I am doing more driving and way less walking. As result, I am not looking at the world in the way I did when I couldn’t drive. I don’t want to forget that walking helps me see and connect to the world up close and personal. It also reminds me that I am on a journey, and sometimes all I can do on that journey is to just put one foot in front of the other. Walking makes me stronger physically, mentally, and spiritually. WALKING WITH DAD Years ago I used to walk every morning with my dad. He was one of the rare people on the planet whose stride matched my short legged steps. Dad was a fabulous story teller, but not much of a conversationalist. I remember our morning walks as a time where I could really talk to him about things that were on my mind, not just listen to his memories from the past. Ironically those walks have become a unique memory from my own past and I treasure every story he told. WALKING WITH GRANDPA One of my most memorable walks was strolling through an outdoor museum called Land of Legends (Sagnlandet Lejer) on a trip to Denmark where my grandpa was born. It was like a mini Disneyland, but more homey and without the crowds. The park was made up of acres of land divided into historical sections, from the Stone Age and the Vikings to the 1800’s. There was a 19th century farmhouse that was a lot like one my grandpa used to describe when he talked about his childhood. At ten years old he was sent to earn his keep at a nearby farm, The barn and the house were all part of the same structure. The section where they kept the animals was where my grandpa slept. It was an incredible experience to actually walk inside of that house and be able to imagine what his life would have been like. I had driven there in a rental car and gotten lost trying to find the place. I was way out of my comfort zone. My stress and fear started drifting away, however, as I walked alone on a tree lined lane towards the farmhouse. The branches of the trees formed a canopy overhead that kept me dry when it started to rain. I remember that it was very quiet, except for the patter of rain on the leaves. Despite being far from my home I felt protected and safe. As I walked along, I was transported into another era, one in which I could feel the presence of my grandpa. WALKING WITH LINDA I found that same sense of peace on a walk I took a few days after my twin sister Linda died. I had been feeling very depressed and overwhelmed when all of a sudden I had a close encounter with a turkey just a block away from my house. I had never seen a wild turkey in my neighborhood before and I haven’t seen one since. He came out of nowhere and casually strolled across the sidewalk in front of me. It was such a random weird experience that it shook me out of my grief for a bit. Little did that turkey know how much he boosted my spirits. I had not written much on my blog for a couple of years and my turkey adventure made me smile and want to write again. Three years later I am still writing but I feel stuck. The ideas aren’t flowing out of me in the way they used to and I have been struggling over what to say in my blog. Maybe I need to get out and see if I can find that turkey again. Images That Remind Me of My Walks with Dad, Grandpa, and Linda
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The corn is sprouting. I tricked it into thinking it was in Kansas. Normally corn does not grow well on the pacific coast. Corn needs lots of sun and heat. Summer here can be foggy and cold. I live just a few blocks from the ocean, which sends in a blanket of fog in the morning. The fog usually (but not always) rolls out around noon. It’s perfect balmy weather for humans but not so good for corn. To get the corn to sprout I warmed up the soil in one of my raised beds by covering it with clear plastic. Then I soaked the seeds in warm water overnight, and dutifully watered with warm water after planting. The seeds have been tucked under the plastic sheet to keep them toasty and protected from hungry birds and wandering cats looking for an outdoor litter box. Yesterday I saw little green sprouts popping up. Yay! Go corn! It’s growing fast, so I removed the plastic sheet and built a mini greenhouse around the corn patch using clear shower curtains that I bought at the Dollar Store. It’s all held together with binder clips. I love the challenge of recycling random stuff in an unexpected way. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing something you have planted from a seed spring to life. This is true for other things besides plants. I get the same feeling from fresh new ideas that grow from a small spark in my brain, or from watching home improvement projects blossom into something beautiful. Now the hard part begins. It’s not enough to plant a seed and hope it will grow. It needs to be nurtured and cared for. There will be months of watering and feeding. Corn is a heavy feeder and will need a nitrogen boost when it gets about a foot high. I will have to keep my eye out for garden pests and diseases that can spot a vulnerable corn patch from miles away. Later, after the tassels have appeared and the ears start to send out some silks, I will have to do daily corn stalk shaking. Corn is pollinated by the wind and my patch is only 4ft x 4ft. If I don’t do something to make the pollen drift down instead of getting blown away I won’t get any kernels on the cobs. If this all sounds like a lot of work for a few ears of corn, you’re right. But I enjoy the whole process as much as I enjoy eating the corn. That’s what makes it all worth while.
Right now the corn is too young to notice the lack of sun, but it won’t be long before it figures out that it’s not in Kansas anymore. Eventually it will outgrow the greenhouse and be on its own. Hopefully by then it will be big enough and acclimated enough to the coastal weather to put out a few edible ears. There is nothing like corn freshly picked from my garden to make me feel as warm and toasty as I hope my plants feel. |
Leslie Masona woman in search of her post-retirement future Guess what! By subscribing, you get notices about the latest Little Old Lady with Cats posts sent to your mailbox!
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(from an entry posted on 5/1/2015) “I definitely fit some of the characteristics of a little old lady with cats: Retired - check, Single - check, Like to knit - check, Have cats - check. . .I do not want to get stuck in my Little Old Lady persona, however. In fact, this blog is a risk taking experiment in exploring and redefining what I want my retired life to look like.” Categories
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