I started this blog, way back when, to improve my writing skills. You faithful Readers have seen my personality is written on my sleeve. Although you already know me, my writing SHOWS me and who I am. I write my feelings and am transparent. Some might say, I write from the heart.
As we have been pushed - shoved - into this New Normal, I have jotted down some words and thoughts and sent them off down the internet mail pike thinking maybe someone might publish my words. As a member of the International Fire Chiefs Association, I jumped at an invitation to contribute to their blog site. I mean, all the Fire Chiefs in the Nation read this stuff! How cool is that? I do not get paid, but I do get the thrill, the pride, and the honor of reading the words I have written, which are so very much my words. Mom, thanks for all your wisdom you have bestowed on me through these years!
Click on this link to see the most recently published IAFC Article
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Monday, April 20, 2020
Recognition of Reality
I had to get from point A to point B to return to the grocery store. Although it had become a personal quest to go until the first of May, I am now mentally and physically prepared to meet the Monster in the grocery store, at the post office, in the hardware store.
It took some time to get here. To recognize with proper protection even those on the front lines - our paramedics and the emergency room providers - are not getting COVID because they are dialed in to protecting themselves. What does this look like for them? A N95 mask, gloves, gown, and eye shield. Even more important, taking it all off properly so as to not contaminate oneself in the process.
Chief Hansen tells a story about a hazardous material training he took part in where the contaminate was detectable under a glow light. They were unaware and at the end of the training, the instructor turned on the glow light so they could all see how contaminated they had become during the one-day training. They were all significantly contaminated with the benign material.
Taking a Warrior stance, I am ready to go back to the grocery store. We could easily make it through the month. The pantry shelves are more orderly and remain well-stocked. There is a freezer in Hoback with the main refrigerator and a standup freezer in the back room. Both have plentiful selections of meat (elk, beef, and some chicken), some frozen vegetables, and nuts and other things. There is a chest freezer in Freedom and two refrigerator freezers as well. All are well-stocked.
The decision has not as much to do in solving an inventory problem as it has to do with solving a staying-safe problem. I feel safe now. I feel ready.
As the nation, our states, our counties, and our towns grapple with the conundrum of "opening things back up", it will be critical for everyone to recognize that the virus has not gone away. Disciplined vigilance will be needed "when this is all over"; a comment I keep hearing over and over again but is essentially meaningless until a vaccine has been developed. Perhaps summer will wipe out the virus. I am not going to make a bet on this happening.
As Spring wins the battle with Winter and snow banks melt away like the Wicked Witch of Oz, guarded optimism and hope sprout up like daffodils from the chilly ground. This is the one time of the year, where there isn't quite so much to do. The longer days afford a pause in a lawn chair, soaking up the sun in the back yard. No snow to move, too early to plant, too much daylight to waste inside on an afternoon that is warm enough to sit outside. One is forced to enjoy the luxury of sun rays and bees flying in the air. The pause is interrupted only by a dog showing up needing a scratch on its head, a husband taking a break and sitting down alongside, a timer going off to announce the sourdough bread is done cooking. Classical music emanates over the outside loud speakers; frosting on top the tranquil mood. Life can be strangely peaceful in these uncertain times. The Monster seems so far away from the tiny yard atop the hill at Hoback Junction, soon to be in the shade from Munger Mountain, towering over on the west side of the Snake River.
So where do we go from here. Seems to be this week's question. I believe we will be "open", isolation phase over, by May 1. Consideration for mental health has begun to weigh as heavy on the Decision Makers as the threat from COVID. Just like grocery shopping, it took awhile to get here but we are smarter, and we all hope, better prepared to meet and conquer the Monster.
It took some time to get here. To recognize with proper protection even those on the front lines - our paramedics and the emergency room providers - are not getting COVID because they are dialed in to protecting themselves. What does this look like for them? A N95 mask, gloves, gown, and eye shield. Even more important, taking it all off properly so as to not contaminate oneself in the process.
