Thought I’d post this photo I took this morning. The area over the porch roof, arching up toward the bedroom window and the chimney is empty now, but it was previously taken up with limbs and branches from the maple tree. Their absence is still jarring for me. Don’t get me wrong, they needed to go, but I miss the way they framed and enveloped the cottage. The other day, I happened upon a photo of the tree and the house from last year and I suddenly got very sad. Sigh.
I love all zinnias but I particularly love this variety. A layer cake of petals.
Today is mowing day. It has to be done, as areas of the front lawn are quite long. Yesterday, the utility company sent out their tree trimmers and they took down some trees belonging to a couple of our neighbors. In all cases, they were dead – most likely ash trees – and were near the power lines. So for the second time in less than a week, the sound of chain saws filled the air. They worked fairly quickly and had moved on by about 1:00. Unlike our guys, however, they left the heavy logs behind and now our neighbors have to figure out what to do with them.
Can I tell you how much I adore my husband? This morning he made up a funny poem for me using the words spouse, house, and souse and he danced as he recited it. I laughed out loud (boy, that feels good these days.) I make up little songs for him all the time. I’ll just start singing one, usually using my ‘childlike’ voice. I have many voices, of course, being an actress and voice/dialect teacher and coach. So does Don. My favorite is his Walter Brennan. Makes me laugh out loud.
When I was a teenager, I used to entertain my mom with a rather outrageous kid’s voice. She waited for the mail every day, it was a big deal for her (the apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree,) and I would open the door and shout out “Where’s Mr. Mailman???” in a Shirley-Temple-gone-nuts kind of voice. I’d keep doing it until she laughed so hard that she started crying. Did the same thing in different ways with my sisters.
Ever the entertainer. To this day, nothing makes me happier than to make my husband laugh. Or my sister. Or my Little Z.
Okay. Time to finish answering yesterday’s comments, hit publish on this post, eat some oatmeal, and mow.
Stay safe.
Happy Wednesday.
You guys are too funny! I’m glad you can keep yourselves entertained with each other; goodness knows in these past months, if one is married, you better be able to get along well with your spouse because we certainly are within close proximity to one another most of the time with Covid stay-home advisements.
I’ve been up since about 4am as I’m again trying to get all my tasks done early as we got phone alerts that our power will likely be turned off from 7am but hopefully no more than half a day; mandatory with high fire danger and the Santa Ana winds which are much delayed but apparently(??) will start up in the next half hour or so; frankly, the weather people have been proven so wrong on some things in the past 72 hrs that I think it’s all a big guess. On L.A. television this morning, they’re spending a lot of time helping people with evac plans and how to prepare to evac. Anyway, I just ran another dishwasher load and am about to shut down most everything; at least we’ll have daylight; but I just don’t want to lose anything in the frig/freezer.
We’d scheduled the sad task of removing a feral cat with contagious mange this morning; however, trying to get him to caught in this wind will be impossible as the outside animals disappear and hunker down in this kind of wind event. They know long before we do as to what’s coming. Some of these poor strays are so skinny that the wind can actually pick them up off their feet, so they know better than to be in the wide-open space. We’ll follow their lead, the wise animal life, and stay off the roads today, just be home and try hard to remember NOT to open the frig. What I dread is that the temps will still be in the 90s, so I’ve been trying to cool down the house in anticipation of this, as we’re not under other mandatory rolling blackout like the past four days. I don’t do well with no fans and no a/c; is hard on my asthma. What a time. Can we all just be normal? Ever?
We’re not hot right now; still in the 60s which is a big change for this hour of the day, but I know it will change in a nanosecond. Very low haze hovering right above the river east to west, rimmed by our fire-prone mountains north and south; it’s not marine layer, it’s smoke; of course it’s been all over the news that a few states like ours are simply inundated with smoke from even faraway wildfires. There was one burning about 2 hrs from where a cousin of mine has been enjoying some weeks away in her vacation/second home in Colorado, very-visible smoke from her house window, and part of why she went there was to escape Texas heat, yet they got to the 90s in Colorado only to be greeted in what seemed like mere hours by SNOW on the ground; so, crazy, man; crazy.
