Category: Uncategorized-A Bit of This-A Dab of That

ECONOGAL > Uncategorized-A Bit of This-A Dab of That

Econogal’s Top Ten Books of 2024

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2024

My Top Ten Books of 2024 highlights my favoritism of fiction over non-fiction. I struggled on whether to include non-fiction on the list as I have for certain years. Or leave them off all together since I read too few to compile a list. In the end, my decision was to discuss the top three.

Non-Fiction

Most of the non-fiction I read is categorized as self-help or do-it-yourself. Perhaps I read too many biographies as a child and too many research and theory books during my career. Regardless of the reason, most of what I read is either home improvement or self-improvement. This year follows the trend. So, there are no top ten books of 2024 in this category. But here are three with merit.

Survive and Thrive: How to Prepare for any Disaster Without Ammo, Camo, or Eating Your Neighbor by Bill Fulton and Jeanne Chilton Devon is excellent. Anyone who has experienced a natural disaster knows the importance of preparedness. In addition to reading and owning this book, visit www.ready.gov.

Early in the year, I read Hidden Potential. Adam Grant presents anecdotes outlining theories and then follows with constructive steps to reach goals. For the most part, reading is straightforward. However, there are parts where one must diligently slog through. Nothing worth doing is easy.

Finally, Ageless Aging: A Woman’s Guide to Increasing Healthspan, Brainspan, and Lifespan by Maddy Dychtwald with Kate Hanley is a book I am gifting. While geared toward women my current age, I wish I had read it decades ago. Especially the part concerning finances.

Fiction: Top Ten Books of 2024

As always, determining the order of the top ten books of 2024 was difficult. Click on the title to reach each review. This helps determine if the book will be a good gift for your holiday shopping. The tones vary from light-hearted to deep suspense.

  1. The Promise of Unbroken Straw by Ken Steele
  2. Crow Talk by Eileen Garvin
  3. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
  4. The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen
  5. The Museum of Lost Quilts by Jennifer Chiaverini
  6. The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin
  7. The Women by Kristen Hannah
  8. Pitch Dark by Paul Doiron
  9. The Unwedding by Ally Condie
  10. Fake Famous by Dana L. Davis

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS and Mid-October Musings

Posted on by Econogal
Comet in the dusk sky with amber glow on the horizon.
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS on October 22, 2024

Spotting a Comet

The highlight through Mid- October is finally seeing Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS. Closely following is the over one inch of rain in one weekend. Of course, the latter delayed the former! Cloudy and rainy skies during prime viewing of the comet and of the Orionid meteor shower put a bit of a damper on my favorite time of year.

Fortunately, the skies cleared enough on the 22nd for a brief but wonderful view of the comet. I live far enough north that the tail disappears into the horizon after a short time. Photos from south and west of here from the same date give views of the comet and the milky way.

Watching the Skies in Mid-October

My favorite meteor shower is the Orionids. Multiple reasons can be given. First, the showers stem from Halley’s Comet. Then, the timing. October has cool but not cold frigid nights. So, unlike the Geminid meteor shower of December, one can comfortably enjoy stargazing with perhaps a sweater or light blanket.

Plus, the shower bursts from the constellation Orion. This constellation is so bright city dwellers can identify the position. So, growing up in cities, I learned to spot the constellation early. Of course, out here on the Great Plains the stars are incredible. Worthy of a vacation for those unable to see the Milky Way due to the light pollution.

Comet Watching

Halley’s Comet was the first comet I remember seeing. I was a young adult. So, I will need to live as long as my friend Beverly, to view the return.

Hale-Bopp was the first comet my offspring watched. And the youngest was too young to remember. I hope she can leave the bright lights of Houston to get a glimpse. Like a total solar eclipse, comets don’t come around often.

No Snow-Just Rain

All through the 1990s, moisture from Mid-October forward appeared as snow. Many Halloweens meant kids wearing snow boots and once the mayor even cancelled Trick-or-Treat due to the blizzard earlier in the week. Now the first snow may not fall until Christmas. Farmers and ranchers know the climate is changing. It is the blame game that creates arguments.

Regardless of the form, the moisture was much needed and measured over an inch on my garden rain gauge. Digging the fall root crops should be easier now.

 

Mid-October in Past Years

Leaves are turning yellow, gold and orange with a small sprinkling of red. Not enough sugar trees in this part of the world. I miss the glorious colors of New England along with the afternoon football games. The closest experience in recent years was the trip to Canada in 2018. Click here for beautiful fall pictures.

However, each region has its’ own fall beauty. The tawny colors of the fields bring to mind lyrics. Amber waves of grain truly make for a Beautiful America. We need to remember we are one country, indivisible, regardless of the contentious rhetoric of late fall campaigns.

2024 Elections

Mid-October also means Election Day is just weeks away. Early voting has started in some states. I have been studying the blue book sent out by the state concerning the many amendments and propositions posited by the legislature and citizens. There are many.

Since I am not affiliated with any political party, I weigh each candidate and each proposal before making my determination. Apologies to both my father and paternal grandfather. They tried to get me to vote straight tickets. And thanks to my mom who instilled in me that the absolute best thing about the United States of America was the right to vote privately.

Pollsters may know what they are talking about. Then again, maybe not. Regardless of who your favorite candidate is, I encourage you to go out and vote. Voting is a privilege many do not have in this wide world we have.

Updating The GO Bags

Posted on by Econogal

Emergency Preparedness

Watching the coverage of Hurricane Helene prompted me to pull the GO Bags out of the front closet to check for needed updates. Quite a few were needed. To be honest, it has probably been close to two years (or even more) since I last checked these important evacuation items. So, this morning’s chores included a shopping trip to replace a few key items in the bags.

Essentials for GO Bags

Clothes, medical items, food, rescue equipment and toiletries make up the bulk of what goes into the GO Bags. Additional items might fall under entertainment. These may end up being very important if you have children in your family.

It is important not to overload the backpacks. One might need to carry the load for a distance. A key item not on the list is water. I keep that in a separate rolling bag.

Clothes

Clothes for the GO Bag include gloves socks T-shirt and sweat shirt
Clothes

I have the following packed in my bag:

  • 2 pairs of underwear
  • 2 pairs of socks
  • 1 short sleeve T-Shirt
  • 1 pair of leggings
  • 1 hooded synthetic sweatshirt
  • Rain Jacket
  • 2 pairs of gloves; one cotton, one wool
  • 1 pair of ankle supports
  • 1 LL Bean beanie with head lamps

The lights in the beanie still work, unlike the small flashlight with similar LED technology.

Medical Items

Both prescription and non-prescription medicines are in the bag. I only have a week’s worth of the two medicines I take daily. Additionally, the following over-the-counter items are included:

Align Probiotic             Thera Tears     Tylenol              Benadryl Cream         Airborne

Neosporin       Aquaphor Lip Repair               Ricola Cough Drops

 

Food for the GO Bags

This is a bit tricky. Perishable goods are not great in storage, so rotation is important. I limit myself to what fits in a one-gallon plastic bag. And I include plastic utensils. Currently, the following items are available:

  • Variety of powdered drink mixes
  • Clif Bars
  • Beef Jerky
  • Trail Mix
  • Nut Butters and Jelly
  • Individual packets of instant oatmeal and hot cocoa

Rescue Equipment

My favorite piece of rescue equipment is the Four Function Whistle by Coghlan’s. Click here for their website. The four functions are a whistle, a compass, a thermometer and a magnifier. I also include:

  • Matches
  • Mirror
  • Handwarmers by Grabber
  • Dryer Lint

Since there is room left in the quart sized bag, I also store mosquito wipes and sunscreen here. The lint is stored inside a recycled medicine bottle.

Toiletries and Personal Care Items

Within the GO Bags, another one-gallon storage bag is chock full of hand selected items to make life a little better if I must evacuate. A combination of wants and needs as follows:

Wash Cloth     Bandana          Toothbrush and toothpaste      Floss   Feminine Products              Comb

Toilet Paper     Band Aids and Tape   Kleenex   Cotton swabs Nail file             Head Band

Cotton Rounds           Hand Sanitizer              Shampoo        Deodorant

Organization of GO Bags

I use quart and gallon sized bags, clearly labeled for everything except the clothes. A drawstring bag holds the clothes in a tight bundle. Then the bundle and most of the other containers go inside a waterproof zipped storage bag. This zipped bag was recycled from some purchase long ago. The Food Storage bag is kept separate.

Since space is still available in the side pockets, other items such as spare reading glasses, a map, a sheet of paper with contact phone numbers, extra shoelaces and a belt are added. The last two items are a small hand sewing kit with buttons and a small fabric bag with cash in mixed denominations. Just beware of the overall weight. Mine weighs about twelve pounds. This falls into the guidelines of staying between ten and twenty percent of my body weight.

Hopefully, I will never need to use a Go Bag. But if a natural disaster heads my way…I am ready to go.

