Good morning on New Year's Day! And it is a good morning. The Paxlovid is definitely kicking in because I slept soundly and waking this morning I feel this covid illness has taken at least three back steps. 

Happy New Year, Everyone!!!!!!!

I'll be back soon!

Covid Quarantine

My first four days of the new year will be the last of my five-day quarantine for Covid. I tested positive yesterday morning with what a day before had seemed to be a chest cold coming on. Our meds that have helped so many are helping me too. I am deeply grateful I had all the shots because of how Covid affected my asthma yesterday and today (and nights). Without the vaccines, coughing would undoubtedly have quickly overwhelmed my ability to breathe without mechanical help. As it is, the asthma inhaler is pretty much controlling the coughing, and the Tylenol has the slight temp and discomforts controlled. The Paxlovid prescription Wendy picked up for me will likely keep all this from worsening, and instead improving.

John tested positive too at about the same time. He, Keoni, and Aidan all had "caught a cold" much as I experienced. But John's was Covid. He is much improved today per Wendy's text. Keoni, Aidan, and Wendy are negative at this moment.

Did I wear a mask? Yes, whenever I went out my apartment door. Yet, we all know the virus variants are now contractable in the extreme.

Do I have plans to see in the New Year? If you can call it a plan, I'm going to couch-potato my greetings to 2023 with a movie, my feet in microwavable warm moccasins (Keoni gave me) on my feet, and plenty of liquids.

Take good care of yourselves, those you love, and all the others around you. We're all threads in this interesting, living tapestry.

I will update some more soon.

Christmas is Happening

Linda in Tucson has provided me with the following--exactly the right spirit for me and maybe for you, too...

Thank you, Linda! and thank you, dear readers. I love that you are out there and we can reach each other with an additional Christmas miracle--all these electrons, and 0s, and 1s zipping through the ether.

Merry Christmas to all!

JM

Winter's Solstice

muffled sounds!

has a gaggle of geese

landed nearby?

do they wing above

in a flyover wedge?

a quick turn

to the window where

on the nearby sidewalk

two by handheld two

sixteen tiny preschoolers

bounce by

one tall guardian leads

the other one follows

bundled in winter's attire

of sunlit colors

the eight pairs

chatter youth-toned words

that don't decipher

through the glass

this winter's solstice morning

of thirty degrees

JM - 12/21/22

Are We Old?

"I've been wondering if we're old, Toby. I've noticed conversations sort of go into reverse. Where once in our early times we exclaim, 'Look, a new tooth came in!' In our late years, we exclaim, 'Look, my new crown the dentist 3D printed!'"

"What are you talking about?" Toby responded.

"Oh, the way things somehow are different and the same."

"I think you're going in circles."

"You're exactly right my furry friend, I am going in circles."

"I don't see you moving in circles, you're just sitting there typing."

"It's my inner ear, Toby. It got wobbly for a while and I felt like I was going in circles. I could hardly stand up straight without falling over."

"Oh, I thought maybe you are going in circles because of the holidays." 

"Ha! that too. But I'm a lot better now. I may have to use a cane for a while though."

"Like the stick you use when we go for a walk?"

"Yep, pretty much."

"Well, since I'm aging too, you'll be happy to know that Wendy and John are making sure I'm in the barn at night before they lock up since I can't hop in and out of my entry and exit hole in the stall door anymore. And, I don't think a cane will help me."

"Gosh, that's why I heard you meow in the barn the other day when I was walking by. I looked for you but I didn't find you. You couldn't get out!"

"Yup! that's the truth. But what cheered me up was when Aidan came home for Thanksgiving. My four-legged friends were sooooo happy too."

"Me too! and so were Wendy and John. Do you want to look at a Thanksgiving slide show that I put together?"

"Sure."

Toby settled into my lap and we looked at the slides on my phone...

"Where was Keoni? Toby asked."

"He went to London."

"Was it to see the queen? what did he there? frighten a little mouse under her chair?"

"No, no, no...he went to London to play in the London Symphony Orchestra."

"Why? Don't they have enough musicians?"

"Yes, they have plenty of players. Each year they invite musicians from America who have won a fellowship competition. Keoni was one of the competitors who won."

"Do you have any pictures?"

"Yes, here are some pix we got online..."

Paula and Carl captured a screenshot of Keoni and shared it with us.

On my TV. Keoni is the blond man lower right of middle.

"Is he back in Houston?" Toby asked. "Will he come home for Christmas?"

"Yes, he's back playing with the Houston Orchestra and will be here for Christmas."

"Is he flying home?"

"No, he has a car now and will drive here. He'll pick up Aidan in Cincinnati on his way, and they'll get here about December 23rd."

"Oh, good. Now I'm feeling a little more like Christmas."

"Me too. You wanna see my Christmas tree and the sights around where I live?"

"Sure, let's have a look..."

My Christmas tree.

The front entrance where I live.

The fireplace in the lobby near the auditorium.

"And, I'll bet you'd like to see Jeanenne's grandkids making Christmas cookies. Do you know she does that every year with them?"

