Let’s face it. Mother Nature is a far better decorator than most of us. Would I have thought of filling this part of the yard with masses of yarrow? No. I merely planted some yarrow years ago which faded away after a couple of summers. Then it turned up on the edge of the chickenwire fence garden. Then in it. Then one plant cropped up in the Memorial Garden. And all the while, especially after we no longer had the dogs, it started to self seed all over the corral.
Now I have a little meadow of yarrow. It makes me quite happy.
We had a lovely time with Rick and Doug yesterday (and Sam!) The enormity of greeting each other sans mask and with a hug was not lost on us. It’s been a year and a half since we’ve hugged each other – since I’ve hugged anyone but Don. It was truly wonderful. And after acknowledging the moment, we picked up just as true friends do, as if we were continuing a conversation that we’d had the day before. Sam was so happy to see us! Lots of kisses and cuddles.
A big day for us. We are so grateful.
We’re still taking it slow in terms of our reentry, but Rick and Doug were fully vaccinated even before us, so it’s safe. We didn’t feel one qualm about getting together yesterday.
And we sure needed it.
Thank goodness, the humidity has gone away. It was truly horrible yesterday. Just awful. We had some thunder and some rain late in the afternoon. When I went outside this morning there wasn’t a speck of humidity in the air.
I want to get back to painting at some point today. But first, a bit of weed whacking this morning – everything is overgrown.
I know a lot of us have been dealing with oppressive heat and I hope it has lessened in your neck of the woods.
By the way, our neighbors put up a chicken wire fence along the property line because the chickens kept coming over here, plus it’s difficult for their owner to watch them all the time and she gets concerned about predators. I’ve had to go outside a couple times a day and shoo them away. As they left our property, the rooster would sass me! Anyway, one of the most comical sights lately was the day after they installed the chicken wire and I saw them on the other side of the fence, staring at me, especially Mr. Pickens, the rooster. It’s as if they were saying, “What the ???!?” They looked like they were in jail.
I could hear Don laughing out loud in the kitchen. They are funny little creatures
Stay safe.
Happy Thursday.
so happy for you, don, rick, doug and sam to have had that visit!
i know that wonderful feeling of comfort and hugs again … i was able to spend fourteen hours last saturday and sunday with members of my family … no social-distancing, no unused lawn trash bag over me when hugging them …. i cried a lot of tears, this time of relief, gratitude and happiness. :)
the meadow of yarrow is beautiful.
am glad for you, don, the chickens and mr. pickens that your neighbors put up a fence. i can imagine their temporary bewilderment … and especially mr. pickens’ attitude!
glad you had a break in the humidity. i’ve never functioned well in heat or humidity so about 40 to 65 degrees is my favorite range. going to have to wait for that.
happy, safe, cooler thursday!
kathy in iowa
As for seeing family, we live very far from our respective families. The pandemic really didn’t impact seeing them as trips are expensive so we have to wait until a few years have passed between visits.
My sister and I miss seeing each other, but we always feel that way. We do a lot of face time and phone calls. We’ll get to hug each other someday soon, but I’m in no hurry to go to Florida where people (including the Governor) don’t seem to care about social distancing.
Stay safe, Kathy.
Stay safe, Kathy.
for a dozen years, our jobs and schooling kept my family and i states apart (at one point we all lived in four different states, some halfway across the country) and i hated it. and i hate it for you and your family. hope your in-person visits happen sooner than might seem possible. glad you have some tech-y help with phone/visual visits now.
hugs,
kathy in iowa
xoxo
It’s so nice to have some normality coming back. I’m glad you got to hug and visit with your friends.
How sad for the chickens…I guess they will get used to it. Our neighbor has chickens, ducks, guinea hens. They all visit us from time to time. The guinea hens are my favorite. They eat ticks so we are happy to have them visit. The chickens don’t come on our property very often. The ducks seem to follow the guinea hens around. The neighbor’s cat that comes over and stakes out our bird feeder irritates me though. I shoo her away. I love cats but I don’t want them to kill the birds.
Have fun painting!
I’m not one bit sad for the chickens! They were digging up my yard. They have plenty of space on their property. We like them a lot, but from a distance. The same neighbors have outdoor cats and I, like you, don’t want them near our birds.
Stay safe, Marilyn.
Your chicken story is funny!
