Journey to Cape Girardeau, Apr 9-13

 Friday, April 9

At 10:50 am we departed in the RV en-route to Cape Girardeau. Bill had an early doc appointment that delayed our leaving.  We haven't seen the Missouri Whitakers in person since September, more than 6 months of hug deprivation. 

We drove our familiar route, I-40 to Nashville, Briley Parkway to I-24 which took us to Paducah. At Paducah we left the interstate and drove through northwestern Kentucky farmland to Wickliffe, KY. Between there and Cairo, IL, we crossed the Ohio River.  As we cross, we see where the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers come together.  Today, they are running high from spring rains and snowmelt.  When the waters are calmer and lower, we can actually see a clear color difference between the muddy Mississippi and the Ohio.  

The little town of Cairo, once a great river port and center of commerce, has devolved to a broken collection of old, once-grand buildings, many abandoned.   Over the years we have seen the deterioration and destruction of many buildings. We have toured the old custom house and the public library.  We drive through with sad fascination, like disaster tourists.  For more pictures of the same street in Cairo, 2009 until present, link here.

Cairo Street, 2009

Cairo Street, 2021

Cairo Street Corner showing old streetcar tracks, 2021

Between Cairo and Cape Girardeau where we cross the great Mississippi, we have many views of the river.  

Long barge rounding the bend

Slow-going upstream

Railroad bridge at Thebes

What a joyful reception we got when we pulled into the Whitaker driveway, with lots of good hugs.  We had time before supper to catch up on news and see what was new about the house.  David has converted a basement storage area into a very nice home office for himself and has created a new storage room from part of the large "den" area. There is still a generous sitting area for TV and games and a sleeping area of us.  In the dozen years that they've owned this house, they have made significant improvements.

John has become a little boy since we were together last, but he warmed to us quickly.  Evangeline will soon turn 5. Owen and Allison are growing up fast, too.  They were all excited that the supper menu was tacos!

Saturday, April 10

We were cool but comfortable overnight in our basement room.  As is customary, not long after we had our coffee we heard the patter of little feet coming down the stairs.  I always enjoy the morning cuddle and conversation.  We had my scones for breakfast with some of the ham I had brought.  Before lunch, we had birthday presents for Owen and Evangeline. 

Evangeline with a twirley dress and new doll clothes

Owen anticipating

Owen was excited about the basketball goal

John David in his favorite boots, riding his bike

After lunch we (minus Trisha and John) went on a bicycle quest for Owen's and Evangeline's birthdays.  Academy Sports had no 24" bikes, Walmart had one that was not suitable.  At Target, we found one 24" model and Owen liked it.  Evangeline was not interested in getting a bicycle.

When we got back, David & Bill got busy putting together the Basketball goal.  It was quite a project and definitely not a one-man job.  They worked on it until suppertime.  

In the meantime, Owen helped my label and edit my wildflower pictures while Allison and Evangeline played with their dolls and new doll clothes.  Trisha and I fixed hamburgers and fried for supper.

They don't watch much TV, so we had stories and play time before an early bedtime.  Owen is into robotics and we all enjoyed watching the Boston Dynamics robotic videos.  He has been putting together a small solar robot kit with David's help.  He was also drawing his own robotic designs.

Sunday, April 11

The morning routine of coffee and kids continued. Scones, toast and eggs for breakfast, then David, Allison & Evangeline got away for Sunday School. Trisha and Owen joined them for morning worship. John David stayed home with us. We played outside the whole time that they were gone.  He is independent and resourceful at 27+ months. He loves to swing and climb and push-ride his bike around. He wanders around following and playing with whatever catches his attention. He is easy and fun!

After lunch, kids enjoyed bubbles on the deck and quiet time downstairs while the men watched the Master's Golf tournament.  We all had plenty of outside play time, especially with the new BBall goal.  David wanted to take advantage of free baby sitters to take Trisha out to dinner.  We planned pizza & movie night for grandparents and grandkids.

