#Flower Shop in Kingston NY | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

slapmeagain-blog · 5 years ago

Text

COVID-19 LIFE

18 May 2020

How can it be 12 days since I last posted? It must be the distraction of improving weather, the amount of time I am spending on the garden, and getting ready to enjoy the outdoor season: bringing all the outdoor furniture up from the basement, cleaning the porch, patio and deck, putting covers back on all the cushions, moving all the plants that have been hibernating in the sun room out of doors; ferns for the urns on the front steps, and hanging from hooks above the balustrades on the porch, potted palms next to the wooden furniture facing Pearl street. There are the big self-watering planters filled with semi-tropicals on the deck off the sun room and the giant urns on the blue-stone patio. New plantings in the bare spots in the flowers beds, potting a new lime tree, an on-going losing battle with crabgrass and other unworthy competitors to my lawn. I could have a booth selling dandelion leaves for salad at the Wall Street farmer’s market on Saturday morning if I had the time. Re-seeding bare patches under the copper beech tree and the corner near the vegetable patch, seeding herbs and greens in tiny compostable pots that have to be misted twice a day. Cutting away dead leaves and growth from everything and moving the potted plants from beneath the living room windows to their appointed positions out of doors. Ahh....

The weather had been so cool, damp and dreary, that I had to take matters into my own hands and say enough is enough, that it was about time we moved from bare hints of spring to full on spring mode on May 14th, mainly to keep Marco from packing his bags and moving back to Tuscany, where temperatures are already well into the high seventies and eighties. Temperatures here rose as ordered. We hit 80 a couple of days ago which has delayed Marco’s imminent migration. I even enjoyed a pitcher of iced tea!

Meanwhile, in the wider world, 90,000 Americans are dead, and there have been 1,400,000 confirmed cases of the virus. 36,000,000 Americans have filed unemployment claims (Marco and I are not eligible) and armed civilian militia have overrun the Michigan state legislature and shut down Oregon’s demanding that the governments re-open the economies. Who are these people? They are clearly a small but vocal minority of the disparate groups of supremacists, right wing Christians, and hard line second amendment defenders who are being encouraged by the man in the white house (note to my great-grandchildren: many people in these times refuse to even speak the name of the current resident of the White House. Something we borrowed as a form of protest from the Harry Potter novel series where people were afraid to even mention the name of the antagonist -- Voldemort.) We’re not ‘afraid’ to mention his name, we just feel that he shouldn’t be given any form of legitimacy, not as a man, and certainly not at as a president.

Closer to home, here in Kingston, NY, a barber in a hipster-retro shop on John Street, has been cutting hair on the sly, in defiance of the shutdown, and has been diagnosed with the virus. Officials are searching for anyone who might have had their haircut by him (eye roll). On the brighter side, Liberato (Marco’s niece's fiance was finally able to legally open his brand spanking new barber shop in San Querico (Tuscany) this week and is booked solid for two weeks -- 97 appointments. It’s curious that the Kingston barber made international headlines. We heard about it from as far afield as Siena (IT) and Geneva (CH, not NY!) Most people are taking the shutdown seriously, but many are not, and it’s a very divisive topic. One security guard was shot, in Michigan, for telling a customer to put on a mask or leave the store. Another liquor store owner in Flint (Michigan clearly has anger management issues) was shot in the ankle for the same reason. Many people feel that the lock down is a useless exercise, that we should just open up and get it over with. It’s not killing as many as we thought it might, and cases have started to fall off in the worst hit places. But the whole point was to ‘flatten the curve’ to prevent the health care system from getting overwhelmed and to protect the vulnerable. That part has worked. So where do you begin, and how much is enough, to get the economy started again without creating new spikes and hot-spots of the disease and risk overwhelming the hospitals? The scientists argue that it can’t be done safely until we have tested most of the population to get a handle on how many people have already had it. Supposedly, 60% is a magic number for ‘herd immunity,’ above which the virus will slowly die out because it can’t sustain itself in a smaller pool, but that assumes that once you’ve had it, you are immune. The jury is still out on that. So much information, so little reliability. Example: Marco read in the Italian press today that the US had come up with a vaccine and was testing it. Here, however, the medical professionals are saying we are at least a year, maybe two, away from a vaccine. It’s no wonder people are acting crazy. Anyone can pretty much find someone out there who is saying exactly the thing that appeals to their fears and some of us act on those fears, with the encouragement of the 12-year old in chief, who says he is now taking hydroychloroquine, the efficacy of which is questionable and is said to have potentially harmful side effects. A couple of months ago, a couple in Arizona took it after he touted it. The husband died and the wife was hospitalized in serious condition. Well, let’s hope he manages to kill or incapacitate himself soon.

