Will the Peach Man Return?

 Happy Birthday to grandson, Dylan.  It's a big one this time.  Thirty.  Thirty. Thirty.   In more normal times, we would all be gathering for cake and ice cream and celebrating it together!

Our life under lockdown continues. 

Today we drove to Sandpoint for Jon's third cancer treatment.  We were pleased to see more precautions being taken by many businesses.  This time there was a nurse at the entrance to the doctor's office to take his temperature.

A first time experience for me was to order my groceries online from Yokes for curbside pickup.  It turned out to be very easy and they filled all of my order except for one item (which was not a necessity).  For us it's another added precaution to take since we have three more cancer treatments and Jon needs to stay healthy.

We stopped in Hope to pickup our mail and they have new precautions there too.  Only two people are allowed in the lobby at one time and now there is a plastic protective barrier at the counter.

Davis Grocery in Hope will only allow a few customers in the store at one time.  They also have online or phone ordering and will deliver to your car.

Some good news is that my garden tomato seeds have sprouted and my new begonia bulbs have some signs of life.

Orange Sunshine

It's been a good time to clean my "root cellar/storage room" in the basement, organize all of my canning jars and take inventory of the canned goods on the shelves.   We will not run out of salsa, but there's only one jar of Red Globe peaches left.   I am hoping that the Peach Man will be able to return next summer.

Do what you can

This message is from Bonner General Health.  They can still use supplies.  
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"Wow! Thank you local businesses, organizations and individuals who have donated supplies to Bonner General Health over the last few days!  We appreciate the support.  If you have extra supplies we will continue to accept items at our 3rd Avenue Hospital entrance by the gift shop.  Bins are located just inside the main automatic door."

Items needed include:

Nitrile gloves
Surgical masks
Mask covers
Bouffant caps
Isolation gowns
N95 Masks
Hand Sanitizer
Plastic/vinyl gloves
Hand made/sewn mask covers

If you have questions please contact Terri Hull, Materials Director at 208.265.1159 or Terri.hull@bonnergeneral.org.

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Our trip to Coeur d'Alene yesterday went well although it was very concerning seeing all of the traffic and people everywhere in CDA.  There were some instances of social distancing, but it looked more like business as usual there.

This morning it is snowing on the mountain and now has changed to rain.  It's cleaning project day.  Plus I received my new begonia bulbs in the mail and I have planted them. 

Bring on the blossoms.

Islands in the Stream

Today we have to leave our quarantine to drive to Coeur d'Alene for Retired Mountain Man's cancer treatment.  We will be taking every precaution that we can on our drive.

We have hand sanitizer in the car and wipes.  Fortunately, I had three containers of disinfecting wipes on hand before the virus broke out.

We have to gas our car, so my plan is to wear gloves.  Wipe off anything I touch with a disinfecting wipe, etc.  When I get home, I will wash the gloves.  Retired Mountain Man is not allowed to get out of the car except at the doctor's office.

I have to stop at Sandpoint Super Drug to pick up a prescription and I've heard that they are taking precautions.  That makes me a little bit more relieved.

There's a lot of anxiety here on my part.  I don't want Retired Mountain Man exposed to the virus.  He needs four more weekly treatments after this one.  That means we both have to stay healthy.

I have never washed my hands so much.  I am disinfecting everything.  Every day.

Our Governor has refused to mandate any closures except in Blaine County.  This concerns me.  We need leadership.

Finally, cities of Couer d'Alene and Post Falls closed restaurants and bars.   People from Spokane were driving there to dine out and drink at the bars.  I don't believe they are thinking of anyone else but themselves.

There are thousands of people in Idaho who have the "underlying health conditions" that you keep hearing about on the news. They are both young and old.  Please help protect them.

We are shopping at our local grocery, Davis Mercantile, in Hope.  I called in an order today so that we can pick it up on our way home.

I am out of coffee so I ordered more yesterday from Evans Brothers.

We will do what we can to help keep everyone in our community safe and local businesses open.

Our local hospitals need masks and many people have stepped up and are making them.

You can make an online donation to the Food Bank.   They need your support.


Islands in the Stream - that is what we are...

