Part 2 of Saturday's Adventures with Bill & Sarah

So after the Surreal Mad Hatter Tea Party Restaurant Encounter, we decide to go on to the town where we do have a motel reservation for the night, check in and find something to eat near there. Thanks to our NEFFA stays, we had a free night coming to us and had booked a (nonrefundable) room using our accrued points.

Welp friends, here is irrefutable proof that you do indeed get what you pay for. We come around the corner to find a building demolition in full swing right next door to the motel. At this point the giggles have taken hold and we're pretty much, "Whatever - how much worse could it get?" Yeah, don't ever ask that...

We go in just in time to hear the very tired registration people say to the couple ahead of us, "It'll be a minute - we just got the power back on and the internet is still down." I hear Bill mutter behind me, "I swear we've gone from a Kafka story straight into an episode of Twilight Zone." I asked the desk clerk if they were happy about the demolition or not. She said, "Oh we're happy about it. It was a real problem because a lot of homeless people were living in there." Oh wow. Not going into it here, but it did get me thinking about the consequences of evicting an unhoused population without offering any support or safety net. Needless to say, we didn't leave anything in the car.

Thankfully the staff had already printed out everyone's reservations so we all got checked in. We get our keys, grab our stuff and walk into one seriously grody motel room. We probably should have asked for a different room, but the staff looked so tired and depressed, I had no confidence any other room would be better. I figured either they were really short-staffed or had just given up. We did a careful check for bedbugs and other critters. No bedbugs, but the fishing lure tucked up on a light fixture tried it's best to scare the life out of me. Once I photographed it, I was a little naughty and put it back where I found it.

We found a place that had veggie burgers on the menu and went in. "Do you have a reservation?", chirped the hostess.

"Uh, no, we just got into town."

"Well, if you want a table, it's about an hour's wait or you can sit at the bar."

We walked back to the bar passing at least three empty tables on our way and sat down next to the margarita blender. Two burgers and adult beverages later, we were feeling much better and we headed out - passing those same empty tables.

Doo dee doo doo

Doo dee doo doo....

Mad Hatter Dinner for Two

In all of our travels to date, this had to have been the oddest experience at a restaurant ever. Our day had started waiting for a FedEx package that was supposed to be delivered in the morning, but of course wasn't, so we were late getting on the road. By the time we got close to our destination in Where-God-Lost-His-Shoes New York, we were getting hungry, so I made with the Googles on the phone and found a promising eatery. They had an enticing menu with gluten-free and vegan options to suit us both, great reviews, and a funky vibe - our kind of place.

We pull up at about 4:30 to a shabby-chic storefront cafe in an only slightly sketchy neighborhood. Yay! It's open! We head in and are happy to see only one table occupied by two people who are already eating. Yay! No wait! No, wait....

A friendly looking woman comes out of the back with a smile, "Hello! Do you have a reservation?"

"Erm, no?" we say looking around at the empty place.

"I'm sorry, but we only seat by reservation on Saturdays, but I'll check with my husband to see if we can take you." Okaaaaayyyy....

She comes back, "He says no, but if you come back at 6 we could seat you then."

Like when the place clears out? Right. By then the amazing organic-pesto-falafal-hummus-microsprout-burger sounded a lot less appealing as the surreal Mad Hatter Teaparty NO ROOM moment finally got to us.

We start backing toward the door, "Yeah, that's OK, we don't want to impose, we'll try somewhere else." I probably should have just said thanks and let it go, but blurted out, "You know, this might be good information to put on your website."

"It is on our website, on the homepage."

"Really? I must have missed it."

Back in the car, I revisit the website and sure enough in tiny white print on a purple background is "Open Fri 11-3 & 4-8 and Sat 4-8 (Takeout & In-House by Reservation)"

Right above the notice that says "OUR RESERVATION SYSTEM ISN'T CURRENTLY WORKING"

Toilet Paper Tube Wreath

Nothing says "Season's Greetings during a Pandemic" like a TP craft!

Here is a wreath ready to decorate!

You'll need 

• 12 toilet paper tubes
• glue
• scissors
• a bunch of clothespins for clamping

Take a regular TP tube (paper shreds are optional)

Squash it flat

It will spring back a little - that's good

Mark off equal cut marks. I have used anywhere between 1/4" and 1/2". For this one it was 1/2".

If you are fussy, you can mark the other side and draw lines to make your cuts very even and precise. 

I am not fussy.

I like Aileen's Fast Grab Tacky Glue, because it is tacky and grabs fast. Also cleans up with water!

Take three flattened circles in your hand

and put a dab of glue near the ends between the strips, but NOT on the outside

Then clamp those three with a clothespin

Now pick up 4 circles this time and do the same

Wait for them to dry

Once dry, remove the clothespins and open them up - you now have two halves of a star

Glue the two sides together with a dab of glue near the center

Squish together and clamp!

Once you've made a bunch, you can arrange them in a wreath (or other shape) and glue the stars together with a dab of glue and a clothespin clamp.

