I’m writing this earlier than usual as it’s going to be a hot one today and I have some work to do in the gardens.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for your supportive comments on yesterday’s post. After a long day, I sat here in my chair prepared to write replies as usual, and I confess, I teared up. Bless you for being here.
We did watch about a half hour of Rachel Maddow, but when we switched channels about a half hour into the show, I turned to Don and told him I can’t watch it at night anymore. I can catch up during the day with snippets of the previous night’s show, but I can’t take all this to bed with me. He agreed. And I ended up sleeping very well, as if a load had been taken off my shoulders. The horror show continues and I will stay informed, but I have to take control of my waking hours, deciding just when to expose myself to the news and when to stay away. This is nothing I haven’t said before; in fact, it’s what we’ve been doing, save for the last three days when we broke our normal ‘protocol.’ Lesson relearned. (My life story.)
Nearly done. I should finish today. This puzzle is so gorgeous, it’s been a treat to work on it every day. I’ve always loved Mucha’s work and this one is exquisite.
I ordered three more Inspector Maigret novels. Two arrived yesterday. One will arrive today. They are so well written! They take place in Paris, so what’s not to love? And they’re relatively short, making them the perfect thing for me to read right now. Since Georges Simenon wrote 75 of them, I should have lots of reading matter for the months to come.
I’m so glad we have Andrew Cuomo as our governor. He is being very cautious about reopening businesses. When I see the way other governors ceased lockdown too early (and the numbers are already spiking in those states) I am doubly glad we have Cuomo at the helm. Whenever he does open things up for our little area (not all that far from NYC) Don and I will continue to wear masks, to limit our shopping. Basically, we will continue to do what we have been doing. And of course, we are fortunate that we are at the stage in life where we can do that – that goes without saying.
Okay. Have to go make that second cup of coffee. Don will be returning from his morning walk!
Stay safe.
Happy Thursday.
I didn’t see your post yesterday Claudia but I can guess that it eloquently expressed the anguish we’ve been living with the past week. There are many images that I wish I hadn’t seen, and I know some will stick in my mind forever. Some beautiful things happened too which will also be indelible. But what I am reminded of is that the news is entertainment and that it can drop any story in a flash when a better one comes along, i.e., virtually no Covid stories this week despite the increases in deaths in states that opened soon and have had to back up a bit, and not much discussion of the community risks of protesters who don’t all wear masks What the next 5 months or so will bring, I cannot imagine. I’m so glad that you and Don are being good stewards of your land, making beauty in your garden, and taking care of each other.
I worry about the lack of social distancing necessary when protesting. And those who didn’t wear masks, though most did. I wrote two days ago about what has happened and yesterday I wrote about having to ask someone who was defending Trump to leave the blog. I won’t tolerate it. Take care, Nora. And Stay Safe!
Good mornings Claudia. We are up early because Our heat here in CO will force us in before noon today as well. I will then work a puzzle, though not nearly as beautiful as yours! Love your flowers and pot. Lovely play of red, greens and texture. Unfortunately, our nursery has not been a safe place so we have planted seeds from last years plants. It is slow going but fun to watch them grow each day. My father always sewed seeds and I forgot how satisfying it can be. We listen to Rachel by podcast. Not visual, but we can do it when the feeling strikes and not have to watch at night. We also stay informed with Pod Save America (4 former Obama aides) and Pod Save The World (2 former Obama aides). Smart men. They are usually 1-2 times a week. I have had a heavy heart this week and really enjoy your blog and group of readers. Thank you to all of you!
Verna
Pod Save America is great, Verna. And of course, Rachel is, too. We just turned our a/c on. It’s a hot one today! Stay safe.
Glad you are enjoying your puzzle and your outdoors. This was a beautiful after rain morning…deck door is open with the fountain in pond…getting ready to work with little grandsons on Facetime. Family brought groceries last night…Day 80 something in isolation…will go out when safe…thank you for your blog..heat is on the way again-as yesterday…door will close, air conditioner will blast…Have a good good day…prayers.brenda b.
We just turned on the a/c Brenda. It’s going to be a hot one. Stay safe!
We’re back at the lake—waved as we sped past the New Paltz/Poughkeepsie sign. Lots of work to do, but not feeling it yet. Just glad to have made it safely, even as the world fell apart. We were mostly out of the loop for a couple of days, but it’s back to our grim reality now. Will need time to catch our breath before rejoining the world. And time to smell the lilacs.
