I continue to do all of my exercises for rehab for rotator cuff surgery. I see 'the man' next Wednesday to see what his opinion is.

I find it so inspirational that people are stepping outside of their comfort zones during this time.

Walked off 650 calories. Hope I am allowed to keep exercising...

My new kill pen horse, Primo, is looking good.

I've shown pics of some of my waterlily hybrids, and another seed from that cross sprouted a coupleof weeks ago. It will be blue/purple in color. You can tell because lilies with variegated pads, if pink, show pink speckled under the pads, and blue or purple are speckled blue. I pinched off an old pad to show you.

I have gotten a few cuttings from florist roses to root. They aren't as easy as regular roses, and these were on the verge of wilting. They may or may not grow and do well. They are hybrid teas....not my favorite roses. I just did it as an experiment. You can tell they have rooted when roots grow out of the bottom of the pot. In a couple of weeks they will be transplanted into a gallon pot and stay a year before being set out.

I've gotten some significant walking in. Since we're all home, I'm cooking one or two meals a day. Not a lot of leftovers anymore. My kids devour them. I love the no knead bread recipe since it only uses 1/4 teaspoon of yeast and is so easy. I've made that several times.

My kids are making the TikTok coffee (Dalgona coffee). It's really good with milk or soy milk. It works best to make it with beaters. Make sure and mix it in to the coffee.

I just texted with friends in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait. They can't go outside to exercise or work. They can only work from home.

Marilyn, your horse is beautiful and very lucky. And the waterlily pads are stunning, I've only ever seen green ones.

Do you have any rose rooting tips? I rarely seem to manage rooting cuttings and when I do, they turn black on me.

Sorry for the brief hijack, onto accomplishments! Have wrestled with a hugely overburdened unemployment claims system for the past 3 weeks and spent hours trying to call and also access their online portal, and finally managed to get the application submitted.

They are now including some small business owners who are unable to provide services because of covid-19, so hopefully we will qualify.

Also got lots and lots of yard work done which is a pleasure because the weather is so nice.

Kadefol, I can tell you how I do it, and there is other info on gardenweb on propagating roses. I saw a program on pbs about 25 years ago talking about rooting roses found in cemetaries and old home sites. Those roses have survived for years with no care. Prior to that, I had never given roses much of a thought. I didn't like modern roses with no scent and "blooms on sticks". I just never gave roses a thought. But I have come to love big, overgrown shrub roses and climbing roses especially. I use 1/3 each perlite, peat moss and sand...like what is called play sand you can get at Walmart. I make a 6 to 8 inch cutting, trimmed with a couple of leaves on each side. Rooting hormone and cover with a clear plastic bottle or glass. I have some plastic canister type things I bought at a storage auction years ago that I use.

I am going to make some pic of how to do it for some FB friends. I will post them here, if you want, but it is pretty basic stuff. Don't let them get too wet and keep them in the shade. Too, some are easier than others. I have been trying to root a climber from a friend for 6 months. I may finally gave it, but it looks anemic. Some varieties are just hard, without a professional set up.

Thank you Marilyn, I haven't tried the mix you use so maybe that'll do the trick. We don't use any chemicals so modern roses wouldn't work here. The only non antiques I've bought are a few David Austins and I do have 2 Perfume Delights, they smell too good to do without. I'd love to root them for sure, so I will try your soil mix.

I have just finished 27 duck bill type masks for our rescue squad. I have many more to go, but have developed a system and it's going much faster. Outside my comfort zone but it feels good to be doing something to help.

I finally got my office organized completely. I always get half way through and then I get too busy at work. I had to move a bunch of furniture. That got done and I set up my folding camping table for now. Once all of this is over I will probably get more narrow table instead. I need room underneath and I need table top space for folding clothes. DH's closet is in our office.

My seeds I direct sowed are coming up. I'm so excited that I took a picture of the lettuce. You have to look really hard to see it, but I know it's there. I usually just buy plants so this is really big for me!