"It's nice they do that but I don't get the cookie part. I'd rather chew on...oops, okay, I won't mention the rest of that thought. I want to see the Clark cookie makers..."

"Say, what's going on out west?" Toby asked.

"Well, our family in Salt Lake City all were on television last week to be interviewed by a  TV station that was doing a live fundraiser for SLC Primary Children's Hospital where Dimetrios was so many times when he was sick. The family sent pictures from the TV studio where the live interview took place..."

***

Jeff shared some good news for our Sports Desk: 

Elijah's latest basketball game stats...

25 points
7-7 FG 100%
5-5 FT 100%
2-2 3Point 100%
7 rebounds
1 Steal
2 blocks
2 TO
4 fouls

And then Jeff sent, "Elijah is 2nd in the state right now for blocks per game and 6th for points per game." 

"What else is happening out west?"

"Well, Valerie and Tim are going to Utah to be together with the family there for Christmas."

***

From Tucson, Paula has sent us August from her Yard Journal. I said to Toby, "Let's go enjoy a look..."

The Arts Desk...

_____________________

And now some pages from Paula's Perpetual Journal...

_____________________

_____________________

_____________________

_____________________

To get better acquainted with Paula and Carl you can find Paula here, and Carl here. From these, their new Mastadon sites, you can learn about this creative couple and get easy access to more of their many talents, websites, and interests.

_____________________

You met the Vagners in Tucson, in a previous posting on November 17, 2022. During the lockdown of the pandemic, the three Vagner daughters made new images of old paintings. Here's one of the results that Lydie particularly likes...

Left to right: Mary Ann, Bara, and Elizabeth.

Bara is now working on her PhD at University of Arizona in Tucson, Elizabeth studies Medical Biology there, and Mary Ann continues her Anthropology and Studio Art studies and creates cartoons for the university's The Daily Wildcat newspaper. Check out more of her cartoons here and here's a sample that Lydie sent...

***

I said to Toby, "Before we call it a day, do you want to see some pictures of Aidan from about 10 years ago?"

"Sure. Remember the time he was making cactus juice? That's what I want to see again."

"Ok, here goes..."

The other day Aidan sent this picture of his sunset in Cincinnati...

Aidan travels these streets to go busking at a farmers' market on his electric scooter. He has his cello on his back, his backpack on his chest, his folding chair sandwiched between the cello and his back, and a bucket for the money hanging off the front handle of the scooter. 

I could see Toby was getting sleepy. "Let's sign off, my friend, with this scene at dusk by my apartment building..."

"And this sunset out by your pastures, Toby, where we have been walking..."

A deer and her fawn just before they slid away into the woods and disappeared.

"I don't think we're old, I think we're sleepy," he said. "Good night." Then he crawled in between a couple of hay bales and disappeared.

.

***

Illusions of Discipline

JM:

first I lose my muse

then discipline went kafloo

what then shall I do

Toby: 

it is plain to me

you must be blind, don't you see

the muse by your ear

JM:

where then do you see

discipline that eludes me

through my waking hours

Toby:

nope no discipline

sits on your other shoulder

you're right, it's not there

 

JM:

boohoo woe is me

extremes are where I wallow

days of booms and busts

Toby:

so then it must be

that discipline I can't see

is an illusion

________

Toby and I agree wholly that we miss the American Southwest which leads us to a mystery we have not solved. Who gave me an Arizona Highways subscription? Was it anyone reading this? To whoever it may be, please know that the magazine gives me enjoyment and not a little nostalgia seeing the vistas where I once dwelt. Thank you, for each monthly visit to beautiful Arizona! 

***

For all you artists and everybody else, too, it's Arts Desk time. Paula is keeping up her art very well and shared the updates she made to her website for us to browse. Sit Spot Nature Journal and don't forget to click on the latest entry Oct. 29-Nov.4 in her Perpetual Journal.

________

Christmas is on Jeanenne's mind and she drew this happy character....

Thanks, Jeanenne.
I hope this is on the Christmas card you send to me.

***

At The Family & Friends Corner, birthdays abounded, near and far...

...near...

Happy Birthday, Wendy!

________

...and far...great-grandnephew Hunter (MO), birthday #9...

________

...and a Happy Birthday to Sandy (MO), Valerie (NM), Susie (MO), and sometime next week another Happy Birthday to Jackie (IL). 

________

In Salt Lake City a local TV station will broadcast a televised fund-raiser for Primary Children's Hospital where Dimetrios had so many times received care. The TV correspondents came to Sonja, Jeff, Elijah, and Kingston's home to tape an interview with them about Dimetrios and their experience to use during the fund-raiser broadcast. They also will have the family on live for a segment during the event.

Kingston having a look at the TV camera.

The interviewers.

________

Now, let's take a look at Carol and Janie's place where I once lived one property over and on a different road back when, before my condo days...

...and their beloved two pups are now adult-sized...

These images Carol sent all took me back to the times I spent at their address minding their home and property and their animals while they were away. What a lovely memory of those times. Thank you, Carol and Janie.

