Literally, as most of us have nothing better to do! Monday was a beautiful day, so I broke out the old iPod (alas, no Supertramp) and took a walk into town. It's about a 4 mile round trip.
 |
| Not that exciting of a view. It seems like a long way to town when you first get out of the neighborhood. |
 |
| My destination: Non-contact mailboxes. My daughter and I made handmade Easter cards for a half dozen people. I was bored enough to decide to walk to town rather than put them in my own mailbox. Since I had only killed a half hour, I decided to just walk around town and take pictures to document the lockdown. I realize that it's not truly a lockdown because we are at least allowed to walk outdoors if we maintain social distance. I only passed four people the entire time and I gave them wide berth. |
 |
| Empty Starbucks. I always feel sorry for the employees here that have to work on holidays. Now I feel sorry for them because they are not working. |
 |
| An assisted living community honoring their employees. |
 |
| People are being asked to put Teddy Bears in their windows to give families out on a walk something to look for. |
 |
| I think this is some sort of Crabapple tree. |
 |
| Lots of sidewalk drawings by kids. Many say, "Have a Good Walk." |
 |
| The Magnolia trees are getting ready to bloom. |
 |
| Forsythia is in full bloom. |
 |
School-age children in our district were asked to make pictures of rainbows to hang in their windows to lift our spirits. Here was a big one.
Who else has the doldrums? It's hard to sit around and wait for this pandemic to be over. I'm certainly glad I did the New Things in 2019 last year! This year would have been a total bust! I hope everyone keeps blogging and I will try to come up with a better post for next time.Wishing everyone a Happy and Blessed Easter. |
Well, I enjoyed accompanying you on your walk to town (*smile*). It's important, mentally and physically, to get out and enjoy the spring weather. The blooming trees are wonderful. Unfortunately, the weather has suddenly turned cold here in TN and all the blossoms are dying.
ReplyDeleteThe rainbows and teddy bears in your neighborhood are a sweet idea.
I'm surprised at all the mailboxes! I haven't seen any in years.
Yes, we also went from 74 degrees on Wednesday to rain, sleet and snow the following day. I suppose they don't have the large mailboxes in rural areas? I generally try to put my outgoing mail in them because I've heard of scammers taking mail from people's home mailboxes to steal your identity.
DeleteWalking is a good way to get exercise, so good excuse to go in and mail the cards. Getting some shots is a fine way to pass the time too. Stinks about many employees everywhere. They got it on both ends, either have to work all the time or none of the time. We'll be waiting a while for this is get over. Good thing the new came in 2019 indeed haha
ReplyDeleteIt's been really fortunate that we've had such good weather since the lockdown began. Can you imagine me trying to find new things to do during a pandemic? Oh look, I put butterscotch chips in my banana bread this week! LOL
DeleteYour walk sounded and looked wonderful! Doesn't it feel so incredibly marvelous to take a day here and there throughout the week and just get outside and walk? Monday was beautiful here as well, so I did the same thing. Yes, I definitely think it's possible to maintain social distancing while outdoors, giving everyone their "safe space" while walking. And especially since the streets (even here in the city) are not nearly as populated as usual. Most of the people I see outside are either walking their dogs or jogging.
ReplyDelete"An assisted living community honoring their employees." OMG...that's AWESOME! This morning while in Trader Joe's doing my weekend shopping, I thanked and applauded the employees who were working. I am so grateful for the people who keeping working in food stores because it keeps all of us fed.
And OMG #2....I LOVE the idea of the teddy bears! That so ADORABLE!
I have to say that I haven't experienced the doldrums yet because I'm keeping myself occupied with things to do. But who knows, maybe next week it will hit me. Yet, so far so good.
It was so GREAT to see your post today, my friend. Thank you! Stay safe and well!
X
It does indeed feel good to go outdoors. It's only 40 degrees today, but I'm going to bundle up and get out there! That's so wonderful that you thanked and applauded the TJ employees. I have been trying to give heartfelt thank you's to all the grocery workers when I go.
DeleteEaster is going to be strange this year without family, but we will try to make the most of it. Thanks as always for your support, Ron!
Ooops, I forgot to say in my previous comment...Happy Easter to you! X
DeleteHappy Happy Easter, my friend.
DeletePutting teddy bears in your front windows is a great idea. I've seen a few in this neighbourhood. Lots of people here have children's rainbow drawings in their windows, to show their support and appreciation for health workers. There are also signs saying things like "We love the NHS".
ReplyDeleteI'm certainly missing being able to circulate freely in the outside world - going to the cinema, browsing in bookshops, going to my book club. This artificially limited existence is definitely stressful. I also think of all those thousands of people who are suddenly without a job but still have to pay the bills and put food on the table. It's pretty grim for some.
Yes, we are very grateful to health care workers. My son-in-law among them working with all Covid patients in the ICU. Hopefully, we are on the downside of flattening the curve and this will just be a bad memory soon.
DeleteThat's actually one of the fanciest-looking Starbucks I've ever seen. It's got a Ye Olde vibe about it, as if the Wright brothers might have stopped in one morning for a caramel macchiato while hard at work on their airplane.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a happy Easter, even if it's going to be different this year.
What? I figured the Starbucks in Seattle and Portland would be some sort of fancy? Our town requires buildings to reflect Western Reserve architecture. See my most recent Instagram pic for our rec center if you want to see fancy.
DeleteLike that long shadow of the pole.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that's some sort of photography effect, but I don't know what.
DeleteEnjoyed your walk with you!! Looked like it was a nice weather day to do so! I like how people are being creative with sidewalk chalk, teddy bears, rainbows, etc. to keep people occupied while they are quarantined and while they are also exercising during this time. I like all the plants blooming, surely a sign of spring ahead and perhaps with it better days!!
