Week 10 The New normal is coming isn't it!!

Yesterday Governor Baker cautiously opened sections of Mass, it came with many mixed view and opinions. Many people expressed their feelings about needing to start venturing out and visit stores, restaurants and probably the most important for some their hair salons, but is this the right thing to do for everyone? I believe its time for the state to start the reopening but as a person that fits into the high risk category I don’t think I will be running out to do the things I miss. I’ve definitely come to enjoy the simple life we have enjoyed for the last 10 weeks. I love having the boys home and enjoying movie nights and deciding what’s for dinner each night and then sitting down to eat together. I know these times won’t last for ever but it’s been a wonderful surprise for me to start 2020.

Most school have started to celebrate their seniors in many various ways. I enjoy listening to each school’s way of celebrating their graduates, there are so many unique and interesting things being done. My boys school is doing a version of a drive through graduation, and another one is doing private ceremonies for each graduate, while some are just mailing the diplomas in the mail. There is no right or wrong way to celebrate the graduates but the one thing I think everyone can do for them is to do something for them. You can send a video message from your family to them, you can stop by their house and decorate with balloons and signs or you can just send a card. We just can’t forget them during this time and we need to make them know this is a special time in their lives and celebrate their accomplishments. Our hearts break for all the things they are missing out on.

I hope Memorial Day brings happiness for everyone and you enjoy a wonderful family day together. I hope everyone also takes the time to step back and really appreciates these special times we are having with our immediate family because we all know this will end soon and our families with go back to their normal lives and we will look back on these times and miss what we had for a brief moment.

Enjoy the weekend

Week 8 Is the end of Social Distancing coming soon!

This week comes with hope and sadness. It is the first time that we are hearing about people we know passing away from the virus and it is becoming very surreal. As we sit in our little secluded bubble the outside world seems so far away for all of us, but it’s not. The Governor said today that some small business might start opening around the end of May, while that’s good new the question of “Will you go and shop at the stores and be around other people or will you continue to online order and do curb side delivery?” remains. I miss needing something and just getting into the car and going to get it.

This week bring us closer to summer and with that comes so much hope and wonderful thoughts of fun. The memories of last summer always brings a smile to your face. The gardens are getting planted, people are starting to open their pools and prep their boats for the water. On-line learning is coming to an end with the hope that September brings school life back and the children can return to normal. I love having everyone home but I know that this is not where the boys should be.

Kelly and I are still crocheting and knitting at the restaurant, I’m on my third blanket and she’s on her 2nd sweater. We are starting embroidery next week, trying to keep busy and learn new things during this time. We would love to see what you have all been up to during your time at home.

Thanks for reading our blog and stay safe and healthy. Happy Mother’s Day !!!!

Kirsten and Kelly

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone!!!!

Here we are at Week 7 of social distancing what is different for you!

This week is the beginning of the 7th week of social distancing, will life ever get back to the normal we long for? But let’s reflect on things we are doing that we never thought about making time to do. I think every family is very grateful for the extra time we are getting with our kids and spouses but wish we could see our extended family and friends. Many families have brought back family dinners and movie nights and game nights around the kitchen tables. When I was growing up we would head to NH on Friday night and the weekend game of Risk would begin sometimes last for2 or 3 weekends, this are the things our children will never appreciate because of the extensive electronic distractions they have.

So many of us had to cook or learn to cook for their family every night and come up with different meals each night, and I bet a lot of you are surprised how good you are getting at it. Most of us also learned to shop differently too. I’m not a planner so this was the most difficult task for me to conquer. We had to learn to do our food shopping on line and have someone else put it together for us. Instacart has become our best and worst friend!!! We all have found that little store that we all feel safe shopping at, we might have to pay a little more but we are also keeping them in business. I personally have been shopping at Crosby’s and Lela’s Variety Store in Topsfield and I’ve had great success getting everything I’ve needed. But I do miss wondering aimlessly around Target and Walmart and I can’t wait to return to The Christmas Tree Store!!!

School is getting out soon for the summer and we all wondering what will the fall bring. My hope is that the seniors that missed out on the end of their high school careers have the college beginning they deserves. Will the college kids return to campus or will they be in our living room for another semester? Cord starts high school in the fall but I’m thankful his school starts in 7th grade so there is minimal transaction for him. I hope Colin will return to college and his life picks up right were he left off. I also wonder if Christian will be riding the T as he did everyday going to work or will that be different.

I hope these questions get answered soon and life gets back to our old normal for the summer. I miss baseball games and the kids getting together with their friends.

Thanks and stay safe!!

Kirsten and Kelly

6th Week of Social Distancing and Normality

Here we are again talking about social distancing and checking in to see how everyone is doing since last week. Today we found out that our kids will not be returning to school campus for the remaining 2020 year. As a result most graduations have been postponed or will be online. My heart breaks for the high school and college seniors who will not get the “Pomp and Circumstance” that they have been working for their entire academic life. I have 2 sons that have graduated high school and 1 son that has graduated college so I understand the joy they experience each time. I also remember the enormous pride Pete and I had watching them accomplish their goals and truly can’t believe how lucky we are that they allowed us to travel along with them through this amazing journey. Today’s seniors have to chart a new way to celebrate their accomplishments but it’s also our job to make sure they understand that we are so proud of them and celebrate them as we would any other year.

When spring comes so does gardening, I’m a little jealous because Kelly has already started planting hers. Last year my garden focused on mostly tomatoes and peppers but I’m looking forward to trying some new things to grow. My chickens love the scraps for cooking and things that are extra from the garden. I can’t wait to bite into the first ripe garden tomato!!

