Covid Journal, Day 294: Onward We Go

30 and overcast. Another gray, damp day. No rain, just a dampness in the air to chill the bones.

Well, we all made it through the night. The election was certified, conspiracy theories abound, Trump supporters blame antifa, socialists, you name it--anyone but other Trump supporters. Another call for impeachment, people resigning in disgust, police calling for help in identifying the protesters, and the beat goes on. My hope is we make it to the 20th with no more bloodshed, no more turmoil. I am not sanguine in that hope, though.

All day I listened to the news, read the news, talked about the news with Larry, and I think we are both as informed about this mess as it's possible to be. And now, I will turn it all off except our usual morning listen and the daily paper, and go about my life. 

What else did I do today? A lot of eBay, a little cleaning, made soup, packed for our trip to our Marietta booth sometime soon. The soup, by the way, was delicious. I started with the leftover turnip greens and their pot liquor, added some water, chicken broth, cubed leftover ham, carrots, onions, celery, garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, Worchestshire sauce and a little hot sauce, and let it simmer for a while before adding barley. My, my, my, it was delicious.

Here's this month's teacup and teapot--I did remember to take photos of them today. 

I kind of wanted a winter-themed cup, maybe snow or maybe even on with oak leaves to symbolize the passing of the crown from the Holly King to the Oak King. But I have neither, and this one is so pretty, and a nice size.

I do love this little teapot. It holds exactly 3 cups. It was made in Japan but that's all I know about it. I've had it a long time--it was packed away with things to sell, and when I got it out I decided it was a keeper.

And that is all I have to say today, my friends. I think my brain is tired from all the stress over the news. I am ready to settle in with my book, the fire, and some tea for the rest of the evening. Sounds like a good plan to me.

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

Covid Journal, Day 148: Painting, the Post Office and August teacup

73 at 8am, extremely humid. Another hot day.

After being away from home three days in a row, today I find myself tired, my stomach upset and my head feeling stuffy and achy. I'm not used to being away, that's the truth, after the past months of being home almost every single day of the week. My poor tummy is rebelling against the unfamiliar food--sandwiches picked up at a drive-thru, too much coffee--and my head is reacting to the hot stuffy humid air. And tired--well, don't you feel that way after being out for a day or two? Maybe I'm just showing my age but it wears me out.

So I'm low-key today, pushing myself to do the usual housework and get back to painting that china cabinet. I've finished coat 3 of new paint this afternoon. I've worked a bit on ebay too, packing things for shipping. I was surprised and concerned at this message on the ebay shipping page: "USPS is experiencing significant delays across their delivery network. Please consider using other carrier options that may provide a better buyer experience."

Hunh? What other options do I have? None, I can tell you that with confidence. FedEX and UPS charge to pick up packages and their shipping rates are outrageous for the kinds of things I ship. Big volume shippers probably get great rates, but not small-time sellers like me. To use either of these services means a trip into town, or pay an exorbitant price for pickup. I am deeply concerned about what's going on with the USPS. That service is a lifeline for many rural people, especially the elderly. To see what's happening to it right now is frightening and sad.

I will be closely watching the news about the post office changes, and hoping it can hold on and remain that backbone of communication it has always been. I understand when change is necessary, but I think we'd be cutting off our noses to spite our faces if the service were to be ended.

At least I can get some peace of mind with a cup of tea. And with a pretty cup to make it taste better--well, that's what my mother always said. This month's cup is marked "Z.B. Co. Bavaria." It's simple, but a nice shape and holds more than some. I bought a set of 4 for 2 dollars, but one cracked on the way home, and I sold the other two, just keeping this one for my own use. The basket of flowers seems appropriate for this late summer month. The pretty little platter behind it was a 25-cent find, and is our morning toast plate now. We both like it, which is funny because I didn't think my husband noticed what dishes we use. Apparently he does. Pretty sweet.

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