One of my little sunflowers just opened up. I remember grabbing some seeds during my first lockdown trip to the nursery – having no idea what size they might be. This is on the petite side and I love it.
Lots of morning glories this morning. The other batch that I sowed in the chicken wire fence garden? Lots of leaves, absolutely no flowers so far. I’ve had this happen in the past. I sure hope they’re simply waiting to bloom in September.
I didn’t do any dollhouse work yesterday as I attacked the main bathroom for a thorough cleaning. That took a few hours. You know I hate doing a deep clean of the bathroom. However, when I do tackle it, I feel very satisfied. Now the kitchen needs a deep clean, as well, but I’m going to wait a day or two to start in on that.
We had a late afternoon thunderstorm with lots of wind and rain. By that point in the day, I had given up hope, but then I heard some faint thunder off in the distance. Huzzah! Of course, I’d already hand watered all of the garden by that point, but what the heck.
I had a little epiphany last night. As I scanned twitter to see what happened on the second night of the RNC and promptly felt sickened at all the lies and propaganda, I realized that I can’t go forward like this – being anti-Orange Man. Of course, I am and I detest everything he stands for. BUT, fighting against is alway weaker than fighting for. So I’m going to do my best to block out as much of his fascist drivel as I can, knowing that it’s not possible to block all of it, and move ahead fighting for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. I am not going to give any more of my energy to him – he’ll suck it up, he’ll feast on it, he’ll want more. I refuse to give it to him. I’m going to give all my positive energy to Joe and Kamala, to all that is good, to everything they represent for our future.
I shared that thought with Don as we got ready for bed and he agreed.
So that’s where you’ll find me; doing whatever I can to help elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
I remember right after my father died, I had to deal with my estranged sister (she’s estranged from everyone in the family) who lives in a world where loved ones and neighbors are her enemies, where she is always a victim of something or other, who concocts fantasies that have no basis in reality. On the night of his death I had a conversation with her that was very upsetting and I spoke to Don about it on the phone. He said I should think of her as an annoying gnat that I could finally brush aside, the last connection to her having been my father. I never had to deal with her again. I could move on, knowing I did everything I could to repair the relationship; having no idea what made her pull away from us because she would not answer any phone calls or emails, yet willing to apologize for whatever she perceived to be the problem.
I took his advice. It took a while, but eventually I realized that I had been freed from all her negative energy and could move on. My choice was to be positive, not negative. I could let her go and move forward in peace.
That’s how I choose to look at this election. Of course, we have no guarantee that we won’t have to deal with OM again, but I believe a positive push FOR and the energy that creates is far more powerful than a push against. Plus, I simply cannot let him occupy my mind and heart for a moment longer.
Stay safe.
Happy Wednesday.
Funny…I was just looking at FB (my first mistake – I’ve taken the app off my phone but I look at FB when I’m on my laptop) at saw a negative post about Trump and was going to share it on my page and then thought, “why bother?” Why spread negativity and give space to it? Those of my FB friends who already dislike Trump are already aware of anything I’d post. And if any of my FB friends support Trump, I’m not going to change their mind with one of my shared posts. Note to self: stay the hell off FB as much as possible.
Also uncanny…my estranged sister sounds just like yours. She basically divorced our entire family a little over a year ago. It’s sad because she’s so mentally ill and she has hurt so many people, including her own daughters.
Lest this be a totally negative commentary, the sun is shining and it’s a brand-new day. And my son is coming in from California this evening! Lots to be thankful for. Hope you have a beautiful day.
My trigger is Twitter. I scan it now, but don’t stay there.
I’m sorry to hear about your sister. I believe my sister is mentally ill as well. I wish her only the best and I love her but clearly, there’s nothing else I can do but that. You, too.
Yay! You’ll see your son tonight! Wonderful Enjoy, Melanie and stay safe.
Oh, I think that’s a splendid idea! And, a perhaps a good way to turn our attitudes around. I ‘ve had friends, and a couple of cousins that I had to turn away from, so, I understand to some degree what that is like. It’s certainly worth a good old college try!
Stay safe! ;)
I’m not saying I’ll always be successful – but if I can do it 50% of the time, I’ll be happy.
Stay safe, Donna.
