May 28, 2020

I have always been awed by the power of water.  When I was in California, I would go to the beach and watch the waves crashing during storms.  A single storm could either deposit or erode the sands of the entire beach with its power.  When I lived in Kansas, I would go to the dam outlet tubes and watch the rushing water crash and boil as it was released.  One summer they shut the tubes down.  The force of the water had eaten the concrete blockades away and they were forced to replace them.  That was the first time I realized why the water was so turbulent.  Then there is the Grand Canyon.  Knowing that water’s power source is gravity makes the whole process seem more amazing.

The other power in water is its ability to makes things grow.  I was in the desert for an excavation and we had drinking water delivered to the site and put in a canvas bag.  The water would seep through the bag and as the wind blew, evaporation cooled the water.  The water that did not evaporate dripped onto the ground.  Over the course of the month on site the area below the bag became a lush patch of green grass, in contrast to the surrounding barren desert.   The early inhabitants had built cisterns and aqueducts to channel and flow the rain which fell sparsely.  They used the stored water to grow crops and quench thirst for over 5000 people.  They used water to give life.

This spring has been one of the wettest years in a long time here in Arkansas.  The cooler temperatures and rainy conditions have been a boom for my flowers and vegetables (except for my cantaloupes).  The pansies and daisy in the front planter had died earlier but are now being given a second growth.  One Cardinal feeder was filled with black oil sunflower seeds.  It was self-made and I had not put holes in the pan.  This filled with water and soaked the seeds until I noticed and cut three slits in the bottom.  I now have shoots sprouting from most of the seeds.  The birds do not seem to care.  The water provided them with extra nutrition.

THOUGHTS:  Water is an essential for life as we know it.  The human body is comprised of roughly 60% water, and even our bones are made up of 31% water.  Scientists say a person could go anywhere from one to two months without food but would only last from four to seven days without water.  Nearly 70% of the earth is covered with water, but only about 2.5% of the water is fresh and drinkable.  With so much dependent on clean water you would think we would do more to ensure there is enough of this vital resource for everyone.  We should all be awed by the power of water.  If you venture out, stay safe.

May 27, 2020

Melissa surprised me last night with the sweetest gift.  She has been working feverishly in the living room trying to get all the succulents into pots while I have been just as dedicated in my office working on blogs and meditations and ways to provide leadership.  We used to spend time together watching Royals baseball but that is not happening, and the shows are now reruns.  Even the “Movies” they are bringing back are exactly that.  Reruns of blockbusters I have already seen dozens of times and do not care to see again.  Amid our separation Melissa brought me a gift.  Four small cacti in a pot of their own to brighten my office.

I recall buying a small barrel cactus for my office when I worked for the state of Utah.  I figured this was the perfect plant for me because I could enjoy it without being bothered by constantly watering and caring for its needs.  It sat on my desk for over a year and never seemed to change.  One day I took a closer look at the cactus and realized it was dead.  Even though it still looked the same, it had died from lack of water.  I could not remember the last time I had watered it, but for a cactus to dry out it must have been an awfully long time.

I am determined to not let the same fate happen to the cacti Melissa gave me.   I have placed them in a nice spot next to my desk where I can be reminded.  Reminded to both water the plants and to nourish the one who gave them to me.  Since there is a hole in the bottom of the pot, I need to get a plate for it to sit on.

THOUGHTS:  The reason I was touched by Melissa’s gift was because it meant she was thinking of me.  I doubt she had purchased these cacti knowing they would find a place in my office, but amid her toil she realized I could use a lift.  We received a Thank You card from a friend that made us both feel the same way.  Saying thanks or dropping a line do not have to be labor intensive, yet they can make a world of difference to the one who knows you are trying to stay connected.  Friendships are like my office cactus, if you are not purposeful in tending to them you may one day realize they are dead.  If you venture out, stay safe.

