Gardening Update - June 15, 2015

Another summer already! It's hot. It's humid. It's summer already!

 The flowers are cycling - long gone are the flowers of Spring - bulbs - daffodils and tulips. I "won" this year's tulip battle. It takes quick action on my part to keep the deer away from the precious tips of new blooms. I buy bags and more bags of Deer Scram at Bloomin' Garden Place and sprinkle it "liberally" around all susceptible plants. And, I still have a half-gallon of Deer Vik - a stinky, sticky mess of stuff which is applied with the left-over plastic stakes from the Tru-Green guy who visits several times a year to give the lawn a boost. After each treatment he puts out a square sign that says "Stay off the lawn for a day".

Pink Iris

The Iris are gone, too. I follow a Facebook page for Iris people. I have at least nineteen varieties - last time I counted. They are crowded and need to be separated. I've cut back their stalks and put them in a pile for Kyle and his Kharma guys who will be here to do the summer cleanup - hopefully before July 4th.

I'm keeping a Gardening Journal of all the various plants I've purchased and planted. I enjoy having several lavender plants growing out by a vignette around a bitd bath. I like coleus, too. They seem to survive the deer, but sometimes a critter - a squirrel or chipmunk - rips out my plants and tosses the potting soil out of the pot. Peg, from Family Massage Center, told me to put plastic forks - tine side up into the pot - to keep pesky pot invaders out of my pots!

I have purchased plants from Brecks and Spring Hill Nursery. I had one oriental poppy that bloomed. I put out "name tags" to make sure that the yard guys don't mistake a poppy or daisy for a dandelion. The hardy geraniums have been a challenge, too. They have a big, bunch of roots and a stump center. Only two of them have produced green leaves - three others have been moved to a "place of their own" - pots and a planter box.

The orange lilies are in bloom - another Deer Scram success! Yellow lilies are opening, roses bushes have bloomed and will bloom again, daisies aren't out yet, succulents come back year after year and many other plants shove through for another season - the survivors - bee balm, weed daisies, thistle, lamb's ear, ivy, black-eyed Susans.

Nine window boxes are filled again with fern and small pink, magenta and orange red flowers. Wow Windowboxes change the boxes four times a year. There is a watering system connected to each box.  It's an impressive sight - worth the investment!

The new shovel I ordered from QVC is the best one I've ever used, ever. It's shaped to a V and slips right through the hard earth. It's inspired me to plant more plants. I will use it today to dig holes for four Gazania daisies.

Eggs Actly! 1/2/2015

Here's my story about boiling eggs:

I don't know when boiling eggs became a problem for me. I know that somewhere along my road to becoming a homemaker, learning how to cook which includes knowing how to boil eggs I have tried the "old fashioned" method of water in the pot - to a boil for a 3 minute egg and 12 minutes of boiling and set the pot aside and then do a cold water rinse for hard boiled eggs.

When I was married to Harry back in 1961-68 I would use the pot boil method. I don't know when the electric egg boiling gadget came into my kitchen, but when it did it changed my egg boiling habits for many years. It was a "steamer of eggs" that had a timer that could be set for soft or hard boiled eggs. The egg had to be pierced before placing it into the steamer - to allow the egg to cook "properly".

Over the years the egg cooker was part of my kitchen equipment. Then, I "reverted" to using the pot method again. Why? I guess the old egg cooker finally "bit the dust" somewhere "along the line".

Here's a favorite story my son and I heard from Harry Lasky (real estate agent for my son's home). Harry had shown us around the home - giving us the selling points and then told us about the former owner who loved birds and had several cages of them in her kitchen. He also pointed out the graveyard out behind the garage for the birds.

He said that the lady had boiled some eggs (who knows how many) to the point that all the water in the pot was gone and then the eggs exploded! Apparently the lady had told Harry about what a mess it was to clean out all those bird cages, let alone all the egg bits and pieces that hit everything in the kitchen. The screeching of the birds, the smoke, the scary situation must have "been something"!

I had visualized that egg explosion story and could empathize with "The Bird Lady" (thinking off-hand that it would make a good children's book). And so this leads to my situation with eggs exploding.

