In the High Peaks
















Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Where Have I Been?

We seem to be having a trying summer weather-wise. We have been much, much hotter than normal here in the Northeast, and worst of all from a blogging perspective, we have had frequent violent thunderstorms that have knocked out power and internet on a regular basis. Of course we usually get thunderstorms this time of year, but never daily, and never with the loss of power every time it happens.
Satellite internet is beginning to seem very appealing to me. When I mention it to Ken, he astutely points out that a satellite would have to go out in our back field. Do you want to stomp through four feet of snow to wipe a storm's ice and snow off of it? Uhh, maybe not. Thanks for pointing that out.

Still reading, though I need to get a really good book very soon. I'm waiting for Sharon Kay Penman's The Devil's Brood to arrive. It has been held up, but I can't wait to dig into a Penman tome and be swept away to the 13th  century. The first two books in this series were so good.

My nature writing course, which I'm taking through the University of Cambridge Continuing Education, started this week, and it looks very promising. Despite the heat, Sandy and I have been managing to enjoy nature and the outdoors, though we must take short walks. We take multiple short walks, in fact. After each outing, we return to the house to cool off in air conditioning, then we head out again.

I need to write a blog entry about some of the special books I've read over the past few months. I am just so behind in responding to all of your blog posts. I hope to catch up soon, power permitting.






8 comments:

  1. I am glad to hear that nothing horribly bad has happened. Constance recently mentioned Penman, and I need to read the book I have by her. Look forward to hearing more soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tracy,
      No, nothing horrible at all. I was worried that all of you might think that, but no. I have also been fighting a dragging fatigue, but it's likely, probably, that it's the unusual heat and humidity we've been having. The forecast is for even hotter weather in the weeks to come. It's not uncommon for us to get really hot for a few days, but it usually doesn't last. Not this summer!
      Which Penman do you own? Mine should be arriving Thursday or Friday. Can't wait--I'm really in the mood.

      Delete
    2. Judith, I have The Queen's Man, the first in a four book historical mystery series that features Eleanor of Aquitaine. There is another series about Eleanor of Aquitaine (not a mystery, I think) that I am interested in also.

      Delete
  2. So glad to hear that you're ok apart from bad storms affecting your internet. We've all been wondering about you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cath,
      It is horrible to disappear as I did, but it takes us so LONG to get internet again after our power is restored. Over and over again.
      I have also been very fatigued at times, which, as I was just explaining to Tracy, has felt like lead weights on my shoulders. Ken insists it's the extreme heat (for us) and the oppressive humidity without let up that's affected me, though it's bothering him as well. We are just not used to weeks and weeks of this, and it is forecast for the Northeast to be much hotter than normal all summer, actually getting worse as the summer goes on.
      I know I'm complaining, but I've been really challenged by all of this! Fortunately we are both healthy, so I give thanks for that.

      Delete
  3. I'm so glad to see you back here. Thunderstorms everyday and power cuts must be a real pain!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Margaret,
      Thanks so much for your thoughts. Most of us here are absolutely fed up! But I think the extreme heat and the oppressive humidity that rarely lets up is the cause of the violent storms. We are just not used to this type of weather. We've lived here 15 years, and I've never seen it so hot, and so early in the season, and without relief. I told Ken we need to get used to the "new normal." Haven't we had to do a great deal of that this year of 2020?

      Delete
  4. Glad to see a post from you Judith!

    ReplyDelete