Chief Hansen tells a story about a hazardous material training he took part in where the contaminate was detectable under a glow light. They were unaware and at the end of the training, the instructor turned on the glow light so they could all see how contaminated they had become during the one-day training. They were all significantly contaminated with the benign material.
Taking a Warrior stance, I am ready to go back to the grocery store. We could easily make it through the month. The pantry shelves are more orderly and remain well-stocked. There is a freezer in Hoback with the main refrigerator and a standup freezer in the back room. Both have plentiful selections of meat (elk, beef, and some chicken), some frozen vegetables, and nuts and other things. There is a chest freezer in Freedom and two refrigerator freezers as well. All are well-stocked.
The decision has not as much to do in solving an inventory problem as it has to do with solving a staying-safe problem. I feel safe now. I feel ready.
As the nation, our states, our counties, and our towns grapple with the conundrum of "opening things back up", it will be critical for everyone to recognize that the virus has not gone away. Disciplined vigilance will be needed "when this is all over"; a comment I keep hearing over and over again but is essentially meaningless until a vaccine has been developed. Perhaps summer will wipe out the virus. I am not going to make a bet on this happening.
As Spring wins the battle with Winter and snow banks melt away like the Wicked Witch of Oz, guarded optimism and hope sprout up like daffodils from the chilly ground. This is the one time of the year, where there isn't quite so much to do. The longer days afford a pause in a lawn chair, soaking up the sun in the back yard. No snow to move, too early to plant, too much daylight to waste inside on an afternoon that is warm enough to sit outside. One is forced to enjoy the luxury of sun rays and bees flying in the air. The pause is interrupted only by a dog showing up needing a scratch on its head, a husband taking a break and sitting down alongside, a timer going off to announce the sourdough bread is done cooking. Classical music emanates over the outside loud speakers; frosting on top the tranquil mood. Life can be strangely peaceful in these uncertain times. The Monster seems so far away from the tiny yard atop the hill at Hoback Junction, soon to be in the shade from Munger Mountain, towering over on the west side of the Snake River.
So where do we go from here. Seems to be this week's question. I believe we will be "open", isolation phase over, by May 1. Consideration for mental health has begun to weigh as heavy on the Decision Makers as the threat from COVID. Just like grocery shopping, it took awhile to get here but we are smarter, and we all hope, better prepared to meet and conquer the Monster.
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Barn Quilt#2 - DONE!!
Barn Quilt @2 is completed!
This quilt is for Diana Brown. She has a beautiful red barn here in Jackson. This barn quilt will get a TON of looks - which I am excited about!! She now will paint on the bucking bronc; the classic Wyoming trademark. Diana plans to hang it diamond shape, rather than square. I think that will be super cool too. It will be framed in black 2x4s which still need to be pained.
I am going to do a really hard one next!! Planning and scheming colors and design. This one is for the neighbors, if they want it!
Stand by for further!!
This quilt is for Diana Brown. She has a beautiful red barn here in Jackson. This barn quilt will get a TON of looks - which I am excited about!! She now will paint on the bucking bronc; the classic Wyoming trademark. Diana plans to hang it diamond shape, rather than square. I think that will be super cool too. It will be framed in black 2x4s which still need to be pained.
I am going to do a really hard one next!! Planning and scheming colors and design. This one is for the neighbors, if they want it!
Stand by for further!!
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Thesaurus
Appropriate pronouns.
Bullshit
Stupid
Unacceptable
Ridiculous
Upsetting
Nonsense
Absurd
Unbelievable
Contemptible
This morning's view out our front door. 22 degrees.
Bullshit
Stupid
Unacceptable
Ridiculous
Upsetting
Nonsense
Absurd
Unbelievable
Contemptible
This morning's view out our front door. 22 degrees.
Monday, April 13, 2020
From My Pantry
To begin, thank you Mom for the custom made-with-love face masks! The entire town is leaning toward wearing masks. These are great and we appreciate them! Mike's even fits over his nose - ha! ha! I love the bees on mine!!