May 26, 2020

I am proud of how well my garden is growing.  My tomatoes and peppers are all over the first rung of their cages and my cilantro filled the entire pot.   We have a friend who has a large garden with raised beds rather than containers.  They came by over the weekend and I was excited to show them how well my containers were working.  I mentioned I had already harvested some of my cilantro and was expecting to continue to do so.  She looked at the plants and told me they were about to bolt.

I had assumed cilantro was like other herbs and I could continue to harvest off and on throughout the year, even bringing it inside to last over the winter.  Apparently, that is not the case.  When the plants flower or bolt they shift all their energy from growing leaves to producing seeds.  Worse yet, once this happens the rest of the plant becomes bitter.  There are ways to delay the bolt by harvesting the outer leaves and pinching back the stems, but when the weather gets warm, they will bolt none the less.

I looked online for what to do when cilantro bolts.  The answer, “Get Coriander!”  I also looked up what to do with the large amount of the leafy herb I was soon going to lose.  The suggestions ranged from freezing it, to canning it in a variety of ways (like the salsa I planned on making), to drying the plants.  Drying seemed the most practical.  I could do this in the oven or find a cool, non-humid (in Arkansas?) location to hang it until It was processed.  I decided to hang it on the back of my green screen in my office.  At least next year I will know what to expect.

THOUGHTS:  Anytime we face a new challenge there is a huge learning curve to find out what we need to know.  I am finding this to be true for my garden, and it will also be true for the pandemic.  No one knows what to expect concerning corona virus, but it is assumed it will behave like viruses of a similar class.  That means like the flu, we will be caught seasonally facing a slightly mutated strain that may or may not be affected by the vaccine we ultimately create.  The virus is world-wide and has nearly every country working on a vaccine and protocols for how to treat those who contract it.  We have already learned much, and when it returns, we will been in a better position to know what to expect.  If you venture out, stay safe.

May 25, 2020

I helped my grandfather during the hay baling harvest several different times.  This was a good thing for him because it was labor intensive, but it was also a good thing for me because as a minor it as one of the few ways I could earn money.  My role in the process was to walk along behind the baler and throw the bales up to the person stacking on the trailer.  The stacker was an uncle who knew how to stack the bales so they did not tip over.  After the trailer was filled to the right height, we would go back to the barn and unload the hay into the loft.

While I understood the need for hay to feed the cattle, baling the straw was more of a mystery to me.  The straw generally came from the wheat fields after the grain had been harvested.  The dead stocks that were left in the field after the heads had been cut off were collected and bailed up into straw.  This straw was seen by my grandfather as a precious commodity, although as a teenager I found it of little worth.  I knew it was used as bedding for calving cows, but frankly I never saw a cow calve on the farm.

Jump forward fifty years and I have found a new reverence for the maligned straw of my youth.  I went to the supply store and picked up a bag of straw on Saturday.  I learned online that once my potatoes were about 18” high I should mulch them with straw.  The straw would not only protect them from folding over from the weight of the plants, it also provided the mulch that retained water during the hotter months of summer.  Just to be safe I mulched the melon and strawberries with the straw as well.

THOUGHTS:  There are many awareness’s as we transition into our new reality.  We are finding that some of the things we used to do are no longer relevant.  At the same time, there are some of the things we now do that are deemed essential.  It seems much of what we deem essential depends on our perspective.  I hope you can decide what is important is your life, and then whether or not anyone else thinks it is important, you make sure to do it.  If you venture out, stay safe.

May 23, 2020

I have owned one of these cutting tools for most of my adult life.  I am not sure when I got my first one, but I have transferred them through each of the various moves I made.  I am sure the one we own now is not my original.  More likely it came with the house.  When we moved into the house it was fully equipped with most of the cooking utensils, as well as sets of pots, pans and small cooking appliances.  When Melissa moved to Kansas to be with me she left all of her cooking items at the house.  Clearing out the duplicates in the Arkansas house was a full time job as I prepared for Melissa’s arrival.

