No, there’s no one actually in the tub. But — in these days of coronavirus news, 24/7 — there’s plenty of hand-scrubbing going on at the SunHouse.
Even knowing that I’m doing my part by following Governor Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” orders, the news makes me anxious. If I take advantage of our suddenly dry, sunny days (after days of gray, showery overcast) by walking down by the harbor, am I letting my neighbors down? I wear my gauze scarf over my nose and mouth, and step off the path when it’s too narrow to allow 6′ or more of distance. I hope this means I am not transgressing social distancing best practices. I’ve shopped only when there’s “nothing in the house but cream-style corn.” (This, according to British food writer Elizabeth David, is the absolute nadir of pantry resources.)
My friend came over to help me prepare the patio for spring this past weekend. We kept our six-foot distance as I scrubbed out the birdfeeders and he mixed the cheaper blend with the deluxe sunflower seeds. The chickadees were less aware. As Don stirred the big bins of food, three saucy fellows fluttered ever closer until they landed on empty shepherd’s crook.
Returning home
Before I even consider stepping out the door I wash my hands. And the first things I do on return is kick off my shoes, strip off outdoor clothing if I’ve been near other people, and head for the bathroom to wash, wash, wash.
We have, in fact, been diligently washing for many weeks now. (Tiomkin, pictured here, washes with his own built-in kit, meaning his tongue.) And so, to stave off
a) boredom
b) slackness
we have experimented with our soap sources.
This adorable chubby cat, licking his chops over a fish, was made by Westfarm Goats (found here on Etsy). The little bonus pawprint is going in the hall bathroom soap dish. It’ll be waiting for the day we can again have guests laughing and mingling in the SunHouse.
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