Last Day 2007

The old apple tree from the bathroom window. Not an especially problematic snow, although Husband RJ has already been out once to clear the walks. More tonight and tomorrow morning.

I will work the paper. Haven't partied the New Year in ages.

Wolf Packs out tonight. For the non-upstater, that's common usage for the presence of the Sheriff's Department Traffic Random Traffic Stops. Around here that means very safe streets after midnight.

I'll probably be stopped, myself, on the way home from work. The sheriff's deputies don't know me from Adam. City police leave me alone, after a few stops in the early years.

Party safely and if you drink, stay over.

pb
Little Pond

Pre-Christmas

The vacation will be over soon and the rush is on. Tonight I hope to watch my much adored son in law play in his band. Don't Look in the Basement.

They will be selling sweatshirts and cds, which brings on the next issue. Husband RJ, VeggiGirl and I are the (1) Secret Santa for my also-adored brother in law, Patricio. He was also in a band, OHM of Boston, Massachusetts. I'm ashamed to admit I don't know whom he is with now, but they had a bit of success in their group, so I know he will love a few mementos from our local up and comer.

Otherwise, we recently cleared about 6.6" (16.51 cm) from our walks, in two separate shovellings. We also cleared up to our neighbor's door, since she is somewhat shut in during the winter. I mention this because on the second pass, it was clear that another neighbor also cleared her walk, coming from the other direction. Later, when her husband came home, he cleared our walk all the way around with his blower. Even later, I saw yet another friend coming from the back way, blowing the snow on the Guinnip side all the way to the corner!

God, I love Elmira, New York!

Update: and I love my Chemung River, even in winter.

pb
Little Pond

In the Middle

...of my week off, and I going to do the things I usually do. Clean, check my bills, and visit with Golfer Girl in Corning.

The whole area is dark; it is raining and we are waiting for the MidWestern storm to catch up with us. The HuggaMutt refuses to get out of bed. I'll bet I could even use the whistle and she wouldn't budge.

And, oh joy, we are expecting a Nor'easter this coming weekend! Husband RJ is beside himself with worry and anticipation. Fortunately his mother has been discharged from the hospital and is resting at home. No more trips for my father in law, over the river and back.

No way to do it but to hunker down and go through it.

Hope the weather is treating you all better.

I'm afraid my Baby Blogsister Pearlie must be caught in the messy ice storm. Our thought and prayers are with all of you out there.

pb
Little Pond

Rocky Start

My vacation got off to a rocky start. When I arrived home Friday night (actually Saturday morning, 1AM) there was a message on the answer machine.

My Inlaws were at a local hospital. My dear MIL was having severe abdominal pain. Mindful of my problems with MSG and other additives, they wondered if she was suffering the same.

Actually, her appendix had ruptured. I stayed with them until Husband RJ could arrive. She had emergency surgery later that morning. We have all been visiting, off and on, since then. She's going home tomorrow, and already she's bored and sick of the food.

By a very strange irony, I actually got a touch of MSG poisoning at a wine, cheese and chocolate party Saturday night. That had the effect of mostly keeping me home these last two days.

So Josephine's Journey got another chapter. Some people are just lightning rods for trouble. Some people like it that way. Josey does.

pb
Little Pond

So this is December

Tried to take Ellie to the River. Too cold and biting for her to really enjoy. We trudged through the snow a while. When she seemed a little distressed by it all--keep in mind that a few inches comes up to her neck--I threw her in the back of the car. We returned home to a warm sofa with cuddly throw, hunkering for a nasty ice storm.

And I had another disturbing dream.

pb
Little Pond

Josephine is at it again.

Another trip to another tavern.

You know what they say: Fools go where angels fear to tread. But she does learn a bit more about her roots.

This is the long-awaited Dragon Lady symbol. It is the work of the man behind the Sebastian Cyan character in the story.

