Gas prices at a record low between .60-.72 cents a litre. Self distancing measures on a rise. Tape on the floors at grocery stores, drugstores and other stores to help distance shoppers 2m/6ft from each other; limited number of people inside stores therefore lineups outside the store. Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed; parks, trails, entire cities locked up. Schools all closed. Shortage of masks, gowns, and gloves for our frontline workers. Shortage of respirators for the critically Ill. Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towels, no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer – shelves were bare. Essential businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE. Government closed the border to all non-essential travel, called Canadians home and made it mandatory to self-isolate for 14 days. Fines were established for breaking the rules. Stadiums and recreation facilities opened up for the overflow of COVID-19 patients. Press conferences daily from both Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Ball. Government incentives to stay home. Barely anyone in the streets or on the roads. People wearing masks and gloves outside. We are to distance from each other. They say it started in Wuhan China at a seafood market. Thousands affected, numbers critically ill, many recovered. This is the Novel Coronavirus Covid 19 Pandemic. Declared March 11, 2020.

Today is St Patrick’s Day. The kids spent some time yesterday building a Leprechaun Trap, so we decided to have some adult fun as well.

When the kids realized they hadn’t captured the leprechaun, they were able to have some fun when our neighbour Haley came by (we’ve been playing together outside to keep our distance during the pandemic). Turns out the leprechaun dropped 64 coins between our house and theirs. The kids had to solve a puzzle and then go to search. Unfortunately, it took them less than 15 minutes to find them all. Haha.

Once all was said and done, my Mom brain kicked in and thought it might be fun to play a little trick on Matt- compliments of the leprechaun. The kids created the clues for him to solve and when he got home from work we sent him on his way. Only this time, he was trying to find where we hid his beer!

Overall it was a fun day I think. The creativity is going to quickly fade I think, but here’s hoping!!

Matt is still out in the workforce while places around us close down. Alberta and Ontario have declared a state of emergency and local businesses have resorted to take out or delivery only. Most stores will now only accept debit or credit also. We will see how it all plays out.

March 16, 2020

This is officially day 1 of our “quarantine”- only we’re not completely quarantined, but staying at home and out of the public until further notice.

The kids have been sent home from school for 14 days to try to contain this Covid-19 virus from spreading. Daycares remain open….but I anticipate them and others will soon close their doors also. Unfortunately, it’s not now and I fear it’s just helping with the spread. Travel bans have been implemented, gyms are starting to close their doors also, even the Casino has locked their doors. Alberta announced yesterday that they are closing schools and daycares for the next 6 weeks. Well played.

Our three children are home this week. Ages 8, almost 7, and 8 months. I have created a daily schedule to try to keep some semblance of a routine; otherwise we will be eating all of our household snacks come 10am, and I’ll have sent all of the kids to their rooms for some quiet time by 10:30!

We did survive day 1. The routine and structure was the game saver I think. The kids got some outdoor play time and Mercer was able to stay on schedule.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton