New things I have learnt to do while on lockdown

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

Haven't quite mastered this one yet. 
My dog has infected anal glands.  . She is on antibiotics but the glands still need to be cleaned. Don't want to keep traipsing to the vet so had a go myself  . Wasn't entirely successful so have now watched a video. Will have another try tomorrow. 

I wondered if others have had to master DIY projects (I know haircuts have been tried    )

[VanessaC]

Oh, well done, Jan - that's brave of you!

I have been working with my dog to try and get to trim his nails, but he's having none of it - luckily the groomers are all opening back up again, so he'll be sorted soon.

Apart from that, I have mastered the art of constantly eating ... not really an achievement to boast of, I feel ...

[Maggie Ann]

Jan, maybe you have a new career as a veterinary assistant.

Vanessa, instead of constantly eating, I am constantly napping.

At least my dog lets me brush him four or five times a day. I wouldn't even attempt to trim his nails, but I do walk him on the asphalt roadway which does help.

I'm probably going to cut my hair Again in the next day or two.

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

Our local bank has been closed since lockdown and my bank is updating their online banking system that requires a new login and will look 'updated' i.e. will be confusing for some time. I was going to go into the bank to get them to help me and have been putting off changing to the new system. But I decided to give it a go and managed to change over to the new system and only had to make one phone call for assistance, so I'm quite pleased with myself. Needs must   

[notthatamanda]

Tip - kids wore their masks to clean the rabbits anal glands and it really cut down on the smell, which is usually close to vomit inducing.

If dogs are anything like rabbits, (I ain't googling it) we use qtips wet with warm water. We have the added advantage that flipping a rabbit on its back puts it in a trance like state, so we do that for nail clipping as well. Works about 90% of the time.

Honestly, I don't think I've learned anything new. I did decide ordering from GNC is easier than a trip to the store, especially since half the time they are out of what I want. I was going to do felting, when we went into stay at home, because we have plenty of felt. But you need raw wool and a special needle to felt. Trying to use stuff we have lying around rather than spending more money.

I may have started potatoes growing, which I never did before, or it may just be clover. My brain keeps changing its mind on what it looks like.

[LilyBLily]

I'm trying to learn patience. It's a little late in life to start.

Since tomorrow will probably be just like today, there's motivation to say to myself I can wait until tomorrow and also motivation to do a little of a big task today, knowing I can do a little more tomorrow.

[spin52]

I think I am now qualified as an electrician's assistant, having helped my husband (who knows what he's doing) change five old-style ceiling light fittings to LED ones. Amazingly, they make the rooms look bigger and brighter, a real advantage in a Victorian-era stone cottage.

Notthat amanda -- Oh, I hear you on the rabbit cleaning. We had three and you're quite right -- flipping them on their backs makes them play dead but it's still an unpleasant task. One of ours was also convinced if he hid his head under our arms so he couldn't see us, then we couldn't see him either.

[TimothyEllis]

I'm now up to speed on Zoom, and Discord.

Worldcon NZ asked me to volunteer, and so I'm helping them out with testing what they're building for the new virtual Worldcon event end of July.

While Baltican was on, I was active looking at how they were doing things, and suggesting improvements ConNZ could do.

Successfully figured out how to put a background on webcam meetings. And working on a decent one which advertises my books as well putting a nive image behind me.

Discord was a challenge, as it is incompatible with Chromacam, but if you put Manycam in the middle, it works. Zoom does it better though.

All a lot of fun. 

[notthatamanda]

I'm going to get back to work on my chain saw bear. My neighbor had a huge pine come down in the storm a couple of weeks ago, so I may do more. I've seen people work on owls on a log from the top down. Carve an owl, saw it off. The biggest problem is mounting the piece so you can carve it. The bear is the first one I've ever done, but he's pretty cute so far, IMHO. Hopefully when I try to do more detail work I won't accidentally make him too scary.

[cecilia_writer]

Oh dear, Jan - this reminded me of the time when I was off work with flu and I suddenly noticed one of the cats had an abscess on his ear. I phoned the vet but they couldn't fit me in that day so the receptionist said 'you'll have to burst it yourself'. I must admit that bursting an abscess was about the last thing I wanted to do as I was really only fit to lie in bed wallowing in self-pity, but I did it, though it was hard to get past the nausea!