Glad the weather lightened up on the humidity. We’re supposed to get very hot in SoCalif after the weekend. We don’t need it as the environment is already parched for the season.
I have been to a few restaurants for drive-thru or outdoor eating (nothing special; isn’t food I’m craving) but I have yet to sit with, or hug, friends. I have two right now who want me to come inside their houses, eat, chat, hug maskless. I don’t know how soon I’ll be comfortable with it although we’re all vaccinated. It all comes down again to what feels comfortable for each one of us individually. I’m glad your experience was positive and gratifying.
I had to recently go twice in one day to a medical lab and it was no change from six months ago with distancing, masking (spraying/disinfecting [by them] each chair I had to sit in before I sat down); the only diff I noticed was that one technician at her keyboard wasn’t wearing gloves (although I was [and we still use gloves at the post office, too]). This all may change next week as my state ‘opens’ up fully; although, so far, my medical offices are still being very careful with the ‘protocols’ (clinic doors locked; a nurse comes out to the car to take my temperature; handwash/hand sanitizer station as patient enters the front door, etc. [this is the primary-care physician’s office; the dentist; what have you]). I still also haven’t been inside of a retail store (another thing I’m not craving; just ambivalent) although my husband goes and at all hours now. Should be an interesting summer ahead. I’ve been too severely locked down for too long to come out of this ‘fast’.
same here, vicki.
be well and stay cool, safe!
kathy in iowa
… ditto you, kathy!
Yes, all protocols were in place at Don’s eye specialist. You still call them when you get there and only a certain amount of patients are let in. I think it’s that way most everywhere. And though I see some maskless people in the grocery store and other retail establishments, most people are still opting for masks. And our rules have been relaxed for a few weeks now.
We, for example, are not having anything to do with a restaurant of any kind. We’re just not comfortable with that.
Stay safe, Vicki.
Vicki
I agree with you. Whatever feels comfortable. We do not feel comfortable yet seeing our friends and to get on a plane now is frightening to us.
Everyone is different.
meant to add this earlier today …
as much of the world begins to re-open and given your visit with friends yesterday (claudia), mine this past weekend with some members of my family and other people’s happy reunions, this quote seems very appropriate:
“the happiest of all things is when an old friend comes and greets us as in former days; the heart is comforted with the assurance that some day everything that we have loved will be given back.”
isn’t that beautiful?!? written by johanna spyri in her book “heidi”.
hugs …
kathy in iowa
A wonderful quote, Kathy! Thanks so much for sharing it.
xoxo
you’re welcome. glad to share (and wish i could write) such comforting words.
to her words “a friend”, i sure include family members (both humans and animals), easier days, joy, seasonal changes …
… things i pray for, for everyone.
kathy in iowa
xoxo
Claudia — glad you enjoyed your visit w/friends, so far, we’ve only been to church but are still separated correctly. we’re seeing my sister tomorrow (her bday) so I know there will hugs. glad the chickens will be safer (maybe) just remember roosters can be unpredictable so be on guard. Stay healthy and safe
We already know this rooster can be feisty, so we keep our distance.
Stay safe, Linda.
I just received your email for the day, which is a few hours later than usual. Maybe too hot to travel via internet. It is so very hot ~ 92* today and 94* tomorrow.
The field of Yarrow is lovely!! That picture would make a fun puzzle! Sounds like a grand time seeing friends the other day. Bet Sam was most excited of all!
The days kind of feel like trying to walk through molasses. I think ham sandwiches and cottage cheese w/ fruit for supper tonight, and take-out tomorrow. Too hot to cook and really to eat these days. Guess that isn’t a bad thing. Hope you had a good day today. Take care.
Who knows why the email is sometimes late? I’ve given up. It need to ‘act up’ every now and then.
I so hope that heat eases up for you, Chris. Ours finally broke overnight. You guys have been through enough!
Stay safe.
So glad your visit went well yesterday. It’s so wonderful to be able to hug friends again.
We took a drive today in the Kettle Moraine area…where the glaciers were long long ago. We happened upon several lakes…clear water, lots of people…such a pleasant sight after the last year.
Your field of yarrow looks so refreshing….like the temperature must be 15 degrees cooler there. Whether that’s true or not, that’s what I’m going with.
Enjoy your evening! ;)
Sounds like a beautiful drive, Donna! I need to visit a lake!
It’s definitely cooler here than it was and we’re really enjoying that.
Stay safe, Donna.