During the 52 weeks in 2021, I will... Make. Bake. Cook. Create. at least one thing each week, something I've never tried before.
So why Make.Bake.Cook.Create?
I guess the easy answer to that question is "Why not?" I've always enjoyed baking, cooking, making or creating new things. Even as a vaccine is being distributed, everyone still has to limit contact with others and places to go and things to do outside your home are few also. Starting this project will not only give me something to do and look forward to, but it will give me an outlet for the "creative juices" I used to apply to my classroom lessons. So, I hope you will continue to check my blog page each week to see what I made and how it turned out. Maybe leave a comment or suggestion, or maybe there's something you've always wanted to make and you want to do it together? That would be wonderful too! If nothing else, I hope you find some joy in what you read, or possibly find inspiration to Make, Bake, Cook, or Create something yourself!
* All recipes and directions are posted on a separate page of this website.
2020 was a Covid of a year!
2020 was a year of many challenges for everyone; some good, some tolerable, and some painful. Covid-19 brought on a new "normal" that no one was exempt from. Unable to attend large gatherings, hug someone, go somewhere without wearing a mask, or constantly having to wash hands or use hand sanitizer have now become everyday realities no one would have thought we'd be doing a year ago. We also had to "literally" watch from the sidelines as friends and family battled Covid-19. With no visitors allowed in hospitals or nursing homes, sadly many people passed with no family or friends by their side, only to be hit again with not being able to have or attend a funeral. Thankfully, everyone we knew who contracted the virus are all here and doing fine, with a few dealing with aftermath symptoms. In reflection, there were some good things that came from quarantine the pandemic created. People were able to spend more time with their families, they completed projects around the house, they tried new things, recipes or crafts, and they cooked or baked more at home. While it was difficult, and still is, it was best to look for the positive as we faced each day.
As for myself, I faced many health issues in 2020. I finished chemotherapy for ovarian cancer and had to spend 16 days without visitors at Karmanos to complete a STEM cell transplant to treat the multiple myeloma. I'm happy to report that both cancers are in remission, my immune system is slowly returning, the strength in my core and back are slowly returning, and my hair is growing back curly! It will be interesting to see if it remains curly as it gets longer. We also had a tree fall on our house during a storm in June. Thankfully, we were all okay, but the chimney was smashed down, there were 4 baseball size holes in the roof, and we had water damage in our great room. On August 11, we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with a family gathering outside. Repairs inside and out were completed in the fall, and we finished the year quietly, with no big celebrations, but feeling blessed for the love and support of our family and friends throughout the year.