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