Autumn Leaves

Beautiful Autumn.
Leaves dry and crackling under foot.
Crisp cool air.
Sun warmed paths.
Golds and reds, oranges and purples.
Grapes and apples, pumpkins and squash.
Foolish joy abounds.

Trombones and Motorcycles

This weekend was the Northwest Car Collectors show at the Expo Center in Portland. The owner of the first 3 motorcycles in the photo is the bass player for the Bridgetown Big Band, shown in the other photo, and they played Sunday at the show. Everyone was brilliant, but I was particularly delighted by the trombone section sound. Mostly I can say I had a wonderful weekend. Cool people, cool motorcycles, cool band, cool cars, and HH turned another year over.

Quilt Baby with Dog

One cousin, Cousin M made this beautiful quilt for her Great Niece, while another cousin, Cousin J, stepped into the shot just the second before HH or I snapped the photo. This was so frustrating, because we'd missed many many many perfect shots before we finally got the idea that maybe we should take a photo. Cousin J was as slow as us, because she suddenly thought, "Hey, maybe that dog could bite my granddaughter!" So we were both slow. What got cropped was cousin bending over in front of her beautiful photogenic daughter, mother of the baby. But baby and dog sure did like each other. Another shot missed a bit before this one was the one of the quilt being held up for display. This was in Ashland at our family reunion in Lithia Park.

Next time I go to the baby jazz band rehearsal I'm going to take a camera and see if I can get a photo of the hostess' sewing room. It would be the envy of all who saw it and ever thought about a quilt. I've been filling in for someone on a European Garden Tour with her Hardy Perennial Club, and BJB People are a compelling and delightful bunch. Rehearsals moved from a garage to a basement. The garage home was very interesting, too, because in back were lovely boats made by the garage owner himself.

Smith Lightning

Do you know that if you click on the photos they get bigger? This one is from this weekend. HH and Lightning went to Smith Rock. It's so beautiful!

DD and I played in the same orchestra together last night, and it wasn't in a pit for a musical. I'm thrilled. It's the local community orchestra, and we're playing suites from American in Paris and South Pacific, some movie music, some Oregon Trail music, what else? It's fun stuff.

Thunder and Lightning

Photo is of BSA Lightning along Columbia River. One of my favorite photos by HH taken just last week. Speaking of lightning, we've been having lots of it here. Unusual for this area. At least there's been some rain with it, so when it hits forests they won't be total tinderboxes. I don't understand why lightning rods aren't more popular. The night before last, I threw open the window shade, tossed my pillow to the foot of the bed, and lay backwards in it so I could watch the lighting out the window. I was disappointed only to see the window light up, and no actual bolts. The rain was very loud on the patio cover, and I wondered if there was a bit of hail mixed in, but it was too dark to see, and I wasn't about to go wandering outside to check, mainly because I hate to get out of bed unless the morning alarm has gone off. It is now completely pouring outside.

Have been reading a brilliant book HH bought. He leaves it lying around here and there, and whenever I come across it, and have a minute or two, I read some. I think I'm on page 21, but it might be 31. I've been trying to remember, because since he's reading it, I try not to move his bookmark, or confuse him by adding a second. I don't know where it is right now, but it's a great autobiographical account of a young possibly lunatic woman seeking adventure who also loves motorcycles, and she quit her job with the BBC to ride a motorcycle the whole length of North and South America, starting in Alaska in May. The title is Lois on the Loose.

Other biographies I'm reading now are A Girl Named Zippy, by Haven Kimmel, and The Egg and I, by Betty MacDonald. Then I'm also reading a couple mysteries, Under Orders by Dick Francis, and Coyote Waits, by Tony Hillerman. I don't mean to read them all at once. It just happens. I wonder if it happens to other people, too.

Hot Lazy Day

Twilight, gibbous moon, narrow twisty road, bicyclist just visible, no reflectors, no lights, peddling along side of road. Must have been caught out by the ever shortening, dark increasing days of August Cyclist was not me, but I passed him in car. That was last night. Today I rode with helmet and reflectors and slow moving vehicle triangle, reflective and neon orange. I want to get a flag on a stick, too, to help me be visible in my low-slung bicycle to the huge 4-door, 4-wheel drive pickup trucks.

