Eva’s Friends

[Evadig]

Happy New Year!

I've been out of town for the last two days so there's nothing to report on anyone.

Instead I'll post my New Year's Resolutions...hopefully I'll keep them but I dread exercising, gardening, and cooking.

• gain ten pounds
• pass the military PFT test with ease by my birthday (June)
• get a full-time job, whatever that looks like
• build, plant, and grow a garden
• learn to cook something
• stop a bad habit I've struggled with for years

2025 is shaping up to be a memorable year, I think. I have two trips planned (more on that later). Those are nearly guaranteed to happen, unless something out of my control comes up. Then I would like to enlist in the military, but that's very debatable yet. It may not even come to pass.

I said I want to get a full time job this year. The problem is I'm either under or over qualified for just about everything. I have a bachelor's, so I don't want to do retail or something like that, but I have no experience, so I can't do anything else. It is really frustrating!

As far as the chickens, I'm still looking out for a couple more hens. Liberty has been living by himself and I feel bad for him. Besides, it might help me rehome him. But I am suspicious of the people in my area - some men working on the house noticed the roosters and commented on what nice fighting cocks they'd make!

I will look up the flat felled seams. I like linen because the fabric itself seems to be more durable than cotton - just the seams came apart within one wash.

That reminds me that I must finish my sewing. All my clothes have holes in them (partly courtesy of Annie!) and I can't go anywhere like that. So tomorrow I will get to work.

A nice Nativity scene at the hotel I stayed at. I don't know what to call the object...is it a decoration, a plate, or ?

Every morning I wake up to Constance begging for canned food...she is worse than Annie!
I am embarrassed at the state of my floor.

Alice

Eva and Francine nearly touched noses, but I was not able to capture that!

Brianna lolling in the sun.

 

[Callender Girl]

Congratulations on setting goals for the incoming year and best wishes on seeing them through!

My plan is always to set a few goals, then break them down into doable steps. My goal of healthier eating in 2025, for example, includes cutting down on processed foods (if I don't buy them, I can't eat them) and making more veggie-filled dishes that I can cook once and have leftovers for a couple of days.

I know you want to find a full-time job, but have you considering using your considerable sewing skills as a "job"? For many years, my sister was a professional seamstress. She made, remodeled and repaired garments for people. Her projects included everything from sewing and altering wedding dresses to replacing zippers and hemming pants (because some people have NO sewing skills whatsoever!). The trick is to properly price your work and skills. What might seem too high to you could be acceptable to someone who hasn't a clue how to make their new pants fit right and look good.

BTW, I think you're right about the sturdiness of linen. I just freak out over how easily it wrinkles. And I NEVER want to have to use an iron.

Looking forward to hearing more about your two trips! About the time you will be celebrating your birthday, I expect to be in England. I have signed up for a farm and homesteading (and sightseeing!) group trip.

How horrible about the workers even mentioning roosters for cock fighting. I've never understood why watching and encouraging brutality among animals is considered "entertainment."

And, that is a lovely Nativity scene! Maybe the plate is considered a bas relief? I've applied to be a volunteer at the local art museum. Perhaps I will soon KNOW what I'm talking about when I throw out art terms? I've been a volunteer at the historical museum, so I think it's time to broaden my horizons.

Here's to a great 2025 for you and yours!

 

[Evadig]

Five days into the new year, and I haven't accomplished a single one of my goals - or even started working on them (hardly).

Today we finally opened gifts, because we were all sick on Christmas and then too busy with remodeling the laundry room, which is now torn apart like the bathroom.

I got a vintage suitcase, that I was hoping to take on the plane with me, but everyone is saying that is not a good idea. This is very disappointing.

I'm not sure why, but opening the gifts has been depressing for the last few years. I don't know why, it always seems like something's missing. Like everyone's just trying to be polite, pretending they're excited over whatever they got, but in reality they just want to get it over with as soon as possible, and get back to whatever they were doing. It's like that at birthdays, too.

Poor Winston's comb is all bloody, and we cannot figure out why. Was he fighting? Is it frostbite? I made a post in the emergency forum but didn't get much help. Just to be on the safe side, though, we hung up a heat lamp in the Yellow Turnip. It's not one of the big ones, just a little reptile basking lamp, but it has made a difference in there already. Winston is not cold hardy, and even though he survived last winter, he did have frost bite on his oversized comb.

