10 Things I Learned in November

This rose is in someone else’s yard. The deer don’t eat these roses because they are too busy vacuuming up everything in my yard across the river and the highway.
  1. I found a new blog with a superb writer, Marianne Wilburn, called Small Town Gardener.
  2. She also has a great book about gardening, written in her conversational style – Big Dreams, Small Garden.  It is one of the more realistic approaches to gardening I’ve read.
    My herb garden, before all the red leaves fell off the Virginia Creeper
  3. Through Marianne’s writing, I found a fascinating YouTube channel (?) or is it a person to follow; her name is Liziqi, and it is about a young, strong, beautiful Chinese woman who lives with her grandmother and gardens and cooks. What?? Yeppers. Fascinating to watch. (I’ve seen it before but can’t remember when or why.)
  4. I learned in November how much shopping does not appeal to me. Or maybe it is stuff that does not appeal. I’ve never liked shopping, but this really drove home the point. A friend told me about Jane.com, an online shopping mall. I looked, and all the stuff almost made me twitch.  (No, I am not a Communist – thank you for your concern.)
    Leaf peeping is more interesting to me than shopping.
  5. When customers are in a hurry and my schedule is full, I learned to tell them that there is a rush charge. This is the first time I’ve done this, and I had three opportunities in November. This takes the sting out of having to work on Saturdays and Sundays to meet their deadlines. Two of three customers agreed to pay the charge.  The third customer made an adjustment in his hurried plans and said he could wait the normal 2 weeks that we discussed last summer; even two weeks feels like a squeeze right now, but I got the job finished.
  6. There is something new, an alternative to FaceBook, called Parler. I wonder. . . but, no. I have enough to do.
  7. There is something else new, an alternative to YouTube, called Rumble. 
  8. A friend told me 2 really dumb jokes that he was surprised I hadn’t heard before: A. Why does a cowboy want to die with his boots on? So it won’t hurt when he kicks the bucket. B. Why does a man want to be buried in his truck? Because it hasn’t ever failed to get him out of a hole.
  9. I ran across the term “EDM” in a couple of different places and got curious. It is Electronic Digital Music, and in my opinion, it qualifies as an audio assault rather than music. (In an elderly voice coming from inside my head: “My goodness, these young folks today!”)
  10. In-N-Out has good hamburgers. This is a weird admission from someone who didn’t eat red meat for 17 years, and still feels a bit squeamish about burger. My conclusion is that it is the sauce that makes it so good. Wait – didn’t Micky-Ds used to advertise “special sauce”? This was so out of my realm of normal that I felt compelled to share the information. (Thank you for lunch, Jon!)

And here are a few more photos from November that didn’t fit into the list. (Nope, not going to photograph my food – this is NOT Facebook and no one who reads my blog comes here to see my lunch, thank goodness.)

P.S. Can you spot Pippin?

12 Things Learned in October

For a couple of years I have been posting lists of things I learn at the end of each month. This year it feels particularly important to encourage you, Blog Readers, that 2020 isn’t entirely filled with difficulties and mayhem. 

Who are these children and why are they in this post?
  1. Kayaking! It was so fun, and easier than stand-up paddle boarding (well, duh).
  2. White pelicans are huge and don’t dive like brown pelicans do.
  3. Harbor seals and elephant seals are different. Did you know that? Elephant seals are playful and curious, sometimes trying to climb onto kayaks. Harbor seals are much more shy.
  4. A friend sent a Youtube link to a song called Rayburn Crane by someone named Tom Russell – it is about a guy in Mineral King!
  5. “8 million people have left California” – I heard this on a podcast, but the speaker didn’t say in what time frame. I think he must have been speaking of the past 10 years (since the last census). I looked it up, and the main states attracting California refugees are Texas, Arizona and Washington. I know people who have moved to Arizona, Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado.
  6. A little mosquito has been a real nuisance this summer (I didn’t save the newspaper article with the name of the bug.) The mosquito is smaller, it is out in the daytime, you can’t feel it bite, and it itches and sometimes swells up way more than regular mosquitoes. To add insult to injury, it carries West Nile virus. Good grief, what next??
  7. Retail therapy late at night can be expensive. I ordered some clothes from a site, knowing it was probably a mistake. The sizing was wonky, the fabric was cheap, the clothing differed from the photos. In order to return things, the customer has to email and get an authorization code. The company didn’t reply in a timely manner, the 15 day return window started narrowing, and finally the company said they would offer a 15% refund so “you can buy cloth to repair clothing”. Or, if you prefer, they will give you the address in China where the order can be returned. WHAT?? Our local thrift shop just scored some brand new items. Sigh.
  8. Vanilla water – I invented this because my giant bottle of vanilla extract ran out but had some residue in the bottom that I didn’t want to waste. I filled it with water, put it in the fridge, and it was SO GOOD!
  9. Rock stacking – There are cairns or “ducks” along routes where trails aren’t visible, and this differs from rock stacking or balancing. This article goes into depth on the topic. Like almost everything, a little is interesting, copycats turn it into a problem, and then finger-waggers come along and turn it all sour.
  10. This isn’t new, but it has been several years since I showed you – this is the link to the website of an artist whose work amazes me in its brilliance, precision and subtle humor. Her name is Sandra Busby.
  11. This is new information to my blog readers: one of my drawing students had a Cooks Illustrated magazine with beautiful art on the cover. We looked up the artist, Robert Papp, and just swooned over his fruits and vegetables. Later that day, I reached for my favorite stamps to put one on an envelope, and was gobsmacked to see that they were Robert Papp’s work!
  12. I can draw from my computer screen instead of ordering prints. This is a new experience for me. Using both print and on-screen provides the best information, but sometimes there isn’t enough time to wait for professionally made prints; my tired Epson printer is a poor option because it uses too much ink, has incorrect colors, and prints with stripes in the photos.
These girls are here because someone was cleaning out her photos and mailed them to me, and it just was too good to not share. Speak up if you know them!

