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Happy Monday! October 2022 is coming to a close. All of a sudden the daylight is gone by 6, leaving the nights high desert dark and cold. Halloween is upon us. Yesterday, the last of the pumpkins were being snatched up at the grocery store. Winterpast will be without a pumpkin or decorations for another year, as this Trick or Treat-er will be elsewhere on this the spookiest of nights.
There is something that makes Halloween even a little creepier when you live in a rural setting. With no streetlights, Coyotes howl at the moon. Owls swoop out of nowhere while hunting in the dark. The white mustang with the red eyes loves to saunter across the road in the dark of night, looking even more sinister than usual. With no fear of cars, mustangs in the night are lethal roadblocks. Drivers always lose. Yes. Halloween and any high desert town are a perfect match.
As far as I can tell, the kids are making a haul this year. Our town started the “Trunk or Treating” last Friday with a Halloween-Pet-and-Master-Dress-Up-Competition near the local 7-11. Lots of masters and their dogs were lined up as the judges carefully inspected the teams. It’s times like these our little town needs a newspaper (which we don’t have) to cover the fun.
Saturday, Flowers on Main was the place to be after hours. The owner, Miss Sunflower, decided to host a private spider-filled and spooktacular flower arranging event. The first of it’s kind in town, seats were limited and at a premium. With snacks on the side, we each cut the top off a small pumpkin and got to work scooping out the seeds and goop.
When the pumpkins were empty, we put a small cup of water and oasis in the center and started arranging. First we inserted leathery fern until the hole was totally covered, appearing that a live plant was growing inside.
Selecting flowers from the buckets in the walk-in cooler, Miss Sunflower made a working bucket from which to choose our stems. There is nothing more fun than going into the cooler of a flower shop. There were mums, roses, irises, and lilies. Baby’s breath. Purple filler. Gerber daisies looked like they were the product of a crazy science experiment. After the initial decision that we wanted one of everything, Miss Sunflower guided us towards some good combinations and we were off to the arranging table.
Friendships are deepened over wine or coffee, but they are solidified over oo-ey goo-ey pumpkin guts and flowers. Stripping, snipping, and snapping, our arrangements came to life in the most beautiful way. With one anchor flower and a little of this and that, after one hour, we had arrangements to take home! Miss Sunflower finished them off with a sparkly spider and webs magically made from hot glue.
Of course, there are Sip and Paint classes in which people follow the teacher and make a painting. There are other types of get togethers. Floral arranging was the most fun thing I’ve done in awhile. Miss Sunflower was so sweet to open her shop to us on a perfect fall afternoon.
Tonight, Mysterious Marine and I are going to share Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches and fries while watching the third game of the World Series and answering the door to Trick or Treaters. This is an activity that is always more fun when with a friend. Oliver and his girlfriend will use lots of energy barking and carrying on as the door bell rings and pint sized ghouls and goblins come for their treats. There’ll be fun for everyone on this Halloween night.
Whatever you do, try something new. Buy some oasis and bunch of flowers at the local Walmart and try your hand at floral design. Remember this. There are no mistakes. Only happy accidents.
One of the very best things about living in Nevada is NEVADA DAY!!! It’s a real state holiday. No school. No work. Only play.
Although Nevada’s real date of admission to the union is October 31st, this was in conflict with Halloween. The observed date has been moved to the last Friday in October to keep our Trick or Treat-er’s safe. A big thanks to Kelsey Penrose for this complete and helpful Nevada Day 2022 schedule of events for Friday, Oct. 28 through Sunday Oct. 30. Saturday’s parade begins at 10 a.m.
HISTORICAL EAST-SIDE TOUR Join Bernie Allen on Fri., Oct. 28, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. as he guides you on a two mile walking tour of the historical east side. This free tour begins at the Capitol steps and continues to the location of the former children’s home, which was also the site of the 1897 Corbett Fitzsimmons heavyweight title fight. The tour also includes a visit to the site of the former V&T Railroad shops as well as many other historic locations. For more info, call Bernie at 775-315-7616.
Friday & Saturday October 28 & 29, 2022
NEVADA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM Located at South Carson Street & Fairview Drive, the museum is open Thursday through Monday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In honor of Nevada Day, FREE admission all day Friday, October 28 and Saturday, October 29, 2022! The museum also offers McKeen Motor Car rides October 28-29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Ride tickets: $8 for ages 12+; $4 for ages 4-11 yrs; free for ages 3 and younger. Purchase ride tickets at the Wabuska Depot at the Museum. For more info, call 775-687-6953 or visit carsonrailroadmuseum.org. Friday – Sunday, October 28 -30, 2022
NEVADA DAY POW WOW The Nevada Day Powwow will run from Oct. 28, 29, and 30 with a Friday family culture night at 7 p.m., Grand Entry at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and 12 p.m. on Sunday at the MAC center in Carson City, NV.
GREAT BASIN NATIVE ARTISTS GALLERY The exhibition, Dancing for the People: Pow Wow Regalia and Art of the Great Basin, will be on display at the Great Basin Native Artists Gallery, inside the Stewart Indian School Cultural Center & Museum in Carson City. The display will include contemporary pow wow dance regalia, photography, mixed media sculpture, Great Basin beadwork, digital graphic design and more. This exhibition is curated by Melissa Melero-Moose (Fallon Paiute/Modoc), founder of Great Basin Native Artists Collective. It opened on Wednesday, Oct. 12 and will continue until May, 2023.
