Trollope, Wheelbarrow and a Mask

Dug snow from the tarp covering the wood pile, tossed logs into the barrow, pushed, wobbled and staggered the loaded barrow to the wood rack near the front door, stacked the wood . Repeat three times. Go for a sit down and a mug of tea..reflect on the need to get somewhat fitter.

Trollope ...The Warden ....but choice of reader ?
Simon Vance?  obvious advantage being I own a copy with him reading...
Timothy West ....I'd have to purchase it ..but I'm rather spoiled as I'm lucky enough to all the rest of the series read by him....
Nigel Hawthorne.... He was in the BBC series...I love his voice....it's the whispersync price 7 dollars and change......
Definitely spoiled for choice and as I have the Vance ...definitely spoiled....

Mask...present circumstances being what they are ...I went grocery shopping wearing a home made mask and felt less silly than expected...and it was pink!

Now I have to sew tsome for our Nurse neighbors... at the moment the allocation is 1 paper mask per week ......   

The state calculates it has/will have a shortage of PPE and homemade masks and gowns (patterns available) will be appreciated.

It's very surreal ...as if an invisible tidal wave is approaching..silent and deadly ....and we don't know who will be knocked off their feet and who washed away....

Reading twitter I seem to have a 50% science focus and a 50% cute farm and domestic pet focus ..trying to balance being informed and staying sane .... wish me luck!

Now Trollope and a sewing machine await.





Mask tutorial....

CLICK HERE
 

Bach in the Rain - The full version - Nick Squires

Dipping another toe back in the water...

 

Starting to read some blogs ....and reading some lovely posts..I must stop lurking and make a comment or two.

The house if full here with both students at home and their Dad (a teacher) working from home..well trying to... it's a work in progress.

Our city is in 'Hunker Down' mode and most stores and facilities are closed. But on the bright side there are stores in the grocery shops (at present) and we can enjoy the parks and trails if we keep quite the physical gap ...and people seem to be adapting well to that and are often more inclined to call a friendly greeting in these strange times. The dog must wonder why the holidays have come early this year.

The news ...is the news.... and I need to ration the time I spend looking at it ...otherwise it is infuriating/depressing/worrying all those adjectives and many more.

I also find too much news makes you start to feel unwell and a 'good walk' has the opposite effect so logic decrees exercise should win the day.

The ducks are happy that it's not so darn cold at night at the moment.. below freezing but not way below and the good quackers are laying nicely. Which in these times I truly appreciate.

Samuel West (son of Prunella Scales and Timothy West) is reading poems and uploading them to sound cloud for all to enjoy (which is both lovely and kind)
 here's a link to one of his readings to start you off  click  HERE

This week I intend to sew face masks using one of these tutorials and I'd like to work a little on family history as a sanity saver (I just hope I don't send others round the twist)

so ending good thoughts and wishes I'm off to make a coffee and to gather up a tub of fire wood
you just take care xxxx

Mask tutorial links
 HERE 1
 HERE 2
 HERE 3
for reference

Striving for proportion and not panic.....well you never know?

Back to the familiar... it's an odd time at the moment and I think a mix of common sense and humour might be in order ..if only I could order them from Amazon.

They say what can't be cured must be endured but that's not exactly an optimistic outlook...so I have lately been watching amusing clips from youtube as I believe Joyce Grenfell's dad was right a sense of humour is really a sense of proportion.

So here I sit squashed up on one end of the sofa wedged in by two cats..sprawled out at the other end on his back, limbs akimbo is the Collie who is content in the sunshine now  pouring through the window.

The ground is covered with a thickish layer of sparkling brilliant white snow and it's a tad nippy, so going for a walk requires being quite well wrapped up with good boots and mitts but it's worth it because it's very beautiful.

Schools are closed here now until the end of the month ...the University is also closed for in person attendance and  is temporarily moving on line. So both the girls are at home.

In an enthusiastic moment I thought we could Spring clean!.....not to sure if that will happen ...but you never know ....

I've decided Twitter though informative is best highly rationed  ..ditto news. Sometimes I think just a nice radio news bulletin once a day would be more than enough.

I'm still having a little trouble maintaining focus on books ..but did enjoy (and complete!)  the latest Val McDermid (Carol & Tony) book...and am impatiently waiting for the Elly Griffiths to be released over here .. ( June 16th!) Elly's book belong in the category where I love the characters and enjoy their world but the crime aspect of the plot ..mehh not so much. It's the familiar characters interactions I enjoy.

My focus/interest of late has been better held by historical subjects ..WW2 and early English history. I may look out what I've read and jot down thought for future information.
Kindle temporary sales  you have a lot to answer for 

Well a rather meander-y post but a start ..now I'd best throw a log on the fire and go feed the ducks.
Wishing whoever reads this well.