Mary E. Trimble

Photo from kDiamondk Website: www.kDiamondk.com

A great opportunity to change pace came along when writer Dawn Nelson organized a Writer’s Weekend at a guest ranch. The 1600-acre kDiamondk, is a working cattle ranch in northeast Washington, near the old gold mining town of Republic. Another writer friend, Lani Schonberg, and I set out with high hopes of a fun, informative, and different experience. We weren’t disappointed.

The kDiamondk Ranch, located in the Okanogan National Forest, was a special treat and a different experience for me. The hand-crafted log lodge gives the feeling of the American West’s wide-open spaces. Sixteen unique bedrooms offer lodging in style with a down-home feeling. Three daily home-cooked meals in a family setting are part of the attraction to this warm, relaxed atmosphere.

Guests can participate in a variety of activities, depending upon the season. Among them, of course, is horseback riding, a wonderful way to really get the feel of the ranch. Fishing, gazing at wildlife, biking, photography and bird-watching opportunities abound. If you love snow activities, that part of the country has snow from Thanksgiving through February. Sitting by an evening fire, either a bonfire outside or a blazing fireplace inside, is all part of the experience. Upstairs, a lovely gift shop offers a variety of western goods, including western clothing, knick-knacks, and books. Nearby communities feature fairs, rodeos, golf and glimpses into the past.

A group of us drove the short distance to the old town of Republic to see the sights. Republic, the Ferry County seat, sprang from a gold mining camp originally called Eureka Gulch, and later renamed Republic. We poked our heads into many of the town’s shops.

Republic Drug first opened its door in 1904. Although it has modern conveniences, up-to-date goods, and a full-service pharmacy, the drugstore still has relics of the past. The owner, Rob Slagle took time to show us around and share stories of his grandfather, who founded the drugstore.

Blending the old with the new, we stopped at the recently opened Republic Brewing Company, located in the old Fire Hall. With hand-crafted beer and free peanuts, the family-run brewery and taproom is a fun place to visit and mingle with townsfolk.

A must-see is the Stonerose Interpretive Eocene Fossil Center and Boot Hill Dig Site. 50 million years ago, in a time known as the Eocene Epoch, the City of Republic was part of an ancient lake. Over many years, layers of sediment built up on the lake bed. These layers can be seen today as fine-grained shale, volcanic ash hardened into sedimentary rock. The layers of shale split apart revealing insect, fish and leaf fossils. Visitors can see samples of these fossils, attractively displayed and identified at the Interpretive Center. In fact, you can dig for them yourself. Stonerose Fossils have been featured in National Geographic, Smithsonian and Sunset magazine, and more recently the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle, WA. For more information about this fascinating fossil site, visit www.stonerosefossil.org

Our trip was everything we hoped it would be. We exchanged ideas with other writers, some of us explored via horseback, others spent time in a the great little town of Republic, returning to the warm, friendly atmosphere of the kDiamondk ranch. For more information about the kDiamondk, visit their website at www.kDiamondk.com.

Book Review: On Chesil Beach

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Mary

On Chesil Beach (Anchor Books), a novella by Ian McEwan, is a burst of fresh air, a book that swiftly moves along and took my heart with it.

Both virgins on their wedding night, Florence and Edward can only imagine what the evening will hold. They eat dinner in the honeymoon suite as they gaze out onto Chesil Beach. Florence tries not to think about what will soon happen; Edward hopes he’ll know what to do and when to do it.

The book, set in England in 1962, flashes back to when they met and how their love gradually blossomed. Although a university graduate, Edward’s vocation was still illusive. Florence, however, never doubted her choice as a professional musician. Their differences melt away as their love develops.

Back to their wedding night, Edward anxiously begins to make love as he has so often fantasized. Florence, overwhelmed with this sudden closeness feels herself mentally backtracking. The inevitable plays itself out, but not as they expect.

I found this small book haunting, yet filled with compassion. McEwan is a master at detachment while evoking intimate details. On Chesil Beach is a profound novel, a story that demonstrates that what isn’t said can transform lives.

GARDENERS’ BEST FRIENDS: Beneficial Insects and Other Friendly Critters

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Mary

“You’re kidding! There’s such a thing as a good bug?”