A Year of Personal Learning

The summary lists continue as I keep working on some private commissions, a fancy Art Speak word for custom artwork.
A friend allows us to glean in his walnut orchard each year at the end of October, which means more food to share with friends. (This drawing won a prize and sold, but I can redraw it for you because I love to draw.)

Personally, not professionally, this happened in the last weird year:

  • Tried and thoroughly enjoyed kayaking
  • Tried and thoroughly enjoyed stand-up paddle boarding (even thought it made my feet hurt – a weird result)
  • Missed church on Easter Sunday for the first time in my life
  • Realized that I like not having social obligations
  • The lock-down reinforced how much I like being at home.
  • We managed to keep 3 cats alive by locking them inside the garage each night (although sometimes they still go rogue)
  • Learned what possessions matter when facing evacuation from both our main home and our cabin
  • Realized how much I depend on the library
  • Learned how thin the veneer of civilization is in our country and how easily people are controlled by fear
  • Learned how people share food with one another as a gesture of love especially in hard times – we got more food brought to us and shared more food with friends than I ever remember in the past.

What’s on your list? (Does anyone besides me do this sort of evaluating and list making?)

A Year of Professional Learning

During the last year of belonging to BNI – Business Networking International – I learned and experienced many new things. This is not necessarily because of BNI, but some of them may be a result.

  • Redesigned website
  • Gained confidence in following up leads and speaking to people about my business without feeling like a pushy salesman
  • Got invited to do a show at a gallery in Visalia in 2022 (Not kidding, it really is for 2022!)
  • Completed 7 murals (if I count the 4 at Mooney as 4, rather than as 4 parts of 1)
  • Cancelled more drawing lessons than in the previous 25 years combined
  • Did zero workshops, boutiques, fairs
  • Painted a sign in spite of not being a sign painter and feel proud and happy each time I see it
  • Painted 2 murals and an A-frame sign for free (WHAT??)
  • Proposed a great mural idea, prepared a presentation, and then got cancelled so never got to follow up
  • Learned to use Zoom
  • Became more active on Instagram, then concluded it is a waste of time (still on the thing but at a turtle pace)
  • Designed a logo for the Mineral King Preservation Society (MKPS)
  • Had my first guest post on this blog
  • Wrote guest posts for the MKPS blog
Still working on commissioned pieces that I cannot post so there will be about one more of these chit-chatty summary posts before I am able to show you any new work.

One Year in a Business Referral Group

I am working on some pieces that the customer has requested that I keep private, so I will spend the next few blog posts just chit-chatting at you.

A year ago I attended my first meeting of BNI – Business Networking International – at the urging of my cousin who said it helped his business tremendously. I parked far away in case people would judge me by my car, and expected to find stuffy people in fancy business clothing. Instead, I found a room full of authentically friendly go-getter business people, most of whom were measurably younger than me (and all drove better cars, but whatever, Fernando has been paid for for many years).

