Around OakMeadows

Around OakMeadows

It has been cloudy and rainy for so long that I am longing for some sunshine.  The temperatures have been very pleasant though. Low 50s to upper 60s. 

I am taking a class through Coursera, Introduction to Classical Music. It is taught by a Yale professor and is quite interesting. I took a Coursera course, What Plants Know, a year ago from a professor at Hebrew University in Israel. Amazing, just amazing what we can do these days!!

JMM and I got the new shingles vaccination today. We had the old vaccine about 10 years ago but the new Shingrix vaccine is supposed to be much more effective.  Dr. Bauer faxed the prescriptions to CVS and the pharmacist administered it.  The co-pay was $100 each but worth every penny to prevent shingles.  

2018 Plans — February Update

1. Learn to make Sourdough Bread. Nothing done. 

2. Learn to make something with Butternut Squash. (Mostly this means learning how to  get into it.) — Nothing done. 

3. Make 2 Scrap Quilts and 1 from new material. — Finished 1 Scrap Quilt. Piecing  Dutch Churn and Dash Quilt. 

4. Read 52 books — 10 books read. 

5. Trips:

     A. Big Bend National Park — Changed to summer trip to NYC. 

     B. National Butterfly Center 

     C. National Gallery — Planned trip canceled due to blizzard. Rescheduled for March. 

     D. Pawhuska, OK to see PW’s Merc

6. Home Improvements — Nothing done. 

     A. New Stovetop 

     B. New living room furniture 

7. Expand Butterfly garden — Nothing done. 

8. Work on Political campaigns for House and Senate — Continuing 🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥 and sent contribution to Beto O’Rourke for Senate. 

9. Self Improvement — on track. 

     None. I’m fine. 

March Menu

March Menu

1.  Leftovers 

2.  Out

3.  Bacon Sandwiches, Oven Fries 

4.  Slow Cooker Chicken 

5.  Oven Baked Fish, Potatoes, Coleslaw 

6.  Schwan’s 

7.  Cutlets, GMP, Peas

8.  Leftovers 

9.  Out

10. Macaroni and Cheese, Corn

11. Schwan’s 

12. Tuna Salad Sandwiches,Veggies 

13. Oven BBQ Chicken, Beans, Coleslaw 

14. Schwan’s 

15. Leftovers 

16. Out

17.  Corned Beef and Cabbage

18.  Scrambled Eggs, Canadian Bacon, Toast

19. Shrimp Jambalaya 

20. Chicken Tenders, GMP, GB

21. Schwan’s 

22. Leftovers 

23. Out

24. CBHash, CSC

25. Schwan’s 

26. Fried Shrimp, Potatoes, Coleslaw 

27. Schwan’s 

28. Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salas

29. Leftovers 

30. Out

31. St. Wieners, Corn

February Poetry

"In winter's cold and sparkling snow,
The garden in my mind does grow.
I look outside to blinding white,
And see my tulips blooming bright.
And over there a sweet carnation,
Softly scents my imagination.

On this cold and freezing day,
The Russian sage does gently sway,
And miniature roses perfume the air,
I can see them blooming there.
Though days are short, my vision's clear.
And through the snow, the buds appear.

In my mind, clematis climbs,
And morning glories do entwine.
Woodland phlox and scarlet pinks,
Replace the frost, if I just blink.
My inner eye sees past the snow.
And in my mind, my garden grows."
-  Cynthia Adams, Winter Garden.   First published in Birds and Blooms magazine, Dec/Jan 2003

February Thoughts

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” 
― J.R.R. Tolkien

Plans for the Week of February 25 - March 3, 2018

Personal
     Haircut
     Galveston Island State Park

Reading
     Madison Park by Eric Motley

     Grant by Ron Chernow 

     Fall from Grace by Danielle Steele

     It’s Even Worse than You Think by David C. Johnston 

Cooking
Saturday— CB Hash, CSC

Sunday-- Slow Cooker Potato-Leek Soup

Monday-- Pork Tenderloin, Dressing, Corn

Tuesday -- Baked Fish, Rice Pilaf, Coleslaw 

Wednesday -- Schwan’s 

Thursday-- Leftovers 

Friday -- Out

Quilting
     Continue piecing blocks

🔥Resistance. Every. Day. 🔥

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Called Rep. Pete Olson:

I’m calling to express my concern about ICE’s new directive to make arrests inside of courthouses, and ICE’s their pushing the limits around officially ‘sensitive locations’ like hospitals, churches, and schools. I would like Rep Olson to co-sponsor the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (H.R. 1815).

Thank You note to Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA):

Thank You for your sustained effort to protect Dreamers. I appreciate you telling their stories and why they should be celebrated as part of the American family. Thank you for your leadership.

Send to: 90 Seventh Street, Suite 2-800, San Francisco, CA 94103

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Thank you note to Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY):

Thank you for guaranteeing eligibility for state-funded Medicaid for all New Yorkers. I appreciate your concern and compassion for our neighbors, regardless of immigration status. Thank you for your leadership.

Address: Governor of New York, NYS State Capitol Building, Albany, NY 12224

Thank You note to Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL):

Thank you for opposing the inclusion of a citizenship question on the 2020 census. I share your concern that it will lead to an inaccurate count of constituents, reducing their representation in congress. Thank you for your leadership.

Address (IRL): 4960 SW 72 Ave, Suite 208, Miami, FL 33155

Address (MDB): 8669 NW 36th Street, Suite 100, Doral, FL 33166

Thank You note to Sen. Tim Kaine 

Thank you for insisting on the release of a memo outlining the president’s legal authority to wage war. As a member of the Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees, I appreciate you using your position to bring this information to light. It is vital for Congress to maintain authority over any act of war. Thank you.

        Address: 919 East Main Street, Suite 970, Richmond, VA 23219

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Letter to General John F. Kelly, White House Chief of Staff:

I object to Stephen Miller’s advisory role to the president. His anti-immigrant and racist agenda makes him unfit to serve and that he should be removed immediately.

Address: Gen. John F. Kelly, White House Chief of Staff, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20500

Thank you note to Sen Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY): Thank You for leading the effort in the Senate to overhaul the system for congressional employees’ harassment claims. I am grateful for your support for survivors’ right to seek and attain justice. Thank you.

        Address: 780 Third Avenue, Suite 2601,  New York, New York 10017

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Thank you note to HHS Sec. Alex Azar: 

Thank you for backing CDC research on gun violence. I support collecting data that helps minimize gun violence and keeps our loved ones safe.

Address: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201

Called Rep. Pete Olson and Senators Cornyn and Cruz:

In light of Robert Mueller’s most recent indictments, I am calling to ask you to co-sponsor the bipartisan DETER (Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines) Act (H.R.4884/S. 2313). National security isn’t a partisan issue. Supporting this bill will protect the integrity of our next election.

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Called Senators Cornyn and Cruz:

I am calling to express my concern about possible changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act. H.R. 620 just passed in the House and permits delayed ADA compliance, restricts litigation rights, and makes people with disabilities report non-compliance. I want you to advocate for basic civil rights and vote no when this bill comes up for a vote in the Senate.

Thank You note to Rep. Derek Kilmer:

Thank you for holding accountable the Department of Homeland Security in its new role in United States elections. The right to vote is at the core of a representational democracy. Thank you for working to protect that right.

Address: 950 Pacific Ave. Suite 1230, Tacoma, WA 98402

Thank You notes to Reps. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) and Steve Stivers (R-OH):

Thank for creating the Congressional Civility and Respect Caucus. I appreciate your work to build bridges between parties and help us solve the challenges of our time.

Address (JB): 471 East Broad Street, Suite 1100, Columbus, OH 43215

Address (SS): 3790 Municipal Way, Hilliard, OH 43026