Meals Together and Apart

 

Tasty fare in Panama

 

and finally being able to order in from the Gamboa Rainforest Resort:

Hamburgers, veggie pizza and sushi. 

 

In California 6-foot backyard feasts:  at their table

and at mine.

The inauguration of Sam's home-made pizza oven! 

 

 The very first pizza! 

 

Someone loving it.

 

Mother's Day Treat

 

A very sweet note from Maddie who they say looks a lot like me--
only prettier, younger, sweeter, smarter, and all around better! 

I Love My Backyard!

 

Everything's blooming--these two bushes, sun stars, almost overwhelming now, 

were quite small when I planted them a few years ago.

 

Things grow so fast in  Southern California.
 

 

Roses galore. 

 

Yellow tickseed,  purple salvia, and what I think is orange aster .



My favorite, nasturtiums, which I have to coax into existence in Chocorua 
but which self-seed and grow riotously here in SoCal.

The gnarly old pineapple guava right outside my kitchen window

which has been blossoming like mad for the last month.

Cheeky squirrel up at dawn, there 'til dusk, nibbling away.

Sweet black phoebe on her favorite perch, comes in the afternoon to hunt for insects. 

 

I love to have lunch out here in the newly painted red chairs,

see the flowers, watch the birds, give pause to that squirrel.

 

National Response

As a lot of the country is trying it's best to isolate, mask up and wash hands to stave off Covid-19

we have to deal with an increasingly irresponsible president who denies the truth, wants to hide the increasing numbers of infections and deaths, and derides anyone who tells the truth.

He encourages the nation to open up despite the risk.

He refuses to take precautions himself like wearing a mask in public or keeping a safe distance. 

He has started to self-medicate on a drug that is unproven to help Covid-19 but proven, in some cases, to cause

 heart disease and death.

In the small country of Panama there are very rigid restrictions on gatherings, on venturing out of one's house, and even on consuming liquor in one's home .  The government there is taking responsibility for its people.

Would that the same could be true here.

In Rachel Maddow's words:

This is an awful time to have an awful president.

From their Living Rooms

 

As we shelter in place one small thing I'm enjoying is seeing commentators, senators, and civil servants broadcasting from their living quarters.  

 

Some of the best recently:

 

 

Columnist Eugene Robinson with what I think is kid's art and family photos.

 

 

 

Commentator Steve Schmidt in his candlelit living room 

with flowers and art.

 

 

 

Daily Beast reporter Asawin Suebsaeng with his glass  of red wine

off to the right behind the MSNBC sign and an interesting pottery vase..

 

 

 

 

Dr. Anthony Fauci with his piles and racks of books.

 

 

 

 

Senator Mitt Romney in front of oodles of family photos.

 

 

 

 

And my favorite so far is Senator Alexander Lamar leading a teleconference on the Covid-19 virus with his dog sleeping behind him.

Gathering Lemons

 

Once a week or so I get a text from Max asking if there 

are still lemons on my tree 

and if he could come over and get a few.

 

 

In full gear--helmet, face mask, and backpack, he arrives.

We keep 6 feet apart.

 

 

It's my job to watch his bike on the front lawn while he dips around back to pick, 

but this time I snuck back for a sec to get a shot of him in action.

 

The lemons are loaded into his backpack and he rides home--

probably to make organic, healthy and really sweet lemonade.

 

 Trash Day

 

My morning walk on Thursday turns up

 many interesting curbside throw-aways.

 

 

 

 

It's quite evident

 

 

 

 

that during these weeks of isolation

 

 

 

 

people have been very busy

 

 

 

 

cleaning out their houses and garages. 

 

 

 

Just a reminder to stay safe!

Delivery

 

 

 

When my wonderful delivery girl

 

 

 

 

drops something delicious off for me

 

 

 

she gets a few treats

 

 

 

to eat on the way home. 

Hey.....

 

Today is Sloth Day in Panama!!

Toby's 80th

 

 

Not, of course, the gayest celebration with him in his bed and care home and me taking this photo outside his window.  No one is allowed in because of Covid-19.  

 

 

 

Nonette, the helper, is showing Toby the Page Bethel clan singing happy birthday to him.

Don't think this will play here--but Rachel jumped into the video just as it started.

 

 

 

The Page Kender clan backed two birthday cakes--one for Toby which Sam and Max delivered to his home and then wished him a happy birthday outside his window.

The other cake we had for dinner that evening in their backyard with our 6 ft. distancing.  I pulled my small table in just a little closer to them this time-- relaxing the rules I guess.

 

 

 

And what a great meal it was--lasagna with oodles of veggies and two kinds of Parmesan sauce and a pesto.  Truly amazing and delicious.  Toby would have loved it. 

 

I miss my good, brave Toby.

 

Tips for Isolation

 

 

 

 

How to make one banana last for two weeks.

 

 

 

 

Slice it and freeze it!