March 24, 2020

Making Time for Things We Don't Have Time For

As of today, it's been well over a week since the kids have been out of school and we've been told to distance ourselves socially. At first, it really did feel like a few snow days! Now the reality is setting in.

I feel terrible that Eli's baseball season is canceled. He LOVES baseball and was so excited about this season--he'd had some private lessons with a hitting coach and he'd been practicing with a travel team. He even started running on the treadmill and doing sit-ups, push-ups, and planks! He was determined to be a great ball player this season.

Noah hasn't been happy with me at all because I won't let him get together with his friends. He doesn't understand the reasoning behind social distancing. I've been letting him play games on his computer way too much, but I'm not worried about it. It's his way of socializing with friends right now.

This morning, I started thinking about how great this time is for doing the things we usually don't have time for. I recently shared a list of things I'd like to learn; and some of them seemed impossible. However, now I feel like it's the perfect time for several things!

Jerry and I were both talking about learning a foreign language. We looked up the cost of Rosetta Stone and were weighing out whether it would be worth it and if we'd make the time to actually work on it--and there is no reason NOT to right now. So we may end up doing that soon.

Today, I was SUPER sore from my run yesterday, so I had a "lazy day". I read a little of my book and watched a movie. And it occurred to me that I could multitask while watching the movie--I used to knit or crochet while watching TV in the evenings--so I cast on for a garter stitch afghan today. It'll be gray, white, and light blue to match the decor of my house.

I don't think garter stitch looks the best, and it's literally the simplest of patterns, but it is certainly super cozy and squishy and I love it.


I finally brought inside the project I'd been working on... my first project that I made with my table saw! I wanted to replace a cheap/broken little table that I'd had in my bathroom. I had the table across from the toilet in my bathroom--the drawer had feminine hygiene products and then I had a roll or two of toilet paper on the shelf. It wasn't anything fancy--it just made for easy access.

The drawer broke on the table, so I decided to use my table saw and some scrap materials to make a new table. I love how it turned out! It took forever (and I even had to remake the entire thing at one point) but I'm happy with it now. I didn't realize just how powerful wood glue was until this project--once you use wood glue, there is NO going back! That's why I had to start from scratch at one point.

There is a big learning curve with the table saw, so the table is not perfect. There are several things that I could have done better! But the table does its job and it's in a place that no one sees anyways, so I'm fine with it. I learned quite a bit while making it, so I'm happy with how it turned out as my first project.


I painted it orange (of course) and I really like it. It replaces the old table perfectly! (Obviously, on the left is the old table; and on the right is the new table that I made with scraps)


It's so nice to have had time to work on this project. I also started working on a shelf for Noah's room (I just have to paint it).

Basically, I feel like NOW, during this coronavirus quarantine, is a great time to make time for the things we don't usually make time for. To start hobbies we always wanted to, but just didn't think we'd be able to find the time to do. Learning a foreign language, knitting, woodworking, and anything else that comes to mind.

Yesterday, I used the sewing machine that Jerry got me for Christmas. It was my first time using it! I patched up his work pants and I hemmed a pair of jeans for him.

My sister sent me a link to a pattern for face masks, and I was surprised to see that some hospitals are open to using them because they are so desperate for masks right now. I printed out the pattern (ugh, I finally solved the printer problem this morning--it only took me about six hours total!). I'm going to try making a mask tomorrow. Even if it doesn't work for this virus, I can certainly use it when I use the table saw! Haha, the dust is terrible.

There are several hobbies that I enjoy doing but I don't make time for them, because it makes me feel guilty for spending time on them when I feel like I "should" be doing something else. So with this quarantine going on right now, I really feel like this is the perfect "excuse" to work on things that I enjoy.

I would love to learn a language, knit the super squishy, comfy, garter-stitch afghan, sew some masks or anything else that I want to make, organize my photos, play around in my wood "shop" and make some things, and even teach my family how to play Hearts (Spades and Euchre are to come soon!). Now I have the time to do these things without feeling like I "should" be doing something else. I love not feeling guilty about it.

By the way, here is my "happy place" in the garage. Kind of boring looking, right?! But I turn my podcasts up loud and I love making things out of scraps here. I never would have guessed that I'd one day have a little "shop" set up in the garage, and Jerry teases me about it, but it's definitely where I can forget about my anxiety for a while. It's so nice.



