12/29 Anderson

Happy New Year!  Hope you are all ready for the new year?  We have certainly had our share of NorCal winter weather.  Not really surprising as we should be used to it by now?  Relatively speaking for the rest of the country - the winter has been pretty mild.  We have only had 1 or 2 sunny days over the last week or so.  Looks like we may get another one for New Years day!!  Our rainfall is about 170 percent of normal and snow pack is even better than that.  We have just started the Winter and sure to come Spring weather pattern.  I think Lake Shasta is at 70 percent of capacity already the lake level is about 8 feet higher than last year at this time.

Initially, I was going to devote this page to a reflection to looking back at 2012 - - - mentally I did that and have determined that the good and bad things of the past are no longer important.  What is important is how we address our future both personally and as a society.  We all have our challenges and we collectively will address them in due course.  From a reflection standpoint it will be interesting to see how we accomplish our challenges in 2013?!!~  2013 bring it on!!

We don't really get out much while we are here but we did make a run to Redding.  We has fun at Harbor Freight - lots of cool stuff that we really do not need but cool to see whats out there.  Kathy was looking for "texture" to use in her art and  I was looking for tools and stuff.  We both made a haul and one of the items I came up with was a rain suit - old yeller.  I have been looking for one to carry in my golf bag.  This one may work, might be a little bulky but it should do the trick on the course.  I have been scheming on one for some time - they all ran $30 or more - this one was $8.99, what a deal!!

Kathy has been very busy with her mixed media artwork.  Each day brings a new and different creative opportunity which she captures and puts to canvas.  She enjoys the ability to express herself through her artwork.   She allows me to be the critic - she trusts my unbiased opinion and makes adjustments as warranted.  She worked in lots of art media over the last 2-3 years  - - most of her work has been directed at her potential customers, the media she is working with now seems to be directed inward for herself.  Kathy will find many new forms of art media in 2013, now that she has settled into her studio the creative juices have been intensified.  The only limiting factor is the amount of time she is able to spend in the studio?

I have not been very productive - limited on the number of days which I was able to get outside.  I was able to do a couple of things one of which was to remove the flag pole which was anchored to the front gate.  The flag hole is aluminum and in sections for a total height of 40 foot tall.  This Spring I will reinstall it closer to the house either anchored to the fence or a post hear the driveway.  I was also able to pull up some of the weeds that are cropping up in the front yard - with all the moisture they are getting a great start.   The rest of the yard and trees are doing great!!

We do not have Tv service (dish)- terminated it early on because we never used it. We do have 2 Tvs so I thought we might be able to get some coverage via the rabbit ears.  I started working with the Tv in the master bedroom - - had it ready to go and tried to turn it on.  No power - - it did work earlier in the year but dead now.  I did leave it plugged in and I think a capacitor on the power circuit blew?  Pretty easy fix but have decided it is not worth messing with.  At some point we may activate some type of Tv coverage and I am sure that Kathy would prefer a new flat screen tv.  Enough for that project - -  Kathy and I have gotten into viewing the movies and shows on Netflex via the Internet.  Kathy enjoys movies in general and now she can view them in her own space.  I have been using them as well and have enjoyed them very much.  The movies and Tv series are not new but we have not seen may of them so they are entertaining for us and certainly take the place of Tv dish service.  The only thing I miss is the news and Golf channel?

We sure get some great sunrises and sunsets!  This week end we got to see a great full moon rising and setting.  It rises on back of the house and sets on the  front  - opposite the sun of course.  Over time these kind of pictures may become a little boring?  For us we are very fortunate to be able to experience them in person each day!!

In closing - - we hope you had a great 2012 and which you a very happy New Year. 

More later (in 2013)

Ron, Kathy, Tessie and Sammie  ( the cat)  

12/22 Anderson

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to family, friends and strangers.

