IT'S ALL SHOW BIZ!

It's so hard to decide on a title for this post because it will cover so much time, so many events, and a lot of work. My apologies for not keeping up with the blog; I have been critical of others for their lack of sustaining; now I'm guilty as well. So be it. MAYBE I won't cast stones in the future---but don't count on it.

First, I need to mention that our orchid society voted to host the national organization's spring show for 2011. I voted against this as did several others---we who are the worker bees. However, the vote carried by two votes. This occurred about 1 1/2 yrs. ago; the AOS (American Orchid Society whom we were hosting) recommends that a society start 3 - 4 yrs. in advance to raise the necessary money, make plans, etc. Did our society heed this advice? Of course not. Therefore, we have worked our buns off to bring all this about including monthly meetings of the "show committee" which I will testify were not all that much fun and were always at the time one would normally be eating supper. I left on several occasions because I had done my part and was too hungry to sit there any longer listening to the same thing we'd heard for four months running and the re-hashing of the same arguments over rather inconsequential "stuff."

We did bring it all together, and the show was a huge success according to all those who came from out of town. Here's a picture of our society members filling "goodie bags" for the registrants.

What was in the bags? Three strands of Mardi gras beads, decks of cards from the casinos as well as a pair of dice, little Tabasco bottles, a little vacuum bag of coffee from Community Coffee, a 2 oz. jar of Pepper Jelly made by one of our members, a little orchid plant ready for planting, and the usual note pads, pens, emery boards, etc. It was a nice collection of stuff. We did this loading about 2 1/2 weeks before the show. The bags are nice for "green shopping"; I've already used mine.

Dagromm, my Texas son, gave me two nights at the Hilton, the hotel adjacent to the Convention Center where the show was. I think being able to just go there, bathe, and fall down kept me going through the early part of the show. It was wonderful, because I really was too tired to drive the four miles home, much less get up early enough to make it back downtown for the next morning's early activities. Mack stayed with Chill and Jaz through the whole thing, and I'm grateful for that.

There was drama behind the scenes resulting in losing more members, adding to those we lost by deciding to host the show to begin with. So, was it worth it? I'm still undecided, but my inclination is to say "No." We'll see how it all plays out; however, I am not taking on any more responsibilities. Period.

On the Wednesday after the show the Interfaith Pharmacy where I volunteer moved from its tiny location to a much, much larger facility. We really needed to move, and I'm very thankful that it worked out. However, spending five hours cleaning the old place and organizing a portion of the new space put me right back to where I was at the end of the AOS show. . . needing to sleep for about two days straight.

In addition to this I decided about eight months ago that it was time to downsize and have less responsibility for home and yard. My plan was to sell the house and move to an apt. so that I wouldn't be responsible for plumbing, A/C, yard, whatever. I just can't do all of it anymore, and it is too costly. Then Chillax & Jaz suggested that I take the money from the sale of my house and use it as a down payment on something where we could all live, along with Oyster, of course. Initially, they would take up the payments on the new place, and when we balanced, I would kick in a portion. Well, that suited me just fine because as I age I'm occasionally frightened of being undiscovered in an emergency situation. My big stipulation is that we have separate living quarters and that I have my own kitchen; we have different hours, food choices, etc.

So, the big cleaning up, de-cluttering, sprucing began. Right now I have to say that my closets are the best portion of my house. Sorry, Goo, but the revered Pilgrimage shoes, went the way of the trash a couple of months ago, but I did take a memorial picture.

This was probably more traumatic for me than for you. C'est la vie.

The realtor whom I have decided to use for the sale of the house gave me pointers on getting ready to go "on the market." One of those was certain loan appraisers don't want to see any peeling paint. Well, my storage area behind the carport definitely had some peeling paint, and after power washing it (one of my orchid society buddies did that) it looked even worse.

Grim, isn't it?

