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Monday Musings- Road Trip

Happy Monday ladies Ā I hope you had a great weekend. My daughter and I spent ours on the road, heading for Vancouver. I was born in Saskatchewan, so as a Canadian citizen, I’m permitted to cross the border and go home, even though the border is closed to non-essential travel. We will be quarantined for 14 days in her 500 square foot apartment, which will be very closed quarters interesting. We picked up some supplies before we crossed the border plus she has amazing friends whoā€™ve stocked some food in her fridge.customs sign

so hereā€™s whatā€™s on my mind this week:

Ā AstroTurf

AstroTurf has come along way from the first time I saw it. You wonder why I know? Because itā€™s so hot where we live, that plenty of people use them for their front lawns and some of them are extremely realistic looking. My daughter and I stopped just north of Seattle to pick up a piece of Astroturf for her patio. a roll of astro turfHer pug doesn’t have to quarantine and she could hire a dog walker, but that seems like a silly waste of money because the dog doesnā€™t really walk. She has a neurological condition that many pugs have which means she only walks for a few minutes at a time. So we decided we would get creative and we bought some Astroturf to put out on her balcony which we can hose off. This is going to be a fun two weeks.

Rose Gold Kettle

I am a major tea lover and drink multiple cups throughout the day. I used to have whistling kettle for the stove but have long since given them up for an electric kettle. I bought this one in white a few months ago and could not love it more.white smeg tea kettle on counter next to espresso machine

Itā€™s very sturdy, boils quickly, and is nice enough to sit out on my counter. I donā€™t leave many things on my counter but my kettle does because I use it so often. These kettles come in an amazing array of colors but I chose white because itā€™s clean and goes with everything.

copper smeg kettle
ROSE GOLD SMEG KETTLE

Last week, I ran across it in Rose Gold and my heart went pitter-patter. If I didnā€™t have already have a white one, it would be mine. It happens to be on sale as part of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale,Ā  in case it catches your eye too.

rose gold smeg toaster
ROSE GOLD SMED TOASTER

They also have the Smeg toaster in Rose Gold which I am thinking about because my current toaster is old.

Protein bars

Life is so bizarre right now and a road trip is stranger than ever. Ā We knew we wouldnā€™t be eating in any restaurants so we brought protein bars to keep starvation at bay. I have some of my own favorites, but because she is dairy intolerant we tried a few vegan alternatives…that tasted sort of like cardboard. I usually keep a protein bar in my purse and one or two in my car for emergencies, but for a road trip like this we stocked up a bit more and Iā€™m glad we did. Which protein bars do you like? Do you have any suggestions?

 

So, could you quarantine with your son/daughter for two whole weeks? What would you do to stay sane? Thoughts, prayers, suggestions, welcome. šŸ™‚

 

 

71 Comments

  1. Just the fact you were able to take a road trip sounds fabulous. I wonder when (or if) weā€™ll ever be back to normal. The protein bar I like the best (because they seem the most healthy) is the RXBAR. They have 5 ingredients or less (such as 3 egg whites, 14 peanuts and 2 dates). Costco has the best deal on them, especially when theyā€™re on the coupon sale. But I also buy them individually at Trader Joeā€™s. My favorite so far is the Chocolate Sea Salt.

    1. Itā€™s a very strange time to be on the road but she had to get home and we did not want her to drive alone

  2. Six years ago I had a stem cell transplant and could not be around anyone but my husband (who was my care giver) for two months at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix , so i know what it is like to quarantine. When I got home could not be around my grandchildren, animals, or mess with my plants or cook so know what it is all about. Luckily I have a wonderful husband of 51 years who did everything for me. (says he now understands when I can’t decide what to have for dinner as he got the same way after a time.) Luckily to have an eight bedroom home and four bathrooms so could stay away from others when they came to call on us. It is a lot of house to take care of so now keeps me busy in these days of staying home and the large garden which we give most of it away. Actually love the time with my husband.
    I live just off I 5 in Oregon by Eugene so if you need a place to rest on your way home we are always here. Like I say have lots of room.
    Enjoy your time together with your daughter. We are luck to have both our daughter and son very close by.
    Love your blog and great ideas always..

