One Year Ago...One Month from Now

I know I’ve brought this subject up before, but it has been on my mind lately: the older one gets, the faster time flies. Apparently there’s been research, as reported in Scientific American (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-does-time-seem-to-speed-up-with-age/):

“This phenomenon, which (psychologist Claudia) Hammond has dubbed the holiday paradox, seems to present one of the best clues as to why, in retrospect, time seems to pass more quickly the older we get. From childhood to early adulthood, we have many fresh experiences and learn countless new skills. As adults, though, our lives become more routine, and we experience fewer unfamiliar moments. As a result, our early years tend to be relatively overrepresented in our autobiographical memory and, on reflection, seem to have lasted longer. Of course, this means we can also slow time down later in life. We can alter our perceptions by keeping our brain active, continually learning skills and ideas, and exploring new places.”

Oh yeah...we know I’m all about that “exploring new places” thingie!

One year ago today, Mr. T and I saw the sunrise at Mather Point on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon...not an entirely “new experience” for me, but a new experience for T...and for us together. Words alone are inadequate to describe the anticipation just before “official” sunrise...and that ooh-ahhh feeling as the sun clears the North Rim landmarks. Pictures, too, never seem to capture the incredible beauty of the moment, but they will have to do for now.

Sunrise at Grand Canyon 6/3/17

Watching the Sunrise at the Grand Canyon 6/3/17

And now...it's time to dust off the passports and get those suitcases out of the attic in anticipation for our next adventure!

Our Next Adventure!

AU & NZ money is soooo colorful...and has this see-through strip...!

One month from today, we will be getting on a jet plane, beginning that “once in a lifetime” (OIAL) trip to...drumroll please...Australia and New Zealand! This is a trip that I have dreamed about for as long as I can remember...and when better to make it happen than the year of a milestone birthday, I ask you? Yes, I will celebrate the Big 6-5 in Sydney (there’s some lovely symmetry in that homophonic, serendipitous name, don’t you agree?). But I’m getting ahead of myself...

Thirty days from now, we fly from ATL to LAX and take a break there before the (really, really) long haul...which has been the biggest obstacle to making this OIAL trip: I simply have not been able to get over the hurdle of being on a plane so (very, very) long. (Well, I must have cleared the hurdle because we have booked the tickets!) Anyway, a day and a half later (okay, so some of that is due to the 14-hour time difference...and some is due to crossing the International Dateline...but you can also give credit to the 15+ hour flight time, Lord Help Us), Qantas Airlines (finally, finally) delivers us to Melbourne, AU.

Why Melbourne, you may ask? Well, some of you may know what Brit Wits we are (addicted to British TV programming, especially the mountain of murder mysteries available)...so, it should come as no surprise that we got hooked on Aussie and Kiwi programming when they came to PBS. One of our favorites is “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries,” which is a smashing 3-season series starring the gorgeous Essie Davis as the Honorable Phryne Fisher, who is described as “(a) female sleuth (who) sashays through the back lanes and jazz clubs of Melbourne in the late 1920s, fighting injustice with her pearl-handled pistol and her dagger-sharp wit.” I cannot wait to see the city that started calling to me the first time I watched Episode 1. Heck, we are currently rewatching all of the episodes, trying to memorize the look of the buildings in the backgrounds of the scenes. Oh.....and we are booked for a tour that will take us to the Grampians Mountains through Ballarat...the setting for another of our favorites, “The Doctor Blake Mysteries.”

After five fun days there, we are back on Qantas to “cross the ditch”...AKA the Tasman Sea...to fly to the Pacific Ocean-side of the South Island of New Zealand, landing in Christchurch. Why Christchurch, you may ask? Why not the usual stops of Auckland (where my new fave “800 Words” and the “Brokenwood Mysteries” are filmed) or Hamilton (both on the North Island) or even Queensland? Well, this choice is a sentimental favorite.

You may not remember back in 2010 and 2011 when devastating earthquakes very nearly destroyed this beautiful English-styled village that has been nurtured since its founding in the late 1800’s. I remember. I saw a documentary on the recovery and rebuilding efforts, and I knew...I just knew I wanted to go there. I want to help them celebrate resiliency! Plus, I wanted to go to the wine and wool part of the country...see a Rugby* game...and ride the train through the Southern Alps, which is the setting for many of the scenes of Middle Earth for “The Lord of the Rings.” Sure enough, the Tranzalpine leaves from Christchurch. So there we will be!

