Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Cabin Fever, Anyone?

I can't honestly say the 'shelter in place' orders have affected me very much.  I am housebound anyway.  My sister called to see how I was doing.  We decided that we didn't mind staying home as much as we minded being told we HAD TO stay home.  We, of course, blamed our Dad, who never liked being told he had to do something, no matter what it was.  :)

Duane and I have ordered Easter dinner from the restaurant where he works.  The biggest reason for doing this is to support local business in these trying times and the second reason being that this way, neither of us have to cook.  We had two choices - individual meals and a meal for four - both with all the trimmings.  We chose the meal for four with the idea of having enough leftovers so that neither of us would need to cook dinner for a few days.  After doing the math, I found it would have cost more to buy the ingredients for dinner than we paid to order.  Win - win!

I have been seeing videos and articles about food shortages.  Some are due to last year's bad weather that had an effect on the harvest as well as meat animals lost to flooding.  Others are due to Covid-19.  Tyson just closed a pork processing plant in Iowa because some workers have the virus.  Other meat processing plants across the country have done the same, giving farmers and ranchers nowhere to ship their meat animals for processing.

Other warnings are being heard from the grocery industry.  It seems now that restaurants are closed with minimal take-out orders still in effect, many are now having to cook their meals at home.  This has resulted in 'panic buying' at the grocery stores, leaving some shelves empty.  Some stores are putting limits on the number of certain items that can be purchased, while others are limiting the number of shoppers in their stores at one time.

So far, aside from the lack of toilet paper after the 'Great TP Stampede' last month, the store where my delivery service buys my groceries has had little if any shortages.  I will find out if that is still true when my order is delivered Thursday this week.

Ham and turkey are on sale and I saw no notice of purchase limits, so I ordered two of each.  The plan is to cook one of each, divide the meat into meal sized portions and freeze those for easy meals.  I haven't decided if I will can the rest or just freeze them whole for later use.  I also have ordered frozen peas and fresh carrots to can together in pint jars for an additional vegetable option.  I like peas and carrots as a vegetable for a meal or in casseroles or cold macaroni salads.
 
Until the canning starts again, I have been spending time doing what I love to do - reading, sewing, crocheting, etc.  I found myself feeling guilty for not being productive, but as a dear friend pointed out, "You are retired.  You don't have to do anything, so do what makes you happy."  Good advice.
 
Although I am sure there are other newsworthy things going on in our world, the news broadcasts are filled with little except the latest dire reports on the virus.  I wish the newscasters would report on the number of recoveries as often they do on the number of deaths.  We desperately need good news.
 
Here in my little corner of the world, I am keeping track of the latest developments, but I am also working really hard to stay positive.  We need to get our people back to work.  I find it astounding that all those years ago we could successfully send men to the moon and get them back home unharmed, but we haven't been able to figure out a way to get our citizens safely back to work.
 
Hang in there.  Do something that makes you happy. Pray.  We might be in a long, dark tunnel, but I have to believe there is a light at the end of it.  And never, ever give up.      

26 comments:

  1. It's getting a bit insane out there, Vicki. I may do a post on it later today.

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    1. It is going way past insane, Gorges. I have to wonder if we will have any Constitutional rights left. Beginning to have my doubts.

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  2. Vicki, you have pretty much covered all of the bases. Even though there are so many negative events going on in the world, we must look for positive things. All work makes for a dull person so do some things to make life more bearable when you have the chance.

    Easter just won't be the same without family gathered together. I really like your plan of ordering your Easter dinner from the restaurant where Duane works. My plan is to keep things pretty simple.

    Stay healthy All, and may you each have a most Blessed Easter...CW

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    1. CW...With so much negativity around us, it is hard sometimes to find anything good. But this too shall pass. I liked the idea of doing our bit to help a local business. Especially one who gives my son a paycheck!! And it is nice to have a break from cooking.

      It helps when we remember the reason for the holiday. May God richly bless you and yours.