 

Return to 1968

Posted on by Econogal

Assassination Attempt

My thoughts return to 1968 with the attempted assassination of former president and current candidate Donald Trump. I was quite young that year, a mere kindergartener. Yet I lived on a college campus where the political climate was heightened. So, my memories are memories and not just remembered stories.

1968-A Time of Conflict

For many readers, 1968 is so far in the past, knowledge comes from the history books. For those of us that lived through the year, the significance is key. Assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy during the spring set the tone.

Anti-Vietnam war sentiments stirred and would boil over in the years to follow. Protests began on campuses across the United States and many other countries as well. Living in married student housing with my parents, most of the unrest seemed distant as we played with the other kids in the apartment complex. But I do distinctly remember two key things. Chants of “Hell no, We won’t Go” and much more sobering, the weekly counts of Vietnam deaths recited on the news.

Inequality in 1968

Discrimination based on skin color led to a fear of race wars. My parents were very progressive. As a result, I was somewhat ignorant of these tensions. And as soon as bussing ended desegregation in my school district, I was invited to, and attended, birthday parties regardless of the skin color of the birthday celebrant.

At the time I was oblivious to economics and social inequalities. We lived in campus housing. The furniture had plastic cushions and I shared a small room (think old dorm size) with my younger sibling. One bathroom, an eat-in kitchen with a chipped Formica table and a small living area. My parents did have their own bedroom. The entire place was not much bigger than some of today’s hotel rooms. If I was considered poor, I didn’t realize it.

Social Differences in 2024

I am no longer unaware of the various economic strata found in each country…even those embracing communism. So, I am grateful I live in the United States where the economy is mixed. A mixed economy has tenets of various economic models. The part that is capitalist allows those individuals that create and work hard and yes have luck, to move “upward.” And there is also a downward flow. Many times, a third generation cannot build on what the previous two have built.

Furthermore, mixed economies provide protection for those that cannot work due to extenuating circumstances. We need to face the reality that not all children are born with the same opportunities. In particular, are the many that are born with physical, mental, and environmental challenges.

Uncertainties Then and Now

On the surface a comparison between 1968 and 2024 is easy. But an in-depth look shows stark differences. Key is the age of the candidates. In 1968, the oldest candidate was the Democratic nominee aged 57 with the Republican counterpart 55. The 2024 election, at this time, has a 78-year-old and an 81-year-old. Is it time for a constitutional amendment regulating a maximum age similar to the minimum age?

Another major contrast is the current military is voluntary. There is not an active draft. The final difference is the national debt.

In 1968, the debt was 368 Billion which was 39% of the GDP. Current debt is just under 35 Trillion. And the debt to GDP ratio is 135%. From an economic point, this is unsustainable. Click here for an indepth comparison of debt from 1929 to the present.

Election of 2024

The United States of America holds presidential elections in November every four years and this is one of those years. Just under four months remain until Election Day. Anyone who is not registered to vote, I encourage you to sign up. Our right to vote is a fundamental freedom not found everywhere. It is a valuable right. Furthermore, take your vote seriously. Study the issues and the candidates. Then vote as YOU see best. Try not to let commercials and talking heads make the decision for you. Our balloting system of private voting provides everyone the ability to vote independently. I wish every country could enjoy the same right.

Many Reasons to Read

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From Entertainment to Gaining Knowledge

There are many reasons to read ranging from entertainment to gaining knowledge. And there are many types of books, articles and blogs to choose from. Plus, “reading” can be done via listening. Think of young children listening to stories at bedtime.

One of the icebreakers I used at the start of the fall semester was to ask each student what book they read most recently. Occasionally, a student would not have read a book just for fun in many years. Others were clearly readers for entertainment purposes. I found a strong correlation between students who read for fun and those students who gained much from the texts used in the classroom. (This was before the push to eliminate textbooks.)

My Many Reasons to Read

Regular readers of this blog know one of the key reasons I read is my hope to stave off memory loss. In 2013 I realized my mom was having memory issues because she could not finish any fiction books. So, this spring when I kept returning library books partially read, I became concerned.

Fortunately, my fears were unfounded. After struggling with new releases, I borrowed paperbacks from a family member. Two were by often read author David Baldacci and a third was a Stuart Woods. All three were read in timely fashion. They were fun reads.

Knowledge comes from reading. One is never too old to learn. Although I will admit learning about new technologies is difficult. Wrapping my brain around AI is one example. But the knowledge gained aids in investment decision making. Actually, in any decision making.

Reading Formats

Hardcover books are my preference. Paperbacks tend to have a smaller font. Online reading causes eyestrain for me. Even when reading with the blue light lenses. However, many of my family members prefer to read online. Everything from the newspaper to the latest beach read can be found online.

Of the many reasons to read online, convenience is at the top of the list. The Libby app allows you to check-out books online in less than the time needed to drive to the local library. As a bonus, library fines are non-existent as the app automatically returns the book on the due date.

Converting Non-Readers into Readers

Mastering reading is one of the most important tools for life. However, reading does not come easy for everyone. When working with children, it is important to find a genre that encourages the skill. The same holds true for adults.

Then, once a mastery of reading is complete reading across genres and delivery methods provides everything from entertainment to a gain in knowledge. These many reasons to read develop well-rounded, intelligent and thoughtful members of society. We need more readers in this world to produce the critical thinking that keeps the negatives of history from repeating.

I challenge each of you to read for at least an hour this weekend.

Blowin’ in the Wind

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Spring Weather

This time of year, everything is blowin’ in the wind. Dirt and pollen and pollen and dirt. And that’s just the normal wind. Unfortunately, spring weather also brings in tornadic activity. So, now is time to review some emergency preparedness. Here on the high plains one of the greatest dangers is blowing dirt. Farmers, just like other occupations range in abilities. Fortunately, good stewards of the land incorporate practices to keep fields from blowin’ in the wind. For example, farmers can leave stubble and plant cover crops.

No Till Farming

Long ago, leaving stubble in the field was considered lazy. Now the technique is known as no till and actually has many benefits. Edward H. Faulkner posited the theory in his work Plowman’s Folly released in 1943. Thus, the text is a reaction to the Dust Bowl Days of the 1930s. Tillage is thought to be a main contributor to loss of topsoil. And loss of topsoil means dirt flying through the air.

Blowing dirt is extremely dangerous for those travelling through farm country in the spring. Even Interstate and divided highways can be shut down from loss of visibility due to flying dirt. But most dangerous are the two-lane highways used as alternates. Unfortunately, fatal crashes occur.

Blowin’ in the Wind

Gale force winds not only blow dirt, but also bring down tree branches and entire trees. In turn, the trees can bring down power lines or block roadways. Unfortunately, a repercussion of downed power lines is the potential to spark a wildfire.

Now as a precaution, high winds in areas with trees and above ground power lines translates into electric companies turning off power for hours at a time. When these hours stretch into a day or more, businesses and homeowners suffer consequences. About the only thing you can do about power loss is to have a back-up generator.

Tornadic Activity

In my opinion the worst part of the spring season is the tornadoes that epitomize blowin’ in the wind. Entire towns can disappear if the cyclone is wide enough and strong enough. The destruction is incredible. Survivors can be haunted the rest of their lives.

Emergency preparedness measures for tornadoes can be accessed from the FEMA website by clicking here. Keys to preparedness include weather radios, safe rooms, basements and common sense. The funnel cloud I videoed was almost five miles distant and moving away. Any closer and I would not have captured it. If the radio says seek shelter, do it now.

In our county last year, a farm family received a reverse 911 call telling them they were in the bull’s eye of a tornado. They retreated to the basement. After the storm everything was gone. Don’t fool with Mother Nature, seek shelter when you are in the direct path of one of these storms. So, sign up for reverse 911 calls. Even cell phones can receive these messages.

Prepare for More Blowin’ in the Wind

Severe storms go hand in hand with the season. Fortunately, my corner of the world has not revisited the straight line 100 M.P.H. winds from a few years ago…at least so far this year. I am prepared for power outages and debris clean-up from wind damage, are you?

Derby Hats, Mint Juleps, Derby Pie and Bourbon Balls: Are You Ready for Derby 150?

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A Longstanding Tradition

Derby hats are out of storage, a few sprigs of mint peak above the ground, I am getting ready for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby. On my to do list is to browse through my copy of Racing to the Table and start thinking about my racing picks. Handicapping the Derby is difficult in part due to the expanded field of 20.

Pix Shoes of Louisville

Many of my derby hats are bought at Pix Shoes in downtown Louisville. In addition to an abundance of shoes in widths narrow to wide, this great shop carries a plethora of hats and fascinators. If you are headed to the big race and don’t have a hat yet, make your way to 201 S. Preston Street. A treat for the eyes is inside!

Owners and employees go out of their way to help you match a hat to an outfit. And if you have time to shop for clothes as well, I will let you in on a secret: Buy the derby hat first, and then find an outfit to go with it.

Fascinators for 2024

My choices for this year’s Oaks and Derby Days are fascinators, both bought at Pix. A Kelly-green jacket atop a navy dress will pair perfectly with the navy fascinator highlighted with Kelly-green embellishments. The other fascinator will be perfect headgear for a blush and lace dress. The clothes complement the derby hats.

 

Derby hats hanging on an antique hall tree

Derby Hats

Anyone fortunate to attend the race in person will tell you how ornate the hats can be. And the men can really get into the celebration! I once saw a man wearing a replica of the racetrack complete with the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs. And others wearing horse heads as hats. Personally, I prefer the traditional looks of straw summer hats. No matter your tastes, the entire weekend is a spectacle.

Derby Menu

Those of you watching from home, I highly recommend buying or finding a copy of Racing to the Table. Click here for my review from a few years ago. The food and the beverages are a big part of hosting a party. Sweets top the list for me. I love derby pies and could easily pop a half-dozen or so bourbon balls in my mouth. But make sure to include heartier fare as well.

In addition to mint juleps, consider serving Oaks Lillies. I don’t particularly care for vodka, but the cranberry juice, lime and triple sec mixed in make for a delightfully fresh cocktail. Click here for a Southern Living recipe of this gem.

150 Years of Tradition

An event surviving over a century is remarkable in this age of forgetting history. Furthermore, celebrations are moments in time honoring traditions lucky enough to survive the ebbs and flows of life. I don’t know how many thousands will descend upon Churchill Downs and Louisville, Kentucky next week (weather will play a factor) but I do hope the celebration will be a joyful and responsible one. Enjoy your derby hats, parties and food and for those attending in person- safe travels.

Backseat to Life

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Absence of Posts

From time to time my writing takes a backseat to life. This is the case for my recent absence. After four years of searching, we found a mountain retreat. Trying to get things set up in our home away from home takes time. Learning to deal with a different set of wildlife will take even more time.

Other things popped up as well. We were finally able to get my dad’s house on the market after a lengthy probate. We are coming up on the one-year anniversary of his unexpected death. Anyone in the Central Florida region looking for a house with good bones, and with recent improvements of the big-ticket items such as a new roof and just needing a little love to make it your own can click here.

Prioritizing Commitments

One of the biggest time commitments which caused the blogging to take a backseat to life was the planning of a Zonta International Area meeting. The meeting took place in Beautiful Cañon City and featured two wonderful women speaking on inner growth.

Cris Lindsay is known as the Happiness Coach. Her three breakout sessions keyed on the importance of balancing a hectic work-life and making time for yourself. Her interactive sessions provided many stress-reducing techniques.

Dr. Barbara Ann Jacques provided the keynote during the luncheon. The importance of time remained a key theme. She expanded with a self-evaluation using three Vs; vision, value, and vibration. Worksheets guided the participants through the process. The group of professional women were open to exploring the concept of utilizing time for oneself as a means to expand each ones impact on the world around us.

In the Library

Throw in a dislike of a few of the recent books I’ve read, and the situation gets dire. The last two books I read were non-fiction and business related. The first was a guide to developing leaders and it was ok, just dry and made leaders seem self-centered. The second was an economics booked hailed on the back cover as the best theory since John Maynard Keynes tome The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money. It was not. My back cover blurb would have read: Utopian at best, veiled socialism/communism at worst.

Gardening takes a Backseat to Life

An even greater problem was a deep freeze of 15 degrees just as the first asparagus popped up. No gardening pictures and few spring blooms. In fact, the mountain retreat has more daffodils in bloom than the homestead on the high plains. Not sure how that happened.

No More Backseat

Fortunately for my writing, running the recent conference for 40 attendees was the finale to my two-year term. My organizational management skills were well used. Now it is time to polish the writing skills.

Survive and Thrive Book Review

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Catchy Subtitle

The tag line of Survive and Thrive: How to Prepare for any Disaster Without Ammo, Camo or Eating Your Neighbor caught my attention while perusing the new releases at the library. Bill Fulton and Jeanne Chilton Devon teamed together to write this disaster preparedness how to book. Since spring weather is prone to severe weather and the disasters that accompany it, I checked it out. For the most part the authors stick to their promise. However, there is a small section on ammo and camo. No cannibalism though!

The advice is proactive and non-doomsday. Initial chapters focus on the need to go beyond the government’s three-day preparedness guidelines. And the authors point out that the vast majority of households have at least a week’s worth of food on hand. The first chapters focus on building specific supplies to extend to more than a two-week cache.

Water and Food to Survive and Thrive

A good explanation of the need for uncontaminated water starts the book. Both authors bring an environmentalist approach and prefer larger storage containers to single use bottles. One of the key features is Appendix B which recommends companies and products.

The next two chapters focus on food. First, what types of food to store and how to safely store long-term food. Then a chapter on how to forage for food. Foraging for food is not an everyday event for this blogger as I can count on one hand the times I have come across plants in the wild. (Actually, twice in major cities-Portland, Oregon is rife with blackberries and strawberry plants dot downtown Louisville, Kentucky.)

Farming and micro-gardens finish out this section. A comprehensive look at everything from container gardens to compost piles reminds one of a good gardening book. Like the other chapters, the authors end the chapter with questions to answer and lists to consider.

Organization and the Three S’s

The middle three chapters offer a plethora of tips on organization, shelter, safety and security. This information offers a lot of common-sense tips that are not often followed. And then there is more.

Organizational hints in Survive and Thrive mirror those found in both The Home Edit and Lose the Clutter, Lose the Weight. Emphasis is put on organization as a de-stressor during emergencies. No need to hunt for necessary items if evacuating is key.

Knowing how and where to shut off the utilities is very important. Most people can flip an electric breaker. Finding the shut-off valves for water and gas is just as important and may require a special tool. The authors provide multiple tips in this area.

The safety and security section brings a bit of doom and gloom to Survive and Thrive. But the authors are not doomsday in their approach to security issues. Again, common sense and specialized gear are mixed in the advice.

Security issues discussed are applicable for every day life and not just during disasters. However, as pointed out in the book, stressful times can bring out the ugliness of life.

Disasters

The most comprehensive chapter in Survive and Thrive covers a host of disasters, both natural and man-made. Climate change is addressed as well. From blizzards to wildfires and everything in between, Survive and Thrive details the planning and action steps that need to occur. The first step is knowing what types of disaster your home is prone to experiencing.

Even though one plans and prepares, the actual experience of each type of disaster is a learning process. Mistakes will occur. Again, many suggestions and lists to follow. Everyone will benefit from reading this particular chapter. I have lived through blizzards, heat waves, earthquakes, hurricanes and a pandemic and I still found the information very valuable.

Recommendation for Survive and Thrive

Bill Fulton and Jeanne Chilton Devon have penned a thoroughly marvelous how-to book. This reference book is a must read no matter what part of the country you live in. Common sense through out and a very different take than survivalist prepper books. The final chapter on mental well-being sums up the theme. I highly recommend this book.

Important Things in Life

Posted on by Econogal

Top Three

Three items top the list of what I think is important to learn in life. First is reading. Once a child can read the door is open to academia and every day how-to instructions. The second is swimming. Even for those far away from the ocean. Finally, everyone needs to learn how to cook. Did the last two surprise you?

Reading is Most Important

As a parent, I stressed the importance of reading and thus books. Bookshelf wealth is now a thing, but our house has always had a plethora of books. Children’s books, cook books, gardening books, novels and how-to books and many, many text books fill a multitude of bookshelves.

My belief is once reading is mastered, any skill or subject matter could be learned. One can literally become a jack or jill of all trades. Instructional books abound and of course every subject taught in school can be learned if one feels the subject is important.

Swimming

My parents prioritized learning to swim before I even started kindergarten. We lived in Florida and water was everywhere! The Red Cross lessons taught floating and diving in addition to several basic swim strokes. In turn, I also felt swim lessons were important even though my kids lived on the high plains and not a hundred yards or so from the Atlantic Ocean.

My insistence that they learned was based on a tragedy from my junior high years. A classmate lost her youngest brother when the preschooler drowned in a neighbor’s pool. Bodies of water are everywhere. Swimming, floating and treading water are necessary skills for everybody.

Cooking is Important Too

Hopefully times have changed enough that learning to cook is important for all. However, I belong to a generation where many males grill burgers and steaks and not much else. Fortunately, my in-laws taught all their kids to cook, and I am married to a man that could be a master chef if he wanted to change careers.

I do not remember the age my kids were when they first started fixing food for themselves. But they needed chairs to reach the counter or the stove top. It was quite important to supervise them in the early years.

Now my grandchildren are picking up skills in the kitchen. All three have multi-functional furniture called learning towers or kitchen helpers depending on the manufacturer. These cool pieces can act as a chair and table/desk when on the side or serve as a very sturdy stepstool when standing on end. The sides provide extra support when they are helping in the kitchen either cooking or at the sink.

