I’m Back …. well, almost :)

Hello all! I am still in recovery mode, but I am back to about 60% normal activity level from being ill with the virus. I am pretty sure I have the covid-19 mild strain of the virus (it was respiratory and flu like virus), but will not definitively know because I did not qualify for testing, due to the shortage of test kits.

Thanks to all of you who sent me Happy Birthday wishes and get well wishes! They really brightened my days and helped me get through the worst of my illness. Although it is considered mild, this virus still attacks your respiratory system, and during the first 3 days, I was very scared and worried that it would develop into severe…and then my brain went down that dark road. What is even worse is when you see your spouse look scared and worried for you. Then on day 5, I started to feel improvement and my spirits brightened so much!

Making Masks

I cannot believe I attempted this while so ill, but I made a bunch of non surgical face masks for my husband’s work last week. In this uncertain time, I feel like I have been useful by making masks. It is such a small thing, but I can tell you, people that need these masks are so appreciative to receive them, and hopefully the masks do help somewhat to protect against exposure and infection.

Below are pics of the masks I made - I was on the early side of mask making, and was able to buy plenty of elastic before it sold out. There are patterns and tutorials for masks with fabric ties instead of elastic.

Tip: if you use elastic, I made my mask with 6.5” cuts of elastic. Using 6 - 6.5” pieces is a better fit for smaller adult heads. 7” is the standard one size fits all size. My husband requested 7.5” elastic for his mask.

FOOD:

I have been a fan of Ina Garten for close to 20 years! On instagram, Ina has been sharing quarantine/pantry friendly recipes you can make at home. Here is one of my favorite lemon pastas below.

Also, below is Sam the Cooking Guy. He has a series of videos on YouTube on quarantine munchies, made with everyday ingredients you probably have in your pantry.

My favorite tea is from The Rare Tea Cellar, right here in Chicago. The two top teas I love from RTC is:

• Rose Litchi Noir - black tea with litchi and rose https://rareteacellar.com/products/litchi-rose-noir?_pos=1&_sid=25fd1f179&_ss=r

• Herbal tea: Berry Meritage - This burgundy-colored tea has black and red currants for fruitiness, hibiscus for tartness, rosehip for smoothness, and raisins to add natural sweetness. Berry Meritage is naturally caffeine-free and the rosehip, with its high vitamin C content, provides a boost to the immune system. https://rareteacellar.com/products/berry-meritage-1?_pos=1&_sid=a87cbb153&_ss=r

My tea set: Russian Blue Lomonosov Cobalt Net Pattern

Below is a photo of my Russian Blue Lomonosov tea set - Cobalt Net pattern accented with 22k gold all hand painted. This is the story I read on the podcast about the history of this beautiful porcelain china:

The Lomonosov Imperial Porcelain Factory was founded in St. Petersburg in 1744 under the decree of Peter the Great's daughter, Empress Elizabeth. It was the first porcelain company in Russia and the third in all of Europe. With the abolition of the Russian monarchy in 1917, the factory was renamed the State Porcelain Factory. During the early years of the Soviet Union, it made propaganda wares. In 1925, it was named after the founder of the Russian Academy of Science Mikhail Lomonosov. 

The factory’s best-known pattern, Cobalt Net, first appeared in 1949. It is based on a blue net pattern hand painted and cast into the porcelain dinnerware pieces of Catherine the Great using actual examples of her collection which the factory has. The pattern is a combination of intersecting lines of cobalt blue, made from mineral cobalt, with inverted teardrops and 22 karat gold accents. 

In 1993, the factory was privatized as the Lomonosov Porcelain Factory and began to export wares to the U.S. among other countries.

This is the link to learn about discerning between real and counterfeit versions of this tea collection.  is-it-genuine-cobalt-net-lomonosov-cobalt-net-is-compared-with-fake-cobalt-net-

Entertainment

Another learning/class platform: Great Courses Plus has a 30 day free trial going on now. I really loved

• Great Tours: England, Scotland and Wales

• Great Tours: France

• Container Gardening

• Delicious Dishes for Every Season - Winter (this has the Avgolemono soup)

• Making Healthy Food Taste Great

• Cut to It: Strategies for Smarter Quilting by Debbie Caffrey - Also on Bluprint

Audio Books: Chirp Books. The Quilter’s Apprentice is on sale for $3.99 as of 3/31/20

SEWING/QUILTING/KNITTING

Finished “Singing in the Rain” pattern by the Tartan Kiwi

The amazon links are affiliate which means I may receive a commission if you purchase anything on Amazon by clicking the link above. No extra cost to you, the link is just me affiliated with Amazon.