Preparing for Halloween

 

 

Here is how our front porch looked when decorated for Halloween Day.  
We decorated our home in Red Bluff, California, from 1998-2017.  
Notice the five spherical white spectral (ghostly) visitors coming to "trick or treat" at our front door.    

"To all the ancient ones from their houses, the Old Ones from above and below. In this time the Gods of the Earth touch our feet, bare upon the ground. Spirits of the Air whisper in our hair and chill our bodies,  and from the dark portions watch and wait the Faery Folk that they may join the circle and leave their track upon the ground. It is the time of the waning year. Winter is upon us. The corn is golden in the winnow heaps. Rains will soon wash sleep into the life-bringing Earth. We are not without fear, we are not without sorrow...Before us are all the signs of Death: the ear of corn is no more green and life is not in it. The Earth is cold and no more will grasses spring jubilant. The Sun but glances upon his sister, the earth..... It is so....Even now....But here also are the signs of life, the eternal promise given to our people. In the death of the corn there is the seed--which is both food for the season of Death and the Beacon which will signal green-growing time and life returning. In the cold of the Earth there is but sleep wherein She will awaken refreshed and renewed, her journey into the Dark Lands ended. And where the Sun journeys he gains new vigor and potency; that in the spring, his blessings shall come ever young!"
-  Two Samhain Rituals, Compost Coveners, 1980 

  

"Tonight as the barrier between the two realms grows thin,
Spirits walk amongst us, once again.
They be family friends and foes,
Pets and wildlife, fishes and crows.
But be we still mindful of the Wee Folke at play,
Elves, fey, brownies, and sidhe.
Some to trick, some to treat,
Some to purposely misguide our feet. 
Stay we on the paths we know 
As planting sacred apples we go.

This Feast I shall leave on my doorstep all night.
In my window one candle shall burn bright,
To help my loved ones find their way
As they travel this eve, and this night, until day.
Bless my offering, both Lady and Lord
Of breads and fruits, greens and gourd."
-  Akasha, Samhain Ritual  

Samhain

Halloween,

The Day of the Dead

 

October: Poems

Quotes

Lore

  

The entrance to our front driveway in Red Bluff featured a seasonal display that Karen prepared from 1998-2017. 
Karen is petting our cat, King Tut, in the early morning hours. 

We now (2020) live in Vancouver, Washington.  

January Gardening Chores

Location:  Vancouver, Washington   USDA Zone 8a

January Gardening Tips and Ideas
From Michael P. Garofalo

January Gardening Tips from Tsugawa Nursery

Here are my gardening chores for January:

Applying manure to the empty vegetable garden.
Mulching with fallen leaves.
Panting a Fuyu Persimmon and Columnar Apple Tree
Pruning back roses and dead plants
Raking up fallen leaves in the back yard.
Finishing the back yard wood shed.
Improving the side porch, weeding, reorganizing.

Taking care of indoor plants.
Reading gardening books.
Helping Karen.

Here is where I shop in the Vancouver, Washington, area: 

Tsugawa Nursery, Woodland, Washington

Yard'n Garden Land, Salmon Creek, Highway 99 and 102nd Street, Vancouver, Washington

Shorty's Garden Center, Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver, Washington

Lowes, 76 Street and 117th Ave (Lewisville Highway 503), N.E. Vancouver, Washington

Home Depot, Andresen and Paden Parkway, N.E. Vancouver, Washington

January Gardening Chores  
Red Bluff, North Sacramento Valley, California, USA
USDA Zone 9 

Typical (Average/Normal) Seasonal Weather for Our Area   Normally, in January, we have high daytime temperatures of 54ºF, low nighttime temperatures of 37ºF, and get 4.2 inches of rain.

Red Bluff Gardening Notebooks of Karen and Mike Garofalo

January Gardening Activities and Chores in Red Bluff
USDA Zone 9

Pruning leafless trees and shrubs.
Adding compost, ashes and fertilizer to the vegetable and flower gardens.
Taking cuttings from dormant figs, grapes, and other shrubs.
Spraying dormant fruit and other trees.
Weeding and mowing where needed.
Burning piles of gardening cuttings.
Fixing wood and metal fences.
Placing cold sensitive potted plants in protected areas outdoors or indoors.
Sharpening and oiling garden tools.
Protect tender plants from frosts.
Checking for and repairing any leaks in sheds.
The soil is usually too wet and cold for much garden digging.
Indoor activities: sorting seeds, planning, reading, writing, etc.
Caring for indoor plants.
Weeding the winter garden.
Watering potted plants as needed.
Adding Ironite and other soil supplements.
Fertilizing under trees and shrubs. 
Keeping tools and equipment out of the rain and moisture. 
Browsing seed and garden catalogs.
Reading gardening, botany, and agricultural books.
Planning garden improvements for the new year.
Fixing any leaking roofs or rain gutters. 
Keep a journal.  Write a poem.
Take a slow walk in the garden.  

