C.J. Cherryh's Blog, page 23
January 29, 2017
Burglar in the night…four-footed.
We're still under a foot of snow here, with more on the way.
Last night, abed, I heard a considerable thump in the back yard, and the spooklight had come on. Seishi, our burglar detector, was up at the open window with his neck giraffed to twice its ordinary length...
I looked out, and saw a raccoon larger than an Aussie shepherd across the pond, by the garage door. I banged on the window, then ran out to the living room where Jane was still watching telly, said, "Raccoon at the pond," and ran through the kitchen, knocking over a plastic platter, a large plastic and a large metal mixing bowl in the process. Grabbed one and ran out through the mudroom, to turn on the light and clatter the bowl loudly. I stood out there barefoot in a nightshirt on the icy concrete as Jane joined me and did some reconnoitering--- couldn't see anything, but I also hadn't heard a corresponding sound of a raccoon leaving.
So I stayed a little alert. It's been so cold I've hesitated to put out our groundlevel spooklight lantern, but I think I may tonight. The snow is frozen, so it's not going to show tracks, but there's some collapse around the mugo pine near the waterside, and I think our bandit may have tried to go down to the water there.
Weather will be clear for about 3 days, then another weeklong round of snowy weather, though not, I think, too much accumulation. It's been a very persistent winter up here.
Last night, abed, I heard a considerable thump in the back yard, and the spooklight had come on. Seishi, our burglar detector, was up at the open window with his neck giraffed to twice its ordinary length...
I looked out, and saw a raccoon larger than an Aussie shepherd across the pond, by the garage door. I banged on the window, then ran out to the living room where Jane was still watching telly, said, "Raccoon at the pond," and ran through the kitchen, knocking over a plastic platter, a large plastic and a large metal mixing bowl in the process. Grabbed one and ran out through the mudroom, to turn on the light and clatter the bowl loudly. I stood out there barefoot in a nightshirt on the icy concrete as Jane joined me and did some reconnoitering--- couldn't see anything, but I also hadn't heard a corresponding sound of a raccoon leaving.
So I stayed a little alert. It's been so cold I've hesitated to put out our groundlevel spooklight lantern, but I think I may tonight. The snow is frozen, so it's not going to show tracks, but there's some collapse around the mugo pine near the waterside, and I think our bandit may have tried to go down to the water there.
Weather will be clear for about 3 days, then another weeklong round of snowy weather, though not, I think, too much accumulation. It's been a very persistent winter up here.
The service was extraordinary…
Dress code was---purple shirts. Mike was like that---not a formal guy, though he could look very nice in a suit. Attendees were artists, writers, scientists, churchly folk, fans, neighbors---amazing mix.
It's hard when somebody goes so young. It was hard.
Still can't believe it. But it is.
It's hard when somebody goes so young. It was hard.
Still can't believe it. But it is.
January 23, 2017
Terrible news…
One of our dearest friends, Mike Briggs, of Mike and Patty Briggs---passed away unexpectedly of a sudden illness this morning. We're just devastated.
January 20, 2017
40 degrees F out there, my sainted Aunt Tillie…
I want, yes, a decent cup of tea. Unfortunately we are out. I decided it was worth it to get kitted up to brave the walks, and they call it 40 degrees.
Well, news flash, the walk is frozen so hard neither shovel nor hoe nor rake nor metal shovel can make a dent in it: worse, it's irregular and uneven ice compounded of our trying to get the groceries in during a wet snowfall. Not only is it frozen, but the interior of the garage where melt has happened is a skating rink.
Not that I am even yet utterly incapable of navigating a rink, but after a cup of tea seems, well, perhaps I can wait and have expired and nasty tea without cream. I can swear that there are few things viler than Almond Milk used in bad tea...but, ah, well, we are far from starving here. And melt will come sometime during the month.
Are we braving the front walk to take the garbage to the curb? Nay. One nice thing about cold weather---nasty garbage freezes, so you can take it out when the walk is passable.
So we wait. We have plenty to eat, and coffee enough. I can make soups or beans or rice. We are good. We are staying put.
Well, news flash, the walk is frozen so hard neither shovel nor hoe nor rake nor metal shovel can make a dent in it: worse, it's irregular and uneven ice compounded of our trying to get the groceries in during a wet snowfall. Not only is it frozen, but the interior of the garage where melt has happened is a skating rink.