Your yard still of course looks so nice, Claudia. But I know what it means to have what seems like a gaping hole from where once was lovely green shelter as outdoor ‘decor’. Those creeps who moved in on the other side of our hillside cut down that gorgeous, ancient vine/tree which had probably been there since the early 1900s and, although my husband tried to cover the lack of privacy this summer with a long row of VERY-tall sunflowers, they’re going to seed now, so I’m soon to be looking up at people walking around up there again, looking down into my yard, which I just do not like at all. I want to build a wood fence, although I would have preferred what we had, which was an unobtrusive green natural fence of that vine, but there’s no money for fence-building right now; not until my husband can ever get freelance work again, the two of us being in kind of the same boat as you and Don. We need the supplemental income.
I hope you’re having a lovely morning! Don’t overtax your back today!
Almost 8am and I still have electric power. Yay! Had wanted to say that I loved how you described the so-pretty zinnia: “A layer cake of petals.”
Thank you, Vicki!
I’m wondering what type of zinnia that “layer cake” bloom is? I’d love it if you’d share.
hej, vicki …
best wishes and prayers for safety with those annoying, threatening things (rolling power outages, wind, fires and covid-19 raging all too close/anywhere really …). same for a new fence or more trees and vines. and more responsible neighbors.
and especially may God bless you for helping those cats.
i lived near denver for a while and the winter weather there is kind of crazy. and kind of cool. how literally we’d get two feet of snow and it would be gone in a day. and how when i slowly slid down a very long and windy road one night and hit a patrol car (in winter), the police officer asked if i was hurt (no), he wasn’t hurt and said “just get home safely!” i love the change of seasons, i do … just not the dangers of high heat/humidity, ice and sleet.
stay safe and well!
kathy in iowa
thanks, kathy, as always; you’re so kind…
…wow, scary to be sliding down a hill in a car like that – – only happened to me once on black ice when we lived on the Gulf Coast in a rare event of dipping temps in January – – being from Calif, I had no idea what I was getting into and no experience in such driving conditions, and the TV was saying stay home while my boss was insisting I come into work, so I didn’t want to lose my job (that guy was a nutcase); but, yes, left the parkway to merge onto the state highway, no traction, fishtailing and such a feeling of helplessness (glad we both survived the bad driving experience, and very interesting to hear of Colorado’s changeable weather!)…
Oh boy, do we need the supplemental income. Things aren’t dire, but they are tough, for sure.
I understand, my friend.
Stay safe!
In the long run it is good that you had the tree trimmed because we had the same problem and our tree man said it was not good for our shingles and roof
Replacing a roof is very very expensive
Your tree is still beautiful
Yes, you’re right. Though we’ll probably have to replace it in a year or so as it’s almost 20 years old.
Gulp.
Stay safe, Linda.
I like how you shared about using different voices and breaking out into song, etc. I am not an actress or singer or affiliated in any way with the entertainment business, but I use different voices or sing little ditties all the time at home. I did the voices thing as a kid…I had different voices for each of our pets. So I guess that’s where it started. I still have voices for my cats, but I use different voices for certain ways of talking to Brian. And sometimes instead of answering him with my regular voice, I sing a line from a song that’s an appropriate answer. This is something I’ve never told anyone else…but now you (and others) know. Ha!
My husband doesn’t do either one of these things, so maybe it’s an INFJ thing? Or maybe just a creative person thing?
I think it might be a creative person thing. But maybe not…
I’ve done that since I was a little girl, just like you!
Happy you shared it here – kindred spirits.
