Virtual Hugs

   A year ago I had just transferred to a different school in my district. A different campus with a different atmosphere. As Spring Break began I was working toward house sitting for seven of a 12 month period. Spring Break 2019 was in a different place and time. 

   In October I felt lead to begin attending church at St Luke's Anglican Church in Redding. I told the Priest that I needed a time of renewal in my faith and would like to sit back for the season from Christmas to Easter and observe before making a further commitment. He agreed and I began a devotional time of rest, peace and spiritual growth.

   One of the deacons showed me a website with the daily office for morning and evening prayer. Since October each morning and evening I would passively participate by listening and following along on my phone. Cradle of Prayer follows the morning and evening prayer of The Book of Common Prayer. With my eyes barely open and my throat beginning to wake up before reporting to work at 7:10 a.m.  I would follow along to the best of my sleepy ability.

   A Pain in the Neck

  Two weeks ago last night I had my final class at Simpson College on campus. For a week I had been suffering with a Charlie Horse at the base of my head, behind my left ear. Our final class was presenting to the class a 10 minute Math lesson. My lesson was for 5th grade fractions and despite the pain I passed the class with flying colors. Sunday morning I went forward for prayer and began to feel the pressures of the world release from my shoulders.

  We went to our school jobs on Monday, but by 2:00 p.m. we were told school would be closing for the next three weeks. Then our Simpson Classes were moved online only. I got to learn a new platform called Zoom video conferencing. The first night was hectic as we all learned together for four hours how to use the platform and how to share our ideas for learning Earth Science. At the third hour break my phone blew up with messages. Govern Newsom was closing down California the following day and not only would Pier 1 close, but their would be no Grammie travel during Easter Break.

    Thankfully, the pain in my neck was gone, but the ache in my heart was pretty deep. I contacted my daughter in Shingletown on Friday to ask about adopting a cat. She had one picked out and I headed to Shingletown ~Rescue Animal In Need. The cat my daughter liked for me did not care for me. However, a tabby named Molly thought I was her forever Mama. 

So far she has not tried to step on to the table while I eat

Her favorite place to watch the world outside

My Dad made her a scratching post

Never a Dull Moment 

   Molly is a typical 6 month old cat. She has only broken one small knick-knack from a yard sale. She occasionally races through the apartment, but mostly is a very good roommate. She keeps me on schedule and insists I do the dishes in the sink as well as keep her area in the bathroom clean. The vacuum doesn't bother her, but she is not a fan of the garbage disposal. 

   One day I kept hearing odd noises at the front door. This was what I saw through the peephole.

   Unfortunately for last years Easter Door hanger, a scrub jay had decided that he needed to move into the nest. He was trying to removed the old eggs. He just didn't realize what great glue Pier1 uses and that the eggs were solid foam.

pecked holes in two of the eggs and wouldn't give up

I put back up my sunflower hanger and gave up after trying three different days and getting the same result. Lazy bird!!!

   Grandbaby Update

Judah and his Mama are Sheltering In Place in Humboldt County
while his Dad works at Costco

Ellie is keeping everything lighthearted

Emilia is pretty serious about her home-schooling

The mamas get no rest and no pop-cycles to themselves

On the Home Front

Early this morning I put a Thank you Heart on his van,
This fellow lives a building over from me and often parks downstairs.

I made a stack of Thank You Hearts for all my local Essential Workers. I put one on the door of the nurse who lives directly below me too. I plan to make a garland of them on my railing with a note of thanks. There are over 100 units in my complex and many work in Essential Fields.

I take a walk for an hour every day.
This was a message of hope from a neighbor

Even through the slight drizzle the tulips were worshiping God

 Daily I can take time to go through the morning and evening office of prayer. I can consider the words and listen or join with the canter. Let our hearts be like St Francis.

A little bit of bloom in the terrace of The Nest

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

when there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

Grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand,

to be loved as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying [to ourselves] that we are born to eternal life.”

― Francis Of Assisi

   

Shelter In Place 2020

 The past week has been an up and down of emotions. Being an introvert who could usually hold up at home all the hours I don't work....I felt this Shelter in Place order would not be a problem. My children and I did that most of the 1990s. I home-schooled through the public school. We had no technology and the kids would get packets every two or three weeks from their teachers. That was 20 years ago and life has changed so much with technology. We were too poor for sports and there was a period of five years that we had no home church. The library and grocery store were our main outings.
     Now my daughter with two young ones has been experiencing a similar time of life, but they have Disney+ and a big screen TV. They are blessed with a park down the road and a wonderful library. However, this week when the Shelter in Place went down she had to wipe her calendar clean. I have been so proud to see the different ideas she has followed through with each day.

