Around the yard . . .
Here on Whidbey we're pretty isolated in a rural area, so we don't have the same concerns a lot of other people do about keeping our distance. I can take a walk up and down the road without (usually) meeting a soul.
We (again because of our remoteness and the unpredictable weather) have always made sure we're pretty much stocked up with the necessities and so we haven't had to make our way through any grocery stores for the past month.
What we're really missing is physically visiting people, televised pro/college basketball, and eating out in restaurants.
First world problems, right?! Oh, poor us!
The good thing is that my art studio is right here, so I can continue making things. And I can always find something to photograph in our yard and/or up and down the road. So that's what I'm doing.
This winter a number of alder trees fell over, making it easy for me to just see what's on the ground and shoot the bark (top photo).
Hellebores are the first flowers to appear in late winter and deer don't eat 'em, so that's what you're seeing in the second photo.
And then this species of Usnea lichen festoons a lot of the trees. The lichens look very pale green and lacy against a more solid background.
(Each photo taken with an iPhone.)
My heart goes out to all the small businesses we have on Whidbey who have had to close, with employers and employees wondering when will things go back to "normal."
And my thanks go to all the health care workers who are also in a sort of limbo, wondering when a tidal wave of sick people is going to hit all the medical facilities. Or not. Hopefully not.
So we do our part to live an isolated existence, stay clean and healthy, and wish for an early end to all this. We have 16 currently confirmed with the coronavirus in Island County (Whidbey Island and Camano Island), and no deaths.
Wishing you all health, peace, love, and happiness.
Copyright ©2020 Carol Leigh
