I woke up late this morning, but it was still dark out. With the autumn equinox past, we’re moving rapidly into the dark. I can see the kitchen window from my bedroom sliding door, and it was a cozy scene. We started some emerald blue sugar crystals growing yesterday, and the kids were having a sneak peak/lick.

I’ve started doing a little work from home, which would normally be a great thing, but I really haven’t figured out how to do that with the kids sharing the same space.  I can hear my mother’s voice, gently suggesting that the kids have an hour of quiet time in their rooms after lunch.  I’ll try that tomorrow, Mom.  But an hour doesn’t replace a 7 hour work day.

This is the problem with any non-screen activity where the kids are together.  This is how it ends.  Milo does something to accost Naomi, then there’s screeching, tears, injustice and offence, all at high volume.  They seem to have infinite energy for that dance.  On the good side, you notice that there’s blue sky here this afternoon.  After a couple days of rain it’s very welcome.  We sauntered over to the other end of the park and peaked through the gap in the fence at the bare soil beyond, the start of a new subdivision.  “That’s the way to a new dimension,” Milo announced.  I wish.

There was, however, a Delight today.  At 4:30 I told Jeremiah I needed a bike ride and I took off down the Old Tai Tapu Rd.  There was hardly a car in sight, side benefit to the stay-at-home mandate.  It’s a rural road, and with the late afternoon shining on the hedgerows, they perfumed the air, each with their particular bouquet.  Pinus ratiata……horse shit…….cedar………rotten ginko fruits…….fresh cut grass…….musty wet leaves.  Just think what a dog’s nose would experience on the same route.  Then on the way back I passed some familiar figures, screeched to a halt and circled back to have a 2-meter-distant chat with some kayak friends who have just returned to NZ.  They had to cut short their European travels and high tail it back to NZ, borders closing rapidly behind them.  They have been self-isolating for the last nearly 2 weeks, as is required of incoming travelers, and were as glad of a chat with a familiar face as I was.  Welcome home, Chris and Helen.