traveling up and down the blind highway

This week in my poetry workshop, we were asked to write a poem about a chair. We had five minutes to make a start. Our homework was to rework the poem and send to the small poets group.
The chair I selected was a red vinyl rocker that was in our t.v. room. It was the chair that both of my parents vied for to watch television, read the paper or sew.
This rocker, calmed a child after a nightmare. Lulled a baby to sleep after an evening feeding, or a backrest for a child to sit on the floor between dad’s legs to get an ear massage. Early memories included a pedestal ashtray for cigarette butts. It was removed after younger brother Brian was found to be eating the butts in the ashes.
Later, the rocker was reupholstered with a golden velvet fabric. It moved to the new home across the street. It still had a prominent place in the den where the t.v. was located.
When mom and dad passed, the rocker was not claimed by any of my siblings. It showed hard use. The velvet was stained with many nights of eating while watching the news and sports. The arm rests were worn. The back fabric was stained from dad’s hair tonic. It had seen better days.
My husband, John, put the old rocker in our basement for a project to work on. I volunteered to help with removing the old covering fabric.
I found three sets of staples noting three different fabric covers . The red vinyl was really a leather. Another fabric was under this layer. There were three layers of coverings. We removed all the old staples and straw stuffing then tightened the joints of the frame.
I found there were flat wooden arms on the original rocker. The many nicks and staple holes would give the piece a distressed look when finished with a coating of varnish.
The frame was tightened , varnish applied and a new rolled stuffing was applied for the seat and back. now we needed fabric to complete the rocker.
We went to Hobby Lobby to peruse the fabric selection. We chose a blue plaid that would be a good choice for many rooms. We didn’t need the chair so we ask my brother Craig and his wife Karen if they could use the rocker. They took the rocker to their summer home on Beaver island for the guest bedroom. Lauren , their daughter in law, used the rocker while nursing the grand babies. Thought the grandchildren are no longer babies, the rocker waits to welcome a guest to rock and look out over Lake Michigan.

musical chairs
Around the chair, We race..
soft center
worn arms waiting
bouncing up and down
on Daddy’s foot
Shrieks of laughter,
Holding onto the wood edged back
Red vinyl worn smooth from rough play.
a rocker full of memories.
Cast aside for the junk.
A man remembers.
takes the chair home.
Strip to it’s core.
Glued, new covers, stuffing.
Repaired for a new generation’s lullabies.

carolaspot@aol.com Nov.27th. 2023

Giving back to our communities has been ingrained in my family from a young age. We were encouraged to preform chores for grandparents and older neighbors at no charge. I swept garages, washed dishes and drove my great aunt to the grocery store. Now I donate time and money to needy causes. One organization I have given to for over 40 years is the local blood bank. I have been blessed with the universal blood type, O negative. I try to donate every time I am well and my iron is high enough.
I have not donated for the past two years. I had a stroke then i broke my wrist and upper arm. I kept my fingers crossed as I signed up to give at our church last Sunday.
The blood bank had changed names and protocols. I wasn’t able to check in before the appointment. Fortunately, I had a worker that had helped me in the past. Testing my iron first, I tested good to go.
The blood collection was in a mobil bus. Carefully, climbing the steps I found the bus cramped and noisy from the generator and people. There were four donor stations. Two men were waiting their turn. They loudly discussed sports teams. I couldn’t hear the instruction my nurse was giving. I knew the drill and was soon bleeding into a pint bag.
While I waited for my husband, I nibbled on cheese crackers and drank a cup of cranberry juice.
All went well. I left the bus a different way.
John and I decided to stop at the local grocery store on the way home. Walking up and down the aisles, we put several items into the cart. John stopped to tie his shoe laces.
Standing in line to check out, I felt hot and dizzy. I was able to ask John for a chair. He thought I had to tie my shoes. Slowly, I slipped to the floor. The angels were with me that day. The woman behind in line was a retired nurse and used a walker with a seat to get me to the car.
“Keep your eyes open”
The clerk in Starbucks, filled a cup with water. She added a top and a straw.
“Keep drinking!”
“Look at me.”
I replied,”Your mean.”
Yes, I’m a mean retired nurse.”
As I lay on the floor, the only person I focused was that mean nurse. I wanted to sleep and she wouldn’t let me.
When I had drank enough water, I slowly stood up by holding on the the nurses walker. “Sit on my walker so your husband can roll you out to your car.”
I held onto the truck’s door and lifted myself into the seat. Another clerk brought the nurse’s groceries to her car, putting them and her walker in the back seat.
May we all look for opportunities to help the strangers among us.

