Gathering Our Inner Resources

There are times all during life when we need the inner resources to keep ourselves busy and productive all by ourselves.

         ~ Fred (Mister) Rogers 

How are you doing with Omicron? Are you hanging in there? Self-isolating and going out only when necessary? Living with abandon?

New Years, 2018. Those were the good old days! More abandon then!

I'm largely home, nestled within my own walls, more or less. As I was putting away Christmas and tidying up the house, I came across "The World According to Mister Rogers," a book largely compiled of quotes and wise words from the former children's television show host. Boy, did they ring true.

 

I choose to isolate at home, seeing very few people, because I simply don't want to get sick. I can ride this out till the Omicron surge passes through my area and gently venture out again a little more frequently. But in doing so, I realized that I was indeed fortunate to have those inner resources of which he speaks above.

Putting away the holidays is enough to keep one productive and busy for a bit. But one day I decided I had to bake. I just had to. So, it was scones, madeleines and a puff pastry treat. (For the madeleine recipe and more, check out the previous post here!)

Scones! Yum!

Books? So far, I've finished three and onto my fourth, which I'll finish another before the end of the month.

The To Be Read Pile

I finally picked up a paintbrush and started few Valentines, some bookmarks, and touched up a painting from this summer I wasn't satisfied with. I also want to work through some of the exercises in Emma Witte's "Watercolor for Beginners" book and do some online tutorials. 

I have enough fiber to keep me needlefelting for a long time to come. And if I run out of that, I can pull out some of my yarn and see if my fingers still work well enough to use the knitting needles.

I've been purging old photos from photo albums, getting the originals to those featured after scanning many of them and tossing even more. Face it -- I don't need photos of flowers or sunsets that I took in 1983. I'm enjoying reliving some of our fun past family times!

From the golden days at the lake, Summer 1972

I'm in the process of purging last year's digital photos and backing them up the keepers on my external drive. This always takes longer than I think.

There are two fairly significant household repair projects that need to get done. I'm waiting for Omicron to back off a bit before I bring repair folk into the house but it is near the top of the list. 

The ceiling above my fireplace needs new dry wall and painting.

I've put the last of revisions into my family history book. Now it's time to do a little printing research. I'd like to make hard copies available to the cousins sometime this year. 

My mother, (front left, next to the baby), c. 1924

Given that I'm not out walking this winter, I am on the hunt for my Richard Simmons DVDs so I can sweat to the oldies on a regular basis. and there is loads of stuff on my streaming watch list and tons of books to savor.

There are blog posts to write, comments to answer and other blogs to read. 

And, if all else fails, I can start to sort through the basement for what can be donated, sold or drafted into use! I view downsizing as a multi-year project but I want to be in control of it myself.

And, if I need a break, there's always this -- A good book and a sweet cat.

The Secret Keeper!

Have you been able to tap into your inner resources to keep busy and productive all by yourself? Please share what gets you through the long spells, whether they are Covid or just winter! 

At Cousin Jeff's wedding in October!

And finally, some good news! Look who tested negative! I'm a happy camper. (So's he!)

Sharing with:      Pink Saturday  /  Share Your Style