Virtual Campfire - Come Join Me!

[caliten]

Hey there digi friends. One of the things I am most looking forward to in the coming months is sitting around the campfire with friends, catching up on whatever's been going on. It occurred to me, sitting here all by my lonesome (the rest of my family is outside shoveling the 9 inches of wet, spring snow that fell recently), that I don't have to wait for the snow to melt, or people to emerge from their forced isolation, or even for the Easter Peeps to go on sale (Peeps roasted over a campfire ... don't knock it 'til you've tried it) ... we can have a virtual campfire right here! So talk to me/us. Tell me/us what's going on in your life.

I'll start. Aside from a couple of walks around my neighborhood, I've only left my house/yard twice in the last week. Ugh. My kids were on spring break this past week, but next week they start what will hopefully only be 4 weeks of virtual learning since our school district has cancelled all in-person education activities and school buildings. I'm curious to see how this is going to unfold .... my entire nuclear family in the house all day ... fun times. I'm also a little jealous of the people who suddenly found themselves with spare time to be crafty. I teleworked before all this stuff started, so no adjustment there.

Who's next? What are you doing to keep yourself and your family occupied? Are you catching up on scrapping or other crafting? Cooking from scratch? Binge watching something on Netflix?

[Hillary]

We are starting week 2 of homeschooling here tomorrow. Things have been ok so far, but it takes so much patience. The teachers have been amazing though and have sent pretty thorough lesson plans.

We also just finished remodeling our master bedroom. I figured if we were going to have to stay home, I needed something for the husband to do so he wouldn't go crazy. It only took a week so that's not great and he was already driving me bonkers today having nothing to do.

[caliten]

How's the homeschooling going, Hillary? We started a week after you guys did, and (big, deep breath), I'll admit that I wanted to cry sad tears when the school district sent out an e-mail the other day saying that we were standing on our virtual education plan through the end of April.

Did you find another task for your hubs? Mine has been threatening to redo our master closet (please?! pretty please!?!) but instead has made 50-bazillion random and useless (to me at least) plastic things on his 3D printer. Sigh. He's still working "full time" though, and doesn't pester me when I'm trying to work (well, not usually) so I guess I should not complain.

[Stefanie]

My sons are overseas, the oldest in London, working remotely for his IT company.
The second is in Bulgaria, total lock down there, only one person allowed to go out for food. He is gaming though so that seems to be going well, they are slowly climbing the European rankings.
Daughter is home, Varisty was cancelled, a week of "holidays" and then they go online.
Hubby and I are walking a little, watering the garden, watching tv and netflix.
Cooking from scratch and getting a little bored.
Love the idea of a virtual campfire though - no smoke in my eyes.

[caliten]

How are your kiddos doing Stefanie? I'd gladly trade you a little boredom for supervising the education of a 4th grader who is not interested in school work.

[shannonc]

Hi friends! Weirdly, life hasn't changed much for my husband and I... we have been self employed techies working from home for years... but it FEELS different because we're not "allowed" to go out. We don't have any strict rules in place where we are, but we're doing it anyway, only going out for groceries. We HAVE taken a walk together - just me, hubby and our 1 year old - every night for a week and that's been actually pretty wonderful to spend time together.

I really wonder how the world is going to look in 6 months or a year. I think some industries are going to be completely different, if they are even here still. I think so many things are going to be different and I'm both worried for people who will face dramatic shifts but also hopeful... because I know that humankind is resilient and creative and I am positive we'll come up with some really creative ways of being moving forward.

[gwany1999]

We are homebodies also, but I think you are right, it's when you are told not to, it's rough.

[caliten]

I'm with you that those afternoon/evening walks feel like such a wonderful gift. I'll be sad if we abandon them once all our activities recommence.

[ninigoesdigi]

I started getting scared for my family in France a week ago. But now they are on lock down and I can just tell them to stay that way. Most of them are over 60 or even 70. My brother is young but he could bring back something home so he stopped going having lunch with them. You need a real reason to be out anyway so he would just get a fine for wanting to eat mum's cooking

Numbers in Japan are growing but rather slowly and usually you know now where it comes from, maybe a little more in some places but they start to be fed up with this situation and even though it wasn't a lock down many schools and concerts and things like that were cancelled, it was just common sense not to be in crowded places. Unfortunately young people can't seem to understand it's not really about them but about the weakest in our society and I am afraid they are going to regret not being more patient. also some companies organizing concerts or events should be taken responsible if something happen cause those are the worth place to be.

I work at home too, private classes, some with Skype and I am addicted to american TV shows so I guess it's not much of a change for me. Hubby is watching mangas or Korean TV dramas too on Netflix lol
I did go to the neighbor prefecture last week, one of the last ones to have no outbreak yet (we only had 1 case here in Miyagi for the past 3 weeks, probably one of the cruise passenger from February) so I did not feel in danger but I keep using sanitizer as soon as I see one, it was easy to avoid people because it's very much counrtry side and eveybody use their car.

