Karen – Page 10 – This Old House 2

Goose Rock

Yesterday my daughter-in-law to be and I paddled out to Goose Rock from our little Stella-by-the-sea, where I suspected we might find a good amount of sea glass before the summer crowds rolled in. Goose Rock is a very very small island made up of – just rock – located at the mouth of our cove in Long Island Sound, part of the Atlantic. With the wind against us it took us about a half hour to paddle out, coming back around 20 minutes as the tide was coming in at the same time. Good timing! One must paddle out there at low tide and when the water is calm in order for the beach part of The Rock to be exposed.

We scored big on Goose Rock yesterday!

…. and rewarded ourselves and the husband with burgers on the grill and these. I’m not much of a drinker, and definitely not a beer drinker. But a Corona with a Lime slice hit the spot after a solid paddle workout on a calm sea.

I was going to write about all the unrest you definitely have been observing yourself, but the posts have been heavy lately and I think the world needs more “sea glass adventures” in general. Wishing you the same in whatever form that takes.

Thank you for stopping in, for leaving your thoughts, for being a decent human in this world. It all matters.

I Can’t Breathe….

“‘I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.’ George Floyd’s last words. But they didn’t die with him. They’re still being heard. They’re echoing across this nation,” ……
“They speak to a nation where too often just the color of your skin puts your life at risk. They speak to a nation where more than 100,000 people have lost their lives to a virus and 40 million Americans have filed for unemployment — with a disproportionate number of these deaths and job losses concentrated in the black and minority communities …..And they speak to a nation where every day millions of people — not at the moment of losing their life — but in the course of living their life — are saying to themselves, ‘I can’t breathe.'”

– Joe Biden

Our Country in Orange flames

Another black man dies at the hands of a racist, Riots in the streets across America, looting, cars on fire, National Guard called in. 103,000 dead in three months from a pandemic our President and his son initially called a democratic hoax. 40 million now unemployed. Yesterday he retweeted a message that included “ the only good democrat is a dead democrat”. By anyone’s account that alone should be considered an extremely poor choice for the leader of this Country. Last night instead of addressing the nation, he continued to spar on Twitter.

Sooo much winning. This is not a Great America. M A G A

Cops are not the problem

Cops are not the problem. Disturbed sick people who take the position of power because it gives them license to do heinous things that appeal to their mentality are the problem.

Priests are not the problem. Disturbed sick people who take the position of power because it gives them license to do heinous things that appeal to their mentality are the problem.

Trump is not the problem. People who applaud a man who is proven by his own deeds and words to be divisive, lies regularly, spreads false accusations and conspiracy theories, has cheated his entire life, a mocker of handicapped reporter, a self proclaimed pussy grabber who believes there are good people on both sides of a white supremacy event… because some of what he does appeals to their mentality are part of the problem.

For those who will say “Oh look, she’s politicizing a racist event” … you’re damned right I am, because it’s all interconnected. We are not totally powerless when it comes to horrible events such as the death of Mr. Floyd at the hands of a racist officer. There are steps we can take to fight the negative tide. And if each one of us did those simple things, we are each and then as a whole the collective answer to that horrible scream of violence and injustice everywhere.

Stop supporting or defending the undefendable. It comes in many forms.

My “thoughts and prayers” go out to the Floyd family, to all families who have suffered loss at the hands of racism, which is still rampant ! , to all the decent law enforcement folks, first responders and healthcare workers who are doing the good work every day, literally putting their lives on the line for all of us, every single day… but my “thoughts and prayers” aren’t anywhere near enough. It’s going to take more than a village to clean this world up…. it’s going to take every single one of us to realize we each at least have the power with our own actions, and at the very least to vote hatred out.

I hope that’s your choice come November. I don’t know of any peace that can be bestowed on Mr. Floyd’s family, there’s no taking back what’s been done… but I hope justice is served.