We tend to think of all garden predators as enemies. Not so. Entomologists (insect specialists) tell us there are actually only ten or twelve insects or pests that cause problems in a vegetable garden, the worst being cutworms, aphids and slugs. In contrast, there are hundreds of different kinds of insects and other garden helpers that befriend gardeners.

By avoiding or reducing pesticide use, gardeners can protect those predators which actually improve the condition of gardens. In addition to providing food for birds, good bugs help break down organic matter to enrich the soil, pollinate crops, and give us honey and beeswax. Many of the good insects are parasitic and eat the bad ones. Insect-eating insects are an important factor in controlling the population of pest species.

Garden predators which actively feed on damaging organisms are often called “beneficial insects.” Here are a few examples of gardeners’ friends.

Ladybugs and their larva (sometimes called “grubs”) have big appetites for aphids. These oval-shaped, bright colored, spotted insects will reproduce in your garden if the alligator-shaped larvae is left alone to develop. You can purchase ladybugs, or lady beetles, as they are sometimes called, by mail or in a garden store and then release them in your garden.

Ladybugs are strongly attracted to marigolds and damp mulch. Other flowers, especially ones with small or flat flowers like sweet alyssum and daisies, attract ladybugs and other beneficial insects. Gardeners will have more success with ladybugs if the insects are allowed to hatch in the garden.

Ground Beetles come in a variety of kinds and sizes, usually ½ to 1½ inches long. They have hard forewings that protect the abdomen, hindwings, long legs, and prominent mouthparts. Beetles eat garden pests including moths, cutworm larvae and slugs. The beetle usually feeds at night and hides under sod or logs during the day.

Lacewings are either green or brown with golden eyes, long antennae, and finely veined wings held tent-like over the body. Their larva are 3/8 inch long with flattened, wedge-shaped bodies and long sickle-shaped jaws. Adult lacewings feed mostly on nectar but larval lacewings eat aphids and other small insects, mites and insect eggs.

Syrphid Flies, sometimes called hover flies because of the way they pause in mid-air, are usually black and yellow and resemble yellowjackets or bees. The adults eat pollen and nectar but the wrinkled, fleshy, brown or green maggots feed on aphids.

These and other helpful insects, such as dragonflies, wasps, and centipedes, are particularly vulnerable to insecticides, in many cases, more so than pest species. In order to avoid destruction of these good bugs, use pesticides only when absolutely necessary and choose narrow spectrum types, those formulated for specific pests.

In addition, other friends of the gardener include birds, earthworms, and garter snakes.

Birds can be real troupers in eating unwanted garden pests. Although you may want to use bright flags to keep birds out while your garden is sprouting tender new shoots, as soon as possible welcome birds into the garden area. They love to feast on bugs and will help rid your garden of unwanted insects.

Earthworms ingest organic matter such as decaying leaves, roots, and weeds. The castings earthworms leave in their wake are rich in minerals and the granular substance improves soil structure.

Garter snakes consider slugs a treat. They’ll even eat slug eggs. The garter snake has three stripes, one on the back and one on each side. Encourage snakes to take up residence in your garden by providing warm, protected places, such as a compost pile.

Learn to recognize “the good guys” in your garden. Remember: if you eliminate beneficial bugs and other helpers, you inherit their job.

Book Review: Starlight Rescue

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Mary

Starlight Rescue by Leslee Breene, a Contemporary Western Romance, is a story of a woman with a big heart, and a big debt.

Veterinarian Kimberly Dorn, runs a Wyoming ranch on which she keeps rescued animals, mostly horses and llamas. She’s facing a large loan payment and the threat of greedy land developers. Gabe Trent, from Montana, is a wildlife photographer and filmmaker who needs a temporary place to stay while working in the area, and rents a building on Kimberly’s ranch.

Sparks are ignited, but Kimberly must keep reminding herself that Gabe is just passing through. One of the highlights of the book is when a llama gives a complicated birth and Kim and Gabe assist.

The intriguing love interest is well handled. Breene also does a good job of portraying the personalities of the animals in her charge. Readers have an opportunity to learn about horses, llamas, and emus as Kimberly conducts her daily business.

Starlight Rescue is a fun read, full of life’s passions, compassion, and vivid Wyoming landscapes. For more information about the author, visit www.LesleeBreene.com.

