The biggest news on the homestead this week is the weather. We ended up with about 6 inches of snow over a couple of days. That amount of snow in our area of the Pacific Northwest is pretty rare. I was mostly nervous about the workplace forcing employees to work overtime. Luckily, I made it home, the power stayed on and we keep our house stocked with some pantry staples and a freezer full of food. I heard there were some shortages at the grocery store of freezer convenience items, milk, eggs, bread, and to my husband's disappointment bananas. I wonder if people are still buying all the toilet paper, or if they have learned from their mistakes and decided to buy all the food instead?
Certainly is nice to be trapped at home for a change myself. When most of the country was quarantined in their homes unable to go to work because of the virus, I was forced to continue on going to work everyday. While I don't want to downplay that many Americans are suffering as a result of the pandemic, the late winter snow has allowed me to finally slow down a little, for a change. There are still things that I need to do, but I am unable to because if it isn't an emergency it is advised that people stay home. Even the hens decided they didn't want to come out the hen house when they first saw the snow. I had to put water and food in their house because they really didn't like the snow. Eventually, they did come out a little bit to explore, especially when they heard me coming out to check on them.
Unfortunately, the hubby needs a root canal and has been down off and on this weekend suffering in pain. He was at the dentist and got some antibiotics and pain medications last Thursday, but he admits they didn't help much. I am the type that can't stand to see him suffer, so I tried helping by offering home remedies like strongly brewed chamomile and ginger tea, and cooking soft foods like scrambled eggs for breakfast and chicken and rice soup for Valentine's dinner. Neither of us were feeling particularly happy, so I don't think either of us felt like mentioning it was Valentine's day. I personally don't mind not giving each other gifts this time. It was just a quiet day at home for us. I was doing chores around the house, working on my school homework, and did some reading.
It snowed so much, that I am a little worried about my cabbages and other plants buried under 6 inches of snow. I also had to dig my way into the unheated greenhouse to check on the seedlings that sprouted, which seem to be doing OK for now. It was even 40 degrees inside so the snow must have been insulating it pretty well in there. I also have been checking on the tomato and pepper seeds I planted indoors under lights but nothing is visibly growing yet.
On the bright side snow is beautiful and it does give me a cozy feeling. I am grateful and take comfort in knowing I am stuck at home with everything I need and the people I love.