How About A Little Fun Coupled With Altruism?

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The Sun Rises On A New, Better USA

"They're Having A Party!", Lucia at 4 in the morning

Since my last post on April 26th, I have been living my life instead of reporting it. I have found in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada's

a lifestyle I can be happy with. I have always seemed to do things "bass-ackwards" and I have become somewhat of a hippie out here in California. What a surprise.. to Lucia and to me! But that's another story... and I have a better one to tell at this moment! In late spring a skunk kept showing itself late at night to raid the cats' food dishes outside and the compost pile. Lucia said that they had been aware that a skunk was living under the house, but it never bothered anyone so they ignored it. Danny would have something to say about that. That skunk sprayed Delicata, Lucia's curious little female cat, right outside my bedroom door one night. Danny coughed until dawn and my eyes were red for 24 hours... Delicata, however, definitely got the worst of it... poor kitty!! Anyway, the skunk wasn't especially afraid of us and, in fact, chased our friend, Jad, aggressively when he turned the garden hose on it. Well, "it" was a "she" and a little mama. Soon we were aware of three little offspring trailing after Mom on her midnight raids. We told Chris and Lewie about the expanding population and they set out to find a solution. Seems there are humane skunk traps that can be set out and once they are ensnared, you call the Humane Society and they come out to pick them up. We thought about that and decided we didn't want to separate Mom from her adorable newborns... plus, Delicata learned her lesson and there was no more spraying. We settled into a fairly comfortable coexistence and the babies grew. They really, really ARE precious to watch. Chris and Lewie came back from NY and laughed at our sentimentality, but seemed to agree. Meanwhile we stopped putting the cat food out at night. They were miffed to find empty dishes but continued to feast on compost.. until.... last night! Jad brought Lucia a treat of brownies in the middle of the night, just stopping by, putting them in the fridge,continuing on to his own home. (No one locks their doors here, day or night, ever.) But did Jad double check the front door to be sure he had pulled it to, securely?? No, oh no, he did not. Mama seeing the door open .. oh, yeah... yeah... yeah. At 4AM, my cell phone rang and it was Lucia, whispering and laughing. "Mom, the skunks ARE IN THE HOUSE!! They're having a party!""No way!! Did you see them?" "Yes! All four of them are in the kitchen!!" She turned on the light to see what was going on and they had gotten into the bag of catfood, ripped it apart, and were fighting over the contents. I didn't dare open my door, but the little darlin's were chattering like monkeys and running around chasing each other away from the food. That continued for a solid hour, with Lucia and I alternately giggling and praying. What a night! So what's happening now? It's 10PM and "Flower" is scratching at the front door, trying for a repeat performance! Are we calling the Humane Society tomorrow? Are you kidding? The "Humane" Society traps them, picks them up, and then euthanizes them!! Nobody's doing that to our little friends! Party on, kids.

Oh, Danny Boy, the Pipes, the Pipes are Calling....

Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountainside.
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying.
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow,
'Tis I'll be there in sunshine or in shadow.
Oh Danny Boy, Oh Danny Boy, I love you so.
And if ye come, when all the flowers are dying
And I am dead, as dead I well may be.
Ye'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an Ave there for me.
And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me,
And o'er my grave will warmer, sweeter be,
If you'll not fear to tell me that you love me,
I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

Danny, the best little dog who ever was... 17 years of love for his humans and a lesson in dying. He chased his first deer since we've been in California and never turned down a treat, even at the end. He was the first to head for the car and sat shotgun for me for years. I will miss him. He's buried across the meadow from Lucia's front door, through the arch of manzanitas and under a big madrone tree in a clearing. I didn't take him to Vancouver because he would have needed shots and he was just too sick to endure that. He decided to take his own trip, without me. I knew Lucia would take good care of him and she did, laying him to rest curled up as if taking a nap, wrapped in a sheet. Papa Louie held Malakai and sang a goodbye. Mali misses him too and still says "Dog?" when he drops his food "accidentally". He loved giving Danny bits of his dinner. Today he said "Dog?" and then, "Bye, bye".

On The Road Again...

When you have wanderlust it won't let go of you no matter how much you love your family. I'm leaving family to go to family, however, but if I'm honest I'll confess that the road's allure will leave me sleepless with anticipation tonight.Tomorrow I drive to Vancouver, BC in the early morning. My goal is the springs of Mount Shasta for it's water which is said to taste like no other. I'll sleep in Portland OR tomorrow night. Tuesday night I'll see my daughter Jocelyn in Vancouver for the first time in 2 years. Thanks to their father, my children have the option of having dual citizenship and Jocelyn is the first to take advantage of that opportunity. She now carries two passports and in today's world, that is a significant option, but this blog is not a political platform. Lucia heard from the Canadian consulate last week and I suspect she may be next. One of the qualifications, however, is continuous residence for 12 months before the citizenship is granted and it may be some time before she will consider taking Malakai up there. In the end, Canadian and American citizenships would benefit him as well. Que sera, sera. On the way back to Nevada City, I'll spend nights with Angela and Rick and with Stephanie and Dave. I'll return to California in 10 days. Here's the latest shot of Kai, as Lucia occasionally calls him. I have a pillow on my bed that is also a music box. He asks me to wind it up, then lays his head on it 'til the music ends. Lucia's photos center upon her art homework for the class she's been taking at Sierra College. She's a talented artist. I'm happy that she's taken it up again. Danny and Nala are staying here with her. I'll miss them... traveling with your four legged friends is wonderful. At least I won't need Nala to keep me warm, spring is here... feels a lot like early summer already.

