Author Archives: Octo-woman

All families probably balance the joys of the Christmas season with sorrow and grief because of the passing of loved ones, and ours is no exception. The months of December and January are marked with grim and painful anniversaries in … Continue reading →

You may have noticed that I’ve been goofing off too much lately to keep up with the posting of my weekly “blobs”. I’m chalking it up to my advancing senility, too much partying, and to my overall shiftlessness. But just … Continue reading →

Was just reading on the internet that a warm and cozy way to entertain your holiday guests is by roasting chestnuts on an open fire, and I would, but – lacking a fireplace – a bonfire in the middle of … Continue reading →

I’m happy to let you know that my great great nephew AJ Fitzpatrick DID IT! Last Saturday, he won the Gold Medal at the Parapan Games in Santiago, Chile. And the rest of his USA Wheelchair Basketball team did nicely, … Continue reading →

I don’t have time to write much today because I’m too busy tearing my hair out trying to teach the folks in Santiago, Chile how to tell time. They don’t seem to understand that their clocks are running 5 hours … Continue reading →

It was all carefully planned: the perfect hostess gift we can present to any guests who visit us during the holidays. A lovely basket or bag of our delicious English walnuts. Martha Stewart, eatcherheartout! In one of the pastures here … Continue reading →

Just like having a social security number, or a DNA, or fingerprints, or the stain of original sin, is everybody required to be the author of one of those “bucket lists”? Octo-woman has been reading about it and has learned … Continue reading →

Our dahlias had a kind of Halloween party this weekend. Till Thursday, all our dahlias were bursting with good health and blooms of every color. This is how a few of them looked on Thursday afternoon. Susy was still bringing … Continue reading →

It’s been quiet here at Kartar Ridge Ranch as we are settling back to our normal routine following our recent upheavals with son Matthew’s health, and my untimely Covid affliction. Maybe things will be getting back to normal, now, Only … Continue reading →

I became a Covid victim this week. The timing was exceedingly unfriendly. And if anybody ever qualified for a guilt trip, it’d have to be me. Last week, son Matthew’s peritoneal dialysis failed. After urgent phone calls, medical tests, exams, … Continue reading →