Life Changes because of the coronavirus in the United States and First Death in Virginia

In our area of the state of Virginia there are no reported cases but you can not get tested unless you are symptomatic and it sounds like that is even hard to do. This makes everyone very suspect of the health of others. I've not seen anyone wearing masks in Charlottsville but I'm sure it's coming. Virginia announced the first patient death from Covid-19 today located in the Hampton Roads area.

I occupy myself in the garden!

We basically live in a college town and unless it's Summer or Spring Break stores are busy and traffic is thick. It's a very odd feeling to drive out in Charlottesville to find the streets nearly bare and stores not crowded and some even shuttered! A decision was made last week to host classes online at the University of Virginia.

CSSE at Johns Hopkins tracks COVID-19 worldwide and allows you to zoom and click on your area. As test kits are made available in the US, the numbers will drastically increase. I do believe we will see a significant rise that will reflect the extensive spread of this virus in our country.

I've also noticed an occasional ambulance siren more often on the nearby street which I rarely ever heard before coronavirus. One can imagine an elevated sense of fear could cause all sorts of related problems. I know I've been on edge.

Running joke are his hat variations, going Smurf w this one.

My husband is a computer programmer and he has been working from home since Thursday. He is very lucky to be working for an online retailer so hopefully his job will not be in jeopardy. It's unbelievable to think that a month ago we could not fathom such changes! I don't know that the seriousness of the repercussions have really set in. Best to just take one day at a time and first priority is to take measures to protect ones family from getting sick!

First honeybee spotted in the garden on my Peach tree!

The best way to do this is to limit trips out unless absolutely necessary. I've always planned all my business for one day of the week so staying home for an ever greater time is not much of a change for me. A lot of planning does come into play and some sacrifices need to be made. I can't just run to the store to grab a pint of ice cream. I need wait until I REALLY run out of items before I risk going out.

I've been stocking the pantry for weeks so have a nice supply of a variety of items. This allows me to not have to buy a bunch of things when I go out, I simply replace what we've used.

I just sold this adorable daffodil tea cup in my shop.

Things have not changed much for me as I sell online and have worked from home for 10 years. I do miss my weekly coffee meetup with friends as for now, I'm staying as far away from humans as I can. It was my luck to have to take my cat to the vet office and the vet was wearing a mask because of a sore throat!! I feel sniffly with some throat weirdness but my mother reminded me that it's allergy season and the pollen count is high! Hoping this soon will pass. Gulp.

~Rebecca

Protecting yourself from the Coronavirus COVID-19

The sun will rise and set each day like it always does!

Over the last week, my goal has been to protect myself and household from getting COVID-19 coronavirus. First and foremost is the attempt to leave the house less often. My grocery store accumulation of a 2 week supply of goods is complete for the moment. It's not necessary to over do it and hoard, leaving nothing for others. Some countries had to limit toilet paper purchases. It really is not the end of the world but for a time it's the end of some conveniences and fun. Think of the celebration the world will have when the virus is at least minimized and possibly even killed outright. Unlike the flu virus which mutates making it impossible to get rid of entirely, COVID-19 may possibly be eradicated from our planet. Obviously it's quite a virulent coronavirus strain but it does not seem to be as aggressive at mutating as the flu virus. Thus far it exists in only 2 strains, L and S.

Image from a bizarre book, but picnic's are not contagious!

Daily I watch Dr. John Campbell who has been reporting about the worldwide impact this virus is causing. He is a retired nurse and nurse trainer living in the UK. He stresses that we all need to be proactive and not reactive. If the virus is proven to be in your area, life needs to change proactively. Schools need to close, group events cancelled, travel plans possibly halted, food stashes consumed instead of going to the grocery store, etc. Because this virus is so virulent, it's too late if you wait to close the school once a case has been reported inside the school. It has been observed time after time that others will be contaminated causing the chain effect.

Stay at home, means more time with the girls.

