A-Protesting We Will Go!

 So proud of our fellow local Americans! Despite lousy weather- chilly, intermittent rain, windy- lots of us turned up in a near by town. Like 500 people! Pretty impressive as it's not a large town! The Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz spoke, as well as other several governmental luminaries and a teenager who is 1/2 Ukrainian and many other. The signs were terrific- lots of wit among protesters!!

Even American flags waving for all those nay-saying rethuglican nabobs! First we stood by the street- a great setting as it's a four way stop light... a major intersection. It was gratifying that so many horns honked their approval. A few middle fingers were aimed at us by MAGA trolls but we expected that. What surprised me was the number of large trucks- like dump trucks and big delivery trucks- that air horn blasted their approval- with upraised solidarity fists! Everyone joined in! Probably the most "interesting" were the individuals in cars who looked straight ahead and tried to pretend we weren't there. What were they thinking?!??!

Then we all marched up and around the flag pole which was impressive as there was a really long line of us. Here's a shot in front of me:

It was just great being among sooooo very many people who feel the same way: Hands Off Social Security! Hands Off Colleges and Libraries! Hands Off Veteran's Benefits! Hands Off Medicaid and MediCare! Hands Off LGBTQ rights! Hands Off Immigrants! Fuck Elon! Fuck the Orange Menace! No Kings! Everyone was so nice, laughing and having a good time...

It was interesting that as we marched up to the flag pole, we passed a restaurant. Some of the diners gave us a thumb's up in between forking down mid-day meals. Others pointedly kept their eyes on their plates... we've got your number!

And of course, as Bob and I are dedicated gardeners and plant enthusiasts, I snapped a picture of what we presume is some sort of witch hazel. Attractive small tree!

If you look closely, you can see protesters between the branches. And what does one do after a satisfying day of activism? Eats paczki (Polish donuts made at Easter time. Pronounce "punch-key". Weird). It was a good day!

Quarantine Day ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Between Quarantine in general and the dark, cold, rainy days in particular, I'd just as soon crawl back into bed. Or stay in bed once it reaches something called "morning". I need sun! And flowers! And... trips to nurseries and garden centers!!!!!
I remarked to Bob that I'm sort of a junkie. I started itching and scratching and twitching and generally behaving in unpleasant and unattractive ways because I (and I'm assuming many others) am experiencing a spring in which I can't do one of my very favorite things: go to nurseries.
So I called around. Many garden centers/nurseries are open- but only if you pre-buy and pick up at curbside. This really cannot work in the horticultural arena. I need to look at and mentally combine combinations and colors. Also, I need to pick out my own plants; how can anyone else know which
specimen I think is best suited to my purposes?
I did locate one garden center in the next town over that said as long as you wore a mask and practiced social distancing, you could wander around and get your fix. Needless to say I was in my car and barrelling towards nirvana in a matter of minutes...

And here's Bob (and one of his new sculptures) proudly displaying his mighty row of garlic. He's done a fine job of organizing and weeding and mulching the vegetable garden. Bob is also displaying a more stoic approach to the cold wet weather and seems more inclined to spend time outside. Just yesterday, I got all excited and gathered tools and tarps only to find that the clouds had rolled back in and the sun had retreated. I retired to my studio.

Here's a shot of the lettuce row. The cover protects the tiny seedlings against too much rain, sun or even spatter after a quick rain shower. Bob is going to transplant the seedlings soon; I can't wait for those first tender little shoots! One of Spring's great pleasures!

Here's another view of the seedlings. It's so important in this time of death and uncertainty and lack of leadership and tragedy to have a hopeful outcome to look forward to. Great organic things to eat! Not having to run to the store for picked over produce! Yay!
This is why I'm craving warm, sunny weather: I need that time outdoors to move plants around and remake and remodel garden beds that have become chaotic and weedy. Just to dig in the dirt. Even our perpetually sunny dog Robin the Good has been melancholy and not sure she really wants to go out. (Lots of standing at the door but not moving when the door opens. Sigh.) My mission today is to cheer her- and me!- up.

Happy Birthday to Me

Here's a picture of my delicious birthday pie! Blueberry... my favorite (well maybe tied with peach!) and made with fresh blueberries plucked from our own berry bushes early yesterday morning. Maybe it turned out a bit on the tart side (Bob maintaining that it needed a pinch more sugar) but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
And I received lovely gifts from Bob and a million and ten birthday greetings on Facebook (everybody's favorite!)  and a number of thoughtful actual physical birthday cards- I'm very happy. Except that the weather sucked and we spent the day huddled in the air conditioned bed room, emerging only for refills of cold drinks and the occasional ill-advised trip outside to experience what life on Mars or Venus is like.
My birthday is typically hot 'n' humid but this heatwave is exceptional. We actually cancelled my family's celebration at our house because it was either sit in the driveway in Beatrice and John's new car with the air conditioning blasting (worrying about getting frosting on the immaculate interior) or hunkering together in the bed room (the only air conditioned room in the house) which would be awkward. Outside really was not a possibility and we had originally considered grilling: unimaginable!
So at last the hideous weather has broken and it's expected to rain late today into tomorrow. That's a good thing as plants and grasses were stressing in the garden and we were stressing in the house. I felt badly for poor Maggie the Mexican Pony (yes, she's still with us) who stood stamping flies in her stall. She was downright giddy the cool of this morning, breaking into a wonky trot when I fed her her breakfast grain.
Let's trust teh improved weather will last!