During that year I did the following because of BNI

  • Gave about 45 1-minute presentations
  • Gave 3 “Feature Presentations” using powerpoint
  • Gave 9 “Referrals”, only 1 of which turned into a “Thank You For Closed Business”
  • Received a bit of business, called “Referrals” in BNI Speak, from 2 of the members, not anywhere near enough to pay for my membership but appreciated all the same
  • Had 22 “One-To-Ones”, no where near BNI standards, but impressive for this introvert who fiercely guards her work time and solitude
  • Met over 30 interesting, varied, focused determined business people from different professions, many of whom I now consider friends
  • Invited about a dozen people, 5 who actually attended, but none who wanted to join because using Zoom isn’t personal or real enough
  • Learned to use Zoom
  • Refined my one sentence business description (“elevator pitch”) several times until it became this:

I make art that people can understand of places and things they love for prices that don’t scare them.

I view this whole venture as a marketing effort, and marketing has very slow returns. This particular way of marketing was time consuming and expensive, but the results are far superior to FaceBook or those other virtual methods because I made real friends.

 

 

9 Things I Learned in September

In September I learned nine things, many of which I wish hadn’t been necessary.

  1. Did you know that shower mixing valves come from the factory preset at a low temperature? Did you know that you can adjust the temperature by asking The Duck? (You might use The Google; I use The Duck, as in DuckDuckGo).
  2. AQI – Air Quality Index – Suddenly everyone is discussing the number of the air. There is a website called Airnow.gov  where you can obsessively type in your zip code all day long and then compare your number to that of your sisters in other zip codes who are obsessively typing in their zip codes.
  3. “Meat bees” are not bees, but wasps, actually Yellow Jackets. They don’t live on pollen and nectar, but on meat, usually from dead animals or picnickers. They can sting repeatedly, unlike a bee that dies after it stings. I have made baking soda paste to take out the pain for 3 different cabin neighbors this year. Those dudes HURT, but baking soda mixed with water fixes the pain immediately (and stops working when it gets dry).
  4. When ash falls outside, you can easily locate all the spider webs.
  5. It is difficult to decide if a cough is due to The Virus or if it is due to very bad air. Very Bad Air. Very Bad Air. VERY BAD AIR!!
  6. Tea made from boiled leaves of the Wooly Mullein plant is supposed to be good for respiratory troubles; it tastes like boiled weeds.
  7. When there is a possibility of evacuating one’s home, one quickly decides what stuff matters and what is meh. But the longer the wait to know if one must evacuate, the longer the list grows of what to take.
    Jackson isn’t interested in changing addresses.
  8. We have a tremendous number of helpful, kind, concerned, generous friends, more than anyone deserves. So many offers to haul our stuff, store our stuff, host us if we were evacuated. Really took some of the edge off of wondering what to do. 
  9. Finding truth seems harder than ever, and the topics seem more weighty than ever. You can find evidence, science, experience, and convincing facts for any side to an argument. Do masks help or don’t they? If they work, why do we have to distance ourselves? And if distancing helps, why do we have to wear masks? And if both of those things are the answer, why is so much still shut down? Has global warming caused the fires or not? Will managing forests harm the environment? Don’t fires harm the environment??

Makes me tired. Anyone want to recommend a good book to read as an escape? Never mind. The library is closed again. I don’t want to buy any books. I don’t want to buy anything. If I own it, I’ll have to decide whether to add it to the pile of other things to grab and go, if that becomes necessary.

Salt & Light, or Reading Rabbit, oil on board, 11×14″, Not for sale

Odd Sort of Job

My two favorite ways to spend time with friends are either taking a walk or working on a project. While in Mineral King, my friend had a project and allowed me to help. If it had been a job, I would have called it an “odd job” to be sure.

We used every tool at our disposal. She brought some up the hill, and we both had other supplies to dig into.

What in the world??

We spent about 3-4 hours working on a project that I would have NEVER chosen to do, but was happy to help. She had the ideas and did the prep; I had the skills. We worked together like a well-oiled machine, and these were our results.

I hope the attendees at the bridal shower are impressed. These are Pinterest and Instagram worthy, eh?

P.S. I almost NEVER go to bridal showers, never go to baby showers, and the idea of decorations and tabletop centerpieces does not enter my mind under 99% of my circumstances. Ever ever ever. But working with a friend is always rewarding, and no attendance at a shower was required.

Still Smoky

This is a long post. If it is a TLDR*, you can just look at the photos.

The smoky conditions varied widely over the past weekend in Mineral King, WHICH IS NOW CLOSED.

Friday, noonish
Saturday, about 10 a.m.
Saturday, around 2 p.m.
Sunday, around 11 a.m.

Now, let’s look at some other views in Mineral King. These first 2 are looking toward Farewell Gap on Saturday evening. (The weird grayish spots in the sky are just the mysterious moving spots on my camera lens.)

