Staying Safe, Staying Sane in Weathersfield Vermont
April 22, 2020
Today is EARTH DAY
Like everything else Earth Day's 50 year milestone will pass without a typical celebration.
It's been a while since I've blogged. I used to write the "What To Do In and Around Weathersfield Vermont" blog weekly to let folks know what was happening in our area so they could get out and enjoy themselves.
Since pretty much everything is cancelled for the foreseeable future, I've been try to figure out what to write about.
I've been present on social platforms: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram where I've been posting pictures from my Travel Photography vault. You can catch up by visiting my blog page: https://photosbynanci.blogspot.com/2020/04/staying-safe-staying-sane-in_22.html
Like the photo below from our trip to Spain last Fall, I usually include something about where the photo was taken so folks can learn a bit of Social Studies and Geography while enjoying a view of something other than their living rooms.
The Patio of the Lions (Spanish: Patio de los Leones; Arabic: بهو السباع), Nasrid Palace, Alhambra Granada Spain.
I've also been doing things on ZOOM and Google Meet.
We really are living in a different world. Who knew the internet would keep us all connected after hearing it was drawing us apart. Now all my friends and family members get together virtually to stay in touch. My women's kayaking group are ZOOM-ing weekly for cocktails and planning for future kayak adventures.
And I've started taking classes online.
CLASSES anyone
Yoga
BC (before COVID-19) I had wanted to take a yoga class with Within Reach Yoga (Lisa Gleeson) but I could never make the time. She is now hosting Google Meet Yoga classes.I took a class Monday night and it was WONDERFUL.
(She's not charging per say but asking for donations for her classes.)
Weekly Classes
Short 'n' Sweet from Head to Feet-Tuesdays 4:30-5:30 pm
Chair Yoga-Wednesdays 4:30-5:30 pm
Slow Flow, Rest + Restore-Saturdays, 9:00-10:00 am,
She's also starting a new 7 Week Series beginning April 26.
Journey Through Balancing Your 7 Chakras (This one you do have to pay for. I plan on signing up up because it sounds very cool.)
You can email her if you have questions: lisa@withinreachyoga.com
Or donate here online: https://checkout.square.site/pay/1e1dc2d6479b4c4da073146fbb2d07bf or pay by mail
send a check to Within Reach Yoga, 170 Meadow Lane, Weathersfield, VT 05156.
From her newsletter:
NEW Series! Journey Through Balancing Your 7 Chakras
I'm excited to offer a 7-week gentle hatha style yoga series, using each week to focus on opening one chakra at a time ending with our crown chakras on the 7th week.
What is a chakra anyway?
Chakras are the main energy centers of the body. The word chakra translates to "wheel" in Sanskrit, and you can imagine them like spinning pinwheels, radiating free-flowing positive energy. If one is gunked up (which can happen with physical illness, emotional imbalance, loss of connection, poor dietary choices, lack of exercise, overexertion, and lifestyle choices such as overwork, drug use, or lack of sleep), others will not be able to spin efficiently. Unblocking your chakras opens them, allowing energy to run through them freely, and harmony exists between the physical body, mind, and spirit.
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There are mudras (hand gestures), mantras (affirmations and sounds), traditional yoga poses, and even colors and crystals that can be used to hone in on a specific chakra.
To register or if you have questions Email lisa@withinreachyoga.com
Belly Dancing
Inspiring Personal and Global Transformation Through the Dances of the Middle East and Beyond
I tried Belly Dancing last night. Yup, me and 37 other people from around the world tried one of Gina Capossela's free classes.
Gina is offering two more try before you sign up FREE Intro to Belly Dance classes on Thursday 4/23 or Saturday 4/25 , click here to sign up for the ZOOM code and password:
https://ginadances.com/free-intro-to-belly-dance-class/
Her eight week beginner classes start next week.
Tuesday, 7:15 pm EST, starts April 28
Thursday, 5:45 pm EST, starts April 30
Saturday, 10:30 am EST, starts May 2
More info: www.GinaDances.com
https://ginadances.com/free-intro-to-belly-dance-class/
Her eight week beginner classes start next week.
Tuesday, 7:15 pm EST, starts April 28
Thursday, 5:45 pm EST, starts April 30
Saturday, 10:30 am EST, starts May 2
More info: www.GinaDances.com
Music ONLINE Live
I've been going through withdrawal from seeing live shows. Luckily, most artists are now live streaming so you can still bring music into your lives and living rooms.
The easiest way to follow your favorite artist is to sign up with Bandsintown. You can track artists and bands and will get messages when they schedule a "live" online show.
It took a little doing but I can plug my laptop HDMI into my TV HDMI and stream the shows. Or if you have a smart TV just search for your show's URL.
On Sunday, I watched two live concerts. Although it's not the same as being in a venue with other fans clapping, dancing and interacting with the artist/band it still works.
I've seen Todd Snider many times live. His show Sunday was special because of the setlist he chose to perform. Todd is streaming shows until the end of May (and maybe further into the future)
"What It Is"-Live with Todd Snider
I also watch one of my favorite younger artists-LISSIE Sunday afternoon. I found out about the show from an email from Bandsintown. Her next stream is tomorrow night, Thursday April 23 as part of the Avenue of the Saints: Virtual Music Festival.
More photos of Lissie: https://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/Lissie
What to Do While I'm At Home
Get Outdoors!
Everything is closed-yup but nature is always open (even when it snows or rains.) 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. 
If it ever warms up I'll be able to transplant these tomatoes and lettuce starters.
Use the Internet
Quarantine Baking
It's the NEW thing and the reason why us bread makers can't find yeast or bread flour anywhere.
Check out King Arthur Flour's YouTube Channel for some yummy recipes https://www.youtube.com/user/KingArthurFlour
Hook up your TV and travel the world!
Again, 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
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
Order by Phone or Internet Take-Away
The Hanover Chamber put together this list of Curbside Restaurants: https://www.hanoverchamber.org/upper-valley-restaurants-delivery-curbside-pi
I would also add:
Exit Ate
Springfield Diner
I would also add:
Exit Ate
Springfield Diner
Food Assistance
Ascutney Union Church Food Cupboard in Ascutney 5243 Route 5 Saturdays 9-10 a.m. call 802-674-2484.
Weathersfield Food Shelf in Perkinsville. The 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month from 2-4 p.m. WFS is located in the 1879 Schoolhouse at 1862 Route 106 in Perkinsville. Donations of non-perishable food are always welcomed and may be dropped off at the facility during open hours or placed in the collection box at Martin Memorial Hall. For more information, call 802-263-5584 or email weathersfieldfoodshelf@gmail.com.
Hartland Food shelf in Hartland. 4 Corners UU Church Fridays 8-10 a.m.
Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf in Reading. Mondays 2-4 p.m. and Thursday 4-6 p.m. Stone School 3456 Tyson Rd, Reading.
You are NOT Alone-HCRS
Health Care and Rehabilitation Services 24-hour crisis hotline 1-800-622-4235
Also check out Upper Valley Strong
Also check out Upper Valley Strong
Stay Safe and Stay Healthy friends and neighbors.
Remember to call or check in on your elderly neighbors, bring them some cheer from a proper social distance.
Remember to call or check in on your elderly neighbors, bring them some cheer from a proper social distance.
We'll get through this together. We're all connected.
#StayatHomeSavesLives
#StopTheSpread
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 anything you think I should post during our Stay At Home Time drop me an email: photosbynanci@comcast.com