Dd went to visit her friend and then back to her apartment yesterday. I helped her plant a strawberry pot before she left, and she took some more of her stuff with her. I was also able to share some baking powder and baking soda which are still unavailable both here and where she lives.

She took my(kitchen can sized) bag of trash with her since I have been unable to drop it off the way I usually do. She left me her recycling because she has no drop off or service and I can still drop that.

My governor officially closed school for the year. However, in spite of a graph that shows a steep increase in cases over the last six days (and we have gone from state tied for 30th per capita to 21st) He announced that cases have leveled off (they had a week ago) and businesses can begin reopening after the 1st. No official word from my administration (whom I've started to think of as "the crickets") but I am assuming hopefully that they will consider us a school and not a business. Although technically they could go the other way and the lack of update makes me wonder if they are considering it.

I planted some more stuff (including strawberries) over the weekend.

Back to the video teaching today.

Dd went to visit her friend and then back to her apartment yesterday. I helped her plant a strawberry pot before she left, and she took some more of her stuff with her. I was also able to share some baking powder and baking soda which are still unavailable both here and where she lives.

She took my(kitchen can sized) bag of trash with her since I have been unable to drop it off the way I usually do. She left me her recycling because she has no drop off or service and I can still drop that.

My governor officially closed school for the year. However, in spite of a graph that shows a steep increase in cases over the last six days (and we have gone from state tied for 30th per capita to 21st) He announced that cases have leveled off (they had a week ago) and businesses can begin reopening after the 1st. No official word from my administration (whom I've started to think of as "the crickets") but I am assuming hopefully that they will consider us a school and not a business. Although technically they could go the other way and the lack of update makes me wonder if they are considering it.

I planted some more stuff (including strawberries) over the weekend.

Back to the video teaching today.

What a sad and anxious time.

I received bad news yesterday, too. One of the residents in my mother's facility has tested positive. They have been on lockdown since March 14 so this comes as a surprise. While they cannot give a lot of details. I was able to read between the lines and it appears this person had a can't miss dr or hospital visit of some sort. They can't say whether this person is still in the place but reading between the lines, he or she is still there.

I went over alternative scenarios for my mother and right now she is safest where she is. She cannot climb the stairs to come here and my bathroom is not handicap accessible. I have one friend who offered to take her a week or so ago but then we lose all services. My mother is in diapers full time with a lot of accidents along the way. I won't have anyone to feed her or bathe her, etc. I am satisfied with the plan of action for her facility. I spoke with a second, more boots on the ground, person at mom's and they are all so devastated that they went so long without any cases.

My stress level is high.

Notice this afternoon on the county health website.

As the COIVD pandemic continues, ------ County has the sad responsibility to report its first COVID-related death.

The man who was the first to be reported infected here, in his 50 with some other health issues.

My most sincere condolences to his family and to everyone touched by this hell.

Everyone stay safe and stay healthy (((((HUG)))))

Notice this afternoon on the county health website.

As the COIVD pandemic continues, ------ County has the sad responsibility to report its first COVID-related death.

The man who was the first to be reported infected here, in his 50 with some other health issues.

My most sincere condolences to his family and to everyone touched by this hell.

Everyone stay safe and stay healthy (((((HUG)))))

Good Afternoon Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
Hope the water fixed the headache.
You should also periodically get up from working and stretch.
Keeps the blood flowing better.

Happy you had a very good experience watching that video! 😀
I use the Roku to watch youtube on the big screen tv.
That way I don't need to wear my glasses.

Well, all my knives are properly sharp and my silver is all very shiny.
Even did the large fruit bowl, my earrings and bracelets.
It was a relaxing pleasure to polish today. Not like a chore.

The storm clouds are gathering again but I don't think I will ever see rain again.
The ant colonies are dying nicely. (evil grin)

Didn't vacuum since he stayed in bed until 2pm.
and now I am not motivated to do it.

Up to season 6 episode 9 on "Dark Shadows".

Great activities to do while watching Dark Shadows, Tillie!

Last night I watched, on YouTube, a live theatre production of Buyer and Cellar, starring Michael Urie. I was transfixed! It is available for a short time today for replay. I highly, highly recommend it. Very entertaining, clever, well-acted, etc. amazing, really, I felt like I'd been in the theatre. I can stream to my television so it was a nice, big screen. What an absolute joy.

