We got a lot of rain yesterday that lasted most of the day. I’m so happy about that, though it means that I can’t mow today and will have to wait until tomorrow. Our plants are happy, our trees and grass and birds and critters are happy – and we’re happy. It’s still quite muggy and we have two days coming up of temps in the nineties, so tomorrow has to be my day to get out there and mow what I can before I run out of energy. I’m not letting Don do it yet.
He took another walk on the property this morning. He’s sleeping better and I moved back upstairs last night. I counted up the nights I spent down here on the sofa – nine. Oh boy, did our mattress feel good last night! We’re slowly getting back into our daily routines and we realize more than ever how important a routine is, especially during these days of staying home and self-isolating. We’re used to the need to create structure/a routine each day as we’ve been freelancers for years. When I was teaching and coaching full-time, my days and evenings were so full that I craved the one day I got during the week with no structure. But it’s been flipped these past 19 years, so now we create and need our daily routines.
I finished both the Diane Keaton book and Weather by Jenny Offill this morning. Both were excellent. Jenny’s book, written in a ‘pointillist style’ as one of the blurbs stated, was fascinating, compelling and incredibly timely. However, that very style kept me from totally engaging with the main character. It created a distance that had me observing the words, rather than living in the pages. But I liked it and I’m glad I read it. Next up is Furious Hours – Murder, Fraud and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep. It concerns the trial of a serial killer in Alabama and the book that Harper Lee was writing about it. I’ve wanted to read this since it was first published and this is a signed copy that I got at Shakespeare and Company in Paris. It’s finally time.
What else? I’m constantly, or so it seems, thinking about the interior of the dollhouse and what I’m going to do with it – right now, the open living space on the first floor. I’ll leave the bathroom until last because it’s the room that interests me the least. (Just as our bathrooms interest me the least!) I’ve ordered a pretty substantial piece from an Etsy seller – she makes the most wonderful furniture. She is making it especially for me because the piece that was listed was a bit too tall for the rooms in my dollhouse. She lives in Italy. I’m narrowing down my choice for wallpaper in that room. I’m trying to figure out the window situation. This is what’s going on in my head at any given moment during the day.
Thanks for being there for us during this worrisome time. Don is getting stronger by the day and we are so grateful.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
really good news about don’s health and you being able to sleep in your bed instead of on a sofa! must be such relief for you both.
same for you getting so much rain. hope you stay safe while mowing the lawn in such heat and humidity. a couple days ago we had .02 of an inch of rain … short sprinkles, basically … but need so much more. today will reach 90-plus degrees and a heat index around 105 so will be staying indoors.
agree about the importance of routines, at least for myself. i function better when i keep consistent with bedtime/wake-up hours, chores (i, too, care least for cleaning the bathroom) and other patterns (walking, hobbies, etc.). much, much better.
your books sound interesting. glad you have the harper lee book to look forward to. i am in this hatefully-long stretch where i can’t focus enough to read more than a page or two. hard to get interested in something at that rate. the way you described thinking about your dollhouse decor sounds like how i am with writing a couple children’s books … thinking about them all the time. goals that are important and interesting to me (and hopefully someday to others as well) hold my attention better, though i end up with lots of little scraps of paper (written at home, in the car, outside the grocery store …) with words and sentences and ideas to consider … ha. at present, painting and knitting are easiest; my mind can wander. guess that’s what i need right now.
thanks for being here for us! and sharing that chubby bee on a pretty flower.
stay safe and well. also cool. happy friday!
kathy in iowa
Love that your contemplating writing some children’s books, Kathy. How wonderful!
I had to stop doing puzzles for a while. I was a bit burned out. I’ll probably get back to them in the fall and winter.
Stay safe!
Yes…very good news about Don’s health and you returning to the bed. I’m sure your back really appreciated that.
I have both of Diane Keaton’s books…guess I better get on that. I’d actually forgotten I had those books, til you reminded me the other day. Guess my TBR stack is too tall.
Our heat and humidity is to start up today, and really crank up for the weekend. The last several days have been nice…we got to have the windows open for a bit each day. Fresh air is the best.
You’re planning for the dollhouse…I’m planning next years’ garden additions. I figure it’s too late this year to be buying more perennials. Just another port in the storm to take our minds off of what’s going on in the world, I guess. Stay safe! ;)
I think about next year’s gardens but I don’t really add too many new plants, so I’ll leave my garden dreaming until winter!
We have to have something that takes us away from this nightmare, for sure. The dollhouse for me, gardens for you. Stay safe, Donna!