Lol…well, I already failed today, but there’s always tomorrow! ;)
I failed many times. But I’ll keep working at it. xo
Dear Claudia, I totally agree with your approach. Uplifting the positive, and not investing ANY energy into negatives seems like the best strategy. Despair is the Devil’s tool. There’s a wonderful scene in one of the Harry Potter movies (I think it’s “Order of the Phoenix” ) where Luna Lovegood tells Harry that Voldemort wants him to feel like he’s all alone and has no allies, but that it isn’t true, he does have friends who believe him. We know that there are legions of us who do not accept the lying lies of he-who-has-no-shame. I refer to Richard Nixon’s landslide second election, followed by his resignation. Truth will out!
It will indeed!
Thanks, Leslie.
Stay safe.
I love your sunflower. It is very hard to deal with mentally ill relatives. It took great strength to do what was right for you and let her go.
I like you, detest O.M. I live in the south in the heart of Trump country and his fans are not interested in reality and are unfailingly loyal to him. I hope Joe and Kamala approach the election as you propose you are. Focus on all they can do in contrast to what he does. That can turn this. Just focusing on his lies and misdeeds will not get it done. The people that consider voting for him do not care about any of that. They accept and defend him on the regular and deflect blame onto the other side. I pray anybody that wants a change takes this seriously gets out and votes!!!!! Apathy is our enemy in this election.
So far, Biden and Harris seem to be focusing on what they will do. They aren’t taking Trump’s bait.
Fingers crossed.
Stay safe, Jan!
I would love to eliminate all the negative energy associated with Trump if only I didn’t get my ” knickers in a twist”, as my Nana would say, every time I see his face! I will try your positive approach as you are right about it being healthier. After all we have to be in good shape when he is finally gone and soon that will be I pray. Stay safe and thanks for all you share.
Like I said earlier, I am absolutely sure I won’t be successful at this every day. But I’ll do my best, Janet!
Today? So far, so good.
Stay safe.
I have the same sister!!!! We haven’t spoken in many years. It is very sad as she is my only sibling. Just like you, after my parents were gone I had to move on. We are so very different. I am a firm believer that although we come from the same gene pool, so much of life is about choices. She and I chose very different paths in our lives.
I agree with supporting Biden & Harris instead of wasting energy on trying to convert the cult who follows the idiot. My current worry is here in Wisconsin. tRump and Pence are in this state every other day. Seriously. They are here more than they are in DC. And we haven’t had any visits from Biden & Pence. I need to get my head switched over to realize that they are just NOT going to be campaigning out and about. I worry about that, but I support it, of course, based on concern for their health and the health of those who would come out to support them. It is all so different this time around. However, the repubs are playing by the “old” rules and I have heard so many people remarking that they must be scared to come here. Of course I remind them of the PANDEMIC, but most of them believe it is a hoax, so that doesn’t help. We must all do all that we can do! Good has to triumph over evil, right? Right???
It’s awfully upsetting when this kind of thing happens with siblings. Meredith and I are so aware that we lost our brother almost 20 years ago to cancer, and now we’ve lost our one other sibling to mental illness. Thank goodness I have her. Thinking of you, Chris.
These idiots don’t care if they infect everyone else, so they go on the road. (Look at last night’s event – no masks.)
Biden is doing the right thing but it must be very hard for him to sacrifice in-person rallies. Those who are sane will respect him for that. Those that are cult members won’t and they’ll run to a Trump rally and get infected.
Good absolutely has to triumph over evil, Chris.
Stay safe.
Additional support for the right decision you’ve proposed, Claudia – go for the guy we want and just keep glancing in the rearview mirror to make sure the Orange-one is fading from view.
TG the fires are on the wane — still lots of crappy air to breathe outside even though my stupido-bobo-loco phone weather app says otherwise. My last pet is on the wane, also, but still fighting to help her see another day.
Best to all in finding a way through it all.
A good way to describe it, Martha. The rearview mirror!
I’m so sorry about your pet – a cat, right? I know how hard that is to witness. Sending love to you and your beloved pet.
