The world is too much with us. Don and I are desperately trying to stay away from the news. Each new atrocity breaks our hearts and the sadness is overwhelming. Every night, we have to re-commit to staying far away from “news poisoning” as I have named it.
So, let’s look at something pretty.
Oh, the beautiful “pinkening” had begun! Limelight hydrangeas are magical; already beautiful, they somehow manage to become even more beautiful as summer fades away. I am so glad I planted this bush. It’s absolutely huge now!
Two words/phrases coined by yours truly in this post: “news poisoning” and “pinkening.”
Very busy.
And not at all wary of the large human with a camera.
I finished The Miniaturist this morning. What a wonderful novel. Now, I have to walk around the house and find something I haven’t read yet – a book I actually want to read. I have 3 books on hold at the library but there are long queues for all of them, so I’m not expecting them soon.
What else? I’m working on the bed for the Beacon Hill. I’m going with the larger wooden bed. I asked about it on my IG feed and the vote was unanimous: the wooden bed. And I’m quickly warming up to the idea.
We have more rain coming later today – most likely, thunderstorms. It’s actually rather dark this morning.
Okay, my friends. More on Friday.
Stay safe.
Happy Wednesday.
I’ve been on more or less of a news moratorium the past two weeks during art camp. I just read a substack I like and glance at the NYT headlines, rarely venturing beyond that. Amazing how helpful that is. But on the other hand, I don’t feel I have good arguments for things current if pressed. A double edged sword.
It’s very tricky!
Thanks, Jeanie.
Stay safe.
That “pinkening” is lovely. It’s so hot here now. Can’t wait for it to cool off!
Stay safe and cool, Claudia!
I hope it cools off soon, Ellen.
Stay safe.
I find myself in a constant state of unease or perhaps mild depression. I would like to totally remove myself from the news but I know I have to stay informed. I am working on getting my Canadian citizenship. We sending for our grandfather’s birth certificate today. I don’t know what I’ll do with it if anything but it may help my grandchildren someday. They may want a more peaceful life. Thankfully, reading and hobbies provide some relief from the tension around us.
Peace to you,
Eileen
Doing the same. Between my mom, maternal grandparents and Grandpa Hill, I’ve got Canadian citizens on both sides. Question: how do you trace a birth certificate? I have to obtain Mom’s. Or Grandpa Hill’s. Or my grandmother’s.
Love you, Eileen.
Stay safe.
We have located Grandpa Hill’s and downloaded the application for citizenship. We know where to order the birth certificate and will order copies. Woody can apply for citizenship at the same time I do. If you go ahead with this, let us know and we’ll send you the links.
I’d love the links. I’m having trouble with Mom’s because she was so irritated that Grandma went back to ON to give birth, even though they were living in Detroit. I was a pain every time Mom wanted to cross the border. She had something changed. So, in one place, it says Canada as her birthplace (on my birth certificate) and in another it says Detroit. Still looking for her parents. I might have to apply through Grandpa Hill.
Please send me the links, Eileen. Both Don and I are very interested in this.
Much appreciated, dear cousin.
I too have to stay away from the news. It can ruin not only my day but my week if I let it. I’m happily looking forward to a weekend in the mountains with my family. The grandkids are excited I am going with them. We had such a fun time last year and my health is even better this year so I’m really happy to be going. Sweet, clean mountain air here I come!
Have a wonderful weekend, Linda!
Stay safe.
i like “pinkening”. i do not like “news poisoning” (as a phrase, yes, but not as an actual, harmful impact on people). and i like how your creativity extends to words. you are a great writer, claudia … among other things, you write like you talk. i like that, too.
glad you and don take breaks from the news, and both have lots of hobbies and talents to hopefully more than balance out the bad stuff.
also, awful as a lot of stuff is here on earth, i still believe and praise God that the good outnumbers the bad in this world.
hope you find just the right book. i’m off reading for a bit in order to finish sorting papers before the september 12 paper-shredding event. and emptying thousands of screenshots from my phone so there’s enough space for the camera to work again.
not fun, but feels good to have almost-done (and i’m going with that feeling).
happy, safe wednesday to everyone.
also, lovely post today on your substack about whimsy. thanks for all you share.
kathy
Oh, cleaning out the phone is a big job! I have to do that with photos on my phone. It’s insane.
Thanks so much, Kathy.
Stay safe.
Good Morning Claudia! I learned years ago that I had to seriously monitor my news input modes… real time audio/video does not work for me, it makes me so anxious because I never know what ‘s next… and it’s always something you don’t want to hear! After listening I would find myself raging aloud at the world around me… not a great way to be! So I buy a newspaper (and subscribe online to some NYT material… )I scan headlines to keep abreast and read deeper if I feel I need to know more. It sounds like “ostrich mode”… but it is really self protection in action. The media is designed to raise our blood pressure and inspire urgent fear… don’t get me started…! So I step back, tune as much out as I can and catch the gist in the headlines or on the wind of common knowledge… I seriously believe our energy is needed in the positive side of the balance as much as we can possibly manage. So I am with you on the tune-out.
And the gardens! I love to see the advancing seasons all around the area… fall is here for all intents and purposes, it is dark in the morning and darker by the minute in the evenings… we lose about three minutes a day at this time of year at this latitude! The hydrangea is gorgeous and the asters too. It is always wonderful to see the bees finding the blossoms wherever they happen to be.
I am glad you decided on the poster bed for the Beacon Hill! Can’t wait to see where it takes you next!
Thanks so much, Betsy!
Stay safe.
Love ‘pinkening’…..such a perfect word to describe a limelight as it changes!
I have to curb my news, for the same reasons as everyone else. Too much bad news is not good for my soul…and it’s coming in droves lately. I read a couple of Substacks, and a local Wisconsin news site, and that seems to satisfy my need to know, without going in too deep.
We keep getting promised rain…but it only sprinkles…so we are sprinkling! Enjoy your evening! ;)
We had a huge downpour this afternoon. Just one bit of thunder, but it was a real soaker.
Stay safe, Donnamae.