Stay at home…

Hello and good evening! Today was most definitely a day so to speak. Governor Whitmer spoke today and closed all businesses and services that aren’t essential. So basically, stay home until April 13th. We’ve been following those orders for the last week, we will all make it.

Today wasn’t super productive but that’s okay. I worked on some paperwork, ran a load of laundry and did dishes but that’s it. I’ve decided it’s okay to have days like that.

Campbell’s band director hosted a zoom chat for her 8th grade band today. It was so fun to listen to Campbell giggle and laugh with her friends. Mrs. Evans does a great job of getting on the kids level and being real with them. The kids love her, it’s great to hear Campbell’s friends tell Mrs. Evans stories and talk about how much they love her.

Lunch today was chicken salad. It felt like summer but with snow on the ground. My recipe is simple, boiled chicken breast, celery, dried cranberries and a mixture of mayonnaise and sour cream, salt and pepper to taste. Super yummy and super easy.

Dinner tonight was flank steak with green beans and cherry tomatoes. Matt got me a cast iron skillet for Christmas a few years ago. I used to be a nonstick pan girl with a little bit of stainless sprinkled in for good measure. After getting the cast iron skillet, I reach for it more than anything. I only use my nonstick for eggs and warming tortillas. I cooked the flank in the cast iron skillet with salt, pepper and dried mustard.

Tomorrow I am attending a google hangout with some of my colleagues at Davisburg. It will be wonderful to see everyone and to learn about what learning will look like as we progress forward in this new normal. Davisburg feels like a family where we love and support each other. I can hardly wait for tomorrow morning.

Good night everyone, stay home, wash your hands and enjoy time with your family. See you tomorrow.

It’s Sunday and another quiet day at home. I cleaned another bathroom, did some laundry, cleaned out some drawers that were driving me nuts, and made another meal. Lucy hunted squirrels all day or slept in the sun. My family’s lunch and breakfast was on them today. Choices were leftovers or a ham and cheese sandwich. Dinner was yummy, I’ll talk more about that later.

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I started my morning off with some piano playing. I am so thankful to have my instruments at home with me. As I started playing, Campbell pulled out the Wicked book and we started singing together. A few years ago she decided who was singing which phrase and created multiple duets. We had so much fun making music together today.

I noticed that we consumed an entire half gallon of milk in 3 days. Yikes!!!! So, we were completely out. The thought of braving Meijer did not sound fun at all so I decided to try Marv’s Meat Market and Bakery. They had milk, shew… and had a sign posted only allowing 10 customers in the store at a time. We were the only ones there, it felt like a normal shopping experience. I also picked up flank steak and chicken leg quarters! They ran out of ground round at 2:00 today. So, I guess if I want ground beef, I should get there early.

Dinner for tonight was red beans and rice with andouille sausage. I pulled out the container of Rancho Gordo beans and chose a bag of Domingo Rojo. I started the soak this morning and cooked them later this afternoon. Steve Sando, owner of Rancho Gordo, provides detailed recipes and source sheets with each shipment. He does a great job of making dried beans accessible for anyone. I’ve never really cooked dried beans until we signed up for his Bean of the Month club. We almost cancelled our subscription; I’m glad I “forgot” about it.

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Today was another CrossFit workout at home. Gavin has done a great job of programming workouts anyone can complete at home. Today was jump squats, v-sits and hand release push ups. My laundry room has become the new workout room. I ordered a bar, weights, jump box and slam ball from Rogue Fitness. We always talked about setting up a home gym. Thanks covid-19… uh, maybe…

I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. The more I read the more dire our situation seems in this country. Stay home, wash your hands and be safe everyone. I’ll see you tomorrow with another update.

It’s been the longest week…

Covid-19 cases in Michigan have surpassed 750. It’s starting to feel more scary…Please, please, please don’t leave your house unless it’s absolutely necessary. It’s important that we all work together to flatten the curve. I fear for my friends and their family members that work in the medical field. They are truly in the danger zone so to speak. I think in the next few weeks, the situation could become quite dire.

