We are in for a hot and humid week. Yesterday was a stay-indoors-out-of-the-heat kind of day and it looks like today will be as well. I went out to water everything, but that was it. Don went on his walk early in the morning and then ventured out to play the guitar on the front porch. He’s writing music again (that makes me very happy.)
What did I do? I spent a lot of time on the jigsaw puzzle, which is a real challenge. I finally made some headway, so I’m feeling more positive about the whole thing. I needed to take a few days off from making stones for the dollhouse. (I need to start calling it by its name, which is Dove Cottage.) The other day, I spent several hours scrolling through artisan dollhouse miniatures on Etsy. If I like something, I put it on my Want List. I’m starting to think about the interior and the windows and wallpaper and beams and trim and wood floors…First up, beams and floors and windows. But all of that costs money, so I have to rein myself in a little and see what I can do on a budget. I welcome the challenge.
I’m thinking of doing another IGTV video – this time of Don’s Mini Studio. I spent some time cleaning and dusting everything in it yesterday. I have to film it when Don is out of the house, so maybe tomorrow morning. Eventually, I’ll do a quick tour of the vintage houses as well.
Today? Probably more work on the puzzle and maybe some work on the dollhouse.
Rest in Peace, Nick Cordero. I didn’t know him, but many of my friends and colleagues did. He was loved and adored by so many people. It’s simply heartbreaking. And then I see video of idiotic people jammed together at various beaches and bars and I want to scream. Because of those selfish and self-absorbed people, people will die. We will be quarantining even longer. I know the majority of Americans are sane and are wearing masks, but it doesn’t take many to spread this disease and screw it up for the rest of us. Quite frankly, there should be a national mandate requiring everyone to wear a mask. And if you don’t wear one, you will be fined. If you’re warned twice, you go to jail. For heaven’s sake, one inept guy trying to conceal a bomb in his shoe has resulted in years and years of taking off our shoes when going through airport security. And no one questions it. This reaction is the result of the idiocy in the White House.
I have to stop. It makes me so angry. Nick Cordero was a healthy, fit Broadway actor in the prime of his life. He went through an unimaginable 3 or 4 months while the virus slowly decimated him. I want to throw all of these entitled fools in jail. Ditto for the people who destroy things in stores because they’ve been asked to wear a mask, all of whom managed to get their little hissy fits recorded on video so that they can get lots of attention.
I’m over it.
But I love you.
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
Such sad news to wake up to today. We just saw “Waitress” last Fall and I can just imagine how well he did when he was in the Broadway production playing Earl. I’m so angry to see so many of your residents in the States not wearing masks, even protesting that wearing them is against their freedom and rights. What about the right for Nick to live, for his family to love him and for tiny Elvis to grow up with a father? I’m so over it and we’ve turned off CNN for good now. I scroll through news links and go right past as my heart aches for the numbers. Here, we wear masks without question. Some people choose not too but don’t make a fuss about it. There is a feeling of “we’re in this together” and I wish we could send that down to everyone south of the border. Just do it! Be smart, stay safe, think of others, do your part.
Off my soapbox. I showed my dh your stone finish on the Dove Cottage and he loved it and said “you should do that on yours” to which I replied “not happening darling!” I’ll just paint mine. I love your tenacity and your dedication but I have too many projects right now. But love watching how yours is all coming together. Great job Claudia!
I’m off to sit in the sun …. finally, it has arrived!
X Chy
This vile excuse for a human being has generated all of this. The blame can be directly placed on him. Oh, how I despise him and everything he stands for.
November cannot come soon enough, Chy.
Stay safe.
Bet we have a vaccine in November. Am I sick or when I read that “We enjoyed watching P. T. speech last night,” I want to be really ill??? Am I in the minority?
No, you’re not. But they are. They are in the minority and you have to remember that, Brenda. They make a lot of noise, but his base is shrinking by the minute. xo
We love you right back! Thanks for expressing so well the frustrations so many of us are feeling. Say a special prayer for us in Florida. Not only do we have an explosion of the virus but one of the worst governors in our country. We are counting the days to November when hopefully we can start to make some sense of this chaotic mess we are living in. Stay safe and thanks for all you share.
I can relate Janet. Prayers prayers prayers Brenda B
I pray for Florida – my sister and her family, as well as my cousin, live there. I’m so sorry that everyone in your state has to deal with your governor. Stay safe, Janet!
I couldn’t believe one blogger wrote that masks don’t work-look how many cases we have. I just shook my head. I wanted to ask how many more might be alive if everyone had used the masks…how many fewer cases…wear your seatbelt…wear your mask…it has become so political. I wonder if we will have a vaccine come November???? prayers for one whenever…take care…enjoy your hobbies…my family is in Florida and in Indiana…worries…bb
I wouldn’t put it past T to unveil a new vaccine just before the election.