[cecilia_writer]

Forgot to say, the only things I've learnt during lockdown have been how to use various electronic tools: Teams, WhatsApp, GoToMeeting, and how to answer a video call on Messenger.

[notthatamanda]

Oh dear, Jan - this reminded me of the time when I was off work with flu and I suddenly noticed one of the cats had an abscess on his ear. I phoned the vet but they couldn't fit me in that day so the receptionist said 'you'll have to burst it yourself'. I must admit that bursting an abscess was about the last thing I wanted to do as I was really only fit to lie in bed wallowing in self-pity, but I did it, though it was hard to get past the nausea!

I always keep a box of diabetes lancets on hand. I had to test for gestational diabetes, and found they come in handy for anything that needs to be burst, or splinters.

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

I've learned:-

How to make a face mask from various materials in various designs.
That if you wait long enough the supermarket will sell ready-made masks at bargain prices
That coffee filters are the best for protecting you from the virus
That you can't breathe through a coffee filter.
That according to a nurse on YouTube breathing in your own CO2 through a mask for long periods of time can make your body acid, and you are breathing in your own bacteria so you're hurting your body.
That the advice that was applicable in March isn't necessarily applicable in May.
That my check list for grocery shopping has now grown to such an extent that I feel like I'm doing the Macarena when I check to see that I have everything.
• Face Mask
• Face shield
• Permit for being out
• Sanitizer
• Shopping list
• Car keys
• Reading glasses
• Shopping bags
• ID book
• Proof of residence (you never know in SA)
• Ice brick for frozen food
• Cellphone

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

I'm going to get back to work on my chain saw bear. My neighbor had a huge pine come down in the storm a couple of weeks ago, so I may do more. I've seen people work on owls on a log from the top down. Carve an owl, saw it off. The biggest problem is mounting the piece so you can carve it. The bear is the first one I've ever done, but he's pretty cute so far, IMHO. Hopefully when I try to do more detail work I won't accidentally make him too scary.

I hope you're going to post pics 

[notthatamanda]

We took some. I'll post them on my blog. Bear is ready for sanding. Poor little dude waited a year and a half for me to finish him but he has a neck now.

[Mammasan]

I narrate my own books.

I swear, I am never again giving a character a name that starts or ends with an 'S'. 

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

I narrate my own books.

I swear, I am never again giving a character a name that starts or ends with an 'S'. 

My family saga also has too many names that end in an 's'  . By the time I realised  that writing Charles's and Lucas's was going to be a problem I'd already become attached to the names. 

[VanessaC]

I narrate my own books.

I swear, I am never again giving a character a name that starts or ends with an 'S'. 

For my first series, I decided to make a character list in alphabetical order and discovered that I had, in the first book, no fewer than seven characters with names starting with "S". I clearly like the sound! Most of them got their names changed to something less hissy.

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

Just experienced the truth of 'one job leads to another'. My partner/boyfriend wanted me to trim his hair so he carried my typist's chair out into the garden. Cutting hair is not new as I used to trim my late husband's hair, but we used to wheel my chair out. When my partner carried the chair I noticed that there was a lot of dust under the wheel area. (Don't remember ever cleaning that part    ). Got the brush out and brushed out all the dust and fluff, but noticed that some ancient waxed string had got caught round one of the wheels. Took out the scissors and began cutting off the string, but there was some stubborn pieces. Partner fetched the long-nose pliers and started tugging the string, but it was wound round too tightly.  Fetched a cutting tool (I think you call them box cutters in the US). But it was too wide for the area. Started again by pulling at the string and using the scissors. String was stubborn, but we gradually got it out bit by bit by working together. This operation took longer than the haircut   .