The oldest helps grandpa make scones and grandma make brownies. Cooking skills are important to develop from an early age. We just make sure we also emphasize safety.

Enjoying a snack at the kitchen counter.
Learning Tower is in the background.

Basic Skills

Reading, swimming, and cooking are all basic skills. However, each is critically important for living a full healthy and happy life. At first glance all could be placed toward the bottom of Maslow’s Hierarchy. Yet each offers an individual a chance to grow toward the pinnacle of self-actualization. Hence, they are important things for all to master.

Winter Weather Preparedness

Posted on by Econogal

Winter Storm Heather

Bitter cold is sweeping across the United States this weekend. Parts of the country will also experience precipitation, snow in the North and cold rain in the South. Planning and preparedness are critical to riding out Winter Storm Heather.

Most importantly, use common sense. Something that seems in short supply. Don’t travel unless there is no alternative. Cars break down. Electronics fare poorly in low temperatures. So, newer cars are at greater risk. And in sub-zero windy conditions, frostbite can occur in minutes.

Prepare your home before the weather hits. A roof over head with working heat is the key to riding out a storm in comfort. Several important steps prior to the storm hitting are critical to letting you stay warm and toasty inside.

Winter Weather Preparedness on the Road

Hat, scarf, gloves and body warmers are keys to Winter Weather Readiness

 

Unfortunately, sometimes traveling in poor conditions can’t be avoided. And while preparing ahead of time is not foolproof, it certainly is advisable. Proper car maintenance is the first item on the list.

  1. Check Tire Pressure and Tread

Individual tires vary in required pressure so check the manufacturer’s settings. Tire pressure decreases in cold weather so make sure to adjust for incoming cold weather. Tread depth should be 6/32 or greater.

  1. Windshield Washer Fluid

Make sure the window washer fluid is topped off and can withstand below freezing temperatures. Snow splash back is definitely a problem travelling on highways alongside 18-wheelers and other high profile vehicles.

  1. Extra Emergency Gear
    1. Blankets
    2. Food
    3. Water
    4. Hand, Foot or Body Warmers
    5. Clothing-Coat, Scarf, Gloves, Beanie, Boots

Even though winter weather preparedness gear takes up a lot of room in a vehicle, I insist on all these items before traveling out of town. Each person in the car should have appropriate gear.

These are all minimum requirements. Other items one could include are portable cordless tire inflator pumps, jumper cables (older batteries perform poorly in very cold weather), and snow chains.

Winter Weather Preparedness at Home

Getting ready for the winter season at home starts way in advance of any named storm. Each fall, the furnace needs to be checked. In my case and opinion, this is not a DIY. The only thing I do myself with respect to the HVAC system is regularly change the filters.

  1. Check Furnace
  2. Fireplaces

Those with fireplaces also need to check the flues.

  1. Insulate outdoor hose bibs

I wrap the faucets with bubble wrap and then cover them with a recycled piece of Styrofoam.

  1. Stock the Pantry

Two weeks’ worth of basic supplies is a no brainer to me nor to anyone ever experiencing a blizzard with feet of snow. It takes a while to dig out. Items such as fresh milk will need substitutes such as canned or powdered. Young families need to stock up on essentials like diapers! I still remember the angst of a neighboring family from the Blizzard of 1996. Not only were roads impassable but the grocery stores were closed. At least there were no roof collapses like last year in the California Sierras.

 

Southern States

Winter weather preparedness is also important in warmer climates. Growing up, I only had light jackets and there were few fireplaces. We certainly did not have one. So, preparations need to alter to fit the climate. Portable generators which may be on hand to combat electrical loss after hurricanes can do double duty in extreme cold. It has only been a few years since Texans experienced a major loss of power due to freezing temperatures impacting energy sources.

Good Neighbors

The most important part of battling weather extremes is looking out for others. Make sure to check on your neighbors in the days before and after an adverse event. We are all in this together. And remember, use common sense. Stay warm!

 

Love of My Heart

Posted on by Econogal

Double Entendre

Creating names and title is part and parcel of writing novels and Love of My Heart sounds perfect for a romance novel. However, in this case love of my heart needs to be taken literally. The stresses and strains of life are at a tipping point. So, to lower a greatly elevated blood pressure I now take blood pressure medicine.

Tipping Point

The tipping point came last week when I woke from a good night’s sleep but still felt off. My blood pressure reading was more than off, I was soaring into space with readings from two devices of 205/105 and 197/101. It’s hard to believe I wasn’t experiencing a stroke or other heart event.

My natural reaction was to call my health provider. However, it was still before working hours for most. So, I went for a long, slow-paced walk, keeping my heart rate in check. Upon returning the blood pressure had fallen a bit, but I made the call and was deemed enough of a concern that an appointment was made for that day.

I trust my health provider and even though I hate taking daily medication, for the love of my heart I will. So far there have been a few side-effects. Light-headiness is the primary one. And though the readings are lower, they are still in an elevated range. A follow-up visit in a few weeks will determine any adjustments. Until then I am monitoring the pressure on a regular basis.

Love of My Heart

The most likely cause of the blood pressure increase is stress aided by the aging factor and genetics. Both my parents experienced high blood pressure. So, I grew up leaving out or reducing salt from recipes. (Herbs are a great alternative for seasoning.) Additionally, I am active, not much of a drinker and not overweight. Thus, an unlikely candidate for high blood pressure.

Stress is the main culprit. Unfortunately, for the love of my heart I am not good with processing harmful stress. I let things eat at me versus letting things roll off my back or just ignoring what I don’t like. Recently personal stress has been accompanied by concerns for my country. The United States is polarized and I don’t like that at all. Within the last week, a statesman I used to admire and respect stated that if his candidate did not win in 2024 ballots needed to be replaced by bullets.

This is wrong. I hope most Americans agree with me. Civil War is not the answer.

Reducing Stress

On a personal level, my offspring are really stepping up to the plate. Much of the stress level revolves around handling the many things involved with closing out my dad’s estate. The kids have really rallied. They are not materialistic in nature so no fighting for “things.” Unfortunately, I can hardly get some of these companies holding limited assets as well as debts to talk to me as executor. Thus, the frustrating aspects of probate cannot be delegated.

Recognizing the stressors is a first step. Action is the next. My spouse found a good article in the Wall Street Journal entitled ‘The Power to Decide How You Feel’ which is well worth the read. I am trying to implement a few of the suggestions.

Writing as More than Brain Therapy

In the meantime, I will continue to write and make submissions. An active brain needs a healthy heart. In the short-term (and possibly forever) I will avail myself of the wonders of modern medicine. Love of My Heart really is catchy…now I just need a plot. And characters…and a setting. Good stressors not harmful ones. Writing is such good therapy!

Help Wanted vs. 32-Hour Work Week

Posted on by Econogal

Help wanted signs are everywhere so I was surprised to hear of a suggested 32-hour work week yesterday on the radio. Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont is calling for the mandatory reduction in hours along with an increase in the minimum wage to $17.00 an hour. On the surface the idea will sound great to many. But, as always there are costs to a regulated market. Even the labor market.

Free Markets

The concept of free markets is a major contributor to the economic success of the United States as well as most other developed nations. In a free market, prices adjust due to supply and demand. Economic theories are complex and include ideas such as price stickiness and stagflation. But overall, the concepts work. If there is a shortage buyers pay more. When there is a glut suppliers need to cut prices or products languish in warehouses.

Wages represent the price of labor. Help wanted signs are signals that the labor market is not in equilibrium. So, more workers are needed than are willing to work. In a free market situation, wages are increased to the point more individuals are enticed to work. To a certain extent, the process works.

Help Wanted

However, other factors are impacting the labor market. Covid-19, Baby Boomers retirement, child care costs and government policy are all limiting the availability of workers. The combination of factors is having an adverse effect. There are too many reasons to not work whether one is young or old. Perhaps AI (Artificial Intelligence) will take up the slack. But for the present, we have a labor shortage. Hence the Help Wanted signs.

So, businesses respond by cutting hours of operation or even services in general. This results in disgruntled consumers. A vicious cycle begins.

32-Hour Work Week

So as a retired economics instructor I was taken aback by Senator Sanders’ proposal of a 32-Hour work week. In my opinion this is a recipe for disaster. We already have a labor shortage. Fewer hours worked, no matter how productive those hours, means an additional drain on the labor supply.

Certain industries absolutely cannot work with a shortened work week. Just-in-time industries such as fast-food restaurants don’t benefit from a shorter work week. Hamburgers can’t be “saved” for future use. Other industries such as accounting do not benefit from a 32-Hour work week either. Taxes are due when they are due. The same holds true for the legal system. Farmers certainly can’t stop the tractors and combines once the 32-hour mark rolls by.  I could go on and on.

Unfortunately, many states have K-12 systems that are prepping society for a 32-Hour work week. My local school system went to just four days a week about a decade ago. I still think this is a bad idea. Perhaps schools in Vermont where Senator Sanders is from are all on a four-day schedule.

