Post #1- My Luxurious Accomodations

This is the view from the upstairs room I was sleeping in at "D"s house. I had the penthouse suite with another king size bed and views as far as the eye could see. This is looking west to Lake Koocanusa and the Percell Mountains in the Kootenai National Forest; home of the Yaak. This is where Rick Bass(one of my favorite writers) writes his wonderful books about his life, his dog Colter and the vanishing wilderness. In the days to come we will drive through the Yaak and experienced the isolated area first hand but at the time I took this picture the only things that I could see to the West was a dark range of mountains with a storm coming in our direction....one of the distant vistas of Big Sky country.
Below is the same window as above. I backed away so I could take a picture of "D"s beautiful window coverings. All her curtains are from beautiful quilts that she makes and uses for her windows and interior doors. They are unique and beautifully transparent with the light coming through them. They also insulate from the cold in winter.


(I'm having trouble with the uploading of my photos so bear with me.)

When the sun shines through these quilted curtains they look like stained glass.
Very lovely.






I made myself at home, throwing my shoes on the floor next to the bed and leaving my bags all over the place. They gave me a place to relax and unwind and that I did.
The first day at "D"s home I met her husband, the mountain man himself, and again they slept in their trailer so I could have the comforts of home upstairs.
The mountain man built this house and all the outbuildings by himself. He mills the logs that he harvested from the forest. He and "D" went to the rivers and brought back all the stones that built the foundation. The windows are recycled from other old homes. This house is a labor of love for both of them and still, when I arrived, they slept in their trailer so I could sleep inside the house. Is that not Montana hospitality?
This home is so beautiful. It's a natural and ecologically fitting home that doesn't make a scar on the environment like some of it's neighbors... who brought the "bigger is better" philosophy with them from some other place and even have gardeners to mow their lawns. Yep!

Honest story here..... when "D" and the mountain man arrived on their property a few years ago with their sheep wagon and all their worldly belonging in a truck, they were confronted by this neighbor( with the manicured lawn) and the first thing he asked them was if they were going to build a house or live like a "typical" Montanan. Wow! how's that for neighborly chit chat? Now I don't know what a typical Montana native is suppose to live like but that's just rude and the mountain man took offense. It was not pretty and they haven't talked to each other since. I would imagine that, now, when this "neighbor" sees this beautiful house that was built and the sheep wagon next to the most amazing barn/workshop ever.... and the lovely chicken house... that he is eating his words. But, we'll never know because the mountain man built a new road into their property and avoids the "neighbor" like the plague.
(Because I'm having trouble with the posting of photos I will do three posts today. I'm back to the old blogger photo upload and until I figure out what is wrong with the new one and why it won't let me upload photos from my files, I will have to limit my photos to three per post. I wish they wouldn't change what doesn't need fixing.)

How they treat a hen in Big Sky country

This is Henny.... She is a "house" hen. She doesn't sleep in the house, mind you, she just comes in for food. In the morning my friend "D" goes out and let Henny and Dwane (the rooster) out of the chicken house. Henny charges out of her beautiful little abode and immediately comes toward the big house. Up the steps she goes and if the door is not open she paces back and forth until "D" opens the door and then ....."here she comes just a walkin' down the street" or what I mean is.... across the floor. She is a chicken on a mission, a hen with purpose.

Henny is an Orpington breed (I think.) with a beautiful Wheaten coat and smarter than the average chicken. She struts into the kitchen and waits while "D" fixes her breakfast. Then with all the elegance a chicken can muster, she eats her special gourmet meal. This morning it was hard boiled egg (probably her own....the ultimate recycle) and some broken pecans, much more to her liking than the egg.
.
When she had her fill she started for the door. "D" called her and gave her one last, special, hand delivered goodie.... and then....out she went to forage on her own. With a flip of her tale feathers and a few clucks (...could have been "thank you", it's hard to know.) she walked out the front door and into the garden.
It is definitely a hen's life around here.
I, on the other hand, had to get my own breakfast. Hummph! OK, I know. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow. Sometimes you just have to do a little chicken dance and grab the camera instead.
I just hope Henny knows how good she has it. I think she does....

