A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall Coffee House 2589

Good morning. I hope you are all well. We are chugging along. Staying in has us more outside than previously. Between raindrops we are getting some outdoor stuff accomplished. Living in the boonies has benefits.

Thanks for the new Coffeehouse Tina.

School was cancelled again today...this March snow is never ending. It seems that every 3 or 4 days it snows at least a foot.

I am glad that the outdoor chores are getting done for you Tina.

They have closed all schools and day cares in the neighboring province for two weeks, any public gathering of over 100 people has to be cancelled as well. Our Prime Minister's wife has tested positive for the Coronavirus...he is really starting to clamp down because of this.

Today our president finally called this a national emergency but I'm not seeing much in the way of national plans yet, We'll see. Our governor has a better handle on it all. I'm looking to hunker down for at least 2 months. But could be longer. And I'm ready.
Were your stores cleared out when you went last, Sunny?

I went to the local Dollar General on Wednesday and they were well stocked, as the supply tractor trailer has just been there in Monday. But I went today again on Friday and almost all the TP and such was gone. The grocery store was in good shape though. I will say the socio-economic scale in the town where the Dollar General and the Grocery is is not such that people can buy much up ahead.
Last night, Val and Brian finished out stocking up for us. Tomorrow I will buy meat at the local small meat market, then except for the necessary outings, we will be staying in for a good while.

Sweet Dreams, Tina..Sleep well.

Is Val's school staying open, Carol?
Sweet dreams all.

I guess it is....for now anyway....she is coming by tomorrow with my Amazon order...! Will be sure to talk to her about it.

I cannot sleep, so this is my mid--night walk thru.

I hope you all are having sweet dreams.

Tina, my local store and pharmacy were out of Lysol and sanitizer(thankfully I always buy and keep that here ahead)...food stocks were o.k. but DD was at Walmart and she said that they can't keep the shelves stocked.

I was watching the news where it was showing shelves completely bare and no one can find toilet paper anywhere. One lady was begging for someone to sell her a can of infant formula and diapers because someone wiped the shelf clean. Those poor babies.

We got a call last night from the school board, all schools in the province of New Brunswick are now closed for two weeks starting Monday....there will be lots of children in need of baby sitters.

Yes, and children that rely on the breakfast and lunches served at school are going to be hurting. Los Angeles schools are out until further notice. I feel for their kids. And donated to a local food bank. They are hurting too.
Good morning. Happy Pi Day. I'm starting with a cherry turnover. That counts as a hand pi, right?

Hi all,

Well so far in boonies of Az we are doing ok... with my lousy immune system my doc said stay home... so am doing that..hubby went last week and stocked us up on lots of staples , we had a lot of some stuff anyway from out once every 2 months trips to the Costco.. he just bought extra of the stuff we use a lot so we wouldn't have to go out if it gets really bad... I feel for people who can't do this... I think it may get worse before it gets better... we are keeping an eye on lady next door , she lives alone and while she has a daughter here she is kind of a flake and expects her Mom to fix her problems...
Have a good day all... hope everyone is well and stays that way...
Nana

Back where I used to live, they have cancelled school for at least ,2 weeks.Thry have set up several places around the 3 area towns that will have breakfast and lunch foods for all school kids. Hopefully they are spread out do the kids or adults can easily get food. That will help a lot, I am sure.

Yes, Ours go to schools and the local parks to spread them out. The kids are told to line up loosely with space between them and sent up individually to get a sack lunch. In their lunch bags are a sandwich, mostly bologna (with no condiments ), a banana and an apple and milk.. Then the kids can take them home but most congregate in age groups at various picnic tables to eat and visit. It seems to defeat the out of school thing. I worry about the kids that can't get to the parks or schools for the lunches though.

Sweet dreams all.

Food banks are so abused here that not too many donate. It is frustrating because if only those who were in real need used them then they would be taken care of so well. We donate to DH's church because they know who is in real need and do a drop off to them directly.

As crazy as this sounds, a single parent with two kids on welfare and government subsidies takes in the same amount as my husband working. It boggles the mind to think about it..

I heard a woman say that she sends her kids to school with no breakfast and lunch because why spend the money if she doesn't have to. What life lessons are these to teach kids.

They have just announced here for all persons over 70 to quarantine themselves for their safety.

