Thanks so much to everyone who has been checking in with us. This post is to let you know that we are staying healthy and safe in our new home in Spain. Even though we decided to name the house Nineteen, we are NOT the epicenter of the virus, that’s just our address!!!
As with most of you, we are confined to our house and the only facilities that are open are grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, and hospitals. Any type of travel is limited to essential trips and only one person per car, all closely monitored by police.
Up until yesterday, we still had workers in the house, finishing up the final details. But now they are not allowed to access job sites for inessential work.
We are very concerned to do our part to help ‘flatten the curve.’ Theo has his ginormous TV and it’s in a room with pocket doors, so I put the floor heating on in that room and he LOVES it. He’s still hogging the fur blankets I bought, but he’s pretty happy sitting and reading, surfing and watching tv. It’s too hot in there for me, so I have the rest of the house to myself. At least I got my Sonos speakers in time, so I have great tunes all around!
We still get deliveries from my online shopping (for glamorous finishing details like toilet roll holders) and I wash my hands like a madwoman after touching the cardboard from every delivery. I still have a lingering cough from WHATEVER I caught in January. A delivery guy was here yesterday and I couldn’t hold back a cough. You should have seen his face! Poor thing. I quickly told him “No corona, no corona!” He ran back to his truck very quickly…hope he didn’t blacklist our address!
Without an established stocked kitchen, we’re not in the best situation to eat in the ‘manner we have become accustomed!’ But we are making due by being very tolerant of the lack of variety and trying to be creative with what we have. The store shelves were bare last weekend, so am hoping they’re getting restocked at least a little. And yes, we’re using every little square of toilet paper judiciously. Of course, we found out the hard way that today was St. Joseph’s Day and even the grocers are closed!
Most european national borders are closed, so don’t know when we’ll be able to get back into France. But we’re snug as a bug here in Spain.
Sending best wishes to all of you out there. If you’re stuck at home and want to chat, please feel to ring us on Messenger, WhatsApp (+33 630710551) or Skype (cindy.loevenich). Take care!!!
Thanks for the update Cindy. It’s so good to know that you’re surviving in Spain. Who is caring for your home in France now?
Bruce & I are also doing our part Sheltering in Place. Our grocery stores are also open but the toilet paper is on short supply with so many doing panic buying, so we’re holding onto our supply. But we don’t anticipate running out. It is strange to see bottled water and bread isles completely empty though. I dug out my old bread machine and will see if that still works.
We also have many blooms to brighten our days, along with our Bird of Paradise. We have a beautiful home with views to enjoy. So life is not bad. Bruce loves his gardening and reading. I made a list of projects to accomplish. Cooking is more fun and creative now too.
Www love reading your blog. Please stay in touch
Jan and Bruce
Hi Jan,
It seems we’re all in about the same boat now. We have several people looking in on our house in France, although they are under restricted movement as well, so we hope someone is feeding our sweet fish in the fountain!!! We have pregnant mommas in our pond here in Spain and I’ve been feeding them—seems their appetite never ends!
We are officially out of food for us and HAD to have Bloody Marys with gin for dinner! Hahaha! Hoping the grocers are all restocked tomorrow after the holiday! I keep dreaming of projects to take on, then remember I don’t even have scissors, glue, pliers, paper, or sewing machine and know there is no store open where I can get supplies! Oh well, I’m ready to leap when things do open up again!!! If only I could cook. No idea when we’ll finally get our appliances, as I’m certain the store is on lockdown now. We’re just chillin’ for now and enjoying the views of the Med from the house. Hope we can meet up here one of these days, as it’s lovely. Thanks, as always, for reading my nonsense. Love to you both. Cindy
Hi Cindy,
I think of you and Theo often and wonder how you both are doing. Bloodies with gin tells me it is grim. Hope you have been able to stock up!