SIP A to Z : Q

Q is for Quarantine

Well, we're not exactly under quarantine.  We're Sheltering-in-Place, but it feels like quarantine, except we get to see each other.

I want to go on the record that I don't like the idea of people not being able to see the ones they love when they have the virus and are in the hospital. It seems inhumane to me.  I guess I understand on an intellectual level, but past that ...

Anyway.  Here's my pictures for today.

 

From Dr. Seuss, the Quick Queen of Quincy and her quacking quacker-oo.

SIP A to Z : P

P is for Pizza, Pretzels, and Peppers

So since sheltering in place, we do a lot more cooking, basically every night. We did order Afghani food this past weekend, but that's the only time we haven't cooked, or had leftovers, since March 17.

The past three days, we had Pizza (homemade) -- no pictures :(.  Pretzels.

and stuffed Peppers ...

and tomorrow, I'll be making Popcorn.

SIP A to Z : O

O is for Outdoors

Today was a gorgeous day so we (the five of us) went for a walk.  We took the baby over to a playground to swing.  It was great to get outside -- not that we haven't been getting out, but this was a longer walk than usual and the weather was great.

SIP A to Z : N

N is for Ninety days ...

It's been at least 30 days so far and who knows how long this will last.  Although it's not what we thought we'd be doing (we thought we would be planning on moving back into our house at the end of of the month .. that's not happening now), it's actually beginning to feel "normal."  And I am going to miss these days when we go back to work.  Although I find work much harder at home, I'm getting used to it.  I get more frustrated with things.  I have more computer issues.  But it's okay.  And like I said, I'm going to miss this when things go back to "Normal".  Oh, maybe N is actually for Normal.

SIP A to Z : M

M is for Masks

So I brought the sewing machine down and went through my fabric and whipped up four masks for the adults in the house.

So, we're prepared to go out in public. 

SIP A to Z : L

L is for Love

This has been a hard one to pick -- not the love part, but what to do for "L".  I first started with LAZY, because I feel like I could be doing so much more.  Then I was going with LONELY -- not that I'm lonely but I imagine there are some people who are struggling with that.  Then I was going to go with LIFE ... anyway, if I have to be sheltering in place, at least I am able to be with people that I love.  Being alone would be hard or even worse, not liking the people you have to be with 24/7.  So that's my L word.  and here are some Beatles songs:

Love me do
She loves you
All you need is love

There are probably more but those were the only ones I could think of just now.

and what's not to love about that little face??

SIP A to Z : K

K is for Knitting

I've started some knitting during this Shelter-In-Place.  Here's a picture of the blanket I started .. I've got a long way to go.

My youngest son has requested a couch blanket so I'm looking for a pattern and yarn .. I have to figure out how to get the yarn delivered without picking it out in person.

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?