Yipes! It's been more than a week since I wrote, "Police Blotter, tomorrow..." at the end of a rather mundane week. Since then, SO MUCH has been going on, that I might have to go under hypnosis to remember it, all. Lucky for you, it will probably mean a far more abbreviated account than I might have written had I kept up in real time. But, not today. We've just, in the last 90 minutes, returned from a quick, two-day trip to SoCal to see family for some Christmas cheer. HOWEVER, over the next few days, --HA!--hold on, because we'll touch on stuff, like, Barbary apes, oxygen deprivation, drinking goat's blood, and the new hat I knit (oooh)!
For now, I'll just say that, though I can't quite comprehend it (again), another whole other year has whooshed by, leaving my head spinning like a top! There've been a few changes (like, moving, here, to Grass Valley, for example), some adventure, some highs and some lows, but, on the whole, we're both quite happy to have come through another cycle of seasons in good health! 
As usual, I had the highest intentions of sending Christmas cards out there, especially to those who don't know where we've landed, yet. But, right on schedule, I didn't quite get to it. Maybe in January. So, I'll just post this photo of the four of us, taken on Christmas, proving that we did actually spend the holiday together, after having been scattered about the globe until just the previous day.
So, after I've done my usual wallow in the Rose Parade coverage, tomorrow (in high def, this year!), I'll start to catch up a bit (Police blotter highlights, included...). Happy New Year!
I haven't gotten to any writing, this week, for some reason. There's plenty of mundane material to write about, for sure. The odd-looking frost I discovered on my morning walk, for example. It was 26 degrees, and all sparkly, with a strange ice formation all over the ground. The top layer of dirt or leaves, was pushed up off the base layer by filaments of ice one to three inches high. If it happens tomorrow, I'll try to get a photo.
Or, there's the studio, which is about 90% put together, now. It's in a state of suspended animation, however, until after New Years.
Did some Christmas shopping. I'm the worst. Stores like to gobble me up. I go in, but I can't get out. Then I get all forlorn and forget my name.
Baked some quick breads. Banana blueberry. Chocolate date. Caramel apple. They all caved in on top. Delicious, but not exactly gift material. I used to make hundreds of 'em. Lost the magic, somewhere...
Yesterday, I drove to Fresno and back (230 miles, 3 1/2 hours each way). I like the drive. I spent a really nice afternoon with Mom, with Terry joining us a few hours later for traditional Christmas pizza. For some unfathomable reason, California Pizza Kitchen has taken the Pear Gorgonzola pizza off the menu! What?!! And I took my camera, but never got any photos of us. You'd be SO WRONG, if you thought it was because my sister looked way cuter than me and that Mom had a strange hat on.
The big news, is that Dylan wrote us a short email, yesterday. Here it is:
mambo vipi! having to switch to swahili nowadays, so there you go...things are going great here, but I am ready to come home...sorry to make you guys drive all the way out to SFO to get me, but as of now I am scheduled in on British airways flight BA0285 from heathrow at 1:15 on 24 december...looking forard to seeing you and sharing my stories and photos...see you soon - dylan
Rachel hasn't yet made it from New York to San Francisco, so she's now planning to get in to SFO a couple of hours before Dylan. So cool! We'll have such a fun time catching up! We'll get those pinwheel eyes from looking at so many photos!
Police Blotter, tomorrow.
It wouldn't surprise anyone to find out that I have (strong) opinions about Christmas tree ornaments. Who even writes about their Christmas tree or how they decorate them? I do. I finished arranging the festive elements of our tree, this weekend. After hanging the lights and cranberry beads, I brought out the motley assortment of raggedy cardboard boxes--all sizes, some, old and mangled with flaps, others, also old, but the fancier gift kind with printed pictures on top, or clear plastic lids. They don't stack, so well, and I've bought sturdier, uniform plastic bins (that I might even label) to use when I pack them away, this year. Hm. We'll see if I can part with the familiar well-worn boxes, most of which hide completely mysterious contents until opened (Wow! The paper stars! I FORGOT about those!)
As I've suggested, not any old ornament makes it onto the Tree, but it's not so easy to give the criteria. It's one of those, "I-know-them-when-I-see-them" kinds of things. Ethnic is good. Metallic or glass balls, not so much. Natural materials, good, but we have some plastic ones, too. No Santas or snowmen. But lots of stars and bells and angels. And animals. Each year, I really enjoy hanging the jute stars and elephants from Bangladesh that I ordered from a craft cooperative, years ago. I've got a bunch of sisal angels from the same place, I think. There are painted tin ornaments and God's eyes from Mexico, and a pandau cube bought from Vietnamese immigrants. Straw ones (Mexican and Scandinavian) and wooden snowflakes with red accents (from a Swedish gift shop?). I love natural wood with a bit of red! 
There's a set of tiny, elaborately carved wooden angels that a friend brought back from Germany. Silk bells from who-knows-where in Asia (Cost Plus?) and a Native American "hand" ornament we bought in Utah--it's an important symbol for something I can't remember, no doubt. We pick them up as we travel, like I found some other wooden ones in Germany, this year, but I'm certainly not above grabbing one that catches my eye from Target. Many have been gifts, like the aforementioned German angels. Of course, we've had too many, for years, now, but it doesn't matter. We really need two trees...
