respublica

A Sad time for an old newspaper

We were mistakenly delivered the Belleville News Democrat newspaper this morning and frankly, it was sad. That paper used to be something of a "go to" paper for many in the Metro East for local news and sports. We used to get a kick out of the letters to the editor and the "sound off" page which shared reader's frustrations anonymously each Monday.

The reporters sent to any number of communities to write up city goings on and we got to know those whose beat was Collinsville. High school sports were given a lot of page time. Today I did not see any local by-lines, most stories were wire stories from the Associated Press. These stories could be read anywhere and had no relation to local readers.

I find this a loss to grieve over. It was also sad when the Collinsville Herald/Journal went out of business. These papers kept us up date on what was happening in our towns and the main news options now are Facebook postings or word of mouth. I wish it weren't so.

Pretty much

Great sunsets last night

So many were posting variations of this, it was so unexpected.

From our deck

Be helpful for a change 2020

Someone wrote this plea this morning:

"The least 2020 could do for us at this point is to get rid of Daylight Savings Time."

I would love that. Get rid of it for good.

Blocking out the light

One of our upstairs bedrooms has 5 windows, one on the side wall and the other 4 facing the street. We use the other bedroom so have put off doing anything about those bare windows until yesterday when I finally wanted to soften that room up. When I've gone to bed at night and passed that room I've noticed how brightly the street lights and Legion lights shine in. Dale wasn't bothered, but then, we don't sleep there.

I went to Home Depot's website and ordered some shades for curbside pickup. That was great! Ordered and in 20 minutes I could go and get them. The quickness certainly kept me on the job. These shades are made of some sort of sturdy paper that are kind of like an accordian, the folds drop down when hung. You can cut them to the correct width followed up sticking them up thanks to a strip of sticky tape on the top.

It's sounds kind of cheap, but actually they look good, do a good job of blocking sight and light without being too dark in the day. Perfect for the interval between real window coverings and now. This room has a of couple areas to it which is nice. The best part of these shades is they come with clips that you can use if you want to raise up the shades for more light. Push up on the folds and clip in place.

And yes, I washed all the windows first, inside and outside.

A frustrating time

I'm worn down by all the things going on right now as well as the many contradictory interpretations of them. So much stuff on so many fronts: political, athletics, health, cities in chaos. Plus two major party conventions with non-stop approval or condemnation by the incessant cable news experts.

It's dizzying and I want it stop. All of it. Frankly in normal times I would have been overwhelmed by the continuing work needing to be done in and around our house since we moved back. But now I'm thankful for it.

The best advice I found these two weeks is don't watch the conventions broadcast by cable networks. Go to CSPAN and watch without the constant rebukes or praise. Think for yourself as you watch, not wait to hear what the cable people and their partial guests have to say before forming an opinion.

Add to all this, the hurricane roaring to Louisiana and Texas. It's just more 2020.

Things are tightening up again

At least in Illinois and most of the Metro East, new rules are in effect which mandate the wearing of masks while dining indoors and stating that customers must wear face coverings during each interaction with servers and other restaurant workers.

The pandemic seems to be creeping up again and there is even worry on the St. Louis side that we're not winning the fight. Somewhere this week I read a news story on the possibility of being locked down again and all the items which will begin to be hoarded once more. Frankly I don't think I have it in me to go through this business of seeing everything sold out again.

But, it did remind me of my experiences in the frozen vegetable aisle. I was always a produce snob, looking down on the frozen vegetables in favor of fresh. But the virus hit and I thought I was the smartest shopper buying frozen vegetables which keep much longer than fresh. But lots of others did this too until the freezer sections had must as many empty spots as the toilet paper aisles.

That aside, I was thrilled to realize the frozen vegetable companies were not only making microwavable choices, but now 'oven roasters'. These roasters are really good and come in many varieties. Last night I oven roasted a bag of seasoned potato wedges and onions. Another night I plunked a bag of seasoned carrots and brussel sprouts in the oven.

Frozen vegetables used to be only the type we had to boil. Kudos to the frozen vegetable people for thinking beyond the norm and adding roasters and microwavables.

Too much cable interference at the conventions

We've been attempting to watch each political convention. Last week the democrats, this week the republicans. What has been frustrating is how the cable people have been inserting themselves into the proceedings as though we can't interpret what is happening for ourselves. They have been talking over whatever is being presented on the convention floors.

I about had it last night and found I wasn't the only one bothered by this, many on twitter were exasperated as well. Many began advising to just go to CSPAN where they showed just the convention speakers with no commentary. I'm not sure I even want to bother anymore, cable people believe they are the be all and end all of what is going on for each party.

A real taste of the Sem

For some years Concordia Seminary grounds people have tended a circle of hops which grow around a tree next to Sieck Hall. There have been any number of years when home brewers picked the hops and made beer from them. One of those was a former student who picked some hops when he visited the campus last fall and used them to make beer up in Wisconsin. Yesterday a box arrived on our front porch and in it was some of that beer and the bottles are labeled wonderfully.

 

This is so cool. Taste of the Sem beer and info on what was used to make it. 

Thank You Aaron Boerst!

Produce

It took quite a while for our tomato plants to produce red tomatoes, but in the past two weeks they're booming. I planted only 4 roma plants and one plant which has small, purple-ish red tomatoes. These aren't cherry types, but bigger. I'm in love with them even though I don't know what variety they are. I'm pretty sure the seminary's landscape director, Gayle, gave me this plant so I need to ask her what they are. They are cute as heck.

I've noticed also the big crop of peaches Eckert's Orchard has this year. They are still open for "you pick" and our grocery stores have plenty of their peaches as well. They are really good this year too. And the sweet corn was really good as well.

We have scores of birds singing and chirping all day long, lots of insects making noise, nature seems to have liked the pandemic, unlike us people. I'm planning to plant a bunch of garlic when the days begin to cool off to harvest next June and I hope they do as well as everything else.