Of Easter and Families and other things~~~

Hello My Darklings,

Well I'm finally posting on my blog again.

I have to admit it has been a hectic crazy period, and I'm finally coming up for air.

Poor Coralline she didn't do too well with her wisdom teeth being removed, the first weekend to remove the lower ones wasn't too bad.  

But the next week to remove her uppers was just awful,  she was out of school not only for the weekend but for a few days after as well.   And it appears that she has an enzyme problem, she lacks enough of a particular enzyme to throw off depressants efficiently.   They had a hard time waking her up.

So while she was recovering we periodically had to shake her awake to make sure she would be o.k. 

My sister suggested that she be tested and it was confirmed that she has this deficiency, so now she has to wear a medic alert bracelet and its on her medical records.  And she missed a few school days so she has to use her Spring break to make up her assignments.

Needless to say it was rough on her, she doing fine now, she just grumbles a bit about the home work.

I've been busy too, because of the holidays and at my old place of employment they are short staffed, so I've been called in alot to cover "holes in the schedule"  I don't mind really, but when the BART trains started short circuiting and we had to take bus bridges, well I had to take the Bus to work, not easy really, but if I had to work late Doyle could pick me up. 

And while the sun shines I've been having repair work done on the house to replace some important filigree work and such, but the painting is going to have to wait until we have a very clear window of sun.

Easter dinner will be at my brother's house, but it's a bit of pot luck, everyone bringing something to the table, in a way it reminds me of the story of "Stone Soup", a lovely fun tale about how everyone can work together to not go hungry.

I am looking forward to it.  

I've not had much chance to see any new and delightful Gothic things but I have to admit I'm hooked on "Lucifer"  and Tom Ellis well I wouldn't mind seeing him striped to his tidy whities,  but don't tell Doyle.   But I think the latest episode "A priest walks into a bar..." did give some thought on spirituality and faith,  and the fallen angel burning his wings?   I do hope the series gets renewed.

I'm still having fun with "Sleepy Hollow" and all the Revolutionary War references and Crane still getting use to the 21st century, Tom Mison does a wonderful job as the 18th century man in a 21st century world and the entire cast works wonderfully together.

Believe it or not my Darklings I'm finally catching up to "American Horror Story" and I started with the first season, yes I had to buy it, no I do not down load HULU or NET Flicks, I'm still an "old-fashioned girl" but the writers do not leave you bored that you almost have to deliberately tear yourself away from putting another disc in to see the next chapter, otherwise you'll never get to sleep.

Will I be going on my wine tour come this Fall?  I'm not sure, with so much work to do on the house I don't think so, but then we'll see.

There has been some bizarre things happening of late in the Bay Area, long dead bodies or skulls turning up here and there as well as body parts in the marshes at the southern end of the bay, I think El Nino rains have been uncovering that which has been hidden too long.

And I'm afraid that the shifting to Daylight Savings time has not translated well to Belladonna and Wiener Dog,  their time schedule is all mixed up because I think they really go by the sun so they think we are in bed too long,  and we really can't argue with them, especially if we don't want accidents in the house.

Christopher my nephew has told me that there are a couple of boys in his class, who want to do the all dress in black and do the "Goth thing" during the Summer months, in a way he likes them because they are excellent creative writers and get good grades, they are not anti-social but he's puzzled by this wanting to "try out" the "Goth Thing"  he thinks they haven't a clue what it's all about, when he told me I just sighed and said "baby bats" he said he like to bring them around to my house when I'm home just to talk about literature and such, oh if they only knew what they are in for.

So I said if their parents don't mind and Chris's parents don't mind fine, we'll set up a time.  Well I'm curious anyway as to what these young minds think is Goth, and most likely do not have a clue.

Well need to go, my sister is here and is going to treat me to dinner, Doyle says he'll stay home with the dogs, he senses that it's a girls night out anyway. 

Later Darklings

  

Of Wisdom Teeth that are not so wise~~~~

Hello Darklings,

Right now I have to agree with Coralline, why are wisdom teeth called wisdom teeth, there is nothing wise about them and they are very uncomfortable.