Stay safe, Melanie!
i know that in time you’ll get used to it, but still i am sorry for you that those limbs and full trees had to go. for what it’s worth, to my eyes, it is (still) a very beautiful view.
love the colors on that zinnia. and your description for it is perfect … a layer cake of petals!
love that you and don sing original songs to each other. and that you made your mother laugh over and over.
i love to hear my family laugh. and i miss hearing myself laugh now (stupid covid-19).
best wishes for the mowing to get done.
after some rain last night (hooray) we have cooler weather here … heard it was 47 degrees out this morning. i am not ready for ice and sleet (hate it), but i do welcome fall’s cool, rainy weather. :)
we had a board of directors meeting for work last night. when i had to stand up front and give my information, i spoke primarily about how we’ve been dealing with covid-19 and that one of the biggest problems is so many people have not been wearing masks. said that twice for emphasis because 1/3 of them were not wearing masks. ):( unbelievable at this point and just plain wrong. my boss and the administrator looked a bit stricken when i said that (one of them was not wearing a mask, either). am i sorry i said that? not one bit.
hope your tasks are done, you are feeling better and that you have a nice, easy day. stay safe!
kathy in iowa
Good for you for speaking out, Kathy. It needed to be said.
Stay safe!
kathy, I AM PROUD OF YOU for being courageous and speaking out – – do you know that this evening, our doorbell rang, and kids were selling candy for school … and on the same day that it looked like door-to-door Halloween was cancelled although now it’s just ‘recommended’ that kids NOT do it for obvious reasons … I mean, what parent would let their kid be going door to door, and what school would be asking kids to sell candy for a fundraiser … in the middle of a raging epidemic (and of course these kids did NOT have on face masks) – – I was already steaming from what’s come out in the esteemed Bob Woodward’s “RAGE” book on Trump and the lack of response on Covid which made you-kathy sick with the virus and has made me be a nervous hermit (‘rage’ is the perfect word, and look at the stress and negative emotions all of us have been going through, and I recall you’ve had your own tough time with it, all the while doing nice things for other people and continuing to work at your job; all so difficult but you are selfless and thoughtful) but then this disregard for children and distancing and face-mask wearing just about made me go into a crying fit again!
hej, vicki …
thanks for your support!
the world seems to be going crazy. that children could be going door-to-door for school fundraisers and sit near each other in classrooms and especially on school buses … yet convicted prisoners are being released because they aren’t safe from covid-19 in their jail cells??? crazy wrong to me.
i agree about the revelations in bob woodward’s new book. “panic” doesn’t help in a crisis, but for a us president to withhold facts that could have helped people protect their loved ones and themselves (as pino admits to doing) is criminal. i wonder if when he leaves office, americans could file a class action lawsuit against him for this? my mind wants to read both of woodward’s books about pino, but my heart is saying no, at least not right now. it wouldn’t change my vote anyway.
hope your day is good … easy, rainy, safe.
kathy in iowa
Oh Claudia, I understand about the trees. I realize that trees and houses don’t always coexist with the best interests of both the same but its always hard to see the trees lose. The last time we had trees trimmed I asked the nice man not to trim the tree by our bedroom window too close because I liked to look out and see the leaves in the morning. He just looked at me with wide eyes and slowly nodded his head. I was then told that its not good for limbs to be so close to the roof so I know what you have gone through. It’s hard to match the practical with the sentimental sometimes. We are simply tree people! Thanks for all you share. Stay safe. 😊
We are, indeed. I know it’s all for the best, but my heart! Same for you.
Thanks, Janet.
Stay safe.