Saturday, October 29, 2022
PANCAKE BREAKFAST AT THE GOVERNOR’S MANSION A Nevada Day tradition, the pancake breakfast at the Governor’s Mansion (606 N. Mountain St.) is hosted by the Carson City Republican Women’s Club and takes place from 7:00-9:30 a.m. on parade day. Cost is $7 for Adults and $4 for Kids 10 and younger. Proceeds go towards a scholarship of $2,000 to a deserving senior from Carson or Dayton High School. Breakfast includes: pancakes, eggs, ham, orange juice and coffee. The Governor is often available for photos. You might even spot surprise celebrities and famous political guests at this annual Carson City tradition! For more info visit www.ccrwclub.com.
NEVADA BUILDERS FOUNDATION HOSTS BREAKFAST BUFFET AT RED’S OLD 395 GRILL 22nd Annual Nevada Builders Foundation Nevada Day Breakfast Buffet at Red’s Old 395 Grill. Saturday, October 29, 2022 6:00 am – 9:30 am Red’s Old 395 Grill is located at 1055 S. Carson St. Enjoy a full breakfast buffet of pancakes and scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages and potatoes and much more. Be sure to treat yourself to Red’s famous Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas. They are available at the bar. Early Bird Special tickets are $8 purchased in advance and $10.00 at the door. Hurry and get your tickets now at www.NevadaBuilders.org/Nevada-day-breakfast-buffet/
JOIN NEVADA BUILDERS FOUNDATION FOR A “BEER BY THE BANK” Beer specials during the parade! Stop by for a drink from the beer trailer next to Bank Saloon located at, 418 S. Carson St. Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. All proceeds from beer sales will support the Foundation’s mission to help local youth seeking a fulfilling career in the construction industry.
33RD ANNUAL NEVADA DAY CLASSIC RUN/WALK This is a classic road course through the streets of west Carson City beginning at 8 a.m. Costumes are HIGHLY encouraged! An annual event since 1989, the Nevada Day Classic – presented by the Tahoe Mountain Milers – is an 8K run and a 2-mile run/walk through the beautiful, historic west side of Carson City, Nevada. The races precede the Nevada Day Parade with a course finish down the main drag of Carson City with spectators lining the way. All runners of all distances will receive a custom wooden medal! The first 200 runners that register are guaranteed a t-shirt!
The Nevada Day Classic is organized in partnership with Guide Dogs for the Blind, Kaia Fit, Delta Gamma and Lynn Mentzer Timing. All net proceeds will go to Guide Dogs For The Blind. The email for general public inquiries is: tahoemtnmilers@gmail.com
RE/MAX NEVADA DAY BALLOON LAUNCH Watch the majesty of hot air balloons launching right on Carson Street near the Carson Mall beginning at 8:00 a.m. on parade day (weather permitting). The balloons fly for about an hour and are usually down before the parade starts. The launch operates under the assistance of the Great Reno Balloon Race. Team RE/MAX flies their signature hot air balloon, along with many other balloons. Sponsors can ride in a balloon and hang their banner from the balloon’s basket.
NEVADA DAY PARADE The parade begins at 10 a.m. The military fly-over will signal the start of the parade, which begins at William Street and N. Carson Street, and ends 4 hours later at the intersection of Stewart Street and S. Carson Street. The parade features marching bands, floats, equestrian groups, political candidates, historical displays, Burning Man art cars, and much more.
NEVADA DAY BUSINESS DECORATING CONTEST Decorate your business for Nevada Day to fit the theme “Carnivál on the Comstock” and you may win a $100 gift certificate from the Nevada Gift Shop, bragging rights and a big blue ribbon to display at your business. Mayor Lori Bagwell will be the judge and will take place sometime before the parade.
NEVADA DAY BEARD CONTEST Hosted by Cipriani’s Downtown Barber Shop and Paradise Salon Spa Wellness. Held immediately following the parade around 2:30 p.m., the Beard Contest takes place on the main stage at McFadden Plaza (3rd St.) There is no entry fee, the contest is open to anyone with a beard. Award categories include: best overall winner, longest, fullest, reddest, whitest, blackest, best salt and pepper, best groomed, scruffiest, and most bearded community.
49TH ANNUAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLE JACK DRILLING CONTEST The World Championship Single Jack Rock Drilling Contest takes place on Sat., Oct. 29, 2022 at the Carson Mall Parking lot on Carson St. The competition begins around 11:00 a.m. Men and Women contestants use 4 1/2 pound hammers and a 3/4” bit of steel to drill as deep and as fast as they can in a 4,320 pound piece of Sierra White Granite from the Yosemite area (the hardest known granite in the region). Contestants have 10 minutes to pound the drills into the solid stone, their only help is from an assistant who runs water into the hole so the loose stone chips are splashed out with every stroke of the hammer. The deepest hole wins. The contest goes back to the Comstock mining skills of earlier times, when blast holes for dynamite were punched into ore bodies by hand. Contestants vie for a chance at a World Champion title. To learn more visit www.NevadaDay.com.