That’s plenty on that topic. I don’t know if it is because we are safely ensconced in Kingston in a big house surrounded by lawns and stone walls and flowers that I don’t feel particularly under threat by the virus. But at the same time, I don’t feel the loss of human contact (other than with Cole, Ashe and Carter and the hugs). My time is my own, and I’m enjoying finding ways to fill it -- cooking, reading, planning for reopening my hospitality locations, gardening, studying, watching movies.... My biggest fears, really, are economic. When this is over, what will my investments be worth, what will the townhouse in Brooklyn be worth, how will I support myself, help Marco, and leave something to my son and grand kids when I go? Up until now those were not serious issues for me.

I do miss eating out in places where I know people or places where the food is particularly transcendent, but cooking at home and really investing in keeping food interesting, has been a pleasant challenge. And as I settle in to lock down -- it’s been two months now -- I find I am seeking less amusement in martinis, mushrooms, and space cookies, and more in reading, writing, studying and cooking and actually having a schedule for those activities. I also love the efficiency of online visual visits, both personal and for study and business. I’m staying in closer contact with so many of my friends than I did before lockdown. We have a call tonight at 7 p.m. with Joe and Vicki in LA which I am looking forward to, and we are doing a weekly family call on Sundays with the kids, Roy and CT in Hawaii, Maud in Brooklyn, Hedy and Firth and M and me here in Kingston.

Hawaii, by the way, is pretty safe. And here, in Ulster County, we’ve had fewer than 40 deaths and 1500 cases. And considering how many people like me have fled from the city to Kingston, I’m surprised it’s not higher. East Hampton, for example, was a hot spot because of all the rich NYC types that have homes there and left the city. Sorry, sorry. I promised to stop. Times article says that wealthier neighborhoods in NYC have lost 40% of their population! I’m so glad the kids are at our place to keep an eye on things. And Marco’s finding a rhythm, too. Check it out.

I finally plodded though to the end of Thomas Campanella’s book, “Brooklyn: The Once and Future City”. It was very, very informative, even if many parts of it would be far more interesting to civic planners and architects than to casual readers, but it really did put a lot in perspective on Brooklyn’s economic and social trajectory through nearly 300 years with some interesting segues into geological formations that impact the place still today. Sadly, as interesting and appealing a place as Brooklyn is, very little scholarly work has been done on it’s history. Until very recently, the focus has always been on Manhattan. It did correct a number of my own misconceptions. Importantly, despite the fact that Robert Moses was not thrilled at the design for the proposed Dodger Stadium at the intersection of Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues, it doesn’t appear that he, on his own, could have stopped it. Research suggests that it was the disappearing fan base (fleeing the crime-ridden city in the 50s and 60s) that made the move to LA more an economic decision than has otherwise been speculated. And I’m no fan of Robert Moses. The study group, in the end, actually wanted to put the stadium complex in Park Slope, bordered by Sterling, Bergen, Vanderbilt and Boerum Place. What a disaster that would have been on so many levels!! Not the least of which would have been the United Jet that crashed in that spot in 1960. And the Weisberg’s wouldn’t have been my neighbors for 34 years because their house would have been razed.

Other non-essential slightly amusing details. Deer ‘resistant’ plants are not deer ‘proof’. And our herd doesn’t seem to be made up of fussy eaters. So, we are frustrated by the number of our plants that are being ravaged. Apparently, based on an internet search, Marco has discovered that piss and cayenne pepper are good home garden deer deterrents! Well... I am putting it to the test with a mixture of BOTH. I’ll keep you posted on results. (I won’t go into detail on how the mixture is obtained/prepared, interesting as it may be.) Hungry? Peanut butter, honey and banana -- not since I was 10 years old. Think I’ll write a kids’ Covid cookbook!

#lockdown covid19 kingstonny crazypeople covidgardening covidcooking #covid-19 life

1 note · View note

unabulwer · 3 years ago

Text

No one had given him freedom of the castle, but no one had denied it to him either.

