Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Signs of Spring, History Unfolding


When I went out for a walk today, I realized that this large redbud tree which is always one of the first of its kind to bloom around here, is in full glorious flowering. Even against the gray sky it was luminous. 

Mr. Moon took off for Houston before I ever walked out the door and I swear, he was trembling with the anticipation of his adventure. I made him some breakfast burritos and kissed him good-bye and told him to come home to me safely and by golly, to stop and get a room and get real sleep and that I love him and all those things you tell a loved one when they take off on a journey. As if our words held magical spells of protection within them. He had a cooler full of things like pimento cheese and a container of chili to heat up somewhere with a microwave and he had crackers and granola bars and apples and nuts. And coffee. Lots of coffee. 
I spoke to him a little while ago and he sounded fine and cheerful, just heading down I-10. "It's boring," he said. "There's hardly a curve in it." 

And I've had a good day. It's been hard to peel me away from listening to the impeachment trial. I've done that as I've walked and taken trash, swept and mopped floors, washed rugs and towels and other laundry. It's so unbelievable how close the rioters came to the lawmakers certifying the votes in the Capitol. Unbelievable and terrifying. It seems to me that the house managers are presenting a case that is so undeniably true with real-time quotes from Trump and video from the rioters themselves that the idea of anyone voting not to convict him seems ludicrous. It's a damn miracle that Pelosi and Pence are still alive. The evidence that Trump instigated the whole thing is irrefutable. That he knew in advance what was going to happen. That he, in fact, called for it to happen and was thrilled when it did. 
What I wonder is how in the world the Capitol security was so taken by surprise. How they had not been prepared in the least for something that was hardly kept quiet in the planning. 

I've listened to all the testimony I could and although it appears that there will not be enough votes to convict, I have to believe that those who vote against it are as much to blame as Trump himself. As the rioters themselves. 
There will be blood on their hands and they will go down in history as traitors. 

Here are some narcissi whose picture I also took on my walk. 


My PlantSnap app tells me that the variety here is known as Chinese Sacred Lily. Isn't that beautiful? 

I walked straight west down Old Lloyd Road today. No sign of my neighbor out front so the coast was clear. I saw No Man Lord but he was hunched over his Bible, possibly asleep and I did not try to disturb him. A house has burned down and how I didn't realize this when it happened is beyond me. It's not very far from my house. Closer than No Man Lord's place. It was an old wooden house, leaning a bit from age but someone did live there, I think. I am not sure. It's a pile of ashes and burnt boards now and I pray that no one was in the house when it caught fire. The Buddha statue which was always in front of it is still there but the stuffed toy dog who sat on Buddha's lap is gone. A line of plastic chairs delineates the yard border and the pen which used to hold a hog is empty. Perhaps no one did live there. It was in bad shape and I only saw a person there infrequently. We traded waves and I moved on. 

There are so many stories in this world, in this life. Even Lloyd, quiet as it is, has hundreds, I am sure. Thousands, if you go back in time. 


This is not the fally-down house but it is an old house that is slowly losing its struggle with age, with gravity. Who knows how many stories it alone has witnessed? 
Not me. 

And my story continues in this even older house which has seen more than I can imagine, held more lives within it than I can know. Right now it is filled with light and camellias, and smells of vinegar and Fabuloso, while a load of bleached things are tumbling in the dryer. Tonight I will sleep alone except for a cat. Hopefully. Probably this one. 


I feel as though he was judging my mopping efforts. He probably was. Who could be more judgmental than a cat? As if they ever do anything more than adorn a bed, a couch, a chair as they sleep. 
And yet, my life would be so much poorer and lonelier without them. 
And my chickens. 
And now it's time to go shut the door on the hen house so that the dears will be safe as they sleep. 

You be safe too, okay?

Love...Ms. Moon

28 comments:

  1. I watched the impeachment proceedings, too. How can all those people have dealt with such horror and note vote to punish that MF’er?! I’m sure you’ll miss your hubby, but he’s bringing home a Camaro! My poor hubby had extensive dental surgery on Monday and has had such pain and swelling since. We were back in the office yesterday, he was miserable today, and he has another appointment early tomorrow morning. Poor baby!

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    1. NOT vote....not note vote. Geez!!

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    2. Oh gosh. I hope your husband got some relief today. That sounds terrible!

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  2. Look at that Jack cat. He likes the floor. Has he licked it? My cat licks the water from the shower door trough when I shower.

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    1. I hope he didn't lick it as it had vinegar and Fabuloso in it but he did start puking about that time and puked all night as far as I can tell. He's fine today though.

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  3. Anyone who Votes not to Convict him should be scrutinized carefully by those investigating infiltrators and Treasonous Traitors at high levels, just sayin'. It is miraculous that Pelosi, Pence and many others were not Lynched on Live TV, that would have been terrifying and would it have even been ENOUGH I Wonder? Anyway, your Floors I'm envious of, I Love Old Wooden Floors. I Love Old Houses, still miss mine I had to Sell, even tho' we have a Lovely one now.

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    1. Really old houses pass from hand to hand, don't they?
      I think that those who do not vote to convict are complicit and that's all there is to it. Damn them!

