4.13.2020
Day 26.
Today being Monday it was back to the job. Both of us vowed to stay away from work as much as possible this weekend; Her superintendent even sent an email directing her to put it away. But today, being a new day and less than 3 weeks from finals, we both hit it hard.
Steph was up earlier than me and set out for her schoolroom early to pick up work turned in by students. She was home by 11am. I recorded another video while she was gone, and pickup up lunch for Sadie and Emma at Dresden from Mrs. Thormann.
It was cold today, and maybe that is why we were both so tired. We laid down for a nap after lunch and slept way too long. I went through a few more guitar lessons and Stephanie helped Sadie decorate neglected Easter eggs while the chicken cooked in the oven.
Steph did a bit more work after supper, and I began pricing roof bars for the Forester since we will need them (along with a cargo box) if we are to take it camping this summer should the world return to normal. The Forester has less interior space for cargo than the Outback did.
Evening entertainment - An episode or two of The Chosen and perhaps an episode of The Last Kingdom if time allows. We shall see; tonight might be an early night instead.
It was reported that the number of Corona cases in the county has risen to 16, with the largest single count in Rice. I suspect it is because of its proximity to the interstate. Gov. Abbott spoke today, but I have not yet heard what he said. I will try to check out the talk-shows in the morning for an update.
Monday, April 13, 2020
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Corona Thoughts, part 25 (Resurrection Sunday)
4.12.2020
Resurrection Sunday. Easter.
Today started with a bang. Around 4 am it started to lightning and thunder, and the winds upwards of 60 mph hit between 5 and 6 am. It scared Sadie and she came down. We all set up for a while until it stopped. It rained over 2". We had no damage that we found, but others were not so lucky.
I fixed a sweet potato hash I saw the description of on Facebook. It was really good!
The storm knocked the internet out, and we had to rely upon our cell service to stream Bro. Grady's Easter message from church. Mom and Dad were having a small cookout for Easter in their back yard by the pool, so we fixed deviled eggs and coleslaw to add to the meal.
We went down around 1 pm and visited a bit. I took my guitar and picked a bit. Burgers and hot dogs was the fare. Sadie and Emma then hunted eggs. It was a good get-together, but very odd. We kept our distance from each other through it all.
We were tired when we got home due to the lack of sleep this morning. So we came home and took a nap. Brandon sent me a message with a picture from his hives for my judgment. There were eggs, which is what he was concerned about. He seems to have a healthy queen.
Supper was leftovers since we had a big lunch. While it heated Sadie and I did a sing-along.
Afterward, we watched Risen, which has become a tradition for Easter Sunday evening. We were going to watch the second episode of The Chosen and decorate eggs, but Sadie said we could do the eggs tomorrow. "One day is like the next," was her position on the issue regarding the eggs. She has been talking about watching Risen for several days now.
Resurrection Sunday. Easter.
Today started with a bang. Around 4 am it started to lightning and thunder, and the winds upwards of 60 mph hit between 5 and 6 am. It scared Sadie and she came down. We all set up for a while until it stopped. It rained over 2". We had no damage that we found, but others were not so lucky.
I fixed a sweet potato hash I saw the description of on Facebook. It was really good!
The storm knocked the internet out, and we had to rely upon our cell service to stream Bro. Grady's Easter message from church. Mom and Dad were having a small cookout for Easter in their back yard by the pool, so we fixed deviled eggs and coleslaw to add to the meal.
We went down around 1 pm and visited a bit. I took my guitar and picked a bit. Burgers and hot dogs was the fare. Sadie and Emma then hunted eggs. It was a good get-together, but very odd. We kept our distance from each other through it all.
We were tired when we got home due to the lack of sleep this morning. So we came home and took a nap. Brandon sent me a message with a picture from his hives for my judgment. There were eggs, which is what he was concerned about. He seems to have a healthy queen.
Supper was leftovers since we had a big lunch. While it heated Sadie and I did a sing-along.
Afterward, we watched Risen, which has become a tradition for Easter Sunday evening. We were going to watch the second episode of The Chosen and decorate eggs, but Sadie said we could do the eggs tomorrow. "One day is like the next," was her position on the issue regarding the eggs. She has been talking about watching Risen for several days now.
