Wednesday, August 5, 2020
Ray ordered 100 chicks. They should arrive today or tomorrow. Apparently, we are going into the chicken business.
Stephanie and Hayden arrived safely in Salida, CO on Saturday. They hung a hummingbird feeder near the camper, and someone at the RV park told them to bring it in at night because it attracts bears. The wildlife viewing might be interesting this month. Internet and phone service are much better at this location. The postcard they mailed from Antonito on July 21 finally made it here yesterday.
Palo Pinto County COVID-19 cases keep climbing. We’re up to 251 cases now, but only about 50 are presently active.
Thursday, August 6, 2020
The post office called around 7:20 this morning. Our chicks had arrived. Ray picked them up. When you free them from their mailing cartons, you have to stick their beaks in the water. He had me film an instructional video as he worked. 101 baby chicks were ordered since Murray McMurray Hatchery allows you to add one “mystery chick” to your order. We finally managed to count them and learned there were 106 birds. It’s amazing to see them immediately tilt their head back and swallow the water. Then they scratch around and eat. They don’t seem to miss their mamas one bit. All the chicks appear healthy. Ray is very pleased with his purchase. Matt and I wonder where Ray’s going to put them in a matter of days when they outgrow the tub in our utility room. That should make for a good video.
Thursday, August 13, 2020
One chick died on Saturday. We don’t know why. We moved them from our laundry room to the barn yesterday, and we’ve had record heat with intense heat warnings. The heat index feels like 110 degrees. Ray rigged up a fan over ice to cool them a bit.
Some districts have started school. School controversy over online or in-person education is prevalent on the news. And discussion over sports—to play or not to play during a pandemic—is common.
Stephanie and Hayden will be hanging out in Estes Park, Colorado this weekend.
Matt has moved back into campus housing at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Scarborough College.
We’re up to 344 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Palo Pinto County, and nine deaths. But stats all over the U.S. are being tweaked due to claims of misinformation and duplication errors. When surviving a pandemic, consider all the facts, and be ready for them to change regularly. It’s crazy. It’s all crazy.
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
Today was the first day of school in Mineral Wells. Facebook was blasted with first day of school pictures of kids wearing masks.
Last night I dreamed we had a guest choir director at church, and I had to sing To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before in a special production. Queso needed to go outside and woke me from a sound sleep. Thinking it was around 3am I glanced at the clock on my way to let him out, and it was 12:04.
Maybe I should start a dream journal on this blog. Why do so many of my dreams involve being embarrassed with the church choir? What underlying church choir issues could I possibly have? Hmmm. Do I need therapy?
Stephanie called and reported that they are having lots of fun in the Colorado outdoors. No bear sightings yet, but chipmunks are burying nuts in the potted plants she set outside the camper. She’s purchased more plants. She stuffed fifty plants in the camper before they left. Hayden said the camper air is pure oxygen due to all the plants. I worry that she might need intervention.
Monday, August 24, 2020
Palo Pinto County has reported 422 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 10 deaths.
I have been working on getting my God in the Doggie Bag manuscript to my editor, so I’m not very current on the news. The Democratic National Convention is getting most of the media air time.
Monday, August 31, 2020
U.S. Marshalls rescued 39 missing children from child sex traffickers in Georgia and Ohio. Nine perps were arrested. I have only seen this on social media and not reported on the local televised news.
Stephanie and Hayden have now seen a bear and a bobcat in Colorado, but not while they were outdoors. Both critters were viewed from safe distance inside their vehicle or camper.
We’ve had lots of triple digit temperature days in North Central Texas this month. It is very dry and lightening started several fires near Possum Kingdom Lake. September is bringing rain possibilities and slightly cooler temperatures.
Palo Pinto County has reported 438 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 11 deaths. Only 32 cases are currently active. The CDC reported that 94% of Covid-19 deaths had underlying health problems and 6% died alone.