USAF MOBILITY BAND PERFORMANCE Carson City Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the 7-member USAF Mobility Band that will begin their show on Saturday, 10/29, at 5 p.m. on the McFadden Plaza Stage. They are a part of the U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West stationed at Travis Air Force Base and a high energy rock band that have become very popular in Carson City. This is their second appearance to help celebrate Nevada’s most popular holiday tradition. They also will be on the VFW Float to play during the parade.
FALL FEST AT ARLINGTON SQUARE Join us Saturday 10/29, for the 7th annual Northern Nevada Fall Fest. Shop local crafters, reps, and businesses. Food Trucks, food booths, Kettle Corn, Raffles, candy and more! In Arlington Square (507 N. Carson St), across from the Carson Nugget, from 8 am- 3 pm.
CARSON MALL ACTIVITIES Carson Mall will host a Craft Show, a “Best In The West” Bloody Mary Contest with a cash prize, and a Corn Hole Tournament. Vendors will be set up in the Carson Mall parking lot at 1223 S. Carson St from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. displaying and selling unique gifts. Find your next treasure and enjoy browsing through all the booths. -“Best Bloody Mary In The West” contest Cash prizes for top three starting at $50. Crafters will pay at the time of the event! Crafters must supply all the ingredients and the Carson Mall will supply the glasses. -Cornhole Tournament TIME: Register, sign-in & practice: 1 pm & Bags Fly: 2 pm $40/team, pay at sign-in This is a BYOP/B (Partner/Bags). Several round robins will be played to establish seating in a double elimination bracket. Sierra Nevada Cornhole will be running the event: regulation boards, bags & rules. Please pre-register on the free Scoreholio app. Check out our Facebooks @shopcarsonmall or @sierranevadacornhole.
38TH ANNUAL CHILI FEED The annual Chili Feed in the Carson Nugget’s upstairs Banquet Center (507 North Carson St.) on parade day from Noon – 2 p.m. Admission is free, so arrive early for the popular event! Enjoy free chili with all the fixings. It’s a great opportunity to meet old and new friends, plus chat with federal, state, and local leaders.
TELEGRAPH SQUARE BLOCK PARTY Join old and new friends and dance to the music of “Ev and the Electric Soup” from 3 – 6 p.m. in Telegraph Square (at Telegraph & Curry Streets), sponsored by Nevada Day. Enjoy free live music, plus visit food and drink vendors and nearby businesses.
NEVADA DAY FREE CONCERT The Capital City Community Band opens its 45th concert season with a free concert of patriotic and Halloween favorites on Sat., Oct. 29th, at 2 p.m. at the Amphitheater in the Legislative Mall in Carson City, NV (weather permitting.) The concert is FREE to the public. Parents are encouraged to bring their children. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on.
TOURS AT THE GOVERNOR’S MANSION The Governor’s mansion will again be hosting tours this year on Nevada Day (which includes upstairs!) from 2:00 to 4:00. This is a unique opportunity to see the upstairs of the mansion and meet the Governor and first lady. Docents will do the tours in period clothing and they usually have a little treat to hand out as well.
Sunday, October 30, 2022
POST NEVADA DAY TRASH MOB Meet at the parking lot at 3rd Street and Curry Street by 8 a.m. to help us clean up downtown the day after the parade. For more details, visit our website at nevadaday.com or give us a call at (775) 882-2600.
Monday, October 31, 2022
TRICK-OR-TREATING IN CARSON CITY & THE GOVERNOR’S MANSION The Official night for trick-or-treating in Carson City this year is Monday, October 31st. Stop by the Governor’s Mansion at 606 N. Mountain St. where Governor Sisolak and the first lady will hand out candy from 5-8 p.m. There will be entertainment for all ages.
Whatever you do, celebrate fall. We only have a little bit left until the clocks fall back. Fellow Nevadans, lets celebrate!!!!!
Somewhere out there in this big old world of ours sits a little wooden cabin by the lake. It’s not the biggest cabin you’ve ever seen. Not the prettiest and certainly not decorated in Coastal Grandmother Chic. Nope. Just a little fishing cabin that can get pretty darn cold this time of year. The back door sticks in the winter and lets in the mosquitos in the summer. The roof leaks, but only a little when it rains. It belonged to an old couple that lived out their golden years together. It now sits empty, just waiting to be found by a new couple excitedly awaiting their turn. It seems it’s a little lonely as it waits for them.
Cabins are funny like that. They hold dreams and heal wounds. Just the thought of sitting outside by that little rock fire pit warms the hearts of many. Cabin people dream big dreams and live life to the fullest. The best day fishing on a lake beats all others. Writing to the sounds of the wind traveling through the leaves conjures up all sorts of stories in the creative mind.
This particular cabin sits on the shore of a lake teaming with whatever kind of fish you’d like to fry up for dinner. Walleye, trout, striped bass, or catfish. At different places and times of day, you might even find a sailfish or two, or so I’ve been told. It’s a magical place where bears are always across the lake for proper viewing. Coyotes howl in the distance and never menace the neighbors. Ants, termites, and other bothersome sorts never interfere with day to day life.
The waters of the lake are perfect for an afternoon swim. With temperatures never exceeding 80, an afternoon dip provides a refreshing break summer’s heat. In the winter, the fish can be found just below the ice. With a cup of hot cocoa and a winter parka, a fisherman can have a stringer full in no time.