________

Also, from Tucson came a surprise, a welcome contact from Lydie. She and her husband Josef, their three daughters Bara with her husband Matthew, Mary Ann, and Elizabeth are in these pictures. Also, Bara & Matthews's daughter Ema, Lydie's granddaughter, in her pumpkin outfit. What wonderful neighbors they were to Wendy and her family and included me among their friends. Lydie was a huge help during my frantic week of prep before moving to PA, including enlisting friends for my aid.

Ema.

***

For our Farm Report today we go straight to Wendy's website,. Her recent update combines her eye for digital art and photographic documentation of her Mini LaMancha dairy goat project which now is easily accessed on your smartphone or tablet. We're also awaiting the voting outcome of her photo entry for the national goat registry 2023 calendar. 

***

The Green Goddess is keeping her eye on the prize--a better husbanding of our precious blue planet. She saw this commitment by The Guardian...

"It’s Time to Act

Climate change is a global emergency that requires cooperation between all nations. That’s why today the Guardian has joined with more than 30 newspapers and media organizations in more than 20 countries to present a common view about what needs to be done to stop the planet hurtling towards the point of no return."

***

It was heartening to see a large group of people, all ages, waving Vote signs on a busy corner the Saturday before the mid-terms when I passed on my way to Walmart that morning. On my way back, a little past lunchtime they were breaking up and I caught a few of them when I stopped for the intersection red light.

***

I'll leave you tonight with a bit more of my PA fall...

***

Vote!

One more time...

VOTE!!!

ELECTION INFORMATION from League of Women Voters Education Fund
*Your ballot's candidates and issues anywhere in the USA--no political partisanship! 

*The function of the office.

*The candidates.

*Each candidate's answers to identical questions the League presents them: their background, why they're running, their answers to questions on current issues--local to national.

*Side-by-side, interactive candidate comparison tool.

*Your districts' ballot issues in plain summaries with Pro and Con views.

*Print/text/email to yourself your checked choices--a personalized, informed list of the candidates and issues. 

*Check your registration.

*Find your polling place.

*Discover debates in your area.

*Checklist for first-time voters.

*Election problem phone numbers for multiple languages. 

            --bullet points are drawn from The League of Women Voters website information.

________

Need to look up a state, regional, or national politician's voting record? Go to votesmart.org.

________

For the 2024 election: "Writing letters to voters is one of the most effective ways to increase election turnout. And you can do it right from home," says Vote Forward's website. It's about getting out the vote. It rejects political partisanship. There is a comprehensive how-to. You can choose current campaigns and issues that are near or far.

***

For The Arts Desk today we have new contributions from Paula in Tucson to share with you: 

Paula: "I started a Perpetual Journal - a multi-year art journal in which each page = 1 week (f.i. Jan. 1-7). You draw something each week, leaving space on each page for adding another drawing that same week the next year, and the year after that, until the pages are filled. Each page will end up having drawings from multiple years. It’s a great way to document changes over time such as those due to climate change."

Page 1.

Page 2.

Page 3.

Page 4.

   Page 5.

And to finish these contributions, another page of Paula's "sit spot" journal.

Thank you, Paula!

***

Since Paula's journal entries have actual time, seasons, and weather references that will document the Tucson changes ahead, it is time to go to the...

The Weather Desk:

Here in Pennsylvania, it has warmed up to sweater weather. Clear skies, bright sun and moon, and stars. The "Indian Summer" of former Octobers, now moved to November...

***

The Green Goddess Desk:

Recommended by Valerie is a recent book by David Pogue How to Prepare for Climate Change: A Practical Guide to Surviving the Chaos, which is not all doom and gloom. Amazon tells me my copy will arrive today.

***

At The Education Desk, we learned that Elijah has two more college acceptances which are offering substantial scholarships. Way to go, Elijah!!! You Rock!!! He has let me know that his goal is Physical Therapy and he has been offered an internship to work side by side with a man who owns five physical therapy clinics there in Utah. He will start that soon. In his words, "...PT sounds very interesting to do and if everything goes well with the job shadowing I might go for it. I think it is a great opportunity..."

We look forward to following the activities and developments of Elijah and our young (and old) family and friends' lives.

***

We here are hoping your Halloween was fun and full of good stuff. Sandy sent some pictures from her daughter, my niece Paula in MO--their Halloween costumes...

And in Utah, Sonja, Jeff, Elijah, and Kingston's weekend highlight was at a local corn maze...

The Farm Report:

There is a new resident named Grace whom Wendy just brought from Maryland...

Bert and Frezz say hello to Grace the Mini LaMancha goat. She is super friendly and, oh-oh!!! jumps really high. She jumped out of her stall in the barn. Here is Wendy leading her out of the barn's chicken house where she was found.

A fallen tree extensively damaged the run-in shed next to the house. The handyman did a fantastic job repairing it and replacing parts. It now has this extra door on the barn lot side of the pasture.

We'll close today with a photo from John...

 ...Austin at sunrise one recent morning.