Wednesday - COVID242 and FIRE83

I turned off the alarm but still woke up early again.  I was determined to NOT work today, though I did check in on emails a little bit but not nearly even a half day.

I relaxed.  I sorted.  I organized.  I played the piano.  

It feels like the break is helping.  I have been observing that over the last week or so I have become very very unhappy and feel a simmering anger.  It felt good to work on my space today and that seemed to help.  

The fox keeps popping up near the chicken coop each night.  Most nights it just runs by but tonight I saw it on the Ring go behind the coop.  By the time I got eyeballs on it, it had run off in a hurry.  There's a gap in the camera coverage but I think it was because it triggered the new solar powered floodlight I set up temporarily on the back of Loretta.  I'll move it to the fence post when I can secure it there.  For now it seems to be working well.

Time to shut it down for the night.  We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Monday/Tuesday - COVID240/1 and FIRE81/2

I woke up a little early today and was enjoying the slow start to my day when I realized that I needed to meet my boss in Windsor to pick up documents.  In less than an hour.  And all of the chores had not been done.  So I got them done in record time (not nearly as fast as I have when I woke up super late to get Bex to car pool and school) and got to the meeting place on time.  While I was out, I called the feed store for a curbside order and picked up all of the feed.

Work was busy enough this afternoon.

Jess got an online order in today and Bex picked it up for me when she went out to work for a while.

I made tomato soup for dinner, which was perfect for a cold night.  I used what is likely the last of our tomato harvest.  There are still green tomatoes on the vines and tomatillos trying to ripen but I think they will be too late.  I'm leaving some jalapenos on the vine to ripen and get bigger.  I may try to transplant that to a pot for the greenhouse over the winter.  I've been told it's possible to grow them year round.

As I was beginning to write my update tonight, I saw the draft from last night still sitting here and realized it didn't get posted.    So on to Tuesday in the same post.

I woke up early again and got a head start.  It was a busy day and I am looking forward to taking tomorrow off.  I hope I'm successful in staying away from work for the day.

Leftover soup for dinner tonight.  I think there will be enough for lunch tomorrow and then I'll be done with it.  I love this tomato soup recipe - it is rich and a little spicy and buttery and scrumptious.

The fire danger continues to wane but I won't unpack until we've got some good rainfall.  It is freezing cold at night now.  

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Sunday - COVID239 and FIRE80

I woke up way early today, perhaps because the wind was blowing.  On second thought, it's 'cause I had to pee and there was no way to stay in bed, and once I'm awake past sunrise, I'm up.

Oliver wanted outside immediately of course and had to wait.  The foxes trot through until the sun is well into the sky, so he stays in until the coast is clear.

The day was a blur of projects and Jess came by for a visit and to bring Bex a birthday gift.  We had a good visit.  I was also able to talk with my folks for a bit.  

Bex and I watched our show while I tore out my latest crochet project for I think the third time.  It's frustrating and I'm not sure how to navigate the size and color changes gracefully.

I'm wishing for another day off but will make the best of Monday.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Saturday - COVID238 and FIRE79

I woke up early and started some work.  The rain at midnight last night caused me to consider removing the FIRE portion of the title but probably not yet - it wasn't long enough to really douse the Walbridge smolder.

Big news on the election front and we are breathing a little easier.

It's Becca's birthday and I'm thankful that she is sharing this present with us.  We're not sure what we'll do today - I was going to give her gift digitally but since I need to go out to get cake, I figured I'd pick it up.

Tammy hurt her toes the other day and was seeking crutches that would fit her.  I actually have some so I brought them down to her today, along with some soy-free eggs from my one chicken who's still laying.  I picked up some soy eggs from the farm - the dude running the place doesn't want to pay an extra $5 per month for the organic soy free feed.

The drive was nice and I wish I'd had more time to spend with Tamily, but I needed to pick up Becca's gift card and cake.

While I was heading out on Westside, I noticed a Biden Harris sign that I have not ever seen before on that road.  I texted Bex to ask her if maybe the owners saved it for today.

