Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Groceries!

I did it!  I had an online pick up order from Walmart on Monday. Originally the website said the soonest time slot they had was April 7 but apparently they had a cancellation. The first thing I did before going to pick up my groceries was set up a cleaning station in the garage.  I had watched a video with a family practice doctor and he showed how to clean your groceries. He recommended dividing your kitchen island in two, but I just used this table.

The video I watched was on YouTube. If you type in “How to safely grocery shop during coronavirus” by Now This News, it should come up for you. I think he explained his reasons for how he cleaned the groceries very well.  He also explained how putting things into the freezer would not kill the virus. He said coronaviruses have been proven to able to survive in freezing temperatures for two years!  One thing he recommends is to take things out of their outer packaging if possible. Things like cereal that has an inside packaging. The inside package would be virus free and throw away the outer cardboard or plastic packaging.  I did this with the Texas toast and the pop-tarts that I purchased.
 
I had never used Walmart pick up before, but it was super easy. They sent me an email telling me when it was ready to be picked up. I just parked in one of the pick up slots and texted them which space I was in and the color of my car. They brought the groceries out and loaded them and even signed for me. I didn’t have to touch anything.

I brought everything home and unloaded the car and put it all on the floor. Then I washed my hands and started cleaning. I washed my hands four times in about 20 minutes.  I think I’m getting paranoid, but our case numbers just keep going up here in Washington.  Unfortunately, I think that’s happening all over the world.

This is the stash of groceries after I disinfected everything. Yes, there are two bags of chips. My husband requested them and they will probably last us about two months. We don’t eat many chips, but I don’t want to have to go back to the store. The one thing I forgot to get was bananas. There are some fresh vegetables, bread and eggs behind that pile of frozen vegetables. And yes, those are pop-tarts in the dish in the front.  I haven’t bought pop-tarts in quite a while now, but I love them and they are comfort food to me. I need comfort food once in a while during these strange days. I offer no apologies! Ha!  I didn’t have to get very many things as I stocked up pretty well months ago. I actually started out just ordering the frozen vegetables, chicken broth, bread and eggs and everything else sort of jumped into my virtual cart.  Dennis takes the frozen burritos to work for his lunch.  He loves them.  I can’t stand them.  :-). They actually had everything I ordered and they only substituted one item. I had ordered Great Value frozen pie crust for chicken pot pies and they substituted Pillsbury crust for the same price. I consider that a win!

Now, onto the Knitting. I finished four more pair of mittens. That brings me up to the end of April for my weekly quotas. I like being ahead of schedule for a change.

I ended up having to frog these socks all the way back to the cuff.  I had set them aside for so long that when I started knitting again I messed up the lattice work on the sides. I am now about back to the same spot once again.  I’m using Dee’s Dublin Bay Socks pattern. It’s really not difficult, it was completely a user error on my part.  In the past I would have called it a blonde moment, but I have more gray than blonde these days. :-)

I’ve done just a bit more on my sock yarn blanket.

This is what I played with Saturday and Sunday. I made a whole flock of peeps! Is that what they’re called? A flock? Anyway, I posted a picture of the ones I made for Piper on Facebook and several people wrote to me asking if I could make some for their grandchildren. They certainly are fun, and addictive too.

I hope you are all weathering the storms of this plague that is sweeping around the world in relatively good spirits. We mustn’t give up. Hang in there my friends. I’m thinking of you all and keeping you in my prayers daily.  Dennis is continuing to go to work every day. They have started a mandatory taking of temperatures when they walk in the building and again at noon. There is one employee that is responsible for reporting everything to the corporate office every day.  Our governor is talking about making even stricter rules about lockdown in our state.  I have certainly found myself wishing frequently that we had retired and moved closer to family already. I really hate being here alone during this time.

Our middle child, Jamie,  lives in Montana and this was posted on our family WeChat conversation this weekend. It certainly made us laugh and it is so true!

Our church secretary has been emailing encouragement to everyone in the congregation each day. This is what she sent today.

Wishing you all safety and good health. (Oh, and the icing on the cake for me? It’s supposed to snow again tonight.) Yuck!

Blessings,
Betsy

15 comments:

  1. Looks like you'll at least be eating good for awhile.

    I used to LOVE Pop Tarts. Of course, it's not something I can have anymore. So, enjoy one for me.