The Whole Family
Owen, Allison, David, John David, Trisha & Allison

Beautiful Evangeline

The kids have good friends who live across the back fence.  The two dads have even installed a gate between the yards so they don't have to climb the fence.  They came over in the late afternoon and the gang was having so much fun that our pizza got cold! We finally had to shoo them home at 7. After pizza, the chosen movie was "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, 2"  They loved it and we loved that David & Trisha got home just before bedtime.

Monday, April 12

Everyone except David and John slept in this morning.  David was out very early to lead a men's breakfast bible study. He was back before we were up.  David was busy in his office all morning.   We played outside with the kids all morning.   

After lunch, while John napping, we took the three 'big kids' to the park.  First we had to go downtown to the riverfront to throw a few rocks in the river.  It is a tradition and ritual whenever we visit.  Then we went on to their favorite playground.  There were plenty of kids there. Owen met up with a gang he knew and ran with them the whole time.  Allison and Evangeline played together, although Evangeline require of lot of my attention.  We were there for more than an hour and it got pretty warm.  At 3, we decided it was snack time, so they were willing to leave for home.

Bill and I made a grocery run to get some BBG and extras for our baked potato bar for supper. Before supper, Bill and David took Owen's new bike back to Target to have the rear tire fixed.  It wouldn't hold air. Fortunately, it was fixed with a new tube.  Owen was glad to try it out in the yard.  It is almost but not quite too big for him so maybe it will last a few years.

After supper, David decided to cut a limb or two from the big mulberry tree in their back yard. Bill had brought his chainsaw for that purpose.  It turned out to be quite a big/hazardous job.  David climbed up into the tree to make the cuts.  I couldn't watch.  We were very glad when he was back safely on the ground! 

After a busy day, we had no trouble sleeping this night!

Tuesday, April 13

We planned a 9:30 departure.  Bill had requested sausage for breakfast, so I made sausage, eggs and toast for everyone.  We left pretty close to our designated time and retraced our route.  We made a few extras stops for pictures of the river and of Cairo.

A little kickball before leaving

Beautiful Allison

The drive home always feels long and tiring because there is not the anticipation of a new adventure.  Nevertheless, we were glad to be home and back to our familiar creature comforts.  A few days away always give us new appreciation for our home place, humble though it may be.

Crossing the Mississippi River, heading home. 
The river is over its banks here.

Not much is left of Cairo

Crossing the Ohio at Cairo
the confluence of the Mississippi & Ohio,
with the Mississippi River in the distance

We are always thankful for an uneventful trip. Stopped in Kingston to pick up a roasted chicken for an easy supper.

The Journey Continues...April 4 - April 8

Easter Sunday, April 4 - Happy Birthday, Owen!

As I sit down to write it is 6 pm of a busy glorious day.  I realize that I haven't written a word all week - on paper, that is.  Every day, I think throughout the day about what I might have to say about the day.  It is a process of on-going reflection.  But this week I haven't picked up my pen except to write the Saturday reflection which I send to my Sunday School class and a few others.  So before I get to today's writing, I'll go back and reconstruct the week.

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It is now 7:30 pm.  I've caught up on last week.  Today will have to wait until tomorrow!

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Back to Easter morning:

I woke up with a joyful heart to what I expected to be a busy daya.  After a cup of coffee, I took the turkey out of the refrigerator to begin warming while I showered. I assembled the dressing and started the green beans and tea. Soon it was time to put the turkey in the oven.  Bill will put the dressing in the oven at 11:30 and check the turkey while I'm at church. With any luck, all will be ready by 12:30.

I dressed in my new Easter dress, complete with matching mask.  Easter service at church was delightful.  Best of all, we got out early!  Our flower cross was more beautiful than ever.

New Easter dress

Trinity at Easter

Flower Cross

Back home, there wasn't a lot of work left to be ready for the feast.  And what a feast it was!  Kathy brought carrot coins, a favorite of Mozelle's, and steamed asparagus with hollandaise sauce.  She also treated us to a bottle of chilled prosecco. Laura brought the family favorite sweet potato casserole topped with marshmallows, rolls and a scrumptuous carrot cake.

We toasted Owen's birthday and other birthdays we have missed celebrating.  We shared memories of Jake.  And we ate too much and laughed a lot.

Later in the afternoon, after dished were done and our table back to normal, we enjoyed a birthday Zoom with Owen.  They had been to an Easter egg hunt part after church.  Owen is ten and so grown up!

Back to normal, except neater

Monday, April 5

Quote from this morning's "Disciplines" reading: "One problem with Christian faith is our tendency to over-spiritualize.  We speak of diving things and holy things and things of heaven, but too often we disconnect them from things of the earth.  Jesus taught parables to make the infinite finite. ... Christianity that promises only 'pie in the sky when you die by and by' robs resurrections of its power in the world in which we live." (emphasis mine)

Amanda had 10:30 softball practice since there was no school.  I had 10:30 UMW meeting.  That worked out perfectly.  After we were both done, we went to the lake to feed the ducks.  I didn't get home until 2 and I was hungry.

Amanda and the ducks

I still had time after lunch of leftover turkey to work in the garden. This week's worship video was ready in late afternoon, so I got that posted on our website.  When all was done, Bill and I sat on the deck for a while (until 7) to enjoy a pleasant end to a very good day.

One of our "new" apple trees

Dogwood are popping everywhere, joining the beautiful redbuds

Of course, we had turkey dinner leftovers for supper.

Tuesday, April 6

A sunny morning and a day trip planned. We pulled out at 9:38 am to begin our day to Norris Dam State Park for a wildflower hike.  We will go by way of Oak Ridge, a 40 mile trip, each way.  We took a bit of time located Bill's doctor's office where he has an appointment Friday morning.  At 10:30 we were finally leaving Oak Ridge for Norris Dam.

At 4:45 pm we stopped at the Clinton Food City for gas and beer.  In between, we found Norris Dam and after a brief stop at the Park Office we made our way to the River Bluff trailhead. We had been advised that the lower trail was "about a mile to some benches" where the trail turned up a steep climb to the top of the bluff.  We would turn around there and hike back as we went in.  So at noon, before lunch, we began walking the trail along tailwaters of the Clinch River coming through the dam.  We saw a great variety of spring wildflowers.  The sparse spring vegetation permitted good views of the river all along the way.  We walked and walked and walked, with many stops along the way for picture.  The further we walked, the more wildflowers we found.  We walked and walked, much more than a mile. After almost 2 hours we finally came to the benches.  We were glad for a rest and to have have the snack and water that we had brought along.

Of course, it took us much less time to walk back because I didn't have to stop so often for pictures.  The was almost 3 by the time we got back to the RV. We drove across the dam and through the campground before stopping for our picnic lunch.  Turkey sandwiches, of course.  We drove back through the charming little town of Norris.  We made it home at 6 after a stop in Oak Ridge to pick up fired rice take-out.  

I'll share a few pictures below and more on this link: Norris River Bluff Wildflower Hike.

Red Trillium - Wake Robin

Celandine Poppy

Wednesday, April 7

What did I do to consume the morning? Not laundry, nor cleaning, nor cooking.Yet by the time I ventured to the garden it was already 11:30.  I did spend some time transferring pictures from our hike to the new laptop.

In the garden, my goal was to prepare the row for snow peas and I accomplished that, turning about 8 ft under the bean fence and clearing it of the remains of weeds and roots.  I seeded the peas and planted swiss chard, kale and radishes in front of the double row of peas. I sowed a bit of lettuce, also.  Altogether, I worked no more than an hour.  After, I enjoyed my shady spot watching blue birds on my right going to and from their nest and to my left, tree swallows building a nest in the so-called martin house.

Before

After - This looks like HOPE to me

My restful place

After lunch and quiet time, I started worked on the wildflower pictures.  I only have 72 photos to sort, select, edit and label in order to make a slideshow.

Soon it was time to get Amanda to softball and make a grocery run.  I didn't make much headway with the pictures.  For supper, I made maple-soy glazed salmon with southern fried eggplant and steamed broccoli.

