Upstairs

This is what you see as you're heading up the stairs at River Lea.

Silver service

This is one of two silver services that were donated to River Lea. The wheeled cart on which the silver service is displayed is the type of cart that would be used for tea parties and similar functions.

River Lea parlor

If you were to take a tour of River Lea, this is the first room that you would see. It is full of interesting memorabilia of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The mannequin is especially interesting, mainly because of her size. She is unusually skinny! The fashion statement that she is sporting would be unwearable by, well, most women. Of course, at that time, corsets were frequently a part of the fashion statement. Some women went a little overboard with these corsets, trying to get their waists to be wasp-like. I can't imagine that could be very comfortable.

Warm!

It has certainly been one wild winter, with ice, snow, rain, and, most of all, wind. Actually, the amount of snowfall here in Western New York hasn't been that outrageous. It just looked like a lot of snow because of all of the wind that's been blowing around.
But, today, we got a little break from the nonstop onslaught of bad weather. The temperature warmed up to the 60s and the sun even made a guest appearance. That was an amazing sight. In the winter, the sun shows up so rarely that some people don't recognize it anymore and think that some bright, shiny UFO is up in the sky. Well, that may be exaggerating, at least a tiny bit.
This morning, I was prepared for the good weather. I put on a yellow turtleneck and a light yellow sweater to get in the mood of pre-spring joy. I also had a bouquet of yellow flowers, which just exude joy. I have them in a vase in front of a mirror. It gives the illusion that I have twice as many yellow flowers as I really have.
What could be better?
So, today, I decided to take a walk to celebrate this taste of spring. At about 1:30 p.m., I put on a light jacket and went out. Of course, I had my camera in my pocket. I never go anywhere without the camera. Photo ops about everywhere.
And, as I am now Alice of the 21st century, I had my cell phone in the other pocket. I didn't use it, but I had it just in case someone got the urge to call me or I had the urge to yap on the phone... or ask for a ride, in case I should wander off too far, which I have been known to do... and will probably do again, once the weather becomes consistently warm.
My dad had given me a pedometer, so I was wearing that, too.
The first thing that I noticed as I headed out was the profusion of water. Most of the snow had melted, and fast! And, here in Grand Island, once the snow melts, the water simply sits on the surface because the thick clay soil doesn't absorb water very well. So, of course, I had to take a few pictures of the rapid melting. One of those is above.
On my walk, I met a woman named Joyce, who was walking Hunter, a friendly beagle. Hunter and I were happy to be introduced to one another. Of course, Hunter jumped on my legs, prompting Joyce to apologize for her dog's enthusiasm and for the mess on my jeans. I said, "That is OK. That's what laundry is for." Joyce told me a bit about herself and her family. She said that she has been living in Grand Island since she was eight years old. When she moved to Grand Island, there was no town high school so she had to leave the island to go to school once she finished elementary school. When she was 12 years old, she went to live with an elderly lady to help her out when she was not in school. Joyce has eight sisters and no brothers. Her family is now scattered all over the country, in such places as North Dakota and Wisconsin. The family is planning on coming back together this coming summer for a big reunion.
Joyce was an interesting person to talk to, and I suspect that she is full of great stories.
While Joyce and I were talking, the kids started emerging from the nearby elementary school. This got Hunter very excited, and she could hardly wait to greet every child with a jump, a bark, and a wag of the tail. She started straining on the leash with nervous anticipation. That was when Joyce decided that it was time for Hunter to head on home.
So, I, too went home. I hope that I see Joyce and Hunter again because I would be more than happy to hear more of Joyce's stories.
It will be a while, though, because winter is due to return after midnight, which is sort of like saying that the golden carriage is going to turn into a pumpkin once again.
Oh yeah... the pedometer... four and a half miles... a nice, relaxing walk for me...

