Gramma Camp Week 21

Our grandies have done virtual school since September. They've been in school a week this year. In the beginning (September), one girl would use my laptop, the other, their family laptop. They tried using iPads, but it just didn't cut it. The screen is so small. Fortunately, they bought new computers for the girls. You need the equipment, you need space to work, you need bandwidth. School cases of COVID–19 are up something like 110%.

They were back at it Jan. 4th, after a good two-week holiday! They alternated between our house and theirs all year. It's made a difference as both parents are working on computers from home. We upgraded our Internet, adding a higher tower, and unlimited service. Their school board, OCDSB, made all of their students do virtual learning from Jan. 4 to 11. Suddenly, Friday, that was extended for two more weeks, but rumours are they'll be out until February. Nearby Quebec has put in a curfew. 

We found out other families are doing the grandparent bubble, as well. We learned to use computers prior to retirement, we can adapt to this new technology! One family we know of moved from Toronto to the grandparents' town to seek help with child care. Another family will be taking in gr. 2 and 4 grandkids who have been going to daycare, but the caregiver cannot provide school support while virtual learning. 

I noticed this schedule (below) on Twitter. A family of five, with both parents being teachers. They don't even have lunch at the same time. 

Ontario Declares an Emergency

The girls were to be here this week. We found that caring for them has been wonderful. Kids are so joyful.

Our cases per 100,000 have been terrible. 

The schools in the Golden Horseshoe are closed until February. Ottawa is another hotspot (the big cities are hotspots), and schools there will be closed until the end of January. Kids are getting it, and they blame Christmas and New Year's parties. The increased positivity rates are reflected in the spike in youngsters.

This was the Christmas fallout...

Yes, we have vaccines, but is this large country, it's going to take time. The cities are prioritized, then healthcare workers, including long-term care and senior congregant settings. The ICUs in the big cities are getting full. They are sending people from Toronto to Barrie or Kingston.

Dr. Kwan provides excellent data

They are still clarifying the 'rules.'

It is ridiculous that people can still go to cottages...

Back to school!

 Well, school began in our grandies part of the world, OCDSB, Friday, Sept. 18th. It was pretty late in September. The kids set the girls up in their dining room. 

Our girls are doing online schooling, Gr. 5 and 8. The kids took a month to create routines and best practices. Both adult are working from home. We have the girls for a week, and we'll see how it works out. We've added to the internet tower[New antenna in rural Ontario], upped our coverage, and will hope we can manage two Zoom events at the same time. If not, back they'll have to go. 😭

Saturday morning, they all arrived for an overnighter. We planned to figure out where the girls would work. Grampa isn't using his office, except for exercises. There was also the guest room.

Saturday, the kids arrived. 

We visited, they went walkies after they helped with some heavy chores. JL made dinner, spaghetti with garlic bread. Yum. They brought all the ingredients, as well! What a treat. 

Isabelle helped me set up the Christmas tree.

Tree climbing

Cat mushies

We were watching the PVR, JB had taped the horse race, when I felt something crawling. I yelled for someone to fetch some tape. All Caitlin could find was electrical tape, but it worked. There was a tick. My SIL checked the girls, and all was well. Whew!

More outdoor play on Sunday.

Isabelle was fixing up her costume, painting blood on her zombie shirt. They will wear them on Friday during school.

It was a lovely sleepover. We watched some old Border Security shows. Momma and Papa went home in the morning. We read, played in the trees again. Jos and I played two Skip-Bo games. She won both. 

During the weekend, we watched a young buck stroll up the driveway. It went down the path to the meadow, not choosing to show off where all could see him! Instead, he made selfies down in the forest.

young buck from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.