Well, if nothing else, I thought it might be nice to do a weekly check-in to get us through these times. Still here, still staying home, still grateful and also sometimes still struggling.
The Quarantine Report • Week 1
Well, if nothing else, I thought it might be nice to do a weekly check-in to get us through these times.
TL;DR: Still here, still staying home, still grateful and also sometimes still struggling.
How are you guys doing? What has this experience been like for you this week? And I say this week because doesn’t it feel like it sort of changes with the hour? Man. I feel like we’ve all lived a lot of lifetimes in the last few weeks.
This isn’t week one of quarantine for me – it’s actually week four, but that’s okay. Let’s do these weekly reports and check ins until… well, until we don’t need to anymore? Here’s the recap list from the week:
- Something Delicious
- Something Outside
- Something Connected
- Something To Look Forward To
Bonus: A Dog Photo!
This is just a check-in. That’s all, really. Just a chance to say hi out there to you in your home, from me in my home, on my couch, with toys strewn about everywhere and a pile of dishes taking over the kitchen counter. So, hi. I care about you, and I’m grateful for the internet right now, and I think life is better shared, so here we go.
Overall
This week earns a solid Meh rating, and yes, there is a graphic!
It’s not like it’s all bad all the time, but it’s also not like this was the best week of my life, know what I mean?
I don’t know if you guys feel this, but I oscillate from “it’s all good” to “it’s all so hard” within about an hour, so I guess if you averaged out all those moments over the week – all the discouragement, all the exhaustion, all the hope inspired by people around the world – this is where I’m landing overall.
Please note the levels on the scale for these Quarantine Reports – the TOP POSSIBLE LEVEL is “good.” A solid good is the most potential I’ve got on any given week here.
What’s your rating this week?
Something Delicious
In addition to staying on top of groceries and keeping everyone fed and dealing with the never-ending dishes that our family of three generates (what in the world?!?!?!), I’ve also been trying to eat more fruits and vegetables lately. That is my big struggle because really, all I want to eat right now is cookie bowls.
The best foods I made / ate this week:
- Curry sauce with tofu and spinach (VEGETABLES! Finally.)
- The Ultimate Chocolate Granola
- Instant Pot Minestrone (MORE VEGETABLES!)
- A strawberry Toaster Strudel – totally serious, it was so good
Something Outside
I’ve been trying to get outside every day (both for light exercise and for outdoor therapy), and since I’m spending a lot more time with Solvi these days, this has been a shared effort by the two of us.
Solvi LOVES – I repeat, L O V E S, to be outside.
This week, the weather had some gross moments. We were still there for it.
Something Connected
This week I met a few friends for a social distancing chat at the park. Yep, just like this – lawn chairs 6-or-more feet apart.
It was 60 degrees (I’m always cold which is why I’m still in my arctic gear) and we all brought our own chairs and snacks and drinks and it was fabulous. It just felt so good to see and talk to people in real life.
Something To Look Forward To
We’re getting takeout on a recurring weeknight schedule now. Annnnd that is what I’m looking forward to.
This is one of the new traditions in our life because we need little things to look forward to right now DO YOU FEEL ME. We used to be more cautious about takeout and now we are like… taking-out quite frequently. Stamina for that effort was not great, plus supporting local business? Wednesday night takeout is a new staple part of our schedule and I am already excited about it.
Our takeout habit as of lately has involved aloo palak, shahi paneer, and a double order of naan from our little local Indian restaurant, and I do not see this changing anytime soon.
A Dog Photo
Sage just follows us around all day and loves her life.
If anyone is thriving right now, it’s her.
That’s the weekly report!
For a more talk-it-out version of this post, check out this podcast episode Bjork and I did for the Food Blogger Pro podcast where we talk about what life is really like right now as we navigate our way through.
And I’d love to hear from you. How was your week?
What are your big wins, little wins, and not-at-all wins?
Are you at home or are you an essential worker on the front lines (and if so please know I cry regularly with gratitude for you)?
What’s giving you life and what’s keeping you up at night? Or are you sleeping just fine in which case I’d like to know your tricks?!
Stay well. xo
Filed Under: Life
April 10, 2020
Nice to meet you!
I’m Lindsay and I ♡ FOOD. I used to be a teacher, and now making food and writing about it online is my full-time job. I love talking with people about food, and I'm so glad you're here.
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YES. Takeout. I feel that in my SOUL. The past two nights for dinner, my boyfriend and I have gotten arepas from a local Venezuelan place, and they are just so delicious I could cry tears of happiness every time I eat them, lol. Last night we actually got a meal kit type thing where we got 4 arepas and two meats (pork and chicken), which you just reheat on the stove, fry the arepas, and assemble. It also comes with this guasacaca sauce, which I think is some sort of avocado/green chile sauce that I would legit drink. Oh man. Just so good. Stay well!!
