A Different Kind of “Busy”
Well, it’s been months since I’ve written, and that is highly unusual for me. While I haven’t been doing much in the way of actual floral design (which has been a bummer because I love it so much), I haven’t been a complete slug. Really, I haven’t. So what utterly fascinating things have I been up to, you may ask? Welllll…
Without Flowers…
For the first time in my life, I’ve watched television almost every single day. That is quite an accomplishment for someone like me! And I’m not one bit ashamed of this little time-killing habit I’ve developed. It started with all news, all the time. (Those who know me will know that I am a total “hearings junkie”…it’s the lawyer in me, I think. So hearings PLUS everything else going on in the world kept me quite busy, as well as pretty panicked, I must admit.) My television watching slowly morphed into my discovering the joys of binging on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. And more news, of course. But I haven’t spent all day, every day in front of the television. No, I’m not that bad!
So what else have I been up to? (In the event you’re interested…if not, maybe you’d like to check out my Shop? 😉)
I decided to use the majority of time in quarantine to slow down and to do things that were fun, creative, educational and even empowering.
Our family “Quarantine Crew” started by finding outdoor spaces right outside our back door—spaces that I’d never bothered to explore before during my 17 years in Boston. The slow down allowed all of us the time to discover our surroundings in a new way while getting some fresh air and exercise.
Speaking of surroundings, we did do a little bit of traveling. We spent time on Nantucket at The Cousin Club and made a very careful trip down to Virginia to deliver my daughter to UVA.
We set up an art studio in my workroom (ie, the dining room) in Weston and created all sorts of fun things. The “studio” was open for business 24/7 and almost always had at least two of the “Crew” hard at work. Having fun and making a huge mess.
We each read several (SEVERAL!!) books. It was fun to get back into reading books—books both old and new! In fact, I think my last post was about books to read in quarantine.
I worked on my new home decor and accessories designs!
And of course, we took photographs to document our time. In case anyone had any questions.
Enjoy a little glimpse below!
Evidence of “Productivity”
The “Quarantine Crew” (minus David) out for a walk on conservation land in Concord. March? April? No idea. The days blended together. Walks included “new” places in Weston, Concord, Lincoln, Boston, Nantucket and Wellesley. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign2020
The Cousin Club. Nantucket. March or April 2020. We love our navy blue and hot pink. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign (Space by Betsy Gibson Design)
The Cousin Club. Nantucket. March or April 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign (Space by Betsy Gibson Design)
My very first mask post. And I think I’ve only had one or two others since!! ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
WIth my sister on the rail trail in Weston. Hard to tell who’s who, right? March 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Honestly, we thought EVERYONE should be wearing masks. (And no, this is not our handiwork!!) March 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Basket weaving, painting, collage making and so much more! March 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Beautiful artwork courtesy of our adorable West Coast Quarantine Crew! They also spent a LOT of time hiking, gardening, biking, skateboarding and, of course, doing schoolwork!! ©️MyWestCoastSister
My sweet nephews, aka “the boys”. The East Coast crew is known as “the girls”. (I’m looking at this photo and wondering if sweet H’s shoes are on the wrong feet…!) ©️MyWestCoastSister
A very simple Easter. You know it’s simple if there are no flowers on my table!! ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Merritt and David working on some recording and video. Merritt wrote, recorded and released her song “Breaking Down” during quarantine. Look for it on all music platforms. A live performance version may be found in the November 1 digital episode of UVA’s Arts on the Hill. April 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
My Weeping Cherry!!!! Winter moths—and maybe some other pests—have gotten to it through the years, and I never know how it will look in the spring. I think it knew it was 2020 and that we needed some beauty. May. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
A close up of my beautiful, beautiful Weeping Cherry blossoms!! May 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
My incredible Redbud tree (and a few dandelions!). I have never seen the tree bloom like this. Ever. The Weeping Cherry must have mentioned that it was 2020, so the Redbud responded with a little bit of extra showiness this year! Sadly, the Redbud’s gain in the bud department is the Creeping Juniper’s loss. Looking pretty dead in parts…May 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
A little bit of press from Merritt’s “Breaking Down” release. Mass General Hospital (MGH) used the song in an internally distributed Town Hall tribute video for front line Covid medical professionals. Soon, Merritt will be releasing a very important version of her own outward facing video in conjunction with MGH. Stay tuned! Photo ©️DavidBWalek
