Covid Chronicles, Week 18

It's getting characteristically hot here in CT at this point.  I love being outside, and when I want to read or knit it seems such a waste to be sitting in the air conditioning, but sometimes it is so humid that it just doesn't work.  Generally, if I can get shade and a breeze, I'm fine as long as I'm only reading or knitting.  The trick is that the shade doesn't set in on my back porch or front patio until 3:30 or later.  

Peter is back to his welding class at Asnuntuck......daily lab work, 12-3!!!  It's a lot considering we have been getting comfortable with more time at home.  He can't go to welding lab on Tuesdays, because that's his work day for YNHH.  He knows that he doesn't "have to" do this, but he generally is not a quitter.  We're hoping that it only lasts until July 30.  (No one seems quite sure about the complete schedule.)

The biggest news since last week has been that John broke it off with his girlfriend.  They had been dating just a few days short of three years, but things came to a head on July 5, which caused him to reflect on what life would be like if they stayed together.  I must say we completely understand his situation and feelings; we believe he has come to the right decision.  It's all very complex, and I'm glad he stood up for himself like he did.  

Never a dull moment!!!

Covid Chronicles, Week 17

Perhaps you are like me in that, during this darn Covid crisis, some days I feel like I'm rocking it; other days I just feel like crying.  Luckily my "lows" are getting less frequent, however. 

Last week I had a day where I was rocking it:  I did my power exercise routine with weights for an hour, working up a sweat.  I also worked for about four hours organizing my recipes, which are in four three-ring binders.  They are greatly pared down now, and still in four three-ring binders, but they are no longer overflowing, and they are fairly organized.  I even went for a few walks that day, and achieved well over my 10K steps goal! 

I'm trying to keep this momentum up.  Yesterday I cleared out my shoe areas, and each day I'm trying to do a little bit more to reduce our "stuff."  I think it's good for me to have daily "objectives" to meet.  We all need a sense of accomplishment.  

On Thursday, July 2, Peter was out working at his new garden.  He came in slightly earlier than expected, and when I saw him run to the sink with a bloody mess in his hands I gasped and exclaimed, "Is that YOU?"  He responded, "Yes, but it isn't as bad as it looks."  

Apparently he cut the outside of his thumb with a hand saw.  (How ironic!)  I dropped everything to drive him to our nearest walk-in center that can do stitching.  Luckily he was able to move his fingers and all; that's a good sign.  Of course, due to Covid I waited in the parking lot while he went in and waited for his turn, etc.  He texted me photos here and there.  The whole thing only took about two hours total, so it didn't impact our day except for a late lunch.  Some ibuprofen before bed helped him to sleep without pain.  And yes, he has antibiotics.  

Yesterday Peter finally was able to go back to Asnuntuck Community College to get back to the lab work for his class in welding. Since he's right handed, the injury doesn't seem to matter too much. It should be pretty safe for him to go into a well-ventilated welding booth by himself, especially with hardly anyone else in the building!  He'll be happy when he is finally done with this class, just for the fact that it was suspended for quite a while due to Covid.   

Last week in the CSA I received kohlrabi.  I got another one today!  It's an interesting vegetable that looks like Sputnik. In the past I've make kohlrabi chips in the oven, but now that I have two large bulbs I'm planning on googling some other recipes.  Will probably roast them this time.  Roasted veggies always seem to taste good!

Covid Chronicles, Week 16

On Friday of last week we packed a picnic lunch and headed to a local winery.  Trying to stay away from crowds, this worked very well.  The winery opens at 11, and we were there shortly after that.  Only a few others were there and everyone was well-spaced apart.  It was very nice.  Later in the day and into the evening they have music, and by the number of chairs it looks like they get quite a crowd!  It looks to be all within guidelines but I still prefer the less-populated lunchtime.  

From the winery we drove to Peter's office in Hamden.  No surprise that he had to clear the room out; he's only working one day a week, and the entire department is working from home now.  So we each donned a mask and I met a few people in the building.  I had never seen his office before.  The new person's name is already on the door!

It was all kind of fun, just getting out like this.  We are trying to enjoy the "little things."

Our Polish friends and their daughter (age 5), were supposed to take two weeks to visit family in Poland at this time.  With Covid, that was not to be.  They rented a home in Old Saybrook instead.  They have rented there many times before, and have often invited us over during their stay.  This time, they invited us again, so on Sunday morning we set off in spite of an afternoon T-storm watch.  However, the weather held out and we had a wonderful time in the shade in the back yard!

