March 2020

Back in early February I read a book about the virtues of an unprocessed, plant-based diet. Since then we have largely been eating this way – with exceptions for the kids’ milk and yogurt, of course. They really haven’t minded the transition, as we have always been largely vegetarian. Linus, in particular, seems uninterested in meat most of the time. However, about once a month Yen picks up a rotissarie chicken and Linus goes full Henry VIII on it.

More quality time at home with the family includes Bartleby.

Another grocery day indulgence is ice cream. The kids are trained to take theirs outside.

Linus has been pretty good at checkers for a while now, and he’s decided to teach Mina. I’m not sure she’s the most eager student.

She’s more interested in fashion than checkers at the moment. One morning she was so adamant to fit into a particular pair of shorts that she sucked the belly in.

I believe I mentioned our major toilet paper score before the lockdown. We have so much, in fact, that Bartleby was able to do her pope impression.

The day before my birthday, my office announced that work from home would go into effect. In fact, as I write this it has just been announced that we’ll be at home at least until September 1. Anyway, so my birthday was a very quiet affair this year, but it still called for cake.

We might be in lockdown, but we still need fresh air. We are lucky to have so many wild places close to our house, and we’ve been rotating through them trying to keep everyone interested. The wildlife refuge down the road is always a hit in the Spring because it floods.

Mina has stolen my hat rather than put on a jacket – or her own hat.

The artist at work. Or maybe asleep.

Linus has a quiet dignity even with two baberies up his nose. Don’t worry – he was lectured about never, ever doing that again.

Would you like a sandwich? Linus is very good at making them.

And speaking of food, he designed the perfect situation here: he can enjoy cherry tomatoes on the toilet. At one point we heard, “Oh no! I dropped my tomato!” Luckily it was just on the floor.

Here’s Mina staying fit during lockdown, proving you don’t need a gym or a fancy studio.

Then she gave Bartleby a lesson.

Here’s Mina dressed up for… Who needs a reason?

Yen took the kids to dig at Walden Pond one afternoon. Unfortunately Mina really got into it and took her shoes off. She managed to get several grains of stand stuck in her foot. It took many attempts over weeks, but we finally got them all out.

Check out these two painting ladies! We’re making narwhals – as one does.

One rainy day we decided there wouldn’t be a lot of people about. You know, sensible people who don’t walk in the rain? So we ventured into Boston for a little walk. It’s so sad that we missed all of the cherry blossoms this year! Good thing our garden has a lot of flowers.

I’ll leave you with Mina singing in French. She has decided that she will live in Paris when she grows up, and is teaching herself French from a song book.