After well over 24 hours, the high winds have finally died down. This kind of wind, coupled with pollen, makes me feel quite ill so I was miserable yesterday. Thankfully, today is much better, the sun is out, though it’s cold, and I feel human again.
Actually, I’ve been dealing with sinus congestion and feeling ill off and on for a couple of weeks. I did worry a bit, but it was clear it wasn’t COVID-19. I’m fine now. I had none of the symptoms and, as I noted yesterday, life goes on and you can get sick with something other than this vile virus. I seem to always have problems at this time of year.
In the middle of it all yesterday, the wind changed directions and suddenly I was outside, rescuing all manner of things that blew off the front porch. It was insane out there.
I’m well into The Lost Pianos of Siberia. It’s truly excellent. Can’t recommend it enough. Since I was under the weather yesterday, I sat in the den with my laptop and watched three hour-long Monty Don specials about the gardens of France. They were wonderful. Next up? Italy. They make for a lovely way to pass the time during these days of lockdown. We watched Dinner at Eight last night (one of my favorite movies) but both of us fell asleep in the middle of it! Ah, well.
Egg cups:
These cups were a gift from my friend, Judy. Aren’t they adorable? She just sent me another egg cup!
A lusterware egg cup and an egg cup from Prague, hidden by the bunny egg cozies I knit a few years ago. I keep them out all year long because I love them so much. Mother and son.
In the midst of my yucky day yesterday I did manage to snag a delivery time for Tuesday afternoon. Don always finds a parking space – we say he has good ‘parking karma.’ I guess I have good ‘grocery delivery karma.’ I’m grateful. One less worry. I also ordered Peet’s French Roast directly from Peet’s, so that’s on the way. In the last grocery delivery, they substituted Peet’s House Blend for French Roast. Though I’m sure it’s good, it’s going in the pantry in case we need it in a pinch, because we’re serious about our coffee. If it is considered a vice, it is my only vice. I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. I don’t do, and have never done, drugs. But coffee? Bring it on.
Happy Saturday.
I was just looking at our local newspaper online and one of the stories was how to tell the difference between allergy symptoms and COVID-19. I didn’t read it though. I knew my symptoms were allergies because I’m congested mainly in the morning when I wake up and then it clears out. And that happens every year, so I’m familiar with the symptoms.
Can you believe this coffee drinker has now switched to green tea? I have a sensitive gut and sometimes coffee does not agree with me in that regard. It started happening again a couple of weeks ago and so I had to switch to tea. I don’t like hot black tea (only iced), so I’ve been drinking jasmine green tea every morning and my tummy feels much better. Ironically, I’ve even lost my taste for coffee in the meantime and don’t even miss it. I never thought that would happen! Though when the weather gets warmer, I have a feeling I’m going to be looking forward to my iced coffee in the morning. We now have a Dunkn’ Donuts 1/2 mile up the street, so I can walk up there and get it once in awhile.
Have a good day! We’re going for a walk now while the sun is shining.
Mine didn’t clear out for a while there, but I also have sinus issues.
I almost always have a piece of break with coffee so the acidity doesn’t get to me. Normally, it doesn’t, but every once in a while… I don’t think I could make the change to green tea, but good for you, Melanie! Stay safe.
I loved all of Monty Don’s garden specials. I just finished The A-Z of TV Gardening. The episodes are British and on YouTube. Lots of interesting tidbits from all of the British Gardening shows. Monty Don is included in several episodes.
He’s wonderful. And there’s something very soothing about his voice, Nancy. Stay safe!
Glad to hear you’re feeling somewhat better today, Claudia. Have you seen Monty Don’s Gardens of America? It was shown here a few months ago, well worth seeing especially as he met a lot of interesting folk on his way.
I’ve been feeling a bit nostalgic lately and decided to look up the area where I grew up. Suddenly I came across my childhood home for sale! There were many interior photos, it’s changed almost beyond recognition as it’s been made open plan downstairs. Also very modern decor.
