Hi Subclinical
None of us here are worrying one wit that you won't have that beautiful boy eating enough in a day or two.

What fun getting to know all his little mannerisms as he becomes aware.

(((((HUGS)))))

Please do take a nap and rest up.
You have been through a lot too. 😉

So relieved she has her Mom with her at this time.

The kitties like a fresh dish!

Baby is darling. He's a lazy eater and wants to sleep too much, so we are struggling with that, but he is doing ok.

I am back at my house for a short time because the other grandmother is coming to visit this afternoon and has to stay socially distant and wear a mask because her husband is a minister and their church has resumed it's normal activities. So it seemed polite not to have me around. I slept over last night and will again tonight. Trying to let the new parents get some rest.

I'll probably take a nap while I'm home.

Good Morning
"Clink!" ice tea toast.

The Quail family woke me up just at sunup having a major discussion right outside the open window in the evergreen tree.
Was able to get back to sleep once they quieted down again.
Scooter was extra rambunctious last night at bedtime, annoying Twinkles and me.
He kept attacking my feet under the sheet.
I hate that cause he uses his claws.

Haven't made any plans yet for today.
I do have to respray bug barrier around the doors because there have been spiders wandering in this week.

Good Evening Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
So very sorry that happened (((HUGS)))
Glad you spent time near BF working the puzzle.

So HAPPY Mom is using her GrandPad!
"Happy Dance" 😀

WTG! getting litter.
Something Miss Kitty appreciates you doing for her. 😉

Today I washed dishes & wiped up kitchen.
Vacuumed the carpet.
Did cat related stuff & swept too.
Watered stuff.

How come, why is it that just as soon as I have all the cat dishes washed some cat immediately starts demanding can food?
Do they have an issue with me having ALL dishes finally clean and put away?

Well I walked the mile to Red Cross and it felt good. They had trouble with the needle and someone had to keep holding my arm and moving the needle and I started to faint. Not good but I walked most of the way home. Took the subway one stop to go visit BF. I haven't seen him since Tuesday, I think, although truthfully it could've been Sunday. Do I sat with him and worked on a crossword and eventually had to come home.

Mom seems to be enjoying her GrandPad. We video chatted again tonight. No glimpse of the kitty.

Speaking of kitty's, I couldn't clean the box today due to no litter. I have the litter now so should go change it.

What an exciting time for you Subclinical! 😀

YEA! for washing the Dog!
Such an important milestone for you today (((((HUG)))))

Hi Tatoulia
Make sure to drink the juice and perhaps eat a cookie.

I have the hose out slowly watering stuff.
I just sit in the house and time it then go out every few hours and move the hose.
Makes me feel like I am busy doing something. 😀

So exciting!!! Yes we knew you had the doggo!!! So exciting and feel free to nervously do my dishes!!! Deep breaths. Your life is wonderful.

Good morning!
The dog is washed and ready to return (did I tell you we were keeping their dog? - she loves being a farm dog but she always has to go home clean)

And we are waiting to hear that they are discharged and we can come. Should be soon.

I have been channeling my nervous energy into dishes and general clean up.

Everybody take care of yourself and keep rested!

Rest up, dear Tillie. I'm about to leave for my blood donation appt, which always leaves me knackered. Just rest.

Good Morning Everyone
"Clink!"

Very quiet morning.
Not even any birds talking out there.

Still feeling weak and tired from that heat exhaustion ordeal when the cooler was malfunctioning.
Not much getting done here, just the basic necessities.
Did do a little beading yesterday and watered the Lilacs and garden in the evening.
Also brushed Twinkles to stop him from nagging me to brush him.
He loves to be brushed, but not his tummy where he really needs it.

Welcome baby!!! I'm so honored to be part of the celebration! God bless the baby.

Sending continued love and gentle thoughts your way.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! 😀

He's a big one too.
Your Daughter did FANTASTIC! 😀

Congratulations Grandma Subclinical! 😀

Prayers of thanksgiving and for good health for Mama, baby, and all of you!

Oh, but they won't let me come. The exception is to allow someone professional like a doula, not just any support person.

9lbs
21 inches.

He's beautiful!

Good Morning Everyone

HI SUBCLINICAL 😀
Still sending positive vibes your way (((HUG)))

Hope you are at the hospital right now getting gowned up ready to visit that Baby. 😀

So very sorry your workplace is going downhill so quickly.
I know all you want to do is teach children in a safe friendly environment. 🙁

Wonderfully cool this morning.
70F at 9:00am.
Supposed to only get up to 92F today.
My garden looks like death warmed over even with all the watering I've been doing.
At such a high elevation the sun's rays are too intense.
Like burning leaves with a magnifying glass.
I always wear a large white cotton shirt over my Summer dress and a wide brimmed straw hat whenever I go out there.