I have family in Michigan and Illinois and Florida. I worry about them all. Stay safe, Brenda.
As the signs & memes all say…if for no other reason, be SURE to wear your mask so you are alive and able to vote on Nov 3.
It is so very hot here. And the 90* temps are to stay for the next 10-14 days. The humidity is just brutal. We are wilting, in so many ways!! We just picked our first 2 cucumbers and the tomatoes look like they are just a couple of weeks away. Can’t wait!!
Everyone stay cool, stay safe, and wear the mask!!
One of the reasons I was so sad about the death of Carl Reiner – he said many times on Twitter that he wanted to live to see Trump defeated in November.
Stay safe and enjoy your cucumbers and tomatoes!
Another excellent reason to wear the mask. I will think of him and what his wish was. A small thing to do to honor a great man who gave us so much!!
xo
Claudia, I’ve become accomplished at nimbly crossing the street, u-turning, veering quickly in another direction and other avoidance tactics when I’m out walking and encountered an unmasked individual. Fortunately though, unmasked for whatever reason, many of them will also employ such tactics to avoid me, who always wears a mask.
My daughter and I are so sick and tired of stupidity, from the sidewalks to the grocery stores to the White House. We can’t avoid it. We’ll stay sheltered even as some places are opening up. On Monday, my Cornish friend tells me the social distancing in England will be reduced by half. I hope that doesn’t occur here for a while.
Meantime, I’ve cancelled my Europe trip that was to happen this October. I’m sad that I can’t travel but more upset that I can’t see friends in England. People from the US are banned from Europe for now anyway.
Puzzles and working on Dove Cottage. Playing guitar and writing music. All good. I’m knitting, cataloging the daughter’s stamp collection and doing puzzles. I’ve discovered Artifacts wooden puzzles and love them!
Stay safe. Virtual hug.
We had a reservation at our favorite hotel in Paris for the end of April. We hadn’t booked the tickets yet when the rumors of a lockdown started and of course, we couldn’t go. And now Mexico won’t let us in, either! We are pariahs.
Enjoy your knitting and puzzles, Wendy!
The heat is oppressive here in IL now. We are in the 90’s with Wed and Thurs looking to be in the hundreds with the heat index. My cousin from Tacoma and her young daughter are flying into Chicago on Wed to visit their mother/grandmother (my aunt). Won’t they be in for a shock!
I had first heard about Nick Cordero being sick a couple of months ago from a friend whose husband is an actor and personally knows Nick. That was heartbreaking enough, but then to hear yesterday that Nick had passed away…incredibly tragic. Goes to show that this virus can indeed happen to anyone and that it can have grave consequences – no matter your age or health status.
xoxo
Indeed. We must all wear masks. Our lives and the lives of others depend on it.
Same temps here. Oh boy. I’m glad we have A/C but it drives me crazy to be cooped up inside all day long! Stay safe, Melanie.
Agree, agree, agree. I read about one country where they immediately went to everyone, everywhere they went, wearing masks. They have no new cases, if I remember right. My brain is going with all this. Can’t wait til November.
It’s so simple. And it would save so many lives. Stay safe, Jan!
Terribly tragic what happened to Nick Cordero. I wanted to scream about how hospitalization events took such an awful turn.
I love your analogy of the shoe-bomber episode giving way to our unquestioning following orders when travelling.
Daughter took a weekend with friends/co-workers (all working from home in CT since beginning of March) to visit the Finger Lakes area — she sent very pretty nature photos of her visit. Very shocking though that no one was wearing masks on the hiking trails or pretty much anywhere else. Servers in restaurants and the wineries were wearing them. I’m so worried for her now. All this time spent at home, being careful, now this one trip to NY. Crikey!
Looks like the beaches were closed EXCEPT on July 4th! in Southern CA. Incredible.
Rant over.
Rant away. I’m with you! Don and I got so angry this morning we had to breathe deeply to calm down!
Stay safe, Martha.
I was wondering if people doing the miniatures for dollhouses ever use 3-D printing? You had said once that the Dove Cottage was not the usual scale & 3-D printing came to my mind today. Our library (of course, they are all closed now) has a 3-D printer which the public may use for free with a scheduled appointment. Maybe people like to only use ‘natural’ materials for the base of furnishings. Sorry to post again.
