Tuesday Happenings

This poor old barn may not be there when we pass by the next time.  There a lot of barns out there that are on their "last legs!"  We find them interesting, too.  This past trip we found barns in bad shape like this one, but we also found one that its owners hadn't given up on yet and they were patching it up.  I think that it is the first time that we have found a patched-up barn.

We continue to "shelter at home." Today I had to break our quarantine a bit as I needed Nathan's help to get the app for Woody's video appointment with his nephrologist. I haven't felt very stressed during all that has happened so far with the Coronavirus...UNTIL I had to get this appointment set up!  There was no way for us with any technology that we have to have this video appointment.  And, a phone-call appointment wasn't an option.  So Nathan downloaded the app on his phone and we will have to borrow his phone when it is time for the appointment.  We did get it working and were able to see the lady we were interacting with to get this set up.  Doing this took well over an hour of phoning back and forth, Nathan downloading the app prior to the call to the doctor's office, first attempts last night, etc.  What a pain...but it is done!  Major accomplishment of the day!

I declared this a baking day and let Woody choose what I would bake...cookies, cinnamon swirl
bread, or a pie.  He chose the bread.  It is another first-time recipe for me...but from an old cookbook...some probably have the red and white check Better Homes & Garden Cookbook.  My copy was a wedding present so it is 51-years-old.  One of the reasons that I chose this recipe was that it only used one packet of active-dry yeast...and that was how much yeast that I had in the pantry!  One of the reasons that Woody bread over the more desserty choices was he thought that it would make good French Toast.  It should with the nice cinnamon sugar swirl running throughout the loaves.  What we do know that the slices we had of it right out of the oven tasted mighty good!  I do love homemade bread!  But for us to have any more yeast will have to get back on the shelves in the stores...well, that isn't exactly right...Kathy did say that we could go shopping in the Dorrell pantry next door!  Nice to have back-up supplies!

I made an eggplant casserole for supper.  The kitchen is cleaned up and ready for tomorrow's cooking tasks.  I have had enough time in the kitchen today and am very ready for my recliner for the rest of
the evening.  Woody has done crossword puzzles, watched some TV and done a LOT of reading.
He'd better slow down.  Our church has closed its doors to foot traffic so getting back to the library
won't be easy any more!

Cheryl...my Arizona sister, my favorite sister, AND  my ONLY sister, has gone on what she is calling "lock down."  They are to "shelter in place starting this evening at 5pm.  She doesn't seem to excited about the prospect...wonder why!!  Guess we can all do it together and try to get this virus under control.

At the end of the blog each night, I have been trying to add some encouraging words.  Sometimes they are just things that come to my mind and sometimes, like tonight, they are something that I have heard or read during the day.  I read this today: "when you can't control what's happening, challenge yourself to control the way you respond to what's happening."  So stay positive, stay we'll, stay safe.  We're in this together!

(I apologize for weird spacing and and weird words...for most of the blog I have been typing blindly with the lines and paragraphs bouncing back and forth while I type...not fun!)

Decisions, Decisions!

Last night we had to decide if I would start back to having school with the neighbor grandchildren.  They had been in Georgia for part of last week visiting Kathy's parents.  When they came home there was only one more day of school left for me to have with them so I suggested that we wait till this week to start back up again...that is IF we were going to start up again.  We decided that we would see what was happening with the Coronavirus on into the weekend before making a decision.  Last night, I asked Woody what he thought and he decided that it would be best if we continued to stay isolated as much as possible.  So...no schools for the time being.  Figuring that it's better "safe than sorry!"

We are both doing a lot of reading.  Woody got together some prayer requests for the Monday night prayer meeting and gave them to Kathy.  The group is going to meet at a home outside with supposedly safe distancing...but...again, Woody is going to stay home trying not to take any chances.

We got a call from his nephrologist's office this afternoon.  They are handling appointments differently...trying to set up video appointments.  Our technology (no iPhone and my iPad can't be upgraded any more) doesn't handle those...so we either have to borrow something from Nathan and family that will allow Woody to do this...or...I think that I'm going to call in the morning and see if he and the doctor can have a phone appointment. Surely not all patients have access to technology so
there must be more than one way to do this!  We will see! A bit frustrating! This is probably the first of many frustrating things that will come up during this pandemic!

Schools in Tennessee are now closed till the end of April...wonder if that will change.  I know that many states have decided to not go back to school this year.  The school next door continues on with no changes...except no Grammy school!  Graham is all set to graduate from high school...pandemic or not!

Stay well!  Stay safe!  And, remember...you're not stuck at home, you're safe at home!  That's our motto these days!  God will see us through!

Praying...

And, The Beat Goes On...

For tonight's blog title...just substitute "virus" for "beat!"  And, I guess as the virus goes on, we just keep on keeping on!  Sort of marching in place!  We continue to pretty much "shelter at home," going out only when needed.  The only time that one of our cars moved today was when Woody moved the white car into the garage because we are supposed to have some storms during the night.

We have both done some cooking today.  Woody made French toast for breakfast (his favorite breakfast).  I made macaroni and cheese for me (Woody can't have and doesn't care if I make as he doesn't like it!).  Then I roasted a chicken, sliced it and portioned it to go in the freezer along with a container of cut up cooked chicken  that will go in a casserole or soup at a later time.  I also made gravy, as Woody seems to be quite fond of gravy on things these days.

