Staying Home - The Luckiest

Home Sweet Home

The days come and go. Some good, some not so good. When life is compromised, as it is now, your mind plays tricks. You go to bed, either exhausted and worried but fall asleep immediately, or you lie there over-thinking, tossing and turning knowing sleep will be a long time coming.

What do you think about? 

More bad news and high numbers. What's left in the cupboard to scrabble together for a decent meal tomorrow. Are your family, friends, neighbors really healthy, or will they become ill. Are you really healthy yourself. What about anyone sharing your daily space closely. How will you know.

What will you do if you both get sick?

Yes, too many questions, so you get up again each morning, not caring what time it is. You feel OK once you start moving. If the sun is shining it's better - it was damp and cold here early morning but has now warmed up and the sun is breaking through the clouds. He asked, "What are you planning to do today?" I answered with just a sideways glance and almost laughed, words didn't come. Today however will be a cleaning house day as the pollen is just about gone. He will be mowing the grass. I'm thinking of making a lasagna as I do have a stock of pasta and sauce, and I did remember to buy ricotta and mozzarella when last at the grocery store. . . . . which already feels like eons ago.

Speaking of grocery stores - 

I pulled out this amazing book to re-read after thinking about how shopping for food was much worse for my mother long ago. The late Marguerite Patten, worked for the British Ministry of Food during World War II. Her job was to help families prepare nutritious and appetizing dishes with their weekly rations. She became the doyenne of English cookery writers and was probably one of the world's first 'celebrity cooks'.  In case you're not aware, although the war ended in 1945 (I was born in 1943) food rationing in Britain didn't end until 1954!  

Growing up in that time, I also recall how most houses had a 'Victory Garden' where we grew a lot of our own vegetables, also some fruits such as strawberries and raspberries.  My mother was the gardener at our house, she definitely had a green thumb and, although she always worked full time, somehow made time to grow healthy foods and cook delicious meals with what was available from the shops. Many of my friends and neighbors now have a version of a victory garden also.

Currently I have a very small kitchen garden - just four tomato plants, two Roma, a German Johnson and a Better Boy. Also tucked in there are some squash seeds - and scattered around in sunny spots, several pots of basil, dill and parsley seeds which are just starting to germinate.  My neighbor also grows tomatoes and peppers and shares with me, so I'm thinking Italian dishes will be plentiful this summer!

Do you find yourself playing more music now isolated at home?

I listen mostly to soothing background music - piano, classical, chorale.  I love VOCES8, the a cappella octet from the United Kingdom - they can sing just about anything. If you haven't heard them you should, I think their music is wonderful for this time when we need beauty around us in so many ways. Linking one of their modern pieces - the amazing Ben Folds' (he's from North Carolina) song, The Luckiest.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv9CSQjUPPQ

. . . . . and to their stunning version of Sir Edward Elgar's - Lux Aeterna (Nimrod)
https://www.youtube.com/watchv=IwdeqVmXlHk&list=PL2tFLT5qytwSTVwD8NLh2jw3qGXMEv-uC&index=2

I hope your day is good. I'm going out to walk around the garden, then

do the cleaning!

Not myself. . . . . . . .

Celeste fig tree coming along great - even tiny fruits galore already!

This past week was a really hard one. 
Just two days after my dear next door neighbor and friend of 12 years passed away, 
another close neighbor, two houses away, lost his elderly father from head injuries
 from a fall, followed by a stroke.  

These sad losses, along with the terrible growing numbers of deaths from the 
corona virus, and a frightening worldwide situation, has made me want to scream. . . . 
and I did, into my thick Pottery Barn bath towel after taking a shower yesterday! 
I just wrapped it around my face and screamed - luckily the bathroom fan muffles
 noise and Bob's hearing is not as good as it used to be! 
Yes, I admit, I'm not myself by any means - going to bed early, sleep disturbed 
several times a night. . . . . and tired, 
oh so tired in the mornings.

BUT, before you think I'm falling apart, really I'm not!

I'm staying busy because, thankfully, I do have my garden which is probably
 saving me. . . . . . as well as Bob and our great nearby neighbors.  
We are all working outside in perfect conditions this week - brilliant sunshine 
under cobalt skies, perfect temperatures, no humidity, even the pollen 
slowing down, and best of all, for me, very few mosquitoes yet! 

 Staying in our gardens we are much more than six feet apart but still able to chat, 
share garden tips and, now and again, update one another regarding happenings
in this scary pandemic world.

The birds are singing nonstop now - this male towhee sits in an oak above my

 garden bench for 20 minutes at a time serenading his lady, paying no attention to me.

Mama finch is still sitting on her three eggs.

Within a few days I think the eggs will start to hatch.

So we have been staying busy, the garden taking up several hours each day.

 A very early run to the garden center (with only a couple of other customers at that

 ungodly shopping time) at Lowe's one morning for potting soil, tomato plants, 

petunias and geranium plants, the pre-potted display (above) for the large urn, hanging

 Boston ferns, herbs/moonflower/morning glory seeds etc. All items to keep me happy

in the weeks ahead.

Note my glorious now red maple tree in the background - it will gradually turn green

 and then red again in autumn!

A second early morning trip, armed with washable cloth shopping bags, a mask 

and gloves (above), was to Costco at the specified senior time 8-9 AM. 

On arrival we immediately changed our plan as the invisible end of the line

 somewhere around the back of the huge building, plus many people who

were obviously NOT 60 or older (naughty!), turned us off. Instead we quickly

 drove across the street to Trader Joe's where we were greeted at the door by

 cheery men who wiped down a cart for us, ushered us inside immediately - and 

being early there were not too many customers so safe distance was no problem.

Deciding on perishable foods/produce etc. to buy these days is rather hard - things

 that last as long as possible are important.  I have peppers, tomatoes, cauliflower, 
leeks, squash potatoes etc. as I make loads of vegetarian soups - only problem 
now is I'm running out of freezer space to store the soups!

Don't forget some fruits!

We started using the gazebo for supper this week as it was still warm in the evenings.

It's like having a little nearby 'restaurant' and makes a change of scenery.

I've also taken my laptop out there where birdsong, blooming azaleas, and an iced

 coffee make it a comforting retreat.

I hope this Sunday, Palm Sunday, is a special day for you. 

Perhaps you won't be able to be with your loved ones this year but still

 make it a good day.  

We need to stay safe, we need to do what is necessary. . . . . . and by now we all

 know what that entails, so let's do it!

Despite the troubled world and so much sadness, I hope we can still do our usual

Easter time blog posts. Please display decor around your homes (my Easter bunnies

 are ready), beauty in your gardens, or just a few kind words which are needed more

 than ever at this special time.

Stay well dear friends.