Lots of miniaturists use 3D printing. I’m not a fan of the texture of the finished product, though. xo
Bravo Claudia! I watched the news also and couldn’t believe the people that don’t care if they get the virus because they are young and it will be a light case, probably. Then they pass the virus on to other people who will be taken down hard. Young or old. Dr. Fauci said it last week, can’t quote him perfectly, but something like, “I don’t really know how to get it across, but you should care about other people”. I will never forget Dr. Fauci. A better man has never lived.
He is a hero, trying to do what is right with a maniac in the Oval Office.
Stay safe, Tana.
I couldn’t agree more about all of these absolute idiots who refuse to wear masks. I also blame Trump for so much of this. He continues to says idiotic things, such as 99% of people are just fine when they get the virus. !! He’ll say anything to keep his band of radical, uneducated, caviler supporters. Ahhh!! I so feel your frustration, Claudia!!
It is so frustrating, Jenny! Thank you. Stay safe!
I find myself angry each and every day at the moment because people can’t/won’t/don’t want to protect their fellow man. Such ignorance.
So sad to read about Nick Cordero, how he must have suffered, and his story is one of thousands upon thousands in the world. I have lost 2 former nursing colleagues to this horrid disease. I really feel for you in the USA, it must be exhausting, but soon you will all be able to vote and then the real work will begin.
Sorry for my rant, I’m finding it all so awful. Take care Claudia x
I’m so sorry about the loss of your colleagues, Fiona.
Yes, this is all exhausting. I feel like we’ve been held hostage for 4 years, constantly assaulted, constantly stressed. I am so, so tired of it. Thank you. And you may rant whenever! Stay safe.
It is way too hot here for July…we are all wilting. I was thinking about your spigot…you said it wasn’t working. There are lots of YouTube videos out here about spigots. My husband was able to fix ours by doing that..,and it wasn’t all that expensive. Might be worth a look. I hate the thought of you lugging water in this heat.
I saw a video of a water park in Wisconsin Dells this past weekend. People were shoulder to shoulder…no masks! What is wrong with them? With all the current info out there….all the Dr.’s warnings…and the rising numbers of Covid, you round think that common sense would prevail. But, NO! Stupidity prevails!
I like what Chris said….stay healthy long enough to vote. Hopefully, longer! But, at least until then. Stay safe…and stay cool! ;)
2nd paragraph…should’ve been would not round! Forgot to proofread. ;(
xo
I’ll check out the videos, Donna. Thanks.
Those people are fools and they are prolonging this nightmare. I can’t even tell you how angry I am about that.
Stay safe!
Nick Cordero’s death is so sad. His poor wife, and child who will grow up without him.
I agree with you on all counts. No one “needs” to go to a bar or an amusement ark or a crowded beach. The level of selfishness is mind boggling and all of it encouraged by that truly evil man in the White House .
Kept staying safe. Hopefully things will change in November.
Bonnie (from New Jersey)
It’s “Me, me, me, me.” Nothing about the greater good or our fellow man. Disgusting.
Stay safe, Bonnie!
As always, Claudia, you state things so well; the last paragraphs of your post today are powerful. I’d thought about this in the beginning of the Covid crisis, wondering if the day would come where our small-town (in the shadow of Los Angeles) newspaper might start filling up with obituaries, people dropping like flies as a result of the out-of-control virus. It doesn’t seem like a stretch now.
Just shuddered at my first web headline this afternoon, “US is in a ‘free fall’ with Covid-19, expert warns.” Among our worst fears, and here it is; this is really happening. And, yes, it’s the ongoing/gnawing fear but also the frustration, the human endeavor to fight off the hopelessness about this insidious virus curling and creeping into every crevice of the population. Which just is so anger-inducing, to know this could have gone a better way if we’d just had, from the beginning, the strong leadership from the top to be interested enough to save us instead of his own skin with re-election. (The natural inclination is to hope for improvement, a turnaround with this president; a hope that’s never realized, getting worse and more horrifying with each speech, each tweet. I think my one consolation is that his legacy will be one of such failure and that historians will look back on DT as the worst ‘leader’ in modern-American history. He deserves the harshest criticism and he’ll get it with the final conclusion of his presidency this year. He let the American people down in this national health crisis; nobody will forget it or forgive him. Like I said early-on, he has blood on his hands.)
I lived in Houston TX for three years and it’s this incredible medical mecca with amazing hospitals and mega specialists for all kinds of diseases, a hub for medical research (remember in the 1960s, the pioneering/famous heart surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey of Houston). To think they’re having to do triage, if what I read is true that they’re at capacity (or nearly so) in the huge megalopolis which is Houston, that there are wait lists for an ICU bed, it defies any logic and is a nightmare for doctors and nurses, deciding who to treat and who not to treat, which is of course against everything a doctor trains for, which is to save lives and help a patient, not send him/her home to fend for themselves. It’s like your NYC hospitals in March-April all over again.
