Last week I painted my kitchen table and hutch.  Our new pup chewed the corner of the hutch.  DH patched it, but the color was off.  So I picked out some chalk paint on my way home from overnight hiking trip early March before all the coronavirus quarantine started.

Have been going back and forth between contentment and gratitude to stir crazy/how am I going to make it through this summer mentally with all this strangeness.  I have to find outlets during this solitude.  I am honing a structure to my day and I think it is helping me keep perspective and remember all the things I have to be grateful for.  A LOT!

But I did have a cry the other day when I looked at our retirement accounts and we received the news that any assistance from the Fed government is going by returns from 2018.  We will retired at the END of 2018 - so we will likely not get any of our hard earned money back.  PLUS I have already filed and PAID my 2019 taxes.  Sometimes it seems like doing all the right things puts one at a disadvantage.  But I have never been a procrastinator.

Then I got out of my pity party and put a note on my hiking group that if anyone needs help, PM me and I can help them with errands to the story.  Many of them are 10-15 years older than I.  We went to the store for my in laws this weekend was so happy to help them.  They seem to be doing fine - just working in their garden, etc.  Not worried about toilet paper, etc.  My Granny is not doing as well, her mind is just racing and worrying not having any company.  It is sad.  My area has indicated that businesses closed for next 30 days...people are taking that the CDC suggesting it might be through August that people are supposed to stay home...if so our fundraiser of Memorial Weekend will be cancelled.  That is also the month of our reunion.  I just hope that if this quarantine/social distance goes on all summer that we can see the benefits of the flattening of the curve of infected because I can't imaging the economic and mental health implications it will cause our nation.

I also bought through Amazon a wifi extender to see if I can get internet in our guest room so that I can do yoga online classes in the bedroom - we don't really have room enough anywhere else.  I did a nice session Sunday and Tuesday.  I will do another one Thurs and maybe Friday or Saturday.

Rain, rain, rain!

Early this am DH had to get up and drive to the city.  He still has not gotten a doctor in our new area.  To his credit, it is not easy to find someone here.  He also takes a lot of medications and his doctor is very thorough.  But for this trip I really hated to see him drive so early in the dark with the storming going on today.

He called when he got there.  Made it fine.  The weather 3.5 hours north sunny and nice today.  He played golf with his brother.  His brother recently bought my old convertible.  DH took him our paperwork file with all the maintenance stuff, including window sticker.  I also gave him the car cover and my Pontiac hat.  Any chance I have to get rid of something...hahaha

Yesterday and last few days we have sold more stuff (sporting goods, motorcycle, hunting, camping...etc).  I am saving up for my backpacking equipment.  Depending on the events around doing stuff outside and coronavirus CDC recommendations, I am supposed to go on an overnight backpack thing for beginners.  If it is cancelled, I will just hold on the my money for a while and uy things more slowly.  It is crazy his expensive.

Today I cleaned house and washed the dogs.  This is them looking at me through the door while they were outside.

Good Time to Catch Up

I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since I posted.

My favorite uncle passed that week and so I went to the city and stayed with my aunt for a week helping her get services ready and keeping her company.   She is doing ok.  I worry about her.  Losing my uncles income will tighten her budget.   She has a big family and support system.  I hope they keep it up.

I saw my elderly Granny day after her bday couple weeks ago.   She was good.  Now they are not having visitors for the time being.  My Granny is trying to stay positive.

Last week our internet was out for 5 days.   I went ahead and went on a trip (I drove) about 4 hours south with my hiking club to a lake and couple state parks.  There were 20 of us.  We had a good time.  I like the women in the group.

When I got home Thursday I was sick.  So of course I have worried a bit.  But I am pretty sure just allergies and my chronic condition.   No flu symptoms.   I have been getting lots of rest.

Saturday we stocked up on groceries.  Bought pantry stuff and also lots of fresh fruit and veggies.  We are just staying home as much as we can next 2 to 4 weeks.  Yesterday and today was dreary and gray/drizzling.  I walked anyway.  Going to try to stay active and enjoy some solitude. 

I am eager to get my plants outside and plant some veggies...wont be long!

Until then we are enjoying chilly evenings and a fire on our wood stove and projects inside.

Stay well!