Retired rural grandma, caregiver, and dog mom to a sweet lab named Summer. Love to bake and gift to friends and family. Happy in my garden. Living a quiet life on the north coast of California. Mean comments aren't necessary or welcome. Please be kind.
Public Key
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Published at
2026-04-02T04:11:37+02:00 Event JSON
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Last Notes npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Our oldest grandson has been the only family member interested in our family history. I think his interest was sparked by our indigenous roots. Lucky for him I knew where to access information already researched by relatives on both the native and white branches of our family. Surprise to him my father's family has been here since pre revolutionary war and my mother's family even longer. According to JD Vance pre civil war citizenship makes us truly American. I say BS to that. I explained my view of our family's pursuit of the American dream. We have managed to be blue collar, property owners of various levels of education for centuries. Two steps forward and two steps back over and over like groundhog day. Not to say we aren't happy people. The generations I know have been mostly hard working, generous people who were not bitter about our lot. Probably we will be what ever passes for working folk centuries from now. A rose from our garden today. https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/597/166/043/446/163/original/de515695a64fc422.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Soon. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Warm banana chocolate chip muffins for breakfast. Extra for the grandkids and the free pantry. Blueberry muffins for the freezer next. Good morning, Mastodon. #Baking https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/585/204/284/038/436/original/e8c788b9db0adf3e.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Since my husband is feeling stronger today I'm working on getting him on his feet a little. I told him and Summer that if they joined me for some on the stairs games there might be treats afterwards. My husband perked right up. He took the upstairs position and I took downstairs. Summer's job was to run the toys between us. The toys got lots of air time, Summer got to run, her pal laughed out loud and I got some photos. I agreed to bake a pie and they agreed to share a piece. I think we were all the winners. While he was upstairs we chucked him in the shower. This day is going my way so far. We will be all cleaned up for when the grandkids arrive to lend a hand this afternoon. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/551/814/491/168/020/original/2e17b9d30052ac29.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/551/814/543/839/461/original/712e8770761faf55.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/551/814/568/098/931/original/021005e06e9a0310.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/551/814/570/913/795/original/e88a65a1841f0997.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 An observation. I subscribe to a few digital news sources. Every one has published an obituary for Ted Turner. It shouldn't surprise me that they all describe him as an exceptional human. His exploits are compared to pirates of legend and his pursuit of as many women as he could pursue is swashbuckle. Ha! This so plays into the mindset that the rich are so much more special than the rest of us. No limits on the ultra rich, none. Would anyone have wanted or idolized someone with his insatiable drive to posess everything he desired if he wasn't wealthy? Probably not. An average net worth would have made him an average man whose sexual exploits and failed relationships wouldn't have been memorialized in print. I recognize his business acumen was legendary but he wasn't a hero. People will be forever enamored of the rich and bored by everything else. I wish it was different. In my humble opinion. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I still wear Invisalign retainers at night. I will need to wear them forever or my teeth will move. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Reminiscing today. I ran across this photo of my husband taken around the time we first became a couple. He was and still is a looker. We were best of friends having both convinced ourselves that a friendship was more durable than a romance. We danced around out of arms reach for five years. Finally while on a business trip to San Francisco he pulled me into a hug and I was done staying out of his arms. I felt safe and loved. We figured out how durable our friends and lovers relationship really was over the last close to forty years. Here we are. Together still. He still makes my heart race and we keep each other feeling safe and loved. Some things have changed but the best of us is still the same. https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/534/688/144/047/483/original/95268c6d22fad58c.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Summer says that she feels sad for the Detroit Tigers team. Half the team is injured and the other half seem despondent. While we were driving to the trail she said we should take a road trip to Michigan. She says she can pitch, catch and improve morale. So if the Tiger's are listening Summer says put me in coach! No doubt she could improve morale. She does it here everyday. We got our early walk done and hurried back home to give her pal some much needed hugs. He hasn't felt strong enough to go with us lately but loves the getting back home reunion when Summer shows him how much she loves him. Good morning, Mastodon. https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/534/354/820/176/261/original/54988b3ff0059c4c.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/534/354/825/570/435/original/28a3cb4dc1baf839.