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  3. Vicki~ No cabin fever here. We are planting more seeds. There are two new apples on the just planted apple tree and the strawberries are doing what strawberries do. Flowering, getting larger and turning red.

    When I look at the numbers of sick and the dead from this modern day version of plague, I noticed that the other numbers are being left out. How many have died from Murder, Overdoses, Cancer, HIV, Suicides, Flu, etc. We hear about medications that can short circuit this Virus and I've noticed it is pissing some people off that the suffering might be shortened or stopped. We are hearing about Vaccines that might prevent it from taking hold. While I am all for protecting people from getting deathly ill, I've been reading that some of these "Cures" might be worse than the Disease. Plus being oh so profitable for those backing the Cure. I've always been about Side Effects. If the Cure leaves a person sterile or requires additional medicines to mitigate the Side Effects, how is that being helpful in obtaining Good Health once more.

    You'd be surprised at what can be found in the dark places. Hidden truths and sometimes miracles. I've always enjoyed the miracles. Red

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    1. Red...It is still too cold here for gardens, but I love hearing about what is happening with yours.

      With all the trash news, it is hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. There are things happening that have nothing to do with this virus and yet we no longer hear about them. Just today I learned of the death of one who was a classmate and a neighbor many years ago. It had nothing to do with the virus and his friends and family are just as devastated as those who have lost a loved one to this disease. Yet the only deaths that seem to matter these days are the ones that are included in the daily reports. Sad.

      We need light to be shown into those dark places and we surely could use a miracle. Take care.

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  4. I badly need a haircut. One of the first things I will do when they open up.

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    1. BW...I have noticed that many are going for the shaved head look. Don't suppose that will do, will it! Good luck!

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  5. I'm doing fine, but my Sweet Little Wife is getting a bit stir crazy. At least the weather has warmed up enough she can take the dog for walks.

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    1. drjim...Glad to hear you are weathering the storm OK. Hope things straighten out soon so your dear wife can be out and about again. I trust her cabin fever hasn't reached the stage where a friend of mine, while convalescing from surgery, was seen hunting house flies with a shotgun. :)

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  6. I am not having cabin fever nor is Tommy. We needed a haircut, so I butchered hair on both of is. It looks better than shaggy, at least on me.

    There is always light at the end of the tunnel for those who survive this. But, too many or dying for the light to be of any comfort to me.

    I only go to the grocery. Publix is only allowing one in for one out after a certain number are inside. I had to wait about three minutes, clinging to a brick column to stay on my feet. TP is back. Meat is still few chicken and other cuts of all sorts of meat.

    Of course, I cannot go to Belk's to return a few things, so that makes me antsy. But, I will live. lol

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    1. Linda...Glad to hear you and Tommy aren't suffering from cabin fever. You are a brave soul with the haircuts. My haircutting skills are so bad, I wasn't even allowed anywhere close to the dog with a pair of scissors. :)

      I had heard that many stores are limiting the number of people in a store at one time. So far the major stores here are still fairly well stocked. It will be nice when we can get back to a somewhat normal way of living and shopping. Take good care.

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  7. No shortage here..Well TP still but that's a given...

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    1. Rob...Glad to hear the store shelves in your area are still stocked. Cub had TP again two weeks ago. I will find out how well they are stocked when my groceries are delivered Thursday. Hope all is well with you and yours.

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  8. Plenty to do here at Rancho Whybother. No cabin fever here. We're only making occasional forays into the stores to backfill the larder, and perhaps pick up repair items for the house.

    You can only do so much, Vicki. You prepared. Now, enjoy the fruits of your labors!

    The "news" casters aren't going to change their ways, Vicki. They want us angry, anxious, and WATCHING THEM. For the record; have you noticed that the "mayors" and "governors" doing the most bellyaching preside over "sanctuary" constituencies?... Go figure...

