More thoughts in the time of COVID-19 (day 170 of the California lockdown) …
Finally, days without smoke. I plan to enjoy it while I can since it is still fire season. A small fire was reported yesterday afternoon on the other side of the Mountain, near McCloud. Fortunately, everyone in this area is hyper aware and it was doused quickly.
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The sun has moved far enough south and the school schedule is such that I don’t need to be awake until after 0600. It feels a bit strange. For so many years George was up at 0500 and I went downstairs at 0530. Now sunday is the early day. With outdoor communion at 0830, the family is out the door by 0700 to make sure the internet equipment is ready and whichever member of the family is preaching or reading or whatever is also ready.
The chickens have settled into the routine since it isn’t light enough to let them out until 0700.
Another month and the chickens will be even later.
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School has started for Paul (and sort of for me). He had a chance to learn German. Kamille, Mark (who is already versant in German and serves as reinforcement for me), and I chose to join him. It is a simple program called DuoLingo. It is both written and oral.
I’ve been on the masculine/feminine conundrum for four days. Why is woman feminine but girl is masculine? And I’m having stoppage with using the definite article the properly.
Maybe the key is for me to listen more and read less … and learn to spell later.
I’m not doing well so far. But I will keep trying.
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Saturday morning, as I read headlines, I saw the one about Eldon Musk’s pig with the chip in its brain linking it to a machine and WHAM … a possible future hit me. I know a lot of folks are thinking “Wow, I’ll be able to control all my machines, appliances, etc. just by thinking.”
Not me … I read a lot of future fiction … and I think. So this is a bit frightening. Why? Think BORG.
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My current spinning project is some Merino (blue, white, and black called “Midnight Express”) and some Mulberry silk (shades of blue with white called “Clear Skies”). Plans are to make a 3-ply for some kind of shawl or shoulder shrug.
The mulberry is interesting spinning. It is very smooth and rather short fibered. Concentration is needed. When I sit down to spin, I put on music in order to sequester myself. And regardless of genre, nothing with words! Words distract because I find myself concentrating on them in order to sing along and as a result I lose touch with the fiber.
Oh well …
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I’ve begun to do some dinners again. I decided to try again by preparing smaller portions and, if I make something which isn’t a hit, there is less discard for the chickens. Also, a new taste just might be accepted.
I go out on wednesdays and fridays so dinner on thursdays and saturdays are mine. Wild caught salmon is on sale today so tomorrow will be something from the sea. Simmered in lemon-dill with roasted parmesan-garlic new potatoes, whatever vegetable is available, a small salad with cheese, and a berry-topped sponge cake?
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In preparing for my move next year, I am discovering things of value (memory to me) to which the children are indifferent. So … flatware. Most of what I am finding from my two grandmothers is silverplate. Neither of them were wealthy enough to have sterling.
Most of what I am finding is 1847 Rogers or Gorham patterns such as Chantilly – Pattern 95 (1895), Assyrian, initial L (1886), Vintage (1904), and Georgian (1912). Next step will be sorting and seeing how many of which pieces in each I have and seeing what an antique shop will pay.
The sterling service for twelve I bought just before I married (for about $200 at $10 a month) has been promised to my granddaughter. The rest is old and tarnished and of no value to anyone else other than Grandma Tyler’s grape patterned service for two which I plan to take with me.
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Today is going to be a busy day which I will end watching episodes of “the Queen” on Netflix. Elizabeth R II and I grew up parallel and I probably could be called a fan.
As I finish writing for now, I’ll turn to a quote from Laurie R. King …
“The hand of bone and sinew and flesh achieves its immortality in taking up a pen.”
So … ‘til next week …