Pandemic Times, December 13-19

 Sunday, December 13

Another quiet Sunday at home.  The clouds cleared just after noon and by 3 pm we were able to go for a walk. These walks are so important for our physical and mental health. Having grown up in the flatlands, I am always fascinated by rock formations. Winter views may seem dreary because of the lack of greenery and color, but the barren trees allow us to glimpse hidden treasurers like these cave openings.  How far back into the hill do they extend? What creatures find homes there?  The beautiful bare white trunks of sycamore trees, hidden during the summer and fall, almost glow in the reflected sunlight.

Bare white sycamore

Lifting up its seeds in prayer

To winter blue sky.

(Haiku from February 2014)

At 7 pm we tuned in to the YouTube live stream of the Christmas Pageant at Cape Bible Chapel. Owen was a shepherd and Allison an angel. Of course, we enjoyed seeing the kids in their first performance.  It was a full hour in length.

Monday, December 14

There is a lot going on out in the world today.  The Electoral College votes are being tabulated all state, live on TV, state by state like an election.  The outcome is not in doubt, but cable news is making the most of it, milking all the drama they can.

The really significant NEWS is that the rollout of the first vaccine doses. Reporters are showcasing health-care workers receiving their shots. Maybe by Easter our turn will come.  I found a CDC sites that calculates a persons turn in for their county based on a series of questions.  We are #8840 in Loudon County. The US death toll surpassed 300,000 today. TN is 2nd behind Rhode Island in cases per 100,000 with more than 100.  This has doubled in a week.

I learned a few days ago that some of my Mississippi cousins have been sick and in the hospital with Covid.  My 2nd cousin Katie is still hospitalized and on a ventilator. Their family has been hit very hard.

We had a Trinity Finance/Admin Zoom meeting and endorsed Pastor Kristie's recommendation to suspend in-house worship through the holidays until January 10.  It is past time.  I don't see how the situation will be any better in early January.  I will be helping with recording on Friday afternoon as I did before we resumed worship in the sanctuary.

Numbers:
NY Times, 2:30 pm
16,477,200 total cases; 300,051 deaths

TN: more than 10,000 new cases since yesterday and 79 deaths
464,624 total cases; 5541 total deaths; 0-10 23,562; 11-21 60,811

Loudon County: 3036 total cases; 525 active; 23 deaths;
    91 new cases yesterday; case rate 110.2; pos rate 24%

Add one more death not in this count.  A friend and colleague, Ron Jordan, died last night of Covid, age 67.

Tuesday, December 15

The morning melted away while I was at my computer. One project was to download a print information on Matthew Alexander Park, my 2nd great-grandfather, paternal grandfather of my paternal grandmother Mary Park Taylor.  I got caught up in searching for more documental evidence on my grandmother.  Unfortunately, Mississippi vital records are not all online.  I can find no birth record or death certificate for her. I believe that she was born in Alligator, Mississippi and I know that she died in a care home in Ruleville, Mississippi. Her family life was not very stable, so it is probable that her birth was at home and was not recorded. 

Claire and Amanda had been deputized to bring their grandad a peppermint milkshake and spicy chicken sandwich from ChikFilA for lunch.  He bought their lunch, too, of course.  His milkshake craving ended up costing him $30!  We enjoyed a short, safe-distanced visit with the girls.

Later in the afternoon we took our walk across the river.  We were almost back to the car when a noise in the woods drew our attention to a flock of a dozen wild turkeys. Although we regularly see a variety of wildlife, we still get a thrill from seeing these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat.

For supper, we finished the chicken noodle soup that I made yesterday from the remains of last week's roasted chicken.  I served the soup with cornbread which I haven't made in ages and old-fashioned pear salad.  It was a satisfying end to the day.

Wednesday, December 16

A cold damp chill permeated the day.  Nevertheless, we were out of milk, so I ventured to the grocery.  I had a few other errands as well.  A cold drizzle started before I got home and continued for the rest of the day.  It has been a good day to huddle indoors. The birds at the feeder were happy, though, because I restocked the safflower seeds that they love.  They are eating about 10 lbs per week.  Today I was graced with a visit from a white-throated sparrow - a handsome little bird.

Pork chops, purple hull peas and green beans from the garden/freezer stockpile, and fried eggplant made a satisfying repast. The vegetables remind me that garden days will come again in a few months.

Thursday, December 17

Bill and I frittered away several hours today watching the tree-service crew trim the threes under the power lines.  It won't look good when they are finished, but maybe we have a lesser chance of power outage this winter. The crew of at least a dozen men and women operated trucks, bucket truck, chippers, and a big boom saw.

I've been working on signing and addressing Christmas cards.  I started with the idea of sending cards to the folks on our church "shut-in" list. The project kept expanding and now my goal is to send a card to all my friends at church and a few community friends.  These are people that under normal circumstances I would see in some social way or visit with at church during the holidays. I don't know that it will matter to anyone but me. For me, it gives a sense of reaching out when we are all cocooned in our homes.

We haven't had fried rice in a few weeks, so tonight I made some from left-over pork & chicken with a few shrimp added.  Before supper, I enjoyed a nice long phone visit with Anna.

Friday, December 18

On this day in 1949, Clara Nelle Westmoreland married John Park Taylor. They were a young couple very much in love. He was about to leave for training in South Carolina as his National Guard unit had been called up for service in Korea.

Today's recording session was scheduled to start 1 pm, so I had time for morning yoga. As I was watching the little birds eager at the feeder, my practice mantra was HOLY, HOLY, HOLY. Holy are the small joys of life.

We recorded 4 services, including Christmas Eve, to carry the church through the first Sunday in January.

A friend texted with a request, so I got more political "get-out-the-vote" postcards to address and mail to Georgia.  Fortunately the PO had plenty of postcard stamps as well as Christmas stamps to finish my card project.  I did 50 postcards on the first round and this batch is 34.

Friday night called for a special supper.  I made one of my favorites -Charleston - Shrimp and Grits. I have some good stone-ground yellow-corn grits.  The shrimp gravy starts almost like gumbo - make a roux and saute a cup or two of the trinity (celery, bell pepper & onion).  I use a frozen package of seasoning blend to ease the process.  Add a bit of cajun seasoning. For tonight I add a link of Andouille sausage sliced in rounds to the skillet. Then add enough chicken broth (or shrimp stock) to make the sauce to the desired thickness.  Peeled shrimp are added last and cooked until they are just done.  Serve over the grits. I've been rationing my Joe Patti shrimp and have just one package left in the freezer.

Saturday, December 20

I spent the morning finishing my Christmas card project and got them in the mail by 1 pm. None went to family or or people I see regularly. It surprised me to realize that I don't have current mailing addresses for most of my nieces, nephews and cousins.  They all communicate by text, private message or email. 

This week, I've been thinking about a new project for the winter.  More on that later if it develops!

At 3 pm we celebrated Claire's 18th birthday with a bonfire, cake and gifts.  It was damp and chilly out, but fortunately Laura offered hot mulled wine and hot cider to keep us warm.  Mike and Claire wondered why Laura was planning to served molded wine! We are very proud of our oldest grandchild.  This has been a challenging year to finish high school and start college for all in her age group.

Non many moms can boast of a 40+ daughter with her own trapeze in the living room.  Proud of my girl!

She always liked hanging upside down!

Beef stew in the crockpot and biscuits made a warm comforting meal for a chilly evening.

Numbers:

Tennessee had so many Covid tests to process that the website was not updated today.  The TN numbers are from Friday afternoon.

US, NY Times, 6 pm: 17,592,999 cases; 315,312 deaths

TN: 503,651 cases, increase of more than 10,000 in one day
    5960 deaths

LoCo: 3413 cases; 671 active; 28 deaths
    no county snapshot

Pandemic Times, December 6-12

Sunday, December 6

Covid case rate at nearly 60/100,000 is too high to go to Sunday School. Sourdough Waffles were a Sunday morning treat. We stayed home all day.  I finished the winter face masks for my FRC friends & Kathy. The white with silvery snowflake design will look good all winter. 

The Lady Vols were playing basketball at 3:30 so we watched their losing effort against West Virginia.  We hope basketball will keep going so we have some winter entertainment.

Rudy Tuesday Salmon for bill and Tilapia with Shrimp Sauce for me!

