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Question: Have you found any new interests or hobbies during the covid lockdown/stay at home orders?
Answer: Yes! And thank God because all my usual hobbies have flown out the window lol
In no particular order….
PUZZLES: I used to hate puzzles. I have zero patience to sit in one spot for hours and I get frustrated easily if I can’t find the right piece but being locked down for several months with nothing to do changes things so now I guess I’m a puzzle person 🤣. I’m even stocked up and ready to go for the winter with several new puzzles.
That reading unicorn one is my favorite and I think I’m going to frame it. And the woodland creature one (bottom right) is a vintage puzzle from Kevin’s childhood that is missing ONE PIECE. There was another 1000 piece puzzle that was missing 3 pieces. I’m still scarred and bitter about those. ðŸ˜
CHALK ART: My friend does a lot of chalk art and I always loved her pictures so I started doing some in my drive way. I have zero artistic ability and basically copy hers or stuff I google. It’s fun though – especially listening to the comments of walkers passing by. It seems to make people smile and we need more of that.
SEWING: I really can’t call it a hobby because I’ve used my machine handful of times. Like a lot of people, I had grand visions of making masks and saving humanity but quickly got confused and overwhelmed lol But I have used it! I did make a few masks and I’ve repaired clothing and even Kai’s crate when it had a tear. I think I’ll get back to it this winter when I’m stuck inside because of the cold (& probably another lockdown order) or maybe try my hand at a few Christmas gifts.
COOKING: I’ve already posted several pics of my cooking experiments but I’ve been venturing more into cooking things that used to intimidate me – like breads and using my Instant Pot more.
VIRTUAL FRIEND MOVIE DATE: I’ve always watched the Christmas Hallmark movies and talked about them after with my friend Jen. But during lockdown, we started making a weekly movie date to watch the movies together. We quickly ran out of Hallmark movies and have branched out to series binges, reality shows and now circling back to Hallmark (& Netflix, Lifetime, Prime) now that it’s the holiday season again.
Speaking of – 2 thumbs up to our first holiday movie – Holidate on Netflix.
CUTTING HAIR: And definitely not a hobby - I hate doing it - but I have learned to cut Kevin's hair lol
Have you tried anything new during *sweeps hands* all of this?
I've always loved puzzles, but didn't manage one yet. Chalk art is fun and uplifting. I've seen several people's driveways that make me smile when I'm out on my walks. Yours looks great. Ha, I didn't even try to make masks, but my niece is cranking them out and they are great. Yes, I've attempted some cooking and baking that was beyond my earlier abilities. My success is so-so. :)
ReplyDeleteLove what you chose to fill your time, Karen!
Mu success is also so-so lol
DeleteLuckily, my MIL is an actual sewer and has made us masks.
*my*
DeleteCutting hair is an AMAZING skill to have. I was just talking to my boss about it because she hasn't had her hair cut since December and she is dying.
ReplyDeletePuzzles were my jam as well until I needed the table for work. We bought another table to prepare for the winter months.
Also baking. So much baking.
Well, Kevin's hair - and he mostly shaves his head so it's slightly easier lol
DeleteWe have a big farmer's table and then Kevin's work paid for a desk for him so he's down in the basement lol
Those virtual movie dates sound fun, but I can't believe you used to hate puzzles. I love them
ReplyDeleteI have no patience lol I'm getting better though!
DeleteI'm the same way with puzzles. Never been a fan due to my patience level lol. Still, I can see them being relaxing. :) Holidate sounds fun- I love holiday themed movies, even though I've never seen a Lifetime holiday movie lol- but I'd like to find some nice holiday mysteries.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy them now but it took a while lol
DeleteHolidate was pretty good! I will let you know if I find any holiday mysteries.
I can't say I've done much other than long needed tidying in my house and on the computer, a few puzzles, lots of TV and kids and non fiction stress free reading!
ReplyDeleteI'm in reorganize mode right now so hobbies are out the window but it was fun trying some new things.
DeleteI just love that you have virtual movie dates with your friend. I'm so excited about all the holiday movies - I'm already watching Hallmark and Lifetime. I need to check out the ones on Netflix, because I tend to miss them.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd like doing puzzles if I could do it with someone and kind of just relax and chat here or there. Plus, these days, I'm pretty sure Charlie would mess up any puzzle I tried to create. I love that first one though - you should definitely frame it!
I can't really say I've found new hobbies or done anything that different. I guess I've adjusted things I used to do - not going to the library, but getting to-go kits and making crafts at home, and doing Zoom book clubs, etc.
-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
We made a list of the Christmas movies on Hallmark & Lifetime and Netflix notifies me of upcoming movies so I add them to my list as I go. I think we're going to have more movies than time to watch this year lol Or we'll still be going in July!