So, in addition to the big show preparations, I was faced with de-cluttering and painting. Well, I have wound up painting about 85-90% of the carport and storage area as well as about half of all the window frames (outside). The deterioration is due to weather and sun. You don't really realize you're living in a dump until you want to sell it. Then the realtor gently slides the reality glasses on your nose.

Here's the storage wall now.

Jaz has been helping me take things to the storage unit I rented three months ago to hold things I'm either keeping or selling depending on where we wind up. She has also helped with grooming the yard, and I'm counting on her for the "final cleaning." That means the cleaning before the realtor comes to take pictures to go on the web. Selling a house has become very scary. It used to be that people knew how many bedrooms, bathrooms, sq. footage was available, and then they could come look and decide if this was the place for them. Now, they can look on-line and if they aren't really smitten they won't even come look. This was not the way I wanted to make my entertainment debut.

I'm doing the best I can, and I'll let you know the website if you want to see the house at its best. But you have to ask. Sorry, but I don't want you burdened with more than you want.

Take care, everyone, and understand that I have been thinking about you. I've just been swamped and still am. Keep your fingers crossed for me and the house sale.

THIS IS THE WEEK THAT WAS

Our orchid society is hosting a national show in late April, 2011. Note that I voted against doing this, but being the stalwart democratic person that I am I have done what I could to support the society's decision. Consequently, I am on the show committee and in charge of clerks for ribbon judging and AOS judging for the show. I know that means nothing to most of you, but it's a big enough chunk of work for one person. Also I have done what I, in conscience, could do to raise money to cover our costs. Let me explain that. We were asked to take orders for candles at outrageous prices for what the buyer would get and to do the same for cookie dough---the same thing elementary school kids are sent out to do. Nope, couldn't bring myself to do that.

However, we finagled a booth at Les Boutiques de Noel, a high end shopping extravaganza, this year held at the Bossier City Civic Center where people have to pay to get into shop, to sell live plant arrangements. I launched into that whole heartedly, and by the time we were ready to do it I had collected 36 containers/baskets and lots of decorative items to decorate them including ribbons and bows---probably $150 worth, all from estate and garage sales. Of course, others had collected as well; some people spent $10 each on their containers; I had a $3 limit on what I purchased. But my point is that everybody contributed a lot. We bought the plants as none of us would have had enough plants in bloom to do this.

On this past Tues. we began putting them together. Approximately four of us had experience in doing this and were good and fast; the remainder of us (that includes me) were novices. But we had a lot of fun putting them together and learning. My pictures are not very good as I really didn't have time to set them up. But here's a sample.

(Remember you click on the pictures to enlarge.)

Oh, yeah, this container was one I got for $1 at an estate sale; originally a holder for a votive candle. I didn't do the arrangement.

Sorry the red bow is behind this because it doesn't show as well.

This container is another I purchased for $1 and is actually a cup; isn't it a great arrangement? I didn't do that one either.

On that Tues. we put together 49 arrangements. We should have stopped there; however we had high hopes and met again the next day to put together more (?). The preview party was on Wed. night, and the actual sale was Thurs., Fri., and Sat. I worked 1 - 6 on Thurs., on Fri. I had to take the cash box to the person opening on Fri., then came back later with material to pack around sold items to stabilize the containers in boxes. Sat. was orchid judging day and the other volunteer who usually works with me for that agreed to do the sales, and I would handle judging responsibilities alone. We were worlds apart, but really in distance it was probably only about 2-3 miles.

Our table on the first day of the sale.

Don't know the outcome of our efforts yet, but I know we were getting only about half the sales we expected. Definite downer! But if anybody is really curious I will let you know. I will say that some of us acquired new skills, even the two men in our society who showed up to help. (We have more men, but only two ventured into this activity. They had a great time and learned how to "glam" up an arrangement.)

