The Many Colors of Green in Summer Heat

July is almost over. Big bug season is gone. How fast the summer goes. The warm sand under my feet, the thrill of Air Conditioning, and deep blue skies. There are no outdoor baseball games his summer. There is no Yankee Homecoming this week. The Topsfield Fair has cancelled its 2020 fair. All casualties caused by the Great Pandemic of 2020, the Covid 19 Virus, and many illnesses and deaths.

I wear my mask. I avoid crowds. I shop only at safe, well organized stores and I only have driven my car less than ten times this summer. There is no where to go. Nothing to do. Stay home, and I stay home and garden, read books, do jigsaw puzzles, watch baby birds in our yard, and relax. That is my schedule.

Walking to white bridge this July, I celebrate the many colors of green plants. The light color of green in the spring, the shiny vibrant color of poison ivy, and deep green of the leaves of mature trees.Green is such a warm and relaxing color. 

White Bridge is my favorite neighborhood walk this time of year. The Great Marsh is filled with birds, smells of hay, and my skin warms to the touch of the sun. The tides come into Little River, and rush out at after high tide is over. The water's colors change during the in tides. Always moving the water sings out to me. How can one place be so tranquill, so beautiful and so close to my house. I love my neighborhood. Sure we have tons of bugs, deer, and bunnies in our yard. They eat expensive plants and love our hostas. But, I would not change thing about where I live. It suits my personality.

It gives me strength, peace, and much wisdom.

Quiet Times Early Morning Before the Heat

 Watching nature and drinking my soothy, pretending that I did not fall out of bed last night.

No need to worry, I won't do that again. I am working on calming my body and my self.

Decide to open the umbrella.  Notice some grass on the table. Find the mouse nest. We knock it down and pretend this is not annoying. Calm and collected, I finish my smoothly and leave the wet, moist heat. Opening the door the the house, I sigh and feel the cool air kiss my legs. 

I do all my exercises. My remember to give myself a gold star.

Good Bye to John Lewis, a kind man of peace and equality for all.

What does it feel like to wake up on the floor.

Besides the pain, it feels very surreal. Husband yelling "What the heck." Me yelling back 'fell out of bed'. Next day, walking up and feeling it was just another bad dream, until husband confirms it was no dream. So strange. Still feel feeble today, although, I know that I am not feeble.  I must have been in a very deep sleep and woke hearing the husband coming to bed, I just must have rolled over. But there was no bed and I promptly landed on the floor.    

Yesterday, I watch live as John Lewis's coffin was moved into the the Capital's rotunda.                                                                                                                     He lay in state under the dome, as a final farewell and thank you for all his heroic and brave actions over his lifetime.What a sight.

Inside verses Outside

Good morning. The Covid is still alive and growing in states that opened too soon. Arizona, Florida, and California are spiking as I type this note.

Luckily, Massachusetts is stable. We wear masks. This is so easy, why do people fight it. Our president is now completely nuts. I worry about this, my husband laughs about it. 

I spend a lot of time inside and at my computer.I am sort of addicted to online jigsaw puzzles. It is mindless work, and it relaxes me. I am reading a 40 pound book- 9th Street Women. Wonderful book about women artists. 

We are spending more time outside on our deck when the temperature and humidity are at a low level.  Sea breezes are most appreciate and lucious. 

I feel like I am under house arrest. We do get out. But we are cautious and careful about our outings.

My depression comes in waves. Some days it is like a beach surfing wave and some days it feels like a tsunami. I am not happy about this roller coaster ride that I am on. I keep trying to get off, but, it is near impossible to get out of my skin and relax most days.

No news on our cruise. France is still closed to US citizens. I feel that we are going to lose our money but,  it is better than getting sick- I keep telling myself.

Hot July Day...Green Head Season

Listening to Mingus Love Music on a hot day. Can't go out too long or the green heads will attach. Inside it is cool and calming. It will be a great day to sew and read. Outside it is very green and blue.

Outside, the world as I have known it has changed, and I don't like the new edition.

The hummingbirds continue to enjoy our hummer feeder. The males are starting to disappear and leave the females to raise the children on their own. 

Baby birds are now being taught to sing, talk , and communicate. Most of them are around flying and going to the feeders. Their parents are still around, but, it is time for the kids to fend for themselves. 

My summer flowers will start to wilt in the heat. Hope more rain is coming. New plants are blooming and rabbits are making the herb garden their residence of choice.

