December 8, 2013 by Susie

One Year in Coal Harbor

One Year in Coal Harbor by Polly Horvath

While the cover art for One Year in Coal Harbor far surpasses that on Everything on a Waffle, I liked the later more. I’m not sure if it was the book or my mood, so if you enjoy Waffle, give Coal Harbor a whirl. Here is a favorite passage of mine.

“You can’t replace one dog with another any more than you can replace one person with another, but that’s not to say you shouldn’t get more dogs and people in your life. Even though no one you love is replaceable, you need a dog for the dog place in the heart, I decided, and a child for the child place, if you have a child place in your heart, not everyone does, or a dog place, either, I guess. I’ve known people who have a ferret place, to which I can only say I am thankful I was not born with one of those.”

Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath

November 25, 2013 by Susie

Dozer

Portrait by Henry: November 24, 2013

Rob and I were talking about Dozer the dog yesterday, so Henry was inspired to draw a portrait. From left to right: Dozer, George, and Susie. We are all wearing yellow shirts, including Dozer. Rob suggested that George hold a shovel in the picture (a reference to Dozer’s recent near demise). Dozer weighs about 40 pounds. He is obedient, but according to Mom “he never reflects on anything.” In order to demonstrate this point (and perhaps introduce humor) Rob says that he once asked Dozer to “kennel up” in a cat-sized kennel. Dozer enthusiastically tried to shove himself into the kennel.

Henry is the only four-year-old that I know that doesn’t like McDonald’s. Last night it was the most effective way to get Robbie, Henry, and I fed. Henry was almost in tears, explaining that he was hungry, but didn’t want to eat at McDonald’s and wanted to eat at home. We were about an hour and a half away from home. Fortunately, Henry has a sweet-tooth and the offer of a soda made the fries and cheeseburger more appealing.

While it was light out, Robbie read an Animorphs book to himself in the car. When it became dark we began to listen to the audio book The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry.

November 25, 2013 by Susie

Out of the Easy

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Here is my latest book recommendation: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys. This young adult historical fiction follows seventeen-year-old Josie as she navigates life in New Orleans as the uncherished daughter of a prostitute. Josie is good in school; wants to pursue higher education; and needs to get out of the city that has low expectations for her. Unlikely friends and supporters can help her on her journey, but can’t protect her from her hindersome mother. A murder mystery further complicates the scene…

While prostitution, a brothel, and murder are central figures in this novel, they aren’t sensational or explicit in detail. I would recommend this book for mature young adults and adults.

p.s. I was going to review more books, but have found that I just don’t have the desire to review everything. I do add tags and ratings in LibraryThing, so if you are really curious you can follow me there.

November 18, 2013 by Susie

Hard on houseguests

October 5, 2013 (This post sat in the unfinished queue too long.)

“Our” butterfly emerged! Well, I think that it was our butterfly. (See Approaching Autumn.) The tomato stalk that the chrysalis was attached to fell over, like tomatoes do at this time of year. I moved a section of the stalk, with the chrysalis, to the lip of an empty dog bowl and supported it with a bit of rusty barbwire. I would have been more careful, but there were things to be done. Two days later, the dog bowl was back in use, the barbwire was on the table top on the deck, and the chrysalis was nowhere to be seen. George denied seeing a chrysalis before moving the bowl. Which is probably a true statement, regardless of the position of the chrysalis, but didn’t lead me to any answers. What we did find while doing chores on September 21, was a newly emerged butterfly.

It was so exciting to see our butterfly, contemplate its past, and speculate on its future that I probably wasn’t the best host. I crawled close to it to inspect and photograph it, even before its wings were fully extended. Despite being a sunny day, it was cool and breezy. I wanted the butterfly to be on a sunny, sheltered nectar source. I chased the poor butterfly, probably sealing its demise. Fortunately for the butterfly, I haven’t see it since. Getting loved to death is a real possibility around here.

Larry is visiting today. He and George picked pasture apples (no, not that kind!) for the pantry. They peeled and cored them. So far 58 quarts have been canned and there are at least a couple of gallons awaiting canning or eating. I was chief bottle washer, but allowed to peel and core the last apple of the bunch (for today).

Apple brothers

Apple peels

Apple slices

Apples canned

Come and visit! We might serve you some apple crisp…after completing a project or two!

