Video for Christmas 2020

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Random Images of 2020

There's a folder on my desktop called "RandomImagesof2020" full of a few things I can't quite delete. So, I'm going to talk about them so I can get them archived.

Below: An old key ring my Grandma Z. bought for me when I was a kid. I've used it ever since then. But it was getting yellow and yucky. I don't keep a lot of things out of sentimentality—it creates a buildup of useless stuff—but when it feels important enough that I'm tempted to keep it, I take a picture so I don't feel guilty throwing it out. So, here's a photo that reminds me of my grandma.

I replaced it with a new key ring from Hemleva that I really like.

Below: Taken on a day I was in a particular large amount of pain. Adam took us on a walk to get my mind off it. These flowers were blooming all the way down a long garden fence. It's so difficult to translate the awe one feels around a wall of flowers! I thought a foot might help show scale. Didn't work, but it's funny.

Below: Hayden's father as a hobby, restores old tractors. These photos of Michael and Dad came through our phones one day.

If you're ever feeling like you need some nature, go to a nursery where the flowers are always in season. You'll enjoy it.

Michael and Hayden showing off their pizza at FFFF which takes place every week at my parent's house.(Friday Night Family Film Fesival.) Thanks guys. Thanks.

My sweet man, working to string up some garden lights I received for a birthday present. (FOUR years ago.)

How We’re Handling COVID-19

Currently, we're in the middle of the global COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been odd, depressing, sad, scary and interesting to watch the differences in how people react, how local authorities have responded as well as the CDC, and the effect the actual virus has had on those who contract it. And then, also having to decide for ourselves what the best course of action would be to protect and prepare our family has been surreal. 

PRE-PANDEMIC PREP

Before public panic set in, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to gather some supplies—specifically household items like toilet paper, hand soap, laundry soap etc. I hadn’t been shopping for a while because of an insanely rough downswing in my recovery. So, I’m grateful the little voice inside me urged me strongly enough to get me off my duff. The items we needed were still on shelves and I had no problem finding necessities. (You should have seen Costco. The lines to checkout ran to the back of the store. Carts were piled high with food—which interestingly, I wasn’t particularly worried about, I only purchased a few frozen items and that was it.)

And then, in March a stay-at-home quarantine was instituted, toilet paper became impossible to find, and face masks highly encouraged.

I wasn’t panicked, never really have been. I think to worry over the pandemic became “one thing too many” for my plate, so I’ve felt a little numb about it honestly. I keep thinking, “I’ll worry about it later.” Adam is so easy going, I don’t think any of this has phased him. Not one, single, bit.

MASKS

Masks weren’t available anywhere for a while. But free DIY patterns were popping up on the internet. So one of my quarantine activities became experimentation with different designs to find one I personally liked. (In the process I made some awful fails too.) I was glad for the distraction. It came when I was in a lot of pain and I desperately needed to keep my mind busy.

Earlier in the year I’d been fiddling around designing surface patterns to have printed on fabric at Spoonflower. The need for masks kicked me into ordering test swatches from them and when it arrived I got to sewing!

Some of the printed designs turned out somewhat cute! (Others I kinda hate.) The mask style I liked most was a fitted pattern with floral wire sewn in at the bridge of the nose so it could be pinched for a tighter fit and prevent fog on glasses. The ribbon wraps around the head and ties behind the neck to save the ears from getting raw. Some had an inside seam open on some of them so a filter could be inserted. Others were triple layered.

I’d also inherited a small stack of fabric left over from an activity at church. I made it a goal to use the material until it ran out and then “gave back” by offering up the masks to members at church. I left a message on Facebook telling them to come by and grab what they needed from boxes on my porch. They disappeared quickly. I think a delivery guy even took one. In the end I made over 50 masks. 

Below: Aunt Sally sent masks to Natalie’s little family. I mailed some to Natalie as well and Dwynne too. I look at pictures like this and still can’t believe it's our reality. Children and babies with covered faces?! It made me cry.

After a shortage in mask making supplies, the industry has finally caught up and now masks have become a fashion accessory and are available from top notch brands to the gutter shops like Wally World.

WORK FROM HOME

Businesses shut down and the non-essential work force went home and set up shop. Adam took over the house. He commandeered my art desk....

spread out in the living room...

and occupied my sauna during conference calls.

He still took business trips but the company sent their private plane to jet Adam and Andy around the country so as to keep their favorite employees away from pubic airline germs.

In a text thread my family started trading pictures of their quarantine workspaces.

Dwynne

Natalie

Mom

Dad

Mo

Michael and Hayden. (Evidently some people missed the foot memo.)

PUBLIC SPACES

I’ve been a little bit fascinated to see how public spaces are handing the 6 foot “social distance” rule—mainly in the VISUAL and graphic context. It’s showing up in ways I never would have expected to see. Here are a couple of screen shots to show you what I mean.

There’s a whole new category for graphic designers, textile designers, sign makers, and photographers to fill now.

