While I Was Out

Sept 30, 2005: We now have a working door no longer falling off it's hinges. Not perfect, but better.

Part of what I did to help was to leave for awhile. I went to Salinas doing "stuff" for Mel. Did not find a battery for her outdated cellphone. A new free cellphone requires a 2-yr contract. She cancelled her old service.

October 1, 2005: While I was out, Matt talked to the (yellow 'copter) helicopter pilot who landed much closer than usual. And gave him a Coke. Apparently the helicopter guy also sent Buddy out of the field by spraying a bit. He told Matt the chemical wouldn't hurt Buddy.

Work Day at Twin Bridges

Quiet But Busy Day:

I went on a Quik Chocolate trip. Also picked up my aprons that were in the Sewing Center contest-show.

Carol had the painter painting & a woman helping with landscaping work. Mel said Carol is officially retired now.

I washed Mel's nicotine-covered windows while Matt went to Salinas for his twice-monthly trip. He does save diesel fuel that way. This trip was for supplies to repair the back door.

Shall We Become Condos?

After looking through 31 pages of legalese, I don't know. I haven't read every word and haven't understood much of what I did read.

Purple Fences

Yep, that's what I said.

Aaron Updates

9/25/2005: Phoebe sent an email yesterday saying Aaron had LOTS of tests. He now has no fever and seems okay. Thanks to all who are praying for him. Maybe he needs your support just a little longer while he recuperates.

9/26/2005: Phoebe came by today with Aaron. He looks great--happy, healthy, walking.

Cauliflower Field Photo

"chicka chicka chicka chicka chick chick chick chicka chicka chicka chicka chick chick chick ..."

First Day of Autumn

Cabin 5 ... Roofing in progress. Today they replaced a lot of wood. Tomorrow they will probably finish the project. I gave Mel some paint color brochures. She was beginning to like Cabin 8's lavendar & calling it blue. Even she admits her macular degeneration causes some problems with recognizing colors.

Cabin 8 ... Painting finished on house.

Cabin 9 ... John's truck looks better. Washed, some painting done on wooden sides, tires pumped up.

Last Day of Summer

No rain yesterday. Not a drop. Just clouds.

Mel's roofers arrived and ripped off the old 3 layers of roofing. I'll try for a photo tomorrow.

Phoebe had an Open House. The only realtor I saw was accidental. I opened the front door, meaning to take a look at Mel's roof about 5pm. He & his client were right there "in my face". So I talked to them for awhile & gave them what I thought was pertinent info.

I also talked to Carol's painter. He was taking a break & smoking a cigar that smelled more like a pipe. He said it was probably made with pipe tobacco. I learned from him that John & Carol are agreeing on something. The new fence Carol bought is going to be on John's side of the path. That gives them both more privacy and keeps the path open to Carol's yard.

The Plot Thickens

Photo above: "Carol's House Gets Painted" ... (Psychedelic Orchid?) No, I guess it's really Periwinkle Blue.

Mel called to say the roofers cancelled for today. It will probably rain--showers at least. They plan to be here tomorrow.

Mike is still painting Cabin Six. Sand with Blue Trim. He started that before Periwinkle happened. What a combo. Mike says Carol's color is nauseating. He may be right.

And of course The Periwinkle Blue looks so good next to our Barn Red house. Last week I found a couple of black light bulbs. I may see what that does at night. (Tee hee.)

Last, but not least, two big real estate signs were put up this morning--one by our Monte Rd entrance and one in front of Phoebe's house.

I hope they both sell to really nice people and at a great price!

Previews

It's supposed to rain tomorrow.

Williams Roofing is supposed to work on Mel's roof (day 1 of 2). (Cabin 5). Mel's worried about her roof, the rain, John, Carol.

John has not moved his "stuff" from the area between Carol's & John's (Cabins 8 & 9). John has also bought a "junker" of a truck. Already has at least one flat tire.

Carol's having a 6' or 8' fence put up between Cabins 8 & 9. She's also having her house painted. She has visitors--her mom and someone else.

Mike's still painting Cabin 6. Karrin was out driving someplace today & took the dog for a walk later. She's not totally "out" at least.

Phoebe's still worried about her grandson Aaron.

Water Truck Driver (w/ Updates)

Yesterday, (9/1/2005) another new person arrived on our property. The man who drives the water truck around the perimeter of the field stopped to visit with Matt who was splitting wood.

Everyone has a story. Lupe, age 58, weighed 350 pounds a year ago and now weighs 250. He stopped eating red meat.

I will investigate further.


9/6/2005: Matt saw Lupe using the water truck to water our flowers that are next to the field. They are basically drought-tolerant sweet allysum and a ground cover that the bees like because of it's tiny magenta flowers. And two cypress trees.

