From last night, Heather Cox Richardson:

Those of you who follow her have seen this:  those of you who haven't, will appreciate it:

Heather Cox Richardson:

This pandemic, and the accompanying economic downturn, are a turning point. Just as Americans have done in other crises in our history, we are rediscovering that our greatest strength is not in how rich and powerful we can make a few, but rather in all of us, working together.

I point this out, because I noticed this a few days ago,  a LOT of voluntary closing of places that could cause problems later on, if not now.  A realization that if we wait for Big Government to do anything, it could be a very long wait indeed.  It occurred to me then that we were doing exactly what should be done, without asking for help that might not come for months.  We may make it, after all. 

Woodcock, starlings, and snow. All the signs of spring.

Opened the door last night after sunset, and I heard the woodcock performing his terrifying mating ritual. First time in several years that I've heard it, that determined nasal "peent peent peent" and then the wings whistling as he goes into a divebomb straight toward the ground, pulling up at the last moment.  All in the hopes of impressing the girls.  (sound familiar?)

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Woodcock/id

sometimes in summer if I'm walking in the fields one will whir up almost under my feet,  scaring the daylights out of me, and if he had been still, I'd never have known he was there. 

This afternoon I went out to let the cat out, and heard the starlings in the woods behind the house.  In all the time we've been there we've seen migrations away, but never back, so this was a treat. 

Annnd in a day or two, we're supposed to get more snow. Of course we are.

This: for what it's worth...

I had a nasty feeling about this yesterday, and it looks like Im not the only one:  It's a mouth swab with a q-tip.  Nothing more invasive, and listening to this it sounds like they extracted bodily fluids or drew blood.   Notice the way he waves it away.
Which means either a) he never had it, b)he had it and tested positive, or c) the results aren't back yet. my money is on (b.  He's been way too physical with entirely too many people this past week.  (shudder)

Asked what it was like to take the test, Trump says, "Not, not uh - something I want to do everyday...you know, it's a little bit of a -- it's a little bit of -- good doctors in the White House, but it's a test. It's a test. It's a medical test. Nothing pleasant about it."

Live long enough, you learn how to do stuff

This is nothing new, I know, but it's the first time
I've ever brined chicken and baked it.  We had just
about given up on chicken, since his teeth don't work
so good no more,  but he brought home three
wonderful looking chicken breasts (the man is becoming
a shopper. Scary, lol.)  and I thought, the least I can do
is try. 
This time I brined them, and my god were they good.

why doesn't someone TELL me these things...!

He's using cents off coupons, he's reading labels, at least
if something happens to me he can buy stuff if not cook it.
I may introduce him to the magic of hard boiled eggs.

Updates

The magical mystical loom is still there, and I am learning, the hard way, what works and what doesn't.  It's been warped, and been tied up and retied at least a skillion times, one of the harnesses' leather snapped, and now I know how to fix those,  then I had to understand about 'over' and 'under' and in weaving the only 'under' is in 'understand'.  Everything else is threaded, warped, and woven "over".

We learn, but it's painful.

Spring isn't here  yet, but it thinks it is.  I went out on the porch earlier and inhaled several times, listened to the beef animals at the next farm mooing and moaning, and all the local dogs celebrating whatever it is dogs celebrate.  This kind of weather makes me want to rush out with a spading fork and bulbs and dig holes, plant the bulbs, and start a garden again.  That's assuming I can hack through the permafrost first.

No.

The minute I show up with a spading fork the heavens will open up and bury us all in a blizzard. 

Opened the attic door this morning to give the cats a new play place for a few days, and they've been running themselves ragged, down the front stairs, up the back stairs, a quick turn and up the attic stairs, and the loose floor boards up there make it sound like hooved animals are up there tap dancing. Neither of them have been able to figure out the door flap I put in the wall for cats, and they sit there, pawing at it, and whining.  When you open it for them they back away, horrified.

Got a nice call from the people who handled our property easement,  wanting to know if we would still be available for the 20th anniversary dinner.  They even said they would waive the $100 dollar fee for the dinner because we were the first people they conserved.  I swallowed and said, no,  as much as we appreciate the offer, we just don't want to deal with crowds;  the virus, you know.  I suspect they are finding many older people are backing out, too.  Sadly.

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edit:  the easement people (MMRG) has canceled the anniversary dinner. Thank heaven.   It may have been lack of people willing to risk life and limb, or their own fears about a group like that, or a combination of both.  Maybe next year, a 21st anniversary instead.  Sometimes wisdom rears its ugly head.  =)

Turning the corner toward spring

Spring ahead, tonight.  Yay us.  We made it through whatever it was we had all winter...

I now have a living breathing excuse to not go to the family Easter 'do",  the CDC has issued a warning (which is tantamount to a proclamation) that the elderly (which they consider to be 60 and over) need to take special care, since we are fragile and frail and, er, elderly.  We should stay home if possible, avoid gatherings,  crowds, and stores.

My husband, who just turned 76, is a bit annoyed by that designation.  I will be 75 in about 6 months, and Im planning to be a bit annoyed too.  What about those people who work??  They can't pass on maternity leave, maybe their companys will give them Elder Leave...?

spring in 13 words

Maple buds

March

a woodpecker drums

deep in the woods

and the sap

begins to rise

http://newthursday13.blogspot.com/