Tuesday -- 11th

I thought today -- never has so much depended on us simply staying put...

But of course, just because we're staying home, doesn't mean that we're idle. I have saved tabs of all the wonderful things people have suggested for your periods of isolation! You can take a course on the Science of Well-being, offered free, by a Yale prof. You could bake (though I understand AP flour is scarce and I have not been able to get my hands on yeast at all). You could walk through museums on line. Listen to your favorite musician doing their bit by posting informal performances on youtube. I mean, the list is endless.

I haven't been able to get to any of it and I am sure that working parents haven't either. The day just disappears into thin air.

Breakfast. Just a few berries and a lot more apple.






As I drive to my daughter's (through the long corridor connecting her isolated home to our isolated home) to help with the kids, I struggled to come up with an explanation as to why I am going to be (just a few minutes) late. Is it the animal feeding routines? The reading of news stories? I have no answer.

At her house, the kids were eager to show me their favorite thises and thats. I'm rarely there and so it is tremendously helpful for me to see what they love about their own turf. The favorite books, chosen by someone other than me (Snowdrop's favorite was the Story of Jackie Robinson, Sparrow was a little more random, pulling off one book after the next, just because). Their favorite toys. And so on.


















I came home after lunch. Again, where did the afternoon go? On trying to figure out a needed delivery to my mom? On preparing for Primrose's birthday, coming up this weekend (it will be a remote celebration, but special to the core!)?

A little time went for a walk in our county park. This particular trail never has anyone on it and it's becoming a favorite for us: prairie, forest, with Lake Waubesa just to the east. A totally unfrozen lake, with bobbing coots, a sure sign of spring!






Since our range of movement is so limited, you'd think we'd get bored with the same trail. In years past, we'd be impatient with it. So brown still! Where's the new growth?






But today, we have such different expectations! Just being outside, in a quiet space is heavenly. The weather? Magnificent, for its March ordinariness. Warmer than February, with a promise of even warmer days ahead.






(the other familiar bird that signals spring -- the sandhill crane)






Dinner? Egg time again! Our girls are really churning out the eggs. No, Ed. We should not hatch more chickens. Absolutely not. Nope. Just our five, with Happy, the Rooster. And a bunch of cats. (Here's Dance, our "feral" mama, coaxing Ed for a little rub behind the ears.)