I missed you last week, but our projects were in full throttle forward. After spending Saturday moving everything off of the shelves and most of the furniture, Michael came by Sunday and helped his dad with the heavier stuff and Casey started pulling up the embarrassingly filthy carpet. He also had to put back the quarter-round trim and paint that and the baseboard. Then I cleaned and polished the wood – which still is not great if you look closely. Finally, we moved the furniture back in, cleaning it all as we went. I feel so much lighter!
We have to do the same back in our “family” room, which will entail removing the door to get the couch outside and to the heavy trash. That’s high on the list to be done this month because I need to move out of the house and into the garden.
I planted peas and potatoes on St. Patrick’s Day, which just whetted my appetite for digging.
I can move around some of the perennials in the Peace/Bird Garden this month, but planting warm-weather crops has to wait, sometimes until mid-May. I will begin posting at my garden blog Growing Every Season 2 in the next couple of weeks, as we buy seeds and shop for plants
I completed almost everything on my March Dopamine menu. Thanks to RSV, I didn’t have any lunch dates, but we’ll make up for that in April. I have been to Central and North Park Libraries and last week I visited my beloved Willard.
I must confess that I prefer reading on the Kindle, but I have enjoyed being at the libraries so much that I want to visit at least once a month.
After 22 years of service, Casey finally quit fixing his Husky lawn tractor and bought a new Troy-bilt. It is bigger and perkier, so he’s been flying around the meadows and into the woods every chance he gets. (Naming the tractor “Troy” would be too obvious, but would anybody get it if we called her Helen?)
The weatherman says storms today. Don’t let the wind blow away your blooms!
The coughing has stopped! I’m not taking any medicine! I feel normal again!
Yesterday Nova and I went out to JoAnn’s, then for lunch at Fazoli’s and I forgot to take pictures. I assure you my face is still old, but my #2 grandie is getting prettier every day. Here’s a picture of her after a recent speech meet.
This week is full of St. Paddy’s and Equinox celebrations with appropriate food and drink. I’ve got my Medicare Wellness appointment on Tuesday – always a treat! What problem will they find this year? The monthly market auction in New Harmony is this Saturday, and I’m hoping Lana and Charley can meet us for lunch at the Friday preview.
I’ve got my taters chitting, my peas are soaking, and the ceremonial Planting of the Green will be tomorrow. This year’s garden is going to be better than ever, thanks to my obsessively watching Youtube gardeners. Intensive planting is my theme.
Even though Ostara/Spring Equinox is a time of New Beginnings, it does seem to me to be the same old story every year – corned beef and cabbage on the 17th, quiche on the 20th – and a long wait for Spring to warm us up. As the storms blow across the country, I hope you stay safe!
The week started out Great! I went to the library and checked out some good books and CDs, then took a walk around downtown, soaking up the almost-spring sun.
Unfortunately, Casey was at home, feeling like crap, coughing, and blowing his nose. All of Eville seems to be covered with the Big Winter Viruses: Covid, Flu, and RSV. I guess the the poor old common cold has been overwhelmed by those guys. I felt kind of smug that I was feeling fine, but took good care of him with comfort food and medicine. He was still sick for Mardi Gras, so the festivities were curtailed (there’s a lot of leftover jambalaya in the freezer).
By Wednesday, he was a little better, but I was starting to weaken, and by Thursday I was the sicker of us. Since he’d gotten better in three days, I expected the same, but this morning (the fourth day) I was still wheezing and feeling increasingly short of breath, so off I went to the Urgent Care. It was as pleasant an experience as you can have at the doctors’ office – short wait, friendly nurses, smart doctor, and effective breathing treatment. It seems I have RSV. Huh. That’s the vaccine I didn’t get this year. Huh. I meant to go back for it after I got the first two, but didn’t make it. I bet I will next year. I picked up my prescriptions on the way home – Steroid, inhaler, antibiotic – and now I feel slightly worse, but hopeful.
So that’s it. I’m just lying around reading and blowing streams of snot from my nose between fits of productive coughing.