I showed it to my son without saying anything as he is property hunting, if any broker is prepared to lend him a mortgage. He really liked it and then I said this is my old bedroom! Unfortunately it’s outside his price range and it looks like it’s already been sold subject to contract.
Such a shame, it’s less than 20 miles away. He could afford the deposit and the repayments but as a single person he’s very limited on the amount he could borrow. He’s shared various rentals since leaving university ten years ago but wants to own a place of his own, hence why he’s currently living with me.
It was a pipe dream that I could go back there to visit.
Happy Saturday
I can’t get those American Garden shows yet. I’m sure it will show up somewhere online eventually.
So sorry your son can’t buy that house. I can tell it means a great deal to you, Dee Dee. Stay safe!
hope you feel better soon!
given what’s going on, like you, i’ve checked myself on symptoms and i ask my family, too. none, thank the Lord!
i agree with you about strong winds. we had a super-windy day on thursday … up to 62 mph. i was at work and had to pick up lots of trash in the yard. when i got home, lost power a couple times. thankfully it came back on. i am doing anything i need to in the kitchen only during daylight … i don’t have a ladder (and probably should get one) and would be afraid to let someone in to help change a burned-out light bulb right now. ugh.
glad you got a delivery spot!
i went to that biggest of box stores yesterday and (even though they were “limiting” the number of people there) it was crowded. i practically hissed at some people in there who got very close to me, like right next to or behind me. no … i am sure i did snap at them. i don’t want to be rude, but there seemed to be no social distancing. saw very few masks or gloves on people, either. so i left there angry, quickly delivered things to family members (put it on the porch, called them from my car), cried and took a long shower when i got home. i know i am not alone in this so thanks for listening.
thanks for telling us about the book … going to add it to my list because it sounds fascinating!
thanks, too, for sharing your egg cups … always fun to see them. i like to knit (basic things like scarves and simple hats, and did knit a pair of socks), but can’t imagine knitting those tiny bunnies in tiny striped sweaters. good work!
hope today is easier for everyone.
kathy in iowa
It’s nerve wracking, trying to shop. That local place I mentioned? All the shoppers had masks on, but the employees didn’t! Mostly, they’re behind plexiglass, but still…
Stay safe my friend. Are you having a FaceTime Easter with your family?
yeah, i don’t understand not wearing a mask and gloves when out in public at all (unless none can be found)!
no facetime or skype here … but my brother and sister-in-law do those things with their kids and grandchildren. other members of my family have zoom. if i can figure that out, will give it a try among my family.
my sister is making some things for Easter and i will get to enjoy it and see some of my family … from a distance. i know the cdc says staying six feet apart should be fine, but (because of my job and being a designated shopper for my family) i won’t take that risk with them … so they came up with an idea: they want to eat in the garage (with the door up) and i’ll be in my car, with our phones on speakerphone so we can talk with and see each other while we eat. isn’t that sweet? i love my family! i would rather they eat inside, of course … and they may have to because we’re supposed to get rain, then an inch of snow tomorrow. will talk with the rest of my family by phone, too, if i can’t figure out zoom.
what will you and don do tomorrow?
hope you both and everyone else has a happy Easter.
kathy in iowa
It sounds like you all are coming up with ingenious ways to spend the holiday together!
We won’t be doing anything different today. Spending the day together, wishing each other a Happy Easter, enjoying the day!
Stay safe.
Kathy in Iowa,until you get the new bulb, place a table lamp on the counter in your kitchen. It would make it safe, in case you need to get something from the kitchen at night.
to olivia …
good idea! thank you very much!
i hope you and your family are well, doing alright and stay safe!
kathy in iowa
Hi,Claudia! Thanks for being so faithful in posting about life at your cottage. I read you each day but have really fallen behind in my responses. Awhile ago you asked what we’re reading and I do want to recommend The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.While it is fiction ,the author writes beautifully about FDR’s Pack Horse Library Project in Kentucky,which employed many women. I love the photo of John Prine that you posted on Instagram.When he was a very young man performing in Chicago’s Old Town folk music scene I was fortunate to see and hear him.Little did I know! I also share your love of MontyDon.Stay well and enjoy the coming of Spring. Here in Northern CA Spring is in all her glory and I so happy to putter in the garden.xo
I’ve heard others recommend that book, Annette. Thanks for sharing it with us.
