Portage

port·age (pôr t j, p r -, pôr-täzh ) n. 1. a. The act or an instance of carrying. b. A charge for carrying. 2. Nautical a. The carrying of boats and supplies overland between two waterways or around an obstacle to navigation. b. A track or route used for such carrying. tr. & intr.v. port·aged, port·ag·ing, port·ag·es Nautical To transport or travel by portage: canoed and portaged the goods; portaging around the rapids. [Middle English, from Old French, from porter, to carry, from Latin port re; see per-2 in Indo-European roots.]

What’s up doc?

Your docs My docs Shared docs It is all a Pair of docs Quack Paradox Ha Ha ~~~ Doc Martens? NOOOOOOooooooooooo Bottom line the pictures are transferred to my PC My Sweetie took some awesome pictures. Enjoy!

My Dear

Yes he is home and as well I saw three DEER walk past the Nook today. Dear and Deer. Just about as good as it gets. I was just almost ready to go to Guild when Linda called and said lets go to The Garden Spot, sit on their Deck, look at the mums and have a hot cup of coffee. “Well all righty then” I said. Twenty minutes later we were off. Wish I had taken the camera, but it was drizzling. The mums were most amazing and we indeed sat, rocked and had hot coffee. She had packed a thermos and two cobalt blue coffee mugs. Many mums later we sauntered around my home. I had about 6 years ago commissioned her to paint our home from the front. She is almost ready to begin that project. Her year of cancer treatments have set her back but she is raring to go now. Her energy levels are regaining strength and she and her hubby will soon baby sit BOTH Caitlin & Megan their granddaughters. The second birth was September 20, 2006. We also found a tree I have wanted for about two years. A Tri Color Beech Tree & one called Purple Fountain, which is also a Beech. Ummmmmmmmm, I am pondering placement in and around Sarah’s Pond. While this will likely happen next summer Time to research the possibilities. My dear friend is recovering and my Sweetie is HOME! Life is GOOD!

What CHICKS they are

Hope it looks good! I think he will be pleased.

Almost ready

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring went the phone ~~~~~~~~~~~~

The phone call came in last night just as HOUSE was ending. The great fishermen are returning to civilization, as we know it. Last evening my Sweeties ducks decided they would not be housed. I am thinking they know that the evenings of warmth on the pond are numbered. I checked on them as well as the wee chicks and all is well. There are just a few more things to get accomplished before his return. It’s a good thing, in many ways, that he is returning I am so darned tired. George has missed him as well, no one to communicate with! However working as I did had its desired outcome. I was always too tired to begin sleep and miss him more. I would honestly say when one leg got into the bed I was already in sleep mode. I did find two more TV shows I liked. Ummmmmmmmm! ;=) Now to remember when they are on and what day. HA!

Almost Thirty years ago~~~~~~~~~~~

The doctors said on September 23 I was to give birth to our first child. Obviously that did not happen because on October 10 of that year we finally held in our arms this most amazing being. Not that the rest of our children aren’t amazing, but this was our first. As I cruised about mowing yesterday I reflected upon that time that in some ways seems like yesterday. The weather I do recall was stunning. After we brought her home we would sit on the upstairs porch and I would tell her all about the creek. For sure the stories go on with all of the children. I wonder what she needs/wants for her Birthday?

Good bye Danny Boy

No more water hammer The Battle of the Singing Pipes is over. While some people get to vacation, like sweetie in the Boundary Waters and my sister-in-law in Prague, I have chosen to occupy myself getting painting and essential stuff done. Naw no sour grapes just fact! One thing that has been bugging me for several months is the toilet downstairs singing after every flush. While it does define where people are at a particular time it is annoying as heck. If our sons were asleep in their bedrooms the mere flushing would rattle up into their rooms. Burgess has been doing the painting. See I got smart…he paints I garden…a win win. On with this however, he had to use the facility while painting the family room, so did I from time to time. I suspect he was driven to fix it because it was just as irritating to him as it was to everyone else. It appears that the valve that controls the incoming water was not turned on to a total open position. So no more Danny Boy!

Babies everywhere

So much went on in my little corner of the world. Eldest son came in and did the manual stuff I was unable to do. So the garden is tilled and seeded for the season. The dregs of the garden taken care of, beans poles sorted and I could go on and on. Here is the NEAT stuff. Three wee chicks that we surmise had to be all of day old in the chicken with their mom. Later my son was getting the tractor out and spied a baby snapping turtle. I should have taken a picture. It was about the size of a quarter, quite young to be sure. Then he found another baby frog in the Sarah pond area when he released the little snapper. As we sat down to enjoy the WVU [27-10] game the rains came. What a feeling of satisfaction that the garden was finished.

