I Will Cut You If You Muddy This Thread

I am literally going offline after this. Gardening, writing and playing with the critters. My brain needs a break. I’m still too fatigued to wander far from home (when I need to sleep, sleep I must). I am hoping that eases up this week if other’s Covid experience is a guide.

As promised, some distraction.

I needed a new Facebook profile picture and Scout obliged.

And here is Gabe doing his balancing act. He has been lying on the rail, which is adorable with all his, shall we say, floofiness (we do not body shame here  ) but whenever I get the camera out, he bolts. I’ll keep trying.

The day after Memorial Day, I braved going out into the world. I scored 10 lbs of chicken leg quarters for $4. (That’s $4, not $4 a lb). So I froze most and kept a few out to grill. I use a spicy dry rub and grill them until they are about 160 degrees F, then I coat them in a sweeter sauce (I love me some Sweet Baby Ray’s) and let them finish cooking, about 10 more minutes. That way the sauce doesn’t burn.

Other times, I’ll flip the process and use a sweet rub and coat with Sweet Baby Ray’s Spicy sauce. Either way, I get a nice sweet and spicy mix when it’s done. And yes, those potatoes are sliced in half, coated in oil and salt and then grilled. Gives them a nice crust and they cook in half the time.

(Also, I posted all the recipes I used in both Run Aground and Underway today. There is also a link in there to all my food in fiction recipes, one of my favorite recipe topics, from some of my favorite books.)

And since it’s Sunday Garden time, here is one of my favorite irises. We had a hard freeze early last fall and another one late this spring and most of my irises are looking a little worse for wear because of it. But still pretty.

Okay, this is a RESPITE open thread. We all need a break. Check-in if you need some reassurance. And go offline if you’re really feeling beat up like I am. My brain and my heart just need to check out for a while.

Tell us something good.

Be kind today, especially to yourself….

Much Needed Respite: Puppy, Kitteh and FoodPost + Comments (92)

Not to step on Anne Laurie  – but this is probably the only chance I’ll have of participating in this thread before falling sound asleep. 💤💤

I just finished watching this and I feel so much better. I highly recommend it.

As for me, I am doing much better and well past 14 days without symptoms. That being said, the fatigue is fierce and while I can do a lot, I am nowhere near able to do what I could a month ago. Yesterday it was walking the dogs and move a rosebush, and then I was done for the day. I am doing what I can to rebuild my strength each day – a little time on the spin cycle, lots of stretching to counteract all the couch time. I am now (finally) scheduled for my antibodies test – after being thwarted at every turn trying to get a Covid-19 test. There were some scary days, but I as I said before, so grateful for the mild version I seemed to have ridden out. I can’t imagine how much worse it could have been.

Here’s a photo of Bixby enjoying himself on a beautiful spring morning:

Bad photo, but love how he’s just in mid-stride, not a care in the world. The entire time I was sick, he was glued to my hip. And let me tell you, when you are tired and oxygen-deprived, trying to move a damn 160 lb dog out of your way is impossible. LOL

There is a lot of crap going on and so much I want to rage about, but I figure we can all use a bit of respite and I need to keep my blood pressure down. So..

Respite open thread. Tell me something good.

Respite Open Thread: Becoming, Michelle ObamaPost + Comments (44)

Welcome Wyatt Morgan Cooper! @AndersonCooper's son was born on Monday. New life, new love. pic.twitter.com/L3Af2TtYAq

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 1, 2020

This just popped up in my feed and made me so happy – I think it was just nice to see something life-affirming. Two of my neighbors have babies born just before the shutdown and I wonder how they are managing as I keep a safe distance as coo at them as I walk the dogs.

Anderson has shared some photos of Wyatt on his Instagram page https://t.co/75rkH0EC2C pic.twitter.com/Vj1cemqmMa

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 1, 2020

Also, today my parents celebrated 60 years of marriage. I am hoping at some point I’m going to be able to visit them again. For me, not seeing my family has been the hardest part of this.

And finally, love this little video. When my friend was fostering puppies, we’d always bring Bixby over when they were ready for socializing and the transformation was astonishing. When they could take on the “Big Dog” their confidence would soar. And Bixby would just play along.

How are things going in your world? Everyone hanging in there? What do you do to unplug? Today I actually gardened, it felt almost normal and it was nice to say hi to the neighbors. I gave a box of sidewalk chalk to the 7-year-old next door (who before all this would come over and ask to see the ducks). She rewarded me with drawings all in front of my house.

