respublica

At home fireworks

There has been a trend on Facebook recently in which people are posting about how much they hate neighborhood fireworks. I'm happy to learn we aren't the only ones who find these constant fire cracker booms coming from down the street maddening. There were summers when we'd had very hot weather and no rain which made everything very dry. Then comes the local fire crackers with the bang and whizzzzz as the come down. We often worried about them hitting our roof or garage and having a fire.

Unfortunately there will be more of the constant bangs and explosions all day and especially late late at night because most cities have cancelled fireworks displays this year due to the conronavirus.

And they're back

Late May and early June are when we start seeing and feeling the darn biting gnats. Every year around this time they come. They''re small but their bite is as itchy as it's possible to be. I made the mistake of forgetting about them this evening and sat out on the front porch. I was bitten almost immediately and am now paying the price. I have to remember to spray on Vanilla Body Spray before I go outside. It's the only thing that these darn bugs don't like and we have bottles of them in both houses and in the golf cart and car.

But it won't work if I don't put it on.

It's getting on to bug biting season

Beginning sometime in May and continuing into June, the small biting bugs come out of their winter hatcheries and begin their fierce biting. The itch from these tiny monsters are vicious. So, it's time for us to be on the lookout for Vanilla Body Spray. We learned from a visitor to our campus three years ago about the effectiveness of this spray to keep those bites away.

We were skeptical at first, but oh, boy, does it work. So, I'm advising anyone who plans to be outside in the coming months, to get some before it's sold out. And it will sell out. But one bottle will last all summer. You can get it at many places- Dollar stores, Walmart, Walgreens, Target etc. I haven't seen it in grocery stores though. And, be advised, it's only the Vanilla body spray that works for some reason. Don't be talked into any of the others.

Our seminary grounds and other outdoor workers swear by this now and keep a bottle in their gators.

 

What's blooming?

The only good thing about this stay home order we've been living with is that we are allowed to get out of the house and walk around in the fresh air and sunshine. Yesterday I took a complete walk around the seminary campus and was amazed at the flowering bushes, trees, and annuals. The grass was a gorgeous green, the green we only get during its first flush of the year. The grass made a beautiful backdrop to all the pinks on the trees and the other colors from the annual bulbs.

Tulips are just about at their peak.

These were new to me as I walked past the dining halls. Their Latin name is Camassia and are a genus of the asparagus family. They are also named Indian Hyacinth and Wild Hyacinth.

And the Carnation Cherry so named because the blooms are big and filled like a carnation. If you click the picture to enlarge you'll see the blooms.

Our Sequestered Easter

It was a different kind of Easter what with being unable to share it with family. All of us were in our own homes, but we pretty much kept to the long held traditional dinner. We all had ham, cheesy baked potato casserole, some sort of vegetable (but not heavy on vegetables), dyed eggs and maybe followed by Easter candy (kids). We Facetimed  with both daughters' families at some point. Each had a hand made Easter greeting somewhere on their house or driveway.

Lizzie's kids did fancy glazed marble eggs

Katie's were dyed, then turned into green eggs and ham

Dale and I ate as always in the living room as did Lizzie's group. Katie seems have used the dining room.

Of course we all had wine

The funny part was how having family home all the time has affected happy go lucky, energetic Sidney, Katie and Charlie's young dog.

She practically climbs into the fireplace for a quiet, safe, place to sleep.

Facetime

Last Easter was a different time

The beauty of the lilies we have taken for granted each Easter, are no where to be seen today. At least in person. Here is Holy Cross during past Easters and by the grace of God, will be next year.

Ferdie's last Easter

Last Easter we went to church and afterward went to brunch with Lizzie's family at Porter's in Collinsville. A different time than today.

Sometime during the afternoon I put some rabbit ears on Ferdie. But as the day went on we realized he was in quite a bit of pain and could not get up without help. We ended up at the vet the next day with a bottle of a certain kind of pain medication. It helped, but it was obvious he was going down hill. We had him for only a few more months.

 

 

Let's talk Jelly Beans

Easter is the biggest time of the year for jelly beans, they are found in almost every basket. It's hard to tell if Easter baskets will be a big thing this year, what with having to be home and sequestered. But, Here are some basic facts.

In the early 1900s, jelly beans were only sold in individual flavors

Jelly beans were the first confection to be sold by weight

16 Billion jelly beans are manufactured for Easter season alone

That many jelly beans could make it 1/3 of the way to the moon

Jelly beans were originally a Christmas candy until about 1930

Blueberry bean lovers can thank Ronald Reagan. Jelly Belly needed a blue jelly bean when he was elected, and the blueberry jelly bean was born.

To be honest, I've never cared much for jelly beans even as a kid. I much preferred the chocolate rabbits. And no marshmallow eggs for me either. But, I'm probably alone in this. This site gives us the most popular flavor by state and the most popular flavor nationally. There are several popular jelly beans I've never heard of including Buttered Popcorn, coconut, and coffee. They must be making these beans to attract adults these days. 

In any event, the top five nationally are Cinnamon, Buttered Popcorn, Black licorice, Cherry and Juicy Pear. Number 6 is toasted marshmallow. 

In Illinois the top 3 favorites are Chocolate (!), Black Licorice, and Grape.

In Missouri the top 3 are Buttered Popcorn, Orange and Watermelon

For my Maryland kids, the top 3 are Cherry, Root Beer, and Buttered Popcorn. 

Here is a national chart

It was one of those seasonal days

Yesterday was on the weird side. Dale left with some seminary students, faculty and one of our grandsons for Iowa for a few days at Mission Central. The weather did not sound great going that way, but they plugged on and did make it. But not before being slowed down because of this:

Nasty weather. But today they said it was clear so that's good.

While they were driving I felt it was past time to take down our Christmas tree and all the other Christmas items sitting around the house. Without Dale here I wasn't sure I could haul our big tree outside by myself so after giving thought to just taking off the lights and ornaments and then waiting until Monday when he is here to get the tree out, I got the brilliant idea to cut off the bottom branches. That would make it easier to get it outside. And so it was. I not going to say it was physically easy, but it worked.

It went from this:

To This:

This was a big tree with wide bottom branches. After getting all the lower branches clipped off there were needles everywhere and piles of limbs to toss out, but still much easier than wrestling with the entire tree.

Today I'll get the rest of the things into the Christmas closet which involves trooping up and down the stairs. As much as I loved Christmas things around, it's also great to have them put away. Things are much less cluttered feeling, like I can breath again.

45 years of banning words

Lake Superior State University in Michigan has for 45 years published a list of words banished for over-use, mis-use, and general uselessness.

Here are this year's words they want banned with their category:

Word or phrase most nominated:

Quid Pro Quo

Words that attempt to make something more than it is:

Artisanal, curated, and influencer

Words Banished for Pretentiousness or Imprecision:

Literally, I mean, Living my best life, Mouthfeel

Those Darn Millennials:

Chirp, Jelly (slang for jealous), Totes, Vibe, OK Boomer