Bought indoor paint forever ago and we're making good progress actually getting it on the walls. We also made a frame and installed a smaller air intake. It's drywalled and needs to be sanded, then painted. He did an entire new video game, Ori and the Will o' the Wisps. I like to watch and offer tips. He'll ask for tips, so it works out. We created new recipes for a spicy Thai inspired soup, and berry lemonade with a slice or two of jalapenos. I'm most proud that I got picky eater to try soup, pasta, and green beans. He even likes them. Almost 21 and refused all this time. I weeded the entire garden around the house and the bed down the street. Added herbs to the street side and when they're mature enough I'm going to offer for my neighbors to come by and clip as needed. I've given away loads of volunteers to many people (for instance, a neighbor who wanted to learn gardening, but had no equipment or plants. Someone else gave her the tools) and dug up mature plants for my sister's new house. Did Mom's taxes. Picked out and had shipped, some outdoor furniture. Learned how to do office work remotely. I find a new obstacle to it everyday. What I couldn't do was comfort my best workmates who lost their mom, incredibly unexpectedly, and the other whose brother was diagnosed at the end of February with a fast moving cancer. I miss them. I'm sure there's more, because I'm keeping really busy, but I'll quit for now.

Great thread!

I've been making progress on a project I started a couple of weeks ago--cleaning out an alcove upstairs to make a sewing nook. This was my intention when we moved here 45 years ago, and not only did I not do it, but the alcove became a spot where we put everything we didn't know what else to do with. Over the years I would pass by and think, I really should . . . So now I finally dove in. It's a messy job because while I was ignoring the area, mice apparently gave it a lot of attention!

I'm not in the league with the face-mask makers above, but so far I've made 7 for friends and family, and when I've finished more of those I'll start on a bunch to give to a local nursing home that put out a call for homemade masks.

My Easter tradition with my two older grandsons (8 and 6 this year) has been to hide plastic eggs with coins inside. This year, although I wasn't able to join them for the hunt, I cleaned out my coin jar and hid the eggs as always--with one difference. I added strips of paper with messages . . . "Happy Easter" . . . "Grammy loves you" . . . notes like that. Two of the eggs contained no coins. In those, the messages read "Money isn't everything" and "Money can't buy happiness." It made me laugh to think how that was going to go over. I'm told the 6-year-old opened one and said, "I hope all the others don't say just this." :-)

Satine - I keep thinking about your comment. Sometimes just getting through the day is accomplishment enough.

We've been outside thinning trees and clearing brush every chance we get. Not only are we working to make our place more defensible in the event of a forest fire, we are trying to reclaim our beautiful view that is now blocked by over crowded trees. This thinning work we are doing will be good for forest/tree health and is good for us too in the form of all the exercise we are getting.

Besides that, I've been making jewelry like crazy, trying all sorts of new things in the kitchen including making flour tortillas and yogurt. I'll be making my third batch of yogurt tonight and I think I pretty much have it figured out now. I'd like it to be a bit thicker, so am going to extend the culturing time to 15 hours over night and will also extend the time spent draining off the whey tomorrow. If that works out as I expect, I'll have close to yogurt perfection!

Other small things - I planted some beet seeds in pots for the greens, have pansies blooming so I can harvest the flower petals for future jewelry projects), readied planters for petunias (still too much danger of frost to plant) and made powdered bat guano.

I haven't done it yet, but have plans to organize/purge closets and drawers.

DH has been the busy one. He installed a pair of bed steps on the truck for me, built a gate to keep the dog out of the behind the shed area, staked out areas for the concrete pads for a couple backyard projects, got all the supplies ready (except the actual pavers) for a paving project, and today he bought the final things he needs to install the new flooring in the family room.

i have completed every bookkeeping duty I could think of. all bills paid, taxes paid and taxes filed, insurance updated etc. I've put away most winter things, researched projects we are committed to getting done, taken a pile of children's books and game to the grand kids, and have been a patient on calll taxi service for DH's endless Home Depot and Lowe's trips.

