Good afternoon!
Besides watching out the patio door...well, we all know what Annie's favorite activity is during our isolation--LOL!
The only thing she has noticed is there's no dreaded company coming over so she has to run hide under the bed. Annie loves isolation! Definitely a silver lining for Annie Girl. ;)
****
My diffuser/mister arrived!
My diffuser/mister arrived!
I had told Ian all about what I was going to order and how it would change colors when we had on our last actual visit...so this is how we share these days. :)
****
It has been warming up! We hit 50 degrees already one day and supposed to today and tomorrow, too.
The snowbanks are shrinking.
I had this crack last spring in this side planter. It might be a bit longer now...
...and do you see the new hole down in the drain pan?
These were not expensive but I was hoping they would last longer before starting to fall apart. I am ordering some duct tape to try to patch them up for this year...maybe two years? (Always the optimist.)
****
This year I am on my own for the patio so I decided to order seeds and peat pots and even some gardening tools. Marigolds and coleus have grown well for me here so I'm just going to plant a bunch of those and hope fo the best. I'll make the top of my curio cabinet in the bedroom into a nursery because it's right under the window and gets good morning sun. (Annie will not like that as she does perch there on occasion.) I'll manage. Baby steps. Like I've said...it's surprising what you can manage to get done 10-15 minutes at a time. ;)
****
I am determined to have some flowers and to get one chair and the little tables out there so I'll be able to sit out on the patio this summer. I'll probably be out there reading more this year than I ever have--LOL! An isolation bonus, I guess. A silver lining.
****
Speaking of...another silver lining is now that we are doing video calls Liam is getting used to me more. He smiles at me, calls me Gramma, and even talks to me once in a while. Video Gramma works really well for a shy boy--LOL!
****
On my birthday Saturday McFamily called for a video chat and there they were around the keyboard piano. Leah played and they sang Happy Birthday to me. Then I had a visit with Ian and Liam for quite a while. Read a couple stories before bed and this time Liam stayed and listened on Mama's lap. There are many, many short stories in the Frog and Toad Book.
Frog is more the optimist and Toad is a kind of grumpy pessimist--LOL!
****
I talked to my mom last week and she sounded much happier. Someone is checking on her every morning. They can take her temperature or blood pressure, things like that to make sure she's staying healthy. They bring her up a meal every day around 4:30pm she told me and my brother said they will have someone to help her shower once a week.
****
Another huge silver lining to this pandemic...Mom thinks they are doing all this just because they are on lockdown at her senior building because of the virus. She doesn't know she's paying for the added help and nobody is going to tell her (or she'd refuse the help!). She loves the place even more now...and we can all relax knowing she is being checked on, fed, and taken care of--since they won't even let my brother or sister-in-law into the building. Perfect!! :) :)
****
Oh, and I misread the email from my brother. Mom didn't have pneumonia. They thought she did but ruled it out. That's when they found the mass in her lung was the breathing issue and how she got sent home with oxygen so quickly. She wants nothing done and says she is fine with her oxygen. She doesn't sound winded or out of breath using it when I call, so she's doing well. Says she feels fine. I'm so glad she has people coming and going. She doesn't do well with isolation. Even those few interactions every day have lifted her spirits. :)
****
Okay--this is probably only funny to me, but I caught Annie with her tongue out. Hard to see, but you can click to biggen. Shy Annie would be embarrassed if she knew I posted this--LOL!
Annie Girl is totally stocked up for a few months. She has a bin full of her dry food.
This bin holds one of the really big bags!
She's got cases of canned foods...and just today the two bags of #40 kitty litter arrived--whew! I'd be lost without my little cart!
You can see the canned food stacked behind the boxes of kitty litter. The first big bin has bird seed in it and the far bin has kitty litter. The birds and rabbits are eating less and less so I shouldn't need to try to bring in a #40 bag of seed from the garage. I think I have enough left in the bin. I don't feed them in the summer--just put water out.
****
And what kind of puttery things am I doing during isolation? Well, when I saw the front of the frig again taking the diffuser pics I decided to clean up the assorted things I slap on the front.