And my state has closed down.Everything is shut down here. No gatherings over 250 people. Social distancing is a fact, not just a good idea. Disneyland is closed for awhile. It has only closed twice before : one day when JFK died and one other day. It has never closed for anything else in its 60+ years.. That should tell you how important the 'distancing' thing is here. One has died and we cannot get enough tests from the Feds. The more tests the more the numbers go up and the numbers are not good politics. This is a disaster.
I am proud of all who are staying home and being sensible. For some living in apartments it means living closer than they like. But it doesn't mean lockdown like prison. They can still go out and run if that is their thing. Just should stay away from the steamy, sweaty gym (if it's even open). I like what my state is doing.
I remember polio, but just barely. The Spanish Flu of 1918 is a better clue. It swept the world and seemed OK with a few more deaths than usual. Then it morphed and came through again. Not OK. It took about a third of the population or more. They didn't keep records as well back then.
We don't have enough beds or ventilators in hospitals. This has barely begun. The Tsunami is coming.
I am glad that you listened to me when I first talked about it. I hope you all stay safe.

I am glad that you are prepared and I hope that friends and family took heed to your warnings as well Tina

They are talking about restricting travel between provinces here...that will be a mess in itself since everything is trucked in or out. I am going to load up on citrus juices/canned fruit tomorrow....fresh/frozen fruit will be impossible to find. It's already at prices that are impossible. I paid $10 for a dozen oranges the other day...it was a wonderful treat though.

The way I hear it about the testing kits is the private sector that makes them is ramping up production, but are not there yet. The federal government does not make them.

I am glad that the powers that be in California are taking such good care of it's citizens Tina. AND I thank the Lord that you told us what you did, when you did so we here got a jump on this mess.
Thank you again, Tina. We owe you a lot.

I am going out tomorrow to get the second shingles vaccination, ( they are a series of 2 remember) while I still can go out. I will call the pharmacy first, though.

The government does not make the test kits. But they have to OK them for use.. And then they had to check the results of every single one that came up positive before it would 'count'. And they have not been able to keep up. There are major universities working on them and A bunch ready to use that are not certified. But our state is going to use them and post their own results. The CDC has been cut over the last three years so it's nearly useless. The FDA has been cut too. The pandemic team that was set up during the N1H1 epidemic was obliterated. The federal government is failing all of us.
The house worked with the administration all week to fund a bunch of things that would help for a start on this. On Friday night the house passed the bill. But it's got to wait for the senate to pass it and the president to sign it. The senate took off Thursday afternoon for a 3 day weekend. Maybe they will get around to it Monday. I hope it doesn't sit with the other 390something bills the house has sent to them that are collecting dust.

Sunny, I hope you can find your fruit at reasonable prices. I wish you could grow your own. I remember my mother's stories of the fresh fruits and veggies in Chicago growing up. There were few and none affordable. When my grandmother moved to California, she planted fruit trees. My mother followed her out a year or two later and did the same.
I don't believe they would restrict goods from going across province lines. Mostly just people. Let us know what they decide. Interrupting the supply chain any more than necessary would be wrong.

I wish we could grow more items here as well Tina. I suppose that we should be glad to get what we can with such a short growing season....every little bit counts.

All the tests here in Canada have to be confirmed by one lab in Winnipeg, Manitoba....it is going to be a long process.

Yes, I can see why. It is to keep count of this. And that is a good, necessary thing. But ours want to be sole keepers of the numbers for their own reasons. Not so good. Our Governor won't let the numbers be spun. Neither will others. It's a kind of fight. The tests will be given to the government for verification and counting but we will keep our numbers also.

Sweet dreams all.

Sweet Dreams 💤

Good morning all. GB is here so bacon is on the menu for the morning.....and lots of coffee for me

Good morning !

Yay for bacon. You are a good Grammy, Sunny.
And yay for coffee.
We have plenty of coffee. That was high on the priority list.
What I should have bought was.more water. We use it for coffee and I drink it. I may have Val to deliver some down the road.

Is there something wrong with your tap water, Carol?
Good morning. I don't know what is on my menu today. But I think I'll be cooking something.

No my water is fine, but there are 2 issues. 1) we have a water softener and with my heart condition I am not drinking it. 2) And then the single serve portion of our coffee maker will get ruined if we use water-softened water in it.. Our water ruined our Keurig, so we got this dual coffee maker. We are trying to take care of it. AND sad thing is most people around here that have water softener water, have one spigot that has plain water, we do not. The people that lived here before us did many things " differently" sad to say.

Hi all,

We are all fine here in southern AZ, I am staying home as much as I can and hubby is doing the shopping, that was our usual anyway but being more careful now... he did go out a couple weeks ago and we stocked up more than usual.. we use bottled water here too , our tap water is very salty tasting so I won't drink it for that reason... even out dog gets bottled.. he won't drink the tap either...

