Victory Garden...Here Right Matters

There's so much going on in the world right now and I've been thinking about how I can help.

During WWII my grandmother was a Rosie the Riveter. Her husband went off to war and she went to a factory and worked there until retirement. She started working to do her part and help...she stayed because it was her job. She did her part. The world is in tumult again and I want to do my part.

So, I'm going to cut my consumption.

I already don't drive a lot, but I'm going to try to drive less. I try to figure out how to combine errands, minimizing the miles I drive. I'm going to see how many errands I can do on my bike.

We already keep our heat fairly low, but I'm lowering my thermostat another two degrees. And I'm turning off lights. I'd switch to better lightbulbs but we've already done that. LOL We're planning on solar panels but they're not going in for a while. This is my stopgap measure.

We've had a garden for years, but this year I'm going to proclaim mine is a Victory Garden. If I grow it, it doesn't have to be shipped from somewhere else...saving gas. Bonus...I know it hasn't be treated with chemicals. The US Department of Agriculture estimated that 20 million plus victory gardens were planted and that 9-10 million tons of fruit and vegetables were harvested. They made a difference then and could make a difference now. And I remember that buying local supports my local farmers and community!

I know they're all little things. They're literally just a drop in the bucket. But a tidal wave is just a bunch of drops. Of course, I'm donating. CNBC has a list of the top charities. https://www.cnbc.com/.../heres-a-list-of-top-rated...

The world is in crisis. And I'm hoping rather than driving a larger wedge in our divisive country, people of good heart band together and remember, as Alexander Vindman says, "Here Right Matters."

Holly

A View to a Kiln: A Harry's Pottery Mystery
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Have you missed any of my Hometown Hearts series? Here's the list:

Crib Notes: Hometown Hearts #1

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A Special Kind of Different: Hometown Hearts #2

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Homecoming: Hometown Hearts #3

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 Suddenly a Father: Hometown Hearts #4

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Something Borrowed: Hometown Hearts #5

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Something Blue: Hometown Hearts #6 

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Something Perfect: Hometown Hearts #7 

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Something Unexpected: A Hometown Hearts short story 
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A Hometown Christmas: Hometown Hearts #8
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May-December Friendship

The Makeover

I moved a family friend from one nursing home to one closer to my house. She's moving to more nursing care and it was a good time to move her closer to me.  You see, we're not related by blood, but we're family. She was my MIL's neighbor for years, and when we moved in here, she became ours. And as her care needs have increased, I've stepped in to help. It interesting explaining to doctors our relationship.  Friend would work. But I choose to say I'm her fungus...she caught me and can't get rid of me.  LOL She's part of the family.

Between the Words

That idea of May-December friendship might seem odd to some people, but I sort of feel as if my life has been filled with older friends and kids.  Yep, I've spent my life balancing the two.  LOL I was my grandmother's caregiver for years. She was in the home I just moved my friend into.  Nana was a difficult woman. She was a Rosie Riveter. She raised my mother singlehandedly. She was a tough old bird, but she loved me unconditionally and I tried to return the favor.

PTA Moms: the Collection

 I think those May-December relationships show up in my books.  Pearly Gates and Nana Vancy are two of the older characters who've appeared in a lot of books respectively. I love watching how their dynamics develop with younger heroes/heroines.  And I'll confess, I love writing older characters. They say and do what they want. There's a certain freedom in that. Maybe that's part of what attracts me.  That freedom.

Briar Hill Road

Someone asked why I stepped in for my neighbor.  Her husband passed away. She never had kids. She was alone. How could I not?  I am overflowing with family, but I like to think if I were alone in the world, someone would help me.  I hope you see that in my books as well.  That sense of community. That idea that we are all dependent on each other.  That idea that we are all connected.

The Moments

So as I sit here tonight, I'm thinking about getting older and what I hope for those older years. And I guess I hope even if I slow down, I hope I still find glee in everything. And I think it helps that most of my glee doesn't come from the big things in life, but rather the little things. Himself, kids, family, friends, Ella (my dog), books, coffee, sunsets on the beach, ice cream, a fire in the winter . . .

Yeah, it doesn't take much. And that's a good thing.

So tonight, I wish you all a sense of connection with your community. I wish you all glee.  I wish you all a good book and comfortable chair!

Holly

PS

Able to Love Again

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