FLOWERS!
They are blooming!
We go on walks and just sit and look at them and Solvi waves at them from her stroller. There is at least a 99% chance that newly-blooming flowers can save us all right now.
How are you all doing?
We just got word that Minnesota’s stay at home order is now extended for another two weeks. What is the situation where you live?
Can you get outside? Are you feeling heavy and dull (been there) or is spring slowly lifting your mood like it is for many of us here in Minnesota?
Here’s a recap on our week in quarantine.
Overall
Honestly I didn’t really think this day would come, but here I am reporting that overall this week in quarantine was really… actually… GOOD!
A big, big, big part of that was that it was my birthday this week, and even though I didn’t get to do the normal fun stuff I would have liked to do on my birthday, I still got a day that included a lot of my favorite things: donuts, migas, a mocha, a nap before noon, a long uninterrupted shower, zero dishwashing, a bouquet of flowers, a visit from my parents (more on that in a second), pad thai and spring rolls for dinner, and a big ol slice of chocolate cake. It was relaxing and happy. The best kind of birthday.
Also helping the overall state of affairs this week: THE WEATHER. Round of applause, please, for sun and warmer temps. It’s bringing my heart and soul back to life.
Something Delicious
A) Eating outside. Anything right now is better when it can be outside.
B) This is a grilled sausage and peppers situation. The Italian chicken sausages are from ALDI (well, everything is from ALDI) and I’m going to do a post about this later in a more normal bun situation. But on this particular night I got a little rowdy and decided to try grilling some garlic naan and folding our sausage and peppers into that? Yeah, I don’t know. It was really messy but SO good. I’ll have a recipe for this coming soon, but until then… sausage, peppers, aioli, and carb vehicle of choice.
What are your favorite grill recipes? This is now my little nightly backyard restaurant and I am hungry for ideas.
Something Outside
$7.99 pool for the win!
Also for the win: a watermelon popsicle on a 70 degree and sunny day.
I am living for the warm weather life right now. Did I mention that already?
Something Connected
My parents came by for my birthday! YAY!
I haven’t seen them in person for… I don’t even know. Weeks. Lots of weeks. A long time. After they sang to me in the driveway, they eventually took off their masks and sat with us on the deck in lawn chairs 6 feet apart.
They made faces at Solvi that had her rolling with laughter, and we sliced off a piece of our store-bought cake to share with them.
And it wasn’t ideal but it was so, so, so wonderful. It reminded me how good it is to be together. I just can’t wait for PEOPLE.
A Sage Photo
Certifiably angelic.
Even if everything else in life is hard, I have one good thing to say which is… we made it to the end of another week!
And even though the weekends kind of just look the same as the weekdays, maybe this weekend you (and me) can carve out some time – like, what feels reasonable, 30 minutes? 2 hours? depends on how needy your kids and animals and various other people are – to just do something that makes you happy. Bake muffins. Go for a walk. Sit outside in a chair in the sun and stare off into the distance. (That’s what I’ll be doing.)
I’d love to hear your quarantine reports in the comments!
Sending lots of joy for the good days, grace for the really bad days, and all the patience we can muster from our quarantine to yours. ♡
Wow, thank you for sharing your life moments with us
belated birthday wishes Lindsay! guess what, I am so thrilled today because I am officially a part of “food blogger pro” community. yesssss! Just waiting for some good news too. Thanks a lot for inspiring.
Rochester is so green and warm right now! It is so refreshing to be able to open all of the windows. I love spring in MN!
Phenomenal recipe for May, simply scrumptious.
https://youtu.be/y9P6NoB426Y
Hi, So glad you enjoyed your birthday. One you’ll not forget I’m sure!
We live in the UK.
Had a few weeks of really lovely summery weather, where we spent most days sitting in the garden pretending we were on holiday! and watching the spring happen round us. It as quite magical, especially as we have occupants in the blue tit box on our tree.
Then last week it rained and turned seasonally chilly!
No plan here yet for slowly loosening the lock down. We are in what can be termed the vulnerable group! So apart from a daily nocturnal walk we’ve not really been out.
I think it will be scary to go out when they first tell us we can!
