spitting some snow Tuesdsy

[Colliemom]

Morning all. Bit o’ snow in the air this morning, but not amounting to anything. That’s okay. Keeps everybody in. The first virus case was reported here this morning, patient has mild symptoms. Another one over Traverse City Hospital as well. Our governor has issued new orders yesterday morning that have now shut down dining in, n restaurants and bars. It has to be delivery or take out only. Also includes shutdowns of salons, spas, gyms, and other places of that type. Does not apply to childcare centers as she said she wants Emergency responders and medical staff to have a place to leave their children sobthry can continue to work. The 250 person limit to gatherings has now been reduced to 10. Michigan in effect has literally shut down except for grocery stores, gas stations, medical facilities and other essential services. Like cal and state government offices have closed their doors to the public but are still staffed. Some people are working from home and we all know that a lot of business can be done online. Small businesses and manufacturing facilities are still open though as are service businesses. There has been a lot of ingenuity going on as businesses and other services figure out how to deal with this. Gov. Also signed a bill that will give unemployment benefits to workers affected by these shut downs, laid off from businesses cutting back or having to take leaves from their jobs to stay home and take care of their kids with schools being closed for three weeks. She’s covering all the bases and going beyond what the fed gov and other states are doing. Nobody’s complaining. As far as we are concerned, she’s doing a great job in trying to contain the spread in MI. Now that Canada is closing it’s borders, there are only two aces points into Mi, it’s southern border with IL, IN and OH or the The border of WI in the U.P. The other nice thing up here is, the amount of businesses and schools working together to keep children and families in need, supplied with food.

Had another chiropractor appt. yesterday. She is now recommending moist heat and ointment to relax the sptight muscles. Recommended a pen epsom salt bath but this house only has a huge garden tub. That is way to hard to get in and out of, so not doing that. I’m hoping to replace it eventually. Toying around an alternative. Also stopped at the store. tP and paper towels are still going, but now restricted to two packages per person. Noticed yesterday that most shoppers are only taking one. I picked up one of each for snowbird neighbors coming home this weekend. They can’t get any in FL to bring back. The tissue manufacturing plant about 50 miles north of here has been working like crazy to keep tissue rolling out it’s doors. They said the biggest problem is that the stores can only stock so much in their storerooms, so can’t take in huge shipments at once. They are going to do a public sale tomorrow which is something they don’t normally do, as they don’t sell to the public, but thought it might help take the strain off some of the stores. Thry said they have about 30 truckloads in their storage area at the moment.

It’s interesting going to the store and seeing what’s disappearing and what’s just a bit low. Other than toilet paper, paper towels and eggs, everything else is stocked. Some a little low, but not gone. Meats and poultry are low but there's some there. Shrimp is disappearing in seafood A bit as are hams, turkey, and that kind of stuff to a point. I think people are fixing things that they can stretch meals out of. Frozen processed foods are not flying out the door either. Poor store employees are looking so tired though.

Will be interetigto see if this does indeed stretch into camping season and whether or not thry will open our parks etc. at the moment, the only things closed are some park visitor centers, mesuems, fish hatchery visitor centers and few other DNR visitor facilities. Park campgrounds are still in seasonal closures and no parks have been closed. Parks are actually open year around except for facilities and campgrounds.

Well, guess I’kill head for the shower here and get my day started. Not going to do much other than the moist heat routine etc. will go out to mailbox for mail, but that’s about all. Beth, when do you have to make the decision to go to SD? Or is it up to the store manager? Hopefully things will settle down by summer. Stay safe everyone.

[OregonLuvr]

Well this is getting old fast. Old but necessary. I dont normally go out too much but since I know I shouldnt, I want to LOL But I won't. I went to the store yesterday and shoudnt need to go again for several weeks. Unless it is just for some fresh veggies and salad fixin's.