Slipping away

First you are standing.
Dizzy, hot.
knees buckle
I can’t stop.

A voice , a hand,
kind words,
I start to stir.
Eyes open
I climb the cart.
wobbly legs,
thankful for the stranger
Thankful to depart.

carolaspot@aol.com November 20, 2023

Grandfather Clifford and his sister Margaret were born in the United States. The younger children, including Uncle Bill were Canadian citizens. Great grandfather Turnbull was a farmer in the Delhi area of Ontario. Relatives from Michigan convinced Walter and his wife to try farming in the thumb area near Lake Huron. They traveled by wagon and boat to reach the United States. After several years, the family returned to Canada with two small children in tow. They settled in the farming around Delhi. Grandpa raised tobacco as a cash crop. Other crops and livestock were kept to feed the growing brood.
Uncle Bill was fiercely proud to be a Canadian. Cliff was as proud to be an American. There were many discussions over the benefits of each country. During W W II, Bill joined the army. He spent most of his enlistment in London, England. His unit worked with the newly discovered radar. The radar gave early warnings to the populations of southern England of a bombing raids coming from Germany.
Cliff was too old to enlist. He did his part by wiring a large portion of the Detroit area for electrical power. After the war, Bill moved to Michigan to run one of two electrical stores. Bill finally moved back to Canada in the late 50’s.
The two brother could not agree on the merits of each homeland. Both men were trained electricians, working the ships of the Great Lakes, before wiring farms , factories and private homes.The two brothers wired most of the buildings in a three county area around Detroit.
Bill had two sons, Doug and Bob. Cliff had one son, my dad Bruce. The three cousins remained close, despite being separated by a border and 121 miles. Most of their summer vacations were spent working on their Grandfather’s farm in Delhi, Ontario.Being boys, they got into trouble.
“Bruce, Don’t jump out of the hay loft into a hay pile.”
“Doug, this time, gather the chicken eggs without cracking them.”
“Bob, crawl out from under the barn before you get stuck.”
The cousins would go skinny dipping at the end of a long summer day. In the morning and evenings, they would help bring the cows into the barn to be milked. It was a wonderful way for three city boys to learn the ways of farm life. Doug became a teacher and a high school principal. Bob bought a flower shop in London Ontario, spending many years as the largest florist in the area. Bruce went into business with his father, Cliff. Cliff did the electrical wiring while Bruce sold large appliances from their two stores. Recently, one of my nephews has moved to Canada and became a Canadian citizen, The ties with Canada continue.
This past week both countries had celebrations, Veterans Day in the U.S. and Remembrance Day in Canada. The day starts with two minutes of silence to recall fallen comrades in the armed forces. The day is remembered by my family as the day my mother was born in 1918 the ending date of W W I. With current conflicts in our world, it is important for each of us to remember the past and not repeat it. There is more to bind us together than what separates us as a people.

carolaspot@aol.com. November 13.2023

This past week, mother nature dumped 12 inches of the cold white stuff on the lakeshore in Western Michigan. Being a bit farther east, we received a couple of inches to decorate the trick and treating hours. Heavy coats with some imagination made for Halloween fun. One young fellow wrapped himself in toilet paper and claimed to be a fat mummy. The snow on the ground reflected the streetlights, making the travel between homes easier.
The next day, we noted the tracks as children made bee lines from one front porch to another. Running kept the kids warm.
My husband, John, loaded the treat bowl with rice crispy treats, bags of gold fish, chocolate and small toys. Many children paused to look for a toy or special candy. One young man asked if we had another mini paddleball toy for his brother. John found one and handed it to him. A small girl grabbed a sparkling spider attached to a hair clip. She attached to her hair before continuing her begging.
“Take all you want, Otherwise I will have to eat it.”
Treaters limited their selections to two or three items. Many took time to admire the skeletons using binoculars to observe the bats and crows on a trellis. I heard one young woman taking her two small children away.
“If you think this is great, you should see what they do for Christmas!”
Well, I will have to come up with a new activity for the dolls to demonstrate on our front porch.
Treats were not limited to children. John would go out to replenish the suet cakes and seeds in the bird feeder. Feeling sorry for the lone squirrel, he left a small pile of sunflower seeds for him. Oven the hill scurried 5 turkeys. They chased the squirrel up a tree. After finishing the seed pile, several wandered to the water to take a long drink.
Now the snow is gone but the critters have trained us to come and feed them twice a day. Better buy some more treats for the tricksters.
The deer have not been forgotten. John put our three pumpkins on the hill, away from the house. Last evening, there was much activity. Several deer spent time around the pumpkins. This morning there was an eight inch hole in the largest one. We wonder if the squirrel will expand the hole in the daytime. This is better than pumpkin carving and the fun lasts longer.

