Hi everyone, how are you? Hopefully hanging in there. If you are like me and find comic relief to be a great stress reliever then hope you are following me on Instagram where I post a nightly round of funnies…seems to be helping a lot of you to end the day with a little laugher, surely can’t hurt!

Here is a round up of various happenings as seen through my iPhone in the last few weeks.  Most of these were “pre quarantine” as there hasn’t exactly been much going on in the last 8 days. During this we came to Palmetto Bluff for a few reasons. Originally with the idea of bringing my parents here, but it was deemed best for them to remain where they are at home in VA. So we have been here quarantining except to go out for walks and bike rides.

Amazing isn’t it, how life has changed in a mere 8 days. I am trying to stay positive and focus on the future and the good things that will come our way. Surely we will all emerge from this stronger, much better cooks, maybe a few pounds heavier, better read and fed, and likely will have a new perspective on even the smallest things. Always have to look and find those silver linings:)

I am trying to share the beauty and things that inspire me (and hopefully you). I vowed to continue posting uninterrupted  because I think its important to keep as many constants in our life as we possibly can, one of them being my blog. I know how much I enjoy going on Instagram and seeking beautiful things, it’s almost like air at a time when it feels like we are drowning.

We know two people who have Covid-19, both required hospitalization and both were scared out of their minds, saying its the sickest they have been, one was in ICU and just got out 2 days ago. She said the hospital scene was like something out of Armageddon (a NYC hospital). A friend of mines husband is an infectious diseases doctor in the city and some of the stories she has told me had my hair standing on end. This is no joke.

Even in areas where it feels like you have not been affected the way other parts of our country have, I hope you know that can change very fast. Even. here in SC, when we got here there were only about 22 cases, as of yesterday it’s almost at 500. I know many of us are worried about our health, our parents, our families, our jobs and livelihoods but heeding the (often dire) warnings for a few weeks to stay home and stay isolated can make the difference. Please speak to those “young people” in your life too, they are not immune from this as more and more studies are revealing. Everyone has to do their part, we are all in this together and we will come out stronger!

So let’s escape just for a little bit,  here we go with the most recent random musings from NY and. PB…..

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Loving my lemon topiaries….put them in the white fretwork planers and love the look~

My little stash above is as good as gold:)

At the beginning of this, I was using rooms in my house we don’t use often…..it was quite nice

Social distancing at meals:)

How gorgeous is the newest charger and the scalloped flatware!

Such a beautiful set, can’t wait for life to get back to normal so I can host an “out of quarantine” dinner party 🙂

Went on a big silver polishing binge, I find it so cathartic, anyone else?

Pantry is getting a clean out…..

Can’t wait to start using the outdoors again:)

The day before we left I walked outside and saw my first visitor in days…a beauty!

You could say breakfast is becoming serious business around here lately….

First stop at PB was the market, and of course flowers….one thing they were not out of:)

No matter how grim things might be, flowers are always a much needed pick me up, these were bought at the local supermarket

Have some of my favorite books and magazines here to go through….I find something new every time I look at them:)

Thankfully we have bikes!

Even in idyllic Palmetto Bluff, the gravity of the station is felt, everything is closed (you only see dog walkers and bike riders)

Scenes like above and below are nice momentary reprieves from the reality of the situation

Favorite drink  now dubbed the ” Quarantini”, tonic water, grapefruit and rosè vodka with a glass full of ice and lots of fresh lime juice (5pm rule is out the window during quarantine)!

The romantic trees dripping with moss was a sight for weary eyes

Been watching a lot of movies, many oldies but goodies

Taken during a walk….nature never looked so beautiful as it does not, one of the contents that we all need in our lives right now

My beautiful Provence planter and a favorite garden seat….

My happy place

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Hope you enjoyed the post and please I hope no one, not even for a minute thinks that this is in any way meant to minimize the gravity and seriousness of what is going on around us. I think thought everyone has different ways of coping and for me, it’s keeping as much of my “normal” as I possibly can and finding beauty and inspiration even in very dark times. I suffer from anxiety and get very nervous in situations like this so having my blog and instagram has been a HUGE help in getting my mind off things.

I hope you are doing well and finding ways to cope as best as possible. Everyone needs to find their “silver lining”  whatever that may be. I also read this article which I found very comforting over at the Deepak Chopra’s website on how to find happiness in tough times. Click here to read

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I know these are really scary, uncertain times for everyone. The only thing we can focus on are the things we can control. The wellbeing of ourselves and our families, doing our part by listening to what the experts are telling us to do,  and practicing self care. We are all the better to take care of others when we are first taking care of ourselves.

Be well, stay healthy, stay safe and stay vigilant. I love hearing from you so please leave a comment and tell me how you are doing, if you have any questions you want to ask or just want to say hi. Until next time…….