FESTIVAL

Two weeks ago, we had a Dickens of a time! I guess that is really a minced oath so I won't say it. But, we did have a Dickens time. The city of Riverside obligingly closed off the streets downtown by the library and the spirit of Victoria reigned. Everyone joined in wearing their ideas of Victorian garb. We could not tell which were visitors and which were the characters from Dicken's picturesk books. Vendors lined the streets with their wares under tent-like contraptions. (They had had rain last year too). Four sided jobs with roll down flaps and a roof that rose to a peak. Everything from cameos to lace shawls, hats to sweaters, necklaces and leathergoods, fish and chips, Korean fare, tuxedos, agatae night lights, funnel cakes and yakitori were available. We, the three young ladies from Hemet and Pollyanna from LA had reservations with Freckles and me to indulge in the Victoria Tea. It was "high tea" and the basement room in one of one of the churches bordering the promenade and festivities. There was no ramp, so getting down the steps took some maneuvering by grabbing hold the sturdy iron railing. Our reservation was at table "0" in the furtherest corner, right next to the piano and the stage. Mop capped servers kept us well supplied tea (very good tea in fact). Each of us was served with cucumber sandwiches, scones, dark bread crammed with nuts and raisins, little cakes, and a gold foil wrapped chocolate candy. On the table were lemon slices and clotted cream and jam. During the repast three revelers provided song and somewhat of a dance, fancy steps anyway. Outside, old Scrooge shuffled from one end to the other in his nightcap and nightshirt carrying his snuffed out candle while mumbling "Bah Humbug. This added authenticity to the atmosphere. We also had Clan Gordon Troops with their bagpipes accompanying the color guard who raised the Union Jack (?) before the pagentry got underway. I think some sang "God Save the Queen" when she (a nicely rounded short dumpy lady) and her entourage entered the scene. I also vaguely aremember hearing "Rule Britannia" and some other sea chanties. A juggler took his place on the sidelines, made his bowler hat walk up his arm and plop onto his head. Also a street magician did his thing on the Library steps. When it started to rain and hail, several of us took cover in said library. Perhaps it was true, perhaps just quick thinking on the part of the head librarian, she called out for evacuationnn of the premisis because she said she smelled smoke. That sure got rid of the crowd in a hurry. Up and down the area wandered a redheaded curly man on high stilts wearing a kilt and wooly sox covering the wooden extensions of his legs. There were story-telling booths, short excerp performances by Dicken's characters. We missed some of these because the seats were situated in the rain. This did not seem to dampen any of the happy attidude of visitors. While we wandered, Pollyana took advantage of the expertise of the vendor and made a bonnet to match her lime green outfit. This was a gown sewn by her mother to fit in with a former high school presentation in early English Literature. The girls took turns helping Freckles push my wheel chair. It was handy not only to help me get around, but also a place to hang purses, etc. I took a nap in the car while the rest took a tour of the Mission. They were impressed with the grandeur and embellishments. Of course, it was a long hard day, and I turned in very tired and very happy that night.
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Priviledge

Today is the Lord's Day and we had that precious priviledge of remembering Him (our Lord Jesus Christ) and His death for us. It was solemn and happy too! I get real live goose bumps racing up and down my spine when I dare to consider how much He loves me and that He would have gone through that ordeal of humiliation, separation and pain, even if I were the only human being on the planet. From the chorus of one of our hymns "O, how He Loves."

Plumb, Plumber, Plumbing

Rah, Rah, Hooray! In what our second and third plumbers told us would cost $480, Mr. Do-it-all-fixit-man repaired our problem in my bathroom in only one half hour. Was that original a scam or what? How grateful we are to have such close by friends, not more than a mile away. I had a nice visit with his better half while we basked by the fire burning brightly in our fireplace. Freckles helped with moral support in the back room. Our visiting lady said she had been working on a new sticker idea when doing scripture bookmarks yesterday afternoon. Also said they had found a new barbecue place where the two of them can have supper for $6 when they split a sandwich. I'm afraid we'll have to wait until next month before we go galivanting around eating out. We have lots of good stuff in the freezer because I just couldn't resist the special sales at Stater Bros. I do shop using the weekly flyer and the red tags on the grocery shelves. But you know, 99 cents a pound for chicken or pork strips is just too enticing to pass up.

We have decided against going to the quilt show this afternoon. My daughter reminded me that I have other projects to complete (quite true) and that I only get excitedly enthused when I see other peoples' work displayed. In fact, said daughter found not only the aqua and hot pink finished quilt top I started for Rapunzel's birthday last May, but also for myself, one Double Irish Chain in yellow, blue and frosty maroon already stuffed and pinned ready to stitch in the ditch and another top in watery blues and greens and a sprinkling of red accents. I should have my swiss cheese stuffed head examined, or maybe get off the computer and get some real work done. See ya later!