Full moon glows with light
blanket reflecting bright
trick treater’s refrain
leaving small tracks in the snow
memories Halloween’s lure

Carolaspot@aol.com November 6, 2023

As I prepare for another evening of trick or treaters to beg for candy while showing off their costumes, I remember Halloween nights of my youth. We lived in the section of Northville named , Orchard Heights. The terrain was hilly. Houses were spaced farther apart. many had long walks to ring the front doorbell.
My friends and I soon learned which homes gave the best treats. With only two hours to beg, we gathered information from other children along the route.
We always stopped at the two grandparents homes. Grandma Turnbull would offer a can of Vernors, ginger ale if we were thirsty. She gave my friends and myself a comic of Archie or Richie Rich. She lived on a street on the edge of town. Fewer trick or treaters went there.
My Grandma Heatley lived on historic Dunlap street. She received many more children. She would see us and go to her kitchen to the cookie jar. We would receive several Windmill cookies for our bag.
Besides the usual assortment of candy, we would be given fresh apples. We were not allowed to eat them until we returned home. There was an urban legion that people put razor blades in the apples. My mother would slice the apples looking for foreign objects.
A neighbor made popcorn balls to hand out. The balls were wrapped in colorful cellophane and were loaded with caramel and crushed peanuts, it was a prized treat.
The pastor at the rectory would hand out chocolate bars for interesting costumes.
One home on Grandview would purchase boxes of Better Made potato chips produced in Detroit to give away. My husband John, remembered small loaves of Wonder bread from the factory outlet store attached to the bakery.
The local dairy, Guernsey’s would give ice cream bars from their refrigerated truck.
I would open a small carton of candy cigarettes to look older. They had little taste. Later, as a teen, I had the real ones were the same.
The Sander’s company had a factory called Northville Laboratory on Seven Mile. The Langfields would have children step inside to show off their costumes. Mr. Langfield sat in a wheelchair and offered quarters to each child. If an adult accompanied the children, He or she was given a pint of Saunders hot fudge topping for ice cream.
At the stroke of 8, The fire whistle blew to signal the ending of trick or treating for another year. Children would stream to the community Center for a party to have costumes judged and prizes dispersed.
Northville continues to celebrate Halloween in a big way. Businesses and residents, display over two hundred 6 foot skeletons in costumes performing daily tasks. One may see a skeleton in a barber chair getting a trim. The yoga studio has a class of skeletons in the downward dog position. Around the clock on a center island on Main Street, you will a pirate ship with a skeleton crew. At eight , the fire whistle will sound and revelers will stream to the Community Center to receive prizes from the judging of costumes. The tradition continues.

Whoo Are You?
By Carol Farnsworth

dusky light, crunching leaves
Screams of children
“Trick or Treat!

Running, from door to door
pillowcase bags
holds evening’s score

Shivers from the cold
confronting darkness
they are bold
spirits walk and evening unfolds.

