Back to the Blogosphere

I quit blogging when I felt what I had to say might hurt others. Time has thickened my hide, I hope my readers feel the same. I am compelled to speak out on so many things ranging from a very personal level to global issues. Maybe I'll step on a few toes, I'm okay with that. Folks are free to disagree in comments. I will publish any well-thought out opinions, but won't tolerate personal attacks directed at me (politicians are fair game), just leave out any nasty language, be creative, exercise your vocabulary. So you are going to hear about whatever is running around the squirrel cage of my mind.
Today it's masks. I'm for them. And I make them. And I hope to sell them.

They're $5 each, $1 shipping and handling. Each mask is made by me in my smoke-free, pet-free home from new material which has been laundered to remove any chemical residue from manufacturing. To order, email me at: melodyblairmoore@gmail.com, put "Masks" in the subject line. Please and thank you. I will evenually open an etsy shop, but I'm giving my friends a head start.

My beautiful model is Alexandra, daughter of beloved friend, Lisa. Every mask is made with love and prayers, hope, and good wishes for the wearer's good health from the heart and gnarled hands of this 81 year old woman. Custom orders can specify custom prayers! I'll show new masks at the bottom of each post.

In future posts I'll ramble on about politics, the pandemic, the opioid epidemic, the gun violence epidemic, racism, the declining global reputation of the USA, aging, books and maybe an occasional Netflix or Amazon Prime offering, food, travel, quilts, masks, family and friends, maybe a tad about the weather, but I'll try not to be boring.

Please tell your friends to follow me!

More Circle of LIfe, Backyard Edition

It's only right that Ben provides me with blog material in the next couple of weeks, he leaves for California in just over two weeks! We are busy cleaning out his room, packing stuff for storage and to take. It's very hard. When he's not packing he continues his backyard observations. It's a race against the clock to see if his mantids will hatch before he leaves. He maintains a vigil as rigorous as any found in a maternity ward.

This bunny met his maker just over our back fence where our neighbor grows a vegetable garden. I'm hoping there is no connection between the rabbit's love of fresh vegetables and his demise. We had been watching this bunny make his rounds through the neighborhood over the past few weeks. We would first catch sight of him emerging from a back yard across the street (a yard with a vegetable garden). He would hop across the street, cut across our lawn, spend some time in our raspberry bushes before crawling under the fence to the greater bounty of our neighbor's garden. RIP, little cottontail. At least I'll miss you.

 

And it looks like the backyard biologist is assured of another generation of box turtles. Doesn't she look just a bit perturbed by the camera's intrusion? This photo leaves me with some lingering questions about what goes where and how does it get there, but I'm sure the turtles have it all figured out.

*Photos courtesy  of Benjamin Maples

Dam It!

It's a beaver dam. And it's attached to the upstream side of a pier on the Finley River Bridge. And I'm worried about it and the beaver. I spotted the beaver one day a few months ago waddling across the road (the beaver, not me) at the end of the bridge. I just assumed he was building a dam safely down river where it would be real hard to get at. No, this urban animal chose to live on the mill pond where people fish every day, kids swim in the summer, people putter around in boats, and a steady stream of cars thunders by overhead. My immediate fear was that mean-spirited people would bother the critter and/or destroy the dam. Then I learned it's perfectly legal to trap beavers in these parts. His (I'm just assuming it is a single male) luck has held for the past week or so. I have observed city parks folks looking at the dam, but they seemed to have decided to leave it alone for now.  I'm hoping he gets to stay -- makes my five or six daily trips across the bridge just a bit more interesting.

The birthday boy at sweet sixteen. He chose to wear his suit to school on his birthday partly because he had a presentation in English where he was posing as a lawyer and partly because he is a peacock and loves to strut his 6' 2" 222 lb. stuff dressed up in a suit. The good news is x-rays of his legs this week revealed his growth plates have closed, so he shouldn't be getting any taller. He went to the doctor because he is experiencing knee pain while doing football training exericises. So, he is going to try some physical therapy, some anti-inflammatory drugs, and more exercises. I wish him well!

Many Pictures, Few Words

Logan, looking good in the ninth grade, 2011 (the braces come off in October!)

School Picture, Ben, 2011 (So handsome and grown up!)

Logan, as he sees himself (at 6"1" - 180 pounds)

Valery and Logan ride bikes at the American RiverValery and the boys, Robby, Ben and Logan - this taken at Lake Tahoe.