I worry about my kids in Colo.. daughter and grandson work in a grocery store and they have to clean the checkstands every hour.. I am praying they don't get sick but scared it's almost a given.. pray for everyone actually... we aren't going out to sis in laws either.. her hubby thinks it's all made up and still has all his cronies there everyday drinking beer in his barn.. she is diabetic and non of us are young so that's worrisome to me.. told her to add us to her people who can pick up her insulin at the drugstore so she doesn't have to come into town but he told her that was not necessary.... hope she did it anyway...

Well off to clean house some and find a new book to download...I read way to fast!

Take care all.... Nana

I'm glad that I'm naturally a hermit type. I don't know what my family is up to so no stories. Keep safe, Sherri.

Well, the pandemonium has hit here....our stores are stripped bare. I went today and could not even get fresh milk...they told me to go back tomorrow after 10 a.m. the truck will be in. I plan to get some by the bag and freeze it.

I hope you can get it, Sunny. I truly do.

They are not saying for 2 weeks any more. It is "at least" two weeks.

Yes, I caught that. TPTB here are saying the schools will be closed to at least April 3 .
It would probably be smart to leave the schools closed until next fall.. or run them all summer and close back down on the late winter.

I have errands to run tomorrow..they need to be done so I can then stay in.
So, I will say goodnight niw. " See" you all tomorrow.

Nite-Nite

Sweet dreams, Carol. I'm not going anywhere tomorrow. well. except to the dumpster and to check my mail.

Sleep well, Tina.I

Nite nite

Good morning.!

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Yes, Happy St, Patrick's Day.
And top O' the morn to all.
Did you find all you needed on your errands yesterday, Carol?

Yes I did and I also found iut, if I wrapped it correctly, I could send my DD hand sanitizer as long as I put the bottle in a zip top bag and packaged it correctly. I did and it cost me $19.00 to send it prioity...but then, my DD cannot find any in Virginia.

Now to see if it gets there.....

Did you get some for yourself too? That stuff is nearly priceless here. I have several quart containers here. One less than before because I donated some to the resort next door.

When we were at Sam's, Val and I each got 2 qt containers be of hand sanitizer. And I also got 2 regular size bottles. Plus I had ,2 regular ones at home already. I sent one of the qt bottles to Emily along with my bottle of aloevera so she can make some if need be.

I'm glad you stocked up. I cooked today so I don't have to for a couple of days.

If I could I would be cooking like that as well. I would live on soup and 1 pot meals......But Rod does not do soups and not many one pot meals.
What yummy thing did you make ?

.

I am going to sleep soon..sleep well everyone.

I made chicken and pasta with peas and carrots and cheese sauce, Sweet dreams.

I am glad that you are all well. I never got to the store yesterday due to a storm but they say the local store gets their supply truck in tomorrow.....I'll be there for sure to get lots of milk.

I have a litre bottle of sanitizer here..I bought it this Fall, as well as travel size ones. It is liquid gold for sure Tina.

Yes, it is. I don't use it myslf. I've got lots of soap and water. And I have to keep Jonni from bathing in it. (exaggerating)
Our schools are out til the summer. And maybe next fall. We shall see.

Hello.sorry I have not been in. My body is not too happy about my setting my 2nd shingles vaccination. I have been sleeping.

I have been using both soap & water and sanitizer. There are normal sized bottles of sanitizer in each vehicle now

Not that we will be going anywhere much.

I know it is Wednesday, but in this house it is Taco Tuesday tonight.
Tina your meal sounds yummy. Thanks for sharing what it was with us.

Oh, I'm just glad you didn't ask for a recipe. I don't use them as a rule unless baking. And it often happens that I use what is available.I use peas and carrots a lot because it's about the only vegetables I can get down Ted. It's a texture thing with him.

LOL. I thought to ask for a recipe..but then thought better of it. It is all good. We all " wing" our recipes at times...as far as Ted goes, I say do what works.

LOL. I thought to ask for a recipe..but then thought better of it. It is all good. We all " wing" our recipes at times...as far as Ted goes, I say do what works.

So, do you have the girls this week, Carol? Is Val's school still open?

No no girls OR picking up Henry anymore, until further notice. Valarie had half a day of school today before her school closing, but as Henry's last day of school was yesterday at noon, she to!d them she will not be out in anymore. Until school resumes....so no kids here at all. Val also thinks the schools will not reopen until fall. I guess they will just promote everyone as if they finished the school year. Henry's school as well.

Valarie's school did put out a notice that the seniors should bring in their photos and such for Graduation, by today at noon. Graduation will supposedly still take place on May 3 rd. We will see.