Which for the last two weekends has been the situation for my poor niece,  she had to have all 4 of her wisdom teeth extracted, two of them were pressing down on nerves in her jaw line, and the other two were crowding her teeth.

So on two separate Fridays, they were removed two at a time,  the latest ones were done today, right now the poor child is sleeping on my couch in the family room as I don't want her to try the stairs.

They had to "knock her out" and stitch her gums, but because her parents are involved with some sports doings with the twins and were committed for both weekends, I said I would take care of her,  soft foods, jello, ice cream, and lots of sleep.

And it's all working out,  I've been called in to work during the week several staff members have come down with either the flu or severe allergy attacks, so I'm taking up the slack, but I said I had to have those two Friday's off, no problem.

My gardener has been clearing out the excess weeds although I have to admit the wild wood sorrel or what we as kids use to call "sour grass" looks very pretty, all those yellow flowers among the greenery,  I found out that it's other nick-name is "Sleeping Beauty" very appropriate. So I told him to leave the wood sorrel alone for now in the pet cemetery, until it begins to die back.

My fruit trees, the cherries and Plums have been blooming and looking so wedding like, and dropping white petals here and there like Springs' carpet of snow. 

It looks so refreshing and beautiful.  

For February we only had a little rain but hopefully for March and April we'll get a lot more.

Fortunately with the dry weather I've been able to get some of decorative parts of the house replaced and they've received a protective 1st coat of paint and perhaps that may have to be repeated, but progress is slowly being made.

And now I hear Coralline whimpering, I have to give her the pain meds, poor thing, I'll ask her if she wants chocolate ice cream for dessert, Doyle can pick that up, the question is Dryers or Ben and Jerry's.

Later Darklings

Of Valentine's Day and a night-light for the Toilet Bowl???~~~~~

Hello My Darklings,

What have I been doing? 

Well I've found an excellent carpenter through my art friends who can replace some of the finials and outdoor carvings on the house, as a matter of fact in an act of good faith, he duplicated one of the more difficult ones for free to show his workmanship and it is excellent, so he will slowly (depending upon the weather and his other commitments) replace each item that has wood rotted.   There are not many fortunately, but he said he'd be happy to do this work for me (for a fee) as each situation arises.

I've also again through the same group of friends have been able to find a lovely lady who restores stain glass windows, especially church type windows,  she's a bit eccentric but her bonifides are excellent,  but it will have to wait until the rainy season passes.  

She also has given me information on someone who can install a protective shield over the windows to protect them in the future from the elements and the shields can be swung out in sections for cleaning as needed.

And for Valentine's Day??  

Well Doyle is going to take me to several of my favorite vintage fashion shops so I can shop to my heart's content.

And then we have dinner reservations at our favorite place.  Of course I am aware that there maybe some delays---Valentine's Day is very popular, but it doesn't matter, I'm with the man I love and that is what counts the most.

But our Dynamic Duo will not be forgotten, Doyle yesterday picked up their favorite treats and Brian is going to baby-sit them, he says after such a hectic work week, being with the dogs is his Valentine's treat.  

Sis is visiting her children in Sacramento and will be back tomorrow and Thank goodness for Brian to house sit for her.    I told Sis we owe Brian at least a belated Valentine's present.

Doyle has a habit of watching T.V. while tying up his shoe laces and putting his wallet together I've never been able to figure out why but he started doing that years ago watching the morning news and it's stayed with him ever since.

As I am putting on the finishing touches, he just came in and told me he's think he's seen it all, I asked him what is it and he said "A light to light up the inside of your toilet bowl!"

I think I froze in position before I turned to look at him questioningly thinking he's lost his mind but he then described what it's purpose is for.

It seems its a sort of sensor night light as you go to the bathroom late at night because you have to do something it lights up the interior of the toilet bowl so one can aim one's posterior in the right direction and not miss it,  which I personally have had that almost happen once or twice (O.K. maybe more).   Then after you flush and leave, it goes off.