The back yard is adjacent to a salt water marsh that houses many birds.  We all love the red-winged blackbirds!

I knit a crown for Vivienne; unfortunately it was a bit small for her.  I promised to make her another one in yellow, and it will be a bit larger.  Here's how it came out, modeled by a stuffed animal:

We worked our visit with a combination of masks and distancing.....and of course hand sanitizer.

Covid Chronicles, Week 15

In 2017 I joined a CSA at a local farm, called "Deercrest".  In case you are not familiar with the term, CSA stands for "Community Sponsored Agriculture."  It's a way to continually get seasonal, local, fresh food while helping your local farmer.  One pays up front, and each week you get a box or bag of produce.  In total we spend about $25/week.  What you get varies from farm to farm, and if the weather is not cooperative the quality will not be as you hoped!  However, it's an "investment" in your local farm.  Since we are always trying to help our local businesses, it's perfect for us.  If we have too much food or are on vacation (LOL, no vacation this year!), John is always happy to take on some fresh produce.  Easy.  

We like Deercrest a lot because they always have some fruit in the box.  They're also really friendly.  They also occasionally include fresh apple cider as we move into late summer.  Peter and John both have a fondness for real, unfiltered, unpasteurized apple cider.  

Last year I decided to try a different farm, one that was a bit closer.  It wasn't as good, even though it is an excellent farm.  Too many greens and hardly any fruit.  We missed the variety.....so now we are back at Deercrest!

Last week we got our first CSA box with broccoli rabe, regular broccoli, dandelion greens, radishes, baby salad greens, and strawberries!   

Doing a CSA often requires a bit of research.  My farm will provide recipes on its website, but I usually just Google things on my own.  How the heck does one cook dandelion greens, for example?  Well, I found a recipe.  It involved simmering the greens in salted water for a few minutes, which supposedly gets a good part of the bitterness out.  Then they went into the skillet with some sauteed onions and spices.  We ate it all!

Here is our second CSA box, which I picked up this morning:

Broccoli, cauliflower, turnip greens, field greens, strawberries, and apple cider vinegar!

I have a recipe for the turnip greens, which also uses the vinegar, and I will try it tonight in my "Instant Pot."  

Covid Chronicles, Week 14

Yes, I skipped week 13.  Not a good week.  

My Aunt (Mom's youngest sister) and Uncle live in Norwalk.  She's been in Bridgeport Hospital. She had some heart issues, went for some sort of surgery, but is not doing well.  It doesn't look good.  

Peter and I have been working on our new patio in the front yard.  We are finally finished with it enough to sit on our new "conversation bench."  

Good thing we can sit now, as today I am achy from all the bending over yesterday!!!

A few days ago we took a ride to the ferry landing in Glastonbury, where the "oldest continuously operating ferry in the United States" travels to and from Rocky Hill.  It was very peaceful there.  I looked across the river and saw that the restaurant there had tables, just scattered farther apart than they used to be.  So they appear to be up and running.  The ferry is also continuing, with limitations.  

Regardless, for just a moment it seemed like all will be all right with our world.

I hope you are finding things like the photo above to remind you of hope and resilience!

About a month ago I contacted my hairdresser and asked if she would be interested in coming to our house to cut three heads of hair on the back porch.  I specified that everyone would be using masks, and she wouldn't be doing any washing, coloring, or blow drying.  Also, no worries if she declined.  Well, she said yes!  She came yesterday around 5 pm, and now Peter, John and I all look a lot better!

Covid Chronicles, Week 12

OK, so now I am over the Memorial Day holiday hump and moving on.  We drove north again on Saturday to have another short visit with Katie, and John came over again for a distanced Sunday evening dinner on the back porch.  Our garden is moving along, and so is the small patio in the front of the house.  I’m expecting my new bench from Wayfair today.....hopefully.  

Two fun stories for today:

First, a story about the garden.....Peter has been curious for a while now about growing hops.  Yes, the stuff they use in beer.  We know they are “bines,” that grow tall and climb on things like string or poles. They actually seem to be decorative as well.  But where to find them?  They certainly aren’t in any local nurseries!

He finally found some online, from Michigan.  They are not cheap.  So he bought just two, one each of two different types (Cascade and Chinook).  He even paid for shipping!  Whoa!

No, he’s not starting a new hobby....just very interested.  Perhaps a neighbor will use them to make homemade beer and share?

They arrived with certificates!  They are “pest free.”  Cute little things growing in little pots.  They also arrived with information on “growing hops.”

