SIP A to Z : F

F is for Five K

On Monday, I started my Couch to 5K program, yet again.  Each time I re-start, it gets harder and harder.  The first time I was able to push through and do the running every day .. I would walk at 4 mph and run at 5 or 6.  Now, I struggle to walk at 3 mph and the running ... I'm getting old.

This is the app I'm using ..

Let's hope I can continue doing it.  Three times a week ... Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. 

SIP A to Z : E

E is for Entertainment

What to do with ourselves during this shelter in place has been a challenge.  We played cards one night, but for whatever reason, it didn't seem so fun.  Maybe we'll do it again and it'll feel more normal.

We are watching a lot of TV -- we binge watched Schitts Creek and now we're on The Plot Against America .. who knows what will be next.

I'm probably going to start knitting ..

I've been playing lots of games - Township is the main one.

I think I'm kind of living in the state of what's going to happen and not enjoying each day for what it holds.  I need to work on that.  I need to remember that it's not always going to be this way and enjoy the time with my family.  This really is a time to treasure -- not to suffer through.

Shelter-In-Place A to Z (A, B, C, and D)

One of my goals this year was to participate in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  I, however, neglected to sign up (though apparently I could have done it even as late as yesterday).  Although I didn't sign up, I'm going to do my A-Z through the month of April.  Today's post will be a catch up.

We are all stuck inside because of the COVID-19 pandemic -- well, not so much inside but rather we can't go anywhere -- we are "sheltering in place" (SIP) at our homes. In our case, we are sheltering in place at our daughter and son-in-law's home where we've been living for over a year now.  My AtoZ will be all SIP related.

A is for being All together All the time.

B is for Bread

I have made four different breads since March 17 when the SIP order went into effect.

 Cheesy Bread

 

Banana Bread

Dutch Oven Bread

There will probably be more bread in our future as well...

C is for Cat.

On March 27, a rainy Friday, my indoor cat (aka the Devil cat), went outside -- the door was closed on him and he disappeared.  On April 2, at about 4 a.m., he wandered back in -- a few pounds lighter and maybe a little nicer.

D is for Don't Go Anywhere

I am NOT making light of the virus or the seriousness of this pandemic.  We have a friend who is still in the hospital and recovering.  It was touch and go for a while.  It's just that the self-quarantining and staying away from stores, etc., is just hard -- really, really hard.

Amazonian Problem

 

(image from here)

So, of course, we have Amazon Prime -- for the free shipping, free movies/TV, and the free books.  They must be overwhelmed with orders so much so that  myorders are now taking over a week. I now have to think a week ahead on my purchases.  I mean thinking??  I wonder if Target is doing their pickup orders or if that is also delayed? Probably delayed.

Dutch Oven Bread

New bread today.  Sheltering in place means eating more.  Dutch Oven Bread from tasty.

 

Shelter - In - Place

As of March 18, 2020, the counties in which we live and work have been under Shelter-In-Place orders -- I have been working at home since then.  Not sure how that's going but we're working through it. I feel like I'm able to focus but things are taking longer than I feel they should.

here's my work space ..

I thought I did a day 1, 2, 3, etc. but I haven't been that good. 

Gallifrey One - 31 Flavors of Gallifrey

So, for the last six years Nevada and I have been going to the Doctor Who convention, Gallifrey One, on Valentine's Day, President's Day Weekend .. this is biggest Doctor Who convention in the world ..  this year it just happened to occur before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

A dalek .. with its handler out of the picture.

We had a great time.  Listening to interviews.  Meeting some of the stars.  but mostly just being together.  They put the tickets on sale for next year already and we have our tickets.  We need to pay attention to when the hotel reservations open .. and then plane tickets.  Presuming the COVID19 has played out by then ...

J Bear??

So I mentioned earlier this year that I got another J Bear.  Apparently, every year Joann's releases a Teddy Bear, called J Bear.  I purchase it when it goes on sale after Christmas - usually for $5 or less.

2017 and 2018

2019 and 2017

Each year there are actually two stuffed animals, at least.  In 2017, there were two bears; in 2019 the other stuffed animal was a flamingo (I didn't get that one).  In 2018, it was a Rhino -- super cute.

Hoarding?

I don't really think I'm a hoarder, but I have a hard time throwing stuff away ... and I love stuff that has memories attached.  My sister sent me the following items that were my mothers this week.

 

What's not to love .. there was a piece missing so I'll have to replace that, if I want to use this next year.

Then there are the wooden birthday cake candle holders that I remember being used when I was little.  I love these ...

these ones, not so much ..

She also sent these little finger puppets .. I don't remember my mom having these, but she was a prolific knitter so it makes sense that she would have these.

 I wish I had been with my sisters when they went through the rest of the stuff at my parents' house. 

Virginia Beach

My brother-in-law passed away in early January.  So we flew to the East Coast for the funeral.  He lived in Virginia Beach and was buried in Sussex (?) Virginia.

We stayed with my mother-in-law (who is 94) for a couple of days before going down to Virginia Beach.  My mother-in-law lives across the road from my SIL who lives on a farm (in rural Virginia, two hours south of Washington, D.C.).

Here is my MIL with my youngest grandson.  Doesn't she look great?  If I live to 94, I hope to be in as good of health as she is.

My BIL was a career Army guy, so he had a military funeral.

We saw some family members we haven't seen in ages.  Here is our nephew, who currently lives in Austria.  I don't think we had seen him since before we moved to California -- so it's been at least 20 years, maybe more.

Here are the three oldest cousins -- the last time we saw our nieces was at my FIL's funeral -- in 2014.
They were almost teenagers when I began having kids, so there's a huge age difference between them and my kids -- and they also stopped coming around when my kids were little (for various reasons).

The picture below was taken when this same nephew got married .. unfortunately he's not in the picture.

After the funeral there was a reception at my other niece's house.  Here's a pic from there.  Hopefully the animation shows.

That night, my husband and I spent the night at a hotel in Virginia Beach -- it was the easiest thing to do .. (though there was room at my niece's and she had offered).  We needed the break and I'm glad we did it.

I took an early (ish) walk on the beach.

Not a great reason for a visit, but a good trip nonetheless.

$1 Challenge

The $1 challenge is to find good stuff for one dollar.  This past week I bought these bananas, with coupons for $0.70.  A real deal!