Getting Groceries.

Getting groceries is a new experience now, as many of you know. We watched a video the other night, done by a doctor, who documented how to deal with your food, once you have brought it home. Some of the things he suggested we already do, but we learned a few new ideas and I'm sure some we'll continue to do once this virus has gone away. It took longer to create a "dirty counter" and a "clean counter" and to re~bag, re~box and re~container all our food. Everything was washed or wiped down. Everything was carefully dealt with and it may seem overboard but even the doctor stated "that this will take longer but all of us have really nothing but time on our hands anyway." So true. It took quite a while, but we did it and though it will be another 2 weeks or so before we have to get food again, next time, it should be shorter now that we have a system in place. I feel this helps us stay safe and healthy and worth the extra time it took in the end. Hope it works!

             Have you had to replenish your food often?

      Have you made changes to how you put them away?

                                    ~ Chy

Dollhouse Sorting.

While we're working from home and living each moment,

I'm looking at all the different ways to fill time when we

have gaps. Taking time to rest and eat and work out for

sure as we aim to stay healthy and fit. But there are still

moments where I have energy but work is done for the

day. I've taken apart our art studio to re~organize it in a

better way. Part of that was sorting through the boxes

of dollhouse supplies, both building items and furniture.

I do have more to do but so far, I ended up condensing 8

boxes in to 4. I even had a box of items to donate or sell.

I love the bottom 2 pictures. We picked up that old box

from the charity shop, not knowing how handy it would

be for sorting and keeping small items neatly. Now it will

be easier to outfit each dollhouse as I finish them ~ 1 day!

~ Chy

Pretty Windows.

I love pretty windows. Today, our our

bedroom windows, the oval ones. we can

see light snow falling from the dark sky.

Ugh. It was so sunny and warm yesterday!

This popped up on my feed this morning.

I've tucked it away for future reference if

we get to build again down the road. For

now, survival is all that's on our mind. But

I think it's okay to keep hope in our hearts

and how I do that is a bit of dreaming here

and there. I dream of a claw foot tub and

that window is amazing to showcase this

sweet bath. If we end up staying here down

the road we might reno our bathroom. Ideas!

~ Chy

A Birthday.

On Wednesday, March 25th, we celebrated what would have been the 24th birthday of our sweet and tiny son, Bretton~Elijah Lucas. Born too early, too small and too fast, we miss him every day and dream of him often. Every year, we have a cake and tiny gifts for his memory box. This year, we made blueberry muffins and his gift will have to wait for now, as we're still isolated at home. Doing well but staying put. Here is the letter we wrote for 2020: 

Dear Bretton~Elijah Lucas. Today, you would have been turning 24 years old. We imagine you'd have super curly hair like Brodie, big blue eyes like Brady and chronic sarcasm like your dad. You'd be sweet but feisty like Chelsea and Chynna. The best ever uncle to Beckett and Lua. An athlete, maybe a musician or actor (cause we need more of those in our family!), creative and adventurous. Maybe you'd be married now. Or still in school. Or travelling. Whatever you'd be doing, like all our kids, we'd be so proud. We wish we could be that today. Isolated at home, we don't have a beautiful cake to celebrate your short time in our lives. Dad has suggested blueberry muffins today, with a candle on top. You were our tiny "blueberry" and maybe that's just what we'll do today to remember you. Bretton~Elijah Lucas .... loved forever, never forgotten. Love, Mom, Dad, all the kids and grandkids.

~ Chy

A Bouquet ....

.... to send to you, my dear blogging buddies. We

are all experiencing such turmoil right now. Our

World is at a standstill and we are isolated in our

homes. But there are also many wonderful things

happening, like this bouquet, sent to me, just for

you. Why? Because your stories and posts have

helped me get thru the day. I wonder how each of

you are, how you are coping. I wonder if you have

support and family, food and strength. Know that

with these flowers, I am sending a big hug, good

wishes and many thanks for being here, beside

me, as we all navigate this unprecedented event!

Please feel free to send along.

Share with your blog buddies!

~ Chy

Organized.

I took some time out of our worry filled day to tidy

up the drawers in my vintage and sweet writing desk.

Two big drawers and they hold a ton of stationary.

I love writing letters and giving cards so this space

has worked out really well so far. Yesterday, I did

find more stationary that will now need to fit in ....

~ Chy

Home Tour #3.

Our little living room. A place to visit

with friends and family. To read, to sit.

At the of the afternoon, the sun streams

in this south side and it's so pretty then.

We often put this light on when the sun

goes down, for anyone arriving to visit.

My favorite corner, with my harp and

some old family pictures I've inherited. 