No plans today, will wait & see what comes up.

Good morning.
Baby still in process. I appreciate all the positive energy. The doctor is predicting around lunch time.

Tired and rollercoastery here.

Yesterday Dh wanted me to quit my job. He said a 45 minute staff meeting shouldn't make you cry for two hours.

This is just such an impossible situation.

And we are down 35% in enrollment and our landlord is insisting on a 16% rent increase and we really can't move. We're in the middle of capital projects to meet safety requirements.

Also

The official (first?) list of departing staff has come out. It includes our beloved receptionist ("receptionist" being a euphemism for mom, secretary, therapist, personal assistant...ok, basically she was everybody's mom.) and the building manager who I relied heavily on and saw eye to eye with.

The receptionist will be replaced with the woman I call our "fixer" who was previously a jack of all trades involving procurement and extra class coverage. She drives me nuts. (We go back 13 years to when our girls were in school together, and not in a good way) And is anti-mask and doesn't think the virus us a big deal.

The building manager will be replaced with the woman who is currently throwing everything out.

So, at a time when I am more uncertain and fragile and challenged, my work environment becomes more hostile.

In better news, As of last night, the hospital is allowing Dd to have a second named individual visit once the baby is at least two hours old. So I will Hopefully get to go after my class this afternoon. (I will be skipping the second staff meeting that I am supposed to attend today.)

Good Evening Everyone

Holding you close Subclinical (((HUG)))

Hi Tatoulia
I will be waiting to hear what Miss Kitty thinks of the laundry service. 😉

YEA! for the new shower curtain!
So nice for all those pillow slips too.
This is that pretty bird print right?

How wonderful you found that GrandPad for your Mom!!!
Hope she can work it and video chat with you and listen to music and all the other features!
😀

Happy you got to video chat with your Little Sister Kitty.

WAY TO GO! for filling donation bags.
Many thrift shops are open for donations but have been limiting their hours to receive items.
They have been inundated with donations and can't handle incoming during all store hours.
Just call and ask them when.

Nice sun blocking thunder clouds built up late afternoon again.
I got the obligatory few sprinkles again.
But the wind was raging like crazy.
Makes me sad that I actually dusted yesterday.
Everything is again covered in dust and fine grit.

Have a Mackintosh apple scented candle burning all day for Subclinical's family (((HUG)))

Hello everyone! Praying for the baby!

SubC oh how I would love to share a nice slice of bread with your jam on it. Would be so lovely.

Tillie I am so grateful that you have a working cooler again! I've been worried sick.

Good for you, CM, getting a good night's sleep and trying to have someone else store the bunny things! I'm proud of your thought process! I hope someone will have the space.

Ok laundry: I am in love with the service. I also sent in a second batch, sent the cat things. Today my cleaner came. Just her. Took her two hours. The poor thing. No helper with her. She brought the shower curtain her mother made me and her mother made me two pillow cases for my bed and two square pillow covers. What a treat to get the extras. I've ordered the pillow inserts. The cleaner said how the pillows will go well with the cotton quilt at the end of my bed. The quilt is twin-sized but makes a nice little throw. It had been part of a set I'd purchased for my mother when she moved into assisted living. They had this beautiful bed made up at Bloomingdales and I bought her everything. Sheets, pillow cases, duvet, quilt, throw pillows, etc and we are down to just the thin quilt which I absolutely adore.

I've been pretty focused at work since I've started listening to my weight loss tapes.

I bought my mom a GrandPad from consumer cellular and I dropped it off for her tonight. It's specifically designed for seniors. The aide we are friends with, Sally, took it up to her and before I knew it, they were video calling me! I think she'll be able to see it okay. I am the administrator of it so I've added myself and my BF as her contacts. I've also added the sister. It's designed in a way that I have to invite people to be part of her group; and so I think she'll be safe. The aide told me that mom was listening to music as she left. And I got to see the kitty so all around a win.

I did a lot of decluttering here in the past several days. I'm proud of my work. I believe goodwill is now open for donations so I'll try to get my bags over there on Saturday. I believe that for now, they are closed on Sundays.

Praying for the baby and your daughter.

