Saturday, September 5, 2020

Damn This Virus. Etc.


 I just realized today that one of my bananas has set a bloom. I think that last year was the first year that ever happened and I've been disappointed that it didn't seem to be happening again this year but there you go. My bananas would be happier with more sun but they get plenty of fertilizer. I throw my kitchen scraps beneath them and the chickens scratch and eat and poop and what scraps they don't want, eventually compost and that's probably the richest dirt in the yard. 

The day did not start out terrifically well. Mr. Moon and I started talking about having the boys over tonight or tomorrow night and he started really worrying about having been exposed to someone whose son has tested positive. She hasn't been around her son, but she has been around his daughter. She didn't tell Glen this until they'd been chatting for a little bit outside and not close up, but it freaked him out and the more he thought about it, the less he wanted to risk even that slight possibility of transmitting the virus to August and Levon and their family and the North Carolina family and so, he thought it best not to let the boys come spend the night until he's sure he doesn't have it. 

I know he's right. And Jessie agreed. But it just hurt my soul and my husband's too, not to be able to have our stayover with those boys. To adopt them, as it were, for a night and a pancake breakfast. And for awhile, I was rather overcome with sadness but then Lily texted and asked if we'd like a back-yard visit. She wanted to bring over some beauty berries that they picked in their yard for me to try and make jelly with and of course I agreed to the visit and the beauty berries. I've always read that you can make jelly with them but I've never so much as seen a jar, much less tasted any. 

And they did come over and brought their lunch and we all sat out back and chatted. Lauren came too and they brought Pepper whom Owen is teaching tricks to. That dog is pretty smart, I have to say. 


She had to be on the leash the whole time she was here because she was just way too interested in the chickens. 


Here she is keeping Handsome Gibson tethered to his chair. Who's restraining who? 

Magnolia ran to the hen house, first thing, as she always does. She loves being in the chicken coop more than I can begin to understand. And then she wanted me to go get her the little farm to play with on the back porch steps. Mr. Moon went and got it for her and she was happy. 


There she is, saying "cheese", as hot and red-checked as the last time she was here. She played quietly by herself for at least forty-five minutes. Lily says she plays alone with her dolls and doll house for hours in her room. She's like Gibson in that she makes up her own stories and plots for her dolls and animals to follow. I find this vastly fascinating and wonderful. Their imaginations are big enough to keep them occupied and interested for hours on end and if that's not fabulous, I do not know what is. 

Eventually they had to go and I started simmering the chicken skeleton I had left after I made roast chicken and chicken enchiladas along with two frozen boneless, skinless breasts I had, to make chicken and dumplings. I had planned this meal for when the boys came over because August loves chicken and dumplings so much. That's what I made when we were all on Black Mountain last summer and I think he associates the dish with the joyful fun we had there. So I'm a little sad again, thinking about how he and Levon won't be here to eat it but their grandfather loves chicken and dumplings too, so it'll be fine. 

Lis was going through some pictures this morning and sent me this one.


That was taken about twenty-five years ago or so. She'd talked me into working the hospitality tent with her at a festival. Of course, she was playing too. We served up food and drinks and kept the coffee pot filled for people like Vassar Clements who'd long been an idol of mine, and Bela Fleck and a whole lot of other people I can't remember now. Anything I've ever done with Lis has been fun and she's forced me out of my comfort zone many times and never once have I regretted it. In fact, she's made my life so much richer with her gentle urgings. I mean...I went to CUBA with that woman. And oh, we had the best time. When Lis sent me the picture I texted back, "Oh god we were cute!" and we were. I still have that dress. I'll probably have it until the day I die because I love it so much. The fact that it hasn't fit me in about fifteen years makes no difference whatsoever. It is a Mary dress and as such, it will stay in Mary's closet. 

So that's been my day. Sadness, nostalgia, sweetness with my grandchildren and daughter, surprise at finding a banana bloom. Laughter at dog tricks and smiles for a little girl who likes to hang out in the chicken coop and who can create her own world and live in it with a Fisher Price toy. 
And there has been love. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the love and I feel like my heart might burst. 

Well. I better go snap some beans and chop some celery and carrots. My chicken and dumplings have ALL the ingredients in them. I'd say my grandmother would have the vapors if she saw my chicken and dumplings but my grandmother was a yankee and didn't know chicken and dumplings from boiled cabbage and light bread. But someone's grandmother would have the vapors. 
My friend Kathleen's mother told her to always keep an airplane sized bottle of gin in her purse just in case of the vapors which has made me wonder what in hell the vapors really are. Perhaps they are hot flashes. Perhaps they are anxiety attacks. 
Whatever whatever they are, keeping a small bottle of gin in one's purse to drink if one should have them sounds like a wise idea to me. 

