Unusable Apples

We misplaced our food dehydrator

and so Richard went and purchased another one. 

t is a better quality than the first. 

We had picked some apples from a yard we’ve gone to before.

He likes dry the apples or make apple pie. 

Apple pie.  Pie is really not my favorite dessert. 

I would rather have a cream pie than a fruit pie.

I don’t like most pie crusts.

Graham cracker crust is alright.

 So why not make apple crisp? 

Or apple cobbler? 

Or applesauce? 

Yes.  Let’s go for applesauce. 

I love homemade applesauce. 

 

He did make a zucchini and apple cake. 

That was interesting.

 

We had picked some grapes and plums – though

I don’t think they were really ready to be picked. 

They don’t taste ready. 

I cored and peeled the remainder of apples this morning. 

Half are in the compost, the other half

are in the freezer.

Summer Coming to an End

 

         Mornings lately have had an autumn feel to them.  It lasts until about ten o’clock and then it is a dreadful summer again.  Each morning we have been watering the plants.  It won’t be long until Mother Nature will take over with the watering and all the hill will be green and not just circles around the trees.

 

 

         As of now we have been eating zucchini, cherry tomatoes and peppers.  It may be another five years before we get a harvest from the grapes or the trees.  And I don’t know what is up with the blueberry bushes.  They’re bigger than at the start of the summer.  But I don’t think only nine blueberries is worth all the effort.

Summer Blessings

 

We have been quite blessed all summer as

there haven’t been any fires in Douglas County –

and we’re a BIG county.

I think we have had fires just about every year that

we’ve been here and

often get smoke from ALL directions. 

There was one day in June that we

sensed the smoke from the fires south of us –

probably California. 

No signs since until today. 

We’re thinking from the fires north of us. 

That is trippy. 

Wasn’t it just last night that I saw

the stars through the skylight? 

And now the skies are filled with haze –

nearly hiding the hills.  It’s been so hot. 

And when the wind blows it doesn’t offer the

cool breeze but an overly warm heat that

makes me feel like I’m in a dryer.

I didn’t say anything before because

I didn’t want to jinx it.

We have at least one more month before

the fires come to a rest.

Judging from the past.

Peculiar Taste

 

I think PEZ (originally short for Pfefferminz here) candies have got to be one of the most boring candies on the planet.  People buy them in order to collect the cool dispensers that release the dry powdery bricks of dull flavor.  I think the only reason why PEZ offers the dispensers is so U.S. citizens will buy them.  I don’t know how it works in other countries.  Apparently there are some citizens of other countries that thrive on the having the uninteresting flavor in their mouths. 

Recently Richard purchased a tin of candies that gave me the same initial vibe as the PEZ candy.  But instead of a cool dispenser, these candies come in a cool tin – which in my opinion is the only reason to buy them – not for the candy but for the tin.  The candy may have been slightly better than a PEZ (though it’s been YEARS so I don’t really KNOW) – this nameless candy had a tangy quality almost like a SweeTART mixed with soap. 

Last Year Perhaps

 

               It’s been ten years since we had been introduced to the Pear Orchard in Medford – and served once a year except for last.  I am so out of shape.  And the pears seemed to be tiny again this year.  But maybe not.  They won’t be through today and I am certain it will be announced that we have another opportunity.  Platform workers is what they are called.  Those who can scale the ladders and pick what can’t be reached from below.  Uh, no.  Not my calling.

               I remember one year when our RS pres. scaled the trees and threw down pears to be caught – which is probably a big “no-no” but really . . . how many volunteers can  climb ladders, fill their bags and then shimmy on down?  Not this girl.  That’s for sure.

               The pears which we pick in Medford are shipped to Shelly, Idaho for another cleaning and canning.  They are really good pears, too.  Overall I think canned pears are rather boring, but the ones the church cans are awesome.  In Salt Lake I was a recipient of eating canned product and in the last ten years we have picked.  If we ever move to Shelley I would have the opportunity to can the pears – but I don’t foresee that happening as I don’t believe we will ever move again.   Too much work – not just into the house but our yard as well. 

               We planted fruit trees that should be producing within the next five to seven years.  Will try to include pictures next post.

Dogs Feel No Shame

 

          Bonnie often snores when she sleeps. 

She is loud. 

She is fat. 

She does not get offended if we make fun of her.

Mostly I guess because she doesn’t understand.

But I wonder why we can’t respond as dogs do.

Why get caught up in the our insecurities –

embarrassed by loud snores

(even if it is the dogs)

or laughing at the noise,

calling the dog fat and

out of shape.

Dogs don’t feel the shame that humans often do.

Card Table Makeover

 

The other day the missionaries

came for dinner.

 I had no desire for cleaning the

back table and decided

we would have our dinner on the deck – which

probably was not a wise

move on my part – for the

back room would have been

so much cooler.

 

I washed the filthy card table that we

had left on the porch. 

I still felt the need for a tablecloth but

couldn’t find one and

thought the wind might blow

it around anyway.

 

I did not find a tablecloth – not in

any size but I did find

some contact paper.  

 

Problem solved. 

 

Cover the grime-stained table

with contact paper –

and the wind wouldn’t  blow it off.