Thursday, April 8

The rain came overnight as promised to nurture my newly planted seeds and it continued off and on all day.  In the morning I made gluten-free blueberry scones to take to Missouri.  They are pretty good despite the gluten-free flour.

Baking and laundry took all morning.   After lunch I finally focused on catching up on my blog post.  I had written the entries, but had not matched the pictures. I got caught up through March 31, with just a short interruption to drive Amanda.  I made a Charleston gravy to go with leftover salmon and served it with left-over grits with steamed spinach on the side.  

After supper, I participated in the Loudon County Democratic Executive Committee Zoom meeting.  In the off-election year, the focus will be on noter registration with our target demographic being young people, single mothers and working families.  I can get on board with that.  We had an interesting discussion about how to bring more diversity to our local party.

Friday, April 9

The Journey continues to Cape Girardeau...

In-Between, A Saturday Reflection

April 3

Saturday - the day in-between - between death and life, between despair and hope, between sorrow and joy. 

Saturday - the Sabbath, the Jewish Holy day.  What were Jesus closest friends , doing?  Luke tells us that the women, after having prepared fragrant spices and fragrant oils on Friday, resting on the Sabbath, in keeping with the commandment. (Luke 23:56).  No mention is made in any gospel of what the men were doing. We imagine them holed up in the “upper room,” confused, fearful, wondering if they would be next.  

Don’t we sometimes  find ourselves in between death and life, in between the end of one thing and the beginning of another.

My brother-in-law died yesterday morning.  He was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, more than four years ago.  He defied the odds by living so long, and relatively well until a few weeks ago.  Anna, and his children and grandchildren are at that in between place, between the shock of death and the figuring out how to live without their beloved in the world. 

The rituals around death are meant to help move us through that in between time. So the women had made their preparations for preparing the body for final burial. Perhaps the men were discussing where they go next. Would they return to their homes and families, take up their previous occupations?

Perhaps they were remembering the long conversations of the week leading to this moment in time. Jesus’s discourse with them during the last supper is recounted in John’s gospel, chapters 13-15.  Perhaps they were speculating about why Jesus had allowed himself to be taken and to be killed. He surely could have avoided it. If he was the Son of God, then why?  

Even on the morning of the first day, when the women came with amazing news, they weren’t sure what to think. I find myself in that place all too often - not sure what to make of this incredible news. But today, as I write, it is still Saturday.  Confusion and sorrow reign. I still cry Why, O God?  

I will leave you with words from Fr. Rohr’s Good Friday message and celebrate with you tomorrow. 

Copied from the Center for Action and Contemplation

The Saving Power of the Cross

Friday, April 2, 2021

Good Friday

Today the primary human problem is both revealed and resolved. It is indeed a “good” Friday. What is revealed is our human inclination to kill others, in any multitude of ways, instead of dying to ourselves—to our own illusions, pretenses, narcissism, and self-defeating behaviors. Jesus dies “for” us not in the sense of “a substitute for us” but “in solidarity with” the suffering of all humanity since the beginning of time! The first is merely a heavenly transaction of sorts; the second is a transformation of our very soul and the trajectory of history. My dear friend James Alison is a brilliant theologian and a primary teacher of the work of René Girard. [1] Here he writes about the true power of the cross:

[Jesus] went to death as a victim. . . .  And the reason that this is important is that it catches us at our worst, as it were. The space of the victim is the kind of place none of us at all ever wants to occupy, and if we find ourselves occupying it, it is kicking and screaming. More to the point, we spend a great deal of time pointing fingers and making sure that other people get to occupy that space, not us.