When we moved we brought a whole new set of cookware from our Kansas house and we got to make decisions about what to keep all over again.  Melissa’s mom and dad had lived with her for seventeen years before she married me.  Both liked to cook and had their own specialties.  Ann liked to make talrina (ground beef and noodles) and key lime pie.   Jerry made pinto beans and biscuits and gravy.  I do not recall every coming to visit when we were not served all four of these dishes.

Even though I have owned one of these tools, I had never used one until today.  I was not even sure what it was or why to use it.  I have mentioned I rarely use recipes, and this item was not in my list of “go to” utensils.   I decided to make an apple crisp for dinner tonight.   I love apple crisp and have been craving one for months.  As much as I like this desert, I cannot recall ever making one.  I usually get it at the big buffet restaurants.  I read the directions and got to the point where it said to cut the butter, flour and brown sugar together.  So that is what this is!

THOUGHTS:   I tend to keep items I own just in case.  When we moved from Kansas I donated 42 boxes of books valued at over $17,000 to the local library (I only moved 15 boxes).    Most of these were stored and I had not unpacked them since the last move.  This move I decided to downsize and spent a month going through our clothes and belongings and donating things to Goodwill.  Most of these items had seemed essential at some point in my life, but after I retired they no longer were.  When life and circumstances change what we define as essential change as well.  I hope you can find what is essential in your life during these trying times and hold onto it.  You might want to get rid of the rest.  If you venture out, stay safe.

May 22, 2020

One of the advantages of driving interstate three hours a day is being able to pass and be passed by the big trucks.  If you have ever had this opportunity you will relate to the wind and debris created as they pass.  That was the main reasons Melissa went for a larger car.  Along with other items the trucks also throw rocks.  While a larger car makes it safer, it does not stop the rocks from flying.  On Wednesday it happened.  A large rock hit the windshield right in front of Melissa and scared her to death.  Three days of driving and already a divot.  I told Melissa not to worry.

I took the car to the local repair shop yesterday and was told the chip was too large to fix.  I called my insurance and they walked me through contacting another shop to have the window replaced.  Our car has directional features and I was told the new windshield needed to be calibrated.  That meant I needed to take the car to their shop, and it would be a minimum of three hours to get the repair done.  I made an appointment for this morning.  When I arrived, I was told they could repair rather than replace the divot.  This would save me both time and money.  I agreed and was out in half an hour.

“Since I was already in town,” Melissa asked if I could pick up some items from the garden center.  She had found theses online and was assured they were in stock at our local location.  I arrived and went to the area they were supposed to be and only one of the three items were there.  When I asked the clerk and showed them the ad, he informed me they were “online only,” and they did not even stock these.  I bought similar items (without the price break) and then went to find my final purchase.  I laughed to myself at the four bags of Pea Gravel.  The rock that hit Melissa was obviously larger.

THOUGHTS:  We had a rock pile in our side yard when I was a boy and one of our neighborhood games was throwing rocks.  Capturing and defending the pile was key as this was the greatest resource.  When I think back, this was one more stupid things we did as children.  It resulted in many crying trips to mom and a cracked tooth for my brother.  As adults our games may change, but we still participate in stupid activities.  As the stay in orders are being lifted that does not mean we are still not at risk.  It means we need to be smart about how we behave and what we do.  Otherwise we might find ourselves hitting the windshield.  If you venture out, stay safe.

May 21, 2020

We have a family Zoom call on Wednesday nights.  It is just another way to keep in touch during our time of separation, especially since we live in four different states.  During the call mom was asked how she was feeling, and that is when my brother ratted her out.  He said he had picked mom up earlier that day in his car.  After 67 days of confinement she was out in the world.  Not for a hair appointment, or groceries, or even for toilet paper.  She had gone to the doctor.  She was fine but needed to apply two kinds of medicine two times a day.  She had to wash her hands before and after each application.  That meant four more times of daily hand washing.  Perfect.