Confusion Reigns Here

I'm reading a book about this guy, Justinian I, of the new Roman Empire, and his wife Theadosia, and his Lord Chamberlain, John. Justinian is the ruler of Roman Empire, such as it is. Mostly it's about John, who has mysteries to solve. I have a mystery to solve. Where does my checkbook keep going? Every time I want to pay bills, or figure I'd better in order to avoid penalties, I can't find my checkbook. So where is it this time? It's always wherever I put it last, but I can never remember. Our big swing jazz band is playing tonight. I hope I can find my trombone. I have the other one in a shop 90 miles away. That makes me nervous. At least I know where it is.

It Must be Wednesday

This isn't the prettiest photo, but it tells a story, doesn't it? HH has been having a string of unfortunate events with his BSA's. This photo was taken by HH on a club trip to Goldendale. His bike broke down and he couldn't get hold of me, because I was with the band, playing in the park, so he kept staying outside of things (observatories, Dairy Queens, cafe's, gas stations) trying to get satellite coverage so his phone would work, and there I was incommunicado. He got me eventually, and I was able to meet him at LM's house in Oregon City, and was there in plenty of time for a lovely house and garden tour with Mrs. LM before he showed up riding on the back of LM's Bonneville. The very next day, we drove up to The Dalles, scenically situated on the eastern Columbia River, pulling the bike Trailer in a Bag (not in the bag) and got the bike, and I got another lovely house and garden tour. Did you figure that the bike went to one town, and HH went to another? It took two trips to get them both. And they were both fun, well maybe I had more fun than HH. He was going to take the other BSA, but its clutch started giving him trouble and he couldn't fix it before time to go, then the clutch on the little one went screwy while he was out on the ride. There's another weekend my bathroom didn't get it's walls scraped. La de da da hum de dum, I'm so slow.

Noon for Her

Her said to look up at noon and take a picture of what you see, and I looked up, but had to wait a while for the camera, (everyone likes to use the camera) so here's the photo, 2 weeks later. But I see this every day at noon, because dog and I go for a walk around 11:30 (not a long walk) and when we get back, we go over to the cherry tree for a treat. Dog just thinks this corner of the yard is fun. Lots of bugs and birds.

Disconnect

There may be a bit of open space between my photos and my topics, and between my topics and what I say, but maybe you'll get used to it, because I'm not going to do a lot of editing. The cat is helping me write this. She is currently saying "rumble, purr purr purr, rumble," as she shifts about looking for the perfect position. The phone has not rung today. A wonder in itself. I think the cat has settled. She is holding down my left leg and my right arm. It really is difficult to focus with her constant shifting. She is now on my right leg, and my right arm is on her back, way out of kilter. So, even with the phone quiet, I'm still having trouble focusing.

I'm hoping to get the dog over to see MIL today. She is due for a grooming--the dog, not MIL. Guess I should make an appointment. I meet some very nice people and dogs when we're out walking. Heidi is a friendly pooch, and thinks everyone she meets should stop and admire her, and when we walk by houses, she wants to go in and visit. Sometimes this happens, but only on our street.

The quilt in the photo was given to me by a friend, but after I finished stitching the border (she lets me do this for her sometimes) she took it back to photograph, and I haven't seen it in a long time. I am eager to get my quilt back. It's small, and looks great on the bed.

Beach

Today we're taking the dog to the beach. We're taking ourselves, too. DD graduated from high school, turned 18, and is now touring Tuscan Italy with her orchestra. HH told me he's taking a walk before we go, but I hear him tinkering out in the shop. This happens a lot. With the best of intentions, he steps out the back door only to be sucked in by the lure of the shop. Well, here I am, meaning only to update my book list, but I, too, have gotten distracted. OK, I'm going now. I just love this graduation photo HH took when DD and her friends threw their hats in the air.

Are We Ready?

