In an effort to maintain what's left of our frazzled minds during this pandemic period, we've had a couple of "social distancing" outings with friends during the last two weeks. Good gracious, it felt good to leave the property for more than a short time to pick up essentials (mostly at curbside) and talk with real live people we've not had contact with for what seems like ages.
Our public library sent out notice the first week in May that one could order books, DVDs, audio books, etc. online and one would be called when the requested items were available for pick-up at a pass-through window at the library. Oh, how I've missed the services our wonderful library provides for us, so I immediately placed my order and waited to be notified I could pick up my selections.
Weeks have passed with no word. Yesterday I made a call to the library and spoke to one of the very nice clerks who explained the situation causing the delay.
When the pandemic restrictions and closings started back in March, many people had library materials in their possession and were told they wouldn't be charged any late fees because of the library's closure. Therefore, getting all the materials back has been a jumbled mess.
A request for any item not available locally but in other libraries in our library system is usually delivered to our local library within a week's time, at most. To make this long story short(er), I found out delivery of materials (some of those I requested) didn't start until day before yesterday and many materials have not been returned yet since no fines are being issued. Then when materials do arrive in our local library, they are "quarantined" for 7 days before being given out again. Sigh. Life is not functioning the way it used to.
Still no much needed rain here. Fire danger is listed as high (and scary). The forecast teases us with the possibility of some rain over this Memorial Day Weekend. We're all keeping our fingers crossed.
In the meantime, I'm working on getting the garden in as fast as I can. I'm tired at the end of the day, but my first-of-the-season body aches and pains have all but disappeared. After placing starts or seeds in the garden, I've had to water regularly since the soil is dry as dust.
The grass is growing despite lack of nourishing rain so Papa Pea got out the lawn mower for me a few days ago, and I started the attack on the too-high growth. A back wheel immediately disengaged itself from the mower and that ended my efforts. Papa Pea has been busier than the proverbial one-armed paper hanger on his own projects and hasn't had time to do the repairs on the mower, so the grass grows on.
We both keep bumping into the fact that if you're doing one thing, you can't do the other. ('Magine that.)
I'm missing doing any handwork because of the time spent on outside tasks, plus when I come to the end of my day, I'm so pooped I can't stay awake when I do sit down to pick up my handwork. Ah, yes, to everything there is a season.
And for those of you who may ask (wisps of words -- cough, cough), I haven't spent the desired time in the hammock yet. Not yet, but it will happen!
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I'll bet it was good to get out and see people, even if it was at a distance! Our weather here has gone from significant snow 13 (?) days ago and now it is mid-20's! Sorry, don't know what that is for you, but it's good and hot! I'm in shorts. I hope you get your rain that you need! Happy gardening! -Jenn
I do hope you get some rain SOON, for garden and forest!
Hehhhhhhh.... You remembered my *threat*. No not a *threat*! A promise. >,-) Involving the hammock.
Have not heard anything about our library. Kind of doubt it will be opening soon. We are still under many *Rules*...
Actually, I don't know when I will again use the library, other than to return my books, when I can. We are still being very, very aware of possible tactile spread of the Wuhan Virus. Wiping down what comes into our home, and all......
No one knows where books have been. And I do not really trust a week's quarantine, on them. Plus, how are the librarians, handling the returned books... And being safe, at the same time, they are trying to even place books in quarantine?
They wear gloves, of course. But all gloves protect, is the skin under them. Gloves simply pick up every virus they touch, and pass it on, to next thing touched.
Se how hard it is, to .... Not just pass germs along, using gloves?
OK, we each do, what we each feel is best.
Open up!
In my country.
With masks/distancing.
Compromised people,
Stay home!
🌸💜🌸💜🌸💜🌸
Maybe you'll get some rain from the storm heading through here tonight. Fingers crossed.
What a blessing that your library offers curb service! Ours is still shut tight. As far as talking to real people, what? are you getting tired talking to little pea and papa already? LOL
I’m glad you are doing well. My garden isn’t in yet because allergy season this year has knocked me for a loop and our community plot was closed until recently. It’s on park land which was closed. As a result, the weeds have gone bonkers. We have it about half weeded now. We hope to finish and get plants in in the next day or two. The rain situation in a lot of areas is alarming. Too much, too little. When are we going to have a normal year?!
I sooo miss the library. Ours is still shut. Makes me think it’s time to invest in a book tablet but I do enjoy using a book.
I live in the tri-state area: VA, MD & DC. Virginia specifically. Beach areas are slowly opening up this weekend. From what I hear on the radio, people are not being too sensible. As a result, we might have another upswing in disease in roughly three weeks. Very scary. I’ve made trips to the store with my mask so we are pretty well stocked. Supplies seem to be getting sort of back to normal. I even broke down and bought the 25 pound (!) bag of flour at Costco recently. Some of my neighbors love me because I share my baked goods. If this continues, I might need to order new pants in a larger size! Oops.
My next project later today is to try pressure canning green beans. I got this canner last year but haven’t tried it yet. Yesterday, a friend went way out to a vegetable auction in MD. He asked if we wanted anything. We now have a bushel of green beans. I’m not sure if I’m going to try hot or cold packing them. We’ll just see what happens when I get to that point. Wish me luck ;-)
Jenn - I wore shorts out in the garden yesterday for the first time and immediately got a black fly bite on my knee! Was that a sign to keep my lily-white legs covered up for decency's sake??
