Sunday's New Norm

 Phoenix assured I wouldn't sleep in this morning. No one else was up and our church service didn't start until 11:00 a.m.....

The mountains called; I went for a 3 mile walk. I was pretty amazed to have time for a Sunday morning walk. I've decided I need pepper spray for a bit of added protection after walking a good 3/4 of a mile with an odd man. I turned on my camera and filmed.....not much protection but something. LOL 

This snuck up on me - but I doubt pepper spray would prove helpful. 

Dust baths...because. 

We watched church, discussed the message, ordered take out and Michael and Dad headed out to pick up food. Dad enjoys getting OUT.  We debated eating in and I am glad we didn't. They weren't taking the social distancing "mandates" very seriously. We'll eat in..and probably won't order take out again from them until this is over. 

 I made a play structure for the girls...they are not impressed. 

Michael finished a fishing rod holder for Josiah. It will hold 15 rods...

We are 4 weeks from our last frost, I planted seeds. 

 This family went to get take out and then HAD to come to come for a visit. 

Kimber, Arielle (and Sweet Pea), Benny, Cory 

Look how BIG Kimber is getting....before anyone gets alarmed...in Alaska you can gather in groups of 20 or less if you practice social distancing from those who don't live in your home. We were outside and thus, did not need a mask. We attempted 6 feet apart...and succeeded for the most part.  Papa Michael sprays the play structure and trampoline down before kids arrive. We have wipes for surfaces, balls and trucks,  and sanitizer for hands....and we'll spray after they leave too.....this allows us all to visit...let's the kids play at a safe, germ free playground as the parks are still closed in town.  G G really LOVES being able to see the grandkids and great grand kids again. It's been a long 7 weeks for him. 

The "kids" put up the trampoline today...and then Benny came to play. This may have been the 6 foot exception.  Benny has begun talking up a STORM in the past 6 weeks. It was fun to hear all his new expressions. 

 Swinging - no snow....what a difference a week made! 

Baachan, I can climb it. 

Michael got the fire going - and the s'more kit is always an option for drop in guests! LOL 

It was a wonderful day. It feels much more normal when the adult kids start dropping in...and now they can.  We can do this for another 2 weeks...

BUBBLES to the Rescue

THIS was the highlight of the day. I didn't get many pictures...but after a month (or longer?) of not being near the kids....today, we spent a few minutes playing..... 

During my walk I discovered Arielle needed a few things from our home...I suggested I drop them off. I told her I'd bring GG and even if we couldn't BE with Benny we'd enjoy seeing him. GG would like to get out of the house.  

NOW....our governor is allowing gatherings of less than 20....if you can maintain 6 feet distance and wear masks if you are inside. We've all talked and we know the kids (and GG)  are simply not going to be able to do that inside...but OUTSIDE....we decided it would be worth a try. I told Arielle I'd bring bubbles. She had a chair for GG...Papa (Michael) decided to come too,  and off we went. 

My heart nearly burst when we pulled up. Bella and Gideon spotted us. I wasn't sure Bre would want them to be in the yard with us there….but we waved and texted her what we were doing. We planned to go visit, through the glass,  if they didn't come over. 

Benny RAN for us as we got out of the car. He ran right up to me, stopped about 6 feet away and waved! What a sweetie. He calls the germs "bad guys" and didn't want them to get us...we contented ourselves with waves, games and blowing kisses. 

The bubbles were a hit! 

Bella, Gideon, Annie, and Bre DID join us. 

I filled the dinosaur with bubbles thinking it was a bubble gun. ::snort:: It is a squirt gun. Gideon was not impressed at all...and we certainly didn't want to squirt soap at each other. 

About this time the kids called with the sad news they couldn't get anything from DQ  without a car. We met them, got treats, and took them to a spot with a view to eat. We stopped at the little airport on the way home for Dad to see the small planes he likes to watch. 

It was a good outing. GG was getting tired of being at home...I think he can make it another week now....he gave up a nap to go with us. LOL

Michael spent the afternoon working on some projects. I'll get photos tomorrow....

I pruned a few bushes... It was a good spring day....

Walk...Walk...Walk

I got up and Dad was still sleeping. Alex and Stacia were working on school. No one else was moving...I putzed around for an hour...the mountains were calling...and I wanted to be sure to get my miles in so that I wasn't derailed by pop-up family fun. 

It was a beautiful morning. I slowed my pace to grab a few shots. I didn't run into moose, I did have a couple of biggish dog friends join me for bits of time...I did not run into the tush sniffing pit bull. 🐾 I avoid that route at all costs these days. LOL 

THIS is my favorite view of the walk. It takes my breath away. Well - there is one spot a bit further where I can see three mountain ranges at once....but I love this one. This is also when I have to decide if I am turning back home, or committed to at least 5 miles of walk. 😊 I vary the route but any way I go, except straight back, will require at least 5 miles.

I personally think any veggies grown in such a beautiful spot will NATURALLY taste better than store bought! Don't you think? 

