SIP A to Z : J

J is for Journaling

and that's what I'm doing this month.  When this is in the distant past, this will be a way that I will be able to remember what was going on and how I felt during this time. I know I don't dump a bunch of feelings here -- good, bad, or indifferent (well maybe indifferent), but just keeping these posts will remind me of this time.

This is my t-shirt yarn that I used to make the ties for our face masks .. more about that when I get to the letter M.

SIP A to Z : I

I is for Icing.

I know.  Icing?  Well, for our anniversary, which is today, my husband wanted carrot cake.  So, rather than buy it, I decided to make it.  Recipe from here.

all the ingredients

it doesn't look very appetizing, does it?

and now we get to the icing.  Two blocks of cream cheese and one stick of butter .. and .. 4.5 cups of confectioner's sugar.  It was/is divine.

the completed cake (I would have done three layers but I don't have my cake pans here).

Very yummy. 

So anyway, after dinner, we also made some cinnamon bread, based on the chocolate bread recipe we made around Christmas.  We substituted cinnamon and sugar for the chocolate.

 

The leftover icing from the carrot cake goes perfectly with this bread ...

So yeah, icing.

SIP A to Z : H

H is for Hoarding ...

Who knew when people starting hoarding toilet paper that we should have gotten some too?  We still haven't been to a store when they have had any toilet paper.  How can that be? What are these people doing with all that toilet paper?  You would think the stores would be able to re-stock by now, but no. 

It's really frustrating.  That's all I have to say about that.

Another random picture of my grandparents.

Oh, and by the way, when I'm doing this all I can think of is Dr. Seuss's ABC - Big H, Little H, what begins with H? Hungry Horse Hay, Hen in a Hat, Hooray Hooray.  

SIP A to Z : G

G is for Goals

This is a good time to work on my list for this year -- to attack some of the goals I have that don't require going places or seeing people.  There are no excuses -- traffic isn't an issue.  The only issue is me and my motivation.

For example, I have started my knitting project -- it's a blanket for my 2-year old granddaughter.  Of course, it was supposed to be finished before she was born but obviously that didn't happen.  It may end up as a gift for someone else .. please don't tell. 

Another thing I've started is the Couch to 5K.  Depending on how long this goes on, I may even be able to finish it.  I don't enjoy running but I know it's good for me to push myself.

Maybe I'll go into the office and get my scanner so that I can work on scanning the old pictures and WWI letters.  Just saw this picture of my grandfather that reminded me ...

(plus I couldn't have a post without any pictures at all).

I might even do some quilting.  I'm going to pull out the sewing machine this weekend and make face masks.  It should go pretty quickly -- does anyone have a pattern to recommend?

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 ...