Monday, December 7

Today was a big day for Santa Helper - the pick-up at First Baptist Church.  They usually adopt more than 60 children, so lots of bags of gifts to load and unload and then check in an place.  Laura volunteered with us today, courtesy of Tate & Lyle.  Four of us met at FBC at 10 am and loaded vehicles.  Back at FRC, we had everything processed in just over two hours.  A little later, JoAlison and Walter brought the gifts from Trinity. At the end of the day's work, about 3:30, Susan and her staff decided that they could manage for the rest of the week without Judith and me.  So my FRC Santa Helper work is done for this year.

Tuesday, December 8

I anticipate that most of my days will be at home for the rest of the winter.  Time at home in spring and summer is easy because there is always plenty to do outdoors.  We will have to find our winter rhythm.  I think that the new treadmill will help.

We put up the Christmas tree today.  Last year we finally gave in and bought an artificial tree.  The old Lockett/Buttermilk Farm Christmas Tree Farm is no longer in business.  We enjoyed many years of choosing and cutting our trees there and visiting with the Lockett family.  Always with live trees we waited until mid-December to put up the tree, but this year there is no need to wait.  We will join so many others who are decorating early to bring on a little holiday cheer. 

Covid cases topped 15 million nation-wide, 15,113,900 and deaths are more than 285,000.  TN added more than 6000 new cases since yesterday and more than 100 deaths.

TN: 414,749 total cases; 5,109 total deaths; 0-10 - 20,668; 11-20 - 54,422

Loudon County: 2634 total cases; 281 active; 21 deaths
    7-day avg case rate 63.1/100,000; pos rate 21.3%

Wednesday, December 10

The Good Samaritan Executive Committee (5 of us) met in person at 9 am this morning to hear and approve the recommendation for the new client service manager. We will have a called board meeting Friday via Zoom for final approval.

I put my old iPhone in the mail for Owen for Christmas along with the extra Christmas masks for the kids. Then I stocked up on necessities at the grocery store.  On the way home, I picked up chicken nuggets for the girls and stopped by for a quick visit.  Claire was finished her organic chemistry exam.  The porch project is moving along nicely.

I spent the afternoon doing a little cooking - roasted a chicken for supper and made a pot of chili for tomorrow. I've converted my mask-making space into a gift-wrapping space.  Much easier than the table. 

Thursday, December 10

The morning news reported 3132 Covid deaths yesterday, the first time that daily deaths have exceeded 3000.  Last week there were more than 854,000 new unemployment claims.  Dire news. We are blessed.

This beautiful fall day started with fog and a forecast of sunshine and 58 degrees. We are headed to Historic Rugby to see the sights so today's post of Pandemic Times will also be a travel log. We left home at 11 am in the RV of course, with a picnic of salmon-salad sandwiches, apple slices and gingersnaps.  We will pick up chips and soft drinks along the way. The route to Rugby is 60 miles along rural highways.  We head north on TN 95 toward Oak Ridge and turn briefly onto Hwy 58 before driving alongside the site of the old K-25 Gaseous Diffusion Plant.  After many years of demolition and remediation, the site has been cleared and repurposed for other industries.  

We travelled 27 miles before passing a gas station and Dollar General just 5 miles outside Wartburg.  We twisted and turned our way along the edge of the Cumberland Plateau to Rugby, arriving there about 12:30. We picnicked beside the pond across from the old boarding house, Newbury, which is still in operation, now as a B&B.

After lunch, we hiked, as planned, up to the ole Massengale home-place.  The Massengale family was not part of the Rubgy experiment, but were a traditional Appalachian self-sufficient homestead.  Their home-place was about 1/2 mile from Rugby by an old road bed. At one time their ridge-top farm had more than 500 apple trees.

Nothing left of the Massingale homeplace except marker stones and rubble from the chimney

After our hike, we watched the movie in the visitor center.  We were the only visitors. Rugby was founded by Thomas Hughes as a Utopian communal community for English younger sons of gentry. As such, it never succeeded.  It remains as a historic site and has a population of about 80 families.  We had a personal guided tour of four of the historic buildings.

The Episcopal Church has held services continually since 1880 and currently has about 18 active members.  The library still contains the 7,000 book originally donated by American and British publishers in the late 1800's. No new volumes have been added since about 1890.  The library boasts and impressive collection of British classics, none published since the Victorian era.  We also toured the house build by and for Thomas Hughes although he never liver there.  The one-room schoolhouse/museum was in use by Rugby area children until 1951.  It contains a collections of the books authored by the Rugby founder, the most famous of which was Tom Brown's school days.

