234 Days ago

234 Days ago was the last time my husband and I were off the Farm together for anything social.

We'd bought candy and cards and took his mother flowers for her birthday which was to be the next day. She was turning 89 years old. Rich 'drove' his mom's wheelchair to lunch and we spent time visiting with everyone at her table at Bethel Home. She was so excited to have her son there and to introduce him to the 'cast' of characters that she had meals with.

This was the last time we were able to see her. The next day the nursing home called us to tell us because of Covid-19, they were suspending visits. However we could call and set up video calls.

That day was also the last day that I'd worked out physically at CrossFit.  Pictured is me with the two fellows I usually worked out with. We figured the gym was going to get shut down. It was...

Bam. The doors were shut. The State entered the Safer At Home Order March 25th. I'd sort of anticipated shortages at the grocery stores but was flabbergasted by the great Toilet Paper shortage.

The WI Supreme Court lifted the 'lockdown' in a court battle. I won't get into the politics there at all. We were careful. We followed the science listened to Rich's VA doctors. We turned to virtual medical appointments. And Rich thrived on being a Hermit. He went out and mowed the yard for the first time in 3 years. His memory isn't better, but around his machinery it is like he never took a hiatus.

I took up Virtual CrossFit. In order to keep my sanity, I needed to work out and challenge myself physically. 

Then the phone call came from the nursing home. Rich's mom took that turn ... I went in and sat with her for 3 days. I was not allowed out of her room and they brought meals to me.

We had a small service outside with good social distancing on July 4th. I was a bit relieved. His mom did not have to keep wondering why we didn't come to visit. We would explain each time we talked with her but she didn't understand.

Summer dragged on. The only time we saw anyone not from our farm was those who saw us at the funeral.

We had surprise guests over Labor Day Weekend from Missouri. They stayed in their camper at a local county park.

I really started to miss my friends from Kenosha and visits from my sons. I used to go hiking with my neighbor and her children. We visited once in a while across the fenceline. 

What now? 

Most of the time I'd say that I'm fine without any company. But I did look forward to visits. Ever since Rich's multiple health incidents we have stayed home most of the time. It stopped most of my travels because he can't care for himself any more. 

What is happening in our country? We are close to an election. What will happen in the next few days?

What will the next 122 days bring us?

What will I say to myself when we hit the one year mark?

Thoughts for today....

I really thought I'd have some fun Sunday while stuck inside while it rained/sleeted/iced and blew outside.

My husband thought I should be certified as nuts.

But the weather was nasty, the news sucked, and the day was so dreary that I needed something to be uplifting.
Thus the Toilet Paper soldiers!

I then set up both patterns of the face masks I'd printed off line and  cut out some fabric.

I made the two versions and decided that I liked the feeling of the one version much better than the other.
The flatter of the two versions was better for me. I made 3 masks total. When I go shopping next week [3 weeks between shopping for items] I will wear one as I did last time. I keep the bandanna one in my backpack as a just in case mask.

This face mask was for fun to wear with my Skunk Hat. It is very thin. However, I thought it was fun just to put on and take a selfie.

I haven't sewn anything since we were getting ready for our remodeling in 2014. So it was nice to see that I hadn't forgotten how to do it.
I may even do some of the projects I have all cut out and ready to sew in my kit...that have been sitting around for at least 6 years.

I couldn't help myself then...and got out some scraps of felt....

Well, I made masks for my toys I take out for posting to the Doe Story. Of course ... there is one in every crowd!

I had to think up how to make a mask for a matchbox car!

Oh the toys are not properly 'Socially Distanced' but I had to crowd them in for the photo.

My last thought. Are face masks going to be our 'new' reality for a long time?
No one really knows.
How long can one isolate?

My son says he is lonely.
I am lonely.

I have my husband, my dog, my animals...but I am yearning for that social freedom we used to have.
Meeting someone for coffee.
A hug from a friend.

Human contact. How will it change?

I don't have the answers.

And so it goes..

