Of This and That and quiet things~~~~

Hello Darklings,

Well we had a deluge of rain this past few days, and now we are sort of drying out but more to come.

Mud slides, flooding, power outages, auto accidents all because of the rain.  But if it rains and then we have a period to dry out --- then repeat, etc.--- it might be manageable.    Although what has happened in Montecito is horribly tragic. 

Mr. Rodgers was a bit frustrated because of the rain, he likes his walks with the dogs but instead contented himself with helping Doyle check the attic for any possible leaks, although the roof is only 5 years old, but it pays to be on the safe side.

While up in the attic they came across some old portraits in their frames,  I think they are family members at least their names are written on the back with dates,  one is of an adorable baby girl, and the other of a dapper young man wearing a snap brim hat in an old style racing car called a “cut down”.

I’m pretty sure they are related, I have a book that my Great Aunt kept tracing family members so I may have some distant cousins I’m not aware of or they of me.  

Another thing they found was a hair wreath, with the names and dates of people when they were born and died, also contained in a glass enclosed frame,  so with the rains pouring down during the day, Mrs. Rodgers and I carefully cleaned the glass and dusted the frames and wrote down the names and dates.

The next thing is to figure out where to hang them,  I have wall space going up the stairs as well as the upstairs hall,  or some place in the formal parlor,  I do need to make careful decisions on that since we’ll be nailing into wall paper and once punched there’s no repair.

Poor Coralline and Christopher have come down with the flu even though they had the shots it is only 10% effective, they are completely miserable.  The twins however seem to be remarkably healthy, maybe all that outdoor soccer playing.  The best thing is to rest, drink fluids, and take Tynoldo.   I’ve been going to the school to get their assignments to help out their mother, but I don’t think they have the energy to do anything about it.   It’s frustrating to see them so helpless. But rest is the best medicine.

The one advantage  about rainy nights is that it’s  a perfect time to read good gothic novels,  I finish the Lady of Ashes book and am going to get the rest in that series, how it describes the fashion and work of being an Undertaker is a good addition to a good story.   But for now with my next rain storm I’m going to re-read “The Hound of the Baskervilles”  I think it would be perfect.

I really do like Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers, they love the style of the house and Doyle’s and my lifestyle, quiet, genteel, and a little quirky.   But they insist on doing what they can to help out, just a couple of days ago, Mr. Rodgers (with Doyle’s help) was in the attic and came across an old rocking chair, so he and Doyle took it to the garage and he began to restore it, it has a old needle point back and seat, Mrs. Rodgers has duplicated the pattern because the old one was falling apart, almost crumbling.

So besides walking the dogs he is working on restoring stuff, Mrs. Rodgers told me that it’s good therapy for him because he lost his work shop due to the fires up North.   Their Son is trying to get things done on their burnt out property but the rains are making things difficult.  But Mrs. Rodgers confessed that she and her husband would prefer to stay with me and Doyle and pay rent and something towards the utilities and food.

I spoke to Sis about this and she said it’s because the atmosphere of the house gives them much needed comfort and security, something they feel they may lose if they go back North, so it might be a good thing. 

So now more rains are coming just perfect for a Gothic mood,  but Sis and I are going to be going to the Film Noir Festival and I know that everything at home will be well in hand.

Later Darklings 

Of rain lovely rain~~~~

Hello Darklings,

I am so happy that we have had and will have rain to wash the air and dust away.

Of course the dogs don't like it, the looks on their faces "what's dis wet stuff?"

I got my flu shot today and as always it puts me a bit under the weather, but Sis has solved that with Won Ton Soup.

Bit by bit all the Halloween decorations have been put away and now we're making plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

But I swear it's like we just slide into Christmas without a wink and a "Howdie you do" to Thanksgiving. 

I'm still of the mind set that Christmas doesn't start until Santa shows up at the end of the Macy's Parade.   It's Tradition!!

Well tomorrow I'm going in for a pulmitory exam I've been having some breathing problems, and we're wondering if it was related to the particles from the smoke from the wildfires, well it doesn't hurt to make sure.

Things are a bit slow with me, I help transcribe my sister's notes, but I have to admit I'm slowing down a little.

So I just take it a day at a time.  

I've not been able to come across anything darkly delicious, but I'll keep hunting.

But Thanks Goodness for the rain.

Later Darklings

Of Rain and Film Noir~~~~

Hello Darklings,

I have been a naughty girl (well woman) by not posting so much, but with the damage the rains and winds have done I’ve been busy.