So, what's next? Operation on the left eye will be this Monday morning. I am to report at the surgery center at seven a.m. (ouch), but Jaz has graciously accepted the responsibility of getting me there and back once again. The doctor says she will do something a little different this time and, God willing, the sight improvement will be much more immediate without change. The first time it was great 24 hrs. post surgery then went downhill. Who knew about my loose epithelial? BTW the left eye bag is different from the right eye bag. I know you are tracking that information. Here's the left eye bag:

Don't ask me about the cheesy shades in this one; I'm taking my big boxy shades from the first go round. Keep your fingers crossed and say your prayers for me, please. The right eye is still improving, but I don't think it's as good as it will be yet. I just really want everything to be done before the Tea Partyers/ Republicans rip Medicare into oblivion.

So this week is done, and it's on to a new one. Surgery, big holiday, family coming, ---Wow! So much to look forward to! Best wishes to all of you!

TODAY'S ADVENTURES

Well, it really all started a few weeks ago when I received a notice in the mail that my car registration was due in Oct. In order to do that online I needed to get the annual car inspection. That was due in May, so I coasted into the local garage to get that done---only four months late. Pretty good, and no policeman had stopped me for a warning on that. So the registration was taken care of. (O.K. Sentences shouldn't end with a preposition; however, we are friends here and just chatting. Don't be so critical!)

My driver's license was also due to expire in Oct. It's tied to one's birthday in this state (Hint.) However, no notice had come in the mail as it did last time, four years ago. I called the DMV in Baton Rouge and asked about it because I couldn't renew online as I had done before without their special invitation. Rita said those are sent out randomly (I doubt that), and I would have to go to the local DMV to renew. That makes sense in that eye sight and appearance both change over a period of eight years, but "random" ?---I think not.

After careful wardrobe choice, applying makeup, and doing whatever else it took to make me look like a rational human being I sallied forth to the dreaded DMV in Shreveport. I say "dreaded" because it is (1) way far away from where I live, (2) it's tucked into so many street curves with so many obstructive signs/trees that to get there or away from there without an accident is a test of one's driving skills that far supersedes whatever test they might administer. The other scary thing is that the parking lot which probably holds about 250 parking slots has so many cars on it with crunched fenders, major dents, and taped in windows that it frightens one even to park there. You know what I mean?

But arrive I did. After telling the receptionist why I was there I received my ticket.




Note that it says "Express". That apparently means that it only takes one hour because that is how long it took me. Fortunately, I remembered to take a book (and it's great, but that's another blog). There were at least 100 people waiting to be served, and probably 175 chairs. All the vacant ones were well into the middle of the rows. I finally decided where I wanted to climb over and sit elbow to elbow with my neighbors. Actually it all went pretty well, and here's the grand prize part of the story. Baton Rouge had told me the fee would be $24.50 for the license. Apparently there is a senior discount because I was only charged $12.50. Of course, I did not question that---just took the money and ran. Also the new picture on the DL is a little better than the last one, so that was a plus as well.

Since I was suddenly a little wealthier than I expected to be with my $12 saving I decided to treat myself to lunch (I rarely eat out) and started looking for the Chinese restaurant where Goo and I have eaten a few times in the past and always enjoyed it immensely. I knew if I could find the SAS store the restaurant would be across the street. It took one wrong turn and then a correct turn to get there. I had a wonderful lunch of hot & spicy chicken & shrimp which didn't seem that hot & spicy until my nose started to run. Decided not to complain. Also I brought home 1/2 to 2/3 of it to have tomorrow. YEA! (I love twofers.)

While at the restaurant I mapped out the route I would follow to hit the three estate sales I wanted to see. The first one turned out to be a real boon. I have been buying items to help the orchid society with its fund raiser at the Boutique de Noel in November. We will be selling arrangements which contain live blooming plants (not cut flowers) at big $ prices. At least, that's our goal. Our last direction from the chairman was that our table had to be "Christmasy." At the first sale I attended I found this terrific deer (I just need to give him new eyes). He takes up much less space than an Xmas tree and doesn't obstruct views of arrangements. What do you think?