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    1. Glad to hear you and yours are doing well. Over the weekend I will be back to filling canning jars, but until then, playing with fabric and yarn and reading books keeps me somewhat sane. :)

      I wonder what would happen if the news media and government officials suddenly told the truth.

      You are spot on about those who complain the most. The one I found the most despicable was, I believe, the mayor of LA, who suggested rewarding those who rat out their neighbors who don't follow his rules to the letter. I worry more about losing freedoms than I do about catching the virus!

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    2. Vicki, Garcetti's not the first Loony Lefty in the Wild, Wild, West to do this. The "governor" of the same state said he would rely, for the time being, on neighbors snitching on neighbors when it came to overuse of water. This is after he added a tax...er... FEE... to "ensure that low-income families (had) access to fresh water. Read: "So illegal immigrants can move into your neighborhood on Section Eight and get their water (and everything else) for free."

      Strange... Somewhere in the back of my mind... Wasn't there someone else who counted on neighbors snitching on neighbors?... His first name was Adolph, I believe... Gimme a minute... It'll come to me...

      Somehow though, we're the fascists...

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    3. Pete...It wasn't all that long go I read about one state government (not sure which one) that decided it was illegal to catch and save rainwater. Another wanted to tax homeowners for the amount of rain that fell on their land.

      This Adolph of whom you speak...wasn't he the guy that made sure the population was disarmed? And wasn't he the one who ordered millions loaded into boxcars and had them transported to FEMA - oops - work camps? And didn't his minions tell those poor people that they were being taken from their homes for their own good?

      Our government has become so huge and has gone so far off the rails that there are times I wish we could scrap it all except the Constitution and start over. Perhaps then our grandchildren might have an idea of what it is like to live free.

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    4. ...At least we can be thankful that we DID prepare, and CAN rid this out. A long time ago tonight, people were hunkered down in their houses as well, trusting God, as pestilence ravaged Egypt... We may not have lamb's blood to smear on the doorposts, but God knows who's who...

      God bless you and yours this Passover/Easter season.

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    5. Thank you, Pete...Although I have complete faith and trust in God, it is still good to be reminded. May God truly bless and keep you and your family.

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  9. Unlike you, I was used to getting out and about for about an hour a day, most days. Usually to the library or some kind of shopping. I miss chasing the grocery sales and price matching. So my budget has taken a hit with this.
    But I've very thankful to the one grocery store chain that delivers. Some here are complaining about the service but I've had weekly deliveries for the past two weeks and another one scheduled for next week. The delivery guy came this morning - some things missing like TP and flour but won't complain. He even explained that, yes they do indeed deliver ice cream. The delivery truck has a freezer section. O joy.

    Started my veggie plot here at the apartment this morning. The seed is all leftover from last year so I just planted a little heavier then normal. I should be ok with the germination.

    Stay safe everyone.
    SJ in Vancouver BC Canada

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    1. SW...I don't mind staying in. I just dislike being told I have to stay in. Just today our governor extended the 'Stay-At-Home Order' until May 4. That's gonna make a lot of people unhappy!
      Glad you have found a grocery delivery service. In these circumstances it makes life easier, even though you might miss out on some of the sales. And lucky you - you get ice cream!! I have envy. :)
      Good on you with the veggie plot. From what I am hearing, that should help if the food shortages happen. Home grown is always better than store bought anyway. Take good care!

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  10. Get the word out.. Red
    https://www.patreon.com/posts/food-shutdown-to-35785016?utm_medium=post_notification_email&utm_source=post_link&utm_campaign=patron_engagement

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    1. Red...I saw that Ice Age Farmer video earlier this afternoon. If anyone has any doubts about what we have to look forward to as far as our food sources go, this should convince them. Thank you for posting the link.

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  11. We're doing okay.
    We're ordering takeout on Sunday, also.
    Be safe and God bless.

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    1. LindaG...Glad to hear you and yours are doing well. Same here.
      I don't order out very often, but it seems like a good time to support our local restaurant.
      Wishing you a blessed Easter.

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