Weekend odds and ends -

Another weekend, and this one has started off well with sunshine and 

warm temperatures.

A robin has been sitting on the head of a garden statue outside the window 

for over 10 minutes, singing non-stop. He stopped as some dog walkers

passed the house but didn't fly off, then just puffed up and started his melody

again. . . . . . . such a lovely sound early in the morning.

 I'm kitty sitting for the coming week as Nala's person, our neighbor, is heading to Maine. 

Nala is easy to care for and, as it's warm, I'll be putting her out in the screened porch 

during the daylight hours which makes her a happy cat. . . . . . . . she'll be watching

plenty of these critters below. . . . . . . . 

. . . . . . . .in my back garden yesterday, this female squirrel made short order of

 the only suet cake I had left - note to self, buy more if/when I go shopping again!

My 'snowdrops' are in full bloom now.

These are actually Leucojum aestivum 'Summer Snowflake", member

of the Amaryllis family of bulbs. Thankfully deer resistant hardy perennials.

I baked a loaf last evening so had good toast and marmalade for breakfast today. 

Can't say there's really anything I enjoy more to start my weekend morning - a good 

slice of crunchy toast with butter. . . . . and of course thick cut Scottish marmalade.

Stay well, be happy, and enjoy your weekend.

Other than taking our neighbor to the airport later,

I think we'll be staying close to home.

. . . . . content with the peregrination of daily necessity!

I'll miss traveling the world.  

I may not view a new place far off across an ocean for quite some time, 

or even ever! That is hard to imagine. I've been fortunate to visit all seven

 continents and see so much, but there are a few special places I've set my 

sights on for the future and would still like to view. 

Right now though I am quite happy to remain at home. 

Even going on a couple of shopping runs this week had me longing to pull back

 up my driveway, grab the bags, unlock the front door, drop the bags (well not

 the one with the eggs!) and rush into the bathroom to scrub my hands!

The blossoms are bursting forth along the streets, in neighbors gardens as

 well as my own, and I find myself sneezing and my nose running. Allergies or virus? 

it's becoming worrisome as no matter where you live, travel, or just hang out, 

there is no place to hide from a pandemic.

Yes, I was a traveler!

I believe I did just that, but I won't be going far from home for a while. 

I'll be opening all these e-mails I'm getting daily now (bet you are too), most

not from family or friends, but from businesses such as my dentist, physiotherapist,

 assorted grocery chains, airlines, restaurants, coffee shops, even the Saturday

 morning market stalls nearby!

Sounds like everyone is suddenly cleaning everything.

Shouldn't they have been doing that always - maybe actually 'putting

 the cart before the horse' works at times!

Travel is on the back burner that's for sure.

Toward the east -

Yesterday morning brought an amazing sunrise.

The start of a very warm day. We were out by mid-morning to 

drive a friend to the airport and able to leave jackets at home.

Today is much different, awoke to thick fog, but there's a promise of 

some sunshine around noon and 75F so warm again.

March is such a fickle month, and this year with all that's happening

due to the Corona virus, this March is particularly unnerving!

A few store stops on the way home yesterday found me somewhat nervous - for

 the first time I did not feel really safe shopping!  

The LADIES room in Target, although empty and spotlessly clean, found me

 perhaps overly cautious regarding hand washing and then having to touch things

 again - such as the drier and exit door. Noting the long store shelves totally devoid 

of anything antibacterial felt strange. I haven't stock-piled anything yet!  Now, after

 yesterday's official pandemic news, and the huge changes regarding international 

travel, even cancelations of all the St. Patrick's Day parades (we have a huge 

one here and always attend), I'm feeling life is changing quickly.

We must all be alert and careful, especially those of us who are elderly and

have compromised immune systems.

I realize 'gloom and doom' is not a good way to think, negativity doesn't get

you anywhere. . . . . . but blowing caution to the wind is perhaps not sensible

 in the current atmosphere.

So, for me, the house and garden will become my 'Staycation' location!  

I have plenty to fill my hours and keep me busy here!  My thoughts go out

to several dear friends who are having to cancel overseas travel plans, 

hopefully they will still be able to take those long awaited trips later.

Take care dear friends and readers.