Improvising Andrea

Brain cancer is...

...Andi imitating MacGyver.

With my disability, I am entitled (and don't get us started about using entitlements!) to an America the Beautiful Access Pass.  The pass allows me, and people in my car, to go into most national parks and access to other federal lands (like near the cabin) for free.   We wanted to use the pass near the cabin, but it needed to be displayed on the rear view mirror and we forgot the hanger.  

Not to worry.  Andi jumped into action used plastic tape and a cord to make a hanger that would make even MacGyver proud (I heard the music to the show in my head as she worked (here).  One cannot even tell the difference between the two in the photo above.

On a disappointing note, we just learned the our son Alex's graduation ceremony from residency has been canceled.  We know that almost every family has been affected by COVID and has missed proms, high school graduations, college gradations, and other rites of passage that are normally automatic.  Our sympathies are with all of you.

Today's Blooms

Chris's jacaranda tree is blooming!

The Cabin Deck Project

Brain cancer is...

...Getting great help dealing with a second home headache.

It is time to redo the decks at our second home (well, past time) because the weather is very harsh in the mountains.  Is has been 5 years and we are supposed to redo the decks every 2 to 3 years.   

The positive side to this is that we help the economy in the little town and we get to meet local craftsmen such as Matt the Deck Guy.  See Matt and and meet Mitch who have begun the work up there.

Today Blooms

Poppies From Summer

(Readers Note:  Brain cancer is...also learning new software.  Although we always compose our posts together, Darrell took over content development and the Blogger software today.  He's cool like that.)

36 Years of Adventure

Brain cancer is...

...celebrating 36 years of surprises.

Today is our actual anniversary.  Here’s how we look, after 36 years of marriage.

On our wedding day, we definitely wouldn't have predicted the many ways life has changed us.  Well, the wrinkles, maybe in an abstract, well deserved sort of way.  The Grandma and Grandpa jammies?  Conceivable but not a foregone conclusion.  GBM?  Optune?  Never. 

 

In fact, we didn't predict most of the adventures we've seen in these years. But also we would have failed dramatically at predicting just how wonderful having each other as life partners could turn out to be. We call it one square inch of silver lining that accompanies GBM:  Gratitude for another day the privilege of having a partner you love more than your own life itself.  What an adventure!

 

Neither could we have predicted the wonderful people who would come our way in these 3.6 decades.  An example, you ask?  Here's a notable one from a FaceTime call today:  

And we are also profoundly grateful for the friends we've known before our wedding date and for all those who have given us the privilege of their friendship more recently. Thank you, family and friends, for traveling this road with us. 

Cheers to the wonderfulness of each other!

Cheers to the next adventures!

Today's Blooms

Chris solved many mysteries of yesterday's blooms with the great website, Friends of Big Bear (here), and she led us to a goldmine:  California Native Plant Society and its searchable database (here).

No matter how many days we hike here, we find new surprises.  Here's one of today's:

May there always be one more surprise.

Incremental Exploration

Brain cancer is...

...cautiously going where many others have gone before.

Today we introduce our approach to exploration.  It's like the opposite of how Star Trekkers explore, what with "boldly going where no one has gone before" and all.  First, they never hit their goal.  In every single episode, someone else had been there first and made for an intriguing plot.  Second, bold isn't always the way to go.  

Here's our approach to seeing the world:  

1. Take yesterday's path to the point where it is unfamiliar.
2. Stack some stones, set our timer for five minutes, and see that much more of the path than we saw yesterday.  
3. Reevaluate in five minutes.  If the path is clear, add another five minutes of cautious exploration.  
4. Then, tomorrow, start at today's end of the "known path" and repeat steps 1 - 3.

Incremental exploration keeps us safe and has us seeing new sights in our lives. (Let's be frank, there are very few places no one has ever been. It doesn't need to be new; just new for us.)

