THANK YOU ALL so much for your lovely comments on the last blog post. I was answering everyone's comments and then realised we are all on the same page! Sending you all much love and best wishes for happier times to come. 💗
Just last night we learned that our very, very strict 21-Day-Lockdown here in South Africa will be extended until the end of April. Effectively another 3-weeks of:
- No dog walking.
- No cycling.
- No jogging or leisure walks in parks or on beaches ( all beaches are closed ).
- No surfing!
- No restaurants open and no food deliveries other than essential groceries from registered Supermarkets or online essential suppliers.
- No alcohol or cigarettes may be sold.
- No travelling unless on essential missions ( collecting medication or groceries ).
- No school, college or university.
- No online sales of any non-essential items.
- No computer shops. electronics, hardware stores or paint shops are open.
- No craft shops, fabric shops or yarn shops are open either!
- No train or air travel.
Lots of no-no's, that's for sure!
I was thinking of ways to cheer myself up and remembered that a few months ago at one of our local antique shops ( Froggat and Frost ) I'd seen a lovely kitchen island style unit. It was really expensive, at least for my wee money pouch so I admired it deeply, but left the shop with an enamel coffee pot instead while throwing loving glances over my shoulder at the kitchen island.
So today, while I was thinking along those cheering up lines I thought: why not buy that kitchen unit! You want it, right? You know it's going to fit perfectly into your 117-year-old house, right? What are you waiting for? And thus the saving begins! If not now then when? I've calculated that if I save really hard over the next 3-weeks while we are in lockdown...I WILL have my kitchen island! Also, now my mind is totally focussed on this "reward". I was thinking that this is quite a good idea to get oneself through these unsettling times. Imagine something you really want: a lovely weekend away, a fabulous hike, dinner at a fancy restaurant you wouldn't normally go to, snazzy shoes, top-notch yarn, or more books! Then start working out a plan or strategy that will make your wish come true after "this" is behind us. I'd LOVE to hear about what your WISH is?
On a Yarny note: my mind is all over the place these days. I can't seem to settle on one thing and working on the Green Tea Extension Part 3 has been stalled, again and again. I think so many of us are in the same boat right now? It's just impossible to get into a good flow and then stay there for any meaningful length of time! At least that is my experience right now. I'm baking bread, then I'm deep cleaning the fishpond, then it's brushing Roxy or preparing a meal...I'm all over the place, body, mind and soul! As far as I can I am staying away from daily news, but then I worry that I'm missing some important new announcement! Shoooweeee...we are all going to need therapy when "this" is over...or a damn fine pair of shoes! 😀
Enjoy your long weekend, Lovelies!
Stay safe, stay sane, stay well, stay calm and crochet on!
Chat soon!
💜 Jen
Yarn, yarn, yarn and more yarn. I cannot wait for the lockdown to end and my yarn shop to open. Or at least allow us to get parcels delivered. I discovered that I have a lot of yarn but not enough for what I want to do. Now I have to wait for an extra 2 weeks. Wishing you a blessed Easter Jen and stay safe.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the same boat. I have lots of yarn but generally only one ball of each colour!Or not enough balls in one brand to make anything meaningful. :D That makes it tricky to make a scarf, for example, in one colour! Lol! Enjoy your weekend! xx
DeleteI made hot cross buns this morning to cheer myself up (actually they were hot bunny buns, I used a cookie cutter to cut bunny shapes instead of piping a cross) then moved on to deep cleaning my kitchen and getting altitude sickness up the top of the ladder LOL. I don't know why they make them go up to the ceiling where no one can reach!I've just sat down for a bite to eat and catch up on the news etc and I've spotted half a crochet beanie waiting to be completed. I'd better resist the temptation and get back to the cupboards. The kitchen island is a lovely treat/reward. I've promised myself a trip to the hardware store to buy paint for a cupboard that is annoying me, although now would really have been the perfect time to tackle that project!
ReplyDeleteI completely relate to the high cupboard challenge! Eeek1 :D I'm short, 5'2" so everything is high for me! Lol! I'm slowing renovating my kitchen, removing all the built in units and replacing with farm style antique stand alone units as I can afford and find them.I'm aiming for a pantry kitchen which is much more suited to the layout and age of the house. I'm about halfway and now would have been a good time to contunue but hardware stores remain shut! Enjoy your painting and happy Easter weekend! Those Bunny Buns sound adorably delicious. xx
DeleteNow, there's extra time to do the things I've been meaning to get to and finding there's more underneath that pile as well! My days still have the routine of needing to be at my 7-Eleven Store, to see that all paperwork, orders and employees are "safe". Yes, here in Michigan-USA, I have special permission as an essential service provider.