How wonderful that you got to see John Prine. He will be so missed.
Stay safe, Annette.
You were wise to check out all your symptoms, I’ve seen reports from the CDC that have added other symptoms to the original ones. Seems like there is so much still to learn about this virus. And not everyone has every symptom either, or any. Glad to hear you are feeling better.
That gardening show sounds fantastic…is that from Netflix?
Our robin saga continues….he attacked the window until sunset. He resumed again at 5:30 a.m. We may have a solution…hanging flexible green netting over each window so we can still open them. Problem is how to fasten without putting nail holes into our siding. Suction cups with hooks we think will work…but that involves going to a big box store. He’s a persistent little guy, I will say that for him! They say this could go on for weeks during the mating season. Oh joy!
So…enjoy your Saturday as best you can. We will be on robin patrol! ;)
It’s on YouTube, Donna.
Oh, that robin! Little did you know you’d be dealing with that this weekend! Stay safe.
I have a cardinal fighting his reflection in the glass of the outside door of my bedroom and he starts VERY early in the morning. I took a sheet of tissue paper (used for gift wrap) and cut strips of the tissue to within 2-3” from the top edge. I taped this top edge to the glass in the door about mid-way and turned on a small table fan to move the cut tissue strips. It’s been two days and no problem now. It worked for me, maybe it will work for someone else.
Oh…thank you Diane! I will certainly try that tomorrow morning!! ;)
a delightful post!
and I’m glad you’re on the mend.
right now feeling bad can make us fearful. and allergies can be wicked.
I dearly love the mother and son bunnies! you are talented! xoxo
Thank you, Tammy. I had a slight fever which concerned me, but it was gone within minutes and never came back.
Stay safe!
XO
Luv-luv-luv the cozies! Adorable bunnies for the holiday. Happy little things.
We are now 70 degrees for Easter weekend in SoCalif; is lovely out there right now, post-rain. Nice sunshine; does make you feel alive, emerging from the mole hole, squinting eyes at the bright light.
You lucky gal, to get these reservation slots! Much better than to navigate the grocery store. We had such good luck with Instacart that we’ll be trying it again eventually; I was impressed that the personal shopper got me perishables with the furthest-out expiration dates, and she chose fresh veggies/fruits very well; good accountability, too, beginning the trip in the time specified, keeping in touch with us by text about substitutions, arriving at our home exactly when she was supposed to, gloved up and masked. All very professional. We’re actually pretty happy to know how this stuff works now and my husband figures we’ll use the service from time to time, long after Covid.
Glad you’re feeling better. In this ‘era’ of my life, my asthma is always worse at this time of year, so it makes perfect sense to me that your allergies & congestion are bothering you (asthma and allergies often go hand-in-hand). I think one of the reasons I do so much better in summer at this age is because I’m usually living under the filtered air of the central air conditioning, which has made a really-big diff for me, as it has a HEPA filter (have that kind of super-duper filter in both the house and the car). It was one of the high points of whether or not I bought my parents’ house after Mom died, to have this a/c (Dad had benefited from it; he’d developed emphysema). We had a/c at our own house but it wasn’t as effective due to the way the old house from 1923 was built (long story). For me, in summer, I’ve always got to have the a/c on, so it means most of the time I’m breathing in that better air. I didn’t have that when I was a kid of course (nobody had air conditioners [!!]; heck, what am I saying, I never had one til I was in my 40s, and that was only because I temporarily lived on the Gulf Coast of the U.S.) so I’d also have to suffer thru all those weekly allergy shots; no fun.