Love in the Time of COVID-19

In recent years the political and ideological divide we’ve all been a witness to here in our Country and around the world has been tremendously disconcerting. It bubbles over as our governments and our peoples struggle to sort out and best react to the tremendous challenges of fighting a worldwide pandemic. Both economic and health concerns put an additional strain on an already beleaguered civil unrest and it can be hard to find a balance, to look for the good when it feels like the whole world has been shaken like a snow globe and the dust has yet to settle. Some of us have lost our jobs, our source of income – or it’s been put on hold temporarily. Others are on the front lines either in hospitals or food service stores, pharmacies, etc trying to protect their own health as well as that of their patients/customers. Many are isolated from their loved ones, most are not living the life they had just three months ago. The worst off are dying without family nearby to comfort them and say farewell.

When something as awful as this pandemic grabs us by the proverbial throat, something else happens along with it. Remember the response we all had to the 9/11 terrorist attacks? As horrifying as that event was, and I hope we never witness something like it again, it also brought us together. There were flags everywhere! People waved, honked, and thanked first responders, healthcare workers, police and firemen – those whose careers and COURAGE! put them on the front lines every day. We were nicer to our neighbors, didn’t matter what their political affiliation or nationality, they were us and we were them. We were proud of our flag and it stood for what it should – our pride and love for our Country. We were Americans, all. This virus spans the globe, not just our Country. We’re really and truly all in this together. Perhaps some good will come of it, a coming together of sorts as we figure out how to wade back into some sort of normal. Those flags are now rainbows drawn on sidewalks, hearts in windows and on mailboxes, red ribbons tied around trees. They say – THANK YOU, WE’RE WITH YOU, WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. And indeed, we are, once again. Let the good things that come out of this pandemic ripple out and the togetherness remain.

In the meantime… I’ve picked up my paint brushes again to see what I can create…..finished this last night … Little Cinnamon Beach, Peter Bay, St. John…

Made this a few days ago and oh, man.. easy to make, delicious too – give it a go if you like to cook, and maybe even if you don’t! It’s sooo good…

And… I’ve been playing with goats! Our new little Star and Bella have been a wonderful distraction from the troubles of the world. Goats are so friendly when raised with kindness. They call out to us when they see us walking up to their little pasture and come running to rub up against us. If we’re sitting with them, they’ll lie next to us or try to climb up on our shoulders, no kidding! No pun in tended!

As the world begins to lift the stay at home orders and businesses begin to re-open, stay safe and be kind. Those with significant health issues will need to be as vigilant as ever. Anxiety will still be present, the concerns are real and the virus has not gone away. As my friend Sean says at the end of every post… WashYourDamnHands.

Till soon, friends…

COVID-19 Perspective

For those who need perspective to understand the severity of Covid-19, in 2018 in Connecticut approximately 700 people died a flu related death. This year so far coronavirus has taken more than 3,000. Can you imagine if we had not used the difficult precautions put in place? Precautions we do not take for the flu. The symptoms have been growing as they learn more, and right now there are children at Yale with strange symptoms of the virus. In otherwise healthy people, Organ failure, heart inflammation, blood clots throughout the body are just a few odd symptoms for some patients with the disease. This is not a joke, it’s not a hoax meant to take down the President ( yes I still have a FB friend who believes it ) it’s serious shit, so Thank You to all who are on the front lines, thank you to those doing kindnesses where you can, Keep wearing masks in public for now and keep washing your damn hands, as my friend Sean hashtags regularly. It’s important. ❤️

Love City

St. John USVI is also called Love City, a moniker that harks to the destination’s true promise of romance. It may be smaller than its siblings St. Thomas and St. Croix, but this petite isle is a big boy in the world of love.

I finished my little painting of Cruz Bay in Love City – and I decided to use it to raise funds to help Dana of The Carolina Corral on St. John. With the COVID-19 restrictions, tourists are nonexistent, and with them, their donations and fees for the trail rides Dana provides with her small herd of rescued horses. She also has donkeys, goats, dogs, cats, pigs and the occasional reptile – as she is one of only two rescues on the island. Water is scarse on the rocky island and she has to buy it along with the hay and grain needed to care for the animals on her farm. I don’t think I’ve ever met a more selfless, hard working individual. In the past two years she and her animals survived two hurricanes, and now they’re in the midst of this pandemic along with the rest of us, struggling to get by. Until tourists return, there are no trail riders, no fees to help pay for the supplies sorely needed and very few donations.

