Category: Health and Wellness

This and that on a rainy Sunday

 

Not very creative with the blog post title, ay?   But it is raining on this Sunday afternoon and I can justify sitting here to blog for a bit.

How have you all been, what’s it like in your neck o’the woods regarding pandemic living?  Here in New England, many are abiding the mask wearing in public tight quarters spaces.  Our town Hall is still only open by appointment and working via e-mail, phone, etc. for the most part.  Businesses are open with the restrictions many of you are familiar with.   Strange times.  I don’t yet feel comfortable sitting indoors in a restaurant, but we have dined at a few with outside patios.

I feel sorry for the teachers who are dealing with a mess of kids wearing masks (talk about awkward and frustrating) … and the fear some of them are feeling being so exposed if they’ve been very vigilant in their own social distancing.  And I feel sorry for the youth who have been so restricted in their socialization and education experience.  Parents are trying to assuage their fears, balance work and home and childcare needs, a nightmare, really.   Healthcare workers are now seeing the second wave, according to my friends in that field.  Every sniffle, every achy muscle day (for me that’s always, damned fibromyalgia) every scratchy sore throat brings a little thread of dread – is it the virus?  The bad kind, the mild kind or the no symptom kind? .. should I quarantine?   Should my husband and I be sleeping in separate beds?  (hey, sometimes that’s actually appealing anyway) Jeez I wore my mask, washed my hands,…. the anxiety of it all rolls on and on….      I no longer wipe down every single surface of every item I bring home from the grocery store though, as I did initially. That got old and tedious and felt like overkill. Washing the produce and washing my hands after handling feels like it’s enough.

We’ve been getting stuff done around the farm, my daughter and her significant other love their home nextdoor and it’s a joy to see them mowing lawn, weeding garden,  seeing the back door light go on at night while they let the dogs go potty.  And having my daughter nearby to share the barn chores again is a huge blessing.  My son is building his home on a lot at the back of our farm.   I may have mentioned it’s what we do for a living, home building, so this is one area where we -get stuff done- in rapid succession and at a more reasonable price than the typical homeowner.

A glimpse of my son’s home to be –  the red “barn” is his garage… the interior of the home being done slowly as materials, labor and bartering come along, the upstairs will remain unfinished until they become a young family.  The goal is to have as minimal a mortgage as possible (young couple and all that goes with it).

The joy these two goat girls give us are immeasurable. They are so friendly, talking to us all the time, from a distance and right up close.  Truly they are like two toddlers looking for our companionship and attention whenever we are outside.

The upcoming election – oh, man.  ( here’s where you skip the next two paragraphs if you still remain a 45 supporter, I’m not looking to insult anyone) – It has taken a toll on me, watching what I believe is the slow unraveling of America as we (I? I shouldn’t speak for you)  believed it to be.   I’m sad for us all.  I’m not a huge fan of B*den but I also recognize he’s not the slow sleezy do-nothing some would have you believe.  His running mate choice was his best option in my opinion. I look forward to watching K*mala debate the deadwood P*nce.  I am encouraged by some of my republican friends who are now saying there is no way in hell they would vote for Tr*mp again. One dyed in the wool republican neighbor said 45 is a trainwreck he’s ashamed he voted for and he will vote B*den come November.   I’m hoping there are many many more out there like him.  And yet…. there’s the uncertainty of what  will happen should he lose.  I doubt he’ll accept the results, no matter what they are, unless he is the winner.  And there are so many nuts threatening civil war, it’s frightening.  We are at a crossroads, this country… and I hope and pray and beg and plead for our collective soul to rise and rid itself of all the corruption, hate and fueled divide – especially the politicians, including the current P*TUS, who feed it relentlessly.   We the people deserve better.

Yesterday it was reported the P*TUS lost his younger brother, of which he was close.  I would imagine that is a very tough loss for him, and even more so now.  While I despise what he’s doing to our Country, I find I have empathy regardless.  Although the reason for his brother’s passing has not been revealed, I suspect he may have contracted COVID-19.  When he was first reported as ill was precisely the same time the P*TUS started wearing a mask occasionally in public.  I don’t know if we’ll ever know the truth of it.  After having dismissed initial warnings about the virus and playing it down repeatedly for a length of time, well.. the irony and indeed the tragedy of it is what comes to mind.  Of course, I’m speculating only.

