Weerkly Wrap Up 4/24/20 -- Menu planning

I have never been one to do a lot of meal planning.  I am often known for forgetting to thaw out meat or start making dinner and realize I don't have all the ingredients. Often my husband has to stop at the store on his way home from work to pick up last minute items.  Since the Pandemic I have really had to get more organize and with us not running around so much with kids activities I have more time to think ahead for meals.  I am also getting everyone in the house to cook one meal a week.  While I am a good cook or so my husband tells me, it is not my favorite thing to do. 

Every Saturday night at dinner I get the family to help plan out our dinners for the week.  I usually go shopping on Sundays this way I can check to make sure I have all ingredients in the house.  We are really trying not to go to the store but once a week.

We also order carry out once a week to help our small town business keep their employees working.  The whole town is doing this.  We are trying to order from a different restaurant each week.  Unfortunately a couple restaurants have closed down already:(.  We don't know if they will reopen when this is all over.

 

 

Firedrake made Chicken and dumplings last week.  She loves making this and it always turns out great.

Last week I made for the first time Baklava.  I got a recipe from a friend and it is a family secret so I can't share with you but it is so good!!!

Before it went in the oven -- it is actually, for me a time consuming process to make.

It turned out wonderfully.  My husband and daughter who aren't fans of this dessert usually raved about it.  It didn't last long in the house.  This will be a dessert that I make for special occasions as it is very sweet.  But oh my is it good.

We are plugging along with school, not much excitement happening in that area.  We are closed down until the 3rd of May according to the governor.  We are going into our sixth week of quarantine.

Weekly wrap UP 4/17/20-- Surving the Pandemic

This week has been the hardest week for me.  It has been four weeks since the lock down and their are now 35 cases of the virus in our small community.  We have heard of at least two deaths, both people worked at the local schools.  I did not know them but still it is frightening.  I don't think I have left the house this week except to walk the dog.  Mentally it is wearing on me I think this week.

This week MarioFan made beef stroganoff for dinner. He did an excellent job!

We had a very small Easter at home.  I only got a few chocolates for the kids and one gift.  These were things I thought would help them pass time during this pandemic.

We, like a lot of family did face time with relatives to wish them Happy Easter.

My husband decided to surprise his work staff by dressing up during one of his computer meetings.  It got lots of laughter and attention.

 I am getting a little time in the glass studio over Easter and finished two projects.

 While we took at walk in the neighborhood I snap a picture of this found in one of our neighbors yard.  Made me smile:).

We are plugging along nicely with school work, kids are working either online or on their zoom classes. Nothing really exciting to report on here. 

I got a recipe from a friend on how to make Baklava and am going to give it a try this weekend.  She has given me some of hers and it is delicious and I am not a huge fan of Baklava.  Hopefully mine will turn out as good as hers.  It is a family recipe so I can't share it but if it turns out and tastes good I will post a picture next week.

Stay safe and stay inside. 

Weekly Wrap UP 4/10/20 -- homeschooling during a pandemic

We are now into the 2 week of homeschooling under lock down and I did my first online lecture for Literature using Google hangouts.  We had a few unexpected disruptions (frame freezes or disconnections) but all in all it went smoothly. 

This week we were reading Paul Laurence Dunbar's poetry.  We were learning about dialect poetry of which he is well known for.

Kids have been playing with their friends online or doing online games a lot

Firedrake playing Dungeons and Dragons online with her weekly club

MarioFan is enjoying playing fortnight online with his friends

After working all day my husband has been working on his guitar playing.  Sir Issac the beardie enjoying the tunes on the back of the sofa.

 I have noticed a couple of benefits of all of us being home more than usual: laundry has decreased, everyone is doing their one evening cooking meal, and I actually have time to exercise daily.

MarioFan learning how to use the grill

Firedrake made Fried rice one night. 

Everyday after my husband finished teleworking from home, we take the dog for a walk.  Here is Luna asking if it is walk time :) 

My husband and I started watching the TV show Tiger King and all I can say is so glad I have never visited one of those parks because WOW, crazy.  We have only watched two episodes so far and that is probably enough for me.  I would rather watch more uplifting things right now. 

Right now I am researching how to make homemade face masks (the no sew kind) as that seems to be the thought right now, that everyone should wear a face mask.  I can't find any disposable gloves but I did find a unopened pack of dish washing gloves so I will be wearing that when I go shopping as I can wash those down with bleach once I get home. 

Blogging might be sparse for awhile since we aren't having many adventures.  Both kids are just doing school work and pretty much working independently or taking classes on Outschool. 

We just heard there are 11 cases of this virus in our community so we are staying inside and hunkering down still it passes. 

STAY SAFE EVERYONE------SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE !

Weekly Wrap Up 4/3/20 -- Corona Virus lock down survival

Two Weeks and counting since the lock down began.  We are staying inside as much as we can without going stir crazy.  Our normal routine has completely turned upside and there are days when no one feels like accomplishing anything.  Then there are other days when we seem to go over board with activities:) 

I initially thought since everyone is home every day that I could whip the house in shape with a thorough spring cleaning and get everyone to help clean one room a day.  Well that fell though (even I didn't feel like it some days) and we are now committing to cleaning one room per week.  Better than nothing I guess:)

We got a box of imperfect produce and one of the onions had already sprouted, so the kids wanted to plant it (yes it really was the kids idea).

I have never grown onions before so looking forward to seeing what happens

I have been getting in my glass studio a lot and been working on my Tiffany glass lamp finally got it off the mold.

Had to put it in the oven to melt the wax so I could remove it from the mold.

It is off!

 Finally got to see it with some light coming though it.  I really like the colors I chose.

I still have to solder the inside and attach some brass rings to the top and bottom before it is completed. 

This week my husband was able to hang the 2 birds on a branch in the windows.  These window are high up so the picture isn't very good.  But I love seeing them in the school room windows.

I am exercising daily at home.  I signed up for Beachbody.com and exercising 30 minutes every day!  Firedrake has been joining me so that has been fun.  Even on the days when I am feeling a bit low I am committed to doing the exercise.  Haven't missed a day yet!

On the nice days (it has been raining a lot) once my husband has stopped teleworking we are taking the dog on a nice long walk in the neighborhood (still practicing social distancing).  Some days we see lots of families going on walks and other days it is very quiet. 

I am probably watching more TV than I ever have in these two weeks.  Also according to my apple products my weekly online time has sky rocketed.  I have been looking at funny videos, animal videos, comedies and anything else to make me laugh and lift my spirits.  I have not yet watched the show everyone is talking about, Tiger King, but it is on my list:). I usually don't like reality TV shows, might only make it though one episode, but I guess it will be interesting to see what all the fuss is about.

 The kids and I  have been face timing and calling family and friends a lot, checking in to see how they are doing and managing.  Hoping everyone is staying safe and practicing social distancing.  Life is very strange right now.  We need to limit our news coverage as it is making everyone more stressed and worried about the people we love.  We have been checking in daily with our kids and making sure they are alright.  Every Sunday my husband and I drive to Mac Donald's take out for breakfast and sit in the car and just talk and check in with each other.  I think that is important for us to do.  We don't want to worry the kids with our fears and concerns. 

How are you passing the time? Any great uplifting/comedy shows you can recommend?