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.
The “End Time” hand spun collection!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!
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…
Here…And here… and Hummm……here!😳 Did I mention the full moon? 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.😬Plant shelf at the garden. Hummm… Maybe I should stick to knitting…Hummm…warm hat completed … what now?
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.
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 quicklypulled 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…Looks like a note…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.A family of gnomes! Cool!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?
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.
Ok, I can accept that.
But, that wasn’t all they had to tell me.
Hummm… did they know I was an environmental nut? Did they also know I came from a small area in Minnesota that was settled by Finlanders? Hummm… how did they know?
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!
It is really September on the calendar? I guess I have been so busy with my new straw garden that time slipped by quickly.
The Hummm… file has been growing and now is on overload in my digital file cabinet. So where to start?
Hummm… let’s start with this!
Hummm… have small aliens landed in my garden? No! Just some slug control experiment. Everyone who has read this blog knows I hate plastic, so I have been working on a non-plastic solution for the Dutch slug problem.
This next Hummm… comes from our wonderful municipal government, a solution for traffic control. Recently, after giving out several tickets in this location, the solution was to place these wonderful traffic encourages. Now, they are suppose to work like this… green means you are driving under the speed limit ( usually accompanied with a nice smiley face also green), Red is flashing and very very bad! Must slow down.
Hummmm… we aren’t sure what green with a sad smile means… but 23 is very very slow for this street!
This next Hummm… comes from the Dutch farming community.
Hummm… this looks like a breakdown!
This old tractor was broken for sure! The conversation I had with the man who popped up from behind the tractor was so interesting I had to include it with this Hummmm…
He was practicing for … a plowing contest? No kidding! He had broken down and was now not going to be able to participate. Being a former farm kid, I just had to ask all about the contest (if there was such a thing and he wasn’t making up an excuse that the tractor was broken just to impress me). Plus, I did make a joke that the reason it broke down was it was a Ferguson!
My dad had many tractors and types while I grew up and it seemed (to me) that the Ferguson was always a bit allergic to work, it would break down just when needed most.
Anyway, there are things in the world such as plowing competitions, historic tractors and farmers who find creative ways to “Jerry rig” solutions.
Blocks of wood holding the battery in place. Hummm… looks like something my Dad would do, yup, confirmed via email, looks like something my dad would find as an appropriate solution.Hummm… is that a level on the plow? What is that for? To make sure the row is exactly level the entire length of the field! Really? Who knew! Although I was informed that they are not allowed the level use in competition. Wow! That sounds hard!
Enough about tractors let’s move to an indoor Hummm…
Hummm… what ? A replacement of a facet (simple 10 min job… right?). This project lead to a tear down of the kitchen and thus several trips to the hardware store for an exchange of the exact facet we had purchased but had a backwards off/on on the hot water side! A Friday afternoon manufacturers issue? This must be wrong! … But, no! Come to find out all new facets are made so that off/on is opposite on the hot side!!!! This is chaos! No more right is open left is closed? Who dreams up this stuff?
Completed job with chaos facet!
Hummm… what is the rumor about that gardener who is growing veggies on the straw bales? Is it an American thing?
Seriously, I am the talk of the gardening community (although most are afraid to come and ask me directly). One person admitted to me today that she called her Dutch/American aunt in Arkansas to ask if this was an actual thing in the US! LMAO! Really? The person could have walked less than 50 meters and asked me instead of confirming (actually her aunt from Arkansas had no idea) with her aunt.
Hummm… what happened to our world during COVID? Did everyone lose their communication skills? The nerve to ask questions at the source?
Hummm…
I know that Straw bales provide a nice place for frogs! This guy was hopping out of the straw when I went to move things around.
I will leave all of you with some peaceful reflection of a straw bale garden. Enjoy all the Hummm… in life!
The Cedar Journal 