Michelle - Thank you! As the weekend wears on, they keep lessening our chances of rain. :o(
wisps of words - You're absolutely right. With so many conflicting ideas of what is safe and what is not, we all must pick and choose what makes sense to us. Can we be too careful? There are sure a lot of people who are not heeding any warnings. No one wants to get sick but I don't think everyone is being sensible. (Ha! So what's new??)
tpals - Oh, if only!!
Cockeyed Jo - I have discovered that if I don't get "out" and at least see new scenery and hear other people's voices, see their smiles, share how we all are coping . . . well, I think I'm getting a little funny/warped/stale/down right strange! ;o)
Katie C. - I do believe we're in a new phase of weather where we can only count on things being unstable. Sure seems that way all over the world.
As far as I'm concerned, our library is still "shut," too. No action for me since they've opened the pick-up window a month ago!
With this recent opening up (to the extent it is in each of our areas), I'm afraid we're going to see people throwing caution to the wind. It's like letting animals out of their cages. :o\
I haven't been baking much but I did make our first-of-the-season rhubarb cake last night. Probably eating half of it myself (which I feel like doing this morning) wouldn't be a very good idea.
A bushel of green beans?! Methinks you have your year's supply right there! Good luck with the preserving process and your garden plot!
It rained here for the past two days for a total of just under an inch. Which is the right kind of rain to have. Friday I dodged in and out of showers, and then yesterday we just went out and worked because once you're wet you can't get any wetter and there are things to be done! I can't tell you how many pots and tubtrugs and wheelbarrows I rinsed out throughout the day. And I still got some sunburn despite no sun. This morning the sun is out and I can plant seeds. Yay :)! It will be so nice to not have soggy gloves on.
We have been visiting outside with the next door neighbors throughout. We are a "Quaranteam". Its amazing how even solitary minded people can get starved of human contact.
SmartAlex - Ugh, working in the rain with soggy gloves, clothes, equipment! But I should not dread the thought of that because of our now getting extreme fire danger, plus the clouds of dust when I disturb the garden soil. :o\ We're hoping we get some precipitation this weekend yet. Neither of us thinks our first couple of servings of asparagus tastes just right because of lack of rainfall.
Even though we're both definitely homebodies, I know exactly what you mean about needing that certain amount (even if it's small) of human contact now and then. We have no choice but can you believe this weird situation we're all in now?
Sure sounds like you've been busy. Our library is closed also. This virus has sure put a big damper on everything. The Cape is opening slowly and there are some people that take advantage of it. I haven't been any where. My older daughter does most of my shopping. I've been doing Face calls with my Doctor's appt's. I have appointments in June that I will go to. I do miss the contact with people, but most of my friends feel the same as I do. It's just not worth the chance of getting sick. I've got to say that I really like staying home. There is so many thing I like to do. THe pie sounds so good! I bet it was yummy!! xo
linnellnickerson - Yep, it is a busy time of year, for sure. So much that needs to be done immediately. Got a lot more accomplished in the garden today. Unfortunately, the black flies have made their appearance and although they aren't horrible (yet), I think I may have inhaled one of the little biters. Also got three bites, two on my arms and one on my back up underneath my shirt!
Those of us who enjoy our homes and are happy being there are really lucky, aren't we? It's a big advantage to being somewhat introverted!
I wish I could send you some of our rain. We had seven inches in three days last week and everything is drenched. The weeds are taking over the garden!
Glad to hear you're getting out some. Our library has had its drive-through window open for a couple of weeks now, so I can order things online and get an email when it's ready to check out.
Stay safe. Praying you get some real rain soon!
Leigh - Seven inches in three days! Oh, my. A terrible time of the season to have the weeds getting a hold on your garden. Doesn't it seem that gardeners all over the country are having a hard time?
Your description of how your library is currently operating is how (I understand) our is supposed to, but there seems to be more than glitch in their plans and we've not had access to their materials for about three months now. Sigh.
It's gray this morning and feeling a little damp but the forecasters keep downgrading the chance of rain. We have a good enough water source that I can water, but it's not as good as rain for the garden and, of course, there's still the forest fire danger until we get a good soaker. Thanks for your well wishes on this count!
I am still waiting for the library to open. It may take weeks more. I am (don't hate me) getting my hair cut next week. Of course, I go to a salon in Vermont, which has relaxed certain aspects of the shutdowns faster than New York. I can hardly wait. I miss my few friends that I have here. I miss not shopping with stress. But I am very thankful that I am fairly self-sufficient and am healthy. Still, I may not be able to keep up my end of a conversation if this goes on much longer. xo
Susan - You're preaching to the choir here, m'dear. Every day I get hints that I may be getting a little weirder. I can't believe how much I miss the few errands I do normally. Like walking through the grocery store, visiting our two second hand stores, THE LIBRARY(!), etc. We're "required" to wear a mask anywhere in town that we're out of our vehicle and I think I almost had a panic attack (felt I couldn't breathe) the last time I ventured forth. Then you read several authorities who say wearing a mask doesn't prevent contamination anyway and may just be worse than breathing normal air rather than giving any germs a place to proliferate . . . like in the moist, captured air surrounding your face. Gak.
Most of the businesses are open here now, albeit with reduced occupancy, but not the library. I'm really jonesing for it to open back up. I've been reading some online stuff and old books from our shelf, but I NEED the library! I can't wait to get back there.
Our tomato plants, which were put in the ground over a month ago, haven't grown an inch. We have WAY too much water here. We are only 5" from our ANNUAL rainfall amount.
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