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.

Flowers

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I love flowers.  They spread their beauty as they open and look over the world.

Symbols of love, passion, lust, desire, purity, spring, life ……………….

There is a flower for every occasion.

Perfection, imperfection, reflections, textures, colours, depths, lights, bugs, bees, butterflies…….

My favorite annual event is the Strathroy-Caradoc Horticultural Garden Tour and where Gardens are open for viewing and I can take pictures of the beautiful flowers.

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……

Lions

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The pair of lions is one of my all time favorites.  They posed perfectly for the camera and the light was perfect.  “Zoo” pictures can be amazing, after all they are a captive client.

Busch Gardens will always remain one of my favorite places.  They have something for everyone.  Playgrounds, rides, shows, gardens and beautiful animals.

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

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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.