Monday, March 23, 2020

I Have Nothing To Complain About


Another little wildflower bouquet that I picked on a walk today. A few other folks were walking as well. Two women, a kid on a bike, a kid on some sort of motorized skateboard, a kid in a stroller, and a little girl about Maggie's age who was also on a bike but with training wheels. I smiled at her and said "Hey" as I passed on the other side of the road. She looked at me with the biggest scowl on her face and I swear- she was Magnolia June's African American twin. She was not happy in the least but she was going to pedal that bike or die trying! I loved her.


This is a Cherokee rose which, like the wisteria, is beautiful and invasive as hell. But it cheered me considerably. 

Mr. Moon took another long bike ride. I am truly impressed. He stopped at the post office where he found seeds that he ordered, including rattlesnake beans which are my favorite. The place we got ours in years past has finally, after about sixty years of operation in Tallahassee, had to close. He's out in the garden right now, getting dirt ready to plant zinnias and other flowers, the beans and some cucumbers and something called strawberry spinach. He is beginning to settle in to this whole thing. I'm proud of him for that, too. He told me earlier today that sleeping eight hours at night is pretty great. It's so odd how there's so much about this situation that is truly sweet, even as I know that people all over the world are getting sick and even dying which of course makes me feel very guilty. I find myself less anxious than usual, simply because I have something tangible to worry about. This makes no sense, I know, but that's the way it is right now for me. Also, as I keep saying, this is all probably about 99% due to denial but hey! It's working. For now. 
I've slipped into this role of being a good and prudent housewife. I pulled a row of bolted arugula today and sat down and took off every leaf that still looked good, washed them, put them in the refrigerator either for salad or to cook or to make pesto with. For lunch I made us a delicious frittata-like thing with two small potatoes, four small eggs, and a nice bunch of chard, kale, collards, and mustards, sauteed with garlic and the last piece of a red onion. It was delicious and will end up being two lunches for the both of us. I am being far more aware of the amounts I am cooking and I am using what I have as creatively as possible. 
I chopped up some of the buggy chard and a little kale and collards for the chicks. The older ones absolutely destroyed the greens and the little ones picked at them politely. 
Here's the only chick I have named. 


I have named her Cleopatra. Can you see why?


Look at that eyeliner! She's one of the big chicks. They're going outside tomorrow. They are ready to spend their days and nights in the little coop inside the big coop. Can you see her feathers?

I talked to Lis again today. We seem to like to check in with each other.
"What are you cooking? How's it going?" It's so comforting.
I also got a call from another friend and we chatted for a long time. It was such a surprise to hear from her and such a nice surprise. And what a luxury to feel like I can take all the time I want on a phone call, knowing that there is absolutely nothing else I have to do.
I did get my fabric ironed for the dress I want to make. I don't have enough of the "right" sort of bias tape but I'll do a work-around. It'll be okay. A dress with pockets printed with Frida Kahlos all over it.

So that's what it's been like here today. Warm and a little overcast. We need rain but there isn't any in the forecast.
Again, the day has slipped by like a shiny eel. I don't feel as if I've really grasped anything of importance but it's been a good day despite that. Perhaps we're learning how precious life really is at its most basic levels. At least that's how I feel.
Although let's be honest- the most basic levels probably don't include electricity and internet, freezers and indoor plumbing.
But they do include eating things from one's own yard, the raising of birds who will hopefully grow up to provide protein, and friends and family, even if they can only be in contact from a distance.
That's okay.

How are you handling it? Report in if you want. I do love to hear.

More tomorrow, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise.

Love...Ms. Moon

30 comments:

  1. I'm enjoying the slowed down aspect of things. I'm working of course, but there are lots more hours in the day beyond those eight. When I pay attention to more than my little world it is overwhelming. I am so pissed off at the idiots who aren't taking this seriously. It is like it is their job to go against all reason just to rile people up. Italy has more than 600 people dying a day, and I don't see how that won't be individual U.S. states soon.

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    1. It's funny how every day I feel so different. Today seems to be a rough one. Well, to be expected, eh?
      I, too, am angry at those who are not taking this seriously. I don't understand.

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  2. I've literally lost track of days. Perhaps I'll begin writing on my calendar what I hope to accomplish each day. And that's the best idea I've had all day. Stay well. Stay safe.

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    1. I can't seem to accomplish ANYTHING. Especially not today.

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  3. Hunting for a small chest freezer in my area. No luck. Bought out or out of stock...sigh. It was a beautiful day here and I talked to two neighbors from a distance, the only other people here I truly like. They too are worried and staying away fro elderly parents. I'm working on a pantry here and trying to think practically. Looking forward to bed and a book. Have a peaceful night.

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  4. Life hasn't changed much except no off leash walks with the dogs. Work though is getting weird, the hospital is empty, or feels empty. No volunteers, and we have a lot of volunteers, everybody is screened when they come in, only one visitor per patient, the sunroom empty, everybody holed up. It feels strange at the grocery store too, standing back from people, looking suspiciously at the receipt they hold in their hands, everything is weird. It feels cold, no hugs, no closeness, only distance. Of course I'm still all up in my patient's faces because I have to start their IVs so that part hasn't changed which is kinda nice.

