Hello & Good Morning Everyone.
Currently Re-Reading: on the ipad, A Great Reckoning by a favourite author, Louise Penny. ipad reading is not so bad after all. The What's Available function on the library site has been most useful
Currently Crafting: I was suppose to have been at a scrap booking retreat on the weekend, but alas like so many things, it was cancelled because of COVID-19. I was able to get a full refund of money, but not a refund on the disappointment. But at least scrapping at home, I don't have to share the work table with anyone & I have all my stash readily available.I got several pages done. And please don't tell Weight Watchers, but the smarties are all mine, no sharing!
Currently Excited: our first grocery curb side pick up is available this Thursday. We have a reason to go out! I had booked this pick up slot about a month ago as the first available spot. My last shopping experience of 3 1/2 weeks ago, required me to be in the actual store & I must admit I was a nervous wreck for several days afterwards. When I booked my April pick up date, I also arranged a May pick up date. Looks like I'll be booking a June pick up date later today. It will be so nice to have some fresh fruits & vegetables. Flour & yeast are not to be had any where, any time soon.
Currently A First: our community will be having yard waste pick up. We normally take to our local recycle centre, but it is closed to the public. Our mayor received a lot of requests for this service & since everyone is home & tending to their yards, it made sense to arrange. We have two different dates for this service; today & then again May 19th. We already have 7 bags of spring clean up waste.
Currently Adding: cloth, non-medical face masks as accessories to our wardrobe. Two styles, both types made by local women of the community. Both allow for paper filters to be inserted.
"My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to
get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to
accept the love in return." Maya Angelou
A few things to comment on here: Steven Fry was quoted as saying that there was a place for e-readers alongside books and that if people didn't believe him, just look at how stairs and lifts (elevators) co-exist. But proper books will always win for me.
ReplyDeleteShopping is incredibly stressful right now, isn't it. Recently I was paying for my groceries and realised that I had forgotten the bread - I almost burst into tears at the thought of having to back round the store.
To finish, here's a quotation I came across recently - "Your life is going to be better that you'll ever imagine and harder than you know. All of it is temporary. All of it is worth it. Go forward. And stand up straight." (It's making an appearance in a blog post next week.) The quote is attributed to someone called Nora McInery.
I like Nora's quote - thank you for sharing. I like Steven's take on e-readers & actual books, he's correct in that thinking. The shopping stress is I think going to be around for a while. Then there's the anexity about washing it all when you get home ... of anything that I miss, it's that, the sense of safety, the sense of well being.
DeleteI'm pleased that you've been able to secure a click and collect slot, in the area where I live they are reserved for National Health Service staff, people with medical conditions, the vulnerable and elderly people so any leftover slots are available are few and far between. We are managing to only supermarket shop once a week and there are strict guidelines with only a certain amount of people in the shop at any one time so queuing to get in is the norm now. Smaller shops like the butchers and bakery only allow two people in at a time and you have to stand 6' back from the counter. I have to be honest and say that I feel it is well supervised here and not too stressful an experience. Flour however is the thing in shortage, which is ironic as we have a flour mill in the centre of town!
ReplyDeleteI've made a few of the fabric masks in your last photo, in readiness in case we suddenly have to start wearing them out in public but at the moment, current advice is not to wear them. I'm sure it's just a matter of time!
We have been encouraged to wear non medical face mask not as a protection to us, but as a pre-caution because many that have COVID-19 are un-aware, so it stops you spreading. Right now only mandatory on planes, but I see it being the case when our release (in stages) is allowed. I cannot believe people are hoarding flour, it doesn't have a long shelf life or maybe those that are hoarding don't know that.
DeleteFortunately, shopping here is not too stressful. Our grocery store is a flagship store for a large chain so there is lots of room to navigate and everyone (with face masks) stays their distance. We go early in the morning every 10 days or so and haven't experienced any problems. I love your comment that there was no refund on your disappointment. That is surely true for me; we've had two big trips cancelled, and three events this summer cancelled---all of which I was looking forward to! But those disappointments pale in comparison to not being able to see my kids and grandkids. No date in sight to have that happen either. Nonetheless, I'm very grateful that we are all safe, healthy, and secure. More than most can say here. People are suffering in so many ways!