Aside from these, there are the one's the kids and I have made. Quilted, batik angels and gingerbread men. Dough birds. One year, when the three of us were making dough ornaments, Rachel and I made the usual angels and such, while Dylan spent the entire time on one, beautifully-rendered "Cult" (the heavy metal band) logo. It didn't make the cut to be on the actual Christmas tree (it was big and heavy, for one thing--and, really, it was the "Cult"), but it did get hung on his wall, above the closet. Over time, the varnish became like Superglue, and, when we tried to pry it off the wall as we packed up to move (he was out of college, by then), we had to chisel it off in many pieces. Too bad. 
I also put up certain, um, tackier, ornaments, that wouldn't, in and of themselves, qualify for a branch to hang on. But, somehow, though I don't remember where they even came from, they get to stay because the kids (usually Dylan)will sometimes check for them. Two examples would be: the strange, beaded "raspberry" ornament, or the tiny little owl-with-a-few-real-feathers that I used to hide on the tree, every year, for Dylan to find. I had to glue one teensy eye back on, this year. Rachel's commemorative volleyball ornaments are up there, too, though they've sort of migrated to the back of the tree. The Grand Ol' Opry ornament she brought back from Nashville, however, didn't get the nod. Perhaps on her own tree, someday...
I have a terrible memory. Everybody knows it. If I ever develop Alzheimer's, it will be quite advanced before anyone will notice the difference. But hanging each ornament on the tree--and I'm sure this is the same for most everyone else--is like a little excursion back in time. Except that, well, some pieces have already lost their "links". I know they had meanings, but I just can't remember what they are. And, I must say, there are some that might have specific sentimental value (even if I remember what it is) that doesn't quite overcome the overall deficits of the ornament, itself. The Santa bowing down at the manger, for one. Sorry. It stays in the box. Like I said, no Santas. I don't really know why some years, I hang the little green-bead-wreath-with-the-bells, but some years I don't. This year, it would be "no".
Anyway, it's beautiful! It's a crazy, colorful, giant, glowing tree that we get to keep inside our house, for a little while. How cool is that?! It makes me happy to look at it! And it's a big part of the backdrop for a time of year that we love and look forward to. Now, where could I put just one more...?
If you want to bask in some serious Christmas Quaint, you could go to Disneyland, or, and I would recommend this next option highly, come on up to Nevada City for Victorian Christmas. Folks come up by the busloads (really. We've seen the buses) to stroll up and down the main streets, the buildings of which are all outlined in white lights. The shops are brightly decorated inside, as well, and there are little canopies in the streets, under which people in full Victorian garb sell fancy soaps. Well, they sell other things, as well, like food, hot chocolate, jewelry and candles.
But, it's the, apparently, infinite variety of fancy soaps on the tables that always gets me, at these affairs. Who buys all this soap? Do they teach it in the schools, here? The thing is, the actual shops in the actual buildings are also selling fancy soaps. Nevada County seems to be all about the fancy soap industry, as if we have the international corner on that commodity. In the summer, they hold the exact same street events, without the Victorian clothes, and sell soaps. At the county fair, more soaps. Craft fairs and festivals and growers markets--fancy soaps. Where does it all go? How many cupboards of fancy soap do you keep stocked?
Sorry about the soap thing. I just don't get it. But, aside from that, cuteness oozes in the streets. Little kids singing and playing the violin (badly) but looking so precious (and cold); carolers in, yes, Victorian clothing (which looks so nice and toasty warm in 28 degree weather); harpists; a Salvation Army brass quartet, and a woman who walks around dressed as a Christmas tree (a long-standing tradition, it seems).
We stopped into the Methodist church, where there was a very good male chorus singing, among other old favorites, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch". The streets are packed with folks of all ages, munching kettle corn (another staple at these events) and drinking hot chocolate. Hardly ever buying soap.
We know that, in the harsh light of reality, it's all about the downtown merchants attracting more shoppers, especially tourists (did I mention the buses?). But we like to go. We went to the summer ones for both towns. We're going to these Christmas events for both towns. 
Grass Valley downtown hosts an almost identical "Cornish Christmas" (you could get by with the same costumes, but there's no Christmas Tree Lady). Nevada City is Wednesday nights; Grass Valley is Friday evenings. It's festive and fun. The music is (mostly) good (the S.A.Brass Band needs a bit of work), and everyone is in a great mood. It's chilly and festive and, well, clean...
In late, breaking news, I got the cranberry bead garlands put up on the tree. I've been collecting them for years. Just the dark red, wooden kind. They're not so easy to find. I had just enough! So, you can relax about that, now.
And the fun never stops! Here are a couple of pics of the frost on the oak leaves and manzanita bushes! 