I'm a little concerned that I keep forgetting things, dropping things, losing things. Am I OK? I practice, but as soon as I learn a new thing, I forget an old thing. Do I like the dog better than the cat. She is an obnoxious cat. DD will gradutate Monday. If she can remember to get all her things done. She doesn't sound worried, so I'm not worried. I heard them talking about all the tons of students who also don't have their things all done yet. She did check with someone that said it would be OK to finish up those things tomorrow. One of her teachers told her class to remember family is for life, and friends are just temporary. She wondered why he gave such an odd speach. Well, he knows what teenagers are like. My BFF in high school (who is still a friend) used to say every day "I hate my mother." She loves her dear sweet mother, and it didn't take a whole year away at college before she realized it. What else am I on about? Can't think in a row for long enough to finish a thought, so bye y'all.

Friday

Today the weather is planning to warm up to 95F. Heidi, MIL's dog, thought hanging around with me while I watered flowers was extremely boring, and was only semi-enthused about going for a walk. Maybe she knows she has a hair appointment at noon. When she's all cleaned up and sweet smelling, I'll take her over to see her Mommy. I wish she'd be happier about visiting MIL. She's not keen. Guess she's too young. I feel bad for Mom when Heidi is more outgoing and friendly with about everyone else at the nursing home than she is with Mom. With her, Heidi's just, "OK, I've said hi, now let's go home," and Mom's all Heidi come here, lay down and grabs her tight and holds her, which Heidi doesn't appear to like.

These bikes are waiting their turn to get gassed up. A new seat came from England yesterday for the older BSA, more like the original seat that came with the bike. This seat is not as comfortable as it looks, and it's so ugly! The original seat and therefore the new seat, not the seat in the picture, has springs, which I think HH calls shock absorbers. Some of the required bolts were back ordered, so HH was looking through his bolt collection for something that would make do for now. He's got it on the bike, and it looks fine, but didn't sound completely satisfied with his jerry-rigging.

Boggy Woggy Doggy

Poor Boggywoggy. Her doggy ate her purple carrots. She never got to see them. She can tell you, anyhow, she'd rather see than be them. Ha ha ha ha. I'm being silly.

The photo is my new motorcycle. I bought it myself. I will have to see about putting in another photo of it, because it's back end is the part I want to talk about.



We'll see if that works. I haven't had any luck with it. Anyway, the back tire was bald, but as you can see, it's barely visible, so changing it is tricky. The new tire came yesterday via UPS, and HH had a bit of a struggle getting the hub off and I offered to help put it back on tonight. He says the tire's currently on the balancer, and the bike has it's rear end hanging off the end of the hoist. It's his hobby, you know. Anyway, I'm not going to ride this thing. It's just for looks, though I have seen HH riding it. I think we'll put it in the yard as a lawn ornament on nice days. You know, like a lawn jockey, or a fountain. He wanted it, I had insurance money, so I bought it. That's all I know. Except it's a Kawasaki Vulcan....oh! Rats! I forgot what else it is.

Best Laid Plans

Do things in this photo look wet? Oh, let me tell you. DD added some bits to his beloved 45-flathead and was eager to take it out to test them, so he listened to the weather report and decided Friday (not this Friday) was the perfect day for a ride. He asked at work to have it off, and eagerly waited all week for his adventure. He took off for coast in a light drizzle, so was wearing his rain pants. Never mind that the weather forcast predicted dry and partly sunny. He saw sun and blue sky ahead to the south, so headed that way, and wound his way eventually to Florence, where some little tiny thing broke on his bike and he fixed it, but the surge caused a headlamp to blow. I don't remember which one, bright or dim, but I notice new ones arrived in the mail this week. The drizzle never stopped. He's just passed Sea Lion Caves in the photo, and on a clear day you could see Heceta Head Lighthouse from here, which is just down the road. When he eventually returned home, he handed me his gloves and said "feel this." They were dripping and so HEAVY. I think he had fun, but his jacket and gloves felt like they'd been held under water until they couldn't absorb any more, and they left large puddles on the linolium. The next day was beautiful.

Sure, I'll Do It

In Community Band we're playing the 4th movement, Via Appia Antica, of The Pines of Rome by Ottorino Respighi, which begings with a Roman Legion marching into Rome after victories in the East. They're tired, and feeling the weight of the journey, and the piece begins with tubas and low brass. My part is measure after measure of a repeatted quaver/eighth note only playable on my horn in 7th position. AS helps me keep in tune, BS says I have to be excited about it, BC says I have to blow fast, and SM says I have to stay with the tubas. I think it's the hardest thing I've done, and I need all that help. I try to psych myself up thinking of Avus and trying to picture his shiny armor all dusty from the long trek. When I first saw my music, I thought "They've got the wrong part, it's a drum part," and I was right about it being a drum part, but it's for trombone.

