Fighting the grumpies

Cabbage after rain

Since weather is still keeping me out of therapeutic grubbing in the dirt, maybe posting veggie pix will help me combat my weather-related grumpiness. The cabbage, one of two plants residing in a pot in a flowerbed, got off to a slow start but cabbage was on our menu for supper last night.

Mesclun mystery mix

I have no idea what this salad green is. I never realized it would go to seed so quickly. Wikipedia describes mesclun as “a salad mix of assorted small, young salad leaves which originated in Provence, France. The traditional mix includes chervil, arugula, leafy lettuces and endive in equal proportions, but in modern iterations may include an undetermined mix of fresh and available” lettuces and other leafy green vegetables. The tiny patch I planted has supplemented our store-bought Romaine, but I have been negligent about going out and harvesting in rain and cold.

Okay, that worked well. Grumpies are banished for now, and I am thinking of great positives, such as:

- Saints won the Super Bowl!

- A visit from grandkids is in the works this weekend!

- Retirement frees me to spend the night with my mother this week, be with her through tests and a doctor’s appointment, and have time with her!

- My husband’s work schedule gives us wonderful time together!

- The list of blessings is longer than what I could post here!

Bicycle blues

This time last year I was biking all over Ocean Springs. Feb. 6, 2009, was a Sunday, and my husband Walter and I biked a few blocks to church. After lunch we biked more than three miles to the Grace Church Gulf Coast property for a look at our church's new buildings under construction. It was a challenging but invigorating ride for this slightly wobbly cyclist. The day was sunny; temperatures were cold but not frigid.

Extreme cold, rain and family matters have limited Skupien family bicycle excursions in 2010. So far this year, my red bike has waited unused on our screened porch, and I visit it on my way out to our compost pile. But I am still hoping!

Going gray

Ari Seth Cohen at Advanced Style has promised upcoming stories about women letting their hair go gray and silver. I can’t wait for his posts. He regularly features photos and essays about the style of older folks, from fashion to vibrant living. In his own words, he says, “I roam the streets looking for New York's most stylish and creative older folks. Respect your elders and let these ladies and gents teach you a thing or two about living life to the fullest.”

My own experience with going gray began shortly after retirement. I retired May 1, 2008, and for two months there was literally no day at home available for an appointment for cut and color. It dawned on me: Hey, I’m retired. This is my chance to see how far the gray has advanced and what it looks like!

As for the cut, I had been on a quest since Hurricane Katrina to find a hairdresser sympathetic to natural curl, more recently referred to as “awful cowlicks.” My regular hairdresser had evacuated for Katrina then relocated afterwards. Since then I found myself often silently saying after a cut, “Well, it will grow out.” So in retirement, I started cutting my own hair. When I goof up, I just repeat, “Well, it will grow out.” I have enjoyed the journey into no-color and self-cut territory. The freedom is one more retirement plus.


My husband Walter took the photo above of me and my gray hair.