Pandemic Times, February 7-13

Sunday, February 7 

Super Bowl Sunday usually called for special "game day" food and getting together with friends/family to watch all or part of the game. As with all such rituals this year, the 'get-together' was cancelled.  We had ribs from Ruby and treated ourselves to chip and dip. 

The morning began with a light snow accumulation, but even without much sun it soon melted.  I also woke up to the sight of our clever squirrel hanging from a feeder.  I didn't see exactly how he managed, but he must have jumped over the cone.  He/she is also going after the suet feeder.  It is probably evident reading between the lines that I spend a lot of time looking out the window!

Red-bellied Woodpecker

I made a focaccia to share with Kathy & Laura. The 'activated' starter sponge that I held overnight worked just fine.  Mid-afternoon, we went to Laura's for a short visit and to get the kayak trailer and delivered the focaccias. I forgot to take a picture before cutting it.

Monday, February 8

After yesterday's snowy damp, today is bright and mid-50s.  In the morning I planted lettuce and spinach in some plastic shells I'd saved for this purpose. Hope is all we have when we plant.  The containers will live in the utility room until they plants have spouted and then on my workbench outside when days are nice enough. Hope.

After an early lunch we went to River Sports to pick up the new kayak.  Because we were pulling the trailer, we went the back way going and coming - by Northshore on the way into the city and by Middlebrook/Yarnell/Buttermilk on the way home.  It took us longer, but we enjoyed the sights along the way.

After we got the kayak delivered to the Matzek house, we went for a walk.  We certainly don't want to waste a single nice day! One eagle was present and all three flood gates were open on the dam.

I made a fish for supper - cod fillet, skillet seared and smothered with fajita-style peppers and onions. Served with black beans and corn.

Tuesday, February 9

I cut Bill's hair this morning.  I wish someone would cut mine. Patience, I tell myself.  Leftover black beans and peppers made a great quesadilla for lunch.  After getting back from taking Amanda to softball, Bill and I went for a walk.  We found both eagles in the tree near the road. As we were on the return look of our walk, one of the eagles had flown to a tree alongside the road.  Based on its larger size, we think it was the female.  Before we left, both eagles flew to their high perch.

Larger female on the right

Female near the road

We were blessed with a spectacular sunset:

Sunset sky on fire
I never get tired of this
God's glory illumed.

Sunset 6:00 pm iPhone

Sunset 6:02 pm Panasonic - It changes quickly!

Boneless chicken thighs, stuffed with ham, rolled in bread crumbs and baked, with Marguarite Stuart's squash casserole and green beans.

Wednesday, February 9

Bill got his first vaccine shot this morning at Tennova.  He reported not wait, no problems, and a very smooth process overall.

Amanda was my chauffeur to town for a few errands and groceries. We ended at Chik-fil-A to pick up her a lunch to take home.  She is a good driver and managed all the drive-through traffic with no problem.  I think she enjoyed the chance to practice.

We watched the Senate impeachment trial which began yesterday.  The presentations are very powerful.  It is hard to conceive of how the Senators are going to justify acquitting him. I took a short break to go up to the Brocks to cut Wayne's hair. Mid-afternoon we took a break for a walk on this warm day.  It was a great day for walking, even though the eagles were somewhere else.  I wonder where?

We repeated the chicken and squash with fresh asparagus.

Thursday, February 10

Our faux spring days have ended.  We're back to dreary cold rain.  With no purposeful work to be accomplished today, I while away my time with reading, small chores and the TV drama of a Senate trial.  Bill helped me to raise the cones on the bird feeders to in our on-going battle to keep the squirrels from robbing the bird seed.  The afternoon was broken up with a quick trip to take Amanda to softball practice.  

Comfort food for supper - hamburger streak, mashed potatoes with gravy and green peas.

Friday, February 12

Happy Birthday Wayne!

Dreary weather maintains its grip.  No beautiful sunrise or sunset, just constant low-hanging clouds.  We did our taxes this morning.  This was the first day that tax returns could be filed electronically.  I enjoyed reading and did a mile on the treadmill. Unfortunately, I haven't made it a regular habit like Bill has done.

We spent many hours Thursday and Friday watching the Senate impeachment trial. The Democratic managers made a powerful case for conviction and have produced an amazing record for history of the travesty we have experienced in recent months.

I marinated a pork tenderloin to roast and served it with sweet potato fried and spinach.

Saturday, Friday 13

Gray winter weather continues. We have missed the worst of the winter storms that are ravaging much of the country. We are snug and warm and have not reason to be out and about.  I participated in a 2-hour Zoom seminar entitled "What's Love Got to Do With It - White Supremacy and the Church." I used it as a jumping off point for my SS message this week, New Testament scripture about Love.

Bill watched the Impeachment trails closing arguments and later we watched together. Despite obviously having Trump's guild proven, not enough Republicans had the courage to convict.  The vote was 57 guilty and 43 not guilty, short of the 2/3 needed to convict.  The Republican excuse was that they couldn't convict because Trump was already out of office, a weak argument at best.  

Fried rice for supper.

Numbers:

TN: 756.071 cases; 8769 deaths (recalibrated this week)
cases this week: 0-10 40,239; 11-20 95,465

Loudon County: 5443 cases; 213 active; 61 deaths (recalibrated)
case rate 20.1; avg 62 tests/day - too few for valid stats
15.4% pos rate; 4% of population fully vaccinated
87 new cases last month among school age children (4-18)