I didn’t realize you had left already! Glad you’re there safely. How was it traveling during the pandemic? Could you use bathrooms, etc.? Stay safe, Shanna.
We usually make it in a two day trip, spending just one night on the road. Actually, this trip was just about perfect, Much less traffic—even through DC! Of course, hardly any masks in the South, mostly masked people by NJ. Less traffic meant we had restrooms mostly to ourselves and easy distancing at the gas pumps. We had our masks and wipes and hand sanitizer at the ready before getting back in the car, so we think we did okay. Tried to sanitize everything we could in the motel room. Of course, only time will tell. Fred ordered groceries online at our little Lake store and then picked them up this morning. Guess we’re in for as long as we can be. Fingers crossed.
Stay safe. I’m glad you’re both okay. xo
I wish Cuomo would run for president.
Me too❤️ Our local T V station down here in NC broadcasts his addresses to NY. He is such an intelligent and well spoken man. He also is very calming to hear speak.
Does it bother you that Cuomo forced nursing homes (full of the most vulnerable) to take in SARS Cov-2 positive patients, thereby making the rates of death in nursing homes sky-rocket in NY state? NJ did the same.
I’m glad that didn’t happen here in Florida (and no, I did not vote for DeSantis; I violated my vow not to vote for either of the corrupt duopoly and voted for Andrew Gillum and I bitterly regret that– I won’t vote for either party again!).
I don’t know about it so I won’t comment about it. All I know is what he’s doing now and I am beyond grateful for his guidance,
The above sounds like Fox Baloney to me, but I haven’t heard anything like that, either, so can’t offer an opinion.
Shanna,
Cara sent me a link to the article about it in the NY Times. Because I don’t generally post links, I don’t have it, but rest assured, it’s true.
Yes, he is.
I don’t think he has any plans to – at least, this election! Thank you and stay safe!
Best of luck with the garden work today. The puzzle is magnificent. Coincidentally, to try to calm down, I’ve been sometimes re-watching old Rick Steves travel shows on PBS which I’d recorded, re-visiting in my mind some of the places he showcases in Europe when his videography gives me the prompt, and I sit there again in amazement about all the beautiful art in the world from so many centuries ago, be it sculpture or on canvas, tapestries, murals, mosaics, etc., and so especially stunning in places like, for instance, Rome and Paris.
Yeah, I worry that SoCalif is opening too much too soon; I really don’t know much of what’s happening in my own small town. I won’t be living any differently either except for having no choice but to go to medical appointments soon (long delayed). I’ve read that facial coverings may be in our lives to come (years), so get used to it. As in, these viruses won’t go away; there’ll always be new ones now in the modern world. But who knows…
Andrew Cuomo never disappoints. He has settled me down more than once. I think he’s a very good leader. I’ve come to admire him. New York needs to somehow share him with the rest of us as time goes on.
I’m fighting ants again. All over my kitchen. They don’t know what they’re doing or what they want; we have no spills or anything to be attracting them. It’s like an endless irritation and we’ve still got the whole summer to go yet with them. Sigh.
Peppermint oil is really good at repelling ants! Just smear it perpendicular to their trails.
Thanks for the tip on the peppermint oil. I actually have some on hand (for something else/cooking). It may be the one thing we’ve never tried!
I read that ants really don’t come inside for the food, but rather for water. I’m seeing some here, as well. Stay safe, Vicki!
Weirdest thing this time. They were inside the mail box on the front porch. Or else they came in on the envelopes from the letter carrier’s mail bag. My husband brings the mail in (after he thought he’d left it out there long enough to Covid-decontaminate), sets it first on one area of the kitchen counter and then another, and that’s all it took and we’ve now been fighting ants there for about 30 hrs and I’m totally OVER them; they’re not even going in the Terro traps, so it’s frustrating. Do you ever feel that when you’re doing ant battle, that somehow you get the sensation that they’re crawling on you, too; just power of suggestion? I do! (Oh well, they’ve been good distraction from troubling headlines…)
We get them inside our mail box every year.
Bonjour Claudia,
Quelle coïncidence ! Do you know I re-read regularly Maigret.
Right now, I’m reading “Maigret hesite”. I have all the collection (the same for Agatha Christie).
