Good morning.
First off, you are such lovely people and I’m glad you care about us. But you never have to warn us about ladders. No one goes up a ladder here without the other one holding it at the base and monitoring the climb up and the climb down. We are very, very careful.
That being said, losing half a tree and having the branches of the big maple pruned has made a difference in our gutter cleaning schedule. We have only had to clean them once. Yesterday. And we’re done. We used to clean them out 3 or 4 times during autumn. I hated losing half that tree but there’s no denying that it was quite close to the gutters on the back of the house. Anyway, all went well, it didn’t take long. Don also raked a lot of leaves but we have a lot more to go.
I want to recommend something to you; Sir David Attenborough’s A Life on our Planet. It just premiered on Netflix and it is extraordinary. It’s his witness statement as to the state of our planet. He is a longtime broadcaster and natural historian. Over the course of his career he produced Life on Earth, The Living Planet, and several other series about the world we live in. This particular program chronicles the changes he’s seen and witnessed in his 93 years. The destruction of the planet by man, climate change, extinction of animals, the dire state of the ocean, etc. It’s beautifully done and it’s clear that this is his testament, his warning. It’s beautiful, upsetting, and yet, hopeful, because he gives us real steps we can take to change the course we’re on.
Also, I have 20 pages left in Robert Galbraith’s Troubled Blood. At this point I know who the murderer is so I can take a break to write this post. Galbraith is, in reality, JK Rowling. It is such a good read! I have to share this with you because the book itself is 927 pages long and I never, not once, checked to see how much more I had to read or, as is often the case with a large tome, got bored along the way. In fact, I wish it wasn’t going to end! She is such a good writer. It’s a complex mystery and is deftly and skillfully plotted. It’s also character driven, which makes it all the more engaging. This is the fifth volume in the Cormoran Strike series. If you like mysteries and you haven’t yet read any books in this series, you should start at the beginning, with The Cuckoo’s Calling. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Stay safe.
Happy Sunday.
Of course you are careful. Enjoy today…reading…I walk five plus miles in steps daily (Thank you Fitbit-a surprise gift during Covid from a grand…I had to carry phone for the past two years to count steps…)Anyway, I collapse with pain when finished, but this is keeping me moving…with my diseases…I digress…I walk to You Tube on TV to NYC walks…Oh…I miss it…Last time, as previously written, was Feb. 2018 to celebrate a belated 70th birthday…love it…before that, yearly, my son did the marathon, and he and I went…later, sister joined us. When he moved to CA and then Seattle and then back to Florida…he did Ironman competitions (loved those places esp. Lake Placid…) and more marathons…he stopped doing NYC at that time because others closer to him…My first play on Broadway—Chicago…My last-probably my favorite of all–Grease…ok, I was a drama teacher also…and we used those type of plays (Grease) for the kids…I miss NYC…I love it…prayers it will open soon-vaccine come…thanks for letting me remember my favorite city (even more than London) Keep writing…keep enjoying your days with your dear husband…we care about you so much…you have become part of our lives…daily visits…
I don’t think it will open soon, given the fact that Broadway won’t even think of opening again until June. Some things are open, of course.
Thank you for your kind words, dear Brenda.
Stay safe!
As I said yesterday I started The Cuckoo’s Calling and it grabbed my interest right away. I love books like that. It is one of those books where I have to bargain with myself….1 more chapter then load the dishwasher. 1 more chapter then fold the laundry, lol!
I plan to read the series. Thanks for the recommendation.
Stay safe
I’m already depressed because I finished the book, Marilyn!
Stay safe.
I have The Cuckoo’s Calling…it’s been in my TBR pile for quite awhile. It gets moved up to #4 today. Have to finish Dan Rather’s book first.
Love that pic you took…so calming. Stay safe! ;)
Thank you, Donna. Yes, move the book up to #4!
Stay safe.
Brian was up on the ladder for a long time yesterday cleaning out our gutters, too. It was the third time already this fall. Less leaves won’t be happening around here anytime soon unless the neighbors on all sides of us cut down their trees. The only trees on our actual tiny plot of land are arborvitaes.
We watched The Social Dilemma last night. Really good, but nothing in it surprised me.
I don’t care for mysteries but Brian loves them. He’s in the middle of the Louise Penny series you recommended. I told him about it and he’s hooked. He’s on the wait list at the library for book #3.
I just made us a big, late Sunday breakfast and I’m just now finishing up my cup of tea. Hope you and Don have a relaxing Sunday, too.
Funny you should bring up Louise Penny. I was struggling with what to read now that I’ve finished Troubled Blood, and I pulled the very first Louise Penny off the shelf. I think I’m going to re-read them all. I’m so glad to hear that Brian is enjoying the series.
Stay safe, Melanie!
I think it is just something in our genetic makeup to say “Be careful”. At least for those of us who do have empathy towards others, which is shown so often by your followers. Of course we know how safety minded you and Don are, but maybe it just makes us feel better. I remember it used to drive me CRAZY when my mom said it every day as I left for school. One day I yelled “I’m leaving” and she said “OK”. I stopped in my tracks w my hand on the door. I yelled “Mom, I’m leaving” and she said “OK!! Be careful” and off I went. My kids used to roll their eyes at us, and now they say the same thing to us when they call or stop by as they are leaving. Maybe it is just a shortcut, easier, or just another way to say “love you!!” I truly am looking for the good in everything these days, as tiny as it may seem. These days are waaayy too long lately!!!!! I just want it behind us so we can look ahead. VOTE!! And I know most of your readers already have, or have their plan ready, but don’t forget to assist friends & relatives if they aren’t sure about how to vote or where to vote OR if taking the time is worth it. We CAN make a difference in that way!!!!!
