Chronicles Continued

I am sitting downstairs in the living area, with my feet comfortably on the edge of the dining table, working on my computer, my back to the garden door. As mentioned, after a guest leaves, I open the cross-draft doors to allow a fresh breeze to blow through my space. Working, without taking in the surroundings other than the rhythmic sounds of the swishing washing machine, a sound above the washing machine sloshing, penetrates… a tap-tap… or is it a click-click. Yes, a click-click. Engrossed as I am, I deign to turn around and keep typing. But the click-click moves closer and I realize it is almost behind my chair. I put my feet down and turn around. A black bird has entered the house, walking under the foor curtain and is now having a look-see, first in the kitchen and is approaching the sitting area. This catches me by surprise. The movement of putting my feet down catches it by surprise and it flies up. Up and toward the window above the kitchen sink that looks out on the garden. Realizing what was, I hoped it would just turn around and walk out. Standing up, I walk slowly toward where it is, with fluttering wings, flinging the row of small potted plants onto the counter. Grabbing a dish towel I cover it carefully and carry it out to the yard. Guess it was checking out how the baking was progressing as I had missed a day or two of putting out ‘mistakes’. Baking had been a series of successes so there were no mistakes for the flock.

Words in other languages can ‘tickle my fancy’. I have a mother tongue and my relationship to language is linear. The current ‘fancy tickler’ is the Dutch word; Avondklok- literal translation: evening clock in Dutch. Curfew in English. In English, ‘curfew’ has no context. In Dutch, ‘avondklok gives a time, and a hint.

The Prime Minister Rutte said the following yesterday: “We will enforce the curfew. There will be a fine of €95 if you are caught. If you present a falsified document… it’s fraud and you will be persecuted.”.

End of discussion. Clear as can be. Likely will take effect Friday.

In the last post I did not pluck this

rather

*Misspelled words will often be circled and/or marked with the letters SP to indicate the spelling error. Please note, there will be more to come. “SP”

There is no sound quite like it. A solid, definitive wood-on-wood noise and you know, at that moment you are on the wrong side of open. After every mask wearing visitor, I always open both the front and back doors to let a flow of air through the little sitting room/kitchen. This time was no different, except for the cold wind and rain and it being evening when the darkness is thick . Feeling buoyed by the visitor, I plucked the shears from the kitchen drawer and went outside to clip the rosebush left of the front door. I was in shirt-sleeves and flats. This won’t take but a minute. SLAM! The first thought is “how can that be, the doorstop in place. The wind however was minor gale force and forced the stop out onto the stoop. Second thought: not a problem, I have hidden a door key in plastic in a nearby flower pot. That I had indeed done, in the summer! Now the pot was full to the brim with cold water, 6 inches deep. As I put my hand in, it was clear the key was dislodged from its place and must be floating in the dark, freezing water, along with all the other debris loosened by the water. Did I mention rain and short-sleeves? Determined I tipped the huge pot on its side which allowed the water to spill over and fill my shoes. After a few minutes I felt what must be the key in plastic. Plastic that had come loose, filling the groves of the key with debris and rusting the flat surfaces. But a port in the storm is a port. I was concerned about the keyhole filling with dirt that would not allow the tumblers to work. But no problem, the key worked! Have to find a better solution.

In another life, in Washington DC, a dear friend and I had a minuscule business. She painted teapots and I made the cloth cozies to cover them for warmth. We sold these colorful combinations at the National Cathedral Gift Shop. Due to lack of volume, after a while, we took the hint and stopped making them. However, we did sell/give away a sufficient amount that now and then one turns up. This is probably my favorite re-incarnation. E, who needed a warmer for a coffee press pot, turned the tea cozy upside to make it usable. This put the bottom which is a smaller circle closer to the press plunger than if it were used right side up. I just adore this.

and the third one is an oven. My first winter here noted there was no oven in my little house but I was so busy paddling to keep my head above water, it was alright. Last winter, recognized I missed the options having an oven gave me.. There is a certain warmth to food that has baked. In the spring I tried ‘stove-top-baking’ with some success but no satisfaction. This Fall, decided to bite-the-bullet and purchase a counter top full-sized oven. My neighbors have been overwhelmed ever since with baked goods. Luckily they are good sports and happy recipients.

This was the text under the photo of a dead man slumped over the steering wheel of a car. It was an advertisement in the early 1970’s in Holland to induce citizens to follow the new regulation of wearing a seatbelt. There was a time [ancient] when motorcycle helmets and seatbelts were not mandated. Once they were there was a fine, to boot if you refused. Now The Netherlands [the term ‘Holland’ is officially not available to reference the country] has put a fine in place for not wearing a face mask. I have yet to see so potent an ad, although I can think of a few suggestions.

When a bill arrives, be it taxes or the tandarts -[that’s dentist in Dutch-for the alliteration] on the left-hand-side in the middle of the page is a <. The reason for the < mark is indeed to point to the middle of the page as it aligns smartly with the > in the paper punch for making two holes. The entire populous files their ‘bookwork’ in the same manner, in the folders as shown.

His name is Ari Eldjarn and one of his standup performances is on Netflix. The reason I recommend him is in reference to the last minutes of his show. He rifts on what I have come to recognize as the “American Manner of Saying Thank you”. If you watch him, I won’t have to explain it to you. I have noticed myself doing it, and wondered if it was just me. Apparently not.