So back to the pantry. There have been quite a few pictures of peoples' immaculate pantries on food blogs of late. I felt it was necessary to throw away my pride and put this picture up on my Instagram account. Unabashed. Unashamed. Transparent to my organizational/time spending skills.
So back to the pantry. There have been quite a few pictures of peoples' immaculate pantries on food blogs of late. I felt it was necessary to throw away my pride and put this picture up on my Instagram account. Unabashed. Unashamed. Transparent to my organizational/time spending skills.
NOTE: NONE of these food items were purchased before March 12, 2020! This is pre-COVID hoarding here; where grocery store shelves were stocked and people weren't freaked out.
And then there was this weekend. On duty for Easter Sunday with a very very low call volume (nada), I decided to attack said shelving unit. Remarkable findings.
4 quarts of olive oil.
These were gleaned from a local health food store going out of business. A big fan of olive oil and good priced olive oil, I have no shame in these four quarts.
18 six ounce cans of chopped green chilis.
Good grief. The only explanation I have is I must have needed them once and that triggered the automatic reaction to buy a can every single time I made a trip to the grocery store.
Seven pounds of chocolate chips.
Okay, I hang my head in shame on this one, I will confess. Plus I have a 3 bag container on a shelf in the kitchen. Who knew chocolate chips were of such high priority in my world??
Not one container of ketchup or tomato paste.
They are on the shopping list for when I 1) get the courage to go back to the grocery store or 2) we simply have to go back to the grocery store (which doesn't seem to necessary, does it?).
Close to two dozen cans of garbanzo beans.
We like hummus, what can I say?
Lots of diet tonic and 3 big bottles of gin.
Life is good!!
So, here is the gone-through, rearranged by category pantry shelf.
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Happy Easter
The sun rose of a cold landscape here in Wyoming this morning. 19 degrees and fresh fallen snow. Doesn't much feel like spring, but the skies are partly cloudy. It's a chilly Sunday.
Updates galore! The barn quilt is getting very close to finish. Diana will paint a black bucking Wyoming cowboy/horse in the center star. She should be able to start before May 1.
Brian and Stephanie generously gave us some amazing pork chops from their pigs raised on their farm last year. I am a bit of a snob about pork chops. Don't give me a thin cut. And we were not disappointed! Thick chops, rubbed with a homemade dry rub, grilled on the BBQ made for a delicious dinner last night. So good. Thank you Brian and Stephanie!
Here is the chicken from their farm I did on the rotisserie last week. We are NOT hurting not going to the grocery store!!
Next up, the continuation of the sourdough mania. Seeing blue corn meal on my shelf, I made a half white/half blue corn meal sourdough bread recipe and named it Blue Moon Sourdough. This makes delicious French Toast!!
Updates galore! The barn quilt is getting very close to finish. Diana will paint a black bucking Wyoming cowboy/horse in the center star. She should be able to start before May 1.
Brian and Stephanie generously gave us some amazing pork chops from their pigs raised on their farm last year. I am a bit of a snob about pork chops. Don't give me a thin cut. And we were not disappointed! Thick chops, rubbed with a homemade dry rub, grilled on the BBQ made for a delicious dinner last night. So good. Thank you Brian and Stephanie!
Here is the chicken from their farm I did on the rotisserie last week. We are NOT hurting not going to the grocery store!!
Next up, the continuation of the sourdough mania. Seeing blue corn meal on my shelf, I made a half white/half blue corn meal sourdough bread recipe and named it Blue Moon Sourdough. This makes delicious French Toast!!
French toast, as viewed in my all-time favorite copper bottomed skillet found at a second hand store and purchased for $10. So good!
Lettuce starts have never looked so anticipatingly delicious!! Heater in on in the greenhouse. With the sun shining, inside temperature is 68 degrees. Grow lil lettuce, grow!!
Lastly, the sunflowers came down out of the Freedom garden yesterday, just before the snow storm. I admire sunflowers' beauty. They are lovely even after they have long been frost-killed.