You’re right. I hope I didn’t sound ungrateful. I am! And I’m touched by everyone caring.
Looking for the good in everything is much needed right now. Thanks for reminding me of that, Chris.
We’re voting tomorrow or Tuesday. We want to avoid the weekend lines.
Stay safe, Chris.
I’m happy you got leaves out of the gutters. All the home maintenance gets harder as we get older but still has to be done. Oh my. I will watch the Netflix program probably tonight. Easy day for me. Relaxing and while it’s gloomy out I’m feeling better so that’s a plus. Hugs!
So glad to hear you’re feeling better, Linda!
Stay safe.
of course you were careful! But we aren’t getting any younger. Several people in our neighborhood, including us, put leaf guards on their gutters this year. As soon as you can afford it, do it. We have one lovely man in our neighbor hood that painted several houses and installed leaf guards all over the place. I say he is trying to make our neighborhood the prettiest in town!
I’ve explained this before but you might not have read it. We live in a 130 year old house. Nothing is in a straight line, especially the roof lines and the gutters. We cannot install leaf guards – they wouldn’t fit.
Thanks so much, Jan!
Stay safe.
We watched the David Attenborough show too. Very disturbing, but he at 93, still has hope! So, I guess we should too. Am reading my 1st Louise Penny book, A Better Man. Kind of fun!
He is awfully good shape for 93, don’t you think?
Enjoy your Louise Penny, Priscilla. After this one, you might want to read them in order – they make more sense that way as the characters change and grow over the course of the books. Just a suggestion!
Stay safe.
Yes, he’s pretty incredible! I know, I should have started from the beginning, but the library had this one available , so I grabbed it! It’s just such a pain to have to “put books on hold” & wait your turn for them. so I usually just take what I can get! Someday…this will be behind us, right??!!
Please! I CANNOT WAIT!
xo
Sir David is a hero in our house, in fact our daughter became an ecologist because of him. He’s also an extraordinarily nice man. She wrote to him about her career choice and he took the trouble to write back. His letter is one of her most prized possessions!
How lovely! That’s a great story, Denise.
Stay safe!
we know you and don are sensible and take safety precautions like when on ladders, but it’s hard not to worry in times like these (what else could go wrong in 2020?). add in too many distractions, too much exhaustion and plain old “accidents happen” … we just don’t want anything bad to happen to people we care about!
glad you enjoyed that book and that you have another one ready. how long did it take you to read all 927 pages?
thanks for the suggestion about the david attenborough documentary. (will add it to my list). i just don’t understand people who deny climate change, covid-19, damage caused by pino and other so-called “leaders” and think the rest of us are a bunch of chicken littles. i don’t get it at all. fight on and vote, everyone!
i have the next five days off work and am thrilled and grateful for that. will have to get out at least a couple days. on tuesday i have an appointment to get a shot in my throat to hopefully smooth out the quakes in my voice. only happening so my family can better hear me. otherwise staying in to work on projects around here and paint, write, read, knit and relax. :)
your dishes and trailing plant look wonderful and well-loved. i need to help my seven plants and iron clothes before i just lose all steam and interest in accomplishing anything today. best i do that now … once it gets dark, well, i just want to do nothing (daylight saving time ends next saturday night … eek!).
hope you have a nice night and stay safe.
kathy in iowa
I have no idea how long it took to read the book because I wasn’t clocking it. It was so enjoyable that I just let it happen.
Enjoy your days off, Kathy!
Stay safe.
I find myself being anxious about everything. Think everyone feels the same, probably why there was concern over Don on the ladder. We all know first hand how life can change in a blink of an eye. And we are living in horrific times. I have so much anger toward a president that would not acknowledge Covid. Even now he downplays it.
He could have rallied the country, the manufacturers to produce the safety equipment that is needed , provided support etc. I could go on and on.
Thank you for still blogging!
He could have saved so many. And he chose not to.
Hang in there, Sandy, and stay safe.
What a gorgeous photo. SO very peaceful and lovely. Good work on the gutters. That’s on our list but but we’re waiting for a few more leaves to fall. We don’t have a lot of leaf-shedding trees but enough to make it a bit of a pain! And working through the house room by room. I finally got the art room/office to a point where I wouldn’t be embarrassed to have anyone see it and now on to the guest room, which “inherited” all the stuff from the other room I wasn’t sure what to do with yet.
A never ending story.
The dark mornings and shorter daylight hours are already beginning to get to me. I shut down after it gets dark. But it’s a good time to watch things and the Attenborough series is indeed time well spent. (That and my Sunday night PBS schedule! Have you watched “Cobra”? It’s quite good and in some ways there are alarming parallels to the present.
No, I haven’t watched Cobra. We’re into the Baking Show right now! Pure escape – and that’s what we need right now.
Stay safe, Jeanie.