And more mushroom photography! Actually, I love the frost. So sparkly. And the mushrooms. There was a yearly workshop last Friday night and all day Saturday in mushroom hunting that I didn't have time to attend. They found 150 kinds in the woods not far from here, last year! I'm SO going, next time! 
Rachel's going through reentry from her European journey. She has one of her signature nasty colds, for one thing. She's staying with friends, in Boston, at the moment. And, won't have any solid idea of where to put down roots until spring, when she figures out where she'll be going to school. So, in a way, she'll still be a ramblin' rose, for awhile, yet, jumping around from place to place. Much of the winter will find her in California, I think. Hey, and if you haven't checked out her blog, in a while, she's updated her travel entries. So cool!
I've been having a bit of a bother with the camera, lately, so I haven't had the pics to post. Some kind of "memory card error" that doesn't seem to have a fix. It's so random and frustrating. Oddly, it's also the perfect description of how my brain works. Anyway, the camera's behaving, now, again, for no apparent reason...
...so I took a picture of our Christmas tree! Finding a tree is very near the bottom of "Tom's List of Barely Tolerable Ways to Spend Time". Thus, it has always been. For him, as December approaches, it's a dreaded black cloud of a chore looming ahead, like looking forward to dental work, shopping for underwear, or changing the wiper blades (The Tree Search still rates a little higher than actually decorating the tree, however--more, tomorrow). Therefore, it was merciful that we found our Tree in the first lot we visited, Sunday afternoon. Whoopee!! Our record time for buying a tree, though, occurred several Decembers ago. We drove to Evergreen Nursery (5 min.away). Found a tree in 5 minutes flat. Paid. Drove home. All in less than half an hour !! Incredible! Other years, it's been more like a long, slow tooth extraction to find the Right Tree. Lot-hopping all over town. Looking at each tree trucked in from Oregon AND Washington. Well, not quite. We only like noble firs. No plantations dougs, for us (too thick! You have to PUSH the decs in, on those trees! No hooks required--they don't dangle!). No grands or scotch pines, or FLOCKED (In San Diego??? C'mon!).
Here, in Nevada County, as in other areas, they list three kinds of tree lots: those for "cut" trees, those for "cut your own" trees, and those for living trees. I hadn't done much of a scouting job ahead of time, so we just opted for the already cut trees. The living trees might be too heavy to bring in, but I'd like to check out the tree farms, next time. In every other circumstance, the thought of actually cutting a tree down (especially for such a transient purpose), would be horrifying! It's a cultural blind spot. I have to look at it as a different kind of "crop", like broccoli (which look like little trees, after all!).
I love our Christmas tree! I love the lights. We ONLY use white mini lights. Though, this year, they were pushing the new LED kind, to save energy. Which we will buy, of course. But not this year, since they're kinda pricey to buy all at once. We'll need a lot of them. On past trees of 8-9 feet, I've used up to 1200 lights. But, I'm looking forward to making the switch over, because, the little LEDs (while not quite so bright) NEVER BURN OUT!!! Hallelujah! I knew it could be done! I cannot even tell you about the frustration I've suffered, over the years, due to half a string going dark in the middle of the tree--or, worse, starting to BLINK (oh, no!)--and having to find THE flaky bulb! Where's the National Bureau of Standards? What about the Interstate Commerce Commission? Somebody DO something! Somebody finally did. For a price, of course.
Whoa! It turns out that we almost couldn't lift the tree and maneuver it into the house, it's so heavy! And we had forgotten about the ceiling fan overhead, so it's just a bit off-center. And it's not a perfect shape, but it has character, and we like it! It usually takes five, or so, hours to get the lights on. This year,I put between 1600 and 1700 lights on the 10-footer. I had to add 1 string of 100, after I thought I was finished, because 1/2 a string, in the middle of the tree WENT OUT!!! AARGH!! It looked like the dark part of a city in a power failure. So, I just plugged another set into the strip and threw some more in there to patch it (rather than try to find the little bad bulb) but now, that part is a little more dense than the rest. Ah, well.
Next, I'll add the cranberry bead garlands. Tonight. Then, I hope, by, uh, Christmas, all the decorations will be in place. More about that, later...
We received an email from Dylan, this morning! Here it is: ... we just got back into arusha from the 'bush' essentially, where we have been living the past two months and head to Zanzibar tomorrow morning... there is much to report and not time to get into it right now, but everything is fine here, we're used to this place and everyone is healthy and happy... its been fun and looks to be alot more fun for my remaining two weeks or so... I have the zanzibar trip followed by a week hike up kilimanjaro... its bittersweet as we I will be parting with many people that I have been in intimate contact for a while now...the locals here are really great, and I spend literally all my time with a particular girl and we have only a week together left so were going to make the most of it...after that it's going to be sad, but that only means we've had an amazing time... tanzania is a great place, I am happy to be here...I am ready to come home and move on with life, but leaving people you care about and a place that has been good to you is never easy... I look forward to seeing everyone and tell them hi and that I am totally fine... its easy here, no worries, but very interesting and I cant wait to share the stories... more soon, bye for now - dylan
Here's a link to the program he's been working with: http://www.greenforce.org/destinations/tanzania/10_week_project/
And, this page gives descriptions of the projects, week by week, and some photos of the accommodations, etc.:http://www.greenforce.org/destinations/tanzania/10_week_project/field_updates/index.php
I think I may have posted these, before, but just in case some of you haven't seen them, they bear repeating. So, interesting! We're going to hear such great stories this Christmas!