Here are links to his sites: At Deviant Art and Xanthia. And now Josephine is off on her own adventures that should take us right up to the New Year.

pb
Little Pond

All gone...

It took a day or so, but the snow is gone. Our world is brown and green and tan right now. Not a pretty sight.

More photoblogging on T-day.

pb
Little Pond

Got Clobbered Last Night

Looking down on Guinnip Avenue, Elmira New York November 19, 2007

Before the holidays

One of my last posts for Downtown Elmira, just as the last post for RiverDogging was sort of penultimate.

I leave wiggle room for some festive holiday shots, though.

Winter weather is just gorgeous around here, and I hope to treat readers to some Christmasy stuff. Frankly, though, a few of my trips during bad weather were very nearly catastrophic. I would like to think I'm smart enough to learn from them.

We'll see.

pb
Little Pond

(You can click on the picture for detail.)

Still readjusting

...after all those seven-day weeks. Now I am almost fully rested and most of my to-do list has been cleared. Posting will begin again, just as soon as the HuggaMutt returns to her owners' house.

Yep. Been busy walking her and taking pictures. The RiverDogging blog is nearly complete, and the new year will find a new blog dedicated to Newtown Creek.

Right now, allow me to crow a little, as my favorite Super Hero takes one more step towards his inevitable apotheosis.

Ahem. One step closer to his being declared a local patron saint.

Good to know I'm not the only one who feels this way. This guy was seen as just a local well-to-do citizen. I especially love the way the researchers are looking into his choice of wallpaper!

pb
Little Pond

Go for walk?

Go here to see (finally) the Southside post in River Dogging. It was such a beautiful day.

pb
Little Pond

Outskirts of Hell

Tuesday we cruised to Eldridge Park. It's a good place to lead a dog on leash.

We walked the bicycle path that issues east from the park proper. The bike path looked lovely at first, but we decided to hang a left onto a dirt road.

Uh, oh. Mistake.

First clue: piles of abandoned construction materials.
Second clue: stagnant, dirty runoff ditches.

It was a long, depressing trudge through muck and trash.

Even in Hell there was beauty enough. Tangled vines and branches hid wildlife, and dirty water came alive with muskrats.

Ellie was busy smelling everything, and we both got plenty of exercise.

But honestly, I felt as if I’d escaped Purgatory by the time we were safely back at Eldridge.

We lost the leash along the path, but no way would we return for it.

Josephine Begins Anew

So marital bliss wasn't quite.

Quite what, she still doesn't know. Only thing she does know is that she can't face the others after being played for a fool.

No matter.

There's a whole Planet out there for consolation and a Road Trip for amusement.

pb
Little Pond

I dyed yesterday.

Update: The black, done with RIT dye, was wonderful, five pieces colored to perfection. The indigo, done with some stupid stuff from Spain, was not the right blue for denim today, was really thick on the first item, blotchy on the second and nonexistent on the third. The second item will need to be redyed with a liquid dye. I give up on the third, no big deal. Guys, I recommend that only RIT (or maybe some other American dye) be used. Quality control is apparently lacking elsewhere.

And I will dye again today.

Yup. Dye. As in cloth. Not hair: too allergic.

But yesterday I had a successful stint with deep black for my husband's work jeans, a silk camisole and my "dragon lady" undershirt.

Today it's indigo, as in denim. A straight-leg pair of men's cut, my everyday work
"uniform," and his "lookin' good" jeans.

Total spent: less than $10.00 for all the dye. A few hours work over a hot stove, followed by gentle, warmwater laundering and cold rinse. Usually extends the life of my things a year or more. We'll see how long it affects his.

Good work for a rainy day, too.

pb
Little Pond

New post to RiverDogging

This new post is simply a set of photos recording some work done on the Chemung River to upgrade sewer pipes.

Turns out they may be the only ones available.

I was asked to retrieve them for a local government agency.

But I have some pretty ones coming soon, I promise.

pb
Little Pond