What To Do AT HOME in Weathersfield Vermont. March 17
Spring Arrives This Week
Happy St. Patrick's Day
Hands down this will be the weirdest St. Patrick's Day on record. But that doesn't mean that has to be a bad thing. We can create our own special ways to celebrate this Spring "holiday" while we're all at home "sheltering in place."
We won't be going to Ireland as planned but you can join me for some virtual travel. I'm going scroll through my past Ireland trips with a Guiness and pretend I'm there.
I know the "virus that shall not-be-named" is on everyone's mind, headlines in newspapers, the first thing you see when you turn on your phone in the morning but it doesn't have to be. Just hit PAUSE.
This doesn't mean ignore the recommendations and warnings to avoid crowds and wash your hands, but it doesn't have to be your life's focus either.
For most of us in Vermont avoiding crowds of 10 or more will be easy, almost like what we do every day. But for others, this will be a HUGE change in behavior. It can get lonely but it doesn't have to.
What to Do While I'm At Home
Get Outdoors!
What you schedule for yourself at home depends on who is at home with you. Just you and your pets-easy-get outdoors. Everything is closed-yup but nature is always open (even when it snows or rains.) Folks with families can get outdoors too. Take long nature walks, go for a hike. Set goals. Build up your adventures slowly but just do it. Maybe work up to two-a-days. Get out and look for signs of Spring.
Gardens aren't Closed
You could think about starting a garden, even if you don't have a yard. Things do grow in pots.
Open up a seed catalog or go online and check out all the beautiful vegetables and flowers that you could seed start now and transplant in your yard in a few months. I've got some early harvest tomatoes, bell peppers and basil seed starting in my kitchen right now. I've even started a few lettuce seeds so I can have fresh greens in a few weeks.
Pause for flowers-just a break to look at something other than the virus or people in masks...
Use Our Library
From their Facebook Page:
During this time, we will utilize our website and social media channels on Facebook, and Twitter to share information with patrons, including updates on our closure and tips for making the most of online Library resources. We encourage you to visit weathersfieldproctorlibrary.org to explore books and research tools. Library staff will be available to answer phone messages and reply to email questions. Please also remember there is Wifi access in the library parking lot 24/7, and online access to library services 24/7. You may download ebooks and audio books with your library card. If you don’t have a card, just give us a call or email and we can set up an account for you. Don't worry about things like overdue books or returning items - any physical materials currently checked out will have their due dates extended until we reopen. If you get automated overdue notices, please disregard. We do not charge fines and understand that you may not be able to return items in a timely manner.
Go Old School
Read books, watch videos, play board games or cards games. If your home with children-treasure hunts in the house or in the yard. Pancakes for dinner. Make homemade pizza. Camping in the living room. Woodstove S'mores. When was the last time you played Capture the Flag?
Use the Internet
Most of us have access to the internet, some of us LIVE on it. I know we also complain about how the internet is causing us to be isolated but in these crazy times, the internet can actually bring us together.Hook up your TV and travel the world!
If you have a laptop or tablet or phone with a HDMI inlet and you have a TV that accepts HDMI plugs you can hook your device up to your TV and stream on your TV. If you have a smart TV you can plug in the links below and watch.
Like Opera-Check out the Met
The Met is running online operas-how cool is that and they are FREE. https://www.metopera.org/Virtually Visit World Class Museums
Just think of the savings in airfare, hotels, car rentals, tickets...Ever want to visit:
This iconic museum located in the heart of London allows virtual visitors to tour the Great Court and discover the ancient Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies. You can also find hundreds of artifacts on the museum’s virtual tour.
Guggenheim Museum, New York
Google’s Street View feature lets visitors tour the Guggenheim’s famous spiral staircase without ever leaving home. From there, you can discover incredible works of art from the Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary eras.
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
This famous American art museum features two online exhibits through Google. The first is an exhibit of American fashion from 1740 to 1895, including many renderings of clothes from the colonial and Revolutionary eras. The second is a collection of works from Dutch Baroque painter Johannes Vermeer.
Musée d’Orsay, Paris
Musée d’Orsay, Paris
You can virtually walk through this popular gallery that houses dozens of famous works from French artists who worked and lived between 1848 and 1914. Get a peek at artworks from Monet, Cézanne, and Gauguin, among others.
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul
One of Korea’s popular museums can be accessed from anywhere around the world. Google’s virtual tour takes you through six floors of Contemporary art from Korea and all over the globe.