ReplyDeleteI have watched several interviews with your Governor & from an outsider's perspective, I like him, he makes a lot of sense. The stores that allow a limited number in, also have long line ups outside. I think my sense of comfort in public settings was the first thing to go & probably for me the last to return. Some of the things cancelled & I totally get why, just cannot be captured later. I am trying very hard to find the plus in all of this & today, the only thing I can find, Mother Earth is healing & for that I am glad.
DeleteI have all the food delivered as I am supposed to stay at home. The freedom to shop for myself feels like one of the biggest losses and I think that lost sense of safety will be hard to overcome.
ReplyDeleteSome of the grocery stores will do home delivery but they ask that we leave those slots for seniors & those that cannot get out. I must admit I'm so excited about having a legit reason to go out, even if it's just in the car, there & back.
DeleteMy craft-related outings were also cancelled or postponed. I haven't made the time to recreate them at home. I'm hoping to change that this week or next! Glad you were able to make it work from home.
ReplyDeleteMy scrap retreat weekend had a spa treatment planned - now that I cannot re-create at home (col). I haven't minded scrapping at home, I was looking forward to seeing old friends, new product & possibly new techniques.
DeleteI know what you mean about missing fresh fruits and veggies. Congrats on getting these pick-up dates. The allowance for filters in these masks makes a huge difference. I love the fashion element, making the masks out of varied patterns.
ReplyDeleteThe ladies making these masks I think originally had their fabrics for quilting projects. Some very cheerful fabrics. One of the masks for Mr Man is of solar system planets - I thought he'd appreciate the man look (lol).
DeleteGood for you. So lucky that one of my sister's friends has online accounts with a couple of supermarkets and gave us the log in details. We were fortunate to get a slot so were able to order everything for parents. Should keep us/me from needing to brave the stores in person for a couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteThe masks are great. I got mum to make herself a mask for today's hospital visit. Is there a special slot inside for paper filters or do you just stuff it in?
Getting home delivery for your parents would certainly ease your worry for them.
DeleteThe first mask with the little point for the nose, has a sleeve between the layers, the straight edge mask pleats allow to easily tuck the filter in place.
I haven't been able to concentrate on reading books, and even the audiobooks I am listening to are repeats. I think I like the idea of certainty and someone talking to me in these COVID times.
ReplyDeleteI find I cannot red for long before I feel my mind to wander off the page. I started to listen to CDs from one of our favourite story tellers, only thing, I never get to the end awake. His voice is soothing & mellow which is so nice during COVID stress.
DeleteI've been an iPad reader for years and find it OK. I love that they do free books and although a lot of them are trash you occasionally get a good thriller. I am listening to audio books at the moment as it means I can 'read' and crochet at the same time :)
ReplyDeleteShopping here isn't too bad as we have a store locally that always seems quiet when we go and we have the opportunity, every few weeks to do a click and collect order. I wish our local council would provide a curbside pick up as there has been an increase in flytipping recently which is not good.
I think that is one reason we got the yard waste pick up, the farmers were seeing an increase in stuff dumped alongside their properties. I'm impressed by the small businesses that have provided the click & collect service, it has saved their business.
DeleteYes, who could have anticipated that going to the supermarket was feel so stressful, even days later ... The sterilsiing/disinfecting of everything that enters the house takes time and such energy! Glad you are able to have things delivered. Those masks are very pretty. I am constantly jolted when I remember that only a month ago making things like this would have seemed outslandish and the stuff of science-fiction.
ReplyDeleteWe leave all bags, parcels, mail in the garage for 24 hours & then wipe down. I know it seems extreme but I think this virus is extreme. As for the masks, I remember we use to think it odd when seeing reports from Asia that nearly everyone was wearing masks; I use to think it was for smog, now I know better.
DeleteOh, I do like your masks! I have made the pleated ones, but, need to figure out the more fitted one, as that's the kind my daughter wants me to make for her.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you got your grocery pick up slot! I last grocery shopping on March 16. I found it rather stressful as, at the time, no one was wearing a mask and there was no observance of keeping a 6-ft. distance between shoppers. Since then, I've had a couple of friends and family members pick up a few things for me, for which I am very grateful. I am thinking of ordering some groceries to be either delivered (if possible) or for curb-side pick up, for next month. Just have to decide what I want and see if it is available!
I am liking the curb side pick only because it means I have a legitimate reason to go out & not just in my neighbourhood. I think there are several patterns online for masks. I must admit I am liking the style of mask with the nose bridge, my glasses do not fog up.
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