Respite open thread

Respite Open Thread: A Little Good NewsPost + Comments (53)

I’m overrun with duck eggs since it’s spring and everyone is getting busy. So I decided to dye some for Easter. Help the Easter bunny out, if you will.  I thought they turned out nicely. Funny thing about duck eggs, they have a porous, textured shell that takes color very well.  I like the vibrant, jewel tones.

Next up, I’m making cinnamon rolls. There will be photos, maybe tomorrow. The dough is doing its first rise right now.

How is everyone doing? How are you spending your time?  I’m staying busy, the house is getting its spring cleaning, this year with extra cleaning. I’ve been scrubbing walls as I go room to room. Time to get the Great Dane drool removed.

Check-in, share any fun stuff you’ve found to do. geg6 pointed me to this fun little PBS series:

Find the schedule here or you can stream it on Roku or online.

What else has kept you occupied?

Respite open thread

Respite Open Thread: Screw It I’m Making Cinnamon RollsPost + Comments (124)

I had some requests for photos of my critters. Zander and Emma are MIA, they did not want to be bothered with photos today. I did manage to get the ducks to play along. They were spread out all over the yard, a sure sign of spring.

Mabel asking, “Why the heck are you following me, stalker?”

Penelope Pearl and Maddie haven’t quite caught on that I’m snapping them next.

Maddie, feathers ruffled, which is her usual manner when I’m around. I’m not her favorite person.

And finally, fan-favorite, Penelope

Next up, my officemates unconcerned with the day’s happenings, knowing I’m stocked up on the important things: their food.

I had put Scout’s blanket away around Christmas time, tucked it in the ottoman before a party and then forgot about it. She kept stealing my blanket and in the middle of scolding her the other day, I realized she needed her blanket. Problem solved.

Gabe asking nicely to go outside. The cats are so great about going outside. They come in when I call, never jump the fence and play nice with the ducks. Here Gabe waits patiently for the temperature to be warm enough for the patio door to be opened.

And finally the big guy. This is going to be a difficult week for me. On Friday it will be a year (!!) since I almost lost him. It’s easy to forget these days he was paralyzed for ten days just a year ago. I went back and read your comments today and seriously, you guys were a lifeline, helping me get through those long sleepless nights and hard days. Today, you’d never know it ever happened.  Grateful for every day I can, without thinking about it, yell at him for being a stubborn pain in my ass. He’s the biggest love and most stubborn, good boy ever!

One final thought:

I’m on my second week of working for clients who cannot pay me, but they need my help and I’m sure that down the road, as things get better, they will be able. We are all navigating the new reality of SBA loans and grants and unemployment insurance for the self-employed. The dogs and I walk every day and I reach out and check on friends and family often. Other than that, coping here.

How are you doing? Thinking of the words of encouragement you all gave me a year ago, I hope this place offers you the same during these strange and stressful times.

Respite open thread.

Respite Open Thread: Ducks and Puppies and KittiesPost + Comments (62)

Colorado is now under a Stay-At-Home order.

I’ve been making a point of unplugging most of the day. No news, no surfing the web. I know there are a lot of wonderful online distractions being presented: concerts, museums, comedy, etc. But I find that screen time means temptation to check Balloon-Juice, Twitter, Facebook or a news site “just for a second” and getting sucked into despair very quickly.

Yesterday, walking the dogs, I started to see bears in windows. Turns out, it’s a scavenger hunt to get kids out and walking. That little idea made me so happy. Now I have a bear, rabbit, Easter egg and rainbow in my windows.

I am thinking of starting a little something where we gather and talk about how we are going to unplug for a bit. Share ideas, inspire each other to get out, exercise, walk the dogs, do some gardening, spread some joy (in a social distancing kinda way). Sometimes telling someone else you’re going to something physical helps you keep to your goal.

I’ve invited my Facebook peeps and Twitter friends (?) to see if they are interested, too. If you’d like to be a part, send me an email: whats4dinnersolutions (at) live (dot) com. If I have enough interest I’ll figure something out where we can connect each morning or evening. I’ll send you an invite.

Meanwhile, Momsense sent me a picture of her pup (she also sent grandpuppies, but I’ll save those for another respite thread).

Meet Korra:

Freakin’ stunning pup.

RESPITE open thread

Respite Open Thread: Unplugging For Your HealthPost + Comments (54)