Schoolhouse/museum

Library

Episcopal Church

The old pews are very low so kneeling is easy

Original gas lamps have been electified, but they still retain the pulley and flame snuffers

Episcopal church

We enjoyed our afternoon for the history, the weather and the change of scenery.  On our next trip we hope to hike to the "Gentleman's Swimming Hole" on Clear Creek.

We made it home well after dark, about 6:30.  I made a pan of cornbread to go with the chili that I prepared yesterday.  I was glad that supper required very little preparation.

Friday, December 11

The Good Samaritan Board had a called Zoom meeting at 9 am to approve the hiring of our new client service manager, Suzzanna Walsh.  Everyone seems please with the pick, especially our staff.  The rest of the morning I spent catching up on UMW business, sending out $1000 in local mission spending.  Without our sale, our income and mission-giving have been curtailed.

At mid-day we went to the Matzeks to get a piece of Amanda' Eggnog Pie with Bourbon & Brown Sugar Whipped Cream.  (It was as delicious as it sounds!)  We also wanted to see Amanda's surprise.  As you can see in the picture below, she is sporting an adorable pixie haircut.  All her long brown hair is gone, to be sent off to 'Locks of Love.'  Her beautiful hair will be made into wigs/hairpieces for financially disadvantaged children suffering hair loss.

Amanda's new look!

Kathy came over for a Friday afternoon cocktail hour and it was just barely warm enough to sit outside.  Maybe I should pursue getting an outdoor propane heater.  I made BiBimBap for supper which turned out very good. 

The political news of the afternoon is that the lawsuit presented by TX AG to overturn the election results in 4 key swing states, which was supported by 18 other Republican AGs (including TN) and 106 US House Members (including all TN Republican members) was not even accepted by the Supreme Court. There was not dissent on the merit (or lack of) in th ecase.  All Trumps legal options eem to be exhausted but he rants on.  He is a clear and present danger.

Numbers 12/11

TN from 12/10:  422,962 total cases; 5172 total deaths

Loudon County: 2731 total cases, with more than 200 added in the last week; 307 active cases; 7-day avg case rate 76.1; pos rate 22.5

Saturday, December 12

Drippy lazy day.  I finally pushed the Amazon order button on the Christmas gifts for the Missouri Whitakers. They will be getting lots of packages next week.  We are sad that we can't wrap and give their gifts in person.

While sort of watching UT Men's Basketball (they won), I spotted a Towhee outside my window.  I've had a glimpse or two recently, but this was the first good look.  Not only are they beautiful, but they sing a lovely song.  And I love their full name - Rufous-sided Towhee! Wrens, Chickadee, Titmouse, Cardinals, House Finches, Goldfinches and Doves are daily visitors.  They empty the feeders every couple of days.  

The last news of the day was that Pastor Kristie is not well and that all church activities are cancelled for tomorrow.  We pray that it is common cold/flu and not Covid. Her husband has severe COPD.

Saturday Numbers:

TN: 7289 new cases since yesterday; 426,262 total; 87 new deaths

Loudon County: 2783 total cases; 350 active; 1 new death making 22; 83.0 case rate; 52 new cases yesterday, 22.5% pos rate.  This week began with a case rate of about 60.

US, NY Times: 16,067,400 total cases; avg 207,816 new cases/day last week; 296,824 total deaths

The Pfizer vaccine has been given final approval and shipping will begin tomorrow with delivery to begin on Monday.

Pandemic Times, November 29 - December 5

Sunday, November 29 - First Sunday of Advent

I went to Sunday School but not church.  It felt odd to do that! At home, I made french onion soup for lunch that turned out pretty good.  Then I worked on masks for the kids.  I hope to get them in the mail Tuesday.  Ruby Tuesday fixed supper for us. We are enjoying the Sunday Buy-One-Get-One deals.  We both chose the salmon again.

Covid numbers continue to escalate and will be worse after the increased exposures during the holiday.  We hope our care and sacrifice will keep us safe.  Cases are setting records in Knoxville and everywhere.

Numbers:
TN Dept of Health
    366.518 total cases; 4554 total deaths
    age 0-10 - 18,111; age 11-21 - 48,783

Loudon County
    2293 total cases; 209 active; 19 deaths
    33.8 case rate
    14.2% pos rate

Knox Co case rate: 46.1; 15.5% pos rate

US: 13.4+ million total cases; 266,700 total deaths
    Last week there was an average of 162,681 new cases/day

Monday, November 30

As I've done for the past couple of week, Monday was bread-baking day.  I want to get ahead a little with loaves in the freezer because the next couple of weeks will be busy.  I also made focaccia from the discard.  I divided it into two pans to cook so I could give one to the Brocks.  Bill didn't get enough pumpkin pie, so I made a pie for him.  So this was truly a baking day.  For supper, I made Gumbo YaYa, with turkey and andouille sausage. With frozen okra from the garden and herbs it was delicious - served over rice and with the focaccia.  Altogether, I was in the kitchen all day except when I was working on masks for the kids.

We had furious snow flurries all day but nothing on the ground.  Just after sunset, almost too dark to see, a huge buck passed through our field.  He must have been at least 12-points, maybe bigger.  We think he was the biggest we've seen.  Too bad I couldn't get a picture!

Furious flurries flying all day

Tuesday, December 1

Days don't seem to fly by, but months do! We started the month with the coldest temperatures yet, about 26 this morning, and the day didn't warm out of the 30s. Most of my day was spent at Family Resource Center working on Santa Helper

Numbers: 12/1, 2 pm

US: 13,693,700 total cases; 269,200 deaths; 96,039 hospitalized - a new record

TN: 380,186 total cases; 4638 deaths; 2369 hospitalized - a new record

    age 0-10 - 18,876; age 11-20 - 50,396

Loudon County

    2395 total cases; 258 active; 102 new cases since Sunday

    55.5 case rate

    16.8% pos rate

    20 deaths

In November there was twice as much infection, hospitalization and death than any prior month.  And it is expected to get worse because of the holiday celebrations and travel.

Wednesday, December 2

Another FRC Santa Helper day started at 9 am and lasted until 2 pm.  Then it was back to town for a 4 pm GSC interview for Client Services Manager.  I think we have our candidate.  She is currently a CSM volunteer and will smoothly transition from volunteer to staff.

Lenoir City Schools have moved to all virtual learning until next Wednesday due to Covid staff shortages.  The county infection rate today remained over 50 while state and local numbers while bad have not yet begun to show holiday effects.

Staging room for FRC Santa Helper gifts.  Each bag is filled with gifts for one child.  We are just getting started.

Thursday, December 3

The morning news reported more than 3000 deaths yesterday and more than 100,000 hospitalized.  Both are record highs.  Each represents a life and family impacted.  We have yet to see the effects of Thanksgiving.

I wasn't due to FRC until 11:30, so I had time for morning yoga.  When I got there I learned that they had tried to call me to say I wouldn't be needed.  On the way home, I stopped by the Matkeks to check on the progress of their new porch.  I'm afraid that I didn't make very good use of my free afternoon.

Foggy frosty dawn
Gave way to chilly sunshine
Preview of winter

Friday, December 4

On this soggy day of cold rain I was glad that I didn't have to go out.  Instead, I enjoyed the pleasures of home - yoga, sewing, cooking and hanging out with Bill.  Online Christmas shopping is not fun, but that's the plan for this Covid year.

Claire and Amanda came over for lunch and a short visit and brightened the gloomy day.  After they left I started on more Christmas theme masks for their family.

Using some ground lamb from the freezer, I made lamb patties with gravy, served over rice with green peas for our side.  We ended the day with a pretty good movie - Emperor.

Saturday, December 5

I decided to try Bill's treadmill this morning.  I managed to walk a mile in about 20 minutes.  The sun is shining and the birds are busy this morning.  I continued to work on more masks, thinking that I'll give them to my FRC colleagues and to Kathy.  After a late lunch we drove over to the Matzeks to see the progress of their porch.  It will be a great addition to their house.  From there we went across the river to walk.  So I ended up with at more than 3 miles today.  We think we saw an eagle as we left.  We will have to start looking for them.  They like to fish below the dam. Football and tacos completed our day.

Covid cases continue to multiply.  We are already careful, but we have to continue to be vigilant about safety measures.

Loudon County (from 12/5)
    2497 total cases; 251 active; 21 deaths; 2 new deaths this week
    57.3 case rate
    20.3 pos rate  - One in five people who were tested this week were positive

TN: 387,522 total cases; 4905 deaths

US (2 pm 12/6)  14,546,800 total cases; 280,079 deaths

    Yesterday Covid was the leading cause of death

    101,276 hospitalized. Many if not most hospitals are are critical care capacity

    

 

Pandemic Times, November 22 - 28

Sunday, November 22

After much agonizing all week, I decided to attend Sunday School but not church because of the level of Covid spread in Loudon County.  Our SS group is fewer than 8 people, we meet in the fellowship hall so we can space far apart and everyone keeps their mask on.  My group size comfort level is keyed on the local positivity rate, with masks and spacing.  So 12-13% pos rate is about 1 in 8, so group max is 8.  It works for me.

Bill went to Dick's Sporting Goods in Oak Ridge while I was out.  He came home with a new treadmill.  He shopped for weeks before settling on this model and it went in sale this morning.

I went back to the church at 5 pm where a small group of us decorated the sanctuary Christmas Tree with Christmons made by youth of years past.  The ornaments are humble but the tree is beautiful when fully lighted. This picture is from a previous year showing the gifts that the church has donated for the Santa Helper program.  We adopt five children through the LC School FRC program.

Monday, November 23

After breakfast, I went to the grocery to buy the turkey and other goodies for Thanksgiving.  I'm not sure how I came away with a bill for more than $200 since we are not having a big dinner.  Mid-afternoon, Bill and I went for a walk on the 'other side' of the river.  We enjoy the sunny and relatively flat walk in the winter.  From the parking lot near the dam, out to the highway and back is a 50 minute brisk walk, about 2.5 miles.

Fried rice for supper, finally using that leftover chicken.

Numbers: 

from 11/22  TN Dept of Health
    +4074 new cases since yesterday; 344,500 total cases
    4301 total deaths
    age 0-10 - 16,983; age 11-20 - 45,947

Loudon County
    2184 total cases; 259 active; 18 deaths
    39.4 case rate/100,000
    15% pos rate

from 11/23
    US - 12.5+ million total cases; 179,067 new cases today
        1,032 deaths
    7-day avg of new cases = 173,165 an increase of 49%

    Loudon County
    37.5 case rate; 15.7% pos rate

Tuesday, November 24

Tuesdays start early when I pick up Amanda at 8 am.  This one started even earlier.  I've been waking up very early lately, so today I got up and mixed the levain that I made last night with flour and water to start a batch of sourdough bread.  The bread-making is an all-day, off & on thing.  I had it laid by to proof shortly after noon.  I went to get Amanda for lunch with us.  After lunch, Bill took her home and I rested for a while.  I didn't work on masks, or write postcards as I had intended.

Covid news goes from bad to worse every day. Political news is getting a little better as Trump has exhausted most of his challenges but he presses on.  Key states and certified their votes.  Late yesterday Trump finally admitted that the formal transition process could begin without actually conceding.  There is HOPE on the horizon.

Yesterday, I bought a 14-pound fresh turkey and today I put it in a dry brine - salt, brown sugar, sage, and pepper.  I double-bagged it and put it in a cooler on ice to marinate for about 24 hours.  I also made cornbread and cooked biscuits for the dressing.  Cornbread cooked just before I started the bread loaves. The day ended with a spectacular sunset.

Wednesday, November 25

I had a long overdue appointment to have my eyes checked this morning.  All is well and not change in my prescription.  I'm glad and relieved.  By the time lunch and errands were done, it was 2 pm - time to put the turkey on. While the turkey was cooking, Bill and I managed to get in a walk, enjoying this beautiful fall day.  We are trying to take advantage of as many mild fall days as we can.

I chopped the celery and onion chopped, the bread crumbled and the sage 'rubbed. The ingredients will be ready to put together for dressing tomorrow morning.  The turkey came out looking pretty good.  After it cooled a bit, I refrigerated it to be divided among our three families tomorrow.

After a long day, I rewarded myself with a Bloody Mary. Yum!

Thursday, November  26 - Thanksgiving Day!

The weather looks promising for an outdoor dessert party and bonfire later in the afternoon.  Food exchange is planned for noon, so I had to get busy to complete my share - cornbread dressing, turkey & gravy, green beans and cranberry sauce.  The Brocks and Matzeks each got a breast half and Bill and I kept the good parts.  Laura provided sweet potato casserole, rolls and Amanda made the pies for our dessert.  Kathy furnished ham and made her own favorite bread dressing, mashed potatoes and green vegetable.  All of it was delicious!  We have much to be thankful for in-spite of Covid and politics.  We are especially grateful that our family is healthy, so far and Claire is home safely from her first semester of college.

Before lunch we had a good ZOOM visit with the Missouri Whitakers. The kids were all in good form and talkative.  They were excited about the prospect of their Thanksgiving feast with friends coming over and especially about the bonfire and marshmallows they were planning.

Dessert at the Matzeks was great fun!  The pumpkin pie was excellent and everyone raved about the pecan pie (but of course I couldn't taste that one!).  After a slow start, Mike got the bonfire going.  We enjoying sitting outside, Brocks included, for a non-traditional Thanksgiving dessert.

Friday, November 27

I've been trying to do better about practicing yoga, so I woke up determined to start this morning.  The practice is challenging after not doing it for months.  After I recovered, there was the turkey carcass with plenty of meat to be "picked" and broth to be made.  I put in the freezer enough turkey to make a gumbo, a recipe of turkey a-la-king and plenty of leftovers to tide us over for a few days.

My black-Friday shopping was online, but I didn't actually buy anything.  I made a wishlist instead.  It is time-consuming and hard to know what the kids will enjoy.

The lovely afternoon called for a walk.

Red-Oak leaves

Saturday, November 28

Today was spent much like yesterday - yoga in the morning and a walk in the afternoon.  I worked on masks today.  I'm trying to get some Christmas/winter ones made for the family and in the mail on Monday.

We finished the last of the leftovers for supper (except for what went in the freezer).  I might have to cook again tomorrow!

Pandemic Times, November 15 - 21

Sunday, November 15

Starting a new paper bound book seems to call for some profound statement.  This day, I started on notebook #4 in my Quarantine/Pandemic series.  So in reality it is not a new beginning but a continuation of the sage - a record of normalcy in the midst of very abnormal times.  The number of Covid cases continues to grow, the number of deaths is mounting. Moran than 11 million cases have been reported so far, and who knows how many more unreported.  Loudon County cases have also greatly increased , so that I did not go to church today.  I felt guilty that I might be over-reacting, but I also feel that church is one of my more hazardous activities given the number of people (more than 30) and the length of time spent confined.

I used my time to make pear butter from the pears I picked last week.  Pear butter is very similar to apple butter.  I'm glad that the already picked pears didn't go to waste.  Many in the upper limbs of the trees are feeding the wildlife.  I ended up with 8 half-pints plus almost a pint jar.

The day was windy, so we didn't walk.  I spent time at my computer catching up on transferring my blog from hand-written to digital form and adding the pictures.

Space-X launched a manned craft, with 4-person crew, bound for the International Space Station.  This is the first manned launch from US soil in nearly a decade.

Numbers:

Yesterday, 11/14, Loudon County added 27 new cases and today added 37 more.  

11/15    LoCo case count is 2016
              case rate is 47.3
              pos rate is 13+%
              254 active cases 

Monday, November 16

I started sort of early to go to WalMart for Santa's Helper shopping.  I had teen-age boys to shop for plus odds and ends.  Still, it was nearly 9 am before I left home and the shopping took more than an hour.  The store was not very crowded, but with only one or two check-out lines open, there was still a wait.

One the way home I picked up Amanda and she had lunch and a walk with us.  She helped me sort and tag today's purchases before I took her home.  I enjoyed her company and her help.

Air-fryer chicken thighs with fried eggplant and spinach

Numbers:

TN Dept of Health
    +7951 new cases; 318,888 case count
    +3- deaths; 3923 total deaths
age 0-10    15,639
age 11-20  42,517
    13% pos rate

Loudon County
    2039 total cases
    15 total deaths
    47.3 case rate (7-day avg per 100,000)
    20.9 avg daily new cases (14-day avg)
    13.8% pos rate
    37 new cases

US: 11,186,306 case count
        246,000+ total deaths

Tuesday, November 17

The first half of this day was dedicated to Santa Helper work.  Amanda went with me to pick up a few more items at WalMart before I took her home following her early workout. I went back into town to FRC to bag and tag and "check-in" the gifts for those whose lists were completed.  Then Susan and I reconciled my receipts.  It is all part of the process which has very good financial accountability. I think that I am finished with shopping and just waiting for a few items to be delivered.  We will crank up in earnest on Dec 1 to receive gifts from sponsors and distribute to families.

This afternoon I tried a modification on the face masks - adding a pipe-cleaner strip for a better nose fit.  Bill likes it, but I don't.

Stir-fry for supper with leftover chicken.

Wednesday, November 18

I started the day with the yoga routine that I've practiced for years.  I typically don't practice yoga in the late spring through early fall when I can be active outdoors.  I've had some back and hip discomfort recently, so I decided it was time to resume the yoga practice.  The 20-minute routine stretches and flexes every part of my body.  It looks gentle, but is a pretty good workout.  I felt much better afterward.  I prepped supper early because I expected to be at the Good Samaritan Center by 4 pm for two interviews for a new client service manager.  The interviews went well. We hope to hire someone in December to start in January.

Thursday, November 19

The third Thursday of the month is the regular day for our neighbor lunch.  Kathy couldn't make it today so it was just Connie and me at Marilyn's house.  She had enough reoom for us to space out inside and we wore our masks when not eating.  We each bring our own food except for dessert.  Marilyn made us a delicious French Apple Pie!

Before lunch, Bill and I had a Zoom visit with Anna & Jake.  It is the first we've done with them and it was nice to see their faces.  They are settling in to their new apartment in Newport.

At the feeders in the early afternoon:  abundant chickadee and titmouse, song sparrow, house finch, red-bellied woodpecker, junco. And patrolling the ground to clean up spilled seed were several mourning doves and a chipmunk.

Friday, November 20

After breakfast a gaggle of redwing blackbirds stopped by the feeders outside our dining room window.  it looks like they will clean out the feeders and everything spilled on the ground, too! A junco made an appearance as well, confirming my sighting yesterday, but I haven't seen even a small flock. I'll need to refill all the feeders later today.  A groundhog is having his breakfast nearby. He is very fat for a vegetarian, getting ready for winter when grazing is scarce.  They don't hibernate, but den under the old shed behind the house.  Altogether, our wild friends brightened our morning.

After completing my yoga routine, I went in for a brief stint at FRC and then had lunch with Bonnie on her front porch.  After lunch, I met a democratic committee woman to pick up postcards to mail to Georgia for the run-off election that will determine the balance of power in the Senate.

After Bill and I finished our afternoon walk, Kathy came over for a drink and visit on the deck. This was a busy, good day.

Saturday, November 21

Good Samaritan Thanksgiving Basket distribution started at 8 am at St. Thomas Catholic parking lot.  Some volunteers and staff were there even earlier setting up.  Client distribution was supposed to start at 9 am but clients starting lining up shortly after 8.  Clients are pre-certified and must present their voucher to receive the food.  We give a $10 gift card for turkey or whatever mean or fresh vegetable the family wants. They get 2 boxes packed with all the traditional holiday food - candied yams, green beans, corn, stuffing mix, even cake mix and frosting.  Thanks to a special donation from the Tate & Lyle Professional Women's Group, we were able to give out a 6-pack of toilet paper and from our funds we provided a bar of soap. We gave out 500 vouchers which means 500 families served.  I was assigned to help at the coffee/donut table for volunteers.

Dedicated volunteers and staff feeding our community

I had decided earlier in the week that I am no longer comfortable spending a few hours indoors, unmasked, even with a few good friends and family.  So I opted out of our Saturday football get-together with Brocks and Bonnie.  If we are giving up family Thanksgiving, it seems reasonable to give up football.  Bill and I fixed hamburgers and home-fries for our game meal.

Numbers:
NYTimes from 11/20
    198,585 new cases! 67% increase over last 14 days
    1952 deaths (single day) 63% increase

    TN: 325,857 case count; 63.1 case rate; 4,306 daily avg of new cases last week
    LoCo: 2084 case count; 24.7 daily avg last week; 175 new cases last week

TN Dept of Health 11/21
    +3444 new cases since yesterday
    331,532 case count
    age 0-10    16,500
    age 11-21  44,757

LoCo: 2125 case count
        17 total deaths
        225 active cases
        39.1 case rate
        12.3% pos rate