Another day of – wait for it – staying home! Ha! We started sheltering at home four weeks ago today. Looks like we will have at least another four weeks of staying home if not lots more. Kinda getting used to it now. The best part is no decisions need to be made if we want to go somewhere.
I fixed stuffed chicken breasts for dinner. I cut whole chicken breasts open and stuffed them with ham and cheese. I rolled Jim’s in butter and bread crumbs but left mine naked. They were nice and moist and tasted good.
I have gotten two face masks made. The flat sheet I ordered came in today when I got the mail around noon. I washed and dried it and then cut it into 9 x 6 pieces. It only takes me about five to ten minutes to make a mask. I am experimenting with how many layers I think they need. The first one I made only had two layers – one of flannel and the other of cotton. The second one I made had two layers of cotton and one layer of flannel. I think I liked the second one better. The hospital here wants four layers so will try one like that next.
I saw a news article that said to spray water through them while holding the mask up to a mirror. The goal is for the mask to catch the water and not have any pass through and go on the mirror. Even with just two layers there was no water. The ties are long enough and tie easily. They are easy to breathe through and don’t seem too hot.
I will make a bunch more either tonight or tomorrow morning. Not sure what I am going to do with them yet but trust I will find some place to donate them to.
Jim worked outside this afternoon on a landscaping project he has been working on the last couple of days. He went to the hardware store for more landscaping timbers but they were out. He came home with some siding for his garage instead. He has lots of different projects he is working on. If he gets the siding up I will get to paint it.
It feels like it is going to rain this evening. The air is heavy and humid. We could use some rain in Stillwater. I saw Chase County is in a severe thunderstorm watch this evening. I love watching storms roll in across the prairie.
I got a letter from my cousin today. I love getting handwritten letters! I wrote two letters today and will mail them tomorrow when we get out. Jim promised to take me for a drive to the countryside tomorrow so I can see some open prairie. My heart is craving open space. We won’t get out of the car and will practice social distancing while on our adventure.
I have some ripe bananas I need to turn into banana bread. Wish I had my recipe from home. May try to find one on-line. I hate to waste food and these bananas turned ripe really fast and need used up. Jim likes banana bread.
I have all those mints I made for the wedding and the reception. Jim doesn’t like peppermint and I can’t eat them as they have powdered sugar in them. I hate to throw them out but not sure what to do with them. People aren’t having gatherings now to donate them to.
I will miss having the kids and grandkids over for Easter. I like to get them kites and we go out and fly kites on Easter Sunday afternoon. Jim and I will watch church tomorrow morning and then go for a drive in the afternoon. It won’t be the same but what is the same these days?
I am thinking more and more about how this pause is changing my life. I am really curious as to how it will change society in general. Will we learn the lessons this is giving us the opportunity to learn or will we go back to our wasteful spending prior to Coronavirus. I think I will think of this time as BC and AC. Coincidence? I am thinking not!
I read several blogs daily and two I read today both recommended spending some time thinking about what you like about this pause time and what you really miss. Both recommended you also think about the things that you used to do that you do not miss. Both came to the same conclusion that what most people are missing is human connection and gathering together. Most of the other stuff we might be missing is habitual stuff that makes life easier but not necessarily richer. I think that is true for me.
Grateful for this time of pause in my life, grateful for spring showers, and grateful for Easter even though it will be very different this year.