The cabin is fully stocked with everything a person would need. Endless supplies of flour and oil in which to bread a trout or bake a biscuit. Jars of homemade jam and fresh honey from the meadow. Plenty of cut and stacked wood for the little fireplace that burns on its own from 8 – 8. A thick down comforter on the softest bed, providing the perfect nest for anyone needing a good night’s sleep.
Far from cell service and news of the crazy world, this little place clears the mind of clutter that has no place in a sane person’s thoughts. Wild summer berries are just up the lane, but one shouldn’t take them all. Good neighbors share.
On a day dressed in rainbows, the new owners will blow in on the four winds. Of course, the locals know the exact location Wild Bee Meadow, but they won’t be quick to give directions. It’s kind of nice to have an empty cabin next door. Barking dogs and laughter, although nice, do spoil the quiet. The fish don’t like it much, either. Besides, the ghosts of the past residents want to take the boat out just once more. No, this new couple will need to take a few wrong turns to find the little gem on the lake.
Cabins are the perfect spot for a writer who is looking for the next great adventure in life. Having owned a little cabin in the woods once upon a time, I would warn the new owners that cabins in the mind are the very best of all. No pine needles to rake. No roof to repair. No falling trees or wild fires to fear. Just the peace and quiet of the mind and all the fish you can eat delivered right to the pages of your first novel. Any kind of fish you would like, even sailfish, or so I’ve been told.
This little cabin is out there. Somewhere in this big old world it’s waiting for those that are persistent enough to find it. They need to take their time, finding the bend in the road that veers to the right at the red barn and left at the grey one. Watching out for potholes, (the roads aren’t in the best repair), there are miles to travel, with the rainbow’s end changing the location every few miles. When they find it, they’ll know, as sure as the sun sets to the west on the little lake in the woods near Wild Bee Meadow.
Planning dinner here at Winterpast is often as tricky as picking something to write about on a frosty autumn day. In honor of Tuesday, tacos will be served tonight along with Mexican Rice, Refried Beans, and all the trimmings. Sounds yummy to me.
As a child growing up in a very German farming household, ethnic meals were limited. My mother was an excellent cook who never repeated meals or relied on leftovers. With five daughters and a hungry husband, there was never anything left anyway. Her mental cookbook held a variety of meals that covered one month’s time and almost all were amazing, (minus the Hot Tuna Casserole With Peas). She never forced us to eat liver, but tried to serve a variety of foods to keep everyone happy, healthy, and trim.
It wasn’t until I was in high school that she learned how to make tacos. Perhaps my Dad asked her to try to make them, having been introduced to them by his employees. I can assure you, she didn’t learn how to make them from her mom. In those days, there were no cooking shows, and besides, she was too busy to watch them if there were. Before the age of the computer, recipes were passed around by word of mouth or on hand written pages. Someone, somewhere showed her a thing or two about making tacos and enchiladas.
Once every ten days, we’d have Mexican Night, which we all learned to love. A hard sell at first, but once we tried them, we were all hooked. Not hooked to the point we would ever venture out to have dinner at a Mexican restaurant. The closest town was a 30 minute drive. Eating out was something a farming family just didn’t do unless someone had died or was in the hospital dying. No. There were no favorite restaurants for farming kids.
About that time, Taco Bell was opening franchises around California. My town, being a farming town between Los Angeles and San Francisco, was always last to get anything great like a new fast food restaurant. My mother’s tacos were the only ones I’d ever eaten.
Visiting my older sister in Sacramento was always enlightening. She knew all the best places to eat and the most outrageous things to do. Already married with two small children under her wing, I think she enjoyed the outings with me as much as I enjoyed going to visit her. I was about 13 when she asked if I would like to try a taco at a place called “Taco Bell”.
What????
A taco from a restaurant???
Not from Mom’s kitchen????
So ethnic.
So risky.
So wrong on every level to a 13 year old who had zero experience eating out at ANY restaurant let alone an ETHNIC one serving TACOS that were not prepared by my MOTHER!!!!
This was just a step too far.
Just what was this sister of mine thinking?????
It took her some pleading and persuading to change my mind on this. At this point, she was hooked on Taco Bell, serving it to her little family many times every month. My little nephew was elated when he learned we might having Taco Bell for dinner. With every bit of bravery I had, I agreed to go and try a bite of their version of a taco. My sister seemed to be correct about many new experiences. I’d need to trust her on this one.
One bit and I was hooked. Mom’s tacos now took a back seat to Taco Bell. The best thing I had eaten in my entire life.
That day is the best example I can come up with to explain the sheltered existence in which I grew up. Surrounded by a miles and miles of vineyards in any direction for as far as the eye could see, there weren’t a lot of opportunities for mayhem or devilment. Just never ending work that changed from season to season. It was easy to get great grades when homework was the most exciting distraction there was. Even the phone was tethered to the wall and well within earshot of a mother preparing to cook, cooking, or cleaning up after cooking. Constance surveillance of the German variety in a 1900’s farm house in the middle of Nowhere-Ville.
One taco in a town far away from the vineyard opened a window to new tastes, experiences, and best of all, TACOS.
I still make my mother’s recipe, although I think mine is better.
German-Girl Tacos
Fry 1 large onions until translucent.
Fry 1 lb. ground beef until well done.
Smother in a secret tomato-y sauce.
Fry corn tortillas until they are the perfect crunch.
