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You are here: Home / Archives for Lockdown

Lockdown

Lockdown

April 12, 2020 by NZ Filbruns 1 Comment

Here are a few of the things we have done during lockdown. Gayle has spent a lot more time than normal playing with the children! He has never been at home without having a lot on his mind, and had energy to do things with them. His health is better than in past times when he had time like this. He has helped Little Miss with her preschool work a number of times.

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He did an art lesson with Mr. Imagination and Little Miss one day.38-IMG_6193

Miss Joy loves having him around! She can steal treats from him sometimes. This was apple crumble with coconut cream on top.

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Mr. Diligence hauled home grass clippings and other stuff for mulch from across the road one day. Little Miss helped him, so he gave her a ride home.

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Gayle made soap for us. I had intended to do this job in January, and got the tallow out of the freezer for it then. In early March I got the supplies out to make the soap—and discovered we didn’t have enough caustic soda (lye). I ordered more, and it arrived just before lockdown started—was I ever glad I ordered when I did, as we couldn’t get it now. I still hadn’t gotten the job done, so Gayle did it for me, with my supervision, one morning while I taught school, and then he cut it into bars a few days later. Now we have enough soap for a year or two.

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He also pumped a ham full of brine. We’ll eat the ham next week, after Mr. Intellectual smokes it for us.

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Today (Sunday) there are two board games going on at the kitchen table. Esther and Mr. Intellectual are playing a variation of Settlers of Catan, and Gayle is playing Monopoly with Simon and Mr. Diligence.

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Since Simon is home, he’s been working on his van. He also took time to wirebrush the rust off a little wheelbarrow that was given to Little Miss, weld it together, and paint it. She is very happy with her “new” wheelbarrow!

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As we walked home from our picnic down by the river today (we beat the rain!) we saw something unfamiliar beside the highway across the river. Esther zoomed in with her camera, and this is what we were seeing! Someone got creative.

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Filed Under: Activities at Home Tagged With: Lockdown, Random Photos

Picnics During Lockdown

April 5, 2020 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

We decided, to make Sundays a bit more special while we’re on lockdown, to have a picnic by the creek down the hill from our town. We built a small fire and roasted sausages and marshmallows, and then played in the creek with Simon’s kayak and a couple of boats the boys built. When everyone had their fill of the water, we went across the creek and did target practice with Simon’s air rifle, aiming toward a sand dune. We really enjoy having this safe, private place to be outside! It’s within walking distance of our house, and the water is shallow enough there is no danger even if a boat flips.

Miss Joy loves boat rides! I apologize for so many pictures, but I couldn’t decide which of these to leave out.

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Mr. Sweetie and Mr. Imagination wading in the creek. That’s the Paparoa Mountains in the background.10-IMG_3752

Esther wanted the water drained out of the kayak before she got in. It took too long—she gave up waiting!11-IMG_3755

This is the boat Mr. Intellectual built. It’s nearly unsinkable, at least on this kind of water.12-IMG_3756

The willow trees near the creek were covered with these big aphids!13-IMG_3758

The trees were also swarming with bumblebees and wasps. I found out how hard it is to get a picture of an insect. Esther did better, though.14-IMG_3767

I tried out the kayak—fun!15-IMG_377016-IMG_3776

These boys rocked the boat…17-IMG_3779

…and these two rode the waves from it!18-IMG_3781

When we went across to shoot the air rifle, Miss Joy discovered something new—sand! She was thrilled to have something new to investigate.19-IMG_3782

Simon really wanted me to try shooting. It turns out that I’m a pretty good aim when I can lean on something like this…but not when I have to hold the air rifle up myself!20-IMG_378821-IMG_378922-IMG_3790

Simon likes to give everyone a turn shooting.23-IMG_3791

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The previous pictures were all from last week, when it was cloudy and cool. This week, it was sunny and warm. This was the view up the river as we walked down to the creek.31-IMG_383332-IMG_383433-IMG_383534-IMG_383635-IMG_383836-IMG_3839

We pass this row of trees on our way up. It was such a beautiful day today!37-IMG_3846

Here are a few video clips I put together from our afternoon at the creek.

Filed Under: Activities at Home Tagged With: Creek, Lockdown, Picnic, Video

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The Family:


Dad and Mom (Gayle and Emma)

Girl #1, Esther, my right hand

Boy #1, Seth (Mr. Handyman)

Boy #2, Simon (Mr. Inventor)

Boy #3, Mr. Intellectual

Boy #4, Mr. Diligence

Boy #5, Mr. Sweetie

Boy #6, Mr. Imagination

Girl #2, Little Miss

Girl #3, Miss Joy

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