So how are you all faring in these strange and scary times? I go back and forth between OMGOMGOMG ventilators, deaths, hospitals without supplies, WTF! … and figuring out how to go to the grocery store without hyperventilating. The husband and I have had our typical Spring allergy symptoms and of course that leads to thoughts of… is this really allergies or the other dreaded “C” word? Do I have a fever? (no) Dry cough, trouble breathing? (no) So I’ve stopped watching so much of the updates on the news and I’m certainly not watching the blithering idiot in Chief as he blunders and blusters his way through his press conferences.
I’ve been walking the dogs, exercising some, disinfecting the house, fretting over whether I will have a job when this is all done. As editor of our small town publication, some ads have been pulling due to businesses already shuttering for good (that’s really sad) and events having been cancelled. If this goes on for a while, and I suspect it might, there will be no publication with not enough ads to sustain it. There are so many people who are suffering economically because of the damned virus. And there are so many people on the front lines taking care of us all – Doctors, nurses, grocery store clerks, truckers, postal workers, feed store owners, liquor store owners and dog groomers (because in the state of CT, apparently they are absolutely essential).
In our construction business, we’ve closed down the office where tenants come to pay rent or rent facilities, apartments, storage units. All work is being done online, e-mail, phone. If this drags on, our business will be hurt as well, as tenants who have not been able to work or draw a paycheck will not be able to pay rent, etc. I think this is going to have an effect on all people in ways we haven’t even thought of yet in the long run.
Strange times.
The good news? People are being forced to get back in touch with and tend their relationships, their home life, their cooking skills, fitness, reading, the great outdoors, crafts, art, quality time with children, the list does go on, and it’s a good list, at least.
Thank GOD for Netflix, AmIRight? I’m watching Outlander for the second time because I just can’t get enough of it. Even being deaf, I’ve started walking around the house practicing a wee bit uv a Scottish Brogue, do ye ken, because closed caption reflects the brogue and before I was deaf I had a keen ear for these things. It’s just fun. 😂
These two people have such crazy good chemistry I am very surprised they did not become a couple in real life, but alas, they did not.
I’ve been doing some cooking with simple ingredients I keep in the pantry… two recipes from the New York Times I’ll share with you here – They are super easy, delicious and you might have the stuff you need without venturing out to get them. They were both a hit with my family.
Pasta e Ceci – recipe HERE. I didn’t have escarole or Kale on hand so I used spinach and it was fine.
No-Knead Bread – recipe HERE. (this one is not my image) Absolutely delish and SO easy to make. You just need a little patience as it does require rise time.
A simple tip – wash those plastic grocery reusable totes in hot water in the washing machine and then toss in the dryer for a few minutes. They’re germ catchers, and this really works.
Some humor in these trying times…
Welp. That’s all I’ve got for today… wishing us all good health and good riddance to all the coronavirus madness in the near future, praying and begging pretty please to all the powers of the universe. And seriously, praying for all the people on the front lines who are taking care of business so that we all can still function through this test of all we hold dear.
karen 
Lovely shots. All we can do right now is try to focus on the good things…
Your jokes gave me a welcome dose of giggles.
Having watched a bunch of animal documentaries on Netflix (the “Night on Earth” series is awesome), my kid and I are into “The Good Place.” I love the karma. If only it were true.
Maybe this mess IS karma, for our treatment of Earth. I hope the reaction isn’t for those with wealth to move out to the middle of nowhere and tear down the wilderness. Not leaving wilderness a buffer is thought to be how we got into this mess.
It is so crazy! I love Outlander. I had read all of the books years ago. I don’t have Netflix streaming or Starz so I have to wait about 6 months from now to get the DVD’s from Netflix. Take care.
Keep on enjoying “Outlander” and stay safe! Thanks for those funny memes!
Well, you have me smiling big this morning! 🙂
The bread looks so darn good; I might have to shock the family and try making it. Of course if I do, I’d have to pass them some through the window. My brother has been calling me every single day because he thinks I have the dreaded “C” – I actually think so too, but feeling better now thank God.
Yes, the hospital, police, firemen, nurses, doctors and all others trying to help us all- they absolutely have my prayers.
xoxo
At least you have pasta! There were 3 boxes of multi color rotini on the shelf yesterday. Three!! Needless to say, one of them came home with me since our pantry had none left. Blows my mind how people are buying so much stuff now. Anyway, I don’t watch all that bloviating either. I’m hoping we’ll all see better days soon. Stay safe.
That Kenny Rogers meme is so funny, and I think he’d laugh too. It’s so nice that your Blog is a place where we can express our opinions freely and even share a laugh. I hope your job outlook improves and can I say this without sounding totally insensitive??? I’m glad you and family got a vacation before the crazy started. At 75, about all I have is the memories I made. Stay well.
I enjoyed your post – it is so difficult to live normally at the moment when your stomach is flip-flopping with anxiety and sometimes pure fear. Here in rural Wales UK, we are gardening (it will look AMAZING this year!), digging the veg plot and sowing, walking, reading, sewing, cooking and keeping in touch with friends and family. Now we are on lock-down so going nowhere we can’t walk.
My favourite meme was the Winnie the Poo one – that made me LOL!!
The bread looks good – I’ve made that 5 minute knead bread in the past too. Here I am not just bunging the bread in the breadmaker, but making the dough and then putting it in the oven to get a good crust, often sprinkled with sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
We are really enjoying Outlander and it’s wonderful escapism. Perhaps I should re-read all the books – that will keep me quiet for a bit!
So grateful to those people in our Health Service – really in the front line, but then so are the humble store and till workers, who are getting such abuse when panic buying has emptied the shelves . . . Keep safe.
I’m sorry about the newspaper and the business. I hope the stimulus will help some, although as large as it is, it’s a drop in the bucket, I think, for what is ahead. Like you I verge on the frantic and the “my day to day life is much the same” which makes me feel a bit guilty. I am sanitizing and my hands will never recover from all the washing. I’m home — officially till the 13th of April but my doc told me not to even think about going out for a bit after that (apart from walks) until things die down here in Michigan. And they are just ramping up. Love all your cooking. I’ve been doing that too, but being the bad blogger I am, didn’t take pix of the casserole. Ah, well. It was good. And yes, netflix. I’m trying to watch as much Father Brown as I can before it goes off air at the end of the month. The watch list keeps growing. Love all the funnies. Especially Pooh.
I am fascinated daily by the juxtaposition of the crisis bringing out the worst and the best in folks and amplifying it. Nature is doing a reboot.
Love your commentary. I am right there with you!!!!
I echo Suzan. The good feels and humor, as well as families sticking together through text threads and FaceTime, helps so much in all of this. I hear you on the symptoms, Karen. My allergies recently kicked in so I was sort of glad to hear yours were, too! And my good old hot flashes make me wonder if a fever broke, lol. My asthma is always a worry, a lot of times if I get the flu it goes into serious asthma and the last thing I want is to have to go to the ER or whatever in the event of that. I have meds here as far as that may go. I think just being stuck inside with our lives suspended makes us think and dwell on things we shouldn’t. Cooking has been an outlet, reading and cleaning like a maniac, as well. Even though it’s only been my husband and I in the house, I feel like everything is covered in germs. My hands always feel dirty.
I hope things look up with your paper. The multi-lake area paper I write for runs on ads as well, I’m not sure if people are going to stop buying boats and docks or hold back on landscaping. Food for thought.
I loved your vacay pics! I think I saw a few on IG. Wish we had gotten away, even Michigan is out with their high count of cases.
Soldier on!
Our #liarinchief is using these daily press briefings as rallies. And over 50 percent of the U.S. think he’s doing a good job? omfg
I’m so angry I’m wishing harm to unnamed people. I go on twitter just to pick fights because I can make a mark with words before many know what hit them. It’s a gift. I once made a bill collector cry when I was in my broke 20s.
We own a couple of tax and accounting firms (very small) and I man the one that’s in a bedroom community of the Twin Cities. A different type of business – we are more retail in the sense that people need to drop off their tax information with us and some (still) want a face to face appointment. We’re doing our best. I have a great assistant, but she’s in her early 70s and she stubbornly does not want to stay at home. We’re coming up with a plan, but wow!
And here I spill it all for you! Love you and it sounds like you guys are working on your plan as well. xxoo
That NYT no-kneed bread haunts me, so many times I tried and FAILED each time. Mine was always too dense and wet. My fantastic baker of a mother couldn’t even figure out what I was doing wrong.
I am very close to wrestling the phone and iPad AND the tv remote away from my Mr.! We escaped to the no cable cabin for a few days.
Also being in the construction business, I get your concerns. One of our large projects was granted a special exception (medical) but we don’t want to pressure any employees to come back to a job site if they aren’t comfortable. Trying times…..
And we just closed on the cottage next door to ours, what horrible timing but I won’t dwell On that when so many ogres have harder challenges.
Stay sane!