Covid Living

I think it has been 4 weeks since we were issued a "home stay" order from the governor?  The first week was preparations, stocking up on, thinking through the logistics, etc..  Then, came life as the new normal...sort of.  Phil working from home, continuing with homeschool and running our household, being isolated from church and our homeschool community, trying to keep on top of Spring farm chores, and Phil continuing to be sick and trying to quarantine him in the home.  I am so very grateful that despite all this chaos, we have had amazing weather!  It has been so warm and sunny and we have been outside and nothing can feel more healing and peaceful than sunshine and warmth and beauty all around.

As I have mentioned, frequently, I had an extremely difficult Winter and as I was pondering how to homeschool when there is so much outside work to be done, when the weather is so beautiful, when I am trying to care for Phil being sick and adjust to him being home...I made an executive decision to go back to independent learning.  We are doing reading, writing, math, language, and a hodgepodge of elective credits plus adding in a new class "Self Sufficiency".  This means a continued break from Barton which I am not too happy about, but I think there is a mental and emotional component to my own personal recovery that needs to be addressed.  As with most moms, we often put our own needs aside, and eventually, that can catch up with us in a big way.  I knew that I could not be inside at the school table when the sun was shining and weeding needed to be done because a giant impossible mess was already in the making, and my dream of a big bountiful vegetable garden was at the forefront of my mind.  



 Sick bay...we later moved him to the trailer. 


We did have an online appointment with a doctor from our Naturopath clinic.  I was pleased that everything I had been doing up to that point was spot on.  We added an additional immune support supplement, cough medicine, adrenal support, and allergy tea in addition to hydrotherapy.  It cost a fortune LOL.  The tea was 16 dollars for a small bag.  It made me feel even more inspired to do my own herbal tinctures, salves, and teas!

Hanging out!

First harvest from our garden!!  Lots of salad greens and I foraged for violets, dandelions, and minor's lettuce.

With this whole home stay, I have been reminded of the importance of self sufficiency.  Essentially, being able to do for yourself rather than rely on others - growing and preserving food, knowing basic farming and survival skills, foraging and using what is available, home remedies, herbal health, etc..  I did quite a bit of this when the kids were little and I went from career to stay at home mom and I really poured myself into home care and urban farming.  I lost all that when the needs of growing children and the demands of homeschool overwhelmed me.  It was easier to simplify.  Easier to buy jam than make it.  Easier to not soak grains.  Easier to buy veggies than grow them.  I didn't realize how much I missed that until we moved here and I wanted to be outside and I wanted to have a vegetable garden again.  When Phil got sick (the first week into official home stay) and I started doing research on how to help him, it reminded me of all the interest that I had in home health care.  I even had a special herbal counter and cupboard that Phil made when he remodeled our kitchen at our old house.  I had herbs and essential oils and made tinctures and salves and teas.  I jumped right back into research, using my evenings (and during family movies LOL), and begin to fill the food dryer with herbs.  I ordered seeds for growing my own.  I ordered a few things that I either can't grow or it would take too long for plants to mature and harvest (like roots that ought to be 3-5 years old).  I have a perfect spot downstairs, a little alcove, that Phil can build some shelves for.  I got out all my baskets from storage (and scrubbed them with hot soapy water) for storage.  

The trick for me will be finding that balance.  How do I homeschool (especially when our busy outside lives return); keep up on household chores; have a flower garden; have a vegetable garden; grow, forage, and make herbal remedies; do food preservation; do the other farming chores; and still have time to read for fun, crochet, and make felt art paintings.  I just laid out my "ideal" life...but is it realistic?  It hasn't been so far.  The first thing on the chopping block is of course reading, crochet, and art.  Followed by anything that is easier to buy than make.  Which leaves homeschool and home chores, with a "hobby" of working in the garden on Saturdays, which isn't enough time to keep on top of the weeds.  That is not yielding healthy results from me as I fought against burnout and increasing resentment which has taken a toll on my overall health and relationships.  So, what do I do?  I think in some ways, this whole Covid mess has been a bit of reset for me.  It got me thinking about my preferred way of doing things that disappeared over time.  The past week, I have been outside and had lots of alone time and productive time which has been rejuvenating.  




The raised bed pathways have been mulched.

 The raspberry bed pathways have been mulched.

Phil is pretending to eat raspberries.  I often ask him, "Can you taste it!?" when we get starts in and seeds planted.


The goat FINALLY (after 18 months) got moved into their permanent home.  Eventually, we will finish the fencing that will open up a large field for them and we need to finish their goat barn but a tarp will do and they have plenty of space for now.





Lots of playtime out in the sun!

As soon as the weather hits 65, the kids think it is summer.

Despite Phil having a fever and no energy, he did take time to play.  





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