January Gardening Chores and Tips for Other U.S.A. Zones


Oak Hill January Tips - Georgia

Oregon State University January Tips

Earth Wise Creations January Tips - Zone 9

Seasonal Garden Chores - Links

Top Garden Projects for January by Ed Hume in the Pacific Northwest

52 Weeks in the California Garden by Richard Smaus

The Gay Gardener - Monthly Chores

Monthly Gardening January Tips from Ortho 

Monthly Garden Tasks in an English County Garden

Winter Rose Care

The Garden Helper Tips for January - Northern U.S.

Fruits and Nuts - January Tips - Virginia

Gardening Tips - January - New York Botanical Garden

Master Gardeners Tips  

Before and After in the Garden

[A repost from the Cloud Hands Blog on June 25th, 2014.]

Our "Sunny Vegetable Garden" changes dramatically from spring to summer.

The two photos below were taken by looking south.  The first photo was taken in early April, and the second in late June.  The "winter garden," where Karen was standing in April, has been cleared and all the onions and garlic harvested. 

 

The two photos below were taken by looking north. The first photo was taken in early April, and the second in late June. Whatever we don't water is dried and brown by June

June Gardening:  Quotes, Poems, Sayings, Lore

Gardening and the Seasons:  Quotes, Poems, Sayings, Lore

Our dog, Bruno, always likes to join us for gardening activities.  He is skilled at digging for gophers and snakes.

This photo was taken in 2005.

Home For the Holidays

My best wishes to all for a peaceful and pleasant winter holiday season.  May we remember our accomplishments this past year, have few regrets, and hope for good health, peace and prosperity.  May our shared history make us proud.  May the Earth rest and bear the sweetist Wenatachee cherries and gently cradle the mighty Columbia River.

Katelyn, Mike, Karen, Makenna, Beryl

We have our Christmas and New Year Celebrations with family and friends.  This year we did Italian style meals.  Karen and I decorated interiors of our house with typical holiday season art.  We exchanged presents and best wishes.

Today, our children and their families will have lunch together at our home: lasagna, brocholli beef roll, cardoon (Texas Celery, artichoke stalks cooked, breaded, and fried), wine, and ourdourves.  Karen is positive and joyful.  Feasting for Fun!  Good Cheer!

Time for my NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS:
Walk our dog Bruno once each day.
Learn how to effectively use CorelDRAW 2019 and Corel PaintShop Pro 2020 software.
Take a class in drawing.
Practice Tai Chi Chuan in class led by Jill Ross on Friday and Saturday.


Because of my interests and hobbies, and the fact that I am now retired at age 73, I spend a lot of my time indoors in my office, study, mancave, den, reading room, art studio, hang out space, retreat, etc.

The temperatures outdoors are mostly in the 40F's these days, and it gently rains a lot.  There are few gardening chores in December.  My reading and writing ROOM is nice and dry, cozy, and comfortable.  The room is insulated.  I always dress to stay warm.  I use an electrical heater set at 50F.

My STUDY is about 10'x12'x8'.  Bookshelves that we made cover the north and south wall.  A window faces south.  A small closet is on the east side of the room.  In front of the west wall is a large table with computer equipment.  Another small wood table is on the south side is used for art projects, reading, laptop computer, games.  The room is carpeted, but I would prefer a hardwood floor for easier rolling on my large office chair.

The computer equipment in my home OFFICE includes a Dell Inspiron desktop with Windows 10, Epson Workforce WF-3640 Printer, Samsung 21"dia screen, Logitech keyboard, old Toshiba laptop, and an Epson Perfection V600 scanner.  I purchase Internet access, and other services, from XFinity Comcast.  My annual modest earnings from my websites keep me current with computer hardware and software every four or five years.

Here is a photo of my STUDY, looking to the south on a foggy winter day.  There is a large sweet gum tree in our front yard.  I can use the wood table for drawing and art projects, books, laptop computer, digital camera equipment, a game, or a small  electronic keyboard.

My dog, Bruno, thinks my study/office/studio is his DOG CAVE.

Upgrading Our Home Computers

The last time I purchased a desktop computer (HP Pavilion $399) for my home office was in January of 2017.  I upgraded to a Dell Inspiron 3670 ($599) desktop computer (12MB RAM, 1 TB Hard Disk, Intel chip, this week.  I use a Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse.  My home "office" is a cozy bedroom (10'x12') with a south facing window converted into an work space with bookshelves, computer equipment, table, cabinet, lighting, heating, and a chair.  

Of course, I am busy with the new computer setup, file backup, copying between two computers, reloading software, reusing the old software.  Thus far ... pretty smooth setup of Google Chrome browser, MacAfee security software, and file maintainence.  My old favorites seemed to load OK in Windows 10 (with new updates), e.g., Front Page, Fireworks, Dreamweaver MX, Cute FTP, Google Chrome.  I need better headphones/microphone unit with driver software.  Completed Phase I on 11/21 at noon.  

I often used Macromedia Fireworks to make concrete poems.  However, I can't get the old software to load properly on this new Windows 10 computer.  Adobe purchased Fireworks and stopped supporting.  You can't register anymore.  So, I am going to try using CorelDRAW home and student suite for $74.00.  Adobe Illustrator is $22.00 a month to suscribe.  

After I finish with my computer, then I will start on Karen's new computer (Dell Pavilion) and the remodel of her small home office.  

I have been a computer enthusiast since my days of working as a Personnel Specialist in the United States Air Force from 1969-1973.  Also, working for the County of Los Angeles Public Library System from 1974 to 1998 gave me many opportunities to learn and use computer systems for public services and managerial purposes.  Even as a retired old man, at home, I now use a Samsung Android cellphone on Sprint; XFinity TV, Phone, and Internet services; CD player, audio MP3 player, Dell Inspiron desktop computer, Samsung Tablet, Kindle Reader, laptop computer, and electronic gadgets galore.  Using computers at home is a hobby of mine.  

Progress on Home Improvement Projects

Lately, I have been very busy and working hard each day on outdoor home improvement projects.  I improved all the fences in the back yard.  I rebuilt the west fence, 30 feet long, and added a gate.  We added our first small "sunny garden" on the west street side of the property.  We improved and weeded the nursery area.  I built a new fence, 60 feet long, on the east side of the back yard to hide all of our workshop and storage areas.  We got the irrigation system working in our front yard; thanks to Sean's help.  We removed the dead Western Red Cedar tree limbs and branches over our east roof (from our neighbor's tree); thanks to Mick's help.  Karen added new vegetable plants and flower beds.  

Mostly work on rough carpentry, gardening, lifting and moving.  On the whole, enjoyable.

When resting during the heat of the day, I read, study, research, use the Internet, play video games, make notes, shop, and nap.  

Most of our home improvement objectives have been accomplished.  We will set new goals and objectives in September.   We want a 8 foot by 8 foot garden bed set over the removed lawn on the west street side of the property.   I will redo and improve the garden hoses watering system.  We will plant more shrubs in our garden and yard.  

We have travel plans in the Northwest this summer and autumn.  My brother and nephew and families are visiting us this summer.  

Not doing much Taijiquan, Qigong, Yoga, Feldenkrais, or walking since the Spring.  Mostly focused on home improvement work projects.  This work on home projects gives my 72 year old body plenty of exercise.   I do plan to resume my former exercises in August of 2018.  

Work Quotations:  http://www.gardendigest.com/work.htm

"Every kind of work can be a pleasure. Even simple household tasks can be an opportunity to exercise and expand our caring, our effectiveness, our responsiveness. As we respond with caring and vision to all work, we develop our capacity to respond fully to all of life. Every action generates positive energy which can be shared with others. These qualities of caring and responsiveness are the greatest gift we can offer."
-  Tarthang Tulku

I will add a few pictures of our efforts:

Ongoing Home Improvements

Our garage in July of 2017.

Our garage in February of 2018.

Vertical shelving installed, everything organized into plastic storage bins and fully inventoried on a spreadsheet, new washer and dryer installed, workbench area set up on west side of garage, room on east side to park a car where I am standing or use the same cleared space for an exercise area.  

Moving keeps you quite busy.
Having fun may be habit forming.

Our fireplace corner in June of 2017.

Home Projects in January

"Soon will set in the fitful weather, with fierce gales and sullen skies and frosty air, and it will be time to tuck up safely my roses and lillies and the rest for their winter sleep beneath the snow, where I never forget them, but ever dream of their wakening in happy summers yet to be."
- Celia Thaxter

January Gardening

I pruned six roses. I dug up each rose and transplanted the roots into a new large pot. I moved six pots of roses to the nursery area in the back yard. 

I excavated and layed pavers by the front door. 

We had moved some large potted plants indoors: a lemon citrus, an avocado, a succulent, a fuchsia, etc.

I reworked the sides of the large covered patio on the east side of our house. I closed the entire fence line on the east side from the front gate to the back yard gate. Then I hung brown plastic sheets to enclose three sides and provide some additional rain protection. Two 75 watt utility lights were hung to provide worksite illumination. All sides included four level plastic storage racks to maximize storage in this covered and enclosed storage and work area outside the garage.

I started putting the the 4"x4"x8' treated posts into concrete in the ground.   

Property for Sale in Red Bluff, California

Karen retired in June of 2014.  I retired in June of 2016.

Karen and I have decided to sell our home in Red Bluff and move to Vancouver, Washington.  

This is well maintained 1909 square foot house, with 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, a large office area, and large screened back porch.  There are extensive gardens, beautiful landscaping, an orchard, and 5 acres of land.  There are two 125' wells and 2 ponds on the property.   

Here is a detailed webpage on this house and property.Here is the current Zillow listing.

What's Happening?

Karen and I have been working during the cooler morning hours all of the month of August.  We have continued with our home improvement projects.  

Afternoons have been enjoyed indoors with reading, Internet browsing, planning, the Olympics, American football games, and Netflix programs.  

I've recovered from my hip and knee injuries, suffered in bad falls.  I'm now able to walk 3 miles every morning, garden, and work on projects around the house.  Things are looking better for my legs.  I plan to resume weight lifting next week.  

Somewhat unusual not returning to work for the school district on August 13th. Retirement is a new experience.  

Home Improvement Focus

Karen and I have been very busy with home improvement projects.  Little time or energy for other interesting research, studies, practices, and projects.

Starting My Retirement

Yesterday, I decided not to return to my part-time position with the Corning Union Elementary School District.  I will not be working during the 2016-2107 school year.  I have resigned and retired, effective June 30th, 2016.  I worked for this K-8 school district, with 2,200 students, for 16 years as the District Librarian or Technology and Media Services Supervisor.  

I retired when I was 70 years of age.  I have been gainfully employed since the age of 15 in libraries (city, county, school), teaching, management, factories, the US military, fitness trainer, supervision, web publisher, and information services.  54 years of working at all kinds of jobs.  Fortunately, I was always able to find some kind of employment.  

Overall, I am in fairly good health except for my injured right hip, right knee, and left knee.  While running on 3/13, I fell on my right side and injured my right hip and right knee.  While descending a stairway on 6/18, I stumbled and fell down and injured the bursa in my left knee.  Hopefully, with treatment, rest, yoga, and massage I will regain my former fitness and resume athletic activities.  

My wife, Karen, retired in 2014.  We are moving to Vancouver, Washington.  

We are selling our home and property in Red Bluff, California.  A 1909 square foot house, 4 bedrooms, and 2 baths.  5 acres of land, 2 wells, 2 ponds, extensive gardens and orchard.  Photographs.  Here is the Zillow listing.

Gardening in the Month of May

May Gardening Chores in Red Bluff

Divide and replant clumps of perennials that have finished flowering.
Take cuttings from some plants.
Watering as needed, especially potted plants.
Plant vegetables in a sunny garden area. 
Read garden books from the library. 
Mowing lawns and weeding.
Planting seeds in containers in the greenhouse. 
Fertilize some actively growing plants. 
Mulch trees, shrubs and garden. 
Weed garden.  Weed garden.  Weed garden. 
Take a nap in the shade.
Pick up tree branches blown down by high winds. 
Remove dead branches or trees. 
Thin out plants growing in the vegetable garden.
Mow lawns and field.  
Write a poem.   Keep a garden journal. 
Clean and scrub down garden chairs. 
Watering as needed.   Deeply soak trees. 
Celebrate May Day. 
Use straw mulch to conserve water and shade roots.
Don't get sun burnt.  Wear wide brimmed hats and long sleeve shirts.
Dig in composted manure.
Fertilize grass in lawns.   
Shape shrubs.
Weed garden.  Weed the garden.  Weed the garden. 
Rake and sweep up sitting areas in the shade. 
Prune vines. 
Search for poems and songs and quotes about the month of May. 
Clean up garden workbench area. 
Read some Springtime poetry out loud. 
Place extended release fertilizer in potted plants. 
Move tender plants into semi-shade. 
Thin excess fruit on trees. 
Sit and observe.
Thin our excess vegetables.   
Make sure lath/shade house is ready.  

We have five cherry trees that consistently produce delicious fruit.  

Come Saturday Morning

Busy day ahead:  walking, teaching Tai Chi Chuan, mowing, weeding, updating drip lines in south orchard, laundry, cleaning house.  My wife, Karen, has been helping my son in Portland, since March 16th, recover from a kidney translplant; so, more work for me at home alone.  I will put up some pictures later in the day.  

Tai Chi Chuan Yang Style

Red Bluff Notebooks

The Spirit of Gardening

Green Way Research Subject Index

Plans for 2016

Reassess the value and benefits, for others and for myself, of my blogging, and my webpage development and maintenance projects.  

Accomplish many home improvements, refurbishments, painting, and clean up projects.

Complete my normal daily exercise and fitness routines.

Work diligently to reduce my A1C blood sugar test results to under 6.5, and my body weight down to 240 pounds.  Effectively manage my eating of nutritious foods, carefully use my diabetic medicines, exercise, reduce stress, and get adequate rest to slow the deterioration progress of my Type 2 Diabetes.

Complete 9 months of my last 18 months of part-time elementary school district work before my retirement in December of 2017.

Do what I can to help make for a peaceful, productive, prosperous, beneficial, and healthy community.

Discontinue activities that are not supportive and aligned with my preferences and goals.

Weed my used book collection.

Enjoy more frequent camping and day hiking adventures in coastal Oregon and California.  



The Cloud Hands Blog has been in existence since 2005.  I have posted 2,193 times to this blog.  There have been 635,000 Page Views of this blog.  Many positive reviews and some awards have been given to this blog.  The right hand column of this blog provides extensive subject access to my hundreds of webpages and blog postings.  There is plenty of content still available on this blog and my webpages that readers might find useful.  Enjoy! 



If you don't set objectives, goals, intentions, resolutions, or aims, then it is far less likely that you will accomplish any of those objectives.  With no target to shoot at, how do you aim?  Use your energy, your thinking, and your will to prioritize, focus, and accomplish the most important objectives.


Simplicity Quotations

Simple Living Manifesto: 72 Ideas to Simplify Your Life

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Dark and Dreary Day

Sipping coffee and thinking.
I look forward to walking with my dog this morning.
John will be working on our new back door and back entrance siding.  
Mick and April arrive here this afternoon. 
Outside: 45F, overcast, drizzling, sprinking, raining, a darker world.

We have been very busy lately with traveling and having visitors.  We were in Portland for a week before Thanksgiving Day.

November was a very busy month for Karen and I.  

We have repaired the entire south side of our house and the entire back porch.  Both have been painted.

Busy with part-time employment 3 days 8 hours per week, and hope to retire from this job in 12/18.  I still teach yoga/qigong 3 hours each week.

Pulled up dying summer vegetables, raked, spread manure.  Enjoyed working outdoors when it was sprinkling.  When it really started to rain I retreated to a shed or indoors.

"From December to March, there are for many of us three gardens -
the garden outdoors,
the garden of pots and bowls in the house,
and the garden of the mind's eye."
-   Katherine S. White

Last View of Their Swing
11/26/2015, Portland
By Mike Garofalo

 















Cold nights and wind have killed all the summer vegetables. 
2015 gone for them and us.

Quotations and Poems Representing the Month of December

Busy Gardening

Karen and I have been busy at home working in our yard and gardens.  We started major projects at our home last June. 

The Spirit of Gardening: Over 3,500 quotations arranged by over 100 topics, compiled by Mike Garofalo, 1999-.

The Garden in October

The Garden in November 

We have together:

Cleaned, dug, fertilized and rototilled two sunny garden areas.
Been planting and watering our winter garden vegetables. 
Been cleaning out ditches.
Hiring people to fix walls, paint, and clean up the south field.
Repairing broken poles and fenceposts.
Cleaning up up our Sacred Circle Garden.
Making a new compost bin.
Celebrating harvest and Halloween events.
Watching the University of Southern California (USC) vs The University of California football game.  Cheer "We Are .. SC!"  My dad and I graduated from USC. 

Here are some recent photographs:  

 

Summer Work Projects

I have been working each morning since late May on renovating our back porch.  About 25% of the porch roof needed replacement.  Old screens and doors needed to be removed and then replaced.  It porch roof support wood needed to be cleaned, fixed, and repainted.  The side walls of the house needed to be cleaned and repainted.  Roof gutters needed cleaning.  Branches hanging over the house roof needed to be removed.  It has been a big project!

My ailing shoulder has slowed my pace somewhat; but, I continue to make progress.  Since temperatures in June have been well above 100F every day, afternoon work is not possible for me.

Karen has helped as time and energy permit.

I walk and do Taijiquan in the morning from 4:45 am to 6 am.  Then I begin work on home improvement projects.  Around noon, I quit outdoor work, and come indoors to read and write.  Because of my shoulder problem, I've not done any heavy weightlifting at the gym during the entire months of June.

This is how the back porch looked in 2006: