Pandemic Stations

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Donna

We have two new spots in our home for pandemic stuff. The first is our comfort station.

It has chocolate, crayons and a coloring page to remind us that we might see our grandkids again, Trump’s Coronavirus guidelines, shells from friends Anne and Jeff’s wedding, and a nice card from the Boys and Girls Club thanking me for a donation. Angry Bird is guarding it all.

Then there is the PPE station. There are N95 and other masks, disposable gloves, and Lysol wipes. Usually there is a thermometer too, but it went missing from the photo.

It is funny how much life has changed, and it is starting to feel normal. Kind of sad.

Posted in Farm, History | 2 Comments

Great Smog

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Donna

I am still incapacitated by this reactive arthritis.  So I have been binge watching shows.  The latest is The Crown.  It is fascinating, and I am learning a lot about British history.  But I learned today about the Great Smog of London of 1952.  I did not know anything about this event. Here are the depictions of the hospital during it in this show.

london fog 1london fog 2london fog 3

In the first photo notice the masks.  The doctor said they did no good but made the government feel like it was doing something.  And here is the final tally from 5 days of deadly smog, 12,000 people died.

london fog 4

I have been making comparisons of our current pandemic to 1918-1919.  But this is another analogy.  How lack of planning and gross governmental misconduct led to the overwhelming of the healthcare system and extreme numbers of unnecessary deaths.  There are lessons that should have been learned about how to prepare for and rapidly adjust to a health catastrophe.

Posted in History | 6 Comments

Powell’s Books

Posted on April 29, 2020 by Donna

I have long loved this book store, starting when I lived in Portland.  And I received the March 17 email from Emily Powell.  I have had a wishlist since 2003 on their site.  So I decided to order books from their site that have been on my wishlist for a while.  I posted one book the other day. The rest arrived today and I am thrilled.

Powells books

I know the very last thing I need is more books.  But they make me happy, and I get to support a business that I truly love.

PS I am still quite ill and am having to take a leave of absence from work.  Scary times for me.

Posted in Farm | 4 Comments