Five days later, and we are winging our way back to Oz, this time landing in Sydney. I will spend my birthday day climbing to the top of the Pylon on Harbour Bridge and then having a lovely lunch over 1000’ above the City. We already have tickets for “Aida” at the Opera House, so we can see that landmark from a distance and then up close and personal.

Did I forget to mention any gardens? No worries! We will be taking in the Starry Skies of the Southern Hemisphere (which we will NEVER see at our home latitude) at the historic observatory at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne, enjoying the Aboriginal Heritage Walk in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, and being immersed in the beauty of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens while staying in a hotel situated on the edge of the Avon River and Hagley Park.

After three weeks of our OIAL adventure, it will be time to say so long to the Southern Cross constellation and return to the land of the North Star. I do have to wonder how many pictures we will be able to take? Any guesses, guys?!?

There are a couple of wrinkles in this beautiful plan. My recent diagnosis of gout (left toe for 3 weeks, then left knee for the past 2) has been a major pain...literally and figuratively. But, at least I had that happen HERE, where my doctors are, so I have time to get treatment, rest, get started on appropriate meds, and recover. You better believe I am packin’: extra prednisone dose pack and colchicine (a med for gout, to be taken at the first sign of an episode), plus a couple of tubes of diclofinac gel (topical NSAID). Be prepared, as they say!

And yes, observant reader, it IS Winter down under. But that just means fewer tourists...and remembering to dress in layers. And I look forward to being a part of their traditional “Christmas in July” festivities. Remember, it is the height of Summer there on December 25th.

So, if you hear that I’m singing Jingle Bells on my birthday this year, you will certainly understand. Meanwhile, I'll continue to chant the following in my head:  "Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi"
(...as remembered from the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta...)

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* Have you ever heard of/seen the NZ All Blacks Rugby squad's famous pre-game haka? OMG...chills!! I learned of this at a recent UGA OLLI class called "New Zealand...The Land of the Long White Cloud," which I took in prep for this trip. Check out this YouTube video.
NZ All Blacks Rugby haka

Making the Most of a Month

Whew! Let me catch my breath. Hard to believe another month is almost history. Before we turn the page on the calendar, I should attempt a recap.

First, though, here’s a photo of the boyz to bring a smile to your face:


Ok, so we started the month of October off right by celebrating Missy M’s birthday.



I cannot tell you how much we are enjoying being close to her. We have brunch together almost every Sunday, although today’s meal was supper of M’s yummy potato soup...which was perfect on this first truly chilly day of Fall.

That same week, I got to attend my first Georgia Master Gardener Association’s annual conference in nearby Buford. Spent a great couple of days devoted to classes, workshops, and meeting new folks. Even had some good fortune with the Silent Auction items. Fun!

I think I told you that we have joined the Oscher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Georgia. I signed up for several classes this Fall, and we joined several of the Special Interest Groups (SIG) including the Lunch Bunch, the Supper Club, and the Lady Dogs Basketball group. While that last SIG won’t begin until basketball season, the other opportunities are keeping us busy.

I’ve been to two classes so far: Growing Blueberries and Figs in Georgia and World War I Military Training Camps in Georgia. The first one will help us as we plan our garden here (more on that in a sec); the second one gave me some insight into Papaw (Grandfather Keaton)’s boot camp experience at Camp Gordon as well as his service at Fort Oglethorpe (where he was a Quartermaster). 

We enjoyed two lunches at a couple of Athens restaurants (that we probably would never have tried) with the Lunch Bunch. And we met for a lovely dinner with the 6 other members of our Supper Club. Our hosts made a pork loin roast and asked that we bring sides with the theme of Autumn Harvest. I made an apple pie for dessert and baked yeast rolls as a special treat. 

We volunteered to host the November dinner...which will actually be a Sunday brunch instead. (More on that in my next post.) Now, you may be wondering whether I’ve gone ‘round the bend by asking people to come over to our house...you know, the house that is still being moved into? Actually, I thought that might give us just the nudge to get things wrapped up before the Holidays are upon us.

Soooo...we have finished the unpacking of boxes (for the most part)...and are beginning the hanging of pictures and curtains and shelves and what not. And you know what? Casa 303 is really starting to feel like our home. 

We did take a break this weekend to travel to NC to go to the Southeast Animal Fiber Fair (SAFF) and stay with Bro J in Asheville. I took a class on Beginning Spinning on a Takli, and Mr. T took a beginning wood carving class and made a Spirit Stick...cool! 

