Meanderings: Allspice, Kitten Blanket, Neighbor, Frost

 Usually I call these posts "Ramblings" or "Random" but I've got meandering on the mind because of the Great Stream Project.  When I first estimated that I might have 1500 feet or so to clear for a path, I had forgotten just how meandering this stream is.  There's even one hairpin loop.

Side thought.  Officially, this is Harvey Creek (the bridge on Highway 20 is even called Harvey Creek bridge.  What's the difference between a stream and a creek?  But the project keeps calling my name.  I think maybe it's too cold, or too damp, or that I really should tidy up the house - then I head back down there.  It's just so satisfying.  I'll get to a point where it's such a mess that I think there's no way in hell I can get through it - and then I start cutting.  In bad spots I might only get 15 feet in an hour, and it's really tiring - but that's another 15 feet gained.

I know that people are often uncomfortable wandering in the woods, but for me I just feel like I belong there, and that I'm somehow whole again.

OK - Rambling, or at least meandering, on odd items.

Allspice Dram.  One of the things I saw on my random YouTube flipping was a post on Allspice Dram - a spiced rum liqueur, often used in tiki drinks (I have no idea what a tiki drink is).  It's similar as to how people make their own Kahlua by soaking coffee in vodka and then adding sugar syrup.  So I followed the recipe, toasting and crushing allspice berries, soaking in rum for 10 days, then straining and adding the syrup.
Yeow!!!  That was a *lot* of allspice!  The poster (Alton Brown, no less) said he like to sip it as a liqueur.   I'm not strong enough for that - it makes my eyes water (thank goodness I made a small recipe).  But a teaspoon in a cup of tea, milk, or hot apple juice is delicious, so it's not a total flop.  But on the list of Things I Will Not Do Again.

And in the list of Things I Still Can Not Do - I got out the kitten blanket, looked at it, hugged it, and then put it back on the shelf.  It's cold these days, and it's soft and warm and would be good on the couch, but I just can't.

My cohorts at the museum sent this blanket to Bob when he was in the hospital at Shands.  And he adored it.  He missed his cats, and people, and was touched that they had thought of him.  And it was soft and warm and friendly and not like a hospital blanket.

I've talked about him wanting keep *everything* (the hoarder thing).  He, in turn, was disturbed by my tendency to toss or give away anything that I no longer used or wanted.  Towards the end, he was stroking the blanket one evening, turned to me, and said "Please promise me that you'll keep this blanket."  And I did.

He died under it.  I remember after his face had gone cold, I reached under the blanket to find that his hand was still warm - I held it against my face for a moment, for the last time I would feel that warm hand on my cheek, then tucked it back under.

I've kept my promise, and I've kept that blanket, and every winter I wonder if I'll be able to snuggle under it on the couch, and every time it's a Big Nope.  I'll try again next year.

That got serious.  Let's lighten up with a Hello! from Henna

Odd thing yesterday - I met a neighbor.  Which would sound that odd, except that I've lived here over 30 years and have managed not to meet the neighbors.  They're not really "neighbors" as such, but if I go to the far left end of my property there's a dirt road that leads up to a small neighborhood.  The closest house on the right has property that borders on mine.

I've been a little curious.  New people moved in a year or so ago.  And I've watched a major strong fence go up along the the road side, and down between that and the next house - and signs that the fence is continuing.  

Yesterday I was heading down to the stream when I heard something off to my left - and looked over to see a guy cutting his way through the underbrush.  I was surprised to see anyone - not quite as surprised as he was when I said "Hi."  It turns out that he's pretty nice - just doesn't want anyone trespassing/hunting on his property.  So he's fencing the whole thing off, but he assured me that he is staying on his side of the surveyed property line.  It's actually pretty coincidental - I know about, but not exactly, where my land ends there, and I was thinking digging out the plat to see if I could figure it out.  So we talked, and looked at each others' paths, and even exchanged phone numbers.  It feels a little weird, but on the other hand if I ever do get in trouble it might be nice to have someone to call who lives closer than 10 miles away.

Going to close this meandering with a frosty morning.  It was so beautiful when I went out to feed the chickens - 28 degrees, so the leaves were crunchy, and sparkling with frost.  An amazing effect happened with the trees: the sun was out, so the leaves at the top of the tree were thawing, but the mist was freezing and dropping, so it was like walking through fine glitter drifting through the air.  Lovely.