Please join me on the porch of The Humble Bungalow.
Not in person, of course, but in the spirit of friendship.
Our porch is a quiet contemplative place to sit outside
in the sunshine
a place to chat and perhaps sip a beverage
make yourself comfy...
The news over the past few years has been disheartening and grim.
We've suffered a catastrophic worldwide pandemic...
Covid has changed us all and not necessarily for the better.
Many of the early days of Covid were dark and filled with fear...
we couldn't see our friends or family.
We were set adrift from our comfortable and often predictable routines
left alone to endure and weather the storm.
The Nightly News was focused around the serious nature of the disease
the deaths and the spread of the virus.
Things were incredibly bleak.
We were told the scientists were already working on a vaccine.
We waited and waited
often impatiently
for the promised vaccine.
I had to limit my exposure to the news broadcasts
to prevent myself from going down a dark rabbit hole...
I embraced the basic simple joys to keep my spirits level...
my moods were not euphoric but the little things in my daily round kept me going.
Getting outside in the garden was a gift...
We were so fortunate that we could dig in the dirt
plant seeds and watch them grow.
I think we grew closer as a couple and relied on each other
more than ever before in our married life.
Our "BUBBLE" was small...
two humans and two cats.
The roses rewarded us with blooms for our hard work tending to their needs.
We took JOY seeing things bloom and thrive,
excited to see seeds sprouting.
Cutting a few blooms and bringing them inside was a luxury.
Popping them in a vessel, be it a jam jar or a crystal vase
was a tonic that enriched our days.
Escaping safely to the cottage to cocoon was an absolute godsend.
We were able to self isolate and have a change of scenery.
It helped to temporarily soothe our worried minds...
We've now come through several years living with this virus.
have had our 4 vaccinations and we have changed...
Life as we knew it will never be the same.
I've learned a lot about myself...
Discovered that I am resilient, and can rise to a challenge.
Am able to amuse myself for long periods of time without going stir crazy!
Can make do and mend.
Will laugh at the littlest things...
Found out the small (est) things can and do bring JOY...
sweeping the floor
cooking new recipes
listening to music
washing the dishes
knitting
reading a good book
collecting sea glass on the beach
walking
the songs of the birds
butterflies
the smell of a scented candle
coffee
fragrant soap
I think expectations I have held onto for years have been drastically altered.
I no longer crave expensive things...
or even "things" if I am being honest...
I desire only the comforts of home, family and friends.
It is a shift in mindset,
honestly it is the one huge takeaway for me, from these past two years.
I also decided to declutter the entire bungalow...
donated most everything that we no longer use.
Gave away a lot to charity.
We do not NEED to KEEP stuff we don't love and use.
The feeling of having less stuff is so uplifting.
I did that to my clothes closet too!
My scarf drawer has been reduced to about a dozen scarves in total...
The cupboards look really organized and some quite bare!
I don't crave designer or name brand things...
a few well made items work and I have not shopped as much as pre Covid.
I did buy two lovely linen aprons which I have happily
worn to cook and clean...
with my pearls :-))
My daily household uniform is simple...
Jeans and a Tee, or top, linen apron and a strand of Akoya pearls.
While I know that pearls might be considered a wee bit "mumsy"
I don't care if they are not "on trend."
I wear what I like and they bring me JOY.
Family and friends are so precious...
we make time to see them whenever possible.
When it wasn't safe we saw people outside from afar...
thankfully now we can see the nearest and dearest close up.
What a huge relief that is!
I drank too much alcohol during Covid...
Possibly I was trying to numb myself from reality.
I've not had a drink for 3 months now
am sipping a tasty faux beer called Partake these days.
Enjoying a de-alcoholized bubbly from Italy called Bottega.
Surprising
it was not hard to quit drinking, but now I crave chocolate!
I haven't decided if I will drink alcohol again or not?
It is too early to know...
I know that I sleep better without the wine.
Our recycling box is not very full these days :-))
I have a lot more things that I could say about Covid and how it changed me...
this is a good start or maybe it's enough?
How has Covid changed you?
While I am on the subject...
there is a lot of room for (self) improvement left here too...
for example I could lose at least 15 pounds.
Maybe WW is in my future?
I'll close for now
hope that you will chime in and share some of your thoughts...
What simple JOYS do you enjoy?
