Social Distancing/Pandemic #50

 Saturday, December 5, 2020

So, here we are in December. There are 2 more weeks of school in this semester, and it seems to be going so quickly. Take a deep breath!

We had a lovely, quiet, private Thanksgiving, I did the cooking, and we timed dinner so that we could eat together when Ron got home. I made 3 pies (yes, for 3 people), turkey with stuffing (because _I_ like it), mashed potatoes, and green beans. It wasn't a large turkey, but with only 3 of us, we have also had turkey corn chowder made by Ron, and turkey noodle soup, made by me. The pies were a hit, especially the cherry pie, which turned out particularly good, if I say so myself, but I didn't have to. It disappeared first.

The Christmas tree is up, and decorated. I would have loved to add the novelty lights I had collected over the years to the pre-lit tree this year, but last year, after years of not bothering to add them, we tested them to see if they still worked and ended up tossing the lot. Sadly. Particularly sadly because I would really have enjoyed them this year. Sigh. But the tree is lovely, as they are. We included the old decorations that I have kept from my parents, who are gone. It felt nice to put them on the tree this year.

Side view, lots of white and red this year.

I also uncovered a quilted wall hanging that my mom and I had worked on the blocks for. I think it was my first attempt at quilt block building, and today when I looked at it, I could tell. But it also reminded me of us working on it and planning it. We made one for me, one for her, and one for a cousin. It had been packed away for a while, with some Christmas fabrics that I had basically forgotten about, so it was definitely a win for me today. Now to figure out where and how to get the wall hanging up for the season.

Our idea for it was going through the snowy forest
to the Christmas house mine is sketchy on the snowy part.

I have to admit to enjoying a little nostalgia this year. Remembering the past, on the way to the future, really.

I got Christmas cards ready and in the mail during the Thanksgiving break. I also got a nightshirt/robe sewn up for Ron. It was our anniversary during that week: 20 years. Parts have flown by, and other parts, not so much, as I'm sure with most couples. For the most part, I believe we are happy with each other, and pretty well suited to the other.

Social Distance/Pandemic 49

 November 14, Saturday

The pandemic has been taking an upswing, and the governor of NM ordered Shelter in Place again, for the next 2 weeks. Mostly, I'm sure, to discourage large Thanksgiving gatherings. I get that. I really do. I know there are people who will ignore the guidelines, but the hospitals are getting to the point of being overwhelmed.  

We had planned a get-together. Damon is almost done with his kitchen remodel, and wanted to christen it with a Thanksgiving get together. I was looking forward to it, as were others in our smallish group. I think it is going to have to be a raincheck at this point, however. We can celebrate everyone being able to stay healthy.

I personally have plans for sewing. There are Christmas gifts I want to work on and get into the mail. I might even get my Christmas cards ready to send out. (WHAT? So early??) I made a quick trip to Joann's before the shelter in place to pick up supplies for Ron a flannel nightshirt/warm lounge-y layer. I was definitely masked appropriately and socially distant from other customers.

The trip through Albertson's was more crowded, but I wanted to get a few things before the shelves were picked over too badly. Picked up Brats and sauerkraut while I was there, and put them in the crockpot with a couple of old apples that I peeled & sliced, half an onion, potatoes and carrots. YUM.

As usual, I've been taking my walks around the neighborhood, and looking for nature. I walked past a roadrunner sitting on a fence. I stopped and took a picture, trying not to scare it off, but I was within 8-10 feet of it just sitting there, giving me looks. The homeowner drove up while I was taking pictures and said it had been hanging out for a few days. He wondered if it was after his pecans. I wonder if it was after something that was after his pecans...

When a roadrunner isn't running...

Social Distance 48

 November 1, 2020  Sunday

This has been a week. After all my talk of still feeling the summer, even though nature has been showing me the signs of fall, we got snow on Tuesday. The earliest recorded snow in Las Cruces. And it wasn't just a flurry that didn't stick. It was inches. about 4 in some places, more in some others. I think we got 3-4. It snowed most of the day, even though the snow was melting, too...

Snow falling at 5 AM

So, you may ask, why was I up at 5 to see the snow? Well, it was the first time our new heater ran, and it blew out all the coatings and stuff, and set off all the fire alarms in the house. Those footprints were Ron's. He was in the car, ready to leave and I waved him down and made him come back in. We made sure there was no fire, and he took down the alarms and we opened doors for a little fresh air and let it vent, then warm up the house. Of course I did the last part after he left for work. Not the best way to wake up, actually, but I did enjoy the snow. No snow day for students or teachers, though, although there were power outages around town off and on. 

Snow in October!

In true New Mexico fashion, it was gone by Wednesday. Still, no doubt, winter just made a little preview in the last week of October.

One of the other amazing things I got to see this week, was the full moon rising behind the Organ Mountains. I noticed a glow behind a couple of peaks, and it was so beautiful and amazing, that I took pictures even though I knew my phone camera couldn't do it justice. Still, I couldn't NOT take them.

The glow

coming up over the Organs

Beautiful

There was a couple coming down the street as I was walking up it, and I called out to them to look, and they even said thanks for telling them, because they thought it was beautiful, too.

Then there was Halloween, that wasn't much of a Halloween, really. I mean I walked around the neighborhood, as the sun was going down, when the little kids should have been out and about, but they weren't. Neither were the older ones. I sure hope that the parties were small, and all that, because the numbers are threatening to overwhelm our healthcare here. El Paso has run out of hospital beds, and has some tents set up, and a temporary hospital set up in the Civics Center, downtown. Hospitals in the surrounding area can no longer send patients who need more care to the bigger hospitals/cities because there is no where to put them.

Social Distancing 47

 Saturday October 24

I keep thinking I will write more. I keep letting the time slip past, although I have been gathering topics... and pictures.

I'm still walking through my neighborhood most evenings, and I still want it to be summer, but the evidence keeps amassing to the contrary. Oh, the warmth is here, although not the heat of summer. Most of the leaves on the trees are still green (the yellow ones get blown off the trees) but there are signs. Shorter days, for one. It gets dark by 7PM now. I love the long days of summer, and I miss them already.

Of course it is October, and even officially fall at this point, so I guess I must expect that. Here is some of the other evidence from around my neighborhood...

pecans weighing the branch down

cactus fruit - it makes good jelly...

even the lantana in the fall is pretty

The COVID numbers are up this month. We have been setting records for positive cases across the state, and here in Dona Ana county. Even so, El Paso has been having a higher daily number than all of New Mexico. It is worrisome because so many people from El Paso work here, and so many people from Cruces work, shop and visit in El Paso. 

