Isolation Week 2--the exciting one in which I start a new sketchbook

Week 2 of our "stay home, stay healthy" mandate has been about getting back into the swing of school (now online in his co-op classes) and trying to keep focused and still work to keep a routine so somewhat regular life in the new normal.

I've been working on a "real" blog post that I'll put up next week, round three of the series on biblical meditation, with another method for you to try... but for this week, I thought I'd share some pics of life around here.

 I've been doing a bit more reading and finally finished this memoir.  Unveiling Grace was a great look into Mormonism from a family who were members of the Mormon church for 30 years.  Since I was born into a generations old Mormon family it was interesting to read this and learn more about the lies of the Mormon church that Jesus graciously saved me from.  I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads and recommend it especially if you have Mormon friends or family.

My reading partner has been keeping me company too.

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I started out this pandemic drawing on individual sheets of watercolor paper thinking I'd bind them together after everything sorted itself out.  But when our stay home orders extended through the end of April, I realized it didn't have enough paper to keep doing a drawing a day that way, so I grabbed a watercolor sketchbook I had and continued on in there.  

The backyard view of our house.  It was really cold this day and started raining, so I took a pano picture to finish it inside where it was warm.

I keep adding to this spread a bit each day.  I'm trying to do all these drawings in pen, no pencil first, to build my skill and confidence.  But when I do that, there are definite mistakes. 

Our pandemic games page I'll keep adding to.  So far we've played two new games that I still need to add, taught the boys Rummy (I used to play with my grandpa!) and we've played their favorite, Texas Hold 'em.

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Another book I'm working through that I talked about last week is this gem by Francis Schaeffer.  It is so painful, but so practical.  Throughout the book he continues to open the wound, then apply the salve of the gospel.

Needless to say, it has caused me to have some serious one on one time with myself.  And I've found that if I don't have reminders in front of my face, I tend to forget.  So I broke out the white board markers and am using the back sliding glass door by my desk to help me remember.

It's kind of hard to see, but I have a quote at the top (from Matthew Henry) and a list of things I'm trying to do each day.  I also have a quarantine project that I'm focusing on up there to keep me doing one thing at a time, a little bit each day.

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This is a great quote I came across again this week and added to my gospel notebook.

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I've also been starting some seedlings as we finish building our raised beds outside.  Some have even sprouted in my makeshift seed starter greenhouse.  (We buy eggs 5 dozen at a time and I keep the plastic around the carton and fill the flat with half an egg shell, and plant the seeds in each shell half.)

In the window are the seed potatoes we'll plant in a week or so.  So far the lettuce has popped up, the broccoli has just started and a few of the roma tomatoes have sprouted too!

Need ideas or lessons on cooking basics?  (I loved her book Kitchen Counter Cooking School!)
http://cookfearless.com/guide-to-cooking-during-coronavirus-outbreak/

I watched these videos when they came out years ago and looked them up again.  Basic, simple, great depression cooking with Clara.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRKls2LLMqU-uK2csT6FOKw

Resource guide from Summit Church "Don't Waste your Quarantine"
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kVjLkyGMN8Ju1Cmke8mIYMCqg7b2a9wq/view

How are you guys holding up?
I'd love to hear, truly.  Please.  I'm surrounded by only men.
I'm desperate.  Help!