Our Far Reaching Military

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Mary

We’re all familiar with American military training and the resulting expertise churned out. I hadn’t realized how far-reaching this training was until we were in a desperate situation in The Gambia, West Africa, while my husband and I were serving with the Peace Corps.

In the early morning hours of July 30, 1981, a group of political dissidents seized The Gambia’s only radio station, the airport and other key installations in an attempt to overthrow the government of President Alhaji Sir Dawda Jawara. We happened to be near the capitol city of Banjul at the time, rather than our home village 250 miles inland. We found ourselves stranded and in an unenviable position.

We crammed ourselves into a house with 116 other expatriates, mostly Americans, but also citizens of Germany, Sweden, India and others who sought safety and shelter. The battle raged around us for eight long days. Peace Corps and US AID personnel took leading positions in organizing the group. Bruce operated two radios, providing the only communications link between the Embasy in Banjul and the United States. The coup put us all in a precarious position and, although we remained officially neutral, our safety was not assured.

On the eighth day, we heard the whump, whump of helicopters landing on the nearby beach. In order to see this new threat, I stood on a chair to peek over a mattress we had put in front of a window for protection from flying glass.

Camouflaged African troops, all heavily armed, filed up the steep bank. They formed a circle around the house and began setting up their weapons. From my perch I described the scene to the others, wondering if this was good news or bad.

“Are they facing toward the house or away?” someone asked.

“They’re facing away.”

“Well, then, I’d say they’re protecting us.”

Two Englishmen accompanied the troops and we learned from them that these men were special forces from Senegal and were there at the request of President Jawara who was in England at the time attending the royal wedding of Prince Charles and Diana. The Gambia and Senegal, which surrounds The Gambia on three sides, had a long-standing agreement for military assistance.

After things calmed down, I ventured outside to talk to one of our protectors. I started to walk toward him, then realized we probably couldn’t converse because I spoke neither Wolof nor French, the national languages of Senegal. I turned to look for someone who could interpret for me, but to my surprise the soldier said, “May I help you, Ma’am?” in a perfect Southern drawl.

“Where are you from?,” I asked, thoroughly confused.

“Senegal, but I received my training at Fort Benning, Georgia.” He sounded like a true Georgia native.

So here they were, Special Forces from Senegal, trained at Fort Benning, Georgia, protecting American citizens in The Gambia. It’s a small, wonderful world.

Book Review: Lazarus Arise

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Mary

Lazarus Arise by Colonel Chuck Lehman gives life to the Biblical story of Christ bringing Lazarus back from the dead.

Y’shuah (Jesus’ Hebrew name) and Lazarus were boyhood friends in Nazareth. As teens they began working with their fathers; Lazarus as a builder and Y’shuah as a carpenter. Within a short period of time, both their fathers die and Lazarus and Y’shuah form a partnership and successfully support their families.

Y’shuah moves on to begin his mission as the Son of God. Before he leaves, Y’shuah tells Lazarus of his calling, that God is his true father, and that he is the Messiah of the Jews, but Lazarus finds it impossible to believe. Now without a partner, Lazarus finds work in Judea and becomes an accomplished builder. From time to time Lazarus and his sisters hear about Y’shuah and his work as a healer.

A splinter in his hand becomes infected and causes Lazarus great pain and eventually he dies from the wound. His sisters send for their friend Y’shuah and four days later he arrives and brings Lazarus back from the dead. Many witnesses see the miracle, but Lazarus is forbidden by the Sanhendrin Court to speak of it. He feels bound to tell the truth and is sentenced to death, but then given a reprieve if he promises not to speak of his resurrection. Lazarus witnesses Christ’s crucifixion and flees to Galilee to find work and to seek the freedom to tell the truth about Y’shuah and his own miraculous story.

Lazarus struggles to make a living when customers and suppliers are warned not to do business with him. In the meantime, he feels compelled to tell the truth; he cannot deny his resurrection.

Lazarus Arise is a fascinating and gripping story. Lehman’s research and knowledge of early first century AD is impressive as he follows the familiar Biblical account, filling in with plausible and realistic narrative and settings. The author’s details of period customs, building materials and tools used, and the strife between various warring factions are impressive. The book is available in print and e-format.