Stay safe.
hej, martha …
sending prayers for you and your sweet pet. may this time be gentle for you both. hope you do nice things for yourself, too.
best wishes with the phone app, fires and everything else going on, too.
a virtual hug, if you want, from someone who’s been there …
kathy in iowa
Oh, Martha; I feel for you. My dog has taken a turn and we’ve been on pins and needles, too. Life just STOPS. Will make another assessment tomorrow early (like we’ve been doing every hour on the hour it seems), vet or not/go or no go, but I think it’s a second night of little sleep for my husband and me. Taking this one to the vet is difficult; we don’t know WHY she’s so terrified of going to the vet but it is very, very stressful for her and we’ve tried to desensitize her by going just to go and with no procedures, but nothing has ever worked, and she gets so upset that she puts on the skids (too hard on the already-arthritic hips) and can defecate on herself due to some unknown-extreme fear which is why we’ve hesitated; so, it’s always a hard call, but we’re letting her just rest, keeping her quiet, trying to push fluids; wishing she could tell us what has happened. Big dog, those problem hips in too many of them, very typical as they age (and she’s pushing 12 now). But the coughing has me concerned that it could be her heart (although it did cease; was like a little ‘spell’). I’m sure we’re off to the vet first thing tomorrow because I-Vicki am the one who can’t take this; if she’s in pain, it has to be remedied.
hej, vicki …
prayers for guidance and comfort for your sweet pup and you, too.
hope today goes better than expected, in every way.
kathy in iowa
Thank you, kathy in iowa; you are always so kind; it was a turn for the worse the other day but, this evening, it’s a turn for the better. She is still off her food a bit but is drinking and moving around more; back to some of her old habits but very, very slowly. Heck, I can relate, if I’ve got a pinched nerve or the like; it’s rest and time. Anyway, didn’t mean to get all ‘dramatic’ here on the blog, but when Martha mentioned she’s got an older pet, I was so ‘relating’. I’m sure the vet will probably want to put our dog on a long-term NSAID but those anti-inflammatories aren’t without sometimes-serious side effects for a canine. (Same as steroids; I’ve been down that ‘med’ road with three of our other dogs over the many years. A delicate balance.) At the age she is though, and with already-arthritic hips, we’ll have to weigh benefit in terms of quality of (remaining) life. Which is what any responsible pet owner does…
hej, vicki …
glad there’s been a turn for the better! hoping and praying that continues for your pup, you and your other loves.
and the whole world.
and i wouldn’t call it being dramatic at all. there’s lots of love involved when someone is responsible for and to members of their family … be they human or animal … and especially if one is not well in some way.
here’s to better days!
and to me “getting off the food and moving more”. :)
hope you have a nice, safe, easy weekend, vicki!
kathy in iowa
Hi Claudia,
I, and many others, am so thankful for your positive attitude in the middle of the day, bringing calm in the midst of this calamity!
Keep cheering for the white hats!
Take care…
Kelly
I will! Thank you, Kelly.
Stay safe.
I no longer listen to anything re: OM. It makes me WAY too sick to my stomach & my nerves are shot from this monster. Somehow, I just have to believe Biden/Harris are going to win & return this country to some sort of nomalcy.
I love your garden!!
VERY warm & VERY humid here in OB today..
We, too, have relatives like yours. Sad, but true. All we can do is continue leading good, healthy, loving lives & leave out as much negative as possible.
I don’t want him to be able to rob me of any more of my days here. I’m almost 68 and I want PEACE.
Stay safe, Priscilla.
Amen! I’m almost 71 & feel the same way
xo
I agree totally. I don’t do social media. I do read blogs. I have deleted many from my favorites that won’t quit telling us how great the P. is. Today, I looked at one I really enjoy…the lady is so sweet. Comments asking readers to pray for the P. to be elected and on and on and on and on. I can’t read it. I can’t watch it. I am a really political person who has had to shut down this part of my life-the negative part. I have too many severe health problems to let this add stress to me. The first think I think when I read about praying for him to be reelected is to think…where is your mind? I am a Christian…I keep politics and religion separate as we are to do. Sorry about this vent, but this is not a day for me to breathe freely. I ventured out-first hair cut in six months–first day somewhere in 166…love hair cut…but had to comment…please I DO NOT discuss politics. Claudia, where are the minds of these folks? Sorry…had to write this…brendab
It’s okay to vent here, Brenda. Feel free.
