Thu, Jul 30, 2020:  Day 132 of self-quarantine:  Took my car for my 3:00 appointment for safety and emissions inspection plus some other things.  They told me the state machine for inspections is down and won’t be back up until sometime next week.  Oh great!  So, back home we went.  I’m so late getting my car registered now, it doesn’t really matter.  Going to get burgers for dinner tonight.

Ireland

Wed, Jul 29, 2020:  Day 131 of self-quarantine:  This day just flew by.  Maybe because I was on the phone for over an hour with Steve.  And then I ran some errands, did the vacuuming, washed the slider and then relaxed on the deck reading my book.  Mike went off to shoot skeet with Darwin.  Really humid today.  Started storming right after Mike got home from shooting.  Ordered pizza for dinner.  I’ve been watching a new series on Netflix—Wanted.”  Really good.  A cross between Thelma and Louise and No Country for Old Men.  90 today.

Ireland

This guy was lonesome.

Traffic Jam

Tue, Jul 28, 2020:  Day 130 of self-quarantine:  Out again today to return a library book, browse a little in the library and get another book.  Then went to the ATM and the hardware store to pick up some bulbs.  They’re going back tomorrow morning.  Don’t like being in stores with people.  When I returned from my errands, Mike had the rest of the deck furniture moved from the patio to the deck.  90 today.

Ashford Castle is where we stayed in Ireland.

Mon, Jul 27, 2020:  Day 129 of self-quarantine:  Ventured out and got my hair cut today  Couldn’t stand it any more.  Not a great cut, but way better.  Also picked up some things at CVS.  Cloudy all day today and rainy off and on.

John Lewis was honored today at the Capital.  What an amazing human being.

Eagle Peak Trail--Yosemite National Park.
Painting by Chiura Obata.

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.