All Hallows Eve,
spirit laughter
Do we see.

carolaspot@aol.com copyrighted October 30, 2023

While walking in our neighborhood, I heard the honking not from the busy road, but from the sky. The Canadian goose migration corridor funneling birds from Canada and the northern parts of the U S to Mexico and South America. The Canadian geese can be heard in V formations flying this month. In the past the flocks have been small. It takes at least 5 geese to be considered a flock. This year, we have observed several larger flocks of 20 to 30 birds. The older birds will encourage and support the younger birds and keep the flock on track. They have a internal compass and rely on visual landmarks such as mountains and rivers to find their way.
The flocks are comprised of related geese. Mating of geese occurs in their second year. Mating for life, they will remain loyal to their partner, even after death. Living 10 to 25 years, a female can hatch 50 goslings in her life time.
Canadian geese are protective with very restrictive hunting to insure the bird population.
A Canadian goose is 14 pounds when fully grown. It sports a black head and neck, white back and brown wings and sides of the body.
In recent years, fewer of these birds have been sighted in the fall skies. The climate warming in the arctic as well as smoke from the wild fires can cause the flock to fly hundreds of miles off course. The. extra flying means less time to rest and feed to migrate in the spring.
Additionally, pesticides and heavy fertilizing can harm the geese and their food sources. Sprinkling your lawn with chili powder or cayenne pepper will deter the birds without causing harm. Another deterrent for was to sprinkle grape Kool-aid powder on the lawn to stop geese from staying the night.
We can encourage the migrating birds by giving food, water and a safe place to rest before continuing their flights. I listen as the calls of the geese diminish as they travel south. I realize that many of us will travel the same route south. We are all snow birds.

Snow birds

Cool winds chill our limbs.
Pulling the coat tight, we hurry home.
Pelting drops of cold trickle down the neck.
Temperatures plummet, rain turns to sleet.
Looking at another grey day, we reach for the brochure.
With promises of a warm sunny winter.
Joining the snowbird migration.

carolaspot@aol.com October 23, 2023

I thought I would make a list of times when I realized that I don’t see and it puts me in awkward situations. Below is my list.
You know you are blind when:
You grab the moisturizer for your legs only to find you have used the vaginal cream.
You know you are blind when:
You crack open an egg only to miss the hot frying pan.
You know you are blind when:
You grab the arm of a total stranger rather than your husband’s arm.
You know you are blind when:
You are on a horse trail and you don’t notice the rider signaling you to move with her arm movements.
You know you are blind when:
The person you are talking with walks away and you are still talking … to yourself.
You know you are blind when:
The car at the crossing toots their horn to tell you to cross.
You know you are blind when:
A nurse takes you by the hand to lead you to the scale.
You know you are blind when:
You get turned around in your home.
You know you are blind when:
You find your herb plants by smelling them.
You know you are blind when:
You can taste sour milk in your mouth with just by a quick sniff.
You know you are blind when:
You can’t light the candles for a romantic dinner.
You know you are blind when:
Your books have raised dots rather than printing.
You know you are blind when:
What you can see is secondary to what you smell, taste and feel.

On the plus side.
Blindness allows you to ignore a person’s outward appearance.
You can listen without visual distractions.
You can walk around in the dark safely.
You can read even if the power goes off.
You know you are near water by the smell of wetness.
Blindness increases your use of memory to find objects.
A blind person’s listen’s with more intent.
Blindness increases your sense of touch.
Blindness instills your need to be aware of your surroundings.
Blindness develops self advocacy.
Blindness helps a person to feel empathy with others.
Young people rush to open doors for John and myself.
When we joke and I playfully tap him with my white cane, people laugh and remark what a cute we are.
You can tell friends and family that they are still thin with dark hair in my reality.
Blindness is not the end of the road, only a turn on the journey.

