Still Social Distancing

Honestly, I'm getting really tired of social distancing.  I realize, I'm not the only one.  I thought being a mostly introverted, hermit-like person, I wouldn't have a problem spending lots and lots of days at home, away from the human race.  I find that, for the most part, that's true.  However, I also find that there are times that I crave human contact. Forced hibernation is no longer working for me.  

I have had to change my thinking regarding shopping.  Now, don't get me wrong, I love shopping via the internet so I don't have to deal with crowds and traffic.  I love nothing better than ordering from a shop and having them deliver a few days later to my home.  BUT, I draw the line at groceries.  I just don't want anyone else picking out my fresh veggies.  I want to do that myself. Before the Plague made its way around the world, I would decide what I wanted to make for dinner and if we didn't have all the ingredients, I'd hop in the car and go get them....along with other stuff, of course.  NOW, however, I have a different mindset.  Now, I figure out what we have and when I can make using those items.  If there is something that I'd like to make, and we don't have all the ingredients, the items go on the shopping list for when we DO go to the shops.  We try to go food shopping only once a week or every 10 days-ish if we can.  That seems to be working for me at this time..not that I could change it if I could.  The less often I shop for groceries, the less money I spend.  

We got a new storm door for the back deck recently. It has a doggy door.  Shiloh only took less than a day to figure out how to go out and come in all by himself.  Unfortunatley, so did Skipper!  I think Skipper figured it out first.  

Can you see that black smudge just under Shiloh's belly?  That's Skipper outside on the deck.  Just after this picture was snapped, Skipper jumped inside right under Shiloh's tummy.  Shiloh turned around and came right back in.  At least now I don't have to get up and go out to let him out every time he rings his chimes....I've taken those things down and the door stays open all day.  In, Out, In, Out.....you get the picture, I'm sure.  Skipper is spending almost all day out on the deck, or going down the stairs to explore the great outside...John said he found the barn.  I'm just hoping he doesn't start a fight with the neighbor cat.  Well, we will see how this goes.  

Shiloh is growing so fast.  He turned 5 months old last week.  He's so stinkin' smart.  He learned to sit in about an hour. He learned to shake on the second try.  He learned how to go in and out the doggy door in less than a day.  He's sweet-tempered, too.  And playful.  He never carried just one toy around with him...almost always has two toys in his mouth at the same time.  I got a photo - a bit blurry cause he was, as usual, in motion.

The blue ball has 'holes' so he can grab it with his teeth and still hold the little green one in his mouth.  He's a pip!

I spent a lot of last week using my embroidery machine.  Here is one item I made....it's a small hanging.  

It measures about 6 inches by 9 inches and I've hung it on a wrought iron hanger that sits on a table.  A welcome sign of Spring.  I have patterns for the other 3 seasons and will get them done soon.  I also made a banner for the front entry. Another welcome sign for Spring. 

I spent yesterday working on a couple of quilted items.  Can't show them yet cause they aren't done.  I will definitely show them next time.

Hoping you are all well and safe.  Maybe by the next time I post, we will have relaxed the Stay at Home orders and social distancing a bit.  I am not advocating relaxation till it is safe to do so.  But I sure do miss some of my former activities - like going to Shawn's Sewing Center and working on projects all day with my friends around, listening to women talking and solving the problems of the world.  Or stopping at a store that I see while in town just because I haven't been in there for some time to see what they have new.  I will say, the Plague has saved us a bit of money, now that I'm not stopping at stores willy-nilly.  

Please be safe and well. Thanks for stopping by.

Easter Season

Today is the day before Easter Sunday.  I don't know of any church in this country that will be holding Easter Services.  However, a lot of them are holding Easter Sunrise Services using YouTube and other media devices.  Our nephew, Thom, is the pastor of a church in Iowa and he has been posting some short daily messages on a YouTube channel.  While we are not of the same faith as he, his messages are so informative and comforting, I look forward to hearing them every day.  If you go to YouTube.com and type in Thom Bryant, you will find a plethora of his 'sermons'. 

I seem to be seeing so many 'memes' on social media...a lot of them are funny, some are apropos of the time.  Here are a couple to help you thru the "Emergency" as they call it in Ireland (or so my friend tells me).  

       

I never thought much about the idea that we are all in shock.  Shock that our world has changed so much and so quickly.  Here's another idea - colroing books or even coloring pages downloaded from the internet.  Use crayons or colored pencils or pens.....I even found a set of recipe cards that lend themselves to coloring.  Might need to get those down and de-stress.

For funny, here are two that struck me.

Sadly, this one is rather true in a lot of cases.  The longer we ignore the stay at home orders, the longer it will take to flatten the curve. Only then will we be able to resume whatever we call normal.  Although, they are saying that our normal before wasn't working (obviously) and we now have an opportunity to carve out a new normal, one that might actually include leisure time, and spending time with family, and reading, and crafting, and gardening, and, yes, even praying! Write letters to friends and family.  Send cards with only your name if you don't like writing long letters.  Make time for yourself, as well.  We all need time for ourselves.  

I want to wish all of the readers of the blog a most Happy Easter and a healthy rest of the year and beyond.  You all really do matter to me.  I don't even know everyone who reads this cause you don't leave notes - and that's ok.  Just know that I value every single one of you.  

Thanks for stopping by.