About midway through the day yesterday, Don and I realized we were exhausted. Don came home early from photographing portraits, I fell asleep in my chair. It started raining heavily. I think the Universe was telling us that we needed to rest and take it easy.
So we did.
This is what it looked like around 3 pm yesterday:
It was cozy inside the cottage, but dark and rainy outside. It continued to rain and thunder throughout the evening.
Earlier, when I was outside tamping down every square inch of the parking area and driveway, I noticed this:
Isn’t that simply stunning? I think it stood out because there were little drops of rain on the threads. I’ll have to check on it this morning. It’s hard to image it withstood the deluge that we got later in the day.
Rick comes back from his trip tomorrow (he’s actually been back a few days but he’s in NYC) so we’ll pick him up from the bus station. Doug is still traveling, visiting his new granddaughter in Hong Kong and his other children.
I’ve got a checklist for today and I’m determined to tackle it.
Reader Kathy from Iowa sent us a package that included treats for traveling and a wonderful book, Hidden Gardens of Paris. Thank you so much, Kathy! The book is just gorgeous and I can’t wait to explore some of the gardens. And we so appreciate the treats!
I cannot even go into what IT said during his rally last night. There are no depths to which he won’t go. He has no moral compass. He has no empathy. He is a shell of a being.
And that’s all I’ll say.
Happy Wednesday.
Betsy says
I was hoping it was raining as hard as it was at my house yesterday. Nature’s way of tamping down gravel!
Posted this quote by Sydney J. Harris on my FB page re: rally- ” The difference between patriotism and nationalism is that a patriot is proud of his country for what it does and the nationalist is proud of his country no matter what it does. The first attitude creates a feeling of responsibility while the second a feeling of blind arrogance that leads to war.”
Very scary times we’re living in but seeing a beautiful spider web, a flower or a smile helps us retain hope.
Have a sunny day!
Shanna says
Great quote, Betsy!
Claudia says
Love the quote. Thanks, Betsy!
Siobhan says
Beautiful web- made me think of a favourite children’s story
Rest
Pack
Rest a bit more
Enjoy Europe x
Claudia says
Thank you, Siobhan!
Kay says
For the sake of my mental health, I refuse any more to actually watch even short clips of those perverse “rallies.” I also stayed off the internet yesterday again. I did turn on MSNBC mid-afternoon to catch a little of Nicole Wallace first because, in a perverse way, I sort of enjoy witnessing her refute her political past each day and also because I think she’s a smart cookie so it’s about time. She was just breaking the NYTimes Trump family tax fraud story. So I turned off the TV because my outrage meter was beginning to overheat again already.
I so envy not only you guys going to my favorite city but being able to leave the country and totally leave behind all this nonsense. I sincerely believe if more Americans traveled abroad we’d lose a lot of that perverse “we’re number one” nonsense. I doubt most of these ignorant people who still show up for the “president” get outside the country at all. So, do rest up and save your strength so you can walk all those fascinating streets to your hearts’ content. And thank you for another beautiful picture. Aren’t spiders the most amazing engineers?
Claudia says
I like Nicole Wallace, too.
I’m tempted as I can be without really being able to do it, to stay there once we land.
Wendy T says
The sky can’t make up its mind to rain or not. An indoor day for me except to drive daughter to work and pick her up later. She isn’t comfortable driving yet. A good book on the couch with my feline patient is the order of the day. Hope the to do list is fast and short.
Claudia says
Enjoy your time with your little buddy.
Chris K in Wisconsin says
I am betting that the rain helped to tamp down that gravel. One good thing about it. Oh, and it did get both of you inside to rest for a bit!!
That web is amazing. I love to come upon one and just study it for a bit. I wonder how many a spider can spin in a day.
It can’t seem to decide if it wants to be cloudy or rainy today. We are supposed to hit 80* and then storms this eve. More rain. I wonder if all of the rain and the heat and humidity of the summer will effect the leaves this year. Some trees are turning their usual yellow, but the maples don’t seem to be changing yet. Hope you have a good Wednesday!!
Claudia says
Our maples are changing – to yellow and red leaves. They’ve been changing for a while now. Thanks, Chris.