The plumber

Now we have specialized workers to fix our sewer pipes, our drains, our fixtures in the bathroom, kitchen appliances, sprinkling systems. Don't dare ask the wrong one to fix the wrong thing!!! Alas and alack...Sunday morning our toilet overflowed all over Freckles' bathroom. We called "Rotorooter" I don't even care if I misspelled it. Lewis climbed up on the roof and rooted through the ventilator pipe twice and said it was fixed. I still get my feet wet when I go to use my facility...something is still leaking. Two gentlemen from the same company came this morning to check out the "repair?" and Mario told us the current problem was different. I asked why Lewis didn't fix it and Mario said Lewis did not do that kind of plumbing. Unbelievable. Guess it's like asking a Dermatologist to do lung surgery, or a Pediatrician to work with geriatrics. The first bill was well over $300 so necessissarily had to go on the credit card. Today Mario said $480. Silly old me thought that included the first charge. Ha, ha, no it didn't, it was in ADDITION to. I told today's visitors that I was a senior citizen, a very old senior citizen and should get a discount. He'd have to talk to his boss...Now why should I pay someone to watch what the other is doing? I called Freckles and she told them it was outrageous, that it would be a choice of whether they got paid or she could have health insurance. I called Bones to cry on her shoulder, whereupon she suggested I call our handy dandy fix anything friend John. He says he likes to keep busy, but helping the saints, he is ALWAYS busy just because he is such a nice guy. He promises to come by on his way home from painting another friend's house. He agreed, $480 is outlandish. Now it's lunch time and I'm hungry.

SESTINA

iN JUST ANOTHER HOUR MY WRITING GROUP, THE WAYFARERS, WILL BE ARRIVING. I'M WORKING ON A SESTINA ABOUT THE FIFTH GRADE CLASS TRIP TO WILLIAMSBURG AND JAMESTOWN. IT IS EASY TO GATHER TOGETHER THE THOUGHTS, BUT I FIND IT QUITE DIFFICULT TO WORK IN THE PATTERN. CHECK IT OUT ON INTERNET...SIX STANZAS OF SIX LINES EACH IS EASY, BUT THEN THE PATTERN SWITCHES. kEEPING THE SAME ENDING WORDS AS IN FIRST STANZA, THE FOLLOWING STANZAS ARE: 6 1 5 2 4 3, 3 6 4 1 2 5, 5 3 2 6 1 4, 4 5 1 3 6 2, 2 4 6 5 3 1, THEN WITH AN ENDING THREE LINE STANZA (39 LINES IN ALL) CONTAINING WORDS 1 & 2,
3 & 4, AND 5 & 6. BETTER GO MAKE MY BED BEFORE THEY ALL GET HERE. HAVE A GOOD DAY YOU ALL.

Rain, rain, don't go away

How happy we are to hear the rain in our bathrooms...it patters on the ventilators in the ceiling. It's almost as the patter on a tin roof. Can you see bright and gloomy at the same time? Since I haven't written for quite some time I felt I needed to get with it before I have to learn all over again and lose my password and all that good stuff. We have a fire going. Bobby is stretched out on a plush blanket, (my lavender plush blanket, my birthday present from LaLaLee). Lily is curled up on the end of the sofa as close as she can get to the fire. Bobby is not about to give up his space. I think she respects that. I'm feeling pretty good today in spite of my shenanigans last night before meeting. Becky needed my quilting tools for the "Wedding Ring" class she and LaLa are taking this morning. So I was able to retrieve my rulers and got down on the floor to pull out my cutting board which I had stored flat under the bed. Kedj pulled my other sewing supplies from the garage shelf. But, while she was rooting around on those shelves, I was stuck on the floor. My legs just would not work. The mattress was too high for me to get any leverage. Lily cried with me and I got lotsa kisses. Finally Kedj came back to see what was taking so long for me to get into the car for meeting. Of course I was sobbing because I got to feeling so very, very old. I was sitting with one foot flat on the floor, but it was the left foot and it does not work even to the getting in and out of the car. With her encouragement and a gentle shove from behind I was able to work my way over to my recliner and get leverage on the seat thereof, then the arms. I am so glad I did not fall, so I don't even have any pains beyond my usual low back (I've already taken my tylenol this morning. We are all excited about the Riverside Dickens' Festival tomorrow. Sadly more rain and even thunderstorms are predicted. If nothing else, we will enjoy the Victoria Tea.

I am so glad I signed up for another course in Memoir Writing with a different instructor. The group has varied backgrounds which makes it more interesting. Our assignment for next week is to write ten opening sentences that "grab" you and entice you to read further in your article or story. That is what I must do now for tomorrow will be in Riverside DV and Sunday is all day meeting.