!

Around Great Falls, Montana

No news is good news.

Bear and I went past the clinic twice and sent love and good vibes to the Bob-a-lu cat. We both miss him. Bear looks all around the motorhome whenever we return. I often think I hear Bob.

The clinic is an ER overnight and weekends and both times we passed the parking lot was fairly full so we did not stop. It is a tough call but my gut feeling is that it is harder for Bob to see me and me not take him with me, then to settle into the hospital routine.

I hate this.

So.

Bear and I had a walk on the River Walk along the Missouri River.

Above is the “great falls” – a little less than great nearing the end of summer.

The tourism link has a beautiful photo of the falls in Spring: Great Falls tourism site

Tired.

Hot.

Actually, residual hot. It was 89F outside, 71F in Wild Thing. But a Jeep ride and then a walk…Hot and tired dog.

Our spot is shady in the afternoon and all things considered, not a bad spot to be in.

Last night…birthday dinner was grilled cheese and mushrooms – good and hit the spot after the day but tonight…for day after birthday dinner: penne pasta with sauteed kale and mushrooms, fresh grated parmesan-reggiano and a side of local tomato.

Dessert was fresh pineapple with a few Flathead sweet cherries.

I think that will hold me until Sunday breakfast!

From the evening walk: Great Falls, Montana.

Scallion pancakes, morning walk

Sunday, I made these Chinese Scallion Pancakes for the first time. I made 1/2 the recipe to try it out. Then I made another 1/2 recipe to see how they kept – frozen and refrigerated.

This morning I made a double recipe and most of them made it into the freezer!

I woke up, rested, ready to go…at 4:45 a.m.

Bear and I had a quick down the driveway walk in the dark, then back inside and I started a pot of beans, the coffee, put my Dutch Oven in the oven to heat for crusty bread and then mixed and kneaded the dough for the pancakes.

The simple flour and water mix gets kneaded until smooth and then rests for 30 minutes.

The genius of this recipe – in my opinion! – is that the scallions, some salt and olive oil are brushed on the rolled out pancake. Then you roll the circle up like a cigar…roll it around itself like a snail, squash it and roll it into a circle once more which means that the onions and seasoning are inside the pancake.

I’m thinking of many different flavor combos that would be scrumptious using this same technique…herbs like chives or basil or oregano, some garlic and cumin. Maybe a slightly cheese-y version with some parmesan and smoked paprika.

The pancakes get lightly fried in a bit more olive oil so end up a little crispy, a littly chewy and full of flavor. The Woks of Life post also includes a garlic dipping sauce. And by the way, the The Woks of Life blog is not only a lot of fun, with some great recipes but they (it is the entire family writing the blog!) include some pages de-mystifying ingredients and utensils used in their Chinese recipes.

I’ve eaten the pancakes as snacks with the dipping sauce, as a “bread” with a Chinese chicken salad, and this morning with some goat cheese, beans and a drizzle of the dipping sauce. I like them!

As I was working in the kitchen, the sky lightened to the East. I love watching the range of colors as the sun works its way over the mountains of the Continental Divide.

One moment it was a deep blue and the next I was surprised to see fog. The temperature at just before 5 a.m. was 55, but it dropped to 49 as the sun rose – close enough to the morning dewpoint to make fog.

Bear and I took our full morning walk in the misty woods.

The yellow jackets had been buzzing the kitchen windows earlier, but as the fog dropped down, they apparently went back to their nests and we walked in foggy quiet.

Headed back toward the house, the sun found its way though the mist, hitting the house like a spotlight.

Scallion pancakes, morning walk: Tuesday.

Early evening on a Sunday

A thoroughly pleasant weekend was had.

It was coolish compared to the prior (prior to Friday) 10-12 days – today barely hit 80F before starting back down again.

The Yellow Jacket activity was a bit less, although not enough less to allow enjoyment of the front porch :( !

Bob is slightly less wobbly on this day 3 of medication resumption. We should find out tomorrow where and when we go next.

I did a small-medium clear-out of some items that have been on my list…some glassware and dishes – family stuff that I’ve packed and moved and packed and moved and packed and moved! – things taking up space that I want and need for other purposes. I kept the things that really matter to me and the rest I donated. I spoke to both my grandmothers (both in Heaven!) as I packed and thought about how and where… It was good and I am confident that all will go where it should.

I took my first film photos. As I was taking them and changing camera settings, it occurred to me that I should record the settings. I am so used to being able to see the settings with the digital output that I forgot this was not going to be available with the film camera. And I made some notes about how different this little camera feels. An interesting exercise.

I made Chinese scallion “pancakes”…more later but they will be a staple. They are somewhere between a tortilla and a spiced up naan. Bottom line: delicious! ( Scallion Pancake Recipe – if you can’t wait!)

I have been reading a blog, a first book: If you lived here, I’d know your name and am partly into the 2nd (Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs) by Heather Lende. The first book: As I read her essays, I am reminded of Jan Karon’s Mitford series and the peace, contentment and wisdom that come from reflection on the simple happenings of life. And, by the way, Heather had a “good dog Carl” whose passing is written of at the end of the first book. Like her, I am NOT resigned…but I have made peace (mostly) with my own Karl’s passing. And although our lives have many differences, like her, I am grateful for all that is my life.

We might, we just might…

Inside most of today…again.

It has been cooler and tomorrow we are to get a cold front and rain to continue through the weekend.

But, the Yellow Jackets still plague us and will continue until a killing freeze kills them off.

Wild Thing…

…she is off getting washed and waxed.

And when she returns, we just might load up and go.