****
And what kind of puttery things am I doing during isolation? Well, when I saw the front of the frig again taking the diffuser pics I decided to clean up the assorted things I slap on the front.
Saved some pics I want to keep looking at (can't possibly put them all away) and have my birthday cards up there now, too, for a while.
****
I don't know about you but this self-isolation has thrown me off, too. Despite the fact I am used to being alone most of the time everything still seems out of whack. I have spent far too much time down the news rabbit hole, keep forgetting what day it is, and totally spaced on my calligraphy lesson last week. I missed the week before that because I was sick as a dog...but I haven't even got an excuse this week. Just plain "off" and trying to get back into a routine. The only things I did get done were my two blog posts last week...and things like laundry, cooking and such. I was so far behind on letters and cards that I had a stack of 14 on Friday! So I spent the weekend trying to catch up--finally. You will hear back from me, my faithful correspondents. I have eight left and should get to them all this week. :)
****
Has anyone else gotten emails, cards, letters or phone calls from people they haven't heard from for a long time? Another silver lining!! I have made some myself. Now, that's a joy! (Sorry--I haven't gotten back to all the emails, either--so much slower than I used to be--LOL!) I love that people are reaching out to connect more. That is definitely a very positive thing.
****
McFamily's at home. Dagan still has to go to work maybe once a week so he goes after hours with his disinfectant. Everyone is doing okay so far. That's a blessing.
****
Here are some examples of isolation at their house with two little boys. Might only be of interest to Gramma--LOL! :)
****
McFamily Isolation Games #1
I have no clue what that contraption is or how cars or whatever zoom all about on their own. I was as fascinated as Blink!
McFamily Isolation Games #2
Racing in their bedroom. I was an older sister so I know we can be a tad bossy and have a need to shine. I remember being jealous of Blaine when he arrived on the scene when I was almost three--LOL!
McFamily Isolation Games #3a
Kind of like a kitchen island track and field obstacle course. Version one. I love how Liam watches his older brother to figure out how to do things.
McFamily Isolation Games #3b
They had troubles with those foam tube thingies falling over when they were zig-zagging their way through them.
McFamily Isolation Games #3c
Came up with the idea of laying them down flat and jumping over them. I love how Liam got better jumping as he went.
****
Anyways--yes--there is distressing news every day and I do think we are in it for the long haul...but there are those silver linings. I choose to try to focus on those. (Even if it is a challenge some days because so much of it breaks my heart...and there are people I'd like to smack upside the head!!) We've been in self-isolation since March 12. I am determined this week to not just fall down the news rabbit hole and then escape into movies and shows...but to get back to more projects, my calligraphy lessons, and continue to get caught up writing letters (even if we do talk about the virus--lol!). It's Monday. A new week. A clean slate. Another day. And we're supposed to get up to 54 degrees!! Whoohoo!!
****
Okay--this took a lot longer than usual. YouTube was acting up and so was blogger. I lost videos I posted twice. They are all in there now--I will cross my fingers and we'll see what gets published, eh?
****
Stay safe everyone. Stay at home if you are able. Be extra careful if you have to be out. I am so grateful for the heroes out there keeping everything going--healing the sick, bringing us mail, picking up trash, putting out fires, keeping us safe, delivering goods and food!! And I am so very grateful for the internet!! Look for those silver linings! Have you found any? Love to have you share. :) :)
****
"There must be always remaining in every life, some place for the singing of angels, some place for that which in itself is breathlessly beautiful."
Howard Thurman
I don't know about you but this self-isolation has thrown me off, too. Despite the fact I am used to being alone most of the time everything still seems out of whack. I have spent far too much time down the news rabbit hole, keep forgetting what day it is, and totally spaced on my calligraphy lesson last week. I missed the week before that because I was sick as a dog...but I haven't even got an excuse this week. Just plain "off" and trying to get back into a routine. The only things I did get done were my two blog posts last week...and things like laundry, cooking and such. I was so far behind on letters and cards that I had a stack of 14 on Friday! So I spent the weekend trying to catch up--finally. You will hear back from me, my faithful correspondents. I have eight left and should get to them all this week. :)
****
Has anyone else gotten emails, cards, letters or phone calls from people they haven't heard from for a long time? Another silver lining!! I have made some myself. Now, that's a joy! (Sorry--I haven't gotten back to all the emails, either--so much slower than I used to be--LOL!) I love that people are reaching out to connect more. That is definitely a very positive thing.
