The Divider

 

I'm about a third of my way through "The Divider." I'm sure that not everyone will be as enthusiastic about reading yet another book about Trump's presidency as I am, but there really is more that can be learned about those years, especially from journalists who tracked that news as closely and as professionally as Baker and Glasser. 

What have I learned that's new? Well, first, that Trump's White House was even more chaotic than others have already said it was. Personal animosities between staffers ran deep and not everyone was necessarily as supportive of Trump's initiatives as others. This was especially true when John Kelly came onboard as Trump's chief of staff. Wow! Talk about personality clashes! Eagle Scout meets the by then not nearly so Dapper Don!

Skeletons

 

Sorry, Pasadena!

 

Snow in Pasadena? Not here. While it was cold and rainy yesterday, Friday was gorgeous! Much more like sunny California. :-)

Art Gallery

 

 

 

The This Century Art Gallery is finally getting an update, including new windows, new shingles, a new foundation, a new roof, new insulation, new interior . . . Actually, when they're done with it, about the only thing original will be the skeleton, and even that will have seen some improvements.

Kitsch

 

Williamsburg shops stock their shares and styles of kitsch. These appear to be Christmas leftovers.

Wheels

 

One of Colonial Williamsburg's ox carts is getting some refurbishing.

Buds

 

I don't want to give people the wrong impression. It's not like Williamsburg is now suddenly bursting with color. It's not. But there are definite signs that spring is on its way, my favorite season of the year.

Variable

After staring at bare branches for weeks and weeks now, it was pure joy to see trees beginning to bud, although I am concerned that it might still be a tad early. I checked my records, though, and saw where we've had similar temperatures before. But we've also had very cold temps. So I guess you would have to say our weather here in southeast Virginia is, in a word, "variable."

The Duchess

 

I was surprised by how much I appreciated Andrew Lownie's "Traitor King." I really wasn't expecting to learn as much from it as I did. I think that's what eventually led me to read Caroline Blackwood's account of what happened to Wallis Simpson after the Duke of Windsor's death and her encounter with the imperious and volatile Maître Blum, Simpson's one-time lawyer, friend (?), and gatekeeper.

Daffs

 

Winter Garden

 

Rose Petals

 

Made in America

 

Did you watch last night's State of the Union Address? I confess that I didn't; it aired too late for me. I did, though, see a clip this morning of Biden's speech in which he emphasized the importance of using American made products to rebuild and to improve this country's infrastructure. 

I have no problem with that. Seems like something we've been trying to do since even colonial days when most of our products were still being imported from places like the home country (England) and/or from elsewhere. Even then, it would seem, we were in the midst of a global economy with all its attendant advantages and disadvantages.

Back then, though, the best we could do was to produce things like tobacco. Manufacturing was still a distant dream. Most of that stuff came from back "home." And I understand you had to wait a pretty long time for things to arrive. No Amazon Prime or FedEx back then. Shoot! I'm guessing half the stuff you ordered never arrived; it just sank offshore somewhere in a storm. 

Nope! I'm all for re-invigorating our domestic economy. Just don't throw out the tea. Please! Don't throw out the tea. I enjoy it too much. :-)

Windows

 

Capitol building, Williamsburg

Brazil Wood Extract

 

Opening

 

Opening the Capitol building for visitors in Colonial Williamsburg. Historic interpreters set either the Grand Union flag or, as in the case of the Governor's Palace, the Red Ensign flag outside of venues that are open to the public.

Invasion

 

It's cold outside. Okay, not nearly so cold as in other parts of the country. Still, it's cold enough to warrant sitting down with yet another good book and reading while enjoying a cup of hot tea. 

The book opens with Harding sitting down on the eve of the invasion with his friend and Ukrainian novelist, Andrey Kurkov, for a meal of borscht. Harding is convinced Russia is about to invade. Kurkov isn't. I'm curious to know more.

Mrs. Stoughton

 

Interesting how Henry Hobson Richardson, the architect, preferred working with committees rather than individuals as clients, thinking that the latter were more open to reason. Hugh Howard writes: "Furthermore, the unpleasantness at the Stoughton project . . . had left Richardson with new reservations about working for individuals in general. Committees were one thing; his experience was that differences among a gathering of men could be addressed with sweet reason. But the concerns of private clients were too often dictated by inscrutable emotion." (Howard, pp. 252-53)

Makes me wonder if the renown architect may also have had a problem working with strong-minded women. :-) 

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