Saturday, July 1, 2023

Alone But Not Lonely


Last night when the menfolk were getting all packed up for today's fishing, and making their sandwiches and planning their early breakfast, talking about getting up at 4 a.m., I said, "Y'all will be out on the water before I'm even up." 
I was correct. 
When I got up, I found that picture in my texts. 
My fishing boys! 
We had such a good time with Owen. Last night while I was in the kitchen getting the pizzas ready to go in the oven, he came in and talked to me and we discussed so many things. One of the subjects we covered is that probably, one of the best things a parent or grandparent can leave a child these days is land. Land to grow things on and land to live on. This may or may not be true but it seems to me that land will become more and more precious as the years go by, especially land with decent soil and a water source. I think about the back-to-the-land movement we hippies got so interested in and I still think it was a good idea. A whole lot of people I knew built their own houses (like Debbie and Tim are doing now!) and learned how to grow gardens and often times live without electricity or even plumbing although we got over that one pretty quick. We wanted to relearn what our grandparents had known, and our great-grandparents too. And we sorta did. It was a good experience for kids raised in the fifties where "modern" was the way to go and mashed potatoes came in bags of flakes, and bread was white and soulless, and bathrooms had soaps and towels that you weren't allowed to use because they were for guests only. Many of us had our babies at home and learned midwifery skills because the AMA had criminalized that particular ancient body of knowledge and art, and we nursed those babies with our own breasts. All of us women who had been born to mothers who were on powerful drugs when they had us and who were told that formula was the way to go- so convenient, so MODERN! 
You can say what you will about hippies but we changed a lot of things including what people now know as a healthier diet, the way mothers and babies are treated in hospitals now, the resurgence of midwifery training and certification, the acceptance of people who don't look like us or act like us, and a whole lot more. 
Of course we have a long way to go in all of those areas. 

Anyway, so Owen and I were talking about land and growing things and how different high school will be from middle school and the different types of arthritis, and, oh- I don't know. We just talked. 

My boy and I. I loved it. 

The men got the TV all set up and I was quite proud of them. We watched The Great British Bake Off. Owen loves that show. Or at least he claims to. 

Mr. Moon kissed me good-bye this morning when they left. I think. I could have dreamed it. And they left me a sweet note by the coffee pot where Glen had set up my coffee to start at 8:30 which is my usual civilized time to arise. 

I did not do much today. I've been so busy and I just wanted a day to laze and lounge. I picked the garden of course. 


The zinnias are my favorite crop right now. 


They just make my soul smile. 
While I was in the garden with sweat dripping off me, Maurice came out and began meowing at me. She eventually settled in the shade of a row of field peas and continued her bitching until I finished what I was doing and turned on the sprinkler. I know she was telling me that it was way too hot out there and that I needed to get back in the house. I told her that I agreed and Lord, did it feel good to get back into the air conditioning. 

And then I started in on a project which should have been fairly easy and swiftly done. 
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!
So, the days before we go to North Carolina is when I generally shop for and buy new stuff like, well, the bathing suit, new flip-flops, a few new dresses. All, or mostly, at least, online. 
And I had ordered a dress that I knew was a cheap dress and it was too small for me but I liked it. However, sending shit back for a return or an exchange when they don't even include a packing list or instructions or anything just seems overwhelmingly hard to figure out. 
For me, anyway. 
And since the dress was so cheap (in all regards, but still- it had pockets), I decided to just undo the tops of the side seams and sew in a little more fabric to give my luscious bosoms more room to breathe. The dress is black and I have some black silk from way-back-when that I had used to make Mr. Moon a pair of comfy drawstring britches and although it is definitely not a perfect black match, it would do, especially if I only wear the dress around here. 
So first of all, my usual sewing table has that crossword puzzle on it that I sort of hate and haven't even been working on so I set up the original table that you could buy back in the fifties (they got some stuff right then) to set my grandmother's Singer Featherweight in. 



That was the easy part. Next came the seam ripping so that I could properly insert more material. 
ARGHHHHH! 
When I tell you that it took me over two hours to do one of the two sides of the alteration, I am not kidding you. And I am talking about six inches of alteration per side. It may be a cheap dress but they sewed that cloth together like it mattered! And of course, it does. I started in on the other side and looked at the clock. It was already five! No way I was going to get the second side done this evening. My eyes are half blind from trying to see the tiny stitches I'm trying to rip out and my left hand is numb because it always goes numb when I'm doing any sort of repetitive work due to a very old wrist injury. So I set it all down and unplugged the iron (you can't sew without an iron) and went and started the dishwasher. 

I have no idea if I am supposed to be making supper tonight. Glen texted to tell me that they were off the water and safe and I texted back "Hurray!" and "Did you have a great time?" and "Let me know if y'all are going to want me to feed you tonight."

So far, this is what I've gotten back. 


I am thinking that means they had a great time but I have no idea about their nutritional needs. 
And I am not worrying it. 