I'm working and a bit headache-y today. Probably not enough water. Will go drink a full glass and get back to work.

Good Evening Everyone

Hello Tatoulia
How very kind of you to donate your fabric.
That should make some very fancy face masks.

Glad you & BF went out for a walk, keep breathing.

Washed dishes & wiped up the kitchen.
Am making a candle right now, wax is slowly melting.

He returned home about 4 hours later.
He was coughing less, less violently and not constant.
He is keeping to himself out in the garage, as usual.

Had a 30% chance of rain today.
The clouds developed nicely, all thick and dark gray.
Then the wind blew them all up to Winnemucca where they rained nicely. 🙁

I am on season 5 episode 24 of "Dark Shadows".

Good Morning
"Clink!"

Pretty sunrise this morning.
Lots of noisy busy birds waking up to continue their courting and nest building.

Plan for today is to vacuum and spot clean the carpet.
Then sit and watch "Dark Shadows" while I sharpen knives and polish the silverware.

Cats and I will go outside to look for and exterminate ants as they start to emerge from the ground after their long Winter sleep.

Ok I went for walk with BF, we dropped off the fabric at the police station and we picked up milk for mom. I disinfected the packaging and dropped it off.

Anxiety is bad but I'm breathing through it.

Hope everyone is okay and I hope you forgive me for not spending a lot of time reading your posts. I am
Standing by your side and cheering you on.

Bright sunny day here. I just showered and washed my hair. Now to dry it.

I have to skim over the posts because my anxiety is overwhelming so please forgive me! Yesterday my mother overwhelmed me on the phone then BF overwhelmed me and he hates to leave me when I'm upset but all I want is to relax alone. So he said, so what else other than leaving you alone will make you feel better. So we were able to laugh and I was able to call mom back.

I washed three of my masks last night. One of the police officers is making masks and needs fabric. I have six half yards of beautiful fabric I bought when trying to figure out what I need for bathroom. So I've put in a ziplock to bring yo the station today.

I've been playing more music and that is helping. Right now Marvin Gaye ?Got to Give it Up' and I'm transformed into a teenager again.

Did two loads of laundry last night.

I'm stressed. We are all stressed.

Good Morning Everyone
"Clink!"
Not yet 11am here

Hi Subclinical
YEA! for Sunday pancakes! 😀

I'm hoping people who have had the virus have enough immunity to stay safe at least until we have a dependable vaccine.

Steven has left the house.
Probably to go spend time with his denying friend who gives him distorted views.
Steven was coughing violently and in a strangling manner almost constantly all morning, never once attempting to cover his nasty face.
He had no cough yesterday.

?

Maybe he won't return...

Oh fiddle dee dee Miss Subclinical

Glad you will worry about it all tomorrow.
But you can not say you know nothing about birthing no babies. 😉

The corn muffins came out excellent.
The top crust is especially yummy.

Those brownies and homemade ice cream sound decadent.
Bet that was a really comforting food. 🙂

Glad that headache finally went away and hope it stays away.
I have had to use the netipot morning and night to get rid of my sick sinus headache.

WTG! Dd for sorting through some boxes!

WAY TO GO! to you too for all you did today on your Spring break!

Once I got the few items I needed through online orders I haven't ordered anything more.
I would love to give the delivery people my business but worry too much about them.
I'm glad people can have food delivered so the delivery people can make some money but I worry about them too.
But people getting food & etc. delivered keeps them safe by not having to chance the stores.
Plus the food delivery people are going to willingly do this job anyway.
Just hope they follow safety guidelines and stay safe.

Got all the way up to 72 degrees today so I put on my new Summertime dress. 😀
First time I am wearing a dress this year.

I got up feeling much better today.

I think some of the essential workers are voluntary and some are there because they have no choice, they need their jobs.

I am hoping that what my heartdaughter had was the virus. She will be a superhero - like Spider-Man getting bitten.

My local blood center started taking plasma from volunteers on Friday for therapeutic use. One of the guys from Dh company was one of the first donors.

Heartdaughter is the kind of person who will give blood, brave grocery stores, and just generally step up for her community.

Dd made us pancakes for breakfast this morning. I'm going to get back out in my garden today.

