Tiptoe through the tulips

By | April 19, 2020

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” ~ John Muir

Walking was the (planned) name of the game this week, and Mother Nature mostly came through. The knee/hip is feeling better, and easing up was the right decision. No races to chase and I want to get healthy. Hoping to keep my IT Bands happy with Marcia’s advice here.

I so needed this. Runners are the best people

and I’m pretty sure this is round about my two year anniversary knowing most of you, except Liz where it’s more like 15 years! I love all of you.

The only way I know how long I’ve been WFH is the number of crockpot meals I’ve made.  Don’t know what this week’s side will be, but last week’s risotto was a fun experiment even if it lacked in flavor until chipotle olive oil happened. I swear running is like cooking — if you cook, you’re a cook, but I don’t consider myself a cook yet. This go around is longer than the last time, so maybe it really will become a habit. The crockpot meals:

    • 1x Italian Dressing Chicken (fail)
    • 2x Buffalo Chicken Pasta (yum)
    • 3x  “Mississippi Roast” Chicken from a friend (my favorite)

Funniest thing is, outside buffalo tenders, I don’t actually like chicken. After finding the limit of the number of times a Rubbermaid can survive the microwave (timespan shortened when you burn a side dish in it!) the  adjusting to CV19 work at home fairy bought me a set of pyrex bowls that I can’t wait to use. Maybe there is one domestic bone in my body!

Linking up with Kim and Deborah:

  • never miss a Monday: we had crazy wind and rain all day, so the morning coffee walk didn’t even happen. Luckily the rain cleared out and we got a rainbow at the end of #ClapBecauseWeCare. I missed Clap as I was in Target on the hunt for dish soap! Dish soap! But I got lots of Upper East Side tulips.

Happy 150 Mother Met

I’m sorry I used your stairs as a PT prop

  • another tip toe through the tulips! Tuesday: as I walked west toward Central Park to check out the side streets’ tulips.

Run Merry!

restful sunset

  • Wednesday: do we have a theme here yet? The brisk weather and an attempt at silliness dictated the dress code, but tulips made a cameo as I took a longer walk to see if Conservatory Garden was blooming. It was also my first time hitting my Fitbit goal in a week or so.
  • Thursday: bet you can’t guess what I saw after work? Went to explore Carl Schurz Park, which I never do anymore other than running. Yep, they have tulips.
  • Friday: no proper walk, it was blustery and after a work happy hour I had a short window to do grocery shopping for the week before joining a friend’s candle lighting. I’m not Jewish, but I frequently joined her family for Shabbat dinner and she’s done a Zoom version for all of us since the chaos began. She recently made it a recurring meeting until mid May which is sad, but probably very real.

great sign at a wonderful brunch haunt

restaurant window mural

  • Saturday: I so needed this day. In some ways it feels odd to need a day “off” when I’m not commuting, but I was drained. The windy rain didn’t help one iota. Other than the amazing Zoom above, I just read and went on a very short walk for an errand. The boarded up windows are sad, but these signs of resiliency, hope and support are the best.

Crockpot chicken

  • Sunday: going for a walk on this beautiful day once my new favorite crockpot meal is done.

Good to see those of you who joined yesterday, hope everyone else is hanging in. Stay safe.

Besides the things making the news like masks, toilet paper and hand sanitizer, what have you had trouble finding?

30 thoughts on “Tiptoe through the tulips

  1. Wendy

    It was great to see you yesterday! These connections are giving me life. No tulips here yet, but we have daffodils. Tulips can’t be far behind! I’m going to miss the spring blooms at the botanical gardens this year. Makes me sad. The Brooklyn botanical gardens has a live interactive video which is amazing! So I feel like I’ve been there now.

    Have a great week!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Funny how we like each other’s botanic gardens. My one proper trip to Chicago was five years ago this month and I remember investigating the botanic garden in the suburb where the wedding was held. Didn’t make it there, but I love Brooklyn. I’m involved with curating VirtualNYC and it’s fun to see how many orgs are building in online comment. We have more tulips than we did daffys. Maybe because of the mild winter

      Reply
  2. Jessie

    You’re becoming a real chef! I feel like all the cooking at home is much more of an adjustment for a New Yorker! You’re adjusting well!