P.S. Please don't tell my hens about this.

First two days in the Flathead

I have decided that flying can be FUN. There, I said it.... That wasn't hard. It almost convinces me that it really is fun and that, somehow, makes it easier. Mostly, it's getting my mind into a different place where I can find interest in something besides how high I'm am. At the same time, looking down at the landscape below is so interesting that I find myself forgetting where I am and focusing on seeing the country in a different way....

Of course I checked the wing to be sure that it didn't have a crack in it or gasoline leaking out. Everything was fine. Then I looked down at the landscape of Nevada...

I would imagine that when the pioneers came across this land, from the great Salt Lake in Utah, to the deserts and plains of Nevada and then came up against the Sierra Nevada Mountains that they probably figured they were pretty much going in the wrong direction. This is desolate territory. It must have been slow and miserable in a wagon train. It made my hour and a half airplane ride even more appealing.
Nevada is beautiful in it's own way. It's starkness has a beauty that is so different than California. Once you leave the farms that make colorful patchwork quilts of the great central valley, the mountains with their many shades of greens and the blue water of Lake Tahoe and fly east, the landscape becomes a flat terrain of simple contrast... light and dark, that is only broken by clouds darkening the already binary terrain. The contrast of light flat ravines and dark spare mountains is startling.
As we came into Salt Lake City we experienced a small amount of turbulence. I heard a child a few seats in front of me say, " Oh daddy, this is just like a roller coaster." This gave me pause for thought. I've never been on a roller coaster, never will, but it did make me feel better that we landed safely and that a little girl thought it was fun.
We changed planes and were off for Kalispell.

And within an hour and a half we flew into the Flathead Valley of Northwest Montana. This was what I had been waiting for....
My friend, "D", was waiting with a big smile and a hug. No stiff drink, but that's OK because I was so glad to be there and have my feet on the ground, that I didn't even need to alter my state of mind. Montana IS a state of mind all by itself. We retrieved my bags and left the airport.
"D" is working in Kalispell but lives about 70 miles north so during the week she rents an apartment in Big Fork and then heads home for the weekends. When we pulled up to this huge utility building I was beginning to wonder what kind of accommodations I was going to sleep in that night. I wondered what was inside this big, huge building and was I going to find some clean hay in a corner with a horse for warmth.

Not to worry. This was a wonderful "apartment" with a big living area, a bathroom and a bedroom. Once inside we had all the conveniences of home....AND a king size bed. "D" said she would be sleeping in the trailer so I got the whole bed to myself. It was a luxury I didn't expect. No amount of arguing about it did any good. "D" wanted to sleep in the trailer which she is very use to because she and he husband live in it sometimes up to 4 or 5 months out of the year. So Farmlady got the royal treatment on her first night in Montana. She slept like a dead person.
The next morning I woke up at 5:30, raring to go. Must have been the one hour time difference. When "D" came in we fixed some coffee and breakfast, talked about what we were going to do all week and the fact that we were finally together again.
Later in the morning we drove into Kalispell. We went to a coffee shop on Main Street. Will you look at that beautiful foam leaf on top of my latte? This place is awesome....

Looked up places we wanted to go on the Internet....

And made plans for the remainder of the day, enjoying our coffee with the foam leaf on top and watching all the people come and go...

It was so relaxing....

right down to the last foamy leaf in the cup. I wrote down all the places we were going to consider staying overnight in after we drove over the "Going to the Sun" road in Glacier National Park and phone numbers for reservations.
Then, we decided not to make reservations because the rush of tourists were gone....families would not be vacationing because most children were back in school ....and it was September....and we just didn't think we needed to call ahead. BIG MISTAKE!!!
We took a walk down to a yarn store called Camas Creek Yarn.

