80 days of Safer at Home

When I started blogging everyday about Safer At Home, in my wildest dreams I did not expect to do it for 80 days!  But now that I've started, I want to try to keep going.  It's not really for anyone else to read, but for myself to document a little bit about my life during this pandemic.

Sunday today, I played the Zoom bridge with Roche, LeAnna and Amy.  It's always a fun 2 hours of playing cards & chit chat.

My lawn got mowed today, I'm so lucky to have Jim from just down the street as my lawn guy.  We have had enough rain that he has been busy keeping up.  Everything is crazy green.

A few more photos of what is growing around here.

I've tried many times to grow Bleeding Heart.  

Many of my friends say that they can't kill it and that theirs get huge.  

Mine is alive, with one little bloom, I'm grateful.

 The flower bed by the front door is my Danish Garden, 

not much Danish about it but it is a jungle of pretty.

The High Bush Cranberry is in bloom.

I have several of these bushes around my property, 

but the little one between the house and garage is my favorite.

Ruby Stoklasa sold me this old ladder about 3 years ago for $3.

It was one of the first ladders her husband Ray owned, 

an extension ladder but the extension got driven over by a truck years ago.

For me, it is a Hops trellis.

These early peonies are almost done already.

They flash so fast, I barely got to enjoy them.

About 3 years ago, I bought some Iris at a sale at Coors friend Ann's farm in Pine Island, MN.

These were dug out of her yard, and I planted them around the post for the stop sign that is on the corner of my property.  They didn't bloom for a couple of years, but this year, they are lovely.

Woodland Phlox is a tall plant that thrives in the shade at the Winter Greenhouse.

I'm happy that mine is living, if not thriving, yet.

 The bloom of this Yellow Peony is imminent.

I think tomorrow we will have a flower.

One of the most beautiful peonies I have ever seen.

Look for the helpers.

Be Safe,

Day 79; Covid - 19

Many events in the world today.

A launch to the Space Station from US ground.

Significant increases in Covid-19 test positives.

Protests across the country in nearly every large city.  

Rioting in many of those cities.

So much to worry over, I had to turn off the TV and quit obsessing.

I took a drive through downtown Rice Lake this afternoon, had to mail an envelope and drove along Lakeshore drive.  Lots of flowers in bloom, but not many folks out and about.  A few fisherpeople here and there.

For a treat, 

I took the car through the carwash.  

I'm not totally sure if cars know they are having a treat.

I stopped at Aldi for some fresh fruit and Kwiktrip for some salads & ice cream.  

Treats for me.

When I got home had a cocktail to toast Roche's birthday.  

We've been friends 50+ years, had to raise a glass to her birthday.

Hope you are safe and well.

Peace.

78 days, Safer at Home

The weather cooled off again, more fireplace in the morning to take the chill off and more flannel leggings to stay cozy all day.

It would have been my brother Gus's 74th birthday today, 

he's been gone 5 years already.  

Hard to believe, 

he was larger than life in the stories he told and 

the memories he made for his family and others.

Dad and Gus hunting in Colorado in the 1970s.

Gus lived for the hunt.

***

Today and tonight there are protests across the country asking to shine a light on racism that is built in to so many parts and pieces of our culture.  To live as a person of color is beyond the imagination of anyone who is not.  I don't claim to be guiltless, 

I have to constantly be aware of my behavior, but then, shouldn't we all be?

***

More grim Covid-19 news in Wisconsin.

To be fair, there is more testing, and so, there are also more positives.

Maybe the number of hospitalizations is a number that better describes the state of our health, but the deaths continue to climb, so there is no joy.

Cases overview

Wisconsin

Confirmed 17,707 +512

Recovered -

Deaths 568 +11

United States

Confirmed 1.78M +23,051

Recovered 383K

Deaths 104K +1,216

Worldwide

Confirmed 5.92M +105K

Recovered 2.49M

Deaths 364K +4,239

11 Weeks, 77 days

It was beautiful today, the humidity is gone, for now.

A few more blooms in the yard.

I didn't even remember planting this little fancy Columbine.

The Hops are getting a good start on climbing the old ladder.

I wish this hop vine would become quite robust.

The colors are off in this photo of the first Peony to open fully.

I'll have to try again tomorrow.

It's a deep red with yellow center, striking.

I caught up with a Bumblebee doing his work on the Creeping Charlie.  

No shortage of that around my yard.

Ran across this dragon fly hanging around the Hop vines. 

Common Whitetail Skimmer (Libellula lydia)

I hope she wants to eat mosquitoes, we have plenty of those already.

A couple of years ago, I had a tree company cut down some trees.

I asked them, probably regrettably, to leave a couple of the stumps about 5 foot high.

This one, I think it is an Ash, is growing some interesting fungus.

Kind of fascinating.