Today was a work around the house day. Matt has some projects he’s been wanting to do. I cleaned a bathroom, picked up, did dishes and chased a squirrel; more on that later.

Matt and Campbell wanted biscuits and gravy for breakfast, so that’s what we had… luckily I love to cook. It’s my happy place. There is just a wonderful feeling and satisfaction that goes with setting a great meal on the table.

So… the squirrel… I have a Chevy Bolt. It’s a full EV or electric vehicle. There has been a ground squirrel running around and poking his head out from underneath my wheel wells. I’ve heard stories of squirrels doing $1,000’s of dollars of damage to EV’s. I guess GM wire wrapping is made with a soy type material that tastes amazing to squirrels. So, if you see some lady running outside and yelling at a squirrel, that would be me!

Dinner was St. Patrick’s day a few days late. I made corned beef in the instant pot. I am only using my instant pot for corned beef from now on, it was amazing! I also made Irish Soda bread to go with it!

How am I going to reach my students?

A group of music teachers started a Facebook group called The Singing Space. They have been sharing songs for kids all over the world. It’s been wonderful to learn new music to share with my kiddos at Davisburg and Rose Pioneer.

All week I’ve been mulling ideas about how to reach my music students in a way that is fun, engaging and holds true to my philosophy of music education. I decided to create YouTube videos that explain a music learning activity. Kids can watch and then go do it themselves or make music right along with me.

I absolutely love teaching music. When the kids and I are making music together, it’s the absolute best feeling in the world. I miss that contact with them everyday.

I had some pork chops leftover in the freezer. I took them out to thaw, tonight’s dinner was pork chops, mashed potatoes and green beans. I dredged them in flour this time. Campbell wasn’t a fan. Thank goodness she never lived in Missouri.

Go to the grocery store… yes or no????

So, after I woke up Matt mentioned the idea of going to the grocery store. To be honest, I’m scared to go. It’s the people that don’t care about this virus that scare me. So many reporters compared Covid-19 to the flu or a bad cold. As more reports are coming out, it’s clear that Covid-19 isn’t that for a lot of people. I have severe asthma, Covid-19 scares me.

After posting an inquiry on Facebook I took my friend Lois’ advice and did a drive by at 2:00pm. It wasn’t bad, so I covered myself in courage and walked into the store. As soon as I walked in, store clerks were wiping down carts before anyone used them. The thing that struck me most was the fear in people’s eyes. There were multiple older people wearing N95 masks (yes, I think that is wrong). For a moment, I cried. Just the thought of how this is changing us as a society.

Produce was much better than I expected but I solely chose produce in bags. I didn’t want apples that multiple people could’ve touched. I also went in with the plan of mainly grabbing pantry staples. Products that could be used to make different types of meals. I also found pork tenderloin, pot roast and bacon. Absolutely no chicken but it wasn’t on my list anyway.

As I was shopping, there was a lady pushing her cart, picking up items and eating food (chicken wings and soup) with her hands. My initial thought was, am I truly seeing this? And yep… it was happening at Meijer in Brighton during Covid-19. I guess some people just don’t care.

Checkout was quick and seamless. There were black X’s to stand on to ensure that everyone is following CDC regulations. An older couple ahead of me thought the X’s were a waste of black tape, I was quite thankful and relieved. I felt good about my trip to the store and was relieved to have fresh fruit in the house.

So dinner tonight was a mixture of pantry staples. We went to Costco one and a half weeks ago. I bought the vacuum packaged chicken breasts on a whim. I’m so glad I did. So tonight was chicken in a cream sauce with mushrooms, carrots and green beans over rice. It was yummy and Campbell picked out the mushrooms.

Today was another CrossFit workout at home. Campbell and I did it together. Yes, she is faster than me! It’s so awesome to watch your kid rock at something!

Happy Hump Day!!!! Or is it Friday????

So, today was another quiet day at home. We made the decision as a family to not leave our home unless we were walking outside, running or picking up necessities.