Tomorrow is a day off. I get to go to work horses. Most satisfying days off ever.

gee, I wish I did something... ya'll are doing great! I got up today and got pup outside before noon. I didn't even try to hide under the blanket from her. I did manage to pull weeds while out with pup. and marked my recently purchased canned goods on the front with the exp date - large with blk marker so I can easily see them. I've been doing that this past yr or so. that way I don't have to look for glasses to read that tiny print on them. was gonna do laundry but forgot and decided tomorrow would be fine for that. sent emails to dd and my sister. such an exciting day.

windows 10 is horrible. I hate it. my screen freezes and other times the browser just disappears. I usually don't know when they update it. it's a pain before they do that and a pain after they do it. I never know what will go wrong with it next.

jupidupi - that's wonderful! my mom didn't learn to drive until she was 55 and I remember taking her out on the country roads by my house to practice. keep driving that route to the hospital so it is familiar to you if an emergency comes up.

You all are accomplishing so much!

Mostly I am shocked at how I am able to be busy all day long. Busy is the questionable term as I watch some TV, browse a LOT on the computer, read a book, do laundry, wash the floor, et etc.

The shocking thing to me is that I honestly am not bored.

I wish I could get more motivated with organizing and sorting. Although we are pretty much unpacked from our downsizing move, and it was definitely downsizing, we still have rooms that are not utilized because they are holding much krap that doesn't have a proper home.

There's always later today or tomorrow, right?

I did want to comment to @jupidupi and @eld6161 that I too grew up in the city and while I did get a license, driving was more of an inconvenience there and I actually took driving lessons when we were moving to suburbia so I could be more comfortable driving.

I joke and say that I am high functioning because I get where I need to go but highways and unknown areas cause me incredible anxiety. Incredible anxiety. Anytime anyone offerst to drive I am delighted.

Lulu, I can relate! I drove everywhere on expressways, highways etc. But, for some reason as I became a senior, I started to avoid them. I do try to force myself every now and again as I don’t like the feeling of it being off limits For me.

The stuffed animal crib is ready for curbside pick up. :)

It mounts over the foot board of GS twin bed.

Hopefully it won't become a cat bed for Mary Ellen. :)

Jupidupi, my mom had a similar experience with a car accident, and never did learn to drive. Like you, we lived in NYC and driving wasn't that essential.

I learned on a stick shift as well. The last time I was in the city, now with taxi drivers seemingly recreating the Indianapolis 500, I thought, I can't believe I learned to drive here! I love to drive, but the next time I go to NYC I'm taking a bus.

Love the crib, Michael!

I cleaned my oven today. When I was about 6 there were 5 of us in a pickup and my dad rolled it. I was so scared after that if my dad even got a little close to the ditch. When I was in HS I took Driver's ED. I remember the first time I drove my teacher asked me what that sign said that we passed. I had no idea, I was terrified and kept my eyes on the road. When I was 20 I met my future DH and he said that I was going to learn how to drive. I learned on a straight stick, and I sure am glad I did. I also remember having to drive a tractor home from a field, about 6 miles when I was probably 17 and I was really scared then too.

I cooked a big ham Easter Sunday, so I have packed up some of the ham and some peach cobbler for some of my friends and neighbors. Some are quite elderly. Then the packages were delivered to their doorstep for them to retrieve. It was all done carefully and wiped down. They were very happy with their surprise.

I have also been making some masks. A little at a time as my hands allow.

Wow -- thanks for all the driving encouragement! Our neighbor down the road texted to check up on us and said to "stay safe." I told her that a good way for her to stay safe is that if she sees our car on the road, watch out :-)

today: cleaning the grill - top to bottom, walking Leo if weather permits, cleaning main bathroom, ugh hate that job...

continuing emptying Master Bedroom for reno....

tonight continung Breaking Bad binge watch...

sprtphntc7a, I envy you being able to watch Breaking Bad for the first time. I watched the entire series twice, and would still be tempted to see it again. Next on the list, have you seen Bojack Horseman?

I have a file cabinet that I haven't used in years. I couldn't remember what was even in it. So I looked in it, and decided to clean it out. Tax returns from 1992? Pay stubs from 1985? So I've been doing a lot of shredding. I've shredded a couple of garbage bags full!

I made a new potato bed last week. That's about it. I will be making some morel mushrooms tonight when I get off work. I hope they come out good. I haven't eaten them in about 20 years. They're dried, bought them off the internet and they came in about 2 days!

My sewing machine was binding up, I was just thinking about getting another one since I seem to have so many problems with it. I took the top off, undid the plate by the needle and cleaned out all the lint, oiled the bobbin case and now it seems to be working fine.

(Edited later: I'm seeking some recruits to contact folks in our church to see who'd be interested in joining a phone tree, where folks would phone others to keep in somewhat regular contact during this time when for a number of us our only direct human contact is looking at ourselves in the mirror ((haven't shaved for a month, so finding it rather hard to recognize myself.)) )

Hi Oly,

I like your label for the jam.

How about "Vivid Jail Jam - 2020 - Courtesy the Jailbird" (or "jailbird")?

That was "Covid Jail Jam - 2020 - Courtesy the Jailbird" (or "jailbird") ... til the editorbot got a look at it and had his/(her) way with it.

He/she/it rewrote the second one, as well - but when I clicked on 'Vivid", it had the decency to offer a choice-box of "Covid" or "delete"! !

Ggrrow-ll-l !!!

At least I'm not a journalist, who can't countermand the editor's depredations of his prose!

Greetings joann,

I've noted, as have you, I'm sure, how many posters above with time on their hands, have taken to decluttering some spare rooms, where it had become somewhat difficult to see things and find one's way.

When sewing by hand, when one finds it difficult to see sufficiently or to guide the needle to find its way, errors often make themselves known right away - and rather painfully.

When a machine can't see it's way, or guide a needle where it should go, the difficulties aren't as immediately obvious ... but difficulties, though often cumulatively problematic, don't become apparent till somewhat later. _______

Keep yer wits about ya, folks - for it would be a shame if we came out of this thumb-twiddling time close to witless, wouldn't it?

ole (decluttering) joyful

I shaved my legs today.......was quicker than braiding!

Georgysmom 😄😄😄

First time I opened this thread. Mine is, unless someone else is posting right now too, the 57th comment.

WOW, just the same number that I have made masks as of today.

Moni

I wrote and mailed two Thinking of You cards. I found some very nice notecards. I have a list a people who might appreciate a lift. Fun!

When not cooking or helping hubby thin trees/clear brush, I sneak in as much jewelry making time as I can find...this is the latest.

Today was cleaning house/laundry day. Nothing unusual about that; we always clean and do laundry on Saturday, but it still feels good to get it done. Ribs on the bbq as I type!

skibby, right about this time of year, I would be going out to a show and dinner with a group of former co-workers. Since we can't do that, I bought a pack of note cards the other day so I can let them know I'm thinking of them and hoping we can get together in the fall.

Dawn that is beautiful! Such talent!

I made 8 candles and 4 different scents of cubes. My inventory was shamefully low. Sold one of the candles already.

The hardy hibiscus i ordered finally came in. I lugged 5 giant bags of potting soil and 2 of the hibiscus up to work, replaced the dirt that had been removed along with some asian jasmine plants i had ripped out (vile things), and planted the hibiscus roots. I heartily hope i planted them right. It was just a ball of roots sticking out in all different directions. Fingers crossed i planted them right side up. I have 2 more to plant at home as well, but its supposed to rain all day tomorrow, so i will either have to wait til monday or dig in the rain. I am annoyed that they were moldy, but i will see if they come up. Someone brought me masses of daylilies and i have to pack those up and take them home and find a spot for them too.

