The virus

Whenever someone sneezes or coughs in front of one of the students, you immediately hear "Veer- rus!" Since the winter canola is blooming now, I have my usual seasonal allergies, so I have resorted to taking a cold and sinus pill at least once a day.

The quarentine was extended on the 22nd (it was supposed to end on the 24th) until May 11th. I have no idea if it will end then, Ukraine doesn't seem to have large numbers of people in hospital, but who knows how many people who are sick have not been tested. 

It has definitely made planning difficult. We had moved our trip to Egypt from the end of March to April 30th, and just this week when the quarentine was extended, rebooked it for the end of October, when the Red Sea resorts won't be too hot to sit on the beach, and hopefully will be open. We can't even make plans for July, when we should be teaching in Dnepro for Summer English Institute, depending on what the quarantine means by then for having three weeks of classes for what is normally 120-200 people.

Of course, we had planned to be in Manitoba on April 19th for Max Boradin's college graduation. We could not fly, and graduation was postponed until October 9th. We hope to be there, if it happens. Yes, Max did finish his degree online, and is back working on the farm in Manitoba. He had hoped to take the intensive TESOL course, as he wants to get a Masters and then teach English when he returns to Ukraine to live. However the program is cancelled because of COVID-19. He had also hoped to come visit Ukraine sometime this summer, but who knows if that will be possible either.

Here, we are wearing masks if we have to go to the store, and trying hard not to go. I have been stress-crafting. I realized  a few years ago that I tend to make things for people when I am worried about them. Twenty years ago, Jessica was having tests in Ontario due to her severe migraines and I redecorated her dollhouse. I am currently crocheting Christmas presents for the entire family. The little grandkids will be getting dinosaurs.

Garry is just happy to be busy, the crops are going in, and they are building sheds, since the house is (almost) done (still waiting for those boxes of flooring to come in). Today they moved a bunch of the finished rafters over to the yard for the machine shed. 

He's also spent a lot of time mowing the grass and weeding over in the Crawford's yard, and taking care of his seedlings that he grew, and a couple tomato plants Scott and Shannon started before they went to Canada. For the last week, they go out in the morning and back in at night. The hundred peppers are still in the windows, except for the couple in the box with the tomatoes.