Tag: Covid-19

tgif | 4.24.20 …

Published on by Honoré13 Comments

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thinking: the week has passed by quite fast…where does the time go when you are homebound? our routine has definitely changed though we’re not going to bed or waking up any any earlier or later …yet, the day seems to pass really quickly…

gathering and organizing supplies and ideas and stories I want to tell for the upcoming session of LOAD – that’s making a scrapbook layout a day for the entire month of May – just one week away! The theme this year is The Beatles; ah the memories that should evoke…

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in preparation, this month I’ve been making a small 3.5 x 5.5 pocket sized traveler’s notebook, documenting these days of Covid-19 and #the100dayproject2020… and

finally fun: the lead photo is of Chris, soon to celebrate his 6th birthday June 10. This morning, he lost his first tooth… a bit surprised, he cried – guess he didn’t know what to think – but as the picture shows, he’s all smiles after his mom explained what had happened … and that the tooth fairy was going to come. He’s holding his tooth in that rather large sized plastic bag.

And that’s the way it is this 17th week of 2020. Have a good weekend!

Cheers~

PS. A reminder: Tuesday, 28 April is the day/date we’ll share our one little word experiences.

 

 

unraveled wednesday | 4.22.20 …

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I’m at the half-way point of the medium-sized Log Cabin/9Patch blocks. Progress is certainly swifter when the number of stitches per row is only 20 and the rows are garter coupled with taking a 4 PM TV break. At this rate, who knows, I may even have the entire knitted blanket done by autumn…no rush, of course.

On the reading front, I’m feeling as tho’ I’m between a rock and a hard place. Nothing’s quite captured my attention … tho’ I’ve been gathering possibilities for SAH Book Bingo 2020  for whenever social distancing guidelines/orders are lifted, I can get my “in the bookstore and library fix!” (We’re expecting at least another month here in the DMV area).

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The weather was absolutely lovely today (rain is forecast for the next four days)  – an invitation to make the 14 blocks’ (each way) walk  to the Franciscan Monastery … alas, the outdoor sanctuary grounds were gated but the tulips were lovely…and the walk,  invigorating.

Joining Kat and friends for another week of unraveled wednesday .

Cheers~

collecting march 2020 …

Published on by Honoré13 Comments

 

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Better late than never! I realized one day, a week or so ago, that I’d not posted my March photo collage.* As I reviewed my photos, I discovered that most – likely the result of social distancing ( e.g., photo 26) and Covid-19 –  are of nature. Most definitely thankful for Mother Nature, especially during these times.

Cheers~

*For whatever reason, I cannot remove the subtitle “collecting Fall 2019” from the collage…gonna try another technique for April. If anyone knows the trick for unchecking the tag, do let me know…online help N/A…

 

3 on thursday|4.9.20 …

Published on by Honoré14 Comments

2020-03-19 Things I can and Cannot Control

As mentioned previously several times, every (most) morning/s, I read the day’s Simple Abundance essay. I have done this off/on since the publication of the first edition in 1995. Each reread has brought forth a new perspective, tempered by the times and places I’m in at that particular juncture in my life. In 2019, Simple Abundance marked its 25th anniversary with a new and updated edition… and as I read, little nuances, references have substantiated the claim. Yesterday’s entry Affordable Luxury encourages us to experience more affluence in our daily lives through pampering…

What an invitation! I thought about how I’d like to pamper me but cannot due to the corona virus and social distancing. Here’s my list :

  1. Spend the entire day pampering me! First, I’d go to the hairdresser! I need a hair cut and the luxury of having my hair shampooed and styled. My many grey strands are wiry – each has a mind of its own and needs a bit o’ taming… I also need a manicure/pedicure … maybe even a body massage…
  2. Go to several bookstores! There are two Indie stores in DC -new to me -that I’d particularly like to visit, spend the day and browse, have a caramel latte, sit with my journal, people watch, dip in/out of the pile of books before me…
  3. Go to the Smithsonian’s National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden /Restaurant, have lunch out on the restaurant’s terrace. Just sit, with my journal, people watch and be grateful… always, grateful.

As I’ve sat here, drafting this post, the rain has stopped and there’s a hint that the sun is coming out… an omen? What’s on your pampering list?

Joining Carol for Three on Thursday.

