A favorite view.
Another tense evening, with you-know-who desperately trying to distract us from his very real problems at home. Question: if he cares so much about the people of Syria (and he should) why did he do everything he could to close our borders to Syrian refugees? And what about the horrors going on in Yemen?
You don’t have to answer. They are rhetorical questions. We know the answer.
Anyway, this happened late in the evening so yours truly had to run a bubble bath in an attempt to relax my rigid muscles. Sigh.
I did more work outside yesterday, slowly uncovering the big garden bed and completely uncovering the garden bed right next to the porch. I’ll do more today and then we’ll be in the middle of two days of rain starting on Sunday. It will be heavy rain at times, which makes me think it is the midwest storm moving east. Those of you getting snow: I’m so sorry. It will melt quickly, but it really is the final straw, isn’t it?
It was very warm yesterday and that warmth is going to continue in NYC today, but not here. We’re back down to the fifties. It’s so wonderful to hear lots of birdsong in the morning. This morning, when I got up and walked to the upstairs bathroom, I could hear a symphony of singing birdies. Last night, when I went to bed, I could hear a symphony of peepers, with a bass accompaniment by the bullfrog.
That makes me smile.
I got called for jury duty! But as it was going to be the week of April 23rd, I postponed it. That’s smack in the middle of trying to get the garden up and running and I can’t spare the time – what if it became a long trial? I’ve postponed it until the end of June. and I will perform my civic duty then.
It’s sunny today. Slowly, ever so slowly, I feel the shackles of a long winter easing their grip. I hope you’re all having a lovely weekend.
Happy Saturday.
Here is West Central WI the “final straw” looks to be about a foot or more….sigh.
Oh no! That is cruel! xo
Last night was awful and I had to just bury my head in a book to clear my mind. We are going to have thunder storms I think and if it will wash some of the pollen away I’ll be thankful. Headache is a bit debilitating today.
Feel better, Linda. xo
Last night was almost too much. My email box was full this morning from all sorts of progressive groups calling for action. That..,and this awful weather…it’s beyond my capacity…I’m done. Think I’m going to vegetate in front of the tv, and watch lots of movies…so I can forget. I’m hoping next week will be better….weather wise at least. Love that chair! ;)
Vegetate. Take a break. It will all be there when you get back.
Last night, along with the sleet and 35 mph winds all night, and I am exhausted. Just put the dogs out and it is still sleeting. 3-5 inches of snow tomorrow. Just a bit north of us and it is 8-15 inches. Ridiculous. ALL of it.
I just got a Jury Duty notice for July. But mine is for Federal court. I don’t know anyone who ever had Federal jury duty. Most always it is county. Driving daily into downtown Madison and finding parking, etc. is a bit overwhelming to me right now. A lot easier to do my civic duty in our little county’s town square!! Oh, well. We shall see.
I have not watched much news today. Still twitching from last night. Watching some cooking shows and trying to find a movie. Might be a day to watch Miss Potter and cruise down that special river ~ denial is a place I often visit. Hope that your day goes well.
Chris, my husband once got called for federal court. He had to do the 2-hr drive into downtown L.A. once a week and it was a 1-year service, every Wednesday. At the time, we’d never heard of anybody ever getting called for the federal court either, only county court. We just had to get in a routine about it, as did his employer. He certainly was exposed to a variety of cases in court over that year. Maybe it’s different in Wisconsin.
Vicki, my commitment is just the month of July. I don’t think I could do a whole year!!!!
Well, thank goodness!
Chris, I was called once to federal jury duty. Other than a false alarm that caused a temporary building closure, it wasn’t different or worse than my other jury duty experiences. I only had to show up that one day and was excused. Hope it goes easy for you.
Me, too!!!!!!!!!
I’m so sorry about the weather there! As I said to Donna, escape. We all need to take a break.
I’d be having a lovely weekend so far – – if I just didn’t read the headlines. I think we’re all thinking the same thing (nothing like a war to change subjects and get the heat off the current subject). He brings the suspicion of the American people on himself.
Today, we’ve got to get to the bottom of what’s going on, up on our roof. I’m hearing constant flapping of what sounds (or what I think would sound) like massive angel wings and some large bird up there flapping around woke me up out of sound sleep this morning. So, it must be a nest but I just don’t want the nest to be in a not-so-great place on the roof with all the vents, chimneys, etc. We already need a new roof big-time and I don’t want any altered shingles up there. I think it’s doves. Even though I no longer feed any birds, we still have TONS of doves, constantly.
