Stepping Out

We are doing a deep deep cleaning and we are finding a lot of stuff. Some of the stuff is a not worth keeping. Some of the stuff is worth keeping. And, some of the stuff is "iffy."

This pair of shoes is in the iffy category. They are my wedding shoes. According to the other DrC the wedding shoes worked as we have been married for decades. So, what do you think. Do I keep them or do I toss them out? Let me know!

The Green Flash

I became aware of "the green flash" the first time I visited Hawaii. In order to get ready for the vacation, I read all sorts of information about the islands and one brochure or article (I don't remember now) mentioned that a few lucky people get to see the "green flash" at sunrise or sunset.

I was hooked...what was the green flash? Nowadays, I'd look up a new term or phrase on the internet to find out more, but back then, there was no internet to tell me about the green flash. I went to a library and found that Jules Verne wrote about the green flash at the turn of the last century. I discovered that a green flash occurs when the conditions are perfect and a quick flash of green occurs as the sun is setting or even more rarely when the sun is rising. Naturally I went looking for the elusive green flash on that vacation, and I never saw it.

Many years later we were living on the island of Guam. With a whole year of sunsets to look at, I diligently searched for the green flash and I was rewarded one time. It was magical. It lasted less than a minute and all the people I was with saw it too.

Fast forward to 2 nights ago. I'm taking photos of a beautiful sunset from my back deck. When I looked at the pictures, I saw the green flash. I did not see it when it happened, but I captured a picture of it.

The picture is not edited...the color is off, but there is a green "flash"  around the sun. I don't know if this "counts" as I did not see it first hand...but I have a picture of it. The green flash does exist. 

Another set of Masks

I made cloth masks for both of us, but we did not like the elastic ear loops. I saw another pattern and made them up this afternoon.

The mask is crocheted

And there's a removable filter inside.

 And instead of elastic ear loops, they have ties. Much more comfortable. 

I wonder how much longer we'll be needing to wear masks?

Corona-Bear

Even the teddy bears want to be safe!

Tribbles...oh I mean Teddy Bears

The newest little teddy bear has been created. He matches the blue blanket I made

And as you can see, they do multiply almost as fast as Tribbles. I fear more are on the way!

Easter and the Great Hunkering Down

Yesterday was Easter, normally a day of family and church and celebration. Alas, this Easter was none of the above. Instead of seeing family, people "Zoomed" with their family. Instead of going to church, people "streamed" the services. The celebration of Easter, was different during this time of the Great Hunkering Down. As for me, I cooked. I made a delicious Prime Rib with Yorkshire Pudding, thanks to the folks at America's Test Kitchen.

When the Yorkshire Pudding came out of the oven it was about 4 inches tall and the strangest shape. Both of us were worried it was going to be horrible...

But it was the best.

We had a gustatory Easter celebration. I was saddened we could not share it with family and friends.

Next Easter, folks will not be practicing social distancing and we can all join together in a proper celebration of Easter and the Resurrection of Christ.

Not Grizzly Bears

The pandemic has caused a lot of changes in every day living. We are getting used to being indoors but that does not mean we are enjoying it. Given that, I am keeping busy with my hobbies. To that end, another blanket has been finished and it does not have grizzly bears on it, it has teddy bears.

With the leftover yarn I'm making a matching teddy bear. Some lucky baby is getting 2 for the price of one. The only caveat is the baby cannot play with the teddy bear until he or she gets older. Watch this space for the teddy bear (not grizzly bear).

Of Grizzly Bears and Jack Rabbits

Many years ago grizzly bear researchers in Alaska noted that the bears always follow the same path or trail and they seldom deviate from that path. The same researchers analyzed the trails and discovered they were ancient. The bears had walked the same trails for millennia. 

I've had this tidbit of information in my head for a long time. I've used this knowledge when in Yellowstone or Grand Teton National Parks too. If you want to see grizzly bears in either of the parks, go to known bear trails, and in time you will see a bear. It's also good to know where the trails are, so you can avoid the bears. It works both ways.