Several schools have had staff and faculty become ill. Sometimes those people are working from home, but sometimes not, and the school has to close for cleaning. Now, if a business or school closes due to COVID, they will be closed for 14 days. Picacho Middle School opened for some Special Needs students on Monday, and on Wednesday had to close. We did do SAT testing across the district with seniors on the 14th, and although I was waiting with rather bated breath, I haven't heard of anyone turning up sick afterwards. LCPS is hoping to go hybrid in January, but I just don't see that being possible, or even wise.

I'm thinking more and more of retiring this year. The time and effort and weirdness have started taking their toll. It helps to go outside, and notice that the seasons are changing, and that there is simple beauty around, and neighbors walking as well, but it may be time for that step. It may be.

Social Distancing #46

 Sunday, October 4th

My intent is to write in this journal at least once a week. Some weeks I've been good about it, recently, not so much.

Here we are in October already. The school quarter ends on the 14th. Quickly followed by a short fall break, Halloween, election day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. We have plans to camp in Silver City again, for New Years. The time, as usual at this time of year, is flying by. The days are getting shorter and it has cooled off some, though no sweaters required yet. We often don't feel the cool until Halloween.

This week President Trump announced that he had tested positive for COVID. So has his wife, and others in his circle as well. I don't wish him ill, however I am concerned that should he lose the election, things may get ugly in this country. He is - perhaps - just petulant and childish and spoiled enough not to want to hand over the White house to the next president. Then we face the choice of revolt and civil war, or becoming a different kind of country. One where a dictator can name himself leader for life. If he is fighting for his life over COVID, that may be a moot point. On the other hand, if anyone in this country is going to get the earliest, best, most up-to-date care for it that is known, it is the President. 

I also feel like it is just consequence for flouting the epidemic, and mocking those who take mask precautions, and - although he also has the right to - living like it doesn't exist.

What is the old curse? May you live in interesting days. Well, the times get more and more "interesting" as they go.

Social Distancing 45

 September 17, Thursday

Yesterday was Carl's birthday. We'll do an appropriately social distanced celebration on Saturday for him. Damon too, for that matter, who's birthday is next week. Ron's is coming up in October. It isn't that far away? What happened to this year? It seems to be going so fast, now that school has started. At least THAT hasn't changed...

We did a day trip out to see Phil and Cheryl. It was such a nice day. The rains we finally had last week have cooled us down some, and we sat outside and watched the hummingbirds come to the feeders they have set up. It was amazing. There were at times, up to ten of them flying around and of course since they get territorial, they chase each other away from the feeders. You can hear them buzz as they warn the others of their intent, Cheryl said they sound like light sabers when they start a battle (and they do, rather) and they will fly into each other to fight in the air. Other hummers watch for those to fly off in the chase, and move in for a sip or two while the coast is clear. I got a few pictures on my phone, but they don't do the hummingbirds justice...

busy, busy hummingbirds

They also have a covey of quail that show up expecting handouts... and of course they get them. I think one of the reasons they moved where they did was to get to see all the wildlife, and feel part of nature. It sure is calming.

I have to admit that I have enjoyed the limited nature in my life this year. I feel I've actually had a chance to see some of it, when there are times when I am so "everywhere else" that I don't.

School has been demanding a lot more of my time recently, so it was really a good thing to get away from it for a day. We are already half way through the 9 weeks, and doing parent/teacher conferences this week. Our little curriculum group is trying to put together the curriculum for the second 9 weeks as we go. The deadline is approaching, but now that we are teaching, that demands time first. Of course. I'm looking forward to a less stressful week or at least weekend, although I don't know how I'm going to surpass the destress level achieved last Saturday. I will say I hope to get some sewing done.

The sky is also clearing somewhat. There are fires burning throughout the west, and the air has been very smoky and it's worse in many places than it is here. We didn't have much of a monsoon season, so our recent rains were welcome. The grass in my front yard is still green and growing, but I'm not sure how much longer I'll be watering it this year... A few more weeks, I guess. I like it green and pretty. I've been working on it for a few years, and its finally looking good... at least in places, lol. But the season is changing. Slowly. But inexorably. It's been a long summer, seems like since March, and I have to admit to being sorry to see it go. 

Social Distancing Part 44

September 7, Labor Day 

Today, I mostly want to talk about meeting one of my creative goals for this weekend. Both my mother, and her mother were quilt makers. I received my "Grannie quilt" too many years ago to remember. I do know it graced my bed every winter, through many years, and even after I got married, but I finally had to admit that it was showing signs of wear, and I didn't really want it to fall apart. I still pull it out when I'm not feeling well, and need the comfort of a hug from my Grannie. 

Both Mom and Grannie were practical quilt makers. Practical makers in general, I think. They made stuff to get used. Mom made most of my school clothes, like I'm sure Grannie made most of hers. They both tended to make tied quilts, not the more time consuming hand quilted, or even machine quilted ones. The tops were made from cast-off clothing, mostly, or the bits and pieces left over from the clothes they made. Eventually, I started helping piece the tops together, although the ones I did were pretty straight forward strips of squares of wool fabrics. Those made some warm quilts. I know because I have one of them.

My brother Carl also had some "Mom quilts" and his were wearing out. At least the batting was showing through the flannel backing fabric. He and I discussed whether they were fixable, and I decided to try it out. I mean the worst was that they would not be fixable because they were too worn out.

It took me a while to be ready to face the challenge, but one day in the summer of 2019... or maybe the summer of 2018... I took one of those quilts out of the bag, and spread it out on a table, and started cutting the ties. Snip, snip, snip. The batting and the flannel fell away, and quickly stuffed into the trash can. The top seemed all in one piece! It needed to go through the wash, though. Cold water it is, and it survived the washer and drier without a problem. I was afraid some of the panels would start to ravel on the outer edge, so I serged around the freshly cleaned and dried quilt top. Then, I folded it up and set it aside again. Whew.

This year, I had planned on that quilt being a summer project that I could take to a big table at Cruces Creatives to work on, but then pandemic happened, and I haven't been there in months (although I did renew my membership!). I looked at batting, and wasn't thrilled with what I found. Not so much of the high loft my mom would use. So I picked up a king size piece of warm and natural, thinking I could at least double that if I wanted to. Then, I found a fun piece of flannel with sunflowers all over it, that I though would go well with the greens and browns that made up a lot of the quilt top. Carl liked it too.

