Day 1 STAY-AT-HOME ...... unless you are an essential employee

Today March 30 was the Day... you know what I mean. It was the day we were told to stay at home .. starting at 5pm and if we were not essential personnel somewhere or going to the grocery or pharmacy or doctor etc, we had no reason to be out. Stop playing basketball in large groups or 50 people walking the track. I mean folks! How much clearer does it have to be?  I stopped by Fausto Coffee with my person on the way to school and gave the owner some violet syrup. It was muchly appreciated since it was 7 am and she had already had a sort of crappie day..... no blueberry muffins for my person .....

School was pretty busy today since all the teachers were supposed to have the packets ready to go up to spring break ( April 10 ) and so everyone was getting their homeroom material together. My person was concerned because there didn't seem to be four classes for all her kids, but what could she do? She had her packets ready and put in each of her kids homeroom teacher boxes. On a sad note, she found out that the German exchange student that was in her Anatomy H class has been told she has to return to Germany ASAP. But, if we weren't online, she could have stayed.... on a good note, once she gets back in school she is going to talk to her guidance counselors and get a sister school program going! That means my person can go visit her school!!! I tried to help as best I could with getting all the paperwork done, but I have really short arms and it was hard to hold so many papers.

 How do you think I did?

Once all of the work was done, it was time to head home..... shhhhhh...... my person had a spare roll of paper towels and so we brought them home..... but shhhhhhh..... don't say anything because Steve will get mad!  :)

 So what do you do on a really nice day ? You know, one that is that day before it rains AGAIN? Did you say go work in the garden? Well, yes, I think I will.

This is working, right? Or what about this?

or having a chat with a butterfly... does that count?

All joking aside, my people have worked hard to make things look beautiful and what they couldn't do, nature did...... take a look at the beauty.... then smile and know things will be ok!!!

I was wandering back into the garden when I spotted a female Cardinal flying into the arbor, so of course I went to check it out and this is what I found..... can't wait to watch for eggs , then babies!!

No good day in the garden is over without a sit down chat with my friend and I took the opportunity today to listen to a bit of lovely flute music... music makes everything seem better.. don't you agree?

Words of Wisdom:   “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” – Plato

What a beautiful day to be outside ....(it's a shame it took a virus to get us outdoors) and I must finish my tour of Lincolnton..

Welcome to Day 13 of voluntary self - distancing. Since that didn't go as planned. Monday will the last day of phase 1 and we will progress to phase 2 : STAY-AT-HOME. From the tone of Governor Cooper's voice in his briefing, he will be very unhappy if we have to go past phase 2 - I can't even imagine what that might be, can you?  So tonight, I need to finish up great things you can do and places you can go in Lincolnton. Some of them you can do , even with the Governor's suggestion in place. I was reminded of a gem in town that is located between City Lunch and the corner of Main Street.... North State Books. I personally have been there with my person and I will tell you that you need lots and lots of time to do this shop justice. It has the most amazing assortment of books : newer editions and some that predate even me.. It is just mind boggling to look at all the grand material in this place.... Please check it out after we are allowed to return to the outside world ... or if you cannot or don't want to wait , here is a message from the owner that may help:  



Our shop, North State Books,is TEMPORARILY CLOSED, BUT OFFERS CURBSIDE PICKUP .  North State Books has temporarily suspended its brick-and-mortar business hours. During our closure, we encourage you to take advantage of our customer service. We are offering curbside pickup between the hours of 10am–2pm daily. We are also happy to schedule curbside pickups outside those times, with advance notice.  You can call me @ 704 732-8562 or message me here on Facebook. We may have those books you need for schooling or to keep from going stir-crazy.

I also recommend the Carolina Thread Trail , if you get to the point that you need some exercise.... my clothes are getting a bit snug and it is only Day 13.....  Remember to keep the less than 10 people in a group and 6 feet apart guidelines in mind, when you walk it.

It looks awesome, but it may be a bit more crowded than this most of the time. So, today started out with the following view of the sky. Anybody that knows my person , knows she teaches Earth & Environmental science and she gets particularly nerdy about weather. So this picture bothered her a little - tons of contrails and all. But , just like she always does, she threw the picture up on social media, asked a few questions and got some answers. It was a great comment that if planes were not flying, then we wouldn't necessarily have our mail . Now some may say that is a good thing, but I know my person is waiting for all her National Geographic Certified Educator " stuff" to come in the mail. She worked REALLY hard on it for many months.... something to be proud of for sure....

