A little breakfast before heading back to work at the asphalt plant.

  I'm, for sure, a spicy food junky to say the least. It's incredibly rare you will ever see me not add some sort of heat to what ever I'm eating or cooking.

 Since I have had the time lately, thought I would try my hand at making some hot sauce.

 Basically I made my own version of Tabasco sauce (non-fermented). I must say it turned out pretty damn good and was a good way for me to use up most of the dried Tabasco peppers I had from my previous garden. I even ended up with a bout a third of a cup of chili paste.

 On a side note, with all the time that I have had off because of the quarantine I've been trying to make as much use of my time doing things I have wanted to for a while. With the rise in some food cost I am also looking for ways to be just a little more self sufficient and take the time to learn how to do that. I encourage those reading this to do the same. Plus it's a whole lot cheaper than buying the store bought stuff.

Here is the link with the recipe I used as a jumping off point.

  Well, got to eat :-)

  Getting ready to start another week of quarantine.

This past week has been pretty crazy, lost focus on some things but hope to get back to it this week.

  Been in quarantine and laid off since March 17th. I, like a lot of people are getting antsy and want things to get back to normal, at the same time, I don't want poor decision making rushing things and sending us right back to where we are now, but I fear that is what's going to happen. I'll save and spare the speech (for now) on how I truly feel.

  I feel incredibly lucky to have landed where I have with my job at Northeast Paving, formerly Lane Construction. When I got divorced and moved out, basically I was starting all over again. Only work I had at the time was my photography business and things were off to a very slow start for that wedding season and knew I needed something else if I was going to make all this work, being my only source of income, no one to help with expenses for the most part over the long haul of rebuilding my life, a kid to raise. People had helped me with getting into the place where live, helped me with food, furniture, and simple emotional support until I was able to get on somewhat of stable ground.

  My brother-in-law told me that there was a job position being created for someone to pressure wash tri-axels and other equipment. I'll admit, I was reluctant but desperate for work so I applied and got the job. Best god damn thing I have done in a long time. I work with a great group of people who have become some of my best friends, I have benefits and steady income.

 What we are experiencing now will pass and over time we will get back to normal. Take this time to reflect on the things you have and be thankful that there are so many out there trying to help us do that, try to avoid all the negative and slanted judgement of others and focus on yourselves, friends, family and the getting back to normal.

  Cooking with the kiddo, making cornbread.

  Breakfast, Yes breakfast, which is an entirely new concept to me on a daily basis. Not a meal that is usually on my radar during the week. The usual routine would be get up, grab a cup of coffee,  and watch the news while I'm packing my lunch for work. Since we've been on quarantine it's been a daily practice. 

  This time of year is the kick off of paving season and wedding season. Go from 40 hours a week to any where between 70-90 hours a week with no more Saturdays off, Sundays spent editing, catching up on house work, pulling all nighters so that I can spent time with my daughter during what free time I have during the day after work. Now, it's all come to a grinding halt.

Filing for Unemployment like millions of other Americans.

  Soooo, I guess like any good quarantine, it should start off like any other "normal" day. For me, this is where it all begins...