I’m going to feel better tomorrow, by golly! I’ll also be wearing a mask if I see you next week, ’cause I really don’t want to spread this around. It’s quite miserable. I hope I have more to report next week. Take care of yourself, dear Reader.
March has marched in quietly and the weeks ahead look mild, so I’m suspicious. You know the old saying “In like a lion, out like a lamb”? It’s my observation that March is just as often “In like a lamb, out like a lion”. I’ve been fooled before by the early Spring-like weather, only to face Wintry Weeks as we exit into April. I’d just as soon get the winter all over with, but my requests are obviously falling on deaf ears in the heavens.
The Church year finally rolls around to the Lenten Season with a late Ash Wednesday on the 5th. Having spent 25 years playing the organ for the local Lutherans, I like to use this season for a little fasting and Lord knows I need to curtail my appetite. The six weeks are also marked in the High Churches with extra Wednesday services and I like that. I guess I’ll have to see what sort of extra contemplation I can do.
You can’t have Ash Wednesday without Mardi Gras, now, so I’m gearing up with fixins for Jambalaya, King Cake, and Hurricanes. Since this will be my last night of reveling until Easter, I’m doing it up with All the Calories. My Ash Wednesday fast may be because my stomach hurts, but at least it will be humbling.
It is not at all fair that the Church gave us a Drinking Holiday in the middle of Lent, but they did, March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day, the most Irish of American Celebrations. I’ve heard that the Irish don’t actually eat corned beef on the Saint’s Day, but I do and look forward to it with a side of cabbage. Jameson and Ginger is okay with the Irish, I hope, as that will be my drink of choice…
The Pagans celebrate a Big Event this month = The Spring Equinox, aka Ostara, is happening March 20-21st. 12 hours of Sun! We’ve come a long way, haven’t we? I hope we get to see the sun on those days, but we’ll celebrate through whatever Mother Nature sends us.
I’ve always been a voracious reader and have used an e-reader since whenever it was they put out the first Nooks. These days, I read daily with my Kindle, mostly non-fiction with a smattering of mysteries. My old eyes do better with the back-lighting, but I miss reading actual books – holding them in my hands, turning the pages- and I have always loved going to the Library, so March is going to be Library Month. Our neighborhood branch of the public library just got a major remodeling, so I’m excited to see how it turned out. Willard Library is in a league of its own, housing our local genealogy groups as well as a fine collection of books; if they don’t have a title, they will order it for you. The historic building, smelling of Murphy’s wood soap, is a treat to just sit in, soaking up the sun in front of the 150-year-old windows, but I’ll be sure to check out some tomes.
The remainder of the Menu looks like this:
Thrift Shop shopping – Look out Goodwill, here I come!
Old Crow Medicine Show is in town 3/13/25 and we’ll be there!
The Auction House in New Harmony is always a pleasant way to spend time. This month previews are 3/21. I hope Lana and Charley can meet up with us there!
I am planning at least three Lunches with the Ladies, but there’s room for more!
Angel Mounds is presenting “Astronomy at the Mounds” on 3/22 and I hope the skies are clear that evening.
I’m still staying away from engagement with media, but I am fully aware of what’s going on. We all need to take care of our mental health, and these kinds of Plans are helpful for me as I strive to keep Peace and Love in my heart and mind.
Fat Tuesday will be here before you know it! My stereo will be pumping out Dr. John, Neville Brothers, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, North Mississippi All-Stars, and Buckwheat Zydeco. Let the Good Times Roll!
It’s week 2 of Birthday Month here at Sonnystone Acres, and we started off right with a lunch date. Dee and I held court for 2.5 hours on Monday. I love yakking with her so much!
The bathroom project concluded…
Casey has now moved on to the stair landing and stairs. I don’t want it carpeted again, but it’s pretty rough. We’d not seen the naked steps in a while, so were pleasantly surprised to find none have to be replaced. Hopefully, we’ll just clean, sand, paint, add some of those carpet things on the treads and voila! better than new.
