Category Archives: My Life

Small Positives

My morning routine is to open my computer and review the news with toast and coffee on the side. I spend more time with the news in the past week because of what we are enduring here. There is still a sense of unreality, what day is this, how long has thing been going on? Recent sunshine encouraged me to get out and do some work in the back yard. something I can do while maintaining social distancing. I pulled up several dandelions and other assorted weeds, pulled out patches of dead woolly thyme, and trimmed back the low hanging branches of the Pyracantha. We discovered some unexpected residents near one of our front gates, a nest of bumblebees. I was a little wary until I read that they are not especially aggressive and will move out after a few months. I was excited to see bumblebees because I haven’t seen them in the yard for a long time and read that they are endangered. Some news this morning reminiscent of a dystopian movie, Coyotes are walking the streets in San Francisco

I can hear a chickadee calling outside. The other day, my daughter and I had noticed some chickadees taking a bath in one of our planter pot saucers. She put some fresh water in it and left a few sunflower seeds too. One of the squirrels discovered the sunflower seeds and made quick work of them.

We had a Zoom virtual visit with our 3 year old grandson yesterday evening. That’s always a positive.

The hospital ship Mercy, with 1,000 beds, arrived in Los Angeles Friday and is ready to go.

Below some photos from the yard. You can’t see the bumblebees flying out from their nest because if I try to get close enough they chase me away.

Pyracantha after lower branches removed

Empty patch with a few woolly thyme

Bumblebee nest behind brick at top of gate

Blue Sage coming back

Jade succulent

Succulents

Woolly thyme healthy patch

Stream of Consciousness Saturday, #SOCS, is hosted by Linda G Hill. The prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “beside you.” Write about whatever is beside you when you read this prompt.

Featured image of bumblebee by dennisflarsen on Pixabay.com

Distancing From My Grandchild

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Grandparents have new challenges, distancing.

Is Anyone Disposable?

The New Normal

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My husband and I have made some trips to the market this week. I thought I had a good system in place with grocery delivery but our local stores have been overwhelmed with orders and sent an email notice they were unable to fill my order. So we decided to head out to a local market earlier this week. I was a bit anxious of possible exposure to coronavirus but it turned out the store was almost empty of people and stock. The bagger told me there had been a long line when the store opened that morning. It was disorienting to see empty shelves. We picked up what we could. No meat or chicken available but I found a few packages of fish. We had a couple of markets offer new ‘senior hours’ this week (7-8 AM) so we headed out for a second time. The first market had a long line filing in so we decided to try another that was not crowded. I was able to find a few more items I needed. I like the accommodation by markets for seniors and those with special needs. I am working on making do with what is available like non-fat milk.

I wrote this post prior to the news of the order from Governor Gavin Newsom that all the citizens in my beautiful state of California are ordered to shelter in place. From the LA Times:

“Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered all Californians to stay at home….He also asked Congress for $1 billion to support the state’s medical response to the coronavirus, saying he expects more than half of all Californians — roughly 25.5 million — will be infected over an eight-week period [without mitigation efforts].”

God, what is happening to us?

The U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy is anchored off the coast of Manila, the Philippines. (U.S. Navy photo/Photographers Mate 2nd Class Troy Latham)

“Gov. Gavin Newsom has asked President Trump to immediately deploy a United States Navy hospital ship Mercy to the Port of Los Angeles to help beef up the health care delivery system in the region amid the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic.” (Los Angeles Daily News)

We can still go out to buy food. Our kids are nearby for which we are grateful. The prompt word today is ‘welcome’ but hard to write about that. The latest here is ‘unwelcome’ news.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday, #SOCS, is hosted by Linda G Hill. The prompt for this Saturday is ‘welcome.’

Happy New Year

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This year has flown by so fast. Makes me want to pledge to be more mindful of each new day no matter what distractions may come. Wishing all a bright New Year filled with hope, health, and happiness!

Stream of Consciousness Saturday, #SOCS, is hosted by Linda G Hill. The prompt word for today is ‘year.’