It’s been hard working on my garden, but I’m so glad that my orchid plants and my koi fish have been kept in the green house safe from all the cold and rain and debris, putting heavy chicken wire on the roof of the green house has protected the glass I’m happy to say. 

But I’ve had to put off doing work in the garden because we never know when the next rain storms will come, last night we had an unexpected heavy squall come down with torrents of water and wind.   I sat next to the window in the front parlor and watched as the rain came down in sheets being pushed along by the wind, water running down the steps of the front porch like a water fall, rolling down the driveways like rivers and the street gutters running fast and heavy with the run off.  In a dark Gothic way it was magnificent.

Fortunately no power outages, no trees falling over blocking roads in our area.  And having the fire crackling in the fire place made things feel cozy and comfortable, one would think that someone would be sitting at a small table reading tarot cards on such a wild, wet night.  

But no the dogs were snoozing in front of the fire in contentment, with Wiener dog snoring loudly, and Doyle in his comfy chair dozing and snoring in counter point, the Sunday paper collapsed like a blanket on his lap.   I decided to not turn on the T.V. and instead had a book in my hand to read, but watching the rain proved more fascinating for my night time viewing.

For the last few weeks I’ve been helping my sister until she can hire a good medical report secretary who can also do bookkeeping and maintain appointments for her.   She’s had a few candidates and one is very promising, just need to check out her references.  

Early yesterday evening Television was a bore, so I turned to some DVD’s that we had purchased, maybe I should use the Red Boxes but one never knows the quality of the discs that are distributed.  But I had to buy (a bit at a time) the American Horror Story Series,   but when one starts watching one has to be prepared for a marathon of watching you just can’t stop, you need to see the next “chapter”.   It takes all our strength to not stay up late watching only to wake in the morning exhausted. 

Well we (Sis and I ) started AHS: Coven,  We had seen AHS: Asylum last month, Sis wonders what goes on in the minds of the writers, she’d like to analyze them.  But in seeing Coven, if we ever can arrange it I’d love to go to New Orleans, but not during Mardi Gras that scene is too crazy.   And who knows what delightful little bizarre trinket one will find.   I understand the food is out of this world.  And I’d take in all the tours, even the ghost tours.  

I meant to talk about the S.F. Film Noir Festival that Sis and I attended in January,  once again we stayed at the lovely Hotel Rex and we dressed in our best late 1940’s to mid 1950’s clothing,  and once again we figuratively “drowned” ourselves in Film Noir,  this time with more foreign entries and including more modern entries, that in their own way surprised us, but I personally can’t help but feel that Film Noir should be more “black and white”  which is why in a way “Thunderbolt and Lightfoot”, “Blue Collar” and “Straight Time”  some what disappointed me.  But the others did not.

Gina Lollobrigida was beautiful in “Four Ways Out” and we had the classics such as “Criss-Cross”, “The Asphalt Jungle” and “Kansas City confidential” .

On days when there was no matinee we indulged in shopping and spa treatments and fine dining, but I think I’m going to have to go to the gym and work off a few pounds, not being able to walk the dogs because of the rain had me gain a few and it always is telling at the waist line. 

Rififi had me on the edge of my seat with the 30 minute not speaking portion, “Victoria”, a 2015 film from Germany, did show how Film Noir is developing in the 21^st century and although a fantastic film, I have to confess for this Elder Goth I prefer my Film Noir in Black and white and in the gritty times of the 40’s and 50’s.   Yet is was a good across the years selection, and I certain would suggest that you view these films as both vintage and contemporary and how we as a civilization have developed as well.

I have listed here the films that we saw:

CRISS CROSS 

THE ASPHALT JUNGLE 

KANSAS CITY CONFIDENTIAL 

VIOLENT SATURDAY 

FOUR WAYS OUT / LA CITTÀ SI DIFENDE 

BIG DEAL ON MADONNA STREET / I SOLITI IGNOTI 

RIFIFI  / DU RIFIFI CHEZ LES HOMMES 

THE BIG RISK / CLASSE TOUS RISQUES 

THE KILLING 

CRUEL GUN STORY / KENJÛ ZANKOKU MONOGATARI 

THE LADYKILLERS 

THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN 

ONCE A THIEF 

THE SICILIAN CLAN / LE CLAN DES SICILIENS

THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123  

THUNDERBOLT & LIGHTFOOT 

BLUE COLLAR 

STRAIGHT TIME 

CHARLEY VARRICK

THE BRINK'S JOB 

SEXY BEAST

THE AURA / EL AURA 

BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD 

VICTORIA 

But for 10 lovely days Sis and I enjoyed ourselves, shopping, resting, pampering ourselves and even though it rained we had a great time.   And once again Doyle did not disappoint us.  He arranged once again to have us picked in in a classic 1950’s Cadillac complete with Chauffer (his friend who owns the car),  Sis and I came down into the lobby in our best 1940’s clothing paid the bill and had fun seeing a few folks that were there following us to our waiting vehicle, the looks on their faces was priceless.

