Yesterday, our grandson Lucas turned five years old. My son and his family live hours away from here so we were not able to celebrate in person. We sent Lucas some cash for his birthday. (My son said Lucas was very excited and wanted to spend it on a power tool for them to share – I do not think so😂.) Dan was at work, but I video called Lucas to wish him a Happy Birthday. We discussed his breakfast (pancakes with strawberries). We also played a few two person video games. It took me a bit to catch onto them but we got there. It was not an inperson visit but we both had fun!
Celebrating Mom’s birthday 2012 – Mom and Prim
Today would have been my Mother’s birthday. She passed away in April of 2013 one month short of her 95th birthday. Mom lived in a nursing home for her final five years. My daughter and I would often go to visit her and take her out for Sunday brunch. She loved to visit with her great-grandchildren and show them off to the staff and other residents in her home. She also loved it when we brought her flowers to brighten up her room. (Even the time we forgot to pick up a bouquet on our way out of town so had to pick wild flowers in the ditch along the way😂)
I would love to be able to call my Mom and wish her a Happy Birthday, but honestly I am glad for her that she is not here. I am happy that her life ended peacefully, with family by her side. I am glad that she was not here to experience any part of this Covid 19 pandemic.
I planted the rest of my seeds and seedlings yesterday! The garden is mostly peppers – bell, Hungarian wax, and a variety of hot peppers and tomatoes – San marzan, Roma, Tiny Tim (for Kat), Beefsteak, multicolored and Better Boy. We also have a few cucumbers, onions, zucchini (for Kat), peas, carrots, lettuce and radishes and a few herbs. I also have my flower planters done. Most of them are perennials but I add a few annuals to the mix every year.
Garden area. The hanging planters and the Bleeding Heart were from the grandkids for Mother’s DayBeefsteak TomatoesGarage wall planterDay Lillie’s that we got from our neighbour this weekDan’s ‘Tree of Enchantment’ would be a little more enchanting if it grew a bit this yearI love this planter. I bought it for our patio to slow the grandkids down, but now their pool is too big to share the patio.Currant Bush – there are going to be more currants than bush this year🤷
Now I can start the rest of the yard clean up. Dan brought out the water hose yesterday so now I can dig out the pressure washer for the patio and pond. Then, I can start giving all the planters a fresh coat of paint. I am so excited for all the time I will have to spend outside in our yard this year!
Our provincial government has decided that it is time to re-open Saskatchewan. I agree that it is time. People need to return to their lives and we should be ready. Businesses have been made aware of what they must do to keep their customers and staff at minimum risk. Medical facilities have had time to prepare for Covid and non-Covid patients. Schools will remain closed for now as will churches, sports venues, and the like. Our government should be ready to take swift action if there are signs of a serious outbreak. People in general have been educated as to the risks of Covid 19 and the precautions needed to avoid contracting or spreading it. Saskatchewan is ready. It is time.
I have ventured out very little in the past two months. For the most part, I have gone only where I absolutely had to – our bank, our pharmacy, and to a lab for blood tests. I also went to one outdoor greenhouse and one very quiet dollar store. Dan has been doing all of our other shopping and errands on his days off.
Yesterday I decided that it was time. I put on a mask and headed off to Walmart with Dan to pick up a number of items that I prefer to buy for myself – shampoo, conditioner, and the like.
Not actually me…
Dan dropped me off at the lineup to the Walmart entrance. There were maybe fifteen people in line. The line was orderly and moving at a steady pace. One person would be allowed to enter the store and the rest of us would move up a spot. The spots were clearly identified. I was signalled to enter the vestibule, where there were three more steps to move up. Then I was signalled to enter the store.
Once in the store, it was a GONG show. People were coming in, people were going out, people were crossing sideways to grab a cart or return a cart. I had no idea where I was supposed to go. A staff member caught my eye and motioned me over to get a freshly sanitized cart. I thanked him, grabbed a cart, and moved off towards the pharmacy area.
There were no arrows to indicate which direction I should be travelling. There were only a couple of other people in the immediate vicinity so I was easily able to keep my distance. I was relaxing, while still being vigilant. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a large man moving up beside me. I edged away from him just as he put his BIG hand on the handle of my cart.
