More of the same - dispatched.

Our new normal is starting to get stale. My personal panic episodes are now relegated to end of the day when I am tired and have less emotional control. Last night I made the mistake of reading an online article about other countries hoarding the foods they import to the U.S. I had to work hard not to cry when I went to bed.

It is finally warm enough that we turned on the fan last night. No A.C., yet.

I placed an online order for a few items today. It will be over a week before the first batch is delivered. Nothing is needed right now. I am looking to the future and think this "corn-teening" is not going to end any time soon. We won't run out of food. Only we will have fewer choices of what to eat.

We have tried to talk to family every day. Multiple times. Some of my family doesn't even answer our calls any more. And. They don't call back. So much for solidarity.

The governor of Daughter's state announced that school is over for the year there. I'm not sure I fully grasp that right now. I believe there will be some type of online lessons?

On the uptick, our Millie has learned to ride her bike with no training wheels this very day. Her dad, the coach, said he could teach a snake to walk if it would be still long enough.

We did have a full day of sunshine today. Macho worked on expanding the space in our own little butterfly garden. I helped until lunch time. After that I dropped off. I got caught by the computer and, well, just let it suck me in. That may be why I am feeling gloomy right now. Too much screen time.

Tomorrow should be a sunny day, or to quote Scarlett, "Tomorrow is another day!"
Shalom.

Dispatched. The sequel.

It felt semi-normal today. Woke up pretty early. We had things to do. After breakfast I showered and washed my hair. That sounds like nothing. In light of our jail time, and considering we don't really SEE anybody all week...I go days without washing my hair.

So, showered. Hair washed. I. Put. On. Makeup. Oh yes I did. All this to drive out to the Extension Office to water the new plants in the greenhouse. Saw no-one. Macho helped. He even snapped a photo for me.....

Next stop was Walton's Greenhouse to pick up some potting soil and plants for ourselves.

We spent way more than usual - tying to help our local business. 

We bought 2 trays of Cherokee purple tomatoes, one tray of better boys, a tray of sweet 100 cherry tomatoes, a tray of green bell peppers,  and a tray of sweet red bell peppers. 

A not so quick drive through at the bank and then to our local honor system honey supplier before we had to come home. And back to the quarantine reality.

Once home we planted all the new veggies in containers...

Our Lady of Perpetual Vegetables watches over our garden.

Potatoes have quadrupled in size since planted two weeks ago.

I put out carrot seeds with little hope they will grow. 

Hoping to put some green beans and okra in the farthest raised bed. I think I am going to plant yellow squash in my front flower bed this year. Like I did with the eggplant last year. 

Macho's stomach has rumbled for days. Hopefully this lunch will settle him back down...

It's nap time now. He is in his chair sawing logs. Out loud. 

I woke up early this morning to pray the Our Father with the Pope. 

It was noon his time. 6:00 a.m. here.

And the beat goes on.

Shalom.

Dispatches from quarantine.

I can't possibly recount the history of what we are going through right now. I am sorry I have failed to keep a daily journal.

We knew the virus was going to spread. Some siblings were sending texts meant to be funny. That was around the first week in March. I took issue because I had this bad feeling. Like before Katrina. The feeling was that this virus was going to affect me personally. It wasn't and isn't that I was afraid of dying. I was more afraid of spreading it. Or that my children would be hurt from it. Someone I know would quite possibly die. Yet. Some siblings laughed. Planned overseas adventures.

I calmed slightly and decided that I would keep on living. Not changing my plans until something stopped me.

Macho and I drove to Little Rock, Arkansas on March 12th. It was a Thursday. We stayed at a quaint B&B and on Friday we toured P. Allen Smith's Moss Mountain Farm. We were already distancing ourselves from touching things and people. We sanitized our hands frequently. The weather cooperated and rain drops only fell as we were getting back into our car.

On our way back into Little Rock we heard the President of the United States declare a national emergency. Here was the wall that would stop our forward motion.

That night we enjoyed a lovely dinner with my cousin, Alice, and her husband, Juno. She made a simple fish creole for us and served us wine/beer and bread to go along with it. We walked to their church and attended the Stations of the Cross with them. Afterward we walked back to their home and visited for a long while.

We had talked about visiting a tourist site or two on Saturday morning, but we felt the news was so grave that we simply headed home.