    I heard from my NY colleagues about your crazy windy rain! Glad you still had some great days for your walks outside of that short bit.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      That wind was nuts. Hope your colleagues are safe. No damage in my neighborhood.
      Definitely an adjustment – especially for those who live alone. It doesn’t make as much economic sense as families

      Reply
  3. Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy

    Baking powder! I’m getting really low. My favorite brand of almond milk. In general, though, we’re pretty well stocked. I did a really good job buying enough protein a few weeks ago, and we’re good another week or two on those, the delivery is mostly freggies.

    Here’s to better weather this week & happier legs!

    Reply
  4. Kimberly Hatting

    Knock wood, we’re getting by fine…not really needing any used-up essentials…yet. I made my first (10-minute) trip to Walmart Friday night in at least a month. Can’t say that was something I missed, either, but I needed hair de-tangler and I simply couldn’t trust the hubby with that. We’ve been doing a lot more cooking (especially the hubby) in recent weeks…I’m not enjoying all the clean-up, but it has been a nice change of routine.

    Reply
  5. Deborah Brooks

    It was great to see your face yesterday! Yes if you cook, you are a cook. It’s hard to mess up a crock pot you totally got this. Using different oils and spices really helps. Do you like spicy foods?

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      It was so good to see you too. Thank you so much for hosting & coordinating it again.

      I definitely like a little kick. That’s why I added the chipotle olive oil to the risotto yesterday. I wasn’t going to waste good food, but I felt like I was totally wasting calories if it didn’t get some flavor. Love any tips you have. Thank you!

      Crockpot definitely more accessible to me than other cooking methods. I think that’s always why I gave up. And I’m so glad I bought the microwave too as itmakes reheating much easier too.

      Reply
  6. Marcia

    I love your cooking exploits. You’re doing great!
    I was starting to make a note to self to send glass dishes pronto when I saw the words Rubbermaid and microwave together. Haha! Glad some Pyrex came to the rescue!
    I’m loving all your gorgeous flower pics. It’s not that pretty here yet. Hopefully soon!
    Great seeing you and the whole blog gang yesterday. Loved meeting Liz!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Yes, so good to see everyone. Such a treat.

      That rubbermaid was theoretically microwave safe. But not so much scraping out the burned rice a roni safe.. One part actually seemed to cave inward. It’s housing this week’s lunch until the bowls get here, and then it’s going away. Even aside from misadventures in microwave land, I don’t love rubbermaid and other plasticware for fragrant foods. I feel like they never come properly clean.

      Happy to supply you with virtual flowers. They’re a nice add on to my walks and “ooh what’s that flower?” is a reason to go one block more

      Reply
  7. Kim G

    I love that you are embracing cooking more! I actually love chicken (it’s my favorite meat) because you can cook it in so many ways, lol. But my favorite is buffalo chicken, with barbecue coming in a close second.

    The wind see was crazy this week too. I really hope that we get more sunshine and less rain this week too.

    So nice to see you on the Zoom call yesterday!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      So good to see you & your penguins too!
      I like buffalo tenders since it hides the texture. I’m more of a fish person, but I have no idea how to make it in a crockpot and I don’t trust my stove.
      Wind kicked up again tonight, but I got out for a walk at least

      Reply
  8. Beckett @ Birchwood Pie

    I love seeing your instagram with all of the gorgeous NY shots and flowers. Ah, cooking, there’s no right and no wrong way to do it. I feel like for every new idea I come up with on the blog that I have 10 “the kids hated it” “oops had to work late we ate mac & cheese” “didn’t have a clue, don’t remember but we’re still here so obviously we ate something” meals to report. I’m very hit and miss with chicken.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      “had to work late, we ate mac & cheese” sounds like my life, sans kids. The idea was always there to make dinner. The reality? Yep. LOL, we’re still here. That’s great. Glad we found each other through the 19 challenge hashtag

      Reply
  9. Coco

    Love that NYC sunset — and all your pics, really. Flour is on my list of things to look for every week, but I’ve still got enough to make another batch of cookies or two. 😉

    I have a simple crockpot chicken recipe — diced chicken breast, a jar of good salsa, and a jar of tomato sauce. It’s on my blog but that’s it. The real secret is to toss the chicken in corn starch before cooking it. Chicken thighs work better in the crock pot, but my husband won’t eat dark meat. 😛

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      yes that conversation between you & Deborah re: flour was too funny. I think it’s a fun weighted run if you pick up from her — and reminds me of middle school health class when we had flour babies.

