Day 80, Sunday 31st May 2020

The weather is absolutely smashing at the moment. The sun shines all day, there is great heat there, (25 degrees I think), there is no rain and the wind (yes of course there is wind, this is Ireland!) is not chilly.
This means that I have to retire indoors during the hottest part of the day, I usually end up having a siesta (the nearest I am going to get to Spain this year and next) and then I stay up late as I can actually do something when the evening comes and the temperatures cool down. Rinse and repeat the next day.
I am going to go for my walk now shortly. I did some shopping this morning, early, in Lidl and i Argos. where I bought a flat pack black desk for our son. Of course that meant I had to help him to put it together in the afternoon. His room looks very stylish now.
I have 3 weeks left of work(ing from home). The 2 middle daughters have finished college, the son finished First Year in secondary school 2 days ago, and the eldest daughter who is almost quarter of a century is working from home reading for her Ph.D.
Husband is also working from home. Bless him, he is stuck in front of 2 computers all day in his little office.
I don't even have an office table, it is the kitchen table for me.
The best thing though is the country road, and the walks.
Have a good week everybody.

Day 78, Friday 29th May 2020

Good morning!!
11 weeks and 1 day since schools closed.
Today is a lovely morning, a bit breezy but sunny and bright and no cold in the breeze. Two days ago we had the men in to widen and re-stone our driveway and put down kerbing at the side where we had no kerbing. It looks wonderful now, if a bit too clean, but time and rain will dull it a bit.
They put in some top soil in a strip on the other side of the kerbing and as that is south facing, I am thinking: perfect gardening spot. never look a gift horse in the mouth! So I am aiming to get my new raised beds out and set up on the new topsoil. and sow some seeds!
Also I plan to make a flower bed! I have bought lots of small flowers the past few weeks, It seems the petrol stations purchased the plants that would have normally gone to the Garden centres, so every time one goes to buy milk and bread, one has to resist buying just one more little plant too!
I have ordered the anti-weed fabric and also this edging material to keep the weeds from spreading sideways into the flower bed. So as soon as I get that stuff I will get going on planting and sowing.

My children are 'attacking' the patio: weeding between the slabs and power-washing the slabs to bring them back to shiny newness! And yesterday finally I managed to buy a new electric grass trimmer, our old one has given up the ghost, it turns on but it only chugs, it doesn't go fast enough to actually cut the grass, sadly.
Speaking of which, today I am about to buy a new washing machine as the one we have is about to also give up the ghost, it makes a sound like a helicopter taking off. Thankfully I have found out that the local family electric business can do disconnection and installation for us, if we buy from them.
Off to review some work sent in by my pupils and also to buy a washing machine!

Day 73, Sunday 24th May 2020

Thankfully the sun cam back out again today. We have had 2 and a half days of fierce wind and some rain. I didn't really want to do much the past few days, but thankfully I woke up motivated and determined. So after a quick trip to the shop for the Sunday papers, I got a lovely walk to the end of the road and back. over 7600 steps before 12midday. I am pleased with that!
I had a trip to Lidl for veg and fruit. Then home again to brunch and a nap in the afternoon, ( it was a late night last night).
After dinner, I had to do some of the paperwork for school for the week. It was a lovely evening and I had another walk, watching the sunset.
All good here.

Day 70, Thursday 21st May 2020.

Thursday, and there is wind, and rain, gales even, coming tonight. We had some lovely sunny days yesterday and the day before. 
I have been taking it easy for a day or two, I think I need to push myself back out walking again, tomorrow, I guess. Still, it was good to get some small jobs done inside the house too. Plenty of small jobs remaining, though....
I got 4 beautiful baby plants on Tuesday, from Online Baby Plants in Holland. The plants are very cute and taking pride of place in the middle of my kitchen table for now. Here they are, from front left and clockwise: a Ctenanthe Burle Marxii (belonging to the Calathea family), Alocasia Black Velvet, Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma  and Fittonia Verschaffeltii.

Everyone here is well, thankfully. I have been baking bread, both yeasted bread in the bread maker and brown soda bread in the oven. The bread went really well with homemade leek and potato soup.  It also went well with my homemade Red and Green Lentil dahl. 


One daughter is painting a geometric pattern on one wall of the upstairs bathroom. The hardware shops opened again on Monday.  Our son has just finished mowing the lawn. I need to get out and move some of the pot plants off the deck, before the wind and gales arrive. 