And it will light up the interior of your bowl in colors!!!   Hmmmm I guess it will add color if you have to do a number 2.  

In a way it almost makes sense,  I think I'll mention it to my sister in law, she complains that the twins at night seem to miss aiming for the bowl, and I think for little ones it might take away the fear of monsters inside the toilet bowl.   

And it doesn't disturb the other sleeper if your bathroom is immediately adjacent or if by turning on the bathroom light it shocks you awake.

But it lights in Colors???   I will have to eventually see this commercial.

Now I'm wondering if Doyle is thinking of buying one.

Later Darklings and Happy Valentine's Day!

Of a Super Bowl free Sunday and Film Noir~~~~

I am sorry my Darklings, but Moi will Not be watching the Super Bowl.  Why?  Well it’s not that “Big” on my “To Do” list.

As a matter of fact both my sister in law and my niece along with Sis, we will be relaxing having a girl’s day in.  Yes we will be pampering our feet, doing our nails, facials, massage all of that fun stuff, I managed to find a ‘serenity type spa’ where we can relax and feel good about ourselves,  Saturday we will all have our hair done (well for me it will be a dye and trim and scalp conditioning) and then Sunday to the Spa.

All the men folk will be congregating in the Man Cave at my brother’s house, my brother, Doyle, the twins, Christopher, and a few friends to watch the game. 

We ladies will in turn have a nice early dinner out after all that pampering and later dessert at my home and watch a few favorite Noir Films such as “Laura” and “D.O.A.” and “The Lineup”. My sister in law remarked the other day how Coralline has a bit of a resemblance to Gene Tierney, and even I can see it, in a way I’m glad she inherited the best features of both her Mother and her father, and in a way looks a bit like my Great-Aunt, yes she is beginning to become quite a beauty.  

I’m afraid Darklings that I have not posted for a while and the reason is I have once again been on a Film Noir “kick” yes, I attended Noir City the San Francisco Noir Film Festival, and besides old favorites like “Rear Window” and “The Two Mrs. Carrolls”, a more recent addition “Public Eye” and one that shows off that Lucille Ball was more than a comedienne in a dramatic turn in “The Dark Corner”,  that is why I “disappeared” for so long,  Sis was with me while Betty helped out by House sitting and watching the Dynamic Duo during the day and Doyle did duty at night.

Sis and I decided to stay in the City, shopping, relaxing, dressing in our vintage finery while attending the showings.   In a way it was a wonderful vacation with the exception of all the insanity of this Super Bowl stuff,  we did miss the fireworks that signaled the re-lighting of the Bay Bridge and the opening of Super Bowl City, but not by much. 

And yes I did take good care of myself and not have a relapse, no colds, no sniffles, no coughs or sore throats.   But I have to say seeing those old wonderful films revitalized me.   

But now we are home again, and once again my Doyle made arrangements to have his friend bring the vintage Rolls Limo (1930’s) to pick us up at the Hotel, both he and his friend dressed in vintage style chauffeur uniforms,  and Sis and I “dressed to the nines” in our vintage Day wear as we left the hotel, I’m sure some folks thought we were eccentric or weird, but really if you can’t have fun what can you do.

Although for a Monday getting through San Francisco was slower than usual I couldn’t help but notice that even the most anxious drivers gave the vintage Rolls a clear berth, no one wanted to scratch it’s paint or dent it’s chrome.   And the smiles on people’s faces especially as Sis and I waved as if we were royalty.    Such fun!!

And when we got home today Doyle surprise me with an early Valentine’s gift, the complete set of all 14 of the Chester Morris Boston Blackie films.  Where he got them I haven’t a clue, but I love him for it.

And now it’s back into the mundaneness of bills (which I will tackle tomorrow) and other things,  my handyman and I need to go around the house to see what needs to be done when things dry out,  there has been a bit of wood rot here and there, easy to take care of and the house will need to be seriously painted, which means scaffolding which means getting estimates, thank goodness the house trust is designed for such things.

And my Gardener has been removing those plants that did not survive the extreme cold or over-abundance of water, and trimming the trees and bushes when it’s not raining.  And he managed to squeeze in mowing the lawn during the storm breaks.  We’ll have to talk about what we want to do with the bare spots.

Belladonna and Weiner Dog were very happy to see their “Mommy” again and Betty has dinner crock pot ready all we have to do is serve ourselves.   But she told me even though it was daylight during the days it rained the house was “spooky” to her, she didn’t want to go into the Library where sits my Cabinet of Curiosities.  Too much for her, she’d check from the door how the cleaning ladies were doing but she just would not go in.   Well it isn’t for everyone.

But now with our plans in the works for our personal Super Bowl weekend, we have something lovely to look forward to. 

I’ve also been looking around for fun things that we Goth/Noir ladies can enjoy,  and I think I’ve found a few things but that will be for another time.

In the meantime, it's dinner and later we're are going to watch a new show "Lucifer"  Doyle recorded the first episode for me along with X-Files, Blacklist and a few other fun things, Doyle says I'm going to LOVE the vintage Corvette that Lucifer drives.  Well a Vintage Corvette, hmmmm he can't be all bad, can he?

Later Darklings 

Of my first post for the new year!!~~~

Hello My Darklings,

The new year is starting off very wet, so far we've had seven rain storms in our area, with numbers 8 and 9 still to come,  it's improving the snowpack, the ski resorts and the reservoirs but we are not out of the woods yet, not by a long shot as they say.

Everything in the back yard is soaked, soaked, soaked, and the fence in the back started to fall down, Doyle and my brother have braced it but it's going to have to be replaced.  My gardener has recommend an excellent fencing company, family owned and with good references. 

My cisterns are full of water, so there will not be an extreme need to worry about watering in the summer, but because of so much rain and the extreme cold and we had some very bad frost conditions, I've lost some of my more tender plants, even with protection. 

It had gotten so cold there was like a heavy snow like frost on the roofs of houses and cars and even the Christmas decorations, and I burned a fire in the fire places.  

I had to, something went wrong with the central heating system and I had to call in the repair man, some sort of "doohicky" or thingamabob which was a little hard to get to but was repaired.

On the more Gothic side of life, a severed foot was found on the BART tracks a week or so ago, and in several different places human remains have been found. 

I think I'll be making some adjustments on the garden to see what to plant,  the pet cemetery is doing fine in the back, and so are the orchids in the hothouse, as well as the koi in the indoor pond, poor Belladonna and Weiner Dog are feeling the cold, they have thick sweaters on but still insist on snuggling under the throw blankets on the couch, not that I blame them.

Sis has gone to visit her children in Sacramento she finally was able to line up a colleague to take care of her clients while she's gone,  Doyle is planning to visit his down in San Diego but wants to wait until Sis gets back before he goes.

The children are back in school much to their groaning unhappiness,  sorry my dears, life is not all Holidays.

And I am slowly getting better, the cough has improved, and Betty is just wonderful helping me, and freeing me up for other things.  Like lining up a house painter, yes, the house is going to need to be painted outside, and a few decorative wood pieces look like they have to be replaced, so finding a craftsman for that will be my first priority and then painting the 2nd.   One of my artist friends has also given me the name of a woman who can restore some of the lead framing on some of the stain glass windows so I think this year will be a year that the house will need a "face lift".

But first----- TAXES!   Yes I got my forms from my tax preparer and I am in the process of putting the paperwork together---so thank goodness for Betty to take the other duties off of my shoulders.

And now she is telling me that lunch is ready and she won't take "no" for an answer, well it's a good thing.

I hope to have more interesting and Gothic things for you later on,  I need to see what is out there.

Later Darklings

Of Happy New Year for 2016!!! ~~~~

Hello My Darklings,

I have not been posting so often of late, well I'm still getting better, right now I tend to fall asleep a lot,  the Doctor says it's the cough medicine that I'm taking,  because it has codine in it.   And because of that I'm to stay away from wine and such.   Such a bore but then health is always important.