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/534/356/054/839/024/original/cf1d92b33c0834dd.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I'm not sure the best way to address this. Maybe there isn't a good way. I get lots of private messages asking for money. I would help everyone if I could but I can't and I don't. If I restrict the private messages I will miss connections I don't want to miss so maybe it is just a consequence of being here. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Summer is feeling it. https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/507/258/827/278/748/original/52d9d9122763d1ff.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I feel like I've spent most of the weekend cooking. Cookies, potato salad, red bean chicken apple sausage soup, fruit salad, pumpkin pie and apple pie. We kept the soup, small apple pie and a serving of potato salad. Everything else went to family, friends or the food pantry. The good news is that I used up all of the food that needed using. I ended up with two dinners frozen for later. Our fridge is bare. Good thing that tomorrow is shopping day. Together we enjoyed our evening view and warm apple pie. These moments of happiness are precious. How lucky we are. https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/474/436/303/907/884/original/b7074767f4380268.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 More work to do on my jacket. Not sure what color though? https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/438/513/642/940/690/original/8abc7549183befc6.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Summer is hiding again. Sometimes I wonder what she knows that I don't. Oh, wait. I do know. Time for some encouragement and sweet hugs. She can't resist. Good morning, Mastodon. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/432/037/862/085/829/original/bc00f2ecb4b904f6.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Today was make all three of our toilets look like new again day. My husband, who feels bad that I have to do so much of our housework, wishes things were different. I told him that even if we had oodles of money I would still clean up behind us. I said that as a single parent these kinds of skills were marketable. I could sew, cook and clean well. All tasks that families who can afford to hire out, will. I wasn't always treated with respect even by his cousins who made me use the back door bathroom and gave me a bar of soap that was pressed together from the pieces of used bars. I managed to feed my family in part because I can make a toilet look like new with some bartenders friend, gloves, brush and a pumice stone. I had no shame for doing this kind of work. It even paid for my daughter's braces. The shame belongs to the people that treat domestic workers badly including his cousins. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Summer and I didn't spend very much time watching the sunset. We were freezing. A couple of photos happened before heading back in the house. We chatted about family and chuckled. A niece had asked for my mother's original potato salad recipe. She sent out a group text and said she wanted to recreate the classic. Funny thing is that we each had the recipe that was the real deal but were all different. I told Summer it is like we were all raised by different families but we all remember events through our own filter. Digging up the family past is not an exact science. Arguing that your version is the real deal isn't worth the trouble. Instead of adding my recipe to the mix I deferred to the sister who wants to be the keeper of the family traditions. I told Summer that I like our new and improved ways of doing stuff. Like watching the sunset together. Just like. https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/418/618/294/782/030/original/e8d3f021d91cd597.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 How about those Detroit Tigers? npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I can't get the link to open. What should it be sending me to? npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Morning is coming earlier every day. Getting to the trail early helps us avoid the crowds. A couple of days ago the same person who brings three large off leash German shepherds to the trail cut us off from our car. This is our third encounter and I feel like his dogs are dangerous. The most aggressive one knocked me down to try to reach Summer the first time we met. This time I blew my whistle to alert the owner who wasn't paying attention and let him know that if his dogs didn't back down I would pepper spray them. I also said that I had taken a photo of his Minnesota license plate and if Summer or I were hurt I would see him in court. He said the dogs were reacting to my fear. I said he needs to keep them on leash because they don't obey him. He said that we shouldn't use the trail in the afternoons. I am complying because I don't want Summer to get hurt. So here we are at the crack of dawn. Cold but safe. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/415/414/618/098/107/original/76a17b281d6e868b.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/415/414/584/416/731/original/f3d398dbd57f915c.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/415/414/608/923/678/original/f09266c9d8d74496.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Summer and I made it out to the cold deck to watch the sunset. At least the rain had stopped. https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/412/126/125/345/133/original/7df5db7e4fdb78bf.