For Valentine’s Day, I baked a quiche, a loaf of bread, and a cherry pie. I was planning the quiche, and when I took the frozen pie crusts from the freezer, they were broken up, so I had to let them thaw and put them back together. I just happened to have some cherry pie filling and that seemed a fitting present for my handsome, hard-working Valentine.
My Valentine on his birthday, November 2024
Cousin Lana and I were really looking forward to seeing today’s performance of “Clydes” at UE Theatre, but last evening we decided to reschedule. Lana is not feeling too well and we were a little bit afraid of the weather for her drive from Grayville. We thought we were being overly cautious last night, but Surprise! Surprise!
Though the weatherwoman predicted a “dusting” of snow, we got all of this!!!
I ‘m going to try to rearrange the theatre tickets for later, but there is some hint of more snow toward the end of the week, so we may have to miss it. Bummer.
The Jr family have been sick with flu the last several days, but I’m hoping Samantha is well enough to go birthday-ing Monday. I have a lunch planned for Thursday, and Haley’s wedding reception is Saturday. I still have a couple more birthday lunches to plan, and I could add more if you’re interested! We’ve got 12 more days to celebrate!
It’s been a somewhat boring week here at Sonnystone Acres, though my social life is about to pick up. To celebrate my #72 Birthday on the 23rd, I’m rounding up friends to meet me for lunch.
It all starts tomorrow with my former sister-in-law and always-friend, Dee. I usually see Dee once each year in the hottest part of August, while Melissa and her family are here, so I’m curious to see how she looks in cold February!
I have several other lunch dates in the planning stages, all of them at my favorite bar/grill, and I’ll be reporting in as they occur. (If you’d like to grace me with your presence, shoot me a DM and let’s get together, yeah yeah yeah.) Until then, I thought I’d re-blog this post from 2020. Hope you enjoy!
On This Day…
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On this day in 1964, the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show for the first time, as teenage girls screamed hysterically in the audience and 73 million people watched from home — a record for American television at the time.
I know where I was: about a foot away from our black-and-white console TV in the basement of our quintessentially 60s finished basement with whole family present. The first song they did was, “I want to hold your hand” and I didn’t think their harmonies were very impressive, but I couldn’t take my eyes off them. When they came back out, they did “I saw her standing there” and I did a bit of a scream, if I remember.
Of course, I watched the next three weeks as well and was as obsessed as any other. I think my friend Karen and I watched at least one of them together. In 1964 the Beatles released Seven albums, the first two in January before the Big Arrival to be in Ed Sullivan. I was given “Meet the Beatles” for my birthday that year. “The Beatles Second Album” was released 10 April 1964; it was their third release, but who was counting? In June their movie, “Hard Day’s Night” was released to more screaming fans (including me). In July came “Something New”. The November release was “The Story of the Beatles” with interviews and discussions of Beatlemania”. In December “Beatles 65” was released– perfect Christmas present!
Beatlemania was followed by the British Invasion and Ed Sullivan was bringing them all in, though he did censure Mick Jagger, of course. It was a grand time to be memorizing song lyrics.
“Rubber Soul” came out in December 1965, another Christmas present, but it wasn’t shake-your-hair and scream music. The Beatles were growing up, too. .
By 1966, the Beatles had grown tired of live performance. George Harrison was the first to burn out on Beatlemania, though Paul Thrived on the Adulation. McCartney finally gave in to his band mates’ insistence that the group stop touring toward the end of their August tour of the United States. Afterward, George informed manager Brian Epstein that he was leaving the band. However, he was persuaded to stay on provided there were no more tours
Shortly after the USA tour in 1966 ,the album “Revolver” was released and by that time you could see that The Beatles were definitely moving in a different direction that was more cerebral. They’d been to India and their music showed their journey.
In 1967, June, The Beatles changed the world of music again with the album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. That same year they made another movie, “Magical Mystery Tour” and I missed a lot as we were moving around from here to California. I did get Sgt. Pepper for my birthday in 1968, though.