All is calm in and around my home. 

I worry about the world and the bad directions it is taking. I care for all human beings, all animals, insects, and fish. We continue to pollute their and our worlds. We never stop. How could we love this earth and the mess we have make of this marvelous gift of the planet Earth?

As I sit at my computer, I think a lot. It mostly calms me.  

I want to stay calm and thoughtful during this pandemic. I want everyone to be calm and thoughtful during this pandemic. Is that too much to ask for from millions of strangers?

July Passes Filled With Storms, Regrets, and Farewells

The First States, mostly republican, opened up their states and foolishly believed our president, that Covid was over. But, the Pandemic is still here, and soon these states were faced with increase infection rates, crowded hospital, and mile long lines waiting for testing.

I could say: "I told you so." But, they results were be the same. The President finally wore a mask the other day. Meanwhile, Florida, Arizona and California rates which had come down, now are going up, up and away.

I retreat to my gardens. I do have the greenhead threat here, but, I boldly dare to go outside in Newbury.

Long sleeves shirts, and long pants are my gardening clothes of choice. There is nothing attractive in my appearance. Just functional, somewhat successful keeping mosquitoes, spiders,  ticks, and other stinging insects away.

My perennial garden is a mature garden and it is looking good.  It is round and has taken me years of trial and error where to plant and what to plant. This year and last year I lost my echinacea plant. I think it is mr or mrs rabbit.  I love the plant as much as the butterflies do.  But, I must be practical this time and find a non tastly, good looking plant.  So it goes in the garden.

My mood is flat. Neither good nor bad. The current loss of a good friend weights on my heart.

This Pandemic, and all its  nasty deaths also weights on my heart. The lack of intelligence and caring of our president is the third stress on me. It has been a hard year. 2020...sounded so go but, the year will be remembered as terrible year, for people, the economy, and the mood the this nation. The bigots have come out of hiding and are massing into a force of evil. Why can we not just love everyone. All life matters.

We all matter. We all need love. We all need kindness. 

So on my 2 acres of land surrounded by large protected woodlands, I hid. I hid within myself.

I don't venture out much. I stay to myself. Good or bad that is my plan. 

I will vote and pray that everyone votes to rid this nation of this hateful, pitiful man.

Sadness Fills My Heart

We lost a close friend three days ago to cancer. He was at home and died with hospice. His comment close to the end was  "We kill our animals humanely." That sums it up for his experience on being very brave on his second time with prostate cancer. He fought drugs, walked with a portable chair, did not have a hospital bed until a week before he passed. He told us he had a great life. He married and lived with the women he loved for over 44 years. 

            

He was a poet, a expert birdwatcher,  planted a vegetable garden his last summer. He joked with us "I am not dead yet." (an old Monty Python joke. )  and he practiced his French with my husband the student. Two weeks before he died, he gave my husband what of left of his good scotch. He gave me a Zen Potato Kit complete with a stand, tiny scissors, and a miniature 50 page instruction manual

            He was a great foodie and we traveled with him and ate so well. We also followed the Vermont     

            beer trail.  New barbecue  joint opened and we were off for sweet ribs. Portland, ME was a                       favorite spot for all of us. Great museums, the best tea shop in the east, favorite Tai, and Japanese

            delightful restaurants. 

            I now have a hole in my heart. It will slowly close. Until then I will not be myself.

.  

2020 Summer Quotes

"It isn't where you came from. It's where you're going that counts." - 𝐸𝑙𝑙𝑎 𝐹𝑖𝑡𝑧𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑑

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal."

Outside of Our Home in the New World Order

Slowly, we have started to visit our old breweries in their new outdoor locations. It is very surreal under a tent, with picnic tables six feet apart and having the best beer service ever. No crowds. Just a few thirsty fellow drinkers. We are allowed to drink without our masks.

 

Best surprise birthday present from Glenn. A handmade fairy home. Complete with doors and windows and front yard. Perfect and wonderful. Some call it a hobbit home. 

BHM Job List....thank the lord that I am retired.

Clerk at our neighbor's Paint Brush Factory in the Old North End. Round trip rides with my neigbor.

