Daily Quote: April 1, 2020

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The greater the difficulty,
the more the glory in surmounting it.
~ Charles de Saint-Évremond
(French – Critic April 1, 1613 – September 29, 1703)

April Fools’ Day

Day 14 and unfortunately our self-isolation, quarantine after travel will be extended because my stepson is symptomatic and stopped in to see us on Friday March 20th.  Although my stepson is home he hasnt’ been tested yet.  Nor will he be tested even though he is symptomatic and diagnosed with pneumonia.  Tests in Ontario are only being given to Seniors and Health Care Professionals.

The number of confirmed cases in Ontario is being kept artificially low by not testing all persons that are symptomatic.

Schools in Ontario are now closed until the end of April.  More on-line tools are being developed and made available daily for students.

The number of COVID-19 total cases confirmed in Canada was 7,708 yesterday. Coronavirus Canada Link with a total of 89 deaths.  The Bogcaygen Nursing home now has 13 deaths and about 1/2 of the staff are now self-isolating with symptoms.

The number of confirmed cases in the USA are now over 176,518 with 3,431 deaths and 6,241 recovered.  USA Coronovirus according to Worldometers

Spring 2020 is progressing and birds have finally found my restocked feeders.  A little chipmunk stops by daily to fill his cheeks and the squirrels are finding ways around the barrier at the base of the bird feeder.  Marigolds and tomatoes have started to sprout in containers on my window ledge, almost ready for transplanting to bigger pots and move to the greenhouse.

March has finally come to an end.

 

Daily Quote: March 31, 2020

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I think; therefore I am.
~ Rene Descartes
(French – Mathematician March 31, 1596 – February 11, 1650)

NATIONAL TATER DAY   

National Sunflower Day
(Día Nal. del Girasol) – Argentina

 

COVID-19 Pandemic continues.  We are now at Day 13 of Quarantine after travel.  My youngest son picked up bread and milk for us.  We are still waiting to hear how my stepson is on his trucking adventure home where he will get testing done to see if he has COVID-19.

5,655 cases including 61 deaths have been reported in Canada (overall case fatality rate of 1.1%)  The worst news was from a retirement home in  Bobcaygeon Ontario where 7 confirmed COVID-19 people have died of the 65 residents. (an additional 2 died from other natural causes and 10 staff are awaiting test results).

In comparison there are at least 155,252 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the US and at least 2,828 people have died in the US from COVID-19.  Just a reminder that Canada has only about 10% of the total population of the USA.

President Trump has extended the shut down in the USA until April 30th.  He stated that Easter was just a hopeful date.

Daily Quote: March 30, 2020

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I put my heart and my soul into my work,
and have lost my mind in the process.
~Vincent Van Gogh (Dutch – Artist March 30, 1853 – July 29, 1890)

Take a Walk in the Park Day

Virtual Vacation Day

International Folding Laundry Day

COVID-19 pandemic continues and grows.  Numbers confirmed in the USA are now over 139,000 with the death toll of over 2,400.  Some experts are now predicting that between 100,000 and 200,000 Americans will die because of COVID-19.

Canada has fewer cases with only 6,243 confirmed cases caused by COVID-19 and 61 reported deaths.  Part of the reason for the lower numbers in Canada is that Canada’s population is less than 10% of the USA.

Prime Minister Trudeau remains in self-isolation even now that his wife is now symptom free.  He could still develop the virus 14 days after exposure.

We’re on Day 12 of our quarantine after travel.  My step-son is trucking his way back to Ontario from Saskatchewan, but says he is sick.  He’ll need to be tested to confirm if it is COVID-19, but that means our quarantine time will also need to be extended because he stopped in to see us on Friday, March 20th before he went to work trucking.  That means an extra 2 days of self-isolation for us, not a major hardship because there are very few places to go.  Even worse, his lady-friend is a double organ transplant recipient and could be in very serious danger from exposure.

Some of our Canadian friends have decided to shelter in place in Florida and Mexico.  Others drove straight home from Florida without stopping.  Some are now done their 14 day quarantine after travel, but everyone is still being told to “STAY HOME”.

Virtual tours and travel have been spreading on the internet almost as fast as the virus.  Distractions and good thoughts trying to take away from the fear and terror of closed cities and states.  So book a Virtual Vacation and relax today.

Daily Quote: March 29, 2020

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People see God every day,
they just don’t recognize him.
~ Pearl Bailey (American – Actress March 29, 1918 – August 17, 1990)

Good Deeds Day

Neighbour Day

Texas Love the Children Day

5th Sunday in Lent

5th Sunday in Lent

COVID-19 Day 11 in Quarantine after travel.  The countdown to freedom is on, but even after the quarantine period Ontario is still under a general shut down so, nothing is going back to normal this week.  Schools, churches, bars, restaurants, stores and non-esential services remain closed.  Social distancing remains a requirement.  People are still dying of COVID-19.  The USA is leading the way with the highest number of confirmed cases now over 100,000.

Prime Minister Trudeau announced yesterday that symptomatic people will be denied access to public transportation.  My question is: what part of “stay home” didn’t people with symptoms not understand?