My thoughts are with a friend of mine whose little dog died yesterday. Ruffles was a sweet, loving part of the family for twelve years. I don’t know how to console her. Just got off the phone with her and am baking her some cookies that I will drop off soon. What can I do? Any and all help would be appreciated.
hej, maria.
so sorry for your friend’s loss.
you are a kind friend, recognizing her loss, talking with her and baking some cookies.
to answer your question, from experience, i can tell you what i appreciate(d) … someone listening to me, allowing tears and repetition of memories and me second-guessing my own choices as a cat-mama and reassuring me that i was great at it, gentle-but-consistent offers to do a favorite thing together and accepting that sometimes the answer is no, hugs, going for walks with someone (to buffer some of that feeling of being alone), someone to help with gathering of toys and other supplies and never ever being told “it was just an animal”. or saying “are you still crying over that cat (dog)?” (something my boss said to me 62 hours after i made that bittersweet decision for one of my cats). knowing that someone was/is praying for my love ones and for me. having assurance from God about heaven and being there together forever.
of course, with covid-19 around, some of those things have to be altered. (stupid awful virus).
your friend may or may not know what would help her, but you might consider asking her that question.
just that you asked that question, maria, tells me that you are a compassionate person with a big heart and that goes a long way in my book!
wishing and praying for peace for you and your friend.
stay safe.
kathy in iowa
cookies and maybe a chat to remember the lovely pet seem just the things you can do. I remember with joy a cat we lost many, many years ago. He was such a beautiful creature. He was kind and gentle to our handicapped daughter and beat up big dogs to protect me. We got him because a couple was afraid to have him around their baby. He would have defended that baby with his life!! I know he sits in heaven, probably on the right hand of Jesus.
I’ve lost more than few beloved dogs and what I found irritating was when people said ‘they’re like your children’ or ‘get a new dog’ as if they are immediately replaceable. And my dogs were and will always be my children. Just acknowledge the profundity of the loss, don’t diminish it (I know you wouldn’t do that) and let your friend know you understand that the loss is just as profound as the loss of a human being.
xo
I know how much you truly enjoy mowing, so have a good time and enjoy! It is very cool and rainy here this morning. The Humming birds have been kind of crazy around the feeder this morning, even in the pouring rain. The males have already left, and just the females remain, so they must be eating to gather their strength for the long trip ahead. That is an amazing journey.
As I said, it is really cool here today. I am in long pants, a sweatshirt and I have socks on. Things I haven’t worn since early in May. I looked through the past 8 years of my journals, and the earliest we turned our heat on was Sept. 14 in 2014. I really don’t want to break that record. Maybe if I got up and DID something it would warm me up!! There is a thought! Have a good remainder of your day!
I saw one on our porch yesterday morning. Very busy looking for food.
I always hold off turning on the heat for as long as possible, but it hit 80 here today. It will be a lot cooler tomorrow.
Stay safe, Chris.
Woke up to dark orange skies. I thought it was still 6 am. A fire about 160 miles northeast of me exploded overnight and spewed particulates that we’re blown into the San Francisco Bay Area. The particulates are being suspended by the marine layer (high fog) So ironically, it doesn’t smell smoky down at the ground level. But it feels like an all day solar eclipse. But it’s finally cool, because the sun can’t get through the particulates. As if COVID isn’t enough, our firefighting front line heroes are in a very stressful and dangerous situation.
Too much. Too much. Fires, COVID, hurricanes. It’s unending.
Take care of yourselves and stay inside today, Wendy.
Stay safe.
OMG, Wendy T: My husband and I looked at the TV clips on this and also the photos on the web and I’ve never seen that deep of an orange glow from even our SoCalif wildfires of the last few years. I remember as a kid when the sky went black with the orange sun, but not that dark orange-juice color like you’ve got, and I know the air-quality is just awful. What happened to you, happened to us in the south part of the state in the past three days after our record-setting 116-degree heat: The smoke shut out the sun, which brought us down much cooler than was anticipated. And, strangely, we were to have this major wind event yesterday which was sort of a whimper when all was said and done. It must be that the smoke in the atmosphere changes more than one weird weather/climate situation. Those helicopter pilots descending into complicated places to pick up stranded people should get medals of honor. How many times (too many times) have I seen those helicopters rise vertically from the ground in what looks like to be enveloping flames, only to safely go for another and another and another ‘water’ drop. Heroes all, but for the firefighters on the ground, this really (in the north where you are) is almost beyond what difference they can make; the fire is just so fierce and so huge. Our poor state; God help her and all the people adversely, tragically affected. I love the Bay Area so much and I really have left part of my heart in San Francisco more than once, so it pains me to think of it enveloped in that forbidding orange air and not its blue sky with wispy white fog. Can any city on the sea be as beautiful as San Francisco on a clear, sunny, pleasantly-cool day?!!