I kind of want to look my administration in the eyes and ask "whom are you willing to kill to get the kids back in the building?"

I worry about all the people who are involved in getting food to my house. I have to stop thinking about it though, or I would stop eating. I got really upset about something that wasn't even food related a few years back and stopped eating for four days. I just couldn't. Dh finally put one of my favorite soups in front of me and sat me by a fire and talked to me while he watched me slowly spoon it in.

I am really torn about mail order. On one hand, it helps the post office, and the post office is really important and it helps people keep their jobs, but on the other i worry about their safety.

Dd sortedvthrough some of her keep boxes and found a few things to discard and a few things to take back to her apartment. Then she made black bean brownies, which are more like chocolate mousse, but really good.

I have done absolutely nothing today. My headache slowly went away by lunch, and I thought about working in the garden, but it rained all day yesterday and everything is still a little wet, so I didn't. I realized this is the first day I have just relaxed and not worried about school or the garden or barn or housework since my "spring break" started five weeks ago.

Today I am Scarlett O'Hara. I did run the dishwasher and put the ice cream mix from class yesterday through the ice cream maker. It's vanilla. It was good with the "brownies". And of course I fed and watered all the creatures and put some out on pasture.

CM take care of yourself, anc I hope your roomate gets a good outcome.

Tatoulia, I'm glad you are sleeping better. Sleep is super important.

Tillie, how were the corn muffins?

Hello CriticalMass

Great to hear from you. 😀
I'm tickled too that you two might watch "Dark Shadows" too.
The episodes are only about 20 minutes each.
When it first aired it was a half hour soap opera so the other minutes were commercials for laundry and dish soap, Prell or Breck shampoo and Ivory or Cashmere Bouquet soap.
LOL ;D

So hoping Roommates tumor is benign.
All the best to her with whatever she decides to do.
I suggest that she investigate what the precautions are where she would have her surgery before she makes up her mind either way.
This could put her mind to rest or help her decide to put it off only as long as advised.

WAY TO GO! for decluttering that tall stack of papers!

My fingers are still crossed you get great weather and time to do something at storage.
I think if you could do a little in there it would make you more encouraged to tackle it rather than fear and dread it.
These tasks tend to grow in our minds into monsters when in reality it's not as bad as we feared.

A meme I saw
a lady said "I want to speak to the manager".
2020 is NOT the year I ordered.

I understand your fear of catching this virus.
In 1968 I almost died from the Hong Kong flu.
My friends all said that I looked like a holocaust survivor.
But they want businesses back to normal for financial reasons.
Actually said a few lives lost would be worth the financial gains.
It sickens my very soul.

Tatoulia, your bad sleep pattern left you and found me. Sort of. I'm not staying up till 5:30, but 2:00 is not uncommon. Mainly I don't feel ready to get up in the morning, which throws the whole day off. I've had sleepy afternoons too and gotten very little done since about Wednesday.

Our weather is supposed to finally get into a springlike pattern. I hope so.

Tillie, I'm tickled that my roommate wants to watch Dark Shadows with me. We have <10 Blake's 7 episodes to go. May do Star Wars and Harry Potter marathons between. If Dark Shadows episodes are 30 minutes each we can probably watch 2 or 3 lots of nights.

Yesterday my "big" decluttering accomplishment was going through a stack of diocesan newspapers that was about 3" thick and has been bugging me for awhile. They went into the recycling bin.

I share the feeling that people are getting too antsy to reopen everything, even as I acknowledge there are costs to not doing so. But the devastation of people dying - alone and frightened - of drowning in their own lungs, just terrifies me and I just don't know. Experts are debating this and that, but it's all so abstract. Having had that Beijing flu, and seen my friend last year on a respirator, I am more emotional about this.

My roommate is trying to decide about whether to have a surgery for a tumor that could be cancerous. I want her to get it taken care of, I know I'll be involved as driver but hopefully we can plan strategies to minimize risks somehow. But the decision has to be hers, I realize.

I can tell things are weighing on her having just buried her mother then getting that news. And I am not always sure what to say and rather preoccupied with my own worries and sometimes a bit clueless till I realize oops, this or that thing I said or did might've come off as insensitive. And then I'll want to make things better, yet if I call too much attention to it, that can make it more of a big deal and complicate things worse.