Not that I am even yet utterly incapable of navigating a rink, but after a cup of tea seems, well, perhaps I can wait and have expired and nasty tea without cream. I can swear that there are few things viler than Almond Milk used in bad tea...but, ah, well, we are far from starving here. And melt will come sometime during the month.
Are we braving the front walk to take the garbage to the curb? Nay. One nice thing about cold weather---nasty garbage freezes, so you can take it out when the walk is passable.
So we wait. We have plenty to eat, and coffee enough. I can make soups or beans or rice. We are good. We are staying put.
January 12, 2017
Allergies: had to undecorate the ‘woodland’ tree…
..and Lysol it. These artificial trees aren't necessarily allergy-free after a few years of use, and this one is, well, one of our earlier purchases in Spokane, which could put its date of birth somewhere in the first decade of the century. So we got by with it for a while, but in time, the allergies kicked in. When my eyes were watering too much to see my work yesterday, I consulted with Jane and offered to do the put-away of the ornaments. The woodland tree is a nice, plain little tree with pine cones, and we concentrate our 'animal' and woodsy ornaments on that one, lots of deer and stags and my much-loved little ships and pirates. I have four drunken pirates that I love, right down with the snow fairies for the other tree. 
January 8, 2017
More snow.
SNowblowing the driveway is much nicer with a warm knit cap and muffler.
January 3, 2017
Back from the dentist—one more time.
Otoh, we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak, at which point I will fall short of having my own personal dedicated chair, with plaque, at the dentist's office. They're fixing things to prevent future problems, and while it's a hit right now, (and I have a headache), I'm pretty confident after a couple more appointments I will be happy with the outcome.
December 30, 2016
Approaching the new year…and another spate of cold weather…
We're doing very little going-out, but we did shovel the drive to get the car out to head to Swinging Doors to have a story conference. There's something comfy about one's chosen dark sports bar/watering hole that promotes better thinking---none of the chores waiting for us to distract us.
We got more done in two hours than we could have done in a day of puttering around at home, in terms of idea-trading, and we've got story developing, which is a great feeling.
Now more snow is coming and so long as the power doesn't go out, we're good. OTOH, having been through LAST year, we own a generator. And really, we don't look for this to be as much snow, but it may be colder. Our house windows are in great shape now---used to have cracked glass, non-functional storm windows, and heat leakage; and now we're just comfy. Was a huge hit on the pocketbook, but if we hadn't fixed that front window, we'd have seen some more serious damage. Not to mention the mold source.
So we face a year in which we are going to be cleaning out the (shudder) basement and garage. Jane's determined on a garage sale, and I've sworn to the same. Moves from WA to OK, with 2 houses, then OK to here with two apartments and a house, have seen us outfit a new place and then have to re-outfit, and do it all again just way too many times. At one point, here in WA, we had 3 storage units because we just couldn't figure what to let go of. THIS year, we swear we're going to clear the decks and have what we actually need rather than what we might need someday.
And we're going to get a lot of writing done.
We got more done in two hours than we could have done in a day of puttering around at home, in terms of idea-trading, and we've got story developing, which is a great feeling.
Now more snow is coming and so long as the power doesn't go out, we're good. OTOH, having been through LAST year, we own a generator. And really, we don't look for this to be as much snow, but it may be colder. Our house windows are in great shape now---used to have cracked glass, non-functional storm windows, and heat leakage; and now we're just comfy. Was a huge hit on the pocketbook, but if we hadn't fixed that front window, we'd have seen some more serious damage. Not to mention the mold source.
So we face a year in which we are going to be cleaning out the (shudder) basement and garage. Jane's determined on a garage sale, and I've sworn to the same. Moves from WA to OK, with 2 houses, then OK to here with two apartments and a house, have seen us outfit a new place and then have to re-outfit, and do it all again just way too many times. At one point, here in WA, we had 3 storage units because we just couldn't figure what to let go of. THIS year, we swear we're going to clear the decks and have what we actually need rather than what we might need someday.
And we're going to get a lot of writing done.
December 26, 2016
Jane shoveled out the drive today—about half a foot deep.