So glad Don is feeling better. We are having really hot weather with no rain. Take care.
I love summer but the heat can really get you down. Thanks so much, Judy. Stay safe, my friend.
This is good news indeed. I’m thinking you probably had a good night’s sleep, both with less worry and more comfort.
90s tomorrow here, so looks like it is everywhere. Yes, up and out early with that mower! I’m so glad Don can get around and now that things are moving forward with health you can get back to that routine. It does make a dif.
Take care!
90s for us on Sunday. We’re a day behind you. Don still gets very tired in the afternoons, but that’s to be expected. But every day he has a bit more energy.
Thanks, Jeanie. Stay safe.
So glad Don is feeling better and that you knew how concerned all of us have been. After all, we “housewives” have to stick together! :-) Seriously, so glad things are turning around and he is gaining strength.
We had 2 beautiful days and enjoyed having the windows open. We just closed up the house now for the heat onslaught about to take place over the next few days. Heat Index into the low 100’s. Inside days are ahead. Lots of reading time!!
“Housewives” What century is he living in?
We will have that same onslaught on Sunday and Monday. I’m dreading it! Tomorrow, I mow!
Stay safe.
Hi Claudia,
This was a very pleasant post!
Have a great weekend.
Take care…
Thank you, Kelly! Stay safe.
So nice to hear your good news, Claudia! I’m glad Don is feeling better :) Looking forward to seeing the new piece you have commissioned for the dollhouse. This sure seems to be a lovely time of year at Mockingbird Hill Cottage.
Enjoy your weekend,
Christy
It is, but it’s very, very hot and humid much of the time.
But the flowers are at their best!
Stay safe, Christy.
I a curious
Did it take a long period of time for you and Do to get into a routine since neither one of you work now
Thanks
You mean since lockdown? Because we still work and will continue to work when all this is over.
If you’re referring to lockdown, no, it didn’t. We’re used to working for long chunks of time and then being home for a chunk of time, so our routine pretty much stayed the same, except that Don added his morning walk. Once we could work outside, it got much better!
Stay safe.
It’s good to hear that Don is feeling much better and that you’re both getting back to your routines. There’s nothing like your own bed!
Please could I ask a question to you and your readers – do you think standard American paper grocery bags would be wide enough and strong enough to hold six library books lying flat on the bottom?
The reason I’m asking is I’m trying to find a suitable bag to distribute books to our borrowers who will either collect from us without entering the building or have a home delivery. The bags can’t be plastic because of Covid 19.
Large paper bags aren’t really used in supermarkets in England probably because it’s often raining, so we’re encouraged to bring our own reusable bag or buy a biodegradable one.
Also could I be cheeky and ask for the dimensions of the bag too😀
Thanks ever so much!
Happy Friday
hej, dee dee.
that’s very nice and helpful for you to offer delivery of books at this scary time!
in my experience, american paper bags (at least those used where i live) should easily fit and carry six hard/softcover books as long as they aren’t super-oversized or coffee-table-style books.
i’m not home yet, but when i get there, i will measure a bag, then get back here and let you know the measurements.
grocery stores here push plastic bags (even before the pandemic … ugh and ugh) and not all of them have paper bags; of those that do, some have paper bags with handles and some do not. i’d suggest (based on experience and my preference to avoid plastic) that unless you are rolling, taping or stapling closed the bags of books, if you can find them, paper bags with the little fold-up-to-use handles might be easier for people to use.
an aside and a question from the middle of america, grocery stores i go to are not accepting reusable bags nor returns on most things at present. are your stores accepting them?
hope you’re staying well and safe over there and have everything you need!
kathy in iowa
Our store (where we pick up groceries) will only use paper bags, which we are charged for.
They just changed in our area to accept the reusable bags as long as the customer keeps them in the grocery cart basket & loads the groceries themselves.
At some stores this is easier than others.
Hi Kathy – Thanks for your information, it’s really been useful. We’ll definitely order some next week, most likely a large quantity so I didn’t want to make a costly mistake!
Over here you can use reusable bags as they’re always in your trolley. It’s normal to do your own packing if you’re able to although the cashier will usually offer to help.
Shops have been open for a few weeks but you’re not allowed to try anything on. If you need to return goods, they’re quarantined for 72 hours. (We’re doing this with library books too).
From today onwards in England mask wearing is compulsory in shops, malls, post offices, banks etc and subject to a £100 fine. Previously it was only encouraged.
The library service has always taken books to housebound customers and retirement homes so we’re extending it for the foreseeable future to folk who don’t feel confident coming to pick up themselves.
