As I start to write, a woodpecker—yellow, black and red—is performing an Olympic gymnastic routine on the bars of the bird feeder to reach the seed-ball suspended from the top of the cone.
Now hanging upside seedball, s/he has no concern for modesty as its beautiful underbelly is exposed. It is making several trips–I guess because hanging upside down is not its accustomed attachment technique and it gets weary.
It’s just one of the shows in town, during this period of lockdown, that has required us to stay put for the last TWO months.
The backdrop to this open air theatre–maybe the only form of theatre to survive this pandemic–is the scenery. Lots of rain followed by lots of sun and the result is an explosion of green growth. Spring has been in her pomp this year–lucky for us!
Last night, after a day of heavy rain, I heaved a soaking wicker chair indoors to dry it out. An hour later a “walk” (I looked it up!) of confused snails dropped off their unsought means of transport, enacting a show of slow formation dancing that could have done with more rehearsal. Their necks were at full stretch as they abandoned the routine and headed across the tiles for the front door. One by one, I helped them to a place of greater safety–a circle of greenery in the courtyard.
Our two senior cats, Beau and Ben, are being particularly present through all this. Perhaps astonished to see so much of us at a time of the year when normally we might be away from home for a stretch.
Ben slept an hour in my lap yesterday afternoon, forcing me to watch an episode of Better Call Saul on Netlix—I wasn’t able to move, you understand.
He and Beau have been seen to punctuate their progress out of window or door with a skip or two–just for la joie de vivre it seems. (The little sack of catnip may have helped put a spring in their paws.)
I’ve had some time to feast on more than food during lockdown. Music from another era, for example.
The Grateful Dead hove into view on Youtube a couple of days ago.
I put the earphones on–the Dead are not to everyone’s taste–and was reminded of the genius of Jerry Garcia.
Seeing him and his hair, I make a link with the present. There are some neighbours I don’t recognise on my walks until–click, click, click–it dawns on me who they are! No-one’s been chez le coiffeur for weeks–me included!
RIP and merci, Jerry.
Robin Ellis 
Too funny, Robin. Between the masks and the hair, I, too, have been flummoxed as to the identities of more than a couple of neighbors…to their consternation. I promise it had nothing to do with the numbers of snacks they have been consuming.
We are all trying to find entertainment these days, and the trim I gave my own hair is less than elegant!
How odd! As I read your blog, a woodpecker was hammering on the tree outside my window in Virginia. Maybe it’s the international call of woodpeckers!
On Netflix..if you haven’t already seen:: “Unorthodox,” “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” We have been watching old dvds, mainly comedies and/or musicals: “The Naked Truth (aka “Your Past is Showing”) “Make Mine MInk” “Kind Hearts and Cornets” “The Wrong Box” “The Music Man” Our longtime hairdresser has offered to come to our house. She is very responsible and will wear a mask and gloves. Can’t work from 6 feet away, but if the weather is good, she can cut our hair outdoors.. My husband and I can’t wait 2 years for a haircut.
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For you Jerry Garcia for me lennon and Mahler my kitties at window sills meowing at birds in trees i e. Brooklyn s Poultry Patrol
Hear more sounds of traffic and pedestrians trying to make a new normal old this ab normal time
We have had very little rain here in Blighty!..how kind you are Robin to the snails..I usually throw them on the garage roof!.My husband is one of the vunerable people..so I only go shopping for essentials..and dog walking of course. Happened to see and old episode of ‘ Callan ‘ the other day..and your good self was in it! Stay safe both of you..
You too.
That episode stays in my memory. It was the last Callan and I tripped on the thick white carpet and broke the glass table with breakfast things all over the floor.
Have opted to turn off tv most days for music from my past too – Beatles , hollies and to my surprise , really grown to like Metallica . Work full time as nurse in hospital so it’s my best way to unwind .
Stay safe, Susan and chill with the music!
Believe me, I understand the Beau thing. If Lizzie ever honors me with lap for more than a minute hands-free, I don’t move a muscle till she tires of me!
