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April 20 in Corona-ville

Here we are again. Same story but another week. Our restrictions are stringent-ish. Only 2 people outside a family unit can be together….but over 6 feet apart. 1 walk a day. 1 person from a household allowed to shop for the family. Queuing (British spelling. Why the extra u??????) for everything is necessary. I found this article interesting/funny/true.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/art-queuing-nick-shackleton-jones

The beautiful weather continues, so I’ll add fresh pictures of a swan and some lambs. I found them all in a further field- that connects to the closer one, but at the time I didn’t know that. We did get a day and a half of rain, which made the farmers grateful, as the spring crops are all in the ground. I also continue to work in my garden, each day I see and pull many dandelions, and weave in the stragglers to the climbing plants, water my lettuce seeds and tomato and zucchini plants. The weather continues to be a high around 60, but windy.

Last Thursday was a rough day, even though I manage my chores, house tasks, cooking and sewing, the dreary time at home seemed to stretch out before me. I really should have taken a walk. I believe I walked around under my own little rain cloud all day. When I awoke the next morning, I was my own sunny self, coping like everyone else. I believe, if we are honest, we all go through moments or days like this while being on our own so much. John and I decided that I should brave the local grocery, drive my car to and from. It was wonderful! I also got a gingerbread man as a treat. I know this sounds weird…but it seemed better to buy 1…than make and eat 2 dozen! HAHA- I would have…eventually. So some fresh air, my mask and a bottle of wipes gave me new purpose. We had been having John do all the grocery runs because of the risks to myself, but in the end we decided this was better for my mental health.

I became part of a pattern tester team here in the UK, and the pattern was available Saturday night, for 10 days of testing. This is an unpaid gig, but very helpful for a designer to have people of various shapes and sizes show the results of their patterns before they become ready for purchase. There is often a sense of comradery, and you get a new free pattern. I think if I was younger, I would have loved to create my own patterns. But who knows. I typically create the pattern using 2 or 3 different views, perhaps with different fabrics. Since purchasing online fabrics is problematic these days, I have 3 or 4 good options in my stash. After the pattern has been released, I’ll include a picture or 2.

Yesterday we kept hearing funny sounds in the afternoon. We took it to be someone trimming shrubs in the neighborhood. The sounds continued into the evening, and we realized (ha- John- not me) that the sound was like arcing within the TV. YIKES! So he opened up the back, after unplugging is. He vacuumed is out and tried it again. Still sounding a little creepy. So we left it unplugged overnight. No one wants a TV fire! Then we went upstairs and the 2 bathroom lights had flashing problems, which John called dirty power. Not great connections. So we figured something was going on in the neighborhood. In the morning the various breakers kept tripping and we had to deal with only a half pot of coffee, as we clearly didn’t have enough power to brew a whole pot. Sad day, that! So then we had no power at all. Even the meter outside was blank. We called a neighbor who said their home was fine, so we called the landlord who gave John the number of the correct power company. They came out before lunch and fixed it after an hour or so. It was a VERY loose connection outside the house. The workers didn’t even need to come inside. Our neighbors had us bring over our tea kettle so they could provide boiling water so we could make tea. Yep, a great ending and some strong delicious British tea to celebrate! Alls well that ends well! So grateful it was easily fixed!

There is no way to say I hope mere tea could heal this virus epidemic, but I wish it were true. It seems like many doctors are sharing the things that have worked well for them, and things which have not worked. Sounds like this is a tricky little virus, which is why we must heed the warnings and try to stay safe. I’m encouraged by the way many have tried to help each other out in villages and towns, and use social media connections or cartoon connections that make us laugh. Everyone processes differently. One day this will all pass.

PS. I found a Pub that was open 12 minutes from our house. They wouldn’t deliver but I ordered dinner for us, and we drove to pick it up. So thankful for a dinner I didn’t make! Happiness! I also need to order some beef, sausages and little steak and Guinness pies from the local butcher. They do deliver! And I found a little bag of very fine flour, so I’ll try making a British sponge cake with jam and whipped cream. Food happiness! Awesome.