Flowers that aren't too girly

I had talked to Carl about working on getting the layers of the quilt put together this weekend, and then reminded him - and myself about that - on Friday. We decided we would work on it today. Not only did we get the layers put together and pinned, we got the thing tied!

Yay! a tied quilt!

It still isn't finished, of course. I'll pull the flannel around to the top of the quilt and sew it to the edges of the top to create the binding, just like the original. Even though the loft on the batting wasn't what either of us would have had for our first pick, it has a satisfying heft to it with two layers. We did take the pins out after the photo was taken, and it is waiting on cooler days for the sewing to happen. I am really happy with our definitely amateur efforts! 

Another view of our success!

I really felt like we connected to some family history today. My mom passed away in 1996, and yet, she was with us today, tying that quilt. To be fair, I'm sure she and Grannie would both have both been a little critical of our methods, but I also think that they both would be happy that it meant more to both of us than just throwing it away. Celebrating practical crafting in a time when it isn't as common as it used to be. It definitely means that someday, the other quilt will also get the treatment. Today, I'm happy with what we accomplished.

Social Distancing Part 43

 September 1, Tuesday

Here we are in September. Already. I'm not sure how we got here so soon. I wasn't really ready for August, and now it's done. Next Monday is Labor Day. We've had three weeks of school so far. I wish I felt like I was getting to know my students more, but it is difficult when they mostly don't even have their cameras on. I have had conversations with a few. Now and then a student will stay "after class" in zoom and chat with me, or other students still there. I feel like we are all trying to reach for some normalcy.

Our Covid numbers are down in Dona Ana County, but, that being said, my husband is home from work tonight because his company is cleaning his work area because someone there tested positive. He didn't have direct contact with that person, but still, there it is in his work place. This week, one of the elementary schools in town also had a small outbreak. It was a total of 3 people, but that is with no students in the building, only staff... and still, there was spread. I don't know what all of our determining factors are to go to "yellow" or hybrid classes, but I'm worried it will be rushed. I mean, I WANT to go to class and see students and talk to them, but I don't want there to be an outbreak in a school, and to have fatalities or other serious consequences. This disease can leave long lasting effects.

I've been struggling the past few weeks with an arthritis flair up in my knee. I've been to the Dr. and to the recommended Orthopedist. It is finally getting better, thank goodness, and I'm feeling up to walking again. I went this evening, and did the usual route. I felt so slow. I mean, I'm slow anyway, but I felt sluggish and struggled. I will take that to mean I really needed to do it. I'll feel better walking tomorrow having struggled today. If my knee will let me sleep tonight. That's the test. Will my knee find a comfortable position and let me sleep.

And then, if I do sleep, I'm hoping not to have repetitive Canvas dreams. I'll dream all night about doing something in a class, and struggling to get it to work, only to have to move on to the next class and do the same process again. And again. And again.

In other news, it is chile roasting time. Carl got a box of hot chile, and got it roasted and we bagged it up and split it. I have some milder in my freezer left over from previous years that I can mix in. Carl may be on the lookout for another box of something milder. Oh the wonderful smell of roasted chile. I'm so glad to have more in my freezer. This is the year for stocking up. That's for sure. I feel a certain level of need to stock up on stuff I know we'll need in the next few months. I'll get it if/when I can find it. I'm not hording with a ridiculous amount, just trying to stay prepared. Cleaning supplies can sometimes still be hard to find. I've been looking for Clorox wipes, and hydrogen peroxide. Sam's has been out of both. Of course, I don't haunt the stores for them, so I'm probably just missing what they have coming in. 

Social Distancing part 42

 August 17, Monday

First Monday back to school. I overslept, but not fatefully. Then I worked, and worked, and worked in Canvas. My learning curve was steep. I got some things graded today, in Canvas - my students had been sending me e-mails, and will continue, as that was the assignment - but I FOUND them in Canvas, and graded, and gave points - and other feedback - as appropriate. I will get more done tomorrow with that, I'm sure.

I actually got a video made in Canvas studio last night. It only took me reading the whole thing 5 times over 3 days, and realizing I wasn't recording, or wasn't logged in, or some other disaster to get it right (a very loose definition of "right" here). Today, I actually got it posted into at least one class (5 more to go). Another goal for tomorrow. Then, there's reading the next chapter. The book I'm recording myself reading is Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

All this camera time is new to me, and I'm not used to looking at myself like that while I'm talking, and it's a little disconcerting. My make-up department is definitely lacking. I'll probably fire the lot. I made the first of my instructional videos. Not sure I'm satisfied with it, so I will probably end up recording a zoom meeting this week. Sigh. I should probably attempt one on Thursday and another on Friday, in case there's a record button or something else I miss. There's another one to make, and lots of adding into the modules to be done, to be done... (why do I feel like breaking into Gilbert and Sullivan?) ... a teacher's life is not an easy one. 

Second meeting with today's classes, and the meetings were short and sweet check-ins. Questions asked and answered. Thanks for them catching problems/mistakes that I didn't. And not as much stress - at least for me - as the meetings last week. Of course I need to get ready for the instructional meetings for this week, and I'm working on it! I'm working on it! Our Monday/Tuesday zoom meetings can be drop in office hours for students to come in as needed. I may be the one who needs them to drop in. They were good for my heart today.

Tomorrow's learning curve will be about collaborations in zoom. So I can get it set up, and use it Thursday and Friday. It's nice to be able to take a break and get something done in the house, but, it's hard to feel like you leave work. 

Social Distancing Part 41

 August 13, Thursday

First day of students "at" school. Because we aren't AT school. We are electronically sharing a space of time. It was... not encouraging to look at all those black rectangles where I would have liked to have seen faces. I can't fuss at them, though. They may not have a camera, or the bandwidth or a background they want to show to anyone else. I get it. But I miss their faces. I miss them in person, all those personalities. Even - dare I say - the freshman drama.

Still the class zoom meetings went well. I am not a zoom expert, nor a Canvas expert. I told them they may have teachers making it pretty, but I'm just doing well to make it work. As the semester goes on, I might have the energy to put into making it look... at least not so plain. I did invite them to just "drop by" during office hours just to say Hi! I hope they will.

Even my stress dreams, leading up to the start of school have not been the normal ones, where I step out of my classroom for a moment, and then can't find my way back. I wander through school buildings and hallways, and - even though I KNOW the principal is waiting for me in my classroom - I never seem to find it. This year, my stress dreams were trying to get Canvas to do what I wanted. I would struggle through some set-up again and again and again. I hope I at least worked through some of my worries with that dream, but I think it was more a sign of things to come...