My pretty writing desk. A vintage Ethan

Allen. Love sitting here to write and dream.

This room comes off the front door and

then we have a french door leading in to

the turreted sun room, also facing south.

I'm trying to find a pretty area rug to

warm up this space in the Winter. A bit

of softening. And the rug has to be able

to work for a matching area rug for the

dining room that is across the hallway.

Taking a lot of time to find just the right

color, size and softness. Soon, I hope!

Do you have a quiet space to write?

A space to invite family and friends?

~ Chy

Life in the Woods.

Life in the Woods has become more settled ~ our new normal. Truth be told, we are scared. Scared that though in the moment we are healthy, that we'll end up sick. Both dh and I are high risk with asthma and bronchitis/pneumonia to worry about. We're home and have been for 12 days now. Little guy is homeschooling, dd1 is recovering from her surgery (doing really well) and doesn't go back to work as a nurse for 5 weeks (that terrifies me!) and dd2 is providing preschool online with her colleague each day. We're coping but the fear is there. There is comfort in knowing that the entire World is in this together and together we'll beat it. We all are worried. We are all scared. My hope is that everyone stays home and we get thru to the other side with far less impact than predicted. Stay home, stay well.

So what does life look like now in the Woods? Though we are home, both dh and I are able to continue to work each day. And both of us have worked from home regularly, so this transition is not brand new. What's different is we'd often be alone on those days at home. Now we're both home at the same time and the girls and little guy too. It's taken a few days to figure out how to navigate the noise, the activity and the fears. Here's the schedule at the moment:

We aren't waking up as early as we do when life is normal. I usually get up around 6:30 a.m. but right now, it's around 8ish. Part of that is there is no driving so we're still starting work around the same time. And we're going to bed later and definitely not sleeping well. A little lie in is how we begin our days now. And a nap later if needed.

I start each day with my workout in our little gym. I do 32 minutes on the treadmill at a 10.0 incline, then 100 crunches and 200 arm lifts. Loving this and it's given me more energy to cope. The plus side? I've lost 9 pounds in 4 weeks (started this before we were sent home to work). My goal is to be in better shape to cope but also for our son's wedding in early September. Hoping this special day can still happen.

Down my pills for the morning: 2000 of Vitamin D3, 1 combined Vitamin pill, 1 Oil of Oregano tablet, 1 Cold FX and 2000 of Vitamin C. I already did this prior to the virus but the amounts have changed and Oil of Oregano is new, added in last week by my Naturopath and the Cold FX too.

Shower and dress, make the bed, set up my desk. I work through the morning providing phone and video sessions for my grieving clients. Today is the first of 2 staff meetings by video. Looking forward to seeing my team mates in person. Right now, we communicate each day via internet but we haven't seen each other for more than a week now. Fun!

At lunch, we take a break to check in on the news and eat a bit. My appetite is not great right now but I know I have to eat to stay healthy. Yesterday we went for a walk to visit the horses above. The live on the first acreage on our drive in to our subdivision and often walk up to the fence when cars go by or walkers come along. It was fun to spend some time with them ~ little guy even named them. They seemed sad when we walk back to our cottage. We'll visit again. It was a good walk and added extra to my workout for the day.

Work through the afternoon and sometimes in to the evening. I do take realistic breaks as needed. I've been building a puzzle with little guy that is now finished and plan to start another one later today. He's doing his schoolwork and we've also stopped to take part in science experiments his mama comes up with. He's loving that part of school at home! He's incorporated recess in to our day too. He and dd2 often go out in the garden to play in the snow. 

Dinner is in our family room together and we watch Coronation Street. Just found out that they have suspended filming in the U.K. but we hope there is enough episodes to last while this is going on. We are 2 weeks behind the U.K. and they film well in advance. Fingers crossed. Happy though that they wanted to keep the cast/crew healthy and safe. 

Evenings are sometimes still some work as needed. And a game or tv or reading. We're trying to stay positive and have many laughs through the day. Coming up with projects to work on. And some that need to be finished up. Now's our chance to slow down, re~evaluate life, make some changes, cherish more moments and appreciate this time. 

I'm thankful we can stay home but still work so we're busy. Thankful we have a freezer full of food, a stocked pantry, lots of tp (already stocked as families do when we live in the country) and things we can do to keep busy. So appreciating our little gym, our amazing art studio and lots of space outside to wander. Thankful for our neighbors who are keeping in touch (one even came for a little walk with us the other day ~ yes, we were all 6 feet apart!). And our little guy who is keeping us laughing. Thankful for good health so far. And all of you, who have kept me busy reading your blogs and comments. Keep going ~ we can beat this!

~ Chy