"Kee-Coo's" Cure Whatever Ails You

Mali's new favorite pastime is reading... he approaches it from a slightly different angle. Mali isn't a child who wants you to read the words to him. He would much rather have you talk about what's in the pictures and he now comes to you with a big smile full of hope, saying: "Read?" It's impossible to refuse him. He gets so much pleasure from it! Yesterday began well with reading the same 4-5 books he favors... over and over again. We're thinking about hiding them so he's forced to look at some of the many other books he has. His vocabulary is expanding rapidly. Every now and then, however, there's a word that stumps him. Right now that word is "cookies". We answer back with the correct pronunciation for every word that he has difficulty saying, but when he says "Kee-Coo, please", your heart just melts and you find yourself answering "Oh, you want a 'kee-coo'?" It's just too doggone cute! Anyway, yesterday was going along pretty good until Malakai's head bumped on Mama's heavy old car door and opened up a bloody gash that required four stitches to close. Novocaine in the head isn't much fun, but Pa held Mali's head still for the doctor and Mama kept him from thrashing about too much. Oma couldn't bear to hear his cries, so she took off (coward) and bought "kee-coo's" for her favorite grandson. Here he is, looking like "The Mummy" right after we left the doctor's office and before the novocaine wore off. A little liquid Tylenol and a DVD of "Ratatouille" ended the day with laughter and today he's forgotten all about it... the adults are traumatized, but he's just fine!

South Yuba's Independence Trail

Here are the latest photos of Lucia, Malakai, and Oma (Lucia's choice to replace "Gramma") on the Independence Trail of the South Yuba River. This is one of several trails that draw the tourists from the Bay Area and Los Angeles. We were the first people there this morning but we met many other hikers on our way down. The first shot is my favorite. While Oma hams it up for the camera, Mali throws back his head and laughs with pure joy. The twisted tree branch is that of a Madrone tree. The yellow flowers are poppies. Next is a pic of Mali and Oma standing under a natural rock arch.

Look at Mali peeking around his Mama to flirt with Oma!

The clumps at the top of the tree are MISTLETOE! All you Eastern readers know full well what this much mistletoe would bring on the open market during the Christmas holiday week.. you are looking at literally THOUSANDS of dollars in little corsages. And that's just ONE tree. The woods are laden with it here! Finally, we shot down from a ledge on the trail to the river and highway below. This particular trail is most popular with hikers because everyone from children to grandparents can enjoy it. It is not an arduous trek and very beautiful. One thing done here, I really liked and appreciated. The more unusual flora and fauna were identified by laminated cards for those among us who need a little tutelage.

And The Beat Goes On

Where do the years go? I can remember my life almost day by day when I was Lucia's age.. 29. Now my little girl is 29 and her son is the light of my day. The picture of them together was taken at the South Yuba River.. about half way between Lucia's home on the San Juan Ridge and Nevada City. The pond at sunset is a few steps from her home. She and Malakai and I were picking daffodils and walking Danny. Lucia's cats: Tumbleweed, Delicata and Senegal followed us down and back. The picture of Malakai alone I entitled "Modern Narcissus". Actually, he's too young now to understand how precious and beautiful he is, but soon we'll have to curtail all the "beautiful boy" and "sweet prince" comments lest it go to his head.

I'd Put Money On It

"When I play with my cat, who knows whether she is not amusing herself with me more than I with her."
-Montaigne

Oma's Angels

And The Queen's Courtiers

Nevada City is one of the few towns I've been in whose Downtown is fully alive on weekends. As I told you in the previous post, this is a tourist town and on Saturday and Sunday the vacationers flock here.. many come from the Bay area just for a couple of days of exploring the shops or hiking the Yuba River trails. The top photo is of the National Hotel, located on the main drag through town, Broad St., and closest to the Freeway. After 130 years of serving it's guests, this Victorian era classic is the oldest continuously operating hotel west of the Rockies. There's even a pool filled with clear mountain water. The next two shots are also of Broad St. commercial establishments. The fourth picture is the building occupied by the Chamber of Commerce. It's on Main Street downtown. Built in 1855, it is one of the oldest buildings and located next to the Assay Office that tested samples from what became the "Comstock Lode".. one of the biggest silver and gold discoveries in the West. Photos 5,7,11 and 12 are private residences in that area. Eleven and twelve are front and back views of the same home. Photo number 6 is a private school in the Seven Hills Business District which used old mining equipment to reflect the local heritage and it looks attractive too. Photo number 9 is a small park used by the locals to enjoy lunch outside or as a meeting place. It's directly across the street from the National Hotel and displays numerous pieces of original mining equipment.

