It was only 4 days ago that we were merrily enjoying life and gathering in places like Port A Market Day, hitting the sands before the Spring Breakers get there, checking out all the candy options, in a VERY crowded Island Candy, even trying on bathing suits in our favorite beachwear store. And dining out in one of our favorite quirky island restaurants. And then we got news from China; people were being rounded up from their homes and off the streets, kicking and screaming, sometimes, and being placed in isolation, due to Novel Corona 19 Virus symptoms. OK, so maybe I'm not saying that quite right, and maybe I'm calling it something different than what you've been hearing about. But, you and I both know, it's all the same stuff we're talking about. Only 4 days have past since we first heard rumors of this insidious disease ravaging Wuhan, China. And as a result, our store shelves have been emptied of all products related to cleaning and personal hygiene. This is where we expected to find Clorox Wipes and other cleaning products.
This is where we expected to find a few rolls of TP. And that's exactly what we found - a few rolls. Truly unprecedented times. We have been through countless hurricanes (countless, because there have been too many to count!!) and have never seen anything like this.
Thankfully, we got a bottle of cleaner, a pack of paper, some pickles, crackers, applesauce, and of course, brownies. All the essentials for a two-week quarantine, right? At this point, we are still planning to head to Pennsylvania at the end of April, to clear up Dad's estate, so we aren't really stocking up our pantry or freezer. No need to keep that stuff on board - what if we were to lose power and it got really hot while we were gone? Everything would be spoiled and the camper would stink something awful.
Just two days later, the panic sets in closer to home. We have decided to postpone our trip to Pennsylvania (who wants to rely on restaurants and hotels all over the country for a month! And gas stations, don't even get me started on how dirty service stations are!!), and all our reservations (and doctor appointments & friends' visitations we had planned in Florida!!!) have been cancelled. We were fortunate in getting full refunds for all deposits, and all the doctors (4!!) and friends were totally understanding. But now, since we're staying put, maybe we had better venture out and see if we can get some food back in our freezer and pantry. Well, looks like we weren't the only ones with that idea! This is the checkout area of our local HEB. I'm pretty sure most everyone in town is either here, or has just been here.
Thankfully, we were able to gather a few packages of meat, some veggies and a bag of potatoes, and now we're good to go for who knows how long. After we unloaded the groceries, and washed our hands, we thought we'd stroll around the campground a bit. Sharon, down at the end of our street, was given a couple of caterpillars, and they apparently laid some eggs. She's planted butterfly milkweed (lpoks a whole lot like Lantana to me, but it's not), in an attempt to create some healthy habitat for our local and migratory Monarchs. See that leaf up in the tree there? No, that doesn't normally grow like that - she has placed the leaf there for the 'pillars to snack on while they're looking for a suitable place to form their chrysalises. Chrysali?
Four 'pillars and only one poop? How is that even possible?
Here is one, starting to "J" up on itself.
This one almost got squished when John, the chair's owner, picked it up to move it.
And just like that, in a matter of a couple of hours, a chrysalis is fully formed. Now we wait.
15 days....
And on Day 14, you get this. A BLACK chrysalis. It's blurry, because, well, wind. We're on the Coast. It's always a breeze. Some days it's a hurricane, so we'll call it good with just a breeze.
And just like that, after a couple hours of black (maybe as much as 24), poof! We emerge a beautiful Monarch butterfly. Fully grown, ready to fly, as soon as its wings dry. Maybe Kerry can weigh in here, but the spots at the bottom of the wings tell whether it's a male or female. Me? No clue.
And, in keeping with the suggested guidelines of the day, we elected to share our St Patty's Day Dinner with only the people of our table. Originally, everyone was going to eat in the main hall, but a few of us were kinda grossed out by leary of that idea, so we elected to set up on the empty site next to us. Ha. See above comment regarding the breeze. After about an hour fighting the wind, trying to get the tables set, we moved it over under our neighbor's awning. He has greater tree coverage, so his site has only a gentle breeze, whereas the empty site had a pretty good gale going. Being the "new" people on the block, the hosting duties fell to us. And over the course of a week, we had a few cancellations, then when we moved to an outdoor, limited setting, we had a few return to our table, and even another one join us. On one of our trips to Victoria, we had stopped in at the Dollar Tree (nope, don't have one here, closest one is down in Portland, 30 miles & 45 minutes away) and picked up party hats and decorations for everyone.
Back row, Sharon on the left and Lynn, wearing the crown and shamrock necklace. Larry, Sharon's dearest sitting down in front, sporting one of our lucky hats.
A toast to good friends and good health! Nope, I'm not in the photo - I'm TAKING the photo.
