I got my wish.
It rained.
Not enough but it rained.
No time to spare for playing on Mastodon today.
Must be busy taking care of the business of keeping our household going.
Baking, cooking, laundry, Summer's mobile groomer visit, phone calls with the bank, doctors and advocacy so medical referrals are approved.
It is a full time job to continue to say please when needed referrals are denied. I almost always win in the end but the time it takes is mind boggling.
So we are quiet here today but making noise everywhere else.
Miss you all and will catch up tomorrow.

Still no rain but the sky didn't disappoint.
I do love our view.

Summer and I kept going out on the deck to see if the rain that looks and feels so very close will actually fall on us.
I can hope.
Summer says that rain is a pain.
She thinks she is being funny but getting dried off and getting your feet washed before you can come in the house is a pain.
I understand but we really need rain.
Everything feels too dry, looks not green and smells funny.
Soon Summer says.
I hope she is right.

Today I tried to explain Mastodon to Summer's vet. I told her that Summer has friends all over the world.
The vet asked what she does that is special.
I said that I'm not sure that she does anything more special than other happy dogs.
I said that we share photos of her doing everyday dog stuff. Usually she is smiling though.
She asked if Summer's friends know how sweet and soft she is. Extremely huggable.
If they didn't know this fact before they do now.
The three of us watched the sunset from our new deck this evening.
Now we are passing it on you, our dear friends, because we can.
Thanks to everyone who makes Mastodon available and easy to use so we can share Summer kindness far and wide.

I took this photo through a double pane glass door. The only way the hawk would pose for me.
A sure sign that the seasons have shifted and are barreling towards winter are the birds who share our hillside.
The birds of prey are back to haunt our fenceposts and stalk our resident covey of quail.
The geese that honk their way over the house, in formation, on the regular.
The flickers who tap on the house to pester Summer.
I'm glad they feel welcome here.
#BackyardBirds

A no Summer scene from our beach adventure today.

Summer's beach adventure today.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

Last night it was clear that my husband wasn't feeling his best. Always on a weekend. I'm not sure why but the universe conspires against us in this way.
To help us out my daughter did our Costco shopping and when she delivered the groceries she told Summer and I she planned to hang out for an hour and a half or so.
We weren't going to pass on the opportunity to get out for an adventure.
The beach was cold and drizzly but perfect.
We were late getting back by three minutes.
My daughter is a sweetheart.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

I stopped by my daughter's house on the way home from the protest today.
She was off volunteering for the Breast Health Project.
The beautiful hand crafted wood gate to the garden was locked.
I could only see what any random passer-by might see.
I took a photo of the best blossom in her front yard and one teasing the abundance of blossoms in the backyard just out of my reach.
Tomorrow I'll try again when she is home.
#BloomScrolling #Dahlias

I feel change deeply and with trepidation.
Wishing I was different has never worked so I accept that this is just my way.
Always feeling more at home when at home.
But that is just me.
I'm glad my grandkids are more adventurous.
One of our grandsons is considering a change of scenery. He is fearless but has a good head on his shoulders.
I want him to be happy and he has good friends and more opportunity in another blue state north of us.
Summer would miss her favorite dog sitter if he decides to move.
I will be the most supportive grandma that I can be whatever he decides.
He knows that.
The view from the deck this afternoon.

Summer sees me getting ready to leave with my new sign.
She says she will hold down the fort from her safe, under the table, hiding spot.
I tell her that I will be back soon.
Summer is a sweetheart.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

I finally hand printed the last voter postcard for the US midterm elections. I've run out of time. Election day is right around the corner.
I have written thousands of cards.
This is one box ready to mail.
Don't know if my effort will make a difference but not doing anything isn't an option so I do what I can.
Today I will join my daughter and grandkids to protest at our county seat.
Summer would love to go along but someone needs to stay home with her pal.
Good morning, Mastodon.

Today was busy.
A getting stuff done sort of day.
Adventures and chores.
Voting.
A trip to the farmer's market.
Received our last 200 get out the vote postcards to write and mail to South Carolina.
I managed to finish fifty cards.
Homemade chili burgers and fries for dinner.
Lots of Summer cuddles because when she is feeling like she needs scritches she makes herself very available. It is hard to ignore a Summer in your lap.
The sunset was lovely.
Today I was happy to be me in this place with Summer and her pal.

Yesterday I responded to Indigenous Peoples Day by sharing some of my family's history.
I have one more story for you.
My mother was born Wailaki and lived on the Round Valley Reservation.
At least seven families lived on the ranch. Three generations of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
My mother always said that while the country was starving during the depression they had ample game to hunt, fish in the Eel River and a massive garden. But when she was sent to Indian Boarding School she starved.
I tell you this because her later health issues were likely the result of malnutrition as an adolescent.
I was her end of life caregiver.
The doctors were convinced that the atrophy of her brain was from alcohol. She was Indian but never a drinker. They wouldn't believe us and didn't help.
Prejudice can manifest in so many different ways.
She deserved better.
This is why I seek out care for myself at my Indian Health clinic. They believe me when I tell them the truth

I am an indigenous person.
My mother called us Indians.
So did my classmates.
In the pecking order that existed at my elementary school that fact put me squarely at the bottom until the first black people came to our school. At that point I shared the bottom of the order.
Being Indian was lower than being a poor white person.
Meet my grandmother.
She was sent to Carlisle Indian Boarding School with her siblings. They were all tough as nails.
She didn't stray far from the reservation again after she made it home.
She did live with us one summer.
All of my cousins came with.
She taught me that life was too short to waste it hating the people that hated us.
Instead she taught me to write poetry.
The Wailaki people were almost exterminated.
But not entirely because here I am.
She would have been amused that we have Indigenous Peoples Day now I think.

Still tired but on my third cup of coffee.
Mountains of laundry are washed and folded.
Only the bedding left to go.
I drove to town to my haircut appointment.
No close parking so I had to walk a ways.
An unfamiliar neighborhood that happened to have an animal rescue that was new to me.
This cat was in one of the windows.
If I wasn't so allergic to cats I would have inquired.
Instead I knocked on their door and left a donation.
Summer says that she already has a cat and that one is enough. Luckily I'm not allergic to Tennessee.
I do hope to get some sleep tonight. Yesterday my husband couldn't keep food down and I was stressed about it being a holiday weekend.
Today I'm worn out but he is doing better.
Whew!
#Caturday

Apple pie for dessert tonight.
I told my husband that he deserves a treat and he agreed.
So by request I'm baking his favorite.
#Baking

I've still got it I guess.
Cooking all afternoon and all I have to show for it is two dozen banana chocolate chip muffins, banana maple scones in the oven and a couple of gallons of potato salad. Oh, and banana bread.
My husband, bless his heart, is the taste tester.
The muffins got a thumbs up.
The potato salad, on the other hand, got a ten out of ten that got upgraded to bloomin delicious as he came looking for seconds.
My new scone recipe is still a mystery.
I didn't really like the texture when I put them in the freezer to chill.
We will see.
Lots of food to distribute before dark.
#Baking #Cooking

The last happy running dog photos from our morning adventure.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

Even though it was cold with a heavy drizzle Summer and I skipped our way to the beach early, early this morning.
Fun was had.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon