Friday, March 29, 2024

A Day With Maurice


It's been another crazy-beautiful day. I can't stop looking up and being gobsmacked at the glory of it. It would have been a complete and utter sin to be inside for much of it and I wasn't. We went to lunch in Monticello and we even ate outside there. So, okay, we were looking at a road and buildings but it was still gorgeous and we could see the sky. The restaurant where we ate is relatively new. Someone's spent some money on it. We've never eaten there before and I was reading Yelp comments online before we got there. One of them said, "Poor parking and staff are all alcoholics poor variety of people." (sic)
Well, we had to go eat there after reading that. The variety of people seemed okay to me and our server was sober as a person can be to my discerning eye. She had a lot of tattoos and I would not have messed with her in any way and she was a fine server. The menu was pretty limited for lunch, heavy on the burgers and fried things, but Glen got a lovely BLT with avocado and I got a nice salad with adequate shrimp. It's ridiculous for me to get a salad anywhere but my own garden right now but the greens were perky and the chili-lime vinaigrette was just sweet enough and the feta cheese was abundant. 
What else could you ask for? 

Here is what the courthouse in Monticello looks like. 


That is the north-facing side. All of the sides are impressive. It is a good example of a true southern, small-town county courthouse. And look at that sky.

We walked over to Wag the Dog but I just wasn't in the mood. We did a quick browse and then I said, "Let's go home. I want to work in my yard." 
And so we did. 

All right. Maurice needs to absolutely give up the charade that she is not following me around the yard. Or perhaps she already has. I took pictures of her all day long as she tagged along. 


First off, we hung out the laundry. She seems to enjoy this activity. Perhaps she finds the dancing shadows on the billowing sheets as lovely as I do. 


Then we were off to the garden where I had gone simply to survey the new growth, check the progress of the beans (they are sending out their fence-grabbing tendrils) and pull a weed here and there. 


Then I did an entire circle of the yard to check on blossoms and kick bamboo. We made it all the way to the old barn at the far east end of the property and back to the house again. 


"Come on," I told her. "Let's go inside for some water."

She also followed me out to the kitchen garden where I've almost finished up the work I want to do there. Slowly, slowly things are looking better. 


She's hiding in the phlox jungle. 

Here are a few more pictures from the yard today.




Blooming aloe. 



Oxalis. We've never had so much of it. 


Japanese maple on fire. 

And that's been the day here. I have been known to write a sort of diatribe about Good Friday (Happy Day They Crucified Our Lord!) and Easter too but I don't feel worked up about it right now. Mostly I feel so sad that so many people feel the need to believe that they were born in sin and can only go to their eternal happy place if they worship an ancient, probably mythical, carpenter-rabbi whose blood was given in atonement for the sins they were born with and the sins they committed, and who arose a few days later from the tomb to prove his presence to his mama and his dude-posse and then to arise to heaven to be with his daddy god. 
I absolutely understand that there's more to it than that and I also realize that many, many people find great comfort in this story but it enrages me that religions have monetized this myth and belief in various ways and flavors to make the big bucks. 
Did you know that the Mormon church has more than 250 billion dollars not including property? That they own 2% of Florida? Do you know how many Mormon LGBTQ+ kids die by suicide every year?

Oh dear. I guess I still have some issues. 

Meanwhile, the true miracle of spring and the fecund beauty it presents us is all that I need. The seemingly dead trees and plants that surround us burst into bloom and color and that, as far as I am concerned, is resurrection enough. 
And you should see the way the squirrels are chasing each other and the brilliant attention the birds are giving each other. Love is in the air and babies will be the result. Another miracle. 


Maurice right now sharing the table on which I am writing. 
My friend, my familiar. She and I have had a good day.

Happy Friday, y'all.

Love...Ms. Moon









35 comments:

  1. well, working in the garden, hanging laundry and going out to lunch is a big accomplishment in itself! I managed a quick half assed workout at gym, then the weekly marketing....which was full of crazy people doing Easter shopping I suppose? Yikes. I revised my Sunday dinner again (Easter, which I do not celebrate) to skip the ham and just make a huge ground turkey meatloaf, mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus. Just two of us, and anything more would do me in. Was looking for chocolate easter eggs today at market to treat myself (hubby doesn't eat sugar) and couldn't find one damned chocolate egg! Darned! Sorry.....disjointed comment....but that's how my head feels today! Happy Martini Friday! It is quite cold here today (56) and raining....so just started fire in woodstove and poured my one large glass wine........ soup and grilled cheese sandwiches on tap for dinner tonight so that will warm us up just fine!
    Susan M

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    1. Sounds like a pretty decent day although I'm sure that shopping was a pain in the ass and WHY did the market have no chocolate eggs? What sort of market is this?

