Really Random Thursday, 6/25/20

It's finally Thursday. This is how most weeks feel to me.

I read that Disneyland, which had planned a reopening date of July 17, to coincide with its 65th anniversary, has postponed opening to an unknown date.  Cases are going up, probably due in large part to more testing, as well as people being out more.  Here are some good guidelines to follow.

This seems right...

I spend plenty of time inside, on my phone, believe me. But "outside" seems one of the safest places to be right now. I have been wanting a "beach cruiser" bike for the longest time. Jill has wanted to upgrade to a mountain bike. So she sold me this absolutely perfect bike and I love it!

We had family pictures taken last week, but the absolutely amazing Matlyn of Matlyn Mae Photography.

We all look a little bit different than what I was expecting when we first made the appointment, scheduled for late April. But the appointment was postponed, obviously. So during that time, Mark has grown a beard, I have stopped coloring my hair, and Aaron has grown his hair out for maybe the second time since the end of junior high. I'm sure he probably knows this, but I like the look of his head shaved much more than with hair, but that's not my decision to make. Anyway, Christa said that the hair needed to go for the pictures. So last week, during dinner, I don't think anyone really paid attention that he was wearing his Dodgers cap.

Photo credit: Christa 

And then Christa requested that he take his hat off for a picture.  Woo boy...

Photo credit: Christa

Photo credit: Christa

Not exactly what anyone was expecting. Charlotte expressed shock, Gabe and Ella couldn't stop laughing. I'm sure glad Christa videotaped the whole thing.

The family photo shoot was a lot of fun. Matlyn is inventive and instinctively knows how to photograph both kids and adults.She took so many amazing photos. Here are just  a couple.

 Photo credit: Matlyn Mae Photography

Photo credit: Matlyn Mae Photography

I'll share more in a separate post. It's been three years since we took family photos and I'm thrilled with the results. And wow, have these kids grown!

Ruby and Amelia looked like this on Friday night. Beyond adorable.

Photo credit: Matlyn Mae Photography

By Saturday, their hair looked like this: mermaid braids! So cute. I'm sure Amelia would tell you it took hours and hours and hours...and hours. And I'm pretty sure Jill would agree. Although she says she is already watching more braiding videos on YouTube.

Photo credit: Jill

A project for this summer has been to label my quilts and also update my quilt diary blog. My plan was to label a quilt a day. Want to see how well that has worked for me? Actually, not at all. In addition, I have three quilts that need binding. But summer has only begun, right?

At least I continue to do some English paper piecing. It's fun and cute.

Truth...

Stay healthy, my friends.

Really Random Thursday, 6/18/20

There is really very little to post this week. I'll start with this, because it is important and ongoing.

Mark has started reading White Fragility, which I plan on beginning soon as well. And my hairdresser also recommended Me and White Supremacy. Have you been reading? Do you have some recommendations?

The Fresno Chaffee Zoo opened last Friday, and we decided we needed a change of scenery. We have season passes but were also required to make a reservation. We reserved a time at noon on Monday, so we could have lunch. Things are different, of course, in the age of COVID-19. No longer can you go through a line and order a custom salad or sandwich. All the food is already boxed up. No fountain drinks--only bottled water and Pepsi. And beer.

But the animals were in full display, so the visit seemed nearly "normal."

I also appreciated their social distancing markers.

However, the fact that practically no one wore masks, except for workers, pretty much irritated me. Come on, people. You are protecting other people by wearing them. Be thoughtful. Wear a mask.

I'm doing a little EPP here and there. I think that center square in the one with fried eggs is too white, so am thinking about replacing it with a creamier square.

As I said, not much going on. Christa's mother replaced some succulents in this pot (because she is a pro at this).

Anyway, I got out the macro lens for my iPhone (an add-on lens by Moment) and took these shots. I really love the Moment macro lens.

And to end on a light note...

Really Random Thursday, 6/11/20

As states are opening up, what are your thoughts? I know that depends so much on where you live, as different states are experiencing hot spots or decreases in new cases.