Yes,, that sign has been completely covered with knitted yarn and the bee must have been confused about what this pole was. He was looking for pollen on a blue flower that was never going to satisfy him. Poor little guy.
This store was amazing. There was so much yarn and every conceivable item that you would need for any project that you might want to take on. Lots of beautiful hand spun yarn that was hand dyed, lots of classes to take and very knowledgeable women working in the shop. Plus, look at the store, it's just charming.
We went to the Hockaday Museum and looked at some beautiful paintings of the wild animals and countryside done by famous painters including Charles Russell.

We drove back to Big Fork and collapsed. This was just the beginning....

Happy Birthday "D". I'm home and all is well.

I have returned from my amazing trip to Montana. I need some time to assimilate the journey, the  perspective  and the depth of emotion that has become a part of me.
First of all I want to wish my friend "D" a very happy birthday. I wish I  had made my reservations to extend a few more days so we could have celebrated this day together but I think that we did CELEBRATE for 12 wonderful days and, after all, we did have to get back to our lives at some point so I guess Monday was as good as any day to return. My mind and heart are still in the Montana mountains and I can feel the magic of that beautiful country lingering all around me....and the dear friend that I didn't want to leave.
We have known each other for so long.....

 "D" gave me this photo when we spent some time looking through an album of pictures that dated back to our high school days. This one was taken about 1959 at an airport that we both worked at in Concord, CA. We are so young, about 15 maybe. "D" was home for the summer. She stayed for a year of high school and then she was off again to another foreign country until she came back to go to college. We were so young and filled with possibilities.
Now, we have shed the skin of youth...

and grown older....

We are fifty years from that charming, unbaked youth. We are in our "golden" years. Well "cooked", grayed and wrinkled, but more relaxed in our being....more warmth than blazing fire. This is a friendship of time and enduring comradeship, and now, new memories.
I have so much to tell....

This is Henny.... resident hen at "D"s home. She welcomed me the first morning as we sat on the edge of the porch and discussed life in this high Montana valley. She is a very educated chicken in the ways of country life and caretaker to an old rooster that shares her life.. here. She loves to sit on "D"s lap and so it began.... sitting in the sun, talking about our lives, enjoying the view. It was a "chicken in your lap" kind of vacation with spurts of amazing activity. Over the next week I will have stories to tell and pictures to post.
This is where the story radiates from....a hand built home in the northwest corner of Montana.

This is the pilgrimage I took. This is my dear friend's life and I'm so glad that we have made the effort to maintain this sisterhood of years.
Happy Birthday "D". I miss you... but I will come back soon... with the Prospector... and some Ben and Jerry's ice cream..... and we'll all go fishin'.

Tomorrow's the Big Day

Remember.... wherever you go, there you are. ~Earl MacRauch~ The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzi Across the Eighth Dimension (film), 1984

Got my boots....  (Yes, I will double tie my shoestrings.)  Do you like the socks? Had to add a little "California" to the Montana landscape.
 And, as John Denver wrote..."All my bags are packed. I'm ready to go".
See you in a couple of weeks.

Montana.... here I come.

"Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again..." ~John Denver~

Well, I actually do know when I'm going and when I will be back, but Thursday....  I'm going to Montana.

I will fly to Salt Lake City and then take a "2 seat Cessna prop" to Kalispell. Nope, I'm kidding. That's what the Prospector said because he knows I'm not comfortable flying in airplanes. He isn't either but I'm the one that's getting in the airplane so he thinks it's OK to give me a bad time. I'm sure that the flight to Kalispell will be in a good sized Jet with plenty of fuel and why would a terrorist want to mess with a little trip to north west Montana anyway. What would they fly the plane into? a grizzle bear? I'm sure that the flight will be fast and uneventful. Right? Right?
I'm so excited about this trip. I wanted to take a train... but that would have cut into my time up there with my friend and that's a trip that the Prospector and I want to take in a few years...together. So, I have to put my "big girl" pants on and just get into the airplane and GO.