Tonight as I sat out by the tiny fire I'd made for burning burdocks, I listened to the coyotes sing and off in the distance just as dark fell...

that male pheasant gave out on last loud call....

And the Hoot Owls began their nightly songs.

I'd gone to the store on Tuesday during the Senior Shopping hour at our local Quillians store.
I was the only human aside from the manager, check out person and a lady with her father.

I scored 3 potatoes and some apples and ONE onion!

A CrossFit friend of mine who is a Soviet Union Immigrant put things in perspective for me.

I still got potatoes. I still got groceries. AND I do NOT have machine gun fire nor do I have tanks rolling down my street.

We live out in the country which is pretty darned isolated. We live on a dead end road.

This morning my husband asked me if I could hunt squirrel. He then proceeded to give me a bit of a lesson of how you have to let them sit still in a tree and nail them in the head.
I recall my mother telling me the same stories. About how her dad gave her 3 bullets for the .22 and told her to come home with 3 squirrels. I think she never failed at her task.

I'm not saying that we'll have to hunt squirrels to survive. But I am saying that my hunting backround could help in a pinch.
And then I think about how lucky I am to live in such a place.

I was raised with learning the skills of fishing, hunting, and growing a garden. I was raised to learn how to put together a meal that did not come from a package or box.
[EWWW...I hate cooking!]
I learned how to make bread without a bread making machine thingy.

This week I have to trim...somehow...my mules hooves. Yes. Shelter in Place doesn't include hoof trims.
My eldest mule will help with spring foraging for parsnip roots and morels.

My other mules will be used for much of the same purposes. Foraging wild food. IF I had a harness and a plow I'd use them for turning over the garden. Alas, I don't.

I want Rich NOT to get sick. And he is perfectly happy being a Hermit. His VA Nurse called today and put off his visit with his PCP until October.

So tonight I set small fires to the burdock I'd pulled for hours.
I didn't think about all the world problems, I thought about Burdock and I thought about making supper.

And I did not think of all the what ifs....

And that is good enough for me right now.

Distance Hike

So my friend Mr. Bill was desperate to get OUT of the house and yard to do something different.

I texted him Friday morning and said I was still going for the 3 mile hill hike at about 1pm if he cared to join me.
He replied that even though it was cold and windy, he'd go.

We kept our distance from each other and I took him on the tour of our hills, valleys, and creeks. We crossed our little creek and he inquired if it ran down to join Readscreek and I found myself explaining our 'watershed' to him. I also told him that the locals, the old locals [as we are old ourselves] called Readscreek ... Blackbottom.

When we got to the old logging road above the Back Valley he stopped and stared and was in awe. I asked him if he wanted to go down and walk along the stream and he said YES!
I informed him that we would be doing some stream hopping and rock jumping. He said fine.

I remarked that all the balance activities we did in CrossFit really applied well to light jumps over rocks to criss cross the creek. Plus the steep hillsides were excellent leg and cardio workouts.

Bill asked me how the heck I didn't get turned around in this vast 'wilderness'. I said at first I did but that was 26 years ago and I'd been exploring this acreage ever since I'd moved to the area. I felt like I knew every rock and tree. I certainly knew just about every trail made by the 4 wheelers and the deer.

When I guided him to the edge of the largest ravine/dry run on the land and had him look down he simply just stood there.

And all he could say over and over is 'Wow!'

He went on about what a great place this was to explore and I reminded him that it still was private property but the owner let me have free run of the place and in a way I felt like it was my own playground/backyard. Especially since I've been exploring this land and mine for all these years.

This was a very safe way to socialize and practice social distancing. We didn't have to drive in separate cars to the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, and we could maintain our distance and walk right out back, so to speak.

I had another person ask me if she could come over and go with me. I'm not sure about that. She has 5 children.
I'm certainly going to think long and hard about it.

I want to be polite but also safe. Open air hiking is encouraged but I think now they are recommending no one outside of your household.

That would just mean...Charlie and I.
Oh and Sven.

Things feel surreal.