Quarantine and chill and kindness chatty clubhouse: Jump in and join the conversation! All is welcome!

[bobbiwoz]

Gardening is my hobby! A project is an orchid that my sister gave me after it flowered. I had never had an orchid before, and it’s just begun flowering again!

 

[monkeydawn]

Gardening is my hobby! A project is an orchid that my sister gave me after it flowered. I had never had an orchid before, and it’s just begun flowering again!

Very pretty! Orchids are the best because the blooms last forever. They are actually pretty easy plants provided 1-you can get them some light 2-you can keep with fussing with them too much (about a shout glass of water or two ice cubes a week is sufficient.

I mainly keep succulents and air plants in the house, the types of things that you can just remember to water once every couple of weeks and you are good. I usually soak my air plants in my lettuce rinse water after I am done prepping my lettuce.

Traditional summer gardening here is a challenge. After 4 years of trying very hard to grow tomatoes we decided to stop last year. Our ground is pure sand, which needs fresh augmenting every year to get veggies to grow. The last two years we tried we had horned worms and lost our tomatoes that way. They are cheap at the farmers markets and its just easier (and cheaper) to buy them here!

We have some avocado and lemon trees that are beautiful but havent fruited for us. Had luck with other citrus so I dont know what the problem is. Blackberries grow well but many get surrendered to the wildlife. Have a lot of just ornamental plants. Been able to make a good amount of my plants from NY work here by planting in shadier areas of the yard. Plus have tropicals in the sunnier parts.


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Thanks to those that let me know that my shopping anxiety and exhaustion is "normal". Sad its affecting many of us but happy to not be alone. To the poster that mentioned the mask maybe adding to it, I think you are correct. Ive only had a mask the last two weeks and those are the outings that exhausted me. So maybe the harder breathing is a part of it. Not that I will stop wearing a mask out but maybe I can start training at home or something.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Question of the day: 4/25: Flowers/plants? Do you have green thumb?

I have whatever the opposite of a green thumb is. My home is where plants come to die.

Same here. My family refers to mine as "the purple thumb of death".

And I totally agree with everyone about the sopping anxiety. I start off OK, but by the time I'm done, everything makes me nervous, and I just need out!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thanks to those that let me know that my shopping anxiety and exhaustion is "normal". Sad its affecting many of us but happy to not be alone. To the poster that mentioned the mask maybe adding to it, I think you are correct. Ive only had a mask the last two weeks and those are the outings that exhausted me. So maybe the harder breathing is a part of it. Not that I will stop wearing a mask out but maybe I can start training at home or something.

Here's something I noticed this week. The supermarket made my mood worse than working in the Covid ICU did, which was really sad, as it's normally one of my happy places. I was in the meat dept looking for a couple of steaks (for a rare night alone for DH and I when the kids were both working) and the person stocking the meat gave me the total stink eye when I apparently got a little too close to him. I guess I was supposed to wait ten minutes while he emptied his whole cart? He knew I was behind him and looking and didn't try to move or give me any space to look, either. Ugh. I asked him a question and he gave me a one word answer/grunt without even looking in my direction or making eye contact. I don't know why but that one encounter upset me so much. I think it was just that being in a type of war zone and despite the overwhelming work everyone is pulling together and laughing and getting along as best we can, yet outside of there it was different. Maybe it's me, idk. But I don't think so cause I was in a good mood when I went in there. Or maybe he was just having a bad day. I get that it's scary there for them too. I also noticed that workers had face shields on, but the masks underneath were not over their noses. I attempted to explain to a couple in a really quiet way that it's important to wear both, but I just got blank stares so I let it go, but basically that was how most of them were wearing them (eta and it puts them at risk when they think they're being safe). So I left there feeling a little down and that was a bit of a bummer for me! Prices were higher than normal, I noticed, too and my order cost about a third more than usual with most of the same things I always get. There was also a police officer at the front enforcing the masks rule. That was a first I've seen anywhere. Guess I'll be shopping elsewhere next time! I just don't need to feel that way right now after grocery shopping! (PS I spent five years working in a grocery store and I normally get along really well with just about everyone there.)

 

[PollyannaMom]

@Pea-n-Me

 

[NYCgrrl]

We gave away all our houseplants when we moved excepting the kitchen herbs which are still thriving.
My mother left a sword plant that needs re-potting and so I'll add potting soil to today's HD shopping list; it doesn't deserve to die.

