I've built a few minefields around my house. My front hall, case in point, now has a small serpentine front desk and a Victrola pushed against one side. And screens for the security door on the other. It is a bit of a dog obstacle course these days—they have their own steeplechase.

Bt and compost tea in a bottle sprayed on the tomatoes and other crops because caterpillars have started to appear. I'm canning soon, and ran a case of pint jars through the dishwasher yesterday.

Last night was remarkably quiet compared to July 5 on previous years. I think the explosives amateurs blew the entire box of fireworks overnight on the fourth.

There is almost enough stuff in the donation bin in the laundry room to make another run over to Goodwill. If I see the guy who gave me the black elastic I'll offer him one of my cloth masks as a "thank you." Not going in anywhere right now, the horror stories we heard from New York City last spring are beginning to emerge here in Texas and other southern tier states. And New York isn't finished; the story of the 41-year-old theater actor Nick Cordero who died after 90+ days in the hospital and after the amputation of one leg should be a cautionary tale for all of us. (They had recently moved from NY to LA, but New York still claims him.)

I'll keep working around the house and I've continued to make masks. I have enough now to offer a few at a time to local friends who are needing them (until now I've kept family and close friends and neighbors supplied). You can't really get by with just one or even two; if you wash the mask after using it then that is out of circulation until it's dry (and ironed, if needed). Three minimum. I have one by the front door in case I need to speak to someone there, a couple in the kitchen waiting to be washed or hanging dry, and a couple in my handbag.

Maybe I'll finish moving things to the front room and restage the sun room today. We had a surprise thunderstorm in the wee hours today so there won't be yard work until it dries out a bit.