Just look at what awaits me....

This is the view from my friend "D"s property. This is "Big Sky" country. She and her husband built their own home and live a life style that most of you can only dream of. I have lived her life vicariously for years. Even when we were teenagers I would see her off at the airport as she flew, with her parents, to every part of the world. I always wanted to go with her but I would stand at the airport window and wave goodbye as she flew to Europe, Africa and the Middle East to be with her family. She was the first "jet setter" that I knew. She was my world traveling friend. She would come home every summer and we would continue being best friends. She became a part of our family and well...I wrote a post about it some time back. Take a look here.

She came back to California in her 20's to go to college and then she finally settled in the northwest.. then Idaho and then Montana. She has been up there for many years now and says that she will never leave.
She lives in the middle of nowhere... but it's the most beautiful "middle of nowhere" I have ever seen. I've only seen photos. Now I will get to see all of this... in person. For the first time in ours lives I will be the one stepping off the airplane while she waves from the terminal building. She said it was "my turn" and that's true. It is.

A few years ago they built a chicken house on their property. She has two grandchildren that live in the Seattle area and come to visit every now and then. This photo was taken  of "D" and her granddaughter sitting in the almost completed chicken house. I love it. It reminds me of how long we have known each other 

and how far we have come in our lives.

And yet.... how much things stay the same. When the little girl, came busting out of her grandmother's car in the 1950's, snapping pictures with her little Brownie camera and running around in circles.... I knew that we would be friends for a long time. This was "D". She was my hero and still is.

But... she better be standing there in the airport terminal with a stiff drink in her hand and a big "Atta girl" look on her face. I don't fly for just anyone. I can't wait to get my feet on the ground and then , as the song goes...." I don't know when I'll be back again..."

P.S. Please do not comment about your BAD experiences on airplanes. Only "atta girl" comments will be allowed. Thank you.

Little Miss Muffet faces her Fears

A couple of weeks ago I told you about my visit to Sacramento to see my friend "C".  Then I was off to my sister's for a week and I almost forgot about THE INCIDENT.  First of all, I want you to take a good look at this photo that I took of an exceptionally beautiful Crepe Myrtle tree in the parking lot at "C"s apartment complex. Do you see that dark spot in the upper middle of the photo?

That is a very big SPIDER.
I was walking across the parking lot to my car and I saw this beautiful Crepe Myrtle tree in front of the car. I wanted to take a picture of the tree, so I unlocked the passenger side of the car and threw in everything except my Nikon and walk over to the curb near the tree. This is such an auto pilot thing for me to do that I sometimes don't think about where I'm walking. I just take the lens cap off and start shooting.
I stepped up onto the curb, looked through the camera and walked toward the tree. I often walk with my camera in front of my face and one of these days I'm going to trip on something and fall and break my neck. It's a really bad habit.
The tree was so beautiful with the afternoon sun filtering down through the branches. The iron fence and the stone pillars were behind the tree and I was busy framing the shot. All of a sudden I saw this dark blot  MOVING around in front of my lens. and at the same time I felt something touch my hand. I know the feeling of spider webs. My adrenaline is programed for SPIDER WEBS. I shot back into the parking lot and make a very strange noise. It's seems that I had been so busy trying to shoot this lovely tree that I failed to see this HUGE web in front of the tree and  the HUGE SPIDER preparing for dinner in the middle of it.
A man and woman that were getting into a car across the parking lot asked me what I was doing and walked over. I showed them the spider, pointing with my finger because I hadn't gotten my speech back yet. and he said..." OMG! That's a big spider.".... "Really?" I said as my voice quivered and restored itself. Then he said,. "It's a good thing you didn't run into it." My whole body vibrated at the thought. All I could say was "Yea.". If that spider had attached itself to me I would have been jumping up and down, running around and slapping myself all over that parking lot.... doing my famous Spider Dance. That's the dance I do at home when a spider crawls on me while I'm sitting quietly on the couch.