CURRENTLY

Businesses and schools have slowly opened back up with distance protocols in effect, limited hours of operation, and mandatory mask wearing (which Adam and I have NO PROBLEM WITH. And let’s not make it into a political statement okay?) Adam has had to work from home twice now because two coworkers have contracted COVID. He also does the grocery shopping and some errand running so as to help keep my public exposure to a minimum. (I don’t think my body would handle COVID very well considering my health.)

We went into Dallas two weekends ago, and the city is still dead quiet. 

We wash our hands more often, and try to touch our faces and pick our noses less. Ha! 

I declined a trip to California to see my family because I didn’t feel good about taking the chance of extra exposure, which was depressing. You know how much I like it there. 

I’m struggling within the same walls day after day (part of this is because I HAVE to eat at home, making meals from scratch. Travel is next to impossible.) I reached out to Dwynne who suggested we face-time so she could teach me how to play Minecraft which I NEVER thought I’d get into. We get together frequently now to visit and play and it's helped both of us. 

Adam and I are still able to "have church" and take the sacrament at home(yes!) Even though congregations have now been allowed to assemble in medium size groups for a limited amount of time, I believe it might be a while before church goes into a full two hour swing again. 

And Adam hasn’t slowed down at all. His business is booming despite the economic downturn and it’s almost hunting season. In fact, he’s left me for the evening to put up a deer stand. I’ll be a hunter’s widow soon.

Everyone is processing this experience differently. The pandemic has brought fear, sorrow and hardship but also some silver linings and learning experiences. I am extremely interested to see what kind of permanent societal, academic, personal, political, business, and economic changes will come about as a result of this. I think we are going to see some REALLY clever, sustainable, and good things develop. I hope so.

Above: Visiting a friend who is in quarantine as a prerequisite for surgery. 

Michael and Hayden Have News!

Participating via Zoom, Adam and I had the pleasure of enjoying a gender reveal party for the new little human Michael and Hayden are getting ready to welcome into their home!

Via screen we toured the house with decorations and listened to gender guesses from the guests. (Cute garland huh? I think I heard Hayden made it. Fabulous dahhhling.)

Aaaaand, the cake revealed it’s a girl!!! Coming to this family in March.

Adam and I are excited for these two. They are going to be excellent parents. Seriously, fantabulous. And I know Mom and Dad are excited too. A new baby is always such wonderful news. I seriously can’t wait to meet her. I love thinking of my little brother as a dad. This is the good stuff life has to offer.

As Hayden tells us, her mother was present when the technician told her the baby was a boy and showed it to them on the sonogram. Later, Hayden got her blood test results which indicated the baby is actually a GIRL! So they kept it secret from Haden’s mom, who when as the realization hits her, goes “super sonic” as Hayden puts it. It’s so great, I laugh every time I watch it. Tap on the image below for the video. Her Mom is the one holding the computer on the right.

Anna’s 40th Birthday

Forty is NOT a number I like associated with my age. It means mammograms and midlife crises. I’m not where I wanted to be, or doing what I thought I would be doing by now (understatement of the year all things considered.) But it STILL happened in May. Thanks to the pandemic and Adam’s traveling schedule I spent most of the day alone. But there were some unexpected visits, birthday texts, and lovely highlights in the day.

My friend Lysha and her husband snuck over in the middle of the night to decorate my front door. (I accidentally caught them. I thought the sound coming from outside was an opossum scratching around. So when I opened my blinds to peek out, we saw each other. Whoopsie.) She left a bag of treats and a crown of flowers she’d made especially for me. And though I was alone, I wore it all day around the house. 

Nick and Stacy brought flowers and gift card. 

And Marla and Lex stopped by to leave roses and a case of water. (A safe gift as it’s one thing I am definitely allowed to eat.)

Seeing my friends' faces was a welcome treat. It was GOOD to see them. And other than those visits I spent the day alone. 

Adam bought a birthday book from my Amazon wish list titled “Patina Farm.” I recently started following them on Instagram and am spellbound by the life they have built and the grounds they live on. But even more, I am totally interested on how they are using social media to their advantage and to brand themselves (design nerd here). So I wanted an item from one of their multiple streams of revenue. (If you want to be wealthy, study what wealthy people are doing!)

What a weird year. Anyone with a birthday this year might want a do-over, especially if the number they landed on was 40. Let’s just be 39 and turn 40 next year shall we?

Christmas in September

After making a video slideshow of our 2018 Christmas, my family asked for another slideshow for 2019! I don’t blame them...it’s enjoyable to watch. I view it over and over again when I'm feeling lonely for my family. But the blog fodder I gathered this time didn’t lend itself well to video. So please enjoy an old fashioned post with a few expected snarky comments from its author.

CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST

All good things start with breakfast, Christmas, and cute nieces. 

Zania is the happiest, most friendly little girl. She takes NO TIME to warm up to you. She was such a pleasure to be around. 

Below: if something is hot, she puts her hand out above it and says “hot.” Now Adam and I do it from time to time. 

GIFTING TIME!

As per tradition, the grandgirls line up while Papa hands them a present to be delivered to the lazy adult named on the gift tag. It works out great and the girlies love doing it, the youngest takes her job the most serious.

Later, there was balloon fun to be had. (Remember when Malaika was little and had the balloons all to herself?)