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  4. The people who won't vote to convict, unless it's a secret ballot, are terrified of being the target of those terrorists.

    Anyway the redbud is lovely. How old is your house? You refer to its age, but I don't remember if you ever said what it is.

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    1. How I wish they could do a secret ballot. It's so sad that those people don't have spines or hearts.
      My house is 162 years old. Built before Abe Lincoln was in office. That boggles my mind.

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  5. I was home today quilting and cutting and so was the big guy, home, not quilting, so we listened to it for much of the day. A fucking shit show. It's too bad there wasn't something more than impeachment for his crimes. He is a despicable human being.

    Stay safe and enjoy your time alone.

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    1. Trump is indeed a despicable human being. And a coward and an idiot and a pathological liar.

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  6. I found it just agonizing to see the videos and testimony today and it makes me so angry that NOTHING will happen to this man or his enablers. Grrrr.
    I thought of you today when I walked the dog on our icy sidewalks and climbed into the snow pile to retrieve his deposit! I love my Fred but winter walking is an adventure.

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    1. Oh Lord! You are a good human being. If I had to pick up dog poop in the snow I think I'd just cry.
      I, too, am infuriated that Trump won't even be convicted. What in hell could anyone do that was more blatantly regarded as high crimes and misdemeanors?

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  7. I've been listening to/watching the impeachment hearings also. I remember as a high schooler watching the Watergate impeachment hearings. It is horrifying, and part of history.

    When I was in college I took the bus (4 days 3 nights) back and forth from home a number of times. I always wondered about the stories behind the houses, industrial areas, and "bad parts of town" that the Greyhound passed through. I wish I had taken photographs of that time.

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    1. I remember watching some of the Watergate hearings too. I VERY much remember Nixon resigning. That was a joyous day.
      I, too, wish you had taken pictures of some of the places that you passed through. Wouldn't it be something to look at them now?

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  8. That old house , which nature is reclaiming, is wonderful.
    You know how we love an old building!
    The trial was riveting today, I could do nothing else. Just connecting the dots which obviously lead to the Orange thug- glaringly, no dispute. However, you know... even though the trumpians were yelling "death to the GOP"- the GOP heard something else. Pretty sure this will go wrong, this will alter our history as a democracy. I am in awe.
    Sleep well, with your warm cat in your fresh clean house. Sounds lovely.

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    1. The cowardly, dastardly Republicans are still afraid of Trump's base. Damn them! They are voting for the destruction of our Democracy. You're right- it will never be the same.

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  9. Hello,

    The Cercis canadensis is wonderful. A tree which gives abundantly in all seasons, from the first flush of Spring to the wonderful Autumn foliage. Lovely.

    We observe the events happening in America from the sidelines, believing that we cannot fully understand what is going on. However, as time goes on we wonder who if anybody really does not what has or is going on. All so very worrying.

    Old houses are a source of fascination for us too. The secrets they hide, the lives lived in them, the glory when newly built and the steady decline. So many country houses were destroyed in the UK which is very sad, but who will save those still struggling to keep a roof on? All we can do is keep watch in our corners of the world and treasure the heritage that we are guardians of in our lifetimes. Your beautiful wooden floors are testament to this.

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    1. Hello, Hattatts! How nice to get a visit from you. Your blog looks quite interesting. Your lives look quite interesting!
      The Redbud is a very fine tree and yes, is absolutely the first bloomer. Around here at least.
      I can't imagine what the rest of the world must think of American right now. Or, actually, has been thinking of us for the past five years or so. Please trust me when I say that it has been as shocking and dismaying to many of us here as it has been to the rest of the world.
      I love my old house with all of my heart. By European standards, it's not really that old but here in the US, any building still standing and being used for more than a hundred years is unusual. But yes- they can be a lot of work.

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  10. You remind me that I should clean more but I am not often motivated to do that! :)

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    1. It had been forever since I mopped that floor. I mean FOREVER.

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    2. Oh, thanks, that makes me feel better! :) You are a Sweetie!

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  11. It will be interesting to hear what the Republicans have to say to justify NOT voting to convict. Because, like you, I find the evidence irrefutable. The videos are truly shocking.

    Beautiful redbud! We have some of those here but they're not blooming yet. And the narcissus is nice too.

    That floor looks great! I envy Mr. Moon his road trip, as you know, even if I-10 IS boring.

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    1. I don't think the cowards are going to say anything. They have absolutely no rational defense.
      That redbud is a glory, isn't it? That little patch of narcissus is right in the middle of nothing and I wonder if there was once a house and thus a yard there.
      I wish you could have gone to Houston with Glen. I'd feel better if he had someone to drive with.

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  12. I love that old fally-down house too. I would love to go inside it and just touch the walls in places where hands hundreds of years older than mine have touched!

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    1. I doubt the house is that old. It may have been built less than a hundred years ago. Probably. But it carries its own beauty, doesn't it?

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  13. houses die when no one lives in them. I still miss my old house in the city. they tore it down. Mr. Moon is headed into some frigid wet weather here.

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    1. I hope he took a coat! He's already on his way home.
      And you're right about houses. It's so true. They need life to live.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.