    1. Youā€™re so sweet, thanks. You live in a gorgeous spot. I love Oregon.

  3. For something to pass the time as you chat along with your daughter, you could learn to play Hand and Foot if you don’t already know how. Playing 2-handed with my husband has been fun most every day during our very odd 2020. There are many variations on the game, and easy to find the rules on the internet. We play with 4 decks of cards.

    1. Iā€™ve never heard of that game. Iā€™ll google it, thank you.

  4. Rosemarie says:

    Hi there Jennifer

    WELCOME to Vancouver! Time will fly in quarantine. There is a good Yoga program on each day at 4:30 pm on One TV (Telus) Channel 349 (can be found elsewhere) – also other fitness programs.

    Be sure to have dinner as a special event – set the table nicely etc.

    I’m not a fan of bars – prefer the ingredients separately. Maybe you can come up with a recipe for a new one.

    Enjoy those lovely moments on the balcony.

    A lady I know gets an old book then she circles printed words on each page to make new sentences. She also paints/draws in the books. This will help you pass an hour or two.

    Enjoy your together time.

    1. Thank you Rosemarie. The weather is simply gorgeous right now.

  5. How interesting to find out you were born in Saskatchewan Jennifer! I was born near Prince Albert but have lived in Alberta for over 40 years. Where in Sask where you born?

    I could definitely spend a lot of time with both my daughters. We try to take a girls trip every year (except this one šŸ˜„). I love their company! They are both unique and so much fun to be around.

    Have fun in Vancouver!

    1. I was born in Regina. We moved to Toronto when I was very young so I donā€™t remember the area at all. Thanks Ruth

  6. I need help with this darned Nordstrom Sale thing and you seem like the best person to help me figure it out because you are (usually) in the USA while your daughter is in Canada.There is a HUGE amount of hype about the NSale and so far I can’t see why. There are few Nordstrom stores in Canada and my nearest is about a one and a half hour drive or GO Train ride away…..so no opportunity to actually try anything on…..and no early access to the NSale because I do not have their credit card (why would I have that?). Nordstrom and MANY fashion bloggers approach the NSale with a lot of hype and pressure like it is some kind of marathon event that can”t be missed….kind of an exclusive “girls club” flavour. The fashion bloggers all try to showcase what we should be buying…..nice idea but there is a problem here. MOST items will be long gone when normal mortals get access to the NSale so no point wishing for an item. AND, the nordstrom.com site offers completely different items than nordstrom.ca so nothing a blogger highlights as a good buy is available to me. If there is something I have missed here that makes it worth my while please help me figure it out

    1. The Nsale is a good time to buy things you need to replace from last winter at preseason prices. This year seems very different to me because so many of our lifestyles have changed.
      I suggest online shopping at Nordstrom.ca and put things in your shopping cart that you love or need. They often restock so even if something sells out, you may still be able to get it.
      My Nordstrom is very small and has very little of what I like so I always shop online.
      I always buy cashmere that is marked down because I know I love it.
      Donā€™t feel pressured to buy if you donā€™t want to. High pressure sales tactics just turn me off.

  7. Iā€™m a WW lifetimer so I look for bars low in points. Protein One makes a 2 point bar with about 10 grams of protein. Husband and I just returned from a 17 hour drive from the Oregon coast back to SoCal. Good to see so many young families in RVā€™s enjoying this beautiful country of ours. I kept myself busy counting Amazon Prime trucks! My daughter would love to be quarantined with me instead of her four very young children for awhile! Weā€™re both librarians and Iā€™m sure we would talk books.

  8. I loved the rose gold and the flowered SMEG electric kettles you featured. It was a nice break from the fashion posts. Also the Astro turf info was interesting. It would sure make my apartment patio look different.

  9. “What don’t I know about you?”

    I asked my daughter that question as we began a one month road trip and visited my mother in NYC in June. My mother wasn’t doing so well in NYC, and daughter and I we were both not working, so we decided we better go help my mother. Altogether, it was 30 days joined at the hip almost the entire time.

    It was a 6 day drive from California to NYC. We brought a bag of cleaning supplies to wipe down the hotel room, put a plastic sheet over the bed and slept in our sleeping bags, and brought all our own food. We shared my old room at my mother’s house for 2 weeks. The rest of the apartment was common space with my mother, so no one really had any alone time. And then we had the drive back. We were close to begin with but we acknowledged that this may be the last time we get such an opportunity for so much 1:1 time. We talked so much! About everything!