Is this the third day now of a lot of wind here in SoCalif (?) and we’re quite warm. I think it was 85 degrees yesterday afternoon. I would love some of that rain.
I bought an interesting-color gerbera daisy to plant; I can’t stay out of the garden center as previously mentioned. Their inventory is amazing right now; packed to the brim for spring gardening. Anyway, the color is ‘watermelon’ (almost a coral) and my other planted gerberas are yellow and burgundy. I think they’re coming back after getting a bit of frost. I also think our hollyhock is going to come up, transplanted to a mere plastic pot from our other house nearly five years ago. We never know, and then it surprises us.
My hillside is a mess from the small amount of rain we actually did get; I’ve had to call the big-crew gardener to come weed/trim and clear brush by May 1 for mandatory abatement (city ordinance and our own personal safety for fire); it’ll take three men with all the right tools, hopefully not beyond one full day. It’s a lot to haul away and they have a huge truck & trailer. $1,000 I dread twice a year. It’s one of the reasons we need to downsize to a property with less yard, to not have this kind of expense in upcoming retirement with a lesser income. The work is too hard for my husband to do now, working on an incline. We could let it all ‘go’ as my aging parents did, but that would be sacrilege after all the money we put into it to dig out after we moved here; also, NOT safe and, well, against our local laws. Too much liability.
You’ll get through this rain, Claudia; on the other side of it are more sunny days!
I feel that everybody should serve on a jury at least once in their life; I know too many people who’ve always managed to escape the service. It was a real disruption to me when I served. I had JUST started a new job, we wound up with a felony conviction, we nearly had to be sequestered, deliberated for four days, had to be bussed to the scene of the crime – – and it was every business day for two solid months (not what an employer would have preferred with a new employee). But I did my duty and I don’t want to ever do it again. It dominated every waking thought; I couldn’t concentrate on anything else. And of course you can’t talk about it to anyone, or among other jurors until you actually get in the deliberation room. So, it was a time of isolation for me; a lot of disturbing preoccupation (as I was hearing a lot of horrible stuff I didn’t want to hear and have never been able to forget). But as citizens/Americans, it really IS our civic obligation to serve.
Not everybody who gets a jury notice winds up being in the courtroom. My husband recently went as called, put in his time for the day, never even got to the selection process and was then released (for another year). Not me. I barely arrived at 8am or whatever it was and I was in the first group they pulled, had to sit there in the actual court room for two days while potential jurors were grilled in front of the judge by the attorneys and just before we were released for good at the end of the second day, who got called/selected but me. It was bold (I was young), but I argued back and forth with the defense attorney about how I was not the right juror for this salacious case (the arresting officer’s family were clients of my father’s and the officer had been a school classmate of mine) but they picked me anyway, so we were twelve with I guess two alternates (can’t remember now), and the whole thing began the next morning. It’s serious business, never to be taken lightly. More than one person’s fate is in your hands.
My husband just found the dove’s nest. It’s in a palm tree in the neighboring yard, so the doves sit on our roof to guard it. We’ll just leave it alone.
I’ve been on a jury. In fact I was in the middle of jury duty when I met Don. I’ve also been called but sent home after being excused.
Claudia, That was short notice for your jury duty summons! I’ve been summoned six times over the course of twenty years in two different states, but I usually get a month’s notice for scheduling. They’re generally considerate of people’s needs.
Been on a 2-day trial that involved “rogue cop” testimony, and later served a 3 month-term on a grand jury. All good experience that gives me added insight into the mechanics of what I see and hear going on these days in the news.
Best wishes with your experience whenever it comes. Maybe you will be lucky to just sit around for three days and not get called for anything – that’s finally what happened to me last year, what a relief.
I was really surprised by the short notice. Really? A little over a week?
I’ve been on a jury and I’ve also done the other – sitting around and then being sent home. Or calling in the night before to see if I’m needed. At this point in my life, I think I’ve served about 4 – maybe 5 – times.
I’ve never had a jury summons and I’ve been a registered voter since I was 21. I would gladly serve. Oh well, luck of the draw?
Wow! Can’t believe you’ve never been called!