I got tired earlier tonight and hope for a good night's sleep, despite the wind picking up a bit.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Friday - COVID237 and FIRE78

Friday - thank goodness.  I slept in late again but it was an easy work day.  I am a little behind on transcription but can catch up tomorrow.

I harvested the basil from the garden and made pesto, which we used some of for dinner.  There's plenty left over to freeze and more basil to make more pesto.  I'm glad that I did that today because as I write this, it's 41 degrees outside.  I still have tomatoes ripening on the vine and will hate to see them go.

The fox has rushed back and forth a few times tonight but other than one pause to look at the coop, it hasn't stopped to investigate it further.  Bex did hear some commotion under the back of the house at one point.  

It started to pour rain for about 15 minutes at around midnight.  That was a good sound.

This cold and wet night, we are safe and warm and well.  I hope you are too.

Thursday - COVID236 and FIRE77

I woke on time but still wanted more sleep.  It was a pretty tiring work day with lots of focus.

I did harvest some basil today and Becca and I will make pesto tomorrow.  We'd planned to make it for dinner tonight but got a better offer.  We went to Jessi's to have a safe dinner with all my girls plus grands.  The kids roasted marshmallows and made s'mores after dinner.  AJ knows how to roast marshmallows - and burnt mine to perfection for my s'more.

The Ring went off while Bex and I were watching our show.  I pulled up the live feed and saw a fox snooping around on top of the chicken coop.  I felt a little offended.  They've been running past it and playing and hadn't explored the coop that I know of until tonight.  I showed the live stream to Bex and was going to go outside to tell it to go away when she reminded me that ... we can talk through the camera!

So I started telling it to go away and then Becca barked at it and we just about fell over laughing for a good long time.  The fox did look at the camera and it did leave.  What a handy thing.

I was going to upload the video but I'm having some issues getting it to the blog post, so I'll have to try again later.

I hope Friday is an easy work day and am looking forward to what I hope will be a productive and yet relaxing weekend.

We are safe and well and loved.  I hope you are too.

Wednesday - COVID235 and FIRE76

I woke up on time but was super tired but still needed to get up because AJ was coming for the day.

It was a school day for him, though a short one.  His Zoom class was about a half hour in the morning and he worked on homework for the rest of the morning.  I set a timer so he could work for a half hour and take 10 minute breaks until lunch.  At that point he was close to done but had a problem with his worksheet that we decided to review after lunch.

Bex made him the new favorite sandwich that she introduced him to recently - grilled peanut butter and banana sandwich, and about that time the pretzels were out of the oven and he had one of those.

We were able to sit down together at the table and work through the math.  Then he played video games with Bex for a while.  She went to Starbucks for drinks for us all and AJ discovered the caramel hot apple cider - his new favorite drink.

We had a good visit with Jess when she came to pick AJ up at the end of the day.  She has had him this week and had an appointment at home so AJ came here for the day.  It was a treat.  He wanted to know when he could come back as he was getting ready to leave.  He loves Bells and Oliver and was happy to lead Luna to the barn tonight. He was very proud of her for not pulling on the lead.

We had chicken sandwiches for dinner and Q brought home cheesecake when he came back from his trip to the city - work appointment.

We are coping and safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Tuesday - COVID234 and FIRE75

I woke up early again, in part because I heard animal noises that I wasn't sure were inside or outside and I couldn't get them to stop - so probably outside.  Sooooo annoying.  But I got a head start on the day.

Oliver likes to go out when I get up and he was not pleased that I wasn't opening the door at 0-dark-thirty.  He's not allowed with the dawn hunters, which started when he was chased into the house a few years ago by foxes taking the last of my hens one morning.  He meowed at the door, came over to put his paw on my leg, then tore at his cat tower, wandered off to sulk, then repeated.  About an hour after this routine started, I got a Ring movement notification and looked at the video to see a fox trotting by where I would have been letting him out.  Nope.