Monday was our 47th wedding anniversary. We grabbed something for lunch and headed to nearby Lost Lake. Seriously. Nearby, like 15 minutes from our house. And in the 41 years we have lived here, we have never been to Lost Lake! The weather was perfect and it just felt so good to get out of the house, for something that wasn't essential like grocery shopping.

I saw this yesterday. It seems about right to me. We made reservations at our favorite hotel on the central coast for August. Can.hardly.wait!

 Mark and I are still pretty much sheltering in place, although I have a hair appointment next week. Oddly, I have mixed feelings about that--not the appointment itself, but I am now ready to stop coloring in order to relive the hair color of my younger days, and I'm not sure about cutting. I've grown sort of accustomed to the length. We are planning family photos in the next month. There is no way Mark is shaving his white beard, or trimming his now-bushy hair. Oh well. I don't think any of us will forget 2020 and COVID-19. Might as well have lasting photographic evidence.

This was a funny one. And also, it seems about right...

Of course, COVID-19 is not the only thing we will remember about 2020, is it? It's still difficult to articulate my thoughts in print. Social media is a hotbed right now, and with Jason in our family, we have seen racism over and over, up close and personal. It is REAL.

Maya Angelou was a wise woman.

We love reading Pickles.

I remember these. Do they still make them?

My new favorite pictures.

Where do you find  yourself among these choices? My father was a pessimist, and I work hard to be different than that. Right now, I just want to be an artist...

Amen. My 2020 planner is a record of things that have been canceled.  I'm keeping it as a reminder of what 2020 might have been. Hopefully my 2021 planner will not be a useless purchase.

Really Random Thursday, 6/4/20

Oh, what a week it has been, this end of May and beginning of June.

The other night I was sitting outside in the evening. It was a beautiful evening. The thought crossed my mind that it has been nearly three months since the shelter in place began. In those three months, Mark and I rarely go anywhere except to the grocery store every 2 to 2 1/2 weeks, the bank once a month, once or twice to the post office. I have not put any gas in my Honda since March! Also, other than Aaron, Christa and the grandkids, we rarely see anyone we know in person. The first thought that struck me is that it now feels normal.

But the second thought that struck me is that while I do not feel safe from COVID-19, nevertheless I feel safe otherwise. I feel safe in my home. I feel safe when I go out. I do not fear for Mark's safety when he goes out alone. I do not fear for our son's safety.

But Jason...this amazing young man whom we love like a son, this incredible husband, father, brother, and friend--we do worry about him. This is Jason at his best. Funny, articulate, always ready for fun, yet willing to have a heart-to-heart conversation, and he always seems to know intuitively when I need a hug.

We are family. (And yes, I absolutely realize we need a more current photo.)

But not everyone he comes in contact with is willing to know him, to see anything other than the color of his skin. So we have conversations with him, we ask questions, we ask advice, we ask how we can do better, be better, be more aware. There are so many things that are running through my head, even more so this week given what is happening in our country. I'm not sure I'm quite ready to put it all into words. I do know that these resonated with me.

Something else I think about.

While I get my thoughts in order, I'm going to carry on like a normal Thursday, although it is nowhere near "normal."

A current picture of Mark. :) He decided to add the hat, purchased in Amish country years ago.

There was a caravan parade for the high school graduates from our church on Saturday. We gathered at the church, decorated our vehicles, and drove past each graduate's house.

 They each wore their robes, and we showered them with cards and well wishes. It was fun to be part of a group celebrating these graduates and their achievements.

Photo by Stacie Winckler

Although it was 107 degrees last Thursday, it was a beautiful evening on Saturday, even a little on the cool side. We got out the projector and screen, and had a socially distanced outdoor movie night. It was so.much.fun!!

I appreciate a good play on words.

Our son definitely needs this t-shirt. His 13-year-old daughter rolled her eyes when I sent her this picture. Typical, right?

This would make teaching a newbie the parts of a sewing machine so much more interesting!

This seems pretty accurate.

And yes to this.

I would say that chocolate can make anything better. But clearly...it cannot.