Quick daily posts

[fccs]

I applied for a Leave of Absence from work and started the LOA two days ago. It hasn’t been approved yet, but I was told by my store manager that the company which handles our LOA’s is “weeks and weeks behind,” which is understandable.

This past week I did some stitching but also made masks for me, for my kids (son and d-i-l), and friends. I mailed out13 today. (Our governor has asked us to wear masks at all times in public.)

[Mabel Figworthy]

They look great Debby! Here we are still told that masks ae necessary for those who are either infectious or looking after ill people - it's very confusing when there is so much contradictory advice about

[wendywombat]

I've made some masks too out of old linen sheeting. Useful when we go to the Saturday Market but everyone keeps a good distance and so my home-made masks are sufficient.

@Debby You are lucky to be able to take leave of Absence. My SIL works for one of the Famous Names in the Clothing Retail business in the UK in their Food Hall. She will be 70 this year and her health over the past few years hasn't been as good. Her manager tried to get her Leave of Absence on health grounds on full pay...BUT the Company have Refused!! This Company states that it looks after it's staff, but clearly they don't. No Hand cleanser on the check-out points (she's supplied her own) and she's not allowed to wear a mask but is protected at the front by a screen...not at the back though!

[poppy]

Good on you for making masks for everyone, Debby

The sad thing about all this, is that my wife is older than me, and vulnerable,so it adds a level of concern -

I am in the same situation as you, Sejourner. My DH is older than me and vulnerable. I wonder if it would be wise for me to go back to work with infants when schools open again...

On a better note, I planted beetroot seeds and they are now showing little leaves. I told my neighbour that her beetroots are doing very well. She answered that what I was pointing out was rhubarb I am learning about gardening at the moment

[Mabel Figworthy]

Beetroot, rhubarb, it's all reddish, isn't it - and edible, which is the main point!

[rcperryls]

Those are some great looking masks, Debbie. I wonder what varieties we will be seeing. I haven't been out yet where I need a mask as the only people I have actually (vs virtually) seen are neighbors and we have been very very very careful to keep 6-10 feet apart. I have some old flannel with pictures of Garfield all over them and plan on using that to make a mask when I have to go out. Probably to the pharmacy next week. I have some real masks on order that are supposed to be here in 2 weeks (if they actually get here) since I do think masks will be needed for a good long while.

@Wendy, I hope your SIL stays well. Is she in the UK? I know that the UK was slow in responding (but given how slow we were I am absolutely not criticizing), but I thought the guidelines were pretty tight. I can't believe a company would deny an LOA for someone in one of the more vulnerable categories and would not allow whatever PPE she would want to wear. I'm sure there are companies here that would and/or not complying as much as they ought to and then some are complying because they don't want to be sued for a gazillion dollars if an employee gets sick and dies.

Carole

[Serinde]

Stores selling food are able to remain open, Carole. And retailers in this sector have been uber busy in the last 3 weeks. Most other businesses are closed and their staff "furloughed" (the govt paying 80% of their wages; their employer expected to make up the remaining 20%), and that is a strict measure.

I'm sorry about your SIL, WW -- caught between a rock and a hard place.

[richardandtracy]

We have heard some sad news. An older lady (mid 70's) in the congregation had a hip replacement about 6 weeks ago. She was sent home, possibly before she was ready. Anyway, two weeks ago she fell over and broke her leg and was rushed to hospital. She was tested on arrival for the virus and found to be clear. Her husband was not permitted to visit for biosecurity reasons. Until today, when he was permitted a 15 minute final visit. She is dying of it, having contracted it in the hospital, and is now on palliative care. She may last to tomorrow if she's lucky.

So sad for her husband. He is frail and isn't the most able to cope mentally at the best of times, though he did generally look after Trish, his wife with lots of help. He'll be utterly rudderless for a long while now.

It is appalling. That's 2 from the congregation of 50. 4%. Given the average age and health, we'll be lucky to keep it to only 2.


It has been a lovely spring day today, which makes the dissonance from that news even harder to get over. The Skylarks have been singing their hearts out over the top of the garden, and the buzzards have been visible. When we went for a walk to the woodland behind the garden, we saw that the Bluebells, Wood Anenomies and daisies were all out in the sun. The butcher's broom was a lovely dark green foil behind. The wheat in the fields is galloping ahead. And precious friends will be absent this summer.

Regards,

Richard.

[Mabel Figworthy]

Sometimes it can seem that nature does't care about our griefs and sorrows - but I like to think that actually nature puts on an extra good show to comfort us. Richard, your congregation has been so hard hit already, and as you say there may be more. It will be hard, it will eat away at everyone in the fellowship because you have lost part of your "body". But at Easter especially we are reminded that it is not the end, although that doesn't take away from the loss here on earth. May the slylarks and the woodland flowers and the special day that tomorrow is, bring encouragement and comfort to you and Tracy and all the others in your fellowship.

[Squirrel]

a BLESSED EASTER TO YOU ALL.
I have just finished listening to our Easter Sunday service online which was great and yet sad as we can't be together this morning. Thank God for modern inventions and expertise. Richard how sad for your congregation to lose 2 members to this horrible virus.

Thankfully it is a much cooler morning and even with the sun shining brightly it is still only 21.4c, Long may it continue.
I am amazed that you all have to wear masks when you go outside. It is not compulsory here unless there is a medical reason that it is needful.
Now don't go eating all that chocolate at once.

[Serinde]

In the UK we are not under any compulsion to wear masks, and most people around here don't. There's nothing to stop you from doing so, of course, but the medical evidence that home-made cloth masks reliably stops transmission of the virus is decidedly mixed, last I knew. Physical distancing is the key. Oh, and not going out or being in company AT ALL if you show symptoms. What it does seem to do is help people take control of the situation: doing something positive that probably doesn't harm and might do some good.

@Richard I'm so sorry your congregation has had this second death, and my heart goes out to the poor gentleman left behind so unexpectedly. It could be any of us. The world is going to be a very different place on the other side of this pandemic.

[rcperryls]

Wishing all of you a Happy Easter and hope that you and your families find a way to share the day as best you can. Last night we had a belated Zoom Seder. While everyone in our family didn't join us we covered 5 states and had a wonderful time. There were a few issues to deal with. For eg, as part of the Seder service a glass of wine is filled and left on the table for the Prophet Elijah, whose spirit comes to join the Seder and share our wine, and be the messenger of future peace to the world. The door is opened to invite him in. You can guess that as children we would watch the wine level in the glass very carefully to see if we could tell how much it went down. The question last night was "Did he have to have a mask on before we could let him into each of our homes". We thought it was funny. Not sure my grandfather would have years ago. Anyway, it was one of the best Seders I've ever had as it really brought the meaning of what is important. Family and friends sharing. We ate together and pretty much stuck to the traditional foods with some modifications based on what each of us could get. I hope that y'all are able to share your Easter with your loved ones also.

@Richard I'm so sorry your congregation has had this second death, and my heart goes out to the poor gentleman left behind so unexpectedly. It could be any of us. The world is going to be a very different place on the other side of this pandemic.

My thoughts exactly. Someone asked about life getting back to normal. I also think we are talking about a "new normal", much like life after 9/11 became in many ways a new normal for us, on our side of the pond. This will have a "new normal" for most everyone, most everywhere.

Carole

[wendywombat]

Easter spent zapping Bamboo shoots!
We are so lucky to have a large garden in which to work and relax plus a farm track by the side of us where we can stretch our legs even further. Also a wonderful Food Market where we can buy fresh produce
Thinking all the time though of those less fortunate and I hope that everyone is OK.

@Richard. Our thoughts go out to you again and I hope that you and yours are keeping safe.
BTW I spent a very pleasant time yesterday evening reading about all your Cats! I found the link on your Chestnut Pens site...it had been mentioned by you recently so I decided to have a look. The story about Gryff Paddling in bath water made me smile

[fiddler]

I am now starting week 7 of my lockdown. 3 week convelasing before lockdown started in uk. It is strange how quickly you get used to only going out for short periods. I have been sorting things out and cleaning out kitchen cupboards with husbands help.What a lot of useless things we found, we most have thought they were useful at one time! I have been getting on with my sewing and making a start on the pile of books I have to read. When this is over maybe people will find they no longer need the hectic lifestyle we seem to have these days and will enjoy a simpler life.


take care and stay safe

Fiddler

[Mabel Figworthy]

Glad you're finding a good routine to settle into Fiddler!

Wendy, good for you declaring war on the bamboo shoots

Hoping to get a bit more certificate stitching in today (got none done yesterday, an awful lot of time seems to have been spent on the phone - MIL, elderly aunt in the Netherlands, youngest in London - or on Zoom. Managed to sit in the garden for a bit though!)

[Serinde]

Have started the laid and couchwork online course by Tanya Bentham. Aaaaand taken most of the first stitches out again -- not close enough, I reckon.

[wendywombat]

Oh dear !
Well now! I've been having a frustrating hour too!

I was winding some #5 Pearl thread onto a stitch bow as it's the easiest way to handle a full skein I find.
Guess What!???

I found 6 knots in the skein! Not the sort of knot that appears when stitching you understand. These were from the thread being joined up! One was only 20cms from the end!!!
Anchor 500 which is a dark green. I've had the tread some while and I think it was part of a free pack I received so not a recent purchase or I would complain.
Anyone else had knots in their threads?

[Mabel Figworthy]

Slightly different but there was one in a piece of canvas I bought recently - the shop apologised and offered to replace it, but as it's for a doodle cloth only I wasn't too fussed, I can work around it. But that many knots in one skein, and a well-known brand too well!

[Mabel Figworthy]

Is anyone else tempted by all sorts of kits they haven't got time to do ?

[rcperryls]

All the time. Not always kits of course, except for special projects, but crafts I've done and want to do again, as well as learning new and different types of stitching. I love when members post threads about other crafts since I can at least vicariously enjoy what y'all are doing.

Carole