Last week I went to the doctor for a mandated three-month follow-up.  I thought it was interesting since my last visit was six months ago.  I figured they had been forced to close for all but covid-19 related cases, and now were reopening.  On arrival the nurse rushed outside and took my temperature, asked me questions about my health and activity, and opened the door to let me in.  I was not surprised to only see two other people in the waiting room.   I filled out another long form about my habits and then was quickly seen by the doctor.  When I told him I was now on Medicare, he informed me I would need to make another appointment for my annual wellness visit, something Medicare requires.  I went to the front and was scheduled for a visit a week later (today).

I thought it odd when the automated call told me I had two appointments today, and they were two hours apart.  I called to confirm and was told they were both for the same thing and was asked if I would like to delete one.  I deleted the early visit and showed up just before 9:30.  The mood was different today.  No one rushed to my car and the waiting room was full, although distanced.  The receptionist told me the two appointments were with two different people and I would need to reschedule.  Seriously?  She said she would check and came back saying I could see the person for the 9:30 but I needed to reschedule the 7:30 appointment.  I waited another 30 minutes before I could see the doctor.  When I finally got in, I did labs and was told how my life needed to change now that I was 65.  As I left, I got a new appointment for the soonest possible date, a month from now.  Aside from the masks, some things are back to normal.

THOUGHTS:  My doctor is a man about my age and has always engaged me in casual conversation before the end of my visit.  When I asked about the closure, he told me they had been open the entire time.  I guess I was just lucky last week.  He also mentioned how some of the smaller rural hospitals would probably need to close.  Elective surgery is their bread and butter and had previously supported the other aspects of the business.  Many had struggled before and the stoppage would send them under.  This news comes at a time when the second wave is predicted to hit the already under served rural communities.  If there was ever a time for a coordinated universal health care system, this is it.  If you venture out, stay safe.

May 20, 2020

When I went out for the pool skimmer yesterday, I also stopped by the Coop and picked up a bag of potting soil and three strawberry plants.  I have tried planting melons in the bed along the bay window without luck.  My watermelon is doing fine, but I have twice planted cantaloupes and they have not survived.  The first plant was in a four-inch pot I planted along with the watermelon.  It grew for two days and then died.  The second planting was a six-pack of smaller melons that I had trouble getting out of the container.  These lasted another two or three days and then they died as well.  I took the hint; I am not going to have cantaloupes this year.

After my run in with the mock strawberries and the tales of Melissa’s mom planting strawberries I decided I would try my luck.  I know the problem she ran into was a combination of the birds and rabbits.  I believe the rabbits are gone and I have a plan to mesh the plants when the berries appear to keep the birds from decimating the crop.  I purchased Arkansas Travelers which are supposed to be ever-bearing so I should be able to have berries all summer long.

Even though I had prepared the soil for the cantaloupes I decided to do the entire process again.  I weeded and then dug up the bed and spread another 40-pound bag of potting soil over the top.  I dug the holes and placed fertilizer in them and then buried the plants “pot deep.”  The directions suggested I remove the plastic wrapper but keep the plants in their biodegradable pot.  I tore off the bottom to give the roots unimpeded access to the ground.  I am looking forward to harvesting my first berries around the first of July.  I hope third time is the charm.

THOUGHTS:  Life does not always go the way I believe it should.  I planted both sets of melons the same as I had my other plants.  The others are thriving, yet the melons died.  Sometimes no matter how we prepare, bad things happen.  When they do, I tend to try again to make it work.  However, it is like the adage, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.  If you try and make it right the second time and it does not work, that does not mean you should quit.  Perhaps you need to try a different approach.  If you venture out, stay safe.

May 19, 2020

When we moved into our house three years ago, we did so with full intent of fixing the house to sale.  I came down early and cleaned most of the unneeded stuff that accumulates over three decades.  We purchased new appliances and painted the bedrooms, baths and all the ceilings.  The pool was next on our list, but this required professional help.  Then my back went out and the painting stopped, and money was tight, so we decided to wait on the pool.  We have since decided to stay in the house and have both gone back to work.  This takes additional time away from completing many small jobs around the house.