Well, there's more to this story of the sale, but I can't go on forever---or can I?

Stopped at one of the other sales on the way home and spent a dollar for some trims for the arrangements we are planning, and blew off the third sale.

Put my feet up and called Goo. We only chatted a few minutes when she had to get back to work. I sometimes forget about how that work ethic works. However, there was one more sale to go to that comes each year.

MY CITY LOVES TO READ

The Centenary Book Sale comes the weekend after Labor Day each year and benefits Centenary College student projects. (Centenary's campus is a mile or less from my house.) The books are donated by the community, and this year over 70,000 books were donated. People line up before the opening of the sale on late Friday afternoon. It continues on Saturday, and throughout the sale more books are brought in; so you never have the feeling you missed the best stuff because more stuff arrives every few minutes. There is so much that they can't divide the wheat from the chaff, so one has a fairly good shot whenever you go. And Saturday afternoon everything goes to half price.

The sale is held in the Gold Dome.



I didn't meander over there until about an hour after it had opened, but people were parked for blocks in all directions. I began to think that I should have just walked there.





After making my purchases (10 books for $9.25) I managed to find a way to show you some of the crowd that shows up for this event, and many of them may show up again on Sat. to buy more. I might too, in the afternoon.



Sorry, that's blurry.










Even at the dirt low prices Centenary alums raise a lot of money. It's a win-win situation. And that's a good way to end this post---a day full of adventures.

TODAY . . .

Remember my last post? Well, today was ditto only more lightening, louder thunder, and more rain.









All those streaks that look like Spanish Moss are the sheets of rain that were coming down. Couldn't step outside the front door because the rain was coming at me.

When I first saw this man coming down toward my house he was in the street, but I guess it got to be too much, and he was obviously going to be knocked over by the wake of cars, vans, trucks. When he finally reached my photographing point he had adapted his route to his advantage. I keep wondering what was so important that he took on this travel in the midst of the storm---maybe his job. Makes one wonder. . . .






The pluses were I didn't have to water the outside orchids and the temp dropped to 80. So, I guess it was a good day.

THAT'S SHOW BIZ! & THE FARMER IN THE DELL. . .

The Central East Texas Orchid Society hosted their first show to celebrate their 50th anniversary as a society. Two of their members are also members of our society and come very faithfully to our meetings. They made poignant pleas at our meetings for people to set up displays. So in the spirit of charity I finally entered a reservation to do a table top display in the category of five plants or fewer. I knew I would have two blooming plants that I could take, and if a third one didn't emerge I could buy one from a vendor at the show and have three.

The theme of the show was The Golden Age of Orchids. My goal was to have something elegant, tasteful, and celebratory. Then at one of the estate sales I found a slightly damaged pedestal for $2.00, and I knew I was on my way. I found another pedestal of a different height---perfect---at GoodWill; $4.00. Yeah! But then I needed a taller one and finally had to go to Hobby Lobby where I purchased one for $13.00. Oooops! (Production costs are always more than one anticipates.) I also had to make a backdrop for the table top; I already had the table cover and the clip on lights (another estate sale find which I'd been saving for just such an occasion).

You have to understand that I purchased my car almost eight yrs. ago just as a vehicle for me and before I became involved with orchids. Most of the orchid growers I know buy SUV's or vans for their orchids. Many have a second car just for themselves, but I'm not in that financial strata; besides I wouldn't have anywhere to park a second vehicle. My point is that I couldn't do a big display even if I had numerous plants blooming because I couldn't transport the plants, all the paraphernalia for a display, plus my clothes for a weekend in my car. Work with what you've got!

WELL! Two of my three plants won 3rd place ribbons, and get this, one of them won Best Grown Plant in the Cypripedium Alliance. WooHoo!!! That is the center plant in the picture, Paphiopedilum Natasha von Fox (I'm so jealous of that name), and there is a ribbon running down to the "trophy" which is actually a crystal salad plate with etched orchid pattern around the edge. Here's how the display looked.