Stella by the sea remains a respite for all of us.  We each use it together and separately when free time comes up.  It does my heart good to see the kids enjoy the kayaks, the  grilling of burgers and hotdogs and roasting of marshmallows in the firepit with their friends  (small safe gatherings are possible outdoors). I am loving my new kayak – the one that is discontinued and  I bought for a bargain price.  She glides through the water easily and while a little more tippy than my old steady Ruby, she’s fairly stable regardless and is more agile, lighter to carry.   I have yet to come up with a name for her that feels right- but every vessel must have a proper name…… suggestions welcome.  She’s red orange and yellow.

A photo I took while kayaking  – some of the Thimble Islands out in the distance..

We finally laid my father to rest thanks to the kindness of dear friends who have a lovely old  1976  Egg Harbor boat.   It was a small gathering, just my sister and I, my husband, my niece, and the lovely couple who took us up the Connecticut River  to the mouth of the river into LI Sound –  just beyond the lighthouse at Saybrook Point.   Since it’s not technically legal to dump ashes there , that’s not technically what we were doing .   There was the traditional burial Psalm 23 reading, we tossed white roses out into the waves along with what wasn’t really my father’s ashes in a biodegradable urn,   and  read the following   below as well…     my tears were for several reasons, but the most important one was the overwhelming knowledge in my heart that it was exactly as my father would want it – exactly where he wanted to be in the end.  I felt a sincere closure for him and for me, and that is such a blessing.

Wishing us all good health and peace of mind during these trying times –

 

The Saving Grace

Do I even touch on the shit storm out there in the greater world?  I think not. So much to cover, so little desire to plunge into that muck today.   I’ve started painting again and while I’m no professional artist, not by a long shot, I like the title one of my mother’s friends gave my art – Outsider art…

(fresh off the easel – “Cousins” … my daughter age 8, son 3 and nephew 2… many moons ago on MV) 

Outsider Art  basically  means one who creates stuff without any formal training. That would be me.

Between creating and spending time with my animals here on the farm and down by the sea, I am finding some calm in the storm and I hope you have discovered  little pieces of yourself again by indulging in  those small but important things you enjoy but don’t normally give yourself enough time to do.

So… while the most intelligent life forms on earth continue to pollute it with their selfishness and greed and willful ignorance, the animals and nature and the creativity they inspire remind me there is still much beauty in this world and it’s forever worth fighting for ❤️✨

I’ll leave you with a few scenes from the spaces  and creatures I am so fortunate to tend and love…. and some simple words of wisdom…  Have a safe holiday weekend, all… I’m off to  fold some clothes and mow some lawn. Focusing on the simple things I have control over  has truly been a saving grace in these troubling times.

 

And you’ll know you’re on your path

when you really don’t care what anyone thinks of it –

 

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. ❤️

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…

A New Season

 

Who in their right mind would have ever guessed we’d be in the middle of a pandemic come Spring?  How are you all coping, I hope this post finds you well and sane, if nothing else.  We are all (crossed fingers) healthy here and practicing as much safe social distancing as is possible. My hands are sand paper from all the washing.  I have now begun wearing a face mask in the grocery store, as are most other people.  I also see others wearing them when walking outdoors – I think that’s a bit of an overkill in areas like ours, perhaps not in the big cities and in stores, etc.   When will it all  end?  Well, when will we feel comfortable sauntering around a store or sitting in a crowded restaurant when someone coughs?  *sigh.  When there’s a vaccine, I suppose? …. we can only wait and see.

We opened the cottage for the season last week – water turned back on, lawn is mowed, garden beds raked out, the beds newly made with fresh-washed linen, floors and furniture wiped down, outdoor furniture back in it’s place.  There is fresh dirt in all the pots and I’ll plant annuals once the threat of frost is gone – Mother’s Day is a good rule of thumb but this year I’m a little impatient.

I bought two new candy and dog bone glass jars for the counter – they look like Fire King jadeite type glass but I’m not sure they actually are.  The Pioneer Woman’s line in walmart.