I don’t understand them and never will. Though Don says, and I think he’s right, they are in fear that White people will not longer be the majority in this country. It’s white panic. And that makes sense. Everything has to do with Trump and his racist agenda.
Take a deep breath, Brenda and do something that makes you happy.
Stay safe.
I was ‘talking’ on email with an out-of-state cousin this evening while trying not to worry about my sick dog and the cousin said he feels he’s lost half his family and half his friends due to this terrible divisiveness over politics. And I’ve been grieving for the loss of a friend I’ve known since 1976 when realizing she’s a Trumper (in all this time, we always steered clear of race, religion, politics; but I’m the one who changed when I became very vocal with my views about repellant Trump, since he invades too much of my life, and that’s when her true colors emerged to my utter sorrow) but I can’t be friends with someone whose ideals and morals and core beliefs have become so opposite of mine – – not expecting us to be clones, not wanting to take away her right to her own opinions, but simply my choice not to surround myself by anybody who could possibly condone what’s going on in the Trump administration or with him. Yes, I’m in a mood, because I’m worried about friends back on the Gulf Coast with this storm, my ailing pet, one thing and another, but when I did turn on the nightly news tonight, only allowing myself ONE news recap per night right now, I burst into tears with only the brief intro of news stories of the day before they even got into the nitty-gritty of it, because it was all so awful, with indeed the hurricane, this reversal on testing for Covid, the rioting in Wisconsin. It’s a daily struggle to find ‘the happy’. But we must.
I’ve got to sign off/turn off the computer because we’re getting another rolling brownout here (they are so WEIRD) in SoCalif tonight, heat-humidity and wildfire. Some days, it is just.too.much.
Oh Vicki, I’m so sorry to hear that your beloved dog is ill. I know how much you love and adore your companions. I’m praying that today bring some sort of medicine to help. Thinking of you and sending you love.
Thank you, Claudia. You know what this is with the elderly dogs. As I said to kathy from iowa in the responses, tonight she is better but I know it could have gone either way. I just pray we can still have her through Covid because she’s our ‘sanity’ in so many ways, but it’s never for or about us, rather her quality of life. We’re going to the vet as soon as we feel she’s up to the car ride with those hips. I’m sure we’re at the point of daily pain relief, which is okay, she’ll take medicine well, we’ll have some choices on drugs; but, despite the hips, I’m still a little worried if her heart is okay although she’s always checked out well before on it. She’s one who has always been so darned healthy (a Heinz-57 mix, mostly shepherd/retriever, dumped in our neighborhood when she was newly-weaned from her mother, from what the vet could tell at the time; so unconscionable that someone would do that to a little baby puppy), which is why this has felt like a surprise. Yet it’s not; she’s a big girl; the hips and legs can start having probs with age. We expect them and want them to live forever, but coming up on 12 years could be it. I did raise a cocker to age 15, and a cat to age 19 and used to constantly juggle if that was for me or for them. It’s hard to let go.
Both Riley and Scout had those problems and it was very hard to witness. Hopefully, some sort of supplement might help? Thinking of you.
Bravo. I agree with that approach completely. We must work toward, not against. It’s a different mind set and an important one. Well stated.
Your blooms are so pretty. I wonder how my morning glories at home are doing? I’m not terribly optimistic unless we’ve had a lot of rain. Yours are lovely and perfection with the zinnias. And wasn’t that sunflower a beauty? Love it!
Thank goodness for zinnias – they come up from the ground and bloom, no matter what. I am thrilled with that sunflower.
Thanks, Jeanie.
Stay safe.
Thank you Claudia! I have recently come to realize wasting my time won’t change anything, least of all this being baited by Trump ..reduced to fits of anger……..he is erased ! Door closed. Back to reality . Thank you yet again for inspiring me.
That’s exactly it. He baits us. So we need to ignore him.
Thanks, Marcy Ray.
Stay safe.
I am interested in what you might do to help get Biden elected in these times of Covid.
I have been trying to think of something besides voting. I am not sure I am that comfortable going to a campaign office or canvassing.
It is so sad about your sister.