We let Francine meet Brianna, face to face. Bri was aggressively curious - it was as if part of her wanted to be friends but the other part wanted to defend her territory. Francine was scared. She almost ran to me, which is quite a win. My mom was impressed. She did not like Francine at first.

The white parakeet has been named Barbara .

I guess that will be all for now, it's late and I should get to bed so I can wake up tomorrow and shovel all the snow that's forecasted.

We just found another growth on Eva, this time on the chest, and it's larger than the first one that proved to be cancerous...

know you want to find a full-time job, but have you considering using your considerable sewing skills as a "job"? For many years, my sister was a professional seamstress. She made, remodeled and repaired garments for people. Her projects included everything from sewing and altering wedding dresses to replacing zippers and hemming pants (because some people have NO sewing skills whatsoever!).

It's funny you mention that! A man in our church choir just told me that there is a movie productor that is looking for someone to help sew WWII costumes. I will think about it, only I am not very skilled. The last dress I made has several mistakes (of course, I was in a hurry, but still - I need a bit more practice).

And, that is a lovely Nativity scene! Maybe the plate is considered a bas relief?

That sounds right! I knew it had a name but couldn't think of what .

Jane and Barbara

I made their cage into a flight cage by turning it on its side.

Close-up of the Nativity scene at my most local parish

Poor Winston and his comb

The Virtues

Winston and the girls sleeping warm tonight

Starry night picture taken with my father's new phone. I myself didn't even see half these stars in the sky, but somehow the phone camera picked them up!

 

[Callender Girl]

As someone who has had the name "Barbara" for a great many years, I heartily approve of your new parakeet's name

I used to want to have all my New Year's goals in place and ready to launch on Jan. 1. I now take a more laid-back approach and try to incorporate changes throughout the month. There's less pressure when I'm not trying to do too many new things at once.

Go for the WWII dress making! You've posted photos of your work and you are likely a better seamstress than you believe you are.

Ugh. Sorry to hear everyone was sick at Christmas and not excited about their gifts. With all that's been going on at your home -- Eva's illness, all the remodeling and repair -- maybe everyone's just a little worn down. And, I would definitely NOT take your vintage suitcase on the plane. For my trip in June, I'm only taking a carry-on bag and one that fits under my plane's seat. One time, I was going to Texas but my luggage took its own trip elsewhere. Don't let them lose or destroy your sweet suitcase.

Good to hear that Francine and Brianna might become friends.

I will say a little prayer for your darling Eva

Poor Winston! I wouldn't be surprised if it's frostbite. One of my hens lost every point on her comb last year. The year before, Eleanor lost several of her toes and had to stay in the house to receive twice-a-day Epsom salt baths and bandage chances. Funny thing to me, in both cases, only one chicken in the coop suffered any frostbite at all.

Hope you don't have to shovel too much snow. Bundle up!

 

[Evadig]

I am typing this on my phone so it will be short and maybe a little disjointed.

I flew out to Las Vegas from Washington DC today. My family was telling me how fun the plane ride would be, but I forgot that I am terrified of heights. When the plane took off I nearly had a panic attack until I managed to pull myself together. Even all through the flight I was in a nervous state. The landing wasn’t much better as we came down hard and I imagined I could feel the pilot slamming on the brakes, presumably to avoid running into something.

It didn’t help I was feeling sick from what probably was a stomach bug. I had been feeling nauseous long before I ever got onto the airplane.

Then we had to drive two hours to the house my dad lives in when he’s at work. That was nearly as bad as the flight because of the crazy drivers.

So now I’m halfway between Las Vegas and Los Angeles. I’m going to put together a video to show you my footage of the trip thus far, but for now I have just added a few pictures.

I had to leave Eva at home along with the vintage suitcase (I am glad I did (regarding the suitcase) because then I didn’t have to deal with checked baggage.

Before leaving, I took Eva to the vet. They said she has chronic pancreatitis, which basically means she will feel sick for the rest of her life. The tumor had disappeared but reappeared tonight (of course, couldn’t be visible at the vet! )

That’s all for now.

Leaving Washington DC.

Pikes Peak

Four Corners (somewhere around there)

Lake Meade

 

[Callender Girl]

Sorry you had such a rough trip. I have a problem with heights in general, and I don't do well on planes, either. And, bad news about poor sweet Eva, too.