I was really going for Best Display with 5 or Fewer plants, but, obviously, that didn't happen. Here's the one that beat me out, and there was only one other display out of 14 table tops in that category.



She had five plants, and I didn't even realize it until after judging because they are all so big and lush. She is an excellent grower and one of our society members. She got a sugar bowl and creamer. Maybe if all the trophy winners got together we might come up with service for two and some serving pieces.

All in all it turned out to be a terrific show---much better than I anticipated, and everyone had a delightful weekend including the vendors who had really great sale results. I'm so glad I did that though it may be my vacation for this year.

While intermittently trying to get my display together I was also trying to get our garden started for this year along with Jaz, my daughter-in-law, and one day with Oyster, the granddaughter who was on spring break. Remember that humongus planter we had built last summer to enlarge our garden? Well, we finally put in topsoil and an almost equal amount of compost donated by Travis (of the driving to & from the airport adventure last summer). That compost more than paid me back for the taxi service. You can't imagine how much soil that thing holds. It has about 29- 40 lb. bags of topsoil and about an equal amount of compost which we hauled over from Travis & Jane's house which is about three miles away. (Actually this was really an exercise to get Jaz in shape to begin moving from one house to another which she is currently doing, of course, along with Chillax, Oyster, and the menagerie.)

Ever the bold one, I started with seeds this year putting in radishes and spinach on March 5. A few days later Jaz buried onion bulbs. On March 15, Oyster and I transplanted 4 Buttercrunch lettuce plants, 4 Romaine lettuce, an Early Girl and Better Boy tomatoes, and planted some herbs in the cinder blocks around last year's garden patch. We were so proud.


Emerging radishes



Emerging spinach


Emerging onions


Newly transplanted Romaine (3/17/2010)


Some of the newly planted herbs

Things were looking really good. AND THEN a weather bulletin forecasting another winter storm. We had done all this work on Wednesday, and the following Saturday Jaz and I were battening down the hatches. Here's the result:





We just got them all covered before the temperature dropped significantly and the rain started. Later in the day I discovered the rain water was pooling in the tarp over the walk-in area of the big planter and pulling it off the edges. So with tall stick in one hand and hammer in the other I ooched my way under the tarp to drive the stick into the ground and heaved the water off the tarp. There are moments, folks, when one is really torn: you don't want your neighbor looking out the window and seeing you do such strange things or you hope they're watching in case you don't come out in a reasonable time. Fortunately, the temperature stayed just above freezing, and I do mean just above, one degree. And though a few of the leaves of the basil went a funny color, everything survived, including me. But it was scary.

I was going to tell you about what I did today, but I'm tired---you probably are too. Here's the way the planter looked three days ago, and everything is a lot bigger now. We're into the great growing season. More another day.

WEEKENDS ARE KILLING ME!

Well, things have been a bit hectic to say the least. The last weekend in Sept. our orchid society hosted a regional orchid show. It was somewhat smaller than our usual shows, but it didn't mean less work for those of us who do . . . the work. It was not well attended by the public, so that was a disappointment; we had fewer vendors, but that was a mixed blessing. If we'd had our usual number they would have been disappointed because of the light turnout; as it was those there did a decent business but did not sell out as they pretty much did two years ago. Asi es la vida. I think we had a lovely display which you'll see below. No trophy for me this time, but I did win a blue ribbon which is right in the center of the display. My work this time was not to set up the display but to prepare the plant labels (the green ones on the little sticks) the night before set-up. On set-up day I was in charge of plant registration meaning I received the little billets which each society or individual submitted for each plant or exhibit. My committee then had to organize these in folders for the judges to use the next day when they judged plants and exhibits. I had the process in hand, and my terrific committee polished it off in record time. It was a long, hard weekend because there was also maintenance of the hospitality room, schmoozing of visitors, takedown of everything, and those of us who worked it spent at least the following Mon. and Tues. recuperating. Here's our display.