During the second half of the Beatles’ career, the members began to assert individual artistic agendas. Their disunity became most evident on The White Album. Ringo briefly quit the group while it was being made. They were divided over who would be their manager after the death of Brian Epstein and never came to an agreement.
They launched into a multi-media project called “Get Back” that later became “Let it Be” and it was a disaster. The dysfunction of the group, the arrogance and ego of John and Paul are on full display and it’s tough to watch. Yoko is like hiding under the seats, warbling. George briefly left the band during this time. The situation was so bad that the project was not released for several years after the band had already broken up.
Abbey Road, the album that is my favorite, was released in October 1969. They weren’t actually working together, but their producer had a way of making us think they had.
The final time that the four members recorded together collectively was the session for Abbey Road‘s closing track “The End” on 18 August 1969. Lennon privately informed his band mates that he was leaving the Beatles on 20 September, although it was unclear to the other members whether his departure was permanent. On 10 April 1970, McCartney issued a press release that stated he was no longer working with the group, which sparked a widespread media reaction and worsened the tensions between him and his band mates. Legal disputes continued long after, and the dissolution was not formalized until 1974.
The Fab Four who performed on Ed Sullivan lo those many years ago were not the same group who sang me to sleep with the dark “Golden Slumbers” or who surprised me with “Her Majesty”. John’s heroin addiction and Paul’s controlling personality were Bound to Explode. George was always my favorite, anyway, and the Beatles demise freed him to create his own music, which I consider the Best and many of which have become part of my soundtrack. Ringo? Ya gotta Love Ringo…and he really is a good drummer.
Back to the present…
I have The Beatles well-represented in my CD collection, so today I’m lining them all up for a listen: Revolver, Rubber Soul, Sgt. Pepper, White Album, and Abbey Road. I’ll finish up with George, my fellow Pisces: All Things Must Pass and Brainwashed, fitting for the current era.
The day is gloomy, perfect for catching up on my reading, baking some bread, and fussing over my coleus plants. Hope you’re finding some fun over in your neck of the woods.
It is a beautiful Imbolc Week-end here at the Acres, sunny and mild; I definitely saw my shadow, so we can look forward to six more weeks of winter. These next four weeks promise fun for all, filled with birthdays, rollicking comedy with cousins, and lunches at fancy places.
I have a new sink in the upstairs bathroom, thank-you, Casey! As usual, I forgot to get the “before” picture, but we are quite a ways from the finished project, so these photos will have to do.
I completed January’s dopamine menu with the exception of visiting the Zoo and the Museum. Let’s just start the February Menu with those:
Visit Zoo
Visit Museum
Finish up the bathroom project.
U of E Theatre is presenting “Clydes”, a “riotous” comedy this month, so Lana and I (and flat Ronna) will go on the 16th.
Grandie #4 will move into double digits (10) on the 22nd. She’s going to have an ice-skating party with her friends on 3/1, but celebrate with me on the 23rd.
Also on the 22nd, Cousin Lana’s grandie, Haley, will marry her fella, Logan; we’re invited to the dinner/dance following the civil ceremony! There will be at least five cousins there at the Carmi VFW, so look out!
The 23rd is my Actual Date of Birth, and the Jrs. will be around to help me celebrate.
Currently, I only have one lunch planned, so I can fit a lot more people on my lunch card. Seriously, if you live nearby, DM me and let’s meet up. We could walk at the mall, too, if you’re interested; I’ll be there a couple of times a week.
These next couple of weeks, the weather forecast is as good as it gets for February. Fingers crossed that the mild trend continues.
I wrote some really preachy stuff and somehow lost the best part and decided it was a sign from Beyond that I should not preach. Lucky you, huh? Well, I do hope you’re all doing well after a rocky week in America. My On-This-Day photos were kind of sad: January 20, 2017…
The group that assembled that day wasn’t large, but it was hopeful.
My sign said “We are All One”…. I stand by that.