I dread the final 3/4 mile push up hill to home....but I DO so love turning back and seeing where I've walked...knowing the rest of the way home will all be downhill. 🐽😅🐽

The house was still quiet when I got home. I moved a bale of straw to the chicken yard. I hoped they would have fun with it...and they have. I plan to get some treats to hide in it for them...today I just threw some scratch around and on top of it.

My goal this week was to walk 20 miles. That was 6 miles more than the previous week. I did it! I had blisters from Saturday and had to baby my feet a bit....but I got it done! My pace is picking up....it was 18 minutes today so maybe that will go down again next week.

I'm not sure I'll keep walking every week. I only got one elliptical workout in this week...and I notice the difference in weight loss....but I do enjoy being outside.  Reaching a walking goal helps me focus on what I CAN control in this season, and on this weight loss journey. It gives me lots of meditating, praying, praising time....AND I check in with friends too. It DOES take me an hour and 40 minutes to walk 5 miles.

I'm not sure if my goal will be 20 miles again in the upcoming week or if I'll try to up the mileage.

The other big goal met this week is that Alex and Stacia finished their work for the year. or 98% of their work - enough that I'm fine giving them grades and have work samples for them.

Sure enough - the kids decided to go celebrate the end of the school year at DQ....to WALK to town....and invited me on a 9 mile walk.....but I knew better. LOL  We ended up picking them up as they discovered they couldn't get food at DQ without a car. LOL

That's The Week

It's been a long week.

Alex and Stacia are in the final push to finish this school year.  We'll all be putting in time tomorrow, but I think they will both make it.

We continue to "stay at home."  Here are some glimpses of the week.... Tuesday, we made a run to the inside of a store to pick up a few essential items.  Michael found a mask in the garage. Honestly, we feel silly wearing masks...BUT our state is about to begin the experiment of opening back up. A big part of seeing success will be for citizens to voluntarily act responsibly...and our governor has asked we wear masks when inside stores or in places where we are around those who do not live in our home. It's an easy thing to do. Staying 6 feet away from grandchildren is proving to be much more difficult.

I've noticed some are getting far to wrapped around the mask so to speak....I lost my mask Monday between the car and the pharmacy....good GRIEF...the looks, the comments...you would have thought I was the vilest criminal in Alaska.  I had my mask on this trip...and again the looks from those NOT wearing masks.  Out of love for my father, my family, and those I come into contact with, I will wear a mask when out and about. Why? Because our Governor has asked us to, and because I have PERSONAL FRIENDS who tested positive and were totally befuddled when they did.  I don't THINK I have the virus, but shoot, Beth hadn't left her home in 4 weeks and somehow contracted it....so I will wear my mask out of care for YOU - even if you are one making fun of me for wearing the mask. How's that? You do you. I'll do me. 

Another odd mask thing - folks don't smile, or exchange greetings when wearing masks. I am working to break that trend. We may look like bandits, but we can be friendly bandits.  

I have a personal goal of walking 20 miles this week. I  have discovered it's fun to catch up on polos and to send polos while walking.... Stacia and I walked together one day which was fun too. 

This particular day I was exploring a new road...wow! I loved it, but began to feel like I was getting a bit too isolated with no bear spray or protection. It turns out I was walking my way to the shooting range....which was closed. On a typical day there would have probably been more traffic and it wouldn't have felt so eerie. 

This week has also had it's share of church Zooms. Tuesday night was Bible Study, Thursday was a church staff meeting, and this morning a coffee date.

Staff in a box

This has to be the saddest, and yet most hopeful, photo of the week. Our snowman has melted....he was created Feb 19th, so lasted a bit over two months...that's not bad. Spring...is....here.

We still have fabric on the free bolt from Joann's. Krista and I spent significant time making more masks today. We gave 20 of them away before dinner....we may never get enough to take back to Joann's.  Adding the masks all of us have made we are up to 117....and we have significant fabric left....I want to make some cute ones....The girls would like to work on their quarantine quilt....I gave up starting a quilt when I saw  mask making was the new skill I was destined to learn during this time. 

We ended the school week with pizza, Despicable Me, and some fun clips from Holderness Family. Stacia and I did have a Bible Study adventure which I'll blog separately, but this is our week.

Oh yes, our Covid numbers are great in Alaska. I think it's because we are spread out, our population is small, and our leadership began informing and putting mandates in place when the  first case popped up. Our Governor has begun to cautiously open things up. As of today, there can be limited retail and dining in....this amounts to 25% of capacity and family groups making reservations and eating together...at a table 10 feet from the next table. We can gather in groups of 20, but if we are with those whom we don't live with, we are to be 6 feet apart. High risk folks are encouraged to continue to stay home. OH! We can travel between communities on the road system. They are opening some service industries with new restrictions...no waiting rooms, one provider/one client at a time....hair salons, barbers, chiropractors...and elective procedures will begin again. The plan is to watch for 2 weeks and if numbers aren't out of control, they'll open more up at the end of that time. If things spike....they'll tighten those areas back up.  We've been told there will be more cases, but they feel the health system can handle it at this point. Frankly, if we all do the social distancing and wear the masks, wash our hands etc....things should go well....if not....there you have it....I think a big test will be the point where groups begin gathering again and air travel opens up....

