Life in the Time of COVID-19

I hope you are doing okay during this unprecedented time. Many are facing health and economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 outbreak and the efforts to mitigate its spread. For others, it is the uncertainty of what life will be like as restrictions loosen that is the most debilitating. Obviously I don’t have any of the policy answers, but what I can do is share some of the ways that I have been coping (some days more successfully than others) during this time.

Learn

This is a great time to learn something new.

There has been an explosion of Zoom class offerings since stay-at-home was implemented. Now is the perfect time to learn a new skill or expand your general knowledge base. I have taken a few classes with Kristin Artz, honing my indigo vat and dyeing methods. She is incredibly knowledgeable and uses the technology very well to clearly explain each step. An added benefit is spending time with a community of like-minded dyers from all across the world.

If crafts are not your thing, there are plethora of online courses and lectures on nearly any subject you could think of. I’m also working my way through a free online from MoMA offered through Coursera on contemporary art. And then of course, there are TED talks.

Here is a brief list of some shows that I have been enjoying from historical dramas to just plain silly: The Spanish Princess, Outlander, Homeland, Happyish, Ugly Delicious, Ozark, Poldark, The Wire, Curb Your Enthusiasm,

I’ve kept my sourdough starter going for over three years since I took a class. Once you get in the habit of feeding it once a week, it’s very easy to manage. Since the stay-at-home directive was issued, I have shared my starter with several neighbors. And I am happy to say they have all made the sourdough several times. See my neighbor Ted’s loaves above. If you are local to me and are interested in trying it, let me know and I can get you some starter and walk you through all of the steps.

I was amazed that this really works! I stumbled across this Food52 article about growing vegetables from scraps, scallions and romaine work really well. All you need are some vegetables, water and a sunny spot. This is perfect for apartment dwellers!

From my family to yours, I wish you health, safety and hopefully some laughter during this most trying of times.