Three classes today, and each zoom meeting was only 45 minutes long at best. But it was tiring. I will definitely have to figure out my recharging. Maybe my craft room will help. I got out some different fabrics from my fabric hoard... uh... stash and ran them through the washer yesterday. I got some requests for masks from friends, my sister in law, and even Rain had a favorite or two. Cutting next and then time at the sewing machine. One thing about the masks is that they are quick to finish, once the prep is done, so there is a sense of accomplishment.

Think I will try making an apple and pear pie this weekend. Cooking is also on the agenda, it would seem. Now that I'm thinking about cooking, some homemade crockpot spaghetti sauce may be in our future. Brats go in spaghetti sauce, right??

Social Distancing Part 40

 August 11, Tuesday

On the "school is starting" front, I went on campus today to get Canvas help. I think we got my current issue solved. I found classes with students, yay! On the other side, though, Canvas was rather unstable all day, thanks to some updates they were trying to make. I understand the need for updates, I really do, but it is very frustrating when you are really trying to USE the program so you can be ready on Thursday for your students! More to do tomorrow.

I did spend some time in my classroom. Got a desk in place to use, and a bookshelf moved back near the wall. I dug out some books and started the process of moving them back to the shelves. I also found "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" so now I can read that to my classes.

Speaking of school starting, Onate did a cool swag bag meet with incoming freshmen. Much like our senior sign deliveries, we picked a few freshmen and delivered their bags to them. We got them to sign a commitment to graduate as well. It was nice to get to meet them, and feel like there are real people at the other end of all those online classes this year. I hope they will feel that way too. I picked students from my homeroom class, and I enjoyed meeting them.

Commit to graduate!

I got two lovely thank you notes today. One for helping with the 9th grade curriculum. Thanks Jamie Baker. One was for a basket full of masks that I made for my friend's daughter. She loved them. I've got a few "on order" from my sister in law and one of my oldest friends, and some October themed masks to put together as well. I have a batch the really needs to get finished up and returned to Cruces Creatives as well. Somehow, my time is shorter than it was. 

July went by so fast. Time for chile roasting is here. Alberson's has their roaster set up, and boxes of chile to choose from.

looking forward to some roasted chile

I posted a lot of flower pictures in the spring and early summer. Today I'd like to include an interestingly gnarly mesquite "tree" that I saw this week. About as green as the desert gets.

beautiful blue skies and Organ Mountains in the background

Social Distancing Part 39

August 4, Tuesday

I'm not sure where July went, or how it got to be August, but it is. Teacher work days start tomorrow. We'll be doing our professional development online. I'll be helping my team present the Canvas shell we've been working on to other 9th grade teachers. I was at school yesterday, helping out with the check out of computers and books to students. I'll go back tomorrow, to pick up swag bags to hand out to some of my new Freshmen advisory students later in the week. Kind of like what we did with the Seniors in May. 

Word came out today, that Onate High School will evidently be renamed Organ Mountain High School. (I won't have to worry about not typing the nyeah n any more.) It is a controversial change, and maybe, all things considered, not the best timing. On the other hand, hopefully it is a sign of bigger changes in an area sorely needing reform. Lives of color matter.

I went into my classroom yesterday, while I was at school. I was hoping to pick up a book that I just knew right where it was. Was being the key word. They cleaned. I mean took books off the bookshelves, everything off the walls, moved all the furniture and cleaned. I didn't find my book. It was in a crate of books, with other crates of books stacked on top. Not what I was willing to deal with at that moment. I need to go back and put things into an order. I've been trying to decide whether to work from my classroom, or work from home. Several of the teachers in my hall will be there. It would be nice to have some socially distanced company. Teachers to talk over the successes and failures. Get out of the house a bit. I just have to figure out how much and which days.

I've made more masks, of course, trying to get ready to go back to school, and this happened:

before and after mask making

OK, OK, no I didn't really used all that thread on making masks. But definitely a significant amount. Thanks to my friend, Cindy who gifted me the new one for my birthday because she knew I was worried about running out while Joann's was closed.

We had a run to the vet. Kaliegh was licking her paw a lot and we could see it was irritated, but neither Ron nor I could find a wound, a sticker, or anything. She wasn't limping, but there was something wrong. Turns out, she had stepped on 

extra love needed

something that had a stinger that got left between the pads of her foot. A tube of ointment, and a few days wearing the cone of shame and everything got better. Of course the cone of shame brought its own trauma, and Kaliegh had trouble getting past furniture, and through doorways. Getting a drink of water was even a challenge. She definitely got the extra encouragement she needed to make it through her tribulations.

The state campgrounds are all day use only, still. But we really wanted to get out in our RV. I mean, that's why we got it and all. But, we have to work within Ron's requirements for work, and stay in a certain distance of home, and such. We decided to KOA it, and made a reservation at the one in Silver City. It was clean and nice, and they are operating at less than full capacity. It was a nice couple days.

ask for a patio site

The patio was nice in the morning, and late afternoon. The first morning I was sitting outside with the dogs, and a skunk came strolling around the front end of the RV. The dogs had a moment, then the skunk had a moment, but everyone safely avoided disaster, and the skunk certainly ran with tail up, ready to blast, but he didn't!  Whew! We also had some nice rain that evening, mixed with a little hail.

just for the hail of it

We were snug in the RV, and no problem. Cooled everything off a bit, and that was nice.

But now, it's back to the salt mines. Getting to bed, so I can get up and function in the morning by 8. Glad I have a job to do. More secure in my own situation online than I would be in person. I will miss the kiddos. I will be glad when we can actually have a class full of students again. It can wait, though, until it is safe. Until we don't run such a risk of loosing some, and some teachers.

Social Distancing Part 38

July 20,  Monday

Life has been kind of busy for the past week. I am still working on the Canvas shell curriculum for 9th grade. The team I'm working with is a good one. We have been able to cooperate, and negotiate and suffer through our learning the Canvas platform together. I think we are creating something we can be proud of, despite the inevitable push-back we will get from teachers who don't want to do what we created... and wouldn't want to do anything anyone else created, either. I hope that those teachers who - like those of us on the team - are struggling with being overwhelmed with teaching online only, health concerns about COVID-19 and everything else that we would be overwhelmed by as the beginning of school nears, will appreciate that we have created some curriculum that they can run with. There is room to individualize to the strengths and teaching styles of individual teachers, and we are also being careful to include options to fit a diverse student population. I'm pretty proud of the work we are doing, and I will be much less stressed being familiar with the curriculum ahead of time, and being more familiar with how it will work in canvas.

