Where Has July Gone?

 7/11/22: Today is the first time I’ve tested for Covid. After coming in from our walk and as I was having breakfast, I realize I had a headache and that the area around my eyes/sinuses and even down my neck were tight and touchy. I have no idea whether this is a symptom of Covid but I just felt crummy. So, having the kits, I decided to test myself. Results are that I just feel crummy – no Covid, which is good.

Just a hawk on my roof!

It looks like we’re in for a week of overcast, rainy weather, which has reduced the temperature again. When awakened this morning it was only because my watch alarmed. Usually, by 6 AM it is so light that it’s difficult to stay in bed. This morning was dark and we got to stay in a bit longer, which was nice but am not sure I’ll like a week of the dark days. Due to the abundant rain, everything remains green and lush.

7/27/22: Well, I didn’t have Covid but my sinus issues developed into a couple of weeks of misery! It is only the last three days that I am without the sinus pressure and have hopes of getting back to normal (though still a lot of drainage that makes me feel yucky). It was only on the right side and I didn’t feel “sick” but just really yucky and uncomfortable. I was not able to blow any of the congestion out my nose so it all drained down my throat, pooling there before trickling through my system, and leaving my mouth with a disgusting taste and my stomach with a yucky feeling. Not pleasant!

It just so happened that in the midst of that I was also in great social demand (LOL!). In one week, I ate out four times with friends! My neighbor, Maria, and I went to Beaufort for lunch on July 13, stopping at Fetch on the way. Fetch is an eclectic gift shop that is run as a fund-raiser for Noah’s Arc Animal Rescue, which is the animal rescue from which I got Rosie. Eileen and I had stopped by when she was here but they were closed, so I was happy to have an opportunity to visit. Tippy and I also got together for our weekly natter (on Thursday, 7/14) and on Sunday (7/17) Rhonda and I got together for a long overdue catchup, followed by cake and wine at her place afterward. It’s always fun to get together with like-minded friends.

It was on that Saturday (7/16) that Chris and I made a day of it. We went to Ridgeland to see the opening of a new exhibit, The Supper Table, at the Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage. The Supper Table was inspired by the 40^th anniversary of The Dinner Table installation by Judy Chicago and was composed of table settings signifying 12 prominent women in South Carolina’s history - Mary McCleod Bethune – Alice Childress – Septima Clark – Mathilda Evans – Althea Gibson – Angelina and Sarah Grimke – Eartha Kitt –Sarah Leverette – Julia Peterkin – Eliza Lucas Pinckney – Modjeska Monteith Simkins – Elizabeth Evelyn Wright. It was timely in that Mary Bethune's statue was just that week added to Statuary Hall in DC. We went on this day because there was a program with the woman whose idea it was to put this together. It was interesting to learn how the artists were assembled and the various aspects of the project (a play, a video production, a book, etc.). As I think about it now, I came away wanting to know more. My focus at the time was on the women represented and how the place settings represented each, to the exclusion of the artists involved. I would now like to know more about the artist that was charged with presenting each person. There were also beautiful drawings of each person and we were surprised to learn that they were done by Kirkland Smith, the wife of James Smith, a recent Democrat candidate for SC governor. We had no idea she was an artist and the Morris Center will be exhibiting some of her work in the future.

There is also a personal story to our day at the Morris Center, which is housed in a pristine, old Sinclair service/gas station. My father, who worked in a hardware store for many years, eventually bought a general store outside of town (Wadesboro, NC) that was also a Sinclair station. Those stations were noted for their white and green colors and dinosaur logo. In our case, we lived in the back of the station – a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and a porch. Eventually, my parents built a house next door to the station, which we occupied until the death of my mother. So, the building itself brought back so many memories from a time I don’t often think about. The building itself was an added attraction for me.

 Needless to say, Chris and I ended our day with a late lunch at Olive and Fig!

Not a lot else happening, though August promises to be busy. The first week we are going to Charleston for the Van Gogh exhibit. I’m really looking forward to that as I’ve heard so many good things about it. That weekend Rosie and I are joining Tippy in the NC mountains for a few days – the first time I’ve actually gotten away in two years!! I’ve been at home so much it seems a bit intimidating. At the end of the month Sandi, a friend from our second Africa trip, will be visiting for a few days. Hopefully, by the time September arrives things will begin to cool a bit.

