We were chatting this morning, reflecting on how quickly all the trees around here have become bare. No leaves. The only trees that still have leaves seem to be the oak trees and with today’s endless wind, that might not be for long. Increasingly, autumn and spring seem to have a shorter span of time than winter and summer. Spring is often late with summer coming too early. Winter seems to drag on forever. But spring and fall? Blips on the horizon.
Anyway, we have a wind advisory today and you know how much I like those. In fact, there’s a snow squall going on at the moment. All of the porch plants are still in the house since it’s going down to freezing tonight and tomorrow night. I’d give up the ghost, but the next 10 days or more after that are predicted to have warmer nighttime temperatures. So, even though pots of plants everywhere are driving me a wee bit nuts, it’s worth it to hang on to them for another week or two weeks.
This is what the windows that came with the dollhouse look like. Not my cup of tea.
Today I’ll do some more sanding on the door and maybe I’ll be able to start painting it. Quite frankly, there’s a lot that needs to be done around the house so if I want to keep busy, and I do, I have my pick of chores.
We started to watch the special coverage on MSNBC last night, with Joy, Rachel, Brian, and Nicolle but it was too much for us. Steve Kornacki, the guy that does all the polling charts, etc., is just too hyped up. He went off on all of the ‘what ifs’ – based on only one poll, mind you – and that’s just the kind of thing we don’t want to see. As Rachel says, “I don’t know who is going to win. And neither do you.” Yet, Steve is making his frenetic predictions, touching one state and turning it red, then touching it again and turning it blue and it only serves to make everyone nervous. Also, as someone who has cast shows, the rolled up sleeves and harried look is a bit too central casting. I’m sure he’s a nice guy but frankly, I’d give anything for someone who didn’t concoct all sorts of scenarios, and was instead, calm and clear headed. Basically, we watched for five minutes and turned it off. That leaves us wondering just where and when we will watch on Tuesday night. I don’t need or want hype. There’s enough of that already.
Okay, my friends. I’m off to keep myself busy and do maybe my last round of text banking this afternoon.
Stay calm. Stay grounded. Sending my love to everyone.
And stay safe.
Happy Monday.
Today and tomorrow I expect to be very hard to avoid the hyped up “news” you’re talking about. I have no inkling of what will happen which is unsettling. But I try to ground myself with an exercise I learned a while back: 1) find 5 things that you see; 2) 5 things that you hear; 3) five things that you smell; 4) 5 things that you can physically feel. I forget no. 5! But it still helps. mostly at least one of the 5 things in each category is a cat which is fine with me. Safe travels today and tomorrow.
hej, nora mills …
thanks for sharing that “five things” exercise. i am going to try that today … much needed.
might the other one be “taste”? i’m good at that … ha!
and yay for cats, dogs, all animals! well, cats and dogs indoors. the rest need to stay out of the house. :)
hope you and your family are well, safe.
kathy in iowa
Thanks so much, Nora.
Stay safe!
I can’t handle the Rachael panel
Sometimes it is too silly and not professional
I have been watching Anderson and maybe I will stay with him
Can’t believe he is hinting at firing Fausti
Disgusting
I don’t mind that they get silly. We all need some humor and they, who have to report and research all of this treachery, especially need it.
Stay safe, Linda.
I may not peek at the news until the day after the election. I know the TV news will just try to keep the anxiety and stress levels high so viewers will keep watching. Quite frankly, I don’t need to be more anxious or stressed out. I am worried enough as it is! So I may try to just ignore it all, and wait for my morning email from the New York Times or Letters from an American. I find these news summaries so helpful. Here’s hoping for the best, Claudia!
Yes. I’ll be doing a lot of praying – not that I think God has anything to do with elections – but more as a chant and invocation.
Stay safe, Ellen.
Good morning, Claudia
You might try the CBC – it will certainly be more direct and calmer.
Stay well,
Gail
We would only get CBC on our laptops and we do want to watch returns together on our television.
Stay safe, Gail!
Not a fan of Steve K…..but look forward to Nicole Wallace, Ari, Lawrence O\Donnell. Yes, I am a news junky. I also watch BBC news…..and World news. Anderson Cooper doesn’t do hard hitting interviews but I do like CNN. I haven’t slept much the past couple of days. I wake up to whatever is on channel 13 or Turner Classic Movies at 2 in the morning. Anxious and exhausted. The wind is fierce here also. My husband is out there trying to corral the leaves and branches that have fallen. I am still in my pajamas getting ready to make some Chicken Soup for tonight. Hope we don’t loose power. Just took a look at all the fine details you have been making to your miniature house. Painstaking but satisfying work. I envy you. It took me a month just to make a little fairy garden I am sending to my granddaughter. Took me hours to glue the little pebbles to the hobbit style house. Fingers are burned from hot wax gun.
Didn’t get the proportions exactly right so one fairy is towering over the others. Well, I know the next couple of days will be a series of highs and lows. I will try to keep the tv off and brace myself for a crazy week. Stay safe and warm everyone.
Yes. We have to brace ourselves, for sure. Hang in there, Maria.
Stay safe!
I have asked friends to avoid telling me. I know the little ones will want to tell Nana. They keep reminding me to be okay…prayers to you and Don…take care dear one…you are so valuable to all of us.
Thank you, Brenda. Take care of yourself and stay safe!
hej, claudia. :)
too bad about the wind and snow squall you’re getting today. hopefully that will soon be gone and you, don and the plants can enjoy some warmer temperatures outside a bit longer.
your description about spring and fall seasons getting shorter and summer and winter getting longer … i see that here, too. :( my family and i have been recyclers for about 50 years so it bugs me to hear people deny human impact on the environment, to see litter along roads (just fished a plastic bag out of a sweet little pond yesterday; two swans, maybe 100 ducks and a few geese are there … and sometimes deer stop by, too), to know that so many people don’t believe in recycling …. argh!!! i am angry, sad and fearful about what some people’s choices (including those made by legislators and litterbugs) mean for us now and especially for future generations and our planet.
same with the election. a caravan of maybe 40 vehicles (all flying large pino flags) drove down my street yesterday. lots of honking. i couldn’t avoid that, but thankfully it’s the only one i’ve seen around here. i do avoid the news at night and haven’t had the tv on in the morning; been doing that all for a long time, too. i will, however, likely watch the results as they come in tomorrow evening because it is the day (hopefully) that we get results and can count down the days to the end of a terrible presidency!
pretty day here, but windy. want to go for a walk, but i can’t right now. will soon be dark too early to walk after work (one of my main complaints against the twice-yearly time changing).
on a cheerier note, your dollhouse work looks great. and that top photo of hydrangeas (am i right about that?) is beautiful. the world still turns on its axis and we are getting ever closer to winter solstice, spring and a brighter future. you have groceries and fun things to do. and so do i (though for now i have to get back to work. :0 ). onward!
i echo your words … stay safe, grounded, take care of yourselves. sending love …
kathy in iowa
Thanks, Kathy! Take care of yourself. We might watch Rachel tonight – we’ll see. I’ve been text banking for Biden. Probably my last day? I’m not sure.
And I installed new mini blinds in the office. Tomorrow, I’ll tackle the living room.
Stay safe!
are the blinds for the dollhouse or mhc?
i’ve been avoiding the news for a very, very long time, but tomorrow is different. think i’d feel the same amount of anxiety whether i watch the results come in, hear guesses and analysis or not … the stakes are just too high. i hope to be cheering and breathing easier, able to see the light at the end of a very lousy, unbelievable tunnel rather than yelling at the tv. :)
thanks again to you and don for putting in all those hours to help make the world a better place.
stay safe!
kathy in iowa
I’ve got my choice of chores also. Working on the living room today and making piles of things to go to the thrift shop and things to give to the kids. I really have so much stuff. Its built up and now with my back and low energy I have to get rid of more things so I can take care of my home. Every holiday finds me donating more and more decor. Even Christmas which is my favorite. I do still decorate for that as I love it and the Grands love it. I’m keeping away from all media today and tomorrow will try to follow results but these crazy predictions drive my already fragile mind over the edge. I must say I’m glad we are finally here and praying for the right result. Take care and stay warm. Hugs!
I’m glad we’re here, too, though I’m scared, as well. He’ll do his best to make trouble, but we won’t tolerate it.
Stay safe, Linda!
It is all just so (too) much, isn’t it? I think we will stay w MSNBC tomorrow night. I so want to “be with” Rachel & Nicolle & Joy. Hubs works the polls tomorrow. I am a bit worried about craziness, but I want to believe cool heads will prevail in our little village. So the earliest he will be home is after 8PM, unless there are still ballots to be counted. I can’t even keep track of how many times courts have declared one thing, then been updone by another court, etc. etc. on when and which ballots can be counted. It is all so ridiculous. It just doesn’t seem that it should be so difficult!! Wear the damn masks, vote, and then count the ballots for the love of all that is holy.
My stomach is in knots, so I am not hungry at all. I guess that is a good thing. The bad thing is I don’t think this will be over for a while. It is just all such a cluster. Trying to stay news free again today. It has been so windy here for a couple of days, and the leaves are falling like snow. I simply find it so hard to believe that there are still enough people who would actually vote for this horrid, dreadful being that makes us all have to worry about the outcome. Beyond belief.