Our days have gotten warmer...up into the 80s again today.  Woody actually wore shorts...a first for this year! I think that he is enjoying the warmer temperatures.  The kitchen got pretty warm with all the cooking...almost too warm to stand over the pan and make the gravy!  My usual gravy making happens at Thanksgiving when the temperatures are cooler!  I dusted off the ceiling fan yesterday as that makes it comfortable in our bedroom.  Seems like we went from one extreme to another...one day freezing and the next warm enough for fans and shorts.

Stay safe!  Stay well!  Be kind to one another!  Reach out...keep social distancing in mind...be an encouragement to someone that you know who might really have a struggle with being in a self-isolation situation.  Be smart!  Six feet might be farther away than you think!  The sooner we accept a restraint on socializing, the sooner this will all be behind us!  Doesn't "getting back to normal" sound wonderful?!?

A Few of My Favorite Things

Nathan came in today with this pretty bouquet of flowers for me.  Yesterday he went to a local church where they were giving away food...lots of people lined up and lots of food was taken.  But...not all was taken and the person in charge of the food drive told Nathan to come back today and get some of the leftovers.  Among the leftovers were LOTS of bouquets of flowers.  He got quite a few of them and went about brightening up quite a few households by delivering them.  And, our household was one of his deliveries.  I love yellow roses...Woody has given me many yellow roses over the years...as a matter of fact, after I got these arranged he told me "Happy Anniversary!" Nice try...too bad that I know that Nathan brought them in the door for me!  The vase that I arranged them in my mother got me as an engagement gift for the purpose of putting the yellow roses in that Woody sent me.  So I am enjoying yellow roses...one of my favorite things!

Another favorite thing for me is fresh baked bread.  Here's a picture of the loaves that I baked earlier in the week.  One no longer looks like the one in the picture.  We have enjoyed it for sandwiches and toast.  We still have part of one loaf and all of the other.  I am looking forward to making more bread...that is...when I find yeast at the store!  Kathy has told me that I can "shop" at their store (their pantry) as they do have several of the three packets of yeast.

Speaking of stores...Woody and I both ventured out today.  He took his friend to shop and told him only one store today to try to keep down exposure.  He stayed in the car and didn't go into that store. Woody decided to pass me the task of getting our weekly groceries...again, I chose to go to just one store.  I was able to pretty much get what was on my list.  I had been told that any more a grocery list was only a "wish list," since stores are in such short supply of certain items.  Paper products and cleaning items shelves are still sparse, but produce and the other things that I needed were on the shelves.  The girl in produce said that "things" we're starting to get back to normal.  Yeast was the one item that I was really disappointed in not being able to get today.  I checked the store app before I left home and it indicated that they did have some in stock...but not by the time I got there....just two empty boxes where some packets had been.  Since I don't go to the store as often as Woody does, I'm not as familiar with where items are so I took advantage of their app and checked what aisle certain of the items were and made my list by aisles...quicker in and out that way.  My one germ precaution was I wore thin vinyl medical gloves.  We have a box left from when Woody was being treated by home health so I decided to take advantage of having them.  I put them on before going into the store and peeled them off before driving home.  

Before I went to the store I stopped at our church and went in and picked up some more books for Woody.  He said that what I brought home should keep him in reading material for a while!  So far he has enjoyed what I have chosen for him to read.  I think he has read five books since my stop last week at the church.  Tonight he has his Friday night news programs on...so I guess he is finding out what is going on in the world as this pandemic continues on and "if" there is any other news deemed worthy enough to report besides health reports.

Try to do some random acts of kindness during this trying time.  Make someone's day...like Nathan did mine with some pretty flowers.  Besides flowers Nathan and Kathy delivered food to Woody's friend, who was so thankful as he felt that he could now make it through this Covid19 time.  They also dropped flowers off to a parapalegic.  I'm sure that her day was brightened.  The children in our church were challenged to write notes to encourage someone either near or far.  One neighborhood in town has put hearts in/on Windows and doors to encourage people who pass by.  Today has been quite warm and many children in our area  pretended that it was a summer break and had water fun.  

Keep on keeping on.  Enjoy a simpler time.  Less going has meant less pollution.  I saw an amazing photo of Los Angeles with clear sky over the downtown area...something unheard of in recent years...three weeks of being "sheltered in place" in LA has made a difference.  Perhaps this down time is good for us as well as the environment.  Look on the bright side...and, remember this too shall pass!

Something From Almost Nothing

Here's another view of the barn with the door that is a quote square.  We traveled from several directions to take this barn's picture.  It continues to be my favorite barn of this trip.  I like looking through the fence and the barn's quilt side in the distance.  Here's another from the same vantage point but with the lens zoomed in. Oh, and, can you find the horse in the top photo?  I didn't know he was there till just a moment ago. And, the photo below has a spider web in it.  You may need to tap on the photos and make them larger to actually see these...the web especially.

Today has been another shelter-at-home day.  Both of us doing a little of this and a little of that.  Woody did go outside for a while today.  He picked up a few sticks and then decided to enjoy the warmth of the car and read sitting in the car...but found that our 80° temps today were too warm for sitting in the car.  For once he actually said that he got too hot...that doesn't happen very often these days!  I cleaned both microwaves today.  We still have two...the new one in the kitchen and the old one is still in the family room where we moved it during the renovations.  Woody likes it in there.  It is convenient for him to warm up his food!  I had several jobs on a list tondo this week and getting the microwaves cleaned finished off that list.  I didn't put too many things on the list...so saying that the list is finished isn't all that impressive!  I am trying to do something productive everyday to try to try to keep in touch with reality!  

