This week the COVID-19 virus is still keeping us at home. There are signs that our efforts are making a difference and giving us more time to prepare our health care system for the shocki. I am also grateful to live in a time where many people have access to quick and easy communications that allows us to stay safe in our homes while doctors and researchers learn more about COVID-19 and how best to handle it.

Here are some practical tips I’ve thought over the last few weeks.

Men’s haircuts - I wanted to share that cutting men’s hair at home can be pretty easy, with the right equipment. I have cut my  son and my husband’s hair for the last 25+ years and it’s mostly worked out. I use a Wahl kit and they have some tutorials on their website. By using guide combs, you can cut hair a consistent length. If just starting out, I recommend using a slightly longer length and you can cut shorter if needed. Worst case, hair does grow back, eventually. :-)

Along with everyone else, my family and I are adjusting to the new world with COVID-19 in it. The couple of weeks have been chaotic as our family adjusts to a different way of life. I was busy at work for my day job setting up computers so people could work from home and worried about getting the task done as soon as possible. The next challenge is focusing on that job to keep our tiny business going while the world also deals with the pandemic.

A Sunday evening very different from others in my life. My family is fortunate, our life hasn't changed much for the moment, yet I look at the world with different eyes. Only a few weeks ago I took it for granted that I could go to a store to pick up a few items. I worried about our bills and juggling funds. I groaned about getting up for work.

It is the middle of March and we are experiencing a rainy spell this week. Our weather has not been bad this winter, we’ve gotten some rain, mixed in with sunshine. Our hills are very green with all of the new vegetation and I see more wild flower blooming each week, along our trail and the highways. On the clear days, I notice the flowers, and buds and blossoms on trees as plant life soaks up the rain and sunshine.  Little reminders that spring is starting, at least in our part of the country.

The month of February is winding down, with an extra day added for the leap year. In many places in the US, winter still has a hold, with snowy weather, freezing temperatures and few or no signs of spring.

It’s the middle of February and time for more holidays. There is Valentine’s day, a holiday to share love in many different ways. So Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone and may you have a good day to celebrate those people in your life that you love.

Happy New Year! It is now time to celebrate new beginnings while learning to write out the shiny new year of 2020. I still think that September seems like a better time for celebrating the start of a new year. Or spring also seems like a better time, with new growth and the start of new life. With cold weather and short days, it seems hard to get excited about starting fresh, especially after a busy holiday season. Yet somehow we manage to get excited and plan for the start of new adventures, work, romances and other stuff.