Hello. Good afternoon/early evening.

It is much cooler today. It was in the 50’s F this morning as I puttered around with my plants on the deck I had on a long sleeved shirt and a light hoodie. Felt good. I have an insect attack. They are boring holes in all of my tomatoes, pink, just turning and green as can be. I cleaned some vegetables this morning and attended online church.

Another puzzle grabbed me and I spent most of the rest of the day working on it.

Anne, I am not surprised your son is finished with moving furniture. Well happy Jilly had a good day. I hope you enjoyed it as well.

Sandy, another great movie night. What fun! A quiet day is nice. It has been very quiet here. I believe five households close to me went away on vacation. Another neighbor was home but he and his wife had a moving van yesterday in preparation for a move to another state. I used to see him a couple of times a week at Trader Joe’s. I never asked about his background but as they were leaving I found out he was a newspaper reporter and I believe the newspaper either cut way back or went out of business. So he was just filling in with that job as his wife had a very good job here. Nice people.

I also spent some time looking through the Sunday ads online to see if there were any Labor Day laptop specials to tell my friend about but did not find any. By the way Sandy, I did try when we could get together to try to orient her a bit with my iPad. It made her too nervous—she wouldn’t even try it, she would just look over my shoulder.

Jackie, I loved today’s photos. Beautiful panoramic view and a sweet view out the window. I hope as your project progresses that you will get exactly the space that you will enjoy. So your neighbors are home and are happy to get away from the throngs? I can believe that. High schools are playing football games. I watched several of them Friday evening. What a difference between them. One had people wearing masks and sitting well apart. It looked relatively safe. The other game, no one had a mask, people were grouping and sat close on the bleachers. I am sure they would say masks aren’t needed outdoors, true, but when you don’t keep your distance?

On the Covid news, my friend has survived and is now well enough to continue his recovery at home. They threw every protocol his way and something worked. Yes!!

Bob, have you heard of this store?



Some friends were discussing it and what a wonderful place it is to shop. Although I never travel, especially now, the photos were so compelling for a moment, I really wanted to see it.

Thinking of you Buzz and you as well Patsy. ❤️❤️

Here’s the new completed puzzle.



See you tomorrow.

Lin
❤️❤️

Hello Buzz❤️❤️❤️❤️ take care. Wonderful to see you here.

Good morning. A Wedgwood teapot today.



❤️❤️

Yesterday was wonderful… we took in a small early evening gathering at a local ice cream stand for some music by a local dance band. Of course no dancing allowed and masks required when not sitting. Hard times for local musicians. The ice cream stand is owned by church friends of my sister… profits go to missions. My daughter and husband texted a pic of the kids apple picking (definitely not the usual “apple-picking pic”)






Today Jean is registered with the Red Cross hosting blood drive at fairgrounds in lieu of State Fair. She has that O-negative blood that can be transfused to patients with any blood type. If I could, I would also give. Great weather today (although it was “pumpkin spice” cold this morning. LOL

Anne – thanks for the laughs! “… thrown out of Mary Jos dance line class…” "clear off Anne" and “choir master… pointed at me and said "you, OUT"...This meant I had to join the French class instead. Alas, my French wasn't much better!” OH YES – we would have hung out together, if we had attended the same school. It only bothered me when the nun would rap me with the pointer…

Ps – Barbie – sorry for the loss of your friend.

Sandy – Glad the air conditioner kicked on for you. As much as I like the heat…I need that relief – especially for sleeping. I understand what you mean about keeping spirits up during these pandemic times. Even going out and about I can tell it’s all wearing thin on some people.

I did read yesterday – “New CDC report says 94% of patients who died from COVID had other health issues” – so only 6% of deaths listed COVID-19 as the only cause. The report says that 94 percent of patients who died of COVID-19 had another health condition ranging from respiratory illness and heart disease to obesity and diabetes.
"Provisional death counts deliver the most complete and accurate picture of lives lost to COVID-19," the CDC said. "They are based on death certificates…and contain information not available anywhere else, including comorbid conditions, race and ethnicity, and place of death." I think most of us were aware of age, co-morbidity issues etc., but I know some younger people that weren’t. Wish you the best on dealing with it all.

Jackie – With my sense of humor when I read your comment: “Do you know I’ve never in my life eaten a McDonalds burger” you can only imagine what I wanted to jokingly reply. I was addicted at one point to a weekly Big Mac…but I haven’t had any fast food since May 2019 of any kind. Jean loves a McDonalds regular cheese burger and only eats a child-size meal (never my style). She has always managed a certain amount of restraint – that I never had. Hence I “super-sized” my weight LOL. I have no desire of McDonalds anymore. You aren’t really missing anything.

Lin – No… I never heard of Vidler's 5 & 10, but just Googled – it is 2 ½ hrs from me – and at some point down the road will have to check it out. Thanks for putting the thought in my head.

Time to get for the Red Cross… hope everyone has a great Monday. Bob

Outside weeding again, I just got stung by a wasp. Ouch........ inside disinfecting entry point. Not weeding anymore today. Natures revenge?
Anne . 😳🐝🌿

Not sure what bit me, it was big and black as I knocked it into the garden waste bag. Finger Still hurts, interesting shade of pink and swollen. Anne.😳

Hello, I have tried repeatedly to get here to write a post but it was one thing after another from updates from a worried mom on her daughter’s surgery, to tending to the laundry, and a big crash in the basement. A hunt for my regular paper punch, sorting out boxes and trash (pick up day tomorrow). Placing another grocery order with Whole Foods. Anyone betting on the likelihood that the system is working now? Last day to review my subscribe and save order with Amazon and some research on a study book.

