April 30, 2020

It took me a while but yesterdayI finally succeeded in sending by UPS (United Parcel Service) a document that I tried to mail via the USPS (United States Postal Service) about ten days ago. The document had to travel from Bad Axe to Plymouth Michigan - a distance I could have driven in under two hours. The mailing never arrived - at least yet. So I re-did the document and took it to UPS. I just wanted to come back home and take a long quiet nap. Thankfully Doug at Ace Hardware - where the UPS is located - was extremely helpful. Some friends promised to send me some masks about three weeks ago and they still have not arrived. I get it. I totally understand. The United States Postal Service, USPS, apparently started by Ben Franklin, is struggling because of the corona virus and because some politicians want to close the USPS and/or de-fund them.

Lake Huron - dark sky in the east but sun was shining overhead

Lake Huron

A small group of wild turkeys landed on my front yard and did some exploring before the dogs scared them away. They are regal and very strong fliers. I doubt the supermarket turkeys could get off the ground. Clicking on photos will enlarge them.

The emerging cattails provide some cover for four bullfrogs who made it through the winter this year. There could be more - it really has been a late spring for us here and some could still appear. Can you find all four?

I realize they look like dandelions but these lovely flowers arrive in early spring before the large leaves appear. Happy yellow. I have no idea what the plant is called; I love it though.

My cousin Carlo in Denmark sent me the scientific name for my yellow flowered plant found by a stream in the wilds of Michigan's Thumb. Tussilago farfara, coltsfoot, coughwort is a Eurasian native and has been used for centuries, millennia, as an expectorant, a sore throat soother, a cough suppressant.The composite flowers appear in early spring and are followed later by large-ish 4" leaves with pointed tips that somewhat resemble a horses's foot. The Danish word for this plant is Folfod. Fol is a young horse (foal) and fod is foot. So foalfoot if we were to translate literally perhaps.

The seeds do resemble dandelions but the plant is not as invasive. Sometimes in years long gone the seeds were used to make pillows. I would love to know how this plant made it to North America and how long it's been here. Perhaps centuries as a "home remedy"?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tussilago.

I have a few Siberian squill scattered around the yard. This is a volunteer that grew in a mulch pile. I am envious or cousin Carlo's Scilla shots. Perhaps one day . . .

I think this primrose is Primula vera. It does very well here but so far hasn't spread or volunteered any new plants. In my previous home there were several volunteers. Perhaps with time . . .

I think I like the emerging magnolia buds as much as or perhaps more than the actual flowers. Like giant puppy willows.

April 20, 2020 - Monday

Cornelian Cherry - Cornus mas

Cornelian Cherry - Cornus mas

Daphne - Volunteer

Winter Aconite - three generations

Mark - Monday, April 13, 2020

I had a really great phone call from nephew Mark this morning; he and Maribel are hunkered down and surviving the pandemic near the tip of Florida. He has had a very interesting life filled with some amazing adventures, albeit with some traumatic experiences as well. La vie, la vie, eh?

We reminisced about some shared experiences and relatives long gone now. Travel, meeting new people from diverse backgrounds, exploring exotic places. Keeping an open mind.

 Mark was/is a chef and, although he hasn't prepared meals for me - - - yet, he has years of experience behind and in front of him. I think Maribel and Mark should move to Michigan's thumb and open a small and manageable restaurant here. We need interesting food here! The above breakfast/brunch omelet has spinach, broccoli, cheese, tomato, and chorizo. My mouth waters just repeating those ingredients. Clicking on photos will enlarge them.

Rudy is Mark's BFF, best furry, friend and obviously is waiting for a ball-throw. I never trust someone who doesn't have a pet - dog, cat, gerbil, iguana, bird, etc. Yes, even fish. Cheeto-skin hasn't a pet I'll bet. Who could resist Rudy. Perfect dog. (Looks a lot less intense though than my wolf-pack!!)

I would like Mark, Maribel, Rudy and, if possible, even Valeria and her significant other, to come north this summer - if travel is possible.

Like my brother David and our maternal grandfather Firn (remember that name) Harding, he is an addicted fisherman; he/they love fishing. Mark has been building fishing rods since he was a teenager (many, many, decades ago haha!). This rod above is one of his recent accomplishments. I wonder if he sells them? 

Interesting how my mind works. Icelandic is the ancient Scandinavian language that has changed little until very recently. The old Icelandic sagas are still readable and understandable to the people of Iceland. The family of Nordic languages include Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, old English, and even German. Those languages have changed much in the last thousand plus years. Back in the day those diverse peoples could understand one another. 

My Danish cousin Carlo read my blog and said, "Though developed considerably since the time of the old Nordic language(es), Danish, Swedish and Norwegian are still so similar that I and most others read and listen to our different languages with few problems. Really no need to learn the other two languages. Speak your own, and it works. But not with the languages of Iceland or the Faroe islands."

When Leif Eriksson, the son of Erik the Red, traveling from Iceland and Greenland landed in North American more than a thousand years ago he set up two campsites or colonies which he named Vinland and Markland. Vinland was named because of the abundant grapevines; Markland further south had forested hinterlands. Mark - forest. The brother of my grandfather (Firn) was named Forrist. So, stretching things a bit, Mark was named after my great Uncle Forrist. 

Timber The Therapy Icelandic Sheepdog

I just got an update on Timber from Daniel and Sally. I am always over the moon when I hear from them.  I feel really blessed that virtually of my puppies have been adopted into wonderful homes.

Hi Jaime

I hope you are staying well and safe during this difficult time.

Just thought I would send along these photos of beautiful Timber, enjoying the back yard-always on the alert to chase squirrels and birds! And playing with her favorite ‘bunny’ in the house! Those are some of her favorite activities, along with lounging with us on the sofa in the evening.

