Pandemic - Week 2

Anna modeling the shirt she made

Anna has been out of school for two weeks, but finished her first full week of virtual school.  The teachers provided a full work load, which meant Anna was locked in her room for a good part of each day doing assignments.  On-line learning is definitely different than in the classroom.  The principal and teachers are making adjustments for the coming week to alternate classes and incorporate more virtual classes via zoom along with some virtual field trips.

Meanwhile, Anna made some adjustments for other activities.  With no sports right now, she started doing some jogging and using a fitness app in the morning.  We supported our neighbor's bookstore and purchased some new books to read (you could call ahead with curbside pick-up).  She entertained our neighbor (and her adopted little sister) Zoe a few afternoons, including baking cupcakes for Zoe's birthday.  Fortunately JoAnn Fabrics was still open, so Anna got some material to sew a new shirt for herself (she made the pattern).  She also made some face masks.  One activity that was not canceled was her voice lesson, which she did via facetime.  She is finding ways to keep busy and stay in touch (at least a little) with the outside world.

Birthday cupcakes for Zoe

Theresa just finished her first week working from home and is adjusting as well.  The biggest problem this week was the gyms closing, forcing Theresa to find some new fitness apps herself.  As for work, the week was a series of non-stop video meetings and long hours.  There were some interesting backgrounds (one colleague is working out of his son's room, which is covered with action hero posters while another colleague appeared to be sitting in a recliner with a deer head mounted above him).  Theresa is working out of the basement and is already plotting rotating backgrounds for her video meetings in the weeks ahead.  Storm is enjoying the new schedule and is a constant fixture in the videos sleeping in the background.  Theresa also found some time to try out some new recipes.  This week's dessert was strawberry-rhubarb crunch with homemade vanilla ice cream.  It is a good thing she purchased two new baking cookbooks!

Joe is taking advantage of the nice weather to work in the yard.  He started his annual tradition of transplanting bushes around the yard this week along with adding some new ones.  He is planning ahead and ordered some hair clippers since all the barbershops are now closed (Theresa planned ahead to get Storm in for a haircut before the groomers close too).  It is unclear who will be giving him a haircut.....or if he will do it himself (you can learn most anything on YouTube).  The other option is the Michael Bolton look.  We will see how it goes.

We are fortunate that the grocery stores are open and there is still toilet paper to be found.  There are lots of neighbors walking the streets with dogs and family members.  People are biking.  Kids are playing outside.  Families are working in their yards.  It is all rather surreal.  We will see what week 3 brings.

Storm's new haircut