      That chicken recipe sounds good. I made one once with salsa verde , sadly it’s in the iFail section of pinterest, but that was on me not the recipe. The one I’m obsessed with now is meant to be breasts, but I find they dry out too quickly and I really don’t like dry chicken.

      Reply
  10. Darlene S. Cardillo

    I never use my crock pot.

    Yes you are a cook. I just throw some edible things together. My husband eats anything. I do admit I buy a lot of frozen stuff such as fish and veggies.

    Great to see you. Love your tulips. You may remember that I am obsessed. Just wait.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I go through fits and spurts with my crockpot, I’m pretty sure I hadn’t used it in at least a year before we went home because I just don’t get inspired. If I had a bigger freezer, frozen things would happen more. At the moment it’s dinosaur nuggets, uncrustables and ice packs. Can’t wait for your tulips

      Reply
  11. Lisa @ Mile by Mile

    I usually order my groceries on Amazon fresh but now everyone has the same idea and its much harder to find my usual items. Its also been harder to schedule deliveries (so I might put items in my cart and then I cant actually order them). So my husband has had to go out to a store about once a week for a few things. I haven’t been able to meal plan, but I just try to cook with what we can get.
    I love using my crock pot for busy days. Its so hard to cook in the evening with a toddler running around so I throw something in there earlier in the day when he’s napping.
    This was such a dreary week of weather. Hoping this week is a little better
    It was great to “meet” you on Saturday!

    Reply
  12. Janelle @ Run With No Regrets

    I really enjoyed talking to you on the Zoom chat! Whenever I don’t feel like running, I need to at least try to go for a walk! It’s nice seeing everyone’s flowers in the neighborhood.

    Wipes are hard to find too…I’m trying to ration the ones we have, which isn’t easy!

    Reply
  13. Lisa @ TechChick Adventures

    Ramen noodles!! My teens (and me too!) have had a sad shortage of our favorite noodles. It is just starting to get back in stock on shelves again, but not the flavor I want. Who knew such a little thing could be missed so much!

    Reply
  14. Jenn

    I love tulips! We don’t have them here.

    It was so nice catching up on Saturday! I really look forward to these calls.

    After the first few weeks, we haven’t had any issues getting much of anything. I feel very grateful for that.

    I don’t do a lot in the crockpot, but this is my favorite recipe: https://www.skinnytaste.com/crock-pot-santa-fe-chicken-425-pts/
    It’s great alone, or served on salad, rice, roasted veggies or nachos. It freezes well and tastes better as leftovers.

    Reply
  15. Zenaida Arroyo

    I love seeing all of your pictures! When this is all over and we can travel again, a trip to NY is in my plans. My nephew lives there so it would be great to see him too. Wait, how did I miss that you knew Liz that long? I like chicken but prefer the actual meat instead of thighs, wings, etc. I love buffalo chicken!!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Liz and I met on BookCrossing in early 2015. We share a love for travel reads and frequently exchanged books which expanded into running books when I began running in 2017. When I did a long overdue trip to London in August 2018 I finally met her. in person. She also knew Wendy from the Runners Bookshelf Facebook group and we both encouraged her to come join the run down.
      Let me know when you’re here, I’d love to meet up.
      That’s why I like thighs over wings (and feet, which I found a ton of!). One day I’ll even find boneless. Buffalo is my favorite flavor.

      Reply
  16. Debbie @ Deb Runs

    We used to have a lot of tulips in our back yard, but tulip bulbs are like candy to squirrels and they ate them all so we don’t have a single one left. I think they’re very pretty as they’re starting to open, but the blooms don’t last very long so I’ve never bothered replanting any and fighting the squirrels… I’m glad you’re taking the time to enjoy the beauty of spring. It’s been a pretty one!

    It was great seeing you on Zoom on Saturday as well!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Mom has the same at home. I’m not sure how they survive in the park. Most of the ones on the side street arrive fully open, which is a different kind of weird. So good to see you & look forward to again

      Reply
  17. Liz Dexter

    It was lovely to see you on Saturday night and I’m so glad you encouraged me to join in – thank you! I’ve enjoyed your outfits and your cooking this week!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I’m so glad the time zones worked out for you to join. Sometimes we need more than typed words

      Reply
  18. Michelle D.

    So great seeing you and everyone on Saturday!

    Glad you are enjoying the cooking. I cannot find flour or yeast so my quest to embrace more baking has come to a halt ;(

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I hope you find it! That side conversation about the flour was too funny. Good to see you too & look forward to seeing you again soon

      Reply

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