I recommend "pre-clamping" before you start gluing, so you're sure you have the shape you want.

You can make these with any number of points. Here is a six pointer. With a bead, paint, and/or ribbon, this would make a lovely ornament all by itself.

Ready to decorate!!

I dreamed I was trying to be a good ally, but when I woke up I found I was only holding my own hand.

 

A Little Coloring Book!

NEW!!  A Little Coloring Book

 

Biden Our Time

  A tune I wrote after the election and before the inauguration...

The Counting Year

 The Counting Year

I've got the Big Eye again,
as my Mamaw would have said,
worries jerking back the covers
I count the minutes until
the alarm

I count a lot these days
Measuring my days in yards of fabric and thread
For awhile I couldn't buy thread
Or toilet paper or dish soap
or eggs
I measured my days in eggs.

We counted shoppers in stores
Guarding our safety in six foot circles
Reeking of sanitizer
As we stared down the bleak half-empty aisles
together/apart

This was the year we counted our lost wages
Hoping the furloughs were a passing phase
and not the way of things
from now on
making do, stretching out, well
at least we saved on gas for the car

Walks taken, dance halls dark
tomatoes planted,
(so many tomatoes!)
home-baked bread, recipes from lush times,
pans of comfort we'll probably regret later
as we count our steps

This was the year we inventoried babies in cages
borders closed, promises broken, pacts ignored,
countdown to elections
count up the votes
and   so   many   lies
so many lies, we finally stopped counting 

Nearly half a million
loved ones lost
We helplessly share our grief and rage
through flickering screens and a few lines
of insufficient sympathies

As we fight for salvation and healing
and rest (oh just a few moments more)
we count our blessings and
give thanks for the gifts of
resilience and laughter
friendship and courage
music and love.

                Sarah Gowan - November 19, 2020

The Two Ravens - A Crankie

The Clootie Wall - Processing a Pandemic

The Quarantines have brought us to this strange and lonely place where we feel simultaneously more isolated and yet more connected than ever. While I feel blessed to have virtual access to my friends and loved ones, I'm craving the physical connection with them more than ever. Constructing this space gave me a place to process the wild emotions stirred up by our surreal circumstances. Rooted in the traditions of my ancestral Scotland and Southern Appalachia, this piece is a longing, a meditation, a wish, a prayer. Welcome to my quirky backyard. 

 Look for more photos and videos as I continue to add to the wall through the month of May. If you would like me to add something for you, or you wish to add something yourself, we welcome visitors, both virtual and physical. Message or email me for more information. ssgowan@gmail.com 

 Wishing you a Happy May Day and dreaming of better times to come.

 

My Dearest Brother - April 12, 2020

My Dearest Brother-

I do apologize for being remiss in answering your charming and delightfully informative missives. I have read them aloud to my Best Beloved Husband as we enjoyed our suppers of mixed vegetables, hearty brown rice and a peculiar culinary invention all the way from China called "To-Fu". I was excited to sample this treat, given China's rich history and colorful culture and anticipated a delectable adventure. I must say that upon my first taste I was unimpressed and even a bit put off by its complete lack of flavor and bland texture. I then remembered the story of when our great-grandmother first encountered a grapefruit and, having been given no instruction on its preparation, tried eating it raw both with and without the peel (too bitter!), but declared it passably edible when fried in her cast iron skillet with plenty of bacon fat.

And thus it goes with the To-Fu, for we soon discovered it to be quite delicious when well-seasoned in garlic and herbs, dipped in a batter much like one would dredged poultry with, and deep-fried until crispy brown and crackling. Of course, one might argue, that anything could be made palatable with this method of preparation - even Nanny's grapefruit. And so begins our week of experimental meals where we endeavor to make the best of our dwindling stores with garlic, oil and excessive temperatures. As you are a gentleman vegetarian, I'm sure you, unlike some of our other male acquaintances, will refrain from offering an unsolicited disquisition regarding the culinary arts. (Here I conjoin words to emphasize my consternation at being lectured about a subject I have studied all my life. #cocksure_blatherskite )

I fear the Plague has made the days run together and I am just realizing that today is Easter! I invite you to cast your mind back to Easters past and reminisce with me with these images from our childhood.

Happy Easter, Welcome Spring
and all my love to You and the lovely Irish Wife,

Sarah and the BBH

_____________________________________

Lon Gowan is an actor/stuntman/writer and the most excellent brother a sister could ever want. His "My Dearest Sister" letters may be the best thing to happen to me during the COVID-19 Quarantines. 

Julie Dolan is an actress, musician and favorite Irish wife/Las Vegas Showgirl. We were thrilled the day she married my brother.

Susan Terry is a mediator, consultant, musician, and storyteller as well being our Esteemed Mother. She and her Yankee Husband and Gentleman Farmer, Stephen Parker live in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont at High Reach Farm

Bill Quern is my Beloved Husband and we're known collectively as Box and String.

#COVID19  #LonGowan  #MyDearestSister #Julie Dolan #Coronacation