KEEPING BUSY AT HOME

by Sandra Jones

As a kid, one of my favourite TV shows was Little House on the Prairie. At night the Ingalls family would hunker down in front of the fireplace. Ma would be sewing and if it was a good night, Pa would pick up the fiddle and play. That was it – no TV, no iPad, no iPod. They entertained themselves.

Now with self-isolation becoming a way of life, I realize that the art of entertaining ourselves may have been lost over the years. I’m not ready to pick up the fiddle, but I’m happy to make the most of technology to expand my world and learn some new skills along the way. So if your closet already looks like a homage to Marie Kondo and that 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle is getting on your last nerve, here are a few more pleasures to pursue. Are you missing the ability to travel? Take a virtual vacay with a tour of iconic museums and UNESCO heritage sites. Google Arts & Culture is a platform that will take you from the Louvre to the Guggenheim and from Machu Picchu to the Taj Mahal, all from the comfort of your couch. Or take some time to research your next destination – from transportation to accommodations and attractions. After all, half the fun is the anticipation and this gives you a chance to fully investigate your holiday options.

Looking for a longer commitment? Say si to speaking a new language with sites such as Duolingo that turn learning into a game. Think how much easier that exotic trip you’re planning will be if you speak the local language.

If travel and dining go hand-inhand, now is your chance to fine-tune your culinary chops. Take Instagram tips from Michelin-starred chef Massimo Bottura or sign up and drop into a rustic Italian kitchen to learn how to make handmade pasta from Italian grandmother Nonna Nerina, an 84 year-old and cooking instructor who lives outside of Rome.

With all of the time spent at home, you may have your eye on a room refresh or a reno. Start the process now by looking for inspiration. Set up a Pinterest board to keep track of your ideas, hear from top design experts like Brian Gluckstein on “Housebound”, House & Home magazine’s weekly online discussions or tap into Houzz for tips on the direction of home design in 2020.

If you’re tired of solo activities, connect with friends online and create a virtual bookclub. Pick a book, email the discussion questions, and get together with as many as 32 people on a Group FaceTime chat so everyone can share their thoughts.

And, when the day is done and you’re having a hard time blocking out the anxiety and concern that comes from living through a pandemic, why not give meditation a try. Check out the YouTube videos for beginners or try a meditation app. Now is the perfect time to learn something new!

About the author Sandra Jones is a recent Winnipeg transplant to Fairwinds. She is an interior decorator who loves helping people refresh and renovate their homes and her kitchen was the backdrop for the cooking stories in the last two issues of Passions. Currently Sandra is offering free e-consultations on any home projects including advice on colours, finishes, fixtures, furniture, and more. “Spending so much time at home might make people look at their rooms in a new light and identify projects they’d like to tackle. Now’s a great time to plan so that as tradespeople go back to work, we’ll all be ready to implement those plans and help kickstart the economy.” Send your home design questions and photos to srjones2663@gmail.com.

Need More Ideas?

Write a letter to the important people in your life letting them know what you appreciate and enjoy about them. Who wouldn’t love to receive that?

Organize your photos. Yes, this could take a few hours or a few years depending on your stockpile!

Research your family tree. Follow the branches of your genealogical tree on Ancestry’s website and you may discover a few surprising relatives along the way.

Write a book. Maybe it’s the next best-selling thriller, a family cookbook for your kids or your life story.

Take an online tutorial. The sky’s the limit here. Create a new beauty routine, learn to play backgammon or chess, craft your own greeting cards or master the art of taking a better picture on your phone.

Enjoy a concert. Many of your favourite performers are posting quarantine concerts online. Check out John Legend, David Foster or Keith Urban in his recording studio with “roadie” Nicole Kidman dancing in the background. It’s a chance to enjoy some musical greats in a more personal way.

Listen and learn with podcasts. Topics are varied and endless but one to try is the new “Unlocking Us” with Brene Brown as she delves into the universal experiences of being human, a relevant subject in today’s trying times.

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3 4 5 5 F A I R W I N D S D R I V E , N A N O O S E B A Y , B C C A N A D A V 9 P 9 K 6 To keep our community safe but satiated, Fairwinds Bar and Grill is currently offering take-away and dine-in service on the patio Monday to Thursday 11 AM - 5 PM Friday 11 AM - 6 PM A dinner feature available Fridays from 4 - 6 PM only We are CLOSED Saturday & Sunday For menu updates visit fairwinds.ca/takeout PATIO DINING & TAKE-AWAY