Love...Ms. Moon

28 comments:

  1. Sounds like the updated version of lydia pinkhams tonic.. good for what ails you, no matter what. High alcohol content!

    Lovely family and food and animal stories again.

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    1. Ah...sometimes I wish they still made the original Lydia Pinkhams. That must have been some powerful tonic!

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  2. You and Lis were and still are absolutely beautiful!
    Xoxo
    Barbara

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  3. I think the vapors is getting light headed from those tightly cinched corsets. gin would probably be a good remedy. sorry you won't get to have your stayover with the boys. damn and fuck this virus. I am worn out today after doing shit outside and sweating profusely all day.

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    1. Woman- it's time NOT to do stuff outside. Hang in there until it cools down a few degrees!
      Damn and fuck this virus for sure.
      I used to think that about the vapors (overtight corsets) but now I sort of think it was hot flashes. The immediate and overall sweat that breaks out- that's sort of vapory. Who knows?

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  4. Great advice! Carry hand sanitizer and gin, or just gin it can do both. Yes, you were very cute, youth does that to a person, I rarely see an uncute young person!

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    1. We were in our forties, I think which now does indeed seem youthful.

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  5. I'm sorry the plans went astray, as they often can, but more grands came with more plans. I'm a northerner who has been amused by vapors for half a life time, and especially at men who succumb.

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    1. "The vapors" can be a handy excuse for many things.
      And it was so sweet to see my other grandchildren.

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  6. you may get a banana? Yeah! Sorry about the non-sleepover but I think the caution is good all around, darn it. Grands are lovely as always...... you and Lis were/are gorgeous still! And I looked up *the vapors*.....a term I rarely use, but love. *A weakened state of physical or emotional wellbeing*.....both of which gin would likely *cure* LOL! Happy evening and don't be too sad.....hey- you've got chicken and dumplings!
    Susan M

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    1. Yes! With any luck we'll get a lot of bananas!
      "A weakened state of physical or emotional wellbeing"!? Huh. Yes. I can see gin as being quite helpful in such a case.
      Mr. Moon and I decided that "better safe than sorry." But we didn't like it.

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  7. Sorry about the sleepover plans being nixed...I hope your dinner was good. I haven't had that particular dish since my grandmother passed away.

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  8. That is a very good point. What ARE the vapors? I've never really thought about it. If gin is an antidote, I must have them all the time. LOL

    Sorry you couldn't have your sleepover, but Mr Moon is wise to be cautious. If only everyone were so careful.

    It's cool that your banana tree is blooming. Maybe it will have bananas! I can't remember whether it fruits or not?

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    1. I think we all get the vapors from time to time.
      If we'd all been so cautious since the very beginning we'd be done and dusted with this virus. But no...
      It did have fruit last year. Hope we get more this year!

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  9. Mr G.Moon is a sensible guy. It would be so easy to let one's guard down after all these months of coronavirus. Love the picture of the two gals. My preference would have been the one on the left but she would have probably told me to "take a hike". Read your last post too. Trump should not say anything about military men and women as he was a blatant draft dodger at the time of The Vietnam War. He should keep his big mouth shut on such matters.

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    1. Yes. The girl on the left AND the girl on the right were both happily married to the men they are still so happily married to. But I probably would have let you flirt a little.
      Trump does so many things that he shouldn't. It'll be interesting if this is the one that catches up to him.

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  10. Ha, my Welsh grandmother always used to keep a small bottle of brandy in her purse and just took a nip every so often, so maybe there's something in "the vapours"!

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  11. This is the year of one step forward, three steps back. Every time it seems safe to step out, something seems to come out of the blue to snag us back. I'm sorry. Know how much you were looking forward to having the boys over. Glad Lily was able to come over with her children to give you a little GK time.

    Our banana trees have given us (tiny, but very sweet) bananas only a few times over the years and always very late in growing season. Because we have harsh winters, we dig them up in November, put them in large garbage bags with some soil and then over-winter them in the garage.

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    1. Yes. Our bananas are small too. But sweet. If I had to go to all that trouble every winter, I just wouldn't grow bananas. Mine freeze too but I just cut 'em back and they come back every year. But we certainly don't have winters that are very harsh.

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  12. As usual I loved every word of this post. And as usual I am so grateful that you share this stuff with us. I mean I genuinely love your grandchildren because how can anyone read you and not?

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    1. I love that you love my grandchildren. You've known them since before the beginning!

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  13. Fancy the woman not isolating if her son has been diagnosed. Is she nuts? Anyway you did the right thing though it hurt. And I always love to see the pictures of your beautiful and interesting grandchildren. Your cooking, as always, sounds wonderful!

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  14. Mr. Moon was right of course but I think I would have cried. Damn virus. It has made us all feel so insecure in just loving each other. Hugging. Your grandchildren make magic.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.