Top with cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and a little sour cream.
Serve with homemade Mexican Rice and Refried Beans.
The perfect meal to serve to one hungry Mysterious Marine who will join me for dinner this evening.
Whatever you do today, keep in mind Taco Tuesday is a real thing. Do some research in your town and find out where you can get your own piping hot street tacos at a reduced price. Taco Tuesday. It doesn’t get better than that, unless they’re tacos enjoyed with a friend.
Last week, temperatures were still reaching 80 degrees by late afternoon, but as I write this, my outdoor thermometer registers 23. Winter is just around the counter here in the high desert. Oliver is tucked by my feet as he snuggles under his blanket and my steaming coffee tastes wonderful.
I love weekends, frosty or not. This one was especially great. On Friday, the Mysterious Marine and I went to watch women’s basketball at the university in the middle of the biggest little city to the West. My eldest granddaughter plays for the team that visited. It was amazing to see her play in a professional sports arena complete with a four sided jumbotron. Men’s sports are big in our area. Women’s sports will never catch on. Looking around, it seems there were a lot of family members there to cheer on the team, while most of the seats remained empty.
Regardless of the lack of crowds or empty seats, watching a granddaughter play under the big lights of an event center of that size was pretty exciting. After an illustrious high school career, she earned a four year scholarship to a private college in California. I remember her as a toddler, using a basketball to get her balance. Over the year as she watched her dad’s moves, she developed a few of her own. I’m glad I got to see her play as a young woman. With a front row seat in heaven, VST must’ve been full of pride!
Saturday was full of chores in preparation for the big freeze. In these parts, one must be sure to disconnect all sprinkler systems before freezing nights are here to stay. If not, a homeowner will face broken pipes and costly repairs.
I’ve been unable to complete this task myself, as the valve to turn the water on and off is a beast. Thank goodness the Mysterious Marine helped me out with that problem. The gardens of Winterpast are officially beginning their deep sleep. Let the autumn winds carry my leaves off to parts unknown. If not, my gardener will help tidy things up for the winter.
Playoff games, Pan Seared scallops and home-made Fettuccini Alfredo, visits with family members, home-made chicken soup with Amish noodles, breakfast out and breakfast in. All in all, this weekend was action packed and gone way too soon.
This week fall cleaning here at Winterpast is in full swing. Working full time has it’s draw backs. In retirement, I wonder how I did everything while working. It’s quite obvious. I didn’t. This week, I need to play catch up and get things shining. It’s almost time to start decorating for the holidays and Winterpast needs to shine.
A few weeks have passed since I turned in my letter of resignation and I’ve had lots of time to thing about my decision. The peace that surrounds me tells me I made exactly the right one. Although I don’t know God’s master plans and why I was asked to teach for such a short time, I’m sure it was his intervention that landed me the job.
In talking to others still working there, it seems conditions are improving. My kiddos are doing well. Problems are being resolved. Things are better than when I started there.
Not only did I improve my skills of patience and tolerance, I also practiced making boundaries for myself. Protecting myself, it became clear this wasn’t the environment I’d envisioned for one final year in the classroom. The best ending of all happened. I walked away with no malice or hard feelings. It just wasn’t a fit for me. In that decision, I feel total and complete peace without a single regret. What a blessing!
Whatever you do today, enjoy the crisp autumn days and take a moment to look for signs of the changing season. I plan to visit Virginia City, this the week before Halloween. With a lunch of Gospel Fried Chicken, I plan to go sit awhile at VST’s resting spot while I watch the leaves blow by. This my favorite season of all and I don’t plan to miss a minute.
As I’ve gardened over the decades, I’ve come to believe that flowers are God’s way of laughing. Truly. It would take a very hard heart not to appreciate the beauty and diversity of flowers. Coming in every imaginable color, they are powerful. We order them at times of extreme happiness and celebrations and need them in times of great sadness. Their energy is real and able to mend a broken heart.
Miss Sunflower is a treasured friend of mine. Shy and reserved inside, she hides behind a powerhouse attitude of “I believe I can do this, so I will.” And, she does. She has been through many trials and tribulations in her 50 years. She reminds me of myself at 50. Overwhelmed while she forges ahead, she’s determined to handle whatever needs handling. Being a master florist, she just bought the flower shop on Main Street.
Of all the women in Bible Study, I’ve probably spent the most time with her. Miss Sunflower radiates the goodness of the earth. Surely floral spirits are lodged in her blonde locks as she transform a bucket of flowers into an arrangement of beauty. Don’t get in her way as she handles business in the shop. She might run you over with a bucket of soft, grey roses, intended for those customers in the Halloween spirit.
Yesterday, her business partner was out of the shop. I learned a one person flower shop is tough to handle. A person needs to take orders and also make deliveries. People come in at random times during the day to make varied requests. Homecoming wristlets. A hospital pick-me-up. Red, long stemmed roses that scream about new love. Red, white, and blue cemetery arrangements to watch over the grave of a newly fallen soldier. In a single day, the emotions that come and go are as varied as the people walking through the door.
Miss Sunflower had asked if I’d be able to come and hang out with her in the absence of her partner. She didn’t need to ask twice. As I wrote yesterday, my love of plants and flowers is intense. To spend a day peeking into the back side of a floral shop would be fascinating.
Yes. I’d be there.
