Saturday, October 7, 2023

A Lazy Day


Well, there you go. The overhang areas were redone by Glen and Vergil a few years ago and so were not replaced. The dormers (is that what they are?) are going to get new siding. All of this reminds me that I really should get a new header photo. I will be thinking about this. 

I didn't really do shit today. Mr. Moon left in the still-dark early morning. He left me a sweet note and set my coffee to brew for my wake-up time. He is a precious person. Which is not to say, of course, that there aren't times when I look at him and think, "Are you kidding me? Who ARE you?" 
We all know those moments in marriage. God knows he must think the same of me quite often. I believe I have related this story but I'll retell it- when Glen and I got married and were getting ready to leave for our tiny, short honeymoon to Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, he told me that one day he really wanted to get some beef cows. 
I swear, I'm sure my memory is wrong but it seems to me that I was still in my wedding dress and pink, fake lizard skin heels when he made this announcement. 
"Beef cows?" I asked. Somehow, I had never once in my life even thought about the possibility of owning beef cows. 
And yet, here we are, and no, we have never raised or owned any beef cows but I suppose there's still time.  

Mostly, though, I just adore him and consider myself to be one of the luckiest women in the world. 
But y'all already knew that. 

So the hombres de trabajo were back at eight a.m. but they only worked until a little after three today. 
I baked them some cookies. I just had to. The thought occurred to me last night to do that and this morning it still seemed like a pretty good idea. So I made about a dozen large snickerdoodles which I'm not sure I've ever made before and I took the plate of them out to the men when they were eating their lunch. I found out something I did not know about them later on this afternoon when the main guy came to the back porch door to tell me they were leaving. They are not Mexican but from Guatemala! I still think they are of Maya heritage though. And get this- the older guy who has no qualms at all about standing in the back yard and lecturing one of the guys on the roof in a loud and serious voice is the father of the three workers. Their crew is a family business. I really do like talking to the father. He has been here for sixteen years now and little by little I am feeling like I am getting to know him the tiniest bit. He told me that Sundays are the days he does all his laundry and makes his lunches for the week and catches up on all the other stuff he needs to do. So in reality, he does not even get one day off a week. 
They've finished the house and the little kitchen and will be back on Monday to do the barn. It's funny how I really have not minded that much, having them here. I thought I would but they are just so busy doing what they do that I don't think they even really see me. Their focus is on getting the job done. 
And they have. 

I took some books down to the little free library. Slowly, I am getting rid of a few things. Some of the books I took were little children's books. Those are the ones that are hard to get rid of, although some are easier than others- the books that the grandchildren really didn't like so much don't tug my heart the way their favorites did. Those, I really can't let go. Perhaps I shall keep those to give to Jessie and Lily for THEIR grandchildren. Why not? 

And then I went to the post office and...to My Gypsy Soul Boutique! Yes! I went in! The shelves are more filled than they were but they held nothing I wanted. They are still selling "natural shells" for $1.50. They have local artwork and some crocheted items and homemade soaps and candles and lotion bars and incense and incense holders and big funky jewelry and some of the same garments they had when they opened. I didn't buy anything. I did talk to the lady who owns the place about the farmers' market situation. That's been somewhat of a nightmare for her. First of all, there was no real address for the piece of ground she wants to put it on. Which I assume she owns. And you have to have an address to get insurance. And getting insurance in Florida right now is almost impossible. And, and, and...
Jefferson County is not a place to get things done quickly when you're dealing with the local government. But the real problem, I think, is that you have to also comply with the state government. 
But, she says that she just got the insurance situation straightened out yesterday and that next Saturday there will be vendors selling farmers' market stuff. ALTHOUGH, the six vendors that she's been in touch with all have something else going on on Saturday so maybe not. 
Also, she has the idea to have food trucks come in. Maybe do like a food truck Friday? 
And when I tried to so very diplomatically ask if there would be enough business in Lloyd for food truck vendors to set up here because honestly, there isn't a whole lot going on in Lloyd, she said that there is a good amount of traffic and many of the people driving through are workers and they always want food. 
Uh-huh. 
There is a lot of traffic going through but in my years of walking that road, what I've mostly seen is people just driving through Lloyd as a way to get from one place to another. There is a highway right near the piece of property that she's thinking to put food trucks on but mostly there are many, many semi's going from another highway to I-10 or the road to Tallahassee. 
Ain't no semi's going to be parking up by the post office to get tacos. 
But maybe she's right and there will be enough hungry workers driving by on a Friday evening to make it all worthwhile. And while they're there, they may want to stop in to the boutique to purchase a box of incense and a beaded bracelet. 
Who knows? Not me. And as I told her, I really do admire her hard work and persistence. 

