Sunday, May 17, 2020

Time and a Little Dust

I've always done my own cleaning so I don't miss the bed-making fairy. What I have never done, is to measure the length of time between cleaning something and the next time I do it. I imagine that for me, it's a mindless process like an animal sets up its burrow in a comfortable way.
With the world in Lockdown, many things seem to have become a count-down. On Friday, we reached day 50 here in South Africa. The regulations are as draconian and ridiculous as ever but I'm still happy in my blanket fort.
What I have noticed, is that little piles of stuff I was going to sort and put away seven weeks ago are still in the same place, with maybe a slightly more substantial sprinkling of dust. Projects I started with gusto are stalled, and they've been joined by many more beginnings of something promising that petered out. Where does the time go?



All is not doldrums though; I'm working on a new batch of little houses and they're fun.


I've completed another (hopefully final) batch of cloth face masks. Unless the pandemic continues until they wear out.


Some things don't stop growing even in winter. On Friday, Henning and I gave each other a haircut at the Doornkloof East Open Air Salon. Note the dustbin bag and clothespin ensemble. We run a classy establishment here.

I hope you're well and keeping sane in an increasingly disturbing world. Remember that in the game of rock, paper, scissors, a level head tops what the scaremongers and the politicians say, every time.

12 comments:

  1. Your observations are very insightful. It’s funny how when the routine changes, time has a way of getting distorted. Here in Oregon we just moved to Phase I of recovery. That means more stores and services are opening, but I, like you, am happy in my lockdown space. I don’t want to join strangers just because I can. My husband would not be able to cut my hair, though, so I will have to take precautions and venture out.

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  2. Megan,nuestra casa es nuestra madriguera,no somos diferentes a los animales y lo más importante es que esté a nuestro servicio,no nosotros al suyo,por lo que la cuestión de cuantas veces quitas el polvo,es algo que sólo tiene que ver con tu comodidad y el tiempo pasa inexorablemente y más en estos tiempos tan extraños...
    El corte de pelo resultó divertido!!
    Nosotros estamos en fase 1,poco a poco y parece que todo va mejor!
    Besos.

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  3. You hair honestly looks fabulous - does Henning know he has a full time job now? I would kill for hair that gently curved around my head like yours does - mine grows at ninety degree angles to my scalp; so ten weeks into isolation you can imagine how lovely I look. We haven't had any contact with any human for ten weeks now and I intend to keep it that way except for my daughter and grandson who I am missing terribly. As for time, it is such a slippery creature. I used to juggle two small children fifteen months apart, a twelve hour day on my own with them, no support, trying to work alongside that, keep a hearth and home together on a budget so cooking and making clothes was also part of the necessary chores and the house was always clean and tidy and garden sorted. I have got much older and went into a comfortable retirement and I am lucky if I manage to do one fair size task a day ..... there is just not enough hours in the day any more. My young twenty-four hours lasted about seventy-two and my old twenty-four hours are about four hours long. I suppose we should enjoy the breather. Do learn how to take your mask off safely if you are out and about with others nearby. They are all very jolly, well done you.

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  4. Level heads. Absolutely. We could us a double dose of that over here.
    Your hair looks fantastic! I am waiting for the Salon to open again :)

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  5. Love your hair! My salon wants me to wait for my color to activate in my car so I'm waiting for restrictions to loosen some more before I go. My bangs are almost to my chin and I feel like a sheepdog but at least I can pull them back now!

    We'll get there, eventually!

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  6. Esas casitas son adorables, y que cantidad y variedad de mascarillas.
    Estoy deseando dejar de ponérmelas.
    Tu corte de pelo ha quedado muy bien.

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  7. Such adorable little houses and I love your pixie cut! Henning may not know teddy bear camouflage when he sees it, but he is a haircut visionary! What a prolific pile of captivating masks - you are an angel! And if I were "stuck" in Doornkloof East with that lovely garden, I'd be a happy camper!!!

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  8. Everything has a beginning as well as an eventual end: as it will be in these covid times, and as it will be with our hair! :D

    I Love your little houses and don't worry about the dust!

    elizabeth

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  9. The little houses are very cute. Your haircut looks very cute too.
    Hugs, Drora

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  10. Ah, a new career for your husband... and already such a hip etablissement with stylish equipment. Congrats on your lovely haircut - be honest... was there a bit of relief when you realized that he made it so well? ;O)

    I can only agree about time running different now... around here it's running even faster than usual and I get nothing done... *sigh* But at least I can admire your lovely houses.

    Hugs
    Birgit

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  11. I'm sorry this is so late. I chuckled at your comment "piles of stuff I was going to sort and put away seven weeks ago are still in the same place, with maybe a slightly more substantial sprinkling of dust" because that is exactly what I have! I did sort out my craft room yesterday thoug. Your houses are adorable. Your hair looks lovely.

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  12. Hi again,

    sorry for not reacting earlier to your comment on my post at the month's beginning - it has been a heavy time for my family and I've been very busy. It's exciting to hear that you and your husband think about moving to Germany and I wonder if this farmhouse in Esens might be yours in the meantime. ;O) Sadly this won't make us neighbors; Esens being in East Frisia is for my kind already the South of the republic... *LOL* And if this will be your place to live I keep my fingers crossed that unlike me you are really fond of tea! East Frisia is famous for it's special tea ceremony (it's an intangible cultural heritage of the UNESCO) and less than 3 cups of tea are considered inpolite. So be sure to be prepared for Klumpjes and 'n Wulkje Rohm. ;O)

    Hugs
    Birgit

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