Cheers~

PS. For more information on the above graphic, do visit  The Counseling Teacher.com where you’ll also find an editable version of the graphic.

sometimes mondays | 4.6.20 …

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(face mask I field tested yesterday; the pink confetti-like fabric was the backside)

Eerily quiet. More like a holiday. Very little traffic. Thankful for the sunshine and blue skies, our continuing health. Ding! Ding! Ding! Family and Friends’ morning check-ins … Thinking about today’s/this week’s agenda:

  1. Write blog post: Status: Done!
  2. Make face masks: Status: in progress. I made this one yesterday and took it for a test walk. It’s two layers interfaced with very lightweight Pellon and the tie is made from a cotton/polyester blend of clothesline. Here’s the link to YouTube video  I followed; there are hundreds available…
  3. Get ready for #the100DayProject: Status : Begins tomorrow and I’ve to whittle my list, for as usual, I have a tad more than any reasonable – ah, therein lies the rub- person could reasonably handle, despite being homebound. This year I plan to tackle some bucket list projects that have been on the burner far too long… I’ll share details Wednesday… I also need to brush up my Instagram skills – don’t use very often and IG is an essential piece of #the100DayProject documentation. Ah! Better late than never.

For now,  I am out to enjoy the sunshine and take a walk on this lovely day. When I return, I’ll tally the monthly expenses – I’m off schedule (the 3rd of the month slipped by) and make a face mask or two.

How is your week shaping up?

Cheers~

staying connected …

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IMG_0201 Another day @home, Monday, made ever gentle by a spring rain. Sunday was warm, sunny and inviting: I took a walk through the park, enjoying the cherry blossoms and watching the children playing; other walkers were out too. IMG_0204

clearly my screen time has jumped!

My stitching friends and I have been meeting via FaceTime and also doing a lot of texting… some of us are making face masks for health care workers, sharing resources and our “makes” via photo. Almost a “stitch in” taking place… IMG_0206

Five year old Chris has his own iPod so he’s been joining in our family texts and holding his own. He reads quite readily though I’m not sure how the actual texting is accomplished.  Some, I believe he types and the other, perhaps tells his mom who types  We celebrated Dolly’s birthday via FaceTime – what fun. Elias totally enjoyed the cake…yum, yum. We didn’t have that same experience …sadly, tech hasn’t figured that out, yet.

Simple Scrapper.com – my scrapbooking community with members from around the globe – meets via Zoom several times a week, just to chat and document our memories… Clearly “social distancing” is a top topic for each of us. Our sessions are sometimes “formal” and sometimes very informal, just a gathering.

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Patti Callahan, author on Zoom MMD Book Tour

Earlier this month,  I joined author Anne Bogel’s Modern Mrs Darcy’s Book Cub; this past Friday, I attended the book discussion of Anne’s newly released title:  Don’t Overthink It. Scheduled to go on a book tour, cancelled because of the virus, Anne decided to do a “stay-at-home” online book tour this week, also on Zoom. Each day this week, Mon-Fri, an author will be the guest. Monday was the first session and featured Patti Callahan, author of the historical novel, Becoming Mrs.Lewis . Originally published in 2018, the book is being released in paperback. The author shared her very interesting experiences writing the book; I thoroughly enjoyed her presentation, look behind the scenes and have added the title to my TBR list. FaceTime; Skype; Txt; Zoom, and of course, blogging! All are really great ways to stay connected, share ideas, information, inspiration … I see the time is past 2 PM, the day is moving on and I guess I should too… I still have a few items on my daily to do/be list and time marches on. How are you spending your days these days? Cheers~

homebound …

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It’s been not quite 14 days since I’ve been out of the house save for :

  • a one trip to the grocery store …
  • two trips to the drugstore …
  • nearly daily walks for fresh air and my sanity…

I gotta cold right before the #$%* hit the fan (as they say in the old country) …and no, I’ve not been sick with Covid-19 – no fever, thankfully. But I have been careful about my meanderings, even foregoing a walk to my local coffee shop and the library – the latter which is now closed. My Thursday stitching group decided to postpone our weekly gatherings until the all clear sounds; our quilting and knitting groups have cancelled meetings, in line with the cessation of group meetings, events, etc, ordered by local governmental officials. Each hour seemingly produces more closings and advice of precautionary, prudent steps that we are required to take. We’re in for the long haul.

On my walk today, I listened to Gretchen Rubin’s special Happier podcast on coping with Covid-19. If you’ve not listened, I invite you to do so. In Gretchen’s inimitable way, she – and her sister Liz – offer not only reasonable but very doable things we can do to cope with this very different way of life. You can hear this 35 minutes’ podcast here.

I for one am not at all concerned about not having anything to do, a lament I recall saying to my mother when I was a child. Her retort: Nonsense! Then she ticked off any number of things I could and did do to amuse myself. These days, starting with hitting publish on this post, I have more than enough to choose and tackle from my list of many things to do. Next on my list: weed a few files. What are you doing to while away the time in this very different time?

I have confidence as this season in our life moves on, we’ll adjust and cope successfully. Carry on!

Cheers~