BUT I am not allowed to be near the kids now...and it is anyone's guess when we will get to see them again. Thank goodness for Marco Polo and Skype.

That is best for you, Carol. You Don't need to get this. The kids might but it seems much easier on them.
I sent Tangela to look for a few items in the store tonight. Well, I asked her yesterday and she went this afternoon/evening. I pay her for doing this both for her time and for gas and car expenses. Tonight I also handed her a hundred ones and she said "what's this for?". I told her it was hazardous duty pay. I'm running out of larger bills so she gets a plethora of ones. She isn't objecting.

Tina, we call that stripper money here since we don't have dollar bills in Canada. People will get them in from the bank in U.S. currency to bring to strip clubs for bachelor parties.

My mother landed here yesterday and GG told her not to visit. My mother got offended and GG told her that if she is still going to bingo's and such that she is not supposed to visit other people dragging germs. My mother will not stay home, she runs to the grocery store every day to gather scratch tickets and such. Although it might have been rude for GG to say it...at this time, it is the absolute truth.

I hope this pandemic is over soon. Keep those Skype calls going every day with the kids if you can Junie

Yep, I will, Sunny...I have not yet but I will be doing that.

Yay for $1.00 bills. It spends like larger bills, Tina. You are a good Momma and she is a good DD. My Val said if I need something to let them know and they will go out and get it..For now, we are ok. The time will come though.

I loaded up on milk and fresh fruit/veggies....we are good for a month.

Good for you, Sunny. We only have about a qt.of fresh milk, about a qt of sfrawberries, and 4 apples. I may have Val go to the grocery for us in a few days. As luck would have it the strawberries were on my list as the girls had requested them last werk. Now Grandma gets to eat them.

Well, I spent a few years only spending twenties and saving all the change. And then counting the smaller bills and socking them away. But I figure I don't need to keep more than a shoe box full of ones so it was time to share them. And no better place/reason to share.
I saw the border was closed to non-commercial traffic, Sunny. I am glad we were able to do that with amity. We'll keep our covid and you'll keep yours. I think you'll be the winner of that in the end. This is going to last months.

Happy spring to all!

We all should have done that Tina. You were very wise.
My dad did something like that. He was always waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak. Every.month when his money came in he would take a portion out in cash and put it in his and mom's a safety deposit box. Mom tried to do such now, but as there is just Ieas income, and my brother is handling her bills and such it is not so easy for herss to do.
If dad were alive now, he would be so happy to be able to take care of his whole family..money complete with garden crops to share. He was always preparing.

A very smart father you had. I enjoyed just watching it grow. What got me started was failures of different banks around the world. Like ib Greece a few years ago when the government just shut the banks down and basically took peoples' money. Or Venezuela when their oil crashed. I decided I needed a cushion.

Checking in.... just finally got around to making sure bank got SS payments... they did so now bill pymts can go out... hubby wants me to give him a tutorial on how I pay the bills incase I get sick... so will try and write it all down for him tomorrow... most of it is automatic so that part is easy...

We are pretty much set here, we had done a Costco run before it got bad and since it's normal for us to buy 3 months of stuff we had the paper stuff and freezer loaded... he did go out and buy some canned and cleaner stuff we can always use so we have enough to share with the lady next door if we need to... I think it will get worse before it gets better so I would much rather have it ready than not and it will always get used … my inlaws here tend to believe it just won't happen so really hope they are better prepared than it sounds like... they are Trumpers and believe he has it all under control...….. we are staying in and as isolated as we can... we are looking out for next door lady , she is older too and her daughter expects her to watch her kids for her still... she finally told her she couldn't do it... they are little kids 7 and a yr old... that's just a lot for a person over 75... the daughter doesn't work either … she just needs to be away from them sometimes... I would tell her it doesn't work that way.. can't put them away like dolls you are tired of playing with... LOL!
Well got to go do another load of laundry and get that out of the way... so far all is well down her at the bottom of AZ..
Nana

It's very good of you to check in, Sherri. I'm glad that you are staying safe.

Yea, the people who do not believe it will, or is happening, will Be the death of us ( so to speak). And it is not only Trump supporters who believe that way. But as for me and mine, we are staying indoors. I have enough for at least a.month give or take..and I can have my DD drop stuff off for me on the weekends. (her.4 kids are home and her DH works IT for one of the local hospitals so he is at work all the time.) So the only time she will likely go out for us is on the weekends.

I am glad that you are prepared as well, Nana.

