Something I am enjoying during lockdown...

Just about to start a cross stitch kit - haven't done it for years and when I can get the paper, I want to go back to Quilling - plan to make C cards this year.
It's been lovely to Facetime my godson and his family in Australia a few times.
Just enjoyed being able to hear the birdsong over the rumble of traffic, whatever time of day .

I'm also loving the A word but my biggest joy is 'talking' to my nine-year-old granddaughter in Australia. Her mummy has just allowed her to use Facebook messenger. She sends me photos and tells me what she is doing. She and her little sister have just gone back to school so I hear about that too. Funny how life in Lockdown is getting easier (or I think it is!)

My 8 year granddaughter and I have started writing to each other. The latest thing is setting quizzes for the other to answer - I've had to learn more than I wanted about the latest quiz she sent me - Captain Underpants!

Letter writing seems such an old fashioned thing to do now and it's lovely that she seems to enjoy it

I am re-reading the complete series of Agatha Christie that my father collected in the 1970s.

Haven't read them for years, so it is like reading new books.

One of our sons sent us the entire series of "The Sopranos" never got into it at the time, completely hooked now on to the final few episodes, our viewing life won't be the same. Having said that, what an appalling lot they were

Other than that mugging up on French via Duolingo, a couple of text books and Michel Thomas discs.

Daily walks in Bushy Park, far more uplifting than going to the gym, membership of which has been frozen, can't think I'll feel confident enough to go there again once restrictions have been lifted.

and books of course! read a lot before anyway.

I have been making mug meals - that is microwave meals in a mug. This is because I need to make an effort to control my portions. I purchased two books from Amazon, and one of them gives ( in the back )a calorie count for each meal. It's been fun putting my microwave through its paces and using it in this way.
Other things I've tried are - writing a story with a friend. We each move it along by texting the next section and it's going to some surprising places and we have to take a bit longer each time to come up with our contribution, because we leave each other a cliff hanger each time.
Been relearning the piano after neglecting it for a while.
Futurelearn is good - online courses in all sorts of subjects.
The book group I belong to has continued on line. We email our comments because we cannot each Zoom or Skype. Commenting on email has been a revelation because we all find more to express and there have been some lovely insights.
I also belong to a poetry group and that has been going well online. We are not poets but share poetry we love and find according to a theme and a time period set each week.
Long phone conversations with my family and friends.
I have some crochet I must get on with too.
I wish I could go out for a long walk but I have had to shield. One day I hope......

I'm watching "Tenko" on DVD. Seeing those women suffering so much in a Japanese internment camp has put lockdown into perspective a bit! I'm also reading and gardening a lot.

Reading loads. Get through a book every couple of days on the Libby app, recommended by other GN’ers.

Pleased it’s showery today, as I won’t feel guilty getting stuck in again.

Lots of phone calls.
Am reading the No1 Ladies Detective Agency books. I have read 10 so far and will miss them when I come to the end of them.
Lots of gardening - at the moment (when the weather is OK) sorting out the greenhouse
Some sorting out of the house - too much "stuff" - but not making much progress there. Now that the weather is not so good for being outside I might get a little more done. There has been too much displacement activity!

I have watched loads of old Taggarts, which I love. Caught up on Luther, fantastic and got back into embroidery. I bought a book on embroidery and also How to play Poker, so watch this space.
So far I have made:
A jumper for myself
2 knitted teddy bears in rainbow wool
4 cat paintings - watercolours
1 Puffin painting - watercolour
Daffodil embroidery
A landscape tapestry - half finished
Battersea dog blankets x 2
2 Quilted cushions
6 Quilted cushion covers
Baked endlessly

Also listening to music, phoning friends and trying to keep my silly head busy. DH has his hobby in the garage/workshop but if the weather is bad then he is under my feet 24/7 which drives me round the bend. I do love my own space and freedom.
Stay safe and take care. X

Torquoise5
For free patterns by the dozen join Ravelry - and use the search facility. Hundreds of patterns, easy and hard.

ravelry.com

I've been rekindling my youth with golden oldie films popping up. Favourite by miles so far has been 'Paint your wagon'. Such joy! I had completely forgotten. Some others have dated so much that I felt uncomfortable thinking I had once enjoyed them. I now scan what's on daily in the hope of more past favourites. Daytime telly, indeed. Indeed!! Oh yes......