About tonight's blog title...my other accomplishment for the day was to make chicken stock/broth.  We were about out and I didn't want to run out of it.  I used bones from chicken that I had deboned and then frozen the bones so I would have them for stock/broth and not have to have to have an actual chicken on hand!  It worked very well.  I also used the leaves and a small amount of stalk from the celery that we have on hand.  Some carrot pieces and part of an onion and a clove of garlic.  That was it...so reall a lot of "nothing" to make a lot of "goodness" for future recipes!  It simmered on the stove top for several hours.  I strained and did a quick cooling by putting the pot in the sink full of cold water and ice.  It is already portioned out and in the freezer.  Good accomplishment for the day.

My final accomplishment was to do a short summary of the Sunday School lesson for Sunday that either Marie (our teacher) or I (substitute teacher) plan to send weekly to our class members while we are being kept apart due to this virus.  I got that written up and sent by email this afternoon.

For now...stay safe!  Stay well!  Keep a good social distance from friends!  Write some letters or emails or make a phone call to keep in touch with friends and family!  Mainly keep your chins up and keep on keeping on during this unusual time in our history!  My...won't we have the tales to tell once  Covid 19 is behind us!  

Calm Wednesday

Today was a nice Spring day...no rain for a change and by the afternoon the sun came out.  We just had hard rain and some thunder last night, though, we did have a tornado warning (siren went off for a very short time) sending lots of us to our safe places.  The tornadic part of the storm passed a bit to the south of us.  I have heard that a small town just down the way from us did receive some damage, but have seen no reports to verify that.  I have heard that we may reach into the 80s tomorrow...that will be a change for us.  Woody will enjoy warmer temperatures.

I have continued to play around with my photos from last week's barn trip.  This horse never moved the whole time we were snapping pictures.  Last night I decided to get rid of the shadows in the picture and that let me "see" inside the barn. "Playing" with pictures is a fun way to pass an evening!

This morning Woody headed off to his oconology labs here in town.  They were all wearing masks and taking precautions.  He will see the doctor next week and hear about his labs, but he was told today that his anemia was going in the right direction.  He came home and that was the end of our going any place today.

I decided that today was bread baking day and made two loaves of bread.  We were down to two slices of a bought loaf, so it seemed to be the time to do some baking.  This was the first time that I made this recipe. We both enjoyed a warm slice right after it came out of the pan.  Yummy!  The recipe is a keeper.  My other accomplishment of the day was mopping the kitchen and the downstairs bathroom.  At least I didn't just sit around the whole day...which these days is about all I want to do!

Our mayor came out with a revised order for our town...so now he is saying that it is an advisory rather than a mandate that we "shelter at home."  I'm guessing that some weren't happy with his original order?!? Woody said that maybe he needed a haircut and changed his mind (as hair cutting establishments were closed when it was mandatory!).  Before Woody said that, my thought was that probably his wife was going to have to miss her hair appointment and got him to change the order!  I guess we were both thinking in the same direction!  Anyway, I guess it is up to each person as to whether we shelter in place or not.  I personally think that it is a good idea...better safe than sorry!

Stay safe and well.  Keep on social distancing!  Let's get this virus behind us and get on with our lives!  Do the days seem longer now that there aren't a lot of places to go?  We need to remember that we had been wishing for time to slow down!  Keep smiling!  This too shall pass...eventually!

Good Day for Ducks and Herons!

Ducks and herons would love how wet everything is around here.  And, more to come...this time storms with possible tornadoes...the water fowl better hole up some place they won't blow away!  I got both these photos on our last barn trip.  

We have both "sheltered at home" today...just like our mayor told us to do!  The only time I went out was to get the mail, cover a couple of plants, take out the garbage (so glad that garbage pickup is considered necessary!), and slogged out to the compost pile to empty the compost bucket.

Woody did go outside for a little while this afternoon.  He has done his usual crossword puzzles, read, watched TV, and eaten meals.  Not a lot to do.  I did run the vacuum in our bedroom and put a few things away.  It was another day that I didn't need to cook as we still have choices in the fridge.

The Coronavirus has folk concerned...and I am...but today I am more concerned with the weather that is heading our way.  We are in the path of some approaching heavy storms with possible tornadoes that could spin off.  We had rain this morning, but unfortunately had a short period of sunshine this afternoon which is not good to have under these weather conditions.  Sunshine just before a storm arrives means that the atmosphere has warmed up and the approaching air that is probably cooler will collide and mix...all leading to a higher possibility of tornadoes.  So at the moment tornadoes are higher in my mind than the Coronavirus!  

Speaking of the Coronovirus, the Tennessee governor has just pushed the date for TN schools to start up again to April 24...so another month off for public schools.  At times like this there is definitely an advantage to homeschooling.  I was just talking to Kathy this afternoon about that...they are pressing on per usual!  Graham will finish all his course work and will get his diploma whether there is a ceremony or not.  I'm guessing that once this settles down, then there will be a delayed graduation ceremony.  But there are enough just between our two houses to be able have a pretty good celebration for him.  

Stay safe and well.  Use social distancing and self-isolation and in places like Tullahoma practice sheltering at home!  Be wise in your comingS and goings and WASH YOUR HANDS!  