carolaspot@aol.com. 10-16-2023

During our season of biking, we have had some interesting encounters with wildlife. We were biking past a section of tall grasses on the side of the path. The grouse flew across our path at an angle. Looking down, John spied several eggs in the low bushes. The mother bird continued to get our attention to lead us away from her nest.
While biking on a rails to trails, we found that a chipmunk decided to race our bike. We raced for several yards before he made a quick dash to the side between the front and back wheels.
Driving down a long straightaway, a squirrel acted as an unofficial greeter. He produced a series of barking sounds when we stopped to take his photo. Never taking to the trees, he stood his ground.
When we were crossing a long bridge over a river, we noticed a family of ducks in the middle. They turned to go back the way they had come. The last duckling toppled to the deck, exhausted. The drake made a snap decision and left the small duckling to the biker’s mercy. After we crossed the bridge, the hen rescued the small duck. They swam away down the river.
Skunks are rarely seen but the their lasting olfactory signature can be detected for days. Dogs that have had an encounter are well marked.
Living near a wooded lot, we watch a small flock of turkeys as they make their way to the cement leaf waterer basin. Often they will have a scuffle with outspread wings to show dominance. The hens will vie for seeds and water, while the tom placidly watches from the nearby hillside. Order is soon restored and the group continues into the woods.
There is no hunting allowed in our area. The deer ignore humans before they saunter across the street. Last year, twin fawns played up and down the neighborhood. They were very small. The orphans followed an older doe before mating time.
Birds too stay close to people’s homes. We had a nest of robins in a small lilac bush. Our security camera took daily photos of the nesting mother hatching the eggs to see when the first baby took flight. They hop from the nest at 14 days old but stay near the nest for two more weeks. Both parents are kept busy finding worms and bugs to feed their babies.
Wrens have been known to build their nest in hanging flower pots. Our lovely begonia was sacrificed so the babies didn’t get wet from watering.
Our front porch has the decorative touch of spiders as they spin cobwebs along one side of the porch. Catching many small insects to feed the hungry brood. When older, the spiders allow the wind to aide in their escape.
On our second camera raccoons , possums, deer and cats are caught passing through. Their eyes shine red with the light of the camera.
Even reptiles can be visitors. Last week, we noticed a large turtle, 12 inches in diameter. Worrying about it so close to the road, we returned to call Turtle rescue. To our surprise, the turtle had made it’s way across a front yard and was heading towards the woods.
On sunny days, we will see snakes stretched out in the warming sun. Often, they resemble branches . We try to avoid long objects that could be a snake.
We have had bats in the area. John built a bat house for them The house is a large rectangle box, painted black to gather heat. The box is open at the bottom to allow the bats to gather in clusters. After little luck attracting bats, we found that the bats prefer the underpass of low bridges to our boxes.
Finally the seed and suet feeders are a favorite place in all seasons. Larger birds knock the overflow food to be gather by the turkeys, squirrels and chipmunks.
The wildlife doesn’t appear so wild anymore.
Not following the rules
We have visited many National parks.
In most, there are signs not to feed the wildlife.
Sometimes, the wildlife helps themselves.
While visiting Yosemite, John and Ruth decided to climb to the top of a waterfall.
“I’ll sit here by the water and knit.”
Busy with the pattern, I didn’t notice visitors slowing down and taking out their phones.
A dozen of the small grey and white squirrels cavorted around my bench.
They must smell the peanut and honey sandwiches in my backpack.
One squirrel jumped into my lap.
Startled, I jumped, scattering the squirrels in all directions.
When John and Ruth returned, they found me pacing.
“What took you two so long?”
“We crossed the bridge over the stream.”
“Well, I was shooing away the squirrels”
“What squirrels?”
They had disappeared.
“Well, they were here.”
My family believed I made the story up.

carolaspot@aol.com October 9th, 2023

My brothers and I were given a small allowances, but we were encouraged to volunteer to help grand parents and neighbors. Each season had it’s own set of chores. In winter we cleared snow from sidewalks and driveways. Spring was time to clean yards of tree branches and leaves. Summer found us mowing and trimming grass with clippers. But Fall was my favorite for working. My home town had many trees. They all dropped their leaves during October. Smaller lots made the job easier. The sound of the bamboo scraping across grass mingled with the scent of drying leaves. Autumn days were cooler to keep us from sweating.
Raking a large pile into the street, the fun would begin. Yes, jumping into a large pile of leaves was a reward for the raking. I would be allowed to burn the leaves in the road.
Leaves catch fire quickly. A piece of paper or tissue, lit with a match would be enough to start the leaves blazing.
I can still remember the scent of burning dried leaves as one of my favorite memories.
Another Fall tradition was a visit to the local cider mill. Parmenter’s, one of the longest running mills , celebrated 150 years of operation. Started by two brothers after the civil war, the first press was run by a team of horses walking in a circle. Over the years, Northville had several more cider mills spring up. Our family frequented Foremans on Seven Mile. It was also run by two brothers, with mills side by side. The brothers took turns opening. They hours of operation were extended. The cider mills sold apples and fresh donuts to go with the pressed cider.
Pumpkin carving was displayed during the month of October. The elaborate carvings were judged and prizes were given for the best.
This tradition has changed to include full size dressed skeletons around the downtown business area. Over 100 skeletons are posed outside shops and centers. A skeleton in yoga garb may be leading a class doing downward dog. Another pair of skeletons may be getting a hair cut. A third group of skeletons will be be selling newspapers.
After the trick or treating hours are done, the citizens stroll to the town’s center for prizes to be bestowed and Halloween treats to be distributed to all.
The scent of drying leaves, bonfires and the taste of sweet cider keep fall memories alive for me.