FYI - There are all 3 types of contrail in the picture : Short-lived. Persistent and Persistent Spreading...... small EE lesson. What did you all do today? My people went and got the last few needed groceries and Tylenol ( working on a computer  gives my person a headache and Tylenol is the only thing that works.)  and vegetable plants. So while they worked outside, I slaved away sorting yarn into containers with all of the skeins of one lot together ; got onions that I picked from the garden ready, and filled the watering can what seemed like a million times. 

You know what is irritating ? They get to eat Cadbury mini eggs and they don't even think to offer me any..... how about that?  I on the other hand, continue being productive and write this blog to reach out to you!

Words of wisdom:  Actually I have 2 quotes for you tonight. In honor of North State books, they are all about reading.

“One glance at a book and you hear the voice of another person, perhaps someone dead for 1,000 years. To read is to voyage through time.” – Carl Sagan

“If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book.” – J.K. Rowling

Shop Local..... it's a great idea

I was working on a new set of assignments that I hope my person's 9th graders will like , when I had a flash of inspiration!

What if we talked about all the great places that there are to shop and eat locally ... I mean after the state wide STAY-AT-Home order for Monday March 30 at 5 pm. We were supposed to be going back to school Monday... now we MIGHT be handing out packets Monday.... Guess time and phone calls from the LCS will tell the tale. Anyway, so like I was saying... I had this flash of genius and so I put a question out on social media and asked that people tell me the best places to eat and shop locally.! Pretty big success actually..... So as I post a picture , I will tell you the location name... make some plans for the future: meet your friends at one or all of these places; help bring Lincolnton back to a healthy state. RIGHT NOW though.... stay home!!! Here we go! Oh! Being a logical sock monkey, I will take an orderly progression of locations starting from LHS and going up around the courthouse and then back up N. Aspen St.

Just up the road from the High School is a magical Sweet shop with all home made yummies! Give it a try ( later ) : Marilyn's Sweet Addictions

Just a little bit further up the hill headed to the courthouse are two places that would allow you to have supper and then cross the street for dessert.  Good Wood Pizzeria and Downtown Dairy Treats !

As you go around the courthouse, you will notice two more formal sit down restaurants ; one on the left - Graffiti's and the other on the right - Court Street Grille. I have been told great food at both.

Just around the bottom of the courthouse hill there is a side road that goes by the back of the Post Office. I was told that there is a brand new place there called Untapped Territory..... heard it is good!
But, the place that got mentioned first and by multiple people is right on the corner. It is a landmark in town and the debate apparently is whether the hot dogs, cheeseburgers, hamburgers or fried chicken is the best. Round of applause for City Lunch.

If I ate at each of these places so far , I would be one round monkey and we aren't finished yet!
As we head around the corner from City Lunch , there is a meat market /deli place that has sandwiches taller than I am! Appropriately enough, it is called The Meating Place.

Most of the food places are clustered towards that end of town.... makes sense, right? Lawyers, lunch ...get it? Not all of them are however. Harvest Moon Grille and BBQ King are a little bit away from the other places, but they are worth looking for! Harvest Moon Grille is across from the Post Office and BBQ King is in Boger City by Buffalo Shoals Rd!

 But , there are some cute shops in Lincolnton as well. Some are vintage items and some sell clothes and other things.... take a look at what is in town!

What a fantastic selection! I know once we are no longer in social distancing or stay-at-home status, that you will need birthday gifts or a treat for yourself ... check one or all of these places out! I bet you will have great success.

I am sure that you are all well aware of my person's LOVE of coffee. Well, as we head back down towards the high school around the court house, there is the best coffee shop EVER!! Fausto Coffee and for the kiddos ( old or young ) that don't like coffee but like games ; visit the Game - Swap Superstore until your coffee lover is finished.

 One last eatery that is tucked really away from all the rest is Zhay's Bar and Grille near the Laundromat..... I have heard that they have great chicken Kabob's .

My apologies to any other great places... at the time of my blogging , these were the ones people sent me.

So, this little monkey was tired after all the checking and photographing so it was time to try some of the goodies , check out a new recipe and relax with a good book , if even just for a short while.

Words of wisdom:     Clouds come floating into my life, 
                                    no longer to carry rain or usher storm, 
                                    but to add color to my sunset sky. 

                                                                                                                Rabindranath Tagore