Cat Tales and Gardens

 Some time back, the outside cats began to show some nervous behavior as it got dark outside. I made them two safe places. I know that Possum began to sleep in the green house right away. The entrance was small enough that I was pretty sure she was safe at night. I made a bed for her there.

I was not sure about Tigerkitty though. I never saw him using either safe place. When he came up missing for a few days,  I was a little sick about that. I thought for sure something had snatched him away, but after 4 days, he showed up at the sliding door, back, very thin, very hungry, meowing loudly, and casting very nervous glances all around him. 

When I opened the door, he shot inside, ate two cans of catfood and disappeared into the basement. I was surprised about that, but the next morning, he came upstairs for some dry nibbles, and then asked to be let out. 

This has been his routine now for a few weeks. I found where he puts himself to bed at night. He is not a problem and I actually feel better knowing he is safe. Tonight, he showed up to come in as usual, but for the first time, Possum came inside with him. 

I am pretty sure that our 'predator' is another cat though.

My tomatoes are getting ripe. I have my morning coffee with a beautiful tomato sandwich. Toast the bread, mayo, a thick slice of tomato and lots of ground black pepper. 

We are eating a lot of zucchini and summer squash. Tim loves frittatas and the best thing about them is that you can mix up the vegetables you toss in with the zucchini and wind up with a completely different meal every time. 

My sister and her husband were cutting winter firewood. She didn't have time to process her green beans. I offered to do it for her, but she said, 'just take them. By the time we finish this tree, I will have double that to process.' 

I felt kind of guilty taking them, but when her mind is made up, there is no sense arguing with her. (It probably is genetic.)

We have been working at the house. We had some oil lamps to drop off with Levi and Mattie. I wanted to check on them anyway, because some of the men from the community went to a horse auction in Lancaster last month and brought measles back. The oldest boy had been exposed two Sundays ago and she was worried.

Tim and I have both had the measles. You cannot be a carrier if you've had them. If the family has them, they quarantine. I told her that we would stop in to check on them, and pick up any supplies they might need.

Anyways, checking on them, they have had a bumper crop of sweet corn this year. She has canned a years worth. They have eaten so much sweet corn they are tired of it. They are giving it away. They consider it a blessing and don't believe it should be sold. 

I said that we would be glad to have it. Next thing I knew there were two large bags of it in our car. I certainly did not see that coming. I should have.

On the way home, I stopped off to leave two dozen ears with my sister. It made me feel much better about the beans.

We had corn for supper, and I froze two dozen ears. It will be a real treat this winter. 

'Tis the season. 

Cup on the Bus

 I hope everyone will take a moment to stop in at Joanne's blog and leave a comment. 

In which we take a bow.

 We use our phones as hotspots for our internet and for streaming our television through Roku. We had to. The only way to get internet here is Starlink, and you can bet the ranch that this is not happening. 

(Side note: my weeklong adventure at the fair was interesting. They had just got the fairgrounds set up with Starlink. Everyone had access to the internet. Despite those assurances, we did not have internet. No one did. It never worked at all during the entire week.)

Anyhow, our system out here in the woods worked okay. We could stream TV, but sometimes there was a lot of buffering and error messages. Our phones worked, but when my daughter called from overseas using What's App, sometimes the calls dropped. The internet could also be pretty slow.

I began doing some research on cell phone boosters. We finally selected a $400 one with a roof mounted antenna. An Amish friend fabricated the mount for the roof.

The instructions called for downloading an app to find what band you were on, and where the cellphone tower was. This app made me very nervous because it wanted permission to 'control my phone', whatever that meant. It also deleted my email app without asking for permission to make room for the itself. 

At that point, I stopped the installation.

We mulled it over and decided that our phones used whatever signal they could get when we traveled. Why did we need to down load something to figure it out? We figured the phone was already picking up the signal here at home with just 1-2 bars. It would be picking up the same signal. It would just be (theoretically) stronger.

We also had no idea where the nearest cellphone tower was either, but Tim pointed out that the antenna was being mounted on a metal roof. We simply aimed it down the road which leads to the nearest big town. (It is also just about the only tree free area to point it.) We brought the wire in through the attic, drilled a hole in the ceiling and brought the wire down to the living room, hooked it up to the booster and plugged it in. 

We held our breath, afraid to hope. We literally had ignored the instructions completely. But day-um, people! We might be old and we might have no technological skills to speak of, but who has four thumbs and can now consistently pull 4-5 bars of connectivity? 

(Answer: Tim and I. We are pretty impressed with ourselves.)

They had another amplifier to wire in, but the house is so small we didn't even need it, so we ignored those instructions too. 

There is a huge fire reported in London tonight. I know they are in a drought.  Fingers crossed for Steve and Dave, even though they do not live in SE London.

These fires seem to be popping up everywhere.

 

Done and dusted

 The fair is over and I am about peopled out. All of us are, I think. The abortion guy came back with a model fetus he borrowed from the right to life group and made a big deal about 'baby killers'. The Republicans were set up right next to them, so I imagine this was planned ahead. 