As a meme I saw online said, I'm through with my 90 day free trial of 2020; I didn't like it, and wish to cancel my subscription - to whom do I speak?

Okay. Coffee clinks!

I have normalized my sleep and I am so much better now! I go to bed at night and not at 5:30. I've been getting up an hour earlier and that's been nice too. I'm wiping down my kitchen counters daily and it feels really nice. I'm also taking stuff away, meaning I'm editing my home. I still want the things, I'm just moving things so there are fewer that are out. I feel a lot better.

I took a shower before bed last night and closed my bedroom drapes. Normally when I go to bed, I open the drapes for the window closest to me. I didn't last night, and enjoyed a good long sleep to 1130 when BF called me. I've been just sitting around and being quiet and peaceful.

I mailed some shredding to my office. Felt great.

Mom continues to do well. I've signed up for meditation on Thursday afternoons.

My company is strong and held a very good happy hour on Friday. Very informative.

Tillie, you are never out of the woods. Just do what you can to stay safe.

SubC and CM, I am thinking of you.

The grocery stores here are limiting # of people in at one time. There is a formula which I can't recall but I think it's something like only up to 40% of legal capacity. There are a bunch of fools with no masks and everyone's ignoring the one way signs in the aisles. I have a lifelong fear of suffocating/drowning and I do not want to go with COVID19 so I am rarely going out anymore.

Bf is bringing me my things and is sending fully sanitized treats to mom. I'm lucky in so many ways.

I'm going to do a bit of work now.

Good afternoon Tatoulia

You sound so good! 😀

Getting quality sleep and taking care of business.

Happy and relieved you, your Mom and BF are all doing well.

Fewer things out at a time is opening and refreshing and you can swap them out with other items as the mood strikes you to keep it interesting and fresh.
Plus it makes things easier to clean.
Counters are able to be wiped down with little effort.

Glad you are signed up for meditation.

Enjoy your relaxing easy weekend. 😉

Copied from the public service announcements board of health...
April 18: 89 tests administered, 81 negatives, 5 pending results, 3 positives
April 17: Two more positive COVID cases announced
So far they have tested only 89 people from my county displaying possible symptoms and 3 are positive.

This will now continue to rise because people have all been milling about and congregating together in close quarters.

Yes it's afternoon but I'm wishing you a good morning!

In fact, let me start a second pot of coffee and I'll be right back.

Hi Tillie,

I'm sorry we left you here alone.

I made it through the third week of teaching.

My youngest dd is home, but just for a visit. She's planning to go back to her apartment. She lives alone, so if she stays in her apartment she can come back when she wants, but she still plans to go see her best friend against our counsel, so I guess we won't see her again for a few weeks.

Dd1 is not allowed to go to the job site at all anymore, even when it is empty because of the case there.

Heartdaughter just told me she thinks she had covid earlier this month. Her doctor told her that it probably was, but she couldn't get a test unless she got sick enough to be admitted to the hospital. Which fortunately she didn't. Heartgrandson was with his Dad when she started feeling ill, so she didn't see him for over three weeks. Now he is having an extended stay with her.

My administration put out a tentative plan for returning to school "whenever that is." I don't particularly like it. My governor, who has done so well up to now, is talking about starting to "reopen" After May first. He says he will talk to superintendents this week and make an announcement about schools. I really hope he keeps them closed. I don't like online school, but I have a plan and I don't think it is safe. Also, I have cannibalized some of my original lesson plans in ways that would keep me from going back to them, but following the new plan requires at least one more week of teaching from my house in May because I am using non portable equipment and my stove. The school hot plate sucks.

But mostly I don't think it's safe.

Today I have a horrible sinus headache.

Good Morning

Sorry you are having sinus issues Subclinical.
Hope you can get that cleared up quickly.
My sinuses have been torturing me too.

I am relieved Dd1 will not be going back to the job site.

So scary that Heartdaughter was probably sick with it.

I too believe that it is too soon to open everything back up.
This virus is sneaky and spreads so easily.
I fear there will be even more severe outbreaks if everything goes back to "normal" before we get a better grip on it.
It's not worth risking any more lives.

Going back into the schools now after everything has been completely disrupted will be a disaster for most everyone.
All the lesson plans have been cannibalized and formatted for video.
Too hectic and confusing for students and teachers.

