Trying out a new recipe, cleaning out drawers and closets, taking up an old hobby and trying their hands at arts and crafts are just some of the activities that local residents spent time on during the stay-at-home order.
As a tribute to her late husband, Richard Gilfillan, Frances Gilfillan, who resides in the Tel Hai Retirement Community in Honey Brook, created 25 pillows from her late husband's shirts, pants and jeans.
"He passed away in November 2019, and after deep thought I decided to make this my project," she said. "Fortunately, I was getting started on this when the virus struck, and I was counseled at Tel Hai to stay at home unless absolutely necessary to go out. Making the pillows was extremely helpful in passing the time and actually very relaxing."
Like a quilt, the pillows consist of a front design made of squares and a back layer with padding in between. "I cut squares and rectangles for two and a half days and then made a pattern," she explained. "When I had the pattern, I sewed each of them together. For example, if I had 30 squares, I took one row and sewed them together and then sewed the rows together. Most of the backs are made that you can use either side as decorative pillows because they are pretty also."
Gilfillan distributed the pillows to her husband's family members, including his grandchildren. "I wasn't allowed visitors when I first started, so I took pictures of (the pillows) and texted them photos and they could see and choose the one they wanted," she noted.
Among those who took the time for a cleanout project was the Rev. Dr. Nina George-Hacker, rector of St. John's Episcopal Church, Compass, where Gilfillan is a lifelong member. "My husband (Rick) and I moved into our apartment four years ago and were so busy working we never had time to deal with our basement storage unit, which was a mess," she said. "One day, during our enforced stay-at-home, we spent 10 hours cleaning out and reorganizing the space. Now we know what is and isn't in there and where to find it."
In addition to the basement, George-Hacker also cleaned out and reorganized her desk drawers and dresser drawers, the home's hall closet and linen closet, three floor-to-ceiling shelves of CDs, two four-drawer file cabinets and one kitchen cabinet.
"When I wasn't cleaning out and reorganizing spaces, I did a lot more cooking - trying out new recipes and reviving old favorites," she reported, noting that one of her most successful meals consisted of panko-encrusted fish with asparagus, zucchini with cheese and quinoa and vegetables.
Local artist Anna Carter, owner of Rose River Way Studio, found a new way to share her love of art by offering online classes. "I have always loved teaching ever since I discovered this passion in college tutoring younger classmates," she explained. "I took a full-time job working as a safety engineer in Morgantown and lost touch with that passion. When COVID hit, it suddenly struck me that I really could teach, even remotely. I saw the need for constructive remote activities and decided to try and fill that need with virtual watercolor workshops."
Carter's first class was held to benefit the Village Library of Morgantown, while her second online offering was geared to senior citizens. "This adventure has been an amazing way for me to balance out my analytical engineering day job with a creative and community-building activity," she said. "I'm so excited to continue teaching watercolor in this amazing small town that holds a huge place in my heart."
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