Shelter at Home

So this afternoon we were alerted to a new edict from the city of Tullahoma: "Shelter at Home."  That is pretty much what we have been doing so not much of a change..except that it is no longer volunteer!  All nonessential businesses must close by tomorrow evening at 6pm.  And there is a curfew from 9pm till 6am daily.  Still seems very surreal!  We can still go out of the house for essential things like groceries and medicines, etc. So we aren't totally homebound.

I told Woody over the weekend that I would check with TN Oncology this morning and find out what their policies are for this medical crisis.  He is scheduled to have labs done this week and then next week get is anemia and B-12 shots and see the doctor.  The person I talked to said that they were rescheduling all nonessential appointments, but that his labs and shots were essential and that he was to come as usual.

We continue to do a lot of nothing!  We're both reading.  Woody continues to do his daily crossword puzzles and watches some TV.  I made a pot of Boston a Baked Beans that cooked overnight in a slow oven.  I used my time delay on the oven and had them start cooking in the middle of the night.  Worked great.  When I got up this morning, it was time to stir them and cook them for the rest of the time without the lid.  Woody loves slaw and beans together.  Well, he isn't supposed to eat beans due to their high protein content, but he has decided to eat just a spoonful in a serving of slaw to help him enjoy his slaw more!

Woody stayed home yesterday and livestreamed out church service.  Our church, First Baptist Church, Tullahoma, had a drive-in service which seems to have worked out very well.  It was reported that there we about 115 vehicles pulled up in the parking lot and parking areas around the perimeter of the lot.  I think they estimated more than 300 people in attendance.  Those in the cars could tune into a local FM radio station if they couldn't hear from their cars.  Some tailgated, some stood at the back of their cars.  There were picnic tables set up at good distances apart so families could sit at them.  Innovation in a time of crisis!

Stay well!  Stay safe!  Distance yourself from friends for a time so this too can pass!  I read that the sooner we comply with distancing/quarantining ourselves the sooner this "mess" can be behind us...I'm game for a bit of inconvenience for good health in our world...how about you?

Mr. & Mrs. 51 Years

Slow Saturday

How many times have we wished that time would slow down?  I think that perhaps we have gotten our wish granted!  Do the days seem longer to you now that we aren't leaving our residences as often as we once did?

Woody and I have stayed in most of the day.  I did venture out to feed the cats and get the mail...and, that was it!  I did a small amount of cleaning.  Got things out to make potato soup this morning and then made it after lunch.  Woody did his usual crossword puzzles and did some checking of emails, etc. on the laptop and has read.  We both talked to Melany...we think that she is worrying about us too much!  I guess it makes it worse for her since she can't come to check on us!  We keep assuring her that we are fine.  We've got food, shelter, activities to do around the house...what more could we ask for?!?  Tomorrow will be a strange day since we don't have a regular church service.  We will stay home and attempt to livestream and if that doesn't work for us, we will wait till our pastor's recorded sermon is posted on Facebook or the church app.  But not starting our week at church will probably mess our internal clocks up and we will have no idea what day it is the rest of the week!

Melany says that she knows what day it is by her weekly medicine container.  Woody and I both have one of those. And, it does ground me on what day it is as I get my morning medicine out...but that doesn't mean that the rest of the day will "feel" like the day it really is...if you know what I mean!  All day yesterday it has felt like Saturday to me (today has felt like Saturday, too). Woody knew it was Friday as he did all his errand running.  Now...today...for him probably hasn't felt like Saturday since he couldn't make his weekly trip to the library. Our bodies/minds like routine.  I guess our bodies and minds will have to get used to a "new normal/routine"...for how long...I wonder!

Stay safe and well!  This, too, will pass!!  Practice patience! Try to enjoy your "downtime!"

Spring Has Arrived!

Here we are in the first whole day of Spring 2020...does it feel like Spring where you are?  We have had spring rains today...heavy at times...sometimes not so heavy...but steady.  Just what our overly saturated ground needs?

Woody headed out really early...shopping early as has been suggested for folks "our age."  He was also trying to te the shopping done before it rained.  He made to the car and most of the way to the grocery store without rain, but the bottom fell out before he got into the store.  He came home with a very light load of groceries for our weekly shopping...not a lot to be had on many aisles...I'm ready for all this hoarding and panic buying to end.  He said that Kroger had absolutely no meat.  They did tell him that they did have meat yesterday, but that it had all sold out and that today's delivery hadn't happened yet this morning.  He was there by 6:30am so quite early.  He said that the pasta aisle continued to be wiped out, but he did find bow tie pasta which is what he likes in one of the dishes that I make for him...so a win!  That must not be the choice of the masses!  I got our groceries in from the car and put away.  Not long after he got home he went to pick up his friend so he could run errands...not exactly social distancing...but...it's a need that needs to be met.

I stayed in and kept the home fires burning...doing some cooking.  I made a Woody-friendly dish—a chicken and rice casserole.  I called a friend to see how she felt about me sharing some of the casserole with her and her husband...she fell last week and hurt her back badly.  At this point with the virus, I wanted to make sure that they wouldn't mind something from another's kitchen.   But I also figure that the alternative of getting things from a drive-thru also comes from another's kitchen.  She accepted out offer so when I got everything cooked I drove over one neighborhood and met her husband in the driveway and passed it through my car window to him...sort of a drive-thru!  

The rest of our day has been just sticking around the house...not doing a lot.  It was a pretty 

quiet afternoon with the sound of gentle rain falling on the roof...that sound continues as I'm writing this. Here's is one last photo for tonight...a rabbit that we found on our barn trip Wednesday.  Happy Spring...stay safe and healthy!

