One morning glory. And leaves being chomped on by some critter.

Everything I planted from seed  is growing slowly because of the drought.  So it was nice to see this little blossom this morning.

It’s very hot and humid here, though we managed to snag some time on the porch this morning. While we were out there, we could feel the humidity slowly increasing. I’ve never been a fan of humidity – that’s a given. It isn’t good for my allergies and I hate having to stay inside most of the day. It’s a big part of the reason I could never live in Florida or other parts of the South.

The big news: Hurrah! Kamala Harris! I’ve been secretly hoping that she would be Biden’s choice and both Don and I were thrilled when we saw the announcement. Of course, I would have supported anyone on that list, but Kamala? BRAVO!

It’s the first time in a long time that I’ve felt hope and excitement and boy, is that a nice feeling!

We’re in the middle of figuring out the logistics for the removal of the trees. We have that corral fence which is smack dab in the middle of the area in which they need to work. We just got off the phone with the owner of the company. The fence is pretty rusty and we’d already been thinking about taking it down; he confirmed much of it would have to be removed so they can get their trucks back there. I do want to keep the section nearest the house intact as it is part of the chicken wire fence garden and the memorial garden. Fingers crossed. They were going to start this afternoon (he called us at the last minute) but we’ve delayed it until we can remove these rusty sections of chicken wire and the posts.

Truthfully, I’m glad we’re delaying it a bit.

I’m not ready.

We did mow everything yesterday before it got too humid out there, even the back forty. Don got to do some mowing; he’s been missing working outside. Today is his last day of antibiotics and that’s a cause for celebration.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

A package arrived from reader Kathy in Iowa. In it were two of these wonderful masks. We love them, Kathy. Don wore his today; he had to make a quick run to the store for yogurt. Thank you so much!

We both woke up way too early this morning. I have to fight that tendency toward irritability that comes when I’m way too tired. I’m going to mow this morning – the front lawn needs it. Plus, I’ll have an activity which always seems to help when I have had too little sleep. So I’m writing this post a bit earlier than usual so I can head outside after we have our second cup of coffee.

Also, we have a heat advisory posted from noon until 8 this evening. Heat indexes going up to 100 degrees. Best that I mow early. I can’t pick a better day as it’s going to be this way all week long.

I read an article yesterday that puts my stresses with lockdown in perspective. It’s written by Danny Burstein, who is a multiple Tony nominee for his work on Broadway. He is married to another Tony nominee, Rebecca Luker. They are enormously talented. I have worked with both of them (on the same show) and two more down-to-earth and kind people you could never hope to meet. Rebecca was diagnosed with ALS earlier this year. Both she and Danny had COVID-19. Danny’s experience with COVID was frightening and he is still suffering from lingering effects and complications. Rebecca’s condition has quickly progressed and Danny has had to be her caregiver, even while trying to recover from COVID.

I read it aloud to Don (who has worked with Danny) and both of us are heartsick that these two wonderful people have had to suffer through all of this. I urge you to read Danny’s story. He speaks movingly about Becca and her illness and his fears and being out of work (he was in Moulin Rouge   when Broadway shut down) and worrying about the state of theater and whether he will get any work in the future. Something that we worry about every day. Here’s the link.

My prayers are with them today and every day.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Running late today! A last minute decision to go to the grocery store in person, rather than order online, threw everything off. Because, of course, we disinfected when we got back, we threw our clothes in the washer, took showers, put everything away, and now here I am, trying to get a post in before my email post deadline.

But it’s done and that’s a relief. Plus, I was able to get a magazine or two, something I usually can’t get my hands on. It’s a hot and humid Monday and temps this week will be in the nineties, so I’ll mow tomorrow when I can get to it earlier.

Oh joy.

The a/c is already on. We’re freshly showered. We haven’t even had our second cup of coffee yet, but Don’s about to pour it. (I don’t do well when my orderly routine is upset.) So here I am, saying hello to all of you. Have you been doing your best to avoid the news? We have. Though I did succumb very briefly to Twitter yesterday. And then I got off and stayed off. We’ve been reading a lot, sitting on the porch, watching Frasier.

The deer chomped on some more hostas so I made up a bunch of my spray and sprayed everything that might be in danger. I think it’s a young deer. That happens every other year or so. A young deer, who isn’t at all cautious yet, will come very near the house looking for food, though goodness knows there’s enough of it elsewhere on the property. I may get one bloom out of the Rose of Sharon. I’ve done what I can to protect it. We’ll just have to see.

Sigh.

We expect the tree guys this week. I’m not looking forward to the mess they’ll make. And I’m determined to make sure the ‘pruning’ of the big maple by the porch doesn’t take away all of the shade, since the hostas that have been planted there for years depend on it.

That’s about it for this Monday.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.