I’m not sure yet. Surely I can make phone calls from home. I did that years ago when Gore was running for Pres. I think the thing to do is to contact Biden’s campaign and ask what we can do.
Yes, it’s sad about L. If I had a penny for all the time Mere and I spent on trying to figure out what was going on with her, what caused this insane behavior, I’d be a wealthy woman. In the end, to save my sanity, I had to let it go. I’ve done all I can, Mere has done all she can. So has my cousin and my niece. My parents – who she still kept in touch with but only by phone, never a visit, even when they were dying – were also devastated by her actions. Ah well. xo
Good ideas. Yes you have to let it go.
xoxo my old friend.
foremost, i am sad for the losses of siblings that you and some other friends here have had to deal with. very sad. prayers for health in body, mind, spirit, boundaries and relationships for the world.
i echo the kudos for and agreement with the plan to work for something rather than against something else. not always an easy thing for me to do, especially right now, but it is so important. thanks for sharing about this … a good reminder.
hope you are soon pleasantly surprised with bunches of blooms. i’d like to see a petite sunflower. sunflowers are beautiful, but when there are so many and they get so tall, i get a little creeped out. like they are something out of “little shop of horrors”. or “children of the corn”. or maybe it’s just triggering a flashback to summers spent detassling corn … row after hot, crowded, bug- and mice-filled row of corn several feet taller than me. haha.
glad you got some rain! another hot day here with no rain in the forecast. i am ready for fall’s cooler weather.
hope you’re having a nice night, taking it easy. that’s what i’m doing here … taking it easy, do a little reading and puttering after dinner. does anybody have an easy vegetarian recipe they want to share? please and thanks.
and stay safe!
kathy in iowa
I love masses of sunflowers. Our local nursery always plants tons of them in their fields. They’re cheery. But then again, I didn’t have to detassel corn!
Stay safe, Kathy.
they are cheery and i love seeing fields of tall sunflowers from a bit of distance (to see the whole thing). it’d be walking through that field that i wouldn’t like. :)
kathy in iowa
xo
Easy Vegetarian: 5 ingredients. 1. 15oz. Can chickpeas drained and rinsed
2. 1 cup shredded carrots. 3. 1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs. 4. 1/4 cup creamy Italian dressing plus more for serving. (I use Caesar dressing.). 5.1 egg
1. Preheat oven to 375F. Spray baking sheet with oil or grease it or use parchment paper. 2. Coarsely mash chickpeas (I use the food processor.). Mix in a bowl with the rest of the ingredients. 3. Form into patties using a tablespoon. Place on baking sheet. 4. Bake for 18 minutes. Turn after 9 minutes. Serve warm or cold with additional salad dressing for dipping. (-:
hej, linda …
thank you so much! that recipe sounds delicious; i love veggie burgers and, also on their own, chickpeas. this also sounds easy … just my speed!
i don’t like to cook or bake except when it’s for my family (i am single) and now, with that stupid covid-19, i do even less. as much as i truly enjoy and appreciate leftovers, i am finally getting tired of my usual attempts at cooking so very much appreciate your recipe. think i have most of the ingredients already. :)
hope you and your loved ones are all safe, well, have what you need and have a good day.
thanks again!
kathy in iowa
This sounds right up my alley; easy and delish. Always trying to find a way to use chickpeas, which Mom called garbanzos and, because she didn’t like ’em, then I didn’t; but, I’m a grown-up now, and chickpeas are good for you; Hello Hummus. Thanks!
yes to chickpeas/garbanzo beans and hummus!
kathy in iowa
Thank you, Claudia for blogging during these horrific times. I enjoy hearing what you are both up to and seeing your photos. It’s a nice break from the world.
And we all need a nice break from the world.
Stay safe, Sandy.
Thank you for this, Claudia. I think your decision to avoid “It” as much as possible is very wise. We owe it to ourselves to avoid that negative energy when we can. Love your posts. I know I don’t comment very frequently, but I do read your lovely blog every day.
Peace to all!
Thank you for your kinds words, Carolyn.
Stay safe.
What an excellent idea..instead of spending my energy being against the OM, I’m going to follow your lead and be FOR fairness, equality, the TRUTH, compassion and unity. Thanks Claudia 💝
You’re welcome, Beth.
Stay safe.