9/17/2005 (Saturday) We were eating early & watching a movie. Lupe honked & waved as he drove past.
I don't even know what he looks like. Life is strange.

9/19/2005: Lupe cruised by in the water truck again, honked & watered our plants--and Carol's too, I believe. I said to Matt, " When you make a friend, really make a friend." Matt said, "Yeah, I gave him a Coke (Coca Cola)."

Pray for Aaron

Sept 18, 2005: Phoebe's grandson Aaron is about 14 months old. He had convulsions & was taken to the hospital by his mom Christie. They said he had a deep sinus infection. Then he had another convulsion & didn't know his family afterward. That's all I know. Please pray for Aaron & his family.

Sept 19, 2005: Aaron will probably get to go home today. He does recognize his family today. He wasn't able to walk, even though he has been able to in the past. Phoebe said he was very frustrated by that. He will be tested for epilepsy Thursday. I was surprised they didn't do that right away, but I guess he was too sick.

The Cast

It's probably just the full moon coming up tomorrow. Or sunspot activity.
Twin Bridges seems to be having another crazier-than-usual spell.

Carol is the leader of Crazy Days.

Phoebe's not talking.

John has been trying to bug Carol & it seems to be working. John's boyfriend John is here, but I only know that because his van is here.

Mel has no full-time troops on site so it's hitting her in her vulnerabilities.

Diane is occasionally here. Hasn't moved everything out yet. Matthew C seems to be avoiding the neighborhood. Are they married? After six years, we still don't know.

Karrin is temporarily strong & running her own life as of yesterday, (9/16/05). She's trying to refinance her house. However, it's about time for her to "drop out" again. Mike is temporarily in a strong period & doing a good job preparing to paint Cabin 6. I don't know why Mike is being so useful all of a sudden. It worries me.

Matt is trying. He has high blood pressure & adds to the mix. I do what I can.

Jim doesn't live here, but keeps his finger in the pie. Jim's wife Bobbie stays home, babysits the menagerie of dogs (most are sick), and does the bookkeeping for the family.

Where Do (Artichoke) Babies Come From?

A brochure by Pezzini Farms explains it all:

"WHAT'S A BABY ARTICHOKE?"

"Baby artichokes are the same artichokes as the bigger artichokes you have always found on your grocer's shelf. They come from the same plant and their size is determined by their placemant on the plant--way down among the shady plant fronds where they are protected from the sun's toughening and growth rays."

Carol's Chips w/ Update

(Sept 3, '05) Okay, now the s... is hitting the fan. And there will be more soon no doubt..

Phoebe apparently told Carol to stop all chip deliveries. But more chips were dropped this morning. It's so much like Walt Disney's Fantasia, "The Apprentice"...

And I heard that Carol has decided to resign her position as Vice President. I suspect all of this is related.

On county property they look like the pyramids in Egypt plus a few extra piles. On the field side they just look like lots of piles of chips all piled together more like the U.S. Continental Divide (but between the river and the cauliflower field). I'm really busy tomorrow, but I hope to take a few photos of the piles as soon as possible. This is too good to miss.




Photo added September 6, 2005. This is one of seven piles on the west side of our property.

Raj, Tomale, & Yeti

Diane is here this week, moving things to storage. She's been gone so long and yet her three cats love her.

Raj was the first cat to conquer Cabin 4. He arrived on Thanksgiving a few years ago--probably 2001. He was starving, so Diane gave him a lot of turkey. Matthew C said "No cats! I'm allergic to cats." So four years later Raj is still here. He's a beautiful white long-hair cat with golden eyes. He weighs a ton and loves everybody, but Diane is still at the top of his list.

Tomale was a feral cat. He is black & white. Diane stepped in when his leg was broken in a fight (with a dog, I think). She took him to the vet, had him neutered and had his leg set. Then he got away from her & I watched him lay in the sun healing for about three weeks. Diane caught him again and took him to the vet to have the now-crooked leg re-broken and set again (Ouch!). Well--he's Diane's cat now, though shy of other people. Except for Mel, that is. Mel has been feeding all three cats.

Yeti is a beautiful Himalayan with startling blue eyes. He was a feral-born kitten adopted through a vet by Karrin in Cabin 6. He had a twin that disappeared without a trace. Diane claimed him about six months after he came to the neighborhood because Karrin was not taking care of him and Karrin's rambunctious puppy was too much for any kitten to have to cope with. Yeti is also shy of everyone except Diane and Mel. On occasion, I have come upon him. He always keeps his distance and always looks "startled". Then goes away.

Wood Splitter

Labor Day 2005