House Arrest

Well, still under house arrest/siege.  It’s hard to be optimistic, though it could be much, much worse.  How do all of you, dear readers, keep busy in all this madness?   Here’s a link from Healthline, for whoever cares.  SARS and other things seem to have higher death rates, though I don’t get what the article means by SARS killed more people, but Corona Virus has a higher death rate.  What? https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-deadly-is-the-coronavirus-compared-to-past-outbreaks

As for me, I’m always busy, but it was nice having places to go.  Even the option of having places to go when I couldn’t get somewhere. I’m dragging out the shattered dolls and putting them back together.  I’m becoming an expert on super glues.  I’m planning elaborate doll costumes, and making doll hats, rearranging the museum, and cleaning.  We’re still working on getting our larger building, and that will require monumental moving and packing. 

Library of our favorite restaurant.  I was able to buy one of their books before it was all demolished.

Money worries all of us.  No stimulus this way, and I’m a small, brand new nonprofit business.  Oh well. 

 

Collecting stamps with Dad

It has snowed twice this week, then the weather soars to above 60.  It was 80 degrees last week.  It’s good writing weather, and I’m trying.  Mainly short stories and one novel I’d like to finish in all this.

The doll houses re getting overhauls, too.  Fairy gardens are under way.  If the grocery stores have flowers, then I can get some.  The TP and cleaners shortage is slowly going away, too.  Finally.  I got stuck at the grocery store and had to back my way out of the parking lot; the usual outlet was closed because the green house was going up.  Driving is an adventure.  People act as if they flunked drivers ed these days.  Someone with a “BabyAnn” license place forced me out of my lane, no signal, of course.  She then honked about half a mile, and was trying to get my attention in the rearview mirror, gesturing madly for me to look at her.  Shouldn’t she be looking at the road?  Obviously she has trouble with turn lanes and street signs.

Where my Memories are Now

I should start a journal of my plague year.  Read DeFoe; he was also right about everything. 

So, keep being brave.  This has to end.  And if you have been branded nonessential, as I have, take heart.  Every business is essential, safety issues notwithstanding.  This will end, and we’ll get through it.  And, we will prosper once more.  Be safe, be well.  Try to keep your sanity.  I also love puzzles, needlework, any craft, drawing, word search, and reading, any reading.  Of course, I have you my readers, and my blogging.

Places seen and gone

Pansies

Mom, Dad, Killer, 1985 

Our Beautiful California Home

i

Santa Barbara

I also do something I learned from my friend Violet, who was also a doll artist.  In her 90s, with a clear mind, still ambulatory, she was forced into a home, after being pressured in her 80s to go to assisted leaving. She said each day she focused on a happy memory from earlier years.  I do that a lot.  Trips with my folks, holidays,  Disneyland, Williamsburg.  School breaks when my mom and I would clean the house top to bottom, then have plans for birthday parties.  We picked fresh flowers, made decorations.  Took off for lunch at favorite places like McCabes Dept. Store.  Riding my bike, taking walks with my dogs, and my folks, swimming outdoors, so much we used to do.  Those memories sustain me, those and more.  Find yours and draw strength.

God bless.