Featured image of beautiful ‘California Coast’ via Pixabay.com

Little Bits Of Joy

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The news of the world has been so bleak and then there are the personal stresses of my life. Finding myself saying ‘Oh, no!!’ and feeling down. I need to focus on all the little bits of joy, gather them up, and hold them close like a soft cozy blanket. Even though I feel my grief for world as well.

Looking out my kitchen window to see a hummingbird flitting around the sage

Photos of my grandson

Clear blue California sky

Green leaves sparkling in sunlight

Cry of a yellow tail hawk flying above me

There is still good in the world.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday, #SOCS, is hosted by Linda G Hill. The prompt word for today is ‘oh.’ Use it as a word for find a word that starts with ‘oh.’

Featured image of ‘Hummingbird’ via JLG on Pixabay.com

Good Taste

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I find that in this time of my life I appreciate even more my sense of taste when it comes to food. My daughter and I are picky about the quality of the coffee we drink at our house. Seems we are both into the robust flavor of dark roast coffee. I like mine with a little milk added. Coffee is part of my daily morning ritual. The coffee is made as soon as I get into the kitchen. Must have two cups to start my day. My husband purchased a new coffee grinder but I find it is only as good as the coffee you put in it. And we can find really good already ground fresh coffee at local stores. When I have my morning cup of coffee started, along with some toast, I am ready to peruse the morning papers online. The news has been very engaging lately, but can leave a bad taste in my mouth.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday, #SOCS , is hosted by Linda G Hill. The prompt for today is “-tast-.” Find a word that contains “tast” and use it in your post.

Featured image of ‘Cup of coffee’ is by Opentheme via Pixabay.com

Where To?

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“Where should I go?-Alice “That depends on where you want to end up.”-The Cheshire Cat”

I have been researching my family tree for a little over a year. I did not know very much about my ancestors and never imagined where my search would take me. I have gotten lost in many rabbit holes along the way and I can not see where it will end. I have learned a lot. Lately, I have been tracing some of those who were early pioneers of Nova Scotia. The people in those days often had many children and I am finding that many families are interconnected in that many married couples are made up of cousins of mine on both sides. It seems like if your family has ancestors from Nova Scotia they are probably related to me. I get so engrossed in the research that I can spend hours doing it. My daughter can’t understand why I am so devoted to this and says we are all related anyway, like everyone in the world, which is what I have thought too. I think I am starting to find out it is really true.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday, #SOCS, is hosted by Linda G Hill. The prompt word for today is “where.” Start your post with the word “where” and write whatever comes to you. Bonus points if you end your post with “where” too.

Quote from Lewis Carroll Lewis Carroll, ‘ Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass’ via Goodreads quotes. Image of winding path from Wikimedia.org

Ancestors On The Edges

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I continue to be engrossed in genealogy research, looking for the clues that weave my ancestors together into a sturdy cloth. But lately I find myself assembling only the edges of the puzzle. I have more of the frame or boarder than the parts that fill in the center sections. So I just want to appreciate what I am learning about the history of the people who lived in those long ago times. I bet in those olden days many women did more practical weaving like cloth for their families clothes.

‘Tatua Partonun weaving Simalungun traditional woven cloth (Hiou), in her home at Purba Tongah’ by Arokh Thio Gunadi Purba on Wikimedia.org

Stream of Consciousness Saturday, #SOCS, is hosted by Linda G. Hill. Today’s prompt word is ‘frame.’

You Takes It Or Leaves It

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What did the caterpillar say to the butterfly? “I’m turning over a new leaf.”

I would like to leave off a few things around here, like household chores. It would be nice to give up dish washing ,cleaning bathrooms, laundry and folding clothes. I do have a dishwasher (machine) but I wash off the dishes before loading them in, and it seems like there are always more dirty dishes piling up in the sink. I did do a new chore this past week, sweeping up some dead leaves in my yard and trimming the leaves and branches off some of the bushes. It was more satisfying that the household chores I mentioned, being outside on a not too hot sunny day with a cool breeze blowing. Wish it would stay like this all summer.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday, #SOCS, is hosted by Linda G Hill. The prompt word is ‘leaves.’ Use it as a noun or a verb.

Featured image of ‘Monarch caterpillar eating ‘ by Bradly Potter of the US Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Region on Flickr.com

Notes Tied On The Sagebrush

Writing About Life