In the Midst of Chaos in Everyday Ramblings

  • Oct. 23, 2020, 2:47 a.m.
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  • Public

Yes, for the first time ever here on Prosebox I used a filter on this photo. It was just a little too dark to represent the reality Mrs. Sherlock and I saw on our walk Saturday. I have never seen this variety of sunflower before. We also saw a couple of thriving dwarf pomegranate shrubs full of shiny tiny fruit. We saw them last year too, but I don’t think we identified them. Again, an advantage of the well-trod path.

We were both on the tired side, so we did what we call “The Red Oak” walk where we go pay homage to the gigantic red oak and its world over the other side of the river. With Covid, there were a lot more folks out and about than we usually see over there. Taking the opportunity to be out before the rains and the chill arrive.

I received a text on Tuesday that my ballot had been accepted and will be counted. Mrs. Sherlock voted Monday morning and when she brought me back from the vet with supplies we ran into Charity and my young upstairs neighbor Sapphire. They were finishing up some ice cream they had purchased to celebrate dropping their ballots off.

We had a mini masked “I voted” celebration out front.

With the connection I am making with the business consultancy guys I am developing a plan to create a simple website for my yoga business and a way to create and post classes that folks can view without going to YouTube or Facebook or Instagram. It means I have things to do in the next few Fall to Winter months of pretty much total human contact isolation while we get through this thing.

I am, however, increasing my contact with folks on Zoom. We participated in a useful meeting with our League of Women Voter study unit on local ballot measures and I learned a bunch of interesting background on some of them.

Even with the steroids, Diego is having a bit of a rough patch again. It is taking up a fair amount of my attention. He is being good though and there is much snuggling going on around here.

It is an excellent thing that my heating unit was fixed last week as the temperatures are dropping and we should be below freezing for the first time this season over the coming weekend.

Back when the former Saint Joe and I were still speaking we exchanged gifts and he gave me a cool little Bluetooth speaker. I was too busy and overwhelmed to deal with it then and it stayed in the packaging for a long time. Then, when things went so wrong at work, I almost tossed it. Today I hooked it up to my MacBook Air and iPad and listened to classical music.

Oh, Mendelssohn where have you been?

Where have I been?

Too distracted to settle down and enjoy the fruits of so many talented and creative folks. Why not do that now as we hunker down here in the Northern Hemisphere for the long haul during the dark damp months.

I have this spot on my bed next to the workstation in my room where I have basically been spending the majority of time lately. It is where I Zoom from when I am not teaching. (I teach in the living room with extra light.) Because there is way less foot traffic than their used to be, I can keep the blinds open during the day and there is this Oregon maple that is now tall enough to tower over the house up on the corner.

It is turning the most spectacular color, orange, red and yellow and is a joy to see when the low slanted light hits it.

There is delight and pleasure in the midst of chaos. We may need to work a little harder to find it, but it is there.


Last updated October 23, 2020


janeanger October 23, 2020

Thanks for reminding me to put music on.

Kristi1971 October 23, 2020

That is a beautiful sunflower!

Deleted user October 23, 2020

Awww, poor Diego. It's so hard to see a pet struggle. He's lucky to have you.

Zipster October 23, 2020

That is a gorgeous sunflower, I've not seen any of its like before. Sorry Diego is having a rough patch but I am sure the snuggling is a great comfort. That's what we are doing here. I have seen some videos of what would happen should we exit the planet, how nature would reassert herself and in times like these, I think that might be a better idea.

Marg October 24, 2020

And I think we appreciate these simple joys much more in this distressing time too. Exciting news about the website - that’ll keep you busy! Sorry to hear Diego is still having a rough time of it - poor wee thing - he’s been through the mill.

Marg October 24, 2020

Oh meant to ask what was the speaker you got - the model I mean? I’ve been looking for one for my iPad.

noko Marg ⋅ October 24, 2020

It doesn't have a model # on it and I don't think I kept the packaging. It is dark gray with a gray protective stipe on the bottom It is square with rounded edges about the size of my index finger and about one joint size tall. Very easy to connect and use. I think it is a Bose SoundLink® Micro Bluetooth® Speaker. :)

Marg noko ⋅ October 25, 2020

That’s great - thank you!

Jinn October 26, 2020

I think that variety of Sunflower is called a “ Teddy Bear”. They are striking.
Sorry to read Diego is still not feeling well.:-( . Poor kitty !
You are right ; there are moments of loveliness Amidst this chaos .

noko Jinn ⋅ October 27, 2020

Thanks so much for identifying the sunflower! I had no idea.

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