I love them. I just can’t stand Kornacki and he’ll be a major part of it. We may go back and forth between PBS and MSNBC>
Very, very windy here, as well. It’s driving me nuts.
Stay safe, Chris.
I check the tv to see if they are running commercials. If so, I think the OM in the WH has not done anything worse. Then I watch something British.
Good plan!
Stay safe, Jan.
C & D: This is what I am TRYING to remember. The clown’s followers are loud, obnoxious, unruly, and engage in illegal behavior . . . but they are NOT, they are NOT, they are NOT the majority. I keep telling myself that over and over and over. Tomorrow night I might just hide under the covers. :-) C
I think they’re bullies and bullies are cowards at heart. I’m not too worried about them, but we’ll see.
Take care, Chris. Stay safe.
My two cents: How about PBS? No hype,just intelligent commentary. xo
Yes, we may do that, Annette. I love their sane coverage. Most likely we’ll flip back and forth!
Stay safe.
Your dollhouse photos are so calming right now and I welcome each one. I’m currently working on a Christmas fireplace for my Rosebud’s American Girl dolls and loving each minute I spend. Being creative is keeping me grounded!
I’m grateful that we cut the cable long ago, so news coverage of the election is not driving me insane. I just can’t handle those pessimistic prognostications with our democracy hanging in the balance. I do believe that our better angels will prevail; that we will take the lessons we’ve learned in these past four years, roll up our sleeves, and work “towards a more perfect Union.”
I wish I could send you some of our Sierra sunshine to brighten your life. I’ll enjoy some for you and send along the good vibes.
To all of you lovely people, hang in there. Hope is a moral imperative. Don’t let the you-know-whats take up rent in your head. Eviction day is approaching, godwillingnadthecreekdon’trise!
We had a bit of sun late in the day today but it’s very, very windy.
Thanks so much, Roxie!
Stay safe.
Sending love back to you and all your fellow sympathetic supporters. As Roxie says, hang in there.
We will, Fiona. I know you’re cheering us on!
Stay safe.
Where is Walter Cronkite when we need a calm voice of reason? 😊
I have meaning to tell you. They are doing a total renovation on the National Hotel in Nevada City, California. They are being it back to the old glory days after many years of disrepair. Covid has delayed it many times but work continues. I hope to share a few pictures with you when it is done. Since it is a special spot for you two.
I had heard that! I would love to see some photos when it’s finished. It needs a spruce-up and I’m glad it’s getting one!
Stay safe, Janet!
I’ve been trying to avoid the news all day. As far as tomorrow goes? Probably CBS…but they can be a bit much…so perhaps PBS. With them, it’s pretty much straight news.
This country is really a mess right now, and I have to remember, that all the noise is coming from fanatics on the other side. That’s how I view them. There is no reasoning with them…I don’t understand how they can think that way. All the lies…it’s just too much.
Most of our leaves have fallen due to high winds these past few days. But…warmer weather is promised though Sunday. Wonderful. Stay safe…and sane! ;)
PBS most likely here, with some hopping on over to MSNBC.
We’re getting warmer weather toward the end of the week. That’s why I’m hanging onto those plants!
Stay safe, Donna!
And I’ll send my love to you. Stay sane tomorrow! I don’t know when we’ll start watching, but my husband bought a bottle of tequila at the ABC store this past weekend. We drink a little wine from time to time, but not the hard stuff. I listened to NPR today and they too were speculating. I think I will stay away from the media tonight and as long as I can tomorrow!
Yes, I won’t even tune in to anything until around 8 or 9 pm. That’s a good plan, Jane.
Stay safe!
Yep, it’s getting wild out there! Steve K is great, but wayyyy too overexcited about reporting info. I, too, have to walk away!
Just returned from Trader Joe’s & the line was the longest I’ve ever seen it. Some lady behind me thought it was due to tomorrow’s Election Day issues. I surely do NOT want to be on the roads tomorrow. People are really getting nasty & angry out there.
Am trying to lay off the snacks right now & go for 2 walks a day! My anxiety level is about 100%..not good! This too will pass though. He’ll get his either way…sooner or later.
Stay warm. It’s beautiful here in OB..
Oh! we walked around Balboa Park yesterday. It’s under construction all over the park. Rather amazing to see the changes that are going to happen.
I think a lot of people are planning on staying off the streets for the next few days. In NYC, major stores and hotels have boarded up their windows. Scary.
I’m not sure I like all the changes in Balboa Park. Too much building. I like it the way it used to be.
Stay safe, Priscilla!
Ok, I am satisfied that we have done all we can and now have to leave it up to God to choose the leader He wants for this country. No matter how it goes we know that there are going to be a lot of folks that are not happy. We must show compassion to all, whether they voted or not. The loudest voices will be coming from those who didn’t even vote!