We drove back across the Bay Bridge, across the section that echoes from the 1930’s and then through the tunnel (aka Time tunnel) across the new span built just a few years ago, the old workhorse bridge now completely gone, vanished, back to our homes and into the 21^st century and reality.

But we can dream a little and enjoy it a bit. 

Now the dogs are dressed in their warm coats, and Doyle in his heavy jacket and I am going to put on my very warm coat and we are going to take a much needed walk to work off those 5 pounds.

Later Darklings

Of Rain and Floods and hearts and wine~~~~~

Hello Darklings,

Well I've been singing "Rain, rain, go away come again another day, another month, another year!"

I have not seen such disastrous conditions since 1997 and even then although bad it was not THIS bad.

Even San Jose near Coyote Creek is flooding and that is unheard of at least for the last 100 years.

The rain is doing a number on parts of my house, area's where I have been planning to be painted are now flaking off. 

Fortunately neither mine or my sister's basement have flooded which I am grateful for.  But conditions all over are bad,

We've had the lights go out several times and for hours at a time,  the good thing is that Doyle had an emergency generator installed so we could keep the freezer and the refrigerators running and if need be any water to be pumped out.

Previous damage has been repaired.  

But Darklings if I was a writer this would be perfect Gothic weather to write dark poems or prose to, even my sister has seen a serious up-tick among her patients who suffer from chronic depression.

She roped me in (well she asked me and I said yes) to help her with the reports as she was getting a bit overwhelmed and since I've done medical writing I understood what she wrote.  So I've been a bit busy.  That is why I have not been posting of late.

Valentine's Day was very sweet,  and I don't mean candy,  Doyle treated me to a spa day, facial, massage, mani-pedi,  dinner at our favorite restaurant, and enjoying a drive in my vintage Buick, he dressed like Humphrey Bogart, me dressed in my favorite evening clothes looking like a dark-haired Hillary Brooke from "the Woman in Green"  with the complicated up-sweep hair style.

Several people followed us outside as the parking attendant brought the Buick to the front door and held the passenger door open for me and held my hand to assist me in.  I loved the looks on their faces, they don't see that kind of Class anymore.  Of course the attendant knew us and the car, he insisted on parking it deliberately taking two spaces to avoid scratches.   I was concerned that someone would complain but I guess when they saw the car they gave it a pass because no one said anything. 

Eventually I'll get around to review the films that we saw at the Film Noir Festival.

But I wanted to say I'm fine.

Doyle and I tried a new wine (well new for us) recently, the 2015  Cline Cellars Cashmer Black Magic, on a score of 100 I'd give it an 88, some people would not be impressed by it but I found it to be very easy to drink, it has a nice smooth buttery feel in the mouth. Now it does have  a slight tart cherry note but  because it has some chocolate in there it softens it a bit. It's a  blend of Petite Sirah a Sirah, a Grenache and a Mourverde.  Some people would find it Fruity, smooth a very decent wine for $13.00 but I think if you shop around you could find it for less.

And Apolthic wine have their white wine out, which we will try later on. 

And now that we have a few days of sun, I have my handyman and my gardener making the most of it.

Later Darklings

Update and Rain and a bit tired~~~~

Hello Darklings,

We had rain yesterday!!!  Oh granted not much but it felt so good that I even danced out in it.  Well as well as someone my age can dance.  Doyle is worried I'll come down with a cold, I understand his concern.

But the rain yesterday was not even predicted, it was as much a surprise to the weatherman as to everyone.  But it felt good.   And it was cool nice and cool, so much so that yesterday Sis and I went up into the storage attic, its a nice finished space to go through boxes of records albums, yes old fashioned L.P's.

But I'll tell you about that another time.

The rain did wonders for the garden, even the plants were perked up,  I had planted Autumn Sage and it has attracted the hummingbirds and butterflies (what's left of them) and other insecta but the spicy scent is just wonderful.   We are hoping that the rain is a serious promise of more to come.  But Not on halloween please.

I have been busy, being called in to fill in empty slots at my old work place, late vacations, an accident, getting children settled in school various reasons like Mother-in-Law visiting.  That one was a hoot!  