The county website finally updated their information.
There are currently 24 active cases of covid19 in the county, one of the people are hospitalized, the rest are sheltering at home.

Must remember these are only the people who were tested and with milder cases the people wouldn't go get tested.

The county is still doing good and hopefully with masks now mandatory things will continue to stay good.

Most of the people out here are antisocial introverts who keep to themselves.
LOL ;D

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical
Completely agree with you that this could take a really long time.
That's the thing about "birthin Babies"
it takes as long as it takes. ;D

Holding you all close in my heart and thoughts
((((HUGS))))

WAY TO GO! for all the jam!
That's a workout in it's self.

Good luck, best of wishes with your virtual staff meeting.
I am hoping the tide is turning about the mask issue.
Seems mask wearing is getting more positive responses this past week.
Anti-maskers are now facing more critical backlash about their position.
At least this is what I am now seeing in places where indoor businesses are now all mandating everybody wear one.

Supposed to be a few degrees cooler next few days.
Still 97F to 101F but that is better than before.
But now the heat has generated clouds and lots of humidity.

Steven has stayed home for more than a whole week now.
From what I could understand from one of his nasty rants the other day he can't go anywhere any more now.
This is because he refuses to wear a face mask.
And he argues in a very nasty way with the poor people trying to enforce the rule.
He proudly tells me about how he argued with them.

I can still go into any shop in Nevada that I want because I would wear a face mask.
I used to have to wear a face mask every day at work when I did surgeries and it was no problem at all and kept my germs off my patients.
I also have allergies and allergic asthma and the mask doesn't interfere with my breathing. 😉

Goid morning.
No baby yet,
but it's baby day.

They have an appointment to induce at 10:00.

They will take the dog out before they go.
We will pick the dog up this afternoon.
Dsil thinks he will come take the dog back tomorrow morning.

(Actually this could take a really long time and she could have the baby tomorrow)

Yesterday I did not exercise, but I did finally make jam. 6.5 pints - enough to last us 4-6 months. Today is supposed to be a berry picking day, but it is also supposed to rain most of the day. Even if there is a break, it is not good to pick when the berries are wet.

CM, so odd that the frog responded to the rain when he is inside.

The house is messier because of the jam making.

I have a virtual staff meeting this morning. I think it is going to be stressful. I am getting some notes ready in case I need to defend my mask position.

And I need to do laundry.

Tatoulia, how did the laundry turn out?

Tillie, I am glad you are getting better.

Hello CriticalMass
GREAT that you are getting a good night's sleep!
Amazing how much difference that can make.

WTG! for doing laundry!

Wish your Frog would come here and eat the Cricket that chirps so loudly right outside my window all night.
Since it's been so hot even at night, the Cricket chirps very fast and constantly.

YEA! for your rain.
Jack and I were out watering the garden this evening and a few, very few, rain drops fell.
But the big dark clouds were nice and blocked the hot evening sun.

Since it's 8:35pm guess I could get ready for bed now.

Peeking in to see if there's a baby yet...

Been getting to bed earlier and noticed improved mood and even some productivity, so I'm sold for now. I kept staying up hoping I'd feel the satisfaction of getting something done, yet I was more piddling around than anything.

Did two loads of laundry yesterday. We got 1-1/2" of rain in the night. My frog croaked LOUDLY about it.

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Subclinical
How nice they came to visit!
Yes, it would feel weird having actual people right there after all this time in isolation.
Happy you had this time (((HUG)))

WTG! for riding and hiking!
Bet those brownies were delicious. 😉

Good luck with your jam and order making today.

I think a lot of parents are concerned about classroom school too.
So much we still don't know or understand yet.
A lot of 'wait and see".
But relieved you will still have enough to pay for things you need.

I think that if everybody wears face masks when inside together, keep their hands clean, this virus could be brought under control.
Too many people never thought before this just how badly we all spread germs to each other.

Yesterday I got my little patch of grass out front watered at about sundown.
Then showered & washed my hair.
Then did two loads of laundry and have it hanging out on the clothesline.
Soon as I finish posting I'll bring it in & fold & put it away.
Still need to take it easy but improving every day. 😀

Good morning.
No baby.

Dd is now scheduled to be induced tomorrow, no more changes, (unless she goes into labor today) so by Thursday I should have news.

I picked more berries, did more work in the scullery, and started the jam yesterday, but then Dd and Dsil decided to come for dinner since we were all locked down, and I put the seeded pulp away in the fridge to finish today. It was good to see them, but kind of weird to have people in our house.