So I’m doing a bit more cooking, taught my 72 year old husband to knit…….he’s now confident enough to attempt a jersey for himself!
And enjoyed a visit from my daughter in our garden a couple of weeks ago, while we socially distanced over a cup of tea!
keep safe everyone.
Thanks for the emails Lindsey, your little Solvi is just lovely with her pretty curls. xx
I know you spent some time in the Philippines. I live here retired with my wife of many decades. Quarantine here, as well. Here in Bacolod, Negros, extended through May 15 currently. Even with reopening, we can’t go into Bacolod because the city has checkpoints. Cebu is worse off, with scofflaws who tried to escape quarantine and ended up creating a hot spot near there. We are all doing well…except well, for those who aren’t. We pay our helper family their regular salary even though they don’t do much work for us currently. We all do what we can.
I am in Minnesota too and I am so ready for our shelter in place to be over. I went out today and went walking at the Lebanon Hills trails and EVERYONE and their next door neighbor was there. I really don’t think the orders from the governor are being listened to anymore and I honestly think it would be safer to open EVERYTHING up with social distancing guidelines so that everyone isn’t overwhelming the parks etc. I doubt businesses with employees that can work from home will have their employees come back soon BUT I think it is time to get the malls back open AND the small businesses (hair dressers, nail salons, etc.). How is your area of MN doing with the social distancing / staying at home??
Thank you for your honest take on the current situation. It helps me realize I’m not the only one who feels like they are on a roller coaster of emotions. We love to grill pork chops, bone in chicken with bbq sauce, tin foil potatoes, tin foil baked fish with lemon and wine, asparagus with a drizzle of sesame oil, kabobs and for dessert grilled pineapple cut up and put on ice cream with toasted pecans and a drizzle of caramel.
Yes to spring finally arriving in MN! Hello from Red Wing. We had mini flatbread pizzas outside today with a side of watermelon & strawberries. It was perfect! Mini naans were from Aldi 😉 Happy belated bday!
Happy Birthday!
Lately I do all on my weber I did koftas, octopus, veggies, turkey burger, even I baked your bread there 🙂
Happy late Birthday! I also celebrated my birthday this past Monday and it was an unexpectedly beautiful day- I had family and friends offer drive-by birthday wishes and treats, my husband spoiled me with cake for breakfast and a ukulele (I’ve been learning how to play for my job as a school librarian), and I even had some students of mine sing me Happy Birthday via the SeeSaw app. Definitely made me feel special and so very loved, which is what birthdays are all about! Glad you had a great birthday that made you feel loved as well!
I love Pinch of Yum and your blog. I’m a Wisconsinite in Texas and have to say I’d be beside myself if I still lived up there with the cold weather. Sun and warmth really makes a difference getting through this weird time. Texas started phase one of reopening and it feels glorious! Seeing people on outdoor patios (spaced far apart) was such an amazing sight! I felt rejuvenated just turning the calendar page to MAY!
I like your posts, and read your all posts
Happy (un)Birthday Lindsay,
we’ll be starting week 7 of Lockdown next week here in the UK. It’s really helping reduce the spread of infection, though too many are still dying.
The first 5 weeks were almost wall-to-wall sunshine, though true to UK Bank Holiday tradition, it did rain a bit the Easter weekend!
This past week it’s rained on and off too, which has been a Good Thing as we haven’t wanted to go out, for all the washing has been piling up (I line-dry everything outdoors.)
Good to see the daffodils are blooming in Minnesota. We had a Very Early Spring here and our daffodils were over by mid-March. The next lot of flowers are coming out so the bees, etc, visiting our garden are again able to refuel. Must sort out something for that gap next year!
Thanks for the recipes, they’re helping, but generally we’re too busy to be bored. (We no longer have Small People around!)
Praying people will be sensible, responsible and realise that this, too, will pass.
