During This Cone of Uncertainty ...

I have decided that I should be going through all my drawers, cabinets and under the bed clearing out what isn’t useful to me.

I haven’t gotten very far but I did pull down my keepsake box and gathered other items from drawers and yes, from under the bed.

As a teenager, I must have gotten this wooden box from a secondhand shop. My dad helped me sand it down, paint it red and put on new hinges and clasp. I don’t know why I picked red but it must have said “Paint me Red!”

I have taken everything out and given the items a sudsy bath or hand wash and now I am in the process of putting them away. Each item gets put into a little plastic bag with a label stating when, where or from whom I received it. Also if I made it or how a wore it or if I can remember why I have it.

It has been an interesting process.

I have decided, I was interesting as a teenager. I can only hope that I still am.

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Shibui

My Grandpa Don

This is a picture of my Grandpa Don on the right. He worked at Guest Photo Art Shop for years. He had a little workroom where he repaired cameras and as years went by other electronics.

He was a great photographer and always had a camera with him. At the house he had a darkroom where he and my mom developed film and printed the photos. I will save those stories for another time.

Summers, when we would go up to Kalispell for a long visit, or when he and Grandma Lil came to visit, he would teach us how to make electronic things. We would solder transformers, wires, mini lights, other electric bits and pieces to electronic boards creating things. One was a light box where the lights went in a pattern. My dad made the box to hold all the electronics and the lights would stick out. I think I still have it in my keepsake box.

We tore apart their broken tv and take out all the tubes. Off to the store and the tube tester station to see which one was blown. Back home we would put the tv back together. The tv reception wasn’t very good in their area so the picture always had a lot of “snow”.

He never said that a girl can’t repair stuff. Between Grandpa Don, Grandma Lil and my parents, I learned that girls can do anything they set their mind to.

You know … we can.

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Shibui

I Miss Driving ...

Today I went out and about. I realized that I just plan miss driving. I love to drive. I have probably only gone to the gas station twice since the first of March so that says alot!

My rig.

Husband and I love road trips.

But I also just like driving around, taking a different way home, just looking at what is happening. I find I do great thinking while driving. I think I come up with some of my best ideas when driving and I also solve all the world’s problems too!

Man, I best get out and drive more often, even if I have nowhere to go.

Thanks for Listening.
Shibui

Tang, the Drink of Astronauts.

I know I haven’t posted in quite some time. Really what with this Covid and not being able to run amuck like usual, I haven’t really had anything to talk about. Everyone is talking about how much they are eating and streaming and … So that isn’t that interesting.

However, “E” called me the other day. She sometimes calls while she is driving somewhere to do something and we get a nice time to talk about stuff.

Somehow we started to talk about drinks and Russian Tea came up. I drank tea in college rather than coffee. I would take a break during the day and go up to the student union cafe and get a Russian Tea and read for awhile. “E” asked what was Russian Tea. We talked about how it is made and that maybe I should make some for old time sake. When I said Tang, she asked what that was. “Well, I said The drink of Astronauts!” “Whaaaaaat?” And the conversation turned and google came into play.

So for those of you who asked “Whaaaaat?” Here is the answer I copied from https://groovyhistory.com/do-you-remember-tang-the-groovy-drink-mix-of-the-american-astronauts if you need more info.

Tang went on to be used on missions of NASA's Project Gemini, the successor to the Mercury manned missions to space. An engineer who worked on Project Gemini offered an explanation to the obvious question: Why Tang?

There was a particular component of the Gemini life support-system module which produced H2O. This was a byproduct of a reoccurring chemical reaction of one of the mechanical devices on the life-support module. The astronauts would use this water to drink during their space flight. The problem was, the Astronauts did not like the taste of the water because of some of the byproducts produced. So Tang was added to make the water taste better.

Thanks for Listening. Be Safe!
Shibui

Okay ....

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Shibui

Just in case you were wondering ...

You are welcome.

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Shibui

I say its funny ...

Dirito Brothers on the corner of North Main and Pringle Avenue.

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Shibui

It is National Weed Appreciation Day.

No, not that kind of weed, silly. This kind.

I once had the weed abatement people in our area tag our property for weeds. Part of the fire abatement program. I called and talked with a gentleman at the program and he asked me. “Do you know the definition of a weed?” “Yes”, I replied. “It is a plant in an area that you don’t want it.” He said yes. Then I explained that the fescue grass around our house was indeed where we wanted it. He laughed and removed the fine we were facing.

Have a good day and thanks for listening.
Shibui

When I am at the Up Country House ...