All terribly dull. Some fun, my new little leaf paper punch showed up and I have more little leaves ready to go. Final design not set. Cut out some Halloween images and may make a few easy cards for that day as well.

Okay. You are all much more interesting.

Jackie, it will be nice when all the holiday folks go home again. School has started in my suburb but quite a number of students chose the online option. So they remain trapped in the house with the same adults as usual. My friend has several grandchildren who are doing the online schooling but no adult will be home with them all day. I guess that is not unusual but I would be worried to leave kids alone in the house with no one there to help with questions, etc.

Anne, darn bug! I hope you recover quickly. Wasp/bee stings are so bothersome. I was stung by wasps on my stomach one year. Oh, my, gosh! Painful much!!!! I think that is a hint to stay away from them. Gosh now you’ve made us all hungry. I love air fried potatoes but won’t be making any this evening. On the question you posed, I have been purchasing puzzles where they can be found. At first I found one in a local store and got a curbside pick ups. Since then I have found more and more reputable companies doing online orders. Puzzles are out of stock all the time. I am always pleased to find something I wanted. I have had to purchase 1,000 pieces and higher for the most part. My attention span is more 500 piece. 😂🤣😂

Sandy, I am sorry you are not hearing from Babe but you knew that was coming. He is a prisoner in that house. I don’t know why he didn’t realize what would happen. And Bryanna and her friend should be fine but staying in a hotel/motel might be safer. But no one listens right? Wishing her well.

Bob, I love your photos and once again, that looks like so much fun! Even with masks. Now even the photo of the orchard has made me hungry as I noted the beautiful apples in the background. Well, I didn’t know how close you lived to that store but thought in all your travels you might have been there. You know on Facebook, someone starts a topic and photos and then others chime in with comments and memories. They made that store sound just fantastic. I was sold! I need to see what I could get online, a pale experience compared to the store. And good job Jean with the magic blood. So wonderful that she donates. Saving lives.

The comorbidity issue has turned ugly. I am seeing posts saying those people were meant to die anyway so should never have been counted as Covid deaths. Well, those people may have been living just fine with their conditions until this virus came along. I guess I am pretty angry because I see this coming from the same people that earlier said, hey, if old people are dying, that’s just the natural order of things. Too bad, so sorry grandma. Seems fairly heartless to me.

I think Wedgwood is well used by many people but I could be wrong, maybe most people just purchase things like this to look at. This color of Wedgwood was unusual to me, I have seen more blue.

I must run along. Time to crush some boxes and get the trash out to the curb.

All best wishes.

Lin

Take good care dear ones. We are stressed and insecure at this time. . It is natural to turn on others when our life and wellbeing is threatened. But we will be fine if we foster respect for each other. I feel sad that people are so frightened. As one of my life lessons I like to think of Jackie tenderly releasing field mice or gathering little black spiders with a handkerchief to set free out in the garden. I am sure I have all of the comorbidity issues but I still feel I have a place on the planet and might still be of some use.

So my dear sneakers, don’t even think of that word. Take good care of yourself and others. We will all try to be here after the COVID 19 drifts away.
Are you with me?
Patsy☘️

Exactly dear girls and very well put. I lay awake all night for two reasons. One I couldn't get poor Roy out of my mind, he should never have died in that senior home recovering from surgery and succumbing to the virus. Avid gardener and he loved Christmas to the extent we all got a little something. Every adult on his street got a box of biscuits or a box of chocolates, every child a little gift. He will have left a huge empty space in his street now he's gone. And a big empty space for me and Helen. Val his wife was our cousin. We both had our weekly phone call from him. It's odd on a Sunday at 9am not hearing his voice anymore.

The second reason, well whatever bit me and scurried off had my pink swollen painful finger turn into a pink swollen itchy finger in the night, despite squeezing to get whatever out, and applying ointment, tea tree oil etc. I will live, but I must remember I'm not gardening in England anymore and purchase garden gloves which I hate. Spent the afternoon peering at the descriptions of 31 biting and stinging insects and spiders and the nearest I can get of what I briefly saw and stung me is a black widow spider but surely they aren't up here in Ontario? I believe they are in British Columbia though and with the heat of this summer please don't tell me they are here now lurking under wood and leaves!

So, we soldier on in the knowledge that hasn't hit the young yet, that youth is fleeting, that even wasps and black widow spiders have a right to life. Another poem springs to mind.

When all the world is young lad
And all the trees are green:
And every goose a swan lad
And every lass a queen,
Then hey to horse and boot lad
And round the world away
For young blood must have its course lad!
And every dog it's day.
But when all the world is old lad
And all the trees are brown
And all the sport is stale lad
And all the wheels run down;
Creep home and take your place there
The spent and maimed among
God grant you find one face there
You loved when all was young.

Charles Kingsley.

Probably not completely accurate but sent with love from
Anne 🙃🐶❤️