March 9, 2020: Our lives right now – some of the changes.
• We live in Woodinville, Washington – a mostly retired couple in our 60’s. The Kirkland Care Center, they call ground zero for the COVID-19 invasion is a few miles from our home. (My heart goes out to all of the people associated with the Care Center. No one expects anything like this to happen to their families. I am thankful for the people that have stepped up and helped the people in spite of the fear that must be in their minds as they care for others in an unknown situation.)
• If we were to have any issues that required hospitalization, we would normally go to Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland, WA – where the first person in the U.S. to die from COVID-19 was being cared for. Don’t want to go there.
• We avoid heavily populated areas. If we have to go somewhere, we go at a time that there are fewer people around. Two days ago, a Sunday, we were at our local grocery store. Not many people and shelves were basically stocked. Missing items? Hand sanitizer & chicken. We thought about going Joe’s Hamburgers for lunch, which is only outdoor eating, then, on our way there, I thought – what if the people making and serving the food are sick? We came home and had homemade chocolate shakes & grilled cheese sandwiches.
• No more going to the gym for a while. No more working out, swimming or Pilates classes for the time being. We try to get out for a brisk walk and work hard in our garden, which in the spring is more like physical labor than pulling a few weeds here and there.
• Having lived in an earthquake prone area previously, we learned early on to be prepared in case a time of isolation occurs. Even though there are extensive lists on emergency preparedness, it is a heady experience to think in terms of what is necessary, our family needs in order to survive – somewhat comfortably in a crisis. So now I have updated the food stores and medications in the event that this may be necessary. Now I want to plan menus so that I can see exactly what to do with food we’ve purchased.
• For the next few weeks or more, our grandson’s elementary school is offering online learning only. I am excited to be a part of this. It’s been 1 day so far and I am impressed as to the resources that are given out to those of us home-schooling these students. Our grandson is a good student and is interested and willing to do the online classes. There have been video chats with the principle which are interesting and informative.
The classroom teachers have done an amazing job with curriculum and lesson planning. There are video teaching sessions & more videos of them reading to the kids.These are the things that seem to keep our grandson tethered to the “real school” experience… not to mention calming because he recognizes his teacher! I think a lot about the people who need to be working and how can they do that and educate their child. It has to be tough. Poor kids. Poor parents.
• I’ve been following the mapping of the COVID-19 spread through the CSSE & JHU website/info graphic. Link. It is both informative and alarming. It is such a strange feeling to be in the middle of the unknown. The numbers are increasing by the hour.
• I’ve been asked, are you afraid? Heck yeah, in a way – but I’m not panicking. The feelings I have are the momentum behind getting prepared. I’m not overly prepared though, I’m pretty sure. Example? We have about 2 tablespoons of EXPIRED hand sanitizer. Sure, I have some little BZK wipes from my first aide box so that will have to do, but it is odd that likely in this emergency I’m missing a primary ingredient! Still – I try to be part of the solution, not adding to the problem.
Environmental Working Group has some good information. Choosing organic foods is important to me, but sometimes they are not available, the quality is poor or they are too expensive. They’ve compiled two lists: the dirty dozen plus (only buy organic) and the clean 15 (lowest in pesticides). If you want to read more details, following this list are some Key Findings by EWG that might interest you.
Here is a link to download a free pdf guide of EWG’s shopper’s guide to pesticides in produce.
Donate to EWG for all the hard work that they do to keep us informed and get a wallet card with the Dirty 12 and the Clean 15!
Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides
| Dirty Dozen | Clean 15 |
|---|---|
| Buy these organic | Lowest in Pesticides |
| 1. Strawberries | 1. Avocado |
| 2. Spinach | 2. Sweet Corn* |
| 3. Kale | 3. Pineapples |
| 4. Nectarines | 4. Sweet Peas – frozen |
| 5. Apples | 5. Onions |
| 6. Grapes | 6. Papayas* |
| 7. Peaches | 7. Eggplant |
| 8. Cherries | 8. Asparagus |
| 9. Pears | 9. Kiwis |
| 10. Tomatoes | 10. Cabbages |
| 11. Celery | 11. Cauliflower |
| 12.Potatoes | 12. Cantaloupes |
| + Dirty Dozen PLUS | 13. Broccoli |
| 14. Mushrooms | |
| 15. Honeydew Melons |
|
+ Dirty Dozen PLUS includes: Sweet Bell Peppers, Cherry Tomatoes, Lettuce, Cucumbers, Blueberries, Hot Peppers, Plums, Green Beans, Tangerines, Raspberries, Grapefruit, Winter Squash, Snap Peas, Carrots, Oranges, Summer Squash*, Mangoes, Bananas, Sweet Potatoes, Watermelons, Honeydew Melons, Mushrooms, Broccoli, Cantaloupes, Cauliflower, Cabbages, Kiwis, Asparagus, Eggplants, Papayas*, Onions, Sweet Peas Frozen, Pineapples, Sweet Corn*, Avocados More Details. |
| + May contain pesticide residues of special concern |
|
* A small amount of sweet corn, papaya and summer squash sold in the United States is produced from genetically modified seeds. Buy organic varieties of these crops if you want to avoid genetically modified produce. Read the Report on the details of study of their tests on samples of fruits and vegetables. There is also lots of good information on health benefits, genetically engineered crops (GMOS), pesticide avoidance and regulation. |
Nothing worse than trying to sleep underneath another person’s squeaky floor. We fixed it.
Purchase the $20 kit at the hardware store: “Squeeeeek No More”
Watch two quick videos:
• floorscrews.com
• This Old House
My newest peeping Tom – or Tomasina.
We have a little farm in our basement. I started with sweet peas figuring that if I am successful with this lot, then I will start other plants from seeds as well. In early February I began my search for the most beautiful and lovely scented sweet peas. I ordered peas from Enchanting Sweet Peas, Fragrant Garden Nursery and Renee’s Garden Seeds. Plain and simple, I ordered too many – close to 300 seeds. So far, Enchanting Sweet Peas wins for most beautiful packaging. Planting 300 pea seeds all over our yard was challenging, however, I kept a record of which seeds I planted where so later I can judge flowering quality. Peter Rabbit mowed down about 2 feet of new plants a week ago even though I thought I had them well protected with little wire cages. Grrrr…
Purchasing and soaking seeds before planting.
After I soaked the peas, I used the sharp corner of a fingernail clipper to nick a little hole in the seed coat. Some of the seeds were so hard, I could not nick them. I put them to sprout in a separate tray and they did just fine, in spite of the “Bad Peas?” sign I posted.
It didn’t take too long for these seeds to sprout. Then I put them under grow light bulbs.
After the 3rd set of leaves emerged, I took a few days to hardened the plants to the cooler weather outside.
One of the numerous places in the garden.
We have a 3 types of quince in our yard. One never blooms because it is in shade and it is impossible to move.Another quince is a new red-flowered bush that will help cover our back hillside. We have five of those. This year I noticed that our double-salmon flowered quince has one branch of double-cream flowers. It is so beautiful. It must be from the root stock? I had nothing to do with it other than to notice.
white flowers on salmon quince
the original flower
the rogue double cream quince
The standard red quince, soon to cover our hillside.
I felt as though I was being watched.
The neighbor boy.
Delicious lemon steamed pudding from the book The Craft of Baking by Karen DeMasco & Mindy Fox.
Leo helps with the laundry. Always. Nothing better than warm socks dropped on your head.
This part can be dangerous if your eyes or fingers are too close. Its okay for glasses wearers.
He will nail your toes if he gets the chance...
...or the camera cord. Whoa - look at that speed.