Sitting on Main Street, Miss Sunflower’s new shop has a front row seat to everything our little town has to offer. Big semi-trucks roll by as they snake their way towards Las Vegas, only seven hours to the south. I noticed that many honked as they drove by. Miss Sunflower filled me in on the back story. It seems the owner of Tee Pee Bar and Grill has a deal with the truckers. If they gave a honk, they’ll get a discount on their meal. All afternoon, hungry truckers tooted their horns at the restaurant just a little down the street. Another little bit of folk-lore of which I wasn’t aware until yesterday.
Yvonne’s hot pink hot dog stand is now a thing of the past. It’s changed into All American Home Town Burgers. The little stand is now painted lavender and boasts the best Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches in Northwestern Nevada. I’ll need to give this place a try.
My first assignment, which I eagerly accepted, was to deliver two beautiful arrangements. One a birthday gift and one a gift of new and intense love. Two very different arrangements sat in the Barbie-mobile on their way to two unsuspecting women. What a fun assignment to share such happiness with strangers!
The first arrangement was accepted by a young man. Not sure if he was a husband or son, he opened the front door to reveal a room full of balloons. The lady of the hour was out lunching with her mom. I hope she enjoyed such a wonderful surprise on her special day. When the young man looked at the card, his face softened into a knowing smile. A lovely moment in every way.
The second delivery fell on an unanswered door. The roses professing deep and abiding love would need to journey back to the shop for another delivery at another time. The lady of the house wasn’t there.
During the afternoon, Miss Sunflower refilled her display floral display case with beauty. When I arrived, she had three arrangements in the case. When I left, her cases were full. I learned about pricing and arranging. She even let me arrange two bud vases, which I must admit, turned out pretty nice.
Before I knew it, her daughter arrived to help and I went on my way. I really didn’t want to wash my hair last night, knowing flower fairies are perched up there. I’m quite sure some hitched a ride home with me after such an enchanting day.
Miss Sunflower would have it no other way than to give me a rose filled bud vase and a box of chocolates for helping out. Not a bad exchange for a day I really needed.
The Mysterious Marine has asked me twice about my favorite flowers. I had to give this question careful consideration. In the garden, roses and peonies are unbeatable. In the wild, California sunflowers and high Sierra wildflowers of any variety always make me smile. The smell of a gardenia or the shape of hydrangea blossoms make me think of my grandmother. Coastal flowers make me want to move there just to grown them. The simplicity of a daisy or the intricacy of a Bird of Paradise. The simple elegance of a crisp, white daisy. There are so many to choose, I can’t say that one flower is favored over the other.
The only flowers I really don’t like are lilies of any kind. I hope that some day when I’m pushing up daisies the kids remember that. No lilies of any kind. Rather an arrogant flower, in my humble opinion.
My day was topped off by sharing a PoPo appetizer at Golden Chef with the Mysterious Marine. Today, we’ll begin the long process of family introductions. It’s time each family gets to know the person who has been taking up our free time. By the end of the day, strangers will become acquaintances. What a wonderful way to begin the weekend!
I’ll be back Monday with much more to tell. Until then, buy yourself some flowers. They just may heal what ails you.
Like so many children of the 70’s, I fell in love with houseplants. Angel Wing Begonias. Spider plants. Pathos. Mother-In-Law’s Tongue. Grape Ivy. Elephant Ears. I loved them all and had plants every where I lived. At that time, plants were an inexpensive way to decorate, bringing beauty and life to any home.
Through my life, I would have a reoccurring dream that someday I would own a home covered in plants. That was quite an odd dream because, at that time, VST and I were living a healthy and happy life together. There were no thoughts of bugging out and finding a little hippy shack somewhere. Certainly no thoughts of becoming a widow at 64.
During those years, we were gone so much of the time, there wasn’t time to nurture an indoor garden. VST never coached our kids in the variety of sports he enjoyed throughout school. He loved all sports, having been a starting player on an award winning football team throughout his high school years. The legend lives on in the memories of his team mates.
While our five children grew, VST was one busy guy. Professionally he worked full time. When I met him, he had 3 college credits. Throughout our lives together, he earned his Associates Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, and Doctoral Degree, all while raising our kids to the adults that brought our grandchildren into the world. He also built everything from a waterfall to an outdoor smoking room and a garage for his parents, supporting them in their elder years.
During those years, I was racing as fast as I could with my own professional endeavors. I, too, became the evening famer specializing in irrigation of 16,000 100-year-old-vines. When we weren’t growing them, we were shaking the dust from hundreds of tons of dancing raisins There just wasn’t time for any indoor plants, as the outdoor ones drained the life from us on a daily basis.
Once we retired and moved to Virginia City, there were three more teaching gigs in store for me. VST continued to build. We also became feral parents, riding the range in the RV. When I look back, it’s lucky that Oliver found a spot with us. Our days flew by until I was left with days alone to dream up new adventures on my own.
Houseplants are now thriving at Winterpast. The dream I had so many times over the years has come to be. A home full of lovely and calming plants. Their pots sit everywhere there is enough light to sustain them.
I sure wish houseplants still cost what they did in 1970. As I’ve started to get back into my hobby, I’ve realized that some varieties are no longer sold as house plants. Coleus were the most beautiful plants, coming in a variety of colors and textures. They are now sold at my hardware store as an outdoor plant. Not sure how the delicate leaves would do in my backyard, as the desert winds would surely kill them in a few days.