Everything is shut down here too and restaurants are take out or drive thru. I am not going to do any of that either right now as I dont know who is packaging and serving food. I have deep cleaned and disinfected my kitchen after shopping yesterday. I bought a whole chicken and roasted it in the oven so today will make a couple of casseroles and freeze some. Making a cauliflower rice, chicken, mushroom and cheese casserole today. Will have a chicken and cheese quesadilla for lunch then will see how much chicken is left. I love casseroles, so easy to just zap in the microwave. Next week will make some bbq pork for sandwiches. I bought some hamburger yesterday to Food Saver for taco salads, tacos, and whatever else I feel like. Yup I think I can last weeks LOL Eggs were plentiful at the store yesterday so bought a couple of dozen. I like eggs and usually have a couple for breakfast several times a week so I am stocked up on that. Going to check online for some new recipes and see if something tickles my fancy.

Hoping everyone is staying safe and respecting the guidelines as much as possible. I still plan on going camping in May if the county and state parks are open. Not much interaction when you are camping and sitting outside with a few friends so hopefully we can get a handle and arrest this damn virus. Not looking at my stocks as there is not a damn thing I can do about it right now. I have no doubt they will come back but will I live long enough to see it.

[BarbaraRose]

Happy St Patty's Day!!

I just got back from golf. Beautiful, altho cool day here! Need to get ready for work now.

I am thinking we will get shut down soon too. Interesting that MI has shut down their salons.

[JudyJB]

Well, they just cancelled my Florida State Parks reservations from tomorrow to May 15. Luckily, I am in a COE park until March 29. Now I need to see if they are closing those.

Probably heading north.

[MandysMom]

I haven’t been away from house since last Friday. But have plenty to do. Few things I’d like to have, such as more eggs but I will make do for now. Death count in Ca nearly doubled overnight, going from 6 to 11. That’s motivation to stay put here! I have been sleeping better which is so good for me. It’s so quiet! I live about a mile from I-80 and normally if we listen we can hear that background hum esp at rush hour time. It’s so quiet! Major store chains here are looking to hire as many people as they can to help with cleaning, stocking, and personal shopping for drive up or delivery, which should help some who are temporarily out of their usual work. It’s going to be a very strange time but we will get through it. I was just this morning thinking about you Judy and wondering where yo7 would go with hearing Florida closing parks. Stay safe everyone.
Velda

[Acadianmom]

I went to the feed store to pick up cat food and the lady that works the register said it felt like they had 300 customers yesterday. It was crazy. I went to the local grocery to pick up some meat and eggs for my son. They still have a lot except for bread. I met my son at one of the Walmarts in Lafayette. They have taken this opportunity to rearrange the store. Good luck on finding anything. They still had milk and some bread. Not much meat. I didn't check the toilet paper or water. Canned vegetables, soup and fruit were almost all gone. Still a good bit of frozen food and fresh vegetables. I had to go to Petsmart to find the dog food I wanted. Sam's parking lot was full but I just got gas. Gas was $1.759. The attendant at the station was going around wiping the pumps after everyone.

Everyday one or two back out on the camping trip. Hopefully we don't have to cancel it.

I left Sugar in the back yard when I went to town and she was out when I got home. Unless someone opened the gate the only way she could get out would be to jump the fence. That not going to be good. I will have to start leaving her in the kennel.

Judy, closing Florida's campgrounds doesn't make much sense. Make all those people get on the road moving around.

Martha

[JudyJB]

I am in a gorgeous place, St Lucie Lock and Dam, which is in southeastern Florida on the river that goes from Port St. Lucie (about 20 miles north of Palm Beach). It is COE, not FLorida SP, and I am here until Wednesday, March 25th, when i leave for a similar COE campground east of Ft. Myers. I have reservations at WP Franklin north until March 29th. I have no idea what will be open then, but I can tell you that a lot of snowbirds have flown north, so campgrounds have suddenly become less busy.

There are also a few county parks that may or may not close, and some of them have seasonal campers, which I think would make them want to stay open. Don't know.