Kelly and I have both started new projects but we wanted to show off our completed projects. So enjoy the pictures attached to the blog along with our cutest customer RJ!!!!

We both also want to acknowledge Kelly’s son Sam, who’s is a senior graduating from Ipswich High School!! Congratulation to him and all the seniors who are graduating!!!

Please stay safe and healthy, and enjoy spending more time at home celebrating your family time!!!

Kirsten and Kelly

Our First Covid 19 Holiday Without Family

This past week we as a country celebrated or first Holiday during the Covid 19 virus. How did you celebrate it? Did you FaceTime or Zoom meeting your relatives? Did you connect with everyone who is usually at your dining room table? I worked at the restaurant and when I got home Pete and the boys had a wonderful lamb chop dinner for us to celebrate. We enjoyed it completely but it wasn’t the same. Missing from my table was my mom and Pete’s brother and his wife. Our Easters have been a little different since Christian went to college, his college spring break was always right before Easter so we celebrated on the last Sunday he was home, but it always included extended family. Our Easter bunny did come this year but he didn't leave eggs to be found just baskets, but the boys were still happy to get some candy. We hope you celebrated the holiday in a special way.

Spring has sprung and the world is getting to be glorious colors for us to enjoy. How wonderful it is to be able to enjoy the outside and take some deep breathes. After a long winter there is nothing better than going for a walk and taking in everything as it starts to bloom. We are very excited to get out and plant our vegetable and herb gardens. For the last few years I have grown a lettuce bowl outside my kitchen door, it’s one of my favorite things I have in the summer.

On another positive note, during down time between lunch and dinner orders, Kelly and I have been keeping our hands busy, not pouring wine and shaking drinks, but creating. One of our favorite customers will be receiving this beautiful crochet blanket that I crocheted for her her new little boy R.J., and Kelly is finishing up a cap-sleeved sweater from her own brand of yarn -Romney Ridge Yarns and will be starting a second one soon! What are you creating to keep your hands busy?

Until next week, stay safe and strong and please enjoy the outside!!

Kelly and Kirsten

What do you miss the most in 4th week of social distancing

Today we start our 4th week of social distancing, and we have been talking all week about the things we miss the most. For Kelly and I we miss people, just people!! We miss seeing our regulars come through the door with a smile checking out to see if their favorite seats available. We miss knowing someones drink when we see them come through the door and then shaking a martini or over pouring a glass of wine. We miss knowing all about your day or week and catching up with each and everyone of you.

Routine is so important in our lives, maybe something we don’t realize until it is disrupted. Setting up the bar at work before a shift on particular days that we work we make sure we have the “favorites” of our regulars. Before life shifted a little, Kelly and I started a fun and friendly competition creating fun drinks and keeping a tally of our sales. There was Kirsten’s very popular Irish Glenn Martini, and Kelly’s Face Down in Cabo -Skinny Marg …which I am sure we all would like to be at this point! These days we are here filling your Take Out orders, and missing you so so much, we are staying positive and planning for great days ahead, getting back to our routine with our families and you!

Today I saw my mom for the first time in person since February 29th. I stopped by to drop ice cream to her because she was ready to break quarantine just to get it!!! She came to the door and Colin and I stood 10 feet away at the car. Such a weird feeling knowing that is the closest we get to be for the foreseeable future. Any other time this would seem ridiculous but it was one of the most comforting feelings I had during this times. The fortunate reality about this situation is all the technology we have at our fingertips. For my mom’s birthday last year we gave her the Facebook Portal and it’s been a sanity savers, at least we get to see my mom and know she’s alright. How do you keep in touch with your family?

We also would like to extend a Happy Easter and Happy Passover to all our friends and customers. We wish you have a fun filled day while enjoying this extended family time.

Stay safe and healthy

Kirsten and Kelly

3rd week of social distancing!!!

Trying to find happiness in these unsettled times is something that is a very important thing to seek out. As this stay at home advisory continues we all need to help each other find our happy spot. I have a few happy spots I turn to when I need a pick me up. The first one I do is sit on my couch and have all of my 9 puppies crawl all over me, each puppy has a unique spot on the couch and of course on top of me to cuddle. Who couldn’t find happiness with 9 innocent puppies!!! Next I love to cook for my boys. Everyone has a different favorite meal they love so there is always something fun to cook. There is something so calming in creating something that makes other people happy. My last happy spot is my crafting. I’m a frustrated mom of 3 boys who loves to craft and my boys are so sweet and indulge me by helping me create so many things.

Take a moment and think about what makes you happy and remember it doesn’t need to be big and fancy just something that is yours.

The first week of our new normal was scary for all of us at the restaurant. We didn’t really express our feelings but you could tell by how excited we when the phone rang and even more excited when we saw a customer picking up food, especially a regular customer. This feeling continued throughout the week and by Sunday we all just sighed with big relief astonished that we had made it to the end of the first week!! It was the then that we all felt our little family of 5 could actually make this work.

Week 2 started with the same excitement but it was a little different because now we started to view this as our new normal restaurant. Who would have thought our little cozy restaurant with the welcoming couches and fireplace would turn into a takeout only restaurant. When the phone rings there is a sense that the outside world is still there and realize people are helping each other the best way they know how. When the week ended we didn’t have the same excitement as the first week but still excited that we can continue to serve our community and our customers.

Week 3 is starting on Tuesday for us, we have Monday’s off to regenerate and get to see our real families. We are not sure of what will come from this and how many times the phone will ring but Kelly and I will continue to get excited when it does, especially when it’s one of our loyal regulars.

Stay happy and healthy and remember this to will pass but let’s hope we have a new love of family time and love of the community when it does.

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Where you will find my puppies every sunny day!!