Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Potpourri on Wednesday

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Weathered pine floors courtesy of Scout and Riley.

• Last night we were watching the primary results and I saw this on the screen:

65+

For the first time, I really got that I am in now in this demographic. You know how something suddenly hits you in the gut and the mind at the same time? That’s what happened to me. That demographic used to mean somebody else, some other group of people…old people. And now I’m there. I still don’t feel like I’m that old. I think of myself as someone at least a decade younger. How can I be 67?

Gulp. A big dose of reality last night.

• Also: Spring is officially here. I heard Peepers last night from our neighbor’s yard! When the Peepers start and the groundhogs come out of hibernation, it is most definitely SPRING. Huzzah!

• We, like most people I suspect, have been stocking up on supplies given the nature of the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19.) Currently, New York has 173 cases statewide, with many more people under voluntary quarantine. We bought a bunch of canned goods and other supplies last week and we’re going to take an inventory today to determine what additional supplies we need. I know you know the drill, wash your hands, try to avoid crowds or big events, use hand sanitizer, etc. With the news that the White House nixed a CDC request to alert those over 60 not to fly, we are more than uneasy about anything coming (or not coming in this case) from anywhere but the CDC and NIH. And in our case, our state government, which seems to be on top of things.

Anyway, I’m not actively worried, but I sure as heck am going to keep a low profile. I shared a little thought yesterday on IG Stories:

“Not to make light of the Coronavirus, but “Social Distancing” sounds like heaven to an introvert like me.”

• I want to share a podcast I discovered yesterday. It’s called Diving In. Two friends from Australia share their thoughts on what they’re reading, favorite books, and whatever else is striking their fancy. They’re wonderful. The latest episode is the one I listened to – all about the Mitford sisters and Nancy Mitford’s novels. Since I’m currently reading Mitford’s The Pursuit of Love, I found this podcast very timely. I’m charmed by the hosts, who love reading, giggle a lot, and know their stuff.

I saw it mentioned on Instagram by a book lover that I follow, so I immediately subscribed. I have several podcasts that I follow, though I don’t stop and listen to them often enough. I’ll try to put together a list for you for a future post.

• Off to take an inventory of our supplies and head to the store with Don.

Take care of yourselves, my friends.

Happy Wednesday.

Books & Chocolate

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We had a lovely day yesterday. The high reached 60 degrees and it was sunny so we climbed into the car and drove to a neighboring town. We visited two bookshops that are across the street from each other, bought some sugar-free chocolates (Thank goodness for these! I love chocolate but hadn’t been having any because of the sugar. Don found these at Christmas and I have to tell you, you would never know they are sugar-free!) and stopped off at an art supply store for some markers.

This was my book haul from the used book store. Usually I can’t find anything, but this time? Three books.

A lovely Penguin edition of The Return of Sherlock Holmes.

A book I see on on the IG accounts of many British book lovers – Swallows and Amazons  by Arthur Ransome. The Ransome books are a childhood staple of many Brits and I’ve wanted a copy for a long time. Much to my surprise, there it was in the children’s book section. Beautiful artwork on the dust cover, as well.

And an even bigger surprise among the gardening books, Derek Jarman’s Garden. Jarman was a British filmmaker who died too young from an AIDS-related illness in 1994. He had a home in Dungeness, Kent, in the shadow of a nuclear power station. His garden became famous for Jarman’s ability to grow and nurture plants in an inhospitable landscape. I really look forward to reading this.

All in all, a great used book day!

Today promises even warmer weather, with sun and a high of 69. Tomorrow, rain. But we need it, as there is a fire danger around here at the moment. Today, I’m going to venture out and see just what’s happening in the garden. I noticed buds on the shag hickory yesterday. I know I have some day lilies emerging. I’m looking forward to seeing just what else is coming up.

Happy Monday.

A Sunny and Warm Sunday

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So sorry about the lack of a post yesterday!

I woke up in a very dark mood. That happens rarely. I couldn’t shake it and it followed me throughout the day, though it was less intense as the day went by. I was still going to post, but Rick and Doug stopped by unexpectedly and by the time they left, it was too late.

My mood is much improved today.

After Rick and Doug left, we went out to a late breakfast at a local eatery and the woman next to us decided to talk to us about the coronavirus. Didn’t ask her to. But she did. She has apparently worked in some way on previous outbreaks, though she’s not a scientist. Anyway, she went on and on and on and on, until she finally left. Don and I looked at each other. Too much information. And it all happened right before we were going to eat. I couldn’t decide whether she was slightly off or just a zealot about it. She was obviously very intelligent. Anyway….we could have done without that little pre-breakfast talk.

It’s going to be in the high fifties today and it’s sunny. Huzzah! Tomorrow? Even warmer. I am not in the throes of spring fever, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t looking at photos of gardens and thinking about beginning the big cleanup outside. It’s way too soon to do it, but maybe in a couple of weeks?

I finished Year of the Monkey  by Patti Smith and started in on the The Hypnotist  by Lars Kepler, a book that has cropped up on Instagram posts. I needed a mystery/crime novel and this will hopefully fill the bill.

I don’t think this has ever happened before, but Don was talking in his sleep last night. No words you could recognize, but he was having a conversation, that’s for sure. I happened to be awake and I don’t mind telling you I was fascinated by it. He would mumble something and then there would be a pause while he listened to the response and then he would respond. Sometimes he was asking a question. His voice was quieter and higher than usual and it felt like he was younger, like he might have sounded as a young boy. There was a vulnerable quality to the ‘conversation.’ I felt very protective of him.

When I told him about it this morning, he said that he had been having intense dreams and they involved his brother, so it makes sense that he sounded younger.

It was darned sweet.

I don’t know what we’ve got going for the day ahead, but I imagine we’ll do something.

Happy Sunday.

 

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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