In the last 60 days I’ve:
Planted 100 plants. Rode to Key West and back on my stationery bike. Created a mountain of shredded paper from old files. Became a wooden jigsaw puzzle fanatic. Explored, photographed and made storyboards of what’s blooming in my yard. Participated in zoom meetings and plant clinics with fellow master gardeners. Made an epic “well wishes” video (while wearing facemasks) for a couple being wed in Hong Kong. Dusted off my bread recipes from 30 years ago... I kneaded to do that! All the while there was something missing. It was my connections to my people and my work. I started to feel a little low. Don’t go there I said to myself. So I turned off the news, took a break from Facebook and got my hair cut. Suddenly I felt lifted. My point is, I do not want to go back to that time warp called quarantine. But I am afraid. I see people not wearing masks, mingling, and this cannot be a recipe for a good outcome. I fear the virus will return with a vengeance, and sooner than later. Let’s just all try to be mindful, for each other’s sake. Incidentally, there are incredibly attractive facemasks available in my online store. http://www.art-a-porter.com/carol.ellis. For the first 10 customers there is a discount code ..... CE01gift ....for a savings of 20 percent.
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To make your own hand sanitizer, you only need two ingredients: Aloe vera, and rubbing alcohol.
In a blender, mix one cup fresh aloe vera gel scooped from inside 2 medium aloe vera leaves. Only the clear gel is used, avoiding the green outer skin. Mix gel with with two cups (16 oz) rubbing alcohol until blended. Use wintergreen infused alcohol for a fresh scent, or use regular clear isopropyl alcohol and then add a few drops of essential oils to make it smell better. The mixture will be thinner than store-bought hand sanitizer. Completely coat your hands with gel and let them air dry. FYI: Vodka is not an effective substitute for rubbing alcohol; trying it would be considered “Alcohol Abuse”. My role as “meet and greet” photographer is pretty simple: show up ready to shoot, photograph the groupings and anonymously you leave.
Last evening’s shoot was different. I enter the library, Gen. James Mattis’ and my eyes connect, he reaches out his arm to shake my hand, I say “thank you for your service General, SEMPER FI” at which point his handshake became wildly enthusiastic, and his smile could not have been greater. After the photo shoot, one of the guests asked me if I were a Marine. I replied my husband was a Seabee, having served two tours in Vietnam, and it was he who said if I had the opportunity to speak with Gen. Mattis I should offer the Marine Corp motto, coined in 1883, “Semper fi” which means “always remain faithful to the mission”. Mattis opened by honoring the veterans in the audience, including one from WWII: “generation after generation you have carried our flag in your hearts and the patriot's fire in your belly, a fire that keeps alive our experiment that we call America.” He stressed the importance of learning history, and if there were mandatory reading materials for an incoming President of the United States it would include the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America, The Bill of Rights and 1776, by David McCullough. “This country was not granted to us; a lot of blood and sweat went into its formation.” Semper fi oorah |
CAROL ELLIS
This photographic website provides me the opportunity for self-expression, for sharing Archives
February 2020
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