Pssst... Here's a "secret" that I'm very excited about: Today, I sent an application to adopt two cats! After the black cat came to visit us and we really wanted to keep him, I've been thinking non-stop about getting a new cat (or, preferably, a bonded pair!). I've been looking online to see the cats at local rescues and shelters and I fell in love with a sibling pair of brothers (they look like mirror twins).


Even if we don't get that particular pair, I'm going to keep looking. I feel like now is a good time to get a new pet--the kids and I are at home 99% of the time, so it'd be great for the adjustment period. We're certainly not going on a vacation any time soon.

I would love to get a pair of bonded male cats (they get along better than females, and Phoebe and Estelle would definitely do better with males).

I REALLY miss Chandler. All of the cats got along with him. Hopefully I will hear something soon about adopting these cats :)

27 comments:

  1. Have you contacted your local shelter? A lot of shelters are looking for people to foster animals during the pandemic, since they're closed or reduced in staff.

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    1. I thought of that! I asked the family about it, and Eli really doesn't want to foster any pets. I know that sounds terrible, but he SO compassionate toward animals and loves them so much that he said it would be too sad to have to give them away after the foster period. Maybe one day, when it's just Jerry and I at home, we'll start fostering!

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  2. Haha, what Friends names do you have left, since Ben is off the table?

    Gunther, Jack, Mike, David, Richard, Mark, Frank... those are the only main male names I can think of from Friends that you haven't used yet.

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    1. I've loved the name Gunther for a long time, but I just keep waiting for the right pet to fit the name. Joey couldn't have been a more perfect name for our dog (both in looks and personality). Paolo, Estelle, Chandler... very fitting for them! The only one that I don't feel is quite right is Phoebe--but we needed a Phoebs! ;)

      Maybe Frank Jr. Jr.? Haha! I like the name Jack, too--I actually wanted to name one of our kids Jack, but Jerry vetoed it.

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  3. I have been using Duolingo to learn Spanish, it's super fun and the ad version is free so you can try it out and see if you like it! Agreed, now is a great time to learn new things.

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    1. I forgot about Duolingo--I will have to look more into it! I may be getting too ambitious with all of these hobbies, hahaha.

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  4. You might check out duolingo for the language learning. I have a lot of friends who really like it.

    I've been doing some leather tooling, and some various sewing projects. But I'm back at work this week, so less free time.

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    1. Leather tooling sounds fun! What kind of things do you make? I don't think I've ever met someone who does that.

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  5. Those cats are adorable! The table turned out so well!

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    1. Thank you! The table seemed to take forever, since I was still getting the hang of the table saw (I still am, actually). I'm happy with how it turned out for my first project!

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  6. Oh my those kitties are adorable! I hope you get them! And I can't wait to hear what their Friends related names are ;)

    I'm still at work as our business was deemed essential. So at least I still have a somewhat normal routine to get me through all this. The weekends are hard though! I think this weekend I'll organize my shoe closet. Its a total mess!

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    1. Choosing names is so hard! Especially since we've gone through several in the past 17 years.

      I LOVE to organize closets. It feels so good to see the progress when you're done!

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  7. Duolingo is a great, free way to learn languages--and there are so many to choose from! We're learning German.

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    1. I will have to check it out! Rosetta Stone is expensive, so it'd be nice to do a free program. German would be a great language to learn! I love listening to it.

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  8. Oooh! Name suggestions!:
    Drake and Stryker
    Barry and Chip
    Heckles and Treeger
    Gandalf and Fun Bobby
    Kip and Eddie
    Ralph and Jean-Claude

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    1. I'm totally embarrassed to admit this, but I don't remember some of those characters! I really love Barry and Chip as a pair. Jerry suggested Fun Bobby the other day--I think that'd be hilarious! (When we got Paolo, his original name was Mr. Heckles. After a week or so of learning his personality, Paolo fit him so much better, so we changed it!)

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    2. Drake is Joey's name on Days of our Lives, and Stryker was his brother. Kip was never seen but was Chandler's roommate before Joey and Eddie was the crazy roommate after Joey moved into his own place. Ralph for Ralph Lauren, and Jean Claude Van Damme went on a date with Monica. Gandalf was Chandler and Joey's friend who was super fun (but never seen on the show).

