Life in the time of Corona, part 11

 Well, Halloween has come and gone....but it was a fun one.  Different, for sure, but fun. 

We *DID* trick or treat -- probably the first "normal" thing that we've done in a long time.  I turned a mermaid tail blanket into a dress for Miss Middle to wear; she dressed up as her favorite imaginary play character.  No one could tell who she was, but she would proudly announce her name and the adults, who probably generally don't know who kids are dressing up as "these days" would exclaim things like, "of course!" and "that's the best _____ costume I've ever seen!"  Miss Middle was very pleased. 

Peanut decided to dress up as a flower.  I acquired green pants and green shirt, and she decorated a hat as a flower.  I think she did a lovely job.  

And "the baby" dressed up as a black cat.  He figured out pretty quickly that it was easier to ride in the stroller and let big sisters bring him candy for his bucket. 

I loved that many, many neighbors had set out a bowl of candy or treat bags on a table.  Some neighbors were there, a respectable distance behind, and some were not.  But the trick or treating was definitely fast this year -- no waiting for doors to be answered, skipped/shortened many conversations with neighbors we don't really know. It seemed like more neighbors participated this year, too.  

We spent the week before Halloween at the beach.  (Perk of homeschool: we can do it from anywhere!)  It was sweet hubby's last week of virtual teaching, so we wanted to take advantage of the mobility for probably the last time for a while.  He started back with in-person teaching this week.  We both have a lot of feelings about it.  He says the school building is sort of eerie: the (vastly) reduced class sizes, the quiet hallways, the kids only allowed to play in their assigned area at recess, very little student interaction, etc.  It doesn't seem like "normal" school, in any way.  In addition, he's doing his best to stay distant from his colleagues and students, wearing KN95 masks, and changing his clothes before he comes home each day.  Maybe it is inevitable that he'll eventually catch Covid-19, but we'd like to delay that for as long as possible.  We'd also like to keep my parents in our "bubble" for as long as possible, too, and the moment we know for sure that another colleague or student at his particular school has Covid-19, we'll have to reassess.  Yes, I know plenty of people recover/are asymptomatic, etc....but there is no guarantee that any particular person will be that person.  Covid-19 has already touched our lives too close to home.  Sweet hubby's already lost a co-worker this year. 

I've assembled my quilt top, and now I'm dithering about what to use for the back and the batting.  Also whether I'll send it out for quilting or try it on my own, small machine and all. So some progress, but now stalled. This picture is the layout before assembling.  I think there was a change in the middle section, but I don't have an updated picture. 

So now, here we are, waiting to figure out who will be leading our country for the next four years.  The anxiety is....a lot.  I'm hopeful that we'll be on the path to change by the next time I update here.