Never ending snow

Yesterday morning, I suddenly got the urge to take a picture of myself coming and going, so to speak... well, at least, the impressions of my feet coming and going.
At this point, winter is showing no sign of ending... and the snow keeps on coming... and, sometimes, it glitters beneath the sunlight or the moonlight in colors bright and wonderful...

catnap

This is how Smokey likes to relax, on his back, paws over his eyes, and on a seat that a human would like to occupy.
Smokey is some cat. He stares at you until you uncross your legs, move your crocheting or your book, and give him a clear lap so that he can jump up. Then he does the annoying cat thing (shows off his butt). Cats are beautiful creatures but a butt is a butt.
Smokey love human attention, except when he's lying upside down, with his paws over his eyes.
He's also had some unique adventures of his own. One day, a mouse got into the house. I was sitting in the living room, reading a book, when I heard a funny noise. I turned around to see Smokey chasing a little mouse, who was squeaking mightily. I joined Smokey in the chase because what I really wanted to do was to catch the mouse and put it outside. Neither Smokey nor I had any success in catching the little mouse. So... I went to bed and my parents went to bed... with the mouse still loose in the house.
In the morning, I got up and went downstairs to empty the dishwasher and set the table and do all of the usual morning activities. I saw Smokey staring at something under a counter... and then realized that it was the mouse. Smokey was meowing at it. He wanted to play but the mouse preferred to stay in a little spot where the great big cat couldn't step on it. I got a pair of gardening gloves, leaned over, and picked up the mouse. Then I put the mouse into a paper bag and took it outside. I talked to the mouse the entire way. I am sure that the poor little thing was scared. When the mouse and I got outside, I released it under a tree. It scurried off.
It was a cute little thing. If we didn't have cats, I would have liked to have had it as a pet.

Too cold...

It's five degrees outside, too cold for humans or, at least, this human. I went outside briefly, just to get my dad's Wall Street Journal. The snow crunched loudly under my boots, and the cold wind bit into my face.
I have already forgotten what the groundhog said, but, today, spring seems very far away.
So... my adventures have to be indoors, for the time being.
One of my upcoming adventures will be a community book discussion at the local public library. The book to be discussed will be To Kill a Mockingbird. This event is taking place in conjunction with an initiative by the National Endowment for the Arts, titled The Big Read. The goal of The Big Read is to encourage more Americans to read literature for pleasure. Events connected with The Big Read began occurring last month and will occur until June. Take a look at http://www.neabigread.org/ for more information about events in your community.
In Buffalo, the Studio Arena Theatre is presenting a play version of To Kill a Mockingbird. It opened on January 29 and continues until February 24.
I am also going to write about the book discussion for the Island Dispatch.
In the meantime, try to stay warm!!!

Some more views from the January walk

Buckhorn Island State Park in January

Here are some views of Buckhorn Island State Park in January. It was a very warm day, but walking was a bit treacherous, with much of the path being covered by water, snow, and ice. Buckhorn is a wetland that was restored, and much of it is very swampy.
It was quite an adventure to get through the worst of the path, and I fell only one time, which caused a little injury to my dignity.
Once I got to the bike path, walking became much easier!

Christmas memories 2

During my walk, I saw a good number of Christmas trees that had been set at the curb.
Wow, for sure, Christmas is over. It's just a memory now. But a good one. I went to church, and I was able to sing. That meant a lot to me because, just two weeks earlier, I couldn't even talk. My doctor said that I would be able to sing by Christmas, and she was right.
I didn't believe her at first. I wasn't sure that I would live to see Christmas, much less sing.
I am grateful to have survived the pneumonia.
But, when my head was fogged up by fever, I was able to think about what kind of country I live in...
not a very compassionate one... We now have 50 million people without any health insurance at all. We have many more with inadequate health insurance. I have some coverage, which is good, but it's not enough.
I wondered... would I be sent to a hospital? How would I pay the deductible? I'm a free-lancer. If I don't work, I don't get paid.
Apparently, the U.S. government has plenty of money for war, but no money to make sure that all Americans have adequate health coverage for both routine care, serious illness, and long-term care.
Lots of money for killing...
Not much left for healing...
So... it's really up to people to try to maintain their health as best as possible. Of course, it's hard to avoid all of the viruses and bacteria and germs that float around and get passed from person to person. There is also little that one can do about genetic conditions. But... it is possible to make healthy lifestyle choices... exercising, eating a healthy diet, not smoking... These could make a difference.
So... recently, we had a January thaw, and I managed to take walks on both days that the temperature was over 55 degrees F (12.75 C). Actually, it got quite warm, nearly 65F (18.33 C), and, for a short time, the sun even came out. That was one heck of a bonus in Western New York.
So... back to the Christmas trees... tossed out... in the past tense...
But this one was the funniest... with the toilet next to it.
Oh, I had to take a picture. I couldn't resist.
Out with the old???