Since the last post...
We chatted with Rachel for quite awhile, Sunday, from Dublin. Another beautiful city, where she's making, yes, even more friends! Her brain is enjoying signage in English, once again, though the Irish brogue can sometimes be just a bit obtuse to American ears. She'll be there for a couple more days, then fly to Boston (Wed.), to stay with friends. More friends lure her to New York, after that. Finally, just before Christmas, she'll head out west to San Francisco (you guessed it--more friends), and we'll hook up with her about the same time we fetch Dylan from the airport, on Christmas Eve. It should be quite a wonderful and interesting reunion! This will have been quite an unusual year for all of us!
Tom got all the wood moved over to the new location. Not quite the super-precise piles we saw in Germany (what's with that? Not ONE sloppy wood pile in the whole country!), but good enough for Grass Valley. We'll see how long it takes us to burn though it...
The studio is starting to look like I live there. It's like organizing a kitchen. I'm sure I'll be moving stuff around, for awhile.
Haven't posted Blotter Bits, lately! Here are some recent samples, I found, wedged in between the more run-of-the-mill, actual emergencies. 
"5:22 p.m.--A caller from the 10000 block of Little Deer Drive reported two people wandering around the woods near the caller's residence. the people said they were looking for a rock pile and wouldn't leave." [who hasn't been THERE?]
"10:26 a.m.--Some called 911 from the 12000 block of Slate Creek Road, then hung up. Dispatchers determined a dog accidentally made the call." [considering a complaint about the declining ratio of bits to kibble, no doubt]
"8:22 a.m.--A caller from South Auburn Street reported four juvenile males were walking near a school. Police determined the boys were walking to school." [are the cops EVER going to get ALL the kids off the streets?]
"3:23 p.m.--A man called from a parking lot on the 100 block of Olympia Park Road to report someone put a nail in his wife's car tire. Police determined no vandalism occurred." [so hard to imagine how ELSE that nail would have gotten there]
"12:20 p.m.--A man went into the police station lobby to turn in a knife he said he no longer wanted." [hmm. I have a fork I don't really want, anymore, either...]
"9:41 a.m.--A caller from the 11000 block of Ball Road reported a refrigerator and a stove were taken in a residential burglary. The caller would recontact the sheriff's office with more information." ["forget the jewels! Let's toss these appliances in the car!"]
"11:07 p.m.--a caller from maiden Lane reported a bear walking down the street that may have been going through trash cans. The caller said he didn't think he lived in a community where bears would walk down the street." [they prefer to drive...]
"6:32 p.m.--Officers responded to a call from the 12000 block of Francis Drive about a man who was found dead in a tree. The man appeared to have died of natural causes. Once his death was confirmed, Hooper and Weaver Mortuary was informed." [those pesky squirrels will RUE the DAY they dropped those #@&% acorns on MY...]
Rachel's last email from yesterday...
hey mom! slovenia was amazing, for the country and the company. now
in Dublin... back in boston early this week. yikes! i have mixed emotions.
I'll bet! She's been on the road since late August. And Boston is freezing, at the moment.
It's officially cold, here, now. Highs in the low 40s, lows in the mid-20s. I brought my plumeria and epidendrum orchid in a little late. They look cranky about it. 
I thought I heard murmuring about catching a ride back to Hawaii, somehow. Since we're trying to learn how to use our wood-burning stove, we thought we'd also try to organize our wood supply. Turns out, there's very little level ground near the house to set up the wood-stacking thingy. The previous residents have had it mostly stacked against the house, but that's a Bozo no-no, in the fire-safe code, so we moved it down the hill, a bit (had to dig a bit to flatten the ground). It's one of those things we've intended to get to for months, but it never sounds like that much fun. And if you're smirking to yourself about our having to learn how to use the wood stove, wipe that smirk right off your face! 
It's a crazy-complicated, totally non-intuitive (yet) jumble of vents and cranks with a catalytic converter (to burn cleaner!) that has to be activated at certain temps and watched for certain ember bed levels, etc., to get it into this Zone, or something. Whew! We need a tutor! The manual will have to do, though. Our wood pile is a safe distance from the house, now, but we're probably in more danger of burning the house up from the inside...
Mushrooms are everywhere! We had a very wet October and a very dry November, combining to make the perfect conditions for them to pop up through the leaves in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Here are a couple of kinds growing a few feet from the house. 
They get huge in one day! Don't know as much as want to about them, yet, but they're fun to look at. So strange!
Studio is nearly complete, thanks to my new best friend, Mr. Hammer Drill! I hadn't even heard of such a thing before last weekend, when John mentioned it. I knew about hammers and drills. 