I won't start more chicks before school starts, but I may hatch some in my classroom, or another teacher might.

Rode the bike and took my walk yesterday. Dd brought brownies. My weight isn't budging.

Been communicating back and forth with my administration about class changes for fall. My schedule is taking a significant cut, but it's ok. My pay will be down about 30% even though I got a raise because I will have 1/3 fewer hours. I will still make the mortgage and a lot of my salary goes to optional things - there have been, and will continue to be, fewer optional things. Our enrollment is really down. I'm still pretty stressed about returning to the classroom and how much pushback there will be on masks.

Meanwhile, jam to make and order to creep toward....

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Subclinical
Your scullery counter sure is a very busy place where so many important things go until they are properly addressed.
WAY TO GO! for working on it! 😀

YEA!!! for biking and hiking!

Very glad Dh is out clearing your land of fallen trees and brambles.
Good for him to get that physical outlet and good it's making walking your property lines easier.

Yep, I know so few of my neighbor's names too.
Used to know the "Old-timers'" names but they have all died years ago.

When Steven's mother and her husband came here long time ago before they died
they were ragging on us to clear the property and put in a grass lawn.
We live in the DESERT. That would be a HUGE waste of water, water is precious here.
Plus the Wildlife would be impacted without their natural habitat.
They said we were just lazy, making excuses.

So sorry so many Chicks are posturing like Roosters. 🙁
Will you try growing another batch?

Today I need to tackle the kitchen.
Not many human dishes to wash, cat bowls mostly.
Still going to take it easy after that heat ordeal.
Do the necessary stuff and rest & eat.

Good morning
No baby
They go this morning to decide wether to induce today or tomorrow.

I have still not made jam. I started clearing off the scullery counter and it us a much bigger, longer job that I thought because there are so many different mentally taxing things piled on it. I took a chunk of my day yesterday.

I almost caught up with the dishes and I picked beans and rode the bike and Dh and I took a walk.

Dh is doing a really nice job clearing downed trees, vines and invasives and opening up trails in the woods. He has found all the property lines and made it possible to walk very close to them. In the process he has had conversations with two of our neighbors who wanted reassurance that we were not clearing to build (Basically the same conversation both times - hey you, who are you what are you doing are you building?)

we never talk to our neighbors. As in, at the close of the first conversation (reassured that we were not building) the lady (Name unknown) thanked Dh again for our help clearing their driveway - 8 years ago. And after the close of the first ever and surprisingly lengthy conversation with the other neighbor - Dh reported to me that in the house live, at minimum, a couple and their adult son who just left an abusive gf and that the father worked for the company that originally built our bridge and helped on the construction. But that no names were offered. (Dh offered his) We have lived here for 17 years.

I am amused that the neighbors are so concerned about their privacy - I understand it. It is possibly the only thing we have in common - but apparently unlike me they have not learned that if you want privacy you do not clear to your own property line and put the yard in grass - no matter what the property next door looks like.

Tillie I am very glad you are cooled off and feeling better.

I don't know about the chicks. There is a way to sex them as day olds, but I don't know what to look for. Secondary characteristics show up later. I am concerned because an unfortunate number seem to be doing the rooster chest bump/flap challenge with each other. I can't remember seeing two hens do that....

Tell cowgirl kitty not to worry - things rarely leave the carport hoard.

Hi Guys 😀

Feeling so much better!
Microwaved a piece of banquet chicken and ate it.
Been moving around. Feels so good to move.
The cats are perkier too.
Scooter shared my chicken with me.

The house is very dusty and the floors need sweeping & vacuuming.
But I won't worry about that today. 😀

Good Afternoon Everybody

Hi Subclinical
Yes, many kids would be completely nocturnal if they were allowed to be. 😉

WAY TO GO! for exercise bike, berry picking, animal chow and especially for all that clean laundry!

Glad the feed store has curb side pick up.

A big pot of jam cooking on the stove may entice the Baby ;D

Baby birds of all sorts are so cute and silly looking at that between stage.
And they look itchy with all their constant preening as the feathers grow out.

Do you know how many are hens?
I never sexed baby chicks so I don't know how long it takes before you can see the difference.

Slept over 10 hours.
I was/am exhausted from the heat ordeal.
The house is at 74F while outside at 2:00pm it's 105F in the shade today.
I think I could even cook a little food today.
Didn't cook when the house was too hot already.
I do not recommend the "hot house" diet.

The balloon is still trapped in the carport.
Cowgirl Kitty safely had her breakfast this morning. ;D