We shall see what is coming with this lockdown, but I will not concern myself with it today. Today I will concern myself with Easter and family and home.
Saturday, April 11, 2020
Corona Thoughts, part 24 (The Chosen, episode 1)
4.11.2020
Saturday.
The morning started out pretty and bright, but the forecast was for changing weather by mid-day. Breakfast and coffee on the porch with some rest and relaxation was nice. Stephanie talked to her mother for a bit, and Sadie played with her horses in the sandbox until the wind and rain came.
It was an uneventful day.
I attempted to learn a few more songs on the guitar, and Sadie joined me in singing them. We worked on Colleen Malone a bit more, and we played Darling Nellie Gray, Bury Me Beneath the Willow, Down in the Willow Garden, and On the Banks of the Ohio. I think Sadie enjoyed it.
Stephanie called the lady that she sells Color Street nails under, and I made chili. It was not as good as I have made before, but still good.
After, we looked up the series called The Chosen, which is about the life of Christ and the disciples. Some of our friends have sung its praises, but it is not on a common streaming service. It is on VidAngel, and Stephanie figured out how to cast it from her phone. We thought we would try it since it is free right now. Pretty cool! If you are interested here is the link.
The production value is very good, and I look forward to all 8 episodes of the series. Afterward, we decorated Easter cookies that Jenn sent for Sadie to do.
This is a strange Easter weekend considering that normally we would spend some time today with Michael and Valerie in Athens, but with the shelter-in-place everyone is trying to keep their distance. We will have a small Easter cookout tomorrow at Mom and Dad's, but it will not be anywhere near what we usually have. It will also be an Easter Sunday without the gathering at Church, so we will be streaming the service once again.
Perhaps we are getting to the end of this. No new cases in the county and there were three recoveries reported. Gov. Abbott has said that he wants to address the state about potentially starting to open things up again next week. Here's to hoping.
By the way, Spotify's "Grass Roots" playlist is awesome, and made for a good soundtrack for the evening. FYI!
Saturday.
The morning started out pretty and bright, but the forecast was for changing weather by mid-day. Breakfast and coffee on the porch with some rest and relaxation was nice. Stephanie talked to her mother for a bit, and Sadie played with her horses in the sandbox until the wind and rain came.
It was an uneventful day.
I attempted to learn a few more songs on the guitar, and Sadie joined me in singing them. We worked on Colleen Malone a bit more, and we played Darling Nellie Gray, Bury Me Beneath the Willow, Down in the Willow Garden, and On the Banks of the Ohio. I think Sadie enjoyed it.
Stephanie called the lady that she sells Color Street nails under, and I made chili. It was not as good as I have made before, but still good.
After, we looked up the series called The Chosen, which is about the life of Christ and the disciples. Some of our friends have sung its praises, but it is not on a common streaming service. It is on VidAngel, and Stephanie figured out how to cast it from her phone. We thought we would try it since it is free right now. Pretty cool! If you are interested here is the link.
The production value is very good, and I look forward to all 8 episodes of the series. Afterward, we decorated Easter cookies that Jenn sent for Sadie to do.
This is a strange Easter weekend considering that normally we would spend some time today with Michael and Valerie in Athens, but with the shelter-in-place everyone is trying to keep their distance. We will have a small Easter cookout tomorrow at Mom and Dad's, but it will not be anywhere near what we usually have. It will also be an Easter Sunday without the gathering at Church, so we will be streaming the service once again.
Perhaps we are getting to the end of this. No new cases in the county and there were three recoveries reported. Gov. Abbott has said that he wants to address the state about potentially starting to open things up again next week. Here's to hoping.
By the way, Spotify's "Grass Roots" playlist is awesome, and made for a good soundtrack for the evening. FYI!
Friday, April 10, 2020
Corona Thought, part 23 (Good Friday, Catfish, and Honey Bees)
4.10.2020
Good Friday. The Day of the Crucifixion. And it did not seem like a holy day, I suppose because each day really does feel like the next.
I got up this morning with a few things to do for work, but Stephanie and I both agreed that since this would have been a day off we would treat it as such today. I had 3 essays to grade and a few settings to tinker with, but otherwise, I tried to leave work alone.