We were given a choice on Sunday to attend Mass. We chose to stay home. Since then our Masses and all church activities have all been cancelled. Schools are postponed if not cancelled for the time being.

Monday Macho opted to go to the YMCA. I decided take a walk instead of going to the gym. I stated to him that his going was just like us both going. His choice would bring germs home to me, so what was the use? That afternoon we had an appointment and then went to the local Piggly Wiggly for some supplies. (3/16) Then Thursday we returned to same store for a few more items. (3/19) That is all the times we were in the car last week.

We watched mass on Sunday(3/22)  that was recorded by our good Fr. Jeffrey. I had made some unleavened bread on Saturday. We shared that and some wine during the watching of the mass.

Last fall's fair is tasting delicious, again. 

On Monday (3/23)  we enjoyed butternut squash-pumpkin soup and tuna salad sandwiches.

It tasted so good to me. 

Slowly but surely we are seeing the back wall of our freezer. We are trying to use what we have. Many people are hoarding everything from bread to toilet paper. We are filling our days with exercise, house cleaning, yard work, bible reading, puzzles, and keeping in contact via FaceTime and phone calls.

This was a hodge podge of things out the freezer today (3/24). Stewed zucchini, chicken thighs, lemons, last summer's banana peppers, turkey broth from Thanksgiving, ginger, turmeric, sauerkraut, onion, carrots, potatoes, and old lasagne noodles from the cabinet. And. It was delicious. 

Macho ate it but it isn't his favorite. He doesn't complain.

Some in our neighborhood are putting bears in their windows for the children to "go on a bear hunt"...

I only had a bunny and a pink elephant. 

The numbers have jumped again today (3/24). More than before (+71). We went from 249 to 320 overnight. I know it is because more people are being tested. The numbers don't lie. It seems like it was just 80 - but maybe that was so long ago = last Friday.

We haven't personally encountered anything really hard, yet. We have toilet paper. We have food on the table. We have each other. Shalom.

Chickens.

Moss Mountain Farm visit. 

Chicken and farm animal pictures.....

You're welcome. 

World gone crazy.

We drove over to Arkansas last Thursday. Toured Moss Mountain Farms on Friday. 

On our way back to our B&B the President declared a state of emergency.

We got to visit with cousin, Alice, and her husband Friday night.

Thought about doing something touristy on Saturday, but opted to just drive home.

Some fun pictures to help with the crazy quarantine going on....

The tour was a daffodil tour, but there were tulips aplenty.

P. Allen Smith's country home. He has one in the city of Little Rock, too. 

He sets a lovely table. 

There were multiple arrangements of daffodils all throughout the house. 

The lighting is for taping his shows in this kitchen. 

Close up of the kitchen island arrangements.

Copper tub on the sleeping porch. 

Cute plaid rug on stairs that lead to the floor built for his nieces and nephew. 

There was so much more. I'll save the chicken pictures for tomorrow. 

Spent the Ides of March talking to siblings on FaceTime since it was the anniversary of Mom's passing. 

Our world is shrinking right now with the quarantine. Trying to stay home. This will get old fast. 

Shalom.

Melting the clouds away.

Yesterday dawned sunny and chilly. Macho headed out early to help with the Habitat house. I waited for the sum to warm the atmosphere. I indulged in an early conversation with Sister Mimi. 

I suited up and headed out for a 3 mile walk over to the lake. 

And here is what I saw...

The road that lies ahead. Uphill.

Spring green plant growing in the wet run off on the lake property.

Resurrection fern in a pecan tree. 

After walk achilles/ham string stretch. Henbit blooming all over the yard. 

I hope the bees are using it.

Fennel. Two years old and has been transplanted from front to back. It tastes like licorice. Swallowtail caterpillars eat this. 

Mom and Dad were married 77 years ago. On the 7th. 

This is their announcement. I don't guess many people send these any more. 

*****

We changed our clocks early. Supped early. Watched the movie "Judy" early. Turned in early. Woke up early.

And now it is today. Roast beef in the crock pot. Going to West Point to hear Felder Rushing this afternoon. 

Google him.

We are on the cusp of adventure. 

I will not revised the stress of the week gone by.

Stay healthy. Be sweet. 

Shalom.