Billie's Folly

Lately, I'll have a moment when I think about the momentousness of living through this worldwide event, and it almost becomes surreal—especially when I look out at the sunshine and everything appears normal.  Could we ever imagine—the government telling us to stay home, schools closed, stores stripped of products, even the tax deadline is changed—it’s huge!  Yet I don’t feel scared, and no one I’ve come in contact with seems scared either--just cautious.  Almost without exception, the first thing people say to each other these days is something concerning Covid-19 or precautions we're taking.  Right now, we each have one thing in common with every other person if the world!   I'm continually shocked when they talk about the risks to "older people over 60."  I double-take when I realize that includes me!  Wait!  My parents are the elderly!  Fortunately they're fine, and were surprised I think, when I told them I couldn’t in good...

Today is glorious sunshine.  And we've had an unbelievable few weeks of springtime weather.  My bulbs are coming up, the peonies are pushing through, and there's new growth on all the roses.  Did I mention I brought lots of plants in pots with me from California.  And before we cleared the building site I took out the plants I wanted to save.  About 200 pots altogether--crazy yes! I'm finding out that Oregon is known for sometimes experiencing all four seasons in a week--often in a day.  And this week is no exception.  I had worried that we might go a year without snow--which I so looked forward to when moving to Oregon.  But yesterday I woke to a beautiful dusting of snow at my rental home.  Then I drove to the house, where I encountered a blizzard!  I should explain that the elevation of most of West Linn is 105' above sea level.  While my house on Pete's Mountain is at 766 feet.  Other than my inexperience driving in snow ...