Christmas was wonderful with family and friends, but our new years tonight will be on the quiet side,  it will be a combination of pot luck and Chinese take out.   No I'm not doing a New Year's party this year, the family has insisted I focus on resting but I do intent to stay up with them to welcome the New Year.

I'll be seeing my Doctor next week, although he did do a house visit this week, and feels that I will no longer need the visiting nurse, but next week he will finally determine that.

Because I've been coughing so much my chest and ribs have been hurting but that has lessen considerably, and I hope to get back to my old self.  

The other evening we all went to the Oakland Zoo and saw the zoo lights and rode the Zoo train as well,  and for the first time in years I wore thermal underwear!!!  Including Thermal Socks!   Not exactly elegant, but necessary in the low 40 and in some cases upper 30 degree weather at night.

The frost has been harsh, my gardener has protected most of the plants but I fear I will lose a few of them,  Spring will tell us how bad.

Sis insisted that I hire Betty as a regular housekeeper and have her come in 2 or 3 days a week with Merry Maids to do any major cleaning for the holidays and lighter cleaning for regular.   I've talked to Betty about this and she is very agreeable to it.   She loves the house and has said to me that I can't do it all by myself and to put my pride to one side. 

We've agreed on what I can do,  and what she will do and it works out.    I did grumble about feeling old but Betty said to me that I'm not old, I just need pampering.   The dog's love her and she likes them as well. 

There has been a bit of a sad thing that has happened in our neighborhood, our elderly neighbor that use to baby sit the dogs from time to time has had a stroke and her children are seeing to her care.   The good thing is that her daughter was with her when it happened and was able to get emergency services for her quickly and that lessened any damage,  but the daughter has now moved in with her so she won't be alone, which is good.

Crazy Son across the street has been very quiet, well with his sister and her husband having moved in with the parents Crazy Son can't pull any stunts, which is good.

New folks have moved into the neighborhood and have refurbished this old Victorian home that was very run down.  The previous owners were elderly and didn't have enough money to do all that needed to be done, but fortunately these new owners love the place and are restoring it.  That makes me very happy.

The family is doing fine, Sis's business is keeping her, well, busy.  Doyle has been kept busy as well but to keep my mind occupied he is having me transcribe his notes (I can read his hand writing).   My brother and sister in law are happy and so are the children although they are moaning the fact that next week they will be back in school.

The following weekend we will have a little "take down the Christmas decorations" party and carefully pack them away.    I will be sad to see that but they will be up next year and the year after that.

I hope in 2016 to be more active on my blog and find more interesting Gothic type things to post about,  strange and bizarre things, and finds,  but now a hot cup of Peppermint tea is wafting under my nose and it's time for Lunch.

I want to wish all of you a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous  New Year!   May all your problems be little one's and the big problems be easily solved and taken care of.

Happy 2016 My Darklings!

Well I'm not that Evil, not really.   Well maybe a little bit.  Oh what the heck, for those of you this can be an excellent thing to work with.

Of Rain for Christmas~~~~

Hello My Darklings,

Yes I have not been posting, well everyone wants me to get well and strong and all kinds of good stuff is the best way to describe it.

My Sister and Sister in law and I have been shopping for goodies for the Christmas dinner my fantastic Stove is going to be put to heavy duty work, but with everyone tackling everything it will be done in fantastic time. 

A few things need to be purchased at least no sooner than tomorrow but things that can be kept frozen like pies are no problem, but I am having a hard time keeping olives in the pantry, it seems that when ever the children are over the black olives seem to disappear, and re-appear on the ends of their fingers.   Doyle is going to hide the next batch in his office since he keeps it locked from prying eyes.

Thanks to everyone the house is wonderfully decorated and with scented Vanilla and Cinnamon candles it smells like things are baking all the time. 

And peace rides high in our neighborhood ever since the restraining order was put on "Crazy Son",  but what is making him even more angry is his sister has moved in and is staying with the parents, lovely lady, very nice.