The fresh air walks are one of my favourite ways to banish
any negative thoughts and energy.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.
~ Be Well and Be Kind ~
25 comments:
What a lovely and thoughtful post. I haven't really sorted out my Covid experience yet since it coincided with and overlapped my retirement. I was volunteering in one of my schools when everything was shut down. I do miss my colleagues very much but I only reached out to them during milestone events like the beginning and ending of school and birthdays and Christmas. They had an awful two years, 2020-2021 year being worse.
I was lucky to be able to visit my children and they could visit me. They both worked from home for until the beginning of this past summer and were vaccinated and masked every time they were in public. They also are tested at least weekly at work now that they are back, sometimes more often if there is a case in the office. Husband and I expressed gratitude that our parents had passed and did not have to endure the pandemic, especially his mother who was in a nursing home. We never would have been able to see her.
I'm still working on the cleaning and decluttering, but I agree that there has been a mindset shift. I did discover that my lowest point in the year is February to March. I can't seem to accomplish anything, but I realized that was true while I was still working. I could never come up with ideas to energize my lesson plans during those months.
Since my husband and I were both teachers, we were accustomed to spending lots of time together during the summer. We didn't have too much of an adjustment on that front. I think we have grown closer, but I think that may have to do more with the reduced stress from being out of the school system than the worries of Covid. We are both convinced he had it in April of 2020, even though he tested negative. He was very sick.
Long-winded, but you did get me thinking about all that has happened!
Thank you, that was lovely. I have been doing the same things to get me through this era, and also could lose the extra comfort pounds I’ve added, but find it difficult to care about it.
This is a lovely post, L. I certainly value time spent with my family these days, especially with my parents, as I see them aging more each time we get together. They live on the mainland and we talk frequently, which is good. I started calling them two or three times each week (or more) during Covid and we've continued that.
I value my home and the activities I can engage in here - gardening is such a solace, and keeping things clean and tidy always lifts my spirits. I, too, gained weight during Covid and am working, ever so slowly, on losing it.
I'm glad we were never prevented from going on walks outdoors, as some people around the world were. I read more books, and did more jigsaw puzzles!
Yup, it's been a weird few years, hasn't it? My perspective on taking care of myself has changed (I'm number one now!), and I also realized that the only thing that is really important are the relationships in our lives.
I quit drinking nearly 5 years ago - I was having trouble and had to just quit. I don't miss it (I know the Partakes!).
Carol you bring up so many great thoughts that resonate with me.
We also were thankful that my husband's mom, who was in a care home, did not have to live through the pandemic...also my mom would have had a terribly difficult time alone in her condo...if she were alive I imagine we would have moved her into our small bungalow.
Sounds like you and your hubby have an established summertime rhythm which would have prepared you for lots of time together. Your husband might have had Covid...our GP thinks he had it early on when the announcements were just being made public by the W.H.O.
Hope that you are enjoying the Fall weather, I can only imagine how beautiful the foliage must be in Vermont.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, I really appreciate you taking the time to respond and share with us.
Noelle it sounds like we are kindred spirits :-))
I like the term you used "comfort pounds" because I think that is exactly how they came about! Take care and thank you for your comments.
You are wise to keep in touch with your parents, they must have loved hearing from you on a regular basis. Seniors can be lonely, and need to hear from loved ones and friends even when there is not a pandemic. Walking and gardening were valuable mood lifters and actually felt like lifelines at times. Hope you found that book All The Queen's Men...it was the book I finished just before her majesty passed away.
Enjoy the sunshine and warm weather out there this week!
Weird indeed! Taking care of yourself is SO IMPORTANT...if your needs are not met then you really cannot help others. Congratulations on your 5 years...those Partakes are so tasty and only 15 or 20 calories a can :-))
Take care
XO
Hi, I am grateful for many things. My health and the simple things I do each day. I have always loved being at home and pottering inside and out. We were blessed to see our twin grandchildren in Australia earlier this year, it was such a long wait during those Covid years... Spring is here in NZ now, I must admit I do love the warmer days. You write so well Leslie, it is always a joy to read your posts, thank you.