Ellie Anne at 15 months old doesn't mind the Shelter In Place

On a nature walk, they put velcro on their wrists to collect leaves and flowers

Emelia is doing very well

 Today they made 💗💙💚💛

Abbie remembers what it was like when we stayed home after 9/11. Her husband is in law enforcement and has been in the National Guard until last year. Keeping life normal for the littles is a hard thing for everyone. Not being able to see friends and family is hard. Thankfully, we all have the video chat on our phones and photos daily.

New Room Mate

Meet my new roommate Molly

 By Friday the Shelter in Place began to get to me. My Dad is 87 and I go see him every few days to make sure all is well and take groceries or whatever is needed. But I really missed my littles from school. I house sat for people with pets so much last year and had Pier1 during summer break. I saw my own children and had just enough interaction with people to not be considered a hermit.
But after my first Thursday night with no class at Simpson I was shaky. We had a 4 hour video class with interaction, but I realized how much I like seeing people in person. Over the past 2 1/2 months we have all bonded as we spent four hours together on campus in our classrooms. The Shelter in Place order came through during our final break and I got a message from Pier1 that the doors were closed and to remain closed until the governor removed the Shelter in Place.

She is a 6 month rescue cat

Friday morning I called my daughter, Mary and asked where she got her shelter cat. R.A.I.N. is a shelter in Shingletown that is connected with a second hand store. Molly had been fixed, had all her shots and was de-fleaed. When I walked in the door Molly adopted me. 

We have been setting some boundries. When I go see my Dad or go out for a walk, she has to stay in the bathroom. I finally left my name down. She let me know that was her spot now. The glass wishing well has moved too. She hasn't bothered any of my knick-knacks. Her favorite toy is a foam apple stress ball that I got from Simpson University. She bats it all over then picks it up in her teeth to leave it under a chair.

She knocked over Henry and likes to play with his eggs

Henry is a Pier1 rabbit from last year. His basket is full of styrofoam eggs (scatter). Molly has a few of the eggs scattered around in her own special way of decorating. She helps me keep things clean. No dishes left in the sink. Nothing left on the bathroom counter. All surfaces wiped down like they keep saying to do on the radio.

 Flowers Along the Way

I am taking daily walks around my neighborhood. As I loaded these pretty blooms I realized that I had every color.

My son's girlfriend is in the medical field. One son-in-law is Law Enforcement and one son-in-law works at a Costco. Two daughters are raising their littles and one daughter is a diesel truck mechanic. My son is a  graveyard shift security guard. I could not be a prouder Mum at this time in our countries adventure with Covid-19. 

My handsome guys

My Dad has been doing very well since his wife went to be with the Lord in November. He and his little dog Duke are learning to navigate Youtube and watching church at home. He met his Great grandson ,Judah in September. I hope we get to see them again soon.

Dad and Judah last Fall

Cu-Ti-π , Judah is 7 months old

This guy must be due for a hair cut. Mum has the clippers and the shops are all closed.

Upcoming Events

All my children, grandchildren and spouses (including future spouses) were suppose to have a photo shoot in Chico this weekend... I was going to see Judah and family on the coast in April during my Easter break... All outings are postponed.  Abbie and family bought a house that closed escrow on her birthday, March 9th. As soon as the Shelter in Place is lifted we will get together for her to get boxes from Mary who just moved into a new house too. 

New Home of the Little Schmenk family

For now I try to balance the need to check on my Dad with the need to follow the governor's guide line. I am healthy, all my family are healthy. My son-in-laws are doing the important jobs along with Miss Lucy. 

Finally, update on University Classes

In January I began classes at Simpson University for a bachelor's degree in Education. My first class was a History of Art that everyone said was one of the hardest of all the ASPIRE classes. I had never written University level papers and the teacher graded very hard. I got a "C" and was just glad I had passed. My next 6 week class was Math and amazingly, I got an "A". This class also had two university level papers and the professor told me that I did very well on my papers and my presentations. Well that averaged out to a 3.0. Last week we started a class in Earth Science. I am having a lot of fun with that class. This week I glued little bead all over my globe where the volcanoes are for a presentation on week 4. The other class we are taking during the entire semester is World History. So far I have an "A" in that one too. Along with 170 continual days of  the Doulingo French app on my phone, I am feeling pretty happy about my studies this year.

If you read down this far. Thank you. Keep safe and healthy and write a letter to someone. We all love snail mail. Postal workers are still out there doing a great job for us too.