39°f, about 4°C, overcast.
If you wonder why I start every post with a weather report---my reason is completely selfish. I wanted to be able to look back easily to see what the weather was like on this day in past years, and where else could I do that except here? Except I don't post every day, so maybe it doesn't work as hoped. Still, it is interesting to me to look back. For example, last year it was clear and although not exactly warm, I was able to work outside in the gardens! I haven't even thought about that yet this year, mostly because the deer pretty much decimated what was left in the vegetable garden, and did a fair job on the flowerbeds too. Then there is this tricky knee, still keeping me very leery of sideling ground---and it's all sideling here.
I am tired today after another rough night, so I think it will not be the most productive day, and that's okay. I baked Granny Marigold's orange muffins this morning (tasty!), and finally pureed the peppers I have had soaking in vinegar since October, so now they're hot sauce. As I write, I am enjoying some muffins with my coffee. I added cinnamon and nutmeg to vanilla coffee and oh my! Quite delicious. I am trying to use my flavored ground coffee, which Larry doesn't like, because I have had it for quite a while. It needs to be used up. Finding an opportunity to use the coffeepot, though, that struggle is real because he makes a couple pots every morning. And by afternoon I really should not drink coffee.
I have been reading your blogs with interest, as many of you comment on the current political situation. I appreciate it when you share articles I don't have access to. I try to avoid politics here, not out of fear of offending, but because my blog is my hygge place--a place to be with you all, having my coffee or wine and relaxing. I am also in a wait-and-see attitude, waiting for the dust to settle, if it ever does, and see what of this mess will stick and what will be reversed. It's a right pigsty right now, but even pigs have more method and reason in their doings. My heart goes out to all those living in fear right now, for their jobs, their homes, their legal status. This is heartless and terrifying. We knew it was coming when that idiot won the election, but even so it is terrible to witness.
And speaking of idiocy, did you see the dresses at the Grammy Awards? Well, I am not sure they could be called dresses, undresses is more accurate. I am not sure what this trend is trying to say. Is it "yes, we want to be seen as sexual objects?" Because that's all I can figure. Certainly does not represent sexual or any other kind of freedom, except the freedom to exhibit bad taste. Yep, old-fashioned granny here. And when, I wonder will the men follow suit? Next year will viewers be treated to male buns and daringly low trousers? I did not watch the awards, but saw the photos online, and it just made me sad for those women. Then there were the outlandish costumes too. Sierra Ferrell, practically a hometown girl since she is from just down the road in Charleston, wore something absolutely silly. I know she won 4 Grammys, which is amazing and wonderful but that costume, good grief.
Since I am being opinionated here, a word to my Canadian friends. I am so sorry. I am so humiliated, angry, outraged, and sickened. Canada has always been the best of neighbors and in no way deserved such treatment. I kinda wonder if it was just retaliation aimed at Trudeau for that photo of Melania gazing at your PM so adoringly. Yes, our idiot-in-chief could and would be that petty. What sad days these are.
I should not end on that bitter note! So here is a laugh to close out this rambling post.
Thanks for the words. It is almost certain in my mind that your T has a dislike of our T. Unfortunately, I have not seen those almost-nude pics of which you speak.
ReplyDeleteI went and looked for them after people began talking about those "dresses". Pretty shocking.
DeleteThanks for your expression of solidarity with us. It is sincerely and deeply appreciated. I am weary of Trump already and it’s only been two weeks.
ReplyDeleteI joined a Canadian Facebook group to see how people are feeling. Pretty outraged, and many are boycotting American products. As they should.
Delete...hail to the idiot in chief!!!
ReplyDeleteIndeed!
DeleteI am also above average in the swear word department. lol Though, I don't use that language in public. The Grammy's were ridiculous, I thought. I love Sierra Ferrell's music, but her outfit keep getting more outlandish.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to hear her music, but will look for it. I guess they all want to stand out, but seems to me their music should speak for itself.
DeleteOh, thank you for the giggle. I am kind of at a hard place. My extended family, on both sides, are predominately 'red' and religion fixes strongly into their support of the idiot. And while I feel very strongly about things, I know that there is no point bringing it up within family. Minds will not change. There will be no 'come to Jesus moment' for either side. My daughter is very militant in her beliefs and today posted some inflammatory, and commented that she knew most of her family 'muted' her and she thinks it says more about them that it does her.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me heart sick. I would never want to muzzle her, but since my opinion always has been counter to what the family believes, I've had to learn to look at it from the viewpoint of 'I love my family'. I believe that there is a reckoning coming. Let them learn the lesson from some one else.
But people believe that my daughter's beliefs are mine. They aren't. But I can't talk about it. To anyone.
I am in the same place with about half of my family, and with my sons. So I don't engage because there is no point. Their minds are made up, as is mine. So if one breaches the subject, I simply turn the conversation in another direction. The problem though, is that so often the "reds" are pushy, while those of us who are "blue" prefer non-confrontational conversations. And that may be the source of our problem: we are not loud enough or aggressive enough because that is not how we have learned to deal with things.
DeleteI'm on the opposite side of the political spectrum I guess. I'm so relieved to have a hard-nosed businessman in office who is finally dealing with the hard things.
ReplyDeleteI do feel terrible for the fear some people feel at the moment. But we are the only country in the world who has allowed illegals to come in for free & taken care of them before our own citizens. I won't go on though, I don't want to ruin your safe space. But I will share an interview with Secretary Rubio that so encourages me. I hope it will encourage you as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoje2FAqZMk
This impromptu press conference with the president also encouraged me. We hear too many sound bites from the press to really understand what he's thinking. I like the clear answers he gives. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXYYypb9i3k
Change is hard. Making hard decisions in the short term to have a better country in the long term has never been popular but finally, someone has the guts to do it.
I think we Americans live in different realities. Those who listen to Fox and Trump ( a shady businessman) will say what terrible shape this country is in. Those with other news sources have a very different perspective. I will never support a man who is a convicted felon, who demeans women and minorities, and who now unleashes unqualified people who have access to our SSNs and other personal data to "fix" our country. We shall see how all this comes out.
DeleteDon't think I have ever watched a Grammy Awards...80-90 curse word per hour..that's A LOT!
ReplyDeleteNo, only 4 per hour! I don't think I actually hit anything like that myself. Although there are days...but never in public. That, my mother would say is not classy!
DeleteYes, such a blog is practical for that- also thank you for always giving Celsius! I eventually might learn... Or... not.
ReplyDeleteWith higher temps it´s much easier! Jamie Oliver wacks things in the oven "at 180C, which is around 400F". - a bit more than double. But 4 > 39??? Oh, why...
Christine has some memes around age today...
I looked up "hygge" - a good concept (and completedly different from mine).
Ingo follows politics on different channels daily. He gets angry. What for? He cannot change a thing really, other than vote.
Yes, pigs sure are the better beings in this case!
I didn´t watch the Grammy´s, I just saw the naked girl and thought, really? On one hand... it´s way too long. "good grief" brings it to the point...
Wait, didn´t one Oscar-guy went blank, too?
And you are right. That old nasty kid could have that reason going like this against Canada...
LOL on cursing. Reminds me of my days at ALSTOM! Freeing times!
Have a great day.
Someone said something once about not knowing the Celsius, so I began adding it, but I can't figure it on my own either. I just look it up. Maybe I too will learn one day!
DeleteI don't do regular weather reports on my blog, but I do refer back to same dates/weeks and see trend. It's interesting to see if my perceptions of weather trends are the same as reality.
ReplyDeleteI too am a wait and see, but finding many of the new administrations actions scary and affecting people I know. However, if you listen to more than just the sound bites, there are valid reasons for most of them, but the sweeping changes all at once aren't an effective way to address the problems. The resulting chaos is proof of that.
Exactly. Chaos is no way to govern, but he seems to love surrounding himself with it, and putting the screws to people. That gives him great joy.
DeleteGaza? What the heck. Herevwe go, into another mess that will never be resolved, like Korea, Vietnam...
I join you in apologizing to Canada. A travesty. I don't do politics much on my blog either -- It's my hygge place, too. But if I was recommending sites or articles, I would recommend three substacks -- the remarkable Heather Cox Richardson, "The Contrarian" (new, with writers who have resigned from respected papers because of differing opinions on how reporting news has changed) and Timothy Snyder (the author of the exquisitely, tiny, and valuable "On Tyranny." I am so worried about those being forced out of jobs and for the invasion of our own privacy and treasury system by the Musk-ovites. And taking over Gaza? Are we aiming to start WWIII with the Middle East? Time to do my daily Congressional contacting.
ReplyDeleteYes, although in the case of my reps I would be wasting my breath. All solidly red and not likely to listen. We can but try.
DeleteI agree with you politically, but I got a kick out of the outlandish dresses. It's just another way women can be creative, tough cookie to the guys who just have Tuxes. The one grey dress with pantaloons sticking out each side was making it hard for her to even walk to the podium...now that was a good laugh! I fell asleep before it was over...the Grammys. It's a good thing to post your weather, as you use this kind of as a journal. My blog goes all over the place, but today I'm posting about what I did on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteThis Canadian appreciates your comment. And loved the dresses. What a comic relief. And they were, for me, comic book type costumes.
ReplyDeleteI haven't ever watched the Grammy's so I missed the odd dresses. I'll ask Sheila; she'll have watched them.
ReplyDeleteSorry your muffins lacked something but do try again and fiddle the recipe to your taste.