Before retiring to focus on writing I worked in excess of 40 hours a week on a regular basis. My spouse still goes into the office on Saturday mornings. This is in addition to the longer than eight hours during the week. Workaholics? Maybe, but the quality and quantity of work is a positive. Things get done. Service-good service- is provided.

Work Ethic Needed

I am sure Senator Sanders is well intentioned. But I still disagree with his proposal. Our society needs to value the work ethic of its’ labor force. Under a free market, wages will respond to this ideal. Even if it means a period of time dotted with Help Wanted signs. Perhaps it is my Protestant upbringing, but I feel strongly that each individual needs to contribute to society through work.

An umbrella of social services is needed for those who cannot help themselves. BUT, our umbrella is too large. My experience has witnessed severely physically handicapped individuals doing their utmost to contribute somehow and in some way.

Too many individuals not in this category are opting out of work and out of society. Could this unwillingness to provide labor be responsible for our increase in violence? Perhaps. I believe happiness comes from within. If one has not accomplished even a simple task, can one develop this inner emotion? Satisfaction with one’s work plays a key role. But my understanding of psychology is limited. I will stick to economic markets. Help Wanted signs do not equate to a 32-Hour work week.

 

Unexpected Death

Posted on by Econogal

Unexpected Death

Death comes quickly when unexpected.

It drops suddenly day or night.

No warnings. Just action. Stealth.

It doesn’t seem right.

 

Easier on the recipient,

Harder on those left behind.

Unexpected Death.

 

Life is over in a moment.

Too quick for reflection?

Perhaps, and hard to know.

Suffering, little or none.

 

The mystery of life remains.

Natural death is not chosen.

Unexpected Death just occurs.

 

Grief follows shock

With each passing day

The pain reverberates,

not going away.

 

Unexpected Death

Each one a stressful act

For those left behind.

 

Weary of the mounting losses

Those still living

Must continue on.

Life means doing and being.

 

Seeking the joy in living.

While remembering those passing on.

Unexpected death gives life more meaning.

Grief

 

Everything is fine until suddenly it’s not.

Grief catches one at odd moments-

A memory here or a smell there.

Favorite songs on the car radio.

Triggers are everywhere.

 

Each one hurts in a different way.

Grief is individual. Grief is collective.

No rhyme or reason, no right or wrong.

But an Unexpected Death

Calls for me to be strong.

A Quick Good-bye

 

Just last week you called,

Uncomfortable in the single bed.

Advice was asked and given.

 

The problem so quickly solved

You hastened to take action

With hardly a good-bye.

 

Since I was relieved by spirits so high,

It hardly mattered that brief good-bye.

Not knowing it would be the last.

Why oh, why, so fast.

 

 

Never Ending Love

 

Fortunate, are those who experience never-ending love.

Mistakes are overlooked. Disappointments forgotten.

 

Grudges are unheard of.

And forgiveness always has room to spare.

 

From birth to death-

Fortunate, are those who experience never-ending love.

 

Memories console and grant inner peace.

Such love gives us strength to carry on.

 

The gift of such a love is both human and divine.

A Father in Heaven and a father who walked the Earth.

 

Fortunate, are those who experience never-ending love.

 

 

I already miss you. Rest in Peace Dad.

Easy Hack for Detangling Jewelry

Posted on by Econogal

Easy Hack

Don’t throw away those tangled chains because detangling jewelry is easy. But time consuming. You will need more than ten to fifteen minutes. In one case the process took me almost two hours. But it was worth it as I can now wear the last necklace my grandfather ever gave me.

Tools Needed

A variety of household items will be needed for this detangling jewelry hack. First, a surface that is stable and will allow pins to penetrate. I used an old bottom of a jewelry box. But the interior of a small cardboard box would work just as well. Multiple safety pins are a must. Finally, a long wooden skewer. Toothpicks are too short and can break easily.

The box needs to have sides to contain the jewelry. I used large safety pins such as quilting safety pins. Smaller ones will work just as well. In fact, fine chains will benefit from a thinner safety pin.

Detangling Jewelry Step-by-Step

First put the tangled mess of chains in the middle of the work surface. Start pinning the largest item/chain and then assess what that piece is tangled with the most. Once the second piece is identified pin that in a separate area. The clasp of the necklace may need to be pinned and then unpinned as the detangling process proceeds. If a chain has its’ clasp connected it may need to be unhooked as the work progresses.

Pin each necklace in a different section of the box to keep the jungled items identified and separate. Try working from the largest to the smallest. However, this is not an absolute. If a thinner strand appears to be less tangled, work on that item first.

Next, use the long skewer to gently-very gently- wiggle the chains apart section by section. Once the knots are loosened, individual chains can be identified. After the skewer detangles part of a chain it is important to use yet another safety pin to anchor that portion into the box.

Anchoring keeps the chains apart. If this is not done, the jumble of jewelry returns. Or even becomes worse!

Patience and Pins

Detangling Jewelry takes lots of patience and lots of pins. Fortunately, the rewards are great. I can now wear the garnet received on my thirteenth birthday. Furthermore, the jumble contained a fifth item. A simple gold chain was mixed in with those containing pendants.

Aging Alone Survival Skills

Posted on by Econogal

Survival Skills

Recently a widowed neighbor disclosed to me the difficulties of aging alone. She loves living here but her closest relatives are over 200 miles away. So, she is selling her home and moving closer to family.

This solution is not for everyone. But as we age we need to take certain things into consideration. And those with aging relatives can help. So, a list of modern-day survival skills for aging follows.

Emergency Alerts for Aging Alone

Since I seldom watch television, I don’t know if those “Help! I’ve fallen and can’t get up” commercials still air. This problem is quite significant for the elderly. I believe that advertisement was for a Life Alert medical device to wear around the neck. Those are great. But other options exist.

My personal favorite is a phone watch. Usually I am a late adaptor to new products. However, I was the first in the family with a watch that has its’ own phone. There is no need for a connection to a nearby cell phone. Calls can be made if I am out on a ten-mile run and can’t make it back. Calls for help if I were to fall and break something are easy. And unlike a medical device on a necklace, a watch blends in.

The latest technology in these watches is the ability to scan for vital signs. One of my octogenarian relatives has this type. When my current watch gives out, I most likely will follow suit. And yes, there is a bit of give and take with regard to the Big Data collected on your health. As a society we do need to be conscious of privacy with respect to the massive storage capacity technology offers.

Low Tech Alternatives

If you or a loved one refuses to wear any type of device, there is an alternative for those aging alone. Albeit not quite as timely or efficient. The biggest risk of a fall that renders one unable to move is not getting help in a timely manner. Blood clots are frequent in hip injuries but also occur in minor sprains. Lying on the ground for hours (or days) waiting for someone to notice your absence is life threatening.

So, communication is the key. Daily morning and evening phone calls to check in become a necessity if newer technology is unwanted. With an extended family a rotation schedule can be implemented. Close neighbors can help as well. Make sure contact information of out-of-town relatives is shared with trusted friends and neighbors. Aging alone does not equal isolation.

Another low-tech alternative is the use of a cane or a walking stick. Both items can add stability to one’s gait. Walking sticks are not limited to mountain hikes. They can also make a walk around a park safer once a certain age is reached.

De-cluttering and Aging Alone

Often falls occur from stumbling over clutter. So, de-cluttering and aging alone go hand-in-hand. Since it is difficult to give up things, books like Lose the Clutter Lose the Weight, Cleaning Sucks, The Home Edit and The Prepared Home are great resources.

Not everyone can afford to hire outside help. If outdoor chores become too burdensome with age turn to church youth groups for help. There may also be youth service organizations at the local high school in need of a project.

Mindfulness is important working outdoors. Care must be taken not to trip over hoses or tools such as rakes. Aging alone requires a higher threshold of awareness.

Importance of Neighbors

The importance of being a good neighbor and cultivating relationships with neighbors is key when aging alone. Looking out for each other still occurs. Humans, by nature, are caring creatures. Relationships with neighbors of all ages help the young and old alike. On a national level there appears to be many divisions in this country. But on a local, neighborhood level, life is much more civil.

Maybe it is time to turn off the social media friendships and focus on the face-to-face relationships. If you have a neighbor or family member aging alone, keep in close contact. And if you are the one aging alone, use common sense, stay healthy, and age gracefully.

The Female Line

Posted on by Econogal

Reflections

Yesterday on International Women’s Day I reflected on the female line of my family. Our family, like the vast majority of families in the world, carry the surname of the males. But it has been the females (with a few exceptions) that have had the most impact on my life. Perhaps, this is due to longevity. Or maybe identifying with the same gender.

Longevity

Three of my great-grandmothers were still alive when I reached my teens. Two of whom outlived their children-both my paternal grandparents died relatively young. And the third passed away during my junior year of high school. I feel fortunate to have memories of all three.