This was not the first time Dan has stepped up beside me to take over pushing a cart but he startled me none the less. Fortunately, my mask muffled my shriek and we moved on.
Dan’s hand vs my hand. He has BIG hands.
I led the way around the store, while Dan pushed the cart. It was all good until we reached the grocery department. Suddenly there were arrows on the floor and I was going the wrong direction – as were half of the customers. Dan was in the next aisle, going the right direction. I caught up with him and we quickly got what we needed. We paid the cashier, who was on the other side of a plastic barrier. I was distracted when I noticed she was sanitizing the debit machine after I used it. 👍
By the time I turned back, Dan was gone. He was halfway out the door. As I was trying to get past the service counter, there was a staff member – right there – announcing Walmart’s Covid 19 protocols. In the ten square feet in front of her counter, there were a dozen people all going different directions. I was one of them. 🙄
It may be time and Saskatchewan may be ready. Personally, I do not feel that I am quite there yet – at least not for Walmart.
This just doesn’t seem to be Kat’s year for taking walks. A few days ago we were out walking when two dogs charged up from nowhere and tried to attack her. She was fine, but a bit traumatized. I haven’t walked her down that block since.
Last night we set off for our walk. We walked about five block and all was good – or as good as it gets walking Kat. She walks, then stops dead to smell a post, eat some grass, fill a poop bag, whatever. It is a process. She finally gets up to speed and, since we have doubled back, we are one long block and two short blocks from home. Kat stops and yipes – sharp and loud.
I looked down and Kat is holding one paw up in the air. I looked around and I saw a spiked seed pod on the sidewalk but nothing else. I crouched down and tried to have a look. There was nothing obvious so I tried to feel around between the pads of her hairy little foot but could not find anything. I stood up to see if she would put her paw down and walk on it. She tried but she couldn’t do it.
I decided that I had to carry Kat home. Picking her up was not the most graceful thing I have ever done. Carrying a fifteen kilogram dog three blocks was not going to happen. I carried her about six feet before I set her down and tried to catch my breath, while digging in my walking bag for my cell phone. Fortunately, Dan was home, answered the call and agreed to come and meet up with us.
Once again, I picked up Kat and tried to do my part in meeting up with Dan. I made it another six feet before crouching down and letting Kat slide out of my arms. When Dan got to us, we were both looking pretty pathetic.
Dan checked Kat over and convinced her to try to stand on the grass by the sidewalk. She decided that she could limp home beside him, stopping a couple of times to eat more grass.
When we got home, I got out a pair of tweezers and had a better look at Kat’s food. I did find a sizeable sharp splinter that I removed but she was still limping. Dan had another look and decided she most have twisted her paw when she stepped on the splinter.
Kat still had a bit of a limp this morning but she has been doing fairly well. She has been bouncing out to the gate to check out every passerby. It seems she will be fine but I think it is best if we skip our walk today.
Every year I choose one aspect of my life to focus special attention on. This year I chose to focus on peace. Every morning, I begin my day by copying ‘peaceful’ positive affirmations in my journal. Throughout the day, when I find myself tensing up for any reason, I stop for a moment to focus on peace. When things go wrong, I try to think “Isthis worth losing peace over?” At night, I drift off to sleep focussed on peaceful thoughts.
So far, this year has not been perfect. There have been challenges with my health, family issues, employment issues and general life issues plus the uncertainty that comes from such things as a global pandemic. Regardless, I have felt a profound change in the way I process it all. I find it easier to let go of control or expectations. I find it easier to appreciate the moments in life that are worth cherishing. I find it easier to just ‘be in the moment’. I find it easier to laugh and smile and just feel good. I am finding it easier to create a peaceful vibe around me, like the people I have most admired in my life.
I am not always where I would like to be on my quest for peace. There are anxious moments and stressful days, when I feel less than peaceful. There are people who seem intent on drama and creating chaos. At times, I feel more frustrated and annoyed with them than peaceful. However, overall I feel I am making significant progress. I have another 228 days to focus on peace and I know that I am on a good track for a significantly better life experience.
Life is not always great, sometimes it is not even good – but I honestly believe that we can live it better. It takes work and perseverance and time – but life can be better.
Every elephant is my favorite elephant but I have to admit I am especially partial to my metal elephants.