My husband still is going to work each day in a small local office. I do have concerns about the goings on of fellow employees. Have they recently returned from travel? Is there any process in place to require employees to notify their employer of trip plans? Are proper hand washing and sanitizer illustrations posted around the office? Are extra cleaning protocols in place? It's not too early to be safe. Plans to work from home should be worked out in advance, if you are fortunate to have a job that is not involved with working with the public.

One of my many Rosa Rogusa.

Some studies have indicated that the virus does not like the sun, possibly killing it faster. It is suspected that instead of it being seasonal like the flu, it's possibly less virulent in the summer when our bodies receive more Vitamin D from sunlight. It is recommended that your body not be deficient in D, C, and Zinc. A standard dose of D might help and is typically well accepted by most individuals (taking the large short term dose sometimes prescribed by doctors, if you are severely lacking, appears to not be beneficial). Zinc is also mentioned as possibly being beneficial and if you are eating a wide variety of food, no supplementation is required. Vitamin C can be found in many foods and rose hips are one of the less common sources. I am fortunate to have a Rosa Rugosa bush patch and each Fall I harvest rose hips and dry them to store in my refrigerator over winter. I often grind them and add to my hot jasmine tea.

Forsythia is in bloom on Forsythia Hill in Cville VA

I've also begun to rethink my current environmentally based decision to carry a reusable grocery bag and coffee cup. The virus has been shown to stay alive for 9 days so I will swap out my grocery bag with another one each week (I plan to not go to the store more than 1 day a week at the most). Hanging out the used bag in the sun and air immediately upon my return from shopping. If I go into a coffee shop, I will have my coffee in the shop using their provided non-disposable mug. Sadly, these trips will be halted once the virus is spotted nearby. It's so sad for me to think of how many small business owners will be impacted and have to go out of business. Purses, backpacks and other public carrying cases should either be swapped out and put in the sunlight or sterilized after each trip (wipes are useful for this purpose).

Early Daffodil in my garden on Forsythia Hill.

As you can see from my photos, I'm trying to lighten the mood. The virus has not halted Spring from arriving in Virginia, my favorite time of year! Poo poo to you COVID-19. I'm going to enjoy my Spring with or without you!

~Rebecca

Coronavirus in the US, nervous binge eating from the storage pantry

My pantry items are growing

Over the last several days, I've been stocking up groceries and paper goods in preparation of a possible coronavirus outbreak in our area. Fear breeds panic and local stores could be temporarily wiped out of some key items. Minimizing your shopping trips can reduce the odds of infection. If you do get the virus in your household and have to isolate, game on, no trips to the grocery store! It certainly looks as if a community outbreak can happen anywhere. I'm particularly concerned because we live 15 miles from a large state medical facility, UVA (University of Virginia Hospital) and if someone needs urgent care, that's where they will be sent!

Only half of a Donut and a little Ice Cream blob.

As we wait for the virus to strike, my greatest concern is not eating my safety stash!! Having excess food tends to make one feel as if they can eat MORE! I decided to treat myself to a pint of Ice Cream and some Donuts, just in case there is no way to get SUGAR when in crisis mode. Might as well console myself and enjoy the top of the food chain delights before all hell breaks loose.

Nervous eating, obsessive thoughts, and worry does make you want to devour all that is bad for you!

Spirits must be booming right now!

It's normal to fear the unknown but it is not time to panic shop. First of all it's just plain rude and secondly there is no need for it. Read my prior blog post on what to stock up. If you get the virus, hopefully it will be a mild case and you will become somewhat immune to it. Of course the long term effects have yet to be determined because this is a totally new virus. I am concerned about my elderly mom and in-laws, not to mention that I have an auto-immune disease which makes it more possible that I could get really sick.

After we consume the fun foods, I'll eventually go retrieve some more of the boring stuff that can actually be saved for disaster use when the time comes. Be prepared but remember, this is not the end of the world and this too shall pass or at least become the norm.

~Rebecca