Thanks as always to Anne for the monthly prompts!
making - While we're trying to support some of our favorite local restaurants with takeout about once per week, we are cooking the vast majority of our meals at home. I've become increasingly grateful that both Keizo and I like to cook, and that our combined years of practice mean we've gotten pretty good at adapting recipes to better suit our tastes and what we have on hand while still producing tasty results. Pictured, clockwise from top left:
- We're better cooks than we are mixologists, but that didn't stop me from concocting some blackberry mojitos with mint from the side yard.
- The early stages of the fruit filling for an 'award winning rhubarb crumble,' thanks to the first rhubarb of the season in our weekly CSA box. Seriously one of the best things to happen lately is the return of our CSA from Spiral Path Farm, giving us at least one annual spring/summer tradition that continues amid the pandemic!
- My current knitting project which is now about 4 times as big.
- The temperature hit close to 80* on Friday and made me want 'picnic food.' This spicy, curried potato salad served along side some veggie burgers filled the void nicely.
missing - Put simply, I miss in-person interactions. I miss the office chit-chat and the 90% of my co-workers I was used to seeing regularly but rarely, if ever, worked with on projects. I miss having trips or activities to look forward to, and it's sad to think about a summer without attending a concert, outdoor movie, or baseball game. And that's just me thinking about myself and a lack of entertainment - what about everyone whose jobs depended on these types of events? It's tough to comprehend.
learning - That taking things day by day and appreciating the small things are more important than ever. I'm constantly trying to figure out what I can realistically accomplish in a day or week at work as well as at home or in life in general. Other, more concrete things I've learned are (clockwise from top left):
- Putting on jeans and doing my hair are important morning routines that signal it's time for work. I put away my more serious office wear and sweaters and hung up some more spring-y, WFH appropriate outfits and was feeling oh so proud of the coordinated hanger scheme until I realized there were a few things in the laundry that would be going back in. Shucks.
- Having a sit/stand desk (finally!) is pretty great if you remember to use it. I'm also much better about eating my lunch away from my desk while working from home. Also on the technological plus side are several successful video chats with my parents. This may not seem like it should be a big deal in 2020, but my parents both still have flip phones!
- We recently learned that a dozen eggs fit perfectly into the frame bag on Keizo's bike and can withstand the journey home through pot-holed streets intact! I feel like this is an overlooked marketing opportunity while few of us are venturing outside of our neighborhoods - how well does your 'adventure gear' perform day to day tasks?
- As we transitioned from weekly meal planning and shopping to bi-weekly, I did a big pantry clean out. Who knew what a difference sticking some labels on the vinegar bottles and putting them in an old six pack holder would make? Voila - kitchen cabinet clutter tamed!
loving - Though it can be hard to tell the days apart, there are still plenty of bright spots amid the sameness.
- It's hard to know if the DC region was treated to an unusually nice spring this year, or just that I noticed all of the plants a lot more on the almost daily walks around the neighborhood. Either way, my neighbors have some really nice yards to admire!
- My relatively new, bright pink yoga mat is nice to look at and has been helpful in encouraging more consistent, usually short, yoga sessions. Cole Chance and Yoga with Adriene are my go-tos when I want some direction, but I've also been doing my own thing to stretch before bed which definitely helps wind down from the day/week/month.
- I've been pleasantly surprised by how much I've enjoyed the different Zoom birthday parties I've attended. The youngest person of honor turned one and the oldest was my Dad who turned 71 at the beginning of the month. We also joined one where we all 'sang' Happy Birthday in sign language and one where the invite requested cocktail attire. It was the perfect excuse to dress up!
- On nice days after work, Keizo and I pack up water and yoga mats and head to the park for some high intensity interval training workouts. Even more fun is when we stop for takeout on the way home!
That's more than enough for this month. If you've made it this far, you deserve a medal!