No photo could ever adequately capture the beauty of these peonies in Sconset. But I had to try. May 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Aliums, Daisies and Salvia (I can’t remember!) at the Sconset Rotary. Early summer 2020. May? June? Honestly, why even bother trying to date things? ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Yours truly on Bunny’s Beach in a Cutter House by Betsy Gibson Design Honeycomb mask. SO comfy!! June? I have no idea. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Sconset Hydrangeas. June 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Sconset Roses. June 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Rosa Rugosa. My favorites!!! Sconset Beach. July 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Nantucket. July 2020. ©️MySisterBrooke
Just the two of us. Sconset Beach. August 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Birthday love from my two favorite people, Merritt and David, at Brant Point Grill. August 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
We came seriously close to falling into the water during this shot. August 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
With my sweet DBW. August 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Suddenly active in politics, thanks to my UVA/Batten School/Miller Center daughter. Another sweltering day. Masks by Betsy Gibson for Cutter House BGD. See the Shop section of this site for details or check out www.cutterhousebgd.com for more designs! August 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Sconset Beach Sky. August 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Weston Sunset. Late August 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Merritt and Joe Kennedy at one of Joe’s campaign events in Framingham. Merritt met Joe at UVA two years ago and worked on his campaign all summer. She even got us involved. On this particular day in late August, it was about 98 degrees. Sweltering. Oh, and they’re talking about the Miller Center at UVA, I think. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Hmmm. Well, what you see above signifies a tremendous “comeback” for me. Ten years in the making. More later….once Covid is under control. I may be a flower girl, but I don’t wilt. August 2020. No ©️ required.
Nantucket Hydrangeas. Beautiful lime green!! August 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
More Nantucket Hydrangeas. August 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Island Kitchen always has THE best flower boxes. My photos cannot do them justice. August 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Stopped in Farmington (CT) with Merritt and David on the way back to UVA and took a little stroll around MPS. Near and dear to Merritt’s heart. And ours. August 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
I have loved Farmington (Charlottesville) since before I was born (my parents got engaged in the Tap Room) and have such fond early memories of playing hide and seek with my sisters, swimming in the pools and playing tennis with my mother. I also studied for the LSAT by the pool. And now we take our daughter there whenever we’re in town. That’s 50 years. So can you imagine how old these boxwood must be? August 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
This little garden at Farmington looks fabulous all year long. Regardless of the season, there is interest galore!! Charlottesville. August 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Perfection at Tower Hill. Back in New England! Late August 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
A beautiful day to stroll the gardens at Tower Hill. Late August 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Excited to see that my new Cutter House BGD Pinterest account is getting some views. Soon to start focusing more on all social media…in the meantime, if you’re interested in what I’m doing, please check out Cutter House through this website or go directly to www.cutterhousebgd.com. (I have lots of new designs and all sorts of home decor accessories and products, including face masks!)
Once again, alone on Sconset Beach. Perfect!!! (I have no idea why there weren’t any people around. It was weird!) Late August 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Nantucket window box. All succulents. Gorgeous! Late August 2020. Photo ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Another succulent window box on Nantucket. So beautifully done! Late August 2020. Photo ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
UVA, the Defender and Sconset. Late August 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Campaigning for Joe Kennedy in 101 Degree heat. Late August 2020. Mask by Cutter House BGD. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Cutter House for Kennedy. Late August 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
It wouldn’t be 2020 if one of our poor Sugar Maples didn’t split down the middle during a storm, would it? My 150+ year old tree!! September 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Glorious in Weston. September 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Dairy Joy with David. September 2020. ©️BetsyGibsonDesign
Sneak peek at a new pattern for Spring 2021….!! xobetsy