Our First Mr. Lincoln Rose was Perfect
Summer was right around the corner but by now what seemed to be normal and maybe perfect was suspicious. Everything outside of our controlled environment could not be trusted including much of the media. Politics was heating up with growing hate and distrust in every aspect especially dealing with the health issues from the coronavirus. Leadership was failing in many areas starting from the national top government level to our own local authorities. Lines were being drawn where some people on one side refused to wear masks and social distance where others were taking all precautions. My husband and I opted to take all precautions and then some including using Lysol spray on all delivered packages and the bottom of our shoes after being in public places. People were hurting from loss of jobs and all kinds of related economic problems. Health issues were real and scary as the daily reported numbers grew of positive COVID-19 tests, hospitalizations, and deaths. It is a worldwide thing and no one anywhere had any control even when they thought they did. Yet many people ignored the best warnings based on science and the coronavirus spread. It didn't have to get that way if there was a more centralized, science-based leadership that inspired people to treat others as they would want to be treated.
The failures were increasing. Even our Hickory County, which at this point was the only county in the whole state with no positive COVID-19 tests, was suspect. That all changed one week after the July 4th weekend when all state and federal run parks were opened as well as businesses with some restrictions. Money needs won and no place outside of one's own home was safe now. I bought my first set of three washable masks, double-layered with pouch for filter insert. Good for two years and filter changed after about 10 hours of use. My husband jumped right to the top line and more expensive M95 disposable masks. We don't have to go out in public unless we want to as we are retired on a fixed income and pretty much already adapted to minimal social contact in our lifestyle by choice. No restaurant indoor eating, no church or volunteer group meetings, and limited shopping at stores that require masking became our norm. Most shopping is done online through Amazon and delivered. Of course, we have been doing this for several years already. New to me is the curbside pick-up at Walmart. I will continue that even after this pandemic blows over as it takes so much work out of the monthly items I do not buy from Amazon. I do shop locally for some fresh items but it is an effort to find my choices and with no masks required, it limits my time in there. So that just leaves visiting big-box stores like Lowe's for building supplies. What can't be ordered online and mailed, can be ready for pick-up. I did start going into Walmart when they required masks for a quick in and out of a few self-checkout items. But mostly we may only leave our house 1-2 times a week.
95% Polyester, 5% Spandex Re-useable & Washable with PM2.5 Filter Inserts
June
With no travel plans and no out-of-state visitors coming this year, we had our yard and garden work done with more time left over for kayaking, fishing, bicycling, and hiking. It was decided to cancel the yearly trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas in October. Taking a break from house remodeling was possible for a change! It was getting too hot to begin work on the much needed exterior siding. We had planned to take this mid-summer time to remodel the two upstairs bathrooms. That would be the final remodeling project. It was decided to put it off until 2021 as we needed a break from all the noise of construction and likely products would not be readily available when we needed them and we would be unnecessarily inconvenienced with only the downstairs bathroom available for use. That bathroom was one of our first remodeling projects years ago and would be our use option when the other two are under construction. But the stress from the pandemic toilet paper hoarding months was all we could handle and didn't want to go over the edge! Haha!
We spent more time on our beautiful Pomme de Terre Lake since it was not visited by many people because of the closed campgrounds. We also found a beautiful pond to fish near Clinton in a state Conservation Area. In between we were growing plenty of garden produce including gooseberries in the yard. Also, my large established gardens with varieties of lilies and irises were blooming as well as lilacs and so many other flowering plants were to enjoy. My regular bicycling on the Katy Trail always included a stop at Gordon's Orchard on my way home for fresh peaches each week; later it would be apples.
Me and My Kayak on Pomme de Terre Lake
Kayaking on a Pond at the Conner O. Fewel Wildlife Area in Henry County
Gooseberry Pie, Peaches, and Variety Flowers
Bicycling was a Regular Activity on the Katy Trail
The only social gathering we could not miss was the outdoor birthday pool party on our granddaughter's 3rd birthday! There were about a dozen friends and family but everyone stayed apart in a natural way. As far as I know, no one to this day is the worse for it.