On Sunday, mid morning, we could see smoke moving up the canyon toward Mineral King, so we went for a walk while it was still relatively clear. First, we stopped on the bridge. Then Trail Guy encountered a Park mule that was out of the corral, but wanted to go back inside. There was smoke visible coming up from the direction of White Chief. We walked to Crystal Creek, which is hardly a creek. I found a few flowers still blooming, and we passed a hornet hole, AKA a wasp nest. I looked those critters up in a couple of books; although we call them “meat bees”, they are really just yellow jackets. Mean dudes, don’t mess with them.

Whoa. Is that from an existing fire, or is there one roaring up from Three Rivers? (It was from the SQF Complex and the Creek fires, not a new one.)
Blue sky directly overhead! Remember that? Thrilling (but fleeting).
Looking up toward Farewell Gap from the bridge.

One more pass over the bridge, then we packed up and headed down into the smoke of Three Rivers, talking about evacuation, thinking dark thoughts.

Please God, don’t let locusts come next.

*Too Long Didn’t Read

A New Card and So

Are you a note writer? Do you send thank you notes, or thinking of you notes? Getting real mail is fun. Email is good too, but there is something special about ink on paper in an envelope with handwriting on it, arriving at your home (or in your P.O. box). 

I saw an advertisement in a magazine about 20 years ago when email was new, and it was for fancy stationery. The line on the page said, “No one has ever cherished an email”. 

About my cards

You probably know about them already, so consider this a reminder. They come 4 to a package with envelopes, and each package has all the same design, $8/package including postage and shipping.

The newest one

Yokohl Oak

Standards (but not old enough to be called “Classic”)

Who in your life would like to receive a note in the mail? Your Grandma? Your grandchild who may never have received real mail before? The mechanic who keeps your car running so you can drive worry-free? The grocery store checker who is always cheerful, even when she has to wear a mask every day? The barber who lets you come in the back door of his shop so you don’t have to wear your hair in a ponytail?

Cards available here: Notecards

P.S. You don’t have to use the website and Paypal to buy cards because you can send me a check IN THE MAIL and I will send you your cards IN THE MAIL.

P.P.S. (This means PS#2) There are more designs than the ones I’ve shown here, including cards in color, different sizes, and even an assortment package (Mineral King, larger cards, $15).

7 Things I Learned in August

These abalone shells have nothing to do with this post, in case you were wondering.
  1. “Anon” means soon, shortly, presently. A friend said to me, “See you anon”, and I said, “What does that mean? Never mind, I can figure it out, but never heard it before. Is it French or Latin?” She didn’t know, so I looked it up in the cabin dictionary (from 1936) and learned it is English. Who knew?? It doesn’t seem to be related to “anonymous” in any way other than appearance.
  2. Techno-wizardry in perfect harmony – listen to this song with your best speakers. I sent the link to an acquaintance who told me he doesn’t feel proud to live in the USA right now. I did not want to hear his answer of why that is. But his response made me sad, and my hope is that if you feel sad, this beautiful song will lift your spirits. God Bless The USA
  3. After 33 years, is it unreasonable to expect my washing machine to keep working? I looked up the problem on DuckDuckGo (rather than asking The Google, I ask the Duck) and found out there is something called a lid switch. A replacement doesn’t exist, but a Q-tip dipped in white vinegar can clean it back to working condition. Phew – avoided having to go shopping and make a decision.
  4. Isn’t it interesting how you can “know” someone for 30+ years but not know them? I made a new friend in August, and it was such a privilege. (Yes, a distant shot, because we respect people’s privacy here, “we” being the Royal We, since it is only me, myself and I.)
  5. Some people believe that wearing masks is helpful, some believe it is harmful. Is anything easy to figure out anymore?? I am doing my best to make drawing lessons happen again for my students, but it is tricky business to be able to group people together in classes where Maskers and Non-maskers can work together. I am thankful for a large workshop room in an accommodating gallery along with understanding and gracious students.
  6. Trail Guy and I got 2 census forms. We filled out one and tossed the other. Now it has become our problem to slog through the bureaucracy, notifying them that we have indeed complied with the census. Maybe we should have just gotten counted twice and avoided all the hassle that THEY created. (And we are supposed to trust THEM to do mail-in balloting? I feel tired.)
  7. On my trip to the Central Coast with a lifelong friend, we drove by the weird house in Cambria called Nitt Witt Ridge. What a mess – a historical landmark that cannot be lived in (no water meter any more) nor turned into a place of revenue (wrong zoning). It is privately owned, and the owner took us on a tour. He calls it the “anti Hearst Castle”. Indeed. Fascinating, and truly a peculiar sight.

Did you learn anything new and interesting in August?