Now fast forward to the 12 acres of land that I own far far away from grizzly bears and their trails. On that land there are jack rabbits. Lots and lots of jack rabbits. At first you might think that the rabbits run all over the land but they don't. They follow very definite trails. They stay on those trails and they don't deviate from the trails.

The trail is the darker line in the grasses. It's well traveled, every season of the year. 

There are 2 trails here. The rabbits always stay on their established trails.

Here's a very clear trail. Hundreds of rabbit feet have pounded a path in the dirt for 30+ years that I know of. They always use the same trails. They never vary from the trail. 

I don't know if there is a reason why the rabbits use the same trail system, but it might be something interesting to study. The grizzly bear researchers have not figured out why the bears use the same trail either. They think it might have something to do with familiar smells, but it's a guess. It's difficult to interview a grizzly bear--about as difficult as interviewing a jack rabbit. It is an interesting observation nonetheless.

A Set of Twins

Yep...these little guys just keep popping up. I'm keeping busy and staying out of trouble. 

This is a good thing. 

Hawaii 5-0 Good bye

On Friday night, Hawaii 5-0, one of our regular television programs, signed off the air. I was a fan of the original series that started in 1968 and ended 281 episodes later in 1980. The "new" H5-0 premiered in 2010 and 240 episodes later, it too ended. Though there was violence, there was always the beautiful Hawaiian setting, interesting characters,  no profanity and a steady story line of good vs. bad. Do they make programs like that any more? Lastly, there was the theme music--maybe the best TV theme ever. Good bye 5-0, I will miss you.
(Photo, courtesy of Wikipedia)

Celebrate vs Observe

A few days ago we celebrated our anniversary. Well "celebrate" is not the right word, we "observed" our anniversary. A lot of "observing" is happening right now. As we were observing our anniversary, I was going through my sewing stash and discovered the pattern for my wedding dress. A sweet coincidence.

The pattern brought back a lot of memories and one big blank space. I have no recollection of much of that day. I remember getting my hair done in the morning and nothing else. The wedding worked as several decades later we are still a happy couple.

The old sewing stash revealed a lot of supplies for masks, so I spent my anniversary making a dozen masks for friends and family. When I ran out of elastic, I hung up my sewing machine.

As we are observing our world get sicker, I'm hoping that all of my family and friends stay well. Please continue to "observe" social distancing so we can "celebrate" when this is over.

Baking Bread

Sometime during the "great hunkering down" I decided it would be fun to bake bread. A bunch of other folks decided the same thing as the ingredients were not available at the grocery store. By the time I arrived, there was one bag of flour and no yeast. I bought the last bag of flour, with the idea that I would find yeast somewhere else. I checked two other stores in town, as well as online. Yeast is not available. Then, a phone call intervened. In talking with my out-of-state friends, I mentioned  my bread dilemma and on Monday I received a surprise package containing one pound of yeast. WOW!

Now that I had the ingredients, I made the bread but not without another dilemma. I called up YouTube and other online recipes and discovered modern bread is made using a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment. I don't have a dough hook attachment. That's when I got out my old Betty Crocker Cookbook that I received as a shower present way too many years ago. NONE of the recipes call for a dough hook. I don't think dough hooks for home use had been invented when this cookbook was written. (Keeping those old books can come in handy).

I followed the recipe for crusty white bread and made two yummy loaves. The house smells so good....and only one loaf is left. There's nothing like warm bread straight from the oven.

Thank you Bob and Lisa for sending me the yeast. Thank you Betty Crocker for the old fashioned recipe. Thank you dear husband, for enjoying the bread. I think I'll make focaccia next. (PS--In case you don't have a dough hook, 8 minutes of electric mixing with a dough hook is equivalent to 10-12 minutes of hand kneading.)