But not hammer drills. Anyway, two walls in the room are concrete, and if I want shelving on them, and I do, they either have to be suspended from the ceiling (somehow), or we needed to drill into the concrete. We had already worked on concrete (which is just as hard as you think it might be), when we installed grab bars in the guest bath, last May. Took forever and 'bout ruined our regular drill. Well. Where has this little gem of a tool been all my life? I won't say it was like a hot knife through butter (it's concrete, after all), but it was, maybe, like blunt knife through, uh, really stale bread. Or something like that. So-o-o, a couple of trips to the hardware store, and we have shelves! Pics tomorrow...
I have assembled every possible configuration of storage unit made of particle board. Could there possibly be another kind of white, melamine cupboard or shelving arrangement, out there, that I haven't, yet, put together? It would be hard to imagine. I've practically got a PhD in "PB" Studies. I'm pretty sure I could prevail against ANYone in a speed-challenge to assemble ANY type of furniture, from flat pack to fully-functional unit, no question! Ha! Blindfolded! Ha! No instructions! I am Queen of Particle Board! All I need is that amazing little allen wrench! BOY, I love that genius hardware-probably-designed-by-Swedes! It's SO cool! 
So, by now, after, yes, one more trip to IKEA (particle board mecca!), I have almost all the storage pieces in place, in the studio. Gotta work some magic with shelves-into-concrete-walls and a vertical file. But we're getting close! Blue-Tarp Mountain, out back, is beginning to shrink a little. I'm working as fast as I can to get my supplies inside, since it's, now, regularly dipping down to around 30 degrees at night, and there might just be an issue with some of the inks outgrowing their bottles...
Here are a couple of shots of the studio, so far. Not many more gaps to fill! I won't be too unhappy to lay down my allen wrenches. Plus, if I didn't know better, I'd swear "particle board" is just another name for "lead"! It's heavier than any other earthly material I know about! Gotta be loaded up with some sort of extra protons, or something. Easily lifted on the moon, maybe. Anyway, I'll probably languish in some kind special environmentally-mandated purgatory for using so much of it. I'll try to work my way out by using soy inks, and such...
I had a chat with Rachel on Thanksgiving Day! She called from Zurich, Switzerland. She's staying with a friend, who lives there, for the long weekend. They needed a bit of advice about making a pumpkin pie for a T-Day party with some Americans, friends of her friend, on Friday. It's quite a lovely place, there, right on a beautiful lake. The four of us had passed by it on the train ride to Innsbruck, when we were there, a number of weeks ago, but we didn't stop to get to know it, at all.
On Monday, she'll be off to Ljubljana, Slovenia, where another friend from college lives. She's planning to be in that area for a week, or so, before she heads for Dublin, where she'll hang out for several days. From there, it's back to Boston.
If you haven't checked her blog, in awhile, she's written up her ceramics course (in Italy) including a bunch of pictures. Very entertaining! The link is in the upper left of this page.
Meanwhile, we can only imagine what's up with Dylan, these days. We're guessing Thanksgiving wasn't even on the radar, this year. I've read that there's some ritual called "Enkang oo-nkiri", which is translated "meat-eating ceremony", but it probably doesn't include turkey...
What has four legs, three ears, and walks in two different directions at once? How did you KNOW?! Yes, it's the Houstons! John and Gwen came to our house for Thanksgiving and we had a wonderful, hilarious time with them! (Actually, they seem to have the usual four ears, but John doesn't hear so good out of one of them--though it COULD be a very convenient little, um, device he uses to, well, pick and choose when he listens to, uh,... we'll probably never know, for sure)
We were SO pleased and honored that they chose to come the 600 miles, or so, to Grass Valley to be with us! All of the kids in each of our families were either very far away or otherwise occupied, so it was an intimate affair with just the four of us. Gwen had not, yet, had a chance to see where we'd landed after leaving San Diego (John had been here for the backpacking adventure) and the curiosity was palpable from here. 
The best flights they could find, dropped them into the San Francisco airport, so they rented a car, drove the 150 miles from there, and, several phone queries later, arrived late Wed.eve. at our humble abode, looking mahvelous, Gwen's bird-of-paradise next to John's dusky warbler.
Somehow, I had uncharacteristically managed to have the Big Feast organized well enough to allow us all to enjoy conversations and even a pre-meal walk together, without having to divide into the traditional cooking team and TV team. Gwen was able to begin her survey of our entire library, magazine collection, and the cherry-picking of interesting recipes from the cookbook shelves (so much to do! so little time!). She scored big points with me for actually ASKING for, and wallowing in my Andy Goldsworthy book collection. And she only rearranged a few of my decorative elements--I'm so glad she caught them! They disappeared, briefly (together), into town and returned with the most gorgeous orchid centerpiece for the table! Wow! So perfect! It might even last until Christmas! We laughed (mostly at Gwen) and caught up on each other's kids and ate up a storm! There was time, after, for a DVD they had brought with them (Painted Veil) about which there were more opinions than movie-watchers, at the end.
Friday, Gwen, John and I journeyed to Sacramento (Tom a bit of work to catch up on) to be tourists for a day. Which destinations? In what order? Where to park? How much time at each location? How to experience each destination? Where and when to eat? All I know is, that without my uttering more than just a few words the whole time (it was like stepping out to cross a very busy street), every question posing many sides, a tentative compromise was eventually reached (often with great drama) on each one, and that, almost never, was the strategy eventually implemented.
Somehow, we all saw 1. The Crocker Art Museum (location of beautiful Christmas tree), 2. The State Capitol, and, 3., The Railroad Museum, and ate lunch in between. Typically, we would walk in together, John would (very generously) get the tickets, and in the next blink, I would be standing there, ready to follow the Plan, alone. Example: Gwen finds the gift shop as though it releases pheromones. I eventually find Gwen, and, by the time John finds us, he's seen the whole place. Basically, we each experienced each location as single entities, somehow linking up at the end. But it was fun! And funny! Lunch was a scream. Walking to a shopping Mall (are they ALL Westfield Shoppingtowns, now?), John stated a strong desire for soup (to soothe a jumpy stomach). Inside, while he and I are looking at the directory for the food court, Gwen has disappeared. A few feet behind us, she had bought her lunch, already. John and I head upstairs, looking for soup. I look away. Next I see him, he's eating Korean barbeque. Eventually, we sat together for a minute, as I arrived with my lunch (I chose the same as Gwen--just not at the same time). It works! We had a blast!
More turkey and A Bug's Life in the evening (plus some quick nature-video to show off our HD), and we were ready to turn in. 
After breakfast, Saturday morning, they moved on, wanting to see a bit of San Francisco before hopping the plane pre-6am Sun.morn--but, WHICH bit was still in question (no kidding, though, in one of several quick phone conversations we had with them in transit, the DeYoung Museum had been the "final" decision--but, well, let's just say, I wouldn't stake my life on their having gotten near the place). Our house, meanwhile, had become way too quiet and boring after their departure. We're still adjusting.
So, for us, at least, it was a wonderful and memorable Thanksgiving! Like having a houseful, somehow! Thank you, John and Gwen, for your visit and your friendship (and the fun along the way)! Gobble gobble!
Sunday, on our way back home from Dad's party, Terry and I thought we'd drop by Fallbrook to see how much fire damage there was to a certain house our mom used to live in.
Toward the end of the recent, terrible firestorms, last month, I was able to pull up lists of the addresses of homes/structures that had been burned.
I knew that the fire had come very near some of the four different homes in the area that mom and her used-to-be husband, Ken, had lived in, and was curious to know if any of them had been affected. The first home they lived in, around the Fallbrook Golf Course (as they all were), was a lovely custom-built house (by the architect who lived there, originally) to which Ken had added his classic artistic touches (decks, river rock walls, etc.). It was nestled in the old oaks, with a creek running by. 
After that, they lived in two other beautiful houses, which Ken designed and built, himself, plus a condo near I-15, where they lived during the construction of one of them. We had memories associated with them all, of course.
On the computer list of damaged homes, was the address of the first house they occupied, the one on Nuestra. I mentioned it to Mom, and she, of course, was quite interested to know if it was gone, or just slightly damaged. She still has friends in the area, but none could tell her. So, Terry and I thought we'd stop by to check it out. 
We found very little of it left. We hoped that the occupants had been able to get all their pets and valuables out in time. But the house, itself, was well and truly burned to the ground. Beyond the concern for the current owners, we were, of course, trying to coax up memories of our own from that place, as we walked carefully through the ashes. Mom and Ken had lived there for several years in the eighties, and we'd spent many days with our young kids and extended family in that beautiful, tree-covered house and yard. 
The house was unique: large, warm and rustic and contemporary. Big windows. Ken (never one to sit around) had built his huge, signature decks and benches all around the house. And beautiful river rock walls. There was spa set into the deck. And a pickle ball court lined out in the driveway (I forget how it's played, but I think it's like big ping-pong, with paddles and a rubber ball). It was there, once, that Terry could get a break from carrying tiny Lily (recently adopted from Korea), because Terry and I looked so much alike, that Lily couldn't always tell the difference.
The stone fences are still there, along with the fireplace and a few walls of that long, 70s-style brick. And the pot-bellied stove in the guest wing. I thought of the current owners picking though the rubble for any possessions. We were picking through it for memories, trying to remember the rooms and activities. The huge, old oak that we all loved to look at and even climb, was unscathed. Many of the other trees were damaged, but, perhaps, still viable. Given the burn pattern we saw, it must have been the very last house in that area to go up in flames. The creek was running. I hope the owners can rebuild. It's still a lovely setting.
It was a sobering stop. Very quiet and ghostly. I took a few pics, Terry picked up a piece of flagstone from the fireplace, and we left. We didn't lose anything, there, of course. But there's something strange about walking around a place that once was filled with a piece of one's life and seeing it so utterly changed by sudden catastrophe. Happens every day, for someone.