Thanks, Vicki. I live in the East Bay but born and raised in SF. Living part-time in SF with my Mom since my Dad died has been a gift of multiple dimensions. I love being in the City again, even under sheltering.
I saw photos of other areas of SF but I believe the Sunset District, usually being the foggiest part of the City, experienced the weird skies most intensely. It was so cold without the sun, I was shivering and drinking hot water and coffee to warm up. We didn’t turn on the heat…it seemed ridiculous to do so after going through that heat wave! I pretended we were Mars colonists, grateful to have Peet’s Coffee!
I hope you stay safe, from COVID to fires to poor air quality to the current State of our Union. I’m exhausted from adding so much to my worry list.
Hi Claudia,
Well, your little home still looks like a wonderful place with or without the big trees that were cut down :)
Isn’t it wonderful to have a great sense of humor in life, esp. in these awful times!! There’s just GOT to be something we can always laugh about.
Be well..
Exactly. I have to laugh. When I stop laughing, I know I’m depressed.
Stay safe, Priscilla!
Just a slight silver lining. Now, we can all fully appreciate what a lovely porch and cottage you own.
Aw, thanks, Nancy.
Stay safe.
I love that photograph. That house is gorgeous and the surroundings. Thank you for sharing as always. brendab
You’re very welcome, Brenda.
Stay safe!
hej, vicki …
it’s easy to be kind to kind people. :)
and thanks for your kindness.
glad you no longer have an irresponsible boss.
where did you live on the gulf coast and for how long? i love it and have been down there many times … though sometimes i’ve felt the need to bring my own food because i don’t eat meat, including seafood.
hope you’re staying safe and well.
happy thursday!
kathy in iowa
hi, kathy; I lived in southwest Houston-megalopolis (southwest burbs of the Houston metro district) … in the 90s, for 3 years, long time ago now); my fave getaway place was Galveston (just an easy driving hour southeast of my home; my ocean ‘fix’ [so lucky, as my husband’s co-worker had a house on stilts at the beach, right on the sand!]), and nothing more enjoyable than to cross over into Louisiana thru Cajun country of New Iberia and Lafayette, Avery Island, then to Baton Rouge and New Orleans; would LOVE to go again to all those great places if life ever settles down (the weather isn’t great; too much heat/humidity and tornado/hurricane threat!)…
yes, it did.
while members of the board may have mentioned something to the administrator about it, my boss told me that not once in the past eight-plus months have they asked her (and nor have they asked me) what we’re doing against covid-19. shameful.
anyway, thanks for your support, claudia.
hope you and don have a nice, easy, safe day today!
kathy in iowa
xoxo
I understand. I lost the flowering crabapple in the backyard about five years ago and I still miss it.
Those utility guys! They make me so mad. When they cut down four pines due to power wire issues a few years ago, they left me a pile of stacked logs almost as tall as me and about eight feet long. (The pines were tall and if they’d just chopped off the parts affecting the wires, they would just be tall poles!)
I’m catching up — enjoy your day today. And I hope oyou laugh again!
I’ve heard that same story from another reader and it involved pine trees. Why don’t they take them away?
Stay safe, Jeanie.
I don’t know. My neighbor has a similar pile of logs. I contemplated making “Log Henge” in my yard but I knew they’d be impossible to mow around. Well, if I have a big backyard party when Covid is over, we can haul them out and have plenty of seating — just throw some old pillowcases or something over them!