Notices by Norcal Gma 2 (norcalgma2@sfba.social), page 6

Wisteria is growing around the arbor post at the Humboldt Botanical Gardens this afternoon.
I needed a few minutes of alone time, so I walked around the garden.
When I was growing up, my parents had Wisteria framing both of the gates to our yard.
Brings back memories.
#BloomScrolling

Mother's Day must be a week long this year.
My youngest grandson just showed up and installed his gift. I got a new oak half barrel for my garden!
This is exciting because I can't handle these on my own anymore because of the weight. I do love growing dahlias and veggies in barrels.
I suspect, from the aroma, this barrel was aging wine in a previous life.
He even brought my favorite potting soil, so all I have to do is add some of my seedlings.
I am a lucky grandma.

Summer was so excited to see the sun. There is a cold wind this morning, too, but that didn't phase her a bit.
We threw the ball a few times before breakfast, but mostly Summer wanted to bask in the light.
Good morning, Mastodon.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

My husband wanted to watch 1923 together. I am not a big TV watcher and not a fan of Yellowstone, but I am a fan of my husband, so Summer and I curled up with some snacks in my recliner.
The storyline has given us pause because his family and mine would have been on opposite sides. My relatives would have been in the Indian boarding schools (which they were), and his family with several Catholic priests and nuns could have been the oppressors.
He had no idea how bad the schools were. I did because I heard directly from my mother, who was second generation in her family, to be sent to boarding school.
She went from a one room school house to a school hundreds of miles away from her family. This end of year school photo of all the children she attended school with, on the reservation, represents the end of my mother's childhood. Her next school year was in boarding school, where she stayed until she was placed in household service to a wealthy family.
Not really so long ago.

This rose was our first to bloom this season.
I was going to deadhead it today, but my husband said no. He says it is still beautiful and not done yet.
So I sat down in the grass to enjoy the color and fragrance one more day.
I think I want to be like this rose. Even though I am old, I'm not yet done and can still bring joy to those who are willing to see my inner beauty.
I might leave it two more days.
Summer says good idea.

My husband is a sweetheart.
I mentioned that my doctor ordered thirty minutes of heart-pounding exercise three times a week. He is very aware that it is hard for me to make arrangements to exercise away from home regularly.
One of the grandkids recently brought me a small, low-profile treadmill that can be stored easily when necessary. The problem is that to go fast enough to get my heart rate up, I feel a little wobbly on it.
I was surprised to see my husband found a solution by sharing his walker. He isn't using it right now, and it actually gives me something to grab if I need to steady myself.
A declaration of love that is better than a card or a box of chocolates.
He is pretty cute and resourceful. A keeper.

Iris toot for today. Our newest blossom.
#BloomScrolling

My husband and I have been a couple for a long time. Through ups and downs, sickness and health and times happy as well as sad.
Now we navigate being old.
Even through extreme circumstances, we manage to show our devotion to each other.
Our methods have changed over time for sure, but not the core desire to love and be loved.
My husband just did something for me that might seem small, but it isn't. The other day, when I went hiking through the redwoods, I wore a new pair of walking shoes thinking the trail was maintained. It turned out the trail was muddy, and I thought I ruined the shoes. They looked pretty bad. So I left them in the garage and added, cleaning them to my to-do list.
While I was working in the kitchen today, he quietly sat outside, in the shade, and made my shoes look like new again.
That's true love.
I am pretty lucky.

Summer has a new skill.
My husband has a stick that he uses sometimes to reach things he wants to move closer to him.
Now, when he asks Summer to bring him his stick, she fetches it immediately.
She is the best good girl and a huge help to her pal.
Good morning, Mastodon.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

One more #Caturday toot for Byron.
He is a pretty relaxed cat tonight.

All three of us were watching the sun go down together. These sunshiney days are good for body and soul.
#Sunset

I asked Summer if she wanted to go outside just in case there was a sunset. She told me to go ahead. I think she is worn out.
She ran for at least two hours at the beach nonstop.
#Summer

I totally forgot #Caturday.
My daughter's family is in the process of remodeling their house.
The cats are not amused by all of the commotion.

I tell Summer she is beautiful all the time because she is. I see and feel her kindness every time she looks at me.
Today, I realized that living the rest of my life thinking that everything beautiful about me has gotten old is not ok. When I walk by a mirror, I tend to look away and feel like I haven't done enough stay fit and healthy.
It is time to look at my image differently and see myself with the respect I deserve. I am aging naturally, and all of my friends and family look at me with love. I need to find it in myself to do the same thing. Even at 65, I am still a work in progress.
Summer says she will help.
The fog came in and obscured our sunset, but we bonded over being outside being beautiful together.

Somebody is super tired.
#Summer

Three more daffodil varieties from our garden.
#Daffodil

I could have done a better job of planning today's activities. I got my eighth covid shot this morning and then rushed home to get my husband off to a biopsy appointment.
I also promised the grandkids three cheese mac and cheese. Since I bought all the fancy cheese and I had promised I started shredding.
I started feeling the effects of the covid shot much sooner than I expected, and on top of that, my husband came home with two huge holes in his nose that they had decided not to bandage. That will be a handful for a couple of days.
Tomorrow, we are laying low.
Summer and I stepped outside to check out the newest daffodils before the rain is back tomorrow.
#Daffodil

#SilentSunday

Our luck is holding. We had another morning with rainbows, hither and yon.
Summer and I tuned out everything else and took a moment to appreciate how beautiful our little piece of the world can be.
#Rainbow

Yesterday, my grandson played me a song he found on YouTube. It wasn't new to me as I remembered it from my youth. The song sung by Tennessee Ernie Ford was Sixteen Tons. It is interesting that the kids are unearthing folk songs recorded before I was born.
The lyrics prompted a talk about the subject matter. My grandson thought company towns were related to coal mining. I informed him that at least three company towns were operating in Humboldt when I was a kid. I also pointed out that one was recently added to the registry of historic places. I explained that the lumber and agriculture industries found that business model very appealing. It certainly gave the companies maximum control over workers and their families.
I suggested a field trip to visit the towns that I know about here and to make sure the kids are informed about a business practice that I hear is coming back around again.
It is good to have an understanding of such things and how company towns can be used to exploit workers.