Thanks Tina. Daddy was a smart man. He also bought 20 acres in the country so his whole family would have a p!ace to live and be safe at for incase.......the land is now owned by my mom and us 3 kids. I am glad that you have a cushion, Tina. I think that is always a good idea.

We are under a statewide shelter in place order now.

That is wise, Tina. I am glad That you are ready.

NBC news has an hour report on now about covid 19. They began with your stay at home order.

Yes, The shelter order just happened about half an hour before that show started. I watched it MSNBC.
Sweet dreams all.

Glad you're prepared Tina. How does that work?

I live on a highway and the traffic hasn't slowed one bit. Where is everyone going since so many places are closed?

Sweet Dreams Tina.

We are just getting the storms they promised us for today.

I will say good night as well. Sleep well everyone !

I have been sheltering in place for over a month, Sheri. I only went out on the 1st to bank and shop. I only went out once in Feb to bank and shop. Age 65+ has been shelter in place for a week or two. No visiting nursing homes or senior living facilities. If you have a dog to walk or something like, you can walk them or just go for a walk for exercise. The idea is not to spread it to anyone. It is a legally enforceable order. Even when Tangela comes by with my shopping, she carries things in and leaves them by the door and leaves. No sitting and visiting. We do our visiting on the phone.
The next level up would be quarantine. Where we would have to stay in our house with no going out. Then they'd have to organize people to bring food to the door. Probably the National Guard. Also legally enforceable.

No, I also went out in Feb to do my car stuff, Towed it to the shop and went the next day to pick it up and drive it across the street for new tires. I knew I had been out another time in Feb but couldn't remember.
Now I'll be able to sleep. Sweet dreams all.

Well thanks to you, Tina,I went out and shopped a few times, and then I got all my necessary errands done such as mailing my east coast DD a few needed items, and getting my 2 nd shingles shot. My hair needs cut, but oh well, I will get it done in time.

It is 1:35 and I am wide awake...SMH

We cannot get a haircut, Here. It is considered a non-essential service requiring too close contact between customer and barber or stylist. I saw a funny tweet by someone saying that in three or four weeks we'll be able to see everyone's natural hair color. Funny.
Last time for me. Sweet dreams.

I am glad that everyone popped in.

Things are closing slowly here, we have eleven cases in our province. All non essential places have closed such as clothing stores, hair salons and such.....restaurants are take out only. We also have a bigger problem with the borders closing....the truck drivers are refusing to cross the border even though they are allowed due to the fact that as soon as they cross they have no health insurance. All health insurance coverage has terminated from Canada to the U.S.

They also instated a one hour 'old age' shopping hour at the grocery stores. Only the elderly and disabled are allowed in for the first hour after the deep cleaning of the store overnight.

I am stocked to the brim so we are taken care of that way. Oh, and we are having a freezing rain storm at the moment...that should keep people at home.

Good morning, Sunny and Tina.

My DH said he guessed that US truck drivers would have to bring the goods that you want to Canada then. I hope our 2 countries can work out a deal.

I do not think that we can get haircuts here either. The quarantine thing is not mandatory yet, as there are no cases real close here, but as the point is to prevent that from happening at all, many places are closing or offering drive thru services only. We also have the first hour open just for Seniors at Grocery Stores, Dollar General, and Wal-Mart as well.

I am thinking they might have to do a transfer between drivers and trucks at the border.

It certainly won't get easier any time soon. The PM of our country just announced that he will be sending a $300 check per child to each family....every little bit helps.

Good morning. The borders are also harming the US citizens who cross the border for needed meds. Like insulin. Something will have to be worked out for sure.
They say in eight weeks, Cali can see 56% if the population infected. That is over 20M people in this state alone. And why we are so tight with our physical freedoms. I am not objecting, yet. We are commandeering a lot of spaces and empty buildings for temp hospital usage. And a few motels too.
This will not be over in two weeks.

We were told to stock essentials for two weeks, yesterday we were told for one month....maybe the people stockpiling toilet paper aren't that crazy after all.

People will just not stay home....I had to tell my mother again yesterday to go home, she comes here after going from store to store to buy lottery tickets. I keep my door locked now.

Where is your GS, Sunny? Is he weathering the school closure with you or still with your DD?

See, I never did look at it like that was crazy..1) I use the bathroom around 3 times just within the first say 90 minutes I am up..plus, perhaps we will be at this 2 weeks, Or 4 weeks, and perhaps .more..since we do not know how long we will be on lockdowns, Who can tell us how much is too much...esp someone my age..who may or may not be able to go out again in the near or far future. I only wish I had of gotten more canned goods oh well. Right now we are ok..eventually we may be eating strange but we are ok...