Nature’s Harvest

Like a pregnant woman,

Bursting with bounty’s gifts.

Fruits hang heavy on the vine.

Nuts and seeds fill the squirrel burrows.

Man gathers the harvest.

Mother nature completes autumn’s tasks.

Shedding her greens for the colorful fall palette.

Gathering her skirts to be scattered by a chilly wind,

She prepares for a winter’s rest.

First appeared in the 2023 Avocet

carolaspot@aol.com

copyright 10-2-2023

As visually challenged individuals, we look for braille in our environment to identify the correct bathroom, find entrances and exits and push a button for a signal for crossing a street. Even individuals with little knowledge of the braille alphabet have learned to recognize some letters and numbers.

Trailing our finger tips to find the number outside an office door gives us confidence that we are in the correct place.
Now we can use the same skill to read the numbers and suits on a braille deck of playing cards. An added skill, we can play cards in the dark.
It is a pleasure to know that if we want a cup of coffee or a hamburger, we can ask for a braille menu from Starbucks or McDonald’s restaurants.
Pharmacies are starting to put braille on the label to identifying the drugs and the daily dosage. You must ask if your pharmacy can offer this service.
Some home medical tests have a tactile component to indicate the result. Home pregnancy tests and insulin tests can be purchased with a tactile or auditory indicator. Sadly, the rapid home test for Covid does not have a tactile indicator.
Sadly, braille is not found everywhere we need it. But Braille is showing up in some interesting places.
According to a page on Perkins Facebook there are several unexpected places that we may find braille.
A cell of braille can decorate a cupcake with a dozen cupcakes having a short message. The idea of putting braille on lego blocks has expanded to other toy companies. Mattel has put braille on the Helen Keller doll and you can purchase a white cane for your American Girl doll.
Braille jewelry is becoming a hot seller for a unique gift. I have a brooch with the cells forming flowers. My brooch spells Mom.
The APH has initiated a program in the Kentucky prisons to teach braille to the inmates working on a transcription skill. Inmates that have gone through the program are placed in a job after leaving prison. Only 3% of those inmates return to prison compared to the average 76% of the inmate population.
Braille has been found on record albums in the form of the title and even as a short poem. Some CD’s are starting to identify the title in braille. Even young people who enjoy tattoos are putting words up to song lyrics on their bodies in braille cells. Some go so far to have small plastic beads inserted under the skin to mimic tactile braille.
Though I long for the day when package manufactures will braille the product name on the container, I continue to be surprised where I find braille. In my newly constructed local library, I chanced to feel the walls. On soft grey paper the distinctive feel of braille cells festooned some walls. Upon feeling across the line , I could read individual words on one wall and Author’s names on another. What a wonderful way to introduce braille into a library for all to enjoy.
So when you’re out, don’t complain because there is no braille. Look for braille making steady inroads into your world.

Let your Fingers Do The Walking

Before the Internet,
Alexa and Siri,,
We were told to,
“Let your fingers
do the walking
through the Yellow Pages.
Delivered to your door,
along with holiday catalogs.
now, I ask my smart device,
“Alexa, Search Amazon.”
plethora of choices.
No need for pictures.
Just click on details.
Shop by price.
lowest to highest
Click
It’s in your basket.
change your mind?
Empty basket.
Done?
Go to checkout.
Your information is in the program.
Order.
Buyer’s remorse?
Press cancel.
Make another selection.
It will be at your door.
Tomorrow.
Shopping was never easier.
Alexa announces a delivery.
It’s on the porch.
Surprise!
A Welder?
John’s fingers are walking again.
Virtually.

Carolaspot@aol.com
9-25-23