More Prattle from Povey

The honourable Mr. Zion and I had an early walk at Bayfront Park.  The cool breezes from the Bay were a delight. Back at home I had a plan.   I drove out sans Zion. First to get some air for a tyre which was a bit deflated.  That was the easy part. Then I drove a mile or so to our local Detwiler's Market to get heirloom tomatoes, and Kombucha. I did so....  but I had left my billfold at home.  RATS! Off I went to Sarasota's North Library to donate a wonderful book.  I hope that you will read it. The donation was well received by the Librarian.  I recommend the book without reserve. My plan had been to check out another book, but sans billfold meant sans Library card. Back at home I tickled Zion's snout, rubbed his neck, and took him out for a pee walk. Then it was off to Trader Joe's  (too hot to have a canine passenger).   T J's is my other source for Kombucha, my essential night stand beverage. Of course I bought some other "bits and bobs" (as we would s

  My "original" (1973) windows were   (to quote a hymn) " weary and worn and sad". All were metal framed; the larger ones were louvered with crankshafts (which were decidedly cranky!) Good riddance! I replaced them in April 2023 with state of the art, hurricane resistant windows via POLUSA CONSTRUCTION  of Sarasota  -  they are the best.   New windows installed.  It was time to ditch the internal Venetian Blinds -  do you remember those ghastly metal ones which brought shame on Venice!   Out they went, in favour of internal Plantation Shutters, which I'd ordered from Window Décor and Design in Venice, FL  upon the recommendation of my colleague Ted C. Out they went -  a bit too soon;  so for a while I relied on internal sheers. O.K.  from outside, but no privacy inside. The REAL THING  ( 100% Wooden) was installed today. So lovely! NEW home windows and shades  as a matter of utility;  and for the sake of beauty!

  https://steve-cartwright.bandcamp.com/track/elephants-nest-up-a-rhubarb-tree

  Enjoying a (milk) Cappuccino outside Mama G's whilst waiting for a delivery of good bread, straight from the bakery. Great for Avocado toast; or simply toasted then lavished with butter and good preserves.

  Lamb Loin Chop and Mint Sauce ( rather than the  ghastly American Mint Jelly)   for Lunch today.  Nowt else! Lamb so rare as to make my U.K. family and friends believe that I have lost my mind.

 

                                                              Vichyssoise 

  You've read it before. So many deaths in a year Jack Chrisman,  June 23rd 2022 Gwen Sears, August 12th 2022 My sister Elizabeth, Jan 3rd 2023 Barbara Dunne, June 16th 2023 My sister Jean,  June 17th 2023 So much sadness.  So much loss. It's evidently not enough. My very dear friend Ben Matlock has chosen to move towards death with the grace and mercy of his husband Ted; of superb medical treatment in NYC, and soon of  Hospice. Ben has been treated for a vicious cancer (behind his right eye) since Oct/Nov 2022.   So many hopes are mutating into sadness. Ted writes as follows Yesterday, Ben reached a watershed moment.  He said something along the lines of, “If this is buying time, what’s the point.”  He was clearly ready to terminate curative treatment.  We spoke with our favorite nurse at the place of his chemo and with his Nurse Practitioner, who was in close contact with his oncologist.  We were all on the same page, which was to say, there did not seem to be much point to c

 POLISH ORIGIN FRIENDS BE HONOURED  Kielbasa Loaf from Geier's Sausage and Ham in Sarasota. We can make Meat Loaf from Pork and Beef.  And Veal loaf too.  So here is some sliced loaf made from Kielbasa. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Tis wonderful for breakfast,  with a fried egg on top.

 

  https://www.mamagscoffee.com     https://geiers-sausage.com https://reynastaqueria.com          (Read Our Story) https://www.perqcoffeebar.us https://siamgulfsarasota.com/# https://www.artisancheesecompany.com

  Hi Michael Povey There is a message from your community: FYI - A spray mission by plane is scheduled for your area this evening. Completion of the mission will be weather permitting. For questions, please call 941-861-5000 or visit scgov.net (keywords mosquito management services). ------------------------------------------------------------- From Sarasota County, via our Community Assoc. THIS IS WRONG. A County wide investment in Bat Houses would be wiser. P.S.  I have lived here since 2006 and in all these years have only twice had a mosquito bite,  jmp

  "I feel like one who treads alone some banquet hall deserted, whose lights are fled, whose garlands dead, and all but he departed."     (Thomas Moore, Irish Poet) Kindly sent to me by my friend the Revd. Fred  Emrich. -------------------------------------------------------- Here is the entire poem Oft, in the Stilly Night (Scotch Air) BY  THOMAS MOORE Oft, in the stilly night, Ere slumber’s chain has bound me, Oft, in the stilly night, Ere slumber’s chain has bound me, Fond memory brings the light Of other days around me; The smiles, the tears, Of boyhood’s years, The words of love then spoken; The eyes that shone, Now dimm’d and gone, The cheerful hearts now broken! Thus, in the stilly night, Ere slumber’s chain hath bound me, Sad memory brings the light Of other days around me. When I remember all The friends, so link’d together, I’ve seen around me fall, Like leaves in wintry weather; I feel like one Who treads alone Some banquet-hall deserted, Whose lights are fled, Who

  Here is my handsome Dad  (Henry John Povey, 1911-1974) all gussied up for a family wedding.

