A Dalmatian Mouse - Story To Come

There’ve been decent moments this week of course, somewhat overshadowed by the viciously outrageous actions of others, that were unnecessary and overtly hateful. The ironic aspect is that I totally avoid those folks, the drama was dragged into my life when the runaway, frustrated with her own self, decided to seek out those she knew could, and would, escalate any situation.

Miriam surprised me yesterday with a few sweet texts, telling me that NOW she gets it, after struggling on her own for several years, testing out all my stupid and square adult theories. Fighting against logic, decency, even the law of gravity, it would seem, resulting in some spectacular falls, and hopefully she’ll turn it all around. She’s done so a little bit, but has quite a way to go.

Cristy’d made me some lineament with beeswax, comfrey and lavender, soothing my raggedy, desiccated hands that’d had the distinct pleasure of weeding yesterday. On my knees facing a garden bed, smiling with joy, but cringing inwardly, knowing someone’s gonna soon try and rob me of happiness, as it seemingly offends them. Go figure folks.

Nearly 60 degrees is such a balm to my soul, today promises another delightful weather experience, allowing me to work on more garden beds for spring, reading seed catalogs at night, most recent arrivals have included Jungs, and R.H. Shumway that has pencil drawings, but both are from Wisconsin, full of cold-hardy tips, eliminating potential orders from me. Seeds of Change and Seed Savers remain my favorites.

Hazel and Ray, Mae and CJ, have been here every day, laughing and playing. Hazel’s the youngest and is stretching her wings of independence, tagging along on my outdoor chores, like Mae, she is obsessed with my hens, spent most of the day jumping on the trampoline, but engaged in several skirmishes with Shadow, the very rambunctious terrier/alleged poodle mix, over several important sticks outside that Hazel had initially appropriated. Shadow simply didn’t think so.

I breathe in and out deeply, sidestepping Jonathan’s knock-over furniture rage last night when I made him share computer time. Share? An unreasonable concept to him, thus justifying his anger in his own, dark, twisted thinking. Fortunately it blew over right fast, as I ignore it, wincing as he kicked the heck out of his bedroom door in his ridiculous fury.

Experience has taught me, in spite of a decade or so of therapy, he’ll likely be kicking the snot out of a jail cell one day.

My sweet friend, Pat, a co-commiserator in what all y’all are also dealing with, had found me an antique set of Audels Gardeners and Growers Guide, volumes 1-4, from 1928, in a thrift store. Oh my goodness! It’s gorgeous and makes for fascinating reading. I started them on the Winter Solstice Day, the one that always gives me a great deal of hope in that there goes the shortest day of the year. Bring on Spring.

Any decent gardener would’ve already put her amaryllis bulbs into dormancy, and back out by now, with a forced bloom, but my demanding time schedule drains my short term memory by a few months, thus delaying bloom until January…but that’s when I’m really strangled by winter’s cold, and am in deep need of a few blooms.

But yesterday? I watered the greenhouse, gathered more basil seeds, listened to Hazel try and crow in my arms, like my big ole rooster. Later CJ made art projects in Lily’s room while I vacuumed around kids and Yorkies.

Both of my brothers are coming right after Christmas, an added benefit of Grandma and Grandpa living with us, the draw is doubled. Big Joe, Jesse, Daniel, and Sergi have years of beach memories with my brothers, and I wish I could have ‘em all here at the same time, but Jesse’s still out in Texas.

Gary and Jim make me laugh like no others, irreverent, caustic and hilarious, I just can’t wait to see them both, Gary’s family will be here also.

I would've published sooner but I discovered one of my kid's line cell phones had been stolen, resulting in calls to Verizon, a family meeting that went nowhere so I walked off crying.

Eventually a culprit came forward and confessed, which is surprising enough in this house.

Daniel also just called me with a ridiculously hilarious story that I'll share next time, but at least he left me snorting with laughter.