Our current representative was there at the republican booth. The fair was being covered by a television newswoman, who was scoping out the happenings for stories. She spoke with Kathy Rapp about some issues. During the course of the conversation, the elected official dodged the question she was being asked to say 'Have you been to the Democratic booth? They've got antisemitic material over there.'

Shocked, the reporter said, 'No they don't.'

The representative said, side stepping responsibility for her lie, 'Oh? Someone told me they did.'

The reporter stopped by to see how things were going with us and related the exchange, which was maddening, because we were purposely trying to avoid criticism. Our goal was to engage and provide information. How to vote. Where to vote. These are our candidates. If people wanted to talk, we didn't shy from that, but we weren't there to argue or make people mad. It appears the republicans were playing by a different set of rules.

I met some lovely, lovely people. Lou and Lynn, married for 68 years. We talked for a long time. I said, 'Listen. What is happening now is unsustainable. It is going to collapse at some point. Financially it is imploding right now. We will get past this, and when it is over, we will be looking hard at what led us here.'

Lou said, 'I hope you are right.' We looked at each other and said almost simultaneously, 'We can't lose hope.' We spontaneously reached out our hands to each other. 

There were plenty of thumbs up. I had a indepth conversation with a woman about her third party vote. Another man stopped to talk about issues. We got on the issue of the NRA. He felt strongly that every gun owner should join the NRA. I was surprised because we had so many things we agreed upon. But his point was that if the NRA had more moderate gun owners, their votes would change the laws. I pointed out that the NRA had no power to change gun laws but that these membership dues went directly to lobbyists to persuade (bribe) lawmakers to oppose changing the laws. He listened and and nodded.

It wasn't a bad experience mostly although one of my last interactions nearly did me in. A man from Florida came along and wanted to know who we were going to run for president. 'I don't know, and I am not going to speculate.' You could tell that surprised him. He wanted to know why. I said because he would spend his time arguing about their theoretical lack of merit for the job. 'If you want to talk about right now, I am ready.'

What followed was a parroting of trump talking points. America is respected and all other countries are following our lead. (No, they are not.) Our stock market is booming. (10% of America owns 93% of stock. Things are going really well for them.) He agrees with our actions in Iran. (You agree that burning through our armaments and oil reserves is good for national security? I think we are very vulnerable right now.) He brought up Benghazi. I brought up Syria and Trump's phone conversation with Putin. I asked him what he thought about Ukraine. He did cede a bit. He said we are beginning to make that right. Gold plating statues was being done by donation. (no, the department of interior has spent 95 million taxpayer dollars so far). It didn't stop.

What made it difficult is that for whatever reason, he had triggered the other person there. She was mad. I hadn't seen that in her. She had been a very mellow person up to that point. I think his arrogance, coupled with the fact that he was all over the place with his comments...it was like getting hit with a verbal shotgun.  We had been dealing with this for six days, and I think it had become too much. She yelled and even cried. He weaponized that.  When I tried to counter him, he interrupted me to mock her or tell her to be quiet, and then simply moved on to a new topic.

He finally left when I said, 'you know, we are not going to agree and we need to accept that.' He agreed and I told him to enjoy the fair. That was a hellish 20 minutes though. I am proud that I was able to hold my own. He was trying to command that conversation and it did not happen.

It sounds like there was a major issue at the Republican booth after I left. That was poorly thought out and shouldn't have happened, but there was an eye-popping conversation with some Christian Nationalists who believe that like the old testament, God is directing them to kill all Muslims, men, women and children, to bring about the second coming of Christ. 

These people are fucking nuts. If Jesus came back they'd deport him. 

Entertainment.

 I have driven 'the new car' this week. This morning I could not find my key fob, which was annoying, since I just keep my key fob in my pocket. But it wasn't there. I took Tim's from the glass bowl and headed off, but it really bothered me all day.

I came home and looked everywhere. Under normal circumstances, I would have come home, took off my lanyard and fair ID along with my fair pass and set them on the end of the kitchen table, ready to grab the next morning on my way out. 

But it wasn't there. So I looked under cushions, under furniture, checked pockets. Went through the clothes in the hamper. Even checked the garbage.

Nothing. 

Tim was grumpy because he never loses stuff. 🙄

Tonight I was thinking about it. I went to the car and pushed the start button. It started right up. This meant that the fob was in the car. This was helpful information, although I still couldn't find it. Tim did though. When I put my Raincoat in the back seat, the fob had fallen out of my raincoat pocket, and slipped under the back seat.

Tim watched a foreign movie tonight. The subtitles were pretty strange.  There was a lot of 'footsteps pattering' and 'bell rings', 'laughter' etc. Things that did not really need translating. Actual conversation read 'Enzo speaks Italian'. 'Lucia speaks Italian' etc.

Isn't that just the strangest thing?

Tomorrow is Friday. Two more days and the fair is over. I am glad. I am about peopled out, but it is important to be there. We all feel it. 

Fair

 The fair has been an interesting experience. I went there expecting to change no MAGA minds, but what I notice is that they are loudest when we are quietest. If there is any amount of pushback, they are not so mouthy.

 That is the way of all bullies, isn't it? 