We zoomed on our way, and had lunch at El Torito, near Magic Mountain. We decided that we needed to make some definite plans to ride all the roller coasters, there, together, sometime soon, while our bones will still hold together under the Gs. We talked our way back to Fresno, getting Terry home around 4 (saw Mom, H, Andrea, Lily, Corrie, Jeff, and their kids, Ella, Tabor, Quinn and Gigi), and I made it back to GV by 8. A quick, but memorable weekend!
Well, the excitement just never lets up, around here. Actually, around here, it does. All the time. So, I had to go on a road trip to find some. And I did!
Dad turned 80, last Tuesday! Eighty! Four score, exactly! Unbelievable! Especially, because he doesn't look or act a day over, uh, something a lot younger. So, Jean planned a surprise party for Saturday, at Fran and Don's amazing home in Carlsbad. Tom wasn't able to come along, so, I drove to Fresno Friday evening, hung out with Mom, for a night, then picked my sister, Terry, up the next morning for the rest of the journey to North SD County. So much fun! 
There aren't that many opportunities for us to be together by ourselves, so we talked ourselves silly the whole way.
We made pretty good time, arriving early afternoon. I made a quick birthday banner, and Terry took charge of the balloons, popping every other one, or so, for dramatic effect. Jean and Fran are a mean cooking machine, and the food was fabulous! 
At around 4 o'clock, Jean brought Dad over under the ruse of an informal barbeque at the Diehl's. Totally clueless! It was way fun to see how shocked he was to walk through the house and discover all the folks, including us, who were milling around, munching hors d'oeuvres, chugging Arnold Palmers (or wine, as the case may have been) and admiring all the art displayed throughout. In reality, he actually sneaked up on US, since we were all still waiting for the word that he was coming. Anyway, it was a great party! Lots of laughing! Fran and Don travel quite a bit and bring home beautiful and interesting artifacts, art and photos. So, the setting was almost like a museum! Quite wonderful!
Everybody loves Dad! He has friends of all ages, from the youngest to the oldest!
We enjoyed watching how easily everyone relates to him. And, at 80, he's beginning a new hobby! Fran and Don gave him an electronic keyboard, and he's going to learn how to play the piano! How cool is that? We're so glad you're our dad and we love you,! At your 90th, we'll be listening to all the songs you've learned to play, by then. Please, no Frank Sinatra!
After the party, we had time to hang out at Dad and Jean's for awhile before crashing. 
Tom and I had bought a Bavarian hat for Dad in Germany, which I gave to him. I don't know if he slept in it, or what, because it was still on his head the next morning. Looked good, though, even with PJs and bathrobe. Terry and I Ieft mid-morning (after a bit of Jean's killer chocolate cake), for the long ride back home. I had left my glasses at their house, so, as we were filling up at the corner gas station, here comes Dad, driving up in his robe and new hat! Then, off we went!
In the fires, one of the houses burned in Fallbrook, was one Mom had lived in. So, we thought we'd stop and check it out on the way home. More about that, next time...
These are some quickie updates:
Rachel called Tues. morning and chatted with Tom (I was on a mission to the Valley). She's in Madrid, and planning to spend the weekend somewhere near Gibralter, where her high school volleyball team mate lives. Que vida!
The rain has activated some of the smaller wildlife, I guess (kinda like those little sponges, maybe?).
I don't know where they hang out when it's dry, but suddenly, the teensy frogs we have around here are making lots of noise. It's crazy loud, for such tiny creatures! The other critter we haven't seen all summer is the California Newt--a painfully slow lizardish-sort of animal, which is a very interesting brownish color on top and bright orange underneath. Curls up backwards into a circle (showing the red belly), when disturbed, which I try not to do EVERY time I see one.
Two of our neighbors have told us that they've seen bears in their yards. One reads about sightings and some folks have submitted photos to the Union. My "Bears Welcome!" sign has born no fruit, to date.
Another trip to Home Depot/IKEA down near Sacramento yielded more progress in the studio. 
It's not my favorite kind of day, to spend most of it driving and hopping from big box store to big box store. But it's the fastest and least expensive way to get what we need, sometimes, even with the price of gas. I mentally apologize to Nevada County every time I cross over into Placer County to buy stuff, though. The "Shop Local" campaign, here, is in full swing, now, and I'm a BIG supporter--really!...until I can't find what I need, up here, and I hit the road. Anyway, here's a picture of the upper cabinets we installed this week. My furniture and supplies are slowly starting to find their way into the room from the exile of the patio. I need to step it up to keep my inks from colorful ice sculpture...
And, from the Police Blotter, last week:
"11:25 a.m.--A caller from the 14500 block of Storm Ridge Road reported she couldn't get out because a huge storage container was being moved down her road. She was advised to wait 15 minutes." [She wasn't arrested for felony impatience??]
"2:04 p.m.--A caller from the 13900 block of Pierite Road reported that his wife assaulted him. Responding deputies go an ambulance toe take her to the emergency room." [Either the dispatcher got the pronouns confused, or there was more to that story...]
"2:03 p.m.--A caller from the 10400 block of Broken Oak Court reported hearing someone in the neighborhood banging around on something. Responding deputies discovered the neighbor was setting a crib up for a baby." ["Responding deputies"?? They respond to someone "banging around on something"?]
