Quarantine: Week 4

When I started this, I had no idea that I would be typing “week 4”. I thought for sure this would blow over quickly. I think a lot of people assumed that, based on previous outbreaks. But we’re in a whole new world now with a whole different government in charge and, well, things are not going the way they should have been. Best we can do is stay home and hope.

Hope and keep calm and cook. Like this beautiful smoked turkey breast that Mike lovingly labored over in his smoker this weekend:

There were also homemade baked beans, in true New England fashion.

And, by some bizarre mind meld, the entire country decided to bake banana bread this week. My entire instagram feed has been photos of people’s banana breads. The world is weird but wonderful.

You know we had another cheese plate. Goat cheese > all other cheeses. Don’t @ me.

We also picked out a few new businesses to patronize this week. Earlier this year I stumbled upon York Ghost Merchants (in York, England) on Instagram and fell in love with their little handmade porcelain ghosts. I’ve been slowly building a collection of them, a tiny spectral army if you will. Now that they’ve had to shutter their storefront, they’re trying to keep afloat online so I placed a few orders to do my part.

This one is inscribed with Succisa Virescit, which translates to “That which is cut down, grows back stronger.” A fitting mantra for our time.

I also placed an order with Crose Nest, a fantastic botanical boutique a few towns over from us. They make the most wonderful teas and bath soaks, which I could definitely use right now.

I also snagged one of their cocktail infusion kits. This bottle features turmeric, helichrysium, black strap molasses, allspice, rainbow peppercorn, bee pollen, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, clove, and ginger. Simply add vodka (or a spirit of your choice) and infuse overnight. We’ll have to post how this turns out!

Best part of the week? Our weeping cherry tree in bloom. You can’t see it, but the entire tree is humming with 100 fuzzy bumble bees right now going on a pollen binge. It’s breathtaking.

And across the yard, a Lily of the Valley is bursting with tons of tiny white bells that make our whole yard smell sweet and lush. I want to breathe it all in and just hold onto it all. But I’ll have to wait until I can replenish my Flonase.