I am now a grandmother and two of my great-aunts are still alive. A third lived until she reached the century mark. Two were childless. I only know the circumstances of the great-aunt who lost three children all within a few days of their birth. A hazard of doing missionary work in a developing country.

The other great-aunt may or may not have had a choice. Although she was politically a conservative, in life’s actions she was a trailblazer. One of the first (possibly the first) females to graduate from the University of Texas with a degree in chemistry, she still resides in Texas. And I treasure my copy of her speech entitled A Woman Chemist vs. Gender Discrimination. She is in her late 90s now. I’m sure you can do the math…

My third great-aunt was married to the most extroverted of my great-uncles. Their third child, a cousin to my father, is just two years older than I am. So, it is easy to see the connectedness. The strong female line was a great influence from my early years.

Current Influencers

I have three living aunts all now at least in their seventies. Accurately, I can describe all as living active, independent lifestyles. Unfortunately, as is often the case with the female line, two survive their life mates with only one fortunate to still have a spouse.

Perhaps this is another reason the female line has influenced me so much. The survival rates. It is quite common for women to outlive men. But there are exceptions. Both my paternal grandfather and my father outlived their spouses. A tribute to my mom can be read by clicking here. She and her mother passed down the artistic gene.

I was close to both sets of grandparents. But I lived near to my paternal grandparents as a child. They were very special people. Both grandmothers worked in education. One taught, when necessary, the other was a career educator.

My cousins also skew toward the female line in numbers as well as connection. Although to be fair, I only have one male cousin. Nevertheless, I am closer to the women. We live in an age of women with careers. And ours are varied. Somehow, we juggle work and home life.

Future of the Female Line

And then the numbers tip to males in the next generation. Including my two daughters, there are only three females on my maternal side and four on the paternal. What will this mean for the female line?  It is too early to see what will happen with the generation on the horizon as I am the only one in my age group to have grandchildren. Fortunately, both genders are represented, and the maternal middle name continues. In this case, the surname is not the identifying factor.

The Female Line and Surnames

Worldwide, only a few countries bring forward both surnames. I can see how things could become unwieldy if all the surnames were passed from generation to generation. If I had the surname A-B and my husband C-D would our offspring be A-B-C-D? And their children? Would they have eight surnames? If not, which names would be dropped?

So, surnames can be complicated. But what is important about a person? I would pick character over name any day of the week. Names identify us, yet who we are goes far beyond a name, either given or surname.

I feel very connected to those before me. Now that my children are giving birth to yet another generation, I hope to provide that same connectivity for my grandchildren. Family lines are important. Both the male and the female line.

 

Zonta International: Near and Dear to My Heart

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What is Zonta International?

I believe many visitors stopping by this blog today and through the weekend are affiliated with Zonta International. Welcome! For regular readers, Zonta International is a world- wide organization of professionals with the common goal of promoting gender equality by empowering women and children in an effort to end violence against women, achieve pay equity and provide equal opportunity for education. These are just a few of our goals. For a greater grasp of the many important service projects please visit the website at www.Zonta.org.

Who are Zontians?

Zontians are very giving, monetarily and with the all-important aspect of our lives, time. Service projects have varied over the decades I have been a member. As an educator my favorites have been associated with literacy. A current project, Let Us Learn Madagascar, served as a tie-in to a local project. Our club worked with the local middle school girls for the first years of the International Project engaging the young teenagers in what occurred half a world away.

Those same girls formed the basis for a brand-new Z club once they reached high school. Club membership at the high school level mirrors that of Zonta International, open to males as well as females. The initial club leader was a young man who spoke at an Area 4 meeting and was so impressive in his support for gender equality one member of the audience posited he might become the first male Zonta International president.

Econogal Posts of Interest to Zontians

This blog is eclectic in nature. Originally started in 2017 as a way to keep creating new pathways in my brain, Econogal is a big part of my life. The content is free from advertisements. And while I welcome the emails and comments, I write of my interests. So, no free books accepted, and I only write what I want, not what is strongly suggested with promise of compensation.

Many of the books reviewed are related to goals of Zonta International. (If you click on the highlighted words that follow you can jump to that particular post.)

Book Reviews Pertinent to Zonta International

The Displacements, which will be briefly discussed during my upcoming Zonta Says NOW USA Think Tank presentation, follows a mom and her children as they flee a natural disaster and land in a FEMA camp far from home. (The emphasis for the February 25th program is one of preparedness for women.)

The Good Daughter focuses on the life-long changes of two sisters after a sexual assault. This novel is highly graphic and may be too intense for victims or family members of victims. However, it is the perfect gift for anyone who asks “What were you wearing?”

Where the Crawdads Sing is more than a murder mystery. It is a story of the struggles of a young girl who becomes a woman with very little guidance. I have not seen the movie so I cannot compare.

The Only Woman in the Room is a biography of Hedy Lamarr. This well known actress had many other talents I was unaware of. There is also a nod to Rose Day in the Post.

Other Entries of Note

Another post featuring Rose Day is World with Women, this will give you a glimpse of the local club. Finally of interest to long time Zonta District 12 members as well as any Past International Governors is a tribute to a Zontian I dearly miss in Century of Life.

To all those following the link provided by Zonta Fast ACTION Friday and Zonta Says Now, thanks for stopping by the Econogal blog. For my regular readers and any new followers, stay tuned for the post on Bargello quilts arriving early next week.

January 2023 Wrap-Up

Posted on by Econogal

Seasonal Weather

The month of January 2023 was cold and snowy. Since this part of the world is in a moderate drought, the moisture was welcome. However, the single digit and below zero temperatures can disappear at any time without any concern from me. Naturally, January 2023 was spent indoors.

Time was split between reading, writing and quilting. Additionally, a few seeds were started. There is always something to occupy the hours of the day.

January 2023 In the Library

A wide range of books were read this month. Three entertaining novels were reviewed, Elevator Pitch, The Escape Artist and Remarkably Bright Creatures. All were enjoyed. Non-fiction books included works discussed in the post Time to Plan the Garden and The Complete Runner’s Handbook by Glover and Glover. Next on the TBR list is Brain Saver Protocols Cleanses & Recipes.

Quilt Room Action

Baby Quilt in browns and teals
Ready for the hand-quilting.

A quilt for the youngest in the family is now at the hand quilting stage. Another baby quilt, this one for his cousin-to-be on his Dad’s side of the family has been cut out and the sewing will commence this week. But that is not all of the activity going on in the quilt room.

I have finally reached this important room for decluttering. Truth be told, not much can be tossed. But a lot of organization is needed. This last day of January 2023 saw the beginning of separating the fabrics into color categories loosely following The Home Edit guidelines of ROY G BIV. I have also turned the stack fabrics on their sides giving a better view of the patterns. The fabric arrangement will continue into February. Then I can start on the hobby cabinets.

Seed Starting

The first seeds were started in January 2023. Most were brassicas. Kale and cabbages have already emerged. Two of the peanuts have sprouted as well. The former plants can be placed outside while the temperatures still fluctuate below freezing. The peanuts will grow inside until June. Three artichokes were planted but no signs of any life yet.

Fortunately, it is a long way off before outdoor work dominates the schedule. Plenty of time for seeds to sprout and seedlings to grow.

Time to Plan the Garden

Posted on by Econogal

January Snow

A back patio with wall and furniture covered with about 8 inches of snow and small flakes falling.When the January snow blows it is time to plan the garden. This is always a favorite indoor task for this time of year. And a wet snow encourages both High Plains farmers and gardeners. So, after looking at the forecast showing three chances of snow in one week, I visited the library. Multiple books were checked out including three related to gardening.

The Backyard Gardener by Kelly Orzel, Deerproofing Your Yard & Garden by Rhonda Massingham Hart and an Eyewitness Garden of Pruning & Training edited and published by DK Publishing provided additional reading material. So, the time to plan the garden is nigh.

Winter Chores

Before the arrival of snow, temperatures soared into the low sixties (Fahrenheit.) It is quite normal in this part of the world to have a warm-up before a front moves in. Year round we have temperature fluctuations of forty degrees or more on a daily basis. On the High Plains, population is sparse as are trees. This adds to cooling at night without concrete to trap the warmth. Click here for an interesting article from Time discussing concrete and heat.

Therefore, warm afternoons allow one to work in the garden for a few hours. These past two weeks ushered in a clean-up of early crop beds by cutting back the asparagus stalks and cleaning out the bed for the brassicas. After last year’s wind storm wiped out my garlic crop, I’ve become a dirty/lazy gardener leaving stalks in the ground to catch the snow and keep the soil anchored.

An alternative would be to grow a winter cover crop. Something I am considering. Although it seems to be a waste of seed, plowing under rye first thing in the spring.

Time to Plan the Garden: Seed Catalogs

The seed catalogues began arriving just after Christmas. Most are from companies I have ordered from in the past. Although a few are new to me. Perhaps sister companies-much preferable thought to that of my buying habits marketed to others.

