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MAYTAG MOMENTS

June 29 – July 7.

06.29.2020: 0500: Yes. A colorful sunrise caused by smoke moving East over Redington Pass (divides the Catalina Mountains from the Rincon Mts.) 104,000 acres and 40% contained (maybe). Evacuations are in effect between Catalina Highway and Redington Pass.

1420: Winds gusting to 30 mph – hot winds – not good for the firefighters. We had to run four short errands, this morning: Walgreen’s, Bank, walking the Mall 1,800 steps walking faster past the icecream stand – Sprouts for Emergency-we’re-suddenly-out-of-milk-trip. We came home and watched CBS Sunday Morning (on Monday), and caught up on some reading. Thanks for your responses. It’s good to know we are still in touch.

I have a smooth short story to submit to D2D tomorrow.

We gave our dinner FIVE ***** this evening.  Green beans and roasted chicken. Easy directions. We’ll have the rest of it for lunch, tomorrow.

06.30.2020: 0500: One doctor’s appointment this morning and a couple of Zooms if they don’t conflict with anything.  0800:PJ is up. Breakfast. 1000:Took PJ to the doctor.

1200: Made it home before our HomeChef was delivered. So far, the sign has had no effect.

We will contact the delivery company and request special directions for July.  I managed to get everything in the refrigerator without anything thawing. The delivery is every Tuesday around noon, so we are on the lookout, just to be sure.

07.01.2020: Speaking of JULY, you remembered to say RABBIT this morning, I hope. I wonder if… No note from Ana.  She usually beats me with “Rabbit”.

0945: We have to go to Body Central early to fill out papers to extend PJ’s PT for a few more weeks.

Just because I haven’t written about it doesn’t mean that the Bighorn Fire has stopped.

118,370 acres as of today and  54% contained. I took this at 1100 on July 1, 2020.

07.02.2020: I always wear Marvin the Martian in memory of our son, Robert Eric, who died on this day in 1997. He had Marvin tattooed on his shoulder. A good friend of ours had the plaque made that is behind me. PJ caught the distant look of memory in my eyes. Rob was twenty-three years young. He is forever in our hearts. Each day, I’ll wear a different Marvin shirt. (I have twelve shirts!)

0600: Clouds are rolling in from the south. Humidity is rising. This will help the firefighters.

1000:We walked the Mall (2000) steps. PJ has a new Minnie Mouse watch to replace her  Birthday present. This one is an Apple and she loves it.

 View from Brett Bench. We got a few drops of rain!  There’s hope.

We got calls from our grandchildren and Cindy W. plus many touching email cards reminding us that others were thinking of us on Robert’s Angel Day.  

Son Joe and Charlotte (Mother-in-law) stopped by after her heart monitor placement. It was good to see them. She’ll be getting a Pacemaker soon.

07.03.2020: 0430: Ten minutes riding my bike. Writing.

From my window, a single balloon floats across the road reminding of Megan’s Birthday, yesterday. Happy Birthday, Megan!

 I have to stop at Best Buy for an item for the computer.  Once done, we’ll go on to the Mall and walk.

 1000: 2402 steps. Too bad the ice cream stand was still closed.  We would have stopped by.  (Just Kidding, Tresha).  Thought that would wake you up. We can do the halls in 30 minutes. If we start by 1000, we’ll be finished and on our way home before the stand opens.

I’ve been writing some heavy correspondence today – all professional – regarding PD.  Took one break and watched a demonstration of Pen & Ink and watercolor that was entertaining.  It’s been a year since I’ve painted anything. I put my art stuff away when my tremor got so bad that I couldn’t hold the brush. I’m facing a similar problem with archery.

07.04.2020: 0500: I have a (Zoom) meeting at 1000. (It was a bust! I couldn’t get in.) We’ll work on it again this afternoon. 1100: This from Phyllis with her original ending: (She still had the plaque this poem is on – a gift on her tenth birthday.)

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

I pray the Lord, my soul, to keep

When in the Morning Light I wake

Help Me the Path of Love to Take

And eat a piece of

Chocolate Cake!

1200 Swombo won’t let me eat until I pose for the camera! We made meatloaf and broccoli in thirty-five minutes. That’s what the recipe said. It could have cooked a little longer.  PJ put it in the microwave for another three minutes.  Much better. The meat and the sauce were excellent. We gave it 4**** out of 5. It was easy to fix.

07.05.2020: 0600: This is the first time I’ve shot in nine days. Robin Hood? NO! I shot five ends and split this last arrow. And the arrow wasn’t in a scoring circle. Which means I’m a bad shot TWICE. More than that since two out of three shots were out of each scoring circle:  50/150 using the compound bow.

Tomorrow, I’ll use my recurve bow,  if I shoot at all.

                  (Note to Barbara Palmer: Do you recognize the painting behind me?)

Marsala Mushroom Smothered Pork Chop, green beans with mushrooms, and WINE sauce!

We gave it 5*****!  I cooked the chops about tw0-minutes too long – (can’t be too careful). The wine added to the tasteful experience. We watched CBS Sunday Morning (in the evening) and, for the first time since Andy Rooney retired, viewed 60-Minutes. I realized that we’ve been missing our old program for too long.

07.06.2020: Only two doctor appointments today: one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Well, we get out of the house, anyway.

This from Jeanne G. in Austin, Texas in Village on the Park, Onion Creek Assisted Living:

            “Our cruise ship on dry land is surrounded by a storm. Covid-19 is threatening to take us off course, but we are resisting. Captain John has put in place quarantine restrictions to keep us safe.”

For the family to celebrate her birthday, the office reserved time outside the lobby window where her daughter, granddaughter (Ava age 11) -some of us met her when she visited our Tucson memoir writing class – and two of her grandsons who brought their trombones and with Ava playing her flute played a concert for Jeanne.  Ava topped the party with a chocolate birthday cake made from scratch.

 Jeanne wrote a two-column article describing the experience.  She writes a column for Village on the Park Newsletter each month.

From all your friends in Quail Run Writing: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEANNE!

To all of you who read Maytag Moments, we wish you health and creative ideas to keep from boredom. Wear your masks, exercise, listen to music and write.  Write to your family.  Write to your unborn great-grandchildren. Write poetry.  Write mysteries. Write westerns. Write history. Write your blessings.  Write. WRITE.

The million little things that drop into your hands

The small opportunities each day brings

He leaves us free to use or abuse

And goes unchanging along His silent way.  

Helen Keller