Covid-19 Era Family Visit Continued

The challenge in the Covid-19 era continues to limiting your exposure to the virus.  While mask wearing, hand washing and social distancing help in this effort, avoiding situations and people who haven’t been equally cautious are also key precautions… Relatively safe visitors include those who wear masks, follow other recommended protocols and who also avoid risky situations.  That can be difficult due to jobs, school and necessity.

Here where we live, despite the average age being above 60, there are many folks that we just don't feel take the necessary Covid-19 precautions.  Many only wear masks when they must.  We've been invited to parties/happenings that involve too many people and we just decline.  Normally, we would have been on our way to St. Louis and Omaha for the holiday, celebrating Thanksgiving with our son and his family in Omaha...but sadly not this year.  At our age and given our previous medical history, we are into risk avoidance.

As per my last post, Laurie’s sisters Bonnie and Karole plus Bonnie’s husband Bill did come to visit us and they had been very cautious before driving over from St. Louis.  So what else did we do while they were here?  

More shopping!  We drove over to Sweetwater Tennessee and browsed through a couple of antique shops.  The shops weren’t busy so social distancing was easy plus the staff and most other shoppers were wearing masks.

(Have I mentioned yet that while I consider it a necessity given our age and related conditions, I really don’t like wearing a mask!)

I was a little startled to see this police surveillance tower in Sweetwater’s parking lot in the center of downtown.  They must have had a problem that needed to be addressed.  FYI, the tower isn’t manned per se but it is equipped with CCTV cameras.  Glad to see that the police department is proactive...

When we went to our local Ingles supermarket, we’d been told that they’d stopped cutting pork steaks for the season.  Fortunately, Bill and Bonnie have a great butcher shop in St. Louis and they brought these beauties down with them.  Better yet, Bill grilled them for us too!

Here’s the finished stack of pork steaks, right off the grill!  There were 5 of these huge beauties, one for each of us… They were excellent.  Thanks Bill and Bonnie!

Of course, we had to side those pork steaks with something healthy.  Consequently, we served up our favorite ready to heat store bought cheesy scalloped potatoes. 

Here was a typical dinner plate ready for consumption… Note the healthy vegetable mix!  The pork steaks were so big that ‘sadly’ neither Bonnie nor Laurie could finish theirs! (Leftovers for me) We were stunned to watch as Karole wiped out hers though.  She’s a true carnivore!

One morning we decided that we’d make up a batch of malted waffles and keep them warm in the oven until we had enough for everyone to have one at the same time.  The plan worked very nicely.  Add maple syrup and Amish butter along with some fruit for a healthy touch.  Oh yes, then there was the whipped cream!

On a Saturday we attended an outdoor fundraising event at the East Tennessee Miniature Horse and Donkey Rescue.  It was a small gathering with plenty of space and most people wore masks...

Their motto at the miniature horse and donkey rescue is “Doing Big Things for Little Equines since 2o16”.  While this organization averages about 35 miniature horses, donkeys and mules on site, in a typical year they help about 85 equines.  Adoptions are almost always available.

There were a number booths set up on the grounds offering everything from saddles to baked goods, all to benefit the charity.  Of course cash donations were also welcome…and freely given.  Bill also made a purchase. 

Note: Three people in this photo didn't wear masks.  Stay away from us!  They were the exception... 

While I didn’t memorize the miniature horse’s names, I do know that the donkey shown above is named ‘cAssper’.  Laurie and I really like donkeys!  The organization is 100% donation funded and it’s operated by volunteers.  Located on 6 acres, every paddock has a shelter for its equines and there is room to roam.

The East Tennessee Miniature Horse and Donkey Rescue is located at 6545 Calloway Road in Loudon Tennessee.  Note: Visits are by appointment only.  Phone: 865-266-3396.  The organizations website is found at: https://www.easttennesseeminiaturehorseanddonkeyrescue.com/.

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Stay Safe and Take Care, Big Daddy Dave