The Big Black Cart

When we were in Bruges we shopped with a big shopping cart. So since I walk to grocery shop here I wanted a cart so I could bring back more than two canvas bags of groceries--and not too heavy ones at that. I could not find any store selling shopping carts--remember how we saw them everywhere in every color in Bruges. The thrift stores said they got them in sometimes, but not right now. So William went on line to buy me one. The Big Black Cart. It can carry 150 lbs of groceries, if I could drag/push that much up the hill. I tried it out today and did bring back more than I could have carried--including a 6 pk for Mr. B.

Out to the Grass Valley Vets Building

Went to hear Amy Goodman tonight. She was on a book tour promoting "Standing up to the Madness." Good inspirational progressive speech. Hard to believe that she has been doing "Democracy Now the War and Peace Report" for 12 years. I bought both books of hers that The Bookseller had out but did not wait for any signature. I also got the DVD of her interview of Utah Phillips in 2004 as a gift for getting both books. The progressives were out in force as the place was totally full. The Vets building can hold about 1000 people. The building itself is really looking spiffy since it has had a recent makeover.

China Taiwan Summit

Remember Anna Wong whom we met in Luca? She was in favor of eventually joining with China as she said most Taiwanese felt that they were Chinese and supported this. See article here.

Toyota United Donates to Injured Cyclist

The Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team announced May 9, 2008 that its riders and staff donated $5,000 cash to Fausto Munoz Esparza, the rider who was paralyzed in a horrific high-speed crash at this years Tour of the Gila in Silver City, NM.
How come I did not read about this crash before? More here.
I guess this was the Tecos rider who was airlifted to the hospital per cycling news which enumerated Tom Zirbel's injuries while the Tecos rider and his injuries remained anonymous.

Remodel?

Is this the beginning of the remodel?
Wm took the fan down and I took it to Accent Lighting to see if it still works. It either works or I get a new one and then the electrician will put it up and fix the switch.
Wm visited Wrightbuilt to see about remodeling our house. We will visit them tomorrow to see about starting the process. Someday we will get this house redone for the next 30 years of our lives. I want the house to look brand new, so I have high aspirations.

Married Life

I went to the movie at the Nevada Theatre tonight. They were showing Married Life. A quirky movie with comedy, of the black sort, and suspense.

William stayed home to torch his burn pile. With the rain and cooler weather today was a burn day and there was a lot of brush to burn.

5/25/08

Last night we went out to see Antsy McClain at the Center for the Arts. A fun time was had by all. Antsy has quite a cult following in Grass Valley and puts on a really long show as it was almost midnight when we arrived home.


Also working on home repairs. While we were gone Maytag sent out a recall/repair letter for the dishwasher as an imminent fire hazard. The repairman came out on Friday and put in a new inner door with wiring and seal. He also told us we have a slight knock in our 1998 motor. When that gives out we will need to buy a new dishwasher. We can't hear the knock, so we hope that means it isn't really there.

Next week Grass Valley Glass will come out to replace the clouded front window and repair the broken sash in the kitchen.

We are still working on who will do some electrical repair, but vow to have it done prior to the arrival of the pitter, pattering horde, aka Axel.

The Sundance Channel

Last night we discovered the Sundance Channel and watched two movies:
1. Off the Grid -- reminded us of our trip to New Mexico in 2005 to look at Cheyenne's place--same location as the movie. I'll have to say I looked a bit younger then.

2. Avenue Montaigne -- reminded us of our recent two weeks in Paris.

We stayed up late and really enjoyed both movies.

She's Come Undone

I liked this response best to HRC's defense for staying in the nomination race through June as she remembers RFK was assassinated in June. As if she did not know about all the threats that Obama has received.

Cooling Down

Finally it is cooling down. After almost a week of temperatures in the 90's I was wondering what the summer had in store. I walked into town today to buy some concert tickets for this weekend at The Center for the Arts. Ticket sales were at Yabobo. They moved a few years ago to the old Herb Shop location next to Friar Tucks. I also went to the Hat Store to buy a new hat for the summer. I found just what I wanted in a blue hat made by The Hat People of Talent, Oregon. Apparently I would be able to buy the same hat at the Oregon Country Fair. But that is not until July and I needed a lighter hat now.
As I headed back I stopped at the South Pine Cafe for a tonic, a delicious mix of fresh squeezed carrot juice, parsley, ginger and garlic. Very tasty. I will treat family to one, if they like, when they are here in June.

Send Prayers to Senator Kennedy

You can wish him well on his web site although the prognosis for a glioblastoma is not great.

Nuts in the Cupboard

What's Up?

