This is Why We Need to be Prepared

 

   Over the weekend we had a huge pike in Covid-19 cases all tied to WSU in Pullman, WA.  There were 30 cases Saturday and 39 cases Sunday while the partying along Greek row continued. 😠  Today there was only 1 cases reported but I have heard from people working the testing sites to expect more...much more.  After this weekend's parties, I believe them.  We are already seeing the effects of this as certain city offices are shutting down to in person visits to try and keep their staff safe.  Classes at WSU are all online this semester so there was really no need for all students to return in person at this point.  Some were locked into leases already but many living in Greek housing, has the option to stay home.

   This is a huge problem for many people since businesses will be further restricted, just as they were starting to reopen with restrictions in place.  We do all our banking in that town along with some of our shopping and 2 of our kids work there also. 😔  Honestly, I think that things are going to get much wrose again for awhile and businesses that were barely hanging on might close permanantly with these latest numbers.

   I fully expect panic buying to take place once again as people realize what is coming down the pike for us.  At this point the last place I want to be is in a grocery store where so many people may be carrying this awful virus...thus I am so glad that I followed my gut and stocked up big time on HBA and groceries.

   Jeff and I are also coming off a time of no income after his surgery and recovery (once his sick leave and vacation leave were used up).  He did return to work this past Friday night and is happy to be able to work once more but it is taking a toll on him since he has to get all his stamina back.  I am being very protective of him and making sure he takes at least one weekend day off from big projects around here so that he can rest.

   This past Saturday, Jeff and I defrosted and cleaned out our big upright freezer (we still have the chest freezer to do).  I was amazed at all the frozen fruit and applesauce we had in there.  I am also in the process of making a bunch more since our tree is producing abundantly right now.  Seeing what we have and getting it all organized helped me to be able to make meal plans for months out.  Sunday night we enjoyed lamb chops (found in the freezer) with a butter and rosmary sauce , baked potatoes and beans from our garden for dinner.  The night before it was homemade mac and cheese (also from the freezer).  

   Our refrigerator and pantry are also stocked.  We hit a sale on cheese for $3.99 a pound when we had to run errands early last week and bought 3 of them.  I may have Jeff pick up a few more on his way home from work in another town that also has them but where the college students are not. 😉  Jeff goes through cheese at a phenomenal rate and yet his cholesterol numbers remain good...unlike mine.  The pantry shelves are full  of shelf stable grains, canned meats, fruits, vegetables, soups, condiments and baking goods along with cereals, crackers, pasta, etc..  Oh my seasonings are also stocked up.

   Having things stocked has given me great peace of mind knowing that we will be okay throughout Jeff's recovery and time of no income along with the uptick in the Covid-19 cases here recently.  In another month or so, we will do another big stock up trip at Winco and be fully masked up.  Hopefully at that time I can stock up for another 2-3 months so that we do not have to do a huge stock up again.  I could go without doing that though if needed, but I want to have a 6 month or more supply on hand of anything and everything we use on a regular basis.  None of us knows how this Fall and Winter will be with  Covid, the flu and the unpredictable weather patterns that we are experiencing.

   Our big goals now are to pay off Jeff's medical bills, pay off Caesar's vet bill 😢, get the wood pellets restocked for the heating season and get my car fixed (ball joint going out).  In order to do this, we have to continue to keep the rest of the bills down as far as posssible.  Our well stocked pantry is a huge asset in this process.  Hopefully Chris and Heather will be able to get enough meat while hunting to once again share with us.  That has been a huge blessing for years now.  I supply them with apples for applesauce, raspberries and blackberries from our garden and they bless us with meat.  It has worked out well and everyone benefits. 😀

   On another note, I do want to thank all of you for your prayers and thoughts for Jeff and I both with his surgery and for the loss of our beloeved Caesar.  It still seems unreal for him to not be here and I am constantly finding myself calling for or looking for him.  Last night Jeff and I finally took a walk in the evening...something that I have not been able to bring myself to do since Caesar's death.  That was our "thing", to go for walks in the cool of the evening during the Summer months.  With Jeff now back at work, I am trying to adjust to being able to sleep without both him and Caesar here with me.  Caesar provided me with such a sense of security and so much unconditional love and laughter.  I still am missing my huge shedding like crazy speedbump of love.