The friend I had a long phone call with yesterday also has allergies and gets the aforementioned injections every three weeks as a series; so, even in the epidemic, so as not to interrupt the cycle, she has risked going to the clinic for the shots. She told me when she goes next week, this is how things will run at the medical facility: You knock on the outer door, somebody takes your temp, you have the option of going into the lobby or remaining in your car or standing around outside and they’ll come fetch you when ready. My friend is able to get the shots in the arm, so she plans to sit on nothing but instead will just keep standing for her shot in order to touch as little as possible. She’ll of course have on her mask. What a world.
It’s a strange new world, Vicki.
For the past couple of years, my sinus problems have been coupled with allergies and I’ve often been miserable during the spring. It gets very frustrating. I’m still a bit off today, but much better on the whole. We have window A/C, so no HEPA filters. Stay safe!
My husband has the chronic sinus issues and even after being to an allergist (there was hardly anything he was allergic to, even after ‘patch testing’) and an ear-nose-throat doctor, they can’t figure out WHY or what, so all he can do is use a daily decongestant which he just hates the effects of, like ultimate dryness (my mom would say ‘from the ridiculous to the sublime’). I’m just so sorry you both have these problems, Claudia, because you’re otherwise so healthy & strong and you should be able to work in your garden and enjoy your yard without having to be so congested and miserable. Darn!
I’m lucky I don’t really have much of the sinus/drainage but what I do have is the wheezy lung/airways problem. My airways just want to react to everything in my environment no matter if I’m outdoors or indoors but, you know, it’s hard to live in a bubble. One thing that always seems to help is to drink a lot of fluids (just flush out those toxins from the body). It’s always worse when I don’t have enough sleep and am fatigued. And after you work in the garden and are ‘in’ for the rest of the day, probably best to shower it all off. I make my husband do this after he’s been weeding up on the hillside (constant weeding right now[!!}, and he’s SO sick of it, but no way can we have that yard crew come by May for mandatory weed abatement/wildfire-watch because we not only don’t have the money but I don’t want any extra humans around here during the crisis; my husband needs to burn off some energy with yard work anyway because he is super stir-crazy right now in the ‘stay home’ order and when he is antsy like this, he gets very irritable, even sensing it himself, so it’s good he’s out there right now as I write this, digging in the dirt in the later-afternoon/early-evening sunshine!).
It’s a good thing that he has chores to do outside. It really does help to burn off excess energy. xo
Good to hear you’re feeling better!
We love Monty Don! He’s so talented & does such beautiful gardens.
OB is sunny finally. It’s so good to be out in the yard, even if it’s just weeding & cutting back plants. A walk later today after some housework & another few hrs. in front of the tv.
Just started reading Bel Canto. Liking it so far.
Happy Easter to you both.
I’ve heard good things about Bel Canto, Priscilla. Stay safe!
Have a Happy Easter! I went to the allergy doctor on Tues and he told me to get a Neti Pot and use it and it has made a tremendous difference in my allergy symptons.
Stay well and safe.
I suppose I should get one as other people have recommended them to me. Thanks, Judy. xoxo Stay safe.
I’m so glad you are feeling better. I know sinus and it’s horribly annoying but it beats the recent alternatives. What sweet egg cups and covers. I can see why you leave them out.
I meant to tell you that my newest Crystal creations arrived. I’ll post them next week sometime. I wasn’t going to buy anything for myself besides food or necessary items. But I couldn’t resist! Thanks for turning me on to those.
She is so creative! I didn’t buy one this year – I’m running out of room for them! Stay safe.
Glad you are feeling better. April is a bad time for allergies. We all have allergies. So glad that wind has died down. Happy Easter to all.
Marilyn
Happy Easter, Marilyn!
So sorry you have not been feeling better. I hope you are on top of things soon. I also love a Monty Don tv show and would stop everything to watch it whenever it is on. Haven’t seen one for a while in Oz.
I just might have to watch one today, Robyn! Stay safe.