We needed some groceries - Salsa, chips, cheese, etc, in particular - and I needed to put some money in the bank and pay the electric bill so I got my customer-made-by-Stephanie facemask complete with coffee filter insert and ventured forth to do what needed to be done. The electric company was closed, however, but I got the rest of it done.
Good Friday. The Day of the Crucifixion. And it did not seem like a holy day, I suppose because each day really does feel like the next.
I got up this morning with a few things to do for work, but Stephanie and I both agreed that since this would have been a day off we would treat it as such today. I had 3 essays to grade and a few settings to tinker with, but otherwise, I tried to leave work alone.
We needed some groceries - Salsa, chips, cheese, etc, in particular - and I needed to put some money in the bank and pay the electric bill so I got my customer-made-by-Stephanie facemask complete with coffee filter insert and ventured forth to do what needed to be done. The electric company was closed, however, but I got the rest of it done.
Either I am about to do something felonious or I can be a vigilante superhero - Quarantine Crusader, or something.
Stephanie went to spend a bit of time on the porch after lunch, and I joined her with the guitar trying to learn "Colleen Malone." It is fairly straightforward, but there are a lot of chord changes. It will take a while.
Sadie noticed some cars at Brandon's, and I needed to take him the butter I got for him in town anyway, so Sadie and I walked up. Ray was visiting and checking out Brandon's new beehives. Before all was said and done, Brandon had me suited up and looking at bees as well.
Stephanie was laying down when I got back. We had planned on making Chili for supper and the beans for it were in the Instapot, but since today was a warm one and Friday is when Parrish Country Store has fried catfish we decided to do take out from there and make chili tomorrow - Got to support the local businesses after all.
Stephanie made a keto ice cream that tasted like a frosty! Oh, man!
After supper, we set up the gas fire pit in the yard and enjoyed the sun sinking behind the horizon. Sadie wanted smores so I made a few, and we discussed the stars. Stephanie downloaded a stargazer app when we got tired of discussing a few of the brighter objects in the sky.
We decided this one was Venus.
Sadie wasn't feeling too good in her tummy at bedtime, but I hope it is just an irregular diet over the last few days. We have started getting her lunch from school, so hopefully, that is all it is.
Another episode of The Last Kingdom, and bedtime for us. No great social commentary today. There is some talk of Gov. Abbott allowing closed businesses to open as early as next week. I hope so! We all need it, virus be damned.
Thursday, April 9, 2020
Corona Thoughts, part 22 (Rain and More Rain)
4.9.2020
Thursday.
It is warm again today, but the weather is changing. Still in the morning, with rain starting in mid-afternoon. It is supposed to be cooler tomorrow.
After coffee on the back porch and a quiche breakfast (it is what you have when the chickens give you 14 eggs per day), we both did the work from home gig. Several videos recorded, and a number of essays graded were my tasks. Sadie did her homeschool.
After lunch I walked to Mom and Dad's for some ant poison they picked up for me in town, and helped Dad assemble a Purple Martin house. I know our back yard is full of them.
Decaf coffee on the porch, while it rained, was our next activity.
Leftovers for supper, and "The Good Dinosaur" on Disney+. A few attempts at "On The Banks Of The Ohio" on the guitar.
I am so ready for this to become a travel blog again!
Thursday.
It is warm again today, but the weather is changing. Still in the morning, with rain starting in mid-afternoon. It is supposed to be cooler tomorrow.
After coffee on the back porch and a quiche breakfast (it is what you have when the chickens give you 14 eggs per day), we both did the work from home gig. Several videos recorded, and a number of essays graded were my tasks. Sadie did her homeschool.
After lunch I walked to Mom and Dad's for some ant poison they picked up for me in town, and helped Dad assemble a Purple Martin house. I know our back yard is full of them.
Decaf coffee on the porch, while it rained, was our next activity.
Leftovers for supper, and "The Good Dinosaur" on Disney+. A few attempts at "On The Banks Of The Ohio" on the guitar.
I am so ready for this to become a travel blog again!
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Corona Thoughts, Part 21 (Yard Work and More of the Same)
4.8.2020
Twenty-one days... Three weeks...