There are bodies in the water and they’re drowning. I don’t want it to be me. I had a lot of people work hard to throw me a life ring and put cancer at bay (among other health issues I have); their efforts and mine shouldn’t have to be in vain. I wish other Americans out there who keep on being belligerent about doing their own ‘thing’ in a major epidemic, resisting authority, not doing the most basic mitigation of wearing a facial covering, would think about people like me. You’ve got vulnerable folks out there, all ages, who can’t help it that they already have disease and who can’t afford to get Covid, too. Why can’t the violators care enough about their fellow man (woman, or child)? But it’s just a repeat question. One that doesn’t get answered except to say we’ve changed; it’s me-me and not us-us.
My husband weighs in with several, localized social media groups (L.A. County and the burbs) and the subject of grocery shopping came up, such that he says a wider consensus now, due to explosive numbers of positive Covid cases and increased hospitalizations in just the past ten days or so here, is that fewer people here are going into the stores as we did in May and June. They’re turning again to home delivery, Instacart, etc. (But how do you balance that against what we see around us in the news, in our neighborhood and on the streets of our city, of other people who won’t even practice physical/social distancing? It’s such a divide. Like this wave of smart people trying to stand strong against the rising tide of not-smart ones in the swirling ocean of killer virus but the tide and big ocean is too much for the wave.)
So, we’re, husband and I, personally trying to now cut ‘way back on going out, retreating on the baby steps we’d made. I’d wanted to venture out for something this week (had taken me weeks to get up my courage and to trust) but am trying instead to arrange curbside pickup and just not get out of the car (although this shop wasn’t heretofore interested in doing curbside pickup as they just didn’t have the staffing for it; but, you know, if they want to survive with paying customers, they need to figure this out although I know it’s no easy thing for a shop owner to have to change so many things and follow what they probably feel are too many rules). My husband went to the garden/lumber center yesterday (big-box one) but to a section visited by less customers and he said, “That’s it. No more errands for awhile. Other than medical appointments, back into our shell we go.” (This, as they’re trying to figure out how to get kids back in school; how; how?)
Returning to the gratitude of being so lucky to be able to do that, to be able to stay home as retirees/seniors, when many other Americans have to get out in the germ-ridden environment every day, to get to their very-essential jobs, check on others, continue with their volunteer work because of people needing the charitable help, etc. The worry and tension must be just awful for them. It can be exhausting, being brave. I spoke with a gal on the phone who is one of those people, and here my husband and I grouse & grumble about all the gear to just go to the store, then come home, disinfect stuff and ourselves, but we do that infrequently and she has to do it every single evening when she gets off work after a long day because, in her words, “I have children. I don’t want to bring anything home to my family.” STRESS. I really can’t imagine the stress. And she’s been going thru that for over four months now, so it’s the danger of sustained stress and what it does to your well-being.
Yes, we’re hunkering down and doubling down on our protocols. It’s not getting better overall, though in NY it is. Stay safe, Vicki.
You and Don are the smart ones. Keep saying it and reminding here on the blog; you’re setting a good example. Be safe, not sorry. And I pray New York can escape these spikes/surge/spread. You have a good chance because you’ve got (the marvelous Mr. Cuomo’s) excellent leadership. It must be that New Yorkers are just plain smarter than my doofus-heavy (although beloved) Southern California.
Did you read that actor Tom Hanks is beginning to tell a little bit more about his Covid battle (with wife stricken as well) ‘Down Under’ which seems so long ago now; but, you know, among the first ‘famous’ people we heard about in the pandemic. But he said something recently akin to: “Socially distance; wear a mask; wash your hands. If you don’t, shame on you.” Amen.
I wasn’t thrilled that the first-up story on David Muir’s (ABC) evening newscast was my county seat’s hospital emergency measures for ‘surge’ going into immediate effect here on Tues as all our hospitals are nearly full and there will be a scramble for ICU beds although they’ll be opening up other wings of the hospital for Covid patients and using part of the ERs for same. Scary stuff. (God forbid you need an appendectomy or something; now is not the time.) The doctor/director guy they were interviewing for the national newscast was standing in front of the hospital where I had my last surgery. His opinion was that it’s no big mystery and they were anticipating exactly what’s happening; said quite directly that it was a combo of group-oriented high school grad celebrations, protest in the streets, 4th of July gatherings, the reopenings coupled with the lack of all the usual ‘mitigation’ of face masks, distancing. I don’t know how they’re not going to need to bring back that hospital ship up to L.A. from San Diego again.