Day 66, Sunday 17th May 2020, where do the days go

Wednesday May 13th: combination of computer work, washing clothes at the laundromat in the nearest village, and going for walks.
Thursday: Birthday of my husband, and see Wednesday above for other details!
Friday: my sister's birthday, rest of the day, see above.
Saturday: well, no birthday, but pretty much the same as above?
Sunday: a grey day, but dry, and thankfully the wind was milder than all week.
The restrictions are going to lift in phase 1 tomorrow, the 18th.
Meantime, life continues peacefully here at home. Nobody going anywhere much as yet.

Day 61, Tuesday 12th May 2020, better day.

After yesterday which was mostly spent in front of the computer, I had a much better day today. Up early, showered dressed and out for a walk. Got 5000 steps.
Home for a bit of work and then to the shop for the parents.
Nice fresh day, bright and sunny. but windy and definitely cool in the shade. North East wind.
Another walk in the evening at sunset. I love that time.
Finished with 10,000 + steps.
Early to bed, before 11pm.
Phew

Day 60, Monday 11th May 2020

A bright breezy cool day, and apart from hanging out the clothes from yesterday and taking the paper to my parents, very little outside work done today. Hmm, I need to work on that tomorrow, not good to be in front of this computer all day.
Plenty work done for school, but some of the uploading took ages or didn't upload even after waiting ages so I am going to leave that and try an easier way tomorrow. Darn Seesaw and Youtube and Videos and PDFs!
Time to write a list so I hit the ground running tomorrow morning and get more stuff done!

Day 59, Sunday, 10th May, 2020

I think I have been burning the candle at both ends a bit too much. It caught up with me today! Read on.....
I got up early on Sunday (for a Sunday) around 8.30am and headed off to the local village to buy fresh veg and the Sunday papers.
Home and edited the Notes for the week for my pupils and practically fell asleep into the computer keyboard, so back to bed with me for a nap.
It was a long nap, but the weather outside wasn't conducive to much else, so not to worry. It was a windy, cool, overcast day. Totally different to yesterday, with its sun and 22 degrees.
After the nap, I headed off to the other local village to the outdoor Laundromat there, as my washing machine started making ominous grumbling noises and I think it might be the bearings that are going.

I foresee lots of dates with this machine this coming week!

The sun came out! While the wash was on, I got a walk and saw the river, and some interesting wildflowers. That reminds me I need to put my wildflower book on the kitchen table, to have it near me.

Home, finished editing the work for the kiddos, and sent off a Module 2 of a course I am doing in Spinning, complete with pictures and diagrams.
All good!
New week tomorrow.
Stay well!

Day 58, Sat 9th May 2020, #darknessintolight

I woke early with the Dawn Chorus, got up and went out to see the sunrise. It was great to be up at that time.
Today should have been the Darkness Into Light sponsored walk in aid of Pieta House.
Instead of walking together, I just went out myself and had a little walk and took a few photos.
It got foggy, so the sun was very faint in the sky.
A cuckoo perched in the tree near me, the nearest I have ever been to a cuckoo; I couldn't see him but his call was loud. I think i got it on my phone.
When I went home, my DD#3 was up, she had work at 7am.
After I had come home from dropping her to work, I went back to bed. So tired.

The day was smashing! over 20 degrees and bright sun all day.
The odd rumble of thunder off in the distance just to make us feel alive.
I had to go to town to get medicines for my parents from their chemist. I was surprised that there was no Garda Checkpoint on the main road.  Have they stopped checking people? Or gone elsewhere?

Later I had to go to the nearest village to the  Laundromat there, as my beautiful washing machine needs new bearings and I cannot use it right now. The laundry got washed and I got it home and hung up.
Helped hubby by mowing some of the lawn. Read a book on Earth and Geology. Very interesting.
Almost fell asleep, then decided to go for a walk at 9pm to see the sunset, like I usually do these days. Strolled along, about half a mile or so.
Suddenly got a text from a friend and realised I had forgotten that we had a Zoom meeting at 9pm. Had to stride back fairly lively! almost jogged at one point.
Got a call from the priest, I had called him earlier, today was supposed to be the First Holy Communion for my pupils , but it had to be cancelled. The priest himself is in his 80's so is cocooning. I wanted to check in with him and just mark the day.
Finally got onto Zoom with my friends and we had a great chat! I now have the paid version of Zoom, so unlimited meeting length. Yay! Go Me! Go Zoom!

Day 57, Friday 8th May 2020, sunshiney day

Friday dawned and the sun was shining.
I had a Zoom meeting for work, our first, in the middle of the day.
Did a bit of work on the computer to catch up for school.
After that, we just enjoyed the sun and the rest of the day.
Phew...

