Monday morning – it’s lovely and cool, but we’ll hit the 90s today, tomorrow, and Wednesday. Too hot, too soon. I’ve been watering everything outside and doing any work that is necessary in the garden early in the morning. This hot weather will break on Wednesday/Thursday.
We still don’t have the A/C units in yet and we are fighting having to put them in this early. Our thinking is if we can get through this little patch, we can hold off a bit longer. Fingers crossed, but really hot weather makes me cranky, so let’s see if this plan works out or not.
Any work on the dollhouse will have to be done in the morning because we don’t have a window unit for that room and I really don’t want to invest in one. And let’s face it, the Beacon Hill is NOT portable.
Yarrow is popping up everywhere. I planted some when we first moved here. Just one plant. In the intervening years, it stopped growing where I planted it and proceeded to reseed in the corral and all around the funky patio. Can’t wait to see it in full bloom.
The catalpa tree, always the last to leaf out, looked especially bare this year and over the weekend I expressed a little worry that it “might be dead.” Within 24 hours, I saw little green leaf buds emerging everywhere. I should know better. It’s quite dependable. We have other catalpas on the property, but the one I usually mention is huge, kind of the “grand old catalpa.”
And the pansies are doing so well!
Don is singing and composing and recording his songs – he wants to create an archive. This is a hard time for my love. He hasn’t had any work in a long time and is worried that he won’t be hired again. And he turns 75 next month, which is a milestone that is very difficult for him to come to terms with. All I can do is be there for him, and I am, of course. And make him laugh, which is my specialty.
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
Too hot here also! But I am putting the A/C on a bit as the upstairs gets so warm in my house.
I turned 75 last year and it is a LOT. Could Don play for local care facilities? We had a nice sing-a-long last week at the place my brother is at. The performer played oldies from the 60s and 70s that many of us sang along to. Of course, it was not a paying gig but the audience enjoyed it so much and the guitar playing singer got to share his talent.
We haven’t put in the upstairs A/C yet. We’re going to try to go one more day without it.
Don already plays gigs around town. Some pay, some don’t. He enjoys it.
Thanks so very much, Ellen.
Stay safe.
what pretty flowers (and photos). know you are enjoying them. thanks for sharing them with us.
take care in the heat! glad you have indoor interests to enjoy.
i am very sad for don that he is experiencing that hard time. makes me mad (again) about the ageism so widespread in our country … when people of every age have so much goodness to share to make the world a better place! creativity and the need/wish to contribute don’t end at some artificially (stupidly)-selected age! music is timeless! also, who doesn’t want to see something real, to see someone in their own demographics on stage or tv? no one, that’s who. ugh. i keep you two (and everyone else here) in my prayers. in the meantime, i am happy that don keeps writing and recording because he is a very talented and thoughtful soul. glad you have each other. may you both have peace.
xo,
kathy
Thank you, Kathy. You brought some tears to my eyes. It’s not easy for either of us at this point. I’m just a year behind Don. But he is my concern at the moment.
Stay safe.
Do you think it’s any harder or difficult for men who don’t have work? Apart from financial issues of course — that’s always worrisome. I know I was lucky in that I had so many interests that I don’t know how I survived when I worked (apart from that very important and essential paycheck!) But more like a sense of worth or a passion? I know Rick wants to feel like he’s making a difference but hasn’t found an organization yet that he wants to do that with (apart from a financial donation). My cousin was much the same, especially since he didn’t have a lot of external hobbies. At least Rick has the guitar and the bike. So, he practices three hours a day, rides unless the weather doesn’t permit, works on the house, but it still doesn’t quite fit the bill. You guys aren’t in the kinds of careers that bring about retirement at a certain age, just “work or no work,” so does that affect self-esteem? It’s a really tough dilemma.
Anyway, I digress. Your pansies are looking great. If you put the A/C in now, would it block something, even if you didn’t turn it on yet? I don’t have air either, but no air-con so I don’t know how that works!