More than once I've left eggs in the egg pan to dry out and explode. I've been able to shut off the stove, get the pan off and throw out the stinking scorched eggs. Whirling around a vinegar/water soaked and wrung out towel took out some of the smoke. I turned on the exhaust and overhead fans - opened doors and windows to get the smoke and stink out. It took days to clean up the pan - soaking, using Barkeepers Friend and scrubbing with a Brillo pad. Finally one pan "gave it up" by popping off it's "bottom" protective layer.

These explosions still didn't teach me - until finally the "last time around" I burned up one of my sweet little copper pans (almost). I left the eggs on the stove and came down to the office in a separate building to check email and Facebook. I was in my nightgown. I finally decided to go up to the house and there was a fireman in my breezeway. I covered myself with something - can't remember. Then three firemen went through my entire house - I headed for the bathroom for a robe. I don't know who turned off the stove - I think I was in shock!

They set up a big exhaust fan in the kitchen - pulling out a lot of smoke. They finally left and I kept the windows and doors open for hours. It took awhile to get the smoke out. I was really upset about the pan - let alone having another serious egg episode! I sent the pan off to the metalcoating place for retinning and renewal - another $70 gone. The pan looks great but I'm not using it again for eggs.

Long story - lesson learned. Now for the update: I now have an egg cooker that I found on eBay that works in the microwave - eggs don't have to be pierced - I can do one egg for 5 minutes and 4 eggs for 6 minutes or more - just fill with water - latch - cook. Main thing - being extra careful to be sure it's "latched" and then "unlatch" with super care - to prevent steam burn.

I finally can have my daily soft-boiled egg for breakfast and can enjoy adding hard boiled eggs to my tuna salad for lunch. Problem solved! Onward!

Jobs - After High School

May 1955 to Sept. 1955 - Amelia Star Review - sold classified ads - wrote column - managed office.

Sept. 1955 to June 1956 - Ohio State University Extension Serivce - boss Mr. Christenson.

Summer 1956? - worked at McAlpin's - Linen's Department.

Sept. 1956 to June 1957 - Goshen Elementary - 1sr & 2nd grades (attended UC Evening College).

Summer 1957 - Cincinnati Summer Theater - tutorial - Theater in the Round.

Sept. 1957 to June 1958 - Ohio State University - Cashier at Student Union

Summer 1958 - 1/2  summer term at O.S.U. - worked for Columbus Recreation Commission.

Fall 1958  June 1959 - worked as cashier at O.S.U. Student Union

Fall 1959 - June 1960 - taught 6th grade at Withamsville School (same school I attended from 3rd to 8th grade).

Summer - 1960 - went to Conservation Camp (Camp Muskingum) O.S.U. credit.

Fall 1960 - June 1961 - taught 4th grade at Oyler School - Cincinnati Public Schools.

Summer 1961 - Worked at Frisch's Big Boy on Central Parkway, lived in Apt. on Ludlow Ave.

Fall 1961 - Taught at Hays School (first & second grade) until March? Quit job. Took classes.

Married - Dec. 21, 1961 - continued taking classes at U.C. Spring '63 pregnancy - birth of Marshall Nov. 23, 1963.

Spring - 1964 - more classes @ U.C., raising Marshall, active in Goldwater '64 Campaign.

Continued classes until graduation 1967, Other activities - Publicity Chairman for local Montesorri group, wrote articles for Children's House, painted 35 pictures, entered Hyde Park Art Show, Marshall in nursery school at Miss Lucy's in Hyde park.

211 courses passed, 33 courses taken but no credit. 211 plus 40 more to take = 251 hours - 104 required, 57 more than required. It was almost two years extra work to finally graduate - due to changing major from Education to General Studies and going to evening college.

Jobs continued after divorce from Harry. Seven years of marriage.

Substitute teaching for Cincinnati Public Schools, worked for Judge Paul George - his campaign for Domestic Relations Court.

1969-1970 - Hoffman Elementary School - 4th Grade. Wrote two articles for Cincinnati Magazine.

1970 - 1971 - Windsor Elementary School - 4th Grade.  Met Bill Kelly February 1971.