I went to the GDDG after I visited the boutique. I cooked a pork roast last night and wanted to make some tostadas or something and I needed tortillas which they do have. I am always a little amazed at the variety of products they carry. I am simmering some of the meat with orange and lime juices, garlic, and chilis. I'll wrap all of that up in the tortillas with avocado and tomato and onions. It will be very fine. 

I also did some laundry today and this afternoon, after the roof guys left, I sat down at the piano with my John Thompson's Book Two and let me say that I have not gotten any better over the past year of not playing a darn thing. 
Still. The time flew as I struggled with flats and sharps and time. I am so, so bad and played very softly because I have the doors open and god forbid anyone should hear me. 



I talked to Glen earlier this afternoon and they were already past Montgomery. They have rented a black Escalade van with tinted windows and Glen says that it practically drives itself. 
Hmmm...
"I feel like people are going to think we're FBI or something," he said. 
"I think people are going to think you're drug dealers," I told him. 

And so here I am, on my own. Both cats are in the house and the sun is just slipping below the horizon. I took a picture of Jack, getting ready for a good night of sleep on the duckette, aka Duck, Jr., that I have on the bed in preparation for the arctic conditions (haha!) we're about to experience. 



Here's some lovely Lantana that was growing by the little free library. 


Now isn't that pretty? 

I hear that there is war in Israel. I can't even begin to wrap my head around what that means except that people will die. Have already died. 
God DAMN, what is it about humans and war? 
And when are we finally going to start beating our swords into plowshares and seeing the lions lay down with the lambs? 

Again I say- who knows? Not me. 
And not anyone. I doubt we ever will. 

Love...Ms. Moon




26 comments:

  1. Local government is the same everywhere. If you don't have a boss hog, you have a pipsqueak with a big key ring and a bigger ego.
    Mary, I'm curious. How high is the ceiling over the piano? Your house is fascinating to me.

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    1. The ceilings are pretty darn high. I think probably twelve feet in that part of the hallway?
      Some of our government dudes are in jail for bosshogging a little too much.

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  2. I would love to just sit at your piano and gaze at that gorgeous space.....forget playing! Glad MR Moon moving along...... your workers sound SO wonderful...and your new roof is beautiful! The Gypsy Soul Boutique.....eh.....who knows how that will pan out? She has good ideas....but perhaps not entirely realistic for Lloyd. Still hotter than hades here today...but *only* 95 instead of 101...... lordy.....I might even drape a sheet over my naked body tonight LOL. No stove burners turned on here....*fancy* tuna salad sandwiches and an heirloom tomatoe/cucumber salad......that is dinner.....and will suffice nicely
    Sleep well under your duck...... (can't even imagine) w/ Jack!
    Susan M

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    1. I do love my house. It's my place of peace for sure.
      God, I hope you get some cooler weather. That's just horrible.

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  3. You are very diplomatic in you dealings with the Gypsy souled person.
    It is great being able to compare the results of the roof with your header. It is looking fabulous.
    I woke to the news of Israel and shake my head in despair and the pointless waste. The fear on the faces of the innocents fleeing is heartbreaking.
    But as you say, what would we know?

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    1. Well, one can't exactly come right out and say, "What are you thinking?!" But whatever.
      I honestly don't have the slightest idea what to say about what's happening in the middle east. This time. Or any other.

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  4. War ... what's it good for? Not a goddamned thing!
    That damned country will never have peace and if God or Jesus or any other diety (alien 👽 or otherwise) gives a shit about those people, you would think they would have helped by this time ... good grief, isn't 2,000 years enough damned time to get your shit in order??

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    1. Not a goddamned thing.
      Well, look at it this way- it took Moses to lead his people FORTY YEARS to lead his people to that promised land when it could easily have been reached in ELEVEN DAYS by walking. So. Maybe old god didn't think it was a good idea for them to go there in the first place. But you know- the ways of god are not our ways! Or so religions are always telling us. What a shit show.

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  5. I can hardly bear hearing about another war in Israel. And my spidey sense, also my old lady cynicism, smells something about the timing. Nothing better to hold up a tottering Israeli government than a war, because that's not when you change leaders..much more than Hamas at work here.

    I was sure those workers were Guatemalan from the pictures and your description of their approach to work. Friendly but all business.

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    1. I think your spidey sense and your cynicism are probably accurate.
      I feel so ignorant when it comes to so many things and thinking that these guys were Mexican when they were Guatemalan is one of those things. However, they do look so much like the Maya in the Yucatan.

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  6. More stupid unnecessary wars! Everything else you wrote about is delightful. I somehow can't imagine you raising beef cows. And yes, offer those books to Jessie and Lily in case they want to save them.

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    1. Well, I probably never imagined myself raising chickens either and yet, I did for many years and loved it. Beef cows, not quite the same.

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  7. I suspected the roofers were Guatemalan from photos and your descriptions. They appear to have done good work. I've been to their country and the people were welcoming, I am glad they've found opportunity here and wish people here would be as welcoming.

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    1. I hope that these men find welcome here. Since the father has been here for sixteen years, he at least must have a reason for staying. I hope it's not all about the money but that is a good reason in and of itself.

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  8. Isn't it great to see hard-working people get on!!!! The Guatemalan papa sounds like a REAL hard worker (as I'm sure his boys are too), and I hope gypsy lady makes it. I think there's a lot of strategy that leads to a business making it (or otherwise) - foot fall and so on - so I hope for her she's right about the food truck and you're wrong!

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    1. I honestly have no idea how in the world she's stayed open this long. It doesn't seem like her stock turns over much at all. But maybe she can make her dream work.

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  9. The only way we'll be turning swords into plowshares is if women take over

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    1. I wrote this a long time ago: https://www.blessourhearts.net/2007/12/lets-try-life.html

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  10. More war is so scary. I fear for our world but don't know what to do about it...
    Sounds like you are ready to enjoy your week while Mr. Moon is gone.

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    1. That's it, Ellen. Feeling helpless. And hopeless.

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  11. What a lovely period house you have.So nice to see it lovingly restored.
    As far as the war is concerned,there are pictures of two girls I can't get out of my mind. The one a young teen girl in only track pants and t-shirt,no shoes.An injury to her arm,her hands tied behind her back.She has been taken hostage and is yanked from the boot of a jeep and roughly pushed into the back seat,then others pile in on top of her... The other is of a girl,about 9 years old on her brother's shoulders,amidst a celebrating crowd of men .She waves an automatic rifle in one hand and a gun in the other...Oh the humanity. Wendy(SA)

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    1. This house isn't THAT restored. It's been gently brought into this century.
      It's never just soldiers who are the victims of war, is it? And goddammit, when we say "soldiers", we are talking about someone's sons and husbands and brothers. Young men. And of course, women too, these days are soldiers. It's a fucking sin.

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  12. beef cows. are there any other kind? dairy cows I guess but they are still beef are they not? do dairy cows not taste good?

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    1. Well, beef cows are different from dairy cows. The beef kind are bred for lots of meat on them and the dairy are bred for being good at milk production. I imagine that diary cows would taste pretty good if they were raised in the same conditions the beef cows were.

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  13. I’ve been dreaming of play the piano since I was a young kid… but we didn’t have a piano, and no teachers around anyway ! But we do have a piano, and both my kids took piano lessons, and did very well😄I’ve tried, but not knowing the bass clef by heart is making it too much work for me..sigh! But I do have fun trying sometimes, like you do! ❤️, Rigmor

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  14. I can understand your skepticism about My Gypsy Soul and the food trucks. If I owned a food truck, why would I set up in Lloyd and not...on the FSU campus, maybe? Still, you gotta admire that woman's entrepreneurial spirit, and her determination to make a small business there.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.