Take care
Our paper bags would be fine, I think. I don’t have one nearby to measure, but they’re plenty strong.
Thanks, Dee Dee! Stay safe.
Dee Dee, I don’t have a paper grocery bag here, but I am sure one would hold 6 books and especially if you told/ encouraged people picking them up to hold them from the bottom so they wouldn’t fall through. I am so very very happy libraries are opening again. We are able to do arranged pick up of books at our library and I don’t know what I would do without it!
Hi Chris – Thank you too for your help and information. We needed the books to lie flat rather than upright in their bags so they’re easier to handle especially if they’re being packed into a van for distribution😀
Take care
Hi Claudia – thanks for letting me know. I’ll tell everyone at work about the help I’ve had from my American friends!
Take care
hej, dee dee.
here are the dimensions of a paper bag i have at home: 17 inches (43.18 centimeters) tall x 11.75 inches (29.84 cm) wide x 7 inches (17.78 cm) deep. think that is standard for paper grocery store bags in the us.
when i’ve wanted to buy some extra paper bags, cashiers have variously given me a couple for free or charged maybe 10 cents per bag.
hope that helps.
also, i echo what chris k in wisconsin said about holding underneath the bag if the books feel a bit heavy. i was adding my first comment in a hurry as i was at work (oops … but i needed a dose of good news and kindness, something i always find at claudia’s place) and didn’t get that part said.
unless going to a super-discount food warehouse or (because of coronavirus) the biggest box store where you must provide your own bags and sack purchases yourself, it’s very common here in iowa to have two employees at grocery store check-outs … a cashier and a sacker. and they, understandably, don’t want to handle anything more than necessary. cashiers are often behind plexiglass shields, but sackers are not. that’s why reusable bags are banned here.
hooray for england making mask-wearing mandatory … and having a big penalty for breaking that law! some states require masks when outdoors (though it’s easy to get a doctor’s note saying you can’t safely use one), but i am not aware of any place fining someone for not wearing a mask. if you follow news about america, then you know there is a huge divide between mask-wearers and non-mask-wearers (among other problems). i don’t expect a national mask mandate to happen in the us, especially if a fine was part of it. sad and scary … when will this end?!? i pray that out of all the losses and grief and anger, we learn to treat each other with respect, talk with and really listen to each other and focus on what’s truly important, not be so selfish (especially in a crisis).
best wishes on the paper bag/delivery project and everything else you do. stay safe!
kathy in iowa
Hi Kathy – thanks again for the further information and for the metric conversion! I still use imperial measurements for everything including temperatures even though we’ve been metric for years although we still use mileage for distance not kilometres.
We’ll mostly likely roll the tops of the bags, I’ll let folk know to hold them underneath.
I think it’s a good decision to make masks mandatory. One of our national banks has a sense of humour, they have signs on the door showing a normal surgical style mask with the word Acceptable and next to it one that has a complete head covering with only eye holes visible (as used in bank robberies) marked Unacceptable!😀
Take care
You have a lot of good news today! Rain, Don, dollhouse; yay! Glad for you both.
Oh boy do I hear you about a routine, and we have none in my house; suffering because of it and a lot of time wasted. Just was talking to my husband about it this morning, that we MUST change because I don’t like this slipshod way of living. Good structure is good medicine. We all need some borders and order to our days at home.
Gotta have a routine, Vicki. I encourage you both to establish one. It will help so much!
Stay safe!
Another beautiful photo of your garden flowers. What can I say. They are so beautiful.
Glad the patient is getting bettereven though it is slowly.
We are battening down for bad weather. Raining now but tomorrow we will have very heavy rain and very high winds. I hope to keep sewing – got it out and have started sewing.
Stay safe in this bad weather, Robyn! Take care.
Good news for both of you in the health dept. XO. In response to the rain we’ve had recently, I was stunned when I went down our driveway yesterday and at the very end, planted in the stump of what used to be our sentinel tree, a single glorious glowing orange day Lilly. had bloomed! Sometimes one exquisite flower is as stunning as a field of them. I took a photo but with my camera there was no way to capture it’s flaming color. Nice gift! Hope you can get your yard work done before the dome of humidity falls again.
Isn’t that the most delightful surprise? Love that.
I’m off to mow shortly, right after I have a little oatmeal.
Stay safe Nora.
I would have lost count of the days. I remember being surprised when it was day 100 … Enjoy the weeken. Regula
I write what number day it is every day in my planner. Then I title all the posts by number. Easy!
Stay safe, Regula.