Well, that was unexpected

Just before 6pm (local) today, the largest earthquake I have been through since probably about 1989 hit Idaho.  Reports are saying it was between 6.3 and 6.5.  Honestly, it rattled me a bit.  Son walked into the living room to ask what the heck was going on.  Husband and I told him to head to a door frame in unison.

Nothing even fell over, though the house moved rather a lot.

On the upside, the cat slept through it.

Grocery Shopping was Surreal

The area where we live does not have a populace who seems to really believe that they could get sick or worse yet, get others sick.  Despite a state stay at home order, there were rather a lot of people still out and about, almost none bothering with any actual precautions.  Most panic buying seems to have subsided, though that may be due to lack of product on shelves more than anything else.

Since Husband has a background in biohazards and public health, we have been carrying hand sanitizer since the end of January.  We also tend towards overly cautious in the current situation. Masks and gloves, already stocked in our house(yay for woodworking supplies), are worn for all errands and only removed once back inside the house. Showers are taken immediately following a store run.  The clothes worn for errands are put directly into the washer.  We live in a neighborhood that has quite a lot of folks in the retirement age range, so better safe than sorry, for our neighbors and their grandchildren.  It's not just about us.

The store local to us also serves the higher end suburbs of Boise.  People were taking almost no precautions at all.  Not being respectful of space.  Staring openly or pointedly avoiding acknowledging us.  A few even giggled. Gloves are fairly discreet, you can't hide a face mask.

Things mostly looked the same. One lady loudly bought out a type of bacon at the butcher counter, while standing way too close.  For us, it was a slightly larger than usual grocery store run, but with Easter coming up, that isn't actually out of place.  The conversations in grocery store parking lots as we load the car, of thankfulness that we are able to buy a little extra at this point and remembering the not too long ago times we couldn't, are unusual, but decidedly heartfelt.

Costuming for the Occasion

As someone who has spent quite a lot of the last couple of decades keeping myself entertained, (thankfully my kids are waaaay old enough to entertain themselves now), I feel like I have a rather uniquely suited mind-set for the current situation.
My latest focus, aside from the slightly manic organization of...well everything, is the appropriate outfits for this occasion.  It's been a favorite hobby of mine for years, though the ensembles have rarely been horribly practical.  Current events demand practicality, which in my head, means as many pockets as possible and something I can wear with my boots, combined with a semi-subdued color palette.  My brain dubbed this sartorial concept, Rosie the Riveter meets Sarah Connor.
Hence, my purchase of cargo pants:

The colors of said pants will surprise absolutely no one.  They need to be tailored slightly, which I will likely get to this evening.
Now to go with said cargo pants, one needs tank tops of course!  I have the supplies to make a few All Tied Up Tanks, as well as the  non-wool yarn to make a few other in an even simpler design.
My Little Secret Crop also fits the bill, so progress continues:

I did realize that at some point sleeves would likely be needed so a couple of Knot Front Tees are also on the to be made list.
What accessories to put with this?  Stylistically, simple is best.  Something to cover ones head would be good.  Happily I finished the first of three Lisbeth hoods already!  The yarn is Malabrigo Silky Merino in the Bosques colorway.

There will also be a few of the Ivy vintage-style faux headwraps done shortly, (they don't look like much on the needles).
But what about my hands and arms you ask?  Especially with them exposed courtesy of the tank tops!
Apocketmitts to the rescue!  Yay extra pockets!

The yarn is Blue Moon Fiber Arts Single Silky Targhee in Say Nevermore. 

I may be slightly over enthusiastic about this particular look.  Though with as easily as I was able to put this all together, it was just a matter of time before I managed to put the pieces together.  Or had the gumption to wear it.

So.....how are you?

The current situation is quite horrible, especially for all the folks who are social and work outside their homes, (I know that is pretty much everyone).  Please know, I am worried about y'all.  Every. Last. One of you!
Around here at Chez JuneyWoollyThinker, life proceeds almost as usual.  While there is no popping out to the store or job interviewing going on,  I continue to knit.  It's Spring now, so there is gardening to be done.  I may even manage to pull out my sewing again.
On the knitting front, I cast on My Little Secret Crop last night, about 10:30pm after pillaging my yarn hoard for appropriate yarn.  I'm about half way through the body (I'm adding just a smidge of length) and am already plotting a second one.  The yarn is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Sport in the Aurora Heather, it's been in the hoard for years.

We'll see how fast I can finish it.  Wool tank tops seem rather sensible for Spring weather in Idaho.

With the start of the gardening and the putting out of the seedlings comes the War with the Squirrels.  There are rather a lot of the fuzzy little bastards around here.  They left my pea seedlings alone:

But for some reason the bean seedlings were to be dug up, sat upon, and in one case, eaten entirely:

The conspiracy of ravens that has been frequenting our house, as well as a local hawk or two (occasionally even sharing a tree) seem to have slowed them down today.  Honestly, I am completely okay with it.  I really don't want to have to keep re-planting.  Cayenne pepper and neem oil will be used liberally as deterrents as long as my supplies permit, combined with physically chasing them off and shouting, "Oi!"  Hopefully, something will work.

Stay safe.  Be well. (I still can only think of Demolition Man)

Updates and Not Knitting Bits

This evening we found out that Husband's classes will all be online for the rest of the Spring term.  Our new plan is for us to just hang tight and indulge our very introvert type selves for a couple of weeks.  We are a bit of a...wary lot (mostly due to Husband's public health background), so we have been slowly planning and setting up for this for a good couple of months.  (Not in the absurd, "buy all the toilet paper" way, thank you).
Happily, gardening season is starting, I have a garage that needs re-organization, a pile of needlework projects, new novels to read and a hoard of yarn.
My seedlings are doing well.  It should be warm enough soon to for them to go outside:

I put together a seed mix of sort of similar, older seed out of my collection:

Quite a lot of the mix is edible plants, including some random lettuce.  It will be a surprise to see what sprouts.
Then there is the vintage lace that finally got washed up.  My plan is to use some of it in a necklace.

In the process of digging out the lace, I came across some buttons that were ideal for the A Bit of Funk cardigan I have been planning.  I think they pair well with the lace I had already bought for the project.

Please, don't panic, take care of yourselves as best as you can, and listen to my sheep friend with their (slightly) modified message from Subversive Cross Stitch.

The Current Theme is Apparently Green

Despite the weather deciding to not be amenable to my Spring mindset, I continue to push forward in anticipation of warmer weather.
My garden starts are making their first appearances.  I may even be able to put them outside in a few weeks.  Mainly, peas, cucumbers and melons.

I pulled a cross stitch pattern from the top of my pile from Subversive Cross Stitch and got to work.

I cast on a giant color work shawl, the Boho Texture Triangle  Not my usual style, but in a forest themed color palette?  I am smitten.

I finally broke down and bought mesh produce bags.  They are quite good.  I also purchased some microfiber cleaning cloths/towels.  Yes, they are synthetic, but if I don't have to keep buying plastic wrapped paper towels?  I will call it a win.
I got some vertical planters for the mass amounts of salad I plan to grow this season.  They are heavy, well made pieces I will reuse for quite some time.  There may also be a half dozen other large planters in my front room.  I can't put in raised beds where we are at right now, so I plan to be Queen of the Container Garden.

The emergency radio I bought for our camping gear box?  Totally bought it in green.