Its my last night at work and i will have the next 4 days off. So i hope i have more to report, but not making any promises!

I put straw mulch down on almost all my garden beds today. I forgot the one on the side yard. Drug out the last 2 big planters I recently bought and filled them with straw and small dead branches from trees in the yard. The rest will be filled with dirt from another part of the yard the dogs don't have access to and probably compost I'll have to find somewhere. Ace Hardware looked pretty empty yesterday afternoon when I drove by, so I may go there tomorrow. I should have stopped there when I noticed it was empty, just ran to drop some mail at the post office and was wanting to get home to work in the yard.

I also just made English muffin dough for the first time in my life. It'll rise overnight and I'll make it tomorrow when I get up.

My DH and I just took the tabs off of about a thousand aluminum cans. I belong to a club that saves them for a boy who collects them for Ronald McDonald house.

Not much - managed to find a Haiku I'd written some years ago and have been looking for for a couple of days. Put out sunflower seeds for the birds. Like I said....

Oh, I sat in the sun yesterday and watched my youngest and family plant my garden! That is what could be planted for now, onions, six rows, six cabbage plants, 3 rows of carrots and two packages of radishes! Happy Me!

Sue in Central Indiana

What have I accomplished? With this physically challenged body, not much. I did clean out/organize the 'junk' drawer in the kitchen. Dusted with attention to fine detail most of my collectable animal and bird figurines. DH brought them to me one at a time for this task. Read 3 books (that I had been ignoring for a couple years) interspersed by working on jigsaw puzzles. Have done 9 puzzles since mid February. and now I am all out of undone puzzles. Desperately need some warm and dry weather so I can get outside to pick around the yard.

I wrote and mailed one more Thinking of You card. This has been a fun project. Writing these happy notes is cheering me up too! I don't know how the recipients will take these - some are just acquaintances. Just trying to spread a happy thought.

Still making masks. The supplies I ordered came in and a neighbor donated a box of fabric scraps so I can just keep going. I have shipped some out and provided some locally. No charge of course.

Many people making masks here too. Out Front Porch Forum is full of postings of folks who are giving away fabric and elastic in light of this. Nice!

What a day! I sharpened all my pencils. Phew!

Incredibly minor, but made me smile most heartily, I can now (after getting my legs back somewhat), go from forward roller skating into backwards roller skating without stopping. Whew. Felt AMAZING!

Hard to tell whether you're comin' - or goin', rob.

Landlord scraped some topsoil away, preparing to build an equipment shed near the shop and the house: will cut my view from the house substantially. The lumberyard brought some big posts.

When I went out, the landlord had bad news for me - look out the lane.

The mailbox stands on a post to the left - and the large white box was now lying on the ground to the right of the lane, with its post lying nearby. The box is badly mangled - I have an old, small one in the shed that I may be able to retread.

My landlord helped me pick a replacement post from a pile in the yard and when we dropped it at the end of the lane he said that he'd bring a chain tomorrow and we'd lift the broken stub of the post out, that I'd partly dug around, with the loader.

He figures that the vehicle that did it may need some repairs. Was the driver drunk ... or asleep, he wondered? I wonder whether I should install a sign, inviting the driver to give me his address (so that I can haul enough manure there to cover his windshield substantially enough that he'll decide that he definitely can't see well enough to drive).

I dug some more, was able to get the stub out, which made me rather pleased that I could still do such things - and I was careful not to overdo it. I put the old post in - but it's now too short.

Will I build something on top to bring it to the right height - or install the new one and cut some off to make it the right height?

How many years will I still be here?

Hope you all had a good day - and good wishes for some good days in the coming week.

ole joyful