As Melissa gazed out the back window at our pool/pond last night she became despondent.  What had once been a gleaming saltwater pool was now an algae covered pond filled with frogs and tadpoles.   She innocently asked if I would be able to go to the hardware store and purchase a skimming net to begin the process of cleaning the pool.  I was willing and went to the store this morning.   Since I do not get out often, I always try and pack several tasks into the same outing.   I checked on mulch for the yard and any additional plants that might be needing a home (at 25% off).  Since there were neither at the hardware store, I went to the Coop for mulch, more potting soil, and a few plants.  Just in case.

One of the advantages of growing older is it makes you wiser (at least for some people).  It is not that I am smarter now, I just have more experience.  My experience tells me, there are no small jobs.  I figured the pool would be harder than it appeared, and I was right.  It took an hour to skim the top of the pool, and I have yet to do the deep cleaning required.  Five years of leaves piled in the bottom are waiting for tomorrow.  When I was younger, I would have tackled the deep cleaning immediately after finishing the skimming.  Now I realize there are other things I need to accomplish.  Now about that mulch.

THOUGHTS:  Many of the jobs we take on seem small and unimportant.  Just like my pool I have often found the small jobs are more intensive than I first thought.  I have also found many of these small jobs are essential for adequate completion of the more prominent things that need to be done.  This has also been the case during the pandemic.  The essential jobs we initially worried about are only made possible by the iceberg effect of small jobs that feed them.  There are no small jobs.  Perhaps we should be seeking ways to better compensate those who perform these essential tasks.  If you venture out, stay safe.

May 18, 2020

Amid the general chaos Melissa has started a new job in Northwest Arkansas.  While she is excited about this new venture it means she drives an hour and twenty minutes each way to work.  The Fayetteville-Rodgers stretch is also one of the busiest stretches of highway in the state.  One way to compensate for this is to leave the house by 6 am.  This puts her at work by 7:30 and allows her the option to leave by 4:30 in the afternoon.  Both times work well to avoid most traffic tie-ups.

Even without the slowdown of traffic Melissa is finding she still needs to contend with the big trucks that carry goods on this main thoroughfare.  The car she drives is a small convertible and it is dwarfed by the big rigs around her.  It has also been raining a lot lately and this makes driving more tenuous.  While most truck drivers know what their rigs can and cannot do, there are always some who ignore caution to try and squeeze a few more miles into their daily log.  Melissa has been involved in three near misses in her first three weeks of driving.  This was compounded by the wiper blades going out last week (it is a 2007).

That gave Melissa the idea to get a larger, safer vehicle.  She searched the used cars online and found one she thought would fill the bill.  This was an SUV with all-wheel drive that got 33 miles per gallon on the highway.  All three features were exactly what Melissa needed to feel safe.  We scheduled a 4:00 pm appointment with the dealer and arrived a little before time.  We called and entered with our masks, did the test drive, and were convinced this was the car.   After filling out the paperwork the saleswoman said we just needed to wait for the financial manager.  We sat for almost two hours as previous customers were sold cars.  We stopped for a bite to eat and then started home in the dark and the rain.  Melissa said the drive was reassuring.  I am glad she feels safe.

THOUGHTS:  When the world is in panic mode, we need to find ways to feel safe.  This is true with the cars we drive and with opening businesses, churches, and schools.  There is no “right” approach to reopening.  The economy has been hit hard by closure and there is a push to open.  People are tired of staying inside and there is a push to get out.  The stay at home orders have been lifted in all but a few states.  Some have responded with immediate opening.  Others are planning opening at later dates, and still others are taking a wait and see approach.  We need to follow the guidelines and do what makes us feel safe.  If you venture out, stay safe.