March 20th, 21st and 22nd

Benjamin fulfilling his hour of "creativity" by using
a recylced milk container and the hot glue gun

 I keep meaning to post every day and well.. I'm too busy and not even sure with what.  The days definitely are blurring together.  Benjamin, very happily announced on Friday afternoon, that it WAS Friday which meant that there was no school for the next two days as it was a weekend after all.

He was trying to make a catapult.. or something. 

Friday I have to report that our school day together was much smoother.  I broke his time into 30 minute sections with about 6 different 30 minute check boxes with an hour for exercise and "do something creative"  It wasn't perfect but it was definitely better and in the world of "flattening the curve" the curve was flattened or heightened or whatever the trend was curving in the right direction.

Lots of time or Gravitrax with Dad. 

Marty and I worked in the yard together for a couple of hours.  I took Mogli or a long walk.  I had finished my book The Lost Man via Audio book and it was really good.  I then started in on The Dutch House - a book by Anne Patchett that I had been wanting to read for a long time.  I wasn't into audio books when I had requested it from Seattle Public Library and so I only had the ebook version.  I decided to sign up for one month free of Audible and then I was able to get 3 books for free.. one of which was the Dutch House.  And the extra bonus is that it is narrated by Tom Hanks.  I'm over half way now and am really liking this new way of consuming a book.  It feels a bit lazy but I'm able to get through so much more of it during my day because I am able to listen when I walk and clean and cook, etc.

The weather, although sunny, has turned cold again.  Lows of 25 and highs in the low 40's.  Thankful or the sun!!  The first day of Spring (usually well celebrated by me) came and went without much of a thought even though there are signs of spring everywhere... hopefully not killed off my the recent cold temperatures.  We went for a long walk - all back roads and long cuts to pick up some door handles we had ordered for our new 

Playgrounds and parks taped off due to the virus

upstairs bathrooms.  We have had the bathrooms "finished" for a few weeks but there are no door handles so you can't really close the door, there is no glass on the showers so you can't take a shower and the mirrors are not hung so you can't really get ready up there yet but having a toilet just outside our bedrooms in the middle of the night is gold. 

The "Corona Meals" continue to be "top notch" according to my family.  Friday we had left over tacos stuff and I made this Mexican rice for the first time and it was super good.  I added some chili powder and used canned diced tomatoes instead of tomato sauce. Saturday night we had zuchinni fritters and schnitzel for Benjamin along with steamed broccoli and green salad.  With the fritters I added sauteed onions and garlic and also add in some bread crumbs and top with either tzatziki or if you can get it garlic sauce. Sunday night we had this easy Indian dish with butternut squash and lentils and it simmered in the crock pot all day.  SO yummy.  I added a bit more chili 

powder and it was pretty spicy.  I loved it but a bit too spicy for Marty and Josie.  They cooled it down with some cottage cheese on top. I buy a jar or can of premade tikka masala sauce and Benjamin eats that on rice and it adds a nice little tang to put a dollop on top of the butternut squash dal. 

I am so stocked up that when Marty suggested we go back to the store this week I honestly could not think of anything I "needed"  Sure, some fresh fruit would be nice but we still have oranges and apples so we don't really "need" to go.  I am going to look into food delivery next time.  According to Seattle friends it is nearly impossible to find a delivery slot available.  One friend said she has looked

hourly for a week and despite the company claiming to add new slots per day she hasn't been able to get one. 

I spent several hours on Saturday cleaning out and reorganizing the kitchen cabinets.  I was so used to just buying what we need for the day or two ahead that things were never that organized.  Then when we "stocked up" I just stuffed things in where they would fit.  Even the kids helped.  Thankfully we have a TON of storage here and two fridges.  The old renter left his sizable American fridge which was been a God send during current times.

Last night these new guidelines were delivered to us Berliners.  I have to say that I am very impressed with Angela Merkel and the way she is handling the epidemic.  She is smart, logical, KIND, compassionate and instills hope and respect.  Things I would never say about the leadership in the US right now...don't even get me started 😨: 

Paraphrased from translated German: Coronavirus Update: Chancellor Merkel went to the doctor for a pneumonia immunization, and the Dr has now tested positive so Merkel is in quarantine. Berliners must now stay at home and can only go out for necessary shopping or exercise outside, but only with immediate family members. People can still go to work. You should probably carry official documents with you, because police can check them. No more visits from friends. There are exceptions to visit old, sick or funerals. You can walk your dog but must keep 1.5 meter distance to other people.