CHICKEN COOP AND VISIT WITH DAO SANG.

On Saturday and Sunday past, Doug, Virginia, Cedric and a helper, Mark Peel, built a chicken coop. Mark on the left, Doug in middle and Cedric  up top.


Meet the chickens, a white leghorn, red mirren mix and a barred rock red mirren mix. Two out of three, Blanche, Della and Cora another leg/mirren is out of sight.

Virginia helped me build feeders that do not spill grain on the ground. No waste.


Two of these will keep three chickens fed for about 3 weeks. The watering tank on the left, showing one nipple will last almost as long. The lay 1 and 1/2 doz. eggs a week on average.

The roof and door are not on yet, but we teased Doug about his taj mahal design. It is a pretty fancy coop that I will paint with enamel later. So far, having chickens is fun. Organic eggs in a store are about $4.50 a dozen. Calculated costs on-line for purchased organic mash, or GMO free mix your own organic feed, run $3.36 cents a doz. A couple cents more for the mash, a bit less for mix your own.
Since that is more eggs than I can eat, I hope to find one customer who will buy one dozen a week for $4.00 to help lower the cost of  eggs. Of course, I’ll never sell enough eggs to pay for the taj mahal. But, then, it is fun to have your own live chickens. I’ve owned chickens at every house I’ve lived in since 1962, except this one. But, for the many chickens I’ve raised, dozens, I’ve never kept them in a coop before. They always ran free in my city yards and my first house in Murphys. It will be interesting.


My friend Dao Sang came to visit and we spent an afternoon together. I hadn’t seen him since 2005. He has lost 40 pounds he can ill afford to lose and has been ill.  But, the first thing he did was peek in my garage to see if I was still driving my Prius. Yup!! We laughed. He needs special cars because he is 6 foot 9 and can’t fit into just any car.


Lunch at Grounds in Murphys is always a good choice. The day was balmy and beautiful. When we stand together, my head fits under his arm. I asked him why he wasn’t wearing his robes and he said, “I’m enough of a tourist attraction with my height. I only wear them when I’m teaching or at temple.” People do stare at him as he walks down the street.


We stopped and looked at the changes happening around town. And, wouldn’t you know we found a statue of Buddha in a store, for only $7,400. Yikes!  Buddha would be horrified. Anyway, sure enough, a guy in the store looked at him and said, 6′ 5? 6’7?  Dao mumbled, “6′ 9.”

I see what you mean, I told him. I lost my husband in 2000 and my dog six days later. Dao’s dog Daisey died and 6 days later he lost his mother. He remembered that about George. He and some other friends spent my first Thanksgiving with me, after George died, at the local free dinner in downtown Murphys.  So, our reminiscing had some sadness to it. In two weeks he, his two sisters and his three daughters will deliver her ashes to Sea Ranch near the Big Sur . I love the Buddhist religion. It is all about kindness, helpfulness and love, a true reflection of Dao’s personality. As Gus Dalsis, he became a Buddhist after his discharge from the Marines as a young man. He was ordained as Buddhist Monk, Dao Sang in 2004.

THIRTY THOUSAND GEARS AND CHEERS.

My friend Pam Munn recently moved to Thousand Palms and came by the park and picked me up so we could go to lunch and hob-nob around town. She warned me that an event called the Tour de Palm Springs was being hosted this weekend.


On the highway, it was disconcerting to be driving among sweeping globs of hundreds of bicyclers. In town, it seemed more controlled.


Ten thousand bikers registered for this 16th annual event. They were friendly, of all ages, and seemed to be having a grand time. They ride to support and raise money for 150 charities in the Coachella Valley.


I noticed a couple of bikers stopped to cool their feet in a fountain outside of this gated golf course. Pam told me the area has 106 golf courses, all watered with used grey water. I wanted to join them because my feet and one ankle were sore after the power walk of the day before. I walked with this group without a problem before the accident. I have to re-coop slowly.


She took me around the lower side of town which is surrounded by a mountain range. The land beneath the mountains is owned by the water company. It is their water shed and is protected but with access to mountain climbing and picnicking on water company property.


Pam spotted this pretty bird. I took the picture from the window. The minute we opened the door, it was gone.


In town, the event was in full swing, with bands and cheer leaders urging the bikers on to the finish line. I have no clue the distance nor route they ride for this event.