Hope the rest of your trip goes better!

 

[Evadig]

I've been in California for four days? I think?

I picked up a rental car but haven't used it too much, yet. I've been letting my dad drive around so I can get accustomed to the area.

There are a lot of antique stores near here, which will be sure to keep me busy and also drain my pocketbook! My most recent purchase was the original 1940 edition of Lassie Come Home.

Eva's doing well, from the pictures my family sends. I don't know how the hens are doing - I hope they're okay! I left plenty of directions...

I started another dress, out of a pretty blue fabric with white polka-dots.

Here we have high temps of sixty, and the sun shines brightly. I like to sit on the dock (the house is on a lake) and watch the coots dive for whatever they are fishing for. There are also redheads and mallards and two dumped domestic ducks . I've contacted a waterfowl rescue to see if they can take them in, if I can catch them.

I like to feed the ducks, but there must be a seagull standing watch somewhere. When I start throwing food into the water, one will alert the others and they will swoop down for their share. Yesterday, the menu consisted of mixed vegetables. A seagull came down, calling to his friends. He took up a big clump of frozen carrots and flew off, never to return. His friends, circling in from the distance, departed as silently as they'd come. I guess they don't like mixed vegetables! The coots were happy, though.

Today we went to church and then to an air museum. I will upload those pictures later; it's late, and I need to get off to bed. For now, I have the video of the flight from DC to Las Vegas. I hesitate to post it because it feels like self-promoting...I hope it doesn't come across that way!

 

[Callender Girl]

The video was great, and I loved the music, too (thanks for including its title in the credits)! Being above the clouds reinforces how big the world is and how small we all are, I think.

Watching the waterfowl sounds amazing. Hope there's a way to rescue the dumped ducks.

Gulls are such amusing thieves. My sister and I were feeding one on a quiet stretch of Lake Superior shoreline a couple of years ago. A second gull arrived and insisted on fighting over Every Single Peanut, although we had plenty of unsalted, unshelled peanuts for both of them.

Last year, I "rescued" a young gull that was wandering into traffic in the little resort town near where we stay. He still had gray plumage and was crying out for his mom or dad. I had to physically redirect him off the street and into a nearby lot because cars weren't stopping for him.

Sitting on a dock where water isn't frozen also sounds wonderful. It's 6 degrees here.

And, I ALWAYS worry about my critters when I leave, no matter how good my directions are or how reliable my pet sitters are.

Hope the rest of your trip goes well!

 

[LaFleche]

Such a wonderful video of your flight across the country, and I loved the music that went with it too, you matched that perfectly!

Thank you for this treat.

 

[Evadig]

Wednesday it is - hard to imagine I've been here for a week!

I've been alternately basking in the sun on the dock and crying tears of frustration as I try to figure out what to do with my life. Everyone has conflicting advice.

I have not seen the dumped ducks since my last post. I hope they're okay. But when I wandered onto the golf course nearby this evening, I saw a dumped Chinese gander. It is infuriating, to say the least!

The polka-dot dress has not made much progress. I've been alternately distracted by trips around the countryside and my computer.

On the roads here there are many crosses, though most are from the 80s and 90s. You can't go more than half a mile on some roads without seeing a cross. I am ashamed to admit that despite this constant reminder to drive safely, I came to an open stretch of road and sent the car up to 92 miles per hour. I wanted to see what it was like.

I cannot imagine it being six degrees. Even my home back East doesn't get that cold, and it feels worse than freezing! Here in the high desert of California we are having high temperatures of 60F and lows of 25F. And it is sunny every day.

The video was great, and I loved the music, too (thanks for including its title in the credits)!

Such a wonderful video of your flight across the country, and I loved the music that went with it too, you matched that perfectly!

Thank you for this treat.

I am glad you both liked it . And welcome to Eva's Friends, @LaFleche!

Here are pictures from the last week. I haven't gotten to the airplane photos yet, but those are coming!

Sunrise

Wild ducks flying

The domestic ducks when they were here, with their wild pals.

Two mini sewing machines at the antique store. I found them fascinating - didn't know such a thing existed!

Two coots

Two mountainous pictures

Mule deer in someone's yard

A sheep