November 13, 2013 by Susie

Lucky Dog

Ethics in Practice

I like to think that I’m good with ethical matters. Which, fortunately, are primarily considered only theoretically. My understanding of ethics grew when they were described as “right vs. right” instead of “right vs. wrong.” Most of us can make a good decision when faced with right vs. wrong, especially when it is a theoretical choice.

Here are my theoretical ethics: habitat is greater than individual animals; people are more important than domestic animals; wild animals are priority over domestic animals. (I acknowledge this is not a linear model. Perhaps I’ll draw a diagram someday.) When a friend took her pet in for expensive emergency veterinary care, I declared to myself that I wouldn’t make the same choice. If I was going to spend that money, I would use it to improve the life of humans. These humans could live a potentially better life and possibly make choices that improve habitat, other humans, or even pets. This disregards the fact that I’ve never donated the amount of money my friend spent for any humans or habitat. Nor have I had to make quick decision to try save or end a pet’s life.

George accepted Dozer aka Doughy the dog on a trial basis after his dog Meg died from cancer. That was just over two weeks ago. This past Saturday, Dozer was hit on the road near our house. George thought that Dozer was dead until he went to bury him and found Dozer breathing. Blood was running from his mouth. His eyes were glazed over. His breathing was shallow. We quickly came to the choice: euthanize Dozer or in George’s words “take him to the vet, but don’t spend over $500.” While realizing George’s choice wasn’t a choice, I took Dozer to the vet, 27 miles away. The vet confirmed what we already knew: Dozer was in bad shape. He was in shock, had a very low blood pressure, and had blood (and perhaps other bodily fluids) in his abdominal cavity. Dozer’s likelyhood of survival even with treatment was unknown. The vet provided a quote for an attempt to stabilize him. The vet told me it was certainly acceptable and understandable for me to euthanize him.

I took a few minutes to think. I called Vicky because she loves dogs and George. She would be able to help me think about the problem: finances; likely outcomes; and George. With her support and thoughtful questions, I was able to make the decision to attempt to save Dozer.

Dozer is a lucky dog. He didn’t have any broken bones. His blood pressure stabilized with treatment. He could take in oxygen despite his bruised lungs with oxygen support. His internal bleeding stopped. His lacerated tongue could be stitched. He didn’t have brain damage. He was able to come home on Monday. He had gotten a bath! He gets to live in the house (at least while he’s mending). His only symptom of damage is occasional wheezing or coughing, which should go away as his lungs heal. He has good pain killers and antibiotics. His trial period is over. Lucky dog.

This hasn’t stopped me from thinking about the use of money to save a pet’s life. Or the other ways it could be used.

Dozer is a lucky dog. I am very fortunate to have an easy life and to ponder ethical questions in my free time.

Lucky dog

Dozer at home on the sofa

November 1, 2013 by Susie

A few of my favorite things…

I was happy when my financial institution began asking security questions that were not already in the public sphere. I want my data to be challenging for others to retrieve.

My mother’s maiden name will stay with me for a lifetime if I am lucky. The flip side is that it is fairly exposed information. And what about people who came to be with an anonymous maid? Or have a highly progressive name that documents five generations on both sides of his or her family and exposes this to everyone?

My place of birth? Perhaps a little more obscure, but still relatively easy to obtain. If I have an option , I don’t it for a security question because I can’t remember if it has one or two l’s and who wants to look that up before getting the checking account balance?

First car? That really doesn’t stick with me because I was able to adopt many beaters (for which I am very thankful) before actually purchasing my car. The definition of first car could be different depending on my current feelings.

So, when I was asked to name my favorite activity to view my checking account activity I was pleased. Until I needed to use it. Reading or just read? No. Travel or traveling? No. Since I have little patience for this sort of stuff and will run out of guesses (hopefully or un-hopefully I won’t be able to enter ALL of my guesses) I gave up for the moment. Are these favorite things so private after all? My blog would be even LESS interesting to read if I wrote about things that I don’t enjoy.

Don’t be surprised if a future blog documents my genealogy with birthplace, vehicles that I have driven with a definition of the first one, all of the pets I have had in my life and which one was alive at the time of account set-up, along with all of my favorite things noting the very most favorite of all. I need a place to look this stuff up.

September 19, 2013 by Susie

Autumn reads

One of the thing I love about early autumn sunsets is more reading time.

Rickshaw Girl by Mitali Perkins

Rickshaw Girl focuses on the life of Naima, a Bangladeshi girl with a talent for alpana patterns. Perkins writes that “Girls and Women paint these geometrical or floral patterns on the floor during celebrations and holidays. They used crushed rice power to outline the design, and decorate with colored chalk, vermilion, flower petals, wheat, or lentil powder. Some designs are passed down from generation to generation for hundreds of years.” In this fictional, yet realistic, story for children Naima no longer attends school because her family can not afford it. As a girl, her options for earning money are very restricted. Beautiful charcoal illustrations are accompanied by a glossary and author’s note that complement the text.

Based on my limited understanding, alpana is equivalent to rangoli. Many beautiful rangoli designs can be seen in southern India.

Rangoli design for Pongal harvest festival
Bellary, Karnataka, India
January 2010

Painted concrete
near Gudur, Andhra Pradesh, India
January 2010

Many readers choose books that reflect themselves: similar cultures, activities, or dreams. I challenge you to read something outside of your normal scope. One of the greatest pleasures of reading is being able to experience the life of someone or something different that yourself.

September 17, 2013 by Susie

Reading

The Giver by Lois Lowry

When I first started working as a librarian, about nine years ago, I read 1994 Newbery Award winner, The Giver by Lois Lowry. It was my way of reintroducing myself to children’s literature and reading a book that is often classroom reading. This dystopia is suitable for children, about grade five through adulthood. Over time I read the companion books Gathering Blue and Messenger. The recognition of adversity, use of primitive techniques, and escape appealed to me. In 2012 the fourth book of the quartet, Son, was published. Of the four books, it was least appealing to me because it too neatly tied up the story lines. In addition, the narrator of the audiobook had a “whispery” voice that I found off putting. What it did do, was make me want to re-read The Giver, to revisit it and regain the details. My recommendation: if you haven’t read The Giver, do so. It fits in well with the current popularity of dystopias such as Divergent and The Hunger Games. By the way, if you are a Divergent fan, the conclusion of the trilogy, Allegiant will be released on October 22.

One Year in Coal Harbor by Polly Horvath

The children’s book, One Year in Coal Harbor by Polly Horvath, recently caught my attention because the cover features a girl sitting in a tree stand. I do judge books by their covers. The book is set in the Pacific Northwest, one of my favorite regions! It is the second book in the Primrose Squarp series, which lead me to read the first book, Everything on a Waffle, which is good because it is a funny story but has an unappealing cover.

Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath

I was going to quote a funny passage from the book right here, and thought that it would be easy, however the funny passages have simply disappeared now that I’m looking for them. You will just have to read the book yourself. The funny stuff is in there. Even though the Pacific Northwest setting isn’t featured as much as I would hope, the book is a good one. It features a hopeful girl, her community, and imperfect but lovable characters. Now I’m looking forward to the book with the appealing cover!

Happy reading!

September 4, 2013 by Susie

Approaching Autumn

Some people cringe at cool days with clear blue sunshine followed by an early sunset. For me, they are both energizing and cozy. Here is a glimpse of the things that are capturing my attention.

The Waupaca Area Triathlon is held in August each year. George and I volunteer and earn funds for the library. The 2014 triathlon will be held on August 16 next year. If you have any desire to participate, let me know how to encourage you! Both the short and long courses fill up most years.

Swim to bicycle transition area

Our garden might not contain a large variety of plants, but the ones we do have are plentiful.

Tomato frog, August 11

Garden spider, August 14

George planted hardy hibiscus from seed this spring. Most of them were transplanted into a row containing composted manure. The difference in height is apparent, but the difference in number of leaves on each is striking!

Hibiscus seedling

Hibiscus with compost

The composted row is in the foreground. The second row with zinnias and zucchinis has the small hibiscus in it.

Garden rows

Our property lines follow the road and perpendicular as marked by the stop sign.

Looking northeast

The large tank behind the clothesline belongs to the neighbors. Jack and Ed helped us with the steps on the deck earlier this year.

Backyard

Asian pears are ripening on a tree planted several years ago.

Asian pears

Grasshopper, September 1

Tomatoes on the vine

I estimate that I picked over 100 pounds of tomatoes on Monday. This is the second picking.

Tomatoes in a pile

While I was picking, I found a monarch caterpillar preparing to form a chrysalis on one of the tomato plants.

Monarch caterpillar

When I checked back today, it had transformed. According to The Life Cycles of Butterflies, “If this phase of its life cycle occurs during the warm summer months, the butterfly should be fully developed and ready for eclosion, or emergence from its chrysalis, in about two weeks. If the insect enters its chrysalis phase during the cooler months of autumn, then it may wait out the winter by going into diapause, hibernating until warmer spring weather arrives.” Since I’ve seen so few butterflies this season, I get excited when they do appear.

Monarch chrysalis

Each year a group of friends gathers to camp, gather mosquito bites, and eat. This was our 20th year. William, Violet, and James explored a geocache at Lake Kegonsa State Park.

Geocache explorers

Those of us without dogs checked out the White Oak Nature Trail.

Sunny smiles

Son and dad

A happy couple

Indian pipe

Almost a sphere

Pollinator

Farmer George

Professor George, first day of school (again)

Happy Autumn!

August 9, 2013 by Susie

Making food

I freely admit that George does most of the cooking, canning, and baking at our house. He likes it and is good at it. I appreciate it. Very much. As a result, when I do actually put more than two ingredients together, I want everyone to know. (Cold cereal, milk, and banana doesn’t count.)

Jenny shared a purple cone flower for our garden

The tuna salad was pretty good. I used bread and cucumber strips rather than pitas to hold it all together.

I made treats for a canoe trip. George seemed a little annoyed that I would make food for canoeing, but not at home.

Jessie’s Peanut Butter Balls

1 c peanut butter (adding more will increase moisture)
1/2 c nonfat powdered milk
1 c rolled oats
1 t cinnamon
1/2 c ground flax
1/2 c honey (adding more will increase moisture)

Combine all ingredients and shape into balls (large marble size or smaller). Keep refrigerated. Will stay fresh and moist for over a week.

Kathy’s Traveling Cupcakes

4 squares of semi-sweet chocolate
1 c of butter
1 3/4 c pecans, chopped
1 c flour
4 eggs, beaten lightly
1 t vanilla
mini peanut butter cups

Preheat oven to 325 F.

Melt chocolate and butter in a heavy pan over low heat. Add nuts and stir until well coated. Combine sugar, flour, eggs and vanilla in a separate bowl. DO NOT BEAT. Add chocolate mixture to flour mixture. Fold in but DO NOT BEAT. Line muffin pan with paper liners. Fill to 2/3 full. Press a mini peanut butter cup flush to top of batter in the center of each cupcake. Bake at 325 F for 25 minutes. Makes 2 dozen. These are called traveling cupcakes because they don’t need any frosting and travel well.

I modified the recipe to use powdered cocoa instead of semi-sweet chocolate and black cocoa. Normally to substitute powdered cocoa for chocolate squares requires adding oil. These cupcakes have enough butter in them already to make the transition without it. I used 1/2 c cocoa powder and 1/4 black cocoa instead of 4 squares of semi-sweet chocolate. To be fair, I also added extra butter, but think it was a little heavy on the butter. Imagine that!

Mary made some of my favorite orange cranberry snack mix. I’m not sure if she used the Betty Crocker recipe or not, but it seems like a similar one.

If you want to see some of the activity that these snack’s powered, see Jessie’s blog post.

Old oak tree

We had strong straight-line winds and nearby tornadoes on Tuesday/Wednesday night. The only damage we had was to an old oak along the lane. We are fortunate.

Vacuuming, dish washing, organizing, and weeding wanted to be done yesterday afternoon. Instead George and I paddled from J’s farm on Highway 54 on the South Branch of the Little Wolf to P’s farm on County Road B on the Little Wolf. To say that we are not a well matched team in the canoe is fair. Meg, the dog, was with us and shook most of the time. We were trying to decide if she was terrified or laughing at us. There were several portages for trees across the river and insufficient river depth. We still had lots of fun portaging downfalls on the South Branch, chasing turtles, and spotting plants, birds, and fish. My favorite was the blooming blue lobelia. We’ll probably do it again!

Tammy says hello

samplingitall

A sample of life from one who enjoys sampling some of almost everything.