All of us care from our local vacinity representers and leaders to the president of our country. No matter who, we have to live here and accept that more than 50% of the voters chose the leaders. I am concerned, but not going to let it affect my mood and demeanor any longer.
Thank you everyone who has tried your best to get the message out. It’s time to get moving on ending the divisions separating us, the covid, the racial incidents, trust worthyness, job losses and the medical insurance coverages that we all need, jsut to name a few. Our lives depend on this!
well said, kelly.
stay safe!
kathy in iowa
It was cold as all get out yesterday and even snowed. Tomorrow is supposed to be 60. Go figure.
We had a distanced meet up with my friend from grad school who is an attorney in the Syracuse area. He’s volunteering for Biden’s campaign as a poll watcher through the election and after as a legal advisor if results in Michigan are contested. He said that the NY AG has plenty on Junior and Eric and the sixth is pursuing DT faithfully. Let’s hope they can put some of it to work soon.
I really like Kornacki but he does get a little over the top sometimes. He must be mainloading caffeine! I saw him today and he was more low key and it makes more sense when he is. I do love the chemistry between Brian, Nicolle, Joy and Rachel and the sense of — I don’t want to say humor, but in a way, they make me smile, in that they tell it like it is.
I watched a great new mini on PBS last night at 9 (it’ll probably be on demand or their website) called “Roadkill” with Hugh Laurie as an MP with ambitions. He’s very good. A woman named Helen McCrory, whom I’ve seen in lots of things before, is the PM, also good. And “Cobra” after (I think they’re on episode four) is pretty scarily good too. I love Brit parliamentary shows!
One day more…. and then who knows how many.
I was the same Sunday and yesterday. I’m still excited to watch election returns later today, but I was politics’d-out even Monday night. Maybe I’ve been saving it up for Tuesday. I dumped all the ‘special’ extended-coverage news shows I’d recorded. I think we’re over-saturated with it at this point. Besides the obvious, I’m also continuing to be concerned about the expected/anticipated unrest and how much if at all the country will erupt in some kind of mayhem/violence. My husband said it may be the time to be glad we’re not living in a big city. I just hope nobody gets hurt and that somehow the country could be calm, but these aren’t normal times.
Finding I’m very grumpy and I don’t want to be that way. It may be nagging worry. I know I just want this day over with and to get on with life post-election. The build-up to now has taken a toll. I also don’t like the unease I feel of what could happen between now and the end of January. It’s enough to have Covid on the radar and I’d like to be thinking less about all this other stuff.
I had something good happen today; some positive news. I’ve had this alley cat appear and disappear, then reappear for most of three years; winning personality but elusive and I tried to pull him into our life. I wanted to get him neutered and immunized and safe in a cozy outdoor shelter at night rather than just being out there in ‘the elements’ and tom-catt’in around. Thought I finally got there but he took a couple of weeks with nighttime confinement and that was it; gone. Showed up this summer with a bad, bad skin condition. I was making plans to try to humanely trap him and likely have him put down; I figured he had contagious mange. Long story short, my neighbor who’s to be a veterinarian and now doing rounds/clinical rotations (he picked her house as the next one to hole up in for awhile), started treating him for the skin condition but then he disappeared on her, too, but he ended up at a local rescue/shelter when somebody was able to get hold of him and get him there, so he’s been ‘named’, is safe, is under veterinary care for his skin treatment, also with his shots and I assume they’ll neuter him if they haven’t already; he’ll be ready for adoption pretty soon and the veterinary gal will possibly adopt him. I feel he’s a senior cat and needs to never be left outdoors again. I’m just so relieved he’s being helped with his misery. We’re in a heatwave this week in SoCalif again, but then the temps will drop significantly over the weekend, and I’m so glad he’s not sick and cold, having to be out in that weather. November can get cold (our kind of cold; nothing like what you get) in this neck ‘o the woods.
They’re also doing a piece on our local veterans in the newspaper for Veteran’s Day and I was able to contribute some info about the three brave men in my family who served in World War I and World War II; submitted it to the paper today. Will be nice to be able to post a small tribute for them next Weds. I want recognition for them, for their Army service, even all these years later. I calculated their ages for today and it made me feel so old; my own dad would be nearly age 100 now.
hej, vicki. :)
thanks for sharing happy news about the cat … a good way to start the day. and many thanks to you and your neighbor for caring and helping him!
also great that you could contribute to an article that will help honor the three men in your family that served in the army!
hope you have a good, safe day today.
kathy in iowa
hi, dear kathy; hope you’re doing okay; we’ll all get thru this Election Day together; thanks as always for your kind words, and I’m definitely so relieved about the kitty who has really just about lived out his nine lives but hopefully safe and well here in his ‘golden years’, finally!