Shelter in Place: Day 127

More forks from my COVID-19 kitchen project.

Shelter in Place: Day 126

Having the companionship of a dog throughout one’s workday can bring much-needed comfort during this time of social isolation.

Shelter in Place: Day 124

The coronavirus has shifted the way we come together to celebrate special occasions. Drive-by birthday parades are now the craze and have become a safe way to provide special birthday greetings to those we care about. We were invited to participate in a drive-by 18th birthday parade for Avery, who swims on my daughter’s Special Olympics swim team. One parent organized the parade and a call out to mail birthday cards to Avery. Another parent orchestrated the installation of birthday signage in Avery’s front yard. Excitement mounted as cars lined up around the corner from Avery’s house last Thursday and balloons and other decorations were secured to vehicles. As the parade began and cars approached Avery’s house, horns blew, people shouted greetings, and homemade signs were waved out open windows. As we approached, my eyes filled with tears as I saw Avery’s radiant smile and obvious excitement. It was a poignant moment because on July 7th, the day before her 18th birthday, Avery lost her father to cancer. Avery’s drive-by parade was not only a celebration of her milestone birthday but also a symbol of the power of a loving community and what transpires when people come together to support each other.

Shelter in Place: Day 123

I clearly have way too much time on my hands. Dreaming of escaping out West to Colorado or Montana.

Shelter in Place: Day 122

I’ve encounter Yoda, the cat, perched in this window many mornings as I pass by on my morning walks. A couple days ago, after taking a portrait of Yoda, Amy, who had been sitting on the porch, stood up and we began to chat. As the daughter of Baptist missionaries, she grew up in Florence, Italy, and then moved to Spain with her French husband where she raised her two children. Ten years ago, a friend found the young Yoda in a trash can. Her whiskers had been cut off. Yoda has been with Amy ever since. Both of Amy’s children are eager to return to Europe after they complete their college studies. Amy is also disillusioned by the state of affairs in our country and hopes to return to Spain.

Shelter in Place: Day 121

All is good in my family since Major League Baseball opened its season last night. Yet, the 2020 MLB season may be remembered as the oddest season ever. Not only were the players wearing masks in the dugout but the spectators in the stands were cardboard cutouts and the crowd noise was canned. It all felt wrong to me. This was another moment that felt like a bad dream, but a dream I would wake up from to find life as it was 4 months ago.

Shelter in Place: Day 120

During this time of isolation, I’ve spent more time in the kitchen cooking. The kitchen is my retreat, a place where I am immersed in wonderful smells, colors, and tastes. My mind is focused on the foods I am working with and worries about the pandemic vanish. A couple weeks ago in the early evening, I was washing dishes and I turned around to grab dirty untensils off the butcher block. I noticed an interesting shadow cast by one of the forks. This started me on another interesting journey in the kitchen.

Shelter in Place: Day 119

It is hot! Watermelon coolers have become my favorite summer beverage. Blend 5-6 cups of flesh with mint and simple syrup (1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 lemon juice,  1/4 water) that has been steeped with lemon peel and jalapeno, and you’ll have the most refreshing drink ever. Those spaghetti squash are on the menu for this evening and will be stuffed with spinach and feta cheese.

Shelter in Place: Day 118

This is another shot I took as I was leaving the parking lot after visiting the Atlanta Photography Group Portfolio Exhibition on Friday. After being at home for four months my eyes are starving for the color on the streets. When I saw the juxtaposition of the pink crepe myrtle blooms with the painted blossoms on the wall, I figured there might be a picture there. I reparked my car for the second time and out of nowhere, this man appeared carrying what looked to me like an offering.

Shelter in Place: Day 117

Friday was the first time in four months that I have ventured to another indoor space beside a grocery store and medical office. I visited the Atlanta Photography Group Gallery with five other photography friends to view the Portfolio Exhibition before it closed. We all wore masks and socially distanced. I took my camera along in case I happened to see anything interesting to photograph in the vicinity of the parking lot which is surrounded by several funky businesses. As I was leaving the area a flash of red registered in my peripheral vision. That was reason enough to park my car to investigate. It felt so good to be photographing on the streets again even though the time was brief.