Happy Homemaker Monday

Sunday was a more productive day.  I made more homemade "lysol" wipes, cleaned sinks, did some laundry, cleaned up the kitchen, and kept the wood stove stoked.  We were to get up to 60°F, but the house still had a chill inside.

We got my car out of quarantine (via trailer) and have a friend working on it.  I picked up limbs, branches (some 20-some feet long), twigs and sticks, while Hubby finished up the mowing.

I am thankful for the folks donating masks to first responders and the like vs. those making them just for income.  I found a gal who is making one for my one brother for free.  Our state is requiring that we wear one in stores etc. and may be wearing them for more than a year.  I'll be spending more time at home, and spending way less money on take out for sure.  I mean, how in the world can restaurants afford to operate with 10 customers and how in the world can we go in wearing a mask and eat a meal at the same time?

The clerks and restaurant employees wearing gloves is a joke too.  Unless they are changing them between every customer, wearing gloves is not protecting the buyer one bit.

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

The weather outside is . . . 
High of 60° and sunny.  I still have the wood stove going.


How I'm feeling this morning . . .
I bit depressed, as Hubby went back to work today.  Not sure if they will continue the 2 weeks off/on now that out state is lifting the shut-in order May 1st.


On my mind . . .
Well, what isn't on my mind?  Seriously, at a time like this.  Will I ever get to hug my Mom or Dad, sit around a table at a family gathering?  Hold my grand kids?  Dance at a bar?  Participate in a bike week in our state?  Get a trip to the island, cabin in the hills or cabin in TN this year?  Sell at a craft show?  



On the breakfast plate. . .

Coconut flour pancakes and sausage because my waffle maker no worky.  They taste the same, but don't have the height.


On my reading pile . . .

On the TV . . .
Whatever we find interesting on netflix (if we can get it to work, since the internet is off and on lately).


On the menu . . .
-soup beans, fried cabbage
-walleye/perch and homemade fries
-bruschetta chicken, salt and vinegar potatoes, beets
-not sure on the rest yet


From the camera . . .

Hard to believe this was a few days ago.  No snow now.

These are up for sale on my "farm" blog, but I'm sure no one has money to spend right now.


Looking around the house . . .
It's looking a less bit cramped.  Our daughter who moved back in is slowly getting her belongings upstairs.


Chore I am not looking forward to this week . . .
To be honest I'm looking forward to any chore right now.  It keeps me moving and keeps myself in a routine.


To relax I will . . .
Porch time, crochet, or knit.  Bake.  It makes me happy.

Yesterday I baked some banana bread with walnuts and mini-chocolate chips.  It smelled fantastic, as I have not been doing this sort of baking (conserving the flour and the fact we are shut in and could put on some extra pounds).  In fact, we left to go on a motorcycle ride, and when we got home, my working daughter said she could smell it right away and went searching for it, ha ha!

Prayers. . . 
Mom, Dad (elderly shut in), one brother (first responder), the president, the world, us, a new baby born into our family and no one can see him yet.

Spring Garden Goodies

Early photo from yesterday.  Purple dead nettle is up.

Our rhubarb and asparagus is coming up too.

Snow ~ Score!

The weather will be much better today.  Yesterday it snowed.  And snowed.  And snowed.  

Woke up to find this at the computer.  Our daughter scored us a can of Lysol.  Love the mug she gifted me too.  So happy to see this.

This morning I realized there is no such thing as simply getting up and making a cup of coffee.  First, the chicks needed fed and watered, the mouthy and loud Tiger wanted fed, the barn cat was pawing at the door to be fed....then there is Romeo....sigh...I got my cup of coffee finally.

My husband and I went to the "Big City" and did a supply run for us and for her.  We picked up her favorite wine too.  The greenhouse did not have sweet potato slips in yet, so that was one stop we didn't need to do.  Mom was smiling this delivery, so she is doing better now.


Other news:
Our statewide shut-in order will lift after May 1st.  They are setting us free.  Sort of.  There will be three phases of opening places.  Each "phase" is minimum 14 days, and if all goes well, school open back up in phase 2 (so that passes their prom date).  The Ohio Bike Week was postponed.  