I’m not sure. Don loves to work, for one, and he’s very good at what he does. And in acting, one shouldn’t
‘age out.’ I do know he’s depressed about it. We are also on a very tight income because we still pay a mortgage. He would love to bring in more money for us. Don has been a professional actor since he was 18. It’s what he knows best. It’s very tough on my self-esteem. But I just went through a long period of no work and I felt like I was dealing with ageism.
The A/C in the bedroom is the problem. We only have 2 windows and if the unit is being used in one of the windows, then there’s only one available for fresh air. So we’re using a box fan until we absolutely have to install it.
We did succumb and put in the kitchen unit today. It was 94! And we have lots of windows downstairs so it won’t deprive us of fresh air when we can get it.
Stay safe, Jeanie.
Well, I know that it must be terribly frustrating — something you love and do so well, and the market impossible for finding work. The same for you. I hope good opportunities come along.
I can see why you’d want to wait. I only have two windows in the bedroom too, and that cross ventilation is really nice. But I’m glad you could get the kitchen in. This year is so erratic and I think it will continue that way for a bit. I’m off to get herbs today. It’s safe planting now!
Hurrah for planting, Jeanie!
xo
It seems like we have the reverse weather here. It’s very cool and has rained almost every day for weeks. Friday is supposedly dry and about 70F but then it’s back to rain until at least the end of May. I even have the heating switched on most evenings.
Would it be practical for Don to teach via private lessons? He’s a wonderful musician and has years of experience as a talented actor. Anyway, just a thought for consideration.
Happy Monday
We’re in the greater NYC area. Acting teachers and music teachers are everywhere. A dime a dozen. And ever since Covid, every actor and musician has been teaching via Zoom, so there’s a lot of competition. It’s really not worth it.
Thank you for thinking of us and for the suggestion, Dee Dee.
Stay safe.
Kathy always writes such lovely things. Spring is here and we really have just two seasons, winter and summer. My mom used to say that she only needed one coat – a winter coat.
My tulips didn’t do well this year.
I went to a 90th birthday tea and then Dad dropped me off at the little cemetary. This is in the small town near our city. The boxes on the columbariam are being bought up quickly. We must buy very soon. I lived in the town 7 years of my life and my grandparents are all buried there, as well as some of Mike’s family. Thoughts of my mom and my cousin laid to rest there. I’ve climbed up and down those coulees as a child, and set off in a canoe and kayak down the river many times.
On m back, I watched the clouds and the storm coming in. My life isn’t all that comfortable these days, but like you, Claudia, we can be grateful for the small mercies. We don’t have much money, but are rich in family, – including church family, and friends, That’s enough for me.
That’s a lovely sentiment, Irene. And we’ve found that it’s the seemingly small things that really matter. Good for you!
Stay safe.
75 is no laughing matter…yet, laughter is the best way to get through it! I’ve also realized that turning 75 is a privilege…and one I am grateful for. I’m sorry that acting jobs seem scarce right now for Don…but I’m happy to hear he is still performing, just in a different way. He has so much talent to share!
You’re brave to weather 90’s without air conditioning. We turned ours on Saturday…the humidity has returned due to our frequent storms as of late. It will cool down on Wednesday…only one more day. Then I can finally plant my flowers. Woohoo!
Stay cool as best you can. Enjoy your day! ;)
We did end up installing the downstairs unit – what a pain in the tush! But we’re glad we did as it hit 94 today. We’re going to try to hold off on the bedroom unit for a couple more weeks as once the heat breaks on Thursday, the temps will be much more moderate for about 10 days.
Stay safe, Donnamae.
It has been cold and I had 7 inches of snow on Monday. The wet heavy snow broke tree branches, oh well.
My heart breaks for Don, being such a creative person it must be hard not to use one of your gifts. I will send out hope that something will come his way as well as your way, too.
Take Care,
Kaye
Thank you, Kaye.
I’m so sorry about the heavy, wet snow. I’ve been there, losing tree limbs to the weight of the snow.
Stay safe.