I know! I’m so surprised also. I truly think it would be an interesting experience. Maybe it will still happen.
xo
i love that chair! its vintage cushions and comfort and the stories it could tell.
just seeing it makes me happy!
our wind is over 30mph straight line with gusts from 40 to 50 to mostly 70 mph.
our northwestern ranch country is on fire. thousands of acres and miles and miles of it.
small towns burned down. homes and evacuations and smoke inhalation. and cattle lost.
one storm chaser tried to save cattle by cutting fences. they usually are out covering tornados this time of year to help the meterologists. they’re out now covering the fire.
and the wind was blowing the fire so fast they had to just run for their lives.
we’re told it’s so critical now that not just a cigarette could start fire. but a spark from
a chain … anything. last night I experienced what Vicki and so many others have in fires like these. from months and years of not enough rain or moisture. we had none this winter even.
the smoke chokes you and burns your throat raw! it was blowing the smoke from the fire in our direction last night. we would take just one HOUR of all your snow and hail or whatever you’ve got! LOL! seriously. our days have already been in the triple digits.
the way of nature. one part of her is in constant and horrible drought with wild fires thrown in and constant high wind to spread it for thousands of acres for good measure. and the other part of the land is buried with a hated substance that everybody wants GONE and has seen too much of! apparently no rest for the wicked on this planet.
the roar of the wind outside goes on. I even hear it in my heart. god bless firefighters. nobody could imagine what they endure. I often think what it must have been like to be a pioneer in this land. with no modern conveniences. I take nothing for granted anymore. it would dishonor them.
OMG, news of your fire has escaped me; I’ll go read up on it right now. You know of course how I feel for you. None of us in my part of Calif (South) has gotten over our December wildfire; it’s still a big topic of conversation everywhere we go because so many people still have such upended lives and will have for a long time yet due to the time it takes to get burned property cleared and homes rebuilt. I know what you are going through; do everything you can to stay well and healthy, don’t breathe-in that unhealthy smoke and take every moment to work on things that can help you stay calm. Prayers and healing thoughts from me to you. (I’ve thought of that, too, how it was for the early settlers with these fires; I’ve seen photos of my town when it was so sparsely populated in the 1800s and of course there was never anything like a fire department. But, today, with climate change, the weather all over the country and in each season seems more and more unpredictable, such as these rather fierce-late Midwestern storms going on right now.)
I’ll be thinking of you; it took me a long time to come down off the stress after a month of hyper-vigilance in December with our fire that just wouldn’t go out; I developed a lot of tension in neck and shoulders that I’m still dealing with. And, like Claudia, I’m supposed to be wearing a mouth splint and wasn’t (I’m a clencher, not a grinder; it’s primarily a reaction to body pain and nothing I can help), so I’m currently dealing with a bit of a TMJ problem. Just got too rigid with the unease/fear (of firewatch) over too long of a period and also so worried/sad for my friends who suffered property loss – – and just in general for my environment which became a dark, black, scorched and charred place.
Take care!
how kind of you Vicki to write that.
but these fires are nothing like half of California burning!
although we’re a much smaller state. so the scope of them to us is large.
our state is pretty much ignored usually unless a federal building is bombed killing thousands. or a massive E5 tornado wipes out half the town of Moore as it usually does every few years.
what you all went through in that fire last year in California was horrendous.
I’m not downplaying our poor fire victims in the least. fire is fire. but there are degrees of it. it could be so much worse. this is in the part of our state where there are very few trees. it’s mainly cattle ranching and grazing. that’s what I hated the most. the trapped animals and other wildlife who can’t “evacuate.” even their having to breathe it. so very sad.
I’ve decided not to dwell on it so much now. rather like scarlet o’hara i guess.
so glad you didn’t have to disturb the doves and that they didn’t damage your roof! xoxo
Well, any kind of wildfire is just awful. I did read after your blog comment about fire burning in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma; I just hope it can be contained soonest. It’s not just people, of course, it’s animals as you say – – domestic, farm, wild. For the wild, they may luckily escape injury only to no longer have a food source or water. Saddest thing. I’ve read heartbreaking accounts. We still have, in our area, animal rescue organizations who are trying to find and coax people’s kitties who fled. Some pet owners have put out fresh “Lost” signs but I think a lot of people have just given up by now of ever hoping to find their cat from last December.
