Tuesday 14 April 2020

Tuesday 14th.

The warmth isn't back yet but the sun is and it is quite a lovely day.   After lunch I went for a walk with Percy and had several long distance chats, the first with a chap I often see out walking his dog.   He called to say he would carry on walking quicker than me so that we kept the required distance apart - at which point his collie decided on the perfect 'poo spot' and he had to stop, wait and then clean up.  We agreed that she had no idea of the current situation and neither had the blackbird who had been singing all morning in the hawthorn tree across the road from my bungalow. For animals and birds life goes on as normal thank goodness.

My home-made soup again for lunch today (leek and potato).   Why is it that all home-made soup tastes so much better on the second day?   Jacket potato stuffed with hummus and served with a salad after the soup and that was good too.

I was reading this morning in The Times about a doctor in New York - she was comparing this virus with the Twin Towers disaster in terms of numbers dying.  2753 people died in the Twin Towers; she speaks of how they had ambulances lined up and wards emptied for survivors within hours of the disaster - but there were no survivors.   Wth the virus they have already admitted over 2000 and they have no idea when it will end.   Troubled times indeed - good to be a blackbird methinks. 

This week marks the 250th Anniversary of the birth of William Wordsworth - perhaps best known for his poem 'Daffodils'.   If you remember my friend D, who lives in The Lakes, is sending me a card each week while the lock down continues.   I so look forward to receiving them and this week's arrived this morning.   And what was it?  This week's card was a single daffodil - beautiful and very cheering.

As I did my walk with Percy at lunchtime I passed so many windows with rainbows stuck to them - presumably done by children home from school. And by the time I got home again the mixture of bird song, rainbows and the distance chats I had have put me in a really good frame of mind.   I hope you all feel the same too.  Keep smiling.

25 comments:

Cheryl Seaman said...

Just want to leave a note saying how much I enjoy your blog. A voice of sanity and normalcy in a very weird world!
I live in central Florida so our physical landscapes are different but our lives are pretty much the same.

the veg artist said...

Our garden residents are all busy, busy. The squirrels doing their usual demented chasing up and down the bird table or along a power cable which crosses the garden; robins which this year have built a nest in an ivy-covered tree stump, hopping over to the newly weeded rose bed for snacks; lots of birds, tits, collared doves, all wittering away. With no distant traffic noise, it's all so much clearer this year. The cat just lies on a bench in the sun. All completely oblivious, thank goodness. Glad you got out to enjoy it too.

Rachel Phillips said...

Freezing cold here today. Got out into the garden to sing some opera from a Rossini comic opera for 5 minutes in the sun before going back indoors again. It was a form of exercise.

Sue said...

The sun is gloriously warm here through the glass, or if you can find a spot outside with no breeze and full sunshine, but pick the wrong spot and it's icy cold, how very strange it seems.

Yes we have so many birds calling and singing their little hearts out here too, it's magical, well apart from the Crows who seem to have a major argument with each other right outside my bedroom window each day at first light!!

Sue in Suffolk said...

We have sunshine which looks good from indoors but it's really cold outside.
I'm glad you were able to get out and about today.

Ellen D. said...

Here in Naperville, Illinois, USA, we just had snow flurries blowing a minute ago but now it is just cloudy and windy - very chilly! I am hoping it gets better in the afternoon so that I might take a walk around the neighborhood too. Glad you are staying safe, Pat.

Yellow Shoes said...

New routines here in Sheffield - a daily wash of tea towel, dishcloth, hand towel and flannel, out on the line in the sunshine.
A regular half hour Tuesday phone call to a good friend, is now done outside while I weed, to make full use of the benefits of vitamin D.
Exercises in the garden after dark when nobody’s walking past! xx

Marty said...

Based here for now in Florida in a complex sans children, we don't see things like those cheery rainbows. It would be fun to feel a connection with other residents, even if it was just visual. And how nice to have a companion on your walk.

JayCee said...

Glad to hear that you are keeping in good spirits. Bright and sunny here today but a stiff, cool breeze.
Lots more blossom out now and the birds are busy checking out nest sites in the garden.
Keep well Pat.

RITA LOEHR said...

Your blog just makes me happy! You have the best attitude, a wealth of knowledge and a great sense of humor! I look forward to seeing what is up in your corner of the world everyday. I live in Austin Texas. Sunny and chilly here. Great day to walk and are now required to wear a mask if we can’t guarantee a safe 6 feet distancing. I am good with anything to help. Have a lovely evening!

Jennyff said...

It makes such a difference getting out and seeing that life goes on. I met two of our neighbours in the building when I took my walk, social contact and nature, wonderful for the spirit. Keep on keeping on.

Librarian said...

Same here today, sunny but rather cold (freezing this morning at exactly 0 Celsius when I got up). Yes, for most animals, things just go on; some pets may even enjoy this period of "their" humans being at home more than usual, and some wildlife probably benefits from less traffic on the road and less noise and pollution from factories etc.

Derek Faulkner said...

So good to see you still getting out for your exercise and look at how it cheered you up - it's not be missed and I don't know why some people do.
We had two seasons here today, on my patrol round the nature reserve this morning it was like mid-winter under grey skies and in an icy wind, all afternoon we've had cloudless and sunny skies and it was warm in the garden.

Gwil said...

Well done Percy!

Bovey Belle said...

I am glad you had a lovely day. I love the idea of your friend sending you a card every week to keep in touch and cheer you up. Sunny and warm here - I just had to look at it from inside, which makes my teeth grind!

Your lunch sounded good (we had home made soup too - Minestrone).

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

The Blackbird which I'd hoped would be singing closer to my window when I recorded the dawn chorus decided to take up residence there at lunchtime today. You may well get to hear a recording in a day or two. Quite a few rainbows around here too and one or two teddy bears still on duty in windows.

gmv said...

I do look forward daily to your chats and today's put me in a cheerful mood.

Sue said...

I sat outside in the sunshine this afternoon, albeit with a thick jumper and trousers.

Heather said...

It has been such a joy to sit in the garden listening to the birds singing and bees buzzing. If it had to come at all, at least this virus didn't come in dismal, dreary winter. After a little walk I sat in the garden for a while today but was glad of my scarf and coat.
There is nothing so good and satisfying as homemade soup.
What a kind friend to send you such beautiful cards.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I'm pleased to have brought a bit of cheer to your lives today - we certainly need it. But the sun does help doesn't it?

wherethejourneytakesme said...

Snap - we had leek and potato soup too - but no baked potato - my catering staff (DH) didn't run to that he just made plain bread and butter!

Joanne Noragon said...

A good day here, too, Weave. I went to the store and found TP.

Bonnie said...

We found toliet paper today too! I never thought I'd be excited about saying that!

Cro Magnon said...

Baked Potato with hummus sounds good. I've tried many fillings for baked potatoes, but not that; as yet. Two of my favourite things, sounds delicious.

thelma said...

Glad the world is looking up for you. My entertainment consist of the little kitten going round with her good friends the bantams and playing with them, though I hope she does not have a sinister thought in her head.