I feel that I must bring you all up to date on Sheba, a sleek, black cat, who was my faithful feral for awhile. I was feeding her and providing water in the backyard for at least a few weeks but one day I saw Jack AND Maurice chasing her and I have not seen her since. 
I miss her. 

And here's another cat story. 
As I have said, I bought 20 pounds of Kirkland cat food at Costco and started feeding that to my cats. Even Sheba was not fond of it and Jack and Maurice ate it, but only because otherwise they would have died of starvation. A bowl of that stuff would last for days. I finally caved in with about three pounds of the Costco stuff left and bought a bag of Meow Mix which is probably the cat equivalent to a diet of Hot Pockets. Or ramen noodles. Or Taco Bell. 
And a few days ago my husband dumped out the cats' bowls of Kirkland's nutritional cat food and washed and rinsed and dried those bowls and filled them up with Meow Mix. 
They went crazy, according to Mr. Moon. I was still in bed when this happened. He said that Maurice was making noises like, "Meummm yum, yum, mehummm" as she inhaled the Meow Mix. 

I am telling you- these cats were born at the dump. Their tastes were formed there. They do not want nutrition. In fact, here's something else- Maurice's favorite treat besides Temptations is lunch meat. Yesterday I bought some pricey Boar's Head chicken and turkey from the deli at Publix for the boys' fishing sandwiches, and I gave her a little bit of a slice of the chicken this afternoon. 
She sniffed it and walked away. 
Now if it had been Oscar Meyer, she would have eaten it up and asked for more. 

Okay. Just got a call from Glen. They are on their way home. They caught mahi-mahi, red grouper, red snapper, and lane snapper. And they are going to stop at the barbecue joint on their way home. 
I guess I am excused from KP duties tonight which is a good thing because the dead animal in my kitchen is still quite dead. 
Hopefully, the man will deal with that tomorrow. I have a feeling this is going to involve pulling out the dishwasher. It's not going to be fun. Bless his heart. 

Love...Ms. Moon


35 comments:

  1. doesn't sound like you lounged or lazed TOO much today.....busy bee! Picking nice veggies, zinnias ......sewing (alterations can be such a pain).......and preparing for the mens return! Sounds like you are getting barbecue dinner delivered?.....rather than cooking freshly caught fish (which I assume will go into freezer)........ ah, lah. Hope the *dead thing* gets purged tomorrow.....it's never fun.
    Susan M

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    1. The guys are getting barbecue dinner. I've made a huge salad.

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  2. What do they put in that damn Meow Mix? It is cat crack. We fostered a 15 year old cat for 6 months. She came with a bag of Meow Mix. She had been through so much before we got her that I let her keep her preferred diet. It was very difficult to keep it from my cat who did everything he could to sneak in and get a bite or two. The first ingredient is corn. Really, cats that are carnivores how can that possibly be good.

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    1. Well, to be honest, I've never fed my dogs or cats the premium animal foods. And the dogs lived way beyond a logical lifetime for their breeds and were never sick. My cats also seem to be almost immortal. I just don't worry about it. If they like corn in their food, let them have it!

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  3. It seems like the hospitals are going backwards from those changes in the 1960s and 1970s. So sad. and yes, land. Or at least a paid up house is a wonderful inheritance.
    I'm glad you can work with the smell of death, I cannot do it. Hope they can find it and get it out without taking a wall down.

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    1. You're right about hospitals now, Kristin. But, at least they don't shave women or give them enemas before delivery. And they don't whoosh the baby away to the nursery immediately after birth. AND, husbands are allowed in the delivery room. Remember when that was not even considered? I think episiotomies are rarer although Caesareans and inductions are more common than ever.

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  4. Ugh. We had a creature die in the WALL. We had to cut a hole in the plaster, find him, and then we had to treat it and leave it open to air it out. Then we finally we able to fix that hole and and repaint. Bless his heart indeed. There is nothing more unsavory that the smell of decaying carcass while you're trying to fix a meal.

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    1. Oh god. That sounds terrible. I've had critters die under the house and even, I think, in the wall by the porch but they just eventually turned to dust, I think. It is the worst smell.

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  5. For reasons that absolutely escape me, and during the first cold snap of fall up here, creatures find their way into our house, come in, and just die. We spend weeks trying to find the body. Drives me crazy.

    There's nothing like taking an article of clothing and attempting a renovation. Years ago, I was up to the challenge, now it goes to donation and hoping the next batch fits better. And I love when I'm suddenly off the hook for dinner. Hurray for take out!

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    1. Oh dear. Perhaps the animals see your house as their hospice? They at least want to be warm when they die? Comfort measures, you know.
      I've had mice die and had to search for their little bodies. It's gross but it's part of life.
      I have thought about you saying you don't even attempt to alter clothing any more all day long. I think I'm right here with you.

