Covid-19 Wave #3 Begins
[Photos taken 16 – 30 September 2020, posted online 06 March 2021. Spring weather in February, as a volcanic eruption is possible/imminent. Zero active Covid-19 cases found outside of quarantine since 01 February 2021. ]
Mid-September, the percolating Covid-19 infection rate suddenly exploded on the heels of a few super-spreader events in bars, and at least one combat-gym. When it became clear we were heading into exponential-growth territory, restrictions began tightening.
In retrospect, they probably tightened too slow, as wave #3 ended up being long and vicious.
We participated in a few people-meetings (confirmation party! out to lunch! visiting cafes!), but mostly we began hunkering down, observing the autumn colors taking over the world. I painted yet another wall, the last of the veggie harvest was brought indoors, and we began prepping for winter. (55-ish images total)
Wednesday 16 September 2020
Hiding at House #2
[Photos taken 01 – 05 August 2020, posted online 31 January 2021. It’s been a snowless cold month on our side of the country, the other side is drowning in snow. Very few Covid-19 cases found these past few days.]
We visited house #2 with Adda and Halli and spent a few calms days there. Right about that time, Covid-19 wave #2 began, which meant we mostly stayed put to avoid crowds, which was restful in and of itself (80-ish images total)
Saturday 01 August 2020
Geysir, Horses, Sun & Birthday
[Photos taken 26 – 31 July 2020, posted online 17 January 2021. Zero domestic covid-19 cases found yesterday for the first time in four months, the border is seeing an increase in cases though. It’s a bit scary.]
Anna kept reminding me of my promise of more than one horse riding tour, so we found an operator close to the Geysir area, and booked a tour. Afterwards we took a peak at the bubbling waters, while the car charged.
Finnur joined us, and we frolicked in the sun and even visited Fontana, the spa on the edge of Laugarvatn lake. Then we drove back into town, and celebrated Finnur’s 46th (!) birthday. (65-ish images total)
Sunday 26 July 2020
Vacation Begins & Perlan Visit
[Photos taken 17 – 20 July 2020, posted online 14 January 2021. Covid-19 restrictions were loosened a bit yesterday, so Finnur went to his actual office to work, and I was all of a sudden all alone at home! ]
At long last, our 4-week-long summer vacation began. Unlike other vacations, it began entirely unplanned. With no trips or activities planned, we made an idea board, and a calendar and tried to piece something together as we went along. Our first activities were more dog-sitting, and checking out Perlan.
Covid kept a fairly low profile throughout July, but by the very end, the news turned more ominous as it was confirmed that cases had leaked through the border. Bah-humbug! (50-ish images)
Friday 17 July 2020
A Taste of Normal Life
[Photos taken 16 – 27 June 2020, posted online 27 December 2020. Hope you all had a lovely yuletide!! ]
With Covid all but gone (for the time being) people gatherings resumed (often on a smaller scale), gyms and restaurants reopened, and life in general went mostly back to normal. The weather even played nice!
We attended two graduation parties, Emma went from all-day gymnastics camp to horse-camp, while Bjarki went to 2.5 hour long gymnastics practices four times per week, as he’s now aged out of the camp-scene. Anna did odd jobs at the local library, tended to her veggies, and the puppy Spori.
We helped my brother Pétur and family move into their new apartment (very exciting!) which meant a very satisfying Ikea-assembly dosage for yours truly (me!). (55-ish images total)
Tuesday 16 June 2020
Jogging, Planting, & Dog-Sitting
[Photos taken 01 – 14 June 2020, posted online 23 December 2020. Yule is just around the corner, Covid refuses to leave, rainy storm predicted tomorrow.]
Finnur began going out for keep-in-shape runs when his old-boys football practices got shut down. I mostly did home-exercises and walks, but one day I decided to see if I actually could do a bit of jogging… and it turns out I did!
My history with jogging has been littered with injury. It was only in my “old age” that I started actually enjoying going outside for a jog with a good podcast, but since then there’s been plantar fasciitis, ankle breakage, shin splints, Achilles tendinitis, and iffy hips. Physical therapy has helped with some of that, but lifting weights has strengthened the whole system, and so… jogging is again a possibility.
We also finally finished making veggie growing boxes for Anna, but the plants went in a bit late, so the fall harvest was not super. Anna also spent a a lot of time with Spori the puppy, as her summer job only began on 9 June. (60-ish images total)
Monday 01 June 2020
Summer Flowers, Veggie-Boxes, & Office-Return
[Photos taken 23 – 31 May 2020, posted online 15 November 2020. Started playing a new video game last night, Creaks, for the first time in ages.]
The last week of May was a flurry of more gardening activity. We returned to the office, went to the library, checked out the new puppy, and even went to a graduation party with lots of people (gasp!). Bringing covid numbers down is totally worth it! (50-ish images total)
Saturday 23 May 2020
Let’s Go Outside
[Photos taken 16 – 22 May 2020, posted online 14 November 2020. Covid-19 is on a steady decline in Iceland, the ground is white with frost, but little actual snow yet this fall.]
We kept being careful, and not meeting that many people, or at least we tried to make sure we let some time pass between meet-ups.
I kept working from home, Anna’s school came to a close, and the music school ended with a bit of a whimper as all school concerts were canceled. But the weather was good, and I explored new walking grounds. (50-ish images total)
Saturday 16 May 2020
Meeting Other People Post Wave #1
[Photos from 08 – 15 May 2020, posted online 08 November 2020. Biden has been announced as the next US president. Covid-19 seems on a decline in Iceland.]
For the first time since March, we made plans to meet other adults! Our friends Ragnar & Agnes came up to house #2, which was sort of a neutral ground, virus wise, as we hadn’t gone there since February. We topped the weekend off by attending a birthday PARTY.
Other than that, life just sort of muddled onwards with the usual spring-tasks, and weather that oscillated between muggy and bright. (45-ish images)
Friday 08 May 2020
Colorful Art & Costumes on the Eve of Covid-19
[Photos taken 21 – 29 February 2020, posted online 04 August 2020. Currently in Borgarnes, over half-way through our vacation.]
The last few days of total freedom before the first Icelandic case of Covid-19 was diagnosed on 28 February.
We visited the library, dropped in on a couple of museums, visited house #2 with friends, made cream puffs, enjoyed Ash Wednesday/Halloween #2, and even joined more friends for dinner! (60-ish images total)
Friday 21 February 2020