Inflation has hit the garden supply industry. Supports such as tomato cages and trellises seem to have doubled in price. Since I do not keep catalogs from year to year this may be inaccurate. But the prices are higher. Planning will be critical and I may upcycle even more in the 2023 garden.

Some seeds were harvested from my own garden last year, including herbs such as dill, parsley and basil. The rosemary will need to be replaced. A necessary cost. The chives, sage and thyme can be divided. A wonderful savings. All indications point to higher costs. Thus, planning will be more important than ever. It certainly is time to plan the garden.

Time to Plan the Garden- Reviewing Notes

Spring 2023 notes aided by earlier year plannersBy reviewing the notes from my calendars, I know what items to re-order. And which ones to skip. For example, last years eggplants grew larger than the year before, but the vines became diseased. Not ideal for a home garden.

Copious notes help keep track of results. Additionally, the notations include rainfall and freeze dates. We started off with a dry spring, had a slightly wetter early summer and then dried out again. A tough environment.

In my opinion, the average frost dates are meaningless. In the last five years we have had spring freezes as late as Memorial Day and as early as mid-April. The same is true with the fall. Including the threat of a Labor Day freeze in 2020. So, material to protect crops is needed- as is patience. And the ability to adjust to a unpredictable growing season.

Book Reviews

Two of the above books will be reviewed in the coming weeks. To read the review of Deerproofing Your Garden click here. For those in warmer climates, spring is just around the corner. It really is time to plan the garden for 2023.

Goals and Opportunities

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Revisiting Resolutions

While goals and opportunities are related, they often differ. Goal setting can be done at any time. Not just around the New Year. However, opportunities are more elusive. They can appear and then slip away if not acted upon.

Goals are easily set. But not easily kept. Of my four goals for 2022 (click here to review) I fell short on the two easiest to track. I did not try a new recipe each month. Nor did I finish a creative project in the same time period. Actual results were closer to every other month.

Goals and opportunities often clash. Such was the case in 2022 for the aforementioned goals. At one point I was absent from my home for almost six weeks. So, the opportunities were limited. I did travel with both a quilt in progress and a Christmas stocking kit. But my cooking was quite limited.

 

Goals and Opportunities- Taking Action

Sometimes opportunities come along that mesh with current or long-term goals. Such is the case now. Although the window is beginning to close. A newly appointed literary agent popped into my Twitter timeline. She has halted her submission reviews until after the first of the year. If I carry through on this opportunity to submit, I may come closer to my key goal of publication. Definitely a case of goals and opportunities meshing.

A query letter is important for establishing a relationship in the literary world. My current task is polishing such a missive to send off after the first of the year. The short term is now immediate and so the opportunity costs are high.

New Goals and Opportunities

A new year provides the perfect time to update goals. Top of the list is establishing a relationship with an agent or an editor. The second writing goal pertains to this blog. But it is hard to accurately define- I want the posts to be “more and better.” For now, I will leave the goal loosely specified.

2022 was a year of travel. Dozens of short trips and four very long forays across the USA. So, 2023 might be a catch-up year at home. It all depends on the opportunities. And unlike goals that can be worked on, opportunities must be seized as they occur.

The asparagus bed established in the spring will need to be tended to as it enters into its second year. A few spears will be harvested, but not many. Patience is the key.

Other projects around the garden will ensure the long-term goal of growing healthy produce for the home. Christmas dinner included green beans from the 2022 garden. The techniques learned in Freeze Fresh proved beneficial. No leftover green beans.

The opportunities for the garden are quite dependent on the weather as well as the ongoing inflation. Building materials and supports all come at a cost. But recycling will help with the costs…and the environment.

Goals and opportunities vary by year. 2023 is upon us, enticing with unlimited potential. What will your goals be? Take some time this week to reflect upon past accomplishments and ready yourself for new opportunities. Be creative in your endeavors and constructive in your work. Celebrate successes. Most importantly, leave things better than you found them. Not only do we have one life to live, but also one world to live in. Best wishes for the new year.

Arctic Blast

Posted on by Econogal

Bitter Cold

The cold arctic blast hit early last night and the snow began falling just before daybreak. I am warm and toasty sitting near the fireplace. Jumping from task to task, I hope to accomplish much before family begins to arrive for the Christmas Weekend.

Outdoor temperature is below the zero mark. Winds are steady at about twenty miles per hour. Climate geeks can figure the windchill. I just know it was bitter cold when I moved the trash can back up to the house once the garbage truck rumbled by.

Of course, Sophie the cat does not understand the outdoors is no place for man or beast this morning. She whines each time I pass by the door to the backyard. Days like this it is important to look out for those creatures that do not reason well.

I feel for any outdoor laborer today. Hopefully power will remain on. And construction workers can find inside work. Fortunately, I took advantage of the warm air before the arctic blast yesterday to complete my outdoor chores.

Arctic Blast Sets Records

Living on the High Plains of America, it is not unusual to experience wide swings in temperature. But the temperature drop usually occurs over hours. Last night, the arctic blast took just minutes.

Late afternoon yesterday, large swarms of small birds flew in clusters. Unsettled and unlike normal habits, they did not alight on the trees. Instead, they swirled as if a group of bats flying from the Congress Avenue Bridge at dusk. Visions of the movie The Day After Tomorrow came to mind. Fortunately, the drop was not that extreme.

Nonetheless, going from above freezing to negative digits in about thirty minutes would be disastrous without warning. Such must have accord in earlier times. The Towner Bus Tragedy comes to mind.

Furthermore, this was not the first freeze of the year. Hopefully, winter kill will be at a minimum in the garden. It is doubtful the rosemary will overwinter even in the spots I covered yesterday. The last-minute harvest of sage and rosemary will be enjoyed Christmas Day.

Warming the Home

In addition to a fire in the fireplace, the ovens will heat up the kitchen as I make sugar cookies for the granddaughters to decorate Christmas Eve. A new loaf of bread is needed for tonight’s dinner as well as other breads needed for Christmas dinner. We hope to have a Baker’s Dozen on Sunday.

Finally, the laundry room door will stay open as the final loads are cleaned before guests arrive. Summertime is great for drying outdoors on the clothesline. But the convenience of an indoor dryer is one to appreciate during this arctic blast. I remember my grandmother hanging clothes indoors from long ago Christmases. Even North Texas can get too cold for an outdoor clothesline in late December.

Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate the holiday.

Bending the Rules when Crafting

Posted on by Econogal

Snowman Stocking

Bucilla felt stocking with snowman holding a string of multi-colored old-fashioned bulb lights
Almost Finished

Bending the Rules goes against my nature. I grew up on the era when cheating-on anything or anyone- was not acceptable for anything or by anyone. The shame was incredible even without the tar and feathering of colonial days. So, I was definitely a child that colored INSIDE the lines.

But now I color without any lines at all. So, it is not surprising that I am bending the rules with my current craft project. A Bucilla stocking for the youngest grandchild is almost complete. The instructions for these stockings are complex and run multiple pages. Since this is my third stocking, I now make “adjustments” to the required steps.

Important First Steps

In late grade school our teacher gave us a task. The single sheet of paper was full of simple steps to the assignment. The first step was to read all the instructions before beginning. Second on the list was to take out a sheet of paper. Third, we were to write our names on the top left page. Next, we were to number the lines from one to twenty. The list went on with the final instruction: Complete the first three items and then wait for further instructions. Many were tricked by this lesson in following directions.

The stockings begin with the same first step. Read all the directions first. And yes, I remembered my grade school experience and read all the instructions first. But then I start bending the rules. For example, under the general directions the requirements are to separate the color strands of embroidery floss and then cut each in half. I don’t cut the threads in half until I need that color.

However, I do follow the directions of cutting out each felt piece as needed and not at the beginning. A few of these shapes are so small, I can see them getting lost easily. So, you can see I choose which directions to follow.

Bending the Rules

I now use an added felt piece to back the front of the stocking before starting the craft work. My tendency is to make tight stitches which are not ideal for embroidery of any kind. And disastrous when working with felt. The additional piece provides needed sturdiness for my needlework.

A secondary use for this added piece is to hide the applique stitching. Few stitches carry all the way through to the second piece. I believe this will add to the longevity of the stocking. Christmas goodies will not snag or pull on the interior threads nor will chubby toddler hands. These stocking gifts are meant to last a lifetime-not just survive the childhood years. Two pieces of felt cut in a stocking shape

Minor Changes

More bending of the rules began with the second stocking made and continue with this third one. On each I have replaced a provided thread skein with a color I felt coordinated better. I am very picky with my colors blending together. A carryover aspect of my quilt designs.

Next, I followed my own rules with respect to the tops of the lightbulbs. These pieces were incredibly small. So, I embroidered each before cutting any out. This gave me a bigger piece of felt to grasp while stitching. Then, I kept the lightbulb tops open and sewed them shut around the “cord” of thread. Again, I sought added stability. These extra steps were time consuming.