I think I have something every night but next Sunday for the next 2 weeks, and I'd better get friendly with my calendar now, so I can see which performances of Hello Dolly! I can make. I'm going to be in the pit. I will have to take up afternoon napping, since I guess I'm already committed. That was soon after starting with the new community orchestra, and thus sitting too close to BH, who talked me into playing for Hello Dolly. I'm not so sure about the advisablity of my actions.

Frosty the Mailbox

Handsome Hero told me to post a photo of mailbox. We have a new mailbox, and it's too small, but that doesn't matter because it's so pretty, right? As for gardening, I'm collecting newspapers to put down wet and top with compost. I put some down and dragged an aluminum motorcycle wheel out of the back of the truck, where it was headed for the metal recycle bin, and threw it on top of one soggy pile of newspapers. The leaves have not stayed on top of this pile, but the newspapers haven't blown away due to the wheel, which I think is a pretty cool sculpture to have in the garden, except the newspapers need to be hidden. Sadly, I was too slow to save the rusty old jumbo mailbox from the metal recycle bin. I had plans for it, including dirt and flowers. Rats!

When I recover from these shingles maybe I'll be OK. My head hurts, too. I think that part is sinuses. Nothing wrong with me that time won't fix, but I'm very cranky. MIL's house may become emptied this weekend by the estate sales crew. She's happy in her beautiful luxury assisted living apartment with her dear sweet little dog who thinks carpeting is the best bathroom. A nice couple from Ohio wants to buy her house, and we told them OK. I'll be glad when that's all done, which it may be soon. Meanwhile, I have boxes and boxes of mementos from both her house and my dad's house that I have to divy up between kids (my brothers, HH's brother, MIL's deceased SO's daughter who still speaks to her, amd MIL's deceased second husband's daugher. I'm going to use a grabber thing so I don't have to bend in the middle to pick things up. Bending hurts. Everything hurts. I'm such a whiner. Sorry. Shape up, self! Grrrr.

Oh! We rented Happy Feet and watched it last night. I'm glad we did because it was a lark. Very feel-goody. I enjoyed the EXTRA thing that showed the real tap dancer, too. If DD were here she could remind me of his name, which has eluded me. Oh! Look where I am. I guess I can easily look it up myself. Savion Glover. Now I want to see another movie with him dancing.

Ta Da!

After charging three batteries, and getting help from HH finding one that would keep a charge, I took this photo and DD stuffed it into the computer for me. She said she liked all the photos. I counted apples. On three trees I found 6 apples total, and none of them are ripe yet. It's Autumn. Why don't they know it? The grapes are about done, and there are puddles of them on the ground from dropped bunches. Maybe we'll have lots of apples next year.

I'm listening to BoggyWoggy's post of Horowitz playing Rachmaninoff. Mmmmmm!

Beautiful Almost Autumn

Again inspired by Mrs. Staggs at Happy Miscellany, I took the camera outside to photograph my fabulous delicious abundant grapes. What happened? The battery was dead. No matter, there's another battery. No, that one is dead, too. I've got one on the charger now, but it will be tomorrow before I take a picture, and I am trying to distribute the grapes before it's too late. (They don't keep forever, you know.) Right now they are THE BEST. Well, other people's grapes might be the best, too, but ours haven't been this delicious in previous years. MIL sits down and eats the whole bunch every time I bring her some, and she's fussy and has a small appetite. She said they're better than can be purchased at the store. The vines are growing up into the apple trees, making a little secret fairy hideout. Plus I have grapes in my apple trees. What fun.

Practice Practice Practice

Alley and I play piano duets. This is her playing now. She plays at getting so much hair on the chair cushion, the only alternative is to keep that cushion for her and change it out for other piano users. I sit on the bench and play the other piano. Sometimes she comes and sits beside me on the bench, but when she does, she tries her best to get me to stop playing the piano and play with her. She usually wins. I'd probably be able to learn something if I weren't so easily distracted.