Name That Tune

 Jaime learned about a "Name That Tune" game being held at Summerfest.  The person she had planned to go with cancelled on her - which was really not a surprise.  Though it was hot and I hadn't planned on going to the event myself, I volunteered to go with her.  I don't believe we scored any points during the first round, but were able to take 4 of 5 songs on the second round.  The other players were dismissed and we had the opportunity of playing the second round.  We got only two songs but each walked away with five dollars.  Not bad. I was planning on participating without a prize incentive.  Jaime was happy.  We might go see fireworks tonight.

Dear Diary

          I think someone may have been hacked on facebook who in turn tried to hack me.  I don’t know.  I was experiencing so much fatigue yesterday.  I wish I would have taken a screenshot but did not.  I saw who it was from and I think what the invitation was for and deleted automatically because of so many factors.

          So in my notifications I’m told that RAM has invited me to the Relief Society Page.  The page that I created?  Or is there a new one? And why would RAM create an RS page when he is a guy?  We are not even facebook friends.  And he is currently on vacation.  Why would he create a page and invite people in during his vacation?  I thought it said Relief Society.  Maybe it said something else?  Still – why would I want to join his page?  Was I singled out or were there others in the ward who received invites? 

 

          Okay.  Fatigue.  I think I post about it every year.  Weather change.  Always happens between Mothers’ Day and my birthday.  And then I am gone.  And I don’t come to until sometime in September.  But hey, I can breathe.  But my mind is in another dimension than the rest of me.  Is that where dementia comes from?  Not that I have dementia.  I don’t think of one who has dementia considers having dementia.  But I don’t know.  Next time someone tries to scam me over the phone I will tell them that I have dementia and that the people taking care of me won’t allow me access to my bank accounts or social security number or anything like that.  And that if they want to talk with them they should call them on their cell phone and then provide them with a number to the unified police or the FBI.  I wonder if they will call them to get my information?

 

          I just took an allergy pill.  That could be adding to my fatigue I guess.

First Time for Everything

                It’s hot.  So hot.  I asked Alexa to tell me the temperature in Las Vegas – it always makes me feel better that it’s cooler in Oregon than elsewhere.  And yet I remember being cold in Las Vegas when I was there in March this year.  COLD in LAS VEGAS.  Cold wind blowing.  I don’t even remember experiencing wind in Las Vegas before.

               Today’s first was at the dentist.  Yes, I am a little plastered out of my mind.  The heat does that to me.  Under normal circumstances I cry whenever I am in the dentist chair because I’m a dweeb.  I don’t have anything against the dentist per se – I just don’t like being in a laying down position with my mouth wide open and tools in my mouth and the need to swallow but can’t.

               Today I laughed – for the first time ever.  I laughed while in a dentist chair and not just because of this illustration

I laughed out loud because the dental hygienist was tickling my teeth or the gum area or whatever.  It tickled and I laughed.  I laughed several times.  I’m sure it was more out of being tired than being tickled.  But I laughed.  What an odd experience.

When the Wind Blows

 

 When the wind blows

trees dance and

things move –

some seem to make unpleasant noises

like someone is trying to

break into your house.

 

Sometimes the wind itself

makes an eerie noise as it blows.

When it is just a cool breeze the

wind feels nice

but it still seems to

send me into a coma. 

Naughty wind

Our Savior, Our Guide, Our Light

 

The Church is full of imperfect people who are often called to positions they don’t want.  Some people will say “No’ when they are called to a position that they may feel inadequate to serve and some will say “No” to callings they really don’t want.  Many callings are given to the individual so that he or she may learn and grow possibly more than those they are serving.  We grow by the Spirit.  Hopefully we all may rely on the Spirit to guide us.  We are given so many opportunities to do so.

Recently I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting.  I started with two hikes on which to use as outlines.  The first happened during a family trip to Arco Idaho almost 40 years ago.  On average the wind in Arco blows 8-10 miles and I would imagine mirrors the season.  It was June and the winds were warm to an already scorching temperature.  The big draw in Arco, Idaho is The Craters of the Moon Monument.

There was an unguided walk tourists could take on a trail that went from one side of the landscape to the other.  Everything looked exactly the same in the eyes of my family and other spectators we had passed.  We could have just stayed in the parking lot and saw it all without having left the car. 

We would pass others who would ask if it was worth the walk (or hike – whatever it was).  Yes, the Lava ruminants were cool, but my family didn’t think it was worth the walk. I don’t recall any words of encouragement except those of my brother whose attitude was more of “if I’m going down I’m taking someone with me” Again, we had no guide.

I then recounted Emily Belle Freeman’s experience with her hike around Lake Powell (see this post counter 1709) in which she relates encouraging words from a guide who knew the way.  I compared this to our guide in Jesus Christ.  I then returned my focus back to Craters of the Moon. There are caves beneath the lava flow – perhaps impressive but I don’t know.  Those who explore the caves need to come prepared with something much brighter than a disposable flashlight or a birthday candle.  I suggested bringing a devise that carried the strength of the sun/son.

Each of us are in a different place in our lives.  Some members seem to carry the strength of the sun as they are able to teach a lesson at only a moment’s notice while others struggle just to focus on the light of a birthday candle and not on the darkness that may surround them.  We are from different walks of life and rely on the Spirit in different ways. 

I concluded my talk with encouragement to stay focused on the light.