After a near-normal late summer and early fall, the second wave of COVID-19 has touched the Atlantic provinces. In early November* we started to see the numbers climb with community spread and started to re-adjust.
The Atlantic Bubble, which allowed people to travel within the four Atlantic provinces without self-isolating, popped on 11/23 with Newfoundland and PEI (both islands) leaving. New Brunswick, currently in a similar state to Nova Scotia in active case numbers, left a few days later. Most of the known active cases in Nova Scotia (119 as of 12/03) are within the Halifax area. New in this wave are the focus on 18-35 year-olds and testing the asymptomatic through pop-up sites.
Most businesses and people here quickly adjust and do all the right things. This week, my favoUrite coffee shop for after-hike coffees reverted to take-out only. We’re doing OK but I am still concerned whether we can keep our shit together this month during Canada’s most social and mobile holiday.
As mentioned in the last post, after 10 years of not decorating, in 2020 I am embracing the spirit of Christmas and celebration. On 11/19, I put up holiday lights around my balcony railing. The lights were labelled vintage but I don’t know what vintage that refers to. It may be the 1950’s or disco because the green lights tend to lime and the red to pink. My balcony looks like a party. I like it.
I also 1) sewed flannel PJ bottoms using a festive fox print, 2) sewed masks using Christmas cat prints, and 3) switched over to a Holiday Blend coffee at home. All in November.
I started addressing a few holiday cards yesterday. My gift shopping is almost done (I don’t do much so completion is not a big deal). I decided there’s a thin line between feeling good about supporting the local vegetarianish cafe and an excuse for eating too many vegan cinnamon buns so I switched over to their seasonal gingerbread cookies.
My building doesn’t permit real Christmas trees and I don’t want to buy artificial (I’m not against artificial (I’ve had them in the past), I just don’t want to spend $ buying another) so I may put out decorations and save the ornaments for yet another year. Enid won’t know what she’s missing.
On the last day of November, I hiked with friends to Cape Split, a finger of land pointing out to the Bay of Fundy. It was sunny and mild. It’s not a hike to do when it’s cold, windy, precipitating, or low visibility. We sat looking out at the water and soaking up Vitamin D with the place to ourselves. It seemed fortuitous to have a weather opportunity to hike the split again before the end of the year and without snow. According to my wintumn post from 11/22/18, there was snow on the ground from mid-November and I’d already shoveled the driveway twice. So Happy December! Finish strong.
*Official start of the second wave in Nova Scotia is 10/01.
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Dad says
Taking a break from cards. Your post is a pleasant diversion. The small trees we viewed in Walmart didn’t seem too expensive. What about Canadian Tire ? Enid needs a little tree. Cheers, Love, Daf