Another weekend gone a bit awry

Thursday, the first of this year’s Meyer Lemons from Lemon Ladies (www.lemonladies.com) arrived at my house. Good grief! – they are beautiful and one as big as an orange. But more important, the flavor is superb and Karen, the proprietress of Lemon Ladies emailed me that they will only get better as the season progresses. Hoo-rah!

My first use of one of the Meyer’s was in this Meyer-Lemon Rosemary Sourdough boule. I am very much loving the sourdough: everything – maintaining the starter, using the starter, the flavor the starter imparts. Starter has taken my bread to another place.

So.

Weekend plans included making a Meyer Lemon marmalade, finishing the raking/pick up sticks after last Tuesday’s storm, some cooking for the upcoming week and a visit with Sara – Sara who house and Bob-sat some years ago.

Then…I finished the week light in hours and progress toward a work deadline lacking.

A Winter Storm was forecast for Tuesday.

And then a plumbing issue.

I cancelled with Sara, gathered supplies and fussed with the plumbing.

This morning (Sunday), I headed to town and came home with a “Black Friday” sale item: a 16 gallon wet vac. My 4 gallon wet vac just did not have it for keeping up with the plumbing issue.

This vac did, but I was still unable to clear things up and with a holiday approaching and the thought of kids and grandkids descending on grandparents’ homes and taxing the plumbing … I called Roto-Rooter: 24/7 clearing of clogged drains.

All was cleared quickly and after 24 hours of the motorhome being in service as a high-end outhouse, the house Summers was back to business as usual.

Gah.

In the whole scheme of things and with the world seemingly in chaos, my plumbing issue seems minor…unless you are me. I am grateful it is resolved.

I hope to have 3 mega-work days and then a four day weekend during which I will celebrate, as is my custom, with Bear and Auggie and a turkey dinner of my own making. Meanwhile, I will keep in prayer: the world, those that travel, those that have fear and anger.

My peace.

My joy.

On a weekend that went a bit awry.

Winter Storm

A high wind warning with mountain snow has been in the forecast for this afternoon through midday tomorrow.

I think they are correct.

It looked like the above, at midday today, along the road home. The wind was gusty and cold.

There is not a lot of snow forecast, but you never know. The snow thrower is ready.

I split wood and stocked the front porch wood stack and carry bag.

And I made bread! That is a loaf of Dark Rye Sourdough – hoo rah!

Extra hoo-rah because as I’ve been writing this post, the power went out.

But we have bread, battery powered candles, battery counter lights and all electronics are charged up, including the hotspot that gives me internet. And apparently the cell towers have power, because everything internet is working.

First Winter Storm: Winter 2015-2016.

**This post completed on battery power :)

***The power was out a bit over an hour at my house, but this morning’s news reports that 6500 are without power at 8:00 a.m. this morning. Lot of tree limbs are down in my yard and woods – a mess, but not near as bad as other spots.

Treasured moments

Years ago, when it was Zack (part Karelian) and Gus (my first cat, a tuxedo cat) … they were both near me as I spent some morning quiet time before starting my day. Gus snuggled against my chest and hugged my neck. Zack lay on the floor near my chair.

Then Karl and Gus continued the pattern and when Bob joined the family, Bob took a spot on the ottoman by my feet.

Bear has mostly moved from his living room chair sleep spot to the bed when Auggie and I get up. But, occasionally he will join Auggie and I in the kitchen and it is a treasured moment.

All of us together: quiet in the early morning. I do not take these moments for granted.

Shortly after taking these photos, I read the following in a murder mystery book: The Thames River Murders (Captain Lacey Regency Mystery series) by Ashley Gardner.

… one never anticipates where life will lead. I knew that tragedy could follow hard upon happiness, and so I treasured the moment… I hugged it to me, and let it go only with the greatest reluctance.

Treasured moments of quiet and joy.

In memory of the fuschia

I brought the fuschia home on May 2. They had a wonderful late Spring – Summer and early Fall on the front porch. I have never had outside baskets that lasted as long or were as beautiful as these from this Summer.

But, then it was time.

In memory of the fuschia.