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  2. It was another good Friday, in my estimation. Seems to have been so in Florida, too, judging my that blue sky and snappy laundry. And Friday martinis.

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    1. I'm glad your good Friday was just that. Yes, ours was quite fine.

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  3. What a splendid day with our Mary and her orange cat. My eyes, My happy eyes! The colors are so lovely, the wash on the line, the orange cat in front of the chair, her eyes just as green- Delicious! You live in elegance- the sort that sticks to the ribs & the heart , nurtures with loveliness.

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  4. It was also a fine day here in Englishtown. Rain during the night (yay!) cooled things down nicely and the clouds in the morning kept the day from growing too hot. Beautiful sunshine in the afternoon that topped off the solar power system. Easter is a big holiday in Belize - the kids have 2 weeks off from school! But not a "thing" in this household. Maurice is a fine companion for you!

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    1. Isn't it wonderful how rain cools everything off? So glad you got some and then plenty of sun.
      You're right. Maurice is a very good companion. Most days.

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  5. The Roman Catholic Church is also incredibly wealthy. In fact, its riches are so vast they are incalculable. It has sometimes been referred to as the most powerful financial force on Earth. Such a contrast with Jesus who may or may not have existed. Allegedly, he was a carpenter's son who got by with very little indeed. He didn't even have a car.

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    1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wealthiest_religious_organizations

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  6. Lovely post Ms. Moon! I am with you. The garden is glorious, family is everything, and our fur-kids are much loved. Religion? Like you, I'm not a big fan and the wealth is indeed staggering. I'll be cooking a large ham and sharing a festive meal with family and friends.

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    1. The two things I do very much like about Easter are dyed eggs and also ham. And it is nice to get together with friends and family to share those things.

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  7. That's interesting about the Mormons. I didn't know they own 2% of Florida. (The Scientologists own an even greater percentage of the city of Clearwater! But that's not really a Jesus thing, I guess.)

    I love how Maurice follows you around. Like lionesses hunting together! Do you feel like a lioness? :)

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    1. No. Scientologists ONLY call themselves a church to escape paying taxes. Jesus does not come into it at all as far as I know.
      Do I feel like a lioness? Sometimes I do. Mostly not, though. I call Maurice my little tiger. I know she wishes she was a full-sized one.

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  8. I think Maurice has proclaimed herself your Guardian Angel. That is a very fine courthouse.

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    1. Maybe Maurice is my guardian angel. She certainly keeps an eye on me.

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  9. So heartwarming to see Maurice attach herself to you like that. Yeah, don’t get me started on the power and corruption of organized “religion.” Jesus is not a requirement. I would have gone to that restaurant after reading that silly review.

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    1. That review would have made me visit that restaurant too Mitchell!

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    2. "Jesus is not a requirement." Ha! Exactly.
      Glen and I laughed and laughed at that review. It was just so...unique!

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  10. As Lafayette Hubbard himself said “ if you want to get rich, you start a religion”. And he did. And he was.

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    1. And he died just like everyone and could not take one damn thing with him.

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  11. Sorry, that last Anonymous comment was from me - Christine, UK

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  12. Apparently a lot of religions and people missed that part in the bible that says "And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

    It's lovely to spring and I am hopeful that it will arrive here, eventually:)

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    1. I think they read that verse and think, "Well, he didn't say it was impossible!" Plus, Mormons strictly believe that if you follow the specific rules for getting into the highest celestial kingdom, you absolutely will. Money is not a problem.
      I hope you get your spring soon. I am always amazed at how fast it comes on there.

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  13. To see spring, I meant to say.

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  14. the good thing about Easter is that it means spring is just about here, and school vacation, and JELLY BEANS!

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    1. Gosh. I wonder when the last time I had any jelly beans was. It has been a while, for sure. What's your favorite flavor?

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  15. Blue sky and sunshine can make all the difference!

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  16. That was a fun walk around with Maurice. I was annoyed when I went to my favorite Catholic thrift store and it was closed for Good Friday. I literally uttered "Christ" when I saw this. Felt a tiny bit guilty in my reformed Catholic heart, but just a little.

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    1. Wag the Dog was having a "Black Friday" sale and I have been wondering about that since I saw the sign. I doubt their Satanists.
      If i was Jesus Christ, I'd be so pleased that people used my name frequently when they felt they needed a little comfort which is exactly what swearing can do.

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  17. I too spent the day outside and Cat also follows me around. fuck religion and that's all I have to say about it right now.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.