Last week, I also started some professional development with NMSI. It is geared to getting students ready for AP classes, so I'm working with strategies to get students doing some higher level thinking. My colleagues who did the training last year came back with some useful strategies, and I am being introduced to them this year online. I know I will benefit from the training, but there is a "conflict" as well. Not exactly a conflict per se, but here I am working on a curriculum that everyone in the district at the 9th grade English level will theoretically use. AND I'm learning strategies that (should?/shouldn't?)  be used by "everyone." I feel like they are best practice strategies, and I'll probably put in what I can at least as options/optional activities. I will be able to utilize them more - and willingly! - when we are back to regular school attendance.

By Friday, I was mentally exhausted, and took some time to do some sewing. I'm making some happy, colorful masks for my best friend's younger daughter to take to college in a few weeks. I also made a fabric basket for her to keep them in. Actually I made two, but the first one was rather larger than I really had in mind. Here's the set so far...

Fall semester mask starter set

I have two more masks to finish and send along. I may send the bigger basket along, if she wants it. The green one is 6 inch squares, while the elephants are 8 inch squares. The elephant basket is bigger than the box I'm using for mailing, but it would squish down and mail just fine.

Elephants marching

I have to say I enjoyed the sewing time. The masks come together quickly at this point, as much practice as I've had. I could accomplish something that didn't take too much brainwork.

The other project I worked on this past weekend was baking pies. I have a good crust recipe - two actually - passed down from the grandparents. One makes 3 crusts, and the other makes 5. I made the three crusts, and two of them went to make an apple pie. Ron really enjoyed the first one, and requested another. Now that I've been practicing more in the kitchen, these crusts turned out generally better than the first batch.

Crumbly crust apple pie

The last crust was for an experimental tomato pie. I've been wanting to make a tomato pie since my aunt shared that she made one last year, and how good it was! I went searching for a recipe, and found on on the Food Network website. This is the one I made, from Paula Deen. It was pretty easy to follow, generally and here's my tomato pie...

tomato pie fresh from the oven

It turned out tasty and delicious. But I had moisture issues. I let the tomatoes drain like she said, but they were still pretty wet. I think letting them sit on paper towels might work better than the colander she suggests. Tomatoes can be pretty wet, generally. The topping is one cup of cheddar (I probably used a little more), one cup of mozzarella (again, I probably used a little more) combined with one cup of mayonnaise (I think I could have used a little less). The topping is reminiscent of the way my family makes pimiento cheeses, and I'm not sure this recipe would suffer from pimiento cheese on top, actually. 

the slice? not so pretty, but tasty!

Carl and I discussed it, after he tried some of it, and we also thought, especially if you have to use store-bought tomatoes instead of garden fresh, that a few sliced up sun dried tomatoes in the mix might brighten up the flavor a bit, and maybe the dried tomatoes would soak up a bit of the moisture. We also thought that adding some sliced mushrooms would be tasty and also soak up some moisture. See, there are variations that need to be tested! Now, if only Ron and Raine would eat tomato pie AT ALL. Once the pie was cooled, I put it in the fridge, and carefully poured off the juice in the bottom of the pie pan. The pie was firmer after some time in the fridge, so it cut more easily and didn't fall apart like the first slice did. It warmed up nicely in the microwave in about a minute, and was yummy even a couple of days later. Perhaps like many dishes, it tasted better having had time to meld the flavors together.

Social Distancing Part 37

July 8, Wednesday

52 more cases of COVID 19 in Dona Ana County yesterday. 20 NMSU athletes and trainers tested positive, causing a shut down of summer practices of several sports. Hospitals are reaching (or have reached) capacity in Texas and in Arizona. Harold can not get needed cancer surgery scheduled in El Paso because of the COVID numbers in the hospitals there. El Paso has pushed back the opening of school buildings until September, even though school will start in early August. I'm expecting a similar announcement for schools in Dona Ana County - if not all of NM - to come any time. And President Trump announces that he wants all schools to open normally at their regularly scheduled time. No reduced class sizes. No social distancing. No face coverings. Kids need schools, parents need schools, business needs it's babysitters (schools). More important to cram all those kids into schools, where they will expose each other, and be exposed to every illness that is going around, including COVID 19. 

There are stories going around that the young are less likely to catch it. I'm wondering if not as many kids have caught it because WE KEPT THEM OUT OF SCHOOL!!! Even if the kids aren't as likely to get sick, what about the ones who do. What about the parents/grandparents/medically fragile siblings they take it home to. What about those of us who are teachers. What about those of us who are teachers, who also happen to have one or more of the conditions that make COVID more likely to become serious or deadly. Teachers like me. Trump, and his minions? (questionable) cohort? (maybe) evil overseers? (ah, that seems closer) the 1% - who's kids won't be going to public schools anyway - yeah, them. They don't care whether the kids get sick (the kids aren't voting OR paying taxes) and they don't care whether I (or any other teacher) gets sick. We are replaceable. We are of no consequence. 

I hate to be ranty, but it does hit me where I live. It's like they think we don't WANT to go back to school, to have everything like it was. We DO. But it isn't. You know when it comes down to it, how many student deaths are too many in one school year? How many teachers need to die? Is this the way we "make way" for the new teachers? (There have been teacher shortages in so many places all ready, we don't need to "make way.") Our promised 4% (one of the highest raises I can remember in my 25 years of teaching) is back down to 1% (oh yeah, that's more like what I remember). I want to trust my district, and my state governor NOT to listen to Trump, or follow his wishes, but if they do, I will not. That will be my line that will not be crossed. I'm having a hard enough time feeling safe with the plan that is in place now.

In the mean time, I keep on keeping on. Cleaning up the kitchen, vacuuming, going for walks. This evening my brother and I walked through my neighborhood, and saw a hawk up in the top of a mulberry tree.

Beautiful hawk

Someone driving down the street saw us looking at it, and taking photos with our phones and went around the block to get another look. A couple of smaller birds were harassing it, though, and it flew off.

I'm still working on my cross stitch project, and another panel is almost complete. I am ready to make more masks, and get myself, Raine, and my friend's daughter all ready for the new school year. 