****
McFamily's at home. Dagan still has to go to work maybe once a week so he goes after hours with his disinfectant. Everyone is doing okay so far. That's a blessing.
****
Here are some examples of isolation at their house with two little boys. Might only be of interest to Gramma--LOL! :)
****
McFamily Isolation Games #1
I have no clue what that contraption is or how cars or whatever zoom all about on their own. I was as fascinated as Blink!
McFamily Isolation Games #2
Racing in their bedroom. I was an older sister so I know we can be a tad bossy and have a need to shine. I remember being jealous of Blaine when he arrived on the scene when I was almost three--LOL!
McFamily Isolation Games #3a
Kind of like a kitchen island track and field obstacle course. Version one. I love how Liam watches his older brother to figure out how to do things.
McFamily Isolation Games #3b
They had troubles with those foam tube thingies falling over when they were zig-zagging their way through them.
McFamily Isolation Games #3c
Came up with the idea of laying them down flat and jumping over them. I love how Liam got better jumping as he went.
****
Anyways--yes--there is distressing news every day and I do think we are in it for the long haul...but there are those silver linings. I choose to try to focus on those. (Even if it is a challenge some days because so much of it breaks my heart...and there are people I'd like to smack upside the head!!) We've been in self-isolation since March 12. I am determined this week to not just fall down the news rabbit hole and then escape into movies and shows...but to get back to more projects, my calligraphy lessons, and continue to get caught up writing letters (even if we do talk about the virus--lol!). It's Monday. A new week. A clean slate. Another day. And we're supposed to get up to 54 degrees!! Whoohoo!!
****
Okay--this took a lot longer than usual. YouTube was acting up and so was blogger. I lost videos I posted twice. They are all in there now--I will cross my fingers and we'll see what gets published, eh?
****
Stay safe everyone. Stay at home if you are able. Be extra careful if you have to be out. I am so grateful for the heroes out there keeping everything going--healing the sick, bringing us mail, picking up trash, putting out fires, keeping us safe, delivering goods and food!! And I am so very grateful for the internet!! Look for those silver linings! Have you found any? Love to have you share. :) :)
****
"There must be always remaining in every life, some place for the singing of angels, some place for that which in itself is breathlessly beautiful."
Howard Thurman
22 comments:
My comment to get all your treasured comments! :)
It is nutty out there, for sure -- people here not social distancing or doing goo hygiene. It's going to get a lot worse. I've not had to get out to shop yet, but need to very very soon. Trying to hold off til Friday's social security is in the bank. We really have no one to hear from since we've always been stay-at-home-bodies. The kids and grandkids are in the same town as us, and right now we just call or text each other. We can't visit Jerry's mom as the nursing homes are all on lockdown -- they have to stay in their rooms all day, and eat alone in their rooms; his dad can only stand at the window and blow kisses and talk to her on the cellphone. Jerry and I have colored pictures and mailed them to her. // Annie looks mighty comfy with everything as it is there for the both of you, a very happy cat. Praying for you and yours to stay safe and well during all of this! Blessings, Rita!
My silver lining is that the store have finally put limits on things and i can finally find toilet paper!!!! Thank GOD!!! Another is i'm enjoying only working weekends... Sadly the more i try to stay home the more reasons we find to go to town... sigh.. but we try to keep our distance... and be smart about it.. stay safe my friend... Letter on its way to you if it hasn't arrived already.. Hugs! deb
Hi Rita - a very soothing post today, too much speculation/news/terrible/stuff brings gloom and doom to our thinking. This week I stopped checking and mostly have the news down to what is happening in my province when I check in the evening. Maybe I need to stop news for awhile. Loved seeing your sweet grandsons in action too.
Hugs.