I’m having a printer friend make 5 x 7 notecards of my painting – blank inside with white envelopes. I will give/mail a set of five note cards/envelopes to anyone who makes a suggested donation of $15. directly to dana at Carolina corral – the donation button can be found at the bottom of her website – http://horsesstjohn.com/

If you make a donation, please send me a message at trailblazer65@Hotmail.com with your mailing address and I’ll send you the note cards. Dana will let me know she received your donation.

I hope you’re all staying sane and well – a little COVID-19 humor, if there is such a thing…

Thanks for stopping by –

Karen 🌻

Spring Cottage Gardens and Wild Woods Blooms

Having come off a mild Winter, I had assumed incorrectly we’d have a mild Spring. It’s been a cold wet one here in New England and today only underscores the statement with more rain in the forecast. In between the raindrops I’ve been visiting the cottage for things like tiny garden cleanup and beginning the restock of the refrigerator and cupboard. The 140 “island” cottages have many little gardens, not so much groomed as a bit random. Depending on water from little wells on a rocky outcropping of land jutting out into the salt water of Long Island Sound into the Atlantic, a peninsula not-really-an-island, water must be conserved so as not to use it up. Hence, big gardens are discouraged. Most of these cottages are seasonal and aren’t inhabited by their owners or renters until the summer season has arrived. For that reason I have been pleasantly surprised by all the spring blooming tulips, daffodils and forsythia planted across the community. On a grey day it’s a cheery sight…

In our Stella’s little waterfront garden, the Parsley from last summer is still growing in abundance. I have literally been pulling parsley from it all winter long , see it in the right hand bottom corner?- who woulda believed it.

The little cottages each have their own personality, no two are the same. I have had the opportunity to see the insides of at least 10 of them now and each has it’s own unique charm, I love seeing what people do with their spaces. Below are a few photos from a neighbor… Love the fireplace and the checked floor!

Yesterday I took the dogs for a walk down the trail behind the farm, and found wild spring blooms in abundance….

Swamp Marigold…

Trout Lily…

and wild violet? Pansy?…..

The goat girls, Bella and Star – have captured all of our hearts, even the Mr. They are so very friendly, call to us as we approach their pen and cry for us when we leave it. They lay in our laps, enjoy head scratches and are discovering the mini horses Coady and Lacey are their neighbor buddies.

We’ve loved having our show horse, Leah, home…. and she’s loved being a real horse again without all the constraints of show horse life. The show season has been postponed yet another month or two, which I think is very wise – and I am so glad we brought her home. Not just for the financial reasons, but for all of our well being.

I’ve started another painting, a tiny oil on canvas depiction of Cruz Bay in St. John – lots more to fill in…I’ll share it again when it’s done… I am finding much more joy in painting as an older person than I did when I was young. The reason is simple – I am … a simple artist. I will never have the patience to draw out and execute a spectacular painting, like those you see from the truly gifted, truly patient, truly educated greats – That used to disappoint me, but it no longer does. I paint for enjoyment, for stress relief. My simple method pleases me in the ways it needs to, and if someone else likes looking at it too, icing on the cake! but not the main goal. If you’re so inclined to create art in whatever form, don’t ever be discouraged by what you might believe is – not good enough – There’s no such thing with an expression of art. Just do it, and enjoy the process. There are some benefits to aging – and that’s been one of them for me.

During these strange social distancing times, have you picked up something you put down long ago? I’ve been painting, cleaning, cooking, baking, eating, cursing all the eating, wash, rinse, repeat. We are all well and I still have a job, thankfully – and have been working in my home office, thankful for that too. I hope you are all finding ways to enjoy this down time, also hoping you are staying well and have not come across too much financial hardship, sadly that’s the case for many workers and businesses.

Closing this post with a little COVID-19 humor, because we have to find ways to laugh, amIRight?

Till soon, friends…

Two Goats and a Wedding

Bella and Star have arrived! And oh, we are so in love. 💗

Star, now about three months old… see the little Star on her forehead…. She is the baby who was rejected by her mama at birth, kicked with a resulting broken leg. She lived in a cast for a while and was nursed along by the dairy goat farmer, who let us adopt her once she was healed. She does have a limp but she can run along with her playmate and I think once the atrophy from cast living has had time to build up strength again, she’ll get even better, although as long as she’s happy we’re fine with a gimpy goat. She is super friendly, having lived her first few months in the house of the farmer, hanging out on the couch watching TV on his lap at night.

