Wow! I’m worn out just getting to this point. I can’t believe (well, yes, actually I can) that it’s been nearly a month since I wrote. Again, not my favorite thing, but it bugs me until I sit down and do it. And I’m always happy I did it. This is a reminder to myself, however, that it is much more fun if it’s not so much work.
Speaking of writing, I’m still struggling with the publishing company. I continue to tell them that I wil be happy to pay my bill when my requests are met. I only needed to spend about five minutes on it the last time to know that my amendments were not done. I received a response last week saying that they were looking into it. “Excellent!” I replied.
I FINALLY finished the girls’ sweaters – and none to too with this weather! :). It was in the 90s today and expecting 100 tomorrow. So, there’s a bit of an issue with the buttons. After I made them, I realized that they were too large for the buttonholes, especially in the spots where I forgot to make buttonholes! The buttons have to forcibly pushed through the holes, and in the struggle, the yarn gets caught on the prongs of the rhinestones. I put clear fingernail polish over a few of them. Not sure it made much difference, and it’s super messy. I will suggest that they just get used to using the top button, or leaving them all buttoned and pulling it over their heads. I do that sometimes with ones I’ve made for myself. It also helps keep the band flat. And, just for the record, the pink and purple yarn is indeed glow-in-the-dark.
Dan and I took Mickey to see her sister, Evie, in Dubuque.
Evie is recovering from hip surgery so she wasn’t able to move around much, but she gave us a tour of her garden, and Maureen took Dan and me for a tour of the motherhouse. They are both retired BVM nuns and now live on this motherhouse property. It is magnificent. The main floor is lined with meeting rooms and libraries, all with their unique fireplaces with what looks like Italian tiles, and massive wood trim everywhere. Each room is decorated according to the color scheme of the tiles.
The property sits right on the Mississippi, and the views are breathtaking. Apparently this order had a financial whizkid member who invested wisely and knew a thing or two about real estate. By all appearances they have done well, and I am so happy that these intelligent, selfless women, who have served their communities so well, are able to live in this beautiful, peaceful place during their final years.
I feel so blessed to have these role models in my life. The other day, I went to visit Mickey. I arrived just as she was finishing her lunch. She said, “Let’s go for a walk.” At one point as I was strolling beside her with her walker, she stopped, looked at me and said, “Aren’t we lucky?” It’s all about attitude.
it reminds me of this piece I cut out of a newsletter about 35 years ago.
ATTITUDE by Charles Swindon
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. The remarkable thing is — we have a choice every day of our lives regarding the attitude we embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude… I’m convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our attitudes.”
Number 3 is on the way!! Maria Del Mar is due in January. Right after the birth they are moving from Alicante, Spain to Abu Dhabi. I had to look that up. It’s in the United Arab Emirates, which is across the Persian Gulf from Iran. Not sure how today’s attack on Iran by Trump will affect their plans. Maria already has a job lined up, and Janko’s application is in process. They are quite sure he will be hired without any problem. Abu Dhabi is apparently in need of physicians. Like many countries, their population is aging more quickly than the medical schools are cranking out doctors.
I learned recently that my friend, Pam Bonner, died. Pam was one of my very first friends in Boquete. She and her husband, Ted, lived across the street from us when we lived in Volcancito in the container house. Pam was lovely, probably the most introverted friend I’ve ever had, but a solid friend, not to mention a great artist. I was mesmerized one day as she showed me her art room. I wish now that I would have taken photos. I remember, in particular and giraffe, about four feet high, painted with bright oranges and yellows.
Unfortunately, Pam had a stroke about 10 years ago that left her quite diminished. She was even more fearful but still as sweet as ever. She and Ted moved to Arizona after the stroke. We visited them there but then it became clear that Pam no longer wished to communicate. I have this hanging in my kitchen.
And a couple more of my Boquete beauties! Murray sent me he one with me and Barbara. I can’t remember where it was taken.
A joined a team from church to walk in the Strain for the Brain event to support Karen Haskell and her journey with brain cancer. She is still doing quite well a year out from her diagnosis. She is wearing a device called Neptune, which apparently sends an electrical current to her brain to mitigate the growth of the tumor. Karen is another great-attitude role model. Also, although she struggles with spatial issues and some left-sided neglect, she has been able to continue with her music and is doing live performances – and always with a smile.
Much of this past month has been spent working outside. As is the case every year, there was a lot that needed to be done. However, the big difference this year is I had a LOT of help from Norma (who has helped me with things in the past) and her nephew, Pedro. Pedro is 27. He was born in the U.S. and then moved to Mexico with his mother as an infant. He apparently worked on the family sheep farm until recently when his father decided to sell, and then Pedro moved back to the U.S. He has a day job (can’t remember doing what), and he and his friend, Raul, are starting this landscaping business. They are very knowledgeable, hardworking and skilled.
They did a general spring cleanup, divided and moved plants, powerwashed and oiled the deck, helped with my split-rail border, in addition to other things on my to-do list. Now that most of the big things are done, I can go back to pulling weeds and deadheading.
In this next video of the creek, there are a number of orange flags which are marking where Kathy came and planted some cuttings from her garden. I tried planting them last year at the end of the season but didn’t treat them well, so we’ll try again. Thanks Kathy! Such a great sister.
This beauty suprised me the other day. I almost pulled it out at the beginning of the year, thinking it was a weed, but it is actually a clustered coneflower that we got from Ginny’s garden in Mercer before she sold the house. Thanks Ginny!
I continue battling the chipmunks. So far, steel wool, ammonia, cayenne, and lavender spray have not worked. Now I am trying blocking them from the front window boxes with the black mesh wire and bricks. I’m going to ask AI how far a chipmunk could jump from the ledge to the window box.
Absolutely! The distance shown in your photo is well within a chipmunk’s jumping capability. They could easily leap from the concrete ledge to the window box, and likely do so with confidence and regularity if they are in the area.
Fun Fact:
Chipmunks use their strong hind legs and lightweight bodies to make quick, agile jumps, often surprising homeowners with their athleticism!
Summary:
A chipmunk could easily jump from the concrete ledge to the window box in your photo.
Little bastards!
I’m going to make a solid (or wire mesh) triangle and completely block the approach.