    I worry about the US. There is still the idiot in chief who has become a danger to the country, unwilling and unable to lead, he continues with his daily verbal diarrhea, misleading and misinforming people. People will die because of his ignorance which is shameful.

    I won't go on and on, you feel the same way. I'm preaching to the choir here:)

    Enjoy your new chicks, stay healthy and look forward to hearing from you tomorrow.

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    1. I guess in a way it is good that you have work although I wish you didn't have quite so much of it.
      I worry about the US too. I don't think we're handling this very well. Okay. Obviously we're not.
      Let's all stay in touch. So to speak.
      Sending love from afar.

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  5. Cleopatra is a gorgeous bird!

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  6. I feel like each day gets more and more strange. It's almost like hospital time.

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  7. aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh. good god I want some chicks. Instead, I spent hours today trying to block all the tunnels the &^%$$# rats have made into the chicken coop. I'm sure there will be more tomorrow morning.

    what a weird time. i alternate between realizing I'm so much less anxious because Jonah is home with me, to terror that i'll get sick/lose people i love, to molten anger at our withered intestine of a POTUS and the ways this pandemic has laid bare the inequities of our society.

    Love you.

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    1. Strangely, I think that for those of us who suffer from free-floating constant anxiety, having something to truly worry about is helpful.
      How sick is that?
      Well, everything's weird and odd and yes, like Hurricane Katrina it is showing the dirty underpants that America wears.
      You CAN mail order chicks. Have you thought about that?

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  8. I think we are living in a strange new world, or a bad movie, or a Stephen King novel. Where I live, the past week we were encouraged to stay home and most businesses had closed. This week we are under orders (can be fined or jailed otherwise) to stay home and everything but grocery stores, pharmacies and medical offices are closed. I do okay at home but watching the world as it is and wondering what is next is what gets me.

    I love your chicks. Cleopatra is a beauty and looks like she might have an attitude. You two take care.

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    1. This is definitely not a good time to wonder about what's coming next. Best to just be here now. If that's even possible. You take care too, honey.

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  9. In moments you write like William Faulkner or John Steinbeck - "the day has slipped by like a shiny eel", "...the creek don't rise". Marvellous! Yesterday, a song by Jackson Browne kept playing in my head...
    Let the music keep our spirits high
    Let the buildings keep our children dry
    Let creation reveal it's secrets by and by, by and by
    When the light that's lost within us reaches the sky

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    1. What a beautiful lyric! Thanks for sharing it.
      The saying about "Good Lord willing..." is an old one from around here. I have always loved it.

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  10. baby boomers are getting put in retirement homes now where they are regularly getting abused, neglected, and treated badly by the retirement home nurses, many of whom happen to be African American nurses. This is the future boomers choose when they betrayed and sold out their children's future. Millennials are NOT going to help you boomers. Enjoy your retirement homes, boomer scum! Oh and screw you boomer, i am NOT staying home! I will enjoy my life!

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    1. Excuse me but what is a "boomer"? I just looked it up. In Australia it is a large male kangaroo and in America it is a nuclear submarine with ballistic missiles. So when you write rather aggressively if I might say, "Screw you boomer!" are you referring to a kangaroo or to a nuclear submarine? Most confusing.

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  11. Cleopatra's lucky. She doesn't have to apply eyeliner. The one (and only) time I tried to put on eyeliner, I poked myself in the eye so hard that the pencil was tossed straight into the bin. Imagine folks trying to apply eyeliner these days when you aren't supposed to touch your face. Good luck with that!

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    1. You're right! Her's is permanent! I used to be okay at applying it. I doubt I would be now.

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  12. I read somewhere whenever that modern humans work more and have less leisure time than we did in the hunter gatherer stage. people don't know what to do with leisure time, time when they have nothing they have to do or someplace they have to go.

    today is the first day in two months we have had no expectation of workers coming in the house (whether they showed up or not). I slept later than usual and didn't worry about raising the garage door before I was ready to go out. we got an inch and a quarter of rain over the weekend. I'll be out in the yard all day.

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    1. I think you are probably right about leisure time. I seem to be doing a whole lot of nothing right now. I suppose I should try to get more motivated.
      Enjoy your yard. I wish we'd get some rain.

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  13. They are strange times indeed aren't they. Even though I'm retired I feel so much more relaxed of late because I don't have anywhere to be and couldn't be there if I wanted to (if that makes sense). I love that wildflower bouquet by the way.

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    1. Oh, it DOES make sense! I know exactly what you mean. I'm glad you like my flowers. They are cheerful.

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  14. That Cherokee rose is so beautiful! And I love Cleopatra and her eye-liner. Very Liz Taylor. Olga has eye-liner too!

    I love your description of the African-American Maggie and the day slipping by like a shiny eel. Your writing is such a pleasure.

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    1. Olga DOES have eyeliner. Some cats do too which is what I think was the inspiration for the Egyptians and their kohl.
      I wish I had a picture of that little girl. I would love to see what would happen if she and Maggie got together. Worlds might explode.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.