Last night's dinner was a salad Nicoise. Wasn't what was planned but it was easy to put together on the fly. The induction burner stopped working in the middle of cooking so the make up meal was pure pantry cuisine.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

As usual I'm a little behind on the questions. I love road trips but for the past several years I haven't been able to really do any as I've had my mother at home to think about. Normally we go up to NH we have family there and lots of places we love to visit. Our last big road trip as a family was four years ago when we drove to FL for a college visit. I hope we can do some more trips some day where we don't have to rush back or think about work schedules.

Plants and flowers. I like them but I'm not very good with them. DH is more of a gardener than I am, but DD has been doing a lot for the last several years, too. I do love looking at beautiful gardens! We are doing a little gardening now. And I buy myself flowers a couple of times a month.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

@apirateslifeforme I meant to add my $.02 to your question the other day. First, I can't imagine how difficult it is these days to be at home social distancing with an active little one! Yikes. I remember days when my kids were little where it would only be 9am and I was already wiped, as they were very active, too. I'm sorry if this was mentioned already but I would try to get him as much physical exercise outside as much as possible to help use up some of that energy. Walks, runs, kicking a soccer ball around, hitting a whilffle ball, basketball, biking, swimming (if possible), hopscotch, things like that. I know it's a little challenging these days but even right outside your house. Lets off steam. I used to have to go places to let mine run and play, sometimes for hours. (And we also got a big swing set, and a pool, and climbing things, etc.) Do you have a good swing set? Like, a big one with climbing structures and all that? I know he might be a little young yet but with supervision it might be helpful. I hope things have gotten better. Was impressed with all of the good ideas here!

 

[gillep]

I never used to be good with plants at all but a couple years ago I was gifted some calla lilies and they are still going strong now, they are flowering and absolutely beautiful this time of year. I also have a dwarf lime tree that produces a good amount of limes each year.

 

[easyas123]

Callas are my favorite flower!

 

[ten6mom]

I don't have a green thumb- just a few pothos throughout the house. They're very, very forgiving!

 

[gillep]

Here are a couple of my callas. I have five medium containers and one large of the white callas. I also have about 5 small to medium containers of colored callas but they are just coming up from bulbs now so they are not quite photo ready .

 

[easyas123]

Beautiful!

 

[apirateslifeforme]

Finally catching up! We were busy yesterday. I am grateful that DH is home and he's dealing with Josh (mostly) right now. What was bothering me the most was Josh demanding to play Daddy's drum set, which was on shelves in the basement. I can't put that thing together! So DH set it up for him yesterday and he's been playing a bit. He's LOVED drums since he was a baby, even before he could speak. I swear, he's the next Neil Peart...(well, he does LOVE Rush! )

So he played the drums, he ran around outside for a while, since we finally had a nice day - last week was all cold and windy and dreary - and then we went to a birthday parade for the daughter of our friends. It was fun, but of course Josh was a little upset that he couldn't get out of the car and play with them. We all hope we can get together soon. Today Daddy took him outside to play for a while and then he played his drums again for a bit while I cleaned. (And that was getting to me, too - the dust in our room. Glad I was able to tend to that!)

Excellent insight! He's at an age when a little control is important to him (especially with so much out of all our control right now.)

My niece and nephew (age 4) loved a game where I would write down a bunch of activities on little cards and put them in a bag for them to take turns drawing out. It somehow made the same activities more fun.

I'd also recommend some games where you take turns being "in control" - Simon says, follow the leader, Mother may I...

Sometimes setting up a project and letting them "find" it works too. (Google "invitations to play" - I think that's the trendy term lately.)



That might not be a bad idea! Kids often do better when they actually see what's going on.

Also, is there any way he can have "playdates" with any of his school friends over FaceTime or Zoom or something like that? If you know any of the parents, they may be in the same boat, and they may have those apps anyway. Quiet things like setting both kids up with Legos work well, so they can show each other creations as they build, but they can also be a little more active if you've got the space - like playing Simon says over it.

I really love the idea of putting activity suggestions in a bag and letting him choose. I think I'm going to do that! Simon Says and Follow the Leader would be fun, too - although with Follow the Leader, I'm scared of what he might expect me to do...(there are some things I just physically can't do anymore...he might find that funny )

One his friend's moms messaged me several weeks ago and asked about setting up a Zoom playdate. I said sure, I downloaded it on my phone - I'm not sure if it will work on my computer - but I haven't heard anything more from her. She posts on FB every day about the things they're doing around their house, like ripping up carpets and refinishing floors, so it sounds like she's just too busy lately. I've never used Zoom before...so I hope it's easy.

