Quarantine update #7 a productive Monday

I usually make a weekly to do list on Monday.  My husband helped and we got so much done today 

I finished sewing all the masks I had started  - some people prefer the elastic loops around the ears and some prefer the ties 

I recently replaced my husband’s white t shirts and I cut up the old ones for shop rags.  

 


Ducky is feeling a bit frisky because he went to the doggie spa and got a shampoo and manicure.  

Sometimes I bathe him at home but he smells fresher and smells fresher longer when the dog kennel groomers clean him than when I do.  

Can you tell he looks especially fluffy?  


Today had no excitement but I’m glad so much is out of the way. 

Hope you all feel as happy as Ducky 

❤️ Rhonda 

Quarantine update #6

Hello everyone 

I baked some cookies from a recipe from Anna at 

Cookie Madness Doubletree Cookies recipe

They turned out really good - so good that after we ate a few, we put the rest in the freezer so we didn’t keep eating them.  

Late in the afternoon,  I picked up a Walmart grocery order.  I’m a huge fan of Walmart pickup.  

Just place your order and wait for the time slot you choose. 

Then drive to the store 

Walmart workers bring out your order and load it in your vehicle.  

Then go home and put your groceries away. 


You can order non grocery things too- I got paper clips, sewing scissors and deodorant today.

And yes, I do like to buy things in pairs or multiples 😀

Pickup is so nice during this quarantine and I really was thankful for it too when my hamstring was torn.  

My parents have been secured in their retirement home for quite awhile, no visitors allowed.  

When they need things,  we sometimes send up small loads in a bucket that my Dad pulls up to their balcony.

There is a nice stretch of lawn there and sometimes their great grands visit and do all kinds of kid tricks in the grass.  

We’re expecting 3 days of cold weather and we already have tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and potatoes in the garden.  

We covered up the tomatoes and peppers and are hoping they are protected enough.  

We think the other crops will be ok.  

Guess we shouldn’t of jumped the gun on gardening - we will see! 

Hope you all have had a special Easter. 

❤️Rhonda 

Quarantine Update #5 - getting ready for Easter

Hello everyone 

Not much news here except a few food happenings 

I followed these instructions and made 

Fruit Turnovers. No glaze on ours though,  I don’t think it’s needed 

Since it will just be 2 of us for Easter lunch,  I made a tiny batch of “double eggs”. I usually make 2 dozen eggs for family gatherings 

The plain eggs will be for lunches next week 

Friday night we had homemade pizza.  I baked it on a pan I got from Amazon awhile back and it was really crispy.  

And the bottom crust baked in a polka dot pattern 😀

     

I finished more masks 😷. And cut out 10 more.  When I finish them,  I plan to sew something different than masks though.  

And took my parents, who are safe and secure in their retirement home, a small care package- leftovers, newspapers, masks, and trash bags that are not available right now on our Walmart grocery pickup.  

Kim at Out My Window  asked for the recipe for the sirloin tips I cooked this week.  Sorry Kim, it’s not an actual recipe,  I just winged it but they were very good. 

I browned some sliced mushrooms from the freezer and some diced onions, then removed them from the pan.

In that same pan,  I browned the sirloin cubes just until done in 2 batches, and removed them from the pan. 

Again in that same pan, I made a packet of brown gravy mix (2 cups worth) 

When the gravy was bubbly,  I added back the meat, onions and mushrooms and simmered it  a bit.  

We ate it on top of mashed potatoes and it would be good with rice or egg noodles too.  

What are you all thinking about this quarantine-shelter at home situation?  

When do y’all think it will be over? 

Quarantine update #4 - malaise days

Hello everyone 

I didn’t accomplish much today.  I’ve had several days during this shelter in place where I just haven’t felt like doing a thing.  From what I’ve seen on social media,  it’s a very common feeling right now.  Are y’all going about as normal everyday  or are you having days like me sometimes? 

My husband worked in the yard a lot today. 

He also drove out to a plant sale at the small country school 2 of our grandchildren attend.  The school has an agriculture department and a greenhouse.  They grow and sell plants as a learning tool and as a fundraiser.  

We had to buy our plants sight unseen because of social distancing.  We filled out a form and texted it back to the school.  Then my husband drove to the school, texted them he was there and they put our plants in the back of his truck - very simple.  

Below are some of the plants I picked out

They are called Donkey Ear,  Mother of Million and Mother of Thousand.  I didn’t know what they were,  I ordered them because I liked their names. 

This photo does not do this hanging basket justice,  it is just beautiful and lush in real life.  

I sewed on masks today,  and just have these left from yesterday’s 20 to finish.  

For supper,  I made sirloin tips with mashed potatoes and green beans.  

My plate 

Husband’s plate - he worked much harder than I did today - and he likes black pepper more than I do too.  

Dessert was a lemon cake from a mix with homemade lemon glaze.  

The glaze is just 1 1/3 C sifted powdered sugar mixed with just enough lemon juice to make a spreadable glaze.  I used about 2 T juice.  

It makes a tart glaze on top of sweet cake and is just delicious 

And that’s about all that happened here today 

Hope you all are fine 

❤️Rhonda 

Quarantine update #3 and some replies

Hello everyone,  it feels good to be blogging again.  I know I need some routine in my day and this is a routine activity that I’ll enjoy doing.  

Today was more mask sewing.  I cut out 20 from a different pattern and did some chain sewing of them today.  I hope to finish them tomorrow and deliver them to City Hall.  

Today’s work above 

Yesterday’s finished masks, after laundering - I think there are 24

In the kitchen,  I made a salad 

And sliced lettuce and tomatoes to add to the sandwich ingredients box that we usually have in the fridge.  

Supper was a change from the 2 week menu.  We had leftover turkey lasagne from yesterday soo we had that with California vegetables and another 1/2 recipe of focaccia bread.  

I’m missing my grandchildren.  Today,  we had a yard visit with 3 of them and a FaceTime visit with 2 of them.  That helped a lot ❤️



 Replies - about the protection level of masks,  I cannot vouch.  But I do know our local hospital has been requesting them for several weeks and they want them 4 layers thick.  Our city also wants them and asked they be at least 2 layers thick.  

I did find this online but I don’t know if it is absolute truth 

About Jo Ann York,  I’ve never seen any more information or books from her after she did the cookbook and was featured in several magazines in the late 70s and early 80s.  I’ve done several internet searches looking for her and never found anything for sure but I did find an obituary for a woman by the same name, same age group and same geographical area who died of cancer.  I just don’t know.  

Lejmom- I feel the same way about blog friends- you are  like faraway family and  good friends.  

❤️ Rhonda 

Stay safe at home 🏡