Thursday Doings...Or Lack Thereof

I mentioned yesterday that our barn trip was really a barn and cow trip...here are some of the cows.

Today's routine consisted of school in the morning.  It was Isaac's long time.  Last week we planned some science experiments.  He brought a flashlight to use in a lesson that he refracted light off the surface off a glass of water.  We sort of got a rainbow to show up on a piece of white paper.  Next he had an experiment about energy using marbles.  The marbles were part of a marble run "game" that we have in our toy closet.  Isaac decided that he would make some marble runs and had a lot of fun figuring out how to do some.  The energy experiment moved well over to the marble run...and he had his first lesson in inertia.  He found out that objects in motion tend to stay in motion and that objects at rest tend to stay at rest.  It is fun to see lessons "just happen" when doing something that wasn't planned to even be part of the lesson!  I think that he liked finding out that he and Sir Isaac Newton have the same first name!

I spent time this afternoon continuing to work on the photos that I took yesterday.  Woody worked out in the yard some...picking up sticks and even pruning off some dead parts on a Rhododendron bush in front of our porch.  He enjoys being out, but still has to be careful of sun exposure due to the antibiotics that he takes.  Today he had trouble with the hat he was trying to wear...the wind kept blowing it off his head!  The wind was probably an indication of some of the weather that is supposed to be blowing/coming our way.  Storms in the forecast...once again!  Woody has done a lot of reading...he's moving very quickly through the four book series that I got for him on Tuesday.  I continue to read e-books and a couple of others that I can hold in my hand.  It will be easier to keep me in books than it will be Woody since he doesn't read e-books...doesn't really want to and also doesn't have a device to read them on.

Communication with friends and neighbors during this self-quarantine: waving to neighbors across the street; hollering across the yard to find out how our other neighbors are doing; her grandson asking me where Abigail is (he goes to the Montessori where Abigail works...which is out for the time being); emailing my Sunday School class to tell them the plans for our church to not have services as usual, but that they are going to attempt a drive-in service in the parking lot/lot across from our sanctuary and also offer live streaming of the sermon so it can be watched from home; phoning our Sunday School teacher to let her know that no Sunday School and discussed what we might do to keep our class still having class and keep our email prayer list going.  So life goes on...just in a bit of a different manner.  As my neighbor said...at least we can go outside and enjoy being out of the house and get some fresh air.  Isaac and Joseph have been riding their bicycles back and forth through our and their front yards.  They just wave and talk to their neighborhood friends 

from afar.  Yesterday I cancelled appointments for both Woody and myself...non essential at this point and no reason to go to health facilities where one might pick up the virus...or something else!  

Stay safe and well...keep busy...stay happy...get rested...do something that you don't normally do...this, too, shall pass and we will once again be back to "normal!"  

A Barn and Cow Trip

Today we saw a lot of barns and a to of cows...so we decided that we would call it a "barn & cow" trip.  This may be the last barn trip for a while for several reasons and we thoroughly enjoyed the trip,  photo taking, and each other's company!  This barn had interesting features which ever way you approached it.  The tip photo does show a few of the many cows we saw today.  I think that this was the only star we saw on a barn today. As great as this side of the barn is wait for the other side!

The door on this barn was beyond fantastic!  Look at that barn quilt!  This was the only barn quilt square that we saw today...but what a terrific one it is!  Here is a close-up:

I knew that we were going to see this as Marie had shown me a picture of it this past Sunday.  So I looked forward to it the whole trip and it was close to the end of our trip...well worth the wait!

Woody stayed home and kept the home fires going.  I think that he read most of the day...at least if I can judge by how far he got into the first book of a series of books that I brought him from the church library yesterday.  Last I looked he was almost finished with the first one.  After I got home he went to the drive-thru at the Credit Union and the pharmacy.  I fixed a meatloaf for our supper.  And, I uploaded the photos taken today onto the passport external drive on our laptop and have put some of them onto the iPad so I can "play" a bit.  I'm ready to just sit and either read or mess with my new pictures.  Woody has the TV going and is probably multitasking with his reading.  Another quiet end to this Dorrell household's day.  

Everyone stay safe and well from this virus...enjoy the downtime that is sort of being forced upon us.  I got to thinking the other day...we have been wanting time to slow down a bit...I'll bet we are going to find that time slows waaaaay down for quite a few days/weeks/months or however long this virus plagues us!  Try to enjoy your time...I plan to!

Wonders Never Cease!

(After I posted this photo and published tonight's blog I thought that I should have posted a green barn!)  

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY 2020!

Today I was the gadabout and Woody stayed home the whole day. I had school this morning.  After lunch, I headed off to get my haircut.  Since I was out, it was a good time to run a couple of errands.  I headed first to WalMart...I dreaded what I wouldn't find!  But I needed three things and I found all all three and was in and out in just a matter of minutes...wonders ever cease!  I will admit that I added an extra minute or so to the time in the store as I wanted to see with my own eyes an aisle that is supposed to hold toilet paper and paper towels...and, that aisle was as I expected it...totally empty.  Next I made a stop at the church as I had a paper to turn into the office.  I slipped into the library just for a moment to grab a couple of books for Woody.  And, since I added something extra to my list that I hadn't planned (books for Woody), I forgot to get the book that Kathy asked me to get.  My last stop before home was the public library to turn in the books that we had finished.  I found out at church that today was supposed to be the last day that the library would be open for a while.  But, alas, I was too late and they had already closed.  I put the books in the book drop and headed on home.  I was glad that I had gotten Woody some books at church since I couldn't get the one that I planned to get him at the public library.  Just sorry that I forgot Kathy's book!  I may have a moment to get her book tomorrow as I have plans to be out in the morning.

