Thank You, Neighbor Bob!

When the neighbors were together on my porch, I hoped no one would notice that I hadn’t cleaned the spot where I store garden tools. Everything else had been swept or wiped down. As I walked near the messy spot, Bob asked, “What is all this?”

I replied that those were my outside tools, and some probably should be thrown away. He said something comforting, like he could see some good things. I said, “I have to take everything out and clean it up. Maybe I’ll do it on a rainy day.”

Four days later as it began to rain, I thought of what I had said to Bob. That was the spur that got me out on the porch. I threw away one ratty pair of John’s gloves and moved two large rakes and some screening material to the garage. It wasn’t hard to clean the tray and sweep the floor, I just needed a nudge. Thank you, Bob, for inspiring me to put that corner to rights.

Tools stored — as neat as it’s going to get

Keeping Up

Keeping up with frogs and friends is not always easy. I thought I spotted Frog the day after I cleaned the waterfall pools, but I haven’t seen him since. He used to sun himself for hours on a warm stone, but then it wasn’t warm for days.

I was uneasy about a BFF, because I hadn’t heard from her for a few days. I got a message from her asking if I was OK for the same reason. I replied that I was fine. I realized she had not gotten my account of the neighborhood gathering for Memorial Day. Going back to my message to her, I sent her the screen shot of the photo. We were perplexed until I looked at the icons and saw there were two for her in different colors. Aha! I felt really stupid when I realized I sent two messages to her land line.

There was no way to copy those messages, so I put my phone beside the computer and typed the words to her. After catching up, I deleted her land line from my contact list.

To keep y’all up to date, here is a photo of us as we ate lunch on Memorial Day. J brought his grill through our side yards, and we decided to put it on the back porch because of threatening rain. He said later that he liked it, because people were out there talking to him as he cooked our hot dogs and hamburgers. No one realized he felt cut off when we stayed inside while he cooked. Years ago we began to bring our own meats and a side dish to share. That has worked well for us.

Several of us felt that the gathering was one of our best. We seemed closer, more in tune with each other. When Joyce moved her chair, we could see each other’s faces as we munched on desserts. I enjoyed it tremendously and was happy to have had a deadline to get the porch cleaned up after yellow pollen season. We shared leftovers with each other as the party broke up. It was a wonderful start to the outdoor eating season.

I forgot to mention that Bob led us in prayer before we ate, remembering Americans who gave their lives for our country and asking a blessing on the food. It was not an afterthought, as it was here.

Frog Hiding??

I didn’t see Frog the day after I cleaned the waterfall pools, but I thought I saw a little movement in the plants nearby. I wouldn’t worry just yet.

I had warning that the temperature was going low, because neighbor Joyce mentioned it. She would prefer a warm, sunny day to clean her front porch. I looked at the forecast and pulled the door curtains shut before I went to bed, hoping to keep the house warm without turning on the heat.

An added blanket kept me warm all night, but how cold it seemed when I got up! It’s the first time I ever wished for a sweater to wear to the bathroom. The thought of washing my hands with cold water made me shudder, so I ran the water until it was hot. A sweatshirt would have been welcome when doing stretches and bands. The thermometer told me it was 44F (6.666C) outside and 69F (20.556C) inside. Good grief, Anne! It was often that cool in the house all winter! Get moving!

For the morning walk, I wore a sweatshirt and a windbreaker, shedding only the top layer on the way home. Even keeping the sweatshirt on inside wasn’t enough, because writing does not keep me warm. That’s when it occurred to me that Frog might not be hiding. He might have gone into hibernation!! Brr!

Frog’s Shock of the Day

I decided to clean the waterfall after reading a comment from Timelesslady of Minding my P’s with Q. She suggested I start the falls with reduced force so that the frogs wouldn’t be frightened. Brilliant!

I removed leaves with a child’s rake and took a photo before I took leaves from the deepest pool.

Emptying the bottom pool took a while. I used a plastic mixing bowl to scoop out most of the water and then used a litter scooper to get the leaves. I filled that pool a couple of times and drained it with the pump, so the water is fairly clear.

Going to the top of the falls, I took a photo showing the three pools that are in use right now. Water does not reach the top hose after I restricted the flow. There is a nice little sound of falling water.

I couldn’t believe there was movement in the lowest pool. Frog surprised me with his swimming around. He couldn’t get out because the water was too low! I have no idea when he went in the water. Surely he wasn’t there when I was scooping out the murky mess! Water was filling the pool as I stood at the top. Frog tried to climb the hose, then he took a lap around before trying again. As the water level rose, I saw him leap and land on the edge, pausing for a few moments before hiding under a rock. When the pool was full, I quietly retrieved my tools and left the area. I hope poor Frog will recover from his fright of the day. He certainly shocked me!

Frog’s Serenade

For days Frog was silent. He kept me company when I was pulling weeds in the garden, because I worked as far away from him as I could. He jumped in the water as soon as I walked back to the house. As I ate breakfast on the porch, I thought I saw him in the water. Yes! I heard a croaking sound and saw his throat expand before the next short song. The word “song” is the wrong name, because he is a monotone.

I thought I detected movement and found the second frog several inches above the first one. This frog was on the edge of the pool above.

I actually saw it move down to the ledge below where the waterfall will spill water into the lowest pool.

I am torn with indecision. I want to get the waterfall going, but I’m sure the frogs will leave if I do. The water is murky and full of leaves. The next time I walk by the pools, I’m going to look for spawn. If it’s there, I’ll wait to see what happens. There is a stream within hopping distance, so they do have a natural place to go if I start the waterfall.

Sharing Silence with Frog

For the past several weeks I’ve shared quiet mealtimes with Frog. This is the view I have of his sitting on a flat stone. He doesn’t mind my moving about on the porch, as long as I don’t go near him outside.