But I am tired Darklings, things do catch up with me, I'm not as spry as I use to be, thank goodness for aspirin or Tynoldo which ever works best.  But I muster on,  

I'm having fun finding smaller hard resin decorations for display, and Spirit on line has not disappointed me.  I also found at one of the Grocery Stores a pumpkin style lemonade decanter for punch with a spigot,  as well as one's where it has paper chake boards so I can write on it what type of "poison" is in it.  Yes it's time for my Normal Shopping!

I'm holding off on buying candy I'm going to wait until about 2 weeks before Halloween that is when the best buys show up.   But this weekend I'll be decorating the inside of the house, while the Blue Angels fly over head----Yes it's Fleet Week, my brother and Doyle are taking the children to see the ships and the Blue Angels while Sis and I decorate with our cousin helping us.   She said she hardly gets any children where she's at and wants to be at my place for the festivities, she'll have a reliable house sitting at her place to hand out candy for just in case.

But I just wish I didn't feel so tired, Doyle wants me to have a check up just to make sure everything is fine.  Well I'll do it to please him. 

We've been having fun watching "Scream Queens"  with Jamie Lee Curtis, it is hokey, tacky over the top satire,  with every cliche from every bad teen horror film you've ever seen including "Texas Chain Saw Massacre".  Our problem of course is trying to  figure out who is doing the killing??  "Scream" with Chain Saws???   My kind of mixture if you like it bloody, dark and funny.

But whether it survives as a series is another thing, but tonight, Oh tonight!!!!  Another quandary!!!

Sleepy Hallow and Blacklist come on at the same time!!!!!!!!!!!!    Well Thank Goodness for DVR's!

And next week "iZombe"  "Supernatural"   So Much More!!!!  My cup overfloweth!!!   And "How to get away with Murder!"  Yes Darklings even though Big Bang Theory is funny, T..V. is definitely gone to the "Dark Side" in my House and I am LOVING IT!!!  

Now who says we're too old to enjoy a bit of creepy darkness, NOT ME!!!!

Later Darklings

 Which means after Halloween we'll have to wait 365 days to Halloween 2016, oh can I stand the long wait!!!???

Of Rain, Monica Lewinsky, "Kingsmen" and Arsenic~~~~

My Goodness Darklings what a combination,

But it's because I've got so much to cover, in a short amount of time.

Doyle and I have been invited out to dinner tonight with some very dear friends, Brian has offered to babysit Belladonna and Wiener Dog for us because Sis has an evening client.

Well I had a chance to watch "Kingsmen" a total spoof of the Spy movies such as "Our Man Flint", "Matt Helm" and the earlier James Bond I have to admit the stunt folks and CGI got a serious work out and it was enjoyable if a bit violent, I think some folks will enjoy some aspects of it.

And it's nice to take in a matinee every now and then.  I think I'll plan on doing it more often as time and circumstances permit.

We had a shower from last night to this morning, which was helpful, the runoff from my gutters and side walks helped fill the cisterns, the walkways are sloped so that water either from rain or watering will go into the cisterns and the gutters are connected to under the surface pipes to drain into the cisterns as well, but to make sure that the pipes aren't cut or damage I use flat stones to mark where they are and it's easy to lift up and dig up any pipe that needs to be replaced, my Great Aunt thought of that years ago when there was previous droughts as bad as this.

But what has both Doyle and I concerned is that we saw on the Media about high levels of arsenic in the cheaper wines, so I've been doing some investigating and found that the wines I've purchased are within acceptable ranges, not that we drink wine every day, we don't---we couldn't afford to.  But at least we are on alert, and I plan on taking any samples of any bottle we open to be tested for future information.

It's so sad to hear about that even Trader Joe's "2 buck chuck" is affected.  It seems that nothing is safe anymore.

I just recently saw on You Tube Monica Lewinsky do a marvelous speech about the internet and cyber bullying,  I remember those years ago when she was in the center of such political turmoil and felt that the only mistake she made was that which many young women make when impressed by a man in power, how she has turned her life around and is now speaking out on cyber bullying and how we have to take responsibility to see that it doesn't happen to others is something that should be shown in every grade school, high school and college.

Coralline came close to being bullied a few years ago but she had the courage to at least tell me and I in turn informed her parents, it was stopped quickly when her parents talked to the two sets of parents of the children that attempted to bully my niece, but Coralline became in her own way reserved about making friends, she only has a couple and fortunately one of them lives close to me so they get to visit when Coralline stays over. 

My oldest nephew doesn't seem to have that problem and the twins are just hellions anyway but their parents have told them what would happen if they even think of bullying another child.  It does pay to be pro-active.

And now Doyle is home so I'll finish getting ready.

Later Darklings.