Social DIstancing #36

July 4, Saturday

Another holiday milestone in the year. This, as others, marked by family gatherings all through my neighborhood, and I doubt that my neighborhood is much different than most neighborhoods in that regard. 

Our numbers of COVID cases seems to climb and climb, and so many people seem to be unable to follow the guidelines to keep themselves, and their loved ones as safe as possible from the pandemic. I still see facebook posts that imply - or state outright - that the pandemic is a hoax, or a conspiracy or even an excuse to take away our rights. I'm reminded of a news story from a couple months ago, of a widow, speaking of her husband who had protested the stay at home orders, and contracted COVID. She said if he were still alive, he would understand that how important the guidelines are and he would not protest any more. Of course, the only way he would believe any of it was to experience it for himself. I think he represents many, many people who just have to have first hand experience for the seriousness to be real. 

Surrounding states like Texas and Arizona have had record breaking daily new cases. I read a news article that two hospitals in TX had reached capacity. Even here in Dona Ana County, we had over 50 new cases yesterday. And we are still getting ready to open schools for students. 

I'm conflicted. I want to go back to work at school. I WANT to see my new students, and meet them, and talk to them in person. I also want not to catch COVID. It worries me because I am in that age group that should be careful. I have diabetes and high blood pressure, both of which could indicate I might have more issues, as well as weight. So, I worry about my chances. I certainly don't want to spend my last days fighting for breath in a hospital.

So, we spend the 4th of July in the house, listening to the neighbors shoot their fireworks. Actually, we spend many 4th's like that. So, in some ways, I guess, quarantine - and the social distancing - is easier for us than it is for some.

Social Distancing Part 35

June 25, Thursday

I've been trying to clear the "old stuff" out of the freezer. It's happening pretty slowly, as I will thaw something, see what it is, and then figure out whether anyone (mostly me) will eat it. This week I pulled a leftover chunk of pork roast out. Didn't seem like it was on anyone's agenda, then I remembered my dad, who would upon occasion make what he called "Jackrabbit." This dish consisted of meat, cut very small, or cut up in the food processor, with pickle, mayo, mustard and the like. He could pull out beef, pork or some combination, and when he was done, it would be like a potted meat you can buy in one of those little cans, only tastier. So, I chunked up that leftover hunk of pork roast, and put it in the food processor with some dill relish, a few bread a butter chips, as well as some juice from the jar, a little onion, some mayonnaise, mustard, and - just to make sure there was enough liquid for it to process well - a little Italian dressing.

This evening, Ron brought out the potato chips and the container of jackrabbit and we enjoyed them. Raine even came in and joined us. I felt like my dad would have been right there with us, enjoying being together and sharing one of those snacky foods that he loved (and taught me to love as well). It was a nice feeling, really, getting to have a Dad connection through the generations.

June is almost done, and there is work to do to get ready for school. The State DoE put together guidelines to help people socially distance an be safer in pandemic. We will be having one group of students Mondays and Tuesdays, Wednesday for deep cleaning, then the other group Thursdays and Fridays. We had a district survey about having those students in a block, or 7 period day, and my response was block. Then we're not cleaning so much, students can see us for more time on those days. Nothing we do will be perfect, but that is true in the best of times.

I'm also working with a group trying to get a curriculum plan for at least the first two quarters... well, ultimately the year, really. I think we are making progress. We figured out some power standards for the first 2 quarters. We came to agreement on those fairly quickly actually, yay us! Tomorrow we will talk about online Grammar practice platforms, to help students meet the Language standards in a fairly self-sufficient way. Then we will tackle other activity plans, and resources to help 9th grade teachers face the online support that we will all have to use with our students this coming school year. There are groups working on the same thing for the other grade levels as well. I'm not very familiar with the canvas platform, but I'm hoping that working on this project will also increase my familiarity with it as well. We all have to start somewhere. I tried taking a selfie for my profile picture in Canvas, and as usual with that sort of thing, I was so busy not dropping the phone as I tried to touch the dot to take the picture, that I could not get a picture that didn't look like I was trying too hard to get it (because I WAS). I got Raine to take a few. Books in the background, as appropriate for an English teacher (right?) Guess I'll share that.

At least I look amused...

The new air conditioning unit has been working very well, I'm happy to say, but we haven't gotten the mini split units installed yet. Hopefully they will arrive soon, so we can be done with the process soon. I really want to get back into my sewing room. I've been moving things some to accommodate the workers putting the unit in there, and Ron got the computer room ready for that unit. 

One of my friends from Washington state is in the process of moving to Silver City, and has been self quarantining for a week. When the second week is done, I really look forward to seeing her, and later, when her wife has moved down as well, and their chaos has settled a little, resuming a long-time friendship with both that I've missed. 

Social Distancing part 34

June 21, Sunday

Many people aren't socially distancing any more. They just aren't. What ever excuses they are making, it doesn't really matter, they aren't doing it. Of course the shelter in place guidelines are opening up as well. We can't keep to them forever. The world gotta move. It just does. Still, I'm not ready to face all those people who just don't thing the pandemic is real. Who don't think it is going to affect THEM. I want to go eat out at a restaurant, but I'm not doing it. I want to get together with a big group of friends, but I'm not doing that either. 

I suppose I should have titled these entries Pandemic 2020 or something, but Social Distancing seemed the thing at the time, and we certainly were. It will be sort of habitual for many of us for a while.

Well, on to journal stuff, I guess. Our new refrigerated air unit got installed on Friday. Whew! There was a whole lot of not doing much going on here while it was so hot in the house. I did a lot of cross stitch, let me tell you. In fact, I can show you:

One sixth finished - 3 panels of 18

Can you tell it's The Last Supper? I'm doing it by request, and it is going to take me a while to work my way through it (like more than just this year).

I haven't been doing a lot of sewing lately, as the craft room is one of the warmer rooms. The whole A/C system will have a mini split in the craft room and one in the computer room which can be operated independently of the main unit, but they are not in the house yet. Instead I've been doing the cross stitch, and sorting through my school papers, projects, etc to get ready for next year.

Tomorrow will be my first day working with a group of teachers to put together a module for 9th graders on Canvas. I am pretty much a novice with Canvas, so it will be a good learning experience for me, and one of my goals is to include options in the module to work with my honors classes next year. I hope we will include a range of activities for ALL students, really. And, while I really, really want to work on a very cool Mythology unit that is in my head, I am going to follow some leads here, and not make this about me. In fact, I may work on that Unit for 2021 beginning of school. I want to contribute to the group effort, not take it over. I want to see how the Canvas Module will work for teachers, as well as students. There will be a scope and sequence that we need to work within, and I intend to support that.

