I am trying a weekly photo journal of my life during this stay-at-home pandemic. The idea is to post on Sundays and include one photo for each day of the week with some text. I may not limit myself to one photo because I have a hard time with rules like that. It seems a perfectly logical thing to do on a family history blog. This is certainly an historic time.
Sunday, 4/19/2020
* Church community gathered on ZOOM, then listened to sermon podcast. Pastor started a new sermon series – “A Strong Spirit in Troubled Times: The Practices that Sustain Us.” (This will be referenced for Monday.)
* Prepared for ESL Book Club.
* Listened to a livestream of my brother-in-law giving the sermon for his church from his home. I think they are without a minister right now. He did a good job!
* Finished puzzle #3.
Monday, 4/20/2020
* Good Book Club – Chrysanthemum.
* A friend who lives alone has been setting herself a lovely table setting each day, often referencing the meaning of the items. I looked at my really messy table with not an ounce of intention to make something nice and posted a picture yesterday, asking if I was “nailing it.” The sermon yesterday referenced an old testament scripture. The Israelites were in a bad situation and could no longer practice their religion as usual. In the story, God gives them the message to take whatever they would have sacrificed and sell it for money. Then buy whatever they wanted with it – even strong drink – and celebrate. The takeaway from the sermon being that celebration is a practice that can sustain us during hard times. (My best attempt at a summary without listening again.) So … I pushed the pile of stuff to the other end of the table, got out placemats that haven’t been used for years and needed pressing, the plates and even a mug that match, napkins that were close enough because the matching ones must be in the laundry, and prepared a meal with a “vintage” tortellini that has been in the freezer since 2017. Celebration. Nailing it.
* Altered the route for my walk and found fun things.
* UMW Circle met on ZOOM just to catch up.
Tuesday, 4/21/2020
* Lots of reading today for book discussion of several chapters of The Water Dancer
* Crocheted a mask for a garden statue in the front yard.
Wednesday, 4/22/2020
* Saw my oncologist today. Everything looks good. Don’t see him again for four months.
* The oncology office is so different these days. I really feel sorry for patients in treatment right now because they can not have anyone accompany them. It can be scary and depressing. I had such good friends come with me and help the time pass quickly when I was in treatment.
* Tried a new crock-pot recipe, but put it on to cook too late, so had frozen convenience meal.
* Nice after-dinner walk.
Thursday, 4/23/2020
* Bad start to the day. Dogs wanted out at 6:00 – still dark. Ran behind the garage and went crazy because some kind of animal was back there. One dog yelped as if in pain. Husband’s yells to get in the house not heeded. Woke up the neighbors. Big dog has small scratch on his nose.
* ESL Class was good.
* Worked a little on masks.
* Walk in the neighborhood at dusk provided glimpses into windows of homes neat and orderly, nicely decorated, with tables adorned modestly with candles and lovely centerpieces. I chuckled to myself, trying to think of any flat surface in my home not decorated by random this and that, piles, papers, and projects. 😂 No pics from today’s walk.
Friday, 4/24/2020
* Daughter was planning to drive here from Kansas City, but decided to wait until tomorrow.
* Really hot day, so walked in the morning. Walked down the street where we used to live and took a picture of our old house. Wrote about it.
* Decided to do more “yarn bombing” of our house since I enjoy the chalk art and signs and Christmas lights I see on my walks – although fewer and farther between than I would like. My street has hardly anything fun at all. I made myself a crochet garden I could see from a window while I was sick, so I’m going to recycle those items to be seen from the street. The small gate area that faces the street doesn’t give me as much room as the fence I decorated for myself when I was sick, but I think I can fit the other flowers here. Got a free form tulip up. Too hot to do any more.
Saturday, 4/25/2020
* Matty was busy before waking us up.
* Curbside vet visit for Dreamboat.
* Weeded front bed.
* The yellow and white flower was super faded, so I brightened it up with a bit of burnt orange. My yellow butterfly did not survive, so I need to add another one or something else, but got this much done.
Many of these butterflies on rotting loquats
This week’s veggie box
* Changed my route for walking again and ran into my former next door neighbor.
* Have a rash. Why?
* Daughter made it here safely. Yay!
Safety first! Enjoy your day!