Joy
Fifty degrees? FIFTY DEGREES? It's not even April and we're at 90+. Your diffuser is cool. I love the colors. The boys are adorable. I want to do some planting, too. Carol says she'll help me. I read all of the Frog and Toad stories to my children.
Love,
Janie
Love that diffuser. But remember to look online as some essential oils are not good for pets... Annie is looking fine!
I enjoyed seeing the videos of the boys. I miss having little ones in the family. It is always good to see Annie too. I am happy to hear you sounding so upbeat! I hope you are feeling well. We are doing okay considering everything. Take care!
You seem to have a little more snow remaining than we do. We can't seem to get rid of that last bit though, the bit that is hard and icy from being at the bottom of a 6' accumulation. It is shrinking slowly, however.
I enjoyed your post, too. I am still trying to find the silver lining in my own life. Perhaps it's finding out how much I love and appreciate my partner. :-)
Fun seeing your grandsons and the ideas they come up with to keep the boys busy/entertained. I'm not watching much news either. Will look forward to a letter from you.
Dear Rita, so sorry I missed your birthday. Putting your cards on the refrigerator door is a great idea--it will keep those you love "up front and personal" (as the tv sports announcers say). I hope the next year is good to you and that we all find many of the silver linings you encourage us to look for. Peace.
Ah yes there are some silver linings ...I have more time to crochet! I am doing some kitchen cupboard cleaning does that count...we are trying to be as normal as we can be. Take care Rita! Stay safe!
I think our cats are the only ones who really enjoy this isolation. You certainly are well-stocked with food for Annie. I'm tempted to start buying food and supplies online - but it's difficult to have things delivered out here in the wilderness.
My cat Bosco has respiratory problems and he sticks his tongue out when he has trouble breathing.
Thank goodness for video chats and email during these times of isolation. Take care.
Annie and your grandsons are so adorable, isolation isn't that bad with modern technology
The mister looks nice. And pretty, too :) Modern technology makes keeping in contact easier, doesn't it :) I've used duct tape on the inside of plastic planters, and it's held up well here. We've always loved Frog and Toad! I'm glad your mom is doing well. Isolation is harder on some people, and it's great that she can have these interactions. I agree about things being out of whack. I'm a homebody in cold or wet weather, but it's the time of year now that I want to get out and about a bit. It feels strange not to be able to. We both have patios, though, so that'll help. Fun videos of the kids!
I can see you are well stocked..super!
The diffuser looks good!
HAPPY BEALTED BIRTHDAY dear Rita!
Love the videos!
Stay safe!!!
Big hugs, Susi
Thanks for sharing so many photos and videos, Rita. It looks like you son and his family are making the best out of home entertainment and that obstacle course looked like fun!
I can't believe I missed this post AND your birthday, too. So glad you are doing well in isolation. It's good to see McFamily and the way they are handling this.
I bought 84 lbs of litter and fear I may run out before this is over. I have lots of food, but litter may get scarce.
Happy, happy belated birthday, dear friend. I'm sure in love with the diffuser you got, too.
I was just thinking about you the other day, wondering how you were. When I hopped over to Janie Junebug's site I saw you had commented. And I said, hey! I have to hop over and say hi. Hope you're doing well!
My cat Silky is loving us being in isolation. Every afternoon she is now coming and sitting on my knee at my desk... this is her way of asking me to put the YouTube videos on her her. I've found some mouse and bird videos which keep her entertained for ages!
Isn't it the case that this has brought out both the best and worst in people. And the worst is the dreadful creatures we see on television and supposedly ruling us but the best is the people we deal with day to day in real life. Those are wonderful lock-down games, I'm hoping to find a way to spend time virtually with the twins. I'm writing them stories about themselves, and hope this holds their attention. Don't go down that news rabbit hole, Rita, although I know I don't need to tell you how to cope with hard stuff, as you have been an inspiration for so long. By the way, I am glad Annie is getting so much out of the situation aren't you? LOL
The boys are certainly having fun! Some of your photos have disappeared - so I didn't get to see Annie! Hugs, Chrisx
Post a Comment