Janet in Rochester says
With all due respect to my very wise friend, “It” [love that by the way – I’ve taken to calling him Chunky myself] is not a shell of a human being. He is a SEPTIC TANK of a human being. Full of the worst of human excrement, bilge, filth, and stink. Period [as Spicey would say]. Keep on resting you two, stockpile your energy for your European adventure! Peace.
#Resist
#ProtectMueller
Claudia says
I agree. “Septic Tank” is a good way to put it. I’m so disheartened today, so disgusted by the crap spewing out of his mouth and out of the mouths of his followers. “Deplorable” was being far too kind.
Judy Ainsworth says
Ah come on Janet, tell us what you really think.? LOL
Actually very nice way to put Some Horrendous Excuse for a human in any sense of the word! Judy A-
Janet in Rochester says
Thanks Judy. Maybe someday I’ll find a way to crawl out of my shell and express myself – LOL!
Vicki says
Yeah, I watched those clips, too, and said aloud, “What a horrible, horrible man.”
Very disappointed to be not getting ANY rain in SoCalif so far in my neck ‘o the woods; I guess the ‘moisture’ from that southerly hurricane veered more toward Arizona. (I should read more about that; I think, in fact, they’re getting an onslaught.) We have all the humidity (two evenings ago, it was 95 degrees on my thermometer at 5pm)…cloying humidity…and clouds/overcast, but not one drop. Slight chance remains this afternoon but I’m not feeling very hopeful. I guess it was too much to expect this early but it sure would have been nice after, at least where I am, nothing for months and months. And months. Whereas you’ve had A TON of rain, Claudia. You must have felt like it was summer slosh, and ongoing.
Claudia says
Everything here feels sodden and permanently damp.
Vicki says
It’s passed now, any hope for rain this week. We were SO close. Does that mean that if you got early snow, with everything already so wet, that it would be just ice, like immediately I guess? I know nothing about snow and ice. Only if we got a hard freeze which like hasn’t happened in forever in my slice of SoCalif.
OMG, Claudia. I just read the piece by veteran journalist Connie Chung in The Washington Post on her own sexual assault. Left me shaking.
Vicki says
I guess I meant if your temps plummeted, everything would turn icy that’s already so wet; we have family in northern reaches like Wyoming and Idaho, even an edge of Utah, who have light snow already forecasted. By the weekend.
Claudia says
xo
Claudia says
So sorry you didn’t get rain.
It’s still too warm over all for it to turn to ice that quickly. That happens more when the ground has been frozen for a while.
I read that piece, too. Very, very moving. And they’ll still confirm the bastard.
Shanna says
“Bastard” is my favorite word nowadays, fitting for so many occasions (and news clips).
Claudia says
Mine, too!
Shanna says
Such a beautiful web. The water droplets make it look like strings of pearls.
It’s another drippy morning here, but we spent it mostly in the car, heading in to town for prescriptions. Ugh. But the drive was beautiful with the changing leaves and black, saturated, naked branches.
Claudia says
The leaves are changing here, as well. When the sun finally comes out, it’s awfully pretty.
Linda @ A La Carte says
Your home is so snugly when it rains! I hope you get more rest, attack that list, pack and then enjoy your trip! Hugs!
Claudia says
Thanks, Linda.
kathy in iowa says
you are welcome, claudia. glad it arrived before your trip. hope you and don enjoy the contents and, most of all, your big trip!
kathy in iowa
Claudia says
xoxo
Donnamae says
I hope you were able to get some rest today. I got really upset over what It did last night…mocking Dr. Ford…that I couldn’t formulate rational sentences. He is the most despicable ….sorry excuse of a man! ( still can’t do it)
Love that spider web….so artistic! ;)
Claudia says
He is that. Despicable. Vile. Evil.
Thanks Donnamae!
Nancy Blue Moon says
No wonder you two were exhausted!…A nice cozy inside day was just what you needed!!…Glad to hear that Rick is safely home…or will be tomorrow…I’m sure he will be needing a rest too!!..As for It…that was no more than I would expect to come out of It’s mouth!!!
Claudia says
You’re not kidding! He is VILE. Thanks, Nancy!