Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Rambling


The hurricane lilies have done their magical, mysterious thing again and are blooming before I even noticed any of their stems popping up. I do not even want to discuss hurricanes right now for fear of jinxing us. It has been a very quiet year for them so far (knock wood, knock wood, knock wood) but the season is nowhere near ending and we have gotten some of our worst ones as late as November in previous years. 
I think of the lilies as warnings to be wary. I can't imagine what it was like before there were meteorologists and communication systems and all sorts of ways of detecting storms forming in the Atlantic and Gulf and reporting them. There is a feeling right before a hurricane hits and there are signs for those who are experienced and knowledgeable but these are things detectable only a day or so before the winds and rain begin to pummel. How many people had almost no warning before massive hurricanes swept down upon them, causing so much death and destruction? Even now, with all of the technology we have, there is no real way to know exactly when and where a storm will hit because they are influenced by so many different ever-changing factors and a few miles this way or a few miles that way can make all of the difference in the world. 

But there are the lilies, an eternal signal from nature that it is the season. 

I've had a good day. I walked and I have decided that I have to figure out a route that is more shady. There is White House Road where I walked for a few years but there is so little space on the sides of that road for me to step away from traffic. There are clay bluffs on each side of much of it, making it impossible to get more than a few feet from the asphalt. There is not a whole lot of traffic on it and it has far more shade than the route I take now but I do not really feel safe on it. I think I might try parking somewhere on Lloyd Creek Road which is a fine and shady place (mostly) to walk. I don't know. I just know that the heat of the direct sun is almost more than I can bear. 

After my walk I did a true trip to the Dollar General and I am going to admit right here and now that although there is, yes, a lot of damn junk in the store, there are also many items which are going to save a lot of people around here trips to Tallahassee or Monticello. They have a surprising amount of stock, from small electronics and tools to craft supplies to school supplies, to basic underwear and toiletry items. There are cat and dog foods and things that pets need. There was indeed some fresh produce and there are healthier yogurt options along with cottage cheese and even Asian frozen meals. There were home goods like pillows and rugs, a row of supplements and OTC drugs, and some cheapish toys. There are things like coffee and flour and a few simple spices, some Mexican foods, canned soups, condiments, and things like that. The aisles were still filled with unstocked merchandise and there were not nearly enough employees to shelve the items and wait on customers. 
Of course nothing there is of great quality although I did get a box of my usual brand of pasta for a dollar which is less than half the price it generally costs at Publix. I also bought a memo pad for a dollar and two quarts of half-and-half to go ahead and try to make ice cream. Which I have done, adding three egg yolks to the mix. Lily tells me that there is a whipping cream and heavy cream shortage right now and Publix is temporarily out of it so...
And thus, I have indeed danced with the devil but it may turn out to be a helpful devil. I would hate to think of myself as someone who is so close-minded and stubborn that I can't admit that perhaps this is a good thing for my community. It is not as ugly as I feared it would be and who knows? Perhaps the swamp will still function as a swamp and it is not truly the end of the world. 
Fingers crossed. 

I went and waited for Gibson and Maggie's school bus to arrive at the end of their road and drove them to their house. We let the dogs out, those two almost-twin cuties, Chloe and Pepper. The kids swore they didn't have homework and wanted to watch a movie and so that was what we did. Pretty soon Lily got off work and had picked up Owen from his bus which arrives later than the younger kids' and I came on home but not before getting these pictures. 


Maggie was not so happy because there was an issue with wanting to play a game with me that we did not have time for. She wants what she wants, that one. 

And here is Gibson in his new safety patrol belt and badge. If things are like they were in my day, being a safety patrol is a pretty big honor. 


I believe he may be proud and I am proud of him. 

I did not take Maggie her new doll because I am working on another dress but of course I screwed that up too. Ah well. I'll figure it out eventually. The seam ripper is my friend. 

I must tell you that Dorothy Anne looks happier and more content every day. I still do not quite understand the urge I had to buy her but I am glad I did. Every morning I take her from her make-shift bed under my vanity and wish her good morning, kiss her, hold her to my shoulder for a quick pat or two, and then put her on our fresh-made bed and every night I wish her sweet dreams, kiss her again, and tuck her back into her pillow bed. 


Can you see her down there? I took this picture a few nights ago because I loved the way the curtain on the door into my bathroom was reflected in the mirror. Which I do not look in. At all. Ever. 

Mr. Moon has many trips away planned for October and November and I have a strong feeling that Dorothy Anne will probably be occupying his side of the bed while he's gone along with Jack. I always loved co-sleeping with my babies. 

Love...Ms. Moon

22 comments:

  1. I like to just walk from the house. It seems odd to have to drive somewhere in order to walk. I do it when I want to go to the Preserve though. And shade is vital yes.
    There's something subtle about how dolls look when they're treasured,different from when they're neglected..

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    1. That's one of the things I love most about walking, Liz! I want to put my shoes on, grab my walking stick, and go. But when it's this hot I really do need a shadier route.
      I swear Dorothy Anne has changed.

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  2. Your yearly proclamation of the hurricane lillies arrival is something I mark time by. And you are always so nice to also include a beautiful picture. (I also do this with the lady bits flower mentions and pictures. ) Glad to hear DA is settling in so nicely.

