Notices by Norcal Gma 2 (norcalgma2@sfba.social), page 5

I mentioned to my husband that every time I go out to pick the half dozen ripe strawberries, they are gone.
Like poof.
There is no evidence of critters. No partially eaten berries. It looks like someone picked and ate them.
I noted that I saw one ripe one and got a photo when I watered today.
I asked if he or Summer had any idea what's going on.
They said they had no idea.
As I was walking out of the room, I heard him tell Summer they must have missed one.
These two are incorrigible.
#Garden

We are starting our day, right.
I'm drinking my herbal cinnamon tea and watching Summer play footsie with her pal.
He rolls her around with his feet, and she plays along happily.
Today will be warm here. A good day to get our outdoor chores done early. Indoor baking, too. It is bake a berry pie day, after all.
Good morning, Mastodon.

Summer helped me plant the last of our vegetable starts and marigolds this morning.
Hopefully, we will be eating both summer and crookneck squash down the road.
She always has to stop and sniff her favorite rose bush.
It is warm and muggy here today.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

#SilentSunday

I decided to attend the annual meeting for the Indian Health Service that provides health and dental care for most of my family.
It was a lovely day, so I almost wavered and stayed home, but instead, I masked up and went.
My recent health care adventures have made me realize I am dependent this service for my primary care, and it might be a good idea to see how they are doing as an organization and see if I can help.
Such a good use of my time. The board members and staff were clearly happy to have a decent turnout.
It was heartening to hear how they are listening to patients and expanding to meet their needs.
They have even started building a traditional Weott village behind the clinic.
I felt heard and welcome and proud.
#Humboldt

Summer and I did her rounds together this morning. The blackbirds were teasing her.
We saw a flowering plant over the fence in the neighbors yard and a gorgeous rose.
The blackbirds have been pretty noisy lately.
They know Summer can't get them.
#BackYardBirds

Summer and I decided we needed some fresh air and exercise.My husband wasn't home yet, so we left him a note to heat up the hot chocolate and warm the muffins we left for him and that we would be back from the beach soon.
Today is warm with a mild wind, so I didn't even take a jacket.
Summer was so excited that she frolicked until she couldn't frolick any more.
We have a happy and tired dog.
Clean now, too, after her bath.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

We were all awake early this morning. My husband has to attend his twenty millionth comp and pen appointment for the VA, which requires a three hour drive.
I can assure everyone that the VA takes this process very seriously. So seriously in fact that Veterans with multiple cancers, all considered 100% service related, and the residual medical, and mobility issues related to surgeries and treatments including the removal of major organs, can still be denied permanent disability thereby saving the average tax payer not very much.
For us, this challenge of constant appointments and denials wears us down.
Summer and I are patiently waiting so we can welcome him home, which is what the VA should have been doing since 1969.
Summer in the early morning sun brings us joy and a smile.
Good morning, Mastodon.
#Summer #Dogs

When Summer is sitting next to a most beautiful rose bush, it's time to run for the camera.
Both are gorgeous.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

Glorious morning here on the north coast of California! There is a breeze, but the temperature is mild, and I can wander around Summer's front acre without a jacket.
Some days, I feel profoundly thankful to be in this place at this time.
People over the years have given us rhododendrons, I think, because they don't know what else to give us. If they have been to our house, they might think they are a favorite because we have several. The truth is that all have been gifts. Today, I told Summer about some of the friends behind our rhody collection. All of those people are gone now, but their beautiful gift is still appreciated and brings fond memories.
Good morning, Mastodon.
#Rhododendron #BloomScrolling

The sky was really different this evening. Too bright for my phone, the layers of fog and light with the sun's reflection made an abstract sky that was beautiful.
While Summer and I waited to see what kind of sky the sunset would gift us, we chatted. I like to tell her good stories about my childhood. There were only a few, but they stuck with me all of these years for a reason.
I remember being a young child watching my mom prepare dinner. Our old gas stove had a light that gave the room a golden glow. For some reason, in that moment, I felt warm and safe.
I tucked that moment away, and for the rest of my life, when I happen into a room with that lighting, even now, all of those good feelings come rushing back to me.
I've saved lots of those moments in my sixty-five years. They come in handy sometimes.

Jasper is doing what I want to do today.
Keep at least my right eye closed.
I drove to town to deliver cinnamon rolls.
I planted some lettuce starts that I had to get in the ground.
Now I'm going to put a cold compress on my eye and rest.
First thing tomorrow morning, I will start looking for an ophthalmologist.
Stay safe today, Mastodon friends.
#Cat

My favorite artist and dear friend Matt Beard, maybe not in that order, and his wife Ami were supposed to visit us tomorrow morning. So, I started to bake his favorite cinnamon rolls this afternoon.
Right when I was getting ready to let the rolls rise a second time, I got a text that he and Ami have cold like symptoms and will need to reschedule.
Yikes! What will I do with twelve cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting?
I guess I can drop six rolls off on his porch with a care package, and I will see if the grandkids will take the other six off our hands as a favor.
#Baking

Warm and ready to deliver with butter cream frosting.
#Baking

Summer said that if I had the time, she would love to take a field trip. She has been pretty patient with all the medical ups and downs around here lately, so I agree she deserves a change of scenery.
My husband didn't feel up to walking in the cold wind, so we bundled him up in his recliner with a blanket, hot chocolate, day old banana chocolate chip muffins and a movie and we headed to the beach with a promise to be back soon.
We had the place to ourselves, and Summer was in heaven. She started out playing and hiding in the long grass. Well, sort of hiding.
We had a blast, and both got some much needed exercise.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

Summer loves, loves to swim, and dive. She works on her diving form every chance she gets. Today, she was trying to reduce the splash as she entered the water. I keep telling her every dive is a 10, but she is a perfectionist.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

As the world turns, spins, and does flip flops around us, we keep living our quiet lives, mostly just trying to survive and be happy.
Summer is surely an asset on the happy side.
We played a quick game on the stairs before breakfast.
Good morning, Mastodon.
#Summer #Dogs

Roses from our garden this morning.
#Roses

Summer says, take a minute for yourself, maybe even sniff the roses today.
Good morning, Mastodon friends.
#Summer #Dogs

I decided to bake since it is too wet to play outside. The grandkids really like pumpkin pie, so that settles that.
Sometimes, my pies look better than others. Today is an other type of day.
They always seem to get eaten no matter how they look.
#Baking #Pie