Lots of folks stuck at home due to COVID-19 are making their own fun online.
Jade Elliot of Aumsville is part of a beard community who typically have in-person events, but due to COVID have started online competitions.
“Not my preference, but it’s still a great way to for people to connect, have fun, and most importantly raise money for their community and people in need,” Elliot said. “It’s been great to see that people are still willing and able to help and have fun while doing it as COVID has taken so much from us and changed everything!”
Don White, also of Aumsville, has been connecting with other woodburning artists “getting ideas” and building his new artist website.
“I’ve been teaching myself how to use WordPress to do that,” White said. “Challenging? Yes!”
He admits the experience has been a bit easier than expected as he has been learning from other artists who also do their own websites.
“Difficult but fun,” White said.
During COVID searching mode, Chuck Stenberg, who has produced such documentaries as The Beatles in Portland, thrills to his discovery of “a handful of very talented bands on YouTube doing cover tunes.”
“It’s become one of those ‘what will they do next’ kind of things,” he said. “To name a few are ‘Foxes & Fossils,’ ‘Leonid & Friends,’ ‘The Fendertones’ and ‘The Mona Lisa Twins.’”
Jill Bird called the craft groups “super nice” because members just all hang out, work on and share their projects with one another while they visit. Bird shared a list of online groups from the Santiam Outreach Center with Facebook followers on the Aumsville Community Connections.
The Stayton Community Connections page also offers a glimpse of life at home during the pandemic. Mary Albert said she seems to have developed an addiction to online dollar auctions.
“It’s amazing the everyday as well as the unusual things you find posted,” Albert said. “I’m pretty cautious about my bidding. I like getting a steal of a deal!”
Albert said some people get carried away and bid more than the actual item would cost retail.
“So online auctions are my little secret vice!” she said.
Tara Gouveia Suing’s son took lessons online and learned how to play guitar.
When events were set aside until next year, a few – including the Linn County Lamb & Wool Fair in Scio – cast their winning ribbons to online competitions. Crystal Bee’s daughter, Charlie, earned the People’s Choice blue ribbon for making – and eating – a strawberry rhubarb crumble.
“She is so proud and excited,” Bee commented. “Without the county fair this year, she was happy to be able to join in here. Yay!”
Many churches turned to Zoom conferences and YouTube videos to share worship and prayer. Workout classes landed on Instagram Live and other options. And many folks turned to online chat sites such as Facebook to keep lonliness at bay.
Other fun, free things to do online while stuck at home include touring museums, theme parks, luxury hotels, national landmarks, theaters and more through free virtual experiences.
Take a virtual cooking class from a celebrity chef, or even date online through a new experiment called “Love in Quarantine” on Instagram. Visit insider.com for more ideas or other websites listing things to do to pass the time.