In December of that 17 win, 2014 15 season, nike air max thea atomic pink The Post reported Anthony told a confidant he would consider waiving his no trade clause if he thought he could be dealt to a title contender. He dispatched a portion to Leathers out at Hardin’s Tower, along with three big platters of roast vegetables for Wun Wun, then ate a healthy slice himself. No one had given him freedom of the castle, but no one had denied it to him either. Severe Weather Guide Severe Weather Current Weather Lake Michigan Climate Lifestyle Airport Weather Health Detail Weather Alerts Cams Location Search Weather From Your Deck Local 13 On Your Side My West Michigan Morning News Our Michigan Life Made in Michigan Grand Rapids Metro More. Wylla spoke from the heart, as did Lady Leona. Duck and Yandry pushed against the poles. The gate turned out to be closed but not barred; it gave way at the second blow, and Ser Franklyn’s men were halfway up the throat before a warhorn sounded the alarum from the castle nike air vortex desert sand proper.. No trumpets announced the foe: vassals, servants, friends, brothers, sons, even wives, any of them might have knives concealed beneath their cloaks and murder hidden in their hearts. While the boy was gone, Melisandre washed herself and changed her robes. From below a spear came flying, followed by a flight of crossbow bolts. They had dressed her in white lambswool trimmed with lace. He also missed a victory over Eastern Kentucky and a season ending loss to Stanford in the NCAA tournament, after which he said that he would have been able to play had Kansas advanced to the second weekend.. Store. Four hundred sixty seven pairs of shoes placed on Wausau's 400 Block on Tuesday represent the average number of deaths in Wisconsin annually from gun violence. Badr Jafar, she was simply showing an intense desire to get organized. Pale mist filled the air. “Cracked black pepper from catalog cercei aur turcia Volantis, nothing finer. "We can fix the road, we can fix the sidewalks, we can fix the utilities. The road ahead was full of perils, he knew, but what of it? All men must die. It's not just water and clothing. Last year the Corvette only sold 12k ish cars, but the point of sports cars like the Viper, Corvette, even top end Mustangs are not always to make a profit on those cars but leverage them as a way to build buzz for the brand and help drive the sales of the more cars. Ingram went as far as creating a fake persona by email claiming to be a BP claims processor to convince the helicopter company that Ingram had a legitimate agreement with BP.. That bloody widow knew the ship would never reach her destination, she warned us of that, said Benerro saw it in his fires, only I took that to mean … well, what does it matter?” His mouth twisted. Back at the rear of the hall, he spied the Dornish princeling and his two companions. “The queen has told me much and more of your beauty.”. HERE IS A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENING. "I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Sold me to Madame C., who keeps a large flower-garden. “I mean to open three more castles,” Jon said. His jaws closed on matted fur slick with hoarfrost, on a limb thin as a dry stick, but the one-eyed wolf clawed at his belly and tore himself free, rolled, lunged for him. Sharp is expected to come online in the near future as another source. “It is the cook’s little jape, Ser bokacsizma bakancs Balon,” said Arianne. Not exactly realistic, right? Fortunately, you don't have to go to such extremes to feel better.The first step: Make an appointment with your doctor. His father had been an armorer at Bitterbridge, he said, so biciclete rusesti vechi he had been born with the sound of steel ringing in his ears and had taken casquette ny kaki mère to swordplay at an early age. Tamasaburo is a young onnagata whose elegance and delicacy call to mind the working of ivory. She made friends with Nellie at once and was a great help to me all through her illness. I threw after him the rolling-pin, which I snatched from the kitchen table. Our northern neighbors know a little something about battling the elements, which is probably why Canada based Sugoi has a solid grasp on cold weather glove construction. She always added that Filip Filippovitch had told her to come. The order will take several years to deliver. It seemed a thousand years ago.. Well, let it be writers then, but I tell you what I wanted to say: people are not made kammerherrs, of course, because they write novels; it’s no use to dream of that; but anyway you can make your mark; become, an attache of some sort. The brusque dismissal did not sit well with Justin Massey, but he had no choice but to smile and withdraw. Regarding Syria, what more would they do, tell us, маратонки puma mercedes amg other than putting soldiers in harms way, be honest about the fact while in office a Mitt/Paul white house would move toward removing abortion rights for women! So lets talk about a different type of disrespect. Air Force extended the lead to 20 points, 45 25, early in the second half with a 12 6 spurt and was never seriously threatened after that. “Yes, yes, adidas mariposas Alyosha,” Natasha chimed in, “ he’s on our side, he’s a brother to us, he has forgiven us already, and without him we shall not be happy. The constable confessed that the day after Whiteway had been transported to the Kingston Police station as a suspect in the rape of the 15 year old girl, he had zattini promoção de botas found a hatchet in his patrol car. The first model with built hovercraft appeared in stores in 1979 and known as the Tailwind. Dany looked for Ezzara and did not see her. The others bathed in the river, but thus far he had not joined them. There is mustang női cipő árgép a frenzy of messaging happening on social media over these new dolls. A much anticipated cup tie between arguably the best two footballing teams in the league was ruined as a spectacle on an evening and on a surface which were both unfit for football. It made him look like a tree stump in yellow boots. My old one was very damp, and I had begun to have an ominous cough.. Was it true, as I always claimed, that I could walk out of this house with my little blue suitcase and be more than fine? Reality suddenly made me think hard about what would stay and what could go.. He may go three or four games without a contribution. They're ruining the whole league. After he had helped them up onto the cushioned bench between the cart’s two huge wooden wheels, he clambered onto the elephant’s back. “Refuse, and the boy will burn. She would have no need of them today, but Melisandre made it a point to keep a pair of guards about her everywhere she went. The Euro can see that far out yet. Up and down the length of the hall, Brazen Beasts lowered their spears. Why do we have to be so weird and shaming about clothing? Why do we pretend that size 4 is the norm, when it not? At this point, though, change is still coming one step at a time McCarthy own shop on HSN currently features a separate designation for plus sizes.

0 notes