I was trying to be polite but my heart was beating so fast I thought I was going to have to sit down . I finally pulled myself together and we started talking about what kind of spider this might be. As far as I was concerned it was a BIG SPIDER. They said it was probably an Orb Weaver. They acted like they had studied these things in college. Do people actually study spiders as a major?
I decided to look calm and cool about all this so I took another picture....

 The web was a mess and she looked very annoyed. I guess all spiders look annoyed. I just never noticed before. She was moving all around trying to fix the web and there was a blob of white like a cotton ball above her. That could have been ME.
I do want you to know that I cropped these pictures in my Picasa 3 photo program. I was not this close to her. I'm sure I looked very professional but I was still in the parking space with a few feet between myself and her scary little body.  Then, as I took these pictures, I started to see her in a different light.

She was really quite beautiful. I thought to myself that her life must be a life of constantly putting things back together and looking for food.... and finding a mate....and having babies...and trying to make ends meet, so to speak. Not unlike most of us.

 Her abdomen looked like one of those big reflecting balls over a dance floor with glass pieces all over it that spins and reflects little bits of light on the dancers. She was really quite elegant.
The couple said goodbye and left. I was relieved that I could stop acting like I was all into this spider.... but  truth be known, I was finding her very interesting and maybe that's what has changed since this near death experience. I actually found a spider in the bathtub the other night, scooped it up into a plastic cup (with a lid on it of course) and took it outside. That's a breakthrough. I will even read more about them. But, I still don't want them touching me with their Apical claws or their Chelicerae. See, I looked that up.
I took a few photos of the Crepe Myrtle and headed for home. I think I saw her watching me as I pulled out of the parking space. She was probably glad to see me go. She was probably thinking.., "Clumsy old woman. First it's a bird, then it's a dragonfly and now this. Can't a spider ever get a break?"
So I leave you with two photos of the bottom of the Crepe Myrtle tree (Lagerstroemia Indica) because  I had to take my shot from  UNDERNEATH the web.

Look at the roots. Aren't they amazing? The tree bark becomes textured and slick as it sheds and grows.They are lovely little trees. This is a beautiful specimen.
Ms. spider wasn't attached to the tree. Her web was strung from the light standard to the iron fence. although she did have a neighbor on the other side of the tree that was attached. It's probably a good place at night because of the overhead light standard. Moths love to fly into those lights. I do hope she catches a lot of small insects. See? I understand her and the work involved with being a spider. I just want them to stay outside.... and quit running across the rug on warm summer nights... and never drop on me when I'm in bed.... and to stop sitting in my bathtub. Is that asking too much?

The Women that live in my Garden

This is what they have to say....

" I am tired of the heat today. I'm glad I am planted with ivy. It's cooler under it's shade."

"I felt like I was lying on a beach all day today. Then someone splashed water on my face this evening and my complexion has survived another summer day."

"I live under three bushes and  the lavender always makes me smile."

"I'm at one with the garden and the sun shines on me all day. I am my artists girlfriend and I'm in love."

"In dwelling, live close to the ground,

In thinking, keep to the simple.

In conflict, be fair and generous.

In governing, don't try to control.

In work, do what you enjoy.

In family life, be completely present."

~Tao te Ching~

Oakland has it all and IKEA too

This was Oakland, California in 1900.