Dec. 21, 1971 - Married. Moved to Glenbrook, Nevada (Lake Tahoe).

1972  in business for myself - Creative Learning Center, Karen's Studio (several locations). Did work at the U.S. Dept. of Education 1989-1991 - Office of Private Education.

*Note: This information was written on  three large index cards and updated "as time passed". I'm glad I kept this file as a record of my job history.

Beyond High School

 A file folder labeled "Grade Transcripts" is filled with records of "schooling". Scanning through the lists of courses taken "over the years" I'm wondering today which were "worth my time" and if they "made a difference".

1955 to 1956 - I attended Ohio State University in Home Economics. OSU was my choice because I had been there several times as part of my 4-H Leadership training. I stayed in a dormitory - Oyler Hall? can't remember exact name. We signed in and out and had a "house mother". I worked at WOSU on the radio station in the early mornings and did some work for the OSU Extension Service, too.

 

1956 to 1957 - I taught first and second grade students at Goshen Elementary School. My folks did not have enough money to send me back for my sophmore year. I lucked out with a teaching job as a "temporary" and was able to return to OSU again.

1957 to 1959 - I transferred from Home Economics to Education - completing two more years at OSU.  I worked at the Student Union - morning cafeteria line - walking across the mall - winter - freezing cold. I became ill with mono and tried to keep going to classes.

I taught school again in Cincinnati - several schools including Hays, Oyler, Windsor and Hoffman. I would teach and take classes at University of Cincinnati's Evening College - finally graduating with a Bachelor of Science in General Studies with a minor in Fine Arts - June 15th, 1967 - 11 years later - having taken at seventy-four or more courses!

I had married Harry Garrison Dec. 21st, 1961 while I was teaching at Hays. I was taking courses throughout our marriage and gave birth to our son, Marshall, November 23rd, 1963. I was involved in politics and contined my education.

After Harry and I divorced, I continued to do substitute teaching and finally got a full-time teaching job. When I remarried I got my teaching certificate both in Ohio and Nevada.

1975 to 1976 - I attended The Art Academy of Cincinnati for one year. After that, I started my own studio - Karen's Studio and have continued thirty-eight more years with the studio and I continue to teach adult beginners - art. I took a lot of courses, too, when I worked at the U. S. Department of Education - computer, time management, telephone skills, etc.

10-12-14 Sunday Afternoon

Been "Blogging" along - realizing I will be adding more blogs as "time goes along". Added Karen Sharin' - "Hodge Podge" for the odds & ends stuff around here that I'm choose to set into a separate category from my own story, Angel Lois', Cooking Buddies, etc.

It's interesting (to me, for sure) to learn more and more about the people and places "around here". I'm digging further into files and pictures, relabeling and rethinking "what I thought I already knew to be true".

This past week took me down "The Remembering Path" (good title for something) which involved being "on camera" for an interview about my Mama (now Angel Lois) and her community service.*
Getting prepared for this project meant that I "got with the program" and organized many files and photos.

Now that it's Sunday, I'm back to my regular routine which I report to Facebook's "Homemaker's Encouragement" group. Laundry for today is done. Clothes are put away, trash trashed, recycles out to bin, dishes - partially done - some still need to be put away. I'm staying cozy down here in the cottage - wearing sweats.

Taking a "flying leap" today with HughesNet - going to have them install a satellite dish up on the main house so that I can have WiFi where I can use another computer - not sure whether to take new Dell Windows-8 computer up to the house or my older Vista laptop. Will ask the service person what they think is best - what will work best.

Other decision - deciding where to plant Oriental Poppy plants. I have some "loyal" royal-looking red poppies that return each spring by the back patio steps. I'm wondering if the morning sun is preferable to afternoon sun (will check eHow for this info. or Spring Hill - the company where I purchased them).

I thought about doing some Wheat Belly (grain/sugar/wheat free) baking today - missing the bread I make, especially the walnut bread from Dr. William Davis' Wheat Belly Cookbook.