The first elephant Dan bought meThis little chrome elephant holds my wedding rings when I am not wearing them.I love the detail on this elephant. My photography skills do not do it justice.I love this chrome elephant!Just a cute little brass elephant that I picked up from a thrift shop.A little wee pewter elephant from my daughter-in-law ErinThis was one of my Mom’s elephants A tiny pewter elephant on an amethyst mount. Another gift from my sister Denise.This one is not mine but he made the cut because he is metal and he is just too cool to exclude.
Countries, provinces, states, and the like have been announcing cases of Covid 19 on a daily basis for months now. The cases have varied substantially from one country or area to another. The severity and contagion of Covid 19 has varied substantially. Why is that?
Personally, I do not put a lot of faith in the numbers. Regardless of how many tests are being done, what do the results mean if we have no idea what criteria is being used to decide who gets tested and for what purpose?
In Saskatchewan, the numbers would lead people to believe that Covid 19 has basically bypassed our province. With the exception of a few reported outbreaks, we have supposedly had little transmission of the virus. This begs the question – why? Why would a number of people be infected at one snowmobile race, one hospital, one sporting event, but in Regina (a city of 200,000) there have been 76 official cases, with virtually zero transmission? People spontaneously being infected by the virus through no known source and not passing it on to anyone else? A few of these could be explained by people returning from other areas and self isolating once they are home. Even those are questionable as many flew home and mingled shoulder to shoulder with others in a crowded airport on arrival. The rest? Two nursing home care workers? A resident from an assisted living home who was in hospital for five days before testing positive?
It does not surprise me that Covid 19 is just a numbers game in Saskatchewan but if you are just playing a game, why? People are being lulled into a false sense of security. Many people believe there is little cause for caution as our official numbers are so low. People are not taking this seriously.
I believe people should take Covid 19 seriously. I believe they should be cautious. Regardless of the ‘official’ numbers, Covid 19 is a serious disease. It is contagious. It poses an immediate life threatening danger to the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. It is being found that even for younger, healthier individuals Covid 19 can be a serious life threatening disease. Medical professionals are only beginning to see the potential for longterm health issues for those who have suffered even milder cases of this virus. There is much more to be learned and every reason to be cautious.
It doesn’t matter where you are, or what the numbers say. Covid 19 is here and it is not going anywhere anytime soon. Take care out there. Protect yourself and those around you.
If you have heard of Regina, you have probably heard of the Saskatchewan Roughriders – our CFL football team. 🏈
Regina is widely known for the Rider pride that drives tens of thousands into Mosaic Stadium every year regardless of sun, rain, snow or hail. Fans are decked out in the team’s green and white, with many of the diehards sporting watermelon helmets.
Dan is back to work for another round of shifts. The damp cloudy weather isn’t helping me feel better today but I will get some work done around the house. I have to make Kat some fresh food, clean the glass shower doors and work on the kids room. That should fill my day. I did put my plants outside earlier and took a bit of a tour around the yard.
A new flower arrangement I got for Mother’s Day yesterday – Maddy had to pick the Sunny yellow basket!And a beautiful red Geranium!And a new Bleeding Heart for Grandpa because he can’t be left out when Genie’s buying gifts – even for Mother’s Day🤣2020 FrogDan’s little birdsRock on…
Dan started the day by running to Superstore for a few essential groceries to get us through his next round of shifts.
On the way home he stopped at the Co-op home centre and picked up a new yard elephant. I think Kat likes it. 😍Then we went to Canadian Tire for a few more bedding plants. Dan found facemasks from the reno we did a couple of years ago so I wore one. I don’t know how much they help keep one healthy, but they do keep people out of my face so I felt better for having one on!On our way home, Dan ran in to our temporary pharmacy to pick up our prescriptions for the month.
Finally we ran into the Dollar Store. I am not sure what their social distancing plan is. They have arrows pointing down the aisles one direction and footprints pointing down the (same) aisles in the opposite direction. People were stumbling all over the place. I was glad I had my facemask on. 😊
I picked up the cutest little Buddha statue.And I filled my candy jars 🙄
Now it is time to get outside and get some work done. It isn’t terribly warm but at least it is nicer than it has been this week. 🌞
Seclusion 101 with AnneMarie 