Day 56, Thursday, 7th May. 8 weeks and a Green Flag.

Thursday and it is 8 weeks, 56 days since we closed the school.
Hard to believe it.
Who could have imagined that this would ever happen?
Today I did the usual, worked on the computer, proof read my daughter's essay for grammar, got the papers for my parents and food and stuff, tried to get good photos of wild flowers to make a Virtual  Nature Walk activity for my pupils, got a lovely walk in the evening, looked at the sunset.
I will miss all these good parts of quarantine when it is over.
Great News in the emails: I was successful in achieving our Green Flag in Travel for the school!! Phew.
Very pleased about that.

Day 55, Wed 6th May 2020.

Another windy day and I was even more reluctant to go out in it today then yesterday. Ah well, nothing for it, but to go out. Got the walk!!
I got petrol later at a small petrol station on the main road and I just have to note the price of the petrol: 119.9 c per litre with diesel at 114.9c per litre. Wow!
I got an aquilegia and two Bucopa flowers at the shop, to join my Wallflowers, pansies and Bidens at the kitchen door.
My washing machine developed a funny groaning noise when I rotate the drum, so I am thinking that the bearings may be gone. Eeek! Repair shops and laundrettes are all closed until 18th May.
Oh well, thankfully we have self-service washing machines in a nearby village. Not ideal but the best I can think of now for the next 2 weeks.

Day 54, Tuesday 5th of May, 2020

The day was windy. It looked cold and windy, and it took me a while to get out for a walk. I soon discovered that it was kinda mild and windy! Along the way I picked up leaves that had blown from trees. I hope to do a little video on Seesaw for my pupils of a virtual Nature Walk. So I popped the leaves into a jar of water when I got home.
I joined Zoom on a paid basis to get unlimited meetings. I had a Zoom meeting at 6pm with the other spinners and we had a good turnout: 9 people I believe! I got some carding done upstairs while on the Zoom meeting. I need to get some spinning done too, soon!

The evening turned dark and cool later and I just stayed at home.

Day 53, May Bank Holiday, Monday May 4th 2020

A beautiful morning. Off I went for a walk and when I got home I did some Yoga. The 5 Tibetans and the Sun Salutation, and just lying on the floor, breathing. Yum
The day went by with paperwork for school and fixing Seesaw.
I cancelled the accommodation for our July holiday in Spain. We are not going to be going there.
Another walk in the evening, followed by watering the flowers with gathered rainwater.
Then in home to the smell of bread baking in the breadmaker.
Not a bad day at all!

Who knew ivy leaves unfurling could look so wonderful?
The 3 ages of ivy are in the photo.

Day 52, Sunday 3rd May,

Another lovely quiet sunny day.
I didn't even want to break the silence with the noise of the lawnmower so I didn't mow the lawn!
I had a walk and took these photos:

Majestic Beech trees

Red Valerian

Another fasciated dandelion. I find them fascinating!

Day 51, Saturday 2nd May 2020, Sunshiney day

It was a lovely sunshiney day today. Although, I have to admit, there was a cool easterly breeze. At one point when I was sitting on the deck reading, I was wearing a fleece jacket and I still had to have a blanket on my knees as well as one around my shoulders. So not exactly sunbathing weather.
A very quiet day today, I had some reading to finish, daughters had work to finish and husband was relaxing on his Saturday off.
It is a long weekend, there is a Bank Holiday on Monday, not that we will notice really, but still.
I went for a walk this morning, here are some photos:

Sunlight through the young beech leaves

Clematis

The Babbling Brook

Swallow pair

Day 50, May Day, 1st May 2020, The Next Announcement

Day 50. May Day.
I am writing this post 3 days later and scheduling it to post in order. Sadly I have to admit that I do not remember much of what I did last Friday. I do believe that I managed to submit one very large piece of writing late on Thursday night, so I was very happy with myself on Friday for that reason.

I recall making phone calls to some people, family, friends and colleagues. I recall taking the groceries to my mother. There was sunshine.
At about 6.30pm, Leo (Varadkar, An Taoiseach = PM) was on TV with the next announcement. There will be no let up in the restrictions for now, not until 18th May.
There is a road map for the loosening of restrictions. The main point for me is that there will be no school until September. Of course I will continue to contact parents with work they can do at home and also via Seesaw the app; it provides a digital platform for an online journal with activities.

A few photos from the past few days, as I do not seem to have taken any on Friday:

Primroses still in bloom

Fasciated Dandelion (4 or even 5-headed?)

Moody sunset.