We reached 1200 hits on this blog and we can only hope the information we have shared has been interesting.?  It looks like we are on a 2 week cycle and that seems about right - this way I won't get too carried away with my babble. 

We arrived this morning in Anderson - they had snow that last 2 days but none in sight now.  We do have a system moving through an we may get some white stuff later today or tomorrow.  Our weather pattern for the last 2 weeks has been pretty consistent - new frontal systems move through each day - cool mornings (44-46) and high temps for the days ( 55-60).  These temps keep the fair weather golfers off the course -  have it to myself for most of the morning.  The course starts to get busy after lunch.  Speaking of golf, last night I got a order for 300 golf balls before Christmas, of course I was able to provide them.  This was a repeat customer - that was a good thing, nice to have some of those folks returning.  I have done very well this year with golf ball sales - running neck and neck with Kathy and her bus.  I have a pretty good inventory but she by far exceeds me in that category. 

Kathy and I have been fighting colds - neither of us seem to be able to kick it.  We are taking medication but that does not seem to be doing much.  Last month when I went in to see the doctor about my ear I actually thought about getting a flu shot have never had one before?   I have done pretty good avoided it for 4 years or so.   We are both on the mend but slowly.  I am beginning to think it might be better to fight it without medication? 

Kathy continues in yet another direction with her artwork.  She is into drawing and incorporating portraits into mixed media.  I am sure some of you have seen some of her handy work?  She is definitely getting better - much improvement in her technique.  She will have lots of time for creation this week while we are in Anderson.  She is very comfortable in her studio and I am sure it enhances her creativity??!! 

Several weeks ago we had roof leak in Tracy - lots of extra water and a nice big hole in the dining room.  The roof was repaired last week and the ceiling will be fixed soon.  Turns out the problem was not structural.   The problem is those pesky tree leaves.  We have a tile roof and the the leaves find their way wedged between the flashing and tile.  The problem area was on a flashing located at the front was supposed to help drain the water downward.  The leaves create a nice dam and the water then is diverted across the roof - under the tile and tar paper and then down into the interior of the house.  They had to remove the tiles adjacent to flashing then replace the tar paper as well.  Cleaned out the debris then replaced the tiles.  I asked about what type of things I could do to prevent future leaks - their answer was quick and decisive - " cut down the trees".   Somehow we have to manage this leaf issue much better - - sure glad it is seasonal!!   Wonder what the neighbors would think if I draped a blue tarp over the roof tiles to collect the leaves throughout the fall and winter?  With the fussy HOA I would get a letter in short order!!??

Kathy had jury duty last week.  It took 2 full days for the selection of a jury for a misdemeanor case.  Kathy was bumped and not too disappointed.  She had to spend the best part of two days at the courthouse.  She is off  the hook for another year/!!

Not much else for news from these parts.  Next week I will create a New Years Post which summarizes all of 2012.  That should be fun.

Again - we hope you all have  wonderful holiday!!

More later

Ron, Kathy, Tessie and Sammie  ( the cat)

12/8 Anderson

We are having a great "fallish "  week end, sunny, a few clouds, no rain and no wind.  This week end fills the opposite side of the spectrum compared to the weather they had here last week end.  Three big storms blew through and when we arrived on Thursday night we saw first hand some of the havoc it created.  We had lawn furniture strewn all over the driveway and yard, roof shingles missing on the southside of the roof and soil is saturated.  I think I have everything back to normal?