I like to go to Talk Story events. The ones I like to go to are local Hawaiian people that are talking about their craft, how it is made in the traditional manner and about their life. I went to one today at The Hui was Kelei Kanahele. He was born and raised on the island of Ni‘ihau. Starting at age 5, he learned to make Ni‘ihau shell lei from his grandma and grandpa—and completed his first 36” pikake lei at twelve years old. He is a master Ni‘ihau shell lei designer and has traveled around Hawai‘i, the continental United States, and Japan to teach workshops.

Ni‘ihau shell lei

These necklaces can be hundreds of dollars, are investments and treasured by the owner. I could go on and one about Kelei and Ni‘ihau shell lei. He spoke of his childhood, fining the shells and life on the island.

But he said something that was very interesting. It was about how while he is making a lei and after he has given it to someone or someone has purchased it, the lei seems to know him when meeting again. “Oh there you are”

That is what I hope for when I finish one of my pieces. That it goes to a good home but if I get to see it again, and it will send me a private message. “Oh, there you are!”

Kolby Fehlberg-Burns “Sonoran Desert Necklace”

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Shibui

Dang It! Has This Ever

happened to you? Go on a trip, unpack and …

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Shibui

Our Home is a Buzz with Activity ...

“A” is getting married in August. We are busy looking at bridal ideas from “Save The Dates”, invitations, venues and of course wedding dresses. While “E” was up over the holidays, the girls and I spent a Sunday afternoon with “A”’s future female relatives, watching her trying on wedding dresses and waiting… waiting for the tears. Waiting to see if it would be like “Say Yes to the Dress”.

When we got home, of course, I had to bring out my wedding dress from 35 years ago. I haven’t had it off the shelf and out of the box since it was put away that very cold day in December. Actually it was a very cold day. Minus 17 and with the wind chill factor it was 40 below. Cold day in hell but it seems to have been a plus. 35 years and still going!

Anyway, back to the dress. I wanted to show the girls what I wore. No, not thinking at all if one of them would wear it because they need to have their own and their own memories. But rather, just to see it. And then maybe to see if it would still fit.

My dress was handmade by a friend. The special embroidery was stitched by another family friend, Barb Morrison (http://www.morrisondesigns.com/) She is an amazing artist. As I remember, Barb called the stitching “Dragon Drops”. I like that name.

I was amazed that the dress still looked as nice as the day I wore it.

Sharing the experience of “A” looking for a dress was amazing. She didn’t find a dress that day, but the following Sunday, she did. Yes, it was just like “Say Yes to the Dress”! She cried, I cried and we cried together. Amazing.

Oh, and I am sure you are wondering, Did I fit into the dress? It was a little tight and I needed help, but yes, yes I did.

Thanks for Listening.
Shibui

Don't Worry...

I feel comforted now.

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Shibui

This Time of Year ...

My dad is an architect. He was a partner in a large architectural firm.

This time of year, his consultants and contractors would send out cheese and sausage gift boxes to their clients. They looked like the box above. He would bring them home for us. I remember how fun it was to look at all the different cheeses, sausages and whatever else was included. It seemed so exotic and fancy!

I always wanted the little triangle foil wrapped soft cheese. Opening them and eating them with crackers.

Years ago husband Jim, an architect too, used to get gift boxes too. Usually wine and fruits. These were much enjoyed but they aren’t a cheese and sausage platter.

Dang, now I need to go to the store and get some little triangle foil wrapped soft cheese and crackers!

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Shibui

Well, I am confused. Again!

Maybe still.

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Shibui

Hungry While Walking Your Dog?

In our neighborhood if you get hungry while out walking your dog, we have a microwave that anyone can use to heat up their Hot Pockets.

Does yours?

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Shibui

Is it just me or ...

does this car remind you of something?

maybe him?

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Shibui

Amoeba

Yes, another chicken story, well in a way.

Last night we had friends over for dinner. A great meal with homemade bearnaise sauce for the grilled pork.

I was doing some final cleaning and shoving leftovers into the fridge (I hate fridge designs but that is another story), when … slow motion the bowl of six egg whites left over from making the bearnaise slides out of the fridge, the plastic wrap opens up and out slides the egg whites into a puddle on the floor.

Trying to clean up a puddle of egg whites off the floor is like trying to clean up an amoeba off the floor. You think you get it all and then there is more sliding all over. Many damp paper towels and much wiping, I finally got it cleaned up. Off to bed!

Egg whites and amoebas.
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Shibui

I have finally named most of the chickens that ...

live next door but come into our yard for snacks.

All of them have “Chicken” in their name either as the first name or the last.

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Shibui

Announcement over the Airport PA in Maui ....

“Please double check your luggage, many pieces look the same.”

I never mistake mine for someone else’s!

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Shibui

This Outta Keep Out The Ne'er-do-wells!

Old 70's photo from my days in Billings Montana

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Shibui