Sun, Jul 26, 2020:  Day 128 of self-quarantine:  Sad day today.  Both our Canadian friends are selling their places in The Glades.  Thanks to our wonderful “leadership” during this pandemic.  We’ll probably still go down, but won’t be gathering in any groups.  We’ll wear our masks and keep our distance from other people.  What a mess.  90s again today.  Left-over steak for dinner tonight.

Little cabin in the Sequoias.
Painting by Chiura Obata

Sat, Jul 25, 2020:  Day 127 of self-quarantine:  Watching the Ken Burns series on the National Parks also reacquainted me with the Japanese artist, Chiura Obata. 

Chiura Obata emigrated from Japan in 1903.  He soon became well known in the artistic community of San Francisco.  He loved painting landscapes and would hike around Yosemite and other National Parks and paint.  His works are so dramatic in their simplicity.  I love his stuff.  After the onset of WWII, he was interred in one of those camps.  But it didn’t deter his love for this country.  He created several amazing paintings of the camp he was in.  He gave one of them to Eleanor Roosevelt who had admired it.  An amazing man.

Mike grilled steaks for dinner tonight.  Together with corn on the cob.  90s again today.

 This is one of my favorites

Yosemite Falls
Chiura Obata

Fri, Jul 24, 2020:  Day 126 of self-quarantine:  Painters just about finished at our place.  I paid two of them $20 each to haul the chaise back up.  Almost back to normal.  We just finished watching the Ken Burns series on the National Parks on PBS.  Brought back many memories of our travels to the parks.  When we went to Yellowstone, we stayed at a campground in the park for two weeks.  At night we’d hear the wolves' deep throated howls—as they went off to hunt I guess.  It was both awesome and chilling.  After we left Yellowstone we dropped down to the Tetons.  I really loved Grand Teton National Park.  We hiked around pristine Jenny Lake.  Saw a lot of wildlife.  Enjoyed the scenic beauty of the place.  90s again today.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Grand Teton National Park.

Hiking around pristine Jenny Lake.

We floated the Snake River while we were there.

Thu, Jul 23, 2020:  Day 125 of self-quarantine:  Painters are making a lot of progress.  We did a grocery order and it was delivered in the afternoon.  In the morning I printed the insurance cards for the Lincoln and GMC.  When I put mine in the glove box of my car I realized I hadn’t registered the Lincoln yet.  Was due 1/1/20.  I’m always late because we don’t get back from Florida until April.  With the Covid thing and self-quarantining and all, I forgot all about it.  Now I have an appointment next week to get a safety and emissions inspection performed.  Then I’ll hot-foot it over to the DMV to get my registration.  It’s only cost an extra $5 in the past.  We’ll see.  90s again today.  Really humid.  Feel bad for the painters.

Paris

Wed, Jul 22, 2020:  Day 124 of self-quarantine:  Mike and Darwin did their skeet shooting thing today.  The painters are making progress.  Hope it will be over soon and we can get the deck furniture back where it belongs without killing ourselves.  90 today.

Boat Pond at Jardin du Luxembourg - Paris

Tue, Jul 21, 2020:  Day 123 of self-quarantine:  Didn’t do much today.  The painters are still out there doing their thing.  At a snail’s pace.  Lots of rain in the afternoon.  Watched a series on Netflix most of the afternoon.

Paris

Mon, Jul 20, 2020:  Day 122 of self-quarantine:  The painters have started painting today.  We had moved our deck furniture down to the patio, and the painters moved it all to the yard.  Hope they put it back before the mowers come.  Took the Lincoln out for a drive.  Went to Grafton along the Great River Road and back again.  Needed to drive the thing.  Warm and humid again today—but only in the upper 80s.

Palais et Jardin - Paris