Waking up to a LIGHT Show

With the outside lights off so as to be able to see the raccoons and to be able to capture them the night wore on into the wee hours of morning. There was many a brilliant display of lightning then the roll of thunder rolling overhead, like one would roll out the carpet. A stretch a sigh another STRETCH and George wanted up! After the preliminary preparations of the day behind me I wander about looking at the new placement of ART WORKS! It is such a satisfying feeling that we are so close to getting the room together, now to wait for the couch and chairs. It would be too perfect if the furniture arrived just before sweetie returned. WOW would that be awesome or what? Heyya a gal can dream! Meanwhile the garden needs tilled before WVU plays today. West Virginia travels to East Carolina to face the 1-2 Pirates at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (43,000) in Greensville, N.C., in a 4:30 pm non-conference match up to be televised nationally on ESPN2 (Gary Thorne, Andre Ware and Todd Harris).

Happy Friday

They opened up~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lures

Qualities that attract by seeming to promise some kind of reward, a spoon, plug, jig, fly or other such device made only of feathers, fiber, rubber, wood, metal, plastic or similar materials, that does not attract fish by scent or flavor. It has been one week, one more to go BEFORE the Great Fisherman returns. OR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The lure of doing your Laundry for “FREE”! The lure of having venison steaks for dinner and other stuff your Mom makes that you like. All of this is true but there is more. Yesterday was a turning point, the painting is finished and now the onset of re hanging Art Works. Scattered prints hither and yon re grouping, re thinking etc. is so mentally stimulating. Finally locating that one print you knew you had. Waking up at 3 a.m. because in your dream you remembered re hanging that ONE print in another room over a year ago. Gads. Feel like a DOLT or what? In a sense getting the garden ready for winter is stimulating mentally and physically. Lord knows about the latter. Knowing that help is on the way to finish moving the heavy items. Then relaxing Saturday and watching WVU play East Carolina at 4:30 p.m. Life is GOOD= That is a reward. I failed to mention that at 3 a.m. I saw Mom Raccoon and her three babies merrily jaunt off the porch, after having their fill of the cat’s food. . Trap time!

Once again a garden surprise

I had forgotten I had planted these Fall Blooming crocuses. They were hidden under the Crocosmia. After cutting the Crocosmia back about 6 weeks ago these little dudes were starting to do their thing and I never noticed. Colchicum corms are irregularly shaped and large — half the size of a fist. Sometimes called 'Naked Boys' because their leaves don't appear until spring, they thrive in well-drained soil. Unexpected Pleasures! I am so pleased I planted these last year.

Technically,

Eggplant is a fruit -- a berry, in fact! Eggplants are related to the tomato and potato, which are in the same family -- the nightshade family. Our Garden Eggs, the luscious delicate Purple Orbs The last of clearing the garden before tilling. These delightful purple Orbs of succulent appeal are destined to become… Eggplant Supreme 1 large eggplant 1 small bell pepper (I use the red and yellow, less FEEDBACK later) 2 ribs of celery [I use more] 1 large onion [I use red because it is prettier] chopped ½ stick butter 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 dash hot sauce 1 cup sharp cheese, grated 1 cup ripe pitted olives, chopped [One extra can for me to munch on] Cracker crumbs {next time I will use one that are seasoned i.e. garlic} * Note cracker crumbs may have added salt so check that and note when adding additional salts. ADD GARLIC I also added Mushrooms Cut up peeled eggplant and steam in a little water on low heat until tender. Sauté celery, onion, and bell pepper in butter [add garlic here]**** Add cooked eggplant. Add Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce and stir. Now add cheese and olives. Taste before adding any salt, for the cheese is salty. Put in baking dish and cover with cracker crumbs. Bake 30 minutes in 375-degree oven. Serves 6 ***Sometimes I add ground beef and or venison, otherwise this is a perfect meatless dish.

Why is it called a Mantis Tiller?

Mantis Tiller Trivia: Because the tiller handles resemble the shape of praying mantis arms, and the praying mantis is a beneficial insect in the garden. A great sense of accomplishment… All that remains is one raised bed with the Eggplant. All of the ‘brush’ has been cleared and hopefully I can get The Painter to take pity on me and at least move it out of the garden. The three wheelbarrows and the one wagon are too full for me to roll out of the way. It is to begin raining again tonight so the timing on the First step in putting the garden to bed has been accomplished. Who knows I just might figure out how to operate THE MANTIS. One last bush to plant tonight, one more tree to stake and just 6 bulbs to plant, I do believe I can manage that. The dehydrator will finish up with the sage before it too is put away; Then the daunting task of cleaning the fridge and the range. But then it is going to rain so how perfect is that? I admit I overdid it yesterday I think moving the “Puddle” was not the wisest decision, but it is moved and that is what I wanted. Someone else will have to get that to the barn.