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  2. You must live a charmed life! I'm just north of Pittsburgh and have not been able to get a Walmart grocery pick up for two weeks. Not just our local store, but a 25 mile radius! I hope you got enough to keep you going for a while.
    Stay home, stay healthy!
    Jan

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  3. I was in tears yesterday when I couldn't get an order in. Now we have plenty of food to last a few weeks but it was the last straw in a bad day that ended in an official lockdown. I am also disinfecting everything that comes in the house. I don't let The Mister touch anything since he doesn't quite understand the concept. It would be nice to have an extra pair of hands with all this extra work but I suppose I should just be grateful for the company. Lol...
    Your bunnies are so sweet. I don't even want to think of Easter without my Grands. Before the lockdown I thought about just driving over and looking at them from the car but I knew I would cry and they don't need to see that.
    Stay well....

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  4. I got up early and went to Walmart for their senior hour. shopping at 6AM is not for wimps. I found everything on my list. I reorganized the freezer and stocked the pantry. I’m determined this is my last shopping for one month and possibly even two months. Love the Peeps!

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  5. I went shopping two different places Friday and got enough for awhile since stay home has been pushed to end of April. Only thing we'd need is milk late next week. No toilet paper seem yet. I am doing fine and glad you are as well. It's been a bit wet here. Megan and I danced to a Michael Jackson song...was supposed to be on a different station. But it was fun...good exercise!! Have a blessed day!!!

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  6. When we brought groceries home we wiped down everything. I guess I'll do the the next time we have to go pick up more food. It's a bother but it makes me feel safer. As we keep getting reminded... we are the 'elderly' who are most susceptible.

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  7. I am proud of you for being so thorough in disinfecting your grocery order. Good job! This virus is so insidious and frightening! I got such a big kick out of seeing all your Peeps bunnies! You are so fast it's amazing to me. I did good getting 3 of them done. I need to get back to crocheting on Paige's afghan and get it finished and sent off to Ohio. We're hanging in there here. We need to buy some more flour since Dayle is baking our own bread. But we can't find it anywhere!! Change that, I just ordered 20 lbs. of flour from a website called Azure Standard and it is supposed to be here day after tomorrow. I'll let you know how that goes. Hang in there, hopefully we'll make it out the other side of this in one piece. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  8. You are doing a good job on the mitts for the children. The socks look good also. I am also wiping everything that comes from the store. Take care and be safe

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  9. We do the same thing for groceries! Good job Betsy! Your peeps are so cute they made me smile:) You are staying busy! Take care and stay safe:)

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  10. I went to Walmart for groceries today. I wanted to get there by 6:00 am but just couldn't make it. I too emptied all the plastic bags and threw them in the trash then wiped down everything before putting things away. It was a job. Your little flock of peeps is just so cute.

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  11. We haven't tried the online ordering yet. We are retired so can go to the grocery when it isn't busy and so far we have found people to be respectful of the six foot rule. We have a pretty well stocked freezer and pantry so only need to go every couple of weeks for fresh fruit and veggies, eggs and milk.

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  12. Glad the click and collect went well and you now have a well stocked store. It is such a lovely feeling knowing that you have food available isn't it. I can't imagine the pain some families are finding themselves, prayer seems to be the only answer. Stay safe.

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  13. Glad you could get your groceries so easily. And glad you got them cleaned up! Your mittens are so pretty. And, I love that Montana sign - LOL

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  14. I love the Montana quote! I've always had a dream of going there someday. May the Lord continue to keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy, sweet friend. I am praying for you!

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  15. Hi Betsy.. oh I get it re shopping!
    rough job.
    Did big shop yest and spray EVERYthing that can be disinfected everything in basin,leave disinfectant on for five mins, then rinse and dry with fresh bath towel. Left to finish dry overnight then put away today. Fruit veg, etc I wash 20 secs in soapy running water like hands.
    A lot of hooharr but if stops issues, it's worth it. Will go when needed to Fruit veg shop in top town which has easy access rather than supermarket. Shouldn't need to go there for few weeks.
    Our death or serioius cases rate still very good at under 1% pray it stays that way. Praying much for our Christian PM he's doing a mighty job thus far. Mau God have mercy, prayung for your Mandy and Alex and all dear ones sis.. esp you and DH.
    Love all knitting going back to read properly now.. tired and behind still. Never ever bored here and dont understand that really always too much to do!
    Thanks for sharing, and may God bless you and all you love, and keep you well in these troubled times. In God we trust.
    Hugs, Shaz in Oz.x

    {Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
    {Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

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