My plan for today is to make corn muffins then clean the kitchen.
Might cook/bake something else while I'm at it.

Steven went out yesterday, again.
He went to "dollar tree" and "safeway" and then to the new "family dollar" store that just opened up here.
Strange that a new store opened up in the middle of this virus crisis.
Anyway, he said ALL the stores were very crowded, lots of people not respecting personal space or covering their faces.
Safeway had no respectable produce and the meat section was sparse.
But the stores did have TP, which we don't need yet.
But a lot of shelf stable foods were still not restocked much.

So once again I start my 14 day quarantine count down. >:(

good night

Out of sheer boredom...
I did the math.

If I were to watch every "Dark Shadows" episode available on Tubi back to back, 24 hours a day
it would take me 18 days to watch every one.

Really hoping I do not have the time or be bored enough to watch them all. 🙁

Hello

Did some of this and then some of that today.
Laundry is all dry folded and put away.
Killed some pissants.

Scooter came outside with me and helped me keep the courting Doves out of the Olive tree.
Such a bad place to make a nest because cats can practically just walk up the trunk.

Then I came inside and Scooter was laying out in the shade.
Then Scooter was nowhere to be seen and didn't come when I called.
TWO hours later he comes waltzing through the door singing a little "hello" song.
Now he's very tired and napping in the sunshine.
Stupid cat ;p

Good Morning Fellow Inmates

Hope everyone is safe and well today.

Freaking cold today and a brisk breeze promising to grow stronger as the day wears on.

Oh how I should clean the house...
But completely lacking any motivation.
I'll just allow the dust bunnies to multiply.

Always enjoyed post apocalyptic books, movies and tv shows but never wanted to experience it first hand.
What amazes me the most is how quickly the wildlife is encroaching on the formerly human populated areas.
But the rats in big cities are suffering without the daily constant food sources they depended on.

Everyone stay safe, healthy and sane (((HUGS)))

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Subclinical
So sorry you may have lost the cherries.
I lost my chance of apricots and may have lost all Lilac blooms too.
My fingers are crossed the cold didn't hurt your veggies.

Best wishes the next kids come when it's a bit warmer.

So nice that so many sewers & quilters are making the cloth face masks in bulk and selling them.

One day at a time is all we can do right now.
Praying that by September there are vaccines and better faster tests to see who is or was previously infected.

Pretty sunrise this morning.
When it warms up I'll go hang out the laundry.

Yesterday afternoon there was a constant breeze
but periodically there would be a strong violent blast of wind swirling dust dirt and debris all around.
Quite annoying dust devils.
Plan today is to keep my promise to Twinkles and brush him.

Hi tatoulia, so glad you are feeling better!

CM, I am very impressed that you can make a new hand fir your doll! Also, it's a wonderful gift that you are able to use some of your stash to help people!

The woman who teaches sewing at our school is making a lot of masks. She gives them free to essential workers and their families and sells them for $10 to anyone else to buy more materials. She says she is completely overwhelmed with requests.

The grocery store pushed our order from yesterday to today.

It's 27 degrees out right now. I'm afraid we won't get any cherries this year. The cherry trees have been blooming beautifully all week.

My next goat is due to kid any day now. Hopefully not this morning. (She's a good momma, the babies would be fine, I don't want to hang out in the cold barn.)

I am making it through one day at a time. 5 more Wednesdays, and the last one I don't teach, I just go to the school and watch people pick up their boxes.

I worry about September.

Good Afternoon Everybody

YEA! Tatoulia!
How wonderful you are feeling so energetic and optimistic! 😀

Very glad the cleaners came by today too.
Now you have a sweet clean home to shelter in.

Save some laundry for tomorrow and the next day since it soothes you so. (((HUG)))

Hi CriticalMass
WTG! Badger for taking good care of CriticalMass. 😉

Sounds like you are doing things and that's GREAT!
How clever of you to make a new doll hand.

Maybe just taking some of the stuff nearest the storage door out and getting it evaluated and sorted out.
Little bit by little bit until you have made a path with some elbow room?

Was a beautiful morning for watering.
The wind is getting a little bit much now.
Will clean up the kitchen in a little while.
Planning to wash my hair this evening changing out my sheets/pillow cases and washing laundry tomorrow.