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Summer was hiding behind the table leg again. I sat down on the floor to figure out why. I said that finding her, when she was so well hidden, was just luck. Summer was ready to talk so I listened. She says that she just doesn't understand why our lives are like a top ten roller coaster ride. Something good happens and before we can celebrate something not so good is happening so we get nervous again. Over and over, around and around, the ups and downs are dizzying. Summer says she is ready for a break. I think we all are past ready. I told her that we are going to have to buckle up and work hard for change. It won't be easy but we owe it to each other to fight for our idea of a better world. We can't let the baddies wear us out. I reminded her that we have a sunset to watch right in our backyard and a democracy to save so we have to get out from under the table. She said to count her in. #Summer https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/412/114/845/991/455/original/a5bcce6ab25d83e2.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Today must be dahlia day. I threw together an apple pie. Waiting for the oven to preheat. Warm pie for dessert. Lucky for us we have vanilla ice cream hidden away in the freezer. #Baking https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/405/830/778/752/924/original/c6c2aa593be10387.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Summer and I were puttering in the garden. We decided to transplant a dahlia into a clay pot. When we picked the plant up it erupted with jumping frogs. It was a whole convention I think. This one hung out while I fetched my phone. I think they all settled in the damp weeds around the roses. They blend in like they were never there. #Frog https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/405/046/018/244/747/original/aa4b449db9d1ce22.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Our oldest grandson is coming out to help me this afternoon. He offered and I accepted, greatfully. Summer will soak up the extra attention. I rushed around to bake his favorite banana chocolate chip muffins so he can take some home. I also threw together a large bowl of potato salad. I had all a bunch of food that needed to be used and the salad made the most sense. The boys love it besides. Summer is anxious this afternoon mostly because my husband isn't feeling chipper. He isn't feeling worse either so that's good. #Food https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/388/118/971/904/376/original/d971aea86bd0c1b0.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/388/118/973/966/256/original/48f8a14282e59054.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 The rectangle is a Tractive DOG 6. It is basically a fitness tracker for dogs. It monitors her activity, heart rate, barking patterns and sleep. It will alert me to health changes. The collar will also help me find her if we are separated as it is also a GPS tracker. I do walk her off leash everyday and although she stays close by if something did happen her collar would lead my phone to her. The tracker was a gift from someone who has much more dog raising experience than I. Summer is our first dog. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Just in case anyone else thinks Summer is wearing a shock collar. She isn't. She is a much loved dog and I would never let anyone use pain to train her. She has had to train us and thankfully didn't need to use a shock collar. I felt bad that someone would call me out for something so false. I think she looks like a happy dog who is comfortable in her fur and collar and the knowledge that her housemates love her to the moon and back. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/383/740/044/375/747/original/3b279d1a4b810b56.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 More happy dog adventure photos. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/382/932/920/473/579/original/25abb732db081ef4.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/382/932/900/630/786/original/a65b3843a20000d3.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/382/932/935/426/544/original/350630d9e0a2395e.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I just remembered that today is Friday. I used to look so forward to the weekend and freedom from bosses. At least if I didn't monitor my email. Now Friday holds a different significance. The weekends mean doctors are off work so we are on our own. We manage though. Today our plan includes haircuts and baking muffins for the free food pantry. Nothing too exciting. This rainbow was visible from our deck for just a moment. I am thankful to be home to see it. ) https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/381/220/201/142/727/original/f57805bb4592ab9e.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Oh no. Summer is a little damp. She went outside in the drizzle. Her pal helped her dry off. He missed some. It turns out that the rest of her got dry but only by transferring the damp to grandma. It's worth it though. She is warm, soft and loveable and she dispenses feelings of well being and good vibes. Hopefully you can feel those vibes coming your way. Summer is working on getting them out into the world. She says somebody's got to do it. Leave it to Summer to try and turn things around. I told her that good deeds and love can change the world. At least it can't hurt. Good morning, Mastodon. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/381/092/090/282/518/original/483a9c87a407c082.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Summer makes him smile when nothing else can. She is a miracle. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Awe how sweet. Thank you. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I think they are still finding their groove. Good thing that the season is young. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I have been quieter than usual. I started to recount some of our current challenges and deleted it twice. Instead I will share this exuberant game of after dinner tug of war. We are doing ok though, really. We are finding happiness where we can. We are finding sleep when we can. We are eating cookies and ice cream whenever we want. We filled the free pantry today because we know there are folks who count on us showing up. I would hate to think that our challenges might cause a neighbor to miss a meal. We are focused on the important stuff. #Summer https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/338/704/346/028/870/original/4575dc1b3a13bb99.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/338/728/702/947/205/original/c9cd925325fe1337.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Ha! We live in earthquake country on a hill. Attaching our house even a little more soundly to the foundation seemed a good idea. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Wow! That's wild. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 If it was a repair shop I likely could get a cash discount but this is a dealership. I will try my debit card next time. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 They still exist. Our recent seismic retrofit contractor would only accept a check. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Good idea! npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I wonder if my debit card would save me the fee. I will check thanks. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I will be the first to admit things aren't so great. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 My question exactly. I will bring enough cash to pay when the part comes in and they do the repair. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 For some reason our pickup has started making terrible shrieking noises behind the glovebox somewhere. It happens if the fans are running. I scheduled the earliest appointment available and got up at the crack of dawn. I waited while they found the problem. The motor that runs the air systems is broken. Because the noise is intolerable for all of us except my husband who's hearing is too impaired to hear it we will spring for the repair. Summer gave me this look when I told her that this, probably the largest car dealership in these parts, wouldn't take a personal check, will not give change if you pay cash and will charge a 4% surcharge if you use a card. I swear paying for anything is getting dicey. I made them take a check because we have bought all of our cars there since 1968 and had a personal account until they stopped doing that too. I am starting to feel like customers are an inconvenience for businesses anymore. Summer has the best eye roll. Good morning, Mastodon. https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/336/681/400/818/804/original/abccf407a4087e31.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I think Yertle is running the US right now. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I was thinking about that tonight. I was trying to remember if the poozers were orange?? npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I like that one too but it wasn't a favorite for the kids. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew - Dr. Seuss "This is called teamwork. I furnish the brains. You furnish the muscles, the aches and the pains." My daughter and I remember this passage whenever we are working on a project together. We vie to be the one to furnish the brains. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 My personal favorite was I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew. We read lots of Bill Peet too. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I thought it through. I have access to care because I am Native American. I have less provider choices but don't have to pay for care I receive through the Indian Health Services. We are good. Thank you for caring that we are ok. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I read out loud to my children and grandchildren long after they could read for themselves. When the kids were really young they all loved Dr. Seuss books. I read a few of them so many times I memorized the entire book. My mistake was that I let them pick the stories from our huge personal storybook collection. Some were chosen night after night. Tonight while I was cooking my husband's dinner I remembered one of their favorites. Dr. Seuss' Scrambled Eggs Super is a book I haven't read in years. While we cooked I treated Summer to the whole story from memory. Because her pal is still sick a simple scramble with toast sounded good to him. Summer and I called it Scrambled egg super de dooper de booper special deluxe ala grandma and Summer. Next time we will recite the Lorax. Summer and her pal never make fun of me when I'm silly. I love them for that. https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/332/868/300/173/311/original/d969eeb65b93cd2c.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Insurance is our largest expense. I dropped my supplemental policy last November. My husband's policy is very expensive but I would give up food before I would give up his policy. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 My waterproof jacket isn't warm. My warm jacket isn't waterproof. I could layer them but it is too bulky. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Yep. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Everyone who reads our toots know that we frequently use medical services. Providence is our option for a doctor and hospital as well as any chance of seeing a specialist without going to San Francisco. Much of our care flows through the VA. A couple of months ago my husband went to his annual visit with the Providence primary care provider. They are old friends so they caught up for 15 minutes and said see you next year. The $600 chat is usually covered between Medicare and our supplemental coverage so I was surprised to see a sort of threatening email and text saying that I have 20 days to give them my credit card for automatic payment for a seriously past due balance or they will proceed to next steps. It took some digging but I finally got an itemized bill. We owe a grand total of 79 cents. I don't usually resort to profanity but WTF? I hope people don't just hand them their card. I put the change in a baggie and dropped it off. A not happy customer. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Don't want to rile up an otter either. They are territorial and can get mean. We regularly see deer and ducks on this trail. Summer ignores them. It's a different story if deer come on to our property. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 No. She doesn't interact with any wildlife. We steer clear. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 More rainy day Summer adventure photos. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/330/885/541/293/879/original/45613490da57d6de.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/330/885/573/277/548/original/b451afdc4dace344.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/330/885/580/149/720/original/c56d2d38966688c3.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/330/885/646/540/676/original/2a7ddfc903c48ec1.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Summer needed a walk. Outside is cold, windy and raining. She says that the variation in the weather just makes it more of an adventure. I said probably so and started to waffle between being warm or dry. I decided on warm. Summer was excited. No surprise that we had the trail to ourselves. I am such a softy I even let her dive and swim. We encountered an otter in the first pond so we went on to the second one. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/330/871/492/785/341/original/d3a36ced7ac19cd0.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/330/871/502/742/694/original/08a45c3c0c3bf146.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/330/871/506/679/127/original/3f84969d0fc59f90.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Rainy day morning. The rain is welcome. Summer was enthusiastic about her breakfast. Yay! We seem to have found a way to keep her pal from getting sicker. This is best case as we don't have test results back yet. They were having an in depth discussion after our morning meal. She worries and he assures her that we are here for each other and that she is loved. I worry so I try to assure family and friends that we too are here for each other and you are all loved. Good morning, Mastodon. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/330/261/315/816/098/original/bc221e10a6fe2478.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I don't know. She still has an occasional no eating day. She won't eat if my husband is away at the hospital either. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 We still get Summer started on her meal by hand feeding her. I put my hand on her back while she eats too. She won't eat out of a metal bowl no matter what. She is such a sweet loving being it is the least I can do for her. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 My husband saw her on Craig's list right after he got home from a month in the hospital. She was the runt of a litter of eight and the only one that hadn't sold. She had food related anxiety and wouldn't eat consistently. He really wanted to give her a home so I called the breeders. Her parents were well regarded hunting dogs. The owners didn't know what they were going to do because she was very small, wouldn't eat and no one wanted to train her as a hunting dog. I made a generous offer to buy her and drove hundreds of miles to bring her home. She and my husband immediately bonded. It has been three and a half years now. She is our first dog. She isn't small anymore and would probably have excelled as a hunting retriever. She is amazingly smart, athletic and has a soft mouth. We got very lucky that no one else wanted her. https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/326/467/184/760/821/original/a444f595773b8ded.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/326/467/200/408/406/original/8948806629aea133.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Glad you got medicine. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I plant everything in containers or raised beds. We are in zone 9b. Water is an issue for us because we rely on our well so I try to be careful. I am downsizing this year compared to last because our rainfall is below normal but not drought yet. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I will plant my begonias in a couple of weeks. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 This might be hard to believe but Summer is a very accomplished gardening helper. We received some surprise dahlia tubers. Probably because I mentioned that my favorite dahlia named Polka didn't survive the winter layover. I was going to move on but a couple of days ago a box arrived with not only two Polka tubers but four other fancy schmancy varieties. Well this morning Summer says we'd better get them in the dirt before the rain. So I loaded up a wagon of soil and put the box of tubers where Summer could reach. We got to work. She dumped out the box and brought the tubers one at a time. I ended up short two pots and asked her to find some so she did. Twice. We got er done and Summer got a good girl treat. Glad she's on our team. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/325/108/785/235/516/original/12bb5b5ebcd46038.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/325/108/826/672/157/original/9ddcbe241184f067.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/325/108/821/531/539/original/76dcabc487a1849e.