RESTLESSNESS

Everything looks different when you look at it from Robinson Crusoe’s standpoint, surrounded by a sea of depression, and things show up at a more real value. We appreciate the actual values of things. – Ina, 1932

When we hear about the Covid-19 situation in Seattle or watch transfixed as Gov. Cuomo makes dire predictions for the coming weeks in New York and elsewhere, it seems like we in southeastern Washington and north central Idaho live in another world. Because the number of cases is overall so low, it’s hard to believe there’s a pandemic someplace.

Nevertheless, when I hear about it, I just want to gather my children around me. “No, you cannot go to work today,” I would say. “Color your pictures, and this afternoon we’ll bake cookies and go for a walk.” But, you know, they’re 40 (plus and minus), so all I can do is echo Ina’s sentiments as penned to her son:

“Yours as ever to the last and all the love in the world.” KW

A CHANGE OF PLANS

Raining

"Well, let’s talk of hard times some more. Isn’t it a most lovely mess we’re in? There comes to me in times like these a sort of spirit of battle. I feel it as a challenge to me to outwit circumstances . . .” – Ina Dobson, 1932

The forecast calls for a week or two of cold, wet, windy spring weather, so we decided not to go to the farm. Life is difficult on the farm when the weather is bad, so it's fine to stay in town.

Inclement / windy

The Tribune has a page of local businesses that remain open, and some of them aren’t so essential. We’ve been amazed at how many are open. Mike went by a sporting goods store this morning after physical therapy to pick up a two-pound weight, and yes, they were open. He said he was the only shopper there. I know – it’s a tough time for businesses.

Stormy

My grocery list is growing, but we’re still making do. In fact, I’m pleased to be innovative, using what we have on hand instead of running to the store. I made Spanish rice from a box (canned tomatoes added) to go with the pork roast on Saturday. Sunday, I added a little shrimp and some sausage to the leftover Spanish rice and called it a meal. There’s still a bit left, so tonight I’m stretching it with a half can of cannellini beans. Is this stretching necessary? Well – I don’t think we really know yet, so we play it safe. KW

MAKING THE MASKS (sigh)

I have been vacillating on the subject for a week – to make masks or not. I rejected making them for medical personnel, but the topic kept popping up on my laptop screen.

Then Saturday morning Mike asked, “Why is it you’re not making masks? I think we should have masks.” Discussion ensued. “If we have to go out, it’s better than nothing,” he said. And that was exactly my point. Is better than nothing good enough? He thought so.

And that threw my day into a downward spiral. The subject of making masks for hospitals and care centers is still controversial. The Chinese recommend that all people wear masks when they go out, but their masks might be better than ours. I read site after site with lengthy instructional tutorials, either in video or pictorial format. Frustrating! Some people would have had it done in 15 minutes. Not me!

Finally, in the afternoon, I landed on a succinct video tutorial posted on YouTube by Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Company (this one). “This is the easiest one yet,” she said. And it was just what I wanted – ties instead of elastic ear loops. Apparently we have now depleted the world’s supply of elastic in making these controversial, ineffective face masks -- though, of course, I have plenty in my stash.

Anyway, Jenny’s tutorial made sense to me, and I actually remembered the simple steps. Then I just had to find fabric – a step that is easy to overthink. You only need scraps, after all, but the fabric should be tightly woven. I reviewed my stash and rejected fabric after fabric until I came to a Christmas print – “Bah, Humbug!” Perfect! And Jenny suggested using leftover binding strips for the ties. Since she’s a professional quilter, she had a basketful. I only had a few -- again, Christmas prints -- but deemed this a way to get rid of them. “It’s not a fashion show,” I could hear my mother say.

So, by time to start supper, I was only halfway finished with the second mask, but I easily finished this morning. And that’s the way a 20-minute project takes all day and part of the next.

The homemade mask may be next to useless in the fight against the dreaded coronavirus, but it does keep you from touching your face, which humans are wont to do. KW