Does this seem fair? Yesterday was lovely, almost 10C, and lovely on the back porch, to sit in the sun. Except, except, that as I sat there I was attacked, first by one mosquito, which I killed, then by two more. One of them tried to bite me on the ankle, I killed that one, and the third one made an attempt on my leg, and I got that one too. Sheesh, mosquitoes already, and I am still wearing my jacket and hat! It looks like it will be a buggy spring, lol.
This morning I had a hankering for complex carbohydrates. Although I would love something like a cheese danish, or a cinnamon bun, I don’t indulge in those kinds of things anymore… sad but true. However, my muffins are pretty good, so I decided to make Chocolate Date muffins, using my basic muffin recipe, some chopped dates, cocoa in the dry ingredients, and chocolate chips as well. For liquid I used whey from the last batch of yogurt I had made. The muffins made an excellent, and very satisfying, breakfast. I love that hydro has suspended time-of-use billing; it feels decadent to just bake what I want, when I want, and not have to pay attention to what day of the week it is, or what time of day it is, or which schedule of time-of-use is currently in force.
When Attila was working, he was only home during off-peak hydro hours, and so didn’t worry about using hydro, the way I have had to pay attention to it on weekdays. Since he went on vacation, and he was home during the week, he suddenly appreciated my irritation, and lamentable lamenting, about the intrusiveness of time-of-use hydro billing. We are now on the same page! Just in the nick of time, because time-of-use billing has been suspended temporarily, so every day is a weekend, for now!
The gardens are coming along, as Attila continues to expand the beds. He has transplanted a lot of catnip and lemon balm, that were growing around one of the compost bins, to clear that area for more food oriented crops. He has also cleaned up my two raised beds, and added a substantial amount of compost soil to them, so they are ready to plant when I am ready to plant.
I finally got an online grocery order in, for pick up only, no delivery services here. I wish it was pick up into the trunk of the car, but it isn’t, so pick up inside the store is as good as it gets for us. Our grocery pick up is near the end of April. It looks like we will need to shop either every three weeks, or once a month, so I will try to order accordingly.
I’ve been doing a lot of learning in the last few weeks, paying attention to things I don’t know how to do. Making face masks, which I haven’t done yet, and hand sanitizer, which I haven’t done yet, are at the top of the list.
A new level of frugality is beginning at our house, even more frugal than before, it is possible! For instance, when draining a can of tuna for sandwiches, the liquid is now saved in a labelled glass jar, stored in the freezer, to be used as liquid in the next Tuna Noodle Casserole. Every bit of flavour and nutrition that can be gleaned from the supplies will be taken advantage of.
Worldly
Weather
11°C
Date: 4:00 PM EDT Sunday 5 April 2020
Condition: Mostly Cloudy
Pressure: 101.6 kPa
Tendency: Falling
Temperature: 11.2°C
Dew point: 6.4°C
Humidity: 72%
Wind: WSW 17 km/h
Visibility: 24 km
Quote
“There is nothing new under the sun but there are lots of old things we don’t know.”
Ambrose Bierce
1842 – 1914
Funny you should mention mosquitos, I found a dead mosquito in the shower this afternoon and was wondering if it was new or had somehow been missed from last year. If they’re new, at least they’ll freeze tonight, as we’re supposed to be going to -5C.
Glad to hear you were able to get your online order. Only a moment in a store would cut your exposure way down. We’re only shopping every 2 to 3 weeks, too.
Teri, shocking little beasts, 🙂 I hope the cold gets them all, but I am holding out little hope of that.
Yes, the online order really reduces exposure, but I really feel what is needed is delivery to the trunks of cars, no contact, no delivery vehicles needed, it can’t be rocket science to get this organized, just expensive, this is the time where the food retailers can make a huge difference if they would just put their shoulders to the wheel and accept lower profits for a short period of time, people’s lives depend on it.
Stay safe dear friend!
Not long ago I read you should not eat the liquid in the tuna cans. Have no idea where but I did read it somewhere.
Skeeters? Horribilus!
That’s really early for mosquitoes. I’m glad you got a grocery delivery scheduled. If you wear gloves and a face mask you should be o.k. Then go through your normal grocery cleaning process. Not eat the liquid in canned tuna? Uh oh! I usually give a little to my cat, Sam. Stay safe everyone!
Bex, I think the that concerns about the high sodium content, and the high fat content, in some forms of canned tuna was the concern, for people who have to watch their sodium intake, and fat intake. We purchase low-sodium, water packed tuna, so I think we are OK, even though we have to watch the sodium.
https://www.berkeleywellness.com/healthy-eating/food/article/what-you-should-know-about-tuna
Stay safe dear friend!
Sandy, it is really early for mosquitoes, perhaps they are in a rush because they know our species is in trouble, hoarding behaviour on their part.
Attila will pick up the groceries, he will wear clothing that will be removed in the basement and go right into the washing machine, he will wear a mask and safety goggles and a washable hat. The groceries will be scrubbed with soapy water, or if cardboard sprayed with the wee bit of hydrogen peroxide we have left, can’t find any to buy so trying to make it last as long as possible. I dislike groceries coming now, such an ordeal, with Attila having to go to the store, clothes that need washing, and the concern that we might have missed something of importance. We are as careful as we can be. We are both kinda cranky, both times we have gone through this, but maybe we will just get used to it, I sure hope so, lol.
I am going to continue using the liquid, ours is water, low-sodium, so the biggest concern I think is whether it contained mercury, but if I am eating the tuna, I’ve probably already eaten any mercury present anyway.
Stay safe dear friend!
What a thought, mosquitoes ‘hoarding’ the blood sucks, figuring there won’t be so many of us from which to draw! Eeekkk!
Stay safe!
Oh wow that would make a great horror movie ~ mosquitoes desperately sucking our blood because they sense humans will soon be extinct!
For cardboard packaging I read that if you set it in a safe spot for 24 hour, the virus should die. To be safe I’d double that.
You stay safe too, my wonderful friend!
Joan, lol, I doubt they know, it just feels like they might. 🙂
Stay safe deaf friend.
Sandy, wouldn’t it make a great horror movie!
You are right about the cardboard packaging being safe after 24 hours. A caveat to that is that the published research paper I read tested at 20C, and stated that at lower temperatures and humidities, it might take much longer. Since we store things in the basement, which is humid and around 13C, I figure I’d better leave it there for a lot longer. We left things for 4 weeks and even then I washed everything down with soapy water on a cloth. As always, I err on the side of caution, lol.
It would make a scary horror movie! That’s a good point about the impact of heat on the neutralizing of the virus. One video I watched suggested always discarding any wrapping or packaging for meat, chicken etc. If the virus was on the packaging, there’s a chance that it could remain viable in a freezer.
That is a great point about repackaging for the freezer! I’ve been washing packages to be frozen in soapy water, rinsing, drying, and then freezing. The freezer won’t kill those little devils.
Maggie if you’re washing the packages in soapy water, I think that would kill the virus. Dr. Gupta said the Coronavirus is rather fragile and soap breaks it down, killing it. So I think you’re good.