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    1. It's funny, isn't it, to track the seasons with blooms. But a good way, I think! The beauty berry too.
      I think that Ms. Dorothy Anne is very happy here.

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    2. Oh yes! I love that one too when you share pics.

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  3. Another dress for Lisi? That is fabulous! I am not sure you can make one as lovely as the mermaid dress but you go girl! I love the about face re: Dollar General. I guess one just has to know how to shop- there is only one dollar general in our entire state recently opened way down south on the Oregon
    Washington border.
    Dorothy Anne is a splendid person/baby/doll, love how you love!
    Cost Co has tons of heavy cream- always- I think they have their own cows out back.

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    1. It is mighty hard to be really critical of a place where local people can buy food. All of the choices are not great but there are options. I just loved the fact that craft items are for sale. I never would have thought...
      Anyway, I haven't had time to work on Lisi's dress today nor will I tomorrow but maybe Friday! I love these little projects.

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  4. That is the perfect bed for Dorothy Ann. Rather like the old days, when a new baby slept in a dresser drawer.
    I'm happy to know your Dollar General has fresh produce. Ours has everything else you mentioned, but no fruit or veggies or bananas. Children would eat those things of out on the counter.

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    1. Yes. I was truly impressed that there are indeed some fresh produce items. I hope people buy them!
      Dorothy Anne likes her little bed, I think. It's a very soft pillow.

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  5. Hurricanes/cyclones/typhoons are nature at its terrifying worst. We are fortunate to be too far south for cyclones but I did live through several typhoons when growing up in Hong Kong and living in a block of apartments. Terrifying. I wish you a peaceful season of that which shall not be tempted.
    I am fascinated by the way Dorothy Anne is changing. Can love change an inanimate object? Because she is changing in the photos. (Don't tell her I said she was inanimate).
    Gibson does look mighty proud of himself. Well done, kiddo.

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    1. You are so right about big storms. Once they start, there is no stopping them until they pass on. I always think of them as being like labor in this regard.
      Perhaps we are just becoming more used to Dorothy Anne's looks and that is why she seems to be changing. It's really us that's changing. But then again...

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  6. I only ever co-slept with my youngest and then not for long, I think because it was winter by the time he was three months old and it was easier to just stay in bed and feed him until we both fell asleep. I like Dorothy Anne having her own special bed. Well done Gibson :)
    I hope the hurricane season is mild and passes you by. That Lily is beautiful.

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    1. Oh, I was a dedicated co-sleeper. It was just so much easier to nurse a baby back to sleep beside me rather than get up and go through that whole process.
      Isn't Lily gorgeous?

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  7. I'm glad you are able to find a positive in the Dollar Store and who knows, maybe it will bring employment for people who might be looking. And I remember going through a hurricane in Florida years ago. It wasn't the most severe but I was absolutely fascinated because of course "a hurricane"! Then again, one was enough!

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    1. It won't be employing that many people. They are notorious for under-staffing. Which is one of my biggest complaints about them. The store, just opened as you know, already looks a complete mess. The staff just doesn't have time to do it all.

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  8. I always love your hurricane lilies. We never had those down in my part of Florida, at least not that I recall. Or maybe we just never had them in our yard!

    Love the pic of Lily and the kids. Maggie's moodiness is just part of her, right?

    Who's the girl on the wall in the last picture -- in the painting?

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    1. This is Steve, BTW. For some reason my browser at work (Safari) will not allow me to log in!

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    2. Yeah- I don't remember hurricane lilies from when I lived farther south either. And I think I would have noticed them!
      Maggie is Maggie and sometimes that means she's NOT HAPPY! And she doesn't mind showing it, either. Her mother was so much like that.
      That painting is called Portrait of the Daughter and was done by Pierre Narcisse. This is of course a print that I've had since a boyfriend got it for me in high school. His dad framed it for me. I cherish it.

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    3. Correction- Pierre-Narcisse Guerin

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  9. Yes, I wondered about the painting of the girl in your bedroom.
    I am so glad that we don't have hurricanes here. When my youngest was about 18 months old ( he is 35 now!) we had a tremendously windy day. I had been out for lunch and had to fetch him from my friend's house round the corner. I held on to him so he didn't blow away. Tiles were flying off the house next door and smashing on our drive. The 2 " big boys" were at 2 different schools. The middle son was brought home by his pal's Dad, who had been at the school when the roof blew off the 2 classroom wooden " hut". Kids had been in there but the teacher got them out before the roof departed!. (The roof ended up on teachers cars) No 1 son was supposed to be coming on a bus from his new school...year 7, but he missed it and I had to go and get him in the car, after taking the younger 2 to my friend up the road. I wasn't sure of the way through after meeting a huge tree across the way I knew, but finally got my babies all home. Shortly after , part of the poplar , a huge tree, at the bottom of our garden ,came down and fell up the garden . Husband had been to London that day and had to leave the train 5 miles away, as there were trees down on the line, got a taxi in hopes of getting home, but trees were down on the main road, so he ended up walking and climbing over fallen trees. Therefore, I don't like windy days!!

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  10. Oh, Francis! That is such a horribly scary story! I am sure you will never forget that day! I'm so glad you were all safe in the end. You are brave and you are strong and you are a MAMA!
    See my response to Steve about the painting.

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  11. 37paddington: The girl in the painting looks a bit like Maggie to me. And that Gibson, such a good citizen! I’m proud of him too.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.