We won't be working in the library tomorrow since all church activities have been cancelled except for Sunday morning services and Sunday School...at least at this point those are still planned to happen.

My "barn trip" friends and I have a short barn trip planned for tomorrow.  Marie has spotted some more barns that are fairly close to her home and wanted to go out with her camera rather than her phone camera that she captured them with the other day.  One has a wonderful barn quilt square on its door.  I'm definitely game to go along!  I'm looking forward to capturing some photos of it and several others in that area that she has scouted out for us!

Everyone Hanging In There?

Same barn...different vantage point

I hope that everyone is hanging on in this wild ride that we seem to be on due to the Coronavirus!  So far we are.  I stayed at home today, but Woody did go out to run an errand for his friend.  He didn't have to go into any stores, just used the drive-thru at the pharmacy.  And then take the prescriptions to his friend.  We are his friend's "answering service," as he has no phone so all his doctors, etc. call him on our phone and then Woody has to get messages to him.  We got a phone call this morning and a message so that worked out.  Woody took my cell phone so his friend could return the call.  Other than that little outing, Woody has stayed in and hopefully away from the Coronavirus!  

We decided that we would continue Grammy school.  But this morning I only had Joseph as they had 

company and the rest decided to stay and visit with their cousins.  So I ended up getting a couple of 

loads of wash done and managed to get the census form filled out and submitted on our laptop...good job done!  

Yesterday our church did have two services and Sunday School.  The attendance was down, but not shockingly so...probably a 1/3 less in the early service that we go to and Sunday School was lower.  Both Woody's and my class were down by about half.  Today it was decided that there would be no activities or services during the week, but at this point still plan to have two church services and Sunday School this coming Sunday...time will tell if that will happen!  I said all that to say why Woody didn't have the Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer meeting tonight. 

This afternoon I spent reading and talked on the phone with a friend in Alabama and also talked with Melany.  Melany's school has been cancelled till after the first of April.  Tullahoma City Schools are also out till March 30th at least.  Spring break falls into this mandatory time off.  Graham said that Motlow is falling this week an extension of Spring Break and then next week they will start online classes.  The Dorrell Academy continues on!  My friend in Alabama had her 2nd cataract surgery scheduled for this week, but it has been postponed.  Kathy couldn't find eggs at WalMart today, but did find them at Aldi...but still no toilet paper anywhere!  I guess it is safe to say we are all in limbo!

Farm Life

This afternoon I went to a friend's house to see the progress on her new kitchen.  Then I got a tour of their farm...lots of chickens...good fodder for my camera!  Incubators at various stages...with one ready to hatch today...then baby chicks of various ages.  And, a big variety of grown roosters and hens.

Busy Friday

If you look closely at tonight's photo, you can spot another barn quilt block on the far side of the silo.

Woody left before 7:30 this morning to go pick up his friend and take him to a doctor appointment in McMinnville. When they got home, they ran errands.  Before Woody got back home, his friend was calling to say that he had forgotten to ask Woody to take him to pick up his medicine.  I met Woody in the driveway before he got out of the car so he wouldn't have to walk in and walk right back out!  Woody had to wait quite a while to get the prescription as they had made error with the name.  So he was gone quit a while for the last part of that errand running.  He came home and rested for a while and then went to get our groceries.  He said that the store was covered up with people...and that definitely that our stores are no different than stores in other towns and cities...no toilet paper or paper towels!  He said that there had been a run on pasta, too.  When I talked to Melany this evening, she said that the reason for no pasta is that many people mainly eat out and that pasta is one thing that they can cook...boil a box of pasta and open a jar of spaghetti sauce and voilà...dinner!

Since I knew that Woody would be away from the house for quite a while today, I decided to clean the family room aka his room.  So I vacuumed, dusted, spot cleaned the rug,  cleaned the bathroom, generally picked up and ran a load of his clothes.  He usually does his own wash, but it isn't easy for him to get a full clothes basket, his walker and himself into the laundry room...so I decided to "be nice" today!  I also made some more of his sweet red pepper sauce aka Woody's ketchup.  Made enough to freeze some.

I got a nice surprise in the mail from my sister Cheryl today...a Spring decoration...a cute carton of carrot eggs!  Receiving that package got me to get out some bunnies and eggs and do some decorating in the kitchen.  Just put the decoration tub away and put out the last bunny a few minutes ago.

Melany called to give me her update on the Corona Virus in her neck of the woods...Murfreesboro, TN (45 min. away).  She got word late this afternoon that her school is closed at least for a week.  Wade's work has told all their workers except for a few to work from home next week.  Melany had planned to come see us this weekend but decided that it would be best not to come.  She works in a school...a very good place to pick up a bug or two or three!  She has to be careful because the medication she takes for her Crohn's disease compromises her immune system.  So she is glad that they are out.  She said that she won't come here  to not take a chance of bringing something to her daddy.