Here at Sonnystone, I’ve been a little under-the-weather. Seems like January and February bring out the worst in my health, so I’m sure we’ll have a nice go-round with our healthcare system and be ok by Spring… Hope.
To keep myself entertained, I’ve been propagating the my coleus, which had been first propagated last October. I got a pretty good stand of dill from my countertop hydroponic garden, and the chive is almost ready to come out of there; the lonely cilantro needs just a little longer, too.
I’m verry late to the game, but I am listening to a 90s jam-band, Widespread Panic. Their song, “Ain’t Life Grand?” became my theme song about four years ago and since I got down the old stereo, I bought their best CD “Panic in the Streets” and have been listening to it and their CD “Another Joyous Occasion” on a loop. Their keyboardist, John “JoJo” Hermann, is as good as Bill Payne and Roy Bittan, who are the best. Music doth soothe the troubled soul. It can also make you dance…
Just one quick preach…this excerpt from “Desiderata”
Whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the Universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at Peace…
Have a good week, fellow Children of the Universe…
Last week was uneventful here at Sonnystone Acres, spent watching the snow melt… Casey tried to outsmart Twitch, the flying squirrel, and the jury is still out on who won the skirmish.
Upcoming this week: Eliza Belle Mayne Jose’ will turn 14 on the 21st and Emma Magnolia Mayne Jose’ will be 19 on the 24th. Eliza is in the 8th grade at Avenues and continues her Irish Dance instruction at Doherty-Petri. Emma is starting her second semester at Colgate University and she, too, has continued her Irish dancing. Both girls are consistently at the top of their competitions and are World qualifiers. More than just dancers, they are good students and decent people, and I’m so proud of them.
In their honor, here’s a recycle of last year’s tribute.
The wheel is turning and we can’t slow down… My New York Irish Dancer grand-daughters both had birthdays last week. Eliza, my #3 grandie, turned 13 on the 21st; Emma, my #1 grandie, turned 18 on the 24th. I am a little dizzy thinking about how the time has flown. They are gems in my crown and their futures look so bright that I gotta wear shades…
My #1 and #3 grandies,
Eliza and Emma, 2024
Emma Magnolia Mayne Jose:
Eliza Belle Mayne Jose:
Three more days of cold and we’ll moderate into “normal” winter temperatures around 40–it will feel tropical! Hope it’s thawing in your neck of the woods.
Well, hasn’t this been a real wing-dinger of a week? We ended up with an inch or so of ice followed by five inches of snow from Sunday to Monday, then picked up another four inches of snow on Friday to Saturday.
I got caught low on groceries and had to venture out to the store between storms, where I was accosted by a lady for stepping in front of her at the milk shelves… She berated me so hard that I put back half my groceries just to get through the express lane and away from her, so my cooking has not been the gourmet extravaganza I had planned. Chili is just fine and cozy for snow days anyway.
That ice storm was brutal to our trees, and a medium-size limb became a spear as it fell on our garage roof, leaving a small hole that Casey temporarily patched up between storms.
Since the whole town is littered with downed limbs and trees, and so many folks have been without power that there were emergency shelters set up by the Red Cross, I’m grateful we’ve been warm all week. The schools were all closed, so many a Mom is on edge and my heart goes out to them. Today we’re supposed to get above freezing, so I expect the stores will be full and I’m sending strength to the hospitality and retail workers.
Casey’s in his element in this weather and has manned the snowblower like a champ, keeping our driveway passable and the birdfeeders full and out of the ice. He added a third sunflower seed feeder and got out walnuts for the squirrels to fight over. There are at least three dozen birds at the buffet constantly, sunrise to sunset, on the ground, in the magnolia tree, at the water bowl, just trying to stay alive.
While the days have been bright and beautiful and the birds and squirrels have kept us busy and entertained, today is the first day we’ve actually seen Ol’ Sol breaking through the clouds and it’s a great way to start the day!
I am planning a whole week of Getting Out of the House! Hope I see you there!
The News from Sonnystone Acres 