    I got some surprising answers to my question over those 4 weeks. And she asked me the same. We asked each other a lot of “What if” questions. We also ambitiously started a photo project. Photos prompt a lot of conversation.

    We opted to not buy protein bars, as they only last 3 bites. We chose to eat the same ingredients unassembled because they last longer!

    Enjoy this precious time together. The limitations inspire some very unique things to happen.

  10. I was wondering how the border crossing was going to work for you. My children both live in Montreal. One has permanent residency status and one has a student visa. I haven’t seen the oldest in over a year. I don’t think any of us are going to visit in either direction for awhile.

  11. I read your posts everyday. I am a low carb girl and my favorite bar is the brand “Think” especially the dark chocolate coconut. It is a prebiotic & probiotic bar. Although it only has 2 grams of protein, It’s low on sugar but high on fiber. This flavor reminds me of a Mounds. It’s gluten free, vegan and non-soy.

  12. I could quarantine with my daughter as we are very much alike. We both like to cook and try new recipes, have a love of reading, decorating, gardening, exercising, and wine. She is sweet, with a good sense of humour. Doing so in a 500 sq ft apartment would be difficult with anyone though. I hope her balcony is big enough for you to sit out and enjoy hours of sunshine and watch the sunset. Having this time with your daughter, while not connected to the outside world, might be a precious time for both of you. I hope you plan an extended stay to enjoy Vancouver with Vanessa and escape the heat of your area.

  13. Lovely post! I have never been blessed with any children, just my fur babies. They give me unconditional love, ask nothing in return. I am happily spending loads of time with them during this pandemic. I am sure you and your daughter will do great together in quarantine. Have a wonderful time in Vancouver, hope the weather is good for you.i am in Florida and it is so very hot here and very humid!!!

  14. Barbara K. says:

    My very favorite bars are KIND Salted Carmel Brownie. They are delicious and really keep me satisfied for several hours. My daughter turned me on to them!

  15. Martha vaughn says:

    Yes i could with my son or daughter. But both are married so I don’t see it happening. I think I would love the time with them, reminiscing old times when we were all younger. My daughter and I have times together just she and I but I don’t get to see my son as much, he lives further away. Enjoy your time with your daughter.

  16. My older daughter came here early June with her fiance, after they quarantined for two weeks in Pittsburgh to stay with my husband and I for about six weeks. They followed our rules while they were here…no going into stores (only doctor’s offices if necessary) and only rarely socializing with people we know, outside and well physically distanced. During that six weeks, they got married at a very small outdoor ceremony in our backyard (a 100-person wedding had been planned but now there are plans for a 100 person reception in 2021).Toward the end of their stay, her new-husband went to visit his 92-year-old grandmother, probably for the last time, in a hospital about an hour away. Four days later he came down with symptoms and tested positive for CoVid the next day. We are fortunate that we have a finished basement with a full bathroom and bedroom, where he quarantined, and our house is large enough for the three of us to remain far away for each other for 14 days. Plus we have a large back deck to hang out on, no close neighbors, and the weathe r was pleasant a good proportion of the days. Fortunateely, no one else got sick. Also fortunately, his symptoms never got bad enough for him to be hospitalized and lasted about 7 days (although he has ongoing exhaustion and mental fogginess still). It was a mild case, as it goes, but the whole thing was so stressful. Once he had recovered and they awent home, it I took me over a week to get back to even remotely feeling normal, emotionally and physically (the whole thing was exhausting) I did learn that my ideal living situation would be if she lived in the same city, but not the same house…we could see each other frequently but not be up in each other’s face every miute.

    1. Wow! Thatā€™s amazing. Youā€™ve had your hands very full. These are such strange times for all of us. How lovely your daughter was able to get married at home. Stay safe

  17. I get along very well with my daughter (my only child) but she is married with a child of her own so that won’t be happening. I am assuming you plan to stay for a while after the quarantine, but I would probably be ready to come home after two weeks. I get homesick, just the way I am. Plus, I would miss my husband. Sounds corny, I guess.