Putting In Today

Today is the last day of any communication until they return from the Boundary Waters. Their weather is to be; SUNDAY PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 55 TO 60. SUNDAY NIGHT MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 35. I await the call. Then the work resumes. A mild 54 degrees here at 6 a.m. & the garden awaits my energies on getting it ready for winter. Yesterday I spent six hours tending it. It is far from finished, but a start is a start. Then I was off to dinner with some dear colleagues, what fun we sat and enjoyed each other’s company from 4 p.m. till 7:30p.m. I still got home in enough time to take care of my Sweeties Ducks and chickens. Today more work in the garden as well as cleaning the fridge out. WOW! Heyya it needs done. Tomorrow the range! Need to get it all accomplished before Sweeties return. Then, I can get back to knitting. See the trick is this, I keep myself busier than ever so I am so darned tired in the evening I go to bed and sleep and have no time to miss him. It is easier to deal with it in the daytime…at night I am too tired. So there is madness to my reason. The sense of accomplishment is a prideful thing. I was raised that way. Knowing I can still do a lot of things on my own…might take me longer now, HA HA but I can still get it done. [well some of it]

quirky,” quirky,” quirky,” quirky,”????

old tattoo parlors gave you the feeling of doing a dangerous thing when you went into them. It’s just not like that anymore,” Tattoos are a form of art that are put on the body as a window to the soul, a form of self-expression.

NOT AGAIN

Yes the phone line is out AGAIN. But the technician said I had seven days to be able to call him so a real person could get back to us Soon. Called placed. Now to get a hold of Sweetie before he is out of range…Um Indianapolis already Man they are putting the Pedal to theMetal. Ok here is what went down, I disconnected the phone wires, as they were last week, and checked and we did have service downstairs. YES I am good. Then called sweetie to inform him that while the problem was not fixed at least I had side stepped it. The Tech was in the area and stopped @4 p.m. and fixed the problem, different problem but it is fixed. The painter has started and things are a humming once again. My Sweetie said he was amazed I had thought to disable the wires, etc. I was stunned. My comment was, “I am, my Father’s Daughter”! And PLEASE do not get me a new screwdriver for Christmas; the one I hide does perfectly well…After 35 years he should KNOW better. Or was the other male he is traveling with “entertained’ with the comments? I am thinking the latter! MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Steve Slaton carried the ball 21 times for 195 yard and two touchdowns to lead No. 5 West Virginia to comfortable 45-24 victory over the Maryland Terrapins Thursday night at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown.

Countdown to Kickoff and they’re OFF

In a scurry and a flurry only the Neosporin cannot be located. Not too bad actually. Soon awesome waters to relax upon. Now the work begins getting all the froo froo out of the rooms. More pictures to be taken down that I had been in hopes of would have been done earlier. What I cannot move the painters will have to. But that is OK. One last turn of green, red and yellow peppers to dice, laundry etc. HA the normal drill. Possibly tomorrow the damp ground will be less damp so I can tend to what remains in the garden. I am hoping by the weekend all that remains to be done is the final tilling before I seed the winter cover crop. Tonight the Mounties play. Maryland at 7:30 pm

Down to the Wire

The anticipation mounts, the frenzy begins and last minute items are gathered. Soon the Boundary Waters will soothe away tensions for the guys. No phones, no TV, no hassles with schedules that need to be met just the quiet of the outdoors comrades in search of the biggest fish. Bear bags tightly secured. Got to keep the OREOS safe. Meanwhile back at the RANCH. Paint buckets are assembled, drop cloths, painters tape…all in anticipation of the new couch that will be coming. George will as well get all Dolled up, er DOGGED up grooming wise. The garden put to rest. Canners and such equipment retired for the season.