I guess I'll end with what I probably should have lead with. It is Father's Day today. I miss my own father (my mom, too), he wasn't perfect, but he was pretty awesome at some pretty important things. We will celebrate with Ron tomorrow, when he has time to enjoy and doesn't have to rush off to work. Father's Day is cherry season, y'all. If you like to go get some fresh, or even go pick your own...

Social Distancing Part 33

June 18 - Thursday

Two weeks since my last post! Yikes! There have still been race related protests. It may be a catalyst for needed change. I certainly hope so. But of course, change and uncertainty is - well - uncertain. What will the future of policing look like? Who will respond to what emergency calls? I support our police, as a whole, but I do think systemic change is needed. More education (and practice with that education) is needed. We also need to look at the laws that police are tasked with enforcing. For instance, here in Las Cruces, the Mayor tried to make not wearing a mask in a public place a chargeable offence. Who would be enforcing that? The police. The Chief of Police declined to take that on, and I don't blame him. I think that is the right decision. Of course I would like people to wear a mask, and protect me from their germs... but I am not going to confront them about that... I will observe where masks are worn, and do business in those places. That's the answer for me.

Our big issue for the past almost 2 weeks is our lack of air conditioning. We had decided to replace our old unit, which was rapidly reaching the end of its useful life, and Ron made the call to schedule an estimate. The A/C unit gave up the ghost the very next day. We pushed up the estimate, and got the unit ordered, and they were finally here today putting it on the house. Crane in the yard and all. It isn't totally hooked up yet, but won't be long into tomorrow for that to happen. I will admit to not getting a whole lot done in a hot house. I am looking forward to some cool air soon. (1st world problem that it is). 

The air quality today was not great, but there are a number of fires in Arizona, and in New Mexico that will affect that. We are in the hot, dry part of the year, so I hope that firefighters can get them under some control. The sooner the better.

I went and got my eyes checked last week, and got new glasses, even though my prescription had not changed for the second year in a row (yay!). I did not get new glasses last year, so I thought it was time. Also got my mammogram today. Never a fun experience, but I will be responsible enough to get it done. Next month, I will go for my dentist appointment that was rescheduled from May. Taking care of health business with a mask on. Even Kaliegh had her wellness check today! She's a little heavier than last year, but healthy!

Who's a good girl? Kaliegh is!

Social Distancing Part 32

June 6 - Saturday

The weather has entered the triple digits this week. It had it 100 before this week, but it has been HOT this week. Still getting out to walk, but trying to get out earlier, and later, so it isn't so very bad.

There was a Protest march today, down Telshor, from Lohman north to Spruce, from what I can figure out, not having seen or participated in it. (See above comments about the heat.) I'm a wuss. And I don't need to be in the heat and the sun that long, although it would have been some steps. I support the cause, and I'm glad local folks ARE willing to put their feet where their heart is. The cops blocked the intersections for about 10 minutes while the protesters were there.

I went out yesterday to deliver masks, and noticed that the traffic was lighter than it had been. Today, as well. It struck me that with the businesses opening, people had places to go, and be at work. Is that why there seem to be fewer cars out and about? 

I did have a happy moment today, driving down Solano. I saw a small plume of dirt kicked into the air, and looked for a moment to find an RC car as the cause. There was a man zooming that car through the sand in a vacant lot, jumping over bumps, and spinning. It looked like he was having a blast, and I was glad to see him play. We should all be able to play, at least for a happy moment.

Social Distancing Part 31

June 4th - Thursday

Today is my best friend's birthday. We texted some today, and of course I wished her Happy Birthday, and she thought she would have a pretty relaxing day. I hope she did. She texted her frustration with the president, and I can't blame her. The man makes me question everything about every decision he makes, and every policy he puts forward. To say that he has been less than effective during the COVID 19 crisis is - in my opinion - an understatement. I really did not want to write about a lot of political criticism in this time, but here I am.

Along with the pandemic, there are protests going on since the death of George Floyd, and some have turned to riots. There is some evidence that some of the rioting have been incited by out of uniform policemen. Some have been spurred by white supremacists trying to discredit the protests with violence. Police have fired on citizens with rubber bullets, and have targeted the press with violence and arrests. It becomes an even scarier, more uncertain time. Trump has threatened to declare martial law, and order the US armed forces to stand against American citizens. I wonder what he will do if he looses the election in November. I sincerely hope he does lose it. But what if he - like the spoiled, petulant child he often presents himself as - refuses to pass the office to the next elected president? I mean, I don't like to think about that, but we COULD be facing the end of the United States as we know it. Are we - one way or another - facing living in a fascist state? The dissolution of the union? A civil war? 

Uncertain times. And time for change. We definitely need change. But change is scary. The unknown is scary. I hope we can face these changes with strength, responsibility and peace. I hope that we can make things better, and support each other through troubled and troubling times. But the precipice is near, and coming nearer.

Social Distancing Part 30

June 1st - Monday

The past few days have been... disquieting, in many places. The death of George Floyd in the hands - or rather the knee - of the police seems to have been that "final straw" of police violence against persons of color. I get it. I do. I don't think racism is funny or right or even reasonable, and I don't like the prejudices that our nation continues to struggle with. I feel like our current president, Donald Trump, has done much to stir this particular pot, and many people now feel that racism is politically correct again. I also fear that he will use this unrest - as justified as it may be - to his own ends of creating a fascist state from our democracy and change the nation for ever. And not for the better of the common folk like me. It is a scary time, and not just because of pandemic, although I agree with my brother that because of the pandemic, there are a significant number of people who have nothing better to do, and not much - if anything - to lose, through rioting.

Here in Las Cruces, the protests are on a fairly small scale, and from the newspaper coverage, seem quite non-violent and even appropriately socially distant and the protesters were even wearing masks. Other places, there are curfews, and masses of police and national guard. Businesses have been vandalized, and looting has occurred. But, here, in Las Cruces, peaceful protest has been achieved.

Domesticity continues here in my household. I've got pinto beans and sausages in the crock pot. Kitchen cleaning is once again (perpetually) on the agenda. I've been sewing masks. It would seem a couple of hours is enough to put together 5 masks, and sewing them in groups of 5 satisfies my "production line" proclivities, while also creating a definite ending point for the day. 