The next weekend Jazz and I finally had our often postponed yard sale. The first tentative scheduling was in April, I think. It's hard to remember anymore. We ran into other events, bad weather forecasts, and personal illness/malaise. Then we ruled out mid-summer as just too hot and found the same problems haunting us in the fall. Persevering though we finally placed the ad and launched our endeavor; unfortunately when I arrived to start setting things out the first day of the sale Jazz came to the door looking like death on a stick with a migraine headache. She mustered in though, and we went through with the sale. Although we planned to start the sale at noon she'd had a doorbell ringer at 7:00 a.m. Go figure. We didn't make as much as we did on previous sales, but we did gain some space, and we managed to unload two items we really wanted to get rid of---a mower for her, and an edger for me. Just like the beginning of the sale the purchaser of these two items came after we "officially" closed the sale and were putting things away. However, he had cash and came close enough to our prices, and we couldn't say no. Would you?

This weekend was supposed to be the downtime weekend. I went on my usual round of estate sales on Friday morning and bought a couple of 45's---you know, for that turntable record player I bought last month. I thought they might be of interest to my grandchildren when they come to visit. One is "Does the Chewing Gum Lose It's Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight?" Now where can you hear that anymore? Interestingly, it has the same song on both sides of the record. Does that tell you what a hit it was? Or did this guy only have one song in his repertoire? (Probably.) The other one was "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night. I had this previously, but it was on eight-track (remember that?), and the eight-tracks are long gone as well as the means to play them. Anyway, I loved that song and its infectious good cheer. When I went upstairs to the bedroom that had been made from part of the attic I saw a most unusual very sturdy double bed with a cedar lined drawer built into the footboard and a matching desk/chest of drawers. Both pieces were quite unique. Oh, well.

Well, I went back this afternoon when prices had dropped to 50% off to try to get the 45 record I didn't buy yesterday---"I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy and to see if they had either of the record racks they had yesterday. I didn't really have any way to take care of/store the 45's I bought yesterday. DUH! Unfortunately, Helen was gone (Damn!). However, when I went upstairs to look for the record racks I saw yesterday one was still there. YEA! And it fits in my alleged entertainment center. But guess what! The unique bed and desk/chest were still there too. But not anymore; they are now in my carport.

Are you ready for the miraculous part of this story? Transport of these purchases is always up to the purchaser. Of course, my first instinct was to go to Chillax (he with the truck) to see if he might be able to go to the house on Sun. when the buyout people came to haul away whatever was left. The operators of the estate sale didn't know when they were coming yet, so that was "iffy." I left his store with the understanding we would try to work that out. Thirty minutes later he called and said he was going to put a sign out and close the store, and he and his friend Mark would go pick up the furniture, so I should call the Magnolia Estate Sale people and let them know he was coming. You can bet I did. I met them there with quilts, etc. to act as furniture buffers. (Wish I had time to tell how we almost killed a woman with a bed spring.) You in the family know that this is probably a once in a lifetime event . . . that Chill would close the store to fetch estate sale purchases. MUST HAVE BEEN A REALLY SLOW DAY! But I am eternally grateful for his benevolence, and neither of us has to go to bed wondering how we're going to negotiate all this tomorrow. I haven't mentioned that tomorrow afternoon we have the orchid society picnic/auction, have I? If it weren't for the business meeting where we really have to do some serious business I would blow that off. I don't need more orchids. On the other hand, the guest bed has been a source of concern for a long time. It was originally (?) my parents' bed, then my Aunt Janie's, then mine. And for the past 16 yrs. the guest bed. It is very wobbly. The new/old bed is not, and it will match another piece of furniture in the room. WooHoo!

No doubt, you see where this is leading. Now I have two pieces of furniture for the next yard sale. Maybe we can put "antiques" in the ad. And I have major work ahead of me to clear out the old and bring in the new. It looks like the circle is unbroken.

Let's Wrap It Up!