ReplyDeleteHave a Happy Easter! Certainly a different one but I'm sure everyone will be getting together for celebrations once this is over and celebrating a variety of things!
We have the hope of the risen Savior and even though times are tough, I'm glad we have that hope. Imagine if we didn't!
He is risen!
betty
I suppose it's different flora than what you normally see on your walks, though my neighbor does grow cacti along the side of his house! Yes, without that hope, life would be bleak. He is risen indeed!
DeleteWe here in GA are doing some of the same things to keep our minds and hearts going. I am in the doldrums too.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you! Happy Easter to you and yours!
DeleteI love that you took us for a walk with you. I had fun doing that on my blog a while back too. I've seen people posting pictures of the teddy bears in windows, I think its a cute idea.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy seeing the sights when you walk your dog, Mary. Thinking about you every day.❤️
DeleteHappy Easter!
ReplyDeleteHope you and Mrs. C enjoy your weekend.
DeleteThanks so much for sharing your walk with us. I feel like I was with you every step of the way. And some day, God willing, we'll take that walk for real.
ReplyDeleteWe're living in such a bizarre time that any attempt any normal behavior is refreshing. I wish you and your loved ones a blessed and Happy Easter!
Thanks, Rob, I would appreciate the company! We're grilling chicken tomorrow since Easter is turned upside down this year. Happy Easter!
DeleteSupertramp was playing in my ear as soon as I opened your blog (and when I wrote Supertramp spell check tried to change it to Super Trump).
ReplyDeletewww.thepulpitandthepen.com
When I walk, I often think of songs that go with my mood or surroundings. Happy Easter!
DeleteCatching up - loved the Miami posts. That street art is something else, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteWe've done a lot of walking around the neighborhood, too, and have even put a bear in the window. Today is rainy and cooler, and I can definitely tell my spirits sink some when I can't get out at all.
I am glad you read my Miami posts as I thought you would have enjoyed the trip. The sunshine sure does lift the spirits and especially during these times. We are going to try a park trail later today if the parking lot seems barren.
DeleteHope your walk to mail the cards was uplifting to you. I like the idea of the school children in the community drawing pictures of rainbows. It's so easy to relate to what you said about feeling sorry for Starbucks baristas who work on holidays but now find themselves not working.
ReplyDeleteHi Liberty! Im always uplifted by a walk in the sunshine. Hope you are well.
DeleteIt's nice to see a post from you! I liked this one. It's always interesting to see what things are like for someone else, and it feels much more real when it's through a blog post rather than clips on the news.
ReplyDeleteThat's sweet that so many people are putting teddy bears and rainbows in their windows. That doesn't seem to have caught on as much here, but we're a little more rural.
Are you still doing Chemo Angels? Just wondering if that's what any of the Easter cards were for.
I really like to hear what's going on in other parts of the country, too. Since my Chemo Angel patient graduated in January, I have not done it. I'm glad I did not ask for a new person because I would REALLY be struggling to find something to write about.
DeleteHappy Easter to you, my friend! A very strange Easter for us; we usually go to the Vigil Mass on Saturday evening, which can run to 2.5-3 hours long, in a normal year. But this was not a normal year. Our priest has been live-streaming masses from an empty church, which is better than nothing, but still, it just breaks my heart. So we just did Sunday morning mass from our bed.
ReplyDeleteOne of the very few upsides of the pandemic has been daily walks. Actually, quite a few folks in our neighborhood are doing likewise, so there is a little dance we do when we encounter someone walking on our sidewalk in the opposite direction - usually, one of us just ducks out into the street so we can pass by six+ feet apart.
We always go to the Saturday night cafe service, which is a potluck with testimonies. It was sad to not have anywhere to go Sat or Sun. We watched the Sunday morning service online. It was a half hour shorter than normal, but a very good message about death and life.
DeleteI think it's lovely that people are still coloring sidewalks and hanging rainbows for the community to enjoy while out on their walks. I've seen quite a few people riding their bikes or walking on the trails here, so it doesn't feel so deserted where I live. Most are practicing social distancing though while they are out, so that's a good thing. I've only been out for a car ride here and there in the past month just to get out of the house (and to scope out property that we want to look at when this is all over).
ReplyDeleteSome days the sidewalks are quite busy and I have to cross the street to avoid the crowds! It must be frustrating to put plans on hold, like searching for property. Hopefully, we are on the other side of the curve by now.
DeleteI really love the teddy bear in the window idea! What a cute thing to do to brighten up peoples stroll around town. We have also down the rainbow scavenger hunt and the "Chalk the Walk" with rainbows. I have one hanging in my window as we speak. :) We are going stir crazy here, but we're certainly not bored, just in need of getting back to life. My husband and I are both working full time jobs (Except for 2 weeks temp furlough), my daughter has to be home schooled, and my son is a prince that demands full attention. When this is all over, I'm giving my daughter's teacher a big hug because keeping a child focused to learn is NOT easy. I can't imagine doing it with 25 kids at once. Ugh.. Stay healthy!!! Soon that Starbucks will be open and you can get your favorite drink.
ReplyDeleteIt's neat that so many communities across the country are doing the same things. I struggled with helping one of my kids do homework for 16 years, so I empathize with those trying to do this homeschooling thing. No thanks! And I can't wait to meet some friends for coffee, but I prefer Panera!
DeleteI can go for some Panera Mac and cheese right now.. yum!!
Deletethank you for lovely walk my friend
ReplyDeletei liked your place and sharing is beautiful !
Well, thank you for the visit! I will hop over to your place.
Delete