Tuesday, May 05, 2020

A Moveable Feast


A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway is a collection of sketches of the author's life in Paris in the 1920s, a sort of memoir of the time and place. It can be read online. It begins,
Then there was the bad weather. It would come in one day when the fall was over. We would have to shut the windows in the night against the rain and the cold wind would strip the leaves from the trees in the Place Contrescarpe. The leaves lay sodden in the rain and the wind drove the rain against the big green autobus at the terminal and the Café des Amateurs was crowded and the windows misted over from the heat and the smoke inside. It was a sad, evilly run café where the drunkards of the quarter crowded together and I kept away from it because of the smell of dirty bodies and the sour smell of drunkenness. The men and women who frequented the Amateurs stayed drunk all of the time, or all of the time they could afford it, mostly on wine which they bought by the half-liter or liter. Many strangely named apéritifs were advertised, but few people could afford them except as a foundation to build their wine drunks on. The women drunkards were called _poivrottes_ which meant female rummies.
There are plenty of drink references throughout the book, but alas no pictures. I'll share some coffee for T Stands for Tuesday, though:


If you'd like to join me, the patio is inviting:



I got a few photos of some of the birds that come. Blue Jay:




Cardinal:


The cardinals can hold their own at the feeder, but so can the sparrows:


Carolina Wren:


The Mockingbird is the Tennessee state bird:


I wish I could get better photos, but these will just hafta do... The birds don't stay still long, and my cell phone and my inability to hold it steady enough limit what I can do.

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from Martin Luther on How Not to Tempt God in a Plague:
Others sin on the right hand. They are much too rash and reckless, tempting God and disregarding everything which might counteract death and the plague. They disdain the use of medicines; they do not avoid places and persons infected by the plague, but lightheartedly make sport of it and wish to prove how independent they are. They say that it is God’s punishment; if he wants to protect them he can do so without medicines or our carefulness. That is not trusting God but tempting him. . . .

No, my dear friends, that is no good. Use medicine; take potions which can help you; fumigate house, yard, and street; shun persons and places where your neighbor does not need your presence or has recovered, and act like a man who wants to help put out the burning city. What else is the epidemic but a fire which instead of consuming wood and straw devours life and body? You ought to think this way: “Very well, by God’s decree the enemy has sent us poison and deadly offal. Therefore I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine, and take it. I shall avoid persons and places where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance infect and pollute others, and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me, and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others.”
Give that some thought when you decide not to wear a mask.

Here's what a face mask can do:



It's not about keeping you safe but about the health of those you come into contact with. My store-bought masks have come, and I wore one of those at the grocery store yesterday. I'm glad I can retire the bandana. I felt like I was 8 years old playing cops and robbers or cowboys and Indians when I wore it. Fond memories, but I doubt it was doing much good.

42 comments:

  1. ...I need to refill the feeder this morning. We attract some colorful birds, but too many aquirrels!

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    1. The squirrels are greedy. If they'd leave some for the birds I'd be more welcoming of them. Well, and if they'd quit trying to nest in our attic :(

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  2. Your patio does look very inviting. Oh I long for patio sitting weather. I wonder if many of the people bucking at social distancing are the kids that wore t-shirts from their Grandparents that said things like; I'm in charge or You're not the boss of me? Glad you got your masks. Every little bit that we do, helps.

    I have read A Moveable Feast although it seems a long time ago.

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    1. Yes, it's rainy today, but we're getting more and more patio days :) It's good to get outside.

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  3. Hemingway is always a good read, but his life in Paris is always a joy to read about. Thanks for this.

    I love your patio. It is always so beautiful there. I wanted my patio to look like yours but it will NEVER look that good. You have a flair for these and arrangement, too.

    I LOVED the video on wearing a mask. So many good points and great information in it, too. Some people are just fools. So glad you showed it because some people have stopped wearing theirs, even though our governor has told us to wea them when in public.

    Thanks for sharing Hemingway, your incredible patio, your video on masks, and your coffee on the patio with us for T this Tuesday, dear friend.

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    1. I like a messier look, but sometimes I'm tempted to try something more formal... The plants I like don't lend themselves to that, though. You have a good patio :) Always more plants lol that's what I recommend ;)

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  4. Hi This was the best video about wearing masks I have seen-thanks for sharing. Loved seeing your patio and all the birds-I have never seen a mockingbird in person. we sat in front of the window this morning with our coffees and enjoyed watching all the birds-the water is still pretty rough out there. Love your blue cup and saucer. Thanks for sharing Hemingway -Happy T Kathy

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    1. Mockingbirds are common here :) Your views are spectacular! I know why you picked that place :)

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    2. When Larry said he was ready to move out of the woods and on to the lake-I said ok but only if I have a view and a bit larger lot than usual-not houses almost touching on either side-I am a farmgirl after all haha we had to move further away than we wanted to but I just realized these past few weeks how blessed we are to live here.

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    3. I understand the joys of being out a ways, especially with a woodland setting and/or lake frontage. Your deck is heaven :)

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  5. Fun post today. I love the Hemingway book and will try to remember Luther's advice in future! Lovely photos, it's all looking so pretty! Have a great day, Valerie

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    1. I was surprised Luther's advice rang so modern.

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  6. I don’t think I read Hemmingway. Your patio is wonderful and so are all the bird visitors. I’ve never seen or heard a mockingbird, but saw a catbird the other day. I also enjoyed the passage from Martin Luther. Take care and Happy T Day

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    1. We have catbirds here -or used to. I haven't seen or heard one in years.