Just like life, it's so much harder to catch up once you let things slide. But I said I would, and I will. So here it is in a nutshell.

While mowing the grass one day in May there were a couple of gusts of wind, and when I went to the back to mow there, what did I find? My beautiful red maple, age 3, had sheared right down the middle. Chillax came later and helped cut it up and remove it. It broke my heart to see the tree damaged, but I tended its wound and hoped for the best. Guess what? It continued to grow and even continued to provide shade.

June---Even more blah than May.

July--the Dagromms came for the 4th, actually arriving on the third. Dagromm, ever the dutiful son, asked what he could do to help me. I eagerly suggested mowing the lawn. He agreed to do it and did. I stood in the shade of the red maple to take this photo. His quick agreement was due in part to the fact that he and the children wanted to shoot fireworks in the yard on the 4th, and they did. It was a lot of fun. Then he and Mrs. Dagromm went home leaving their offspring with me for a week (the true mowing incentive). We had a few adventures.

No doubt, I have previously mentioned that I am currently the president of our local orchid society. Well, shortly after the children left, one of our board members and she was also the monthly raffle chairman, resigned from the board (via e-mail) and all responsibilities, and brought 74 raffle plants for me to tend. She said she would bring the rest later. I read and re-read the by-laws, and no where did it say this was the responsibility of the president.

On the 23rd we had a quick storm, and this time I heard the "pop" and discovered the red maple was a goner.


August---On the third of the month I drove to Jackson, Mississippi, to pick up Goo who came home for a week. The high points of that trip, aside from seeing her, were I got to see rain in quantity near the state line, and on the way home a dead alligator on the side of the road---the most memorable road kill of my experience. We had a fun week, went "estate sale-ing" with Jaz, watched some outstanding videos, and just relaxed. Taking her to the airport on the eleventh was a downer.

But a couple of days before she left the aforementioned orchid society member brought another 60+ plants to my house for me to tend. Thanks, ever so. Goo labeled her deranged. I contacted several other members of the society, and I managed to farm out most of the plants to foster homes and only wound up with about 30 to take care of myself. The majority of all of these were unloaded at our annual picnic/auction in Oct. In the meantime I conducted the raffle as well as the meetings for Aug., Sept., and Nov. She has now decided she is ready to resume her duties, and I was ready to return all the paraphernalia to her ASAP. (Why did I think working with pre-schoolers was getting too hard for me?)

September---I finally began sewing the display drapes for the orchid society.

October---You've already heard about my fantastic birthday. Jaz and I had another one of our outstanding yard sales. In the meantime I finished sewing the display drapes for the orchid society to use in its displays in various shows. Here they are in my living room.

The finished length is 7 feet. It was a massive sewing project; I did six panels. Each one is 5 feet wide. I learned to use the blind stitch selection on my mother's old Singer. Keep learning!---that's my motto. I still need to make some swags, but I'm in no rush on that chore. I also helped with two out of town shows by making all the plant labels for the shows, and going to Monroe to help take down a display.

During the last half of the month and the first part of Nov. I was sick and waited far too long to go see the doctor. When I finally did I wound up with a shot, a Rx for an antibiotic, and two kinds of decongestants. I will eventually get all this crud out of my system.

November---Well, obviously the big moment here was Thanksgiving. Chillax, Jaz, and Oyster were here. Jaz did the turkey, pie, and bread, and I did the other stuff. We ate very well and watched A Christmas Story, one of the funniest movies ever, after our meal. It was a really good day though Chill was feeling a little down (another upper respiratory story). He did, however, help me get down some of the Christmas decorations from the attic. I have really good sons, you know. (My daughters are o.k. too; they're just so far away.)

Anyway, are we caught up now? If I've left out anything you need to know about, tell me, and I'll do whatever I can to rectify the situation. The pets seem to be o.k.; they're just aging like this writer. And if you've read this far, please, post a comment. Sometimes this feels like speaking to the wind.