Happy 3rd Birthday!
July
When summer came, there was no big deal for 4th of July celebrations as far as I could see but I could hear fireworks in many directions. Likely people just did their own thing as public gatherings were unheard of; maybe they did, maybe they didn't. Life went on with more biking for me which included finding a good crop of elderberries this year on the Katy Trail. I picked about a gallon and dried them to be used for a healthy tea. My daughter and her family went on a beach vacation so I didn't see them other than wonderful pictures sent to me.
My Firecracker Girls
My Front Yard View on 4th of July
An Abundance of Zucchini from the Garden for Breads
Good Crop of Elderberries Found on the Katy Trail
Dried Elderberries for Tea Made with Ginger and Cinnamon
August & September
My granddaughter spent a couple weekends in August and September with us overnight. It was the best time for things to do outside in my Garden Wonderland. The flowers were amazing and plentiful and the bugs and critters abundant. We also found so much to do inside when it got too hot outside. I am so thankful to have her in my life and that my daughter is generous with sharing her time. I was also fortunate to be invited to my Colorado niece's Baby Shower Zoom Party. That was a new and fun experience for me! Feeling so blessed! The rest of the world is so far away!
Time for Water-Based Art Activities
Cooties Seemed Like an Appropriate Game for These Times
Picking Tomatoes with Grandpa
Our Favorite Place to Sit and Watch the Birds at the Feeders
Frozen Blueberry Yogurt Pop While Watching Dora the Explorer
First Pumpkin Found in Babi's Pumpkin Patch
Friends Don't Run Away Anymore When Petted Gently
October
With the weather cooling down somewhat, it was time to return to hiking on the 3-mile Running River Trail below the Pomme de Terre Dam a few miles from my home. I also continued biking to enjoy the changing leaves as fall begins. There was a couple more overnight trips to stay with my granddaughter while her mother was deer hunting. My husband began construction on the house siding. The back of the house is two stories and he extended the new deck to fill the full length of the house to access the second story. Each day he had work for me to do as I cleaned up what he tore off. I was also there as an extra pair of hands as needed. The weather stayed cool and dry. We were happy to have good weather this late in the season to paint all the new construction.
The Running River Trail Close to my Home That is a Big Part of my Life
Final Bike Ride on the Katy Trail for 2020
My Future Katy Trail Biking Buddy in Training
Fall Colors - Pink Dogwood and White Dogwood with Fairy Tree in My Yard
My heart is filled with joy! I have found my way to cope in these troubling times. I can only wish the same kind of peace for others who are having negativity dominate their lives. It has to come from within each person. For me, making good choices in food and exercise are the first priorities. Yes, I have made poor choices with over-snacking on junk food and going 2-3 days without moving much, but I have to motivate myself to change. I had gained an excess of five pounds but lost it and gained it back. Now it is off again. It is the things that we can control that help us cope with the things we cannot. It is not easy for anyone but worth the effort! Cutting my own hair, going without a monthly deep tissue massage, dropping in on friends to visit, and just not getting to do things and go places on the spur of the moment are adjustments that have to be made for now to protect myself as well as others until a vaccine is available. I am thankful for great health insurance and all the wellness programs available to me and my husband. Our pantry is full as is our freezer. I have much to be thankful for!
I will write about November and December at the end of the year and be done with 2020. It is now mid-November as I'm writing this and I am still filled with joy as I plan a big Thanksgiving Dinner here for my daughter and her family with my Virginia son and daughter-in-law attending on Zoom. The election is over for the most part but the contention is increasing as is the numbers of positive COVID-19 tests and deaths. But there is hope on the horizon as a better leader will be president. There is news of at least two good vaccines becoming available in the near future. The next couple months will likely be dark and even more troublesome than before but I know I will get through it with God's loving guidance and I hope you do too! See you on the other side!
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