End of the week this and that . . .

 

We are living in interesting times to say the least and I thought it would be fun this morning to talk a little bit about what I am doing with my time . . .  for instance yesterday was a beautiful sunny day and warm so I ended up getting the beds changed for summer and putting on the summer bedding, washing two loads of laundry, having it hung out to dry.  I baked a loaf of white milk bread, baked an Earl Grey Tea Loaf, micro-baked four batches of microwave potato chips (BBQ), did my regular daily cleaning chores, worked some on my blanket, placed a meat order for Tuesday, talked to my oldest daughter and facetimed with my dad.  And a whole lot of other stuff besides. 

 

People are using this time in incredible ways to get creative and learn how to do new things.  My grandsons Jon and Josh were making slime the other day and Jake was making frosties.  I think parents and children are enjoying this home schooling thing for the most part.  At least the ones I am in contact with seem to be.  And what a wonderful opportunity for parents and their children to connect in a special way. 

 

I've decided to tackle a new skill again myself.  I am making a sourdough starter.  Apparently when you get one of these finally going you can keep the same one for years and years.  We shall see.  I have tried and failed in the past.  I am on day three of it this time, and so far so good.  Things seem to be looking up.  I have my fingers crossed.  Flour is very difficult to get at the moment, as is sugar, which might limit my  ability to bake somewhat. 

 

This is the loaf of bread I made yesterday.  I did it in the breadmaker and followed the manufacturer's recipe for milk bread.  It turned out really well, even if it does have an odd lump sticking up there. That only adds to the character. 

  

I have started a new blanket.  This one is a granny stripe blanket and will be quite colourful when it is done.  This is three rows in.  I have something like 10 different colours to contribute to it.  I think it will be quite nice when its finished.  At least I hope it will.  Its a bit longer between colour changes as it is quite wide and not being done in the round. 

 

(source)  

I've been studying my Book of Mormon.  I have a study journal edition and I could be doing flourishing, artistic pages like this I am showing here, but mine are very boring, with just highlights and notes in the margins.   Duh . . .  I wish it looked like this! 

 

I got a delightful little Easter Package from Elaine.  I loved it all.  The book from SB, the ME card, sweet tea towels, very retro  . . .  the lovely letter.  It was a real lift-me-up. Thank you so much Elaine!  You made my day, week,  month, year!  

 I have birthdays coming up for Grandsons but am not able to get to the Post Office. I have income tax to do, again can't get to the post office.  I need to apply for my old age pension, again can't get to the post office, nor can I get the documents notarised that I need notarised to include with it, because these places just are not open.  I should have filled them out way sooner, but was listening to the advice to apply six months before you turn 65, which was March, and by then it was too late  . . . I was so excited the other day to find some "boyish" birthday cards in my stash, but alas, I can't post them because I don't know how much it will cost to mail them.  We do have a mail box at the end of the street and I have stamps in my purse, but how many to use???  I don't know! 

 

My friend Kari does wonderfully creative things with her kiddos every day.  Look at the fire engines they made from egg cartons. Oh how I wish I had had the same resources for inspiration when my children were growing up.  What fun we could have had!  Kari does a different thing with the four of them each and every day.  She amazes me. 

  

 I've been enjoying my latest issue of Daphne's Diary.  I am bad though . . .  I cannot bring myself to deface any of them, by cutting things out, etc.  Is anyone else like this???  

 

I managed to get into a virtual queue for an online shop.  It took quite a while before I got to the top of the queue and there were actually a few slots left, but very little left that I needed in the shop. No sugar, no flour, no bread.  I did get my dog food however and some eggs, milk, butter, plain yogurt.   That's not to say that it will all arrive, but I have my fingers crossed and was amazed just to get a slot!  So amazed I couldn't think straight!

 

I cannot be happy all the time.  It is impossible.  When I hear about the number of elderly people and their caregivers in Care Homes dying because of neglect during this Pandemic . . . it is literally hundreds . . .  I cry. My heart breaks because it shouldn't be happening. At. All.  Have the elderly become expendable?  My mind boggles because I think that many younger people think that they are and yet there is this man  . . . 

 

 This is Captain Tom Moore. The 99 year old former British soldier just completed 100 laps of his garden in honor of his 100th Birthday and raising over  17 million pounds for the National Health Service.  Put that in your wacky tobaccy pipes and smoke it.  And the total keeps rising.  Amazing.  Amazing.  Such an inspiration. 

People like Captain Tom are real life heroes. 

And life goes on.  Amidst all of the fear and uncertainty, life goes on.  This is not going to go away any time soon.  I know it.  But I am trying to make the most of what I've been given and it is plenty.  In the meantime I am going to be making some masks.  I know  . . .  I should have started them already, but my time seems to be evaporating into thin air!    I am hoping that I have some elastic in my stash.  When this lockdown ends, and I am not sure when it will, I will not be going anywheres without a mask.  That's for certain.  Oh and Mitzie has a very sore leg.  We are not sure what she did to it, but she could hardly put any weight on it yesterday. We called the vet but the vet is not working at the moment. For £23 we could get in a virtual queue and she would advise over the telephone, but I'm not throwing money away like that.  I am just hoping and praying it will get better by itself. 

And in the meantime  . . . 

 

This is so true and I have never been happier to be low maintenance than I am now!  Could this be the silver lining?  You never know! 

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *Do not be afraid or discouraged,

for the battle is not yours, but God's.

~2 Chronicles 20:15•。★★ 。* 。 

  

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  a delicious Earl Grey Tea Loaf.  Yum yum! 

Have a great Saturday.  Its quite overcast here this morning so I think we are in for some rain!  It has to rain sometimes.  Glad I got all my washing done yesterday!  Don't forget! 

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And I do too!