I made him wait another hour, then went out to do chores and get the rest of the animals out.

I've been babying sourdough starter back to life after a summer hibernation the last few weeks and it was finally ready yesterday.  So I used the discard this morning to make pretzels.  I started the dough in the bread machine and went back to work, smelling the yeasty warmth and looking forward to warm salty pretzels with mustard later in the day.

Work was okay and then as the day wound down, I started to listen to election results and then stopped.  There will be nothing known today, maybe not even for at least a week.  I told myself to wait and to be patient.  And then I felt sick to my stomach at the rift in this country.

I lost track of time with a new challenging project I'm figuring out.  Then needed to create a space for AJ to be able to do his school work tomorrow as he'll be with us in the morning.

We are safe and well and loved and seeking the best.  I hope you are too.

Monday - COVID233 and FIRE74

The advantage to falling back from daylight saving time means that I am getting up earlier, easier, and going to bed sooner.  

It was a work day - not a lot to write about.  Bex and I carefully reviewed and discussed ballots this afternoon, then completed each of ours and dropped them off at the Villa.  I love that place - so many memories there from so many different parts of my life.  It was easy to get in and out, people were cheerful even late in the day, and we felt accomplished and relieved that we didn't need to deal with it tomorrow when there may be more people.

We're hopeful.  It's Bex's second presidential election. 

The foxes showed up at the front of the house shortly after Bex went outside in the back this evening, so I popped out to let her know that they were roaming so she wouldn't be surprised.

We made orange chicken and rice for dinner tonight.  

While Bex and I watched a show, I finished a mandala in the same yarn and pattern as the center of the blanket squares I finished.  I'll wash and then put it on a hoop when I get my hoops back from Jessi's house where they are being stored with other projects and with my photos.  I wanted to use up the yarn.  There's still a bit more but I think I'll move on to the next project for now.

I'm still stressed but feeling better overall.  I remembered that I had eleuthero and started using it a few days ago.  It's amazing how well it really works and I need to remember it, especially during the darker fall and winter months.  Hops tea before bed has been helping with sleep.

I did listen to a  (free) webinar today that I'd forgotten I signed up for a couple weeks ago - the page was still open in my browser and when I clicked on it, the webinar just started.  There was no way to pause it, so I listened in headphones while I worked and took notes from time to time.  It was on antiviral herbs and I have a handout and some notes that will be helpful.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Sunday - COVID232 and FIRE73

This is the time for nightmares it seems.  Last night's was me and Bex sitting on the couch watching election results.  There was a celebrity visiting - I cannot for the life of me remember who she was - and she was in another part of the house.  The screen on the TV went black and white with a globe in the middle and it said WORLD QUAKE.  Becca and I grabbed each other's arms and looked at each other as the lights flickered.  We didn't feel anything but were worried.  Then the WORLD QUAKE warning flashed on the TV again and the power went out.  We still didn't feel any shaking but had no idea what was going on.  I remember while we were getting battery packs lined up and ready and starting to look at our phones to find out what happened that the celebrity woman asked if she could stay while the whole world situation was sorted out, and we agreed.

I slept in a little.  When I checked the ring I saw that two foxes trotted through at about midnight, so the flash I caught on the other video was probably not a raccoon or prey, but the other fox while they were chasing through.

I worked this afternoon and made some salsa.  Bex went down to pick up some groceries from Jess, as well as a package of yarn that arrived during the evacuation ups and downs that Jess has been holding in her garage for me.  Time for a new project.

I got into an emotional funk and am not sure why.  It was a combo of stress and anxiety and anger at everything.  I'm trying to be kind to myself and know I'll find my way.

The time change messes everything up but I'm hopeful that finally they'll find a way to stop this ridiculousness and just leave the time be.  

I got notifications a few times around 9:30 on the Ring and watched one of the foxes running around again.

I'm going to bed earlier than usual and hope to rest easy tonight and feel better tomorrow.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.