This month we’re watching states relax shelter-in-place restrictions. I will admit that while it’s nice to see places reopening, I’m not sure we’re completely ready to resume all of the activities that we were planning before COVID-19. So, this month, we’re getting ready for a new normal – at least one that we believe will last for the next few months.
Watching | The Mandalorian
> I’ve never been a huge Star Wars fan, but I have seen the movies. After all the Baby Yoda news, we broke down, ordered Disney+, and watched The Mandalorian. The Child (aka Baby Yoda) is adorable! I’m a fan. This will definitely be a part of our “new normal” viewing schedule.
Reading | “Love Your Age”
> This was the perfect time for me to pick up this book. Author Barbara Hannah Grufferman gives readers an actionable, practical list of things we can do to feel better about ourselves and live a healthier life. I particularly liked the “master cheat sheet” at the end of the book with tips for things we can do daily, weekly, monthly, and annually. It’s given me some ideas about activities that I should incorporate into my new normal.
Remembering | Road trips
> I ran across an article in Lifehacker about “Why You Still Need to Drive Your Car a Little If You’re Quarantined” and it reminded us that we need to figure out how to do this. A dead battery is not any fun. So, Keith and I took a road trip to a nearby small-town with a roadside restaurant famous for their barbecue. We ordered online, took a drive, and the restaurant brought it out to the car. The Q was delicious, and the road trip was just what we (and the car) needed.
Working On | Sourdough starter
> Yep, we jumped on the “make sourdough starter during quarantine” craze. I’m not sure how this kitchen science experiment will turn out, but it has been fun. We’ve researched all sorts of recipes to understand the science of sourdough. And we had to find lots of uses for sourdough starter discard. The best so far? Sourdough peanut butter cookies.
Feeling | Comfortable with face coverings
> I must admit the first couple of times that I went outside with a face covering, it was odd. The face covering doesn’t hurt, and it doesn’t seem to fog up my eyeglasses too much. It just takes some getting used to. Personally, I think I will be wearing face coverings for a while, so I’m thinking about having a small (very small!) collection. That will allow me to always have one available.
Planning | Meatless meals?
> Is anyone else out there wondering about meat shortages? I’ve been in a few grocery stores over the past month that are limiting meat purchases. The news is talking about supply chain issues. Not sure where all of this is going but Keith and I are thinking about adding a meatless meal to our new normal. We both love lentils, and this might be a good time to test out some recipes. (If you have a good meatless dish, drop a link in the comments.)
Loving | Small tea kettles
> You know, I’m a tea person. Well, I broke my favorite tea infuser and decided to try something new. Instead of a tea infuser, I’m using a small glass kettle (with a strainer). It works great, easier to clean, and significantly cheaper. Sometimes being forced to try new options works out well.
Geeking | Logic Puzzles
> I’ve mentioned before my love of puzzles. One type that I remember loving (and aggravating the heck out of me) are logic grid puzzles. It’s the type of puzzle where you are given a series of categories and an equal number of options within each category. Each option is used once and only once. The goal is to solve the puzzle using the mathematical field of deduction.
What’s UP with you? Is there anything that you’ve been doing while sheltering that will become part of your new normal?
Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of Chicago, IL
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