It’s been another week of covid-19 life. I haven’t been feeling my best this week (who is?), but I don’t know if it’s psychological or if I’m really fighting a cold. Earlier in the week, Kirk and I were wondering if we had a light form of coronavirus. I’ve been very tired and having headaches and he hasn’t been feeling great either. The longer it goes on though, the more I think this is “just” stress. Kirk also thinks he’s having some severe acid reflux, which seems to have been unfortunately catalyzed by my sourdough baking marathon this week. Fun fact: sourdough is acidic.
In a certain way, staying home all the time baking and knitting is kind of my dream life. But because humans are dumb animals, we only want things when we have options and can choose to do what we want. It’s not as fun to stay home all the time when you have to. Also, I secretly (perhaps not so secretly) like doing things, even though things make me tired. I’m trying to let myself relax into doing the home-stuff I enjoy and not get too wound up in the news (-insert bitter laughter here-). I’m also trying to remember that we’re all living through something we’ve never had to deal with before and that’s really scary and stressful.
Consuming
Here are some things I read or bought this week.
Reading
These are a few of the many depressing things I’ve read on the internet this week. I’ve also been reading books, but I haven’t finished anything that I want to write things about, so depressing internets it is:
- Coronavirus modelers factor in new public health risk: Accusations their work is a hoax via Washington Post. It’s amazing (in a horrible way) that our sense of reality is so warped and enough people think this pandemic is a hoax that people who study these things can’t accurately predict the course of the disease. Also, if you were hoping you could leave your house soon, you might want to slow your roll. Estimates suggest that coronavirus will peak in mid-April and won’t have run its course until the end of June.
- Why telling people they don’t need masks backfired via The New York Times. Yes, healthcare workers need masks more than the rest of us, but masks are still useful for the masses.
- Guess what’s flying off the shelves now: Hair dye via NPR. This is interesting because it shows how our buying habits have changed in the last few weeks. Baking yeast purchases have increased by almost 650 percent, which explains why people keep telling me they want to make bread but can’t find yeast. It also explains why everyone is making a sourdough starter right now: no yeast necessary.
Rampant Consumerism
Partway through this week, I woke up from a nap with the sudden clarity that I needed to buy a Nintendo Switch. Unfortunately, it seems like many other people had the same idea after a week of staying home and every store is out of stock. Luckily, I’m living that rich bitch life and can afford to throw money at my problems now and again. I bought an overpriced one. Kirk and I need a distraction, like many people do, I am sure. It’s supposed to get here sometime mid week, so this time next week, I should be living my best life playing Donkey Kong.
Making Things and Doing Stuff
I haven’t left my house since last Friday so all the things and stuff are house-based now. The garden is still going strong. One of those broccoli plants looks like it’s about to do something edible, but for now it’s just taunting us. I picked some of the spinach but have yet to eat it because who could be in a spinach mood right now? We also planted some recently sprouted garlic, so I hope to have more garlic in my future, you know, for when I run out and the world ends. Or whatever.
I’ve also been napping when I feel like it and not doing much exercise. Part of me wants to work out but I’m just tired. The existential strain is too great.
Knitting and Crafts
I am pleased and excited to announce that I finished the Harmonia’s rings tunic! This is the first clothing I’ve knit, other than socks. I was so nervous that it wouldn’t fit. I finished knitting it and almost didn’t try it on because I was worried that after all that, it wouldn’t be right for my body. Luckily, those fears were completely misplaced; it fits great! I am feeling emboldened and definitely want to knit more tops, although I’m going to take a break first.
I made a clothing item and it fits! 
drying and blocking my new shirt
Of course I have already started my next project. This is going to be a shawl. I’ve been organizing my yarn stash and logging it all on my Ravelry account. I came across a package of several hues of blue that I bought a while ago and didn’t know what to do with. I finally womaned up and figured it out. I’m sure I’ll be posting updates since I don’t have a whole lot else going on right now.
Kitchen Witchery
I have been taking comfort in cooking lately, which is not unusual, but with more time on my hands, I think it’s escalated. Last weekend we enjoyed burgers and milkshakes for dinner one night, followed by pizza the next. Because why not? Although I am going to have to ease up on my baking because I’m almost out of flour. I ordered some online and am planning to get groceries this week, but I’m not optimistic that I’ll be able to find what I want since everyone decided to take up baking this month. Not that I can blame them.
when your commitment to blue cheese and bacon knows no bounds 
Saturday night milkshakes 
no, I will not stop posting pizza photos
Quarantine Sourdough Club
After multiple people asked me about baking bread and finding yeast last week, I decided this was the right time to make a sourdough starter. I shared on social media last weekend that I was going to make sourdough and encouraged people to join me (some did!). I spent the week tending to my starter, discarding the under-fed parts and feeding it with new flour and water. I started on Monday, and today, Saturday, I now have bread.
I’ve learned that making a starter results in a lot of “discard,” which you can use for mildly sour bakes. I put my discard to use in biscuits, pancakes, and a very delicious coffee cake. Anyway I am now out of bread flour and nearly out of all-purpose flour, so if I can’t make it with self-rising flour or what little cake flour remains to me, I’m not baking it this week. These are the hazards of quarantine life.
sourdough biscuits 
sourdough pancakes 
sourdough coffee cake 
first sourdough bread! 
sourdough loaf cross section
Finally, here are some cat photos for your nerves.
quarantine vibes 
“well, get up and feed me”