As if the Covid - 19 crisis is not enough, 

there is social unrest unfolding across the nation 

because of a black man who was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis.

It appears to be a case of racial brutality.

It's no easy solution, but it cannot be dismissed.

The continued incidents of white on black violence cannot be tolerated.

Nor can the violent reaction, vandalism and looting that ensured after.

There is no easy solution.

And after 11 weeks of shutdown, job loss and anxiety, the situation is a powder keg.

Cases overview

Barron County

Confirmed 11

Recovered -

Deaths 0

Wisconsin

Confirmed 14,877 +599

Recovered -

Deaths 507 +22

United States

Confirmed 1.76M +18,677

Recovered 379K

Deaths 103K +1,379

Worldwide

Confirmed 5.8M +84,342

Recovered 2.4M

Deaths 360K +5,581

Day 76....Trombones

Rained all night, rained all day, finally let up about 5pm 

so I could get the trash to the street and shoot a few photos.

First, I did a little study of the Hummingbird.

 I seem to be seeing a few more Hummers this year.

They are a tempting subject for the camera lens.

Most of my flower beds are pretty rugged / rustic / weedy.

I happened to notice this one has a tenant.

I do not have a green thumb, but one thing that I can grow is Chive.

I have Chives in every flower bed and I started some in the ditch that are really taking off.

I love them, don't remember to use them in the kitchen often, but I like them when they flower.

 The front door Hops are really coming along nicely.

They like this cool, wet weather.

Reminds them of home in the Yakima Valley of Washington I suppose.

I got a few Lupines from a friend about 5 years ago.

I didn't realize how they would reseed, so now, Lupines abound.

I need to get these started in my ditch project.

 The flowers don't last too long, but I really like them while they are here.

The Peony future is bright!

There a many, many buds coming along.

Merry Mayshine from Fina Gardens is already trying go show off.

A little soggy today, but oh so pretty. 

A yellow Peony in the backyard is showing it's color.

It is always such a beauty, can't wait.

And, just for the record, the update as of late yesterday,

tomorrow you will see a big jump in the Wisconsin positives.

Stay Home if you Can, I can.

Cases overview

Barron County

Confirmed 11

Recovered -

Deaths 0

Wisconsin

Confirmed 14,877 +279

Recovered -

Deaths 507 +3

United States

Confirmed 1.72M +16,700

Recovered 366K

Deaths 101K +634

Worldwide

Confirmed 5.64M +99,711

Recovered 2.31M

Deaths 353K +1,485

75 days, Safer at Home

Today I had an appointment at the 0rtho clinic.  I was impressed by the changes that have been made to keep the employees and patients safe. I was slow to notice the big blue X on the floor, I haven't been out enough to have that in my routine.  They had masks to give anyone who came without. On the 2nd floor, there was a Mom with 2 preteen kids, no masks on any of them. Very disappointing. But everyone else was masked. 

I sure like the Ortho PA. Here's hoping the gel he injected into my knee does the trick.

Big rain, thunder and lightning tonight. No wind or hail, so I turned off the TV and enjoyed the show. 

74 days of Safer at Home

I stepped out on the front porch at 3pm, played Taps from YouTube on my phone.  

No cemetery trip today, but I think Dad would understand.

Stay at home if you can, I can. 

Day 74.

Memorial Day

On this weekend we take time to remember those 

who sacrificed for the good of our country. 

Day 72

Day 71, Staying Home, Staying Safe & Well

Dad always loved a fresh flag on Memorial Day.  

Today I put up a new flag; 

hard to beat the feeling of seeing a new flag waving in the breeze.

I won't be getting to the cemetery this weekend, I hear that the flags are on the graves of the Veterans.

That's nice to know.

I took a little walk-about the yard this afternoon.

Here are a few things that I saw.

Apple Trees in full blossom.

Forget Me Nots are busy spreading, I love it.

Ye Old Stoklasa Ladder Hop vine is on its way.

Ye

Hop vines by the front door look great.

I have several Lilac bushes, this one was in bloom.

 Lily of the Valley, I love it.

I also noticed that 4 clumps of Lily of the Valley, that friend Ann gave me last fall, are thriving.

 There a many Peony buds showing color.

This patch is mostly red and also many white.

This is a yellow Peony, it is really showy.

I planted 3 new Peony roots last fall, all are thriving.  The one closest to the camera took a hit when the temperatures dropped a few weeks ago.

I have been carrying Lupine seeds down to the natural area and finally success.

Once these Lupines take off, they should spread, yippee.

Meanwhile, we are on day 71 of self isolation.

The numbers are not good.

Cases overview

Wisconsin

Confirmed 12,885 +472

Recovered -

Deaths 467 +6

United States

Confirmed 1.63M +25,017

Recovered 313K

Deaths 96,329 +1,286

Worldwide

Confirmed 5.21M +104K

Recovered 2.05M

Deaths 338K +4,467