A trio of car climbers at Rick and Kathy's Toad Ranch

Brother Rick and SIL Kathy celebrating her 65th birthday at Toad Ranch. I think they are starting to look alike.

Sister Valery at the Toad Ranch birthday celebration. Doesn't she look great in her pretty dress?
Thanks for all of these photos, Val, (except the school pix).

Return of the Killer Turtle and Other Repetitive Events

The Killer Turtle flees to safety on the other side of the fence, escaping the Attack Miniature Schnauzer. The 6" box turtle has made two forays into the area of the back yard patrolled by Oreo who alerts us to the invasion by incessant barking of a particular pitch she reserves for announcing turtle invasions. Thanks to excellent reconnaissance work by the invincible grandma, and the superior rescue effort by co-hero Logan, we are all safe again. The neighbors are probably not very happy with this early morning service, but what can we do? The dog knows her purpose.
And it is the return of the killer Tiger Marching Band, playing at the first home game of the season. They successfully keep the Carthage team under control and propel the Tigers to a resounding victory. Too bad they didn't play at last week's away game when Webb City trounced Ozark something like 55-0.

And making it all happen, playing offensive line -- right end, is the star player, Ben!

Again this year, our circle is enlarged by the inclusion of a foreign exchange student. In this picture, Andrea from Rome is sitting at my left while we celebrate his arrival with a breakfast outing. Four days later, we celebrated his 17th birthday at Lamberts. The soccer coach welcomed him with great delight and is wondering how he can recruit more Italian exchange students. It is clear Andrea is a star. The girls are falling all over him, and he has several new friends among the soccer players. We will host him next weekend when his exchange mama, Kerri, takes a little break and runs off to Kansas City.

Hold Still, For Pete's Sake!

Oreo won't hold still to get her picture taken. This picture was taken this morning just before I took her to be groomed. I always get shots of her walking away from me, or lying on her back, expecting a tummy rub. She also won't hold still to have her hair brushed, so it grows into a matted mess. We don't cut it in the winter because she needs it to keep warm -- she loves to be outside regardless of the temperature.

It's much warmer now and time to see if there still is a dog under all that hair!

I must report she loves being an only dog. She can now run freely through the house and we no longer have to enforce an elaborate system of preventing doggy access to certain areas. Gates are gone, doors are open and I feel liberated, although wracked with guilt.

Ben is on the bus en route to the KC environs for a Winter Drum Line competition, Logan has a speech tournament tomorrow. Watch for pictures of a very handsome orator!

Cinder, RIP

Cinder, about 50 pounds and four years old

Patiently, Cinder allowed the boys to dress him. He has also been known to model T shirts and socks.

Here's Cinder in his younger, leaner days -- about 25 pounds and six months old.

With a bit more weight on him, he still sits up and begs -- as long as food is his reward.

Logan loves dogs and blankets for cuddling.

Jealously guarding one of his favorite toys -- he finally unstuffed it and it got tossed out -- he wasn't know for taking very good care of his things, or my things either. Hence, the nickname Chainsaw.

Today is a very sad day in our home. I had Cinder euthanized this morning. It was a terrible decision, one I have struggled with for years. When he bit my hand this morning, drawing blood, he crossed over the line. We struggled over a cereal box liner which he wanted to eat and chew up. When I tried to take it from him, he bit me and there was nothing I could safely do to wrest it from him. I simply cannot risk owning a dog that would bit the hand that feeds him.

Cinder has given us tons of joy and love. He was very smart and responsive -- especially when food was involved. He was also very destructive, never outgrowing a puppy's need to chew. He earned his alias, Chainsaw, by destroying furniture, shoes, and venetian blinds.

Logan stayed home from school today to be with Cinder until the end. We both wept all morning. Logan held him at the vet's while he went to sleep and then again after he was gone. He wants to keep his ashes. I tried to stay out of the way as much as possible and let him deal with it as he needed to. I hope it was the right thing to do.

Ben's way of coping is vastly different, but in a way that is very predictable, at least to me. It was critical to him to keep to his routine, so he went to school this morning after shedding some tears. We'll talk more about it when he gets home this evening.

Oh how I pray they really understand why this had to be. It wasn't just the destruction and biting. He was also a barker to the point that the neighbors complained and even considered selling their homes! He also used the garage as his personal latrine and it has become unbearable and very difficult to clean -- at first he would use puddle pads placed in an oil drip pan, but his range increased daily, creating an awful mess. We couldn't let him go outside because of the barking problem.

But, we all loved him and today there is a hole in each of our hearts. I'm sorry Ben and Logan. I wish he could have had a happier ending.