[VanessaC]

Just experienced the truth of 'one job leads to another'. My partner/boyfriend wanted me to trim his hair so he carried my typist's chair out into the garden. Cutting hair is not new as I used to trim my late husband's hair, but we used to wheel my chair out. When my partner carried the chair I noticed that there was a lot of dust under the wheel area. (Don't remember ever cleaning that part    ). Got the brush out and brushed out all the dust and fluff, but noticed that some ancient waxed string had got caught round one of the wheels. Took out the scissors and began cutting off the string, but there was some stubborn pieces. Partner fetched the long-nose pliers and started tugging the string, but it was wound round too tightly.  Fetched a cutting tool (I think you call them box cutters in the US). But it was too wide for the area. Started again by pulling at the string and using the scissors. String was stubborn, but we gradually got it out bit by bit by working together. This operation took longer than the haircut   .

Oh, I can relate to this - not the exact story, but the idea that every time I try to do something like, say, tidy a shelf in the house, I seem to generate a lot more work and mess, and often end up with a collection of things at the end that need mending, or put away somewhere else, or thrown out.

[Nick G]

I narrate my own books.

I swear, I am never again giving a character a name that starts or ends with an 'S'. 

For my first series, I decided to make a character list in alphabetical order and discovered that I had, in the first book, no fewer than seven characters with names starting with "S". I clearly like the sound! Most of them got their names changed to something less hissy.

It could be worse I'm listening to the wheel of time books for this first time (read the first time around) and the name similarities/pronunciations are confusing me even though I've read them already. With that many characters it might be unavoidable, but it's kind of funny. I'm thankful for wikis, every time I'm confused a few minutes at the wiki clears it up.

[notthatamanda]

I built a chickadee box and put it up this afternoon. I needed to accomplish something. Not that different from the owl box I built before, just smaller. Hopefully some chickadees will like my woodworking skills more than the owls to.

OWL BOX AVAILABLE - NO FIRST NO LAST NO SECURITY DEPOSIT - JUST FREE SHELTER - SUITABLE FOR A FAMILY OF SIX IF YOU ARE A SMALL OWL BREED

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

I've learned that you can freeze raw mushrooms and raw tomatoes. Now have a little stock in the deep freeze  . Wish I'd known that years ago and it would have saved me chucking out slimy mushrooms and tomatoes with a bit of mould on.  But they did go to the compost heap, so not entirely wasted.

[notthatamanda]

Did you peel the tomatoes before freezing them? It doesn't really matter, we won't have leftover tomatoes. A couple of years ago I threw a hissy fit and said I wasn't going to plant even tomatoes anymore because we weren't getting any. That's when the 8 year old got a guilty look on her face and confessed she was sneaking out there and eating them all before anyone else could get to them.

[Maggie Ann]

I've learned that you can freeze raw mushrooms and raw tomatoes. Now have a little stock in the deep freeze  . Wish I'd known that years ago and it would have saved me chucking out slimy mushrooms and tomatoes with a bit of mould on.  But they did go to the compost heap, so not entirely wasted.

I slice and freeze bananas as well. I even have a handy-dandy little tool that cuts them into 1/4 inch slices, just nice for putting on my waffles in the morning.

Then I always have them on hand if I want to make one-ingredient banana ice cream.

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

I've learned that you can freeze raw mushrooms and raw tomatoes. Now have a little stock in the deep freeze  . Wish I'd known that years ago and it would have saved me chucking out slimy mushrooms and tomatoes with a bit of mould on.  But they did go to the compost heap, so not entirely wasted.

I slice and freeze bananas as well. I even have a handy-dandy little tool that cuts them into 1/4 inch slices, just nice for putting on my waffles in the morning.

Then I always have them on hand if I want to make one-ingredient banana ice cream.

I've been peeling bananas and wrapping them in cling wrap and freezing. You can then eat them like a banana ice lolly 

[notthatamanda]

I've learned that you can freeze raw mushrooms and raw tomatoes. Now have a little stock in the deep freeze  . Wish I'd known that years ago and it would have saved me chucking out slimy mushrooms and tomatoes with a bit of mould on.  But they did go to the compost heap, so not entirely wasted.

I slice and freeze bananas as well. I even have a handy-dandy little tool that cuts them into 1/4 inch slices, just nice for putting on my waffles in the morning.

Then I always have them on hand if I want to make one-ingredient banana ice cream.