Nathan and Kathy checked in over our Alexa echo (or whatever she is called).  They were checking on us to see if all was okay.  They thought maybe they shouldn't come over our way.  We decided that we will wait till Sunday to decide about school over here next week.  I'm not that concerned about the kids having school here, but we will see.  There has been the first case of Corona Virus reported in our county now.  Motlow has cancelled classes...well, they will do all their classes online. I think Nathan said, till after the beginning of April at least. Little League has cancelled practices.  And, hopefully will be able to start the season around April 6th.  At this point our church is having services this Sunday...but time will tell!  Looks like Middle Tennessee and little Tullahoma are falling right into the midst of the Pandemic.  I just sit here and look on in amazement...especially about the toilet paper shortage!!!

Making Sense of Census?

Woody came in with the mail today saying that we had gotten our census form.  He opened it and said that it is to be filled out online.  He then turned the "honor" over to me to fill it out.  It has become a challenge...at this time I have made two attempts and both times the form reverts back to the beginning at the same exact place...as I am scrolling to add Woody's name and information after I have filled in my information.  When it goes back to the beginning all info that has been put in is wiped out! Grrrrrrrrr!  At this point I have set it aside!  I guess I will try it on the laptop next...maybe the touch screen on my iPad doesn't like my touch at that point in the form.

I had school this morning.  Joseph had his "Osmo Day" after he did his reading work with me.  It was Isaac's long time today.  He still didn't get his K'nex project finished.  He seems to be at a point that he can't get beyond...I think that I may call in some "brother K'nexpertise" to get this finished.  We read some more in Little House on the Prairie and then planned some science experiments for his next weeks long time.

Woody ran a couple of errands this afternoon because he has to take his friend to a doctor appointment in the morning and doing what he did today will help him get through tomorrow's errands in a shorter time.

We have had some rain today, but not a lot.  There is a prediction that some heavy storms may come though in the night.  Don't like those storms that come through after I'm asleep...a reminder of last week's killer tornadoes that touched down north of us while so many were asleep.

Wednesday

Once again we have arrived at the middle of the "work week."  It seems like the days of the week roll around more quickly all the time!  Today I did go to the church library and worked for a short time...long enough to check books in and out, card books, reshelve books, and mend a book...and checked out two books. Then back home to do a little of this and a lot of nothing...well, I guess reading isn't nothing!  I am on a roll with my reading this year...finished my 30th book just a little while ago.  It was an e-book and when I returned it, I got a message that one of my books that I had on hold ws available...they had let me skip the waiting line.  That happens every so often...I think that it is a "reward" for consistently returning books early.  I have already read a chapter in that book.

While I was at the library, Woody headed off to deliver church literature to some of his shut-in families.  He made the decision not to visit in person in the assisted living due to all the hype about the coronavirus and rest homes...plus he needs to be careful since his health is somewhat compromised.  So he dropped off the literature in people's mail boxes or mailed it to them this month and will get in touch with them by phone.  I guess we can't be too careful?  I had a friend call this afternoon and she told me that she had gone to WalMart today and that the aisle that has paper towels and toilet paper was totally empty of any products.  I bought some on Saturday (only because we needed it...not to "stock up") and, at that time you could tell that the shelves weren't stocked as full as usual, but there was still plenty to choose from.  I guess it shows what a can happen over a few days and more scary stories coming in over our TV's and through the Internet.  We got an email from Kroger this afternoon telling how they were dealing with the "extra demand" and with the virus itself...and they are limiting amounts of products that one can purchase at a time (good plan) and making extra efforts at keeping things clean/wiped down with disinfectant.  I'm just watching all this from afar and wondering...

Woody got ambitious today and made his slaw recipe...I cleaned up the mess.  Nathan and Kathy came over and we talked for a while.  They have had a couple of cancelations for their programs at several rest homes due to coronavirus precautions.  A group of ladies from our church returned last night from a mission trip to North Africa.  Their travel was not affected by the virus.  I have friends who are currently in Israel.  They will be returning this weekend...waiting to hear how their return trip goes.  I will be glad when they are back safe and sound on U.S. soil!  Definitely lots of factors in our lives are being touched and changes are happening due to this virus.  Stay healthy wherever you are...but let's not panic!!!

Adding One More Year

Well, math isn't my strong subject...so maybe I can just forget how to even add one?!?  I guess the celebration started yesterday when I had a surprise delivery at our front door from Melany, Wade, Erin and Alex.  By the way, Wade also gets to add another year today.  Makes it really easy to remember his birthday!

When I came downstairs after school this morning, I found an Arby's bag waiting for me.  Woody made a secret trip while I was having school.  When I got finished with my lunch, I spotted 9 people 

pass in front of the kitchen window.  They had a delicious blueberry muffin made by Joy with a candle in it.  They sang Happy Birthday and then gave me presents.

Pretty pansies to plant in one of the front gardens.

A new birdhouse—a barn!  (Tonight's barn photo!)

And, to make sure everyone knows whose kitchen it is...a sign for over the door. Abigail spotted this sign in an Indiana Amish gift shop last week.  I'm amazed that they found one with "Grammy!"

To sum up my day: it has been very special made that way by family and many friend's wishes.  All the wishes have made it easier for me to wrap my mind around the addition of another year!

Monday Musings

Today has been a recovery day from yesterday's time change!  Hopefully we will get used to the new time quickly...never seems to be easy!  Woody said that it took him forever last night to finally get to sleep...not till the wee hours.  I didn't sleep well either.  And, I'm pretty sure that we both dozed off this afternoon.