Book Review: My Stroke of Insight

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Mary

Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D., a Harvard-trained brain scientist, woke up one morning with a sharp pain behind her left eye. She tried to continue with her morning routine, but one by one, her left brain lost its functions. Like dominoes, she lost the ability to walk normally, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. In My Stroke of Insight (A Plume Book), Dr. Taylor describes her thoughts and progressively limiting reactions as she realized she was having a stroke.

Although her right hemispheric brain worked correctly, it was limited in what it could perceive from the non-functioning left brain. Dr. Taylor knew she needed help, but she no longer had the capability to figure out how to get it. Calling 9-1-1 did not occur to her. She did think of calling a doctor. She had gone to a particular doctor for the first time six months prior. Although she couldn’t remember the doctor’s name, she did remember the design, a right brain perception, on the doctor’s business card. Knowing it was imperative she receive help quickly, she clumsily pawed through her stack of business cards until she found the correct one. But then she found she could not discern numbers, she only saw unidentifiable squiggles. She painstakingly matched the squiggles on the card with those on the phone pad and managed to dial the number. Much to her dismay, when the doctor’s office answered, her voice came out garbled and she could not be understood. She then called a co-worker, after finally remembering the telephone number at work because it sounded like a rhyming jingle, again a right brain activity. When her colleague answered, he recognized the sound of her voice, even though he couldn’t understand the words. He immediately came to her assistance.

Diagnosis at the hospital revealed that Dr. Taylor had suffered a severe hemorrhage in the left hemisphere of her brain, caused by an undiagnosed AVM (arteriovenous malformation). AVM’s normally occur in people 25 – 45 years of age; Dr. Taylor was 37. She later described herself on the morning of the stroke so disabled she was like an infant in a woman’s body. She had surgery to remove a golf-ball sized blood clot and to remove excess blood from the left brain.

Dr. Taylor praises her mother who came to stay with her daughter in the initial months of recovery. Dr. Taylor had to learn everything from scratch: how to walk, talk, eat, read, write, dress herself. Learning to read again was the hardest and took years. In all, it was eight years before Dr. Taylor fully recovered from the stroke.

Recovery was a decision Dr. Taylor had to make “a million times a day.” The right brain was perfectly content to let matters float along in space, dwelling in a sort of “ecstatic bliss.” She knew the grueling work ahead of her if she chose the chaos of recovery. She had to constantly reaffirm that she was willing to go through that agony.

One of the important aspects of this book are the steps and influences necessary for others to observe in order to facilitate healing of a stroke or brain-injury patient. The author explains in detail what these steps are, such as needing people to treat her as though she would recover completely, or for people to offer only multiple-choice options and never ask yes/no questions.

As a brain scientist, Dr. Taylor’s explanation of how the brain perceives information gave me valuable insight. She goes into some detail as to the left brain (what you think) and right brain (what you feel) functions. She also discusses the conscious choices we make that affect ourselves and how we relate to others. The book offers inspiring testimony that inner peace is accessible to anyone. Much of the nature of these insights are not only useful to stroke or brain injury victims, but to those of us simply living our lives.

My Stoke of Insight offers tangible instructions useful for diagnosis and treatment of stroke. Dr. Taylor’s Warning Signs of Stroke are a valuable resource:

Warning Signs of Stroke

S – Speech, or any problems with language
T – Tingling, or any numbness in the body
R – Remember, or any problems with memory
O – Off Balance, problems with coordination
K – Killer headache
E – Eyes, or any problems with vision

STROKE is a medical emergency. Call 9-1-1

In addition, two appendices in the back provide valuable information. In Appendix A, “Recommendation for Recovery,” she lists ten assessment questions. In Appendix B she identifies “Forty Things I Needed Most to Recover.”

My Stroke of Insight provides valuable information about the human brain and particularly how it is affected by stroke. More than that, it gives us an opportunity to reevaluate our own lives and become aware of the choices we are capable of making.

A Vegetable Garden: Is it Worth the Hassle?

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Mary

There’s nothing like the thrill of picking crunchy carrots or juicy red tomatoes right out of your own garden, or being able to by-pass the grocery store’s produce department because you’ve “grown your own.” But is having a vegetable garden a big hassle? Is it really much of a savings? Can only people with lots of time on their hands manage a successful garden? Do you need a lot of space?