Thank you for your thoughtful words that resonate with me. One thing the past few years has taught me is I need to get better at letting go of belongings, I need to let go of the guilt of having purchased clothing that will never be worn but remains in my closet because I paid good money for it. The old saying that you don't own your belongings but rather they own you is so true. This past month I have been making inroads into letting go of bits and pieces, only keeping those items that reflect the life I actually live rather than the fantasy life I was always going to be. Like you I've clearing out the cupboards and can't believe how satisfying it is to look at see empty spaces.
Thank you for an interesting and very thoughtful post. I too can relate to many of your experiences. We enjoyed the first year, when we went into long lockdowns. All our usual social pursuits stopped, all in the same week, and we spent time enjoying our home, me sewing, him gardening, catching up on family history, decluttering, and going for country drives for a picnic (never touching a thing in the picnic grounds :) However, 2021 I found much more difficult - not seeing family or being able to visit them interstate or overseas. I have had trouble with depression, and weight gain too. As our country 'learns to live with covid' I have had to conquer fear and push myself out there. I still wear a mask in all crowded places. Ill-health from other causes makes me fear catching covid and thus far we have avoided it. Yes it has changed me. With less socialising, I have no need for the clothes I always enjoyed buying or making. I am recycling my own old things, making do, using up excess this and that around the house. We donated a lot of good bric-a-brac to a fundraiser for the Ukraine, and felt very liberated. Lovely photos, especially the magenta bloom. Is it a rose?
I'm likely alone here in that I don't feel COVID changed me. I've been changed by other things - my husband's prostate cancer diagnosis a year ago and now retiring. I have lists of things to do and many of them relate to what you've said here: purging, donating things, minimizing belongings, etc. I've always been happy on my own and at home - I have plenty of interests to occupy me. Your posts are always welcome and food for thought.
Thank you for sharing your comments Colleen.
Congratulations on the twin grandchildren and how wonderful that you were able to go and visit them. NZ is where our SIL is from...the scenery looks very similar to ours here in British Columbia especially the coast where we live. Take care and hope to hear from you again.
Toula, I love that name by the way...it is difficult letting go of stuff! Keeping things that we may use sometime in the future does make us reluctant to part with stuff but if we haven't used it in decades why keep it? I like your idea of a fantasy life...we can definitely dream of living it, though for me it is not very much on the radar :-)
When I donate a bag of things to charity I am rewarded by knowing someone in need will benefit. Often when I am at the charity shop with a bag or two of donations I find a small treat for myself...I found 2 sweet Burleigh Cups and Saucers last time for $5 each and my fall and winter tea times will be so much more cheerful this fall...I think I posted them on the previous post.
Take care and have fun with your decluttering.
Like you we enjoyed going for drives in the country...not seeing family in person wore me down too...the Christmas that we watched each other eat dinner via the laptop made me so weepy and sad. We wear masks here in the shops and when we are indoors with the public.
I love that you were able to help the fundraising for the Ukraine by donating extra items from your home.
Sadness and depression are not surprising following the bleak days of isolation that we have endured...extra pounds gained are also products of our pandemic. Hopefully we will bounce back and enjoy those simple pleasures as we progress into what the authorities are calling "the new norma'."
The wee deep pink flower with the thin frilly foliage is a Cosmos, our new neighbour grew them from seed. We gave her a lot of our perennials when we were dividing them so she gave us a few of her seedlings and they have done really well.
Take care Patricia
XO
Jeannine the news of your husband and the diagnosis of prostate cancer would certainly have rocked your world...my husband had it in his late 40's and I think I may share a little bit of how you feel...it is such a concern and I hope he is getting good treatment. Science has come a long way in their understanding of the disease since my husband had his.
Retirement is up there in the top 10 stressors! Who knew?
Hope that you are settling into a smooth routine...although we might not love routines a little bit of a schedule can keep us organized so that we are motivated to try new things and go on some adventures!
What new things are you embracing and what do you want to do most?
I love not getting dressed and ready for work at 6am...getting up when i feel like it and sipping not one but TWO cups of coffee and that is how I start my mornings with gratitude and a smile on my face :-))
Take care,
XO
I too started a "bad" habit of drinking wine every night to calm myself down. Then I started to not get as productive in the evenings and not sleeping as well so now I do not have that nightly glass of wine during the week nights. Allow a few glasses on the weekends. I do feel so much better now!