Quarantine Day 32

Quarantine day 32

Nothing like waking up at 3:30am, and finding the internet not working and trying to figure it out for an hour. Now it's running slower than molasses.

Things I noticed while out getting supplies - Kroger pharmacy took down all readers.  You cannot buy them.  One Kroger has a limit of 410 people.   Ace hardware is not shipping any UPS items.  No Lysol spray in any stores.

Daughter (20 year-old) said that they only get a small amount of Lysol and they are forced to keep it and use on the store.  I'm guessing most shipments are like this.

She also told us they make care packages for the truck drivers that deliver - Lysol, sanitizer, snacks etc.

Calling my Mom to get her grocery list for a supply run feels like a scene from The Walking Dead.

On a good note, my lettuce is sprouting!  We also cut wood, but only enough for a few days.  It was cold, so we will resume soon.

Harvesting Stinging Nettle ~ Garage Clean Up

The snow was arriving around noon yesterday, so I went ahead and harvested some stinging nettle.  It filled my smaller dehydrator.  Happy for that. If you haven't done this before, be sure to have thick gloves on.  The "sting" does not leave the plant until you either cook it or dehydrate it.

Hubby and I spent 3 hours in the garage.  Found so much we can give away - roller blades, knee pads, wrist guards, all sorts of balls and bats, kids tent....lots to throw out too.  Now the trash is full, so it waits again for another day.  Happy for that too.

Luckily, I harvest a small bit of feverfew.  I make tea for our youngest daughter's headaches.  

The sunrise this morning.  I actually slept until just before it came up.  Beautiful, and praying for the best for world, especially our Governor.  I just hope they don't hold us captive much longer, and that they do not enforce wearing a mask all year.  I do understand the purpose, but you can't gain immunity by covering our faces an entire year, possibly 18 months.  There is hope for things to open back up.  In our state if you are tested and are positive they are giving your personal information to the local EMS/Police authorities - so much for HIPPA and our privacy.  Might as well stamp a number on us.   Sorry for the "Debbie Downer" but it really has me thinking/wondering.  Keep praying.

Spring Nettle ~ Snow

Spring nettle is coming up, but snow is coming today and possibly Friday.  I'm going out to harvest what I can for now.  I'm going to dehydrate it for now, as it's not much, but better than anything at this point.

I got another email from the school.  Graduation is still set for late may, with a back up date late June.

I plan to make another jar of Four Thieves Vinegar today.  Other than that, due to the weather, we'll be working in the garage.  I doubt thrift stores will be open any day, so I'm not sure what we'll do with items we want to get rid of yet.

Biscuits ~ Sewing ~ Planting

I was slow to get started yesterday morning, but so happy I could actually sleep in. 

I started the day with some hand sewing - fixed a pair of jogger pants.  Finally planted my heirloom organic lettuce seeds, and baked some biscuits for dinner.  These kids will never want to move out with all this home cooking (the older one who moved back in truly misses the healthy meals.  Especially breakfast, as it's never out of a box (or very rare).

Youngest learned how to make sausage gravy and was so proud of herself.  She now wants to learn how to make the biscuits.  I sure hope she really does.

I did my daily call to Mom.  She was feeling better than the day prior.  With our future so uncertain, I must call her daily for support.  I need the one on one time as well.

It's a chilly 29°F here this morning.  Huge change from our 60-70 degree days lately.  Not sure of what's on the list for today yet.

I'm pretty sure there will be zero craft shows this year, so I plan on putting items up for sale via the mail.  Packages can be sprayed or left 72 hours before opening.  I'll admit, my motivation for crochet and knit work is at an all time low though.  I have not started to knit the socks yet, as we've been working on jobs that haven't been done for years (which is a good thing).  

Unfortunately, one bakery (local in the Big City) is closing it's doors and it may be for good.  So sad to see local businesses go through this.  

I may need to try some new recipes to keep myself upbeat during this shut-in order.  Just depends on what the grocery store has right now.