Ladybugs in the Mail

My Postal Carrier Hand Delivered Live Lady Bugs Today

1,500 Live Lady Bugs

Since I got Molly a month ago my terrace has become organic and cat friendly. In the past few years Rose Dust has been my way of controlling aphids. Last week my daughter, Mary brought me 2 tomato plants. Between the roses and tomatoes I needed something that was Molly friendly and would remove the aphids that are expected soon. My local hardware store did not have lady bugs yet, so USPS delivers life critters.

   Molly was very excited to have friends. We put them in the refrigerator and will be sprinkling a few at sunset and a few more in the morning. I will give Mary a lot of them for her place.

We started our day with all our ducks in a row

Molly wasn't too sure about the duck idea

Last week we got the terrace weeded and gave Mary a lot of violets that had taken over the rose bed.

Fresh Herbs that are Cat friendly

3 hours of redecorating the Fairy Garden

The walls look bare after cleaning out all the violets

St Francis and the Turtles in the desert

Molly inspecting the new tomato plants

Easter News from the Chicklets to The Nest

Tim, Abbie, Emelia and Ellie

Ellie modeling one of Auntie Joey's Etsy outfits
with Em chasing her with Bubbles

Since I can't see them through this Shelter in Place I read
a story to them and recorded it for after nap

Meanwhile...

Judah was eight months old on 4.10

Steven, Johanna and Judah

He is such a big-little man

In another part of the state...

Mike and Mary have been together for 2 years
They just moved into a new to them house

Elsewhere in the state...

Ian, Lucy and Junior

  I am thankful for Facebook Messenger, Facetime. Abbie and the girls as well as Joey and Judah have visited me this past week with video chats. Mary had a birthday last week. Molly and I spent Saturday at her house. This was my first time there in 6 weeks. We all hope that once Tim and Abbie have moved into their new house next month I can go visit them. Then a few weeks later Judah and his parents.

  I finished all my Simpson Classes for the semester. I am taking off the summer to regroup. Today I was sent information that tuition may be paid through my union at school. I will be sending an application in for the program tomorrow. Meanwhile, I am on unemployment for Pier 1 and getting paid by the school under my contract. For once in my adult life money is not a worry. Keeping my mind and body active while observing Shelter in Place guidelines is my challenge. A month with only a couple of hugs from my dad and one from Mary....thankfully I have a cat who will cuddle on my lap once a day.

  In upcoming days we will be making some art for my blank terrace walls. There are so many projects I can do and I won't need to buy any supplies. Molly loves when I cut out pieces. She will play with a scrap of paper for an hour. 

   It is nearly 8pm. Time to free some lady bugs.

🎜Onward Little Soldiers🎜

Yeah, I don't think I will be needing 1,500. Anyone need a few ladybugs?

 

 

Peace Be Still

Jesus controlled the storm

 Lent 2020

    On Wednesday February 26,2020 when I took the ashes on my forehead to begin the season of lent I had not given a lot of thought to the world health situation. My professor in my Math class on Thursday night spoke briefly of his concern about friends in Wuhan, China and the virus outbreak. The following week we were all aware of the VIRUS. By the end of our class on March 12th, the 20 students who assembled in person for the last time were more nervous about the Covid-19 coronavirus than we were about our final presentations of Math manipulative.

    The following week we met for the first time in our Zoom classroom for our Earth Science class. That night, March 19th is when the world we had known ceased to exist. My school district had made the decision to close school in Redding, California the previous Monday, so I was off work already. On Thursday, March 19th the governor or California declared a Shelter in Place order. We were in our Zoom classroom online and watching our phones blow up with messages. My Pier 1 manager had closed the store and was telling us that the store would remain closed until further notice.

    The next day I adopted my cat, Molly and began adjusting the new normal of my life.

Molly watching me while in my Zoom class

   Lent took on an entirely new meaning. I was giving up take-out coffee and fancy fingernails for Lent to put my spare change in the Mite Box. Now it appeared that I would be giving up my employment and visits to see my Grand-babies as well. Within a few days Molly had given me a routine. Get up, feed her, clean her box, feed me, do my devotional, hold her, take a walk, feed me, play with her, hold and pet her, do my university school work, feed me, hold her, feed her, clean her box... That has been the course of our days. Without getting to go to church services to make any day different than the next; I call all days Caturday.

Silver Lining

My silver lining is that no one in my family has gotten sick from Covid-19.I get to see my grandchildren everyday in pictures on my phone, video calls or videos sent by their moms. 

Ellie in a cute outfit made by Auntie Joey

Emelia and Bear
 Modeling her headband from Auntie Joey

Some days we have video of Judah eating and cooing

Some days Judah is clean,
but every video and picture is precious

I love the video calls even when the kiddos get fussy

   I have kept up on my Duolingo app for French for 188 days. Yesterday I started a new app from Caroline Leaf called SWITCH. Dr. Leaf is an author I have been following for almost a year. Her book Switch on Your Brain  explains the premise of the app. She teaches that you can change how you think in 21 days. Her daily 5 steps help you correct toxic thought patterns. I often listen to her podcasts when I feel anxious to help me rethink my toxic thoughts. 

   I hope you all are doing well with Shelter in Place. It seems that we, in California, won't be free to hug a neighbor for another few weeks or more. I am getting paid for my school job under contract, but I really miss all those little huggers. 

In the Morning of April 12 Around the World

People will be saying:

ALMIGHTY God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech thee that, as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer)

Shalom, Deena🌍-🦋

 

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.