ReplyDeleteWhen this virus time has passed and the world is safe, Gosh! all my projects may be done! I will travel to see friends and family no matter what and hug them all tightly!
Alice Brower-Cicek
That pile is always a seemingly never ending wormhole! :D Not being able to hug our Fam who live elsewhere is very hard. The world will need an extended hugathon once we're in the safe zone again. I'm imagining that we'll all be suffering from some sort of PTSD when this has passed. HUGS to you and enjoy your weekend! xx
DeleteEnjoy the kitchen unit when you get it! It will forever be a remembrance of the lockdown period and how you, by the grace of God got through this lockdown! And all the stories/memories you can tell your grandchildren one day about this time and how this kitchen unit found a place in your home... stay safe... big virtual hug and love.. hazelxx
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing, Hazel! I think it's why I'm finding it difficult to get on with the Green Tea Extension...it feels like the " corona blanket " and I'm not sure I want it to have that association. Let's hope we all get through this in one piece! Love and hugs to you! xx
DeleteOh yes meant to say... my wish is that i will hopefully be able to relocate beginning may... its really getting to me living on my house with packed boxes everywhere.. xx
ReplyDeleteOh no...that is not a great situation to be in right now! Very unsettling! HUGS to you and hang in there! xox
DeleteHi all, luckily my life has changed very little, we live 1 hours travel from our nearest shops, have 100 acres to walk on, and usually shop only weekly, we are elderly and retired and dont go out much anyway, I have always made my bread and have always had a well stocked cupboard, so the lockdown hasnt touched us much. Still it was nice to go to town and have lunch out once a week, and a leisurely walk around town,hug our friends and have long chats and catch up. And somehow our mindset has changed even though our life is much the same, Oh well we will get to the end of it and lets hope the spirit of helping each other survives past this. Keep well and we will see you out the other end of this LOVE to all.
ReplyDeleteSame here, Christine. Although we live in quite a built up area, our daily lives haven't changed much but it's , as you say, those liitle things...going out for a meal, meeting up with friends, going to an outdoor market, or theatre. Most especially we miss our walks/dog walks! Still, when all is said and done we are fortunate, not so many others in different circumstances. Stay safe, take care and happy Easter to you and yours. xox
DeleteHello Jen. We have been on lockdown for a 4 week's over here. Thank God here on the island no one is sick..but if we need to go the pharmacy, super market and 3 more places we are allowed to go, we need a permit, if police stop us they write a fine up 150 euros. We are allowed to walk our dog with a permit only for 15 min. Nothing has really changed for us, we have a very big yard so our dog can run out side, but our kids are worried and they do all the shopping for us, they leave the groceries in the shed and then we go out. What I miss is hugging my grandson and our kids. Jen stay safe, happy Easter. Our Easter is next Sunday. xox
ReplyDeleteHello Sofia! Oh, an island sounds like a very good place to be right now! Your doggie is very lucky to have a yard to run around in. Poor Roxy hasn't had a proper walk in weeks although if we go to the shops she comes with in the car for a ride! I'm so glad your children are taking good care of you and Vic! I'm sure you are VERY MUCH missing hugging baby George! Stay safe my dear! xox
DeleteWe've been staying at home for over a month now. Never seems like a safe time to go out, and we're getting very low on groceries. Eating the stuff we had on the shelves that were not "good" for us. Now they are! ;)
ReplyDeleteI've been so glad to have your patterns, loving them all and looking at buying more yarn (there's an order on the way but I always find some more after I've ordered). Some day this will all be a memory. Will appreciate our freedom when we get it back!
So right, Robin...I can almost feel the wave of gratitude wash over me having my first cup of coffee at my favourite coffee shop again! Oh my goodness, we are in the same boat " eating the stuff not good for us" :D ...but we are trying to stay healthy and fit! I do a 40 minute walk about my house and around the garden everyday seeing as we are not even allowed to go for walks! Oh well...what can we do but take it one locked down day at a time and just think ahead to happier, freer times. I am SO GRATEFUL, more than I can even express that I have many creature comforts so many do not have right now to see them through this crisis. Stay well, stay safe, take care! xox
DeleteHello Jen. I'm so glad you safe! it's a very difficult time for sure with the lock-down. My husband is extremely high risk, so I guard him with my life. This has been a time of change for sure with the way we live, the freedom for now is gone but I keep praying for those fighting for breath everyday in my prayers. Hugs and keep safe! Thank you for the generosity you have shared with us and I love being part of this crochet family!