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Baby, when I met you there was peace unknown

I set out to get you with a fine tooth comb

I was soft inside

There was something going on

You do something to me that I can't explain

Hold me closer and I feel no pain

Every beat of my heart

We got something going on

Tender love is blind

It requires a dedication

All this love we feel needs no conversation

We ride it together, ah ha

Making love with each other, ah ha

Islands in the stream

That is what we are

No one in between

How can we be wrong

Sail away with me

To another world

And we rely on each other, ah ha

From one lover to another, ah ha

I can't live without you if the love was gone

Everything is nothing if you got no one

And you did walk in the night

Slowly losing sight of the real thing

But that won't happen to us and we got no doubt

Too deep in love and we got no way out

And the message is clear

This could be the year for the real thing

No more will you cry

Baby, I will hurt you never

We start and end as one

In love forever

Social Distancing and temporarliy closed

We are fortunate here on the mountain because we can be outdoors and still follow all the new rules.   I don't have new photos for today since we are still waiting for the big snow melt.  

March 2019 First Mushrooms

Yesterday we brought in six wheelbarrels of firewood and stacked it in the wood room.  Every trip in and out of the basement, Retired Mountain Man tosses either the ball or frisbee for Maggie and our neighbor's dog, Thompson.  As soon as the wheelbarrel comes out of the basement door, they know the game is on.  They never stop wanting to play the game, but they do take breaks.

\The search in on for the first blossom out there.  Come on spring!

Most of the day I spent a lot of time on the internet trying to find out what we can do in our local communties to help each other get through the coronavirus. There are many people who are doing the same and have some good ideas.

Both hospitals in our area, Bonner General Health in Sandpoint, and Kootenai Health, in Coeur d' alene can use face masks.  There were several of us searching the net yesterday trying to find the best information for patterns and instructions.

My sewing skills are not good, but I know there are many talented seamstresses out there who could make these up in about 15 minutes.  All you need is some cotton fabric.  The best pattern also calls for elastic for the ties, but they can be made with fabric ties. 

Coronavirus Deaconess  - instructions and video.

Kootenai Health - instructions

There are ongoing discussions about how we can help our local businesses.  Many restaurants are offering takeout meals and some have websites where you can purchase a gift certificate for future use.  As we work our way through this I'm sure there will be many new ways we can help each other out.  In the meantime, do your part.  Stay home and take care of yourself.

As I was browsing through my files, I found photos from our trip to Creston, B.C. on March 18, 2019.

Different times now.

Port of Entry at Porthill.  Temporarily closed until May 6th.  

What can we do?

I'm not sure what day of isolation we are in now, but life is slowly moving forward.  We watch the news and press conferences and it seems that if we are to survive this virus, we are all going to need to pull together.

The federal government has been promising more tests, masks, hospital ships, ventilators and protective equipment for our doctors and nurses, but nothing appears to be in the pipeline.  I don't think we can count on any of those supplies showing up in Bonner County anytime soon.

Our Governor, Brad Little, has refused to issue an order to close all restaurants and bars and schools.  Thankfully, our school district decided to close.  There are local restaurants and bars that are still open.  One of those is owned by a Sandpoint City Councilman.  At the same time, our local hospital has cancelled all elective surgeries and they are re-using masks?   Something is not right here.

What does our hospital need?

Do they have a shortage of masks?  Gowns?  Gloves?  Do they need more staff?

There are approximately 45,000 people in Bonner County.   Who needs help?   How can we keep our communities, family, friends and neighbors afloat?  There are a lot of people who have just lost their jobs.

I certainly don't have the answers, but it seems like we should all be able to do our part.

How do we help those who have lost their jobs?

The local food bank?

Senior Centers?

Nursing Homes?

Hospital  and clinics?

For the most part we are all "sheltering in place". There are 45,000 of us.  Let's put our thinking caps on.

Sandpoint Online
http://sandpointonline.com/news/coronavirus.shtml

It is going to be a nice spring day.

Would you prefer to face Grandma or a Griz?

We have been without Internet service since last Friday night.  An entire week, but it seems like it was longer than that.

So, where were we?

Oh yeah, the coronavirus.

 a.k.a. "hoax".

We have all watched it evolve from a hoax to a fully blown national emergency.

"Anyone who wants a test, can get a test".  Where are the tests?   Waiting on the tests....

Retired Mountain Man was scheduled to have shoulder surgery on Wed. Mar. 25th.  Plus, he is also being treated for bladder cancer and his first treatment was on Monday.  He will need 5 more treatments.  One every week.  Will the treatments still be available?

Angry?

We have been self-isolating since, Friday, March 13th.  (the night our internet went out).  We are missing our kids and grandkids and it's depressing to know that we won't get to see them anytime soon.

I will tell you right now that I am more angry than I am depressed.

