Creative Coping
As the world has continued to adapt and make sacrifices in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sisters and Associates have found new ways to manage the daily changes in their lives. This new series will take a look at the creative ways a few of our Community members gave dealt with these days of staying home and staying cautious in 2020.
Associate Nancy Bick Clark
The Clark and Jones Trio (Associate Nancy Bick Clark center) after their October photo shoot at studio821 in Newport, Kentucky. Photo by Chad Williams
“Our Trio played a porch concert on Sept. 25, 2020. From there, we discovered that a neighbor makes videos and another neighbor has a photo studio. On Oct. 23, we shot a video at Studio821 in Newport, Kentucky. It is still in the editing stages.
“Another interest or passion that has taken off even more intensely during the pandemic is nature photography and gardening. In June, my husband, Frank, and I cleared weeds out of a 4’x 8’ bed and planted it with zinnias in an abandoned community garden about four blocks away from our house. In July, as a surprise for Frank, I cleared and planted a second bed. During the peak months of August and September, we had 4’x16’ bed of colorful zinnias blooming in a ‘secret’ garden behind the fire station. It was visible only to the firefighters and the neighbors. Bees and butterflies came in droves when they discovered the colorful flowers. I invited the firefighters to cut blooms for their families. On Nov. 5, the plants did not survive the first frost, and I pulled them out and put them in the compost pile in the woods. It was a great project to walk up there daily to water them, and then in the fall to harvest the dead blooms for seeds.
“I’ve enjoyed taking walks and photos. Butterflies came to the zinnias at the firehouse garden, as well as to the zinnias in our front and back yards. We had many flying visitors, and I happened to catch a few on camera.
“Also, we have discovered a park about two miles away at Southgate Lake, from where I can take photos of the changing autumn trees and their reflections in the lake, whether the air is still or windy. The walking and the photography have really kept me going. The late afternoon sun with the long shadows adds to the reflection. Most of the color is gone now, but one tree still has a few leaves.”
Associate Nancy Bick Clark enjoys walking around Southgate Lake and enjoying nature’s beauty.
S. Marty Dermody
“I have been coping with this pandemic through my love of birds! I have been made more aware through my Facebook and birding friends about what birds are being seen in our area. It is difficult not to be able to bird with those friends so when I discover a new bird has been spotted in the area, I try to arrange a time when I can safely go to see it. I take the necessary precautions to protect my Community, my friends and myself when searching for the birds.
“Throughout these months I have been very fortunate to see some amazing birds and have even shared my passion with others by presenting “Birding Through the Pandemic” during one of EarthConnection’s bimonthly webinars. A few of my favorite sightings include the Snowy Owl, a Rufous Hummingbird, and even an Asian bird, the Mandarin Duck. Birds are a gift and I am grateful they have kept me going in these uncertain times!”
In addition to enjoying birding, S. Marty Dermody appreciates photography and capturing the unique birds she finds, like this Rufous Hummingbird.
Marty Dermody spotted the Mandarin Duck on one of her birding adventures.
S. Joan Deiters
“I always have a knitting project on hand, but progress is often slow. One advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic and the additional stay-at-home time is that I have more time to knit. My current project is a cardigan sweater for my great-grandnephew, Isaac Evans. The pattern is called ‘fair isle’ and it is one of my favorites. Isaac is now only 10 months old, so I have time to get the sweater finished and he can grow into it.”
Joan Deiters enjoys knitting for family members and friends.