Pergamon Museum, Berlin
Pergamon Museum, Berlin
As one of Germany’s largest museums, Pergamon has a lot to offer–even if you can’t physically be there. This historical museum is home to plenty of ancient artifacts including the Ishtar Gate of Babylon and, of course, the Pergamon Altar.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Explore the masterworks from the Dutch Golden Age, including works from Vermeer and Rembrandt. Google offers a Street View tour of this iconic museum, so you can feel as if you’re actually wandering its halls.
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Anyone who is a fan of this tragic, ingenious painter can see his works up close (or, almost up close) by virtually visiting this museum – the largest collection of artworks by Vincent van Gogh, including over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and over 750 personal letters.
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
European artworks from as far back as the 8th Century can be found in this California art museum. Take a Street View tour to discover a huge collection of paintings, drawings, sculptures, manuscripts, and photographs.
Uffizi Gallery, Florence
Uffizi Gallery, Florence
This less well-known gallery houses the art collection of one of Florence, Italy’s most famous families, the de’Medicis. The building was designed by Giorgio Vasari in 1560 specifically for Cosimo I de’Medici, but anyone can wander its halls from anywhere in the world.
MASP, São Paulo
MASP, São Paulo
The Museu de Arte de São Paulo is a non-profit and Brazil’s first modern museum. Artworks placed on clear perspex frames make it seem like the artwork is hovering in midair. Take a virtual tour to experience the wondrous display for yourself.
National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City
National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City
Built in 1964, this museum is dedicated to the archaeology and history of Mexico’s pre-Hispanic heritage. There are 23 exhibit rooms filled with ancient artifacts, including some from the Mayan civilization.
Sadly, not all popular art museums and galleries could be included on Google Arts & Culture’s collection, but some museums are taking it upon themselves to offer online visits. According to Fast Company, the Louvre also offers virtual tours on its website.
To see more of Google Arts & Culture’s collection of museums, visit the collection’s website. There are thousands of museum Street Views on Google as well. Google Arts & Culture also has an online experience for exploring famous historic and cultural heritage sites.
Museums not your thing-How about the National parks?
For those who want to surround themselves with nature without the traveling and going-outside aspect of it all, national parks are also providing virtual tours of America’s most popular parks. Virtual visitors can travel through the trails of Yellowstone National Park, as well as the Yosemite National Park.
Sadly, not all popular art museums and galleries could be included on Google Arts & Culture’s collection, but some museums are taking it upon themselves to offer online visits. According to Fast Company, the Louvre also offers virtual tours on its website.
To see more of Google Arts & Culture’s collection of museums, visit the collection’s website. There are thousands of museum Street Views on Google as well. Google Arts & Culture also has an online experience for exploring famous historic and cultural heritage sites.
Museums not your thing-How about the National parks?
Explore national parks
For those who want to surround themselves with nature without the traveling and going-outside aspect of it all, national parks are also providing virtual tours of America’s most popular parks. Virtual visitors can travel through the trails of Yellowstone National Park, as well as the Yosemite National Park.Visit the zoo
Some people count on the company of a furry friend at home, but others rely on spaces on the outside world to view them. Thankfully, spaces like the San Diego Zoo, the Georgia Aquarium and the Monterey Bay Aquarium are offering live webcam viewings of pandas, penguins and beluga whales.
Don't want a long plane ride but want to visit Hawaii?
Take a trip to Hawaii
As we go through high-tensioned times, keeping yourself relaxed is as important as keeping yourself clean. With the help of Google Earth, users can take a tour of some of Hawaii’s beautiful landmarks, such as HawaiÊ»i Volcanoes National Park and Waikiki Beach.Have children at home
Check out this website: 100+ Indoor Activities
Love Music-Bands are Doing LIVE Watch Parties on Facebook.
If you have a favorite musician or band, I bet they are doing a watch party on Facebook. The entertainment industry basically disappeared last Friday when overnight all forms of sports, music, and theatre was paused for the foreseeable future. Many of these events are the only income for these people or non-profits. Let's hope when we come through this pandemic-they'll all still be around for us to enjoy and listen to and dance to and watch and... you get the picture.
Order by Phone or Internet Take-Away
The other industry that's going to take a BIG HIT is the service industry. Restaurants and bars in our area got word yesterday that they are closing to dine-in/eat in. Many are offering take away/take out only.
If your budget allows, consider ordering ahead and picking up. Most are offering curbside delivery to your car. Try to use our local restaurants not the big chains. These folks live in our neighborhoods-they need our support.
Stay safe and Stay Healthy friends and neighbors. Remember to call your elder neighbors to check up on them and bring some cheer to them.
We're in this together!
Until next week...
Nancy Nutile-McMenemy is an Upper Valley freelance photographer and writer who loves to attend concerts and local events in and around Weathersfield and the Upper Valley.
If you have an event you'd like listed please email it to: photosbynanci@comcast.com