We have to stay informed (to a point) but it’s hard to go to bed with this on the mind, like who can sleep with such sobering updates on what’s going on all around us. Ah, to be a bear in hibernation, only coming out when the threat is gone.
Hibernation would be perfect. Wake up when all is normal again! xo
Yes, I’ve read that. Good for him!
I pray the same thing, but there are idiots here, as well and I see them often. xo
100% agree about people not wearing masks … it’s stupid, rude and just plain wrong. makes me scared about what’s ahead … and angry about the recklessness of many people despite so much obvious pain, loss and sacrifices of others.
agree with you about a national requirement for wearing masks and social distancing when outside one’s home … and getting fined/jailed for failure to comply. your analogy of the shoe bomber changing airport security procedures applies perfectly.
sad and praying for nick cordero’s family. he fought so hard for so long …
loved the message behind the old “keep calm and carry on” poster … to rally the british people to come together and support efforts in ww2. quickly tired of all the variations that were created in the past few years (“keep calm and drink wine/crochet/ whatever …”), but when grocery shopping last friday, i found a mask that i had to buy for grocery shopping and work. besides the obvious benefit, there’s a bonus … some of the profit is to help veterans. i chose one that made me laugh out loud (and will likely irritate my boss, but i don’t care): in big bold letters it reads “keep calm and stay back at least six feet”. haha and i mean it, people!
hope you are staying safe and cool!
kathy in iowa
ps … glad for his enjoyment and yours that don is writing more music. if he has one or two of his cds around the house that he’d like to sell, please let me know! thanks.
kathy in iowa
Thanks, Kathy. I’ll check into it!
Thanks, Kathy! I’ll check into it.
Oh, what a great mask! Perfect. I’ll have to look for one like that. The message is there, the line is drawn, and the person who sees it will hopefully back off!
Stay safe, Kathy.
The loss of Nick Cordero hurt deep into my heart.. I had been following his story. All the deaths are unbearably sad but some hit us worse than others.
I’m glad y0u’re taking a break — I know that is terribly tedious work. I will eagerly await the tour of Don’s studio!
Now I will stop typing in the dark!
Yes, don’t type in the dark! Stay safe, Jeanie.
AMEN to all you said-I’m sick and disgusted beyond words!
Ditto. Stay safe, Carolyn!
Completely agree with you ! I read somewhere ” if you don’t Like wearing a mask,
you really won’t like a ventilator !”
So very sad to hear of Nick Cordero ‘s death. He fought a long battle.
Yes, he did. Heartbroken for his wife and child and family and for the theater community that loved him so.
Stay safe, Sandy!
I know just how frustrated you feel. I had been going along fine until this second lot of virus hit. The idiot premier in the state of Victoria (Oz) needs to be reined in and have people tell him just what his inaction has done to them. The repercussions from his lack of decision making has now grown so large to include thousands and thousands of people. He is nothing but a so and so fool who doesn’t like to make decisions that are needed. Now the whole of his state has been locked off from the rest of Australia as we don’t want his virus. However, many fools have had the virus and have travelled when they were not allowed and so they have brought the virus into our state which shares their border. One woman who was meant to be self isolating with police guarding them climbed out onto a fire escape and got away from a city hotel. I can’t believe the numbers of new positive tests from Victoria each day. My daughter was meant to be coming next weekend to celebrate her dad’s belated birthday. We don’t see her very often as she lives a lot further north in our state. Yesterday she was told by her boss that one of the girls in her office had tested positive and until her results were known Yvette was told to stay home. Apparently this girl had gone off to a big party where someone from Victoria had been and now everyone’s work and personal plans have been put on hold. Life stinks with all of these selfish people having such an immpact on others. I feel angry and depressed at the one time. How much longer do we have to suffer this mess? Sorry I am feeling so negative. I have been trying to feel positive.
I’m sorry to hear such foolishness is happening in your country as well. Don’t apologize for feeling negative. You’re allowed. I’m feeling the same way. Take care and stay safe, Robyn!
Looks like today will be a little cooler and less humid, but so far this morning, it looks pretty wet out there (I’m writing this on Tues.–a day late and a dollar short as my dear old dad used to say). Your fern is thriving! Our woods are thick and green, beautiful to view. And now that you’ve spent some time with Dove Cottage (I love that name), I am going to start window shopping for my deco doll house. Thanks for continuing to share beauty with us. Looking forward to hearing some of Don’s songs soon!
It’s not wet here, unfortunately. We desperately need some rain!
Window shopping is a good thing to do! Start making your lists, Nora.
Stay safe.