if only, if only...

...I won't incriminate myself here on the blog. I'll never say that Sam and Grace and little Grant are coming from GASP: Virginia. Because we all know that the virus scampers across those state lines like nobody's business. That a recent test that rendered one of them negative would not help in the defense, we are only allowed ten per house here in NY state. Six of us live here, so they COULD actually come here... I will tell you this though, if the police stopped in this evening, they might find four pumpkin pies, three apple pies, and two chocolate pies. (Mariel is making lemon meringue, Ashley also chocolate, Margaret caramel granola, Grace, if she were here, ha, two pecan...) Yes, I am a huge pig, officer, is that illegal, I would say.

We got Olaf out yesterday. This is the first year that I can recall getting so many Christmas things out so early.

...the beautiful "cookies" crossstitch from Grandma...(a lazy pic, taken from my chair...) I decided, because my chair is extra comfy this fine morning, that I will take pics of the decorations just here and there, to have something nice to put on the blog, not all in one chunk. So decorating early: the girls really wanted to. This is such a strange time to grow up in, and I try to do as many fun things as possible, to make life pleasant for them. Wait, I've always tried to do that with all of my kids, ha. But even more so now, they don't have much else. Our school IS open for, two days a week for in-person. Camille plays the clarinet, she loves being in band, even if it's individual instruction. She also practices with Emily and a few of her friends. Emily and Abigail came over the other night to do a barre workout with me. I was terrible at it, out of shape, but it did give me hope and inspiration, I loved how I felt after, that good after-workout feeling...

Inspired to do it again, but oops, I haven't yet. Right now, I have to get up and sweep and mop, then start on the pies. Camille assisted me in making 14 crusts yesterday, which are actually balls of dough in the refrigerator, waiting for the rolling pin. (apple pies have double crusts...hence so many) If Sam and Grace were to come for Thanksgiving, they might be coming here today to spend the day while we make pies...wouldn't that be nice? One reader, a bit ago, wondered if Americans were "cavalier" about the virus. I cannot speak for all Americans, but I am not. I might come off as flippant and uncaring, but believe me, I read and weigh options, try to make good decisions, based on science, and not just what the government says. I do have a blogging friend who is suffering greatly right now, as her dear beloved husband is being transferred to hospice...they are 70 years old, and both contracted Covid...she healed up, he was hospitalized. She thought he was healing up and being moved to a step down facility, but he went in the other direction, and it's heartbreaking. The separation, the not being able to hold and comfort each other, the loneliness, and only 70 years old, for crying out loud. It is awful. But we do have to live, and things like depression are very real. We need to encourage each other, for us, being together as a family is like medicine. We aren't drinking and carrying on, no, we are playing with the kids and practicing patience, living what we know is right, encouraging each other to be hopeful and trust in God. It's good and pure and we are very thankful for it. "Oh now I can't wait to get out of this comfy chair and start sweeping and mopping," said no one ever. At least not ME.