I am more concerned for my family, and my cousin and his fiance both nurses, than I am for me but I am starting to be checking my temperature a little too often lol. But maybe it's better than spreading it around I guess.

It should be a reason to scrap and design more but as my mojo goes with my emotional state I can't say it's the best time again for me.

STAY SAFE. Better be bored at home than bored and sick at the hospital.

[caliten]

I second that last statement: better bored at home than bored and sick at the hospital! I hope you and your family stay healthy!!

[tiffany scraps]

It is hard to even know what to say. Every single day things are changing and I wonder what I will wake up to tomorrow and the day after that. I am a nurse and currently work in Home Health and Hospice and I am not going to lie - I will be honest - I am not sure how I feel about the fact that I am a nurse right now. So far I am showing up and doing the same work that I was doing a month ago (with increased protocols for not spreading the virus) but I get a little scared about what I may be called to do in the future. I don't want to unknowingly bring anything home to my family or put anyone that I am caring for at risk. I am relying on God and the prayers I verbally speak and hold in my heart as I step forward every day.

As for my family, we have plenty to eat in and to meet our needs and we are healthy and well. We are playing more board games together, taking more walks together, baking in the kitchen together, watching movies.... all the things. I am a bit of an introvert and would be content to sit at my computer doing scrapbooking, reading a book, doing some yoga, taking long baths...I could entertain myself for hours and hours, days and days but my family needs me to show up too

Our household currently is hubs and I, 20 y/o son, and my daughter that will turn 18 on Saturday. Oh and of course we have our 2 dogs. My 2 married kids live here in town and so I feel blessed that I can check in on everyone easily.

[MetaWulandari]

Oh my, I hope it doesn't come to that. stay save dear

[gwany1999]

Thank you for what you do to Tiffany. I imagine it must be hard these days to be in the hospitals and medical areas.

[caliten]

P&PT for you, Tiffany. I hope that you and your family stay safe and healthy.

[MetaWulandari]

It's hard for us here, we are big country with so many island and the governement's respond to the corona virus is just too slow. we even not lock down city with the higest risk of corona virus. When they asked to stay at home and not working, some people go outside the city and spread the virus.
So many people suffer because they just got money from daily basis job outside home and now they should stay at home, most people stay at home, and they are start afraid from starving to death. Some people are care, but they can't help all of them, fear always the biggest problem.

My husband also stay at home now, and he start open ETSY business yesterday. No one make a purchase yet but we hope this can help our economic problem.

[caliten]

Good luck with the new business venture, Meta! I hope that you and your family stay healthy!!

[gwany1999]

I have good days and bad days. I've cried in the shower, many times over the last few weeks.I live in NYC which has become one of the worst spots here in the states. Know plenty of people with it, doctors/nurses/fdny/nypd that work and have it. It's crazy!! I was paranoid before it got bad and took my kids out before city schools closed, so we've been home since the first week in march. Before it was required. So our stir crazyness is at max level, but I can't allow us to go outside as I am to scared. Thank goodness for food and grocery delivery. I also able to work from home (my whole company was told before it was bad as well), so I have money, my family is healthy and we have food. Which is the most important things. Do I wish I can go outside, sure, take my kids to the park of course. But we will get through this. STAY SAFE! These are times I'm thankful for my online community.

[caliten]

I can't even imagine how hard it would be to not be able to go outside every day. That's been my stress release/emotional reset for the past few weeks (days like today, when the temperature is well below freezing and its cloudy and snowing make getting out ... less enjoyable) - even if all we do is walk down the road to the mailbox (sometimes we "take the long route" and turn it into an hour-long trek). Here we are encouraged to get outside to exercise, and parks are open but playgrounds are closed, which is necessary - I get it - but hard for the kids. I hope that you and your family stay safe and healthy!

[gwany1999]

These times are when living in the city is rough. The governor finally shut down the city parks as crowds of people were still coming in together. On Monday when the Naval Hospital docked, dozens and dozens came out to watch. It's crazy!

[IntenseMagic]

We've been out of school since March 13 and they officially closed for the rest of the year 2 weeks ago. I am teach high school special education, so I have been super busy fielding emails and video conferences, as well as trying to figure out how to remotely teach my kids when most of them do not have internet at home or a support system to help them with anything. I have also been babysitting my 11 year old granddaughter. My oldest is still deployed in the middle east and his wife works as an EMT. When I've needed to get my mind off work stuff, I've been painting...kitchen cabinets, trim, and a big wall in my living room. When the weather has cooperated, we've been for a few walks and sometimes just a drive around the block. I worry most about my 82 year old mom, who we are having to beg to stay home. I miss seeing her and the rest of my grandbabies!! I plan to work this week on a set schedule or routine so I can better balance the work stuff and have some time for crafty things again. I haven't scrapped much at all and I also need to get back on track with my diet and exercise. DH is still working (he drives medical transportation), but not nearly the hours he had before, so we'll see what happens there. DS is keeping up well with assignments he's been given, but he does not like this remote learning at all.

Sending lots of love, thoughts and prayers for all of you!!