#Summer lockdown….not over yet
July 11
But before I end my morning walk….discovered the ‘new place to be’ duck pond by the Elfstedenhal (ice skating rink). Social distancing? I don’t think ducks need to bother about that. #LoveTheReflection
Politics
Wake up to this news: Trump announces a presidential pardon for his ol’ partner in crime Roger Stone convicted of 7 felony crimes. Cronyism at its best! Trump is absolutely drunk on power.
Roger Stone looks like the best dressed man at the Nuremberg Trials!
Ups and Downs
The day started healthy, 2 hour walk, fresh fruit with breakfast….then it all went south! Decided I deserved my toast, jam and butter with my coffee after 3 weeks of diet…then splurged on a dish of pasta with cherry tomatoes and ricotta cheese, cocktail hour: Heineken + cashews while watching Formule 1 and to top it all off…that last dish of coconut rum cream pudding (home-made) isn’t going to eat itself! So I was completely going wild and enjoyed myself. I looked for a cartoon…and this one made me laugh, I hope you like it!
Politics:
You tell ‘em, Claire! Former senator Claire McCaskill is on fire!
She is telling Senator Lindsey Graham…..he is a POS! (…piece of s**t!) WOW! ….have a look!
#YouGoGirl
July 12
Well, I found another way to reach my destination…sunrise at 05:25. On June 20th sunrise was at 05:09…so as the weeks pass I can sleep more in the morning! High pressure moving in so it was a blast of light (…difficult to photograph subtly) so here is the pre-show…morning mist. Foto: 05:25 CET
Cats
Bruno is back…but very wary of me! Foto: 05:56 hr. CET
Swans
This has to be the best foto of the morning….it oozes peace, calm and elegance. Just look at the contrasts: water is like a mirror, reflection and sunlight on the first swan…shimmering water, shade around the second swan. Just breathtakingly beautiful…. #NeedCoffee and hot shower!
Sports
Am I the only one who watches and loves Formule 1?
July 13
Every morning I ask myself will there be anything to photograph today? I’ve covered just about everything in the past 3 months! But…yes, there is always something new! #JoysOfRisingEarly. Here is a regular friend…..the Dutch start off early to work in the morning mist! Foto: 05:12 hr CET
The minutes before sunrise are the most beautiful. It is a matter of timing my walk and listening to the weather report. You can guess what is coming tomorrow….rain! Foto: 05:16 hr CET (official sunrise was 05:26 and around 05:36 hr I can see the sun above the trees.
Swans
What would the world be without the grace and elegance of swans?…I’m so lucky to have these two (…still thinking of names for them) in the ponds during my walks. I was a bit early so they were still in dreamland… Foto: 05:58 hr
I’ve never been so close to a swan in my life!
Riddle: What is in the water and never gets wet?
Answer: reflection
Foto: 05:59 hr CET
Ducks
Nearing the end of my walk I find these two beauties…50 shades of brown! Usually ducks are quick to fly away when I approach but these two were just #Chillin…a state of prolonged satisfactory boredom. Foto: 06:28 hr #NeedCoffee #NeedHotShower ….then I have to get this house presentable….#NeedToCleanTheFloors
Politics
Gov Cuomo is on fire….during his press conferences 1 in 5 Americans turn to Gov Cuomo for truthful information about COVID-19. He is the adult in the room these days.…!! Poster #NewYorkTough
Art ….my favorite Bansky…created art during lockdown in his home!
Yoga
It took me 3 months to get this flexible….even with my new hip! (October 2019 operation). Must always look on the positive side of a lockdown!
NancyElin.blog 
I love your nature and wildlife photos! You have some gorgeous views.
“Roger Stone looks like the best dressed man at the Nuremberg Trials!” –> this really made me laugh, if only to keep from crying. Thanks for that!
Since Roger Stone’s release…..we’ve heard very little from him.
He must have crawled under his rock….again.
Glad I could make you laugh!
Ugh we can only hope to hear/see less of him from now on!
I wanted to give you another opportuinty to laugh. We all have heard how Trump pronounces “Frorida’, ‘Yo-Semite’ and ‘Thighland’…I dread what he will say when he sees NIGER on the tele-prompter!! LOL!
omg I know. I really hope one of his handlers coaches him on that one before letting him loose! His pronunciation of Florida grates on me the most but a lot of people say it that way for some reason, like FLARDA or something. And his distinct way of seeing China always makes me cringe too!!
Trump may soon (elections) regret his bullying of China (China Virus) and Turkey’s Erdogan (a letter sent to the Turkish president: “…don’t be a fool, don’t be a tough guy). The Chinese and Turks…have a long memory. I’m disgusted by Trump’s lack of diplomatic respect.
