Vicki Lane's Blog, page 77
October 23, 2023
October 22, 2023
To the Top of the World
Sunday was heart-breakingly gorgeous, and we went with friends to see some property they were thinking about purchasing.
One piece comes with two funky barns and a lovely view.
We poked our heads in the gray barn and found what looked to be an ad hoc sort of a gentlemen's club--a couple of lawn chairs, an empty whiskey bottle, and other evidence of leisure activity.
Country charm, as a realtor might say.
Adjoining this acreage and higher up was another bit of land with a nice house and a fine view.
So much to love about these mountains! But wait, said Justin, you need to see the place where I'm working these days. It's just up the road. . .
So we piled into our various vehicles (all 4WD, up being the operative word here.) After twisting and winding up and up and up a one lane gravel road for what seemed like a very long time, we came to Justin's work site.
Now, that's a view! (Yes, we cautioned Josie to stay away from the edge.)
It was breath-taking. And the wind's gentle murmur and the sparkle of the sun on yellow leaves enhanced the experience.
Blue Elephant was along for the adventure, of course.
The rather tiny house that Justin and Gilberto are building is set a little below the top for protection from the wind. I assume it's meant as a vacation house--the road could be a real challenge in winter.
What a great spot for contemplation!
I look forward to seeing pictures of it when it's completed.
So much beauty down the backroads of our county. (This particular backroad is just across the street from Josie's school and there are many houses and farms along it.) 
October 21, 2023
October 20, 2023
Josie Didn't Expect This!
When the bell rang for school to be out, it was hailing! I didn't expect that! I caught some in my hand and Meema took a picture of it on her car. (The hail I caught melted right away.)
When I got in the car, Meema gave me my new copy of Ranger Rick. On the way home, I read some of it all by myself.
When we got home, I immediately went to work on a new jigsaw puzzle with a princess and a unicorn. Meema did some but I did most. I am good at jigsaw puzzles.
When the puzzle was all together except one piece that we couldn't find, some of the Castle People had a meeting with Hildegarde and Gertrudis. The two new ones want to help fight the bad guys.
We did some reading and then it was time for crafts. I had an idea, and we got a basket and went outside to collect some leaves.
They were pretty wet but I got some anyway.
The maple leaves are the prettiest. By the way, I am wearing one pink Croc and one sparkly Croc. It is not a mistake; it is fashion.
Back inside. I have a nice piece of white cardboard to make my leaf picture on.
Elmer's glue works better than the glue stick.
I made a fairy named Josie. She has wings and a wand (Meema cut out the star for me.) I cut up little pieces of the leaves' stems to make her feet and her fingers. (Her arms are kind of long.) She has a flower in her hair. Her eyes messed up a little because the marker didn't work so good on the leaf, but I think she still looks pretty good.
I think we will do more crafts next time.
October 19, 2023
Along the Way
A quick trip out to get my flu shot and a haircut--the wild reflection in the morning mirror was beginning to startle me.
Driving on a clear fall day, with the leaves nearing peak color, is pretty much a religious experience for me.
Lots of yellows and golds but not a lot of red. Sometimes it comes on quite late.
Driving under these back-lit yellow leaves almost takes my breath away.
As I've said before, it's all the sweeter for being such a fleeting time.
Not unlike old age.
October 18, 2023
An Outage of Cows
Louise and I were going to spend a pleasant day with watercolors so I went down to the lower place to pick her up, only to be confronted with cows where they didn't belong.
Alas, my little cow-herding buddy was in school, and John was elsewhere. I'm no Border Collie and I move quite slowly but fortunately, the cows know where they belong and trundle back to the gate with me hirpling along behind. (I only recently discovered the word hirpling, a Scots term for hobbling and I am making it my own.)
Easily done. But it reminded me of a time forty some years ago when I had Justin in a carrier on my back and I chased after our wandering milk cow across the hard road and around the mountain. I got her turned around eventually and back to the barn, but, lordy! I couldn't do that now.
Old times they are not forgotten.
October 17, 2023
October 16, 2023
Class Struggle Ahead?
Last month when I posted about the weaponized Castle Ladies staging a coup and knocking down the king, my son Ethan commented, "Next up, class struggle. Though I guess not many of her internet admirers send peasants . . ."
John's sister took the challenge. She and I think the big one is named Hildegard. She definitely looks capable of kicking ass and taking names. Or knitting while the guillotine is in use.
October 15, 2023
A Small Outrage
There is so much to be outraged about these days -- Ukraine, the Middle East, climate change, and the dysfunctional GOP that is holding our government hostage so that it can't address any of these--that I almost hesitate to voice my sheer stupefaction at this multi-page mailing from Blue Cross Advantage--our Medicare supplemental insurance.
Two of these flashy, splashy accordion-folded notices arrived Saturday, one for me and one for John. I opened mine at once, hoping to hear that perhaps coverage had been expanded or something.
Nope. This whole hoorah was simply to inform us that we would be getting new cards with different numbers. Information that would have fit nicely on a postcard.
I'd like to know what this mailing cost Blue Cross--and what the post card would have cost.
And the rates keep going up.
