Tales from Exile: 26 March

We've finally started to see an improvement in our daughter's coughing. She had a terrible day yesterday and another bad night, but things have turned around with a nasal spray and a different cough medicine. I am so thankful and hopeful that she will be able to have a good night's sleep tonight.

The children and I finished reading Boy by Roald Dahl last night. It was full of funny stories, but the tales of the gruesome abuse of school boys by their headmasters cancelled them out! We are re-reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe next... a good palette cleanser.

Tales from Exile: 25 March

Joyous Feast of the Annunciation!

What a strange feast day this was. We had church, but it was only our family and the service this morning was a Vesperal Typika. It feels so strange not to see our people on such a wonderful feast. 

We had our usual fasting fish day meal today: salmon, sweet potatoes, salad. I also made the season's first asparagus. A simply lovely treat!

Tales from Exile: 24 March

Today was a pretty quiet day after all the hustle and bustle of yesterday. The children and I have started back up with our school work after a week away. We were all a bit sick this past week and the shock of social distancing and everything changing was just too much. I just couldn't face teaching and keeping up with school while I was feeling so anxious and scared. I'm feeling better physically and emotionally this week, so we will press on with our schoolwork and try to have some structure to our days at home.

We are still awaiting news of the fate of the public schools in our area for the remainder of the school year. I wonder what will happen.

Tales from Exile: 23 March

Today is our twelfth day in captivity. I spent most of the morning going from store to store (four in all) getting things for the week. I was able to get everything except toilet paper. We still have a week's worth, but I want to try to find some before we run out. I did get  a few boxes of inexpensive tissues in case I am unsuccessful. Though there are still lots of things that the stores don't have, I am noticing that the small shops and grocery stores have more that the bigger chains like Walmart. 

The boys had their first Zoom violin lesson this afternoon and I think it well. It will take a little getting used to, but I do think this is a good way to continue lessons during the times when we (or their teacher) are sick enough to be contagious, but well enough to do some things.

We also held a Zoom meeting for the parish children and that was fun for the kids. They were on for two hours!

I bought some packets of flower and herb seeds and some potting soil while I was out today. The gardening bug has hit many people that I know, and I am not immune. I'm starting small so that things are manageable and not too costly.  Our daughter planted the sprouted pip she found while making apple crisp last week and it is shocking us with the growth it's had in just a couple of days. Hopefully these packets of seeds will grow just as well!

Tales from Exile: 22 March

Today is The Sunday of the Cross in the Orthodox Church. It just didn't feel the same without Divine Liturgy. We did Typika in the church this morning, ate some church bread, and had a Zoom meeting with parishioners who could make it.

I made Ina Garten's Roasted Shrimp for my husband's lunch today, which he ate with relish. It is one of his favorite lenten meals. I was thrilled to be able to snip a sprig of rosemary for the front garden to make this dish. It is nice to be able to use something that I grew for a meal, even if it is just a herb. I am seriously considering planting herbs in all the window boxes.

It is unbelievable that we are on eleven on the quarantine. The word on the street is that we will be sheltering in place tomorrow or the next day.

Tales from Exile: 21 March

Happiest of birthdays to my beloved better half and the father of our children! We see all that you do to help our family, our parish, and everyone you meet and are so grateful! You are a wonderful man and we are happy that you are ours. May God grant you many years!

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I took a long ramble around the Rectory Gardens and found so many daffodils blooming today. One thing that quarantine forces one to do is to take a deeper interest in one's surroundings. I have watched these daffy-down-dillys unfurl their petals one by one each day. Normally, I'd only noticed them once their blooms were fully developed. This year, however, I have immersed myself in their loveliness in each and every stages of their blooming period.

We made apple blueberry crisp for Father John's birthday. It was exquisite: not too sweet and not too tart. I think fresh (not frozen) blueberries make an impact. I also left it in the oven a little longer that usual and it was perfectly crisp and browned on top.

Tales from Exile: 20 March

I woke up this morning and immediately went outside to walk in the very Spring-like weather.  The sun was out, the sky blue, and there was a breeze.  It was also quite warm...  too warm for the sweater I threw on over my leggings and tunic. I spent some time on the phone with my father-in-law who's in quarantine in New Jersey. I am so grateful for the long driveway and wide parking lot in which I am able to walk each day.

Breakfast was an English muffin and tea. I've been drinking cups and cups of hot tea (mostly Bigelow Lemon Lift, with the occasional Bellocq tea bag of The Queen's Guard for good measure...  I'm close to running out and will have to place an order soon). Today I opted for peach iced tea. The children are eating their meal in the living room while watching a documentary on Amelia Earhart. I'm going to count that as history for school. I remember being fascinated with mysteries like this myself at their age. One of the ones I was most interested in was the Lindbergh baby mystery.

Our daughter has been working on a redesign of the art on her tissue box for the past two days.  It is so pretty! She made a prototype yesterday and them improved the design of the box, the artwork, and art medium (originally she chose colored pencil, but turned to watercolors for a better look). I absolutely love it!

Our middle son is doing a Lego Challenge with their church friend.  The take turns coming up with a theme, create their design, and then meet on video chat to show them off.  I'm so impressed with their creativity and it gives them something fun to do for several hours each day.