1/26 Anderson

We can see the change in the season around us.  Everything is starting to get green, lots of new babies ( goats, sheep, cows and horses) and temperature ranges are definitely more fallish than winter.   We have had lots of frost each morning for the last month - now we get fog and even got a couple of days when it was clear thanks to little wind that helped bring the temp up.  Hard to believe that we are approaching the end of January already.

Last week end we headed to the bay area to celebrate the 70th birthday for the father of some friends.  It was nice to get out  - over the hill and yes we had the typical traffic jams and the overall density is very significant.  You can certainly feel the pace pick up when in the urban areas.  I guess both Anderson and Tracy are rural by comparison.  We did enjoy the celebration - the birthday celebrant is Indian and it was very nice to see how they keep their culture alive and well through food, music, dance, language and clothing.  It was a great party and we were pleased to be a part of it!!

Over the last 2 weeks I have been very busy making blackberry pies (4 total), and keeping us stocked with squeezed orange juice.  Our inventory of frozen blackberries was around 4 gallons between the two places - I decided to work off that inventory with fresh baked pies.  We still have about 1.5 gallons of blackberries remaining here in Anderson which came from this years harvest.  I get the fresh oranges from Redbridge - we have a lane at the entrance which has orange trees lined up on one side.  Lots of oranges to be had but nobody picks them - I do.  I get 2 plastic bags of oranges take then home and squeeze then which gives us about 1.5 gallons of fresh OJ.  I have been doing this for about 2 months and am at the end of the harvest season.  I suspect my last picking will occur tomorrow.  After that I need to work off the orange inventory from our own trees in our orchard.  I already got the grapefruit and 1 orange tree and have 6 more to go.  Guess you might call me a naturalist of sorts?

Kathy is working very hard with her drawing these days - seems that she cranks out of new drawing each day.  She does get stuck on some of them ( perfectionist)  but is able to move on without too much fussing?!  She is participating in a virtual art class with lots of other artist types all over the world.  She spends lots of her time checking out the work of others - totally amazed at some of their work??!!  I happen to be also be an evolutionist and it is very interesting to see how Kathy has evolved over the last 4-5 months.  A little guidance and direction has gone a long way - she sure enjoys the creativity and pleasure that this hobby affords her.  It will be interesting to see what new and different avenues she will take in the future??   I for one have no clue!!



Charcoal

soft pastels in earth tones

Yesterday, I was working outside and tried to get the burn pile going - it was still a little damp and would not start properly.  I also looked at some of the blackberry bushes on the fence line and want to burn then down as well.  I have killed the vines now I need to get rid of the branches.  I did some poking around on the computer and it appears what these country folks use is a "weed dragon".  This is a torch that you connected to a propane bottle which comes with a hose and wand.  The BTU is over 100K so that should be enough to keep a fire going and it will certainly work to burn of  those bushes.  We have lots of blackberry bushes in the adjoining pasture which are getting too height which impedes our view.  The owner has killed the patch but left the branches - - I might even venture there with my dragon?   That would be a little scary - it would be a very large fire and I don't have water hose long enough to reach it?  This one will test my courage!!??

I am playing lots of golf and collecting lots of golf balls.  I have only had 1 golf ball sale this year - several inquires but no other sales?  I suspect that will increase in the Spring?

Enough already  - - more later

Ron, Kathy, Tessie, and Sammie (the cat)



Sammie (the cat)

1/12 Anderson

Winter wonderland - 25 for a low and 48 for a high for the last couple of days.  Last week in Tracy is was also cold only around freezing enough for a good frost on the golf course which resulted in a late start?  It looks like we will still have some cooler morning but the daytime temps should improve a little.  We sure like the extra daylight - - - one of the best days of the year 12/21 that is when the days start to get longer again.

Lots of chores inside this week end, had planned on working outside.  One of my tasks was to get rid of my burn pile then try burning out some of the blackberry bushes on the perimeter fence.  For reason we are in a no-burn period so can't do that.  I suspect it may have something to do with the temp and inversion?  Not really a problem - - easy task for the near future.

Last Tuesday I had another tooth implant, actually just the post inserted then in 3 months or so when the post is anchored in the bone I get the tooth.  I started this process last year with a tooth extraction then bone graft.   This procedure last week took about 1 hour and at a cost of about 2K.  Wish I had all the money that I have invested in my teeth over the years?  I have included an animated YouTube video of the procedure if you are interested in how they do it.  I visualized the whole process as they were working in my mouth and it was pretty close.  Here  

As a follow-up to some of our tales of woe late last year -  this is what has transpired.  (1) Kathy paid her speeding ticket (expensive) and has signed up for a on-line traffic course, (2) the roof and ceiling in Tracy have been repaired and proofed tested with a nice rain last week (3) the car roof scrape from the garage door incident has not been resolved.  I contacted ( with pics) our auto body shop and they have not responded with a quote - I suspect that this job may be too small and not paid by insurance, I will work with other shops to get a estimate, etc.  (4)  the cows and horses have been moved and will not return - as the folks have moved to Red Bluff , we are looking for another neighbor who may want to use the pasture and (5) I took Kathy's car back to the tire shop or re-alignment, the tires were out of balance, not sure what happened with that?  We are ready and set for new challenges in 2013 - bring them on!!

Kathy has been very busy as she heads down uncharted waters with her new art mediums.  At present she is into drawing - she has several classes on-line which she is taking and much of the work comes from assignments from the classes.  She is very impressed with the work of other - nice process where the students get to post their work for other so so a critique.  She likes the interaction and challenges that these courses provide.

Last week she created a piece for a friend suffering from cancer. She collaborated with another friend in preparing a book of quotes to lift his spirits. Kathy's artwork will be on the front cover of the book. Kathy enjoyed this project - a little extra pressure as it had to be done a specified time period. I am sure her hard work will be appreciated.

Looking forward to Broncos (donkeys) football playoff today with the Baltimore Panthers.   We don't  have Tv so I am stuck with listening to it on the Internet radio.  It should be a good game - looks like they are favored which may not be a good thing?  I have been wearing my Bronco hat at the golf course and the peeps are giving me the business.  I have worn it in years past without any fanfare much different this year as they are certainly on a winning streak and I hope they can go all the way to the Super Bowl!!

Not much else for news - - - hope you all have a great week.

More later

Ron, Kathy, Tessie and Sammie (the cat)