Um, did you know there are male and female plants for hops?  The female plants are the ones that make the cone-shaped hops that are dried for beer.  

So, what do we have?  Do we need both a male and female plant?  Good grief, why did we even get two *different* plants?  How do you tell a baby male plant from a baby female plant? 

So today he called the company.  The woman who answered the phone was very helpful!  Good news:  They only sell female plants, because the ONLY reason you need a male plant is if you are breeding new plants.  And then it’s a gamble about what kind of hops you end up with, anyway!  Yes, we can plant the two different plants next to each other, about 4 feet apart.  Phew!!!

He took an old dead cedar tree and set that up in the garden.  Soon we will have string strung up to one of the branches, and our baby hops will have a home.  

The second story is an addition to last week’s story about re-writing “9 to 5” as “6 to 10.”  I sent this to a number of people via email.  One of them is a friend that I worked with at our local magnet school (she was a first grade teacher then), and she is also in my weekly bible study group.  She responded enthusiastically, asking if she could send this to a friend in England who would love to sing it!  Would I mind?

No, of course I don’t mind.  I just do this for fun, and hopefully others will get a smile out of it.  I don’t worry about copyright or anything.  Send it anywhere you want!

A few days later, I received an email with an mp3 attachment.  Her friend recorded the song!  It’s AMAZING.  That certainly made my day!!!! 

Best wishes for health and safety to you and yours,

Covid Chronicles, week 11

The Covid thing is starting to get to me more.  I guess I have some days that are better than others......but the Memorial Day holiday, without a parade, without having everyone over for burgers on the back porch....and knowing that this could go on for quite a while, well, that's depressing.   We actually did have John over for burgers outside on Sunday evening, but he sits apart from us.....kind of like when the Amish "shun" a family member.  It's very nice except I don't really get near him.  I stretch out my arms and say, "virtual hug!"  

I try to focus on the positives:  With the good weather, we can have socially distant gatherings with family, friends and neighbors.  Just not too many at once.  I continue to "see" others via Zoom or FaceTime.  The good weather also allows us to go for more walks, and since we are trying to walk all the streets of Glastonbury, we are often driving to different streets and seeing different things.  Yesterday we took the 1935 Ford Pickup out for a ride, and that's fun as well.  

Also, yesterday we ordered takeout from Bertucci's and enjoyed that outside on our back porch.  It felt like a luxury!  Thinking back, we realized that the last time we ate restaurant food was exactly ten weeks earlier, in Miami.  We returned home late that evening.  So March 16 began "week one" for us.  We are now beginning "week 11".  

I re-wrote the lyrics to Dolly Parton's song, "9 to 5".  What do you think?

I call it, "6 to 10"  (Social Distance Song):

Tumble outta bed and I stumble to the kitchen;

Dig down deep to get some ambition

‘Cause work at home – has demons to fend.

Jump in the shower, think about your mornin’.

If you go out there, you gotta keep watchin’

“Cause folks like me – stay away from 6 to 10.

Keepin’ 6 to 10 – what a way to go on livin’;

And I wonder when – we can stop this social distance.

They say, “use your mask” – and also disinfectant.

It’s enough to drive you – crazy if you let it!

6 to 10 – to stop the spread of Covid.

When you think of it – it’s depressingly morbid.

Want to hug my kids – but the rules don’t seem to let me.

I swear sometimes that germ is – out to get me!

We can go out but we keep our distance;

We want it safe in every instance

But we’ve got dreams it’ll never take away.

We’re in the same boat with all of our friends,

Waitin’ for the day our ship’ll come in,

And the tide’s gonna turn, and it’s all gonna roll our way!

Keepin’ 6 to 10 – what a way to go on livin’;

And I wonder when – we can stop this social distance.

They say, “use your mask” – and also disinfectant.

It’s enough to drive you – crazy if you let it!

6 to 10 – to stop the spread of Covid.

There’s a better life – and you dream about it, don’t you?

It’s a changin’ game – no matter how they call it,

And you spend your life hopin’ for good news that will stall it!

6 to 10 – what a way to go on livin’;

And I wonder when – we can stop this social distance.

They say, “use your mask” – and also disinfectant.

It’s enough to drive you – crazy if you let it!

6 to 10 – to stop the spread of Covid.

There’s a better life – and you dream about it, don’t you?

It’s a changing game – no matter how they call it,

And you spend your life – hopin’ for good news that will stall it!

6 to 10, keepin’ 6 to 10….

This is one way I express myself during Covid.  

Stay safe and be healthy!