Category: Hummm

Hummm… Doomsday Clock

The Cedar Journal January 25, 2023

I am not really one for talking seriously about the “End of Times” but when yesterday a bunch of scientists declared we are 30 seconds closer…it made me…yes… Hummm…

Calendar on my desk with one of my favorite castles. Bamburgh is the setting for Bernard Cornwell books The Last Kingdom, I am sure the Saxons thought it was Doomsday when the Vikings came… Hummm… I have both DNA in my bloodline…

I laughed and made jokes and went about my day. I have heard it all before that we are close but this time, it could be actually true. Hummm… if you knew it was what would you do?

There must be people really thinking it could actually happen this time. As I was approached, not once but twice in this month by people who knock on my door and want to spread the “word”. Good for them, but I would rather do something creative with my time.

Some of the collection has become a pair of socks… Hummm… the Doomsday sock collection.

The situation is concerning in both Ukraine and Afghanistan. War or the aftermath of war is never easy or fun. Hummm… at least it now seems my former employer is doing something to help!

More relief effort items sitting next to my door. Not waiting for doomsday!

I know that democracy must win! We can’t wait for others to do the hard work. If doomsday is closer we each should hope we did enough to stop or at least slow it down.

Sometimes it is just hard to choose the right path to take, even if it might end up at the same end point.

Hummm…

So, do I need Divine intervention?

I think if there is a possibility of a Divine then I think maybe it could give a push to fix some of these issues we are facing, or maybe push some people to do the “right thing” to help.

As far as my plan, I will laugh at the doomsday clock, continue to close the door at people who try to “push” their religious belief on me, help those I can and dance like baby groot from the Guardians of the Galaxy 2 movie intro.

For all you who don’t believe in democracy and want to stop those of us who do… Hummm… I will never surrender!

Hummm… Spring in January in my back garden.

Hummm… Mr. President!?

The Cedar Journal December 8, 2022

Well, well, well…this month is already shaping up to be an unusual month.

I opened my email this morning and scrolled through before my first cup of coffee I stopped…”hummm…what? No! Really?…ok, I have to open it!”

The White House

Response to your message

Now, I filled my cup of coffee, and had a seat. Maybe this was an actual response to my online comments to the White House about the situation in Ukraine or I had just been punked by one of my kids or friends? Either way I needed coffee before I could read it!

I have been still knee deep in seeking out bargains on wool clothing at the local thrift stores (BTW…if you are looking in the South Amsterdam area for wool clothing…hummmm… maybe you should find another location….), washing, drying, and then packing those items into boxes for the Ukraine. I have drained my savings this month for this effort! That is why I sent an email (really an online comment) to The White House.

For background you can read my other posts.

https://thecedarjournal.com/2022/11/15/if-i-was-cold/

https://thecedarjournal.com/2022/11/25/after-thanksgiving-hummm/

After the initial response I wasn’t deterred.

I just keep collecting and keep boxing and keep thinking that my small effort will help, at least one person somewhere in the Ukraine!

The news boxes waiting to go to the drop off point. This morning.

I passed the boxes the waiting boxes, went into the living room and sat down for my morning coffee. I slowly opened this email coming from The White House…

hummm…

it didn’t explode…

all my other emails are still there… here is what it said.

Hummm…Mr President…nice, but what does this really tell me? NOTHING!!!!

Yup, I know he was busy trying to gain the release of a high profile WNBA star. But, this didn’t seem personal or even an answer to anything I asked about the humanitarian effort or support for the Ukraine!

That is ok, I understand totally that I would not get a real response. It hasn’t deterred my resolution to “get my hands dirty”, write more emails to people who might actually solve some of these issues by “getting their hands dirty and doing all they can for people who are facing horrible conditions at the hands of the Russian leadership.

No worries Mr President, I am in the trenches doing the work.

This morning (7 November 2022) at a drop off point in The Netherlands for Ukraine relief effort. 💛💙

Hummm… who is leading?

After Thanksgiving Hummm…

The Cedar Journal November 25, 2022

Now we have finished our Thanksgiving feasting and are looking for entertainment, or maybe a little “Black Friday” shopping. Look no more, as you can read and ponder the After Thanksgiving Hummm…

Let’s start with this beautiful 1980’s Suzuki! Hummm… isn’t it beautiful?

How about the interior? Hummm… perfect! Seemed like we had stepped into a time warp to experience this car. Actually was donated to a Suzuki dealer by the owner. Must travel to Heemstede, NL to see this gem.

Hummm… next stop Leiden, NL, warning – it was around the full moon…

If you wondered what happened to the Queen of England, she was waving at me while I was visiting Leiden. Hummm…

But then from there it got serious! As I stepped into a local “thrift store”. Hummm… we aren’t in MN anymore, are we?

Around the corner and this was just picture perfect for the Hummm…files!

But… it didn’t stop there…

This is the store that just keeps on giving, as this larger than large painting had to be added to the Hummm…

Or maybe someone needs this to add to their wall collection. Hummm… let’s get a closer look…

Hummm… who needs Ancestry.com if you have this?

This month brought changes too. My son’s dog I am sure is thinking “Hummm…what a cool new neighborhood! Wonder if there are any friends out there?”

