Jan 27, 2012 by Naomi.

Here I am, in sunny California, Oxnard, to be exact, at Dan and Debs. I left Pasco late this afternoon and whoosh, two airplanes and two cities later in balmy weather. They picked me up in Burbank and after an hour’s drive arrived at Melito Drive. I washed my face and partly unpacked and does the bed look good! Deb brought out a box of paperback romances to choose from but my eyes are very tired so I don’t expect to read much. I will sleep the dream of sunbathing in the back yard for two weeks. Well anyway whether I get tanned or not, I will enjoy California.

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Jan 20, 2012 by Naomi.

Snow did stop falling as forecasters predicted it would. Left out there was a beautiful pristine white world. Last night I had swept my porch and front steps so they are clear. I didn’t get the heavy rubber tread dug out from under the snow so I will just hope the mail carrier has Michelen soles on his/her boots and keep on their feet up my steps to deliver my mail. I have no need to leave the house. If the snow persists I will have limited food options but pulling back my belt would also reduce my fat layers so may be a good thing all around. I swept and shoveled snow last night to the sorrow of an aching back. Benny next door scraped his own windshield this morning (wonders never seize) but Buena had been out earlier to sweep off the snow. Nobody has shoveled any paths - just plow through. This is January and I cannot imagine a warm wind blowing through to melt it at all. How lucky I feel to be able to watch the scenarios of neighbors up and down Abbot street sweeping off the snow and then making their way slowly off to work. Have another cup of coffee and let the world go by.

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Jan 18, 2012 by Naomi.

I did. I huffed and puffed through deep snow along my sidewalk and around and off my car. About six inches had settled and I thought I had better get as much as I could off before it melted and iced on. The surface iced immediately when the snow hit the metal but I swept off the loose stuff. It seemed to be very deep for just having settled quietly down. And it got heavier and heavier as I pushed it off. It snowed all night before so it had time to settle down. I got plenty of exercise and I didn’t begin to do the driveway. Well I have no place to go. I made up my mind earlier I would not drive to Drinking Liberally so I poured a short shot with Jim Beam. I am not ready to go to bed although I am exhausted enough to lay back and enjoy by lazy recliner. I am reading MY INNER FISH again. I own enough books to keep me out of the Richland library for a while, at least until the roads clear up. The city might run the road graders on the main streets but usually the sun (ha ha) is supposed to do the job. Any way I have no place I have to be. My pantry is stacked and I am good to go probably a week without restocking. So I will relax and catch my breath and praise General Electric from whom all comfort flows.

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Jan 18, 2012 by Naomi.

And so it has. Snow has fallen all the whole quiet night and still is falling, stacking the clear white crystals on every solid surface. Occasionally a puff of breeze will move it off but most of it lingers, and beautifully so. Traffic goes on. Garbage truck emptied bins out front. Mine was not among them but I have very little garbage and none of it will reek the stink of animal fat. I may sweep my steps later but for now I will let the snow pile up. The mail will come because the carrier wears big boots and slogs through all weather as postmen are legend to do - through rain and sleet etc. My mail consists of non-profit pleas for money to carry on their good works. Lots of them. Oh such good works. I have the repository which requires a match to sent them off. Good thing I fired the pile yesterday, the snow will dampen and make burning difficult. The scene is lovely and I am comfy admiring it, happy that I can remain indoors, with coffee and my computer for company.

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Jan 11, 2012 by Naomi.

When I returned from drinking liberally of hot chocolate last night, the moon was so full and bright I would have gone for a walk if the temperature had been more receptive. Forty degrees F is too chilly for a casual stroll anytime. Even warmed with the hot drink I almost ran to my car and drove home in that chilly Hyundai. My house is snug and warm for which I am well pleased. The yellow moon was even more appreciated from inside. After all the moon is only a cold sphere of rock but has been the object of myths and romance since Homo sapiens were able to pass on rhymes and tunes - a long, long time indeed. Last night the  moonlight was bright enough to cast shadows. I, however did not wax poetic. I gave the white object handsome respect, happy that it was bright enough to overcome my neighbor’s ridiculously bright porch lights. Tonight, according to a Raven’s forecast, the moonlight will shine clear and bright once more.