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  6. Ugh, there is something going on with CostCo pet food. My lot have gone off it too. It's made by a company called Diamond. Mine are all, dogs and cats, on Purina One now.

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    1. Diamond's a pretty high-end animal food company, aren't they? Or am I wrong?

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  7. How wonderful that the boys had such a great time on the water.
    I am waiting to see what has died.

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  8. I hope the dress is comfortable after the alterations. My Lola isn't a big eater and not too fussy about her food, but she does prefer people sandwich tuna over the cat food variety. Whenever I have a tuna sandwich she gets about a third of the tuna before I mix mayo and chopped dill into the rest. Lucky for her I buy the springwater variety not the brine.
    Owen is beginning to look like Mr Moon, in that first photo anyway.

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    1. I'm ready to throw the dress away. I swear.
      My cats would probably like the el-cheapo tuna packed in oil a lot more than the net-free tuna packed in water I generally buy. But the cheap stuff really does make a better tuna casserole IMO.
      I always think August looks the most like Mr. Moon. His body does, at least.

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  9. Eli hates healthy more spendy Cat Food too, I bought some from Whole Foods and he wouldn't eat it and then went gaga when his inexpensive Dollar Store food was returned to his Bowls too. *LOL* Us Hippies have made an impact that I do Hope is considered a Positive one overall. I think a lot can be said for Peace, Love and Harmony being one's tenets. So much Negativity and Hatred in this World needs a counterbalance of us Tree Hugger, Dreadlock wearing, Granola Eating, Jesus Sandal Wearing, use the Back Door, folks. *winks* It looks like your Menfolk had a splendid time and your Garden Harvest are always enviable.

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    1. You know, we did not succeed in every thing we tried to do but we surely did the best we could. Yes, we were pretty sure we could change the world, and in some ways, we did. And you're right- better than all this hate.

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  10. Another great post from the Lloyd Blogpost Factory. I wonder why Owen is interested in arthritis? Also I love the term, "luscious bosoms". It sounds as though it has been extracted from some soft porn novel... "The Highland Fling" or "It Happened One Summer".

    And now Sir Glen - No fishing today - You've got to get rid of that rat!

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    1. Owen was talking about his other grandmother who has some severe chronic issues, arthritis being one of them.
      "Luscious bosoms" was rather tongue in cheek. Sounds better than "fat".
      Glen has taken care of the rat, indeed.

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  11. The hippies certainly knew a thing or two, even if not everything was maybe so great. And Owen is a boy wise beyond his years!

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    1. You're right- we were idealistic as hell but I think you have to be to create any change at all.

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  12. racoons LOVE costco cat food.... xxalainaxx

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  13. I'd have lost patience long before with the seam ripping. Just cut the seam out on both sides then inserted the inset bit. Anyway good for you for doing it and getting some use from the dress you'll now be able to breathe in!

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    1. I wish I'd asked you the best way to do this before I did it. You are so exactly correct. Why did I think I had to be so OCD about it all?

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    2. It's all those silly sewing women on YouTube and TV, probably selling seam rippers!

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  14. What a clever young man your Owen is. Yes, land and skills like growing food, foraging and preserving and land stewardship is what our next generations will need to learn and know. He is on the right track.

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    1. He is so young but perhaps he will still feel the same way when he gets older.

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  15. sorry to hear about Sheba. and cats. when I first fed Cat, before she decided to follow me in the house days later, I borrowed some food from my sister because, not having a cat, I didn't have any. she feeds her cats Purina naturals indoor cat food. when I went to buy some for some reason that's what I bought. since I have bought different brands of more expensive better quality cat food. will she eat it? no she will not. whatcha gonna do?

    I know what you mean about talking with Owen. as my grands got older, conversations got more adult. and yes land is a thing to have. as a friend of mine says, they aren't making anymore land. which is one of the reason there was such an exodus from Europe to the new country of America...available land since all the land in Europe had been snatched up for centuries. modern humans have lost so many survival skills. when the crunch comes, when the planet becomes too hot, when our modern life can no longer sustain us, lots of people are going to die because they won't know how to live.

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    1. Cats like what they like and they don't fool around with what they don't like.
      You know, if we were all smart, we'd do the research and figure out which areas of the country are going to be the most tolerable to live in and buy up all the property we can there.
      Don't you love having adult conversations with your grown grandgirls? I know you do. I love having conversations with all ages of kids but there's something so special when they start having opinions and thoughts on a mature level.

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  16. Well that was a very full day! I have no idea what a lane snapper is. Is that what's lying in the bottom of the boat?

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  17. Whenever anyone talks about fishing, it always makes me think of my Dad who loved to fish and taught all of my children how to fish. Your grandkids are lucky to have a granddad that loves to fish (as mine were!). Thanks for tweaking my memories today, Mary!

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    1. Yep. Glen taught our kids how to fish too. Jessie and Lily still love it and are going to go on a charter fishing trip with their daddy soon. They are all looking forward to it so much.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.