Last night we went to see "The Counterfeiters" at the Nevada Theatre, a much more enjoyable movie than "In Bruges."
Today I am processing our 50 lbs of last fall's almond crop. We got the nuts just as we were ready to leave last September, so we had to just leave them in the huller bag all winter. The house was cold so the nuts are OK. It is just a tedious job to sort and process them. These nuts need a lot more sorting than other years with quite a few hulls and bad nuts. This fall will be the last of the nuts. With a dwindling harvest as the trees have aged, we are having the trees pulled for firewood in September. So next year the land will be in a row crop of some sort.

Museums at Home

Today was Nevada County Museum Discovery Day so I went to see some museums I had never seen and one I had not seen in a long time. First I went to the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum. Nice old trains very polished and lots of train memorabilia.
It had been many years since I had been in Firehouse #1 Museum in Nevada City and the only part of the exhibit that was the same was the old Chinese altar at the back and they had a new upstairs exhibit area.
Then on to The Grass Valley Museum. I had never been in here and it is quite large. This was at times a convent, a school and an orphanage. Nice exhibits.
Then on to the North Star House. A historic home out old Auburn Road built in 1905 as the home for the superintendent of the North Star Mine. Renovation has just begun but it has a dedicated group working to restore it. Old photo of North Star House

Movies tonight

Went out to the Magic Theatre to see In Bruges tonight. It was so warm we walked--warm as summer coming home too. That was a weird movie. OK scenery of Bruges although it did not look cold enough. It looked like it was probably shot in April of 07. I guess they were not able to shoot in the Basilica of the Holy Blood, but they wanted to talk about it in the script. So they shot that scene in the chapel next to the lace makers.

Dad at 65

Off to Friar Tuck's for some celebratory meat after a rigorous day of signing up for Medicare. The Medicare worker even took my information, via phone, even though I have a number of Medicare free months left. We got the Wednesday Special of Bourbon Street Filet which on Wednesday only comes with two huge prawns and dessert in addition to breadsticks and cheese dip and soup or salad. We had the huge salad. I brought most of my meat home and dad tasted some of my dessert. I think I had too many breadsticks.

High up Pictures

When we were returning from Paris the pilot interrupted what was a sleep time for most and announced that there was an unusual break in the clouds over Greenland and that we would be able to see land. William was asleep and at the window. I stood up and half climbed on him to see the sight of glaciers obviously retreating in April. I did not have my camera handy to take a picture, but this web picture is similar to what we saw although there was more evidence of glacial retreat with dirtied toes on the glaciers, less snow pack on the mountains and evidence of frozen lakes that would be liquid in the summer.

When I was flying back from Dallas we flew, as per usual, right over Lake Tahoe. It was bright blue and I could see right down into the lake as the clarity was great. In the plane I was higher than this as I think this was taken from a balloon, but the clarity was the same.

The Cat Report

When I got home Wm informed me that Sam had a new girl friend and that he often saw them curled up together in the side yard. So when I got up to get the paper and saw Sam on the porch trying to get past me into the house, I was surprised to also see Sam curled up with a cute gray kitty in the side yard.





Two Sams? I have been trying to get a picture of the two kitties together. I think they are from across the street. But no luck. The other Sam strides off at the sight of the camera. If you look closely, you can see a bit of a green collar on this Sam. Since the weather is due to head up into the high 80's and maybe 90, the kitties are going to get their annual lion cut today. Then there will be no more cat confusion.

















So I'll just conclude with the red/orange flowers currently ablaze at the side of the front door.

Out to the theater

We re-upped our season tickets to the Foothill Theatre Company and went to see the play "Doubt" this evening. Set in a Catholic school in 1964 it explores possible misbehavior of a priest and the controlling autocratic behavior of the nun heading up the school.Very thought provoking with no clear answers.

Home Again

I tried to hit the ground running yesterday and did quite a bit of resolving of problems with bills etc. I am driving a car that is only half registered. Paid the fee, but could not get it smogged or send in proof of liability while gone. It is due to be smogged on Friday and the proof of liability is in the mail. But the tags still say 2/08 of course.
I just finished reading the Christmas cards. Happiness and sadness, birth and death, illness and travel. All makes me want to reach out to visit friends, but have got to get chores done around here first.
Cheers to all who have been reading this blog. I'll try to continue posting as things happen around here. Next big event is William's 65th.

Cattle Egrets in the yard

Since Val has been keeping her back yard more natural cattle egrets have come. She hopes they eat ants.

Tramping with Jaz and Ben

Jumping with JasmineLet's sit this one out

My turn now

Robert Goes Off

Robert is going on a Boy Scout hike this weekend. This is a preparatory hike for a week long Boy Scout version of the Bataan Death March that he will be doing after school is out in about a month. He really did not want his picture taken. But he did have to get out of the car with his pack. So the blogger at least caught him from behind.