Surviving Quarantine

This post is LONG overdue, but I have been focused on my kids and Tim. Trying to be a better mom and wife. I haven't had a smart phone in months. So any internet time has been on my laptop, and time spent online has been few and far between. If that expression makes sense in this context. Here is a "quick" update of everything we have been doing the past several months. And now I'm already another month behind. So more to come!

This was actually before any rumors of a virus, but I wanted to start here. For my birthday, Tim bought me a cookbook called "Cooking in the French Kitchen with Kids" and I LOVE it. The first recipe I made was this delicious and easy chocolate mousse. It lasted for days, because it was so rich, and we had to keep placing our glasses in the fridge each night, to save for later. Totally worth it.

 Around the time we went to France, the kids and I started making macarons ("à l'ancien" - original recipe) and they are also delicious. SUPER simple, 3 ingredient, gluten and dairy free cookies. If you ever need a quick fix that you can feel good about. ;) almond meal, egg whites and sugar. I love this cookbook, because the kids and I love baking together.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! - Beau is convinced that he saw a leprechaun

I love when Beau uses his creativity in a way that doesn't make a mess ;) I'm always impressed by his skills. Look at those fun faces!

This was our first outing since the time our quarantine/lock-down/sheltering began.

 

I think Tim was prompted to buy a Roku, because he bought it right before the quarantine and it definitely helped! The kids and I watched a season of Kids Baking Championship and then they wanted to have their own. Beau only needed my help with telling him measurements. I was on Annie's team. Beau made strawberry shortcake cupcakes and Annie and I made carrot cake cupcakes. Both batches turned out Delicious! but overall, we each liked Beau's the best. Bravo Beau!

It was such a strange experience to pick up Beau's school packet the first time. Rolling down the window and the school officer throwing the bag into the car. Definitely contemplating homeschool this next year. We'll see what the future brings us.

Spring is here! finally. The kids and I explored the back yard and decided to identify the different plants growing around our house. Especially to figure out which ones were weeds.

I 'm becoming more green every day, and my heart hurt every time I threw away the left overs from our produce. so I built a compost bin with some of our wood palettes and it has been awesome! I didn't think it would only take a couple months to break down, but it has all gone much better than I expected. I was able to use some of the compost when I planted flowers the other day. It feels good to be resourceful! Also, when I do it right, the compost smells so good - like Fresh Earth.

I know Valentines Day was on the 14th of February, but we celebrated with the kids after returning home from France. They were so excited to open all of their valentines. Beau wrote one to each of his stuffed animals.

New pajamas from Emilie's stylish cousin Ava. (Thank you aunt Leah and uncle Jon ;) 

First home made baguette! Failed on the shape. Nailed the texture and taste. 

Total fail on the profiteroles - when it comes to texture. I forgot to let the eggs sit at room temperature. Oops! We have successfully made them several time since, but the kids still loved eating their ice cream dessert. They tasted like fluffy vanilla wafers.

First croissants - SO yum. 

First Sunday of Church in the home. We LOVE it - No need to spend the 2 hour block in the foyer and hallways ;)  But we miss all of our friends from our ward (congregation). 

The kids pulled out our Peter Pan costumes for a movie night. Emilie was Michael, Beau was Hook, I was tinker Bell - Oh now I remember - Annie was the dog Nana.

Beau is a pro-journal-writer and I came across his entry one night.

Welcome to sad stories by Beau

"No going to places that can be open or closed except for the stores for a month. Because of a virus." (drawing labeled "germs")

Easter package from Grandma and Grandpa Baker!

Easter activities included decorating egg and butterfly shapes with jelly beans.

Started digging a fire pit. 

celebrated with s'mores!

First REAL outing as a family, to Pixley Falls. 

Started building a sandbox.

Planted our first garden on the right. (I eventually put up chicken wire around both sides, because Annie kept pulling out the seeds and Emilie kept eating the soil.

Sunday walk

Surprised Tim when he came home from work on the 4th of May

"May the 4th be with you"

The kids and I were ready to fight after Tim finished his daily shower (when he returns home from testing patients for COVID-19) complete with Star Wars theme music.

                          Wookie Cookies                                   Han and Leia

Every two weeks now I pick up raw milk from a farm just north of us. Made butter and kefir cheese!

 Salad with my cheese and honey mustard vinaigrette dressing.

 First attempt at "starting" a "starter"

Second attempt worked! Active sourdough starter.

 I used whole grain einkorn flour. (an ancient wheat berry) If you Love sourdough, this flour really brought out the taste.

We now regularly eat sourdough pancakes and waffles at least once a week, if not several. (with buttermilk maple syrup made from my raw milk).

First ever sourdough bread. I added some fresh rosemary and garlic to the dough. Delicious!

If you're wondering about any of these recipes and you like to eat organic, whole foods, I have been following https://www.realfoodinafastworld.com/ for several years now. (and am finally in full force!) https://www.instagram.com/RealFoodInAFastWorld/ https://www.facebook.com/realfoodinafastworld/