Jamie

This is my nephew, Jamie. He is a freshman at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He likes boats, a lot.
I have two nephews and they both like boats, a lot.
There is something about the water that must attract people. I know that I like the water and I like boats... but, for me, the seasick remedy must come before I get onto the boat!!!
Jamie is a rower. He's a member of the freshman lightweight men's crew team at Cornell University. Recently, he spent a lot of time with his team, at crew camp in Florida.
When he's not rowing, he can be found on his bicycle, going up and down those steep Ithaca hills. Perhaps the Tour de France is in his future???
Could I be a bit biased.
What??? His aunt, biased????
Naaaah.

Devin

This is my nephew Devin. He lives in San Diego, and he is an engineer. He likes sailing boats a lot. He has this giant boat that he has been working on rehabilitating. One of these days, he is going to live on the boat. I am looking forward to seeing this boat.
Devin came home for Christmas and the new year. None of the family had seen his beard and mustache before he came for this visit.
When my dad saw Devin's new look, he said, "What's that?"
Devin said, "Hair."
They then debated on whether Devin's facial hair qualified as a "goatee" or as a "Van Dyke."
Apparently, a "Van Dyke" ends with a point, so the beard is probably a "goatee."
I won't comment about the lack of point because I don't want to make... um... pointless comments...
Never mind.
Devin's girlfriend also came to visit, but she arrived after Christmas. Her name is Kathleen, or Kat for short. She lives in Los Angeles, and is a student in a physical therapy program. Unfortunately, I failed to take her picture so that means that she has to visit again!!! She and Devin are the same height (far taller than me!) and kind of look alike.

Christmas memories 1

It has now been nearly a month since Christmas, and more than two months since I last posted in this blog.
Much has happened during that time. I embarked on a nightmarish journey through the world of illness, and I nearly found myself on the other side of the River Styx. Perhaps I dipped my toes into the River Styx. I don't know. My head was light and woozy from fever and my world shrank until all that was left was inner space... the world of imagination, dreams, and fuzzy, undefined images. One night, I had this dream:
I dreamed that I was standing at a parking lot, near a big body of water. I did not know where I was. I saw my father sitting in the car. He was reading a newspaper. He asked me when I was going to use my boat. I said, now. I thought that it was kind of late, but I didn’t say anything about it. I took a boat from the trunk of the car. It was deflated, sort of like a raft. I knew that I had to re-inflate the boat, but I didn’t think that I could because I didn’t have enough air.
I sort of woke up and started coughing. When I stopped coughing, I was in the boat, which somehow had gotten inflated, but I didn’t know how. So I started paddling in the boat. I saw other people in other boats and I saw houses and places that looked familiar. The lights from the houses and places shone in the water, and I paddled toward them. I could hear meows and voices. But the harder I paddled, the more distant those things became. I knew that either they were real or I was real, but I wasn’t sure which was which. They disappeared and I sort of woke up and started coughing.
When I stopped coughing, I realized that I was still in the boat and that I had done nothing but paddle around in circles in a very tiny area. I came back to shore and my dad saw me pulling the boat behind me. He said, you can go out again. Why don’t you ride in your boat. I looked at my watch. It was nearly midnight. I said that it was nearly midnight. He said, oh, it’s too late. The boat got deflated and ended up in the trunk of the car, but I am not sure how that happened. I didn’t doubt that it did happen because I knew that sequential time was not a factor in Feverland. So my dad drove away, and I started coughing again, and was never sure whether I was in the car with him or not because, when I returned to my dream, I was back in prison.
A correctional officer told me that I had to go to my room right away and get ready for the count. I thought that something was wrong with this and that the prison was not real. The CO told me that I’d better hurry up and get to my room or I would get handcuffed and taken to the SHU. I said that I couldn’t do that until I found my boat again. And then, the prison and the CO disappeared and I was back in the boat. I was not surprised because I knew that the prison was not real in this Feverland. This time, the waters were very choppy, and I nearly capsized. I went back to shore and my dad told me to go back out in the boat. I said, no, the water was too choppy, and all vanished, and I woke up, coughing.
During the time of my illness, my mind took my back and forth in time... back to prison, and forward to the fuzzy, unreal future.
The second antibiotic did the trick, and I recovered... slowly... and, a month later, I am still recuperating.
When I felt better, my parents took me to the mall, where I saw kids on a carousel and large teddy bears, all dressed up and moving. I took pictures of the bears, and they are depicted here.