I could go south to Midway, which is halfway between Miami and Naples in about as isolated place as you can find in Florida--50 miles from groceries and 25 miles from gas--just a few campers and a lot of birds and alligators, but they have electric hookups and a water fill and dump station. It is federal and so far they are open. Can't imagine a better place to self-quarantine.

I'd stay here for a month if they would let me. Only 9 campsites and I have one of three right on the river, so I get to watch interesting boats as they wait for the lock. Two big sailboats and two cruisers parked here for a few days, also. And the visitor center is even open. They certainly are not going to close the locks! Or I might head north to Georgia. I talked to them today, and they did not foresee closing their parks, but you never know.

I agree it is safer to have people stay here than move them around. Makes no sense to close campgrounds. It's not like we campers hang around in groups, especially us old folks this time of year. I feel very safe here, much safer than I would be in a hotel or even a condo or apartment.

[Bethers]

I returned to my Benson casita today. I'm glad I took that little vacation because their many not be any others for quite some time. I'm still hoping I'll be able to get to SD... Possibly driving longer days and boondocking with nothing more than gas stops. That should put me at less risk and no one at risk from me. Meantime my SKP park has discontinued any activities with more than 10 people except the daily cocktail hour as long as it can be held outside at the pavilion and that people give each other space. I never go to that anyway.

I got here, walked Ty on the desert, cleaned inside, took a long shower in the casita, and am vegging. Weather is cooling off with rain possible tomorrow.

Judy, I find safety at this time in campgrounds, especially most state cg's... I can easily ignore everyone. But I was just told they are trying to keep people out that might bring the virus in. Hard to know which is right. But I'm missing vegging in the NM state parks. And where do they think the full-timers go when kicked out or reservations cancelled.

Good luck deciding where to head and when Cheryl and Judy and anyone else falling into this predicament. I know if I end up unable to leave, I can stay at my lot. Never thought something like this could be a plus of having this place.

[BarbaraRose]

Very quiet at the shop today. I only did 6 haircuts. We have the option to take time off if we want to self-quarantine. I will choose to work for now especially since they have cut my hours down to only 16 for next week. We may get shut down this week anyways since they are starting to close any "non-essential" service businesses. (Some people would disagree with us being "non-essential"!)

I stopped at a Neighborhood Walmart grocery story on the way home. Not much left. I ended up with way too many snacks this time. Did get milk. 1%, not my favorite but that was all they had so it will work. No meat left at all. Got an apple pie and some strawberries. Still have Angel Food cake left over, as well as Reddi-Whip, so I needed more strawberries.

My hands are getting SO dry from all the hand sanitizer. Lots of nasty hangnails.

I got an e-mail from my SIL in Minnesota this morning asking how I was doing. Very surprised to hear from her since I haven't had contact with them since last year with the whole wedding scandal.

Hoping I can find someone to help me get my loveseat out of the house and fix my leaking water pipe.

It is nice to have daylight now until 7:30! Am enjoying that. I can get more done outside later in the day now.

Hope you full-timers can find places to stay for awhile until this situation is over.

[snowball]

went out to pump water into the tank pump wouldn't work thought it was operator error so called a friend turned out he couldn't get it to work either in the plug in part but not sure what so he went and got his pump and we got water into the tank but what should have taken 1/2 hr perhaps took forever did get dishes done thought and Kerry came to supper pork steak was on sale so had gotten one had heard that potatoes and cauliflower cooked together then mashed were good..and it was forgot to pull out the desert though
perhaps tomorrow morning I will get more done then games in the afternoon think I will do a walmart run on Thurs. and hopefully find what I need quickly then try not to go again...
need to talk with my dd see if she is concerned about me coming up and spending time with them after the baby is born if she is might just stay here in AZ until mid May.. leave the desert at end of season and move into a park we will see.
sheila

[Bethers]

Sheila, I'm expecting to be able to go to SD, but if not we might both be sticking out an Arizona summer.