Dog Days of Summer

 6/26/22

I’ve had two quiet days at home trying to process what is happening to us as a country. Women no longer have a right to an abortion in this country. Basically, it will be left up to each state, which means southern states (including SC) and other republican led states will make it as difficult on women as they possibly can – no abortion under any circumstance, charging doctors who assist as well as anyone who helps the woman in any way! Chew on that for a bit! While republicans have been whittling away at voting rights in an effort to marginalize many groups, this is the first time they have actually TAKEN AWAY (via the Supreme Court) a right that has been in place for 50 years! There is just something so UnAmerican about taking rights away from people. In this case, women have been told their place in our culture and it is right alongside livestock (which we also treat atrociously and heartlessly). I’m sure I’m not the only one stunned by this as I immediately heard from friends far and near, as well as commiserating with our Friday Pan Pals. Everyone is in a state of shock, sadness, and disappointment. It’s just difficult to take it all in.

There was a Pro-Choice event on Saturday morning which I didn’t make. I was just too bummed out, so I met up with Tippy for an early (for me) breakfast where we hashed it all out. I came home and cooked, tidied up, etc. Later in the day, I watched Steel Magnolias. Tippy had mentioned watching it recently and it has been ages since I saw it. While bits of it were too stereotypically Southern, I did love the irreverent humor and the strong, Southern women. Maria (neighbor) and The Adorable Felix (doggie) came over for a visit and Rosie was made up! Felix loves playing with Rosie’s toys on the flokati rug and Rosie slips in every once in a while to sneak her favorite squeaky toy. When Felix wants to see us, he brings them over for a visit, which is nice.

I walked out the front door this morning (6/28/22), taking Rosie for her walk, and noticed the beautiful Crepe Myrtles in the neighborhood. Some are laden with large watermelon-colored blossoms (my favorite color) and others with white. With the rain we've had, the lawns are full and green, and the morning was not too hot and humid. It really was a beautiful day. As we walked, we came across what looked like a pink cardinal. It could have been a parakeet, I couldn't get close enough to tell, but it was a pleasant surprise and something I have not seen before.

The January 6th Insurrection hearings have been going on and the last one was a bombshell. Mark Meadows's secretary testified to quite a few previously unknown events, including the fact that trump wanted the metal detectors (magnetometers) removed from the House so those with weapons could get into the capitol "because they were not there to hurt him" - never mind that they were threatening to hang Mike Pence, kill Pelosi, AOC, etc. God, the total insensitivity of the man-child! Somewhere in there, while listening to the hearing with my ear pod, I got the garbage to the dump and did a quick grocery shop. This coming week there will be 2 additional hearings. My hope is that those who NEED to know the information disclosed will be listening, but I’m not holding my breath. Willful ignorance at its best!

I had a funny phone message from Tippy last week. She was at our breakfast spot (First Watch) with friends who are moving out of the area and she called to tell me that she felt like she was betraying me - because she was there without me!! She suggested we get together for lunch soon for the F-word (falafel). I had to laugh! I texted her later in the day and told her that I had dealt with her betrayal and would only use the F-word as it relates to food! Needless to say, we followed up with lunch at Olive and Fig on Wednesday!

Rosie and I have had a few outings lately. My street is pretty shady in the morning but in the blazing heat of the afternoon, there is none. So, I take her someplace shady for our walks and I've decided to try to include more of a variety. On Monday, June 27, we took off for Old Sheldon Church, which I've heard about forever but never seen. As you would expect, it's down a little 2-lane road with beautifully overlapping trees. It was a great place for Rosie to sniff around and was mostly shady. The interesting thing to me was that the graves we scattered around the building as opposed to being in a sectioned-off "cemetery." It was also interesting that even though it is off the beaten path, there was a steady flow of people stopping by. It's too far out of the way to go often, but I will definitely do it again at some point.

Yesterday, we went to downtown Bluffton near the Church of the Cross on the banks of the May River. It has taken Rosie a while to get up the nerve to go near the bank of the river, but yesterday she was brave. It's in a lovely location and on this day I notice some flower arrangements that I had not noticed before (I think they are new). They were lovely flower arrangements raised on palmetto stumps. There were three different arrangements that were quite pretty. They also have a big swing which adults and kids seem to love. Rosie especially likes to visit with anyone sitting on the benches or just anyone she runs into!! Most people seem to really enjoy her friendliness and she definitely loves the attention.

This year, July 4th was very quiet with the exception of people shooting off fireworks for three nights! With women's rights being removed, I didn't feel like celebrating. Normally, I would at least watch A Capitol Fourth on PBS, but I couldn't even muster that. So, I binge-watched something on Prime and then channel surfed a bit, finding The Great American Rescue Dog Show. It was just what I needed and was so sweet and cute. The categories were things like Best Ears, Best Fetch, Best Couch Potato, etc. - and they were all rescues! The best part is that the winner in each category won $10,000 for the shelter from which they had adopted their dog. The best in show won $100,000! So, at least I went to bed happy!

I hope this finds everyone safe and well. Our Covid case numbers seem to be going up again in this area, so it's too soon to take things for granted. Be well!