February is a short month, but it sure did seem long. Here’s the second installment of our 2021 happenings. (Missed January and you just HAVE to know what we did with our lives? Click here.) Please understand, that I’m not doing this to justify productivity or prove that something worthwhile happened in this crazy time. It’s a record, for me mostly, and for you, if you’re interested, of how we’re spending our days.
What We Did
Snow was a prominent theme this month. We shoveled snow. A LOT. And the kids actually played in it a little bit.
We’re not big snow players in this house. We had two snow days from school early in the month and then two remote learning days toward the end of the month because of snow.
On one of the early snow days, I finished an “I Love Chicago” puzzle.
The kids and I are trying to have some Saturday fun because a lot of times it’s all housework and screens, so on the first Saturday in February, we ate ice cream outside for National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. The waffle sundaes (see the What We Ate section) from Lancaster Sweet Shoppe were delicious, and eating ice cream outside in February is not something I will repeat soon.
At the end of the month, we took a hike at Valley Forge National Historic Site with some online friends from My Peak Challenge. It was a mild day compared to most of the days in February. We hiked about four miles. Our bodies needed the fresh air and sunshine.
Speaking of online Peaker friends, I baked chocolate chip scones in a Zoom meeting with fellow foodies from around the world.
Isabelle and I got haircuts! Our first ones in 11 months. It was such a morale booster, for me, at least. (And I feel the need to say that we followed safety protocols.)
I signed up for the Red Rose Run virtual race taking place in June, and I ran twice during our four-day break in the middle of the month. Snow and ice have made running a challenge. I’m looking forward to the melting.
I made bone broth from the Cornish game hen carcasses (see Valentine’s Day dinner). And then made more bone broth from frozen scraps.
On Ash Wednesday, I participated in a service on Instagram hosted by Kate Bowler and Nadia Bolz-Weber. For the ashes, I wrote some words representing things I want to release in this season and burned them. It was slightly terrifying to light them on fire in my house, but also a little bit satisfying. The ashes didn’t stick on my forehead for long, but I’m still glad I made the effort.
Some of you know about my obsession with space, stars and planets. So, I watched the Perseverance Rover landing on Mars. I’m in awe of the science, technology and talent that makes this happen.
As a family, we resumed our twice-a-month virtual adventures. We write locations on pieces of paper, then pick one out of the jar and plan a meal and media around that location. Our first of the year was to Cote d’Ivoire, Africa. (See the “What We Ate” section for our themed meal.)
What We Watched
Shows we’re still working our way through: Grantchester; Schitt’s Creek; The Crown; Carmen Sandiego. (See January happenings for more on each of these.)
We finished Mr. Mayor. I don’t know if it will be renewed, but we enjoyed the series.
Spider-Man: Homecoming. This is one Marvel movie that Phil and I had not seen before, and Michael Keaton as villain? Yes, please. Now I want to watch all the Keaton Batman movies again. And Beetlejuice. And really everything he’s in. Michael Keaton is a national treasure.
Thor: Ragnarok. I forgot how good this was.
Black Panther. Is it the best Marvel movie? Arguably, yes.
Avengers: Infinity War. I don’t like that I know how things end.
The Super Bowl. I want Tony Romo to commentate everything. All the time.
Finding Dory. Just me and Phil on a night when I needed a story to help pull me out of my funk. I might like it even better than Finding Nemo.
Ever After: A Cinderella Story. A standard go-to from my single days. Sometimes you just need to feel the familiar feelings of a story to make you feel better.
Men in Kilts: A Road Trip with Sam and Graham. Even though my husband has not seen one episode of Outlander, I asked him to watch this show with me because of the travel and the whisky. We watched the first episode on Valentine’s Day.
Bridgerton. I rewatched after reading the first two books in the series, so I caught some little things that I missed the first time.
Several documentaries/news shows about Cote d’Ivoire for our virtual adventure.
What We Ate
Fisherman’s pot pie. After watching someone eat a pot pie on TV, we were craving it, so I made a pie crust and we used up some of the frozen fish and seafood we had and added potatoes, frozen veggies and a gravy made from seafood stock. Comfort food.
Corn flake chews. And homemade English toffee. We “baked” on one of the snow days because sweet treats make everything better, yes?
Waffle sundaes for National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. A waffle topped with ice cream of our choice (me: chai stroopie; Isabelle: triple chocolate; Corban: chocolate marshmallow) and a variety of sundae toppings (fruit, sprinkles, chocolate sauce).
Super Bowl foods: mini pigs in a blanket; mini tacos; potstickers; salad; steamed shrimp; chocolate chip bars. Much of this was Costco frozen foods, but it was the perfect party food for a house without a party.
Spaetzle. German egg noodles, basically. One Wednesday when Phil was cooking, we had braised pork chops, sweet and sour cabbage, and spaetzle. A very German feel to the dinner. This was our first time making them at our house.
The aforementioned chocolate-chip scones.
Valentine’s Day dinner: 1st course: empanadas from Empanada Gourmet: Uruguayan, three-cheese, spinach and dulce de leche; shrimp; lobster dip and a smoked fish spread; roasted stuffed Cornish Game hens, sicilian cauliflower; white forest cake; Rare Vos beer by Ommegang (shared between Phil and I)
Fastnachts. Is it even Fat Tuesday if you’re not eating donuts made with potato flour?
Chicken mafé for our virtual adventure. It was a peanut-y chicken stew over rice, and it was satisfyingly delicious.
Wings. We’re trying to eat takeout once a month from a new or favorite restaurant in Lancaster. Our first choice for wings temporarily closed the weekend we were going to eat there, so we picked a backup: Joe’s Famous Wings and Wieners. (We only had the wings.)
What We Read
Truman. Still. I think I’m about halfway. It’s a struggle.
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn. This is what the Netflix show Bridgerton is based on. I gave up a night of TV to finish it. Different than the show, but I’ve made peace with shows-based-on-books being a different art form and therefore not needing to be EXACTLY like the book.
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn.
Stick Dog Gets the Tacos. “Whisker-twitching nut-munching demons.” (AKA “squirrels”) My son and I read most of this one together. He finished it one night without me. Then we moved on to Stick Dog Meets His Match.
A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel. Made me long for a trip to Ireland.
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. Gut-wrenching, thought-provoking book about mental illness, suicide, depression. YA. Reminded me of my hometown teenage years.
Breathing Under Water by Richard Rohr. I’m reading this for Lent. And as a companion to a sermon series we’re listening to via an online church service.
An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn. Book 3 in the Bridgerton series.
The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder by Rachel McMillan. I’ve been wanting to read something from this author for a while. I enjoyed the relationship between these two friends and the unique setting (1910s Toronto).
Isabelle’s favorite book this month was Close Calls: How Eleven US Presidents Escaped from the Brink of Death by Michael Spradlin. She loves history and historical fiction, and we heard A LOT about this book as she read.
Till next time!
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