Great timing for the rain

Yup this is what we need for Sarah’s Pond area Two weeping Willows we planted last evening are now enjoying their new freedom to stretch their roots. Then… Horizon called [yes I know I misspelled it] It has been one week we have been without phone service. Last evening as we were getting prepared to plant two new trees the 2nd line rang and it was not the Fax. But it is a FACT! All automated of course, but no time given NOT even a miniscule time frame. So that means I am here all day waiting. Now here is a concept…give the date and then MS automated voice say that a technician will call @ one hour [or what ever] before arrival to confirm all of the above.] At least the shower time would be safe. Then there is always the George Factor. 7 a.m. and the count begins. Time to pick the remaining basil and begin to process. The celery gave forth 3 quarts dehydrated, we will be up to our eyeballs is soups and stew this winter. Now to do the last batch of Basil...UM should have made PESTO Oh well there is always next year. 9:20 a.m. They called will be here in 15 minutes. Yippee! 10:50 a.m. problem solved. Silly of me to worry! But it gets BETTER…can you stand it? I am whisking my sweetie off for some CULTURE…Cornell Gunter’s Coasters, The Platters, and Beary Hobbs’ Drifters mid November. How fun that will be. PS Horizon called, well MS automated voice confirmed the problem had been fixed and what was done. Nice. BUT better … an apology for the long wait and in the next billing a credit of some amount commensurate with the time we had to wait. Neat

Remembering

As I read our daughters and her husband’s blog, this excerpt that I am sharing with you made me pause and reflect. I was so worried about the kids; I never gave thoughts to how they felt; now we know. I was teaching a unit on Hurricanes, weather, and charting to my High School Special needs students. That is why the TV was on that early in the morning. Hurricane Juliette and others. The rest as they say is history. But there I was and as their blog points out everyone was scattered. It was all I could muster to get through until lunch time. I had a very understanding principal at that time and he allowed me to go home and gather information about our children. A collegue covered for my home room and the last class of the day. Obviously all the kids were ok, my sweetie was able to get news reports on a satalite radio and his crew knew about the tragedy about two days after it happened. There is an emergency number that can be used. I left a message that he would receive when they got out of the Boundry Waters that everyone was ok. It is always wonderful to have him back after these long trips, but that time seemed to go on forever, his not being here. It WAS scarry. As I recall when he returned I do not think I let go of him for days… "And tomorrow is September 11th. It’s hard to believe it was five years ago when we were attacked. We were living in DC then and I got to work before Matt did. I got to the office right when the second plane hit and as we were hearing that there were attacks at the Capitol and fires all around DC (which turned out to not be true) and I was frantically calling Matt. It was awful. Then the plane crashed in PA and I was trying to figure out where that was in relation to where Sarah was in school. My one brother had recently left the Marines so I was worried he’d get called back. The other was in the Coast Guard and in Baltimore at the time, so I was worried about him. And my dad was in the boundry waters of Canada, my mom was home alone, my dog got really sick and so did my granddad. I have never been so scared in my life."

Randolph-Macon's move to go coed draws ire and protests

This is for our daughter and the wonderful memories we had of this institution and of her love of the Perfect College for her. A very Sad Day! One of the very tenants of RMWC is the rich tradition and sense of sisterhood that RMWC breeds among its students and alums. You go anywhere in the world and see a RMWC class ring and you are immediately connected to that person. Discussions of Odd and Evens, sister classes and more immediately spring up and bring a sense of sisterhood. When a women’s college goes coed, young women lose a choice, and the country’s diversity is diminished.

Celery the “Fast Vegetable”

Today as I prepare the Celery we grew in our garden I noticed something. As you all know when you crunch on raw celery before and after dipping [reference to Double Dippers, tee hee]. There is a distinctive Crunch sound that permeates the ear of the Cruncher and the innocent passerby. There is as well when one dices it in preparation for dehydrating. Silly? Well yes actually most everyone dices celery sometime during the year. But I was dicing many stalks. So much so that I was able to learn to slice in JUST a way that I could make the celery sound like a squeaky door. It is quiet here this morning, which made it easier to play the celery! OK you all know I am easily amused…just wanted to share! If you want to have more fun with celery remember this experiment? Celery Stalks at Midnight!

Next Saturday ~~~~ September 16, 2005

Harvest Moon The Wolf Moon, the Snow Moon, the Worm Moon, the Pink Moon, the Flower Moon, the Strawberry Moon, the Buck Moon, the Sturgeon Moon, the Harvest Moon, the Hunter's Moon, the Beaver Moon, and the Cold Moon. They're really all the same Moon, of course, but long before the advent of modern calendars people named the full Moons of a year to keep track of time. These fanciful names have been handed down through the generations and they are still a part of modern Moon lore.

It begins…the PACKING…

With Take off day being next Thursday there is a scurry of activity here. The kids and I call it FLUFFING, with a gentle smile we say this. After the lovely time in Lewisburg we are once again home, George is delighted to be with us and he claims a founding interest in my Sweeties winning his Cow case. But then you would need to talk to George about that. All in all a Mooooooooving TAIL! I sit and ponder, as do I daily as I look out of my Nook. The Wood Ducks flying up and down the creek. How neat, all of this and more packing to the background of Cream. And the Ozark Mountain Dare Devils and of course Dear Joan! The corn stalks are down; The Yellow Finches will need to find another roosting place as they cavort around the orchard. Still the Sunflowers attract them.