We stuck to the loop today again and practiced our incremental exploration.  The pic, above, is us at yesterday's endpoint.  The path ahead is in the background.  The trail was so clear that Darrell chose to walk to the end of it.  (That's cautious.)  You see the end of our path here:

 

It was a dirt road.

The end of today's adventure is the starting point for a future adventure.  It'll be the day when we find a friend with an all wheel drive vehicle.

Happy Incremental Adventuring, Team D!  Or here's to adventuring...your style!

Today's Blooms

The forest offered many treats today.  Here are our favorites:

We have questions.  For instance, where's your plant, brave little flower?

A shout out to the lupine, for its sheer numbers

Purple carpet flowers?

Like dandelions but not.

“Today’s a Great Day to Hike the Loop.”

Brain cancer is...

...speaking wisely, as per usual.

This morning we drove down to the lake to scout out a potential hike.  Every trailhead parking lot was full, and day trippers parked all along the lake.  We were happy to see the lake open and so many people out enjoying their freedom in this beautiful place.  And we were even happier to turn around and head back to the cabin and our local, quiet forest loop.

We did two hours of a gorgeous exploration of the forest.  We can’t remember a time where we appreciated its beauty more than today.  Here are a few pics to give you a glimpse.

Happy Wonderful Sunday!

Updates

Kristine did in fact appreciate mustard  and moth.

Kristin called our new kitchen things “turkey lifters” within 2 minutes of our post.  Suzie and Gary and Michael concurred.  However Kristine also added the great idea of over-the-stove marshmallow roasters.  Thanks for the assist, friends.

Today’s Bloom

This is the last blossom on our apple tree.  Newly met neighbors let us know they appreciated its full out blooming on their daily walks for the last month.

Let the Celebrations Begin!

Brain cancer is...

...saying a wholehearted cheers!

Today was the magical day when Gordon and Darrell celebrated with actual (not virtual) mimosas and (takeout) Village Eatery for breakfast.  Let the celebrations begin!

With some careful sanitation efforts, we clocked out as the next round of Gordon’s family members (Brady and Linda) clocked in.  Nice masks by the way, kids!

We headed up the mountain to Big Bear.  We’re to meet Matt the Deck Guy for the Refinish Cabin Decks Project.  We are also here for Anniversary Number 36.

You know our holiday theory:  The anniversary is the only holiday to require real work.  Anniversary time?  Go big.  This trip up the mountains will be joined by other trips in the name of Number 36 as future circumstances allow.

Let the celebrations, begin, Team D.  May your celebrations be many in number and mostly require little to no effort on your part.

Cabin Kitchen Quiz Two
As we began work on the Refresh Cabin Kitchen Cabinets Project, you were very helpful in solving Cabin Kitchen Quiz One (here): Juicer.

We need a little more help as this project continues.  We one-clicked a utensil that we needed in this kitchen and made the rookie mistake of not opening the "delivered from China" package until we arrived this afternoon.

These are not what we ordered, but they're what came.  

 

Notice that each tine is so sharp that it's encased in protective plastic. A little help here:  Ideas on how to use our new...things?

Today's Cabin Blooms

Not a bloom, but so optimistic:

A burst of baby oak leaves

For Kristine:

Kristine is a friend who appreciates lowly mustard, and who will no doubt appreciate the moth that is visiting this mustard, as well as the fact that moths pollinate lots and lots of plant species.

Free Gordon!

Brain cancer is...

 ...just hanging out at home with, Dad.  You know.

As of 11 a.m., the words, "Free Gordon" are a descriptor ("yes, we have one Gordon, and he is free") rather than a battle cry.

Fun fact:  It's three months to the day since Gordon's been home.

Gordon's discharge was smooth, lunch was an In N Out Burger at the kitchen table, and he's happy to be home!

More great news:  In California's Phase Two, some "elective" surgeries can take place.  LuAnn had a successful carpal tunnel syndrome release surgery today and is home safe and resting, thanks to Susanne.

We came as close as her front door.

Happy Friday to You and Your Family Members!

Today's Blooms

Meridyth's Midwestern Crab Apple Explosion