Another Ten Days at Home due to Covid-19, Dec. 7 - 17, 2020

Patty wanted to clean the oven.  We had seen in the news that many people had been doing a lot of baking while staying at home.  Sure enough, all of the oven cleaning products were sold out.  It took trips to several stores before I finally found some store brand oven cleaner.

Several mornings, we had sleet and/or snow when Paulie and I went out for our morning walk.  On some days this left patches of ice on the side streets and some sidewalks.

That old saw about red in the morn, sailor be warned was true.

 

On Sunday the 13th, I briefly broke out of our bubble.  Megan had never seen Luminaria at the DBG so when I volunteered to light candles and asked her to volunteer also, she readily agreed.  While inside our condo in Phoenix, in the car driving to and from the DBG (with car windows open) and at the DBG, we wore our masks.

 

After spending about an hour lighting candles, we were allowed to explore the Garden.  We started out by the Yucca Agave Trail.

They used blue water to simulate water in the stream under the bridge.

We did a quick trip around the People and Plants of the Sonoran Desert Trail.

Then we walked the Sonoran Desert Nature Loop Trail.

We visited the bird station on the main trail.

We stopped at Webster Auditorium.

These lights looked rather creepy.

We stopped by the Darden water display.

We stopped at the corner by the Donor Wall, they again had blue lights for water.

Then it was the Center for Desert Living and Herb Garden.

Sunset Plaza was well lit and included the DBG truck I had never seen.

 As we walked past the Butterfly Pavillion, they had butterfly lights shining up on a large tree.

And then it was home for take out from Spinatos, a quiet night at the condo, getting the car serviced at Tanner Motors in the morning and then driving back to Flagstaff.

Patty wanted vanilla extract - another item out of supply due to all the baking at home.

One afternoon, we had cocktails on the back patio, getting some heat from our table top heater.  Patty also used her new electric lap blanket with pocket for her feet - this was a gift from Martha that was greatly appreciated.

And so it goes, the increase in numbers of infections and deaths due to Covid-19 continues unabated, both locally, nationally and internationally.  They have started vaccinating people.  The Electoral College confirmed that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won.  And we continue to live our circumscribed existence with the hope that sometime the vaccines will allow some semblance of the old normality in the future.

Another Two Weeks at Home Due to Covid-19, Nov. 22 - Dec. 6, 2020

Patty had finished painting three walls in the master bedroom and we hung up some pictures.  But the second one that is by this artist is still in Phoenix.  After sending the front and back to Megan, she put the painting out for me to get on my next trip to Phoenix.

We got a small heater to use on the back patio when we want to be outside on cool days.

This photo and video show a northern flicker visiting out back yard, eating some suet from our bird feeder.

We got a permit from the Coconino National Forest to cut a Christmas tree.  So on a sunny day before Thanksgiving, we drove to Winona and then south a mile or so into the forest, found several good looking trees and cut this one.

Thanksgiving was rather low key.  We had phone conversations with Julianne in Charleston, Bridgette and Mike in South Burlington, and Helen and Phil in Hudson.  That afternoon, we Zoomed with Megan in Phoenix and Ben and Martha in Portland.  That evening, we all had dinner together, again by Zoom.

On the weekend, we brought the tree inside and decorated it.

We visited Buffalo Park again and hiked the circular trail.

At the park, we came across this large tree that had been hit by lightening.

Back home, besides the tree inside, we also added decorations outside.

Neighbors have also been putting up trees inside and decorations outside.

Patty has been busy baking cookies for gift boxes for neighbors.

We hiked a different route around and through Thorpe Park.  When we came by the pond, there were a couple of herons - but they left before I could photograph them.  But there were plenty of ducks in action.

My classes at NVU finished on Thursday Nov. 3 and I submitted final grades on Friday.  Now I have several tasks for Spring semester that are due by the 14th.

Covid numbers continue to get worse, both nationally and locally.  They supposedly will get FDA approval of vaccines this week and start vaccinating people before Christmas.  I foresee a grim winter.