One little coincidence that has been noted with a smile is that Mr. Mysterious Marine happens to share the same love of houseplants. His Angel Wings stretch towards his ceiling, while plants frame and fill every window. Such life they bring to his home. I must say, one doesn’t often meet a person with such important similarities and sensitivities. It isn’t lost on this Gardener who Grieves.
Last night, I showed him my favorite place to shop. In the back of the hardware store, near the garden exit is a wonderful little secret. It’s the “On Sale Because We are Almost Dead” plant section. On shelves sit fantastic bargains of the 50% off kind. There, (if you are optimistic, handy with Miracle Grow, and able to look past a few dead leaves), are wonderful plants that just can’t sit on the perfect shelves anymore. Between the selections of the two of us, there aren’t many good ones left on that lonely shelf.
After a wonderful shopping adventure of the best kind, the Mysterious Marine cooked a gourmet meal of specially seasoned chicken and very purple homegrown potatoes and onions. Complemented with homegrown tomatoes in a salad, the gourmet meal couldn’t have been purchased anywhere because the man who cooked it also grew the potatoes, onions, and tomatoes.
Thinking about gardening plans for the 2023 season, this Mysterious Marine and I have many notes to compare. I see many new fruit trees and flowers in my future, along with more houseplants.
Retirement has returned. With a new appreciation for hobbies from long ago, I am blessed to have found a friend with whom to enjoy them.
There is nothing better than a Small Town Candidates Night on which to base political decisions. So much is said through body language and voice. Random questions reveal a candidates true colors. That’s something one never sees on the hundreds of staged political commercials polluting the airwaves at this time of year.
I don’t know what is worse. Wasting life by the 1/2 minutes while watching people tell political lies through perfect teeth and tightened skin, or being convinced to take drugs that might cure your condition, but could also kill you while doing so. Think how good you’ll feel on the way out!
Oy Vey.
OFF. On many days, the best television setting is OFF.
The Mysterious Marine invited me to join him in support of his brother who happens to be running for THE Mayor of our little town. Having the entire day to think about meeting a portion of his very large family, I decided to get dolled up for the occasion. Black on black with a wool blazer. Hair blown and curled just enough. Eye shadow, lipstick, a faint hint of perfume. It was nice to prepare for an evening out to support a mayoral candidate I actually know and like.
I’d protested against attending the meeting just a little bit. I used to be a voting member of the political group hosting the event. Many of the members are not the most genuine people. If they were, I’d still be a card carrying member, right? But, for the Mysterious Marine, there aren’t many things I wouldn’t do to support him and his family. Going with him was an easy “YES”.
There were many, many nephews, nieces, and even a Great-niece to meet. His brother and his wife have been married almost 50 years and have 25 Grandchildren and 3 Great-grandchildren. They have lived in the town I now call home for 62 years. MM’s nephew was also on the panel, running for a position on the School Board. It was fun sitting with the movers and shakers of our town.
At the table, I met two VIP’s about which I want to know more. MM introduced me to his high school track coach and his wife. Now, not to give out too much information, MM is 68. This fit, funny, and great man sitting at the table was his track coach. You do the math. His lovely wife was there with him. Both were energetic and alive, coming out into the desert night to support our candidate. This man had coached MM to award winning records that have stood for decades. The two are still great friends. What a feel good story!
Through the night, youngers came over to say Hello to this rock star couple. Just two elders enjoying a date night while listening to candidates talk about their positions on important issues. What careers these two people had! How nice that I had a chance to meet them. I’m so proud to live in a town small enough that our vote will make a difference in the quality of our lives. Even more so that the locals know the importance of a single vote.
The two sheriff candidates sat across the room from each other like buffalo bulls. Not signaling that anything was amiss, but ready for a sparring match if the need arose. I noticed residual tension from their long day at work. I can’t imagine the days our police officers experience. I pray for them often. These two men stomp out crimes in an area covering over 24,000 square miles. A lot of territory to keep safe.
With a new sheriff and a new Mayor, our town will be ready for 2022 and beyond. It’s time. We have water, school, and policing issues. Our roads are in dismal shape and getting worse with each passing season. The “Good Ole Boy” system that worked so well for so long isn’t working anymore. The housing bubble has again burst. With gas at almost $6 a gallon, the 30 minute commute makes our town just a little too far away. Skyrocketing rent has priced us out competition with bigger cities. All these situations spell tough times for a little town and the residents. Last night, there wasn’t an empty seat in the house.
Mr. Mayoral Candidate looked dapper in his suit and tie. He’d prepared for the evening of questions and had meaty answers. At one point, the current mayor (hopeful Past Mayor) threw out a big lie. After careful consideration, Mr. Mayoral Candidate didn’t pick up the rope. Tug of war is a nasty game in which someone gets muddy. It was refreshing to see a candidate that preferred to take the high road. Mr. Past Mayor (hopefully) had sent a letter to the entire community that held a big lie, (quite provable), about Mr. Mayoral Candidate. It was wonderful to see Mr. Mayoral Candidate take the high road. Way to GO!!
Many old women were there, older but not wiser. I was glad MM’s family was so big and welcoming. A little baby with the sweetest curl was the icing on the cake. I can’t wait to know everyone better. Blending into a gigantic sea of supporters, it was easy to focus on the debate. A night I will not soon forget and issues that will steer me to vote my conscience at the polls.
