Today is Tuesday and usually I have a ladies' English class but we have decided to restrict our activities throughout the month of April. The two friends in their seventies are being asked by their families to STAY HOME! I will try to instigate a communication between the seven of us so that we don't become too isolated. Tuesdays on the calendar will be blank for awhile.
Yesterday I met with an older friend to help her get her patchwork ready for some intensive handwork and she will be off to the northern parts of Japan to join her husband (a doctor working at a remote hospital) throughout April and May. They want to stay as far away as they can from the Coronavirus.
Tetsu cancelled a check-up with his doctor for a gastroscopy exam. No need to be going in to the doctor's office if it isn't an emergency right now.
So the days are blending into each other with only the sad news of more Coronavirus cases mounting, a well-loved Japanese comedian passing away from complications, scary predictions about the economy...
A friend from church called me to let me know that the women's group was going to start making masks to hand out to people. We all have the attitude that maybe homemade masks don't really do much good but they are better than nothing and making them provides a sense of solidarity much like rolling bandages did in World War I. I have the fabric but now have run out of elastic. Maybe I'll start trying to make masks with ties...
I run out of elastic as well and substituted "T-Shirt-Yarn". Works great. Has a bit of "give" and feels much nicer behind the ear. Greetings from Berlin, Germany! By The way: My husbund is working in Homeoffice and he uses my quilts as a background for his video-conferences. I'm getting nice comments! Hope you and your family stay well! Gina
ReplyDeleteIn Australia, we've been told to STAY HOME apart from essential shopping. In my family we are using Zoom and Whatsapp to stay in touch. Take care, both of you.
ReplyDeleteStay safe! It is nice to hear that life goes on in the world even though it has slowed down. Here in Sweden the restrictions on life are not as hard as the rest of the world .... I don't know if that is good or bad, the future will tell. We (the people) are practicing social distancing as much as we can, but I still go visit my 92 year-old
ReplyDeletemother daily. I sit in a corner of her living room and stitch. She does not understand why she can't go to church any more and that is about the worst that can happen to her. Hang in there, the snow will melt and hopefully we will survive this.
Wow! Snow! I guess there have been times that we have had snow this late in the season,too. There are many ways to connect now. My quilting friends and I are meeting online using ZOOM and we also connect with our children. It makes the day so much brighter! I would suggest that the sooner everyone quarantines the better!!! It has gotten way out of control too fast in New York City because they didn't heed the warnings. The best thing is to stay home and not be around other people. It's hard with having to get groceries but even that is a new experience. Our churches are closed for the duration. There are many churches offering online services.
ReplyDeleteGreetings! I just wanted to let you know that your blog is helping me pass the time! I really enjoy it and hope we all stay well. Cindy from Ohio.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful sky! God's creation is spectacular. I think that t-shirt yarn would be a great substitute. When we were in Japan in the fall I bought several of those in a Cando Dollar Store.
ReplyDeleteWe here in the US are also making masks. I'm a critical care RN and I can tell you with complete honesty that most nurses prefer masks with ties so do the physicians. After you wear a mask with elastic for hours and hours behind your ears starts to become sore and can breakdown. The ties allow you to control the tension on the mask. Just a thought for you. Most health care facilities here in Jersey are very greatful for the masks.
ReplyDeletePlease stay safe. Love your snow. we didn't get any this year. None!
Karen in New Jersey
Tanya, we are in "shelter in place" mode here in Ohio. Our governor and our state board of health give us updates every day at 2:00 PM. Things look glum, but we are doing our part by staying away from others. I don't go grocery shopping even. I am ordering from the store and doing a pick up...no going into the stores anymore. My children don't live close and they have been great about FaceTiming and keeping in touch.
ReplyDeleteI read the book The Shack last month. I just loved it. If you have not already read it, I would recommend it.
Take care, be well.
The protocol there sounds the same as here. I am scheduled to have a few appointments coming up but they're non-emergency type so they'll be postponed indefinitely. Stay safe and healthy, my friend!
ReplyDeleteDidn't realize you get that much snow this late in the year. I like the picture of the mountains and cloudy sky. It's beautiful. After 3 weeks of being head cook for hubby, and 2 adult children, I'm wearing thin on ideas too. I've made a lot of bread, rolls, garlic bread sticks, and cinnamon rolls to make the meals more interesting. Forgot about me being allergic to yeast until I broke out in rash everywhere and skin feels like it's on fire. Thankfully the Dr. called in a prescription because I've had this before. My diet is now no starch or sugar for a few months, and never yeast. Cooked spaghetti, taco soup, pork chops, rice, ham, hamburgers, mac and cheese,and lots of chicken meals. The store near us is limiting people to 2 chicken, 2 pork, and 2 beef products.....if available. Stay healthy. Patty McDonald
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing and posting in your blog! Obviously from your readers' comments, your blog is a ray of sunshine - always, but particularly in these months. I hope you and Tetsu, as well as your kids here in the US, remain well.
ReplyDeleteA highlight in our household kitchen is that coincidentally, our seasonal menus are changing, from winter stews and such, to light soups and springtime salads in the evenings. We aren't bored from eating winter fare, and the light meals are perfect for our inactivity of late.
Stay well.
Although Japan's virus rate is low, I am glad that you are taking the steps to stay safe. I hope your country is able to show the world the right way to deal with the virus. I will be making masks for family and to give to workers at the grocery store if they want them. Other than that, I will be doing the same as you - reading, cooking, cleaning, gardening, quilting and genealogy. I have wished for more time, and I guess now I have it, so I hope to take full advantage of it. (This is really only day 2 for me since I was working from home until Friday so I am still optimistic).
ReplyDeleteOur church service has been live streamed for three weeks now. I have been sad not to be included in the small choir ... but I must say with all that wet snow on Sunday it was nice to stay indoors. I did have to rescue some parts of my small garden. Tuesday's amd Thursday's meetings are on zoom and there is lots of skype and facetime regularly with the kids in the states. When I just can't sit still any longer, I go to the park and pull weeds. The floral quilt is all quilted in the ditch up to the borders. I am wondering how I can manage another month of this down time...
ReplyDeleteYour sunset views are amazing. The snow was a surpise and now today is one of the prettiest days I can remember. I've pulled out my anthology of Mary Oliver poetry... soothing and nice to read a little each day. Without going to church, and with David working from home, the days just blend together. I keep waiting for the government to announce stricter social isolation measures. I've made a few masks to practice a couple of patterns and methods.
ReplyDelete