    1. Elizabeth says:

      No, I can identify with you..Love my daughter to pieces but……

    2. Not corny at all. I miss my husband already but Iā€™ve always found that absence makes the heart grow fonder.

  18. 500 sq. ft. !!! Oh no, I could not do that with anyone. I need a bit of alone time every day, and with 1700 sq.ft at home, sometimes it is too much togetherness. I would be out on the balcony with the dog after a week. Of course you have had practice with your daughter at your house, but there will be no going out for walks and that would have me a bit claustrophobic for 2 weeks. Sorry to be a bit of a downer, that is just me and this pandemic has turned me a bit anti social it seems. I am sure you will find lots of things to keep you occupied, and do keep us informed. Books will be a great escape, and the idea of a history journal you can both work on is a great idea. My mom did that and even had stories about her early school life and friends and travel when she was still single. You will figure this out. As for the bars, I was a big Lara bar fan but got away from them after I was eating too many of them.

    1. I had to laugh at your comment because Iā€™m sitting on the balcony with my tea and the dog šŸ™‚
      Iā€™m really enjoying it because the temps are tolerable unlike at home when I hide in the AC

  19. Paulette Levy says:

    Honestly Jennifer Im not sure I could do this –quarantine with my son or my daughter….both have spouses and children and then ME? Don’t think it would work….Love them all dearly but…..
    I don’t see it coming up anyway.

    I don’t buy protein bars. I really don’t care for them in general. I’d rather grab a few nuts…grapes. I did eat one once that wasn’t that gooey sweet, more nuts but don’t remember the brand. Now with celiac disease I stick with non processed snacks for the most part. The people I know who do eat them like KIND brand……

  20. I go for bars that are high in protein but very low in carbs…they also have to taste great. Atkins bars are my very favorite and there are a couple varieties of KIND bars that fit this criteria (not all do). Enjoy your time with your daughter. Moving in with my daughter would give her a built in Nana for the three grandchildren she has blessed me with. Her kids are currently having virtual school so I would most likely become the homeschool teacher…not sure I could handle that title. šŸ˜Š

    1. Three is a joyous handful, but a handful none the less. Iā€™m pretty sure it would be more than I would handle easily.

  21. Could I quarantine with one of my children? Yes, but I donā€™t see that situation arising any time soon. They are all actively employed and busy with their families. We share a lot of the same interests but seriously, it could be a challenge! Itā€™s always fun to visit for a long weekend but then say our goodbyes while weā€™re still enjoying each otherā€™s company.
    This pandemic has subjected us all to so many new challenges that we never dreamed we would be living through. Itā€™s testing our character and our empathy for others.
    The darling little SMEG kettle is going on my wish list! Love it!
    Kind words and best wishes to all for a wonderful week!

    1. So true Jan, that is the best time to leave. These trying times are harder for some than others but I donā€™t think any of us will remain unchanged.

  22. ANNE SHANNON says:

    I ended up quarantining is a large house on the St Lawrence River with my 18 month grandchild. (Her parents were included in her luggage – she was the icing on the cake.) We have had a great time! Now granny is thinking of moving and buying a country place closer to Toronto – so they will have somewhere to escape to. I never would have considered this previously.

    1. How amazing!! I just got goosebumps thinking of the possibilities for you. Well done Anne!!

  23. Oh, I would love to quarantine with either of my sons. They are intelligent and interesting men who would keep me entertained for hours. My oldest is brilliant ( and I’m not bragging…he’s like his Dad…he knows stuff!) and we enjoy talking about everything! My youngest just retired at the young age of 49 and makes everything we do fun! I’m so glad you wrote about this today…I’ve never given thought to how much I really love being around my sons…just that I do and miss them terribly with this pandemic. I have not seen either of them in months as they do not live close by. Both of them have families and because of our age (early 70’s), we have stayed close to home. I love your stories and enjoy all of the replies as well! Have a wonderful visit with your daughter!

    1. Itā€™s funny, but as bad as these times are, I feel blessed to have had so much family time. Have a great day Sandy.

  24. Hi, Jennifer. What a lovely 2 weeks you will have – spending all that time with your daughter! If I was in your shoes, I would enjoy making nutritious and healthy meals for us. My daughter usually cooks for her family of 6 people, so she probably would welcome my cooking efforts. She is a writer, we are both readers, and we love to watch movies. So thatā€™s probably how we would pass the time. It might be harder for her than for me, but I bet we could survive two weeks quarantined together. Good luck with your experience!