BOOKMARKS

Often some of the best gifts are handmade. Dwynne helped the girls stitch up felt bookmarks on elastic bands for everyone. I thought it was a great idea for a book loving family.

FAMILY DINING

Things didn’t align for us to follow our usual themed dinner. But Mom DID dig out the little candles that clip to each dining plate and we ate by candle light. We used to do this every Christmas growing up. But I think Mom hated cleaning up the wax so that tradition was vehemently axed for a while. 

(Back in the 80s when big curly bangs were fashionable for girls, my cousin Marie bent down to lick her plate and accidentally fried her bangs on her candle! We laughed and laughed.)

Of course Mom made her famous sourdough dinner rolls. I will always remember her using a mason jar ring to cut them out.

For New Year dinner, Hayden’s parents usually join us. I don’t remember what dinner was,

I THINK it was supposed to be turkey, but Adam failed us in that regard...

but I do remember how pretty and delicious the dessert looked! This my friends is filled with Nutella. Did you just melt in your seat? Yeah, me too. 

NO TURKEY, AGAIN

The turkeys who were brave enough to show up this year were GORGEOUS. Adam flipped on his turkey call again and lured them closer...

and MISSED! (He’s lucky that fence was there or he would have lost his arrow in the neighbor’s yard.)

Tap the image below for a video.

Good grief! And that’s why we didn’t have a delicious turkey dinner for the New Year. He’s hoping to redeem himself in 2020.

Everyone learned how to use the crossbow and we were all pretty good shots. Maybe Adam should let one of us handle the turkey dinner next time. I mean, how hard can it be to hit a turkey when it's closer than this target!?

ACTIVITY: GINGERBREAD

Michael and Hayden brought candy supplies for a house building activity. (Someone should tell Natalie that this is supposed to be FUN. Khee hee.)

Below: Michael and Hayden

Zuki

Malaika

Mo?

Anna and Adam

Mom and Dad. Do you see the purple door? Where did they get the idea for that I wonder?

ACTIVITY: DOWN THE TRACK

For this family activity, Mom and Dad gave us all the same supplies (tape, candies, paperclips) and instructed us to create something to go down a track. We had to use EVERYTHING they’d given us.

Here are our creations:

Each team tried to keep the construction a secret so there would be no copycats. Mom and Dad were especially secretive. With their backs to the group, they seemed to be having a good time making their vehicle. 

And we each took a turn sending our vehicle down the track to see whose was the most successful. 

Then, with glee Dad pulled his and Mom’s creation out to send down the track. TRICKY TRICKY! It was the plan all along! We could have wrapped everything in the tape! But we all fell for it as planned! Of course there were no hard feelings, because the carts were edible. Candy makes loosing worthwhile.

ACTIVITY: QUILT SHOW

How many quilts did Mom make this year? Oh, I loose count. 16? Here are a few. 

On top of all the quilt making, Mom makes hot pads to sell and give as gifts. She also donates handmade pillow cases to a foster children’s group, and place matts for Meals on Wheels. I recently received a letter from Mom telling me she’d donated over 20 quilts to her quilt guild for charity. Um, WOW. Did anyone contact the local newspaper to brag on her a bit? She just LOVES sewing! Even more amazing is that she uses ALL scraps, and hasn’t purchased fabric for her projects in in years. People discover what she does and they GIVE her bags of scraps. Her motto: No scrap left unused. Good motto. And a fantastic example of up-cycling!

RANDOM IMAGES

It’s nice to have a brother who's into smoking. Meat that is. I didn’t get to partake this year...but it sure smelled good. And everyone ate what was on their plate so hopefully Michael will keep doing it. If he keeps this up, He and Hayden will have to move to Texas. It’s where good smokers belong. 

Below: Dad and his lemon tree. The previous year, the deer had completely decimated the tree and eaten all the green unripe lemons right off it. (Idiot deer, don’t they have taste buds?) Glad to see it has recovered.  I love this image of my Dad and his tree. I might frame it.

Zania invited me to watch Moana with her and pointed out what was happening from time to time. Sweet little girl.

Zania pulling Mo down the street.

END WITH CLEANUP

Working in my parent’s yard is something I yearn for every year. The “grounds” are beautiful and calm, plus I like that kind of work. It feels like I’m helping the earth breathe and giving the plants a chance to fulfill their potential while also filling my own. 

Two years ago Adam and I started hacking away at the over grown wisteria at the front of the house. We were able to get most of it out and piled it up to burn later, but we left the vines in the tree so they could die and get brittle for easier removal.

So this year Adam climbed up into the tree and took a chainsaw to it. We were able to pull the rest of the wisteria down. It made a huge pile in addition to the ones we’d made the year before. In the end we had THREE burn piles going with the help of siblings, neices, and in-laws to get it all cleaned up.  I don’t know if it’s legal to have that many piles burning, but it sure sped things up. Dwynne grabbed smore’s supplies for an end-of-the-day treat.

We were able to refill Dad’s wood pile too, so he had no need to buy a cord of wood for the winter. Good. Good.

Thus concluded our 2019 Christmas stay at the blue house on top of the hill.