These shrubs covered in white blossoms are something like blackthorn or hawthorn.
I'll just post the photos because I was pleased with how they came out. Viburnum, they say. Viorne in French. Pretty flowers.
On another subject, the number of diagnosed cases of the novel coronavirus disease in France is now up to about twenty thousand, with nearly 900 deaths attributed to the illness. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit freaked out by this whole situation. Maybe cabin fever is part of the reason for my heightened stress level. We are going to have to go out, or at least one of us is, this week, because Walt needs to go to the pharmacy and we are going to need groceries.
At this point, I really fear going out into the world or having any contact other people. Here in France, we are being told that our confinement might last for several more weeks. We are allowed to go out and get some exercise once a day, alone, and no farther than one kilometer (half a mile or so) from our house. Most of the country's open-air markets have now been shut down, with some exceptions for small villages that don't have any grocery stores.
At this point, I really fear going out into the world or having any contact other people. Here in France, we are being told that our confinement might last for several more weeks. We are allowed to go out and get some exercise once a day, alone, and no farther than one kilometer (half a mile or so) from our house. Most of the country's open-air markets have now been shut down, with some exceptions for small villages that don't have any grocery stores.
Aux grands maux, les grands remèdes!
ReplyDeleteI hope your remèdes are up to the task compared to your maux. Stay home and stay healthy. I hope your caregivers will stay healthy too.
DeleteStay safe, stay well. In the end we are all learning the virtues of standing still.
ReplyDeleteStay in, especially. And don't let anybody else in.
DeleteThe big problem with this virus is that we can't stand together to support each other - we must stand apart and that feeds fear. On my walks I do "talk" to people - from a distance. It bolsters my positive thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI talk to, or shout at, people I see on my walks too. Somehow it's not as satisfying and reassuring as an actual conversation.
DeleteI never realized how much I enjoy being out and about until now. My grandchildren are actually the best at sheltering at home because they love having their parents with them all the time. We'll get through this but it seems like a dystopian movie at times.
ReplyDeleteIt does, E. Next time I feel like going grocery shoppkng is a chore, I'll try to remember this period of confinement.
DeleteJust got back from my morning run to the grocery store-- earliest hour is for seniors, but I went a little after that... still, mostly just seniors. Thinking of you two!
ReplyDeleteThinking of you in St. Louis too. Stay healthy.
DeleteStay safe and well! We are staying in, but I hear Europe is about three weeks ahead of us in this corona covid-19. The numbers for France were shocking to me....My family is doing more face time and every day at 2pm we have virtual origami lessons at the request of some grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteEnjoying your photos today! Viburnum is lovely; had to look it up, related to the "snowball bush" we see in America. They apparently closed out beaches, so...I find listening to music from the 1960s and 1970s to be nostalgic and calming. Wishing you all health and peace in these new times.
ReplyDeleteAs I implied in this (botched) post, I am definitely freaked out. I think it is the prospect of havlng to go to the supermarket that has me so stressed. It's nice seeing the freezers at home getting emptier day by day, but I miss going shopping whenever the urge strikes. I really don't want to get sick, and I'm certainly `not ready to kick the bucket. This is a phase. I'll get over it. I might need to take a blogging break.
ReplyDeleteDid you really go out that much, Ken? I was out 3x/week to my french classes before, and I had to drive 12 miles one-way so I got a lot of conversation in when I was out hitting my favorite places. My french classes are now online and I am HOME PERIOD. I went out 3x last Suhday. After one foray to the supermarket, I had to return home (2-3 miles) to put things in the freezer and refrigerator. I planned on staying home for awhile, but immediately got back in the car and made a second trip to 3 other stores. Then, later, at 3:45 I drove over to meet my daughter and her boyfriend to take the dog for a 1 1/4 hr walk - about 4 miles. It was a sunny day and even though we had no trouble keeping our distance from others, there were kayakers on the river, people sitting along the bank enjoying the view and many others out walking dogs and just themselves. It was wonderful to be out, but now I am back home. The computer and my books are keeping me sane. Your blog has gotten me interested again in cooking more complex meals for myself and I thank you for that! We are so lucky to have all these means of communicating! The french classes are really exciting - we kind of stumbled through last Monday, but by Thursday it was "old hat"! Our 3rd member joined in yesterday and we were so excited to see him on our screens! Little things during these trying times can bring the most joy. WE CAN DO THIS...
ReplyDeleteBlackthorn is wonderful at this time of the year... unless the frosts get it.... then that lovely white... goes brown.
ReplyDeleteThe Viorne is meant to have a scent... but not to me! So I just admire its beauty.... Pauline had a Viburnum farreri in Leeds and we brought a rooted section with us... it was meant to be Viburnum bodmantensee... but the flowers aren't blousy enough. Now, I can smell that, it is really lovely and it blooms all winter... and we have two Viburnum opulus... white panicles of flowers in the late Spring, then juicy red berries for the birds... followed by beautiful Autumn colour.
The viburnum is lovely.
ReplyDeleteI normally am at home, writing, but now that I have to stay in, well, of course I want to be out. Humans are so contrary.
The shopping advice I've seen says to use an intermediate staging area such as a garage between car and house, discard things like paper bags and boxes, and wipe down any containers before you bring purchases inside. There are directions on-line for DIY cloth masks, although I think those aren't pro level protection. I gather that stores are being good about spacing between customers (and the people are, too). We will get through this!