Angry? Why?

The lack of response to the virus by our government, both at the national and state level, has put all of the people I love and care about at risk.  Plus the many friends that I also love and care about are also at risk.  The members of my community.   

Today Jon's doctor called to say that all elective surgeries have been cancelled.  Retired Mountain Man needs his shoulder surgery.  He has a lot of pain and really can't use his right arm at all.

Yep.  Still angry.   Certainly not at the doctor.  They are doing what they need to do.

There are those that think I shouldn't make this political.  Well, the politicians just made my family's health "political".  Too bad for them.  They made their choices.

   It doesn't pay to tick off the grandmothers in America.  In other words, "don't poke the bear". 

Yes, I will do my part.  I will do whatever I can to help my family and friends and my neighbors.  I am so glad that Medicaid Expansion in Idaho passed and was implemented.  It will help many who had no health care get through this.

Medicaid expansion supporters at the legislature.

The U.S. Senate left town for a three-day weekend.  Couldn't be bothered with the virus.  Many congressmen and women mocked and made fun of those who were concerned about the virus. 

Wait a minute.  They work for us, don't they?

Yep.  Still angry.

That said, we have lots of firewood to keep the furnace going.  Two freezers full of garden veggies, fruits and meat.  Canned goods in the root cellar and a pantry full of assorted gluten-free flours, sugar and you name it, I've got it.  I've always had a stocked pantry because many years ago you didn't waste gasoline driving to Sandpoint every week to buy groceries.  When it's a twenty minute drive to the grocery store, one stocks up.   Always.

I still miss my precious grandbabies.

Great-grandson

There are scientists and doctors in my family.  I have friends who are doctors.  I respect their opinions.  They have studied and worked hard and not only that, they have a lot of experience and expertise.  I trust them.   

Grandaughter Sarah, is a pharmacist in Missoula.  One of those important people on the front lines.  She works many ten and twelve hour days.   Dedication.

Sarah and great-grandaughter, Quinn.

There has been such disregard by our government for what scientists and doctors were trying to tell them that it is mind boggling.   We sat on our hands while the virus raged in China.

I've heard that even now, there are many who don't believe in following the recommendations from the CDC.
 
Son Jamie or JP, (the one in the center of the photo) is a database computer technolgy guy.  Data.  Computers.  Facts.  His company does a lot of work for FEMA.  More data.  More facts.

It seems it took the stock market falling thousands of points to finally get some people to pay attention.  Even then, they were more worried about their wallet than their constituents.

Thankfully, we have practically every scientist and doctor in the world trying to find a drug or vaccine to stop it.  We have realized that we are woefully unprepared for this and that maybe we should have listened to them.

Son David, is a professor at the University of Montana. They will be collaborating with Mt. Sinai Hospital on research for a coronavirus vaccine and they have applied for funding for that purpose.  He is also one of the founders of  InImmune, a research company that collaborates with the University of Montana.

Thank you to all of them who are working overtime trying to find a drug or vaccine that will stop the virus.

My grandson, Dylan, is a phlebotomist.  He's the one who comes to your room to draw blood while you are in the hospital.  It's important to your doctor what your blood test results show.  More of that data and science stuff.   I want him to have protective gear to wear when he's at the hospital.  I heard tonight that many hospitals are desparate for ventilators and gear.  Come on, government officials.  Get it done.

Facts, data and science are important.  

I am counting on some scientist out there in the world somewhere to find a solution to the mess we are in.

It's my intention to survive the coronavirus if for no other purpose than to vote in November.

Begonia tribute.

Yesterday I checked the few begonia bulbs that I had saved from last year.  I thought they might survive the early frost that we had last fall, but unfortunately, they did not.    We had a very early hard freeze in September.  It was so cold that it froze everything in pots on our deck.  That usually doesn't happen until the end of October.  I dug up a few of them and stored them in perlite and hoped for the best.  Yesterday I found out that they are all mush.

I am posting some photos from last summer.  They were definitely beauties.

The orange one was my all-time favorite.  The bulb was huge and measured about 8" in circumference.

Begonias are lovely because once they start blooming, they never stop.  All summer, into the fall.

This was my "begonia corner" of my deck.  Some of these were over three feet tall.

It's time to start over.  I'm looking at what's available online.  Still haven't found the orange one yet.  

The good news is that my Red Robin tomatoes are growing and it's time to transplant them into larger pots again.  It will be time to start the garden tomatoes soon.

Spring forward.