Bible Study Adventure

One unexpected benefit of the quarantine has been the need to find new spots for our Mother Daughter Bible Study. We miss Sophia's....but we have loved our new routine, too. We drive through and get our "regular" order....and find a scenic spot to enjoy breakfast and discuss this week's Bible passages. 

Today, we set out to find the "Swimming Hole." We weren't sure of the real name of the spot...but we remembered where it was. We THOUGHT we MAY have found the spot...but there was much less water than we remember....

 Kareen, a local friend, confirms THIS IS the swimming hole and it will be much fuller in a month.  After  our breakfast discussion...we decided to keep driving up this road. It is a road we've never driven up before.

We went to the Pioneer Ridge Trail.....and decided it would be best to come back with real shoes and possible hiking sticks.

We continued to drive, in awe of the views we discovered. We noted this was the Alaska of reality shows...buses, broken down RV's, and tar paper shacks....all with chimneys, sweeping valleys, rivers and snow covered mountains. 

We drove to the end of the road and found a resort - empty at this time. We noted a nice parking spot and hoped it would be a spot we could park and picnic with G Dog (Dad).  It really isn't a great spot for him to sit and enjoy the view....we climbed down below the signs which said, "Private property stay below high water mark."

I stood in one spot and took the picture above and turned the other way and got the picture below. It was serene, beautiful, refreshing.

Interesting ice shards...

Gherkins have been making little rock towers/cairns for decades...long before it became a "thing," and certainly before it  became "bad"....we did not destroy any environmental elements. 

This cool print was filled with ice crystals....

We picked up quite a few flat rocks to paint. We found these rocks interesting.  

 

Stacia scooped a handful of snow and discovered she was holding a handful of ice crystals. 

Further inspection proved this area of the beach to be ice crystals rather than snow.

 It was a yummy breakfast, a beautiful drive, a new adventure and a great discussion on the weight of our words. Words matter.

I look forward to more Bible Study adventures with Stacia.

Unremarkable Monday

I'd love to say we woke today full of vim and vigor - whatever that may be.

However, everyone seemed to be dragging.

Nolan got off to work.

Alex and Stacia got up and hit the school books. I have 90% of the school work I need for Stacia.

Krista was later than usual - turns out she isn't feeling well and spent much of the afternoon in bed.

I sat a goal of walking 20 miles this week.  Considering the blisters on the bottom of my feet, the goal may not be realistic this week. I knew I could say 15 and I'd hit it...so I'm stretching.  I thought I'd do a 2 mile walk to get the week's goal started...and then I'd do 45 in on the elliptical. I felt good and kept walking when I hit the 1 mile mark and had planned to turn around.

Irony Illustrated

The only thing better would have been a caution sign

Look how much snow has disappeared in the last few days. I like to walk alone. I pray, think, observe....and I polo. Yep, it's a great time for me to catch up on polos....I polo my sister friends (Beth and Julie) and my cousin, Lorri. I had a polo from Arielle to answer so got that done too....other than that -  I simply enjoy the moments.   I was feeling good....rounded the corner and knew I had about 3/4 of a mile left....and then I remembered...it's uphill.

Up the hill - turn right - you're home...you can do it. 

Made it! 

I WAS walking and NOT snowboarding. 

Five miles and my pace improved from Saturday, which had improved from my solitary walks last week. 

My feet really didn't hurt - just a tad bit uncomfortable - while I walked. I had on big wool/fleece socks....when I took my shoes off....YOWZER.  I'm not sure if I'll be able to walk tomorrow.... I stayed off the elliptical. I'm trying to give them time to heal.

Michael worked on repairs today...fixed a fan that wasn't lined up to blow anything OUT... this should greatly help in the downstairs bathroom.

I ordered a new step tracker and it came today.  I got tired of Fit Bits that last 6 months.  Seriously. I've had 3 now. The latest quit synching, then the sleep monitoring quit, the heart rate quit, and finally it simply froze. Nothing would get it going again. I'd had it less than 6 months. I figured I may as well get a cheap off brand from Amazon. AT 1/6th the cost if it only lasts months it won't bug me...AND it is supposed to do the same or more....I found this little note in the box and knew right away this was not an American company....far more polite than I expected. "Hello dear,"...

Stacia, Dad and I watched  Holderness Family clips this evening. Michael is doctoring Big Red. Krista and the boys disappeared....I expect to bed.

Today we heard the price of a barrel of oil has dropped  below $0. It's like -$37 a barrel. Wow. Praying for all those we know who work in the oil fields of TX or on the North slope of AK.  Much of our state's budget depends on the price of oil....and I think it was figured on $60 a barrel or maybe $20.....certainly not on -$37.  Another historical moment...the day toilet paper cost more than a barrel of oil.