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/325/108/832/167/101/original/01a2243d36cbd532.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 We all slept last night. Summer and her pal are feeling the good feels that come from some restful sleep. My husband is able to eat solid food and keep down his medicine. We work together to survive these health challenges. Hopefully, I can convince these two to take it easy even though things are going better. The problem is that they don't want to pass up an opportunity to party. You never know when you will feel well enough again. I can't begrudge them the joy. Good morning, Mastodon. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/324/687/456/929/631/original/0e7ca1fd81af2d6e.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/324/687/484/457/947/original/6163d58c2199d48f.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Thank you. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Today was all about care and comfort. Mostly liquid meals like milkshakes and tasty smoothies. I managed to sneak in some Greek yogurt and protein powder. Summer lifted an eyebrow but promised she wouldn't tell. I keep strawberries in the freezer just to hide the healthy. We are just coasting not getting worse but happy with being able to stay out of the hospital. We have to wait for test results before we get meds. Staying hydrated is key. So is Summer. She decided it was time for a bring the blood pressure down cuddle. It works every time. I recorded the moment before I hurried to get dinner going. Thank you for all of the well wishes. It helps more than you can imagine. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/321/649/906/431/329/original/3dacfaeb8cedcfe4.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/321/649/872/155/402/original/4279a3b0d98b80b2.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/321/649/891/093/289/original/36f614d3d8492a17.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 We are doing a little bit better this afternoon. Tests are percolating and now we wait. In the meantime Summer is providing personalized comfort sessions and I ran down the hill to pick up the chocolate milkshake that my husband thought might help him turn a corner. It did seem to perk him up a bit. Summer had to go outside so I watered the newly planted dahlias and other flowers. The tulips were still where I left them. Tomorrow should bring some answers. #BloomScrolling https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/320/863/007/240/957/original/f932eb35f6392592.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/320/862/570/933/570/original/4eb6822462d48ede.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 No photos this morning. Long night. Before I retired I thought my jobs were important. It felt like people and their goals relied on me to be loyal, steadfast and smart enough to make a decision on my own. Now I look back and chuckle that I wasn't smart enough to be self employed. I was conditioned to believe that because I was uneducated that my employers were doing me a favor. I just hadn't had this job yet to show me what it takes to shoulder responsibilities that matter to people I love. Unpaid but more appreciated than jobs in both the profit and not for profit world. I really am using all of my skills and stamina everyday. Some would say that I signed up for this when I made a commitment to someone older than me. I say that none of that matters when you love your partner. So it is with love that I stayed up all night with my sick husband and why I will have little time for Mastodon today. Good morning, Mastodon. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 They have two houses on the same property. One is fixed and the other will need to have about half of the interior torn out and replaced. The city agreed to pay for a vacation rental for the two of them that will be cut off from their bedrooms and bath during construction. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 A quiet evening. Summer is warm and cuddly. We enjoyed the sunset view together. Plans to start the fun all over again tomorrow. It will be a brand new day. Things like working in the garden to look forward to. https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/316/709/890/355/378/original/c8f0df67f4f1e2b8.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I am doing things I like to do. It helps. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Summer is a pretty devoted Detroit fan. I could have checked out the other games though. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Thank you for the link. Donation sent. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Between loads of laundry Summer and I cooked. Mostly to make sure we used up food that might otherwise get too old. We deviled a bunch of hard boiled eggs and baked dozens of chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies. We threw together a huge pan of lasagna for my daughter's family and a smaller one for us. A giant green salad based on the still crisp romaine lettuce rounded out the evening meal. All that still needs to be done tonight is putting clean linens on the beds. It's been a good day. https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/315/981/904/181/472/original/02298e1a7909c33f.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/315/981/926/042/152/original/c9286818cb267db0.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Laundry and other chores are still happening today. Yikes. Only two loads left to wash and dry. Summer settled down on her blue and white blanket to watch baseball but I had to tell her that the Detroit Tigers have a travel day today. She was ready to cheer them and was disappointed. She thought if we supported them with even more enthusiasm that they might win like they didn't yesterday. I told her that we watch for the love of the game and the ups and downs are part of the fun. If they always won it would be less exciting. Tomorrow will start a new series with a different team and we will be ready to cheer our favorite winners or not. #Summer https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/315/655/251/223/818/original/6bea29199989b20a.