Now by Jesus going into, and occupying that space [of the victim], deliberately, without any attraction to it, he is not only proving that we needn’t be afraid of death, but also we needn’t be afraid of shame, disgrace, or of the fact that we have treated others to shame and disgrace. It is as if he were saying “Yes, you did this to me, as you do it to each other, and here I am undergoing this, occupying the space of it happening, but I’m doing so without being embittered or resentful. In fact, I was keen to occupy this space so as to try to get across to you that I am not only utterly alive, but that I am utterly loving. There is nothing you can do, no amount of evil that you can do to each other, that will be able to stop my loving you, nothing you can do to separate yourselves from me. The moment you perceive me, just here, on the cross, occupying this space for you and detoxifying it, the moment you perceive that, then you know that I am determined to show you that I love you, and am in your midst as your forgiving victim. This is how I prove my love to you: by taking you at your very lowest and worst point and saying “Yes, you do this to me, but I’m not concerned about that, let’s see whether we can’t learn a new way of being together.” [2]

On the cross, the veil between the Holy and the unholy is torn and the “curtain of his body” becomes a “living opening” (Hebrews 10:20). We all can enter the Holy of Holies, which is the very heart of God. Nothing changed in heaven on Good Friday, but everything potentially changed on earth!

References:
[1] I highly recommend James Alison’s exploration of René Girard’s work, particularly Alison’s four-part study series Jesus the Forgiving Victim: Listening for the Unheard Voice (DOERS Publishing: 2013).

[2] James Alison, Jesus the Forgiving Victim: Listening for the Unheard Voice, book 3, The Difference Jesus Makes (DOERS Publishing: 2013), essay 5, part 7 

The Journey Continues... March 28 - April 3

Sunday, March 28 - Palm Sunday

So the journey continues even as the pandemic wanes.  Although in some parts of the country, cases are rising again, despite continued restrictions. The sense of relief after being vaccinated is still palpable.  Combined with the spring weather I feel a lightness of spirit where I didn't realize a weight was living in me.

I have been hoping/planning for a few weeks to go to church for real and in person today.  I enjoyed the experience of live music and of greeting people.  I did that safely with no hugs or handshakes but still it was good to look people in the eye for conversation.  I stationed myself at the side camera and that will be my place, operating that camera. I felt good to be dressed up in a dress, accessories, even pantyhose.  I wore the dress that I made for Easter a couple of years ago.

I spent some of the afternoon catching up on this blog, although I didn't publish last week's work.  Of course, basketball.  A balmy day produced a beautiful sunset.  Clouds are moving up from the gulf, so we'll enjoy a couple of warm days before the rain gets here.

RT Salmon for supper.

Monday, March 29

I took advantage of the warm day to work in the garden for a couple of hours. That's about all I'm good for anymore.  I didn't plant more, just cleared weeds.  I spent some afternoon time working on interview questions for our prospective church employee.

Leftover salmon for supper.

Tuesday, March 30

Garden work today was mowing.  The garden always looks neat after the paths are mowed.  I enjoyed this time outside observing the spring blooms and breathing the sweet air.  I remembered a little haiku (is there another kind) from years ago. This one goes back to March, 2008, before I started this blog. It serves to remind me that nature and nature's beauty exist for its own sake, not for my pleasure. That awareness makes me feel one with the natural world, not set apart from it.

Little violets
among the grass unaware
My admiration!

Redbuds are in full flower

Wisteria is just opening

Little violets

It is beginning to look like a garden, at least on this corner.

Amanda has a softball game away today, but we won't go.  We're ready for a restful evening after a busy day.  However, I had an interview meeting at church at 5 pm.  I used the time between dropping Amanda at school at 3:30 and getting to church to go to the grocery.  Supper was leftover tuna, made into tuna salad. After supper I prepared a levain for bread-making tomorrow.

Wednesday, March 31

Rain as predicted.  I made bread as planned and between steps I worked on hemming several sweat pants for Wayne.  It doesn't sound like much but together the two projects took up all my day until it was time to take Amanda to practice.

On the way home, I detoured by the dam to see the effects of last night's heavy rain.  The spillway gates are full open as they are at many TVA dams, the river is running high and the lake is up as well.  We still have a lot of tun-off to come through this watershed.  Brother Park reminded me in a recent conversation that all our water affects spring floods in Mississippi.  We are part of the Mississippi River watershed.  Some of the waters may be diverted down the Tenn-Tom waterway, but most the the Tennessee River system empties into the Ohio which flows into the Mississippi.  We pass that confluence every time we go to Cape Girardeau.  We are always fascinated to see the mighty waters come together.

