I Can't Believe I Forgot the Freaking Derecho

 We had the weirdest storm a couple of weeks ago, a very rare derecho, something none of us have ever heard of before.  I meant to make note of it, but have been too busy being angry about everything else.  

Anyway, I am sitting at my dining room table working on framing samplers, it is very hot and humid outside, one of those suffocating summer days.  All of the sudden, the sky turned black and the wind came up--no sirens, just this crazy storm out of nowhere.  I screamed for the girls to run downstairs, they grabbed the bunny and the dog and into the basement we went.  The power went out and there we were in the dark, listening to loud cracking sounds and howling wind, no idea of what was happening, as our storm room is without windows.  This lasted about 30 minutes, and it got a bit quiet, so I went upstairs to see what was happening.  Just then, a huge branch fell from my big pine tree and went flying past the window--I did some fast back tracking to the basement.  It was all over in under an hour, we found out later that it was not a tornado as we thought, but a derecho, a bit like a hurricane with 120 mile an hour straight line winds.  Our yard was full of broken branches, but our trees stayed standing.  We walked out to see what the neighborhood looked like and had to go back home, huge trees had fallen across almost every street and power lines were taken down with them.  This wasn't even close to how bad it was in Cedar Rapids, I understand that they lost half the trees in the city and almost every building and home has damage.  We were without power only 24 hours, they had no power or water for over a week.  The storm tore across central Iowa and into Illinois, but Cedar Rapids bore the brunt of it.

This is my yard after the storm passed, it doesn't really show how much we had to clean up--took 3 of us working non stop for over 12 hours, and then all the city workers that came to get the brush after we cut it and tied it up.

I Still Got Nothing

 Let's start with the old corona update.  Iowa is supposed to be a hot spot for the virus, but life seems to be going on somewhat normally.  Husband still treating and curing all his patients, and word is out that he is the one to come to see.  He has people driving over an hour to get to his clinic, not even sure how they find out, but he is busy.  We are all fine so far.  My eldest daughter just started a job in retail and both daughters are supposed to go to college this week.  Lots of rumors that they are going to go online and we are all pretty frustrated.  A good friend of theirs just moved into a dormitory, they have to wear masks, no parties, no dining hall, just order food and eat it in the room.  I am certain there will be outbreaks at the college, but I don't think stopping education and social interaction is the answer at all, especially when there are treatments that truly work.  Part of me wants to cancel facebook and avoid all the angst, but the stubborn part of me thinks I need to stay and present a different point of view.  I have been livid about the defund the police movement and have been trying to make myself heard.  Mostly feel like I have been ignored, especially after a few people argued with me and I think I took them down rather nicely.  Probably been unfriended more that I know.  I am really worried as I live in an ultra liberal town and I fear they will bend to the demands of the mob and destroy the town.  The protesters have been blocking streets here, we have had several incidents of cars trying to drive through and getting jumped on.   Not as bad as Portland, but the possibility is there.  

Oh, I should also mention that I went to the What Cheer flea market a month ago and spent 6 hours on two separate days walking the market, where there were no masks and no social distancing.  No cases reported from the market, so just another interesting fact that makes no sense.

I continue busy with the shop, here is what I am listing tonight:

Heavy Sigh

Well, Iowa has been open for over a month with no ill effects.  My husband's hospital is closing the covid clinic because there are no patients.  It should be a joyous time, but as you all know, things are much much worse.  Even after 9/11, I thought my country was invincible, that the republic would stand and our freedoms would remain intact.  I am doubting that for the first time in my life.  Too many people I know are pretending antifa is a good thing.  I don't even know what to say.  Burning the country to the ground is a good thing?  A good friend actually posted something comparing them to the men who stormed the beach at Normandy "they are both fighting fascism!"  I have no words for such complete foolishness, I can't believe someone I know believes this lie.

July 4th has always been my favorite day of the year, antique shows, hot sunny weather, hot dogs and popsicles all crowned with a glorious fireworks display.  I could just cry that we aren't even going to celebrate as a country this year.

He didn't know. He didn't know anything.

My title is a favorite line from The Enchanted April.  Frederick is in a social situation in which he keeps asking himself who people are and what is happening and the author repeats "He didn't know.  He didn't know anything." after each question.  I feel much like Frederick, a bit bewildered and admitting I still don't know anything.  "Peak" infection time has come and gone, and it hasn't been that bad in Iowa.  Number of patients at my husbands clinic have dwindled, everyone is being treated and recovering without hospitalization.  The state is officially open this weekend, although you wouldn't have known it was closed by the crowds at Walmart and Lowes and Menards over the last few weeks.  So, once again, we are waiting two weeks to see what happens.  Will it be fine?  Will it be a disaster?  I don't know.  I don't know anything.

Antique shops have opened and I went and shopped--a lot.  8 weeks without antiques was too much, that I do know.  I did my part to stimulate the economy--I am hoping all the shopkeepers haven't been too badly hurt.

Here a few projects I have been working on before all my shopping:

Still Waiting....

Things have not come close to a peak here in Iowa, supposedly we are due at the end of April, on my birthday, in fact.  Not joyous news.  In the meantime, my husband has treated several people and they have all recovered.  The number of patients his hospital has been seeing has dwindled, which seems like good news, but the facebook crowd will certainly have none of it.  Just try being positive around that place---Jeez!

I was really surprised to still be selling on eBay, but that has dwindled as well.  I have been planting herbs and lettuces in pots, cleaning up the yard, taking walks and doing a lot of puzzles--I find them very therapeutic.  I have kind of been getting some projects done, not as many as I should.  One thing I put off forever was dying a box full of egg gourds.  It turned out to only take about 20 minutes and they are beautiful!  I don't know why I waited so long!

Working Waiting and Wondering

I relapse into panic some days and keep myself calm some days.  Today was a good day.  The sun shone and I was able to get a lot of work done for my ebay store.  My husband has seen a few patients that tested positive and they have been improving.  I worry a lot about him getting sick and also bringing it home to the girls and I.  I have lobster hands from all the washing and I swear, my eyes are itchy just to get me to touch my face.  So, like every one else, we are just waiting and wondering what is next, and hoping for better days.

Here are a few pretty things I photographed today:

Quarantines Panic and Peace

Well, last week was something wasn't it?  I spent the majority of it trying to breathe through blind panic and looking to make some sense of it all.  I have calmed down immensely and think I have found the peace of good sense at last.  My husband is a physician, so he is on the front lines, and we both are 60, so "at risk".  All through the end of times stories they keep pushing on the news, the statistics have just not been in line with the hysteria.  I have come to the conclusion that either there is something they just aren't telling us, or this shut down of the country is all for nothing.  I have finally been able to "let go and let God".  I have come out of the frozen fear phase and I am going back to work--it feels good to be somewhat normal again.

The flowers are blooming outside and now I am blooming inside as well.