I also wanted to tell you about the app - NOOM Its a weight loss app but so much different than the rest out there It really is awesome! You have to pay quarterly for it but they have so many good tips and the daily writing is SO FUN! Whoever writes for them should write for all the apps. If you do signup my tip for you is to not sign up for all the the "extras" they try and get you to sign up for in the beginning. (just decline them or say No to them) I believe they have a basic plan and that was good enough for me. It really is a great app! HIGHLY RECOMMEND. (I don't work for them LOL) I love your blog so much! You have a cozy life and you remind me of Janet from Gardeners Cottage! I love her so that is a VERY HIGH compliment. Thanks for your blog posts. You are SO very very inspiring! Jennifer
Jennifer I think that many of us were drinking more wine...I know that here in BC statistics were published about liquor sales way higher than normal. Mocktails and de-alcoholized beverages are on trend now...I suppose there are quite a few people who realize that their drinking had maybe been too much. I am not advocating readers stop drinking though...that is not my agenda...I love a gin and tonic and a great glass of wine with dinner! I am taking a break for now.
I have a friend who likes NOOM, she used to do WW and she said there are lots of tips that help one lose the weight...she hasn't lost any more weight than she did on WW though so I am not eager to join. I had to track all my food and points on WW so I know about what I need to do it is a question of IF I want to :-))
I love Janet and her Blog is sublime...Her cottage is unbelievably beautiful and she is soooo talented. I miss her regular posts.
I musty go back and re-read her posts...she's one in a million.
Take Care Jennifer and enjoy your continued success with NOOM.
Hello Leslie, Thank-you so much for your very personal and inspiring post. Your photos are so lovely! I too definitely found joy in walking/hiking with my husband and gardening. I have always liked time on my own, but the enforced distancing and much more time staying at home engendered a lot of introspection for me. After "thinking" about volunteering for years, I finally put in an application at a local thrift store, and have really been enjoying my time there. Although I usually come home with more than I donate. ;-) I also used the time to find friends that I had lost touch with over the years, social media has its uses for sure. Thanks for all your posts, very intrigued by the Ceder's Rose. Take care, Joyce xx
My husband had his prostate removed and has also had radiation and hormone therapy. He's not up to his usual stuff - less stamina and strength, for two things. He finds this frustrating and makes me wonder if this is as good as it gets. Time, as always, will tell. I'm working on my lists - so many things get put on the back burner when you're working full-time. At least for me they did. Lots of gardening needs doing. Numerous quilting projects to finish. Much organizing and purging to do. There are also places to go and see - far and not so far. My husband is still working part-time, but his job is flexible and he doesn't work on Fridays. Not to mention, lots of books to read! I have piles of books passed on to me from my sister. I'm not a novel buyer, I frequent the library for novels. My sister is a novel buyer, though, and often passes books on. I'll get a jump start on Christmas baking as well. I'm not one who likes to do all my Christmas baking in one marathon session from early morning to late night! I prefer a couple recipes a day and then freeze things as you go. Also, more exercise!
Hostess, i found I'm ok with not rushing round at the weekends and to take the opportunities to get out and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. I don't need to be in town shopping on every day off, but it is nice to pop into a cafe and suppot local businesses. I'm tired of worrying about losing the weight, im not going to spend my life on a diet.
That is a rose!! I am so sorry but I thought it was a different photo from Instagram!!!
Congratulations on your volunteer placement Joyce...you must see some pretty incredible and tempting items. I wouldn't find it easy to resist buying some of the time worn "treasures" you would encounter! I think that donating our time is very rewarding...I am kept busy working on the strata council for our cottage on Pender Island...it has been a growth opportunity for me and I think I will continue for the 4th year before hanging up my hat and trying something different.
Have fun!
Rushing can be stressful...taking things slowly is a luxury. I found retirement offered me the ability to slow down. Sounds like you have figured this out before retirement!
No point in "stressing" about weight loss either...embracing healthy eating habits and walking is a win win in my book.
Take care
Your husband has a lot to deal with and those treatments are not easy on the body. Hopefully the issues will resolve themselves and he will adapt to the changes.
I notice that I have less energy and aches and pains now that I am almost 70...but I listen to my body take short rest breaks and when we have our family dinners I usually prepare a few dishes the day before so that I am not too tired to enjoy myself.
Oh Christmas baking sounds wonderful! What do you make?
Books, baking, quilting, adventures near and far...all exciting in their own way and planning is a big part of the fun!
Take care Jeannine
XO
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