DeleteDamn reviews, I wanted to post for this weeks TMST but so backed up with posts at the moment. We were on lockdown for five months in total this year and was surprised at what I found myself enjoying and was able to do with the help of a few Youtube clips. Sealing and regrouting. I bought a sewing machine years ago and made a few masks as well. I've just subscribed to Netflix and Prime for the first time and looking forward to getting my Christmas on!
ReplyDeleteWhat did we do before YouTube???? I used it to learn my sewing machine - threading the needle & other problems I ran into.
DeleteWe just got Hulu and Disney+ added to our phone plan so we've been checking that out as well.
I love that you learned to cut Kevin's hair! ✂
ReplyDeleteI want to try bread, too. I need to look for a bread machine again now that things have calmed down. When I first started looking they were constantly sold out because of the pandemic. 😯
I loved seeing your puzzle pics on IzG. 🤗
Yes, everything was selling out. My MIL got hers from King Arthur and they still had a few so I grabbed it. Great deal too. It's amazing because I can just whip up a loaf in a few hours or at least get it started in there then shape rolls or whatever.
DeleteLike everyone else, I bought several puzzles at the beginning of all this. I did maybe two and them left the rest to the husband. I found that after sitting in front of the computer all day while WFH, I didn't want to sit in from of a puzzle in the evenings. LOL But I have become quite skilled as a barber. My new side hustle. :)
ReplyDeleteKevin has not gone back to the barber so I guess it's my task to do now lol
DeleteKaren: I am super impressed with everything you've picked up during the pandemic. So exciting! I have Holidate on my watch list - we are thinking this weekend?
ReplyDeleteIt' so cute! And Dash & Lily was fun too!
DeleteIts not only that this is a good question, I also feel inspired by some of the interests people have discovered during this time. For myself, I've discovered a liking for Video Chats ... Now for me to discover the bravery to cut hair
ReplyDeleteI've never gotten into video chats but it's such a great thing for people who still want to feel connected.
DeleteMy husband mostly shaves his head so it's relatively easy. It's tapering the sides that always makes me nervous.
This is an impressive list of hobbies! I was really enjoying puzzles earlier this year for the first time ever! I've had to figure out how to cut my husband's hair too. Haha! Virtual movie dates sound like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteHe won't go get it cut now! It's now my job lol
DeleteOne can run out of xmas movies on netflix!? Challenge accepted
ReplyDeleteWell, ones we had already both recorded from last season before we knew we were doing a weekly date. THIS year we have so many we can't keep up lol
DeleteI’m jealous of all of the hobbies you’ve picked up in lockdown...I tried doing art again and got frustrated and then mostly just watched a lot of Netflix. I never developed the love of puzzles everyone else, mostly as I didn’t have the space to put it anywhere and I do not have the patience for sewing either. Maybe I should start looking for a hobbie now otherwise I’ll sound a little boring in lockdown.
ReplyDeleteWhen I say hobbies - I mean I bought a sewing machine and used it 3 times lol And I haven't done a puzzle since early spring.
DeleteMy brain is just all over the place and can't focus on any one thing for long.
"Like a lot of people, I had grand visions of making masks and saving humanity but quickly got confused and overwhelmed lol"
ReplyDelete😂 Don't worry though...humanity doesn't want to be saved 🙄.
And those chalk designs are cute! I'm sure mine would look really ugly if I tried - even if I copied others.
I still can't wrap my head around the notion that there were/are so many people looking for things to do during lockdown. I mean, even when I worked 2 days a week instead of 5, I was forever trying to catch up with all the stuff that I usually left behind. I read more and blogged more (which seems like an unusual thing with other bloggers LOL) and took better care of the house, and...that was it. Then again. It's not like I had to stop doing other things - outside is a foreign concept for me...😟.
I think you might be right about humanity :-(
DeleteHow do you have so much to do if you don't go anywhere? lol
I'm sure will not be shocked that I am also a pantser when it comes to cleaning lol My house is clean but would never pass a thorough *Roberta* inspection lol
I loved Holidate!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I developed any new hobbies during lockdown... I didn't even make much time for pre-existing ones. I did bake a lot but the only unusual thing about that was that I was baking during summer... I tend to avoid baking in summer due to the heat but not this year. I'm honestly surprised I haven't gained a ton of weight!
I gained almost 15 pounds lol I did start a few new hobbies but I think they take up about 5% of my time lol The rest is just spent doing nothing or walking the dogs ha
DeleteI am awful at puzzles ahaha. I love cooking - always have! But now I have gotten into baking more as well. I also really like virtual film dates with friends. I used to do them in person of course, but virtually has been some great alternatives.
ReplyDeleteAww chalk art! Growing up, when we'd visit my grandparents during the summer, me and my grandma would make chalk art in her driveway. It's fun! Glad you picked up some new hobbies. Those missing puzzle pieces had to be so frustrating!
ReplyDelete