Week One

We started school this week. I will not lie, it was hard. We were blessed to be able to only have 20 students a day. Two of us tested students and straightened out paper work. While the other two taught the same lessons every day. At the end of the day we had an Otterpop and played. 

It is unbelievable the amount of hoops we have to jump through during a pandemic.  We had a positive Covid case at our school on day 2. The way they handle it is unbelievable.  It is wrong. Our district is not even mandating masks yet. I wore a face shield to test and had to clean the outside several times. Note to self:  Always wear a mask when testing a Kindergarten student.  However, the kids were happy. They loved being back at school. We love our kids, I just want everyone to be safe.

It took a few nights, but my computer/family room is getting back together. 

While looking for some blessings, I found these guys. Love them. 

Really

I told Wes that I really needed the computer desk set up because I have work to do on it and I start my BSU class and I need room to spread out when I write papers.

I took these pictures at 10:00 last night. This is not what I had in mind. 

But school will start. I wish I could say that they are taking every precaution, but I can't lie. They want every child in school every day. Which means no Social Distancing. We are going to try and keep things sanitized, but considering that you are more likely to breath this virus in, than get from touching a surface, I'm not to confident in the polices they have in place. Let's just say that I feel safer getting a hair cut. 

It is smokey out there to boot.  The smoke comes from California. It is hard on bv the eyes and lungs. 

Should be a great week. 

Entering a school year never to be forgotten. 

                              2020-2021

Back at it

My friends and I try to take a day trip to the lake every year.

The girls day out includes a lot of talking, laughing and ice cream. 

It was a beautiful day and it took me away from this. Now we are not moving, just painting....in slow motion.

Hot August Nights

First, let it be known that these hot August nights are a sign of what is to come: Winter.

I can enjoy them for a few weeks.

Wes has wanted to go to a pioneer cemetery in Carry Idaho for a while. He was prepared and we found this wagon wheel gate fairly easily.

I feel like theis cemetery is untouched by progress as it sits next to irrigated farmland.  The pioneers had a vision. It is beautiful, now.

This is what we were looking for.

Thank heavens someone has come in and purchased headstones with information on them. There is another one close by that holds the body of her infant daughter. There is enough information on the headstones to know that neither of them made it through childbirth. 

I love cemeteries. They tell stories and have  a spirit of reverence. 

The rest of the week was spent getting  ready for the unknown. I wish I could predict the future. I wish this virus showed some kind of pattern. I wish there were clear instructions. But there are not so I have made the choice to prepare for a year learning like the rest of them. 

I made journals and science props. I still have superglue on my finger nails. 

Searching for some sence of normal, I took a quilt to the fair.  It was good to see old friends and even if I say that I only did it to participate,  Iit has been a long while since I took home a Best of Show. 

We shall see. But I do know that people qlove this scrappy little project.

At the end of the day, I'm going to complain about the heat, just to keep things normal. 

Home Sweet Home

After a few more visits to family in California we left our parents in good hands and came back to Idaho.

It felt good to be in our home. Hopefully, it was our last trip  but my dad is pretty weak and his heart is failing so we may do one more trip.

Later in the week, we went to visit my friend Lee Smith. She called on my birthday and told me she was visiting her friend in Boise.  To tell the truth, when she went to live with her daughter in Seattle, I really didn't think that I would see her again.  It touched my heart that she would contact me. We made arrangements for a visit. She and her friend are 87ish, so the picture her friend took, well, tried to take, did not work out. It was a lovely visit.

We then went to celebrate Callies birthday. 

Spencer did an excellent job preparing for her mini party.  He picked up a delicious meal and a cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory, with yummy toppings.

He loaded it up with candles and she blew them all out.

A perfect Pandemic birthday. 

I have many happy memories of her birthday parties.  

In  September, my daughter in law asked me to write my son's birth story. As each child has had a birthday this year, I have written their birth story. I have been blessed to remember the beginnings of their lives.  They were little and sweet then. I feel like I have already written Callies birth story, but will check it out. She has been a blessing to our lives.