This and That and TBT

 

I have the space heater on next to me. 

It's a bit nippy around here this morning.  

I'm hoping that night time temps don't plummet too much because my yellow bush beans are in blossom. 

This year's green-bean harvest was somewhat dismal, so I went to the store to buy some more seed, and all I found were a couple of packets of yellow bean seed.

The plants look great, and I'd hate to see them freeze before they bear their beans. 

Yesterday I picked all the red plums possible.  It took a ladder and some maneuvering.  The tree still has  a lot of plums, but I'll leave them there as the buzzing of bees in and around where I was picking was making me nervous.

One unforeseen bee sting while standing on a ladder could have a cause-and-effect result.  It's hard to stay calm while being stung by a bee and probably to stay on a ladder. 

So, I'll let the bees go at it with the remaining plums. 

We've been trying to get projects done before the big trip to Ireland.  Yesterday involved calling for travel insurance. 

The agent said over the phone, "Well, Miss Marianne, why did you decide to purchase travel insurance?"

I could have said that I was afraid I might fall off a cliff into the ocean, but, instead, I gave an answer she probably hears often, "because we are old." 

She giggled and said she had heard that a time or two.  And, in our case, it's the truth.  

We don't plan to fall off a cliff, but at this age, we like peace of mind, knowing that if something does go wrong, it won't break the bank. 

It was fun talking to the agent who was definitely from the South. She seemed to enjoy addressing me as "Miss Marianne."  In fact, it kinda made me feel young enough not to need travel insurance. 

Bill went to a meeting last night regarding proposed development at Trestle Creek. 

He estimated that around 200 people showed up to voice their concerns about the development harming the kokanee habitat, shoreline vegetation, a beaver dam and nesting trees for eagles and osprey.

He said it would have been nice if there were a sound system because some citizens' comments were difficult to hear. 

Let's hope their voices and the written comments have some impact on saving all of the above. 

It's happening:  leaves are beginning to turn. 

And, so when the flowers aren't pretty anymore, we can look to the leaves on the ground and in the trees for our eye candy. 

These folks came by the driveway yesterday shortly after two of them had arrived on their road trip from South Dakota. 

Our neighbor Alicia's (center) parents came for a visit and after a long day in the car, they were happy to walk around the neighborhood.  

They're excited to watch their grandson Nathan this weekend who's the No. 1 runner on Sandpoint High's cross country team. 

The team will be competing in a meet at Farragut. 

Great to see the grandparents again. 

Thursday Throwbacks . . . .

A watermelon feast in Battle Creek, Mich., in 1958 when we took our '58 Ford ranch wagon on a road trip to visit with the relatives. 

In the past two days, I've connected with two members of this family.  I'm hoping to learn some more family history through this reconnection. 

My friend Ann (who has ALWAYS been older than I) when she was touting being young like a tree and 40.  

Ann used to do the Polar Plunges on New Year's Day. 

Former teaching colleagues and friends Pam, Marian and Barb. 

I have a feeling Pam is maybe telling a story. 

A Farm Tour stop at the Curlesses'. 

The Curlesses are currently visiting Scotland, probably looking at sheep or working dogs. 

My friend Larry.  I may have caught him without his usual smile. 

Good corn, right Alicia?

We all miss these two, Kenny and Moreen. 

They and their family put on a wonderful horse show every year for decades. 

Sadly, they passed away a day apart this past year. 

BELOW:

Osaze singing the anthem at a horse show. 

By golly, she's now about to perform on Broadway, using her skills in sign language. 

Osaze, we are proud of you.