"9:27 p.m.--A caller from the 10000 block of Broken Oak Court reported an X-Box had been stolen and switched with the neighbor's broken X-Box video game system. Deputies contacted both parties and determined the accusation was unfounded. Neither X-Box was working." [beginning to wonder about something in the water on Broken Oak Court]
More, later...
Are we there, yet? No. Shut up! But we are getting closer! Yes, we are!
Tom got the sink connected. Twice. Because who wants to do anything so fun only once?! And, now, there's hot 'n' cold running water in my little studio room! Big step! Simultaneously, I was doggedly assembling the three drawer units I had bought at Home Depot. That little task was so fascinating, that on the third one, I must have been dozing, since I installed the drawer glides upside down, at first. 
All that said, I am very happy with the results! The nice counter area next to the sink will be so useful for, uh, setting things on, and such. Since I do not have the big storage closet in this studio, as I did in the last one, I'm very mindful of all the ways I'll need to maximize use of the space, here. All those drawers will help a ton.
Today, we uncovered most the furniture and supplies, etc., that have been sitting under several large tarps in the patio behind the house. It's a covered area, but I still discovered a bit of moisture damage.
Quite minor, however, and, so far, fewer critters have taken up lodging in the nooks and crannies than I had feared. Somehow, I had imagined it all just magically being transported into the room, all ready to go, in one day. That's my La-la-brain, again. We did bring a few of the biggest pieces in, today, as I tried to get a floor plan to work with my existing stuff. 
As with the rest of the house, it appears as though I'll be able to use about half of it, and supplement with some new things, like the cabinets. Also, as with the rest of the house, I did precious little weeding-out of useless nonsense, so there's a lot of that to do, in the process. The cast-off furniture will, no doubt, have another useful existence in the shop, later.
So, I'm pretty jazzed about getting to this point! I can almost smell it, from here. Yes! No, that's the pizza, we're about to munch...
We hit pay dirt at our house, this morning, and we were giddy with glee! It wasn't gold we were mining, though (quite the big deal around here, for the last 160 years--you might have heard about it). Far better! At the end of OUR tunnel, we found GRAY stuff!
Our house has two waste water systems: One from the toilets/bidets/urinal to the the septic tank; the other, for all the other waste water--the "gray" water. In the few months of our living in this lovely home, we've had quite a number of extraordinarily unlovely experiences with the outflows of both systems. I'll spare you the indelicate details, but, lets just say, that several of those failures happened when we had guests staying here, magnifying the urgency (and the exasperation!). 
After much time and treasure spent and a huge crater dug near the side of our house, involving an entire column in the Yellow Pages under "People Who Can't Seem To Find The Septic Tank", we discovered the issue with System One (we'll call it). The backflow valve was stuck closed, completely blocking the pipe. The absolutely unnecessary backflow valve, as we were informed. Great. The plumbers removed the offending circular flap, and filled in the hole. Ah! Nasty Problem, vanquished! Worth every penny (I guess)!
Then, System Two--the gray water--began to act up. Same symptoms (only, in different fixtures). What the---?!! We were beginning to fear going Downstairs!
What terrible, malodorous, watery disaster would be lurking, there? And, because it would be too simple for it to happen only to us, our friends were also staying here, and desperately in need of showers (you know who you are)! After several more visits from our, now, close, personal (and wealthier) friends, the Plumbers, the same diagnosis was reached. Another stuck (and apparently just as unnecessary) backflow valve! Naturally, and why not?! But this time, to save a bit of cash, we decided to dig for the pipe, ourselves. 5-6 feet down. And, unfortunately, in a slightly different location from the first hole. All new dirt. And rocks and roots.
Tom and I shared the chore. Over several weeks. Seems there's always something more important to do, when a big deep hole is waiting to be dug. 
The Job was hanging over our heads like Pooh's little black raincloud. We could never quite relax. "It" was out there; inevitable as the weigh-in at the doctor's office. Gradually, though, the hole grew larger, and deeper. Then, today, we both just gave it all we had for a couple of hours, and--WOO HOO!--we found the Source of the Problem! We had tunneled down and under the stairs a bit (a lot like real miners, actually), finding the septic pipe, then the gray water pipe, and, finally, the valve, itself. Looked so benign. Tom got it open, and found that the flap had been dislodged, somehow, from its original position. 
We decided it had to come out. And out it came! An hour later, the hole was covered up, and I had taken a picture of the two little bad valve-discs that had caused so much grief! Two small, innocent-looking, cheap-o pieces of plastic.
So, now we live, free of fear, once again! Happy Day!! Feel the joy!! We flush and shower with confidence! And, when you come to visit us, so can YOU!
As usual, I had the highest intentions of sending Christmas cards out there, especially to those who don't know where we've landed, yet. But, right on schedule, I didn't quite get to it. Maybe in January. So, I'll just post this photo of the four of us, taken on Christmas, proving that we did actually spend the holiday together, after having been scattered about the globe until just the previous day.