Families cheered on their favorite biker and watched and waited to take pictures as they crossed the finish line.


Once they crossed the finish line, they dispersed into the Tour de Palm Springs Street Faire as did we. Several blocks of streets downtown were closed to traffic and given over to the event. We enjoyed it very much. Had a great lunch, and still took time to do a bit of shopping. My swim suit turned into trash since the last time I used it. So, I bought another.


I waited patiently for the line of people having their picture taken with this 27 foot tall statue of Marilyn. Pam says she is prettier at night because she is lit up and her dress is painted with a pearly, luminous paint.


We stopped for a drink. The band was good but loud. It was impossible to talk without placing lip to ear. We didn't stay long.


At this shop, I think it was Canyon Rose Boutique, the clerk asked us, "Where you from?" I told her Murphys. She said, "Oh, just minutes ago someone from Murphys was in here, are you together." No. I told her the shop reminded me of Reza's Bags in Murphys. "That's what she said, too." What are the odds?


I love kitschy stuff, so I took pictures of stuff and no one can have too many scarves doncha know. (I was only going to buy a swim suit, but...)


This woman was photographing her friend trying on and modeling a beautiful hat.


I believe this was Weitzmens Gallery. It has huge sculptures in front and massive paintings of good quality if you wanted to find it, it is easy to find.


There was a lot to see in Palm Springs that Pam and I didn't get to. I have friends coming on Wednesday that will spend a couple of days and we'll get another look.


My bike is practically frozen from being on the back of the bronco through so much changeable weather. It is about as mobile as this one. I'm planning to keep it at home from now on. After dinner in the motor home, Pam and I went to the recreation hall to hear some music, but it wasn't much to our taste and she left at 8 p.m. This week she is going to give me painting lessons using acrylics.

LIFE'S LITTLE DRAMAS.

An invitation for lunch from my friend, Paul was a pleasant two hours. We tried to solve all the problems of senior dating. It should be easy, but it isn't. Men want women 20 years younger than themselves, it seems. He had one taker but after nine months of traveling back and forth to southern California, they didn't have enough in common to make it work.

Lunch at Alchemy in Murphys, is to benefit from a wonderful chef. I ordered the white bean chicken stew with shaved lemon parmesan. Delish! Everything I've ever eaten there has been wonderful. Great soups and salads and wonderful entrees.
Paul had salmon and a salad with candied pecans and cranberriers.
They bring you corn bread, but, as you can see, it isn't what you might expect.


In the afternoon, I got a call from a friend that a dog needed rescue from someone who was threatening to take it to the pound. The dog's owner, my friend Anne, died and her caretaker decided she wouldn't caretake the dog until the new owner could come from Oregon and get it. So, off I went and came home with this cute little part papillon. Animal Lovers is trying to find it a home.


I haven't had a dog in about 8 years and it was fun to bond with a dog in need. But, my travel plans are soon. I expect little dogs are much easier to place than men in their 80's.  Both, are gems.

DRAWN GUN CHALLENGE AND RIGHT-OF-WAY

Today, I stopped at Murphys Realty to have papers notarized by my dear friend Kendra North, after which we went to lunch at Grounds. Kendra and I met as quilters and for years we met on Monday nights and quilted and gossiped and sipped. Then life changes and habits change, too. But, golden friendships, we never forget.
This legal paper was necessary as a neighbor of mine in Oregon crosses a corner of my property to get to his house at the end of a dirt road. According to the paper work, his family has been crossing this patch of my land for 70 years. Who am I to even think about denying him legal access, especially since the papers claimed they could win the right in court and they would take me to court on January 15th if I didn't sign? I, mean, I was in Yuma on Jan. 15th? Not too friendly, this paperwork. And, my erstwhile neighbor isn't too friendly either. His boys have rammed my gate with their pick-up. My foster daughter and her husband visited my place for the first time and mistakenly thought my place was at the end of the road, and "friendly" neighbor drew guns on them for having the gall to drive into his driveway. The same thing happened to my cousin in his motorhome. I was tempted to return the paper with a note politely requesting that he never draw weapons on my guests and I would be glad to sign. But, in the end, I thought better of it, signed the paper and enjoyed my good and true friend Kendra instead.
Lunch was delicious but the company nonpariel.