(+1 inset!) Note: Please forgive the poor quality of these two pictures! They were taken through our double--paned kitchen window and I neglected to check my settings so alas, the ISO is horrendous! :P Also, I wanted to say THANK YOU to Michel Cremoux for encouraging me to take pictures today and post an update! :)

I'm Doing Fine but the World Isn't!
Hello everyone! I'm checking in again to let everyone know that I'm ok but still hiding under a rock. It seems very strange to me that after all this time, I'm still not adjusted to this Coronavirus and the impact it's had on the world. I cannot turn off the part of my brain which works out the "chess moves" of what's going on from ground up and it hits me in the face every time.

For example, I see a person. They are older. They don't have a mask on. I think about the risk. I think about people violating the social distancing and gathering in all sorts of places. Then they cause another outbreak. Those people infect people at risk. They are brought to intensive care but some do not make it. And then…I cannot help but think of all of the temporary morgues, and the inconceivable notion of so many people dying alone, away from their families who love them so much but cannot get close to them…it's so horrible…

That same person, at the same instant. I wonder if they are out of a job because they just got laid off. Their company, did it go belly-up or did they use the opportunity to "trim the fat" and remove any employee that wasn't an ideal fit, since now it could be done with the excuse of the virus' detrimental impact. Or, was it a great company that got killed by the virus' implications? All those people, the history, ruined. So many companies, big and small, destroyed forever--and so many had been doing fabulously until the virus hit. The unemployment…the fears, the debts…it is a horrible new reality for so many MILLIONS upon MILLIONS of people.

Yet again, the same person. I wonder, are they not wearing a mask in defiance? I think about the politics of it all, from ground up, and around the world, the way every country is dealing with this pandemic. How the leaders of the countries are handling--or not handling--the virus and all that it entails. The callous reaction by many leaders sends me reeling in feelings of absolute rage and at the same time, complete helplessness and also total bewilderment that it's even possible that these people are in charge of entire countries…

Those are just three wheeling torrents that hit me when I see a person. That's just a sample. I am usually really good at compartmentalizing stuff like this, mentally organizing issues so that I'm not overwhelmed by negative situations. But in this case it's just SO MUCH. I am still trying to figure out how to handle the whirling dervishes of horrible scenarios that hit me in the face whenever I peek out at the world.

Playing Games Helps!
I have a love-hate relationship with video games. They are really fun but can be a total waste of time. There are so many better ways to spend ones time, but on the other hand, how about all of countless hours people spend watching tv or YouTube? At least with video games you're actively doing something other than sitting there vegging out on the sofa. The arguments on this are endless and the merits fall on both sides.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic video games have been a welcome--and needed--distraction for me. I wanted to play something absorbing and harmless and my first choice was a game called Garden Paws. What a wonderful game! I played it until there was no new content for me and finally had to find something new. Played some fun puzzle games including a really neat one called The Tiny Bang Story. But I wanted another game like Garden Paws, and found My Time at Portia. What a winner of a game!! It's the same sort of village community-building game as Garden Paws but much deeper. I'm totally captivated and if you are interested in this sort of pastime I would totally recommend it. So, if you wonder where I am these days, it's in the beautiful little town of Portia! :) If I'm lucky I'll finally be able to tame a Colorful Llama as my new mount! :)

The New Visitors--a Flock of QUAIL!
Since Steve and I moved to our home in southern Oregon, I've happened upon quail just a few times. A shame because I adore these birds! But in my experience I've known them to be very reclusive, shy birds, so I didn't expect more than that.

However, a couple of weeks ago, on my daily jaunt up and down the driveway, I disturbed a few birds as I walked down the road and was delighted when I heard the distinctive sound of QUAIL! Why, I hadn't encountered any of them on our property for a good ten years at least! I may not have seen but a flutter as they skedaddled into the brush but oh, such a smile I had on my face to hear their horrified clucking! :D I wondered if I should be so lucky as to encounter them again or if that was it.

A couple of days ago I was in the kitchen and looked out our window to check out the movement I spotted under our bird feeders (not filled right now). *GASP* My eyes nearly popped out of my head! NO! COULD IT BE?! Why…IT WAS A QUAIL!!!! *SQUEEEEE!!!!* I was glued to the spot, looking at the darling male pecking around for tasty bits to eat until he--and his magnificently silly bobbed feathers on his head--disappeared out of view. I couldn't stop smiling. I would have loved to have gotten a picture but my camera wasn't near and even if it was, the view through the window and fencing wouldn't have worked out. But I certainly told Steve! We wondered if it would be back.

Yesterday at brunch Steve looked out and exclaimed, "The quail is back! And there are at least two!" I ran over and peered out. OH!!!! Two boys…WAIT! THREE!! No…FOUR! FIVE…SIX QUAIL!!! We determined there were four males and two dainty females, all carefully picking around for goodies in the grass. What fun to see them! Steve and I went on and on about their beautiful feathers and the joy of seeing them, taking turns to look through our binoculars to get better views. Such pretty birds they are. Always there was one who kept a careful lookout for danger as the others pecked away. Our meal plans stopped as we enjoyed the show, and only returned to it after they'd disappeared from view. What a great treat it was to see them! We crossed our fingers that they'd be back.

This morning when I stepped into the kitchen with Pumpkin, we were greeted by an attentive male quail sitting on the porch railing!! OH MY!! We all stared at one another and I couldn't resist scurrying to get my Sony to try for a picture or two. I thought, even if I can only get pictures through the kitchen window, it will still be so wonderful!

Well, as it turns out, I WAS able to grab my camera and get a bunch of pictures! :) I'm so happy that I captured this beautiful bird!! :) Unfortunately I didn't check my settings first…so the ISO is an outrageous 5k and the images are all terribly grainy. Wahhhhhh! And the aperture was set to 11 and that didn't help either. I hope you'll all forgive the poor quality but…I did take pictures today of a wonderful little bird who was brave enough to hang around for me to get these images! :) (By the way, the second I slowly opened the door for better pictures he jumped off the railing to the flock below and they made their way out of view shortly thereafter!)

Hello Pam!
And what of YOU and quail? I expect you may have them where you live but I don't think you've gotten any pictures? *peeky…* NOPE, or not posted anyway! Sending big huts your way my dear!! :)

Explored on 5/19/20; highest placement #1.