Hi, It's me, Patty. I'm still here, in Beverly. It's a new year. Chris helped me get back to my blog. I lost it because I changed emails and didn't remember everything that needed to be changed...fortunately, I had a second email address for my baking company, so I could get back in!
It's winter, but this afternoon is sunny. I sit in my living room in my really old house wearing a cozy sweater that I knit during this pandemic year. The last log is smoldering in the fireplace. The fire can go out now because of the sun! I have cozy slippers too. And lots of food. I just ate leftover pizza, leftover beef stroganoff with rice, leftover sweet potatoes, an apple, an orange and a handful of chocolate covered nuts. I love having plenty of food. We have not suffered from hunger during the time we were stuck at home. I had a horrible experience that terrified me at a grocery store the first week we were home and I haven't been back since. I will NEVER go to that grocery store again, or any others in that chain. The staff were rude and scary, getting too close to me and acting like I was crazy when I wanted them to stay away. We order groceries via Instacart when we have to, mostly for my Dad, but there are some things I can only get there: ice cream, potato chips...Molli and Michael shop for us some times, but that makes me uncomfortable. I want them to stay home too. I want everyone to stay home. I get food regularly from Farm Direct Coop, awesome local mostly organic food. Produce is the main thing, but sometimes they have meat and a few other staples like honey or tomato sauce. I get eggs every week too. But that is closed for a few months, not much growing now. I still have some things left that I got from them, like carrots and onions and a sad kohlrabi. I also have discovered Market Misfits. They have food (mostly produce) that is not acceptable to grocery stores. It's too big or too small or oddly shaped or not enough. I can choose several items from 3 different categories and some add ons. Then I found another company that does pretty much the same thing: Imperfect Foods. I can order whatever I like from them. They have some yummy snacks like chocolate covered nuts, as well as produce and sometimes milk or other necessities.
Right now, I'm getting low on eggs and butter. This is when I get creative. I spend lots of time reading cookbooks and marking the pages for things I can make with the ingredients I have. I usually have homemade bread and cookies on hand. I've been ordering granola from Imperfect and I can get plain yogurt from them too. Lately, we've been eating steel cut oats most mornings--yum! We only have a couple bananas left. My favorite thing to have on steel cut oats--brown sugar, half a banana and half&half. I'm pretty moderate though, just a spoonful of brown sugar and a dollop of 1/2 and 1/2.
I usually start my day with some hot tea: Earl Grey or Chai or maybe a Breakfast blend. I have green tea if I'm feeling a little off or decaf if I seem antsy. Then I often have some toast and peanut butter, unless there's a muffin or some other treat around. Later, after Ray gets up, I'll have yogurt with fruit or oatmeal or cereal. I get raisin bran from Imperfect too.
I haven't slept really well in a while. I go to bed early and sleep soundly for a while, but I wake up in the early morning, sometimes about 4. Last night I woke up a couple times and I've been dreaming more.
I just finished a fun puzzle on the topic of Votes for Women. 40 faces and names. There's a guide that goes with to tell about them. Such interesting lives and so many great things they did. I feel like I need to be doing more to carry on the work of such brave and strong women.