I've been peeling bananas and wrapping them in cling wrap and freezing. You can then eat them like a banana ice lolly 

I'm going to try this on the kids.

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

I slice and freeze bananas as well. I even have a handy-dandy little tool that cuts them into 1/4 inch slices, just nice for putting on my waffles in the morning.

Then I always have them on hand if I want to make one-ingredient banana ice cream.

I've been peeling bananas and wrapping them in cling wrap and freezing. You can then eat them like a banana ice lolly 

I'm going to try this on the kids.

I find that the ones that are becoming over ripe do best with freezing as they have a lot more flavour. 

[LilyBLily]

We just used 25 pounds of flour in two months. We usually use about half that in an entire year.

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

We just used 25 pounds of flour in two months. We usually use about half that in an entire year.

There was a shortage of flour in our supermarkets for a while, but stocks are in. My friend gave me a recipe for a delicious sweetcorn bread.

Creamstyle Sweetcorn Bread.
500g Self Raising flour
1 tin Creamstyle Sweetcorn (400g)
Half that sweetcorn tin filled with milk
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp sugar.
Bake 190°C. About 50 mins. If you tap loaf underneath it sounds hollow. Serve with braai or anytime.
Added Tip: Like scones its best to leave standing for 10 mins before going into the oven. Gives the baking powder a chance to start working.
I have a pic if anyone wants to see it. 

[idontknowyet]

We just used 25 pounds of flour in two months. We usually use about half that in an entire year.

There was a shortage of flour in our supermarkets for a while, but stocks are in. My friend gave me a recipe for a delicious sweetcorn bread.

Creamstyle Sweetcorn Bread.
500g Self Raising flour
1 tin Creamstyle Sweetcorn (400g)
Half that sweetcorn tin filled with milk
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp sugar.
Bake 190°C. About 50 mins. If you tap loaf underneath it sounds hollow. Serve with braai or anytime.
Added Tip: Like scones its best to leave standing for 10 mins before going into the oven. Gives the baking powder a chance to start working.
I have a pic if anyone wants to see it. 

Food porn is always amazing!!!!

[idontknowyet]

I slice and freeze bananas as well. I even have a handy-dandy little tool that cuts them into 1/4 inch slices, just nice for putting on my waffles in the morning.

Then I always have them on hand if I want to make one-ingredient banana ice cream.

I've been peeling bananas and wrapping them in cling wrap and freezing. You can then eat them like a banana ice lolly 

I'm going to try this on the kids.

I find that the ones that are becoming over ripe do best with freezing as they have a lot more flavour. 

Try dipping them in chocolate then freezing. You can hate me later.

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

[/quote]

I've been peeling bananas and wrapping them in cling wrap and freezing. You can then eat them like a banana ice lolly 

I'm going to try this on the kids.

I find that the ones that are becoming over ripe do best with freezing as they have a lot more flavour. 
[/quote]
Try dipping them in chocolate then freezing. You can hate me later.
[/quote]

Great idea, but a bit time consuming. Maybe I'll try just grating some chocolate and rolling them in it. 

[notthatamanda]

We have done frozen bananas dipped in chocolate and then rolled in coconut. Toasted coconut is even better. I await your hate.

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

We have done frozen bananas dipped in chocolate and then rolled in coconut. Toasted coconut is even better. I await your hate.

Making a real meal of it 

[notthatamanda]

Not sure this counts as I have been too chicken to try, but we got the ariel hoop we ordered today. (Got it into my head when we watched The Greatest Showman again a month ago.)  I don't know how to spell ariel. Kid was all over it, doing a nice pike lift and everything. I really want to try it, but I am a clod on everything but skis so I'm not sure.

[idontknowyet]

Not sure this counts as I have been too chicken to try, but we got the ariel hoop we ordered today. (Got it into my head when we watched The Greatest Showman again a month ago.)  I don't know how to spell ariel. Kid was all over it, doing a nice pike lift and everything. I really want to try it, but I am a clod on everything but skis so I'm not sure.

That sounds like fun!!!!

[notthatamanda]

We did wood fired pizza on the smoker last night. It seemed intimidating, but it was easy and it came out really good.