Yellow felt with outlines of bulb clasps, bending rules by keeping in one piece
Bending the rules by embroidering before cutting into individual pieces
Back side of yellow felt showing stitch knots
Thread and knots must stay within the outlines.
Tiny felt lightbulb with tops still apart.
Bending the rules by leaving top open until sewing black "cord" in between edges.

Finally, I diverged from the rules with respect to areas requiring a stuffing. The suggested polyester fiberfill is good for large pieces. But for the smaller pieces I have transitioned to using leftover quilt batting. The flat cotton layers still give the shape body but are so much easier to use. In this snowman stocking, the berries would be a nightmare to stuff any other way.

Small red felt circles with a flat layer of batting atop one.
A flat batting gives enough dimension to the small berries.

Learning Curve

Everything we do involves a learning curve. This third Bucilla stocking proves the adage. I encountered very little frustration and the pieces have melded into a beautiful Christmas treasure and tradition. So much easier than the first stocking made in 2019. I am looking forward to this Christmas with guarded anticipation.

Notes on the Weather: Two Weeks of Travel

Posted on by Econogal

Driving Cross-country

Snow on a back patio
October Snow

Two weeks of travel allows one to make notes on the weather from varying climates. The trip began in the Colorado mountains. A week of almost daily snow falling from the sky along with snow cannons is creating a base for the ski runs. A check of open resorts can be gleamed by clicking here.

Descending down the mountains, cold air gave way to warm. The High Plains were still dry, but if moisture came it would be in the form of rain. Instead, Halloween was a beautiful fall day as I crossed Kansas into Missouri. If better notes on the weather were taken, exact temperatures could be shared. But highs in the 70s (Fahrenheit) and lows in the 50s (F°) were the rule for the first few days of November.

Kentucky Visit

A crowd forms around the paddock at Keeneland Race Track
Trees dropping their leaves at Keeneland Racetrack.

A full week spent in the Bluegrass State proved weather can be variable. Kentucky showed signs of a lack of moisture. But not the drought conditions of more western states. (Missouri appeared to be the worst.) The temperature swings from the upper sixties to upper seventies in the afternoons with lows ranging from 42 F° to 60 F° at night.

Dry conditions were underscored by an extremely windy day on Saturday of Breeder’s Cup races followed by just a sprinkle of rain. Then, the fall weather returned full force. Hopefully the next big front to blow through will have less wind and more rain.

Notes on the Weather: Last Minute Change

My two weeks of travel itinerary changed due to the approach of Hurricane Nicole. The side trip from Cincinnati to Columbus, Ohio was cancelled. Perhaps next summer will afford me some time to visit the area.

Light winds accompanied me through the Appalachians as I drove southeast from Kentucky through Tennessee into Georgia. Glorious orange, red and yellow fall colors returning the further south I drove. The only negative was the heavy traffic on Interstate 75 as I neared Atlanta, Georgia. An alternate route would be preferable if time was not of the essence.

One hate’s driving toward a hurricane, but it is preferable (in my mind) to driving IN a hurricane. I am sure storm chasers would disagree. Fortunately, Nicole stayed offshore as Americans voted.

Notes on the Weather: Hurricane Nicole

Bucket crane trimming broken branches from Hurricane NicoleMy arrival in Central Florida preceded Nicole’s by about eighteen hours. The winds became stronger as we both approached the area. Since, this was a Category 1 storm the wind gusts were on par to those I experience frequently living on the High Plains. I have always wondered why the Weather Channel does not send Jim Cantore and his co-hosts out to my part of the country on a more regular basis. Perhaps, it is the lack of storm surge. More likely blowing dust is not as easy to film as crashing waves.

We battened down the hatches and stayed inside as the storm rolled through. “Minimal” rain of just 2.3 inches accompanied the strong winds. Some small branches came down, including one that pierced the pool screen. A few neighbors lost bigger branches, but no trees toppled in this neighborhood.

The rain amounts varied. Since both of my Central Florida family members take notes on the weather, I can report 5 miles to the Northeast the rainfall was 4 inches. Such a difference is normal in this part of the world.

Small branch piercing top of pool screen
Limited Damage

Political Observations

Driving cross-country allows me to personally observe what is going on in the United States. In the days before the mid-term elections, campaign signs proliferated. In the absence of a presidential election, most of the candidates were unknown to me.

A few key notes. The many, very conservative areas of the country on my route have taken down the signs supporting former President Trump. Dozens of signs remained long past the 2020 election. Numerous ones as late as July 2021 promoting a Trump 2024 run. All of these are gone. I found this very interesting.

Second, the Commonwealth of Kentucky elects their judges. This differs from where I live. We just vote to retain judges after they have been appointed. So, Kentucky has a plethora of campaign signs each election. This has always gladdened my heart-democracy in action. But do large contributors to a judge’s campaign create a “Get Out of Jail Free” situation? Something to ponder.

Finally, radio coverage of the mid-term elections is excellent. I was impressed as I traversed southward listening to the various local stations. More facts and less hype were the norm.

Economic Observations

My economic observations are related to notes on the weather. In Missouri, which is experiencing drought I noted cranes along some riverbeds. Perhaps for dredging. And some stream beds were bone dry. I lived in this state during my high school years and never witnessed this before.

The first new construction I encountered was a three-sided hay barn in Southern Indiana. So, no evidence of building in the first four states I drove through. Then I arrived in Kentucky. From anecdotal appearance, the economic slowdown is not stopping construction in the Bluegrass state.

New houses, additions to houses and commercial businesses were all observed in various stages of development. As long as each is completed, the area may escape the downturn. States to the south of Kentucky did not have as much activity. But more than those previously encountered to the west.

Notes on the Weather

A country as vast as the United States has many climate zones. November ushers in snow and cold in many parts. Thus, construction is seasonal in these areas. And is grinding to a halt.

States such as Florida are warm year-round but do have a wet season to contend with-along with hurricane season. I will be in Central Florida for a few weeks and will watch the overdue change to the anticipated dry season. Nicole was not the first November hurricane to reach the state. An unusual but not unprecedented storm. Notes on the weather will continue as I pay more attention to climate.

Bull Snakes Allowed

Posted on by Econogal

I live in a part of the country where bull snakes thrive. The prairies are prime habitat and so are the towns that dot them. So, from time to time one decides to take up residence in our yard.

We lost a seasoned bull snake last year when it became entangled in some deer fencing. That one was one of the largest bull snakes I ever came in contact with. Over six feet long and as thick as my fist. Our newest inhabitant is much younger.

Identification

Young adult bull snake taking a defensive position.
The round eyes help identify the type of snake.

While not a fan of snakes in general, I understand the importance of snakes such as bull snakes in the ecosystem. So, identification is important. Bull snakes closely resemble rattlesnakes. As long as rattlers stay away from my yard, they are free to be. But venomous snakes are too dangerous to co-exist in close proximity.

As a young child I was taught to stay clear of certain snakes. The first I learned to identify was the coral snake followed by Eastern Diamondback and Timber rattlesnakes. On the High Plains of North America, I mostly encounter prairie rattlers although massasauga rattlesnakes can also be found. The latter snakes tend to be smaller. Both are venomous.

Markings of bull snakes and rattlesnakes are similar. The heads are both triangular although the rattlesnake is more so and narrows at the neck. As a defense mechanism, the bull snake can flatten its’ head making this factor unreliable. The eyes differ as well, but I wouldn’t want to get that close. So, the default is the tail. Beware of rattles.

Sophie and Bull Snakes

Striped cat atop a cat seatSophie the cat is quite the hunter. From time to time, she has competition from the bull snakes. She stays clear of the larger ones but sometimes challenges and even conquers the smaller ones. She was challenging the latest bull snake this week.

When bull snakes are confronted, they take on the characteristics of a rattlesnake. They coil as if they will strike, puff up and hiss. Sometimes they will mimic a rattle with their tails by shaking it against dry leaves. In the case of our latest visitor, only green grass was nearby.

However, we wanted to make sure. In the photo above, the eye is rounded as for a bull. But I did not get close enough to see in real life. It was the striped tail without a rattle that saved this particular reptile.

Water and Bull Snakes Don’t Mix

As you can see in the following videos, this bull snake did not want to get wet. After determining the snake was not a rattler, we wanted to discourage it from hanging around the patio. Spraying water in front of it was a surefire way to change its’ direction.

I believe this snake has been around for about six weeks. The grasshoppers that had ravaged my herb garden suddenly disappeared about that time. Additionally, I have heard rustling sounds lately on trips out to the compost pile. And a snake-sized hole appeared burrowing into one of the raised beds in the same area.

Since this is not a baby bull snake, my hope is Sophie will leave it alone. Then, I will have two hunters of mice. Bull snakes certainly have a place in my garden. I just wish they didn’t startle me so much.

Not a fan of water

Maybe in the 3-foot range