Today, Oliver is coming home from October puppy camp. I must say the house is very quiet without him. These days, we are a working team. Although he doesn’t understand why I’m again home and tending to Winterpast, he loves it and is at my side at all times. After almost four years, when I make a request, he complies. Sit? He sits. Down? He’s down. Bed? Off he goes. When alone, we’re a team. Add his new girlfriend to the mix, it’s twice the crazy all over again. There’s always more a dog can learn, right?
Have a wonderful day today. Take time to look at the political candidates before you vote. Make sure you are voting for a person and not just a party. If you get the chance to meet candidates, I highly recommend it. You might find some new friends in the process.
Today is the perfect day for a little drive about to clear my head. There are so many beautiful places located within a two hour radius. Today is a wonderful day to bug out and drive. Autumn in the high desert is a kaleidoscope of color this time of year and a major tourist attraction. Our version of the colors of New York. The Eastern Sierra Nevada’s are the prettiest mountains anywhere around. Just look at the picture taking in Minden, Nevada. It’s even prettier than that.
I have a friend that needs to come along. She’s a New Yorker that I met in early summer. I’ve never met anyone like her before and probably won’t ever meet anyone like her again. She became the first brick in the foundation for our Women’s Bible Study. She would tell you that she isn’t the reason our Bible study continues to grow. We all know differently. This woman could move mountains before breakfast. She’s all the things admirable. Wise, calm, witty, intelligent, a beautiful woman inside and out. A real no-nonsense kind of woman. The kind you want for a sister.
She needs our love and support in a big way. She’s loosing her sight. Suffering from a progressive disease, this isn’t improving by the day.
Macular degeneration is a horrific disease. It attacked both my parents. It has blinded my God Mother. It can happen to anyone. It’s genetic and final. The outcome is blindness. It can happen overnight. How scary is that? My Gal-Pal is slowly going blind from this disease.
She would love to see the colors of the changing trees of her hometown New York. Well, we have some pretty amazing trees around here. It’s not New York, but, the Cottonwoods and Aspens are also pretty spectacular.
Thinking back to last Thursday, I realized I haven’t shared about the most perfect day with women that have come to mean the world to me. She was there, running the show.
Early in the summer, my life wasn’t all roses and lollipops. There were many truths that had come to light as I forged a new path in my life. Taking a mountain walk in the early summer can be treacherous. With unexpected rainstorms, one often needs to take shelter and wait for them to pass. Life is a lot like that, too. If you’ve created the storm, you need to wait out the rain of your own making. Such was the situation in which I found myself on a certain Thursday that now seems so long ago. Some days it seems I’m just a master at raining on my own parade. Oy Vey.
On that early summer day, God had given me three reasons to leave the church I’d attended for over one year. Three “in my face reasons” that couldn’t be denied. On that certain Thursday morning, I’d woken to a sadness so deep it brought me to tears. My heart longed for friends. Not just a random friend here or there, but a network of true friends. The kind that don’t blow away with the first little disagreement. Friends in Christ.
The first idea that came to mind was to find yet another Bible Study to join. One in another part of time with different participants. I’d just start looking around town and see what was available. I knew where I’d start. A little church on Farm District Road. A real street name in a town that also has In-Town Park and Out-of-Town Park.
With that decision made and with great haste, I jumped in the Barbie-Mobile and drove there. If there were a building more tightly closed and locked, I’ve never been to one. The barren parking lot of the little church sat empty telling me to leave. I felt abandoned and alone.
I decided I’d go buy some flowers at Lowe’s and return home to tend the gardens at Winterpast.
Feeling pretty low as I drove, a vision of the warm and welcoming people of another church across town flashed through my mind. I had met them my right before my first Thanksgiving as a widow in my new town. They were collecting food for hungry families. I’d go there. They wouldn’t be closed. They couldn’t be. Although they might be, my heart said “Drive there, Woman!”
In that moment, Jesus truly took the wheel.
At 9:58, I walked into the very room where my group of friends sat. About 14 of the sweetest women of faith. Welcoming. Smiling. Ready to study the Bible. Waiting on ME, the woman they had yet to meet.
At each place, there was a paper that said the following…..
friend
/frend/ noun
someone who gives you freedom to be yourself;
one of the nicest things you can have;
the best thing you can be.
Last Thursday, we celebrated the 1-Year-Anniversary of our Bible study group. They listened as I shared all the details of my resignation after celebrating my happiness at returning to work only two months earlier. I hadn’t realized the disappointment and feelings of failure that were there for a true friend to see. They prayed for my broken heart while I cried, surrounded by true and complete love. The room was full of angels that morning. Both earth angels and the Holy Spirit. What a morning. What a beautiful group of friends God gave me on a morning I cried out to ask him for nothing more.
Yes.
I think I need to call my sweet friend. She mentioned she’d love to see fall colors again. Me too. We both need to seize this moment in time when the leaves are a brilliant orange, red, yellow, and bronze. In life you never know when our eyesight might fail or be gone all together. Storms can come at any time in life. We need to be ready for them.
Whatever you do today, be ready for Jesus to take the wheel. It just might be that you find treasures more wonderful than gold. The first step is getting in the car to go looking.