Two weeks ago we started a string of back luck of sorts.   In our life, we are very lucky but we do hit periods of time when things go a little stray?  Everyone has mishaps of sorts and some are major and some are minor - - fortunately ours are minor.  This list represents relative life issues for us.  It really started two weeks ago (1) we leaving Anderson, all packed up and on our way out of the garage, for some reason I changed my routine and I did not let the garage door open and proceeded to back into the door before it was fully open.  Now, we have a nice crease on the roof.  (2) Kathy was on her way to work and was traveling 5-10 miles over the speed limit and proceeded to get a speeding ticket.  (3) during the storm last week end we had the most rainfall in the 20 years of so that we have been in Tracy.  I have been fighting a roof leak in the dining room for some time and with the water extra flow the ceiling caved in and now we have a 2' hole in the ceiling.  (4) when we arrived on Thursday here in Anderson we found 2 cows (Blackie and her buddy Red Angus).  The soil was saturated and they make holes in the yard everywhere they walked.  The holes were about the size of a cup on a putting green,  Guess I should mow the grass short and then use it as a putting green?  I would have hundreds of holes to work with.  The holes are not really a big issue - - I can probably back fill them with soil but the real issue is the fences that they destroyed while entering the yard.  I spend the full day yesterday repairing the fences and other storm related projects. (5)  last Friday I took Kathy's car into the tire shop to get the tires rotated and balanced - a task I get done every 10K miles.  Early in the week Kathy reported that the car had a shimmy at higher speeds.  We all know that this is usually a balance problem but I just got it balanced - what is up with that?



Blackie's imprint on the lawn.

Solutions - - (5) I took the car back to he tire shop on Thursday and they rebalanced the tires and now it is fine.  Not sure what happened there but the the problem was resolved and she is ready for her next tire rotation?  (4) we contacted the owner of the cows and said we do not want Blackie in the pasture.  They know she is a pain and totally  familiar with her antics - - I never really knew cows had much personality - wrong, she (Blackie)  has a very bad personally and causes trouble wherever she goes.  The cows were moved this morning and I feel very good about that.  I suspect that the cow owners will want to bring them back in the Spring after the grass recovers?  My words to the owner as they departed were "Blackie is note suited for this pasture and I do not want to see her back here".  It will be interesting to see how that plays out?

Bye bye Blackie!!!

 

 (3) we are working through the roof and ceiling repair - I contacted the building superintendent, he is out next door neighbor and he contacted the appropriate folks to take care of it. He said he would repair the hole but was not sure about the roof - 1 year warranty not sure how that will work out?

The hole

The mess - and now you've seen the whole mess!

2) Kathy has to pay the fine and then sign up for the online drivers school refresher - that should be fun? (1) we will get the car repaired during the Christmas break - anyone want to guess how much that little stunt will cost us?

Tango with garage door.

Reflecting back on the items I have just mentioned they seem pretty trivial in the greater scheme of life.  At any rate - I am hopeful that the trend for these kind of issues has passed?  As always, we will continue to share the good and back anomalies of our very simple life.  We like our simple life and are very thankful for what and who we are today!!

Now that Kathy has her studio put together she has turned to producing some art work or craft work not sure what the correct term might be.  She seems very comfortable and in harmony with the workspace.  We are slowing moving all her supplies and materials from Tracy.  She is quickly running out of space - it will be interesting to see how much additional space she may need in the future.  She still has much of her inventory of  art show items in the dining room (Anderson) and that will likely be the storage for that stuff in the future - many items and many of them are too large for the studio.



"Let the song of your soul give flight to your desires.  Are you listening?"

Golf was fun this week - very nice weather, a little cool in the early morning but warmed up quickly.  I had a little fog on Monday but none the rest of the week.  It is always interesting to drive into a fairway or green in the fog.  The results of your shot are only visible within 10 feet of so from the hole.  It is nice to have the knowledge of the course - distance and direction are not really a problem.  I picked up a good golf tip on the golf channel this week.  I happened to notice that my iron divots were pretty small and it turns out that is because the front of the iron is angled up.  The tip I got was to keep the iron flat on the strike which creates a square larger divot.  I just dropped my hands - closer to my knees on setup and swing and that flattened the shot out.  It gave me more distance, control and accuracy.  It will be nice to see it it continues to work for me next week? 

Enough babble already - - better get on with my week end chores.  Hope you have a great week!!

More later

Ron, Kathy, Tessie and Sammie (the cat)