Day 61: Back In the North

The almost two weeks I spent at home flew by. We did more work on the house, and the top floor is finished, except for some small stuff. But the house looks--and smells--great. I cannot believe the state that the last people who lived there left it in. When the owner was telling me about the no-goodnicks it was everything she could do not to cry.

Val is doing amazing stuff there. She is working for Kaufman and loving that. She is also giving lessons. She found her way into a school and is giving ukelele lessons there. She also has two private students that come to the house. One of the girls that comes is a real radical. In and around the area she has for years been fighting racism, poverty, and other social injustices. She worked with an organization that was burned out by the KKK, and members of that organization have been arrested for their actions.

It is really pretty amazing to know that there are such persons in the area, but I'm not surprised because Maryville has long been for the greater good. When others in the South decided to leave the Union Maryville voted almost 4:1 to stay with US. There was a strong abolitionist movement there at the time, too. The more I learn about the town the more I like it.

There are some knuckleheads there, though. For example, we saw this woman getting out of her big truck. In the back window she had a confederate flag sticker--it took up the entire back window. On the flag was the bald eagle, you know, the symbol for the US. I wanted to go tell her that she cannot have it both ways, but I didn't. That was a good decision, I'm sure. Because there was no way I was going to change her heritage of hate.

I took the bus back to NY. I really do like riding the bus. I always get more room than on a plane, and the people watching is just better. There was a girl in her early 20's sitting across from me, but because the way this bus was constructed she was a bit behind me. For some reason I looked at her right when she had her index finger up her nose to the first knuckle. Now don't get me wrong, I'm a public picker, too. So I was just impressed with how far up there she got. But she took my amazement for something else because she raised one eyebrow and shoved her finger further up into her nose. Impressive. Really.

Dwain bought some really pretty lumber from this guy who lived near me. It would have been over $100 to ship the wood up. So I said I'd carry it, which I did. The looks that I got were pretty funny. I bet to some I looked like the girl who had her finger way up her nose. People were impressed with my carrying skills because who does that on a bus?

I got here safe and sound, and Dwain picked me up, which was great because normally I just walked almost 2 miles to Gretchen's house with my bags. But there was way too much with the extra wood.

Gretchen grows a lot of plants; she has a green, green thumb. In the front yard are some white flowers. And she told me earlier in the summer that she's sometimes sad to see them come because that means summer is ending. But summer is over, and I'm still shocked by the 40° weather here.

But that's not going to stop me although they could slow me down.
On one of the days I went for a 5 mile run which was great because I find myself wanting comfort foods when I'm really cold. And I started riding my bike around the city bit. So I won't feel bad eating fried potatoes or enjoying a cookie break while playing the dulcimer. Val didn't even know I took 'em!

But I'm sure I'm going to be fine because my first dinner here was cooked by Gretchen. She made these green beans seasoned with something that was delicious and cabbage and bean casserole. I added some feta cheese and butter toast and it was delicious.

One day Gretchen open the back door in this little bugger, Goji, was sitting there shivering. Gretchen has two cats as you know through this blog, and now she has three.

Today was my first day back into the shop. We had a great breakfast then got caught up. I really do enjoy the conversations with Dwain because I learned a lot about myself and the world. So we picked up where I left off which was choosing the ribs to go with my peg head and tail block. There was a stack of them to choose from, but some of them need to get be sanded down. So I spent the morning sanding the suckers out of the wood. Then I choose the ribs. 

I had to plane the edge straight and then cut them down to size. Now this seems like a simple task, and it really is. However, when you use the wrong song or forget the sequence in which things should have been done some problems do occur.

But with Dwain's guidance the day, and my ribs, was saved. 

I cannot wait to see what tomorrow brings!