A cute little chipmunk scurried up the stones on the right of the waterfall. I was surprised that there was movement to the left of the water. Although I did not see the action clearly, I thought another frog jumped into the lower pool from above. That took me by surprise, because I had seen only one frog up until then. As I ate, I kept my eyes looking toward the waterfall. Suddenly a frog jumped from the water to the stones above, where she disappeared instantly among the plants. Of course, I have no idea of the sex or relationship of the two animals.

This is what I was looking at, from the inside of the porch.

I went outside and down the steps, moving as quietly as I could. Zooming in, the camera caught the frog, still sitting there. He seemed comfortable with that, staying in place after I returned to the porch. I didn’t see the second frog again, but I will certainly be alert for any movement near the water.

Bed Exit Change

Years ago, a doctor told me I had arthritis in my back and hips. I was only concentrating on total knee replacements at the time. Worrying about other body parts could wait until they demanded attention. In the last few months I realized I felt fine lying in bed, but as soon as the feet met the floor, there was PAIN! I have a new exit strategy now. I slip out of bed, hoping the body won’t notice, and stand still until I can walk without whimpering. Once I get going, it isn’t bad.

I used the new trimmer to cut the forsythia bush to a reasonable size. The branches I cut off were about 2 to 3 feet long. The view is still obstructed by trees on the other side of the fence, but I can see more than I used to.

I Missed the Earthquake!

How do I know I missed the earthquake? Lise talked to me from Denmark and asked me about it less than half an hour after it happened. Neighbor Shawn had texted Lise, so that was her news source.

I did hear an unusual sound and thought it might be the heating system turning on. I was walking from the kitchen to the laundry room, which is why I didn’t feel the house shaking. Shawn couldn’t believe I missed all the excitement. I asked her if she heard a sound with the quake, She answered, “Yes! I heard at first, what I thought was a huge gust of wind rattling the windows. Then it became louder and stronger and when I looked out the window, no branches were moving so I knew it wasn’t wind. Then it still became stronger and there was no mistake! Izzy [the dog] freaked out!!”

Neighbor Joyce contacted all the women on the street, saying we might already know the quake measured 4.1 South of Knoxville, Tennessee. She first thought it was a really big truck on the street.

Maybe I’d already had enough excitement for the day. I woke with vertigo, my head swimming as I got out of bed. It never lasts very long, so I planned to walk as usual. There was a bobble with one knee, feeling like it wasn’t exactly straight when I got dressed. I took the old cane with me for support. Some of the time I held the cane off the road, and the rest of the time I put it down with every other step. If I looked a bit odd, that was nothing new. People here are used to me.

A Superb Personal Shopper

Friends, neighbors, and relatives all knew I was dreading the process of finding appropriate attire for an upcoming dressy event. Attire was the operative word, because clothing didn’t convey the seriousness of this search. Many of you know I’m happier in rags than glitter, but this was not about my comfort. It was about propriety and honor. Yes, serious stuff!

Neighbor Shawn offered to go with me, and I immediately felt relief and gratitude. I had no idea she was a shopping expert!! I wandered around aimlessly, seeing colors and styles I liked. If the color was good, the style was awful. Shawn asked what I was looking for, and she knew better than I did what I wanted. She zipped up and down endless rows, pulling out her telephone to scan tags for the sale prices. I would have paid $100 to get out alive!

The various departments had no boundaries. One moment you’d be in clothes for large women, and the next in petites (which means short, not little). Shawn held up several tops near me, using her artist’s eye to gauge suitability. I realized when I saw the front windows of the store that we were back where we started.

“You are an expert, Shawn,” I said. “How did you get your experience?”

She replied, “For several years when my children were young, I worked in this store at Christmastime.”

I thought to myself that was a start, but it didn’t explain her savvy use of the phone. No one had mobile phones back then. Also, she sensed what would look good on me. Of the six tops she had in the cart, there must have been three different sizes. They all fit!

I tried on each one, posing quickly for Shawn to take a photo with my phone. Daughter Lise suggested we do that, pointing out that it’s easier to judge how something looks when you are the victim. I will admit the pictures looked better than what I saw in the mirror.

I was thrilled that it was over, knowing profuse thanks could never repay Shawn for her superb guidance. She was a miracle in action!

What About French Toast?

Last week I thought about buying bagels for my usual Sunday morning breakfast, but I decided against it. Did there have to be a reason? If there was, I forgot it. It came to me in the night that I hadn’t had French toast in three or four years. YEARS!! I didn’t think about it again until after I had gone to church on line. It wouldn’t be a big production to coat two pieces of bread and cook them. No need to look at a recipe. Who would need directions for something that should come naturally? Don’t over-think it. Just do it.

How do you like your French toast? Should it be sweet or a bland background for real maple syrup? Should it have cinnamon? Do you like it soggy or slightly crisp? Does it matter what it looks like?

I don’t remember what pan I used in the past, but my eye lit on the wok. It lives on the stove, because it’s too big to store anywhere else. It’s too heavy to sling around, too. The battered bread looked good, with the coating nice and even. It got a little too brown while I made coffee. That wouldn’t have mattered to me, but there were spots of brown and quite a bit of uncooked batter. Good grief! The toast was not cooking evenly! I began to play with the mess, turning the bread this way and that, while pressing the raw spots into the pan. I turned off the heat, put one piece on a plate and left the other to stay warm in the pan.

Since the first piece was on the soggy side, I put the other one in the air fryer. It got reasonably stiff, but it also repelled the syrup. There has to be a middle road, but I wasn’t on it. That’s a real drawback of living alone. There was no one to laugh with me at this culinary blip. If I can muster up one giggle before the day is out, all will be well.