Corona Thoughts, part 19 (Tartan Day)

4.6.2020

Today was another gray day.  A bit of misty rain off and on.  And lots of "work at home" work to do.

Today is Tartan Day in the United States.  It is a National Day of Recognition of those with Scottish heritage and is often commemorated by kilted parades in some of the larger cities.  New York has a particularly large one, but not this year.  

Images from Tartan Day parades in the past.  It would be cool to see one of these days!

In our own remembrance with sported the tartans at home today.

Today, being Monday is one of the days that Sadie's school provides lunches.  We are told that it actually helps the school when lunches are delivered because it allows them to show contact time with students.  It also provides a bit of variety for Sadie around here.

News reports are now that people should avoid grocery stores and pharmacies for the next two weeks.  They are predicting a surge in cases, but I have not seen a good explanation as to why.  More testing?  Don't know.

Stephanie had a faculty meeting through Zoom, and I worked off and on through the day on class management and grading essays until my eyes crossed.  She also did an online video advertising one of her businesses - Color Street.  In this weird world, when women cannot get to nail salons, this could be a good time to sell easy nail polish.  

Supper was Sticky Chicken, which was an Asian recipe Stephanie found.  

Evening's entertainment:  Doctor Doolittle (1967) with Rex Harrison.

Here are some pictures of us in our tartans from the past few years!

Happy Tartan Day!!!

2019 Texas Scottish Festival - Decatur

At the Clan Fraser booth!

Southwestern Regional Rendezvous, 2019

Sherman Celtic Festival, 2018

Moonlight and Magnolia, 2019

Getting ready!  Notice Steph's dress on the ironing board!

Moonlight and Magnolias, 2019

Corona Thoughts, Part 18 (Escape)

4.5.2020

Today we escaped for a while (Shhhh... don't tell).

Starting off, the chicks woke us up in the night because apparently one of the little guys didn't want to stay huddled up with the rest.  Around 1 am, the cheep-cheep-cheeping got rather furious.  

Got up a bit later than normal, had coffee and breakfast, and then dressed a bit nicer than normal for the day.  Today is Palm Sunday, so we felt it was appropriate to dress the part.  Besides, Stephanie bought some nice work clothes and felt it would be good to actually be able to wear them.  The church broadcast was a bit delayed due to technical difficulties, but it was underway by 10:45 am. We watched it through Facebook Watch.

Afterwards, we got some things together that Stephanie's parents needed.  She made them some masks and they needed some eggs.  They have been buying TP when they can find it for us since our stock is running low.  We have been careful to keep our distance from places where we might encounter 'Rona, and they have too, so the risk of going to see them was minimal.  We had a cookout with sausages, and got a chance to visit for awhile.  The last time we saw them was when we had them over for corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's Day.  That was near the beginning of this whole affair, which seems like a lifetime ago.  

We got home around 5:30, and we relocated the chicks outside.  Stephanie made bean and cheese burritos from leftovers while I recorded a few more lectures for my now-online classes.  

Stephanie also spent some time setting up an online party for her Color Street sales.  

New Outlander episode tonight!  I guess we get to see what happened to Roger!?!  Except the problem:  No new episode until next week.  

So I guess we get to see what happens to Joe Exotic.

Corona Thoughts, part 17 (Beer Bread and "Boil Them Cabbage")

4.4.2020

Saturday.  A day like all others, frankly.  It is the 17th day of recording the daily comings and goings of the family during this shelter in place.  I think it is around 20 days since this thing began in earnest.

It is rainy and cold today.  Before sun-up a thunderstorm produced some booms that woke us up and caused me to get up to unplug my laptop, which I had left connected to power in the living room.  Fergus woke us up a little after sunrise wanting to play.

He sat with me for a while while I had my coffee and before Stephanie got up.  

Stephanie put on a roast with root veggies (parsnips, turnips, a few potatoes, carrots, onion, and celery) in the crockpot to slow cook all day.

The chicks are still in the house since was too cold and damp to move them back outside.  At least Stephanie and Sadie are not so bored as to do this to them:

Stephanie had two intended projects today.  1) start working on her 18th Century stays, and 2) make some more masks for the family and her parents for when going out is a must.  Jennifer is making some too, and they talked for a while about it.

The hens are giving more than a dozen eggs a day.  The colors are so pretty!

I took some time today to practice on the guitar a bit.  Right now I am familiar (though not proficient) with 3 chords - A, D, and E.  "Boil Them Cabbage Down" is made up of those three chords, so I practiced it for a while this afternoon using Strum Machine.  In between, Sadie and I made beer bread with a Pecan Shiner that I did not care for, so we will see how it works.  Sure smells good.

There is so much information out there that just seems conflicting, but we are doing our best.  Barnes and Noble announced that they were closing their doors, and I fear that we are going to see many businesses like this, particularly small ones, shutter.  I hope that is not the case, and the loans provided by the general government can help keep them afloat.  Unlike the bank bailouts a few years ago, these businesses are suffering through no fault of their own. At least we are in education and it is possible to work from home.