Simenon was very good to write detective stories. I often smile when I reread his stories because some were written in the 40s and 50s (the first ones were written in the 30’s)and described objects or products that no longer exist. For example, in Paris, green buses with a platform at the back (for smokers) I took as a child. I loved to see the controller pull the chain that was ringing a bell, giving the driver the signal that he could start again when everyone was on board. And then in Simenon’s novels, when Maigret begins an investigation, he often stops in a bistro to drink “un petit blanc”(white wine) or a beer. He will continue to drink white wine if he started with that ! Maigret drinks and smokes a lot in the novels (ah ah) These kind of parisian bistros do not exist anymore as well. It was typical parisian life style.
The rythm of the investigations are slow. Nothing to do with 21th century detective novels or films ! and I like this atmosphere.
Which title are you reading ?
Bonne lecture et à la prochaine.
Hélène
I’m not reading one right now. I’m getting ready to start one of the three I ordered, but I can’t remember the titles. So glad you read him, too, Helene! Simenon was such a wonderful writer and I love that it takes place in a Paris of the past. Stay safe, my friend!
I didn’t see your blog post yesterday (I just read it) as I find I have to take time away from the electronic world some days! No Tech Tuesday has turned into No Tech Tuesday and Wednesday. I 100% agree with everything you said. We are about the same age and I think that the during the time we were raised, post WWII, being honest, moral, upstanding and responsible were qualities drilled into us. I have to say that I am ashamed to put up the American flag right now because the world associates it with the current occupant of the White House. I fear for the country that I hold in my heart. I wonder how long it will take to undo all the bad that has been done since January, 2017, and before. This man is a buffoon. I pity him. It is such a wonderful spring this year! So much hope springing out of the earth. And Mother Earth has enjoyed her break from all of us, hasn’t she? Fish in the Venice canals! Take care, dear heart. And never lose hope!
Thank you, Ellen! I’ve considered hanging the flag upside down. It’s a signal of distress.
Stay safe!
Oh, Claudia. I think I should hang myself upside down next to the upside down flag. I am so distressed by all of this, as are we all. The peaceful protests which continue seem to be the only hope I have.
My sentiments exactly! ;)
I know. I’m really tempted to hang the flag upside down….
Oh Claudia,
I missed your blog yesterday. My heart goes out to you. Bravo to you for standing up for your blog!! I admire you so much and I hope changes will be made for your country in the coming election.
Marion
Thank you so much, Marion. Stay safe!
i’m on day 86 of my lockdown. Love the Maigret books. My husband is binging on them, but I can’t concentrate on reading lately. I am frequently making banana bread which seems to be a thing with other people, too, thanks to the lockdown. I wish we had a solid date that we knew we could all go back to normal. We might be able to cope that way, but then that would not be life, now would it??
I’m so enjoying them, Jan. Tell your husband I’m also binging! Stay safe.
Your flowers are lovely! It’s hot here too, but not as humid today. Everyone’s flower gardens look so bountiful already this year. It’s quite lovely driving or walking around the neighborhood just to see them all. Besides…it a great diversion.
Our governor was trying to do the right thing for his citizens, but the republican legislators, and the republican state supreme court had other ideas. Grrr. So we’re just going to wear masks, and limit where we go til there’s a vaccine. That could be awhile. ;)
The fact is, until there’s a vaccine, none of us are safe. Thanks, Donna! Stay safe!
You’re totally right, Claudia. It’s just … WHEN. Like what reader ‘jan’ was saying, if we only had a date. I had one of those meltdowns yesterday (ants probably prompted it) where I felt like ‘I can’t live like this another minute’, sort of temporary panic that wells up inside, but then I just try to switch my thinking so I don’t go ‘mad’; sometimes, though, it’s feeling harder and harder yet I also know that it’s SO much more than the virus terrorizing America; we have a disease in leadership and there’s a lot of turmoil swirling around us other than Covid-19. We’ve, a lot of us, got all the same problems we had before Covid. Now, it’s ‘since and ongoing’ with Covid, then what’s going on with our nation to add in to that; just layers of issues; trying to the soul. A challenge to find the light sometimes.
I know more ‘seniors’ than not who are actually still working at outside paying jobs and they’ve had no choice but to still be ‘out there’ in their essential businesses away from home all along and I feel they have a Covid-‘rhythm’ I don’t … they are getting better balance to their days than I am; they have more structure due to keeping to a schedule with work & play & home whereas I don’t have all those responsibilities or activity, so I know I need to come up with a better framework than what I have … which I’m working on; but, wow, this is NOT an easy time and I’m beginning to feel it’s more like house arrest as I’m at my own personal Day 97. I’ve had all the talks with myself, I know I need to increase my chores and projects around the house; I’ve considered all the rationale, etc.-etc. but sometimes I just want to break out like some of these other people who don’t physically distance or wear a mask and say to heck with it all; I’m tired of stopping my life and being put on ‘hold’. (I don’t obey the feeling; but it IS a feeling.)
