Bake homemade bread. No need to go to the store to replenish stock! Just make your own. It’s tastier too.
This loaf is whole wheat.
I also made some of the dough into dinner rolls. I enjoy making bread and often do it anyway, so this was no inconvenience.
I enjoy kneading the dough and feeling how it changes from a lumpy, stick ball, into one that is pliant, stretchy and smooth. A little bit of yeast magic.
Time to replenish, so today I made oatmeal raisin cookies with coconut, and also granola.
Also, my mother-in-law has been isolated for two weeks as have I, so we had a short visit, from a distance of 6 feet, with her yesterday. (There was a brief foray out for some necessities, but a mask and sanitizer was used.)
The best part of the visit, aside from seeing her, was we traded some library books! The libraries here are closed because of the coronavirus. I was getting antsy because I only had two library books left to read. Now I have an additional three!
So, life is, well, life. Which is good.
Zekie got the loft bed, while Cassius got the lower bunk.
Zekie was happy with his location. He could see out the window to bark at the mailman when needed. He could also watch birds on the feeder and keep an eye on passing traffic.
Although that energy expended on being a watch dog apparently tired him out.
Dog parking lot.
Everybody is tired after their walk. Nikki, in the back row, didn’t even walk.
A tired dog, is a good dog.
What do I do when I’m staying at home to avoid the coronavirus? The same things I normally do!
We walked dogs of course. That goes without saying.
But I also baked bread. This was a Pinterest recipe for Italian bread. I wanted something a little heartier, so I replaced one of the cups of flour with whole wheat flour.
It was quite delicious, especially warm from the oven with butter and strawberry-rhubarb jelly.
This is the first time I have ever seen Nikki and Zekie sharing a bed.
Nikki is our oldest dog and Zekie is our youngest. Nikki is also our least active dog, while Zekie is a hyper wild child. Normally they ignore each other. This afternoon they went to lay on the bed at the same time and apparently decided to share.
Afternoon Recess-Cassius, Zekie, & Shelby
Playground Attendant-Shelby
Goofy New Kid-Claire
Class Clown-Cassius
We have been isolating because of coronavirus concerns. We have a high risk issue so the disease could pose a serious problem. And we know it will get worse before it gets better. Look at poor Italy, 368 deaths due to the virus in the last 24 hours.
I feel terrible not going out and being of use and doing the things I should be doing.
The thing that I miss the most about not going out is that I didn’t get a chance to stock up on library books before this hit. I only had five left when this started. I will soon have to resort to my own stash of books. I have three shelves of books like the one pictured above. There is always on-line books too. Although I will look pretty silly sniffing my tablet trying to enjoy that new book smell.
We do take the dogs out hiking when the weather permits, so at least we do get a change of scenery.
I pray that the infections are mild and the deaths are few in our country and the rest of the world recovers quickly.
Seniority has its privileges.
Nikki sleeps upstairs in our bedroom now. She previously slept downstairs with the other dogs.
Only Zekie slept upstairs with us. He sleeps in a crate. We moved him upstairs only because he carried on so terribly due to his separation anxiety that we couldn’t sleep. Once he moved to a crate next to me, he sleeps like a baby.
Nikki has been barking to wake us up at first light recently. It started when foster dog Claire arrived. Claire was getting us up and then Nikki followed suit. Claire doesn’t get us up as early now. But Nikki is still trying.
Nikki has only minimal hearing left, so you can’t yell at her to be quiet. She barks, then stops to listen. Hearing nothing, she barks again. And so on. Since moving upstairs a few days ago, she has been quiet.
Ah, the joys of having a senior dog. I wouldn’t trade them for anything!
This is what happens in our house when someone tries to eat a banana.
You must pay the banana tax to the canine collectors.
Orange Kitty (the big O.K.) remains unconcerned.
Sanctuary Acres 