Masks from yesterday's production line

I also have some garment sewing to do, and will probably start on some of that this week as well. In addition, I've been working on a cross stitch project that Carl asked me to make for him: The Last Supper. I picked a pattern that laid out the design in 18 panels, 3 rows of 6 columns. I have now finished 2 panels.

This is gonna take a while...

It is a good project for watching TV with.

Then there is school. I have gone through some papers, and culled out now unneeded copies. I still have more to go, but I'm going to have to space some out so they fit into the recycling bin, which we pretty much manage to fill up every couple of weeks, just in time for it to be collected.

So, here's Monday. The first day of June. I feel hopeful, as with all beginnings, but I also fear that we are living in that curse, "May you live in interesting times."

Social Distancing 29

May 27 - Wednesday

I see that the spacing between blog entries continues a wider spacing. Probably because I don't feel like there is much of note to share. 

School is out, officially. We said good bye to the seniors. I've sort of started planning for next year. While I've worked through my personal paperwork (sadly, stacked for a couple years), I haven't quite started on organizing the papers that I brought home from school this year.

I turned in a batch of 25 masks to be cleaned and donated to those in need. Cruces Creatives is continuing their donation efforts, making mask kits to sew, and organizing who is getting which masks. I picked up 2 bags of 20 kits, but I haven't started sewing them yet. 

I made a trip to Joann's this week, since they've reopened to a limited capacity. I was looking for lightweight fusible inner facing. They didn't have any, although they were expecting a delivery and I should be able to call and see if they got any today. I did - of course - pick up a few pieces of on sale fabrics, including a piece of flannel for a new pair of lounge pants for Ron. I got some pretty fabric for Roxanne, my sewing cousin, and sometime partner. 

Roxanne told me that her husband is not having a good effect in his most recent battle with cancer. He was doing radiation to reduce the size of his tumor, but to no effect. Now he will have to do a round of chemo to see if that will help. In the mean-time, he is weak and unable to work. 

Carl and Naomi will be closing on the sale of their El Paso house this week. It has been on the market almost a year, and - while I know Naomi will mourn that house - they will be happy to not have the care and costs of it on their shoulders any more. Damon's trailer is also in the process of closing, but he is at least a month away from signing all the paperwork.  It wasn't on the market for long, though, so he's happy for everything but the waiting for closing.

I've been making good progress on the second panel of the cross stitched Last Supper. It makes a good craft to work on while the TV is on. Not that it is on so much, but sometimes I'll watch a couple of shows from Netflix, or Britbox or something.

Here's where I started, I've gotten it pretty well filled in now.

Businesses - like Joann's - have been slowly reopening. Restaurants are opening this week, at least the outdoor seating. I am basically glad that "things" are starting a return to normal, but I'm also uncertain about the safety of it. Still it will have to happen some time. There is then the possible result that the spread of COVID-19 will increase, hopefully not too high. Now that testing is easier to get, numbers will also go up because more testing is being done (which just means numbers have been lower than they should have been).

While I think we are moving into the next phase of this pandemic, we are definitely not seeing the end of it, or even the beginning of the end.

Social Distancing Part 28

May 21, Thursday

School is basically done. I've done all my grading, and turned in my grades. I am pretty content that I only had to assign one "Incomplete" grade for the semester, meaning only ONE student turned in NOTHING.

Tomorrow is the graduation celebration is tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to going out in the parking lot where the students and their families will gather in their cars. Of course wearing a mask in the sun and heat, not my favorite. But I really do want to see those seniors one more time! I'll take my umbrella for some portable shade.

Now that school is over, I'm ready to get on to other tasks around the house. Of course, I started with the kitchen, which actually wasn't in terrible condition, but I still need to sweep (at least) the floor (all over the house). Changing the sheets yesterday, and vacuuming the bedroom helped the room be more inviting to me. It's hard to get in there to clean when Ron is sleeping during the day, and morning is really my high energy time. (and of course cleaning isn't my favorite activity in the first place. {What?!? I do it because I adult, but I don't have to love the activity as much as the result.}) Right now I'm procrastinating cleaning my computer desk, which is sore in need, by writing this. And, of course, there are plenty of other things that need similar attention...and other activities I've been looking forward to, same as other school years at the beginning of summer.

I've been working on getting my brother Carl to join our daily walks. He needs to like I do, but while we would love Naomi to join us, she just doesn't have the stamina to do so. Having a partner that not only won't join you in an activity you should do, but don't really want to on the best day, is only made harder when that partner complains that you go. But he has been walking with us, even bringing his dog, Mia. Damon has taken his dog, Zoey, several times. I could take Kaliegh, but Hamlet is not well behaved enough, and both together is a recipe for my personal disaster. I have had a couple of occasions lately to appreciate the little amount of my fitness that has made some chores a little easier.

Well, off to other activities!

Social Distancing Part 27

May 13th - Wednesday

The semester is winding down Grades are due by noon a week from tomorrow. Our graduation celebration will be the next day, Friday. It isn't the full ceremony. No one is having that this year, I don't think. We will get to celebrate our seniors, though, and that is important. They will be staying in their cars, listening to a couple of speeches, probably prerecorded (don't know how they'll have them otherwise) and students will drive past the stage as their names are called, and on home. I've volunteered to help in the parking lot. How could I not? I've seen these seniors from freshmen. Many of them are dear to my heart. I want to applaud them!

Today my AP Lit students took their AP test. Online, in a brand new, quarantine required format. I hope they did well, many of them should do well. I'm disappointed that I couldn't give them a send off to the test. I'm more disappointed that I won't be teaching the class next year. It has disheartened me, to an extent, and I've had to grieve the loss of that class. I will still be teaching honors freshmen, which I must be honest, I also love, so all is not lost. But I am disappointed.

I am looking forward to lesson planning for next year, I always do. I've been working on some ideas, and it may take some figuring out how to get the texts I would like the students to use. Still, it is an interesting unit, dealing with mythology, and I hope I can pull it off.

Once school is done, I've also got lots of organizing to do, for school, for my crafting space, for my personal office space. In some ways the organization ticks my box for satisfaction of a job well done, in others, I think I can kind of get lost in it at a level beyond what is needed...(what do you mean the books don't need to be alphabetical by author, and in the order they were published?) Still I have gotten to a place in my life where I can let go of things, and find it freeing to an extent. That used to be very hard for me, and sometimes, it still can be, but I'm better about it, and so I hope there will be some purging done as well. There won't be miracles of cleanliness in my house, however. We are definitely living here, and it shows. But tidy is good.

Here we go, moving from one phase to another, of quarantine, social distancing life.