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 She is a dog of many talents. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 It is. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I'm sure it is wild radish. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Some no Summer photos from our walk this morning. https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/314/302/433/564/776/original/4702186f8e86ed68.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/314/302/462/248/197/original/99d05bbdec4592ad.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/314/302/474/446/524/original/bb27951459e0cf9b.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 😢 npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 She used the stick she found. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Summer has made our lives happier than I could have imagined. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 #SilentSunday https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/313/883/164/300/087/original/e5ec4788f1705f5c.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Summer has a grin on her chin and a message for her Mastodon friends. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/313/803/037/330/414/original/af9b1983a1b3aa25.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Summer is so persuasive she talked me into a quick walk. This is a beautiful morning. She is a happy dog. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/313/793/370/430/838/original/5f7446ece266fb37.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/313/793/321/417/199/original/5ee9e12be23cc407.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/313/793/374/889/459/original/2792b3af31e94a5f.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I knew that there was a long list of chores for today. Summer might have to make do with getting her workout at home. A quick game on the stairs started our morning. She brings us joy and laughter every single day. Good morning, Mastodon. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/313/743/548/911/518/original/1a616e5fc86209de.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/313/743/561/198/820/original/383ebc4ed0eb8614.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/313/743/559/457/560/original/4cc49a0bf473aeaf.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Summer and I cooked a simple dinner of chicken, rice and veggies. We watched some protest coverage and decided that we were still too tired to do much else. The sunset was just enough to cheer us. All in all a pretty good day. We cooked up a plan for getting all of the chores neglected today completed tomorrow. Good night, Mastodon. https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/310/829/797/533/791/original/e86f6d11c12a45d9.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I didn't need my whistle. I did need to keep myself from responding to a couple of obnoxious individuals. I managed though probably would have handled it differently if I wasn't wearing the vest. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 People seemed oblivious to traffic. I worried the whole time. I hope she is ok. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Oh no. I am so sorry. I wore myself out trying to keep people out of the path of the cars turning my corner. I felt fortunate it all worked out. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I am one tired grandma. Our local protest was big and loud. I did my best. The increased participation and the support of passing motorist's was wonderful. I wore layers as we started out in the cold and ended up in the warm afternoon sun. I wore my red hat before it got too warm. My grandson took this photo right before the official end of the protest. Most people were nice to me. I am happy to report that no one was run over or otherwise hurt on my corner. A win considering how many people were lining highway 101 and oblivious to the hazards presented by cars moving inches from where they were waving their sign. I really felt like one of many making good trouble today. https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/309/377/120/260/457/original/c3cf65b90e2097e6.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 They are totally in sync at all times. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Thanks! I will try to set my husband up with this one. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Wow! Full is good. I guess we will have to sign up early next time. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Sending betterness your way. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 I expect tomorrow will bring out the most protesters yet. There will be more than one event. I am hopeful the numbers are significantly larger than No Kings 2. npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 Another win! npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 More tulip joy in our garden today. Even though the tulips don't last very long they are so beautiful I plant more every year. #BloomScrolling https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/304/967/426/659/635/original/18cf7e09478b5cc0.jpg https://files.sfba.social/media_attachments/files/116/304/967/430/959/702/original/4bca109353e44357.jpg npub15w9ua3g8jqqnpltwc9na6lafggq54ykq0et0u5hpl2l75990eh7qp02huq Norcal Gma 2 This will be my first time helping with security. I hope I don't need the whistle too.