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My Latest Pinterest Fail- Blame it On COVID

By Jennifer Chasse January 28, 2021

How are you, neighbor? Seriously- how are you doing? Are you feeling the stress of COVID like so many of us? 

Before I sound all "woe is me" know I'm extremely aware that I am fortunate my family has remained healthy and our employment has been steady at a time when so many are struggling. Like you, I know people struggling with both issues.  But the last few weeks have been heavy.  Like many of you, I miss my family and friends, I miss going to the movies, restaurants, museums, and live music*.  I miss hosting potluck dinners and playing games with friends and putting around second-hand shops. I miss travel and we haven't been home to New England in 18 months. Working from home makes it easy to get sloppy- I haven't had a haircut in over a year, and I'm positive I could grow a handlebar mustache if I didn't keep an eye on it. 

I'm watching way  too much television and I sit too much.  I know there are excellent fitness class options online- including local gems InBalance Yoga and Blacksburg Boxing and Fitness, and I even bought an online fitness subscription to OpenFit, but the most lifting I've done is picking up the bag of dog food.  It's my fault- I'm just lazy.  We bake too many sweets, I snack too much and I've gained back the 15 pounds I had lost last year.  I'm easily annoyed and there are times I look at my husband and think it might feel good to whack him with a frying pan.  It's not him- it's this situation and being together so much. Can you relate? 

I know others that have handled this pandemic better and even been productive. Erin's family installed siding on the entire house themselves! Treasure became a  homeschooling master and they keep 8-3 school hours.  I guy I work with lost 30 pounds working from home- he said it's from not eating office sweets. Even my husband has some things to be proud of- he's been taking guitar lessons online with Star Music Lab twice a week and has gone through much of his packrat collection in the garage.  

My kids are teens so we haven't had to be as involved in school and schedules as much as those of you with younger kids.  Early in the pandemic I had suggested each child research and cook a balanced meal each week- maybe something tied to school, but those days are gone, and there are days I wonder if Fruity Pebbles count as a fruit serving.  As a result of our lax parenting, our kids have morphed into vampire sloths. If they don't have morning online classes I'm happy to see them awake by noon. If my son reads a cereal box I call it a win. They consider showering an accomplishment many days.  Parents of teens- tell me I'm not the only one? 

So this past week I decided I needed to get crafty- which usually helps put a little spring in my step.  I bought some clay from New River Art & Fiber, choosing the kind that you bake so you can make lasting beads and such as I had jewelry in mind.  And then I found an old bag of clay in my craft area, so I put out all the clay, which was a bad idea. 

My daughter played her favorite music list and we got busy making beads, rings and earrings and fun tops for paperclips and tacks. 



M. made the most adorable mini cake

And then I popped them all in the oven for 12 minutes, while we went to walk the dog. 

And then removed this, not realizing the OLD BAG OF CLAY WAS NOT THE KIND YOU BAKE! 



The new clay I purchased worked beautifully, but sadly we had mixed much of it with the old clay, resulting in a melted mess.  Every piece made with the old clay turned into a flat blob! What a disappointment! 

We all had a good laugh about it and decided to blame it on COVID.  This is just a time in our lives when we need to just take it day-by -day- even hour by- hour, and find joy where we can, which in this case was the creative time.  I ran into my neighbor T. at the mailbox and she reminded me this is not the time to compare ourselves to those who seem to have used this time to learn piano, redo their kitchen, train to climb Mt. Everest, or even make beautiful clay beads.  Sometimes just showing up is enough, and this is a time to be kind to ourselves

We've got a great article this week on self-care, and it's full of ideas and local resources to help us all practice a little self-care.  I'll be reading it right along with you.  And we've got an exciting giveaway- overnight accommodations at The Inn at Virginia Tech plus dinner or brunch at Preston's, which could be just the ticket for those of us who could use a little pampering time away from the kids. Head over HERE to enter and good luck! Thanks for reading and see you around the valley. 


* There are places open, but I'm not comfortable with that, and have chosen to stay home and enjoy takeout and Netflix for a big night in.