As week 1 of 2021 ends

For those of you who may have thought that 2020 was a real shit-show, have you noticed that, so far,  2021's response has been "Hold my beer!" We'll hold off for now on further comments regarding yesterday's activities at the National Capitol. If it seemed hopeful that Democrats won both senate races in Georgia, please be aware that Democratic(?) Senator Manchin (WVA) opposes the proposed $2,000 COVID checks. The current regime is abandoning ship rather than taking action on the 25th Amendment. Congress is deferring action on any impeachment (Republicans still control the Senate). It's less than two weeks until the inauguration, to which tRUMP claims he's not going, and those are just among the more obvious anomalous events during the first week or so of the New Year.

hoarfrost covered pine needles

Photo by J. Harrington

On the local scene, we've experienced about a solid week of clouds, fog and hoar frost covering tree branches and pine needles. It's been a damp, cold, raw week in more ways than one. If it weren't for multitudes of birds at the feeders, the outdoors would look like a drear, drab, dead domain. Meanwhile, rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine is slower than promised and the US its setting new records of the number of COVID-related daily deaths.

On the other hand, we haven't been getting blizzards, polar vortices, or similar North Country Winter weather events. We have a decent supply of coffee and good books to read on hand. Most of the family is mostly healthy. It's only 51 days until meteorological Spring and 70 days until Spring Equinox. Valentines Day is next month. All in all, if we're not making obvious progress, we may at least be holding our own. Sometimes, that's the most we can hope for.

Counting Blessings

Marilyn Nelson - 1946-

Joseph and Margaret Cavanaugh, ca. 1847

There’s Bridget and Michael and Catherine and Ann,
there’s Francis X., Moira, Theresa, and Sean:
none of them shivering, everyone fed,
head to feet sleeping, four butts to a bed.

 

The 1845 Irish potato crop failure resulted in widespread famine. More than one million Irish people—one out of every nine—died. Hundreds of thousands emigrated to England, Scotland, and the New World. Mortality rates of up to 30% were common on the “coffin ships” crossing the Atlantic.

********************************************
Thanks for visiting. Come again when you can.
Please be kind to each other while you can.