With planning, gardening can be rewarding and yet not consume much time or space. For one thing, you can be selective with the types of vegetables you grow, choosing only low-hassle, high-yield products. Examples of high-yield vegetables that furnish a lot of food per plant are tomatoes, broccoli, spinach, green beans, peas, cucumbers, and zucchini. If you grew no more than these, you would enjoy a good supply of vegetables. Even if you only have space for tomatoes, gardening can be tremendously satisfying.

Health-wise, growing your own veggies ensures that you’re getting all the nutrients possible from your product because they are picked when ripe. Also, you have control over what sprays, insecticides, etc. have been used.

Money-wise, it most certainly can be a savings. For a very reasonable price, you can purchase starter vegetables in pots. Or, you can start your vegetables with even lower cost by growing them from seed. For instance, one package of snap peas or green bean seeds provides enough for our family with plenty extra to share with neighbors. We usually start our tomatoes from starter plants and all other vegetables are grown from seed.

I no longer care to preserve vegetables by canning, but I do blanch (briefly boil or steam and plunge into ice water) green beans, peas and broccoli and freeze them in meal-size portions. I cook tomatoes, sometimes with zucchini, green pepper and onion, and then freeze containers of the stewed tomatoes for casseroles, spaghetti, or for a tomato side-dish. This may take a few minutes during harvest season, but saves money, time and effort in the winter months.

Vegetables need plenty of sunshine for strong, steady growth, so plant your garden where it will receive at least six hours of sunshine each day. Also, avoid planting in a windy spot as wind will dehydrate plants, requiring more water.

Adding compost–grass clippings, vegetable and fruit scraps–to your garden is a good way to build up mineral-rich soil. We dig a hole in an open spot in our garden each week and dump compost material into it. The next week we dig a new hole, covering the previous hole with the extra soil. It’s amazing how quickly the food scraps are absorbed into the soil.

Mulching is also a helpful aid to gardeners. Grass clippings, leaves, straw, or hay placed around the plants allow water to enter the soil, but keep the soil from drying out. Mulch also keeps weeds under control. Make sure that any materials used for compost and mulch are pesticide and herbicide free. Compost and mulching material cost nothing, take little time to prepare, and adds to your garden’s efficiency.

What about rototilling? An established garden doesn’t need rototilling. If you’re creating a new garden plot, rototilling will make your work easier. After one or two growing seasons, turning the soil with a shovel isn’t difficult. Whether you use a shovel or a rototiller, the goal is to mix and loosen the soil, allowing the plant roots to spread to obtain nourishment.

What about watering? This is a tough question to answer without knowing specifically the location and soil conditions to be considered. One rule of thumb: water thoroughly, but infrequently. Newly planted vegetable plants and seeds need watering more frequently than established, larger plants. Mature vegetable plants don’t like too much water, but they can’t thrive on too little moisture, either. Water your plants before they begin to droop.

Don’t sprinkle in the heat of the day, water evaporates quickly and it’s a waste of water. A soaker hose works well in a garden and is a water and time saver.

Investing a little time planning your garden and you’ll find growing your own vegetables fun and economical.

Pass the peas, please.

Book Review: Chalk Dustings

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Mary

Chalk Dustings by Gloria MacKay is a rare slice of homespun philosophy. MacKay’s unique view of life, evident on every page of poignant poetry and insightful prose, is sometimes charming, sometimes witty. Her wisdom gives you something to think about while recognizing life as a mixed bowl of beans.

MacKay’s poetry, laced with wisdom and observations, is rich with truisms. She shares with us heart-warming wisdom that only someone who has really lived can do.

Scattered throughout the book, short prose defines life according to Gloria MacKay. She manages to impart amusing yet milestone moments that have defined the person she is. One of my favorites is the last, “Salt Is More Than a Seasoning,” in which she shares her love for Puget Sound. The piece gives life to a body of water that many would take for granted. It ends:

Puget Sound is family. I dunk my fingers in it and splash in it and taste it and float on it and dig around the edges. It gets into my lungs and clings to my hair. I always have. I always will. It suits me.

Chalk Dustings is a book you’ll put in a special place, the kind of book you’d be proud to give to someone special in your life. Chalk Dustings, published by Aquillrelle, is available through www.Lulu.com.

New Website!

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Mary

Thank you for visiting my new website and blog hosted by WordPress. I’ll be posting my blogs at this new site from now on. If you have linked or bookmarked to my old website, please take a moment to update to this website’s URL: www.MaryTrimbleBooks.com