Which let me get to the store to get cheese, spaghetti, and a lot of stuff...the mouth is finally letting me eat something besides soup without pain, and we're figuring on being snowbound, since tonight is supposed to put that half foot BACX on the driveway and it's going to snow every day for a week.
We are supplied! We are going to be toasty and warm and well-fed, but I think going out for New Year's is not going to happen this year!
Let me give you our favorite split pea and ham soup recipe: adjust the spicing to your own taste.
16 oz. bag of split peas, 6 cups water (precise), in saucepan, bring to boil: 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, pepper, celery seed, (not celery salt) and red chili flake. Potatoes optional. Add generous portion diced ham (pre-cooked) and simmer on low until cooked to green paste. The bag may say 30 minutes, but we put it on at one if we want it for supper at 4:30. IT looks like a Dr. Seuss concoction, but it's tasty, especially if served with buttered seed-bread toast. This will warm the chilliest soul. Serves 4. The celery kick tames the 'pea-ness' of it and makes it savory.
We are supplied! We are going to be toasty and warm and well-fed, but I think going out for New Year's is not going to happen this year!
Let me give you our favorite split pea and ham soup recipe: adjust the spicing to your own taste.
16 oz. bag of split peas, 6 cups water (precise), in saucepan, bring to boil: 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, pepper, celery seed, (not celery salt) and red chili flake. Potatoes optional. Add generous portion diced ham (pre-cooked) and simmer on low until cooked to green paste. The bag may say 30 minutes, but we put it on at one if we want it for supper at 4:30. IT looks like a Dr. Seuss concoction, but it's tasty, especially if served with buttered seed-bread toast. This will warm the chilliest soul. Serves 4. The celery kick tames the 'pea-ness' of it and makes it savory.
December 18, 2016
Something restful about snow…
I love the snow. In Oklahoma we didn't get it every year---more like 1 year in 4. When we did get it, it was often sleet. And then, rarely, you'd get a snow several feet deep. I recall hiking about when I was about, oh, 13, and forgetting about the steepsided drainage ditch (in Oklahoma all unwalled ditches and creeks cut very deep into the earth, which lacks rocks: just plain dirt and sand moves along, leaving banks that are pretty straight-sided, well over your head.
Well, plunk! down I went. I looked up to a circle of blue sky: the snow was about 3' above my head, but being typical 'wet' snow, it stayed put and didn't cave in on me. So I began working at getting out. I did it finally by packing the snow into steps and climbing up that way---and just being real glad nobody saw it. OTOH, if that had been powder snow, and if it had caved in, I'd have been wishing for witnesses with a rope and shovel.
I didn't build snowmen much: I hated to disturb the pristine coat of snow. Only once the place had become trampled, then I'd do it, but I hated the mess it made.
To this day I hate shoveling not for the job itself, but because I have to disturb the prettiness of it---in the practicality of being able to get to the garage.
We're going to get rain on Tuesday, then right back in the freezer with more snow afterward. Wednesday morning I have an early appointment (endodontist job 2) and have to get out, so I'm really hoping the re-freeze doesn't give me a coat of ice to contend with.
The good news is the antibiotic is working, and I'm feeling better. The decorations are up, prezzies are wrapped, and Monday we make the trek to the post office, weather permitting, to mail what needs mailing.
Well, plunk! down I went. I looked up to a circle of blue sky: the snow was about 3' above my head, but being typical 'wet' snow, it stayed put and didn't cave in on me. So I began working at getting out. I did it finally by packing the snow into steps and climbing up that way---and just being real glad nobody saw it. OTOH, if that had been powder snow, and if it had caved in, I'd have been wishing for witnesses with a rope and shovel.
I didn't build snowmen much: I hated to disturb the pristine coat of snow. Only once the place had become trampled, then I'd do it, but I hated the mess it made.
To this day I hate shoveling not for the job itself, but because I have to disturb the prettiness of it---in the practicality of being able to get to the garage.
We're going to get rain on Tuesday, then right back in the freezer with more snow afterward. Wednesday morning I have an early appointment (endodontist job 2) and have to get out, so I'm really hoping the re-freeze doesn't give me a coat of ice to contend with.
The good news is the antibiotic is working, and I'm feeling better. The decorations are up, prezzies are wrapped, and Monday we make the trek to the post office, weather permitting, to mail what needs mailing.
