Memorial Day 2020

From today's edition of the New York Times:

AN INCALCUABLE LOSS

Today, the front page of the New York Times lists the names of 1000 people who died from the coronavirus.  They are one percent of the almost 100,000.

"They were not simply names on a list.  They were us."

Patricia Dowd, 57, San Jose, Calif. auditor in Silicon Valley * Marion Kreuger,85, Kirkland, Wash. great-grandmother with an easy laugh * Jerramine Ferre, 77, Lee County, Fla. wife with little time to enjoy new marriage * Cornelius Lawyer, 84, Bellevue, Wash.  sharecropper's son * Kyra Swartz, 33, New York, volunteered for pet rescue organizations * Bobby Lee Barber, 84, Buckley, Wash.  Seahawks season ticket holder *  Jose Diaz-Ayala, 38, Palm Beach, Fla. served with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office for 14 years * Alice Coopersmith Furst, 87, Kentfield, Ca.  in the first class of girls admitted to the Bronx High School of Science * Regina Dix-Parsons,75, Schenectady, N.Y. stalwart church gospel singer *  John Joseph Reed Jr.,74, Edmonds, Wash. passionate about retaining his town's small-town atmosphere....

I have listed ten of them.  The reporters for this story scoured thousands of obituaries to print these.  Thank you for telling us about them.

Click here for link:

I'm on your side....

A rainy Memorial Day weekend?  Certainly not the first one for North Idaho residents.   There may be some sunshine later today or maybe tomorrow.   In the meantime, Retired Mountain Man and I still plan on having grilled burgers and maybe some fries on Monday.

We are thinking of our dear family members who have left us and also feeling so much sadness for the families of the 96,000 coronavirus victims.  It's just too many losses.   At the same time, one can be so thankful for all of those who are on the front lines doing their jobs and risking their lives for the rest of us. 

 I don't have any time to waste on those who are complaining or refuse to their part to keep everyone safe.  Especially those who are elected officials, since our taxpayer dollars are paying for them to do their jobs.  Protecting the lives of your constituents should be at the top of the list.

Our hummingbirds have returned and they have been very thirsty since there are only a few blossoms out there right now.

One of our feeders broke and we had to discard the "flower" attachment that the birds normally feed through.  It didn't seem to bother them at all.  If you look closely, you can see their tongues in this photo.

Going "out" these days involves a trip to Sandpoint to pick up curbside groceries.  This photo was taken at a stop at Pack River on the way.   The only other outings are the weekly trip to the dumpster site near Clark Fork and the post office.   I have also tried curbside pickup at Home Depot, which actually worked out really well.  Masks of course, are an automatic requirement for both of us.

It is concerning that in my observations of the people who are out and about (mostly in the parking lots while I am waiting for a pickup) are that no one is concerned enough about the virus to wear a mask.  We have had only four cases in our county, but it seems like a lot of people are taking big chances on their health and the health of their families. 

The constant rainfall has drenched my Mother's Day begonia gift.   It was a big surprise to have a truck from the Pend Oreille Garden Center show up in our driveway to deliver it. The plant has a lovely peach color and I'm sure it will perk up with a little bit of sunshine.

There were a few rays of sunshine a couple of days ago and our flowering quince started to bloom.  The hummingbirds love it.

This is one of our friendly, neighborhood squirrels.   We bring the feeder inside at night and he gets pretty upset when we don't get it back out there early the next morning.

I hope you are staying safe and will find some enjoyment this Memorial Day weekend.   

Retired Mountain Man always says that this song is the greatest song ever written.   May it bring some comfort to you.

Raindrops Keep Fallin' on my Head

Oh rainy day - we do actually need one or two.  We had rain most of the night and it looks like there's more to come this afternoon.  It fits my mood today since Retired Mountain Man's surgery had to be postponed due to an infection.   If all goes well, it will now be May 27th. 

With our plans for today changed, I spent some time browsing through photos from 2014.   That was the year that I started my geraniums and pansies from seed.  Plus a lot of other veggies and flowers.  I was a lot more ambitious about starting plants back then. 

It looks like the Cougar Creek Band had a practice session on May 5th with margaritas and dinner afterwards.  Here's a toast to the good times!  May they return again.

1969

A lovely kind of day

 Happy Mother's Day to all.  I'm thinking of my mom today who was mom to five and grandma and great-grandma to many.

One of my favorite photos of her on her 90th birthday.

Great-Grandson Collin

Grandson Jamie

Grandson David 

Great-Grandson Ben

Great-Grandchildren Rylee and Collin

 

Mom with her parents

With yours truly


She was at Dylan and Sarah's wedding, but I am sad that she didn't really get to know these two, Caleb and Quinn.  I know I have a photo of my mom dancing with grandson, Dylan that day, but I can't find it.



She would have loved to have been here long enough to meet Jason.

I wish you a beautiful, lovely day.

We have to be smart

Definition of smart:  having or showing quick-witted intelligence

The good news for you today is that you can book a cruise in August on Carnival Cruise Lines.   (We need to be smart.)

The science data is showing that in most states our Covid infection rates are going up, along with the death toll, but at least 42 states are going to open up anyway.  (Is that a smart decision?)

There are many people who believe they either don't need to wear a facemask or that they shouldn't be required to wear one. (We should be smart?)

I couldn't take anymore nonsensical news.  I had to get out of the house yesterday so Maggie and I took a short hike to look for mushrooms.   We didn't find any but it could be promising after today's rainfall.

The message to Americans is that everyone should just do whatever they feel like doing.  Smart or not.  Go for it.

I just saw my favorite quarterback, Russell Wilson, on TV saying, "we have to be smart about starting up again, but when we do it's going to be fantastic". 

There's hope.

Personally, I prefer this version.

Welcome to May

We've been blessed with two beautiful days at the beginning of May.  There's some rain on the way, but in the meantime, it's been lovely outdoors.

Retired Mountain Man says these Pine Siskins are "dirty little buggers".  They toss a lot of the sunflower seeds in his feeder onto the ground and they go to waste.   I caught them cleaning up some of the mess on the deck rail before the feeder was out.

Yesterday we received a called from the doctor's office and Retired Mountain Man's shoulder surgery is back on the schedule for May 13th.  He is a happy man.  He wants it repaired and even though it's a long recovery and rehab until he can get back to his "woods", he can't wait.

We are busy doing all of the little things and big things that need to be done in the spring.  The Yellow Jacket traps are out. Definitely necessary since I stepped on one yesterday on the porch.  One should not go out without shoes, but I do all the time.  Ouch!  Why are lessons so painful?

 It's also time for the  mosquito dunks in the swamp.  It doesn't take many warm days for those pesky little biters to show up.

I have transplanted and moved my begonias and patio tomatoes from the basement up to the front porch.  It's the first step in the process of hardening them off so that I can move them to their permanent location for the summer. 

Next, I worked on my two raised beds and they are ready for their first planting of lettuce and kale.  There's endless weeding to do in every flower bed, but I have to admit that for some I'm just allowing them to go wild.

Enjoy your day.