A cool rainy day seemed to call for the warm comfort of red beans and rice - New Orleans Camilla red beans cooked with a meaty ham bone and andouille sausage. Served with bread fresh from the oven.

Thursday, April 1 - Maundy Thursday - April Fool's Day

No pranks by anyone, not even many on Facebook.  After the year we've all experienced, playing practical jokes just doesn't seem funny or right.  Life has played enough tricks on us all since this time last year.

This was the first frosty morning we've had in several weeks, but not out of the norm.  Our average frost-free date falls in mid-April and we can have frost into late April.  I finished the sewing projects today.  Amanda had a home game so I was determined to brave the chill and go to the game.  

I had an awkward amount of time between delivering her to the field and game time.  I decided to drive to Ft. Loudon dam to see the water spilling there. Water roaring over all 14 gates produces a powerful, turbulent current for a ways downstream.  I enjoyed watching the osprey, gulls and cormorants soaring and diving over the froth.  Just after 5, I went to church for Maundy Thursday communion and a time of quiet meditation.   My true meditation, though, was watching the water and the birds.

I got to the softball field before the game started.  It was every bit as cold as I thought it might be.  I managed 4 long innings.  Amanda's team lost but it was close.  She got on base with a nice bunt on one of her at-bats.  She is pretty good at making contact with the ball.

Amanda at bat

Leftover red beans & rice made a late supper when I got home.  Bill had wisely decided NOT to suffer the cold.

Friday, April 2 - Good Friday

Laura, Claire and Amanda have a holiday today.  Every day is a holiday for Bill and me.  After consulting with Laura & Kathy, I am choosing to host Easter dinner here on Sunday.  Bill is not 100% on board, but he always pitches in and does his part.  Often he ends up enjoying himself.  While he was on an errand to Knoxville, I mopped the wood floors - a job that I've put off for months.  I have spot cleaned but not done a thorough cleaning.  I also managed some dusting.  Bill and I worked together to clean the dining room windows and he mowed.  All these jobs needed to be done and company is always a good reason to actually get them done. Trouble is, we haven't had company in far too long!  I was tired at the end of the day, but it was a good tired. Easy Friday taco night.

The real news of the day is sad.  Jake, Jasper Keith Smith III, died at about 4 am.  He had heroically battled brain cancer (glioblastoma) for four years.  He was diagnosed soon after our last visit to New Mexico in 2017. 

Jake and Anna's move to Tennessee and purchase of a 60-acre farm in Loudon County in 1974 changed the trajectory of our life.  We moved from New Orleans to Shalom Farm, Lenoir City, Loudon County in the summer of 1974 and here we have been.  Jake was a force of life for his family and all who knew him.  His influence lives on in the lives of all those he touched.  We grieve for Heather, Jeff and Anna.

Jake, Anna and Bill - our last visit to New Mexico, 2017

Jake, Anna, Bill - Manassas, VA, 2019

Saturday, April 3

I woke up early and had some time for readying and reflection.  I am sharing my reflection is a separate post - In-Between.

I spent most of the day cooking.  I enjoyed being able to take my time and to know that I don't have to do everything.  Laura and Kathy will contribute.  After breakfast, I made cornbread and baked the 3 Mary B frozen biscuits I had on hand. Next, I made a dry brine rub for the turkey using a Rachel Ray recipe - brown sugar, kosher salt, sage, rosemary and black pepper.  Rubbing the aromatic home-dried herbs was a pleasing sensory act.  The mixture was rubbed onto the fresh turkey and it will sit in the refrigerator overnight.  Then I chopped onion and celery for the dressing - 2 cups onion and 3 cups celery.  I cleaned and coarse chopped celery tops and carrots to bake with the turkey as additional seasoning. Last, I made a big roux for the gravy.  I divided it to make both vegetarian gravy and turkey broth gravy.  I cooked the cranberries for tomorrow's sauce.  

