Technology, argh!

I have been trying to  post all week!  Its either my computer or the internet connection, I keep getting cut off, very frustrating, so if I haven't commented on your blog I apologize.  Sometimes when I try to leave a comment a box comes up saying that Firebox would not allow me to do the comment. but when I go to another blog there is no problem?!  Perhaps I should switch to Chrome?  What platform do you use?  I realized last night what the problem with my internet could be, the last two weeks have been school holidays and we have continual rain, so think of all those video games..... I got up at 3 am this morning and tried  the internet then and no problem....overload. They are back to school next week I will see how it is then, fingers crossed.

Any hows, all of this has made me think how reliant we are on  technology and in particular the internet - our banking, shopping, appointments are made online.  We use to have a choice, post  or telephone or physical visits, but that is changing and made more rapid with covid-19. For a lot of utilities you get a surcharge if the bill is posted out to you and another if you pay in person or by cheque. Soon you wont be able to that as local banks are phasing out cheques. Is this process being carried out in other countries besides NZ and Australia?

It is kind of scary in a way, as we can be held hostage in all manners of ways.  There was a story this week where a real estate rental company that operates both in NZ and Australia had data hijacked, they tended to use drivers licenses as ID and copies were stored online and this hacker was able to access them so thousands were vulnerable to identity theft.  Then there was the cyber attack by a certain country on Australian governmental agencies because they didn't like the Australian government challenging them.  Then there's the thought what if the internet fails completely all that stuff saved in the cloud!  I know people who have all their precious baby photos stored in the cloud and when I mention that they should have some hard copies they look at me as if I come from the ark, lol! I am just as bad, as I have all of my crochet patterns and recipes stored  either on my computer or online.  So I am going to make hard copies, am I crazy? I don't think so, its better to be save than sorry.

Its hard to believe that the internet has only been around about 30 years or so, while there are many advantages that are awesome, there is a dark side and I think we should be mindful of that.  Sometimes I long for time when we didn't have it, life was simpler then.  BUT it has intertwined with our psyche so much we would have severe withdrawal symptoms!  Its a bit like being between a rock and a hard place.

 I might not be able to crochet or knit very comfortably but I can sort my cottons and wool out.  I have bought some large plastic bins and will store them in these instead of being stuffed behind an armchair!  Lucy wont be happy as she likes to make a nest amongst the bags.

Lucy will have to revert to napping in any box that comes her way.

 That is Peggy Sue getting interested in the box too, No room for her! I had bought some baby houseplants and the nursery put them in the box and as you can see she was in it before my back was turned.  Also you can  see that I have a paint tester and colour cards, I guess I am going to paint my lounge and bedroom, probably in the spring.  They look yellow there but actually are more of a lime green.  This photo was taken in February so you can see it a long term project.LOL!

It is raining again today, so its a stay indoors day, think I will do some baking and make a casserole for dinner.

 
 

Week 3

It has been a surreal week for me. the loss of G hit me hard, but life goes on and we tuck our grief away, as many thousands of people are having to do all over the world.  It was only today, that I realized that we have already completed 3 weeks of lockdown, there is talk of of coming out of it after week 4 as over the last week new cases have been in their teens.  But there is a fear that the virus is lurking and will hit hard when we come out of isolation.  Fear is paralyzing the world, we  are looking sideways at people wondering whether they will infect us.  I think the psychological effect of this pandemic is going to be more damaging than the physical in the long run.   And I don't even want to think about the world economy.  Anyways on to brighter things, I really believe we have to take pleasure little things of life - cooking, cleaning, the garden, family connections, the birds singing, the antics of our pets and  of course U Tube, lol!

Over the last week I have been in preserving mode, I picked most of the grapes, leaving the rest for the birds and made 4 jars of grape jelly and 2 large bottles of grape cordial.

grape harvest

I have started on the apples, freezing them  an I think I will make some apple jelly from the Golden Delicious variety as it comes out a beautiful peach colour, the biggest apple tree is the Fuji , they store really well and so do the Grannie Smiths.  I am toying idea of making some mint jelly to have with lamb. The mint needs cutting back as it is getting out of hand, especially under the fig tree.

loaded fuji apple tree

 End of last year a new was fence erected in place of an old ivy covered fence that was falling down.  I making  a rock garden  along part of it as the soil is very stony, these stones I found on the property, I need some bigger ones and perhaps when we can move about again I will get some from the river.

 I am also thinking of growing some star jasmine around the posts and perhaps a clematis of some kind.

With three weeks completed in the lockdown I have been able to see how my stores are going.  I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I organized my groceries into 2 week lots, Well, I overestimated and each lot will last 3 weeks, so that is another 5 weeks of stores, I will be good to end of June.  The thing I am thinking of now is whether to continue using them when the lockdown ends or keep my level of stores at its current rate or even to increase the amount that I have stored away.  I would love to know what you consider an acceptable amount of stores without becoming a hoarder!  I know that they say for financial security to have 3 months out outgoings saved up is ideal.  I am thinking that in future there will be food shortages.  On a side note, my neighbour is an essential worker in the local bread factory, and he told me that the flour shortage here wasn't the lack of flour but that the manufacturers ran out of retail bags, so they had to get them printed.  I am thinking why bother, flour is flour!  Nobody is going to worry whether it is Champion or Pams etc., they just want flour!

On Sunday, I treated myself to some waffles, I had a craving for chocolate, and debated cook, muffins, biscuits and so on, I procrastinated all afternoon and fin ally after supper, I decided to make waffles but with chocolate bits in. I just used my usual waffle mix which is really a thick pancake mix and added chocolate chips,  Absolutely divine!

 I used butter to grease the waffle pan and it made them so crispy and crunchy. I will definitely be making them again.

I have been having a break from crochet, and have made this tunic for a little girl I know, Just need to go through my stash of buttons for the yoke.

Well that's it for today you all have a blessed day. 

Sharon and the kitties

 

Day 6

Cant believe it is nearly a week since we went into Lockdown.  I am coping well with the isolation, but I know some people are struggling. It seems to be the people with family close by and who have been in the habit of seeing them regularly.  I have always liked my own company and often have thought I could easily be a hermit.  But even I have struggled, I guess its because we have to and being a contrary sort of person, I dont like being told, lol.  I guess thats why I restarted blogging again, it makes be feel that I am connected to the world.  I have noticed that a lot of the people I followed in the past are either posting more or like me started to blog again.

 I got out some crochet today, I havent crocheted for months, I think in the summer the garden replaces it.  The above was a crochet along I was doing last spring, but fell by the wayside as the weather warmed up and I got stuck into the garden.  The pattern has it turning into a square, but I seriously like it in the round as it makes it ideal for the armchair in the alcove from the lounge.  So I think I will do a few more rounds and call it a day.

Its been raining again today, isnt it funny how we can go on about wanting rain when  we are in a drought and then after a few days of constant rain we are wishing for sunny skies again! 

I have  decided to pick the grapes as the birds are starting to make inroads on then and the rain might lead to that moldy thing they get.  I think I will make some grape cordial and some grape jelly.

For lunch today, I made chicken risotto, using the packet stuff, there will be enough for lunch tomorrow or the next day too.  For supper I had tuna pita pockets, of course the cats had some tuna as well, they have been curled up on my bed nearly all day. 

 Here is something that made me chuckle but is so true!

Well thats it for today, be safe and be kind 

Sharon and the girls.