    1. Iā€™m sure it will be harder for my daughter too because sheā€™s used to having her space all to herself. Thank you.

  25. Yikes! do you have dual citizenship? have you made sure you can come back into the US? Only 500 sq feet? Good thing you get along so well with your daughter!! LOL. Reading the comments above, I do wish I had asked my Father more questions about his family in Ireland. His parents emigrated to the Us around 1910. It would have been nice to hear more about the family. i did travel to Ireland to visit my Irish relatives and met my great cousins and my great uncle. It was a deeply emotional visit to my father’s family on both sides, both his mother and father. I was affected more than i thought I would be visiting my homeland.

    1. Yes, I have dual citizenship. I donā€™t anticipate a problem getting back into the US. Hopefully things go smoothly.

      1. My daughter lives in Canada and has dual citizenship. She is afraid to cross the border into the US because she is not sure if she could get back home again. Good luck and let us know how you make out!

  26. I too am always looking for something to curb my hunger when on the go.
    I’ve tried many types of protein bars and my favorite are the bars from HMR. They have 4 flavors, each of them delicious, especially with a cup of tea, and very satisfying (10 gr. of protein). They can SOMETIMES be found on Amazon along with HMR entrees, but your best bet to get them consistently is from the HMR site: hmrprogram.com. You can purchase the variety pack of 12 bars ($15.60), or a box of a single flavor. I am not a representative or spokesperson for HMR–simply a former HMR client and these bars always keep me going!
    Enjoy your time with your lovely daughter!

    1. Thank you Mira. Iā€™ve never tried them. Iā€™ll check online.

  27. I am 68 and my daughter is 44. Ours is an unusual situation. We have been in lockdown and restricted movement in the same house since March. She had to move her work computer home where she set up an office in a small spare room. We both have major health issues and are tired a lot so neither of us misses any great social life … we didnā€™t have one. I stay in one section of the house and she is down the hall. We meet for meals and text between. So far we havenā€™t had any conflicts since we both like alone time and quiet interests that engage us separately. We do tend to get goofy occasionally. We often sit outside in the late afternoon listening to Oldies music and watching clouds sail in the trade winds. The confinement hasnā€™t been that hard for us. We were kind of used to a limited life already. She probably feels the crunch more than I do.
    Itā€™s been nice having her around 24/7. Thatā€™s a mom talking.
    We also share interests in the visual arts so have much in common which is fun.

    Re protein bars… I got a great one at Costco. Canā€™t remember the brand but will post when I find out. We look for low to no sugar, gluten free. Low carb.

    I love Canada and spent a summer after HS graduation at the Banff Arts School. Still seems magical to me.

    1. It sounds like youā€™ve made the very best of this weird situation. Yes, Banff is amazing! I hope to see it again one day.

  28. A great protein bar is RXBAR. Only ingredients are: dates, peanuts, egg whites, chocolate, natural flavors, sea salt and cocoa. NO SUGAR!
    Available in many stores.
    As for time spent under quarantine : games, puzzles, movies, floor exercises, organize all storage area getting rid of STUFF.
    Also, have your daughter ask you lots of questions about you ( your childhood, extended family, etc.) and journal info.). Many times since losing my parents think, ā€œ I wish Mom was here so I could ask her. Why didnā€™t we ever talk about this or that?
    Enjoy your daughter and family! A SPECIAL TIME! šŸ˜Š
    ā€œ

    1. Thank you Shari. What a great idea. I often wish the same thing about my mom. It didnā€™t seem as important to know when I was younger.

  29. Colleen Gander says:

    I already know that quarantining with my son would have me pulling out my hair. I love him and miss him, 6 provinces separate us presently, but he would happily disappear into his fantasy gaming world. I would be itching to chat or interact, and he could be oblivious. He’s an interesting and intelligent adult, a new father, but easily reverts to his 17 year old self when I’m around. We’re meeting in the middle and isolating at a family cottage with lots of fresh air and outdoor space next month, no electronics. I can hardly wait.

    1. That sounds so familiar šŸ™‚ It sounds like the perfect place to connect Colleen. Have fun.

  30. Pat Hensiek says:

    I love reading your daily posts, and have learned a lot about fashion, person reflection, and confidence. Thank you.

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