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  7. Ha- I get the difficulty in getting good pics of the birds with a slightly unsteady hand and cell phone:) The Hemingway book sounds interesting- I'll check it out.Your patio is very inviting- especially with a good cuppa. And thanks for sharing the mask video. Happy T day!

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    1. I'm not sure a better camera would solve my problem ;)

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  8. Lot's of great birds at your feeder, and yes it does look inviting. I'm wearing my mask! Enjoy the rest of your week ~

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    1. I enjoy watching the patio birds :)

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  9. I recently bought this book (a used copy)-well I say recent but it was back before this quarantine. Now I need to read it. Your patio is such an inviting place.I love seeing all your green and the birds too. I remember mockingbirds growing up down in Massachusetts but I never see them here in New Hampshire. Maybe not the right environment. Save a chair for me and we can book club chat about the Hemingway book-well once I read the copy I have. Hope it's been a great T day.

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  10. Your patio is lovely! I bet you enjoy lots of time there in warmer weather.
    Happy Tea Day,
    Kate

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  11. Not a Hemingway fan. But I just love your patio! I always enjoy seeing pictures of it.
    Really good video. I wear a mask whenever I leave the apartment. The only place I don't is my own patio. Maybe why I love my sweet little even more this year--LOL! Even if it isn't as pretty and private as yours. ;)

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    1. I'm not remembering if he wrote any other non-fiction, but this memoir is different. Your patio is more sociable :) You can wave at folks passing by. No people-watching from mine at all lol

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  12. When I think of Hemingway, I think of Cuba. And that patio reminds me of Cuba, also!
    Oh, I´m with you with cellphone pics....
    I wear my mask, too, but, wee, feeling like being 8 again can´t be that bad ;-)
    Happy belated T-day

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    1. At least we can lighten things up a bit with our mask-related pretend play :)

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  13. I love your patio, it's lovely to see the photos and of the birds.
    I wear a mask when I'm out although not when I'm walking and there is no one there as I can't breathe in it and I get hot, I wore my sunglasses this morning and they steamed up with the heat.LOL
    Take care,
    Jan x

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    1. I tried to put my mask on when I left the house to go to the grocery to avoid handling it, but I wear glasses to drive and my glasses steamed up. There must be a way lol I'll expect to see videos on fixing that issue soon.

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  14. Your patio looks lovely. Nice photos even though the birds are elusive. My Cardinals seem to be a little timid at the bird feeder, and don't hold their own, as yours do. I like those paragraphs from Martin Luther. I think as the weather gets warmer, people aren't going to want to wear masks, because they'll be too hot. My plan is to continue my shelter in place policy, even when they "re-open" things, and I have a mask for times when I must interact with others, which I will continue to limit. Happy belated T-Day!

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    1. Restaurants and beauty shops are re-opened here. I expect an increase in cases in 2 weeks. We'll keep being safer-at-home for a while yet, I think.

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  15. Your patio looks very peaaceful and relaxing.

    Fantastic Luther quote, D. Good video too.

    I had another really awful experience in Walmart. At least this woman wore a mask, but she refused to give me ANY personal space. As I asked her kindly and then not so kindly, I could feel her smirking behind her mask. She obviously thinks it's all a big joke, but why involve innocent people like me in her ignorance or arrogance?

    Very informative and inspiring post, dear D.

    Happy T-Day! Eileen xx

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    1. That's horrible :( I wonder how she'd feel if her personal space was invaded in a way she considered threatening or dangerous. I bet she'd have something to say about that.

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  16. Your patio looks very inviting …

    All the best Jan

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  17. By and large, Hemingway is far from my favorite writer. And yet "A Moveable Feast" is one of my all-time favorite books. It merits multiple readings and I'm so glad you shared it, along with your beautiful feast of birds. What a selection. I may have to paste that Luther quote in my FB page. Here in Michigan people need all the reinforcement they can get.

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    1. I was surprised to see the Luther quote show up.

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  18. I like very much Hemingway, The old man and the sea is a great book.
    Your patio is Amazing! Yes I´d take a tea or coffe there of course. Wish yoy spent a lovely T-day.
    I like very much the photographs of the birds, and like the video too, thanks so much for sharing.
    Have a nice evening, stay safe and well.
    Big hugs, Caty

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    1. I like The Old Man and the Sea, too :)

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  19. Sorry I'm so late for T Day! Hemingway's memoirs sound interesting 😀. Your patio looks wonderful, it must be a lovely place to sit and enjoy a coffee! I loved seeing all the birds too, they are so different from the birds that we get here in the UK. Thanks for sharing your lovely photos and sending you happy T Tuesday wishes! Hugs, Jo x

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    1. I wish I could've gotten the chickadee and the little woodpecker :)

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  20. I would so love to sit on your patio and watch the birds! I had forgotten about that Hemingway book, a long while since I read it, and would certainly find it more interesting now I think as when we first used to visit Paris we used to stick to the touristy places - now we like to explore ! The thoughts of Martin Luther King certainly do have a much greater meaning now we are all going through this! I am preparing to make some masks for when we are allowed to leave here for walks - I think it would be folly not to! A very belated Happy T Day! Chrisx

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    1. I haven't been on walks yet or park trips, but I'll wear a mask when I do. It certainly can't hurt, after all :)

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