When I owned a house in MN I would always have a project or two in my garage. Since, I am living here full time with the Hubby, well… let’s just say the projects are his deal not mine. Until… Hummm…

Someone at the community garden had broken a handle on this shovel and tossed it out!😳 Hummm… looked like a perfect low key project. Hummm… of course I received all kinds of helpful advice from the Hubby…”yes,dear; no, dear; I am sure I don’t need your help dear; No, I won’t use any power tools, dear!” Hummm… project complete. Hummm…next.😬

How about writing a few of my Congressmen or the White House about how I feel about the situation in Ukraine? Hummm…

More boxes waiting to head to Ukraine with clothes, food, candles, female products.

Another box… hummm… maybe… Congress or the White House will answer my emails… Hummm…

Hummm… not really an answer to my email… but… still I am hanging it on my wall!

That wraps it up on this side of the November Turkey feast. Hummm…what will next month bring for the blog? Until then, keep looking for the Hummm…in life.

Autumn…Hummmm…

The Cedar Journal November 2, 2022

Lazy, busy, or just feeling a bit out of sorts, I just haven’t been posting much. But, that hasn’t stopped the Hummm… from happening and I do have a few “Fall” or “Autumn” Hummm to share. Let’s get started.

The Hubby is now experiencing Hummm…sightings even when I am not with him. I guess I have been with him for so long now that my weirdness has rubbed off on him. Good thing he got a picture of this…

We are seeing more of these small type vehicles on the road since fuel has gone crazy but this one almost look like someone is living in it. Hummm… the disabled sticker? Ok…

Hummm… I rather like this 4 wheel vehicle. I was calculating all the plants I could haul in this one!

The following hummm… I found at our local cemetery. Nothing cheers me up after hearing the horrible things in the World or places them in perspective like a visit with the resting. Although… hummm…

This grave was just sitting next to the composter at the graveyard. Hummm… but that wasn’t enough…

Upon a closer look it was actually two graves!😳 Did these people not pay the grave tax? What will happen to the headstones? What sorta of recycling program does this cemetery have? Hummm… so many questions and I only got deadly silence in return.

We spent a great deal of time this month on the Dutch roadways. These are great opportunities to connect to the greater World. Identifying license plates from all over Europe makes for a fun way to pass the time. As we were getting bored the universe senses it and placed the following in our view.

“OMG! Is that Johnny Cash?” I quickly pulled the phone out to capture this Hummm…

We determined that it must have been a roadshow performer that featured Johnny Cash songs.

Our vacation always brings a relaxing time and Hummm… seems to open from the Heavens to drop down to be observed by us.

Wildlife seemed to be a theme.

Hummm… A wolf track? No way! Let’s check…

Hummm… size, large. Direction, straight across path, search internet for tracks. Yup! Wolf!

Hummm… This bird wants to read the paper?

Nope, EAT the paper!

This guy didn’t stop there, he flew onto the Hubby’s plate and ate his bread!

We also witnessed (not caught by our cameras) other small songbirds eating my red canoe cushion knee pad! Hummm… are these creatures not getting enough insects or seeds to eat?

“Hummm…this looks interesting.” Said Hubby. “Wait, I think it is a possible Hummm…” camera, picture…open…

Wow! We are as excited to find it as the young person who wrote it! But wait… there is more…

The backside is signed and had a P.S. instructions. After we were done we returned it and replaced it so that the universe could provide this beautiful entertainment for another unexpecting hiker.

Hummm… what is this? A door in a tree. Let’s look inside.

Hummm… he was so cute I thought we needed to watch him eating the last of our lunch!

While visiting Urk. I caught this old symbol on a house. Hummm… what does all the additional stuff mean? Hubby explained it represented Faith, Hope, and Love.

When we all need an anchor in our lives it always helps to shake of the chaos and hug a tree!

Hummm… there she goes again, hugging some big tree!

Now that the Hummm…file is empty for now. What will November bring?

Hummmm… September 2022

The Cedar Journal September 27, 2022

It is almost October and really I have failed as a blogger this month! I promised canoe blogs, product reviews and even some Hummm… from our travels.

Hummmm… that didn’t happen! Why? COVID! Yup the virus finally found us and jumped smack in the middle of the last days of packing for our canoe trip! Of course I wondered where I had picked it up, I don’t socialize much, don’t really shop at the stores when it is busy, but a non stop water facet of a nose and sore throat was a sure indication that I picked it up SOMEWHERE! Two negative tests and a couple days later the Hubby started feeling a bit off (the man is NEVER sick) he did a test and immediately it was positive! I must have tested wrong so took one more and still negative even with all my symptoms. Hummmm… No vacation!

About the same time the drought here was finally broken with rain. Not just a little bit of rain but centimeters of rain!

Drought to wet…bean seeds I thought were bad germinated anyway! Hummm… maybe beans in November?

I only have one real Hummm… to share this month. This one comes from our local grocery store. I just had to purchase as I wondered what a Friendly Viking could produce!

Friendly? Viking? Really?

My home state of Minnesota is full of so called Vikings every fall. A happy sort, dressed in purple and horned hats, yellow/purple face paint, mostly friendly unless you mention the cheese heads from Wisconsin. LOL But, in all my experience with historical research I never really thought of the Vikings as “friendly”.

Until, hummm… now?

I purchased the product and looked closely at the packaging.

But, that wasn’t all they had to tell me.

Now, my suggestion would be if you fear Vikings is to find this product, keep it on your shelf, and when we are invaded by mad looking people wearing pelts and brandishing swords and torches, kindly greet them with this product!

Hummm…

I will leave you wondering what October will bring with the following pictures. Stay safe and stay healthy everyone!