Monthly Archives: April 2021

LEFT OVERS MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER

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Leftover Chinese take out is so satisfying in these funky Covid times. They do the same for me as french fries on night shifts when I was still working. The girl working the food didn’t even have to ask for my order. She was super generous with the servings. I think she was usually happy on something. They caught on to her and the servings were weighed. Then she was gone, replaced by someone much older, slower and with a dour disposition. And she reheats the cold fries in the microwave. One time I protested and wanted fresh fries. She said I was lucky to even get some. My co-worker was afraid she wouldn’t give us any food. She took the microwaved fries. I’m happy to find I love leftover Chinese noodles reheated in the microwave.

I think I am getting fed up now with everything – the sameness of our days. A year into the pandemic we know more about the Covid virus. We have started to get the vaccine. Yet our daily numbers of new cases of infection continues to climb. Our provincial population is a little over 1 million. We have 34,763 cases and 440 deaths. Taiwan has a population of 23 million, 1,048 cases and 10 deaths. New Zealand has a population of 4.9 million, 2,507 cases and 26 deaths. Singapore has a population of 5,885,188, 60,495 cases and 30 deaths. It is depressing to see how poorly we’re doing.

I’m soldiering on as they say. There is no choice. We’re not all in the same boat. Life in Taiwain now is much the same as in pre-Covid times. That is pretty remarkable given that their population is 23 million. We have alot of space to get lost in, here on the wide prairies. Spring is here. I should cheer and smile up. I’ve got my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. The greenhouse is doing great. We got 3 self openers/closers for the vents installed. Once we get 3 more, life could be perfect. I can sit back, relax a little and count my blessings instead of gripe about the way things are.

APRIL LOVE

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Happy Easter Sunday. I have to love these sunny days of April. Last night was the first night I felt comfortable leaving the beds uncovered in the greenhouse. It’s been above 0 temperatures in there for the last few days. It was 8.4℃ at 6:30. Now it is up to 11.7℃ at 9:40. It was so hot in there yesterday afternoon, I had to open the door as well as the vents. Spring is a sure thing now, isn’t it? I’m happy with our progress. I’m sure we will lettuce and Asian greens by end of April and tomatoes by end of June. I still have one of the Long Keepers I planted on March 9th. I planted 2 Scarlet Runner Beans in the spot vacated by a chilled tomato. They’re ready to climb already.

I had my first dose of Pfizer vaccine yesterday. Though I haven’t been fretting about it alot, it is a relief to cross this bridge. My appointment was at 2:10 pm. I was out at 2:30 pm. Everything was very organized. It went very smoothly. I never felt a thing. l told my nurse she was very good. My arm did start to ache in the evening and got a little worse and stiff towards night. But my shingles vaccine was much worse. It’s still achy and stiff this morning but if I keep my arm active, it’s better. I’ve done well. I’ve given to anxiety after my retirement from work. I never had the time or was just too tired to notice when I was working. I sure felt it after. I’m better now but still working through some issues. I know that the mind is very powerful. It can create great havoc. I know that the stress of listening to the news and stories people tell about the vaccines was much greater than the actual getting vaccinated. It’s another confidence builder for me. Breathe and relax. Everything is going to be all right.

WHEN EVERYTHING IS HARD

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Do you have days when everything is hard? I seem to have more than my share of them and often. I’m sounding rather childish and petulant but it just doesn’t seem fair, does it? There’s no one to cry to about it. Everyone has their troubles. The only thing to do is to ‘buckle up, Buttercup!’ My plan lately is not to complain out loud about it, be calm and agreeable. It’s a good time to be quiet and go about life and business slowly and steadily. Brain surgery and complicated procedures are out of the question.

Sewing my log cabin quilt square is a good activity. I’ve pieced and sewn over 50 of them now. It’s familiar and soothing. It’s never boring. I always try for precision – exact 1/4 inch seams and colours that go well together. Even so, I’m a little behind with my squares these last few days. Fatigue and heaviness are weighing me down. I’m practicing not stressing, letting it slide off me. All schedules are my own creation. I’m never behind. Everything will get done in due time.

When I get feeling down too much, I remember Caroline Myss’ advice to get up and move. And so I do. I go for our daily walks. A change of posture, a change of scenery and a change in thoughts and mood. The day is sunny and warm. I open some windows in the house to get some fresh air. I have such a difficult time putting things away and in order. I work not in understanding but in doing it. So I take the laundry off the line, fold them and now they’re all put away. It really wasn’t hard once I started. I’m learning to tackle each seemingly difficult task, thus – step by step.

I’m always surprised that when I get up and start moving, I feel better. Even stepping outside on a cloudy day gives me a rush of relief. So doing even a very small thing is better than not doing anything. A small accomplishment leads to another accomplishment and so on and so forth.