And, once again, our new normal changed, just like that. The call went out for masks, to help with the shortage. Well, great. Here I sit, with nothing but time on my hands, and VERY limited supplies on hand. Oh, just like any other sewist (sorry, but I draw the line at calling myself a sewer), I have LOTS of supplies and stash. But, it's all stored nice and neat in a locker in Williston, FL, of all places. Climate controlled, too, so that if/when we DO recover it, it should still be all nice and neat. We'll see about that. But, I was able to muster up a bit of elastic and some tightly woven fabric and fashioned us a couple of masks. Oh yes, I know they won't prevent the virus from reaching us, but they may remind us not to touch our faces. Maybe. Desperate times, desperate measures.
Partly due to the weather (we are between storms in the mid-West and North), partly due to the NC-19 pandemic, partly because states are beginning to close rest stops, service centers, hotels and even borders, and partly just because it's time, our park is beginning to empty.
And now we can see this. Yes, it's against the written rules. Yes, the laundry is still open (for now, anyway). Yes, this is considered unsightly by many. And yes, that is the site's resident, in the back, working on yet another "project." Yard Art, I guess you could call it. Out of range of the photo is the front of the 5th wheel. It has Easter decals and a banner plastered all over the nose cone. In front of that, is a folding 6 foot table, every inch of which is covered in little figurines and decorations. Where is that breeze now? Why doesn't it just rustle up a dust devil and blow it all away?
Just to get out of the park for a bit, we rode our bikes down the Marsh Trail. Even the ducks and Ibis were practicing social distancing.
Our local HEB is taking precautions, lining us all up prior to opening the doors, and having us sanitize our hands before we enter the store.
And for those of us who find a little extra time on our hands? Well, let's see if we can find our other spatula. We thought it might have jumped out of the drawer and landed on top of the dishwasher. Well, no, it didn't. We are absolutely no closer to knowing where it is than we were before we removed the drawer and its contents. But, now the drawer won't slide back in. Hmmmm, perhaps we should have left well enough alone? I believe that was MY solution, after all, we've been without an extra spatula for several weeks now, a few more wouldn't hurt, right?
Well, eventually, with the aid of a screw driver, flashlight and a few choice words for good measure, the drawer was successfully replace. Still no spatula, but that's beside the point. My kitchen countertop was restored and turned back into my cutting table/sewing room. And with the invaluable assistance of my Resident Mathematician (yeah, that doesn't look right to me either, but that's what Spellcheck insists on) slash Color Guide slash Driver, these are the quilts I was able to put together.
Each one is a generous lap throw, a bit longer than they are wide, so that our tootsies can be tucked in while we are stretched out in our recliners. I know, life is hard. Now that they are fully pieced, they are ready to be sandwiched and quilted. Even though it's about 90 degrees, yes. I want to be ready when we need them next. However. Remember, life as we know it has ended. Yes, I have batting, ordered in pre-NC19P days, and delivered right to our site (well, ok, Lora's site) over in Arizona. Yes, I have suitable backing, purchased along with yardage for the fronts. Yes, I have suitable time to study them and decide on quilting motifs. However. Life as we know it has ended, and I do NOT have access to a table big enough to lay them out and get them sandwiched! Ah, yes, first world problems. All around us, people are refugees from war, starving from drought, and dying from Corona Virus 19. And I can't get my tops sandwiched. Kind of puts things in perspective and makes me realize just how damned lucky we really are.
We have heard from friends in Florida; they are all well and safe. We have heard from family in Arizona; they are all well and safe. We have heard from friends in New Hampshire; they are all well and safe, but still offering childcare services to at least one family, so who knows how safe for how long. We have heard from friends in California, who were performing in Florida and are now stuck there, but they are all well and safe. We have heard from family in Virginia and Alabama; they are all well and safe. Papa, at a couple months shy of 100 years old, is in isolation in a physical rehab facility, where he is getting medical attention and three squares a day, so he is safer there than his own home. We have heard from friends in London; they too are well, but not so safe. As a nurse, she spent 90 minutes trapped in a room, trying to swab an elderly and aggressive dementia patient, who was showing symptoms of the virus. So, my prayers for you, dear reader, be careful, stay safe, and practice mindful sanitation and isolation.
These times are unprecedented in our memories and the measures we must take are absolutely required to stop the spread and flatten the curve. Six weeks ago, I'd never even heard of the curve, much less knew how to flatten it. Today, we have a new normal. We are all coping the best we can, with prayers for safety and healing, the whole world over. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to all the health workers, sanitation workers, power people, grocers, farmers, firefighters & peace officers, teachers, and my dearest of husbands, who are all working hard so that we can return to life as we once knew it.
Crazy world out there right now.
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