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Jan 9, 2012 by Naomi.

January according to history ought to be cold and clear. Last night’s full moon seemed to make that promise, but what do I get? Fog. Oh I can see clearly enough if I want to drive somewhere but fog indicates moisture in the air. Maybe spring is closer than the calendar expects. Am I ready for it? Yes. Dreary skies do not make for great optimism. With the air as still as it is, I wonder if the fog will go away like Sandberg’s fog on little cat feet. I do not need to go beyond my door except to retrieve mail. Therefore I can sit back and wait it out. I may have to take my wash to the laundromat. Clothes on my line will not soon get dry and alas, they do need to be cleaned - so off I go, - into the foggy foggy dew!

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Jan 2, 2012 by Naomi.

There was a chip I had forgotten but prepared last week and I plugged it into the digital picture screen. It was a year (and then some) of my adventures at the McNary NWR Education Center interspersed with scenes from other years past in my life. Camping with Tim. Places I visited. Australia. Kenya. People I met. The brink of a new year is a good time to treasure those places in review. And in private. I left the rum fest last night before others brought out slides of adventures of which I knew nothing. Today with no place to go was a perfect time to review 1011 from my personal point of view. Plants and scenes of moving water, rapids, falls, splashing over rocks and dead fallen trees. I had included many pictures that were fading in memory. A picture is said to be worth a thousand words but that will not be the same story for just any viewer. If you have been on the spot maybe you would think similar thousand words although I doubt it. A picture holds a scene rigid. Two different individuals who stand in the exact same place cannot possibly think the same thousand words. Good for the human species! I will look at the pictures I took and think of many times and whether I had been alone or with others any picture will conjure up dozens of ideas. Or dreams. Most will pass through my gray matter and be lost in minutiae. In the meantime I will reflect upon them and be pleased.

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Jan 1, 2012 by Naomi.

We did it again! Passed over the last day of one year and walked into the next one. And I didn’t do it half way. I met with four other like minded folks, drank rum-a-whatever’s and had a fine afternoon. Al called earlier and asked if I would like a ride to Pippo’s and that was handy since I wouldn’t be driving I could have a drink. Laurel Pippo had the makings of hot toddy’s, I think she called them, which we drank for a few hours and THEN she brought on shrimp, cheese, crackers. More rum. A big wedge of that flat wavy anti pasta for the main dish - I can’t spell its Italian name but it was good. Mildred brought her yummy chocolate brownies and Frank heaped on metropolitan ice cream. Not a single resolution reined in the air. What a great way to start 2012. I had been waked at midnight with locals and fireworks but that didn’t last long and I slept in till 0730 this morning. Any way it was ten pm when Al brought me to my well lit warm home by the light of a half moon. A full day. The only bells I have to ring are tiny ones on a pair of green felt reindeer antlers. But what the heck! They tinkle.

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Dec 25, 2011 by Naomi.

Up at 0730, showered, met with the old Quaker then Al picked me up at 10 am and with Mildred, Alma and Jim, Dave and Frank at Starbucks in Kennewick, the only coffee shop that doesn’t kneel at the manger on December 25. I was dropped off at home, get into my car and meet those above for lunch (brunch) in Kadlec lunchroom where I had ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, and coffee. We expected to meet again at Al’s for a 2 pm dessert. I brought pumpkin and mince pie home. Just do not have the capacity to forever eat all that sweet stuff. Sure tasted good, though. Had pretty good conversation, too, so I had to find my way home in the dark. Well my car has good headlights and I did get home. I took down the glitzy balls and packed them away for the season. Must get green peas for soup seasoned with ham. Mouth waters at the thought! I wrote three hundred words on the Nov story and will work on that again before bedtime. Maybe not. I am sleepy enough for bed now. It is 9 pm so that is where I will go.

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Dec 23, 2011 by Naomi.

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