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  9. I also started using Duolingo this week for Spanish and it's going well. I've learned new words and it's fun. I may even consider doing the paid version soon

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    1. Maybe I should try Spanish! I took four years of it in high school, so it may come back to me quickly once I start doing a program. I would LOVE to learn Russian, but it's super intimidating!

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  10. Also, have you explained to Noah that this is about protecting people who could die from the virus? That it's not about him not getting sick, but about possibly spreading it to others? When I put it that way to my kids, even my eight year old got it. He's not happy about playgrounds being closed, or not being able to go to the gym, but he understands wanting to not make old people die.

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    1. Yes, I think he's accepted it now. My parents are coming home in a few days from vacation in Hilton Head, and I've told them that I don't want us to see them for a while. (My parents have been gone two months, so we miss them). They are having a very hard time understanding how serious this is! But I would hate for them to get sick (they're in their upper 60's) and then have my kids wonder if it was their "fault". It's hard because my parents live less than a mile from us and are used to seeing the kids several times a week. Noah discovered a way to watch Netflix with friends on his computer yesterday as part of a group chat or something, and he was really excited about that!

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    2. That's great! I think we all have to get creative to find new ways of connecting these days. I am an introvert, so it really didn't change my routine much. But kids that are used to seeing their friends everyday, it's hard. In the long run, I think everyone who follows the order will be glad they did. Tell Noah and Eli they're doing a great thing for their grandparents and all their loved ones.

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  11. Always love your posts, Katie.

    Your shop looks like a delightful place for creating, enjoying some tunes and breathing in the precious smell of wood dust. My husband is a carpenter and although I'm not in to woodworking myself, I love that he is because the wood just smells so good!

    The kitties are adorable! Best wishes for enlarging your family with two lucky felines!

    All of these changes keep my head spinning but I also am enjoying the time at home without so much guilt. I even posted a new blog post on my own blog which I hadn't done in a very, very long time. It just felt right to keep my little blog alive if for nothing else than the journal marking this time with details from my own family's experiences.

    Love the table you made! So talented! It looks just super!

    I crochet and did manage to crank out one dish cloth. Takes some time to get back into the habit of crochet but I'm getting there and enjoy it very much. Like meditation plus crafting. :)

    Stay healthy!

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    1. Thank you so much for all the kind words! I am going to have to check out your blog now :) Over the years, I haven't kept up with reading blogs and I miss it.

      I just added several knitting and crochet projects to my Ravelry queue (which would take three lifetimes to actually complete everything). I added mostly smaller things so that I can have instant gratification! I need to make some more dish scrubbers (where you hold tulle and kitchen cotton together and crochet a few rounds in a circle--they are the best for washing dishes!)

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  12. i cut out several face masks this morning and plan to sew them up later. the hospital i am donating them to needs them for patients coming in with fevers and coughs. they are running out of face masks for them. then i just heard of a retirement home closer to where i live that has run out of face masks and needs some, so i will make some for them too.

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  13. That table looks great!

    I was going to mention Duolingo, as others have. I got Rosetta Stone over 10 years ago (on CDs!) to learn Italian before we took a trip, and I have to it was really great. I don't think Duolingo is as good from what I remember, but it's hard to beat the price. It's also somewhat "gamified", which I think might appeal to you.

    We have three cats. They are siblings and over 12 years old now, so they are starting to develop the typical health problems of older cats. I suggested to my husband that this would be a great time (while we're stuck at home) to adopt two kittens, but he thought I was crazy! ha. I hope you find a good pair! Those two cats you pictured are very cute.

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  14. If you are going to invest money into language learning, I would recommend using Duolingo for the basics for free and then take classes on italki.com — you can find native speaker teachers from all over the world who will speak with you over Skype. The website handles all the money transactions and scheduling. You can find teachers who fit your budget (usually between $10-20 per hour) and I think if you’re new to the site you can get free trial 20 minute lessons. There is another website called Natakallam that connects you with refugees/displaced people and you can take lessons with them over Skype (I think it ends up being around $15 per hour) I highly recommend both, as they’re a really fun and motivating way to learn the language, meet new people and you can feel good about supporting people directly. Good luck with your social distancing projects!!

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