Your descriptions of the birds and snails are exquisite. I feel as though I’m watching myself. Take care. We are opening a wee bit here and people are going nuts. I’m not ready…
I am glad you were able to get out for a nice walk. I am a tad envious,😄 I am unable to walk very far due to the need of a total knee replacement. So for me, lockdown has sadly just been the same old same old. My way of coping has been spent continuing the building a three story farm doll house that will eventually get passed down to one of my great nieces. I started this project a year ago. I am using my many self taught talents to recreate miniatures of replicas that represent the prior generations in one way or another. Antiques to the modern including 🎶 music, photos, technology in everyday use. It helps me to focus and reflect while keeping the lockdown doldrums at bay. 😁 I’m also spending a daily battle to keep my cats out of the doll farmhouse. My one year old male, “Trevor” is a huge Main Coon cat that has become so huge that his butt and hind legs hang out the side door while the rest of him consumes two full doll house second floor rooms! 😂 He has recently discovered his inner “Snoopy” and can often be found sitting on the doll house roof. Our female cat, “Chloe” has found parking backwards into the farmhouse kitchen is the perfect fit for her. Cats have so much character to them. They are making sure this lockdown has some form of amusement. As to the music, no Greatfull Dead here but plenty of “The Moody Blues” on hand.
Heavens … must have been reading your blog for longer than I was aware; I remember when Ben and Beau arrived as youngsters. BTW, the woodpecker may have been transporting seed to babies in a nest nearby. Might as well take this opportunity to say that while this may be the first time I’ve ever commented (or possibly the second), I have enjoyed reading all these years. All the best. Mary
PS And I also recall when my neighbor introduced to me to Poldark when it came on PBS in the U.S. Everyone was glued to their TVs … 🙂
Thanks, Mary K!
I woke up this morning with April, my Himalayan Blue Point licking my face. She has gotten very loving here lately.
I remember World 11 my parents putting up blankets on the windows. The Air Raid siren going off. The planes going over. Polio epidemic etc. But……this is the hardest of all. World Wide. I am 81 but it bothers me greatly not to be able to get in my car and just go. Now that I can’t go I want to go out more than before. Buying food you stand in line outside the store until it is your turn to go in. We all took so much for granted before. For many it has brought out the best in us. We are all in this together. Delaware
Thanks for this–courage! Sounds like you are doing very well.
This is a wonderful piece of writing, Robin. Thank you.
Thank you Helen.
I like your stories! As well as the photos!
You and your wife are so blessed to live in France! I too lived there long ago when life was simpler, of course no cells phones or computers at that time. As an adult I lived in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands as well as visiting other European countries. Also visited Tangiers, Morocco which was quite interesting.
The last time I flew across the big pond was to visit my dog Maya who lives in Italy with my former husband.
I do hope when it is truly safe to travel I want to visit Paris and who knows where else.
Kind regards,
Karen
AW, POOR BIRDY…YOUR MAKING HIM WORK HARD FOR HIS FOOD… HERE IN NASHVILLE IT’S QUITE CHANGED…SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL NOT WEARING MASKS..THOSE WHO GO TO THE RESTAURANTS, BARS AND OTHER PLACES..BUT MOST OF THEM WANT TO GO BACK TO WORK… BUT, I STILL THINK WE NEED MORE TIME…THAT’S JUST ME…IT’S BETTER TO HAVE A LOWER COUNT (%) THAN STILL BEING WORRIED ABOUT STILL GETTING THE VIRUS…I FEEL BAD ABOUT THE CHILDREN WHO MAY GET IT? WELL THOSE TWO FRIENDS OF YOURS MAY NEED MORE TOYS TO PLAY WITH…MAYBE THEY CAN JUMP OVER HOOPS..OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO KEEP THEM BUSY…HA, HA…MY NEIGHBORS CATS ARE ALWAYS RUBBING AGAINST MY PANTS AND SHEDDING ALL OVER ME… I LOVE DOGS FIRST…CATS AND HORSES…(ALTHOUGH IAM AFRAID OF HORSES, AND WON’T RIDE THEM)… WELL, HOPE YOUR DOING FINE..AND SEEING YOUR NEXT BOOK OUT!!… PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF..OK?…LOVE TO MEREDITH… MARY
And you, Mary.
What is it about our past music that soothes the mind to be able to endure this present isolation?
Robin,
Thank you for the nice tribute to the WWII boys who died. They were so young and brave!
As for the pandemic, I signed up with a local farm that has been delivering organic veggies, fruit, dairy, and meat to my doorstep for many years. So shopping is not an issue.
Most of us in Southern California have concluded that it is healthier to get out and bask in the sun and soak up Vitamin D; so we’ve been ignoring rules that don’t make sense. We are free spirits and don’t appreciate being ordered around. Our local sheriff feels the same. Except for those who were already in poor health, all is well. We are blessed.
Best wishes!
Don’t agree with you.
Stay home stay safe is keeping us alive. ‘buff said.
Should have read ’nuff said