Povey Prattle

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On another note    together with many of my Sarasota friends I have been feeling particularly gloomy in recent days. The reason for our gloom?  There is Covid 19,  and the Dangerous One on the White House -  of course you all know about this - but to add to our gloom we have been caught in a horrid weather pattern since Wednesday last.  Two or three times each day we've had intense and torrential rainstorms, each lasting for two to three hours  - maybe connected with Tropical Storm CHRISTOBAL  which is making its way up the Gulf of Mexico and is headed towards the central Louisiana Coast. Today,   for the first time in years, I have been unable to take Zion for our customary and daily four long walks. In between the torrents we've been able to get out just long enough for Z to "do his business". Many o...

"COMESTIBLES"  One of my favourite words. -------------------------------------------------------- TODAY  1     Pasta shells eh?   In truth "faux pasta" made from Zucchini and Lentils.  A gift to me from a friend. Good taste, and not bad for those who wish to minimize starches. ( But I eat so few starches that I do not need this as a substitute for genuine pasta shells). ----------------------------------------------------------------- TODAY 2 There is that dreadful youghurt with a messy blob which purports to be fruit at the bottom of the individual cup. There are the horrid 'flavoured youghurts'  with their flavours coming from a chemistry lab and not from actual fruits. There are the so-called "Greek Youghurts" which have but a minimal resemblance to the wonderful youghurt in Greece.  These American imitations should in truth be marketed  as "Greek Style"; not as "Greek" Then there is this f...

We get into the car just as dawn is breaking.  I will be driving us to Bayfront Park for our 6:30 a.m. walk.    He settles down on the back seats for a snooze. I sing one of the Songs Of Zion "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey. You'll never know dear how much I love you Please don't take my sunshine away." Zion will sometimes restS as we drive.  At other times he will look out of the window. He is my sunshine ! https://youtu.be/cGa3zFRqDn4 P.S.   Good ole Patrick We've had much very heavy rain these past few days.  At the times it has eased off a bit Zion and I drive to our local plaza "Sarasota Commons" where we can walk under cover.   Z won't  squat there, but he will lift his leg at one of the areas with shrubs and plants. Yesterday afternoon my barber Pat had no customers.  I put my head around the door to greet him. I badly needed a hair cut....

PSALM 137   "Sing us one of the songs of Zion". I often sing one of the songs of my Zion as we walk out. Here we are, Sunday 31st May, at the Bobby Jones Golf Course. Photo' by my neighbour Barbara B. As Z and I walk out I often sing: "I'm walking with Zion, Beautiful, beautiful Zion. I'm walking onward with Zion, The beautiful canine from God" This of course is my version of the chorus of a hymn by Isaac Watts: "Come Ye That Love The Lord". Watts' hymn might have perished had not a 19th Century composer (probably Robert Lowry) set it to a new tune, with a rollicking and utterly singable chorus.  Even "God's chosen frozen children" in the Episcopal Church sing it with glee, thanks to our additional hymnal "Lift ev'ry Voice and Sing". Massachusetts Episcopalians will recall with joy our now departed Bishop Barbara Harris as she belted it out! Here is the best version I coul...

Fish cakes with peas. Nothing exceptional  save that I m ade the Fish Cakes with Cauliflower rather than with Spuds. Here is my intuitive recipe. One head of  Cauliflower , outer green leaves removed, then steamed and mashed. 1 lb of white fish (in my case it was Flounder) baked and then mashed in with the Cauliflower. Half a cup of store bought bread crumbs,  and  three eggs for binding. Shaped into Fish/Cauliflower cakes , and then baked and enjoyed

If you ever get stuck in the Hampton Court Maze and can't find your way out '''' Please do not trust Boris Johnson if he offers to show you the exit.

I learned today that my COVID 19 test on May 25th shows me as negative. Which is very nice, except that it does no more than to indicate that I was negative on 5/25.  That doesn't mean that I'm negative today! But the result is good   - inasmuch as it encourages me to continue with  good practices: -  following the six feet of separation rule; wearing a mask; frequent hand washing etc. I celebrated by making a Blackberry Cobbler.  Now that I have made it I should probably eat some.

My neighbour Barbara and I usually step out with Zion each Sunday morning; usually to Arlington Park or Bayfront Park. Today  (5/31) we had a special and wonderful treat. We live within sight of Sarasota's City owned  Bobby Jones Golf courses (two eighteen hole courses -  one British,  and one American; and a nine hole Executive course). The courses are closed for play, and the City of Sarasota in its wonderful wisdom (a genuine,  not sarcastic comment) has opened the American and British courses as nature walks. This is great!! Z, B, and me took advantage of this (bad English I know, but I could not resist Z (American pronunciation); B and Me! It was wonderful.  We set out at 6:30 a.m., and using the golf cart pathways, we walked nine holes of the American course.   It took us 75 minutes. Thank you City of Sarasota! Here are some of the photo's I took.  Lots of birdsong; beautiful "nature"; and the loveliness whi...