“Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.”
White clouds cover the sky. The sun made an effort earlier, and there was a bit of light but only for a little while. The temperature is 63˚, close to the predicted high of 65˚. Tonight will get down to the high 40’s.
When I was a kid, I took a Saturday night bath, the same as every other kid I knew. During the rest of the week, it was only touch-up, mostly face and hands. My mother was relentless with a facecloth. I swear she rubbed off the first layer of skin. The towels were always rough. We didn’t have a dryer. We had a clothesline.
Last night Jack and Henry were asleep at the foot of my bed. Their heads were touching so they were stretched across the bottom of my bed from side to side. I had to fold my legs. That’s how I fell asleep. Later, I woke up, turned off the light I had left on and managed to find some room. Henry and I woke up around the same time this morning. Jack was gone. I found him downstairs asleep on a chair in the living room. From bed to chair, tough life, Jack.
I don’t know what to do today. I finished my book last night, but I have plenty of books waiting so I’ll probably start another. My bed needs changing and the plants need watering, but I may leave the bed. Changing sheets means more laundry.
My aunt taught me to tell time so I could read the Cinderella watch she would later give me for my First Communion. I remember how proud I felt wearing my new watch. I wanted everyone to ask me what time it was. If they didn’t, I offered the time anyway. I suspect I was a bit annoying.
I don’t wear a watch and haven’t worn one for a long time. If I have to be somewhere, I leave in plenty of time. I am almost never late. When I travel, I do have my phone or iPad for time checks, but, before devices, I brought a watch with me attached to the inside of my bag. I didn’t check it much as the actual time didn’t matter except on travel days.
I have three watches. All of them are analog, always my choice. They all need batteries. I’ll have to think about that.
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September 15, 2020 at 2:02 pm
Hi Kat,
The picture of Jack and Henry sleeping head to head is charming.
I have to fold up my legs almost every night. Rocky and Piki Dog each have a spot they need to be in for official sleep time. (Unofficial sleep time can be anywhere.) On the plus side, if my feet get cold, I can always shove them under Rocky who is at the foot of the bed.
It’s hazy and cool up here today. Every now and then I get a whiff of smoke and I’m wondering if the smoke from the western fires has made it all the way here. I read somewhere that it might.
Enjoy the day.
September 15, 2020 at 4:01 pm
Hi Caryn,
We have a breeze so the air is pretty clear. The sun never fully came out from the clouds. I stayed home. It was chilly out. My hands got cold.
Gracie and Fern each slept on one side of the bottom of the bed giving me the middle. Henry sprawls and Jack lies right beside him. Sometimes Henry gets up and I grab space for me. He comes back but I’m usually asleep so he plops down wherever he wants.
He naps upstairs.
September 15, 2020 at 3:08 pm
Hello from beautiful Denver, where Mrs MDH and I arrived safe and sound on Saturday after blasting through 17 1/2 hours on the road stopping only for gas and potty needs. We are now spending the week with our son, his wife and our grand daughter who is coming up 4 months old. Other than horrible allergies, we are having a great time
Clocks and Watches have always been a big thing to me. In our kitchen we have a Corrie wall clock made around 1820. I love the idea that 200 years ago a craftsman made this and it is still giving service.
I wear a Shinola watch for travel which brands me to Detroit, I also treasure a small square gold cased mechanical Omega I bought in the early 70s and it cost me 3 months of wages. I was sure it would remind everyone of Bryan Ferry and I would be “overwhelmed” with dates !
A Vienna Wall Clock clunks along in my study but I don’t have much history other than it was probably a London manufacture or retail from the 1800s something
The Emmylou was duly noted and appreciated, as you know Ms Harris and I have always been close
September 15, 2020 at 4:06 pm
Hello My Dear Hedley,
I have an antique grandfather’s clock my aunt gave my mother. It came down to me. I haven’t had it weighted and wound. I also have a Seth Thomas school clock in perfect condition, also not wound. I like the looks of them but not the sound.
One of y watches has a red leather strap and a watch mounted in silver. It was my 50th birthday present from my mother. It is a beautiful watch.
I always had a Timex. I liked the black with a Roman numeral clock face. It is still a favorite, but I haven’t had one in a while. I should see if they’re still around.
That’s a great Emmylou!
September 15, 2020 at 5:38 pm
Summer is back, 33°C / 91°F in the garden this afternoon, perfect sunny weather to bike along the river and wade in the water.
My sense of time is really bad and I need a watch for public transport. After breaking some better watches I switched to cheap analog plastic watches, good enough for me and I don’t have to take care.
September 15, 2020 at 6:18 pm
Birgit,
It is still chilly, in the high 50’s. Last week was hot and muggy. Warmer weather will be back in a couple of days. This time of year is hard to figure. The weather goes back and forth between summer and fall.
I mostly don’t need to know the time. I do have a doctor’s appointment here and there but I leave early enough. I am also glad I am at a point in my life where I don’t need to know the time.
September 15, 2020 at 8:44 pm
what time is it?
September 16, 2020 at 3:12 pm
It is nearly ten!
September 15, 2020 at 10:59 pm
Hi Kat,
There’s something magical about wearing a mechanical watch. One that actually goes tick tock when you place it close to your ear. They are making a comeback. My analog Chinese phony Rolex sometimes just stops working and I’m drawn to the Apple Watch as a replacement. However, I have no use for most of its features accept the one that calls 911 of you fall down and can’t get up. 🙂
Time is critical to navigation since the early days of seafarers. I highly recommend the book, “Longitude” by Dava Sobel. It’s the true story of the king of England offering a monetary prize to the person who could figure out a ship’s Longitude while at sea. John Harrison, created the first chronometer that would work at sea. The clock made it easy to calculate your Longitude if you know your local time and the time at the prime maridian which goes through Greenwich England. Unfortunately, the king reneged and never paid Harrison his prize..
Today with GPS a person can know where they are within a couple of meters accuracy and very cheaply. GPS works on very small time differences between atomic clocks in the satellites and the time at the receiver’s location.
September 16, 2020 at 3:16 pm
Hi bob,
I agree about the sound of a clock. The old alarm clock I had a loud tick tock. I got used to it and only noticed when it was gone, when it died, my fault. I like looking at my watch and catching the hand move.
That man was a genius. The King was unscrupulous but would stay in power despite that because he was king.
I find GPS one of the great inventions of our time (HeHe).
September 16, 2020 at 12:17 am
Summer warm here yesterday and sunny most of the time I’ve heard. Today will be a bit cooler though but I don’t mind, I’m at home with a fever and probably stomach flu.
I haven’t had a watch in years and now days there’s really no need to have one. There are clocks everwhere around is, if nowhere else so in our phones.
Laast night I had at least the two dogs and one cat sleeping in my bed but for once placed so that I couls stretch my legs, that’s more unusual than winning the lottery 🙂 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
September 16, 2020 at 3:10 pm
Hi Christer,
The house was cold this morning, down to 63˚. I was torn. Do I turn on the heat to get warm or do I get stubborn and say too soon and feel cold? I put on a sweatshirt. My hands were still cold. I put on the heat for a little while.
When I travel, I like to have the time close at hand. My phone wouldn’t always be on, like when I’m flying. I like to know how long more.
I had the dog and one cat on my bed when I woke up. I wonder when Gwen will get brave enough.
Have a wonderful evening.