Cleaning Finished!

For the moment anyway.

The past three days I've been working to change this:

To this"

The garage is always the last thing I do!

It had become nearly impassible over the winter.

There is still a bit to do on the workbench but I think I need some different storage for a few things.

Along with that, I've been sewing some,

reading some,

working on this computer some.

My hands really want to dig in the dirt but it is super wet so that will have to wait.

All in all I'm managing this hermitude pretty well.

Stay healthy.

What one remembers

I bought this little book quite some time ago.

I thought it was a cookbook.

I am fond of cookbooks,

 I have MANY more than I could ever use!

I try really hard now not to buy them.

This turned out to be an essay/memoir about the art of cooking.

I remember reading it while I was out in Montana,

that was in 2016.

What I remember from this book?

She believes that rather than beating eggs to death for scrambled eggs

one should gently push them around the pan.

I think of this EVERY time I make scrambled eggs!

I make them nearly every day.

I could not tell you even one other thing from the book!

Life goes on!

Spring comes even when you are a hermit!

Lilies are up in the front garden.

Now if it would only quit raining that would be grand.

Quinn its a muddy mess.

So in need of a bath

So utterly fruitless as long as it is raining.

I moved my laptop with it's attendant mess to my living room.

No one is going to see my house,

except in photos for the near future so it doesn't need to be tidy.

I find it much easier to use in this location.

Why it's so difficult to go upstairs is beyond me,

I often think of something I'd like to blog about but I don't go up and do it!

This table is used only infrequently for games and puzzles anyway. 

While I was moving things down I could not find these:

The three external hard drives I use to store photos,

Family History files,

and to back up the computer.

I hunted everywhere-more than once!

I knew I'd had them ready to pack for San Diego,

 then reconsidered knowing I'd not use them.

I was sure I had put them somewhere "Safe."

I was also sure they were in the house somewhere.

As I was getting ready to go to bed I remembered that I had actually put them

 IN THE SAFE! 

Carefully inside a baggie so they wouldn't get wet.

Just in case.

I just had to laugh.

 I did finally get the Teal hashtag blocks finished.

As well as the big blocks in teal.

Still working on four patches, but I'm getting bored.

I have made it past two weeks from flying 

and nine days since I had any in person contact.

I am cautiously optimistic that I will remain well.

At least until I HAVE to buy food.

All my children and grandchildren are well.

I am so incredibly grateful for that.

It is so quiet now.

We are under "Stay Home" orders until April 24th, at least.

There is very little automobile traffic,

much to Quinn's dismay

She likes to run between sides of the house to bark at cars.

I heard a plane the other day and wondered what it was!

The trains are still running though.

My grandchildren are all at home 

(well Isabel's day care may still be open)

Nora is in her second week, 

Brayden, Kolby, and Ethan their first, as they had Spring Break last week.

All doing the e-education thing.

Ryan is home with Daddy who has worked out a schedule 

of doing things to keep them sane.

Isabel will be joining them soon I think.

With the exception of Bri (she's an elected official)

All the adult children are working from home.

Tomorrow, I'll be back!

And not talking about COVID-19!

I am now a hermit

Forgive me, I am practicing social distancing!

While I did go food shopping,

and yes, I bought toilet paper but only because I was out,

I did not stock up in anticipation of quarantine.

Quinn and I live a fairly quiet life.

I am an introvert who is quite happy by myself,

So, giving up going out to dinner, or shopping for a while isn't going to cause me any pain.

I'd say it would help my bankbook except -- Amazon!

So far I have no signs of the virus and I did that crazy thing-

I flew to San Diego and home.

That's considered risky for a senior citizen but I didn't see this coming when I set the trip up and I NEEDED both to see my son and his family (he's still struggling to get over Pneumonia secondary to the flu and his Mama was worried) and to get out of my own head for a while.

I've been to San Diego many times so I tried some new things this trip.

I had a massage and a facial--my reaction to both, I feel sticky! I doubt I'll do it again.

Nora's school had a talent show, I hardly ever get to see her participate in any thing so that was terrific.  (Good thing it wasn't scheduled for this coming week as the schools there have closed.)

We went to the Art Gallery, in Balboa Park, and that was new as well.

Then there were old favorites:

a trip to Rosie's Calico Cupboard for a few pieces of fabric,

a trip to the Wild Animal Park-loved seeing the giraffes up close,

a visit to see the sea lions followed by a walk on the beach,

a visit to one of my favorite places-Cabrillo National Monument

Agave plant, sometimes called a Century plant, the flower stalk must have been thicker than my wrist and 7 feet tall.

Agave Blossoms- hunt for the hummingbird!  Here's a hint-on the right side and the center blossom.

 It was quite windy up there and these flowers where dancing!

At the tide pools.  I did not go down to the water as it is  a bit tricky  (okay a lot tricky and scary) and my knee is still iffy on uneven terrain.

Girl Scout cookie sales ended while I was there-my Girl Scout-that would be Nora-sold nearly 2500 boxes and raised her total lifetime sales to 5000.  She will be the first 4th grader to do so!

On my last day, Nora, Candice and I went out on a whale watching boat.

We did finally see three humpback whales but we saw hundreds of common dolphins!

They were fun to watch as they bow surfed.

Lesson from a dolphin-have FUN no matter what!

I had a wonderful time and came home  refreshed.

So I feel capable of handling the current crisis.

As far as I know there are 4 cases of the virus in Missouri, and 7 in Kansas.

(Remember, I live on the border between the two sates.)

The Governor has declared a State of Emergency as has the Mayor of Kansas City.

No meetings over 1000 people, most museums are closed for the duration, schools are still open- although many are on Spring Break-all are planning distance learning. The universities went to distance learning last week and most students went home.  

All the my adult guys are working at home-they're all computer geeks.

Bri is County Clerk and she has to postpone the April election which is causing her trouble.  Apparently, no one ever thought about the need for this.

Professional and collegiate sports-stopped for the moment.

Concerts etc, postponed or cancelled.

Baseball opening day?  I think it has been postponed!

I think it's the same everywhere but putting it here will help me remember.

I plan to spend my time reading, stitching, and working at Family history perhaps I'll even get finished with setting up the Word Press blog and moving his one over!

One can only hope.