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You are here: Home / Our Family Stories / Our Cozy Home This Week / Our Cozy Home No. 21



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Our Cozy Home No. 21

Monday, March 23, 2020 (Updated: Friday, May 16, 2025)
7 Comments

Post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure statement.

So we all made it through the first official week of adjusting to the new coronavirus world. Last week was so surreal in some ways I never even updated my weekly checklist in my planner which I do religiously each week. Nothing. I had a few things to work on and that was what I did. I’m trying to figure out how to turn my brain off from current events for at least parts of the day. Things are happening so quickly now in so many areas of life that it’s hard to process it all.

On the bright side, I woke up to a lovely gift this morning and grabbed the phone camera to take a quick video (no audio).




https://sallieborrink.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Snowy-Morning-on-March-23-2020-1.mp4

It will all be gone later today as it warms up, but it made me happy. I love seeing the trees branches coated with white and the lighted garland pretty with snow. They are two of the simple pleasures of my life. We were going to take the garland down yesterday, but when I heard snow was coming one last time we decided to keep it up. We could still get snow into April, but it looks fairly unlikely so I am enjoying the beautiful view out of my office windows while I’m typing this.

I’ve been working at revising, improving, and updating the editable homeschool planners. I decided to start them with March 2020 instead of July 2020 (for an academic year). There are so many people looking for tools to use now so I’m adding them to my shop as I complete them rather than wait until they are all done. I’ve reorganized them, added to them, and simplified them which you can see if you download the preview PDF. I’m pleased with how they turned out. I’ll be adding new versions all week as David is able to work on them with me. I’m retiring some color combos and adding some new ones. I am hoping the earlier start date will help parents who suddenly find themselves homeschooling.

Related to that, I’m trying to figure out the most helpful content to be adding right now in order to support and encourage people. I have a bunch of posts in the archives from the Great Recession that I had been planning to add back to my site at some point since they fit well with the Prudent & Prepared theme. I think I’m going to republish some of them this week. It was interesting to go back and read what I wrote and what we discussed at that time. Still very applicable to today’s situation. Maybe even more so.

I have more recipes to add to Sallie’s Favorite Comfort Food Recipes.

I also have a high school science curriculum to review so I hope that will be helpful when it comes out later in the week.

So that’s what I’ve been thinking about. In terms of homemaking goals for this week, mine will be repeats because I keep putting them off to do other work-related and family-related things.

Goal 1 – Clean all the doors.

Goal 2 – Keep working on cleaning out the basement.

How are you doing? What do you have planned this week?

Artwork: “Strickendes Mädchen” by Albert Anker

Category: Our Cozy Home This WeekTag: Albert Anker (Artist)

About Sallie Borrink

Sallie Schaaf Borrink is a Christian, wife, mother, homeschooler, homebody, and autodidact. She owns a home-based graphic design and web design business with her husband (DavidandSallie.com).

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Previous Post:Cheerfully Adjusting in a Coronavirus World
Next Post:Granola Bars with Rice Krispies Recipe

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Birdie

    Monday, March 23, 2020 at 6:53 pm

    Hello Sallie.

    Golden Goal – God’s word each day

    Goal 2 – wipe a door/shelf each day

    Goal 3 – finish my emergency binder with index. I missed putting one together with index of pantry/freezer/cold room recipes, tips, crisis management. I know that there is tons of information that I can quickly go to but I’m considering that I need something when the power doesn’t work.

    Goal 4 – cook from the “pantry”. Something that I partially practiced over the years by buying most ingredients on sale. Now is not the greatest time to start this…practice before is good policy, 8-). I’m cooking perishables (1), pantry (2), freezer (3), coldroom (4)

    Goal 5 – Hebrew/Music history (it was calming to do this today).

    Reply
    • Sallie Borrink

      Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 8:54 am

      Hi Bridie,

      I think a lot of people are rediscovering the value of working carefully through their pantry, freezer, etc. It’s easy to let it go when life is busy. But when time is plentiful and food is harder to get, it becomes a lot more valuable.

      Sallie

      Reply
  2. Cheryl

    Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 12:26 pm

    I don’t usually comment on these posts, although I usually read them. Here goes:
    Goal 1: Quickly get my newly ( well sort of newly ) vacated bedroom converted into a workable sewing room. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just cleaner than it is.

    Goal 2: Once goal 1 is done, move all of the quilting supplies and fabric upstairs to start making personal use cloth face masks.

    I have to do something that will help someone. My sister in law is an administrator at a nursing home near me. I think these type of masks would be perfect for residents to use for their personal protection and to prevent droplets from spreading.

    Reply
    • Sallie Borrink

      Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 8:52 am

      I think people want to help, but find it hard when confined to home. Making facemasks will give people something tangible to do which will help both them and the recipients. I guess this is our day’s version of rolling bandages. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Darby

    Thursday, March 26, 2020 at 9:15 pm

    I have worked this week so I am a little behind on my goals. Praise God I am off the next 3 days so I can work on my home!!! Goal 1) Clean carpets 2) Clean the cabinets that hold my containers and lids. Sunday I will rest. I work in healthcare and am considered “essential” and this week has worn me down. Thanks for this website! It’s just so homey!!

    Reply
    • Sallie Borrink

      Tuesday, March 31, 2020 at 9:15 am

      Hi Darby,

      I hope you enjoyed your three days off and pray you are safe as you go to work. Thank you for serving our country by working in an essential role during this time.

      I put up a place for Coronavirus related prayer items in the forum. If you would like us to pray for you, feel free to add a comment with your name and any specific things you would like us to be praying about.

      Coronavirus Prayer Requests

      Sallie

      Reply
  4. Sallie Borrink

    Tuesday, March 31, 2020 at 9:21 am

    Well, I still did not clean the doors. LOL! I did work on the basement.

    I also did some other things that weren’t on the list, but I saw them and decided to tackle them.

    I wiped down the washing machine very thoroughly.

    I put away the winter decorations and brought out a few spring related things. Spring is the one season I don’t have a lot of decor for. Or summer, for that matter, now that I think about it.

    I did, however, leave up the candles in the windows. I usually leave them up from Labor Day weekend through my birthday (March 21), but decided we all need more light in our lives right now. Even if they are only on for an hour in the evening, it is worth it.

    David pulled out the stove/oven and cleaned behind, under, and around it. I was very thankful.

    So that’s what I remember. Last week seems so long ago in this strange new timeline of events.

    Sallie

    Reply

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For 20+ years, I’ve been writing about following Jesus Christ and making choices based on what is true, beautiful, and eternal. Through purposeful living, self-employment, and homeschooling, our family has learned that freedom comes from a commitment to thoughtfully examine all of life and think for yourself. 

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