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Year Four, Day 311, Pandemic Times Day 60: "Stay Home - Stay Safe" Day 47: Forest Bathing! And Za'atar!

Dear Friends:

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, stepmoms, foster moms, grandmas, aunts, caregivers, teachers, mentors....did I leave anyone out? If so, Happy Mother's Day to you too!

Mine was super! We ended up visiting my mother and father outside, practicing proper social distancing. We sat on lawn chairs, eating watermelon and listening to the birds sing. My granddaughter amused everyone by collecting pine cones and sticks. My mother and father live at end of a dead end street; their house backs up against a wild, forested area.

There have been sightings of coyote, rabbits, squirrels and many varieties of birds.  My mother swears she saw a cougar months ago. My son-in-law explored the backyard, and indeed found cougar evidence (aka droppings)!

It was a short, but lovely visit.

However, my parents' house is surrounded by much foliage.  My allergies came back with a vengence. So after our visit, I took the rest of the day off and took a much needed nap.

I felt groggy after my nap. It was quite warm and muggy today. The high was about 86 degrees.  It should cool off tomorrow - they are predicting high's in the upper 60's and possible thunderstorms!

But, despite the heat, I felt the need for another walk. I had a mile walk this morning in the park. But my daughter and her husband walk every evening. They told me their router is under 2 miles, and goes through a forested area, near a creek.

So, I set out on an adventure. And I am so happy I did!

47 days of quarantine. Only emerging for a daily walk in the park across the street, and an occasional grocery store run or visit to my parents.

I could have been walking in the forest!

Live and learn. Live and learn!
















I am in heaven!  Trees!  A lovely path! Solitude! And a bunny!




And a cool, peaceful, babbling brook!


I stopped down near the creek and did my journalistic vlog for today:


And then I headed home.  I tracked my route, and found it was 1.88 miles.  It took me 50 minutes, but that was with my break to visit with the bunny, and linger near the creek.

My new plan is to walk the dog every morning in the park. We do 1 mile or so. But it is interrupted with her bathroom duty. Then I will spend time with my granddaughter, cook, teach piano, and then go for my forest walk in the late afternoon.

Take that, pandemic! I'm not only surviving, I'm thriving!

And to put the frosting on the cake, my favorite spice to cook with of all time arrived via Amazon. It was waiting for me when I got home from my walk.

Za'atar - I could kiss you!  I plan on making manoushe tomorrow - on homemade keto flatbread. I'll let you know how it turns out.

But now, I must try and sleep.  I have so much life to live tomorrow!

I realize the virus is still raging.  I am praying for those affected.  I am praying for you, my reader. And the whole world.

Talk to you tomorrow.

Love,

Zita

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