June 23rd 2022  The Revd. Jack Chrisman. August 12th 2022  My dearest  (the Revd.) Gwen Sears. Jan 3rd 2023    My twin sister Elizabeth. June 16th  2023    Barbara Dunne.   (see yesterday's posting) June 17th 2023  My sister Jean (Thacker). Oh the grief and sadness which comes with ageing. This is the only picture ever taken of my complete family. It's from 1979 immediately after the wedding of my brother Martyn to his beloved Wendy. Back Row L- R    Martyn,  Jmp  (I officiated),  Stephen  - died June 2016 (aged 63),  David,  Andrew.   Front Row L-R   Jean (died yesterday),  Maureen (family matriarch),   Mum (Evelyn) died 2001,  Liz (my twin, died Jan 2013,)   Ruth It's sans our sister Sylvia who was born in 1942?.  She was horribly crippled with Spina Bifida, and lived for a matter of hours; and our father Henry John (Jack)  who died in  1974 aged 63. Dear friends.   I experience deep sadness, but not overwhelming grief. 

Barbara D.    I know Barbara and her life partner Kay from our Pittsfield MA days.  B and K  (both former Nuns) met and fell in love at a Convent. They decided to leave the conventual life in order to enjoy a new and free life together. They trained to be school teachers;  and  in  Pittsfield landed on their feet;  respected and beloved middle school teachers. The word got out (ahem)  that under my leadership St. Stephen's Parish, Pittsfield was "open and affirming";  giving them leave to break the bread and drink the cup with us. Their choice of Bradenton FL as a retirement destination was fortuitous when  I chose Sarasota as the place to retire. (Bradenton and Sarasota are cheek by jowl). OUR friendship developed at a different (but more precious) level. Dear, dear Barbara died on Friday 16th June.  Zion and I had visited her and Kay a few days before. In due course I will "officiate" at a celebration of life for Barbara. Friday 16th Barbara died. As if that w

Coconut Ice   -  a Blast From the Past This is one of the treats from my youth.  It's a very sweet treat. There is nothing icy about it.   (Maybe it looks like a vanilla and strawberry ice cream bar). The Strawberry colour is from food colouring. Believe it or not I came across some at Geiers, a German food store in Sarasota.  Taste bud memories came rushing back!  I could not resist it. The one pictured was fabricated in Kendal, U.K. -  on the borders of the famed Lake District. I'll delve into it soon. The ingredients are tres simple.  So simple that I made my own a few years ago. https://thecinnamonjar.com/easy-coconut-ice-with-condensed-milk/

  https://www.perqcoffeebar.us With Mr. Z and my friend Sarah S. Z gets attention from another customer,  and her son Kai.

  Privileges committee set to publish report into whether Boris Johnson deliberately misled MPs over Partygate Good morning. In a post on his  Substack blog  last year  Dominic Cummings , who was Boris Johnson’s chief adviser in No 10 and the strategist who did as much as anyone to help him win the 2019 general election, before he resigned and devoted his efforts to bringing Johnson down, wrote this about Johnson’s relationship with the truth.   He rewrites reality in his mind afresh according to the moment’s demands. He lies – so blatantly, so naturally, so regularly – that there is no real distinction possible with him, as there is with normal people, between truth and lies. He always tells people what they want to hear and he never means it. He always says: ‘I can’t remember’ when they remind him and is rarely ‘lying’.

 I am part of a Facebook Group named  "Jewish  Humour"  ( run by Jewish Americans)

  But why?   As a a Christian in the Anglican/Episcopalian tradition I am taught that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments contain all things necessary for salvation. The so-called Old Testament includes Psalm 119, a paean of praise for G-d's law. My Mezuzah evokes a deep respect for Judaism; and biblical teaching for Christians. Oh how I love Thy law!

  Today's Lunch On the left Swedish Ham.  On the right  Hessischen Ham. The best!  From  Sarasota's  https://geiers-sausage.com Hard boiled eggs, Kumato,  Boiled potatoes,  Branston Pickle. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branston_(brand)

                                Provenance unknown

  Old Sol's full glory is partly obscured by the various Bayfront Condominium towers. Undeterred, he blesses the morning Bay cloud. She in turn kisses the rippling Sarasota Bay waters.

  HURRICANE SEASON Battery operated emergency radio. FM/AM.    Storm alerts.   Lantern. USB port to charge from car, Solar charging for campers. Hand crank to charge when all else fails. $40 + from Amazon

Via my friend Bill T

  It is a common place that cats are obsessed with cardboard boxes. This is Nala. She is the dog in residence with my brother M and my sister in law W. Nala is all for boxes  -  of a superior design.  ( Any old cat can squat in a shoe box or the like).

  Cornell University students learn about the fine basics of ironing in home economic class, 1951.

  REACTIVE    Long before my cataract surgery I had a measure of discomfort in my eyes when I showered. Post surgery it is worse. So I protect them when I shower. PROACTIVE At my first consultation with the eye surgeon he advised me that I would most likely need spectacles for reading.  He added "don't get a new prescription, rather buy some "readers". I did so on line.  I like these half moons which make it easy to read, without interfering with my distance viewing; e.g. across the lovely retention pond at the back of my Lanai.

  .....  for the Hurricane Season (which "officially" began on June 1st) Coleman camping stove; spare propane canisters, matches, candles, flashlight, lantern. Inside I have bottled water, good canned and bottled soups, canned chili, dry cereal, ev aporated milk, and other good foods; canned ham, canned corned beef, canned smoked fish,  &c, (and tons of dog food!) Better to be safe than sorry - even though the preps. could be useless in the face of a major hurricane.

  Home made Cauliflower Cheese (with a bit of Mustard to give it a zing). Baked Cod. Garden Peas. I often plate very large portions; so this one sufficed for lunch and for dinner.

  New to me in Florida.  A passer by thought it was a Crane of one sort or another. Ace bird photographer Noel B will know.  

  Last Sunday we had a mini reunion of a few of Sarasota's ALSO YOUTH friends and members. We gathered at a Starbucks at Honore and Fruitville. Guess who was the star of the show.