[LilyBLily]

I made a wineberry crisp with foraged wineberries (an invasive, non-native plant like a raspberry). If you put enough sugar and butter on something, not to mention the flour and oats, it tastes just like pie. It was delicious.

[notthatamanda]

I guess we will be having a goji berry pie later in the month to test the theory.

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

I have to report that I am still battling with cleaning the dog's anal glands  Dog is still scooting despite a third course of antibiotics. Have now watched numerous videos, learnt that it can cause trauma if done too often or incorrectly, and that all the instructions emphasize caution about the dreadful smell of the fluid should you get any on your clothes. I have contemplated wearing my face shield and mask for the next attempt.   

[LilyBLily]

I'm still working on learning to be patient. Totally not in my wheelhouse.

[notthatamanda]

I have to report that I am still battling with cleaning the dog's anal glands  Dog is still scooting despite a third course of antibiotics. Have now watched numerous videos, learnt that it can cause trauma if done too often or incorrectly, and that all the instructions emphasize caution about the dreadful smell of the fluid should you get any on your clothes. I have contemplated wearing my face shield and mask for the next attempt. 

My kids wore their face masks for cleaning the bunnies anal glands and said it helped a lot. The smell is quite vomit inducing.

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

I have to report that I am still battling with cleaning the dog's anal glands  Dog is still scooting despite a third course of antibiotics. Have now watched numerous videos, learnt that it can cause trauma if done too often or incorrectly, and that all the instructions emphasize caution about the dreadful smell of the fluid should you get any on your clothes. I have contemplated wearing my face shield and mask for the next attempt. 

My kids wore their face masks for cleaning the bunnies anal glands and said it helped a lot. The smell is quite vomit inducing.

Your kids must really love their bunnies 

[Hopscotch]

I learned how to stop my Fitbit from nagging me over those 10k steps by rubber-banding it to the pendulum of a grandfather clock. 

[TimothyEllis]

I learned how to stop my Fitbit from nagging me over those 10k steps by rubber-banding it to the pendulum of a grandfather clock. 

  

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

I learned how to roast cauliflower and broccoli  . Haven't tried it before. Much better than cooking in water as there is no smell (a slice of bread when cooking in water does help, but with roasting there is no smell.) 

We had quite a gusty wind yesterday which resulted in my veranda being covered in leaves. Big schlep moving the heavy furniture and pot plants in order brush the leaves up, so I experimented with using the vacuum cleaner as a blower. Worked a treat  . Got all the leaves out of the nooks and crannies that the brush would never have been able to reach. 

[notthatamanda]

This is great Jan. Our deck has the boards really close together and there is so much gunk built up in it. I experimented with using the hose which worked, but too much water. Then I used the manually pressure sprayer, which also worked, but then we got even drier so still too much water. I'm going to try the air compression machine later today. Thanks!

[Maggie Ann]

I learned how to roast cauliflower and broccoli  . Haven't tried it before. Much better than cooking in water as there is no smell (a slice of bread when cooking in water does help, but with roasting there is no smell.) 

We had quite a gusty wind yesterday which resulted in my veranda being covered in leaves. Big schlep moving the heavy furniture and pot plants in order brush the leaves up, so I experimented with using the vacuum cleaner as a blower. Worked a treat  . Got all the leaves out of the nooks and crannies that the brush would never have been able to reach.

Do you roast the veggies with garlic and olive oil? Very Yum. I roast all my veggies that way: carrots, Brussels sprouts, and green beans.

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

I learned how to roast cauliflower and broccoli  . Haven't tried it before. Much better than cooking in water as there is no smell (a slice of bread when cooking in water does help, but with roasting there is no smell.) 

Do you roast the veggies with garlic and olive oil? Very Yum. I roast all my veggies that way: carrots, Brussels sprouts, and green beans.

Yes. With garlic and olive oil. Recipe said I should sprinkle them with Parmesan cheese, but I didn't have any. I also did carrots and potatoes. Haven't tried green beans. Will give them a go as well. I have one of those little glass convection ovens. Very handy to be able to do all the veg together