Horses in barns or corrals, cattle as you say trapped behind fencing; what can be done, sometimes nothing or not enough as the areas can be remote with not enough time to get in and make a difference without risk of personal safety (and the horses particularly can get so spooked with chaos and the smell of danger because they’re so intelligent and intuitive – – we had cases where they’d be set free but run back to the barn which was their safe place; so, just heartbreaking…and for the injured in the wild, too many couldn’t make it…locally, they tried to save a baby bear to no avail…but they’ve tried to share positive stories in the news around my area, too – – pets returned to owners in happy reunions, rescued animals of all sorts getting good care by wonderful veterinarians and wildlife specialists, etc.).
Yes, give yourself a break from thinking about if you can, as long as you-yourself are safe; it will be what it is because Mother Nature is a dominant force. I researched it a bit over the last months and didn’t realize that wildfire is so prevalent in many, many areas of the U.S. and I think even Canada. (I was trying to find a ‘wildfire-free’ zone but, anything I came up with, my husband’s response was, “No!!” as he’s quite specific of where and where not he wants to reside!)
your husband is right! hurricanes or tornadoes (which is our usual norm)
or floods or blizzards or fire or earthquakes. you just have to pick your poison.
xo
I’m so sorry, Tammy! I had no idea. That is so frightening! I’m sending you love and positive thoughts. Stay safe, my friend.
xo thank you dearest bean.
didn’t intend to highjack your own blog.
at least it’s cold tonight. that will help the firefighters maybe.
here’s to better days. (in ALL ways.) and you know exactly what i mean. xoxo
I do know. And I loved the way you all talked to each other today! I’m thinking I should just sit back and let you guys chat.
xo
I love that chair. I saw where the rain will start Sunday. Thank goodness it will be rain and not snow! Enjoy today and the nice weather.
Marilyn
Rain is starting here tonight and goes through Sunday and Monday! But you’re right – at least it’s not snow!
I am watching British mysteries today, all day. I cannot face the news! What has happened to our government? Insanity.
Jan, I recently binge-watched all the Poirot episodes. Somehow, they cheer me that he always gets the bad guys. We have a few government bad guys that need rounding up, not just being exposed.
Poirot is up next. The Good Karma Hospital is only once a week, not enough.
I don’t blame you. Everyone needs to take a break.
It is in the upper 80’s here again today…getting ready to drive to the greenhouse for another plant…have a great weekend Claudia!
You too, Nancy!
Claudia, looking forward to those sumptuous garden pics to which you always treat us! I spent two hours in the yard pruning and weeding. The stretching in to reach the middle of the beds and tip-toeing to reach higher branches really helped the sciatica! Of course, I wouldn’t have done all that if I were hurting as much as I was at the beginning of the week. Still need to do a lot of raking (huge Italian stone pines planted by the association on the other side of my fence rain pine needles constantly…I love trees, but I hate these individual trees, which are entirely inappropriate for this area) but that’s for another day.
I bet it felt good to get out there, Wendy! So glad you’re doing better.
This morning was the first day I really heard a lot of morning birdsong – or at least the first time I noticed it. It was great – even though we had sleety icy rains last night – and yet another flood watch along the Lake. Which, sadly, is nothing new for all the poor folks who live along the shore. Hard to think of them as the “poor folks along the shore” – because it’s so gorgeous there – but after the last couple of years and the vast flooding issues they’ve faced, that’s exactly how I think of them. I grew up along the shore, and if I still lived in my childhood home, we’d be facing the same flooding. Hope you get more time in the garden, but take it easy. You’re getting over that cold/allergies – and the work will still be there. Listen to me! Do I sound like your mom? LOL – well you know what I mean… just take it easy. PS – I’ve been catching only bits of the news [not day long like I usually do] – just because I need a sanity break from it too. Been watching “Downtown Abbey” on Netflix PBS. I’m going in order though, and for some reason a few of the Season 1 episodes are missing – I’m looking for 5, 6 & 7. Hope I can figure out what’s going on because I don’t want to skip episodes [especially since don’t even remember some of the things I’m seeing now in the earliest episodes]. It’s a challenge! Have a great weekend & some good rest too. Peace.
#Resist
#ProtectMueller
If you look through the comments, at least 4 or 5 people said they were taking a break today and watching something that relaxed them – British mysteries, Miss Potter, that kind of thing. I think we all need a break!