June 2020
The Tales of the Traveling Tote is a series of adventures that share where our Mackenzie Childs tote bags have taken us. Four times a year a group of bloggers each write a connected post about the places we have been. We have built incredible friendships through our blogs and we hope you enjoy our tales as much as we do!
March brought us the news of the Corona Virus, COVID-19, but we were able to squeeze in our family Pirish Party early in the month before all of us were ordered to shelter in our own homes.
We packed up the "girls" and drove to Ohio.
News of the virus was spreading and we all took caution, however it really wasn't until we got home that the seriousness of Covid-19 had us sheltering at home.
Here are a few photos of our family celebration:
Once we returned our state ordered a shelter in place and I decided to spend time organizing and cleaning. I started with my washing the hardwood floors, moving furniture, washing baseboards and woodwork.
That led to closets....
When my house seemed in order, I retreated to the kitchen, trying new recipes for days...
...and making masks...
We took a few day trips to get in some fresh air and exercise:
Chittenango Falls
Green Lakes
One cloudy, but warm day I packed up sandwiches and chips in my Bistro Tote and we ate in our car overlooking Oneida Lake, a few miles down the road....It wasn't Cape Cod, but we pretended!
...and another day I packed up my Serendipity Tote, Ms Tizzy, with cheese and crackers and we had a little Happy Hour at William's Beach, again, sitting in the car!:
These are the things I want to remember about March 2020
This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, declared March 11th, 2020.
- Gas prices were $1.89, $1.69 in some places
- School cancelled - yes cancelled
- Self-distancing measures on the rise.
- Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers (6ft) from each other.
- Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors.
- Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed.
- Parks, trails, entire cities locked up.
- Entire sports seasons cancelled. Like NBA, MLB, ALL sports!
- Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events - cancelled.
- Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - cancelled. Funerals limited to a specific number and being live streamed.
- No masses, churches are all closed. During Easter season.
- No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, now 10 or more, and even this is encouraged to be limited to immediate family.
- Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home.
- Children's outdoor play parks are closed.
- We are to distance from each other. Six feet!
- Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers.
- Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.
- Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towel no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer.
- Shelves are bare. Hard to find beef, eggs, milk. Sending one family member to shop.
- Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE.
- Government closes the border to all non-essential travel.
- Fines are established for breaking the rules.
- Stadiums and recreation facilities open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients.
- Big industries help make more ventilators, and more masks for hospitals.
- Press conferences daily from the President and the Governor. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths.
- Government incentives to stay home.
- Barely anyone on the roads.
- People wearing masks and gloves outside.
- Essential service workers are terrified to go to work.
- Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families.
- School cancelled - yes cancelled
- Self-distancing measures on the rise.
- Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers (6ft) from each other.
- Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors.
- Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed.
- Parks, trails, entire cities locked up.
- Entire sports seasons cancelled. Like NBA, MLB, ALL sports!
- Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events - cancelled.
- Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - cancelled. Funerals limited to a specific number and being live streamed.
- No masses, churches are all closed. During Easter season.
- No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, now 10 or more, and even this is encouraged to be limited to immediate family.
- Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home.
- Children's outdoor play parks are closed.
- We are to distance from each other. Six feet!
- Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers.
- Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.
- Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towel no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer.
- Shelves are bare. Hard to find beef, eggs, milk. Sending one family member to shop.
- Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE.
- Government closes the border to all non-essential travel.
- Fines are established for breaking the rules.
- Stadiums and recreation facilities open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients.
- Big industries help make more ventilators, and more masks for hospitals.
- Press conferences daily from the President and the Governor. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths.
- Government incentives to stay home.
- Barely anyone on the roads.
- People wearing masks and gloves outside.
- Essential service workers are terrified to go to work.
- Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families.
Easter was a bit lonely, but we FaceTimed with the girls and their families. John flew a kite for the annual Family Kite Flying Contest (and so did Sara in Ohio and Mike in Rochester), so the tradition was not broken!
Mid April discussions on how to slowly get back to normal were discussed daily on TV. And we woke up to snow a few days:
Thanks, Google for keeping track of my whereabouts during April...my one 10 minute drive!:
I was happy when May arrived, sunnier, warmer weather, and a hope that CNY would slowly start to open and people would stay safe!
We ventured out for an hour and a half drive to see our newest grandson....and my Traveling Tote was also happy to see daylight!
The Traveling Tote group participated in a Zoom call the first week of May and it was fun to chat and catch up and also hear how Covid-19 and sheltering in place is affecting everyone around the country. Remember, we represent NY, WV, CA, UT, AL, OK, TX and CT:
Two weeks ago we made our annual trip, the first of a few, to Hafners for our flowers:
I hope that you are all doing well, staying healthy and being socially responsible as the country slowly opens up.
