Tag Archives: kids

Kiddos

Posted on July 7, 2016 | Leave a comment

I thought they were gone, was sad and was about to pack up their presents for Grandma and Grandpa to take next time they visit.

Neighbors told me they’d been calling out our dog Zoe’s name while we were out. I got a pretty American Flag hair bow for Miss A, and a backgammon game that is wallet-sized and magnetic to keep them entertained on the long journey home.

Counseled on Braille, their grandparents (the kids are 10 and 8) live next to a blind dog, an old friend of ours. The kids both multi-tasked between Backgammon and Braille. Pretty impressive, plus they petted Zoe every so often. Zoe was not happy at not being the center of attention so I had to take her for an extra walk after they went out for an excursion with their grandparents.

It’s great to see such smart kids. I know that Zoe will be lost in their memories soon which is why I made a gift and got a tiny game so they would remember us all. Teenagers. We just have a dog who’s probably 88 in “people years.” Her teens were spent growing her own hips from cartilage. The only thing we never taught her was not to jump up, because she couldn’t for years.

Yep, after the fireworks my husband took her out on the 16′ leash which I never use as it has no control. She got a chicken bone and crunched it. He made her spit it out but overnight she vomited on our bed and twice in the hall. Everyone was out there on blankets with food so what does a well-fed dog do? Look for scraps. Hey, I’m just the Dog Mom and love the kiddos, Dee

p.s. They came back to call on us later because they’re compiling a list of states they’ve seen on license plates in the past week. I was gone when they perused the garage but took them downstairs to get a new one, mine. They’re not taking photos or numbers, only states, a great Grands game!

Dear Reader,

Posted on August 7, 2015 | 1 comment

I was so shy I let bullies be bullies, until my neighbors stood up for me on what school kids called the “retard bus” because it had to traverse 20 miles through the countryside to pick up the farm kids. One might call me a hobby farm kid.

My aunt gave me her vintage 1957 Smith-Corona electric portable typewriter as a high school graduation gift, a gift that took her into teaching English to high school kids. I was the envy of the dorm. Of course this was pre-computer and laptops and everything else.

I was afraid to write, afraid to think or speak my mind, or sing. Writing 500 words was a challenge for me back then. Now I can do it in ten minutes if I know what my mind wants my fingers to type.

Sixth grade, I skipped tryouts after school for choir solos. The next day my teacher asked me to stay after school and look out the window. She played a note on the piano and asked me what it was. I told her. She made me sing a phrase from “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and made me lead off at the concert in front of family, friends and other parents.

I have had the gift of a great family and teachers and friends. Kids, do something that means something to you, it may be music or writing or computer code or math or being a doctor. Don’t bottle it up inside because people think women are inferior and don’t want to hear their thoughts. We are all important in this world. Dee

1 Comment

Posted in Editorial

Tagged bullies, dairy, farm, kids, Smith-Corona, writing

Time

Posted on November 6, 2013 | 2 comments

Yes, it passes. Today is my birthday. Thirty years ago I was sitting in a taverna in Athens, first time to Greece or Europe. My sister and I had been up all night on a plane and we stopped for a bite to eat (she ate spaghetti bolognese everywhere we went, no matter the country).

A woman who has had a positive impact on my life since I was eight years old once sipped a red beverage. I asked what was and she said Campari. She had it on ice with soda water and I tried a sip. Back then the drinking age was 18 and I was there or very close.

At the taverna, I was asked what I’d like to drink. I wanted to sound worldly so said “Campari.” An ounce of it was delivered to me warm, in a juice glass. I took a sip and almost choked!

Let’s look at three lives from the perspective of a three year-old. I was always getting colds and ear infections until my 4th birthday when the ritual tonsillectomy took place. Most of the things we ate, save dessert. included a can of Campbell’s cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup.

My neighbor. also three, answered a question posed by me yesterday. “Do you have a busy day today?” Yes, I’m going to school…….. Montessori school.”

Then there’s my new friend who has a more sophisticated palate than I had at three times her age, also three. We’re having a cooking lesson later in the week at which we’ll make pizza dough and marinated olives for her to take home, along with another thing or two.

I think about the futures of these kids being so bright and engaged. OK it did take some time for my neighbor to talk to me and come out from behind Mommy’s leg, as I usually have the dog with me. She is extremely friendly and wouldn’t ever hurt anyone, but she probably weighs the same as he does so I understand the fear.

Do you know that I’ve never had a Campari since? Someday when my husband and I are out at a restaurant I should order one, with ice and soda water. Now that I’ve had some years to mature, I may actually enjoy it.

“At twenty years of age the will reigns; at thirty the wit; at forty the judgment.” Benjamin Franklin

Enjoy the day! Dee

2 Comments

Posted in Editorial

Tagged aging, birthday, campari, kids, spaghetti bolognese

Winter Wonderland

Posted on December 29, 2012 | Leave a comment

There’s not much snow but it is a joy to see kids on their sleds going down the hill.

We got two aluminum sleds with Scottish plaid mats and used them to go down a 10′ hill. Here the kids have a bigger hill and families flock to it. It’s joyous enough to want my husband to go down that hill… with the dog!

There’s really not much snow here, just a couple of inches but the kids need to do their thing. Yes, I do remember those days with chores but no worries. Dee

End of Summer

Posted on August 3, 2011 | Leave a comment

We think the last teens participating in high-caliber sporting events have gone now. It’s always fun to have them here though a few more people than we’re used to.

Today I chose in my weekly delivery of bottled milk ($1.50 deposit each), juice, eggs, and bacon a produce box. It was filled with green and red peppers, tons of chili peppers (serrano, jalapeno, ancho, and fresno), some pears, cukes and apples. Looks like we’ll be having some spicy food this week!

I’ve been working on a new dish. My inspiration was from BBQU.com for the flatbread, though I’ve changed the recipe provided by master chef Steven Raichlen. Also a recipe for lamb kabobs that I’ve been making with other meats and seasonings.

Think of a hot-dog sized seasoned meat patty on homemade grilled fry bread. Then I made my own tzatziki, and garnished with tomato slices and thinly sliced white onion.

I’m working on it. As of tonight I know with our grill, even with a new propane tank, I have to cook the breads first. Next time. It’s great bread just to rip and dip into seasoned olive oil. I could do that for breakfast.

Next week I’ll hit the farmers’ market on Wednesday and see what’s fresh. Our season has been delayed by weeks here by late winter storms. I told my mechanic yesterday that my snow tires are on because it snowed in June and will again in October and I only drive a few miles per day. I’ll save $160 changing them out.

What we do out west to hard boil an egg or drive down an icy street we make up in good neighbors (we need good neighbors in this harsh climate) as if there’s any kind of emergency, we know the few folks who are here year-round and they know us, even though mostly it’s in parkas and boots.

It was a pleasure to help organize a pot luck on July 3 for all our regular neighbors, plus some folks who come here every year on vacation. It’s good to see everyone before school starts again and there are only a few of us here ’til ski season.

Sometimes we have to come back to reality in the place, one of the most beautiful in the US, we call home. That’s when a former neighbor, an Olympic medalist, dies in a local canyon. Anything can happen here, an avalanche or car crash but because of the severity of the weather we have to be prepared.

Yes, there are still a few winter coats that need to be cleaned and that last load of PolarTec gloves and hats that we’ll be needing soon, so I better get to work as summer is nearly over and it’s barely started here as there are not even tomatoes or peaches…. Cheers, Dee