A Queer Mobile

Still waiting for Dad

Dad started feeling sick this morning, so we didn't try moving him home. Jill and I did get him to a doctor's appointment, though. I am concerned about his ability to get around on his own once we get him back here.

Back in NC

I flew back to North Carolina today to help my father get settled in his home again after being in a rehab facility for two months. My sister, Jill, and brother-in-law Carl have done an incredible job of getting his home adapted for his needs. We'll bring him home tomorrow. I'll hang out here with him for a week. We're all hoping he'll start feeling comfortable here again.

Blissful fall and a trip planned

It's been completely blissful here so far this fall. I've been standing under the Thompkins County King apple tree in our front garden every morning as I do standing qi gong meditation - after I check for falling (or potentially falling) apples! The remaining blooms are zinnias and marigolds, with a few calendulas that I planted late for herbal extracts.

I've not been traveling much at all this year, and I'm glad of it. That will change the week after next when I head back to North Carolina to help Dad. He's getting out of rehab for his knee, and I'm glad to be of service to him.

Running a butterfly nursery

I'd not had a chance to edit the video I took about six weeks ago until now. I went out to garden early in the morning. As I started to pull some weeds I noticed a flash of color. I froze and saw a monarch butterfly just emerging from its chrysalis. I grabbed my video camera and shot what happened. (And I stopped weeding that patch - too many butterflies in-process. We had another monarch emerge just two weeks ago!)

Pear butter

Fall has invaded, and I've been crushing grapes for grape juice and stewing pears and apples. We have five kinds of apples on our property and two kinds of pears. We had enough pears for me to make pear butter - and I'm finishing up a batch of applesauce this evening as I write this.

Here's a video of how I do pear butter. You don't have to can the result; it's so good you might just want to wolf it down...