Covid Journal, Day 114: Remembering To Be Grateful

72 again this morning, hot sunny day.

We were up and out early to get into the gardens. Larry tilled the corn and I cleaned up the kale, cutting old and damaged leaves for the chickens. Then I made breakfast while he ran the weedeater around the electric fences. With temperatures still getting into the 90's it's important to get outside work done as early as possible. We can get back out in the evenings, thank goodness. We're still watering as rain isn't in the forecast until at least Friday.

The little walled garden is doing pretty well, although my herbs are growing so slowly! I'm impatient for some dill and basil.

When we were growing crops for sale, weather ruled our lives. We had a spring as our water source then so rain was vitally important. So many summers we'd watch our tobacco and other crops suffer through long hot July days. There was nothing we could do except wait. I don't miss the stress of those days! Today it's just our vegetable and flower gardens, and we have a bountiful well for watering. I empathize with the farmers and growers, though, who are dealing with the heat this month. At least the first cutting of hay was good.

The rambling rose continues to bloom despite the hear.

Our state's virus numbers continue to rise at an alarming pace for such a small population. The governor's mandate to wear masks is being ignored by many people who see it as an infringement of their rights rather than as something to help others. It's a sad situation. The 20-29 year-olds are the group getting the virus more than even the elderly now. So it looks like we will continue to hunker down as we have been, and hope that common sense will someday return. Right now that looks doubtful.

But there are some small bright spots in our quiet days. My marigolds are thriving in their planter on the porch, and we had our first new potatoes today, so delicious. And I have my July teacup--just my Jadeite cup and saucer, but I do love it.

The tomatoes are setting on, and so are the cucumbers. We're getting some tiny squash, and today I put up beets--only 4 pints but we planted a short row. Flowers are blooming all around us, and there are birds everywhere. I look each day for these little things to remind me to be grateful for the good like I am able to have despite the troubles our world is facing.

Food diary: breakfast--eggs, grits, applesauce, toast. Snack--scones. Dinner: new potatoes in parsley butter, kale, grilled chicken breasts, sliced tomatoes.


Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

A Random Act of Kindness

So, there was this teapot.

My friend Danny, who sells all kinds of interesting things via Facebook, had a teapot I loved. I mostly buy from him for resale, but this particular teapot was going to find a home in my kitchen. As soon as I saw it on Danny's site, I commented that I wanted it. And that usually is enough for him to hold it for me, because the rule is that the first to comment gets the item. I was first, and I scored. I was happy!

And then inexplicably my comment was gone. When I looked again another lady who also buys a lot from Danny had asked for the teapot. What! I couldn't believe it. But then I remembered that it had happened before. The internet is a tricky and unreliable place at times, and my comments had disappeared before when I posted on something I wanted to buy.

Ah, me. I let Danny know what happened, complained to my hubby about it, and then forgot about it. Stuff happens and there's no use crying over spilled milk, right? But I sure liked that teapot.

Yesterday I got a message from the Riverbend Antique Mall that someone had left a package there for me. Who was it from, I asked? No idea, they said. It was left as a "random act of kindness."

Really! Now I was curious. I like to do those things myself from time to time, but when it's done to me, it's surprising in a good way. So today I headed to the mall to do a little restocking and to pick up my mystery gift.

Well, you know what it was. It was the teapot I had wanted, beautifully wrapped and bagged.

There are good people out there. Small things do make a difference. I learned something else too. I learned that I need to just let things go more easily, and not stress over small stuff like a teapot.

But tomorrow morning I will be making my breakfast tea in my new teapot, and every time I see it I will smile and remember the lady who gave me both a gift and a lesson.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.