My husband had to go to the big-box hardware store (wind has blown and torn off the winter tarps for my vintage car and also one of our outdoor sheds, leaving them vulnerable to harsh sun now) as well as the big-box tool & equipment store (plumbing supplies to hook up our new frig coming; he’s a DIYer and won’t pay the fees for somebody else to do the installation; gotta hook up a water line for the icemaker, etc.; can’t imagine having that feature as I’ve been making old-fashioned ice cubes by hand, in ice trays, for a dozen years). He got a late start on Thursday/yesterday as we’d done a early-morning mail run and he sort of lost his steam, and these stores are also out of town … but, wow, was he gobsmacked by how CROWDED the stores were at 11am on a weekday (not even a Friday).
As he said, “Seems pretty obvious a lot of people aren’t working or going to school. They’re just killing time, walk’in around the store; strolling.” Because the stores were of course limiting how many people could be inside at one time, he had to wait at both places before being allowed to enter. The concerning thing was that, despite store employees wearing masks, there were more customers NOT wearing masks than those like my husband who were … so we talked about it, wondering, and have figured maybe the retail stores are just giving up trying to enforce a mask. I’d scanned a web article headline on the homepage before coming here to read MHC right now, and it was talking about how the U.S. isn’t (the citizens) now doing what we’re supposed to (with the virus mitigation everyone had tried to adhere to back in Mar-Apr-May), the concern being we’ll reap what we sow and get a bigger problem again (but I try to temper this with reminding myself there’ll be another article tomorrow that probably disputes this; and, you know, we can go crazy with what seems out of control with these other people defying the advice/warnings, so all you can do is try to protect yourSELF and figure out [for your own circumstances] how best to live in these times; just try to summon all the patience you can).
And it’s good on the blog here, Claudia, that you’ll re-state occasionally how YOU cope. (I have a friend on weekend phone calls where we do much the same thing and assess/reassess in order to boldly move forward and out of the slumps.) It’s actually helpful to read MHC’s reader-comments, too, to remind myself that it’s not just ME living in a frazzled time period; we’re all going thru much the same emotions. (Too much of the time, a rollercoaster!)
(Something nice: I did get to be a passenger in the car for about a half hour on Thurs, and our SoCalif jacaranda trees are in full, lush, abundant bloom now, carpets of lovely purple ‘blossoms’ all over the roadways, on top of parked cars, etc. Was very beautiful to see yesterday. Gorgeous!)
Man, do I miss jacarandas!
I love jacarandas as you know. There were some beautiful ones on the campus of the University of San Diego and I got to drink in their beauty every day.
xoxo
I know what you mean. I was going to watch the funeral/memorial and I thought, “I just can’t.” Like you, I will stay informed, committed. But I need a break. My brain and heart can’t handle this combo of stress and sadness.
The puzzle is gorgeous. Well done.
You are indeed lucky in your governor. We are, too. But I’m still being probably overly cautious. And I’m good with that.
Me too, Jeanie. Stay safe!
I’m limiting my news intake as well. Just enough from trusted sources to stay informed. I cannot watch the endless cable news shows. Stay safe. Stay sane!
You, too. Stay safe, Cindy.
Doing the same as you-wearing masks , disinfecting mail and groceries, & keeping away from crowds. We also will not feel safe til there is a vaccine . I also had to stop watching the news at night, and instead, watch a half hour of all kinds of gardening videos on you tube before I turn in. My sleep has been much better, plus it energizes me to work more in my garden.
Good idea, Liz. Stay safe!
I haven’t watched or read news much at all for months. It gets to be too much and my job is stressful enough without all of this added on top. I see just enough to try to keep up but mostly my co-workers tell me what’s going on. I work for a paper mill and being part of the forestry industry we didn’t skip a beat with work as being an essential industry. I was blessed that way, still having a job and paycheck, but it was still stressful. I would have loved to shelter in place and take a long respite from a world that has become one where you don’t feel safe anywhere but at home. That’s truly sad to feel that way but it can’t be helped with how things are these days.
I’m sorry you had to keep working in this worrisome time, Kathy. Stay safe!