The Queen

Nevada City.. The Queen of Northern California's Mining Towns, as it is called, is one of the most carefully preserved towns of the old West. Put on the map by the Gold Rush, N.C. had a population of over 16,000 souls in it's heyday. But like Tombstone, AZ, those glory days evaporated. Located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, it is halfway between Sacramento and Reno. It's 'sister city' is Grass Valley, another 5 minutes away. (That's if you fly low, as most locals do, 15 minutes for me) But that's another posting. Right now, I'd like to acquaint you only with Nevada City and the attractions closest to it, like the South Yuba River and the covered bridge at Bridgeport and/or French Corral.. depending upon which end of the bridge you enter through. The photos show you that covered bridge.. which touts itself as the longest in the United States and is so handsome... downtown Nevada City and the roads leading from Lucia's home... paved roads end a couple of miles from her door. The one-lane bridge photo was taken through the windshield as I was driving back from town. Lucia is part of Nevada City as far as the post office is concerned, but she's only a couple of miles from North San Juan (Pop. 125) while it takes about 30 minutes to go into Nevada City for shopping. There is no cinema, but you can see first run independent films on Sunday evenings at a make-do converted home downtown. Otherwise, you have to go to Grass Valley. This is a big tourist town. It's the tourist trade that supports N.C.'s many restaurants, art galleries,. and boutiques. The entire downtown area is registered as a National Historic Landmark. The year round population is 2,800 residents.. most of whom are tucked up in the foothills. In those foothills are some interesting residences. Mind you, Nevada City isn't just a town, it's an entire way of life. People here have far above average educations. Many are well traveled. Many live here part of the year. Most are very private and, while civic-minded and generous with their support of the community, you can't find their homes if they don't want you to and there's little "dropping in" on people. You go by invitation. And you usually go during daylight hours. There are no street lights out of town, making it impossible to know where you are if you don't live here. In other words, if you wanted to disappear for whatever reason, this would be a good place to go. Temporary living accomodations, like tee-pees, yurts, tents and lean-to's are abundant. Most property owners are willing to have "squatters" on their land for years at a time. Some are charged rent, others.. friends.. are allowed to encamp at no charge. Cell phone service is OK, spotty, or non-existent depending upon the carrier. I have Verizon and it's pretty good. Organic grocery stores outnumber traditional by 3 to 1. Up here on the ridge, there's a small grocery and gathering spot for the locals known as "Mother Trucker's". Great coffee. Good for most needs and to get the gossip. When MTV tried to go to the river a couple of years ago to film a concert, the locals put up signs at "Mother's" to rally the troops and block MTV's trucks from getting up there to film. That effort was successful. They didn't want the "secret" of this place to become common knowledge. Food costs a bloody fortune comparatively. Some grow their own food. Lucia and the property owners, who are now in Hawaii for a few months, share a large garden which is enclosed with a 7 foot fence to keep the deer and rabbits, gophers, etc. out. There is a compost pile within the garden. People keep cats to kill field mice and rats. They keep dogs for an alarm system and to keep coyotes, cougars, bears away. The bears haven't been seen here for a few years now, I'm told by some, but Lucia had one on her back deck recently. The deer are gentle and rather tame. Lucia feeds them and they were visiting daily until Danny chased them away. There is indoor plumbing in Lucia's current home.. which is a step up from my visit 2 and a half years ago, when we brought water in to do dishes and took a walk down a path to the outhouse. Mind you, I had never SEEN an outhouse, but learned to use one comfortably at almost 60 years of age! Never too old to learn! Actually it isn't so bad, but I prefer not to be feeling my way to a small enclosure in an area where cougars are common. You literally cannot see your hand in front of your face here at night without a full moon.But... you should see the stars... big as golfballs. I have a skylight above my bed and go to sleep staring at them. And the river water? Crystal clear. You can see the bottom at twenty feet deep. Lucia's home is heated by a wood stove. There are oil filled radiators in the bedrooms which are used upon rising until the fire is stoked and new wood brought in in the morning. There is no air conditioning, but you don't need it. Although it's as hot as 100+ degrees in July and August, it becomes sweater weather when the sun sets. No humidity.. quite the change from Miami. In fact, Miami is a different world from Nevada City. Miami is as close to visiting a foreign country as you can get without leaving the US. One of the reasons I love it. Nevada City is a much better place to raise children.. little, if any, violence here. In Miami, random violence is on the increase.There are safe pockets, but you have to know the city well and be aware of your surroundings at all times. Here... bears and cougars watching you from the woods. Our four legged neighbors are ever the best people when all is said and done.