We moved our Miss Leah  home  because I do believe the show season is official deceased.  I could be wrong about that but I don’t feel comfortable putting myself and my daughter out there while they find out.  She has adjusted very well to home life and we continue to give her exercise as she would normally get at the show barn.   My daughter and I have actually ridden together again for the first time in a long time!   In the photo below I’m riding her old boy, Max.  He has glaucoma in one eye now but we are managing it with meds.

The farm has been such a blessing as we wade through this time of quarantine, social distancing, etc.   The fruit trees in the orchard are blooming, the berry bushes we planted last year are greening up, and most of the christmas trees we planted for the third time the wrong way are actually alive.  They might just live to see Christmas in a tree stand some day.

My kitchen junk drawer got cleaned out and organized – holy crap, I found christmas ornament hooks I didn’t know I had, baby aspirin that expired five years ago, four pairs of dog nail clippers, at least five collars,  5,000 hair elastics, and I could build a bathroom with the tools in there, I’m almost not exaggerating.  Below is the “after”.

  I’ve been exercising more, which is a good thing, and I finished the painting of Opie, which I started last year after he passed on.   It was just too sad to sit there reminded of him, so I left it unfinished for a long time.   I’m no professional, my work is primitive for sure.. but I’m happy with the result and finishing it was therapeutic.  And maybe that was because I was watching episodes of Outlander ( watching Jamie Fraser if I’m being totally honest) as I went along.   The painting is of Opie standing under our ancient pear tree on a misty fall morning.

 

A few funnies for you below and an old recipe a friend shared –  wishing us all good health and peace of mind  as we carry on through and past these weird days –

 Till soon, friends…

 

Hush

The world is so quiet right now…

This will sound odd, but as a hearing impaired person this has never been more striking for me. What I still hear on a normal day are none of the beautiful nuances, cadence  and understandable language of a human voice. No musical magic that can carry you to a better frame of mind in minutes. No bird song.

What I still  hear on a normal day are all the loud irritating noises we humans produce – car engines, plane jets, train whistles, car horns, shouting , machines, door slams, the thump of a heavy object dropped, etc.

As I stood in my driveway this morning I suddenly noticed it- all of that irritating noise is gone. Walkers pass by and wave with a smile. A biker glides past. No planes overhead, no cars driving by.

Just Peace and quiet.

Scary times we are living in, so much uncertainty and fear. I’m no expert who should be handing out advice, but this is universal, good advice for anyone , isn’t it?

✨Find the silver lining wherever you are . ✨

Wishing us all good health, healing ..  peace of mind. ✨❤️   …. and… a  fragrant purple hyacinth on  each of our kitchen window sills next to a vase of nature’s treasures we’ve collected in a past day well spent.

 

Kidding

 

While we were on the beautiful island of St. John wondering if we should really get on a plane to come home landing  at JFK  of all places ( 😲 )  or just try to figure out how to hide away there until all the ‘rona crazy had dissipated…  the husband was fortifying the goat house and yard for me.   He gets a double gold star for that, I must say it right here, right now.   He brought home an old shed from a property we are renovating and repainted it, gave it a new roof, put a window in the back,  rubber matted the interior and hung a water bucket and hay rack.  It came out great!… and is ready for Star and Bella, the two baby does that will be coming to live on our farm as soon as Bella is old enough to leave her mama.  Star is the baby with the broken leg who had been rejected by her mother.  She has healed very well!   They are both a cross of nubian and alpine goat.

This is star…  currently living in our feed store owner’s garage where she’s been nursed back to health and has some heat and a few buddies…

And this is Bella – who is a few weeks younger and will be ready to come with Star in about two weeks..  The silver nubs you see on her head are where she was de-horned.  Neither doe will grow horns because at a very early age the vet sedated them and did the procedure – it’s safer for us and for them and for the other animals they might mingle with here on the farm.  The process is sort of like a burning.

Unrelated – how do you like those old sun-bleached highlights half grown out??… I swear they are not that pronounced in “real life”… or maybe they are?   It is what it is.

We brought our show girl home for the duration – no sense leaving her at a show barn paying big board when we can’t even visit or ride her.  She approves of the bigger stall and much bigger turnout, for sure.  Shows have been cancelled for the next few months and we still don’t know how all this crap will affect our business and if I’ll even have my editing job.  So, time to reel in the expenses.

A little humor shared below, because CHRIST, it beats obsessing over the news. I go back and forth between panicking and telling myself to just get a grip.  Wishing you all good health, may we all come out of it healthy on the otherside, living to tell.

 

I could go for a good strong Bloody Mary right about now.. how about you?

 

Take care, all – and wash your damn hands!

Karen

 

Lesson for the day….

LESSON FOR THE DAY- when your husband says he will come to the grocery store with you and you’re thinking  – well sure, I mean…. I’ve always wondered whether he’d be useful or dead wood in a zombie apocalypse- JUST SAY NO. . And especially- don’t let him grab his own cart. 150 hot dogs and buns, bacon, garbage bags, pudding, meat and bread to feed an army later- we’re covered for the next three Fourth of Julys. 🙄

We’re all staying healthy and relatively sane here, and we hope that continues – Wishing the same for you as well –

Karen 

Strange Times Indeed

 

So how are you all faring in these strange and scary times?  I go back and forth between OMGOMGOMG ventilators, deaths, hospitals without supplies, WTF! … and figuring out how to go to the grocery store without hyperventilating.    The husband and I have had our typical Spring allergy symptoms  and of course that leads to thoughts of… is this really allergies or the other dreaded “C” word?  Do I have a fever?  (no) Dry cough, trouble breathing? (no)   So I’ve stopped watching so much of the updates on the news and I’m certainly not watching the blithering idiot in Chief as he blunders and blusters his way through his press conferences.

I’ve been walking the dogs, exercising some, disinfecting the house,  fretting over whether I will have a job when this is all done.  As editor  of our small town publication, some ads have been pulling due to businesses already shuttering for good (that’s really sad) and events having been cancelled.  If this goes on for a while, and I suspect it might,  there will be no publication with not enough ads to sustain it.  There are so many people who are suffering economically because of the damned virus.  And there are so many people on the front lines taking care of us all – Doctors, nurses, grocery store clerks, truckers, postal workers, feed store owners,  liquor store owners and dog groomers (because in the state of CT, apparently they are absolutely essential).

In our construction business, we’ve closed down the office where tenants come to pay rent or rent facilities, apartments, storage units.  All work is being done online, e-mail, phone.  If this drags on, our business will be hurt as well, as tenants who have not been able to work or draw a paycheck will not be able to pay rent, etc.  I think this is going to have an effect on all people in ways we haven’t even thought of yet in the long run.

Strange times.

The good news?  People are being forced to get back in touch with and tend  their relationships, their home life, their cooking skills, fitness, reading, the great outdoors, crafts, art,  quality time with children, the list does go on, and it’s a good list, at least.

Thank GOD for Netflix, AmIRight?  I’m watching Outlander for the second time because I just can’t get enough of it.  Even being deaf, I’ve started walking around the house practicing a wee bit uv a Scottish Brogue, do ye ken,  because closed caption reflects the brogue and before I was deaf I had a keen ear for these things. It’s just fun. 😂

These two people have such crazy good chemistry I am very surprised they did not become a couple in real life, but alas, they did not.

I’ve been doing some cooking with simple ingredients I keep in the pantry… two recipes from the New York Times I’ll share with you here –  They are super easy, delicious and you might have the stuff you need without venturing out to get them.  They were both a hit with my family.

Pasta e Ceci – recipe HERE.   I didn’t have escarole or Kale on hand so I used spinach and it was fine.

No-Knead Bread – recipe HERE.   (this one is not my image)   Absolutely delish and SO easy to make. You just need a little patience as it does require rise time.

A simple tip – wash those plastic grocery reusable totes  in hot water in the washing machine and then toss in the dryer for a few minutes. They’re germ catchers, and this really works. 

Some humor in these trying times…

 

Welp.  That’s all I’ve got for today… wishing us all good health and good riddance to all the coronavirus madness in the near future, praying and begging  pretty please to all the powers of the universe.  And seriously, praying for all the people on the front lines who are taking care of business so that we all can still function through this test of all we hold dear.

karen