Now it looks like we won’t open up the economy until at least June 1st. Part of me says — “Darn Right! Get rid of this crap!” The infected person takes about a month to recover. Are they still infectious during this recovery time? An infected person can run around spreading contagion for 2-3 weeks before coming down sick. That’s a LOT of contact. That is why we have to assume everyone is infected, and protect ourselves. We have to assume WE are the infected ones, and protect others we come in contact with.
My time has been productive. I’ve been working on my genealogy blogs. Not like my cousin who has created family history books for her husband and for both of her sons. Keepsake type albums. Things I may never get around to ever in my lifetime. Instead, I take one person and I go deep. I inspect every document, every map, every social situation and historical event and try to explain how this may have affected that person. I can afford to go that deep, since I break up his life into decades. Sometimes, as in the Patsy Clark series, I had to break it into 1/2 decades because there was just so much information.
My time at home (although as an essential employee my quarantine time has not really changed much} has also been productive. I started using the Pomodoro technique (you can find it on youtube) to work on my computer projects for 20-25 minutes, then work on organizing for 5-10 minutes. It is amazing how much I have been able to organize in that short of time. Now, I am reorganizing my toilet paper and paper towel storage. I have shelves in closets which have very high headspace, but are hidden behind closet walls. Not very accessible, but perfect for storing lightweight items like — yep, toilet paper and paper towels. Those upstairs are for everyday access. Those downstairs will be the emergency stash. Because, as we all know now, bad times WILL happen. So we have to be prepared.
I have can rotation system which means if I do it right, it becomes a nifty first-in first-out system. It means I can hold a lot of cans in a smaller area, and I can access every single one. It also showed me that I really don’t have as many food stores as I thought I had.
I have always wanted to make meal kits, or meal in a jar kits. But I was always overwhelmed. I have a problem with logistics, with getting started. That’s how I am made. I force myself to take a step forward until I get something done. I overthink things. Well, Operation Spaghetti went well. I had left over Usborne gift bags. I put two jars Classico spaghetti sauce in (Classico because it is a regular Atlas mason jar! about a pint and a half in size.). I had a pint jar that holds 1/2 spaghetti noodles broken in half. This is perfect for two people. If I had freeze dried hamburger that would go into the kit, or FD sausage. Or a pint of canned hamburger. But I don’t, so I have about 2# frozen hamburger that I cook up. Add onions fresh or dried. French bread in the freezer for each kit. I have a month’s worth — well I used one last night. It worked out well. I focused on just ONE meal, not all of them. Something we eat every week.
Next meal kit is Chili. Then White Chicken Chili. Then Sloppy Joes. Each bag will have recipes instructions, and a “What to Get” list. I plan to store them downstairs, so everything has to be mouse proof.
I also want to make the meals in jars kit. Starting probably with a stew. FD beef, FD potato, FD peas, carrots, onions. Homemade Cream of something powder to shake down, with homemade Onion Soup mix or maybe not both. We shall see.
I’ve never been much of a budget maker, but now I have discovered the joys of … well, not exactly a budget, but rather a plan for our meals, extending them out for a month, then out for three months. It is called Food Insurance. Insurance that we will stay well fed during the bad times. Because believe you me, there will always be bad times. Perhaps it isn’t a SHTF scenario, but rather an extended illness; a change of jobs; being laid off; War time; or a world-wide pandemic like — oh, the Spanish Flu or the Chinese Communist Party Virus aka CoronaVirus.
BadBird had a broken tooth. He was able tomake an emergency dental visit to have a crown prepped, and will have it fitted next week. Our truck loan people typically charge 10$ to 20$ to pay over the phone, but the last two times, they’ve had their lobby closed, so they allow payments over the phone without that extra charge. What a way to work with your clients!
My organizing expanded from my office/photography room, into just about every cabinet of the kitchen, and into the hallway cabinet. Probably into my bedroom closet, too. The house is a mess. I’ve been storing water. I drink the flavoured water from Walmart or Safeway. They are one-liter bottles which I rinse out, then fill with tap water (which is well-water for us) and store them. Also, any 2liter bottles get the same treatment. This is a very easy way to store water, although I do have a 35 gallon blue barrel, and a 5 gallon water bottle filled from Safeway water. That method isn’t too expensive, you get a bottle and you can refill as much as needed. I foresee a time when water will become as much of a hot item as toilet paper has been.
Our stores are beginning to get some supplies. I was able to find some in the Dollar Store. They’ve put limits on them, but it is toilet paper.
Stay safe out there. Wear a mask when going out. Wash your hands when you get back home. My one dirty hand in the store technique seems to work best for me. Wash the bananas under soapy water before peeling them. Letting others sit for about a week before touching them. Tomorrow I prep for going back to work on Thursday. Making muffin in a mason jar kits. Egg muffins. Smoothie kits. I still need to process my mead, it is quite over due, but the organizning project is getting in the way. Or is that just my excuse?
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The Grandmother Club 