I had school this morning...back to routine after they were away last week.  Everyone seemed to easily get back into the school groove.  Elijah had his long time today.  He experimented with various items sprinkled on ice cubes to see what would make them melt the quickest.  While waiting for them to melt, he learned about the Pythagorean theorem using a special set of Magformers that we have.  It gives a very good concrete example of the  theorem so one can then work into the abstract.  Not Montessori...but the way Montessori works = move from concrete examples to abstract thinking. Even Woody was impressed as to how this educational set of Magformers showed this concept.  I'm really glad that I got this set for the pickle present a couple of years ago.  Elijah is the first one who has used it in this way.  The younger boys have just made the 3-D solid shapes with it.

I think that I have avoided a bout with gout.  Last night I couldn't figure out why my sock and then the throw was making one of my toes hurt so much.  I finally realized that it was the toe that I originally had gout in...and, when you have gout anything touching that joint hurts...socks, covers, etc.  I decided that I would use my "rescue drug" that I have had to take in ages.  And, within a few hours the pain had gone.  Thank goodness!

After school today, I made a pot of chicken gumbo and cooked some rice to serve it over.  It tasted pretty good as we hadn't had it in a long time.  I try so hard to give Woody variety, but I don't think that he thinks that he gets enough variety!  Which is pretty hard with the limited items that he is supposed to eat!  But I try.

Woody worked on planting some more grass seed around the stepping stones that form a walkway between our house and Nathan and Kathy's.  I think he wanted to get it planted before our next rain which I think is predicted for tomorrow.  He is now at the Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer meeting.  When he gets home, we will batten down the hatches and be in for another quiet evening.

I had a surprise delivery today that I'll share with you in tomorrow's blog.

Tonight's photo shows one of several barns that we saw wth quilt blocks on them. Here's a little information that I found about quilt blocks on barns:

While barn quilts have been around for many years, there's been a spike in popularity in the last two decades. In Adams County, Ohio, in 2001, Donna Sue Groves set out to honor her mother Maxine and her quilt art by painting a quilt block on her tobacco barn. The idea was a hit and soon friends and neighbors wanted barn quilts of their own. And, now this tradition has spread to over 40 states and Canada.

Scattered Saturday

Well, my evening went totally off kilter and I am just now thinking about blogging.  I got a call while making supper that I needed to go pick up a friend at the hospital.  I picked her up and then ran all over town trying to get her prescription filled...decided that wasn't something that you can do in Tullahoma on a Saturday evening after six.  So I took her home and got her settled and then came home.  I needed to fill in a couple of friends on what was going on.  Then I decided to change the downstairs clocks...springing forward.  Then I decided that it was time for supper...all confused.  Just thought about blogging.  That pretty much sums up my day...all else has sort of been forgotten.  Woody and I did run an errand together this morning.  Other than that...not sure any more!  Surprises in my day can throw me a bit!  Thankfully...as Scarlett would say, "Tomorrow is another day!"  And, that day will have us off kilter as we get used to the time change.  I will move an hour more away from my sister as I sleep tonight!

Dry and Wet

Woody did our grocery shopping early this morning.  I brought the groceries in and out them away after he got home.  Not long after he got home he headed off to run errands with his friend.  While he was gone I decided that it was a good time to dust/dry mop and then wet mop them...so the kitchen and three bathrooms all have clean floors.  I also washed towels and got them folded and out away...guess that brought to a close my little vacation of doing close to nothing!  After doing that I decided it was time to go back to my reading and my recliner!

Woody was also ready to head to his recliner once he finally got home on into the afternoon.  He has done his crossword puzzles and, of course, got reading in both here in his recliner and in the car while he waited on his friend at the various errand stops.  

Thursday

When we travel on our barn trips, most of our photos are taken from the car...sometimes through the windshield, sometimes the side window (sometimes with window rolled up and sometimes with the window rolled down).  We end up taking some of the barns from several vantage points.  The above photo was taken as we approached the barn and we are snapping photos at both the cows and the barn...when I took this one, it was raining a bit so there were some raindrops that the camera wanted to focus on.  This one I made blurry on purpose, when I was working on it with the photo app...making it blurry sort of took care of the raindrops and ended up making it look more like a
painting.

Here's one the camera focused too much on the raindrops on the windshield.  It will end up deleted, probably.  But for the moment it stays as it shows that it rained on the trip.

Here we are a little closer...still through the windshield, but perhaps the rain had stopped or I snapped it just after a windshield wiper swipe.  The next will show us next to the barn even closer.  I never know which photo angle will please me the most when I look closely at them after getting home!  This barn was well photographed.  Some barns we get coming and going and sometimes we turn around just to get a better view!  Glad for low traveled country roads!  

Today has been another rather slow day for us...not a lot going on...just a lot of this and a little of that.  I haven't done a lot this week.  I probably should have, as I had the week off from school.  Nathan, Kathy, and family except for Graham were in Indiana on a ministry trip.  I decided to treat it like a "real" vacation and just took it easy.  I did a lot of reading and just a little in the way of work around the house.  They arrived home this afternoon.  Woody got to take Elijah to baseball practice as Nathan, Kathy and some of the older kids headed off to the Smyrna Motlow  campus to have a worship service tonight.  They are trying to get a Baptist Collegiate Ministries started on the Smyrna campus.  We waited supper till after Elijah's practice.  I headed off to Walmart shortly after Woody and Elijah left for practice.  I just had a couple of things to pick up so was back well before they were and had our supper ready for Woody when he got back.  Now we are settled in for another relaxing evening...reading, TV watching, etc.  just another very quiet evening in our household.  I'll end with a close up of the cows that belong with this barn!