Campbell and I took Lucy on another walk downtown and stopped by Great Harvest. There weren’t any customers and it seemed safe. Campbell grabbed a loaf of pizza bread for her lunch. It smelled amazing… I am gluten free but hey smells aren’t filled with gluten… It feels important to support small local owned businesses. I also stopped by Culture Beer and Cheese and picked up some Rogue Smokey Bleu. For just a few moments; we experienced a glimpse of normalcy.

CrossFit Menace is posting at home workouts on wodify. I decided to do the WOD at home today. Matt was trying to work in the dining room, I needed the rock wall for step ups so outside I went. It felt great! We are tossing around the idea of purchasing a bar and weights. I’ve gained so much fitness and I don’t want to lose it. CrossFit is more than the workout, it’s also the comradeship among fellow athletes. The family at Menace is so special, I really do miss them.

Dinner tonight was the promised cheeseburgers. I have 1/2 bag of French fries left. So, we opted for chips instead. It’s now day 6 of working from home… this is our new normal I think?

Happy St Patrick’s Day that wasn’t really St. Patrick’s Day. Holidays are so much more fun when kids are involved at school.

Campbell and I started our morning off with another run downtown. I’m so thankful that our house is in downtown Brighton. We are lucky to be able to walk around the millpond and support small businesses. After our run it was time for a shower and the start of school at home.

I challenged Campbell to build her own schedule. She is 13 and I felt it would be better if she created her plan. Her plan for today was to read, do some math work and write. She did a pretty good job. We had one discussion about including more details in her writing. That was fun… I also think this is a time for her to decompress and slow down. As long is she keeps her brain working, she’ll be okay.

One of my favorite singer/songwriters Ben Gibbard hosted a concert live from his home at 7:00pm. That was a perfect way to spend our evening. I absolutely love his music. He is also a fantastic and humble human being. His concerts will be a daily event for the next few weeks

Today, we are just working on accepting reality. Campbell was scheduled to skate today. Governor Whitmer closed restaurants, sports facilities and fitness gyms. A few pieces in our lives that would’ve kept some normalcy are officially closed at 3:00pm.

Campbell went to the rink to skate one last time until at least March 30th. The rink was a connection with her friends, her Harmony family and the thing she loves most of all. The rink is an important parts of people’s lives and financial livelihood. This closure puts so many people in difficult predicaments. I also worry about the skaters. For some of them, the coaches in the rink are there for them and an outlet to keep them safe and engaged. I hope the rink isn’t closed for long…

Dinner was brats, French potato salad and sauerkraut. So, so yummy.

We woke up this morning, I made pancakes and bacon for breakfast and then went on a family run. Actually… it’s watch Campbell run really fast (ahh to be young) and I run too but at a comfy pace. I was also sore from Saturday’s CrossFit workout and run. It was fun and it felt great to get outside in the fresh air. Afterwards we all came home, showered and got to work.

So… today was all about doing things around the house. We cleared out the hallway, picked up, cleaned up and essentially got things done. It felt great to cross things off of a list. We are so trying to embrace this new normal.

Dinner tonight was originally going to be hamburgers and French fries aka Shake Shack. Campbell was even going to make milk shakes. Well… the ground beef was in the freezer and the waffle fries were in the oven. So, we had a change of plans; flank steak and waffle fries. I was faced with a very disappointed Campbell. I promised burgers for later in the week. Ground beef is now in the freezer to thaw…

We were also planning on seeing Dear Evan Hansen in Detroit. We found out that shows in Detroit were cancelled…. biggest bummer ever but it’s best for all of us to flatten the curve.

The plan was Crossfit and the gym for Matt, skating for Campbell and home the rest of the day.

The WOD for Saturday was a partner WOD. I didn’t feel okay with that but a friend posted the Incredible Hulk WOD at 7am with a run afterwards. Right up my alley, so I set an early alarm and went. Matt took Campbell to skating and then he went to Anytime Fitness. He said they were cleaning more and he was careful about the equipment he used. Today was the last day for both of us…

For the rest of the day we were home. Lots of picking up and cleaning up and yet another meal. We joined the Bean of the Month Club with Rancho Gordo. We have beans, magic beans… so today I made a batch of beans for the week to go with Pork Tenderloin.