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??