@apirateslifeforme I meant to add my $.02 to your question the other day. First, I can't imagine how difficult it is these days to be at home social distancing with an active little one! Yikes. I remember days when my kids were little where it would only be 9am and I was already wiped, as they were very active, too. I'm sorry if this was mentioned already but I would try to get him as much physical exercise outside as much as possible to help use up some of that energy. Walks, runs, kicking a soccer ball around, hitting a whilffle ball, basketball, biking, swimming (if possible), hopscotch, things like that. I know it's a little challenging these days but even right outside your house. Lets off steam. I used to have to go places to let mine run and play, sometimes for hours. (And we also got a big swing set, and a pool, and climbing things, etc.) Do you have a good swing set? Like, a big one with climbing structures and all that? I know he might be a little young yet but with supervision it might be helpful. I hope things have gotten better. Was impressed with all of the good ideas here!

I do try to get him outside as much as possible - it's good for me, too. But last week was dreary, windy, cold...hopefully this week will be better. We do have a swing set, but it's not great. Our next-door neighbors wanted to get rid of theirs and they offered it to us for free. Unstaked it and carried it right over. It's the metal type with a slide, a saucer, 2 swings and a teeter-totter. Josh does need a climbing structure, I know. He's loved to climb since he was 9 months old. Climbing stuff before he could walk. I'm trying to find a rock wall or something of the sort that can be purchased separately.

So regarding a green thumb...Nope, not here! I'm the type that needs a cactus, a succulent, something low-maintenance. I kill everything...I'm surprised that I've managed to keep a small human alive for almost 5 years

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I've never used Zoom before...so I hope it's easy.

This 67 year old figured it out without any help from my kids so I am sure that you can. I Zoom church meetings and WW with folk older than me. You can do it!

 

[amcnj]

Because of the upcoming stay inside time I got really ambitious with seed starting this year. I usually limit it to several vegetable varieties, and a few flowers. This year I believe it is 27 kinds of flowers, four herbs and twelve vegetables. I knew I would be home to keep them watered and to shuttle them outside on days that it was warm enough. In other words, I would be able to pamper them this year!

 

[Snowysmom]

Plants do best if I am far, far away from them. They rarely survive if I take care of them. I don't really care for gardening but like the idea of it. People who love to garden have such beautiful flowers and plants. I love the pictures posted here.

Last night for supper we got chicken wraps for takeout and had salad on the side. For supper tonight I have chicken, black beans, and salsa in the slow cooker. I will shred the chicken, mix it all up, and put it on salad.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Happy Sunday to all!

It's beautiful, chilly and windy day here. This weather has me all kinds confused. I'm also confused that it's almost May but it'll be fine. I have shorts with stretchy bands if need be by summer It's reach out Sunday for us trying to call those we don't talk with regularly. We each called two people. My conversations take much longer but I give him kudos for trying. I don't particularly like or dislike talking on the phone. I loved being teenager and chatting on the phone and it was surprise every time the phone would ring without having caller id lol

We had church service today and the Father did great job with his message today about staying the course and for many things in life and we don't always know why our journey is difficult and long (I get lots often in many ways). I needed that message today. Overall I'm doing well. I think when I let worry take me over is when I get down. Overall in the big grand scheme I am so blessed and I have to keep my eye on that picture and everything else will settle itself out. After church I made a nice brunch with a quiche, zucchini bread (and yellow squash thrown in!) and some banana berry breads with quick jam and fruit salad.

Dinner tonight: shredded pork bbq in crockpot sliders with cold slaw, and leftover mac n cheese with some roasted veggies.

Gratitude today:
1. Message received through church service today. I needed it.
2. Beautiful day and another day closer to getting hug my mom hopefully.
3. My accounting homework is done. I'm so over this class. I mean I'm signing up for another class this summer
but so over it right now.

I hope ya'll stay safe and have a great day.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Question of the day: 4/26: Breakfast foods? All in or nope?

Are you breakfast eaters? I really wasn't and still not big eater when I wake up. I need good hour or two before I even think about food.
I wake up early when in a hotel that serves the "free" breakfast buffet because I just can't wake up and roll out for food. I do like breakfast but more brunch person but not fussy. I don't eat lot of eggs in their pure form and I hate the smell of bacon cooking. I'm pretty simple for this meal. I'm thinking biscuits and gravy and sausage for dinner later this week or green chile chilaquiles. Yumm! That sounds like good way to use up rest leftover things. So breakfast for you or no?

 

[FlightlessDuck]

4/26: Favorite breakfast foods?

Cereal, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, french toast. Hash browns. Bacon. Roasted tomatoes... I like all breakfast, basically. Have a hankering for waffles right now. Maybe I'll make some tomorrow.


Wheel o' Movies yesterday landed on Dark City, a little-known sci-fi thriller from 1998. My wife wasn't into it, but the kids liked it. Currently watching "The Last Dance", which is the documentary about the 97-98 Chicago Bulls.