Friday, March 7, 2025

Keep Calm and Carry On

 





https://open.substack.com/pub/robertreich/p/this-weeks-ten-reasons-for-modest?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

Send your e-mails (or make your calls). 

Send the postcards. 


Under no means should we:

We have seen this week that pushing back does have an effect. So. We push. That's all we can do. 

Today, I planted seeds for Roma tomatoes, beef steak tomatoes and some seeds from an Amish cherry tomato plant that I'd saved. The bushes grow huge, five feet tall, and they need to be caged to keep them off the ground. They produce quarts of cherry tomatoes at a time. If everything grows, I'll have 28 tomato plants of three different varieties. Plenty to share, I hope. I also planted more pepper plants. If all goes well, I should have 20 of those as well, at minimum. It made me happy to set the trays in a sunny southern window, and it is a small thing to look forward to. 

Tim spent the day hooking up the pex tubing to get water into the new house. Once finished with that, we can put the bathroom together. At some point, we should be getting a phone call that our under sink cabinet is ready. We can then put the kitchen together. 

It is starting to feel real. Last night, Tim said, "You know, neither one of us expected to build that house when we did. It came together so unexpectedly, but I'm glad. I don't think that either of us would have dared to start a new build in these crazy times."

He's right. 

But we did start it, and through all the unexpected curveballs life threw at us, through all the crazy politics and economics, the end line is in sight. We should be in it by the end of summer.

That's another thing to look forward to. 

This is a Dutch Public Broadcast Sketch:

36 comments:

  1. You really have something to look forward to.

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    Replies
    1. We are looking forward to it, that's for sure.

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  2. I think your homebuilding is amazing! I can't wait to see it finished (and I bet you feel the same way). That video tells the tale, doesn't it.

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    1. I can't wait to see it finished...and then we'll have to finish the rehab. We have a glut of work to be done, that's for sure.

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  3. I'm totally amazed that the two of you are actually building this house pretty much on your own. You are so talented.
    I have my postcards ready to go, but I see your link says to send it a day or two earlier to get there by the 15th. I've read others that say to have it postmarked on the 15th. I'm not sure what to do.

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    1. I understood that the plan was to have them postmarked on the 15th, but in the end, I suppose it is just a detail and not really all that important. The 15th is on a Saturday, so he'll be golfing anyway. Just send the post cards!

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    2. You're absolutely right, of course. I will.

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  4. Getting so close to moving in. How exciting.
    That Dutch video is weird...

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    1. Did you notice the color of the injured man's clothes?

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    2. Well, I suppose the scene in the oval office was no less weird.

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  5. The video was sadly amusing. What a crazy world.

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    1. It is. I wonder how it happened...but then I realize that is wasted energy. It has happened. Our energy is better spent speaking up and challenging it.

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  6. Bernie is having fight back rallies. Good on him.

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    1. I didn't see this. I've heard his talks, and I like them very much. If he comes to this part of the world, we will certainly make plans to be a part of this.

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  7. Scary sense of humour the Dutch video but it all adds up.

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    1. I don't think it was meant for humor, as much as to underscore the ridiculousness of the situation. The comment by the driver: "I don't know what's wrong with him. He's been unreasonable since I hit him" struck me as hilarious.

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  8. Looking forward to seeing you in the new house...then you'll be getting on with the garden there!!

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    1. We'll be getting on with the garden, as you phrase it, before we actually move in. We'll have to.

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    2. Ah yes...going with the season...

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    3. Welcome home, btw, Gwynneth. How nice that you had so many flowers waiting to greet you after your journey. They sure weren't there when you left!

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  9. Talk about making a point dramatically! Kudos to the Dutch--lol!

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    1. Oh my gosh, the "innocent" driver made me laugh.

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  10. That video is both a surprise and cause for a good chuckle! I wonder if they do ask for spit! LOL
    It's snowing here this Saturday morning!

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    Replies
    1. We woke up to snow as well (cue wailing and gnashing of teeth!)

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  11. That's quite a film and very to the point.
    I am so excited for you, thinking of you moving into your new house. The house you and Tim have built yourselves, every step of the way.

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    Replies
    1. It will be a big box ticked...then we'll have to finish up the rehab AND get our current house gone. I do have to tell you, I am so very tired of being so very scattered.

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  12. How long is your growing season? Longish or shortish? Will you be canning extra produce? My FB account, which is read only, has somehow gotten on the home canning lists. It's interesting. Yesterday we learned about storing home chicken eggs (no washing allowed) in lime water. Who knew?

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    1. For just the two of us, I usually just freeze extra produce. Late May-Septemberish.

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  13. How exciting to be so close to completion on the new house!

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    Replies
    1. I am just ready to tick something -anything- off the blessed to do list.

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  14. What an amazing achievement for the two of you building that home for yourselves! Congrats and I hope it is quick smooth sailing now...

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  15. Completion of build just in time! Congrats to you! Absolutely LOVE the public service announcement! Brilliant!

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I'm glad you're here!

Checking in.

I have not been inspired to write, which is unusual for me. Usually there is something. But... Let's see. Cheerful things. I got a hairc...