Jordan Marsh, Shopper's World, Framingham, MA

High School Summer Jobs:

    Clerk, Boys Clothing

    Clerk, Fabric and Notions

    Clerk, Easter Hat Department

Harvard Cooperative, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA

    Executive Training Course

    Training Department Manager

Crimson Travel Service, Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA

Travel Agent. Pre computer days

Boston Phoenix Weekly Newspaper, Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA    

    Receptionist

Design Tex, Boylston  Street, Boston, MA

    Office Manager

Zayre Corporation, Natick, MA

    Credit Card Authorizer

ALA Travel Agency, Worcester St., Wellesley, MA

Travel Agent

Garberville Medical Center & Southern Humboldt Community Hospital, Cedar St, Garberville, CA

    Billing Office Supervisor

House of Travel, Pleasant Street, Newburyport, MA

    Travel Agent

Great Journeys, State Street, Newburyport, MA

    Manager

Amesbury Travel, Main Street, Amesbury, MA

    Manager

Essex County Travel, State Street, Newburyport,MA

    Part Owner and Manager

Fishery Products/Ocean Cuisine, RT. 1, Danvers, MA

    Administrative Assistant

Trustees of Reservation, Beverly, MA

    Administrative Assistant

Mark Richey Woodworking,  Newburyport, MA

    Receptionist

Weidma & Lavin CPA, Hampton, NH

     Temporary File Clerk and Tax Assistant

Internal Revenue Service, Methuen, MA

    Temporary File Clerk

National  Visa Service, Portsmouth, MA

    Visa Processor

Adelynrood  Retreat and Conference Center,  Byfield, MA

    Kitchen Support Staff

L& M  Properties, Inc, Newburyport, MA

    Clerk

Capone Iron Works, Georgetown, MA

    Receptionist

    This job lasted only 3 1/2 days. I was never so happy to a loose a job. It was really working in hell.

    Office Assistant

Caribbean Beach Party-Pandemic My Soul

Music this summer morning, Putumayo Presents: Caribbean Party. It is rocking deep in my soul.

Thursday, we had drinks, and apps at a friend's home on Plum Island. Then we took a six minute walk to the beach, opened up our chairs and watched the sunset. Nice to have friends. 

Yesterday, we went to a bar. Outside set up in Amesbury, at Brewery Silvaticus. 

Oh joy to drink my favorite beer. It has been a long time coming.:

Oblivion Black Lager  - Dark Chocolate and espresso highlights.We sat in the street

 protected by jersey barriers and very tall plants. Service was excellent. We watched the clouds forming into large massive rain clouds, but, the sun was out and we were happy.

Slowly, step by step back into the new normal is a new reality. I miss my museums. I miss our Old Fashioned Baseball at the Spencer Little Farm. I miss my library visits. 

Newburyport Art Association has been closed since the pandemic. 

A few members, decided to give some light to the dark days with this exhibit. Colors change and it does help to feel that art will survive and so will museums.

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European Union Blocking US Entry into Europe With Reviews Every 15 Days

Music:Japanese Melodies , Flute and Harp - Jean-Pierre Rampal and Lily Laskine

Woke up to more wet weather, no sun, clouds and fog. Had a very nice meditation after my back exercises. The day begins. I showered, and now it is 10:59 am and I have skipped breakfast. 

This afternoon I have a telephone appointment with doctor to review my last epidural shot in my back.

It is a day for quiet music, and staying calm.  This music is my go to for this kind of days.

We paid our European Cruise in full last week. We decided not to move the cruise dates (again) into 2021. So now, the European Union is blocking entry of US citizens. Many states opened up their states allowing people onto beaches, bars, and public events. It was a given, that this plan was to fail and so it has. The president thinks people have a right to choice a mask or putting themselves at risk. 

So, the beaches were crowded, people frolliced, throw off their masks, and had a big huge party in these states. Now, their Covid numbers are tripping. Massachusetts had its first day ever that there was no deaths from corona. Massachusetts is not a state that has open it state yet. A very wise move on our Republican Governor. He is a thinker, planner, and good organizer. 

So, because of these other states, Europe has closed our entry. It does not matter that our rates are going down. Europe is looking at the entire country and not individual states.  So  we may lose our cruise and our money for staying safe while other states don't care to protect their citizens. Not fair. But it is the way of the world today.

We are pretty much staying home but do go grocery shopping and yesterday spent half hour in TJ Max as our big event for the month or you could say months. 

My curent corona project is now to french knot my bland sun hat. Doing embroidery does relax me. It is the meditation of repetitive steps that calms the thoughts and anxiety. It also gives me something to do at night when we watch tv. 

My birthday is this week. Happy birthday to me.