Happy birthday! I just love your posts, they’re so well written with wit and a touch of sarcasm… hilarious. Here in Dural in Sydney, Australia, our iso-life has just eased slightly. As of yesterday, we are now allowed to visit friends and family, only 2 adults at a time, plus kids. It’ll take the edge off having the kids climbing the walls (I have 3 sons under 13) and certainly take the edge of my insanity! Thanks for your posts, I always thoroughly enjoy reading them. x
I have been quarantined since March 9th. A few rides to town but I stayed in the car. I sew, making purses, quilts and clothing. This keeps me happy. I love to cook and bake lots of differnet things. However the days I look forward to the most are Prayer Group vis Messenger, Church via internet. All is good.
And I forgot to say Happy Birthday 🤭…it sounded quite delightful!
Hi Lindsay—your posts help me know my feelings during this quarantine are shared by you and likely many others —we will get through this. My favorite meal this week was what I made for dinner tonight…blta salad with creamy ranchy-blue cheesy drizzle. I grilled the bacon and skipped the bread…it was awesome🥳. Oh and a little rose 🥂
Happy happy birthday! What a delightful weather week we Minnesotans have had. Makes such a difference as we cope with the situation at hand. And today my hubby our golden retriever and I hooked up our airstream and are heading to the Badlands and Custer for a getaway. Hiking, biking and camping in God’s beautiful world will be another gigantic spirit lifter! Wish I would’ve read your sausage, pepper naan bread recipe yesterday-it would be a terrific campfire meal! Next time!
Happy birthday! I teared up a little when you mentioned seeing your parents for your birthday – my birthday is next weekend (the big 3-0!) and I have been trying to feel good about it although this is such a crazy weird time. We had lots of plans and now none of them are happening, but a day filled with all my small favorite things can be just as good as a big blowout vacation or party (which will be made up later anyway!). Thanks for bringing a smile to my face with your post!
Happy Belated Birthday Lindsey! I am so happy to hear you had a great week and got to see your Mom. I’m in Los Angeles, CA and Quarantine has been pretty strict so my family has been hunkered down at home. I have been spending each morning doing a morning weight training with a friend via Facetime and that has been a great way to start the day. The weather has been gorgeous so I work from my porch on my laptop. I am grateful to be healthy and alive! Taking it one day at the time and staying connected with family via Facetime. My son’s attended 2 driveby birthday’s yesterday. One was a Zoom birthday and the other was a drive by birthday where we drove by his friend’s house, dropped off a gift and said hi! It was pretty fun! Some cars were decorated with streamers and Happy Birthday signs! It was memorable! Sending you love from California! Stay healthy and safe. Love, Ester
Happy birthday! It sounds like the best kind of birthday, considering the times. I love the picture of you and Solvi with your parents. In Washington, our governor has extended the Stay at Home order. As a special ed. teacher, I’m still working, but it’s very hard to get my students (5 & 6-year-olds) to actually attend to a Zoom video. Plus, I miss them so much. I’m an introvert, so I like staying home, but I do miss seeing friends. Please keep the quarantine reports coming. xo
Happy Birthday! In my family, we celebrate ‘birthday season’ and it is over when we get to celebrate with every one on our list. Fun! I live on a farm, so we’re busy with the animals and putting in a huge garden. We’re enjoying fresh greens, asparagus and radishes this week. I miss people, too! We are doing our doctor check ups via Zoom and that is a nice perk. My state started phase 1 opening today, I shop only once per month anyway, so it won’t change what I already do. I’m a nurse, so still going into work. Spring is here and I’m going to invite my friends one at a time to sit a spell outside 6 feet apart for a catch up.
After many decades of reading recipes and then running to the store for whatever ingredient I needed, I have finally learned to figure out how to plan ahead, and also how to make do with whatever is on hand. So yesterday I wanted to try Mexican Street Corn but the only corn I had was in the freezer and the only lime juice I had was in a bottle. So under the New Normal SOP, I went ahead and toasted the corn on top of the stove and added the usual sauce ingredients. Everyone loved it! And my son even suggested they would be good with fish sticks in a Fish Taco! YAY!
Happy belated birthday! It sounds like you had a wonderful day & in these trying times, that is all we can ask for! My pandemic prescription is yoga… lots of mini practices of yoga throughout the day. It keeps me grounded & helps me weather the stresses of work. Though I must say that I am very thankful that I continue to work & am able to do so from home… what a blessing!
Enjoy your coming week & I look forward to next week’s installment!
TRACY