Wishing you all peace and ......
Enjoy this blog hop and make sure you take a chance to win this Canape Knife Set. Linda is hosting our giveaway this month, over at Life and Linda
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(¸.*´ (¸.*´* patti*
Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths
Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch
Jenna with Miss Coquille @The Painted Apron
Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda
Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply
Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul
Jackie and Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home
Ricki Jill and Countess De Monet @ The Sketchy Reader
Cherry Kay and Carrie Ann Hall @ Entertaining Women
Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box YOU ARE HERE
Patti, excellent list of things to remember during COVID! I may have to save that just for posterity's sake alongside my picture album. Your closets have space in them, wow! Even when mine are organized they're packed too tight. #goals. Your kitchen time inspired me more than once, and leave it to Google to let you know your whereabouts. Good thing they can't read our thoughts! Eating in the car has been such a funny thing. I noticed the other day Mr. P. leaves his seatbelt on, lol. Safe eating! Well, I'm glad the weather's breaking in your area, and with things slowly reopening, you'll be able to enjoy more time with your family, who I'm glad were able to get back to NY during all this too. Happy June!
ReplyDeleteI admire your cleaning and reorganizing tasks you've accomplished, Patti, that is what I should have been doing! Your annual Pirish party sounds like so much fun, and I love the kite tradition for Easter! So glad your newest grandson has moved so much closer and that you were able to visit again recently. Your day trips sound perfect, a change of scenery does wonders, and you always make everything so special with the pretty plates and tasty treats! Now that summer is here and you can be outside more things will surely feel more normal. You always seem to get a lot done no matter what the circumstances!
ReplyDeleteJenna
Great job on organizing and cleaning. I did clean my closet as well. Filled up bags of clothes. What a fun tradition of flying kits at Easter. Days trips are a great way of getting out. Love that you are creating fun cocktails. Happy gardens makes us smile. Looking forward to seeing you soon on zoom.
ReplyDeleteIn spite of it all you managed to have some adventures, Patti. Let's hope for a great summer!
ReplyDeletePatti, great job of tracking your time in Quarantine! Like you it's been about the same here, staying in and a few rides for a change of scenery. You visited some lovely spots in your area, the falls and the lake. Happy you got to visit your family before the lockdown. You sure have a great collection of helpers when you travel. I think we've all been doing a lot of cleaning and organizing and like you I have been busy doing the same. All of your food looks delicious Patti and it's a fun way to spend our time. Look forward to our Zoom visit this week, see you then...........
ReplyDeleteI just love your mask! I am going to make one too. What a great idea to write down all of the things that happened. I have been taking photos and started an album called Covid Life, because I think others will want to remember this. My grandmother was quarantined outside of their southern Utah town during the 1918 flu. They had to camp out while the sick were in town. Her brother died all alone, with no family and they couldn't have a funeral. I would love more details on it, like you have written up.
ReplyDeleteWe didn't have the harsh restrictions here, as our numbers stayed low for so long, but it would be good to write them down and mention they happened in other places, as it was quite unbelievable.
I love Ms Tizzy. Normally I am not a blue person, but the royal blue of this MC line is fabulous!
Thanks for the save on the giveaway too.
Enjoyed reading this so much! Saved the Covid list. Thank you!
ReplyDeletePatti, you and your girls had a busy time regardless of the quarantine. It's fun to see your family celebrating traditions! I haven't done as much organizing as I need to, but once the remodel is complete, I'll feel more inclined. Too much packed away in totes in the garage at the moment. I have done a lot of baking though. With online grocery shopping we seem to end up with an abundance of berries or bananas, so I had plenty of supplies for delicious sweets.
ReplyDeleteLook forward to seeing everyone at the Zoom gathering.
I've been thinking of you quite a bit during the medical martial law because you are one on the go lady! Your picnics were a great idea. I love your pretty paper goods! Our parks have been closed in Birmingham, but the lakes haven't been.
ReplyDeleteHopefully we can all go on trips before our next posts (fingers crossed)...
xo,
Ricki Jill
Patti, looks like you have kept busy and how nice that you have been able to visit your newest grandson! Your picnics were a great idea as fresh air and a change in scenery is always welcome. Ms. Tizzy was probably equally as excited to get out! Thankfully we've had sunny skies in May, and CNY has started to open. Hope everyone stays safe, and gets to enjoy their summer.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you made the best of the pandemic, Patti, with your picnics and your visit before the lockdown. How exciting to go and visit your newest grandson! Your list of remembrances of the pandemic was very complete, although I know we wish that it had never happened. Happy summer!
ReplyDelete