And rain, rain, RAIN!!!  Lovely, cold, blustery, chilly, wet RAIN!  

Of course the house is nice a warm and snug for a large Victorian but just lovely.

I am getting much better, the Doctor said I can go to Midnight Mass Christmas Eve, I never miss Midnight Mass, it is one of the most magical nights of the year and are you ready for this My Darklings,  We are going to have a Full Moon on Christmas Day night, if it's not overcast.   The last time this happen was in 1977. 

But Christmas Eve it will be raining here so I do hope Santa has his Rain Gear (sorry for the very bad pun).

There has been a lot of traffic accidents and trees falling down and power outages,  Doyle surprised me with buying oil for the old-fashioned lamps that I have as decoration and trimming the wicks and filling them up.   "Just to be prepared" he says,  well as a little girl and as a teenager there was more than one time we put together a puzzle or played board games by oil lamp.

And as a gift to the house he bought one of those crank up radios so we'll have news and/or music, just in case. 

Well this old house has seen in its time living by lamp light and candle light, with crank up phonograph, and books and board games of its day.  So it would be nothing new. 

This weekend my brother and Doyle went into the attic to check for any leaks, not that there is any, the roof is only 10 years old, but with the drought things can get dry, so far things are fine, but Chris and Coralline went up there as well and as the men looked for leaks the children found a treasure trove of Stereoscopic pictures and the devices used to view pictures in 3 D.   I had not realized there were so many, 3 large boxes worth,  and two viewers, I said that I didn't have a place to put them but young people are resourceful.

Going back into the attic with their father they came back down with a vintage light weight bamboo table with three shelves, with a careful dusting and use of lemon polish it was brought back to its original luster  and now the pictures and the viewers sit proudly on them in the formal parlor.   My brother offered to take it back up to the attic but I said no, leave them there, something told me they belonged there. 

The nurse only comes by twice a week now, she'll be by the Morning of Christmas Eve but she thinks by next month I may not need her but that will be decided by the Doctor,   Betty plans to come by every day during the week except for Christmas Eve and Day,  on the weekends my sister or sister in law keep an eye on me, but I'm feeling pretty good.  I still take medicine for the cough but that has improved, and I have an asthma inhaler as well and have to do breathing exercises.   The nurse said that in time the Doctor will say I'm fine and won't need to do that,  I suspect it won't be until Spring.  Am I being cranky?

I'm still sleeping down stairs but I've been encourage to do stair exercises so I go up 6 steps and come down 6 steps several times and I do it several times a day but only when someone is in the house.   But I feel I'm be able to tackle the full first complete set after New Years.

Things are looking good and I'm feeling very positive,  I had fun telling the children about Hern the Hunter and the wild Hunt and how if you go to Church on Christmas Eve you must take a piece of steel and several slices of bread, for that is the time when Hern is on the Wild Hunt looking for evil people who would harm the Christ Child with his Hell Hounds, should you meet the hounds first throw them the bread but should you meet Hern toss the piece of steel before you, then they will know you are a good person.  Otherwise----beware!

It's a good story to tell in front of the fireplace.  Even the twins were quiet.  Their Dad told me they had seen "Krampus" and my brother told them that Krampus is very, Very real.   Of course they asked me if that was so and I said I'm not going to deny it.

Christmas is the time for Ghost Stories or Stories of Wonder, at this time the dark is at it's longest time, but within a few weeks we will begin to see it getting lighter and lighter.   But there is something so delicious between Halloween and New Years, a perfect time for Ghost Stories.

Charles Dickens had it right I think, I feel we have to thank him, Prince Albert, and Clement Moore for giving us the concept of the season, minus the materialist aspect.

And now I need to go, I still have a few New Year's cards to write out thanks to friends I had not heard from in Ages,  and now I have their new addresses, for some reason this year has been a year of reconnecting with people from the past, a reunion of sorts.   Which makes me very happy.

Later Darklings

This is not photo shopped it is a photo of the northern lights forming a wolf shape.