Online options are popping up for everything.  Church Services, Garden Tours, Travel, etc……

Daily Quote: March 28, 2020

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Real generosity is doing something nice for someone who will never find out.
~ Frank A. Clark (American – Politician March 28, 1860 – April 14, 1936)

National Weed Appreciation Day

2016-04-25 087

National Weed Appreciation Day, not the kind you smoke.  We’re talking about weeds like dandelions or wild flowers as some of us like to call them.

I’m now on day 10 of Quarantine after returning to Canada and am wondering how much different my life will be when the quarantine is done.  My husband is in the the risk category due to age and being a cancer survivor with only one kidney, so we will still need to social distance and remain vigilant.  It will be wonderful to see my grandchildren in person again and to be able to get my own groceries rather than write a list and send my daughter-in-law into the dangerous stores.

I’ve started some seeds from OSC, where I ordered them on line, but was very disappointed with the little number of seeds in a package.  One package I received actually had no seeds, so I called and had the package replaced.  The replacement package only had 10 seeds.  I’d like to go to the dollar store and buy some seeds, one of my luxuries.

I’m anxious to go for a walk in the local conservation area to see the skunk cabbage starting to grow an the marsh marigolds or any other spring flowers starting.

 

Daily Quote: March 27, 2020

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I knew, of course, that trees and plants had roots, stems, bark,
branches and foliage that reached up toward the light.
But I was coming to realize that the real magician was light itself.
~ Edward Steichen (American – Photographer March 27, 1879 – March 25, 1973)

WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR DAY

The COVID-19 pandemic continues as numbers increase around the world.  The USA now has the highest number of cases in the world as  more than 83,005 confirmed cases were reported yesterday.  Even the Rio Grande Valley is starting to report cases.  I’m so glad we listened to Prime Minister Trudeau and came home when we were advised to do so.

How ironic that on the eve of “Won’t you be my neighbor day” President Trump is still in denial and is actually saying he wants to put military forces along the Canadian/USA boarder to prevent illegals from entering the USA with COVID-19.  The world stands in disbelief of President Trump’s total lack of empathy or concern for the welfare of his citizens.  American resources could be better used treating their ill than trying to fight with their neighbors.

Today is day 9 of our self-isolation/quarantine.  It was also the second major grocery drop-off by my daughter-in-law.  Thank God we have such a supportive family.  My son was disappointed that she bought a turkey for me (on sale for only $20) but didn’t get one for them.  I told her when this is done I will cook a turkey dinner for them to celebrate the end of our quarantine.  Even after the 14 days we will need to continue to exercise caution as my husband is still at high risk because he is over 65 and has only 1 kidney.

I got a request to update the church’s website to include the local food drive.  The food bank is almost empty and the most vulnerable in our community are left with the least.  I hope the response to the food drive is overwhelming.

Daily Quote: March 25, 2020

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The poison of selfishness destroys the world.
~ Catherine of Siena (Theologian March 25, 1347 – April 29, 1380)

International Waffle Day

Walking through the trails, I thought I would look at a honey mesquite tree to see if scorpions were visible during the day.  At first I thought this spider feasting on a caterpillar might be a scorpion, but on closer inspection it turned out to be a spider.  Possibly a  Platycryptus undatus, a Tan Jumping Spider as suggested by SpiderID.  I had hoped to find a site for spiders like the one for birds and this site is amazing.  Spider enthusiasts are like bird enthusiasts, they like to share their knowledge with others to grow the understanding of creatures in the world.

COVID-19 Pandemic continues.  The news is flooded with updates and new restrictions.  The entire Provence of Ontario is no longer “Open for Business”.  Only essential services are permitted to remain open and everyone else is advised to “self isolate”.  This is Day 7 of my self isolation after returning home from Texas.  Some people decided to “shelter in place” and I wonder if that wasn’t the best decision.  There are still no confirmed cases in the Rio Grande Valley.  My friend who decided to stay in Mexico is also in self isolation, because she had a visitor from New York.  She says they have no shortages of anything and there is no hoarding occurring in Mexico.

Daily Quote: March 24, 2020

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It’s hard to leave behind scenes and characters I am in love with.
~ John Harrison (English – Inventor March 24, 1693 – March 24, 1776)

World Tuberculosis Day

Day 6 of self isolation after returning home from Texas.  Yesterday Prime Minister Trudeau continued his daily updates from his front porch.  COVID-19 is spreading too rapidly in Canada.  Some people are just not taking the Coronavirus threat seriously and aren’t self isolating.  Measures may need to be introduced to enforce self isolation.  The Canadian Olympic Teams made a public statement that they won’t be participating in the 2020 Olympics.  At the same time people are playing team sports in public areas and just not understanding the importance of self isolating.

Diseases from the past act as reminders as to how vulnerable people really are.  Tuberculosis lead to many deaths and hospitalizations until the correct medicine was found for treatment.  It can lay dormant for many years and then strike again, and is still killing millions.

Meanwhile, spring is quietly marching in.  The trees are starting to blush and the birds are starting to return home.  Will our lives ever return to normal?