ReplyDeleteHUGE hugs straight back to you and your Hubby! Keep staying safe...we will get through this! XOX
DeleteMy only wish would be to bring my crochet to my favorite local coffee shop and just sit and people watch for a couple hours. I miss seeing peoples' faces. My daughter, on the other hand, has a list that seems to grow daily, hah!
ReplyDeleteYes, I miss that too. I like to take my iPad, and walk to a local coffee shop, order a coffee and scone, then indulge in an hour of Instagram, while also listening to people chatting.:D I hope it's not too long before those simple pleasures are avaliable to us again. Stay safe, take care!! xx
DeleteIt's a strange time, I work at night to replace sick colleagues. People react bizarre to this, in denial or taking advantage of the lockdown to do what is not allowed. Saw the neighbours son with their grandchild bike to their house and keep his distance so the grandchild could greet his grandparents from the seat of the bike, so sweet. My other neighbour probably is the reason the virus spreaded here as she coughed her way from party to party. I think my animals save my live, cuddling keeps me sane. My luck is I live in the country side so my actie radius is bigger then a city bound person without meeting a living soul. Miss contact like all others.
ReplyDeleteAwww, that is so sweet!! I saw a video clip of a couple doing the same thing but the little girl was crying and saying she wants to kiss her Nana!That made me cry! :D I know, Tineke...it's everywhere, people who are defying commonsense. I've given up being irritated! It just puts me in a bad mood. :D Stay safe! xox
DeleteGod bless Noelene and you for the new competition! It was a life saver! Being at the same dire situation of not having enough of anything to start a new project creating something for the Houses competition is absolutely easy. Also, any type of yarn can be used and mix matched! Thank you both lovelies! Love you to the moon and back!
ReplyDeleteOooo, Katerina...I am so looking forward to seeing what everyone makes! It's going to be so much fun. We definitely need to lighten the mood right now and thank goodness for communications technology or we'd really be in a pickle! Take care, stay safe, stay calm and crochet on! I'm excited to see your house!!! :D xx
DeleteWell Jen I am fortunate that I am able to work as work in a hospital for mentally and physically handicapped children and adults so lots to do. Crochet is my stress release and I find it very relaxing making beautiful things you very talanted designers do for us, I am due to retire next September so been busy buying yarn and saving patterns to indulge my hobby when I have more free time. Thank you for everything you do to encourage us and I am so glad to have found your site and join in with everyone.
ReplyDeleteHello Kathy! Lovely to have you here! Thank you for the work you do, especially during such a challenging time! Please take care ( I'm sure you are already ). It's amazing how handcrafts have mushroomed during this time. I think it's an innate gift we all have but sometimes it takes a crisis to get out our paints, yarn or guitar. I'm thinking that after this is all behind us, we'll be seeing a huge resurgance and appreciation of "the artds". :D Stay safe! xox
DeleteYup, all over the place ...working several WIP's - bound and determined to try out the Green Tea - God knows I have the yarn for it & the time - but I am so very distracted! One thing I have learned about myself is I am Not a fan of sc graphghans - and I have at least three in progress - and they were requests from family members - one has been in the works for almost two years, I cannot bring myself to work on it - very detailed - lots ofcolor changes & I hate cut & tie method! What I love is C2C and very detailed textured pieces - thus ALL your patterns Jen - thank you for all you do and for Noelene. I really am in awe of all the beauty on your FB page. It is a very difficult time for all right now but "This too shall pass" …. when my crochet fails me - I bake bread, sew denim rag quilts or just take my coffee out on the front porch and enjoy the beauty outdoors until my calm returns. Be well, stay safe … we will all get thru this together!! Much love
ReplyDeleteOh, I feel you, Donna! I'm trying to stick to routine but the unease I feel inside manifests in other ways...I start folding washing, then make a cup of coffee and wander outside, completely forgetting I was busy with a task. Distracted is the word of the moment for sure! :D Thank you so much for your kind words! We will get through this together! Take good care of yourself!! xox
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