Ohh dear stay safe! So good to see you guys 🙂 here in Canada, we have almost limited our trips and most of the things are shut. This is indeed a challenging time. Sending you some positive vibes! have a great day ahead.
Hello everyone from the great state of Texas!!! I’m going thru the same range of emotions as y’all… one minute I’m ok and the next I’m bawling… it’s so scary and surreal!!! I work at the hospital here at the Army base in SanAntonio…. I feel like I’m walking into the fire everyday. I’m used to the social distancing thing but I’m not going to risk seeing my grandkids right now… it’s just too hard to not be able to hold them. So, the highlight of this week has been finding you… I don’t do the social media thing or ever post – can say I’m sorta tech “not” savvy… but I have taken comfort in your posts and your story and your recipes!!! I was recently diagnosed with Hashimotos and fibromyalgia after many years of being told it was all in my head… I have taken things into my own hands and am happy to say (fingers crossed) that I feel myself slowly returning to the person I once was. All the recipes here seem manageable and delicious (unlike the fibro cookbooks I bought). I’ve made a shopping list and have new cookware coming (thank you Amozon!!!!). I am looking forward to tomorrow and battling thru my lifetime struggles with food… ugh!!! Thank you Lindsay!!! Please don’t forget- you are a light in the darkness for a lot of people!!! And as scary as this is… try to focus on all the good and light that shines even in the darkness!!!!
Meh is where it’s at! Honestly, it could be so much worse than meh right now so I will gladly take it.
Something Delicious:
– Your no-knead bread, on repeat (seriously). Gave it a few kneads yesterday because I am bored and felt like getting my hands messy, and it turned out even better (so many bubbles!).
Something Outside:
– An Easter drive-by! We celebrate the holiday with my husband’s sis and her fam every year, and this was the first year with my sweet nephew. Getting to at least see him from afar made my week.
Something Connected:
– 7 pm clapping! I live in an urban area and throwing our windows open to yell our thanks and make as much noise as we can makes me cry every time. Also, I can see my next door neighbor hanging out her window doing the same and usually we chat for a few minutes after, which is really lovely.
Something To Look Forward To:
– Warmer weather can’t come soon enough. April showers better make way for May flowers and I can’t wait to go on more nature walks to take it all in.
For me and my family, life during quarantine has changed. There are positive and negative. Lack of work and the ability to go to the store, which is a stone’s throw from the house. But there are also pluses. We began to spend more time together and appreciate it.
I love these check-ins! To follow your format:
I’d say we’re in the okay/good category. Easter activities really lifted my spirits, although doing them without family made me sad.
Something Delicious:
– King Arthur lemon bars
– Avocado toast with feta
– Basically anything with Trader Joe’s soyaki sauce
Something Outside:
Like Solvi, my toddler loves being outside rain or shine. We’re loving chalk and her ball these days.
Something Connected:
– Started sending postcards (using the Ink app, but there are lots of options) to family members. You can add pictures or whatever, and the app mails them for you. Hoping to brighten some days with that.
– FaceTime/Zoom with friends and family
Something To Look Forward To:
– The weekend. We’re both very fortunate to be working from home, but it’s still nice having a work break on the weekends.
It’s been quite well for me. I still am going on my daily walks but I cross the street every time I see someone and wash my hands a lot more especially after coming inside. I am currently cooling some of your soft chocolate chip cookies so I can send them to my aunt who is quarantined alone in her house, I thought they would cheer her up. 🙂 And I also went to the park twice this last week getting fresh air helps lighten my mood. Thank you for your recipes!
Love the idea of that park meet up but in our city (Ottawa, Canada) e city is handing out tickets to people congregating in any public outdoor spaces regardless of social distancing! heart breaking to be so physically distant from loved ones.
Have been home 4 weeks, and I cook dinner every night, plus dessert. (long-time fan of your recipes) Husband does morning coffee, lunches, and Saturday dinners. Anyhoo, what is your takeout routine? Like do you reheat at home? Wipe down containers to sanitize? We want to support local restaurants and miss eating out but haven’t yet taken the leap. Thanks!
My son (10 and randomly picky about food) saw a video of yours before the world as we knew it fell apart. He wanted to make it. We all loved it. So, we’ve been working our way through MANY of your recipes. We were eating out a lot (over the last years) before the stay-at-home order in NH.
You’ve inspired us and your recipes have brought a nice spot of joy to our evening. Our son helped make the easy lentil curry tonight and he loved it. Thank you!
