STILL HERE

We are both triple vaccinated and Covid was milder than I expected.  That said, it is hanging in there.  Our symptoms were that of a "common cold" - coughing, sneezing, headache and sore throat.  We had heard about the tiredness and it is extreme.  Luckily, with Doug having it first, he was able to do the essentials like getting meals when I didn't have the energy or inclination.  

What I was surprised and pleased to find was the care available though the Covid Support.  Daily calls from a doctor or nurse or even both on the same day.  I was sent a Pulse Oximeter to check my oxygen levels.  We were also asked whether we needed help with getting medications or food and any other necessities.

The isolation period was 7 days but we have not felt up to going out as we are still coughing and sneezing plus after any small exertion we are exhausted.  However, we hope to get to the Growers' Market in the morning.  

Everyone has been willing to help.  Neighbours gave us a bag of goodies, avocado, bananas, apples, nuts, and a smoothie plus offered to get us anything we needed.

However on Wednesday we got a Supermarket order delivered as, after nearly 3 weeks without a shop, there was rather a lot to ask people to get for us.  Yesterday, I managed to make some meatballs which were very tasty.  

So, we are managing but it feels as though Covid will be here for a while.

BUGGER

Doug has not been feeling too well over the weekend.  A cough, sneezing - flu type symptoms.  Anyway, we went and got some Rat tests yesterday and he tested positive.

Goodness knows where he picked it up,  we have been so careful hardly going out.  The last time we did a Market and supermarket shop was 10 days ago at 6.30 a.m. and both the Market and supermarket were quite quiet.

I tested negative although I suppose I will end up testing positive as well.  So now we are in isolation.

On a different note this is the cartoon from today's local paper the Northern Advocate

AUTUMN

Autumn is here.  On Tuesday Doug phoned and ordered 2 loads of firewood.  We thought it would take a while before delivery but we got one load on Tuesday and the second on Wednesday.  We put both loads away and counted 13 large wheelbarrow loads plus a few boxes of smaller wood for the second lot.  I must say it knocked us as we were both tired on Thursday.  The wood is untreated offcuts from a Timber Mill and is various sizes.  Should keep us nice and warm.

We are still in self imposed Lockdown as daily new cases of Covid in Whangarei are still in the hundreds but we keep busy with the garden and, for me, making Doug's bread and g.f. bread for me.  

I have removed all the tomatoes, I planted fewer this year but had an excellent crop and have plenty in the deep freezer for winter.  I cut and used my basil making both pesto and pistou  but the plants have regrown so well that I have just made some more pesto.  The first lot of broccoli is coming on well although the cabbage white has managed to get through the netting I  covered them with.  I have some  purple sprouting broccoli , pak choi, silver beet (chard)  and perpetual spinach seedlings still to go in.  We have only been going to the Growers' Market and supermarket on a fortnightly basis.  Last Saturday it was still dark as we shopped at the Market but the clocks go back tonight so it will be a bit better next week.

Doug has just been cleaning out his butterfly cage so I took a photo of some of the Monarch caterpillars.  This is just one jar of them, he has 6 jars in the cage.  He is just about to release his 200th Monarch Butterfly this year, no wonder the garden is full of them.

Weatherwise it has been lovely autumn weather with sunny days and temps of 25° - 27° C whereas Australia has been having almost continuous rain.  I see we have rain forecast for next week although it was also forecast for this week and then vanished.  We are still watering the garden daily so some rain would be good.

While I was writing this our neighbour just messaged to see if we would like some fresh Mitimiti mussels in the shell.  Doug has just been across the road to get them and opened them in the microwave.  There are about 5 dozen and they are delicious.  Lunch sorted.

THE KITCHEN

I find it hard to believe but it is 5 years since I moved here.  At the time Doug did work on the kitchen making a large larder type cupboard which was actually for crockery.  The kitchen then got left while the rest of the house was repainted and many other jobs completed.

With the arrival of Omicron and the thought of possible isolation we decided to make our own bread and bought a breadmaker for Doug's "real" bread.  As there are cupboards above the bench I wanted somewhere to put the breadmaker so asked Doug to build me a trolley.  It was built partly to specifications for the area it was to sit but also governed by the timber that Doug had stored.  I am thrilled with the final result and love the top which was actually part of an old bed headboard.  

As well as making the trolley Doug also repainted the kitchen and made a couple of shelves for one of the cupboards.  (Things on the top shelf were hard to get at so he made a blocked off half shelf at the bottom and half shelf at the top).  It is great.  Doug likes Bonne Maman jam and the jars are useful for storing so many things. At present there are several in the deep freeze with stewed rhubarb and apple.

When Doug bought this house he decorated it in what was supposed to be white but was more of a grey.  This colour is much warmer.  

Since it has been finished I have made Doug three loaves of bread, 2 white and one with oats and bran and have a fourth cooking at present which is wholemeal and white flour with rice added and is a loaf I always enjoyed when I used to make bread previously.  I have also made four loaves with the new Gluten Free flour I have found that makes a much softer loaf.  As long as I can still get the High Grade flour and yeast we are now o.k. for bread.

KINDNESS

The Jehovah Witnesses have stopped their door knocking because of Covid and are now sending out handwritten letters instead.  We have received several mainly from young people.  We received another this week and Doug, being kind, decided to phone the lady who had sent it as she had put her number at the end of the beautifully written letter.

It turned out she was not young but was 77 years old and lives very close to here.  She told Doug that she had sent over 600 such letters and not had a reply so prayed to Jehovah and then received one of the letters back in the mail although it was unopened and had abusive messages on it.  She prayed once again and then received the call from Doug that made her day.

They ended up talking for nearly an hour and she has actually called on us and, once the peak of Omicrom is over will visit us again.

Before I met him Doug had got to know a lovely Jehovah family and the mother actually did a reading at our wedding.  We often comment on what lovely children they have raised.

BANANA UPDATE

 It is 10 days since I took this photo of the bananas

 and today they look like this 

I am trying not to count my chickens before they hatch or, in this case, my bananas before they ripen but they are looking good.  Still a long way to go .

The second plant is just coming into bud as well.

UKRAINE AND GUAVAS

 A few days ago we commented that the flag on top of Doug's windmill needed refreshing.  Yesterday, it was given new colours in support of Ukraine.

Red guavas are quite a small fruit and drop when ripe which often means missing them as they fall to the ground.  Yesterday, I set up an old net curtain to catch the fruit as it falls.  I  have already had a few early fruit.  

Linda asked for a photo of the guava fruit so here is one from the internet.