So, I am there every morning. I have worked with a number of different people, and they all bring their own skill set to our table. We have made good use of all of those skills. 

Today, for instance, a woman stopped. In a rather no nonsense way, she wanted me to give her reasons to support our candidates. She and I talked. She listened. Thanked me for talking with her. 

Another guy went through talking in a loud outraged voice about abortions being legal right up to the day the baby was born. Just as outraged 3 voices answered back in unison 'That is a lie!' Perfectly orchestrated, totally unrehearsed. He insisted it was the truth. I said 'Let me explain to you why that is not true.' He left quickly saying we were all crazy. 

We had a prominent citizen who wanted to talk to us about the Muslim 'agenda'. I told him that he was stereotyping and that there wasn't one. Heck. We are more concerned about the republican agenda.

 Freda was registering people to vote, and nobody passed the table without being asked. A rough looking fellow stopped. Ponytailed biker type if you are looking for a mental picture. Freda fired off her question. He said, 'No.' She asked him why, and he said, 'Because I spent 20 years in prison.'

Freda said, 'So you're not allowed to vote?' 

'Oh, I can vote but I think both parties stink.'

What followed was a polite little discussion on why we felt this was untrue. He listened just as politely. 

Out of the blue, Freda said, 'Am I allowed to ask why you were in prison?' The question shocked both me and the other worker, and we exchanged looks over Freda's seated head.

The man said 'Third degree murder,' and launched into a telling of a man with connections who had molested a young relative. (I am totally not kidding.) And when he was done, he admitted to wishing he hadn't done it, while feeling glad that his family was safe.

I said, 'So what do you think about the Jeffrey Epstein cover up?' We talked about our shared outrage at 'men who got away with it'. Before we were done, my coworker had him sitting at a computer helping to get him registered to vote. 

It surprised me the number of old men we had stopping by to tell us that they were Republicans, but could not understand how anyone in their right mind could support what was happening. A preacher's wife horrified at Christian Nationalists. Two ex coworkers that I never would have dreamed would claim the name 'liberal'. A church secretary. Way more support than I ever expected. Our table was seldom without someone there to talk.

Following Miss Merry's lead, I talked to all the kids and admired all the babies. Parents generally paused for pleasant talk.

Yes. There were those who went by without a word. A couple relatives who made quick shocked eye contact, immediately put their heads down, probably afraid that I would call them by name, and someone might think they were one of us. There were even a few rolled eyes and sarcastic comments, but these were muttered too low to be heard. Like I said, MAGA is not so loud when you are standing right there.

Interestingly, our state representative walks past us daily on the way to her seat at the republican booth. She's run unopposed for a number of years, but this year we have a candidate. She glances our way and averts her eyes in a haughty way. A doctor at our booth always wants to remind her that democrats are her constituents too. 

I am half way through fair week and despite my misgivings, it has been a mostly positive experience. 

The Totally Random Post

A couple days ago, I saw a headline that caught my attention: 4 Charged in Death in Warren Co Home Care Case

I worked in this field. In this county. And as I read the article, I realized that I had worked with these people too. 

I cannot wrap my head around the idea that for forty days a helpless man lay in a recliner dying and no one did anything. I can't wrap my head around the fact that I knew people capable of this. I can't get over the fact that it took 3 years to bring charges.

I cannot stop thinking about this. 

It has been a busy couple of days. Working on the old house. 

I went to a thrift store and boy, did I ever strike paydirt. I found two pair of jeans that looked brand new. Most important thing? The waist sits at my natural waist! Whoot! They were tapered leg! Whoot! They were 1/2 off! Whoot! I found also found a pair of fisherman sandals. And a crystal bowl that fits perfectly in my wrought iron bird bath.

We went to a street fair, which was fun. Tim wanted to see the antique cars and trucks. He wanted Mexican food. It was so hot and humid, I wasn't hungry at all, but they offered a cucumber lime ade. It was enough to pique my curiosity. It was excellent and surprisingly thirst quenching. 

So that was my excitement for the day.

Today was protest. Small group. We had a black SUV pass by. In the back seat was an elderly woman, a tiny thing. The window was down and much to my surprise a wrinkled hand came out, pointed like a gun and she made the motion of shooting us, picking us off, one right after another. It was a surreal moment.

I got my shirt and ticket for the fair booth. I am working every day. The guy in charge said that despite the initial enthusiasm and support, as the event drew closer, people had begun to 'ghost' him.

I get that. Standing on a street corner in a red county holding a sign is far different than engaging with people one on one. 

One thing I notice is that they want to engage on an emotional level. They want to provoke an emotional response. I have been practicing unemotional factual responses, but I would be a liar if I said I wasn't worried about this week. 

After the protest, we stopped to eat. Much to my surprise, my aunts and uncles were there celebrating a cousin's birthday. It has been years since I saw them. 

We walked today 5 miles today. I collected seed heads from a wildflower I am not familiar with and hope to grow here. It is called ironweed and it was covered in butterflies.

We are having one heck of a thunder storm. The rain has been torrential. It will be interesting to see the final precipitation amounts.