We have been doing a lot of walking lately, as you can imagine! Timber continues to bring us so much happiness. She is a huge part of our lives. And she is a super therapy dog-always a favorite when we do our visits.

Thank you for everything you have done for those of us who are fortunate enough to have one of your puppies.

Stay well. Stay safe.

Best,

Sally and Daniel

Friday, April 10, 2020

The good news: - Tree Swallows, Iridoprocne bicolor, are back and right on time. Sadly, as expected, the bluebirds seem to have disappeared - maybe they have gone further north. I know they will be back this summer after the young swallows have fledged. I love the swooping aerobatic flying that swallows show while courting, competing for mates, and catching insects on the wing.  Amazing birds. I've read that even when the temperature are near freezing they are flying and catching the few insects like stoneflies that can survive and fly at those temperatures. I cleaned out their nestboxes a while ago and found many have white feathers, maybe from seagulls, in them. The feathers on their backs are a metallic blueish green and their bellies are white. I'd like to think I can tell the males from the females but I'm probably wrong. My electric wires are perfect resting areas. Clicking on photos enlarges them.

Also right on schedule for the state of Michigan we had snow and sleet and hail last night making this look like a winter wonderland. It is admittedly pretty and I do enjoy these last gasps of winter perhaps mostly because they are indeed both pretty and short lived.

Once or twice a week I go to my Walmart. I don't honestly like doing that but I live alone now so it's really up to me. If I run out of prescription medications, I have to go to the pharmacy. I have enough canned, frozen, dry goods to last a long time but I know I have to keep my strength up by eating fresh fruits and veggies to help my body fight the corona antigens so when I run out, it's up to me. When I get back from one of my trips, almost immediately I throw all the clothes I'm wearing into the washing machine and then the dryer, and take a shower - just in case. Literally. 

I had a best friend and partner for 42 years. After he passed from congestive heart failure and cancer, I was diagnosed with cancer too. That was more than 10 years ago now. I didn't want, don't want, to be alone but that's life, eh? One partner in each pair is most likely to be left alone. I've struggled with being alone, depression, feelings of low self esteem. What I miss the most, however, is not having someone to talk with about the normal, common, day to day, life events. I also miss having a friend/companion to vent about the horrific things happening to my country.

My dogs keep me sane, well, relatively sane. They have needs that must be met. We go for short garden walks together. We try and scare away the marauding deer together. Yes. I'm the crazy person who runs outside chasing the lyme carrying-tick infested deer while my dogs bark at them. We eat minutes apart - they eat first, I follow. We sleep and nap together. I read every day in my greeting room and they curl up near my feet, often touching my feet, leaning into my feet. If I have to get up, they all get up. When I sit back down, they all return to their spots.

Although for several weeks I have had a persistent but very mild sore throat accompanied sometimes by a very slight headache, I have not been corona virus tested. I am in a higher risk group (elderly, cancer survivor, curmudgeon) I live about 30 minutes from where it might be possible to get tested, I've not checked on test locations. Others need the test more. I am most definitely not concerned. Curious, but not enough to worry. I follow the news closely especially on MSNBC. There are governors who should be leading the country, the whole country.

By noon, the snow/sleet/hail was melted and even the cat - I Ching - found herself outside with the dogs.

I Ching

I Ching

Kit, I Ching, Bear

I Ching, Bear

I Ching

Totty - Icelandic Sheepdog

Pila - Icelandic Sheepdog

Kria - Icelandic Sheepdog

Bear - Icelandic Sheepdog

Siberian Squill

Siberian Squill

Woodpecker - Chickadee Tree

Woodpecker - Chickadee Tree

Woodpecker - Chickadee Tree

Friday, April 3, 2020

Celebrating alone this year. Downward spiral. Two years ago, can it really have been two years?, I invited my friend up to help me celebrate. She cancelled at the last minute and then the next day berated me for not telling her about a minor upcoming elective procedure. I was going to tell her that day. la vie, la vie. And that is why I am not fond of "families", genetic or otherwise.

Beautiful sunrise this morning

Clicking on photos will enlarge them.

And a small family dinner this evening.

Home made broasted chicken and gravy, redskin potatoes, 

broccoli, salad with blueberries and poppy seed dressing

Last winter this bird flew into one of my windows and knocked himself out. I "rescued" him and put him into the cage with my yellow canary. Eventually he woke up and began to fly erratically into the bars of the cage. Gradually he got used to his temporary incarceration, ate, ate, drank, swung on the swing, and eventually began to sing. I knew that one day he would be released but I was concerned that he had gotten used to the warmer temperature in the house versus the outdoor temps. Spring has arrived, even though April has erratic temperatures, sometimes very cold, other times warmer. I didn't want to release him into really cold temperatures because I was afraid the shock would be rough.

Well, I thought today would be a great time to let him go. I hope, hope, hope he'll be OK. Hope springs eternal.

The flowers below are NOT dandelions. I found this plant growing among rocks near the waterfall. In the summer it has rather large leaves. In the early spring it produces these small flowers on very short stalks. I thought the large leaves would like nice near my goldfish pond. Last year I added minnows to the pond - - and they disappeared. No carcasses ever showed up so I suspect they are still there, just near the bottom or hiding in the cattails, under some rocks, or under the milk crates.

Pila, Kit, Totty, Bear

Hellebore

Hellebore

Crocus

Crocus

Crocus

Winter Aconite

Winter Aconite

Winter Aconite

San Salvatore

Wood Chipped North Garden

Wood Chipped North Garden

Wood Chipped North Garden

I guess I'm just the little red hen (la petite poule rouge).