July 29--After another brief absence (of two + years) or From the Farm

[zyzyly]

I didn't realize how much I have missed writing here until I started writing this post. I hadn't really even thought about it, but someone friended me yesterday, and that reminded me that this exists.

We're in Thailand for a while. Malida's here for a month and I'm here for two months. We are about two weeks in. We spent the first few days in Bangkok, attempting to get our US marriage license legalized (still waiting on that) and now we are out at the farm.



Malida's mom making sticky rice. She and Malida's brother are staying here with us, along with Grandpa, four dogs, and everyone else who happens to stop by. We had four generations at breakfast the other day.

One of the other things we had to do here was address some of MaMa's health issues. We were concerned that she had had a TIA or a stroke in the recent past, and we took her into the city the other day to have her checked out. She saw a neurologist, got a CT scan and some labs, and everything looked good. Most likely some benign inner ear thing. Malida and MaMa were both relieved, and I took them to lunch, where they devoured a big pot of fish soup and three big plates of rice. I had the delicious shrimp cakes.



It's the rainy season here, which means it rains a lot. We haven't really seen any heavy rain until a few days ago, and now it's raining steadily. Good for the rice fields, says Grandpa. It has been really humid, and the only cure for that is to accept it and take lots of cold showers.

We were planning to take a short trip up the Mekong to Mukdahan today, but it might be raining too hard for the drive. We have a very small, very old (24 year-old) Honda, which works good most of the time, but needs the right conditions for travel. We are looking into getting a new car, and will probably do that next time we are here.



A neighbor's buffalo, on the way home from sampling some of the local grass. These buffalo are among my favorite creatures here, and I never miss a chance to take a picture of them. If I lived here full time, I'd be tempted to keep one on the farm. I'd name him Hector.

Comments

[ranunculus]

I was thinking of you not long ago and thinking how much I missed your posts!
As usual I really like all three of your pictures, each for very different reasons.

[zyzyly]

I've missed your posts too--it has been a long time! I think you were still in SF last time I checked. I see that you are up north full time now.

[ranunculus]

I left SF in 2020 when the pandemic meant no work for me. The Ranch, of course, had plenty of work available to do. 2020 thru very early 2023 were horrible, horrible years but things are much better, in most ways, now. Here are a couple of links from this winter that you might like.
The day before this post was made M and I had rushed Chena, who was suffering severe convulsions, 50 miles to the emergency vet during the beginnings of a truly epic storm.
https://ranunculus.dreamwidth.org/789296.html

https://ranunculus.dreamwidth.org/787314.html
The greenhouse was full of plants almost from the day it was finished until 100F days started.

https://ranunculus.dreamwidth.org/788047.html

[plaidcake]

Happy to see your post - I've missed seeing your pictures and reading about what you and Malida are up to!

[zyzyly]

I miss the expansiveness of posting here. Somehow Twitter just doesn't scratch that itch.

[threemeninaboat]

HI HOW ARE YOU SOMETIMES I THINK OF YOU!

[zyzyly]

I'm good! how are you?

[mallorys_camera]

Well, I miss your writing here! You have a droll, gently ironic writing style—not unlike your literary mentor, Richard Brautigan. 😀 It's pretty unique & I enjoy reading it. I hope you get back into the habit of journaling.

[zyzyly]

I miss writing here--don't do anything like it anywhere else. I would like to get back into it. It's not like I don't have the time to do it.

[valdelane]

As always, I appreciate your photos and personal updates!

[zyzyly]

I'm a lot more wordy here than in those other social media places.

[elainegrey]

Much appreciated to hear you are well and glad to enjoy your photos.

[zyzyly]

Thanks! Good to be writing again!