Quick Check In

How are you doing? We are hanging in there. I've not been out for a week. This morning (Monday) I woke to this.

This, too, will pass. Probably sooner than the Coronavirus.

Michigan is officially going to Shelter In Place today. Our governor delayed as long as she could to keep as many businesses open as possible but with over 1,000 cases, she realized it was time.

For me, it doesn't change much. I'm happy to stay in as long as needed. Months, if I have to, to stay well.  But I'm really feeling for those who have lost their jobs and are trying to wrangle with the unemployment system, especially the independent workers who may fall through the cracks. Those on the front lines deserve our great thanks. Hats off to our health care professionals, grocery store staff, pharmacy staff (who are now doing home delivery), and others considered "essential services." They're working their tails off and more than appreciated by me.

Team Apple Market -- Best Little Grocery in Michigan!

So, life goes on in this altered state. I should be able to say I'm maximizing this time with worthy chores like cleaning the basement and scrubbing the floors. So far, I'm not. But I suspect this will all happen in due course. I have been cooking and whipped up some of Julia's French Onion soup. My favorite part is caramelizing the onions. Usually I make extra to use in other dishes but I didn't have enough onions so they all went into the soup.

It was delicious, especially with Rick's bread. (Easiest recipe in the world. Google Julia Child's French Onion Soup.)

I took inventory with what I could make from my fridge/freezer (just the fridge-top freezer) and I have quite a few options!

I beat Rick at Scrabble. (That rarely happens!)

I've been reading. A lot. A book post soon, but let me clue you into two current favorites. The first is a collection of short stories in the Bryant and May series by Christopher Fowler. These two exceedingly eccentric and aged detectives and their team are some of my favorite characters. I always learn so much about London through their longer books. These are just fun.

Now I'm into Anthony Horowitz's "The Magpie Murders." I'm about halfway through and thoroughly enjoying it!

Meanwhile, Lizzie doesn't know about Coronavirus either. But she's the best purr therapist anyone could ever have.

To be honest, I'm very anxious and on top of that, deeply concerned about my cousin who is in the hospital in Cleveland with complications following surgery last week. This morning I woke with tears in my eyes, on my face and they keep coming back. I think about those whose families are testing positive and worse, ill in the hospital. Friends around the world. Those in areas like Nashville who have already been hit so hard. Friends who will have challenges meeting mortgage or rent payments because they are out of work. Everyone is doing what they can. We're keeping on.

Peter Max painting

Stay well, my friends.

The Ditch Doesn't Know About Covid19

Despite being locked down during the virus, we are fortunate to be able to get out for walks (or in Rick's case, rides). So I took my first spring walk to the Ditch the other day. This is my happy place, or one of them, where I can leave the city behind, even though it is adjacent to some busy streets. It's a nature haven for me, especially when I can't be at the lake.

To be honest, there's not much to see yet in the leaf foliage. Trees are still bare and the only green was these daffodil sprouts.
But it's a sign.

There were only a couple of ducks, too. The rest must be nesting, for it was a gorgeous day (and I saw about 25 when there was still ice on the water.) But these two were enjoying themselves.

I prefer to think this one isn't sticking his head in the coronavirus sand but instead, entertaining me with Duckrobatics. I gave him a
perfect 10.

I didn't see much in the bird line, either but when I heard the cardinal song, I took a more careful look.

There he is! And here's a somewhat closer look.

This looks like a pigeon or mourning dove? David, Eileen, Arti, Diane -- am I close?

 Finally, these two Canada Geese were holding court. I wonder where the rest of their gaggle is?

It was a lovely day to be outside, people (few) keeping distance but all there to enjoy that last few days off official winter before the Equinox that would begin the next day.

These birds and blooms don't know we're in the midst of emotional and economic chaos, that people are ill, dying, all around the world. They just know that while the water is still icy cold, it is a beautiful day and despite the cool breeze, the sun is warm and bright.

I think we can learn from them. I hope we can -- but I'm having a hard time trying.

Hanging Out with My Tribe - Cuteness Alert

I had a hot date at the fire station the week before "the great confinement." And I didn't even have to drive!

We had a wonderful visit with Kevin, Molly and the Toddler Twosome, starting with brunch. Rick and Kevin turned out wonderful omelets, sausage and potatoes, and of course there were maple oatmeal muffins, too!

Then it was on to my house so the boys could "see the kitty!" Unfortunately, Lizzie wasn't in a cooperative mood. She hid in an impossible place to even see her -- and then hissed! Poor girl isn't used to little boys! But the walk down was lovely! And we had a fun pillow fight. I knew all those throw pillows would come in for something. Apparently, for throwing!

In fact, it was a perfect day. A little windy but sunny and relatively warm for early March. For the most part, the Littles were running, but every now and then they opted for a ride!

I live around the corner from the fire station so after we left the house, we headed there, knocked on the door and sure enough, were warmly greeted. This guy was so nice -- and I learned a lot, too!

We got quite the tour, even seeing some of the equipment, including the jaws of life (the boys loved it every time he opened a compartment!). Let's say that's the closest I want to see the jaws of life!

It reminded me of our first visit to the fire station in 1918 2018, with Carson who was a year and four months. He's on the left below. This is his brother, a year and eight months, on our visit.

   

I hope their mom is labeling the backs of the baby pix! Otherwise, future genealogists will have one heck of a time figuring out which is which!

Then it was off to the playground, just down the street from the station where everyone could touch the germ-laden swings and climbing things! Grandpa helped the boys on the swinging steps.

Slides are always fun!

Carson loved this, but Cam was a little too young to hang on well!

And who doesn't love to swing!

Everyone had a hand in pushing these guys higher and higher!

Time to head home and wash hands!

And time to open belated a birthday present -- a set of four puzzles.

Oh, we hated to see these guys leave. Well, all of us except Lizzie. But the hugs and the smiles were the best thing of the day.

I wonder who was driving home?

Hopefully not this one!

A final note from the front: I asked a friend of mine who is a family practice physician and on the faculty of Ohio State if the hype on the virus is overblown as so many have said. Here is her reply: "Unfortunately, it is not overblown.  The number of cases and deaths are climbing everyday and with this current course it will be much worse before it is better.  I just hope we don’t end up like Italy but the lag in testing and isolation actions, we may have to face a difficult couple of months if not more."

St. Gervais, Paris

So, be safe, everyone. Social distance, hand washing, sanitizer if you have it. We'll get through and be changed by this. But we will get through.  

How Are We Doing, World?

We've been through a wacky week or so, haven't we? Here in Michigan and many other places in the U.S., restaurants, bars and schools are closed. Many places are open by appointment only. Pretty much everyone is staying in and the streets are really quiet. I'm glad we had our little trip when we did. It started with a nice celebration. Rick and I met 27 years ago on March 11.

I was being evicted from my apartment because of the illegal cat Stimpy and was looking for a spot to live and he had just opened his new duplex. I didn't move in (I ended up across the street) and we didn't really start seeing each other apart from being neighbors for two years. But March 11 was a very good day for us!

We celebrated at a lovely restaurant in Strathroy, Ontario called The Clock Tower, on the way to our friends, Suzanne and Jim. We had a tasty dinner and then it was off to London!

That night we watched the extremely alarming presidential address and follow-up and early the next morning, Rick took off for his trade show. We found out it was canceled after he was about four or five hours into the trip. He ended up staying the night in upstate New York and headed back to Michigan. I stayed with Suzanne and Jim for a few days.

Restaurants were still open -- but very quiet. (As of Monday, March 16, restaurants and bars in Michigan are closed.)

We saw the same things in Canada many of you are seeing around the world. Lines in stores, carts filled with toilet paper (Why? This is not a gastro-intestinal virus.) Many empty shelves. This had been the toilet paper department.

We couldn't find chicken at three stores.

But, the shelves weren't empty, people were being nice and keeping a safe distance. I was able to buy Rick a bag of Canadian flour. But it was a pretty popular commodity.

We also nailed a few used book stores. Between new purchases, books of Suzanne's I brought home and our belated Christmas celebration, I'm set for the "confinement."

She's set, too -- with more books and an impossible jigsaw puzzle!

It's wonderful to spend extended time with a friend you've known for more than 50 years. Suzanne is like me -- between books and media, she could be confined indefinitely and not get bored! They also have three slot machines in their basement and tokens for them. No gains, no losses. But we passed some time mindlessly pushing buttons and watching pretty wheels move! A race to the bottom!

Add to that some games of Sequence -- we were good to go!

There wasn't much traffic when she brought me home Sunday, although at the border they told her that she would be in self-quarantine for two weeks after returning from the U.S. (They didn't tell me to stay home, but I'm sticking close!) Meanwhile, Lizzie was glad for me to unpack. New things to sleep on. I'm waiting for feeding time to put them in the drawer. (You could title this "Same Picture, New Clothes."

And so yes, I'm isolating as much as possible. And what will I be doing in that time? Well, decorating for spring, to be sure. I'll be catching up on blogs and comments. There is always work to be done in the basement. And I have plenty of wool to poke into felties! Oh, yes -- all those 28 books I brought back from Canada!

I hope you have onions.

It's a new world out there.