Thank you Puzzler I have been OK till now, the glorious summer weather helped, today cold and blustery really gets me down. Yes we can message and Skype/ FaceTime which is a god sent but I was due to visit this year, which obviously won't be happening, next year who knows? We enjoy holidays and city breaks abroad, but again when? I know there are a lot of people in my predicament and a lot worse off, so I'll try and cheer up!

I am enjoying just having more time to do everyday tasks - my garden looks so much better now I am not ‘fitting it in’ with going to work (I am not furloughed, but have been laid off so I’m not supposed to be working), housework (ugh) is being done more thoroughly, and I am in touch by phone, FaceTime and Zoom with so many more friends and relations. And out walking, taking time to hear the birds, watch nature etc.

Like Floradora I'm doing the family tree. Ibhad already started but with our library offering free find my past I'm making the most of it!!

Also in our area a lot of adult ed classes are being done on line via "teams" meetings. I am not sure how the practical ones (embroidery) are working out but or mh family history one its fine

BlueSky I feel for you. None of this is easy.

Can you phone the people you are missing? Or write letters or e-mails? Any contact with your family and friends will provide distractions and opportunities to feel uplifted with their news - but avoid anyone who usually offloads misery to you as you seem really down at the moment and need cheer and joy.
I really hope you feel better soon ?

There is nothing to enjoy. No reunion with close family as they live overseas so don't know when or if we'll meet again. No planning for holidays either. Feeling quite low today as I feel time is running out and we can't make the most of it. But as they say, this too will pass.

What a find MiniMoon. That sounds delicious! ?
Italian food is just tops for my family! Better still if you are eating it in Italy, but that’s just a pipe dream for now ?

I have read so many books- luckily the weather has been great so I have been lying on a sunbed all afternoon & devouring everything I have downloaded to my Kindle! Wonderful treat.
Also I have had time to paint- something I took up only a couple of years ago. I am not brilliant but it is very relaxing & a lot of fun.
I also have time to watch every episode of Killing Eve several times as you always miss something the first time!
Been baking more too but I think I had better stop as I am too scared to get near the bathroom scales now!

I forgot to mention the joy of making bread by hand.
I have a bread machine, but I found a lovely channel on YouTube, Buon a Petiti made by a lovely Italian Grandma. I made her breadsticks with cheese and Wedding soup for lunch yesterday. Yummy.

Like Floradora9 I have spent time researching ancestry. It has been a hobby for a long time but there was never enough time to spend on it. Since lockdown I have finished a book on DH's paternal family and now working on my paternal family.

Netflix has been a godsend. DH and I have been watching some really strange films that we would normally pass over. I will not recommend any of them, as most have been really weird. We looked at each other and asked "why did we watch that?"
With nowhere to go, it is a happy way to pass the time.

I have also been crocheting. My DD bought me an Innocent Big Knit pack, so I have been crocheting little hats for Innocent smoothie bottles.
DH bought me a Gnome doorstop kit which I haven't started yet.

My son gave me 123 and me. You have to send a sample of your saliva to an address in America and they analise it and tell you about your ancestral origins, what colour your eyes are, and a list of people you are related to who are also on 123 and me. You are told if they are cousins, 2nd cousins, 3rd, 4th or whatever. You can send them messages from your computer. l have been in touch with 2 2nd cousins and a 3rd cousin. I have also found out that although I am 97% British and Irish I also have French, German and Scandinavian ancestors. Such fun!

Ooh my list is a long one:
Joining and being a part of gransnet community
Shopping for, and getting to know an elderly across-the-road neighbour
Jigsaw puzzles
Online scrabble
Sodoku puzzles
Cross-stitch
Reading
Cooking and baking (I think of baking being puds and pies) but I’ve also made lasagnes, stews and sausage rolls
Writing e -mails and making phone calls to friends for lengthy chats as we haven’t seen each other
Tending my garden like never before cos I’ve had more time.
TV has sometimes been the thing I’ve not had time for though I’ve watched and cried over “The A Word”

I’m watching The Big Bang Theory on Netflix, Sheldon drives me crazy. I watched Young Sheldon first and it reminded me of my DGS.
I’m discovering puzzles I’d never heard of, like Number Hexagon and doing big jigsaws.