Went to City Flea yesterday downtown at Washington Park in front of Music Hall. Bought a couple of small succulent plants in their own vases to take to Karen's Studio 125 to share with students. I also bought another fun barret from "A Seamless Transition" where I took some of my vintage pieces of clothing to sell. Next Saturday I'll take some winter items and pick up a check from the sales that have been made of clothing/jewelry I dropped off for consignment this summer.

I also stopped at Essencha Tea House to purchase more Kukicha green tea. I will be taking tea-making supplies (a strainer) to the studio, too. It's an "upper" and healthy, too.

This will be a busy week - sprinkler system off, and hopefully Madison Tree will be here to do major tree work - one more item off the "big list". Next year - looking at redoing the entire driveway!
Being a "Widder Lady" keeps me hopping around here!

*Note - Will write more over on Angel Lois blog about the interview project.

 

Rainy Monday - Procrastinating 10/6/2014

I can't believe it! It's raining. It's chilly and damp. It was only a few weeks ago that we were enjoying an extended summer - warm sunshine, dry air.

It's time to order a winter's supply of Toasti Toes, get out the Cuddle-Duds and black suede Ryka shoes and "World's Softest Socks" - black ones!

I wear a photographer's vest - the one I bought in San Francisco many years ago at a Banana Republic store. I love this vest with all it's pockets - especially the pocket across the lower back. The sales person told me that one of his customer's carried his dog! Thinking maybe it might be a small daschund!

The latest project (around here) has been going through more photos and files. I keep re-finding photos which re-trigger memories and the stories that go with them. I'll be choosing more to upload to my computer photo files and share on Facebook. I like Facebook for having a place to create albums and share photos with family and friends and even "others" I don't really know - yet.

I've been wondering about the wedding photos of Harry and me that were in a small white photo album. The pictures are "clear in my mind" but the album is missing. I'm thinking they are in the attic with several years of daily diaries which I put into a trunk for safe-keeping. Will I be pulling down those creaky, wooden attic stairs to find that album? Yes, most probably. When the weather is chilly (like today) I will be considering whether it's "worth the effort".

I will be watching some old VHS tapes of Mama's award ceremonies today and wondering, too, if I know how to transcribe them to DVD - used to do it - but now will need to re-read the instructions in the booklet that came with the VCR player.

The furnace is humming alont - heating up the cottage to "cozy" - making me sleepy enough for a short nap (20 minutes or so).....zzzzz. Onward!

September 30th, 2014 - Around Home

The locust tree is dropping its tiny leaves everywhere "out front" on the driveway and yard. The gigantic oak trees are dropping a few leaves, too. There are funny-looking bump things on the oak leaves. The acorns are quickly scooped up by the squirrels, but those I step on give a good "crunch" sound when I am walking around the driveway doing laps.

I bought the large sized bags of Fertiloam from "The Bloomin' Garden Place". I've lifted all four from the car to the breezeway. One broken one (rebagged and discounted) I took to the patio and loaded up a couple of large planter pots. I dragged another bag down to the cottage to load up the hanging rail boxes - six total. Now to plant them - with what?

My days (recently) are filled with doing the sorting of pictures/files for a PBS interview that will take place very soon. I'm thinking of "time-lines" and "stops" along the way - significant moments - highlighted for the "general-public". And, what are the similarities between my mother's life and mine? What have we shared? What have we learned?

There are "way too many" boxes of photos around here. I open up one and then another. As I said before, I am "The Keeper" for my mother's files, my late huband Bill's files, my late Aunt Gretna's files, mine files and some of my son's files, too! Files = photos, writings and souvenirs.

I enjoy the various "spots" around here that I call "Vignettes". I post some of these over on my Facebook page under Albums.

In the office - the side where I have two drawing tables, two old computers, paintings, file cabinets and shelves - I display Native American stone implements and a peace pipe. These items have their own history - and I believe someone "way back" in Bill's history collected them.

I remember, too, when we were growing up at Potter Farm Lane, there was a drain hole in the basement that we put a stone in to plug the hole - I know now that it was a grinding stone. I do not know what happened to it. I do know that the house burned down and it's probably buried "way down" underneath acnew home that may have taken its place.

Here's today's "Vignette" from Indian Hill, Ohio.