This is Bella… the silver dots on her head are still visible, where she was humanely dehorned before coming here. She is 7 weeks old, her mama just weaned her naturally ( they start kicking them away when they try to nurse) and so she came with Star and they are already best buddies.

It’s been raw and rainy for their first few days here so they’ve been wearing dog sweaters /coats to keep the chill off, now that they aren’t with their herd of babies and moms.

About that Wedding! My Aunt P was widowed a few years ago after her dear husband of many years passed on, and she moved back to our state to be near family and friends. Slowly she began the hard work of building her new life, missing my Uncle terribly still…. and reconnecting with old friends, volunteering at a Therapeutic riding facility too. A few years into life as a widow, she met a lovely man, also a widower, who is a kind, gentle soul. They found they were kindred spirits, sharing a love of family, long walks, meals together, and they both longed for a shared life with someone they cared about. After a happy courtship, they decided to wed. Plans were made, and then COVID-19 appeared. Plans sadly cancelled, as their children and grands are spread around the country and not only was a large gathering unsafe, the travel even more so.

After a little time passed and some thought was put into the dilemna, a plan was hatched. A very small ceremony was held yesterday at Parmelee Farm here in Town. My mom is a Justice of the Peace and she officiated. I was the photographer, Aunt P’s son and daughter-in-law were the witnesses. It was a true Family Affair. We all live in separate houses ( the pictured couples live together) so we observed safe social distancing protocol.

💗 Love Wins 💗 🥂

How Y’all doing out there

Dear Georgia – Shout out to the brave ones as your Governor has opened your doors again, with the high praise of Tr*mp and P*nce. Let us know how y’all make out, we’ll be paying attention. Of course.. you won’t be seeing Tr*mp & P*nce out there among you, because they do still care about their own asses, just not yours so much as the all mighty dollar as it pertains to their re election prospects. Of course, with all the MAGA stupidity going on, those rallies to be set free again with our own POTUS calling for civil unrest – set yourself free!!…. and don’t leave out the can’t-make-me-wear-a-mask bullshit… sad but true – there might be fewer MAGA voters come November.

Mask wearing no longer feels weird in a grocery store, hell, everyone’s doing it. If I could only master the damned arrows in the aisles!… sheesh, such a simple thing and yet so many of us are getting it wrong. (hand raised high here). I don’t wear gloves except at the gas pump, where they are thrown out as soon as the handle is back in it’s holder. Hand washing is so frequent my hands are sandpaper, but MOM to the rescue – have you tried Cetaphil ultra healing with ceramides? It’s not cheap but it’s magic on rough try hands. Thanks, Mom – it works!

I’m eating more than I should because I’m cooking and baking more than usual because I’m home and there’s the damned refrigerator every time I turn around and you know I have to open it and take something out and shove it in my mouth. Right now I’ve got a blueberry buckle baking in the oven, and Maple BBQ Ribs and green beans are on tonight’s dinner menu. Tomorrow night I’ll make the New York Times recipe Caramelized Shallot Pasta. All are delish recipes, easy to put together if you have the ingredients.

Farm news! – the baby goats, Star and Bella will be moving in this weekend. YAY!!… It’s been 40 years since I’ve had a goat – that’s an actual fact.. and I am so excited to welcome them home. My first goat was one I had adopted at the Staten Island Zoo while I worked there at the pony ride track. The baby goat had eye ulcers and they were going to put her down. I begged them to let me take her, and got her to the vet immediately. We healed her ulcers and she lived on our little plot on Staten Island until she became much bigger and a neighbor’s daughter who had a farm took her to live a bigger farm life. Her name was Casey – She was a black goat with a white star on her forehead just like our Star. We’ve got the goat house ready and their goat yard properly fenced in for their safety, now to create a little bit of a playscape for them. Stay tuned!

Meanwhile, Stella is open and ready for the season… we just need some warm weather…. Some scenes from “down island” after yesterday’s rainstorm…

I hope you’re well and staying sane. We’re all good here, working from home and out on job sites with caution of course. Our business has definitely been affected, as several tenants have notified us they will be abandoning their lease (hair dresses among them). Time will tell how it all pans out.

Closing out this post with a little quarantine humor…