The work at home thing has not gotten easier, but it could be because we have found more innovative ways of instruction but those still take more time to accomplish.
I didn't do a whole lot for that today besides sending out an announcement to a class and graded a few papers. I will have to do more tomorrow or I will be working on it over Easter weekend.
It was really warm today ahead of a cold front, so my objective was to work in the yard while I could. Mowed yard... weeks/rampant dewberries sprayed with herbicide... dog groomed. It seems that bluebirds have become interested in at least one of the houses.
And about 30 minutes on the guitar.
Mom and Dad wanted food from Bottlecap Alley, so we had them pick burgers up for use as well.
The numbers of the virus in the county are 10. No more deaths reported. National reports are now thinking that the overall numbers predicted are wrong... We will see.
A few shows on Netflix. Standard day.
Twenty-one days... Three weeks...
The work at home thing has not gotten easier, but it could be because we have found more innovative ways of instruction but those still take more time to accomplish.
I didn't do a whole lot for that today besides sending out an announcement to a class and graded a few papers. I will have to do more tomorrow or I will be working on it over Easter weekend.
It was really warm today ahead of a cold front, so my objective was to work in the yard while I could. Mowed yard... weeks/rampant dewberries sprayed with herbicide... dog groomed. It seems that bluebirds have become interested in at least one of the houses.
And about 30 minutes on the guitar.
Mom and Dad wanted food from Bottlecap Alley, so we had them pick burgers up for use as well.
The numbers of the virus in the county are 10. No more deaths reported. National reports are now thinking that the overall numbers predicted are wrong... We will see.
A few shows on Netflix. Standard day.
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Corona Thoughts, part 20 (Bluebirds and Beef Enchiladas)
4.7.2020
It has been over 20 days since this started (and 20 days of the continuous chronicling of the daily comings and goings of the family). This morning the news was that Gov. Abbott has declared the State Parks closed due to the Covid-19. The reactions have been either in the agreement or severe outrage. More and more Stephanie and I are wondering what this is really about.
No new cases in Navarro County, and no more deaths.
After a late breakfast, I recorded a few more lectures that will be posted later. Stephanie had some online work to do as well. Today was hot, and tomorrow is forecast to be hotter. Then cold weather again later in the week.
And nowhere to go to enjoy it.
After lunch, Sadie went to play with Emma. I built a new bluebird house and repaired an old one.
Then I called Raymie to talk a bit. After getting cleaned up, I practiced a bit on the guitar and did a few lessons, learning the C and G chords. Most of my time was spent in chord transitions and practicing Bile Them Cabbage again.
Stephanie has been working on her 18th Century stays but took time to make beef enchiladas with homemade sauce and homemade refried beans.
Sadie and I watched another ST: TNG.
After she went to bed, Steph and I watched several Last Kingdom episodes.
Overall, it was a successful day. I didn't get as much done in the "work at home" realm, but I think a step-back has been helpful. Tomorrow I will be grading essays again.
It has been over 20 days since this started (and 20 days of the continuous chronicling of the daily comings and goings of the family). This morning the news was that Gov. Abbott has declared the State Parks closed due to the Covid-19. The reactions have been either in the agreement or severe outrage. More and more Stephanie and I are wondering what this is really about.
No new cases in Navarro County, and no more deaths.
After a late breakfast, I recorded a few more lectures that will be posted later. Stephanie had some online work to do as well. Today was hot, and tomorrow is forecast to be hotter. Then cold weather again later in the week.
And nowhere to go to enjoy it.
After lunch, Sadie went to play with Emma. I built a new bluebird house and repaired an old one.
Then I called Raymie to talk a bit. After getting cleaned up, I practiced a bit on the guitar and did a few lessons, learning the C and G chords. Most of my time was spent in chord transitions and practicing Bile Them Cabbage again.
Stephanie has been working on her 18th Century stays but took time to make beef enchiladas with homemade sauce and homemade refried beans.
Sadie and I watched another ST: TNG.
After she went to bed, Steph and I watched several Last Kingdom episodes.
Overall, it was a successful day. I didn't get as much done in the "work at home" realm, but I think a step-back has been helpful. Tomorrow I will be grading essays again.
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