Flying leaves

The fall array of butterflies makes the edge of the woods look alive. Sometimes in the flurry of the leaves falling they all look like butterflies. I can see the creek again. I am a happy but very sore camper. This project is HALF finished but will have to wait until the weekend as my shoulders are telling me “ENUFF”!!!!!! Best part is that there were no snakes! [This time] So off for a tryst!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Early Friday!

My Hero

Rip Wrap

First picture of the creek after I got in there>>> Several years ago we had some Bank stabilization done. Slowly the bank has shown great progress in maintaining ground cover and some of the trees we planted are thriving. Trees such as Water Willows which are perfect for the needs of stabilization. Of course there are those DERNED Box Elders. I had no view of the creek. I could barely see birds fly in and that was about it UNTIL…I got my trusty Clippers, suited myself in sturdy shoes, long sleeved shirt, gloves and a cap. I look at the brush covering the area and decide to use the path that the deer, cat, raccoons etc have used. While only half finished I was pleased and yesterday as I sat in my Nook slurping coffee and smelling the green peppers dehydrating I saw a Belted Kingfisher/ Ceryle alcyon. Maybe this weekend I can finish the rest of the bank.

One Week

Canada is getting closer just a week away. While getting things assembled for my sweetie’s yearly venture he came upon something of interest. He knows I am interested in the flora and fauna so he presented me with an abandoned bird nest. I gathered my National Audubon wildlife identification book and began my search. Red-breasted NUT HATCH Creamy white speckled eggs with reddish brown speckles. Notice that inside the nest are several of our goose feathers. Man that is so neat. Of course this nothing really new, but every time I see something like this I must marvel and the broader scope of life. AH HA AH HA I located it TADA! But there is more…

Under the Horizon??????

Wet, gloomy, the phone lines are weird…It is a Manic Tuesday HA HA! Peppering in the Kitchen. Slick on the deck George is totally confused. Loose wires and frayed nerves, how shocking is that? What do you MEAN One week from today to fix our Phone lines? That is just over the edge Stupid! My Sweetie saved the week he tracked down the problem. While the Problem still exists, we have phone service to the rest of the house. Replacing a phone wire can wait…at least in case of an emergency we are with phones. WHAT A MAN! It's just another manic Monday I wish it was Sunday 'Cause that's my funday My I don't have to runday It's just another manic Monday

The Sun Shines Today

Pointing out that while we needed the rain this past week, it is mighty WONDERFUL to see the sun and feel the warmth on the body. Last evening Will and Sarah prepared dinner and I might add did a heck of a job. I returned from working the Mill for the day and was tired and needed to sit outside because it was NOT raining. We even lit the mini convertible fire pit and thoroughly enjoyed the time just sitting and soaking in that warmth. The last time we used the portable fire pit was shortly before our eldest daughters wedding. Speaking of Weddings an update on our Capitol Couple and the schedule for the airing about their awesome Wedding Cake. Ace of CakesEpisode DB0104AIR TIMES:September 07, 2006 10:30 PM ET/PTSeptember 08, 2006 1:30 AM ET/PTOctober 26, 2006 10:30 PM ET/PTOctober 27, 2006 1:30 AM ET/PT For more insight CHECK IT OUT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Life is Sweet

West Virginia Scoreboard (Sept. 2) 3:30 pm ET Final Marshall (0-1) 10 5 West Virginia (1-0) 42

Happy Birthday

To the man I love more than life its self My best friend The father of our children My Husband My love

Jalaluddin Rumi said about Lovers;

“Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along.”

Let’s Go Mountaineers LET’S GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow is a biggie ‘round these parts. Friends of Coal Bowl, Sweeties Birthday, Labor Day, the Jubilee... Be there or be Square, if not able to get there TUNE IN. What excitement this September 2nd. Don’t forget to wear your Blue and Gold. How bout’ them EERS? Lets see a bouquet of Field Flowers just right for the occasion. Mist Flowers mixed with then of course the Chicory some Wild Black Eyed Susans with accents of MIST FLOWERS! WINNING RAP: If you're a WVU or Marshall fan, you're ready for The Game at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. But WVU already has an edge -- in the rap department. Heard Morgantown rapper 6'6 240 and his track "The Blue N Gold"? The hook is the chorus: "Let's Go Mountaineers! Let's Go Mountaineers!" Fans of WVU football and hip-hop are sure to love it. Take a listen.