Working from Home...and underground Hair

                                          A very good April Fools joke on Minnesota students!



A pandemic can bring all sorts of emotions to your life.  I do best if I turn off the T.V. and stick with streaming the radio from Park Rapids Minnesota KDKK.    I tend to stay positive and lets face it I hardly notice there's a problem because I'm a homebody anyway.  I'm working from home out of our spare bedroom.  It was a spare bedroom and a craft room, but the office has cried louder and now it's a place to work.  I'm lucky.  I am a technology geek and I have some pretty fine technology tools at my disposal.  I'm not going to lie, on our daily video meetings I'm the only one who is not looking down into a laptop camera, showing nostril hairs.  No big nose for me because my beautiful iMac's camera displays my image beautifully.  And I have a kick ass printer which makes my day go just as smooth as when I'm at work.  I don't even have to get up! I have a great desk chair here at home which I've spent many hours editing photos, and now I sit answering help desk tickets and buy more technology for the school district.  I could not survive without that chair.
I'm finding less interruptions make me happier and don't feel as stressed.  It's a good deal to be able to take a break and rake.  No even kidding. 

My prohibition haircut
Since salons are closed (an order by the Governor) there is no hope of a haircut anytime soon.  But then again my neighbor had a lead to someone that is making house calls.  What an experience that was!  Underground Gavin came with sissors, balayage and all sorts of personality.  A blast and a new look!  

It's actually cuter that this but it's the only pic I got on Sunday.

Remembering it all

I've been meaning to post about the Covid19 Pandemic and how it has changed my life.
I keep putting it off because the topic is so big.  Tonight I saw this on Facebook and I felt is worthy of a copy and paste as I write from my computer in my temporary office.

Gas prices ⛽️ $1.74
School canceled - yes canceled. Schools use e-learning.
Self-distancing measures are on the rise.
Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers (6ft) from each other.
Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors.
Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed.
Parks, trails, beaches, entire cities on shelter in place orders.
Entire professional and college sports seasons canceled.
Summer Olympics canceled.
Broadway goes dark.
Movie theaters, breweries, restaurants, stores close.
Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events - canceled.
Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - canceled.
No masses, churches are closed.
No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, now 10 or more.
Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home.
Children's outdoor play parks are closed.
We are to distance from each other.
Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves (PPE) for our front-line medical workers.
Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.
Shortage of hospital beds and hospitals.
Not enough tests for the COVID 19 virus, so many not tested.
Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towels, no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer.
Shelves are bare.
Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE.
Government closes the border to all non-essential travel.
Cruise Lines shut down.
Airlines are barely flying, and if they are, there are hardly any travelers.
People dying alone as their family members are not allowed in the hospital with them. Medical personnel having to relay messages from the dying to their family members via phone.
Millions lose jobs, businesses shut down, Economy is in a tailspin.
Fines are established for breaking the rules.
Stadiums and recreation facilities open up as a place to put hospital beds for the overflow of COVID-19 patients.
Convention Centers used as hospitals.
Press conferences daily from the President and the governors. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths.
Government incentives to stay home.
Live television programs are done from home/Skype.
Truck drivers are the cavalry for the country, delivering food and supplies to keep grocery stores stocked.
Barely anyone is driving on the roads, but gas is at an all time low, so no one can really enjoy it.
People wearing masks and gloves outside.
People start socializing (Zoom) on internet just to talk to others.
Major movies delay opening or offer movies on demand.
Essential service workers are terrified to go to work.
Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families, many living in garages and RVs outside of their home.
This is affecting the entire world, no one is spared.

This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, declared March 11th, 2020.

Muddy Paws

March is here and I'm please to see the snow slowing melting. There is a constant drip from the roof of the She Shed. That drip catches the back of my head and trickles down my neck as I open the shed door.  The grass is muddy and puddles corner every street. Walking a dog is a chore in March.  There is the walk itself and then there is the cleaning of the paws and underbelly from all the Spring mud.  But this year will be different.  Tim surprised me with the most clever and thoughtful gift yet.  He built me a dog bathing system.  I am so looking forward to our walk tomorrow Henry!!

Custom built dog washing station.  

World War I Baking

I've never baked a cake with no eggs, butter or milk until today! 

Today I was a 7th grade social studies homework assistant, and loved every second.

Lily sifted the flour more than needed...she rather enjoyed my antique kitchen tool.
I wish I never put that throught the dishwasher...as it is kind of darkened from that.

Wooden spoon just like the olden days

Quick taste

Sifting the powdered sugar on top the cake.

A little extra never hurts.

Knock knock...who's there?

LOUIE!