Patt with Two T's

Sitting outside during dinner hearing a strange cry we think is some odd bird noise.  But after at least an hour, I went in and looked out the laundry room window and saw one of the twin fawns stuck inside the arena with his mom and sibling on the other side of the wire fence.  He was pacing, trying to find an opening and crying.  Then the doe and her fawn walked off leaving him.  We had opened the gate last time we were here to allow for animals to get in, but never dreaming it would trap a young one since the opening is on the opposite side from where he was.  I took off running with our friends Randy and Alisa and we marched through the tall brush to move him towards the open gate.  It worked!  However...we were now all covered in stickers from the dried bushes.      Normal response?  To brush them off, of course.  Apparently each sticker has a sharp little needle-like barbs that burrows into your skin s...

  I'm glad I have a new family to watch since my human one is spreading to all parts of the US.  Steven with fiance Elise has made his home in Hawaii and Jeff and family are moving to Michigan at the end of next month.  Today I woke to a family of deer--3 adults and 3 fawns-- in the backyard today.  I haven't been here in 5 weeks and I think they've moved in and I'm just a guest on the property.    You have to look closely at the photo because now that the grass has died, it's the same color as the deer.   I'm so happy--this is what I wanted a year ago when I bought 4 1/2 acres in Sonora....no view of people, visible wildlife, and no fog.  Oh, and the ability to eat meals outside, though we're so used to sitting inside because it's so cool in El Granada, that we forgot to sit outside last night.  It might have still been too warm, however.  When we arrived around 3, it was about 97 here and over 100 a few miles away.  Weather i...

SUNDAY  Our plan was to head to Steven’s early, leave the car down the road in the usual spot ( I did mention we can’t drive up to his house because the road is largely unpaved, rocky, with many divots, high grass in the center and muddy when wet, which is at least once a day, etc).  Oh, and steep.    So the plan was to walk up there with our load of stuff—laptop and other electronics we can’t use here, spare clothes if needed, and whatever else for the day/evening.    I had been invited to a woman’s home where she was originally going to teach Mary’s grandkids, daughter, and I how to make a portrait quilt, but she later realized she had another commitment, so we had to cancel.  I had mixed feelings—I wanted to see her house which displays many of her quilts, but learning another new craft worried me because when would I find time for yet another?  So since she couldn’t teach us, we were invited to come down and see her home before she ha...

Friday  Pizza was a success, even without the Italian flour.  They ran back down the hill to our cottage where someone had left regular flour and Matthew used that.  It wasn’t much of a “lesson” since Steven didn’t seem interested in working alongside Matthew in the kitchen.  But he did learn a couple of things even from across the room.  And he’s never used a pizza peel (still hasn’t) but saw how it’s handy to have, especially getting it on and off the grill.    I made a salad with the napa cabbage we bought which was much like cole slaw.  No pictures of anything….wish I’d taken one of the 2 pizzas—salami and olives with cheddar and pesto, eggplant, and mushrooms.   Matthew really is good at pizza...and many other foods.  No, not losing any weight on this trip either.  Yesterday was frustrating and boring most of the day.  I’m not particularly good about sitting around for long periods of time with a book....

  At the farmer’s market in Hilo yesterday, we met quite a few artists who sell there twice weekly.  I have a different sense about local artists since becoming one myself.  I don’t usually buy jewelry since I make my own, but couldn’t resist a couple of pairs of studs (earrings, not men) now that my hair is short.  I almost bought sea-glass from one woman, but decided if I want sea-glass I need to see my friend Annette and get some California coastal glass.     I really liked the miniature painter’s work too.  Hmm…she’s not miniature, but her work is.   She paints pictures with two bristles of a brush for pendants in necklaces and bracelets.  She also had necklaces and bracelets strung with Venetian beads that are size 26.  I use size 6 or 8 and have some 11s which to me are very small….and she’s using something that’s more than half that size.  They were so delicate. ...

 I’m writing from the next place, though maybe not the last place we’re staying near Hilo.   I have used VRBO  many times before and in many other countries, but this is the first time I have been disappointed and very unsure if I’ll stay where I am.  I knew it was “off the grid” but the accommodations are more rustic than I’d imagined AND there seems to be no wi-fi or Internet connection at all, though the listing says there is.  I also could see in the photos the shower was outdoors and mostly enclosed, but it said shower, not bathroom…and the toilet is out there too.  I used it tonight to the serenade of the coqui frogs.  At least I hope that’s what they are…  We arrived and were given a tour of the inside studio apartment, then the outside plants and fruit trees, most of which weren't bearing anything right now.  The grounds are lovely and on the other side of a fence are her several sheep and the cow.  Chickens and rabbits...