Start of the 2020 Quarantine

Most all of us have been affected by coronavirus in one way or another.  Basically we can call it the year of the quarantine.  Looking back, January and February seem to belong to a different year.  This is not a post specifically about the quarantine, or coronavirus, but it is about a few of the things that we have enjoyed during the 2020 quarantine.

 

Relax and Read

Relaxing in the backyard on the hammock with a book is one of my favorite ways to spend the day.  Since Texas can be unbearably hot, this is best enjoyed in the spring and fall.  My first action to unplug from the news and coronavirus scare was to grab my kindle and find a shady spot under a tree so I could lose myself in a book.  The dogs lounging in the shade, the wind rustling the leaves, and the birds singing in the trees set the background for my relaxation.  If you are looking for something new and exciting to read, check out Alex Kava.  My cousin, Dedi, introduced me to this author several years ago.  THANK YOU DEDI!! xoxo

 

 

Mother’s Day

Mom and I spent Mother’s Day at the lake.  We packed a picnic and drove out to a secluded area of Lake O’ the Pines.  It was a gorgeous day and there were lots of people at the lake in various states of fun – fishing, boating, playing in the sand, biking, and picnicking.  We set up our chairs in the shade and spent a good deal of time laughing, talking about growing up, and telling ghost stories.  By the time we decided to leave, my face was hurting from laughing so much.  We decided on a whim to go see if the General Store was open in Jefferson.  It was!  YAY!!  We put our masks on and browsed through the store but chose to skip the famous 5c coffee.

One of my favorite purchases of the day!  I first learned about this seasoning when I spent time at my dad’s house.  Imagine my surprise when I opened his cabinet and saw this seasoning!!  It is really good on everything, chicken, hamburgers, and steaks.  So if you have the chance, get yourself some Special Shit.

While we were in Jefferson, we saw a small carnival-type food truck.  Who can resist a funnel cake?!  So we walked down to the truck and ordered loaded fries and a funnel cake to share.  We grabbed our chairs out of the truck and sat in the shade enjoying some carnival food, watching people, and talking about “old times”.   It’s the days like today that are the most meaningful – being able to really spend time together and relax.

 

Fishing

Another of our favorite activites is fishing.  We loaded up some chairs and a picnic along with our fishing gear and drove out to Lake O’ the Pines.  We found a secluded spot and set up for the day.  Being in the sun made everything right, and that coupled with the breeze coming off of the water made my skin tingle and plastered a smile on my face for the entire day.

 

Walking the Dogs

We also took the dogs walking around at some of the parks in town.  It is fairly easy to avoid people if you stay off of the walking trails that are scattered around Longview.  Don’t get me wrong, we adore going walking on the trails, stopping at the dog parks, visiting with people along the way, and enjoying the ability to walk without being concerned about vehicles.  But, while trying to stay away from as many people as possible, we skipped the trails and walked around some parks and parking lots so that we could keep our social distance.  The summer is fast approaching so the daytime walks will come to a halt.  Once Texas summer arrives, walking the dogs is limited to early morning or late evenings because the summer heat and humidity is unbearable.

 

This is Hard

Social distancing is hard.  We are so intertwined with our friends and family that staying away from them is like walking in an endless forest during a moonless night with our hands tied behind our backs.  It’s awkward and unnerving and I am ready to get back to life as usual.  I am thankful for the ability to adapt to the changes that have been thrust upon us and I truly hope that you and your family are staying safe and well.

 

Let me take a minute to thank my sister, Traci, for this beautiful, black sparkly mask.  I opened my mailbox and was surprised to find an envelope with my sister’s handwriting on it.  Her handwritten letter inside let me know that the mask was made using a pair of my Grandma Lou’s pants.  It is incredibly touching for her to send me such a meaningful gift.  Many of you may not have known my Grandma but you will learn more about her in an upcoming post.