This is my first ever yarn along, or link to another blogger.  Not sure why I am compelled to do this now, when I've been knitting and reading for years. Maybe its the quarantine. Maybe its I am finally challenging myself to do things that I've always said I would do, and of course somehow never do them.

I am knitting the Lovely Leaf Shawl, in a deep navy and cream, with the border in green. All yarn is from Knit Picks.  I wish I had resources locally for handspun yarn.  I might have to drive into Wisconsin or Michigan one of these days. 

I have started reading A Man Called Ove. I have no recommendations on it because I literally just opened the book last night.  My sister-in-law gave it to me when cleaning out her recently read books, said it was really good.

I am starting to appreciate this time at home.  I know its not without stress, I can attest to that, but we had such a full schedule before the pandemic.  We are all adjusting.  And my knitting is helping quite nicely. 

Happy 10th Birthday Max!

A whole decade! Ten years!  I cant believe it, its gone by so fast and yet so slow at the same time.  I know this kid will be super successful in life, but man getting him there has been and is, hard.  I am so thankful for him.  I am SUPER blessed he's my son.  He is super smart, funny, kind, adventurous and so, so inquisitive.  Is always wanting to try new things, especially with tools and how things work. 

And what the suckiest time to have a birthday too... during quarantine.  Everyone is having these parades with the police and fire department, but we just had my brother and his family over, along with my mother and step-father.  We celebrated outside, of course.  Boys got dirty, ate the entire cake and ran around for two hours.  It was simple and so nice. 

Let's hope the next ten years do fly by in a minute.  Go Max Go!! 

Earth Day 2020.

I never really celebrate Earth Day unless its something required by the boys school, an activity or something.  I think the last time we did something Earth Day related Theo was in pre-Kindergarten.  We made a dinosaur using recycled materials.  Or I made the dinosaur at my work desk and brought to his class.  Ha.

So this year, being home with the quarantine, and dying to do something creative and non-screen related, I Pinterest ideas.  Suncatchers, made from products at home or 'recycled' or 'recyclable' products. 

I should have looked around the house more closely for the materials to really incorporate the recycled approach to this project.  But oh well....

We colored clear plastic cups with permanent marker.  We placed them on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper, baked for about eight minutes at 350 degrees.  We sat in front of the oven to watch them melt to these discs.  Boys went outside to find sticks, and then cut some to size.  I attached them and hung each catcher we made in our rooms. 

Best part of this project?  Spending quiet time with the boys at the kitchen table coloring, and letting the boys use the tools and their creativity to get all the pieces we needed.  I want to remember this. 

Easter 2020, spent home alone, with technology connecting family.  Overall it was a quiet day, though nice.  We were thrust into this new normal.  We werent given a choice to isolate.  I am very appreciative of this time home with the boys, and being resourceful at what to do with our time.  I am also a bit nervous of what the future holds, how it will all play out going back to our routines. 

Why is it in 2020, we figured out to have a family get together, why havent we done this before?  But so thankful for it. 

Life is never without challenges.  Its always up and down.  I am thankful that I am to experience these ups and downs and I can learn and grow from them. 

I have been documenting things that happen each day during the quarantine.  Somewhat of a grateful daily journal, but more to document the things I want to remember, good or bad.  One of my favorite actresses, Drew Barrymore, starting a blog to write to capture thoughts and feelings during this time.  And this is exactly why I starting blogging this time. 

I want to remember this, so one day I share with the boys on how we survived this time, how the boys bonded together, how we baked so much together.  This is a great time to take a time-out and just be. 

I dont even know where to begin.  Its been a hard couple of days.  I think its all piled up on me.  We are now having to wear masks when in public, and you cant find a single sole mask to buy anywhere.  The internet is flooded with turtorials to make your own.  There is a shortage of elastic, and bias tape.  I suppose there could be worse things that could have a shortage.  I spent the better part of two days making these things.  It wasnt the actual sewing of the mask that took so long, its because I had made so many. 

I feel good having made them though.  Sewing has always relaxed me.  Putting together patterns and colors is my thing.  I love it.  I love the mixed pattern look.  It gives me great joy to see how things come together.  The joy I had from these things was short lived once I read the news. 

They are expecting the peak here soon, this week and next.  Now more than ever I am staying home.  I had a grocery delivery today.  I ordered beer to be picked up.  I did curbside cricket pick-up for the gecko. 

I am mourning the loss of what we knew as normal.  What will be the new normal?  Will there ever be socializing again?  Will it ever be safe?  Twelve to eighteen months is a long time to wait for a vaccine.  But we need it. 

On Friday, the last day of Spring Break, I had the boys help me make a sign to hang outside.  I wanted to let people know its okay.  We're all in this together.

where flowers bloom, so does hope ~ lady bird johnson

Day 17.

This is really hard, being home with the boys working and schooling and keeping all of us busy and active.  I cant give 100% to my work, because I have to balance the boys.  I cant give 100% to their learning because I have to work.  I am making three meals a day, cleaning the kitchen three times a day, sweeping the floors every single day.  We are eating food faster than we normally would since we are home all the time.  Laundry is always never ending but I cant keep up, with Theo changing his clothes four times a day.  I've lost track of the dates and days. 

The peak of this virus isnt near yet.  They are anticipating two more weeks until peak.  I am losing sleep over the deaths.  Lives are being stolen because of this.  I dont want to blame China, but I do blame them.  Why didnt they listen to that doctor?  Why do they have to be so controlling and release information as they feel they need to?  Especially when its as serious as this.  This is impacting everything and everyone. 

On the flip side, I have organized the spice cabinet.  I cleaned and organized the pantry.  I organized and swept the garage.  I started the process to paint the window and door trim in my bedroom, Max's bedroom and the kitchen.  I pulled up a thousand crocus bulbs in the yard.  I finished a sweater, but ripped it out and have started again. 

I am on my third book since being home.  Max built a giant Lego set that he had.  Theo is drawing. 

Our garden seedlings are growing. 

Hope.

Life skills.

Max's teacher has been encouraging the kids in class to do things that they normally do not do, learn to cook, cut the grass, change a light bulb.  Life skills. 

And that is exactly what we have been doing around here.

I showed Max how to use the leaf blower, which turned into thirty minutes of the boys shooting sticks and leaves out of it or blowing each other's face off. 

Then they had a cooking lesson.  We made a lemon loaf for Ginga for his birthday.  Turned out okay. 

They are making their beds every day, a habit I was taught to do when I was growing up.  They are helping with laundry, but putting away their own clothes.  (i have to remind myself not to open the drawers!)

I am hoping this time home and doing the chores around the house, helping out will turn them into functioning well adjusted adults.