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Wear A Mask
I was against mask wearing from the beginning. A scientific paper with data supporting no mask wearing. Our local medical doctor not supporting mask wearing. And then the CDC declared it so to be! So, now I'm on board! Here is my little poem....
Wear a gator, wear a buff, wear a silk scarf and don't be GRUFF!
When you wear a mask, you are taking care of others
When they wear a mask, they are taking care of you.
Let's all mask up to take care of each other,
It's just not all that hard to do!!
And even though I'm not quite sure how it all works, I have started #MaskUpJacksonHole
Here is a good guide for those of us who would much rather pull up our silk scarf than wear a mask. This from the US Airforce. Click on THIS LINK to find many ways to protect others!
Teton County now has 44 confirmed patients. The number continues to grow, but not quite so rapidly. Prediction is we will be over the peak by the end of the month. Events for the end of May have been cancelled.
John Prine has died from COVID complications. He was a wonderful artist. I love his music. See more here.
Stay home. Wash your hands. Stay well.
We are at No Grocery Store, Day #9. I believe we could (and may) go a month without groceries!! I make bread, crackers (the cheese is almost gone), pull out meat from the freezer, enjoy the kraut I have made ontop of the eggs our chicken lay. Mike and I are NOT losing weight!!
Here is a picture of the beautiful and delicious chicken I threw on the BBQ rotisserie Monday night. This chicken was raised by Stephanie at Prosser Family Farms in a chicken tractor type way, grousing their way through the fields, these chickens are as natural as one could want!
Sorry. You will have to wait for the picture.....!! You can find it on my Instagram account under kathyclay4454
Wear a gator, wear a buff, wear a silk scarf and don't be GRUFF!
When you wear a mask, you are taking care of others
When they wear a mask, they are taking care of you.
Let's all mask up to take care of each other,
It's just not all that hard to do!!
And even though I'm not quite sure how it all works, I have started #MaskUpJacksonHole
Here is a good guide for those of us who would much rather pull up our silk scarf than wear a mask. This from the US Airforce. Click on THIS LINK to find many ways to protect others!
Teton County now has 44 confirmed patients. The number continues to grow, but not quite so rapidly. Prediction is we will be over the peak by the end of the month. Events for the end of May have been cancelled.
John Prine has died from COVID complications. He was a wonderful artist. I love his music. See more here.
Stay home. Wash your hands. Stay well.
We are at No Grocery Store, Day #9. I believe we could (and may) go a month without groceries!! I make bread, crackers (the cheese is almost gone), pull out meat from the freezer, enjoy the kraut I have made ontop of the eggs our chicken lay. Mike and I are NOT losing weight!!
Here is a picture of the beautiful and delicious chicken I threw on the BBQ rotisserie Monday night. This chicken was raised by Stephanie at Prosser Family Farms in a chicken tractor type way, grousing their way through the fields, these chickens are as natural as one could want!
Sorry. You will have to wait for the picture.....!! You can find it on my Instagram account under kathyclay4454
Monday, April 6, 2020
Busy Body
We all have our various ways of dealing with stress. It is a absolute fact that a heavy layer of stress weighs down on each one of us individually, each one of our community's, our nation, and the world as we watch the toll COVID has wrecked on people in its path.
I have to stay busy. And these need to be things that I have to put focus and concentration into - sitting down and reading a book, for example, does not work (although, of course, I am listening to my books via Audible).
It was a great and busy weekend for Mike and me! We started with a Virtual Wine Tasting on Friday night. We grabbed up the six bottles and began with a surprisingly delicious Franc. See the wine list here at Virtual Wine Tasting It was a wonderful distraction and fun! Tonight will be wine #2 and since I am on duty, Mike will have the pleasure of tasting this new wine.
Mike installed his custom-build, hand made and welded, hitch connection onto the now-working tractor. This will allow him to back up to any trailer and click into the hitch, lift up, and drive away. How slick is that? Super cool!!
