World Water Day 2021

Did you know that today is World Water Day?

Do you know what World Water Day is?

In a nutshell, World Water Day is a United Nations observance day that highlights the importance of fresh water.

Fresh water.

Fresh water is something most of us take for granted. I will say that I do NOT take it for granted because for the past 20 years, I have lived in homes that had their own well. And the water from those wells is wonderful. In my current home, it is spectacularly wonderful: tastes GREAT, minimal issues with mineral stuff … it is GREAT water and I am beyond thrilled that I am able to pump it out of the ground and into my house.

I believe that the quality of water I have, contributes greatly to my success with natural leaven for my baking. I love coffee and tea and other water based beverages … so, YEA to great water.

BUT.

Overall, in the world, things are not as good.

Predictions are that by 2050, more than half of the world’s population could be water-stressed. That may not be in my lifetime, but it will certainly be the lifetime of the generations younger than me. It is only one of the horrific climate change issues.

In my local paper, recently … someone wrote a letter to the editor which admonished the “fear mongering” of climate change activists. The gist was “the climate has always been changing.” Well, yes it has and now it approaching critical mass.

If we do not work together to mitigate water issues, temperature issues, i.e. global climate change critical impacts … our children and our children’s children may not have a viable planet to live on.

Water Day 2021.

Look it up.

Think about it.

Decide what you can do.

For the record, the only reason that I know about Water Day 2021 is because of my following the Vendee Globe 2020 sailing race. The Vendee Globe skippers are naturally concerned about water and many of them collected data as they sailed the world’s oceans in the race.

And as I have followed their race posts as well as their after race posts… WATER!!!

It is crucially important.

Educate yourself.

Spring has sprung

Today at some early time this morning …. officially Spring.

But, it was a brisk feeling morning at 31F.

Still.

HandyBears Handyman family showed up at the promised 9:00 a.m. time and …

YEA!!! New and beautiful mailbox installation complete.

I am so very happy – beautiful and my address is super visible for USPS as well as anyone else that needs to find me.

Super happy Emmett with a new stick!

A beautiful card and message received from Auggie’s vet: Dr. Leslie … and from all Bigfork Animal Hospital staff. They are super stellar people!

First Day of Spring 2021.

Friday thoughts

Well.

A good work week.

Sleeping is improving: I am eating a carby-cheesy supper to help…

I have Auggie’s cremains and as in past losses … these are strangely comforting. At some point, I will let them go, but for now … I hold on.

Otherwise …

Holy cow … some stuff that is not monumental at all, but requires some attention:

My mailbox which has been listing to starboard … finally gave way.

BUT, I was fortunate, that after a morning of phone calls with zero results, I obtained … thanks to my local hardware … the name and number of HandyBears Handyman family and I do believe that I hit the jackpot.

Stay tuned.

On other fronts … an issue with my bathroom sink plumbing was also resolved. This is no small thing as all of the local contractors are crazy busy. I happened to call my plumber when he was to be passing by and he … and another stopped and fixed and I am so, so happy to be back in business in my bathroom sink.

But.

The State.of.Montana.

The governor saw fit to lift the mask mandate, while saying that he intended to mask and encouraged mask wearing, etc., i.e. covered his backside to all comers.

Some local businesses are adhering to science, some are not.

I am again grateful for my little spot of sanity (my 8 acres and adjacent 40 acres of state land) as well as my work committment AND for Emmett’s companionship.

We soldier on!

The milkman commeth

Some weeks ago, I posted about a new delivery service…

Montana Milk Moovers :)

Tomorrow will be week 3.

I am VERY HAPPY with their service…

A business operating after my own heart!!

This young business has leveraged a great idea with great technology and is DELIVERING!!!

Yessss !!!

HOT STUFF!!! Locally made tomatillo hot sauce – it is delicious.

Above is my week one order and yes … I am 5 … I ordered chocolate milk.

I am thrilled with this service.

The options and ability to adjust every weeks order are super good.

And I have an Easter ham on order – YEA!

Many cheers for this young family who saw a need and used their brains and technology to deliver a very useful service with a great business model. HOO – HOO – HOO RAY !!!

A perfectly awful week

There is no way to sugar coat it.

It was an awful week.

The “good” news is that Emmett is ok. He looked for Auggie the first 2 mornings, but has not seemed morose or otherwise disturbed.

For Emmett’s sake, I have focused on him and a varied routine to include some new games and new training/teaching. But that helps me as well.

And I also focused on getting my work done. My “boss” told me to take time if needed, but I know he is under some pressure and I wanted to deliver … plus, it helps me to stay in the work routine.

This weekend, things kind of fell apart for me.

That says it all.

And

Yes, well … I’m dealing with some emotional knots, but working on being more like my dear dog!

And enjoying some spring-like sunshine …

Right, then.

***Edit 3/15 7:30 a.m. The source of the quotes: Jean Grainger’s “Last Port of Call: The Queenstown Series”, is a wonderful and uplifting book. Although, it is the start of a series, the book stands on it’s own without a cliffhanger ending, but allowing for the series to continue. The characters are interesting and intelligent. The above quotes are just a few of the gems that were very comforting to me this week. A little about the plot: Queenstown, Ireland, was the final port of call for Titanic in 1912 and the story starts there, but the port was a port of call for many Irish, immigrating to America to escape the unrest and devastating economic conditions of that time.

Auggie: sad news

On Monday afternoon, Auggie was hit and killed near the road.

A neighbor witnessed the driver of a large pickup swerve to intentionally hit Auggie.

She went immediately to see if she could help Auggie, but he was dead. She called another neighbor, who called me and they all waited for me and were with me as I recovered Auggie’s body.

All wanted to camp on the road and wait to “catch” the person. I was certainly ready to do murder, but another part of me knew that I did not want to act as bad as the person who killed Auggie.

Everyone stayed with me for a bit. I had wrapped Auggie in his blanket. There was little visible trauma, which I am grateful for.

I am also grateful that the incident was witnessed and I was called immediately so that I did not go through the looking and finding on my own.

I called my vet, who is only 15 minutes away and they handle transport to a crematory and return of the cremains. As they all know and love Auggie, this gave them a chance to say goodbye. They cried with me when I dropped him off.

When I got home, I let Emmett sniff my hands and the Jeep and a towel that had held Auggie. He looked up at me … I think he knew … He has not seemed down or anything other than his normal loving self … happy to go for walks and play. He has looked on top of the chairs where Auggie would often nap. He typically stays close to me and that has not changed.

So.

I have been up and down the anger spectrum and written murderous, hateful notes and scenes in my head. I think I am past that, recognizing it as a waste of time both for me and my well-being and with the knowledge that a person who would do such a thing has issues that a confrontation would not touch.

At the current moment, as I write this, I am grateful that Auggie did not lie near the road for very long. If the person drove by even fairly soon after, there would be no satisfaction in seeing anything. I think that is the best thing for me and for Auggie’s dignity in death and also for Emmett who I am sure picks up my emotional states.

I did report the incident to the Sherriff’s office Animal Control, so a description of the vehicle is logged.

Now, Emmett and I move forward. We are doing a bit of extra walking and playing, primarily because it helps me when I get feeling bad or disoriented/distracted. I’m working as that concentration is helpful as well as there is a work commitment … and the mortgage, etc. :)

I spend some time looking at photos to help me get to the “remembering Joy”.

Auggie was a special cat: affectionate, playful, beautiful, companionable and I miss him so very much.

***a note about comments. I closed them for this post. It is for me. At this moment, I cannot … I just cannot … I needed to write this post for me but I need to be still in my own space with Emmett for a bit.