The food you made is lovely!
Such a beautiful post and so kind of you to check in! Coincidentally I just had shahi paneer for lunch right now lol. Anyway, things are sort of weird here in India as well and I am totally in the “MEH” category too. Things that are helping me are re-runs of friends or any other “light” shows or just anything that gives distraction from the news. I am all about food and food blogging, watching recipe videos etc. but since the past few days totally hooked to videos about closet organisation, etc – something different than what I would normally do. Other things keeping me sane: spending LOTS of time in the kitchen.
Hey from South Asia! Thanks for your post. your real talk. your weekly rating scale that made me laugh because it’s so true right now and for just being you. I’m on lockdown in South Asia trying to ration veggies and foods cause we aren’t sure when they won’t be available. Exploring new recipes that have the ingredients I have on hand. The best part of my day today was making homemade Easter pop tarts and my husband and I scarfing them down.
Thanks a lot
Linsay, I enjoyed your photo’s
I like your dog because we had
Two Labs that liked to do like
Yours! So you are in Twinkee land!
Big Chicago fan living in Iowa.
I am temp quarantine with elderly
Mother in retirement community.
I would love go shopping! I am a
Pretty good cook. Any of your lady
Buddies single? Looking 50 to 60 ish
Take care of those kiddos
Bill W. Iowa North Liberty
I love and appreciate this post so much. I listened to the podcast that you linked to, and you mentioned wanting to mirror other people’s emotions….for what it is worth, you are definitely doing that for me! I have found myself re-reading your check-in posts because it feels good to have someone putting the words on what I’m feeling (better than I can myself). Thanks for being so authentic and open and doing what you do!
Doing ok – I think ‘good‘ on the meter.
Lovely photos – thank you for sharing 😀
Here in Australia 🐨🦘🇦🇺 we cannot meet friends in the park (even with social distancing) – it changed a week ago.
We are only allowed to leave our houses if
*going to work/education if unable to do this from home (if you work is an essential service)
*going to buy food, medications, medical appts – & must return home without delay.
* going out for personal exersize in your Local neighbourhood on your own or with 1 other (families can walk together) everyone else – yourself and one other 😢. Hand hygiene everywhere, Hands have to be sanitised on entering supermarkets.
No one is allowed to have visitors to their home unless it’s for compassionate reasons. No driving to take little holiday, no lounging around on the beaches – it is swim and go home! There are fines for breaking rules. Our new cases Of COVID-19 have dropped down in every state except Tasmania but their curve is now coming down too so that’s good.
It’s a changed world – lets hope it all resolves soon.
Meanwhile I can’t do the Fun group cycling I normally do on weekends so I am making sure I do a good walk every day. I miss seeing my grandchildren – have to FaceTime instead. I can’t celebrate my son’s birthday today. . 😢. I have to look at the positives – My family is well, I am well, I am still working as I am a nurse. The sun is still shining! Everyone seems to be doing more baking I have noticed (a good thing).
Take care everyone, during these strange times.
Hello from Idaho! The weather here has been starting to warm up which is seriously the best thing to have happened this week. I’ve been going for daily walks which provides a much needed escape. I’m partially working from home and going into the office for half days as needed. It’s strange but also kind of nice sometimes. This weekend I really want to focus on Easter and even though it won’t look the same take time to connect with family via facetime.
Seeing your stroller handle reminded me of your baby post a while back, would you mind doing a baby products recap now that you’ve used them with Solvi for awhile? I would love to know your thoughts on some of the bigger ticket items you shared about before.
We have been in lockdown for either 3 or 4 weeks. I’m loving being at home all the time. I don’t have to be anywhere, do anything at a particular time. The time is MINE and I do what needs doing in my time.
My husband continues to work from home so most days I only see him at mealtimes and maybe odd times in between.
I’m not an introvert but am really enjoying the ‘stay in place’ time. I want my family and other people’s families to be safe at this time and come out the other end safe and well. Follow the rules and be all together at the end. Life will continue as we have known it if we are considerate now. It’s just for a short time in the big scheme of life.
My sleep trick is that I’m just so exhausted from being a full time parent + full time Shopify employee + staying up til midnight so that I can maximize some ‘me’ time before waking up and doing it all over again the next day, I’m just so exhausted that when my head hits the pillow, I get a great night sleep!
Lol am I imagining things or is that a eyeball looking back at that plate !!! Right in the area between the table and the plate the hand is holding just above the hand. It’s just hanging out like , I’m just watching for anything that might fall!! lol love our pets!!!
Most weeks so far, I have been in the Meh-Okay category. This week was Meh-Hard. Both my fiance and I work from home full-time and that has not changed. We got engaged literally right before shelter-in-place orders and it’s hard sometimes.
The best things we’ve had so far are: blueberry muffins, cinnamon rolls from a can, your Sunday chili, homemade ginger lattes, and all the pastas. Along with takeout Italian from our favorite neighborhood restaurant.
I’m sleeping just fine after many, many years of just…not sleeping. Which was torture. Here’s my trick: excellent sleep hygiene! Meaning I now have a solid bedtime, waking time, no screens an hour before my bedtime, and I keep my alarm clock away from my bed.
All the dogs are TRULY thriving right now, aren’t they?
We are entering week 4 of quarantine!
Life is really giving us some hard times right now.
Emotions are everywhere as most of us are homebound trying to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
We’ve mourned through 9/11 together and weathered the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy (or likely another such natural disaster in your corner of the world).
And now New York and New Jersey (where I live) are at the epicenter of the COVID-19 virus in the United States.
But it feels different this time. We can’t see the attacker. We can only feel its effects. It’s hard to know what we can’t see.
What we do know is that we will get through this. Together.
What we don’t know is how we hedge against uncertain economic times this health crisis is sure to bring about – how do we recover and start to feel in control again?
My advice?
Think… how does the world need you right now? What can you offer that’s useful?
When I say the world, it doesn’t have to be the world at large but your own circle of the world. Know what you can and can’t do.
I’m a retired nurse and I feel the pull to help, but I know I can’t the way I used to. I used to work in the ICU and emergency room and I can only imagine what it’s like right now.
I worked through the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s when it was first thought to be a mysterious form of aggressive pneumonia.
I cared for HIV/AIDS patients when they were shunned like lepers. I worked with fellow nurses and doctors inadvertently stuck with infected HIV/AIDS patient needles because proper needle stick prevention hadn’t been developed yet.
But people eventually developed a new needless system for intravenous therapy and new automatic needle cappers post-injection. Therapeutic HIV/AIDS drugs were developed. Wearing gloves became the standard in clinical care.
New developments are happening right now as we learn about the COVID-19 virus.
Last week, Mount Sinai hospital in New York began plasmapheresis, where the antibodies from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 will be transferred into critically ill patients with the disease, with the expectation that the antibodies will neutralize it.
If you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 you can donate your plasma for plasmapheresis. You can go to the Mount Sinai website for more information on donating.
New Jersey has sent out requests through recruiters for retired nurses and doctors to work. I’m 61 years old (can’t believe I’m in the elderly category) and at a vulnerable age for complications from infection with COVID-19. It would be foolish of me to go to work at the next pop-up hospital in our state that is recruiting nurses.
So how can I help? It may be the same way you can help.
If I already had the disease and could donate my plasma I definitely would.
I can help by supporting my family and educating people in any way I know best.
I can help by following the prudent guidelines of social distancing and staying home. It doesn’t feel like helping but it is.
Handwashing has always been something I’m diligent about and have taught my children the same.
Still, it’s unsettling when we feel so very vulnerable. We want to do something. Action helps to overcome our feelings of vulnerability.
Brene Brown has a wonderful podcast on this very topic you may want to listen to. It will help you find ways to get through these trying times.
During this long run of the pandemic, it’s okay to be afraid but it’s not okay to panic.
Fear is a protective mode. You can think rationally about your situation and plan accordingly. Once you hit panic mode all rational thinking is lost.
Keep things in perspective. When times are hard you still have to be rational. And even though you may be afraid you can’t let fear make your decisions.
Some steps you can take to keep your perspective:
Limit input of news and get your news from a scientifically reliable source
Listen to podcasts
Read books
Take walks
Exercise
Listen to music
Pursue your hobby (if you can)
Talk to family and friends on the phone or facetime.
Prepare for difficult economic times ahead
Make rational decisions
Feeling powerless over a situation can lead to stress. But remember you are always in control of your emotions and thoughts.
Inspirational posts I’ve posted on my blog this past month to help with the stress:
10 Best Tea Books to Make You an Expert
How Theanine in Tea Can Make You Calm
40 Tea Quotes to Live By
Ultimate Guide to Brewing Tea
Drink tea, keep calm and be well.
xo Mary Ann
“Still, it’s unsettling when we feel so very vulnerable. We want to do something. Action helps to overcome our feelings of vulnerability.”
Mary Ann…. There’s SO much wisdom and experience and heart in all that you write. Thank You! We all want/need touchstones in life that remind us of our common humanity and you have done that.
What are the odds … a pin on Pinterest led me to your website just yesterday!