Sewed up a beautiful table cloth for our round table which is very sad as it has not had friends sitting around it, eating delicious food and drinking delicious wine - for a very long time.
Looking for a face mask pattern that does not use elastic (there is no elastic left. First TP. Then flour. Now elastic. What will be next??)
Here is what is next! Chicks! Everyone wants to start raising chickens now!! We have a very broody hen. She hatched 2 chicks March 10 and four more appeared under her puffed up feathered body yesterday! She is really quite remarkable!! Giving her a few days for a break and putting 6 more fertile eggs under her this weekend - I have a friend in need of chicks!! The first below are the four new chicks. The next one is the 2 hatched and 4 from store which I was fortunate to grab up.
I have to stay busy. And these need to be things that I have to put focus and concentration into - sitting down and reading a book, for example, does not work (although, of course, I am listening to my books via Audible).
It was a great and busy weekend for Mike and me! We started with a Virtual Wine Tasting on Friday night. We grabbed up the six bottles and began with a surprisingly delicious Franc. See the wine list here at Virtual Wine Tasting It was a wonderful distraction and fun! Tonight will be wine #2 and since I am on duty, Mike will have the pleasure of tasting this new wine.
Mike installed his custom-build, hand made and welded, hitch connection onto the now-working tractor. This will allow him to back up to any trailer and click into the hitch, lift up, and drive away. How slick is that? Super cool!!
Meanwhile, I stayed busy applying layers of paint to the almost finished barn quilt. The blue is as awesome as the red!! This barn quilt is going up on a red barn - it will make a statement, that's for sure!!
Looking for a face mask pattern that does not use elastic (there is no elastic left. First TP. Then flour. Now elastic. What will be next??)
Here is what is next! Chicks! Everyone wants to start raising chickens now!! We have a very broody hen. She hatched 2 chicks March 10 and four more appeared under her puffed up feathered body yesterday! She is really quite remarkable!! Giving her a few days for a break and putting 6 more fertile eggs under her this weekend - I have a friend in need of chicks!! The first below are the four new chicks. The next one is the 2 hatched and 4 from store which I was fortunate to grab up.
Thanks to a staff member finding me a 25# bag of bread, sourdough bread making continues on! I have a few "followers" who are buying my loves. I must say, it is very good bread indeed!
So, busy busy helps alleviate stress. I am so thankful to have a partner to be alongside on this rough and uncharted voyage. I cut Mike's hair this weekend - ask him, it looks great!! If I try not to think of this and live simply in the moment (keeping the news OFF!), I can find happiness in the simple joys of baking, sewing, painting, and watching little chicks hatch from their shell. Life is good, life is good.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
The Curve Goes Up
We are watching the curve of cases rapidly go up - as was expected. Twenty six cases in Teton County. Still, it is a bit terrifying and supports my no-grocery store decree. You can see the Wyoming COVID map and report HERE
Breakfast. Day One.
Steel cut oats cook up ever so well in an Insta Pot. I throw in 2 cups of steel cut oats, 5 1/2 cups of water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook for 6 minutes. This is very important....turn it off and let it cool for 10-15 minutes. Trust me, I just saved you a big, sticky oatmeal goo mess.
I have a mixture of dried fruit, nuts, coconut, and brown sugar made up for topping. With this big batch, we spoon out a meal's worth, nuke in the microwave, and pour on some almond milk. One thing about this breakfast; it sticks with you. I can make it all the way to lunch before my stomach growls.
Breakfast. Day One.
Steel cut oats cook up ever so well in an Insta Pot. I throw in 2 cups of steel cut oats, 5 1/2 cups of water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook for 6 minutes. This is very important....turn it off and let it cool for 10-15 minutes. Trust me, I just saved you a big, sticky oatmeal goo mess.
I have a mixture of dried fruit, nuts, coconut, and brown sugar made up for topping. With this big batch, we spoon out a meal's worth, nuke in the microwave, and pour on some almond milk. One thing about this breakfast; it sticks with you. I can make it all the way to lunch before my stomach growls.
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