Bill helped get the widest leaf in the table. I set the table for 8, with white table cloth, china and silver and even fresh flowers.  I am ready!

The late afternoon was just warm enough for Bill to clean up the grill and grill hamburgers for our supper.  Oven-fried sweet potatoes were the accompaniment.

Pandemic Times, March 21-27

Sunday, March 21

I got up late, but with the intention to make 2 Mexican themed dishes to take to the Brocks for a late lunch and to watch the Lady Vols in the first round of the NCAA tourney.  First I made Mexican cole slaw from a recipe I found on Facebook.  It called for cilantro, so I headed to the garden.  On my way, birds were singing from every tree all around me.

Chorus of birdsong
Each one singing its own tune
Beautiful music

Cilantro among the weeds on the right.  Kale on the left.

There is much work ahead to bring this garden to production.

We had a normal game day and food with the Brocks.  Aiden was at work, Wayne, Kathy and Bill are fully vaccinated and I'm half way there, so no masks were required! Yea!  Our women won which made it even more fun and the food was good, too. Kathy had onion dip with potato chips, bean dip with tostitos, and I took a tamale pie in addition to the cole slaw.  Nothing on the menu was very healthy but it was all very satisfying.

Monday, March 22

I was supposed to have a grant meeting at Good Samaritan at 11 am, but Mary Ann emailed me early and we worked out everything by phone and email.  So not meeting was required.  She doesn't like unnecessary meetings any more than I do.

With some of my day now freed I worked in the garden, clearing some of the beds for early planting.  While I was busy in the garden, Bill was leveling the ground just outside the deck so we could move the new umbrella off the deck.  When the time came to actually move the umbrella, he needed my help.  We had to first lift the umbrella off of the base, then scoop most of the sand out of the base using trowels. When it was light enough, we moved it to its new spot and refilled the sand.  It was a tedious but not particularly hard.

When I got back to my garden work, I picked the new growth kale from plants that had wintered over. Later in the day, I washed and steamed it.  A grocery sack stuffed with fresh-picked kale yields about a quart of steamed kale.

Washing and stripping the kale.  It turned out to be very mild.

Working on weeding the Oregano

Old growth/weeds removed in anticipation of lettuce and spinach.  The green clump is lemon balm.

As usual, I took Amanda to softball.  After I dropped her off, I went to Pope's garden center in Dixie-Lee Jct and bought lettuce and spinach plants, 3 pots of basil and 2 bags of soil amendments.  Then 

For supper we had leftover tamale pie and coleslaw. 

Tuesday, March 23

The weather is still warm and conducive to gardening.  I added some of the soil amendments to the garden square that I had cleared yesterday, worked it into the soil and planted my lettuce and spinach.  It feels good and right to have begun this year's garden.  After I got the new plants in the ground (except the basil), I trimmed back the abundant sage.  I have way too much sage.  I cleared the fence row where snap peas will go.  The ground is till too wet to really dig and work it, so those won't get planted before next week.  I am also planning to plant mustard greens and chard in the early beds.  Summer crops won't be planted until after mid-April when the ground warms enough, so I'll be working on getting the beds ready.

Amanda had a softball home game. I didn't get to stay for the whole game, but I saw her first at bat.  She made solid contact and hit cleanly into center field.  Unfortunately a teammate was tagged for the 3rd out at home plate on the play, so Amanda didn't get on base.

Because we left home so early for the game, I made an early supper of marinara from leftover canned diced tomatoes in tomato sauce and bits of other leftovers and herbs.   I marinated chicken thighs in my balsamic/olive oil dressing, rolled them in bread crumbs and air-fried them for 10 minutes.  A salad completed the supper offering.

Wednesday, March 24

I hate AT&T. Unfortunately, we have no other choice for streamable internet out here in the country.  They charged us with over 9 GB of data upload before we even got up this morning.  This has been an on-going problem. But we are monitoring closely and this was particularly egregious. So another call to tech support. At least this time they acknowledge that they have an issue with the fixed wireless service.

I was scheduled to take Amanda for a haircut appointment at 12:30 in Turkey Creek.  I let her drive on the interstate and in the suburban shopping center traffic.  She did great! We had one moment when it looked like a big rig would move into our lane, but we both handled it safely and without panic.  I'm so proud of her.  An her haircut looks great!

While she was at the salon, I went shoe shopping - successfully!  I was in need of new walking shoes as mine are many years old and worn out. I was unusually successful, coming home with 2 pair of walking shoes, one for outdoor trails and one for general use, 1 pair  for Easter and a pair of around-the-house slip-ons.

Amanda and I stopped at our favorite Asian restaurant for take-out. Amanda chose drunken noodles and I got our regular for Bill and me.  Each portion is enough for 2 meals for us. 

Amanda had another ball game - away this time, so we chose not to go.  Bill has been working on the deck and I've been running around all day, it seems.

Thursday, March 25

We had rain off and on all day as predicted, with stronger storms coming tonight.  It was a good day to sleep in, do computer work, read, walk the treadmill etc. We did not even venture out to the mailbox and Amanda's practice was cancelled.

I worked on editing another dental grant and getting my computer ready to take to the Apple Store for service tomorrow.  I have an appointment after my vaccine. Maybe I'll come home with a new stimulus-funded computer.

For supper we finished an assortment of leftovers.

Friday, March 26

I started this day by driving to North Knox Medical Center for my 2nd vaccine (Phizer). I feel a big sense of relief to have that done.

 From there I went to West Town Mall where I had a 10:45 service appointment and an 11 am sales appointment at the Apple Store.  There are no walk-ins at the store. Customers enter by appointment only and no less than four security guards were stationed at the entrance to monitor traffic.  When I finished the service appointment, I had to go out of the store and wait to be called back in for the sales appointment. I did not end up getting any service done on the computer, but I did get the screen replaced on my iPhone.  I had to wait until 1 pm for that job to be completed.  I did come out of the sales appointment with a new MacBook Air and I learned a lot in the process. The new laptop replaces my ten-year-old model.  Of course I spent most of the rest of the afternoon setting up the new computer.

The afternoon was warm and sunny, so we enjoyed a late afternoon cocktail time on the deck with some nice french bread & olive oil to go with our wine and beer.

For supper I made enchiladas with left-over taco beef.  No BBall games tonight, so we enjoyed a moved recommended by Kathy, "The Peanut Butter Falcon."

Saturday, March 27

Heavy rain moved in overnight and continued off and on throughout the day.  It is so typical of spring to have these weather fronts move through every few days with alternating sun and rain.

I had a Zoom workshop which began at 9 am and lasted until 1:30. It was a course in the United Methodist Lay Servant series on Preaching. It was taught by a conference pastor, Rev. Paul Seay. It was a good course and I picked up a few ideas as well as the certificate.  I spent the rest of the afternoon in my chair working on putting last week's log online.

I was glad to have a physically quiet day.  After the shot yesterday, I was feeling very lethargic. Fortunately, I didn't have any major side effects.  I cooked tuna steaks and served them with baked sweet potatoes and steamed kale our for supper.  Bill watched BBall and I went to bed early.

My vaccination this week marks the beginning of the end of my personal Pandemic Times.  The race is still on between the spread of new and more contagious variants of the virus and the spread of vaccinations.  As of next week, anyone age 16+ will be eligible for a vaccine.  Claire will be vaccinated at the university on Monday.  The level of testing is so low that we don't really know how much the virus may be spreading. Locally the positivity rate is below 10%, which is good, and the case rate is 12/100,000.  I trust that the data shows that locally, the infection is waning.  

I am ready to transition this blog from "Pandemic Times" to "The Journey Continues."  I began this journey a year ago, and the journey continues, even as it changes.  Life, after all, is the Journey. I began this daily log of life during the covid pandemic on April 1 one year  ago.  So next week, this daily log will become "The Journey Continues."