Adventures in Homeland

     Big plans today! Well, perhaps if we spy some outdoor flowers available and you consider this big plans. I have an odd assortment of terra cotta platers and if DH didn't throw them last fall, a couple of the plastic box type planters that look like terra cotta. I'd  like to get them all filled with flowers. Yesterday made me think that there was no reason I shouldn't be enjoying them since I am home all day for another month for sure. First though, after I give myself my blog time, we need a good dust, vacuum, and general tidy of the house, window open letting the good spring air in. My daughter picked this up for me yesterday so I have some pop of color outside while I wait for more thing to green up.

     At 5:00, I'm meeting my mom friends for a spread out walk at a regional park. My fiend S has been going to this one and has said it has not been busy. It's a little less convenient than some of the other parks in our area, and a very large nature center is nearby so I think it gets overlooked, even though it is quite big itself. I hope that is the case today. We will keep our distance. It's the park that my girls ran at for cross country for home meets. his will be the most live interaction I have had with people outside my immediate family since my brother-in-laws funeral on March 21, not counting grocery shopping and a little conversations with neighbors. 

     I had a long "coffee" meet-up yesterday afternoon with my friend N. She's the one who I've been friends with for a long while, but when I changed jobs five years ago, we were peer colleagues in two separate agencies, but worked closely together until she changed careers last May. It was so good to talk with her and get caught up. Her husband did a quick cameo wave. Both her girls go to college way out of state, but are home now. They all went golfing on Thursday and she said it was the first day since she had her travel stopped and the girls came home that they felt sort of normal. Like so many of us, her family has reduction in income due to her husband being 75% furloughed-three week off, one on, estimating similar to use, about a 25% cut in household income.  

     DD2 is now officially done with her freshmen year. She finished all papers, tests, and even submitted her choir jury recording. Technically, I think she actually will have  junior status based on her credit completion. She still has two years though, unless she forgoes a study abroad, as she is double majoring and possibly has a minor if she can work out the coordination of classes. I have been able to witness how hard she works at her classes, and is not taking her opportunity for granted. Like we all do, I hope enough has been done to mitigate and protect so by fall, the kids and youth can be back to their regular environments for education. Nothing yet on the job front for her, but I can keep her busy for a while, and she can do some deeper looking. It's not like she will be spending money. 

     That's my Saturday planned. Dinner is already sorted with the shredded pork turned into carnitas. I'll prep some potatoe ole's and rice before heading  to the park. If the others want to eat before I get home, they are welcome to. I'm on the fence about doing a fire. The weather will be nice, but the mess after, as pup will be near and the soot around just clings. I don't fancy giving him another midnight bath. Maybe I'll just sit , if I plant the flowers, enjoying them with a glass of wine and watching the sunset.