After an episode of Star Trek TNG, Sadie went upstairs to play and I logged in for some gaming with friends.  Stephanie did some sewing.  

For the most part, it was a quiet evening. 

Corona Thoughts, part 16 (Tired, with Tigers in the Living Room)

4.3.2020

I started out today tired, and it did not improve throughout the day.  It did not help that it was cold and dreary, with a cold north wind starting around lunch.

Being Friday (I think it is Friday) it is still a workday.  I was texted asking if I wanted to teach classes online this summer.  I accepted those.  Afterward, I recorded some lectures for my classes.  I even had to re-record a few when they did not properly save.

At one point Stephanie walked to the mailbox and found an odd rock in the driveway.  A local biology professor believed it to be a Masosaur tooth.

Brandon asked me to help him with his beehives so I walked down.  He needed to reverse the lids.  It was cold with a mist that was quite unpleasant.

Sadie has been asking to watch "White Fang" on Disney+.  I don't remember this movie being so "Wild Kingdom"-esque.  Stephanie started playing with a wildlife filter in Google, and that captured Sadie's attention for a while.  I tried to grade some papers but my attention span has been lacking today.

 

Supper was a Keto Shrimp and Grits that Stephanie found the recipe for.  Really good!  

Since it got cold today, the chicks had to be brought indoors, so we set up a box with a milk stand heater in the guest bathroom.  

(Incidentally, as I write this, the Grammarly app says my texts sounds "formal," "worried," and "sad.") Hmmm.....

Story time was another chapter in "Little Town on the Prairie," and after Sadie went to bed it was another "Tiger King" episode (Wacky) and "The Last Kingdom," which is awesome as always!  Such a great series!

UPDATE:  "Tiger King" is such a trip we doubled up on those.  We will catch up with "The Last Kingdom" later.

Corona Thoughts, part 15 - Supplemental

4.2.2020

So we started "Tiger King" on Netflix tonight.  Who are these people?

This thing is a train wreck!

Corona Thoughts, part 15 (Pandemics and Guitars)

4.2.2020

Thursday.  

Got up this morning, cooked breakfast burritos with eggs and chorizo, and started working on class stuff.  I graded a few papers which Sadie and Stephanie worked on homeschooling

Dirt was supposed to be delivered for the garden beds, but that did not happen.  I tried to mow, but the bearing assembly was getting hot, so I didn't get far.  The ground was still too wet, anyway.

In the afternoon we played Pandemic (the Board Game).  While playing, Sadie's friend Kate called, and Brandon invited Sadie up to play with Emma.  So that was the goings on until supper. Incidentally, we won.

Chicks are good and healthy.

It has been cool and cloudy today.  A thunderstorm came through in the afternoon, and it is forecast to rain for the next three days.  

Off and on guitar practice.  Sadie watched The Incredible Journey (the original Disney one) on Disney+.  Stephanie is back working on her newest novel.  Fergus also got a bath.

Before bed, the next episode (3) of The Last Kingdom.  I started reading the first novel this morning, so it is interesting to see where the book and the series differ.

There were reported 5 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Navarro County today, with 1 death to this point.  It hasn't been said how many of those are hospitalized.  At least 1 I have heard. The fear is palpable. I don't know what to make of all this, to tell the truth.

Corona Thoughts, Part 14 (New Chicks on the Farm)

4.1.2020

What an April Fool's Day?  Actually, April Fool's Day is canceled this year, because you cannot make up what is happening right now!

The Shelter in Place continues.  Kim at Kountry Kuts texted that she wouldn't be able to cut my hair due to all salons and barbers being ordered to close.  By the time this is over, I might be able to pull off an 18th Century impression!  Move over, Heath Ledger!

It is sunny but still cool, this morning.  We sat on the porch for a few minutes with our coffee, then Stephanie made chaffles (Keto cheese-waffles with chocolate chips - don't knock it until you've tried it).  

Steph has decided to get some chicks to replenish her flock a bit, but TSC was sold out and Atwoods got some in at noon, so she went at lunchtime and bought 10 new baby "Easter-egg'ers" (Americanas).  Cute!

Fergus is excited to see new critters in the house!

I recorded two more videos (World War I) for my History 1302 classes.  Lunch was left-over chili and the afternoon involved various work and jobs around the yard, house, and farm. 

Science Project

Sadie had a class meeting with Ms. Starling and her class through Zoom.  It was interesting, but Sadie is SO shy that she didn't speak much to her classmates.  

Stephanie finished 16 cotton masks for the VA tonight.  Supper was grilled drumsticks, baked sweet potato, and broccoli.  

Movie night was Secret Life of Pets 2.  I am becoming well acquainted with kid's movies.  Still not watching Frozen 2!  Just "Let it Go," Sadie!

After Sadie went to bed we checked the chicks, and I realized what I had noticed before.  The skies are clearer and stars brighter than I have seen.  What's up with that?