Pix Galore

Wearing this uniform, participating in band events all over the state, and traveling to Disney World results in a hefty price tag. State tax dollars, an annual activity fee paid by the parents, generous donations, and FUNDRAISERS keep the organization marching. As he does in most activities, Ben overachieved at this year's fundraising frozen food sale. He sold 63 orders for a gross of $813.50. Selling is the easy part. Storing and delivering are the real challenge. The food filled both freezers of my two side by side refrigerators and delivering racked up approximately 200 miles, all with the city limits of a town with a population of 10,000. I'm not complaining, I'm just glad it's over. Ben did an outstanding job of managing the whole process. Once again, I'm proud of him.
Here's Valery performing a wildlife rescue at Wilson's Creek Battlefield. This little guy was on the road, so we stopped and she moved him to safety. (Now, wash your hands, Valery!)
Although I finished this quilt barely in time for Halloween, I doubt that I will get it hung up in time. I've chosen a wall where I will hang my quilt du jour (or maybe quilt de la saison), but now I must find someone willing to put up the hanging hardware. Any volunteers?

I had to stop several times yesterday on my way home from a frozen food delivery to take photographs of this amazing sunset.

Robin's egg blue

I always thought that Robin's egg blue was a light subtle shade of blue. Not so, these four eggs are a vivid, gorgeous color (one is completely hidden behind a leaf). I'm also surprised at how large they are. While I took the picture the mother sat on on a roof top scolding me and then dive-bombed my head. I don't blame her.

Odds and Ends

Ben is selling odds and ends we found around the house. We hope to earn money for our vacation to an undetermined location. So far, we have enough for a tank of gas that will get us to Kansas City for Rachel's graduation. While Ben takes his turn manning the sales table, he fills in his idle hours with a puzzle book. When it's my turn, I read a novel, and Logan plays games on his laptop. While Logan was sitting at the table yesterday, a lady come up to him and asked him if he was a college student!

. . . and odd ends.

Here you see the east end of a west bound dog. Only he got stuck in the doggie door. Cinder is now officially too fat to fit. So, he pushes through as far as he can, then backs up, still stuck in the door. This pulls the door open and he wiggles free and exits the opened door. Not bad for a fat dumb animal.

Veggie Pigout

Swiss Chard, mushrooms, scallions, and yellow onion wilt in olive oil infused with basil and garlic.
I added these to eggs, milk and grated cheese and baked a frittata which I've been eating ever since!

Today there is just one small portion left.

Lunch of leftover frittata and Kohlrabi slaw with broccoli and zucchini

Dinner of Copper River Salmon, corn on the cob and grilled zucchini with yellow crookneck squash. The wine (Sockeye Pinot Noir) is from Chile, but the label said it was intended for Pacific Northwest cuisine, especially salmon. And it was good!

Ingredients for Creamy tomato basil penne pasta (including leftover salmon).

Pasta with leftover squash.

Chicken with mushrooms, rosemary/garlic roasted potatoes and the last of the squash. By the way, I use small plates, actually salad plates, that's why they look so full! The sauce on this chicken is so delicious, I'm going to make some rice tomorrow to soak up the leftover.

Cinder begging

The vegetables are all gone. Tomorrow I'll make blueberry muffins and finish the leftovers. Monday I'll be reduced to frozen meals. I intended to avoid the grocery store this week and I nearly made it. I bought Copper River salmon and mushrooms. All else was either from my kitchen or the CSA vegetable share. Let me know if you want any of the recipes.

Meet Patrick

Logan holds Patrick, Robby's pet pygmy goat, up to the webcam during our Skype call yesterday.
Crystal, a niece of Valery's former husband, (once you are in this family, there's no way out), Valery, Logan, and Ben.

Logan's friend, Cameron, and Ben with his new haircut.

I love Skype and the webcam; it's just like being there. I got a chance to see many of the 20 or so people gathered at Colleen's for the California version of Ben's 14th birthday celebration.

Snakes Alive!

Ben "Job Shadowed" today at the Nature Center -- a project for his Summer School Career Opportunities class. He wants to be a Wildlife Biologist -- an evolution from his previous ambition to be an entomologist. I think it is a perfect fit for his passions. He loves animals in nature. Yesterday he went out of his way and kept us all waiting while he moved a moth to a safe place and out of harm's way. He will watch a mosquito suck his blood rather than swat it. It's funny, he's not real interested in the household pets like Logan is, but he loves animals in their natural state. He had a great time at the Nature Center and they loved him.