Hi everyone. I hope you are all safe and warm, especially those in Texas and other midwesternn and southern states. Here it is cold but not that cold. Tomorrow (today now) another big snow is expected. I think this is snowstorm Five in February 2021, and it is only mid-month.
A lot of my energy last week and this week has been focused on obtaining a new Jeep.
I thought the deal was made locally , but no. Instead a long drive over the bridges to a dealer about thirty miles east.
The bridges and inner waterways and bays look so different in the snow, all dull and colorless and frozen.
t was very odd to be with strangers in a strange setting at the dealer. I've only seen immediate family and a few close friends for almost a year. My usual shyness and natural tendency to solitude has gotten out of control. I was so nervous!
The dealership was clean and masks were worn. 6' distancing was given a nod and about 3 or 4 feet space across a little cramped bistro table. Bargaining and purchasing were relatively fast and efficient. Handshakes were offered as if Covid did not exist. [what do you do? Refuse?] And the bathrooms were very clean, but unisex. Using a bathroom with a urinal was odd. Constantly using disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer is exhausting, as are masks.
The new car is here and I love it. Just what I wanted!
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There is still a lot of snow on the ground, though. Maybe 15" in many spots. Plus deep drifts and ten foot high plow glaciers.
I've been admiring this huge old holly tree, our destination for shorter walks.
That is not red fall leaves, the color we see is holly berries. The tree is taller than its two story home. Imagine how it was planted or grew wild there, maybe 50 or more years ago.
Today we walked to the beach bench. Its enveloping snow drift was plowed away or it melted. Mo was pleased, but he refused to go on to the boardwalk, also finally free of snow.
Look closely!
The grocery store was teeming today, people stocking up again for the coming snow. I got myself cheerful tulips.
I bought the makings for a beef stew in the crock pot. I'll use QB's veggies in foil plan. I dithered over buying short ribs for the Crockpot, I do love them, but sooo expensive, wow. Also got a lentil soup kit, not sure about that. And pasta casserole makings. Hopefully I'll get somethings cooked before the power goes, if indeed it does.
Snow falling now at noon....
Yesterday I made ''artisan'' no-knead bread, subbing 1 Cup dark rye flour, so two parts whole grain bread flour, 1 part rye. It didn't rise very well, not sure if it was because my house is frigid, or the yeast is old, or because the rye lacks gluten and I was without the gluten add in, It's crusty but soft and chewy and dense. Really quite good, just rather flat. And the hot oven finally warmed up the house a bit.
My snow day plan is to work on my Blue Pineapple blocks. Gonna be fun and so cute. Below is the try out block, washed twice.
love
lizzy
gone to the beach,,,...
This is how the beach looked before the dunes were created.
I know the dunes are necessary, but I so miss this glorious view of glistening white beach.
2021-02-18 First paperwhite blooms:
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Glad you got your car, but hate that you had to go so far for it! Especially if you have to take it back to the same place for service...
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Mo is doing better, and that you found a good walker.
Sounds like you got some good stuff to cook and the flowers are very nice! I will be interested to see how your next venture into crockpot cooking goes - I think you'll like it once you get the hang of it. The lentil soup kit sounds interesting. It all sounds yummy, I hope your power stays on for you to cook! And your bread sounds good too, as long as it tastes good! I'm guessing your house was too cool for a good rise. When I used to bake a lot I'd put loaves to rise in the oven with the light on, or on the lowest warm setting.
Looking forward to watching the Blue Pineapples top come together.
Take care and stay warm! Woo-hoo, we're having a heatwave now, it's up to 22 degrees!
Congratulations on your new car--how exciting, Lizzy!!:)))It will be so good to have a reliable means of transportation...
ReplyDeleteThat blue pineapple is so pretty...I wonder why you washed it 2x? Did the fabric bleed??
Such cute little ducks; and pretty tulips...
Stay warm--we have had 5" of snow now (2:30 p.m.) they had not predicted this much!! :000
We are watching NASA's coverage of the Mars Landing...fascinating...
Take care...hugs, Julierose
So good to have a new reliable vehicle especially when you find exactly what you want. Your new dog walker seems to be doing a great job with Mo. I hear you're getting a lot of snow today, we were expecting 3-4 inches but so far only a little more than an inch. Hope your stew veggies turn out perfectly for you. We also have a great lentil soup recipe I can send you if you'd like.
ReplyDeleteThat's great about the Jeep and that you made it through the car dealership experience unscathed, lol. I bet your rye bread would make lovely toast. There's nothing like homemade bread and it's an experimental process a lot of the time! Hope your stew worked out. Sounds cozy on a snowy day.
ReplyDeleteThat's a smart new car, but I would NOT have shaken hands with them!
ReplyDeleteHope the beef stew was tasty (here in UK we would use stewing beef) and you didn't have a power cut.
Rye flour isn't keen to rise! Perhaps a combination of the rye, the yeast and a cool room. I have made the no knead bread in the past, but without using Rye, and it rises well.
Hi! No power cut, but in the end I made a quiick cook casserole, so there would be cooked food, just in case. Stew tomorrow!
DeleteYes I agree about the reasons the bread didn't rise so much, but it had a nice texture and tastes great. I haven't made bread for a year bec I was hoarding yeast and flour in case food was unobtainable; I forgot that my house is too cold for a good rise.
Interesting to see the snow against the water. Enjoy your new car!
ReplyDeleteWow a new Jeep! That is awesome. Yeah I wouldn't have shaken hands either. He should have know better than to offer. Glad you found a new dog walker. I made stew for Valentine's Day. I hope yours came out well. Take care and stay well. Im still hiding out at home. Kit
ReplyDeleteGreat news that Mo is enjoying his new walker. I'm sure it's a relief that you found the right car which looks very good.
ReplyDeleteYour rye bread sounds delicious. For some time I've been getting a very nice soft rye loaf from our supermarket. It's a flatter longer oval shape with the odd caraway seed in most slices and makes lovely toast.
How wonderful to have a holly tree of that size and age in your vicinity. A real beauty.
Looking forward to seeing your delightful 'Lizzy' pineapples.
Glad the car stuff is all sorted. What a relief, huh? Exciting that you got just what you wanted :)
ReplyDeleteHmmm, so new dog walker is bringing new/different energy. That's pretty cool. Good for both you and Mo.
Awww, pretty neat that the ducks are there, still.
Your menu items sound delicious. I feel bad for buying fried chicken and macaroni&cheese from the grocery store deli ;) let us know how your next crockpot dish turns out.
Hoping your weather isn't too bad.
Your spring flowers are so pretty! A very cheery spot in your house I'm sure.:) So happy you were able to finally get your new jeep and get that particular stress behind you.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it interesting how snow transforms the appearance of everything?! At first it's just beautiful but it doesn't take long for it to look grey and dirty along the sides of the roads.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new car that's just what you wanted! It looks great. We need to begin car shopping before the need is essential but it's an activity that I dislike in the best of times but now, with Covid, I'm even less inclined to do it. I hope our beloved 23-year-old CR-V keeps going.
Like you, I find my comfort level of being with people I don't know decreasing the longer Covid continues. I get out to do a little essential shopping and occasionally to the thrift store but the more I'm alone at home, the harder it is to interact with others.
The holly tree is grand! It's wonderful to see all those berries. So glad Mo enjoys his new walker.