 I think it must have been a beautiful town then.... not as crowded or diverse but with a much more rural appearance. This is still a great city. It's diverse population is an asset to the community because it shows how a variety of ethnic groups can live and work together when there is cooperation and effort. It has it's problems like any city does but I find I feel more comfortable here than in other cities. My oldest son lives here. If you're interested, go here for a bit of Oakland's history.
I have lived around this city all my life, but never in it. When I was a child my father worked at the Navel Supply Center, here, near the Bay Bridge. Because we lived to the east in a very small town (at the time). We went to Oakland for everything. We shopped here, we went to movies here and spent a lot of time at Lake Merritt, Jack London's square, Broadway and MacArthur Blvd (at Kaiser Hospital where my sister was born), and visiting friends who did live here. Now, so many years later, my son lives here. I'm getting to know this town much better than I ever did when I was growing up.
For all of you who know this area here's a trivia question. What's missing in the above picture? I mean besides the thousands of houses that have been built since then. Look out toward San Francisco. Look at the bay area. What's missing?...... Bridges?  There are no bridges. No Golden Gate connecting San Francisco to Marin County (The Golden Gate wasn't completed until 1937). No Bay Bridge connecting Oakland  to San Francisco. There were lots of Ferries, but no bridges. How strange for those of us who always remember the bridges. How different it must have been.
I stayed an extra day so I could go see "M" and the improvements on his little bungalow in the upper Laurel district (now he tells me that it's really in Redwood Heights). I'm not that sure what it's called. I just know how to get there.
This little house is, I think, only about 700 sq. ft. all together. It was built in 1911. It was probably a caretakers cottage on a large estate or farm. There was this scary little bathroom that was added to the back porch a long time ago when who ever lived in it decided to bury the outhouse. I was in fear of "M"s life when he took a shower. The whole bathroom tilted. You had to hold on to the sink when you used the toilet. This little house needed some tender loving care. Now, it's getting some thanks to my son and the man next door who is a contractor, neighbor and very nice guy.
They have added a bedroom and a new bath to the back of the house. OMG! It's beautiful....and a laundry, and a new back entrance. It just so exciting.... so exciting that I forgot to take pictures this time because I were so busy getting a rundown from "M"s neighbor, meeting his wife, looking at paint patches on the wall and helping make decisions about flooring and paint color.
We drove to Home Depot to buy a mirror and towel set for the bathroom.Then it was time for dinner so "M" drove us to Emeryville to the new redeveloped area that had restaurants, condos and very efficient parking.

The weather was cold and windy. I wanted to bottle it up and bring it home with me.  We ate at the California Pizza Kitchen above the "Main Street" and I had a chicken, pesto, artichoke and cheese pizza that was wonderful. We went down onto the "PLAZA" and got a cookie at a cupcake store. Yes, they have stores that only sell cupcakes and cookies. Amazing.
The weather was so beautiful. My son was cold. He likes warm weather. He's a runner and soccer player so he likes "pleasant" weather. I was in my element. Maybe I need to live by the ocean instead of the dry foothills.

Then we drove to IKEA.

I don't even know where to begin, so I guess I'll start with the entrance.....
This is the biggest most entertaining store I have ever been in. You have to experience this store just once. This is my second time and I'm still in awe of the size and volume of things in this store.
When you inter the store you can pick up catalogs....

... a paper tape measure and a pencil....and if you are hungry there is a cafe that has world renowned SWEDISH MEAT BALLS. Even one of my comments mentioned them.
And then the entertainment begins....
There are floors of everything that you will every need to fill the inside of a home....from decor to whole bedrooms....

Everything is set up so you can see what your space will look like.... together and with prices, sq. footage and accessories.
I loved this bedroom with it's pale lavender walls and black and white everything else.



But this one was my favorite...

Very French and La Boheme. I love the free standing closet and the black iron bed. The whole room was just charming. I thought IKEA just had really modern, kind of generic furniture but some of this furniture is really more traditional.... and the best part is that it's not very expensive. You do have to assemble everything yourself.
This was "M"s favorite kitchen. That's the next part of his renovation and he liked this kitchen. It would be on a smaller scale for his space.

The counter tops are granite and the cabinet fronts are bead board or glass. I doubt that he would want this quantity of glass front cabinets but maybe a couple would be nice. The farm sink is really big and the tile backsplash would be very easy to keep clean. 
There was another one that he liked too. It was more modern and sleek...

