Today, March 27, was
sunshine-filled, and I wanted to get out and do something outdoors. We have had
rain, rain and more rain lately. It was a day for hiking, gardening and doing
any kind of work outside. But I did not work outside.
Yesterday
was a Computer Day.
I worked almost all day at my desk. And, I paid for it last night. Sitting too much or too long causes me such pain it is hard to sleep even after doing the stretches and exercises I am supposed to do. I need physical therapy, but can’t go now.
I worked almost all day at my desk. And, I paid for it last night. Sitting too much or too long causes me such pain it is hard to sleep even after doing the stretches and exercises I am supposed to do. I need physical therapy, but can’t go now.
I have six
students in my virtual writing class. I edit their work and give them
instructions and comments that I hope they read and learn from. As the class
proceeds, I can see what each student needs most. So they receive individual
help according to what I see in their work.
We have a couple who are early beginners, and some who are about ready
to publish. All of them continue to learn in my class. They are working on
using dialogue in their stories, true and fictional. They are learning to
use dialogue to show characterization. It is fun and interesting to read the
great stories by these adult students.
I knew I had to get away
from the computer, so today I cooked.
I decided
to make something I could eat on for several days and use what I had in my
house. One of my favorite dishes is my New Year’s Eve Black-Eyed peas. Using
dried peas, I bring them to a boil for two minutes, soak them for about two
hours, drain them and put them in my crock pot. Cover all with half chicken
broth and half water. I add a chopped onion, half a green pepper, garlic, salt and pepper and
cook until the peas are soft.
I have been
thinking for several days that I wished I had some Brunswick stew, a mix of
meats, tomatoes, and vegetables. I didn’t have the canned meat on hand, so I
ordered one half pound of cooked chopped pork and a half barbecued chicken from
Rib Country, a great Bar-B-Q restaurant. They are now offering take out, so I
called in my order and about fifteen minutes later picked it up without leaving
my car. (I sanitized everything before taking inside)
I had
enough pork to make a sandwich and still have plenty left. Soooo good! I love
barbecue pork sandwiches.
Next I
gathered what I could find that would complete my dish. I had two cans of
chopped tomatoes, an onion, catsup, barbecue sauce that came with the meat,
Worcester sauce, and Tabasco sauce. I didn’t have any canned corn which the
recipe calls for, but I had frozen corn. I poured out about a half cup, thawed
it in the microwave, and found left over lima beans in my fridge. All of it
went into the stew and boy, is it good! Lexie smelled it cooking and began
begging for a bowl. Naturally, I shared with her.
This set me
to thinking about my mother when I was a little girl. She did not have easy access to a super market like we have today. She
bought groceries once a week at the local store, but she could always create a
good meal from what she had in the kitchen. She made biscuits or cornbread for
every meal. We always had eggs and milk because we lived on a farm. At times she would make gravy
with eggs when she didn’t have enough for each of us to have one. The gravy
over those wonderful hot biscuits along with some bacon or sausage was more
than enough to fill the stomachs of her children and make everyone happy.
Perhaps at
times like these when we can’t always have what we take for granted, it is good
to see if we can do with less. I am going to try to make my last two rolls of
paper towels last twice as long as I have in the past. Mother didn’t even have
paper towels when I was a kid. I am going back to the old cookbooks from the early sixties when casseroles were in fashion. Those recipes were delicious and only called for few items.
I am ashamed that I am often wasteful, especially with paper goods. When I think of countries where people have no running water, no stove, and no bathroom, I want to cry.
I am ashamed that I am often wasteful, especially with paper goods. When I think of countries where people have no running water, no stove, and no bathroom, I want to cry.
At this
time, maybe we all can be more mindful of doing with what we have. We can do
it. I know I can. But I will be very happy when this crisis is behind us and
things are back to normal again. I wonder, will our normal ever be the same?
