Dear Sunday Letter friends,
Last week marked the one-year anniversary of when life shifted, thanks (no thanks) to Covid. For about two months, I marked the days on my chalkboard. When I realized normal would look different for a while, I stopped counting and starting adjusting. Sometimes, oftentimes, attitude adds much to circumstance, good or bad.
Looking back, I realize so much has changed . I wonder which changes are permanent? I wonder what I’ve learned, what I no longer need, what positive has come from this? When we come out on the other side, what habits and ideas and opinions will forever be changed?
A friend recently said, 2021 probably isn’t the year to donate clothing not worn last year. I’ve begun to wonder whether I need so much stuff to begin with.
Springing Forward
I’ve never been so happy to be springing forward. I’m not sure anyone knows why we still observe Daylight Saving Time, but this year I’m happily clinging to anything related to moving forward.
More sunlight.
More time to garden and to be outside.
I believe we are getting closer to normal, and that’s celebratory!
(photo: KT on Unsplash)
Isn’t it nice that our phones and computers and televisions are smart enough to keep track of time changes?
Remember the days when re-setting clocks stole even more of our time?
The random manual clock may still need to be adjusted, but for the most part time silently slips ahead while we sleep. If not for the sun and calendar reminders, we’d possibly not know why our insides feel so out of sync for at least a week. Maybe two.
There is the clock high on the wall in our pantry that has been stuck at six o’clock for several years… (Twice a day, it shows the right time. Ha.)
Charcuterie Board
What I’m about to share is an Easter charcuterie board fit for the king of all Easter bunnies.
Seriously, is this not the most lovely, spring-filled, Easter charcuterie board your eyes have ever seen?
This culinary work of art is from Ain’t Too Proud To Meg. I can’t stop studying it.
The color, the texture, the aromas—unbelievable design. I can taste and smell it from here.
I’m going to try my hand at something similar this year.
Spring Cleaning
We’ve been spring cleaning our house this past week. And speaking of bunnies, some of the dust varieties have been hiding away in plain sight.
Baseboards, windowsills, polishing wood, rearranging a few things. I swear I can breathe and think better when the house is clean and uncluttered.
Wise words to the puppy owner… you don’t realize how many “accidents” there have been until you truly start moving furniture and rugs around.
Oh, Gracie. Such a tiny, innocent-looking culprit.
Vaccine Envy
Confession: I have vaccine envy so bad! It seems most everyone has been able to get a Covid vaccination but me. Well, John hasn’t either. And I’m sure there are plenty of others who’ve not been able to get one, but when you hear and see more and more people getting vaccinated, you start to feel alone at the back of a very long line.
No, I would never want to take away a dose from someone who needs it much worse than I. But the system (or lack thereof) seems ridiculously unorganized from my non-essential seat.
Patience. I know.
I’m trying.
Like so many things in life, it seems this too is about who you know, or being at the right place at the right time, or learning how to backdoor the line, or just being downright lucky.
To those who can’t or refuse to get one, I’ll gladly take yours.
I remind myself the more people who get vaccinated, the better we all are, especially as people begin throwing masks to the wind. And don’t get me wrong, I truly DO hope you’ve received one.
Okay. I’m done whining.
Things Momma Says
I’m going to the beauty shop!
***
Thanks for joining me today for the last Sunday Letter of winter. I’ll meet you here next week to officially welcome SPRING! In the meantime, I’m curious—what change from the past year do you think will become part of your permanent routine?
For the first time since Covid arrived, I am feeling cautiously optimistic that there truly is a light at the end of the tunnel. How are you feeling about things?
Not to rush but… 98 days until summer! 🌼
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
I am also feeling cautiously optimistic. Such a nice feeling.
We’ve had our vaccinations—so very thankful—-praying all those who can will get theirs very soon. It’s such an important step in the right direction.
I’m especially thankful for technology during this past year. We may all be suffering from Zoom fatigue, but it has made path for life to go on. I am really looking forward to hugging some necks though. Yours included🥰
I’m loving that more books are being read, more gardens planted and more family time is being shared.I hope that continues beyond Covid. ☘️☘️☘️
This year has made me appreciate time for myself. I will never feel quilty for not putting a load of laundry in because I want to finish my book or take a bubble bath when I should be cleaning the kitchen up.
I’ve been meaning to tell you I got the pepper seeds you suggested. I can’t wait to try your recipe. I was hoping to find plants. Well, plants were not to be found and I finally found seeds. Thanks for the suggestion.
Hope your mother has gotten her shots. You probably could get one in Northeast Arkansas. Several places have given them because they had vaccine that was going to be out of date.
HAPPY SPRING!!! I love falling back…more daylight!
Cautiously optimistic here too, and taking a small step toward testing out that return to normal by staying at a motel on our journey across the plains toward Colorado this week for another normal: visiting son in his home. 2 of 3 of us had vaccines which CDC rates as very low risk visiting. And best return to normal was other son, whom I hadn’t seen in 14 months due to COVID came for a visit last week. So, my heart is full and the outlook is optimistic! I truly believe summer will really feel pretty normal with all the outdoor activities living on the lake allows (your song selection was perfect!!) and I’ll happily wear a mask indoors if that is the recommended course.
What I hope stays: mask wearing becoming the norm if you are sick with common cold, flu… but need to venture out! Why weren’t we doing this all along? Protects others and yes, even a little prompt that if you see someone w a mask, keep a distance, apply hand sanitizer. What I will NEVER do again, take a sample of food from a display sample, such as used to be the norm at food stores like COSTCO.
PS, just finishing up “A Cup of Dust” from your recommendations. Enjoyed it very much, plus reflected on the reminder that there have been much harder times than the current Covid times.
Hopefully everyone wishing to get the vaccine will soon get theirs and hopefully the nay sayers to the vaccine will wake up and do the right thing. We had our second shot a week ago. One advantage to being old. Haha At this time one third of Iowans have been vaccinated and I feel the system is working well and moving forward as quickly as possible.
I’m not sure my habits have or will change dramatically due to the virus except for seeing family and friends more often. One plus for me has been having back yard chats with my neighbor since we both spent a lot of time at home and outdoors, weather permitting.
I felt more rested this morning probably because I had never adjusted to going back to standard time. I’d like to see the time changes end for good.