This kitchen was more the size that would fit the space he has and was less expensive. I liked it too.
Can you believe all of this? There were whole sections with mock ups of different kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms like this. There were areas with just beds and mattresses. A whole corner with chairs, couches and one with desks and offices. Then, they had a floor of children's things. It's all there if your feet can hold up. Mine finally said "Enough" and we headed for the front door, following the arrows,  hoping to make it to the car before my feet gave out completely  and I dreamed of rubbing in some Aspercream later on. 
I hope you get to see one of these IKEA stores someday. You won't be sorry.... but give yourself at least half a day. This isn't just a walk to the chicken coop.

Sleepover with the Bambinos.

This morning we set up our annual display at the Jackson Library in town.

All the members bring a couple of finished gourds and we put them on display for a month. It's a good way to show the local folks what we do and encourages anyone who might be interested in joining our club. I think it turned out great. The bottom right photo is of a gourd that will be given to someone in a drawing at the Amador Flower Farm Festival next month. It's an amazing piece of art created by Judy Arrigotti, a well known gourd artist. The theme is about gold mining and specifically hard rock mining which was prevalent in this area. Please click on the above photo for a closeup of what talented people we have in our group.

Now....getting back to my trip down to my sisters.... My son and daughter in law went to the ocean overnight so guess who got to stay with her two bambinos and have a sleepover?
We made forts in the living room....

We played in the backyard....

And I gave them a few chores to do..... which they, surprisingly, really got into.

I let them rest on the patio table and taught them about being silent so they could tell me what they heard with their eyes closed....

It was hard to keep their eyes closed so we just listened....

Then we went to the school playground...

 They rode their bikes, watched the soccer practice on the field, played on the school playground and ran their little bodies ragged.... and Noni too.

Of course we had some "bean" filled moments when they didn't want to do what I asked or argued with each other, but generally we had a great time and even though I was tired, it was a good tired. 
Noni loves her Bambino Beans.   

Breathing a sigh of relief.

This photo of my nephew was taken almost a year ago. I love this photo of him. He and I were keeping company for the day and I decided to take him for a drive out to Saint Mary's College in the Moraga hills. We drove around the campus and then we parked in front of the soccer field to take some pictures.  It was a day I remember with fondness because it was a rare day when I felt like I saw him in a different light. He finally said "Go home?" and so we did.
Ben is 16 years old and has just been through a very confusing week. His operation to repair a detached and torn retina was successful, but the few days after the surgery were very hard on him. He didn't understand why this has happen so it was very confusing for him. He had a couple of really scary days. So did his parents. When I left yesterday he was sitting on the sofa, looking out the window and saying "C go home?" and I said "Yes, Ben, I have to go home today." He didn't want a kiss, but I got a couple of tentative teenage hugs from him when I arrived so I figured I was way ahead of the game. Kisses are for babies, you know.
He has seen the doctor twice since the operation and things are OK. He will wear a patch until he has the lens put back into his eye. Now, he and his parents can, hopefully, get some rest and  at least put the worry of this operation behind them.
Thanks to all of you who sent good wishes to Ben. That will come back to you in so many ways. I really appreciate the sweet comments.  Blogging comments are kind of like candles that are kept lit while you are away dealing with other important issues in your life. Thanks for the lit candles.

I stayed an extra day so I could spend some time with my oldest son "M" who lives in Oakland. I'm glad I did this. I got to see the work that's being done on his house. We went to dinner, and spent a wonderful evening at IKEA....seriously. IKEA is an amazing store. It's an EVENT that you have to experience. It was just the kind of day I love. I will tell you about it tomorrow
 I will tell you about staying overnight with my grand kids. We "builded" forts in the living room, raked leaves in the backyard and rode bikes to the school. It gave my son "J" and my daughter-in-law an overnight vacation at the ocean. They deserve it.
 I drove home yesterday afternoon and was greeted by my Prospector and two wild Corgis. It was all good. So today.... "Noni" is going to sit quietly and do nothing.... for the whole day. Today, Farmlady is going to be "at one" with the farm.