From the drive through the mountains to the Fair itself to the time we spent with J & J, it was a really great weekend! 

As we begin this last week of the month, I am staying the night at Missy M’s house with the dogs, since T will have to rise-and-shine to welcome the workers who are coming at 0-dark:30 to install our new garden shed tomorrow. It’s the same shed that he and I built from a kit in HPNC (the one with the purple doors), but we decided we had enough on our plates and could get a crew to do the heavy lifting (we’ll still have to seal, caulk, and paint, etc., ourselves). And after the shed is in place, we can get the garden going.

Oh yes. It truly is feeling like our home.

Are We Having Fun Yet?

I don't know about you, but I'm always thankful when I start a new month off right. Makes me feel like the next four weeks or so are headed in the right direction, don't you know?

Of course, it's good to close a month on a good note, too. April has certainly lived up to the reputation of being the Month of Showers.  And thankfully, we are now getting our share of flowers all around Casa 3917.





Dutch Iris in the Back Yard

Ducky and the Iris in the Way Back














Azaleas at the Piano Bar Deck

Betty Jean's iris in the Way Back

As you can see from a couple of those shots, the iris we received several years ago from my late cousins, Betty Jean and Wendell Gore, are making their annual appearance. We've moved these iris...or, at least offspring of the originals...from house to house, state to state, and we now have a lovely stand of them in the Rondell (Center "Circle" of the Way Back). Some yellow ones I added two years ago as a contrast color, will be making an appearance in a day or two. I so love it when they begin to open! Reminds of two wonderful people who enriched my life.  Remember...Betty Jean was my Lunn cousin who taught me to knit, 51 years ago...a priceless gift.

So, goodbye April.  Let's get the month of May rolling!

EMG mentor and friend, JA picked me up this morning, and off to the west side of Winston we went. We were registered for a Photography in the Garden class at Tanglewood. Since we have plans to add a similar offering to our Speakers Bureau lineup, we both had a particular interest in the subject.

Good class...learned some good tips...got some ideas about how to design "our" version and got to meet some Forsyth County Master Gardeners...and what a treat to see the Tanglewood grounds again! Used to take Missy M to the stables there to ride horses, and always love the lights at Christmas. After the class, we strolled through the gardens, enjoying the evidence of Spring all around us...despite how chilly the temps were.

Then we had a lovely lunch highlighted with great conversation at New Town Bistro. Ever had fried green tomatoes on a grilled pimento cheese sandwich? OK, that's a tad odd, but tasty...just the same! And no doubt, Master Gardening stuff forms the foundation of the many threads of our chatting, but JA and I share many things in common...and have enough differences to make things interesting...and I think we could find something to say about almost any subject.

Home again, home again to find that Abbie must have had strong feelings about my absence 'cause she ripped the backside of her little bed to shreds. To absolute shreds! It's not like she doesn't have a bazillion or so toys to occupy her time and boundless energy. Sigh. Training class, you say? Yeah...I think it's time. Oh well...

Not only did I have a super day, but I also heard from Missy M that she had a fun one, too. It's Derby Week in Louisville, and today was the day that sponsors and their employees got invited to Churchill Downs. What fun! She called to say she left the track a winner...a good $2.00 ahead of what she went in with. Woo hoo! Better than I usually do with the horses...

On to Mr. T. He's been in the-backside-of-nowhere-Illinois this week, and he called to say he's probably flying home a day early tomorrow. Yea! Music to my ears. He has been doing his best to protect his left knee from further damage. Although he hasn't received an official diagnosis yet, he did have a conversation with the tech who did his MRI last Friday...and confirmed a torn medial meniscus. So, he knows at least part of what his problem is. While there could be more going on in there, we know that arthroscopic surgery is in his future. Doctor appointment next week...stay tuned.

Meanwhile, tomorrow I'll finish up working on an upcoming MG presentation I'm doing on roses. Then, Friday I'll board an eastbound train and head to Raleigh for one of my fun days at the NC Symphony and then the NC History Museum.

And then Saturday night, we'll enjoy a fun night with the Greensboro Symphony playing John Williams favorites. They say we will be joined by members of the Fighting 501st Legion and the Rebel Legion, both international Star Wars Costuming Groups, appearing as characters of the Star Wars saga. Sounds exciting!

Perfect end to a fine week.

So to answer my own question about fun...except for the whole Mr. Ts knee thing...yes, yes we are!

Abbie enjoys a yoghurt (cup)...yummy!