I remember that, the tough guy letter. I’m reading the Toobin book and he highlights again all of Trump’s affinities for Mafia conduct and wording, etc. It’s just so ridiculous. His lack of diplomatic respect has been appalling. I didn’t expect he would turn into a different and respectful person once he was elected but I did expect he would at least be coached on formalities (that exist for important reasons”) and instead he blunders and lumbers through it with his typical know-nothing idiocy and self-interest. It’s embarrassing to be an American right now with him representing us.
Oh, even this small bit ago analysis intrigues me…I will order Toobin’s book today. I just read an excellent article NYT dd. 08 Aug “Pelosi is Playing Hardball”. You should be proud to have such a strong woman (Pelosi) willing to take on Trump’s Mafia crew. Pelosi could eat Mnuchin and Meadows….raw for breakfast!
It’s so good, I’m really enjoying it. I love his writing style, even when it’s around topics that I’ve already followed closely in the news. He parses and analyzes details very well. Nancy is amazing!! We are really lucky to have her. I worried a bit that she’d be up to the task of pushing back against them but she’s been phenomenal.
Nancy Pelosi…80 yrs old and still a political powerhouse! Glad you like the book so much…I’m about 35% through Les années…reading goes very smoothly when it is all about memories.
I know! Nancy just continually amazes me. I hope I have the energy and drive she has when I’m 80!
And I agree, the parts of the book that center around her memories were really my favorites. is it very lyrical in the original French? I imagined it would be.
I have been “off…from my usual reading plan”
… for the last couple of months….I had no inspiration to write reviews.
So I decided to write a few #Summer Lockdown journals.
I hope to gather my wits again….turn off the TV news….and begin some serious reading with an analytical mind-set. Wish me luck!
I’ve been off these last months too. I haven’t been reading nearly as much as a I usually do. I love your lockdown journals though! It’s helpful to see how others are getting through this time and you have such nice scenery to enjoy :) Wishing you luck with getting back into the reading and analyzing though!!
…thanks. Moving on with Les années by Annie Ernaux…very unique writing style. I have to get used to it…!
It took me some getting used to as well. Actually I had a bit of a hard time getting into it, but once I did, and once the topics felt more familiar, I loved it. There was a lot I had to look up, and a lot that I think would only be familiar to French natives (the translator even mentions that in her note). But it gets better as it goes on!
…true, I had to look up quite a bit of her references in the first few pages!
Your photos are wonderful! You’ve inspired me to do more posts like this one. Do you use a camera (if so, what brand) or your phone?
Is the town where you live small and quaint or quite busy and the photos represent your areas of escape? I’m so fortunate to live on the outskirts of a large city where there are many farms and wildlife.
Ah, yoga! I really need to start that again. Have a great rest of the summer, Nancy!
Yes, I am also fortunate to live on the outskirts of my town so within 10 minutes walk I’m on paths through the meadows….and walking along duck ponds. Camera? I use 2: 1 is my mobile phone that takes beautiful pictures especially panorama lens. If it rains I use the phone. The other one is a Nikon Coolpix. Excellent camera….telelens….just a joy to use!
As I mentioned in my reply to ‘whatsnonfiction’ (see comment) …when the COVID-19 arrived it disrupted life as we know it. My mind was not focused on reading….so I decided to publish a few journal blogpost to keep contact with the outside ‘book world’ in my small way. Now, I hope to get back to reading an trying to write a decent review with a few original thoughts! Hope you are well in safe and sound Canada! The Netherlands has managed the COVID-19 outbreak very well….now the challenge is to avoid spikes in the number of cases.
Such beautiful sunrise photos Nancy ! I could never get up that early in the morning, not even to see such lovely sights.
You & Mr Books could sit down together with a beer to watch the car racing. I find it dull as dishwater, but he loves it as I way to unwind and relax on a Sunday afternoon.
Glad to hear and see you doing okay over there xoxo
Formula 1 dull? Ask Mr Brooks how exciting it was last weekend at Silverstone….both Mercedes (Hamilton and Bottas…were in first and third position at the time) cars had flat tires in the last 2 laps! Whew! But all kidding aside….good to be back reading again + a #ccspin list compiled. Reading French now because it keeps my mind occupied. I really have to detox from the news….In USA b/c I cannot change anything that happens there. If Trump is elected again….oh, I will need a stiff brandy even at 10 AM when I hear the election results!
Australia is in our news…about the lockdown for 6 weeks in Melbourne. At least the AUS government is acting responsibly…unlike USA.