Rebekah’s Studio

Aloha studio fans and friends,

Self isolation has been the status quo during the COVID19 pandemic. On the wall calendar here in Kaaawa, I wrote DAY 1 on March 11, 2020. I have stayed inside, literally, since then except for a couple of car trips to the nearby post office dropbox and into the garden to rake leaves from the avocado and mango trees. It’s been rather peaceful.

I want to share what I’ve been doing during this odd time to add to the basket of ideas. No doubt you are finding things to do at home as well. I feel that as a community we should help each other if we can. Here goes, in no particular order:

—Early on, I sewed washable face masks for hospital emergency room nurses who I know personally. Those are my cousins in the top photo. I used online instructions from three different websites. Luckily I have a sewing machine and materials. I turned cloth napkins and designer tea towels into cheerful PPEs.

Cloth napkins repurposed into face masks

—I play piano music every day. I saw that in Italy people were opening their windows and sharing their singing. Piano arrangements by Mark Hayes are my current favorites. So why not? I hope my neighbors don’t mind.

Mark Hayes with me and Rev. Danette Kong in the pink lei

—As long as there was flour in the house I baked pizza, bread, and double-crusted dessert pies—apple and banana. And, as we have time, I cooked soup. Any leftovers could be frozen for later, I thought, but there weren’t any leftovers!

Warm, fragrant banana pie with flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, lime, and butter. Mmmm…

—From stretchy t-shirts with cute messages, I sewed washable surgical caps requested by my nurse pal Lei. After a little experimenting, I drafted my own pattern.

—I cut flowers and brought them inside.

Red ginger, pink ginger, lime puff, lauaʻe fern 

—I sent money to people who ordinarily bank on my payment for income, for example, my vocal coach and the neighborhood diner. The designated grocery shopper for our household did a couple of big shoppings before the market chain announced some of its stores were shutting down. Luckily, our branch remains open so far.

Jazz guitarist and bass player Robert, who is the proprietor of Uncle Bobo’s BBQ restaurant in Kaaawa

—In the beginning I did some discretionary online shopping, but I quickly realized how dangerous that is. I nipped that one in the bud.

—I made voice phone calls to family and friends. In this day of texting and Facebook, we forget that we can dial to hear the voices of our loved ones.

—I limit the time watching television news and my time on Facebook. I prefer the programs on PBS.

—I am trying to declutter stuff. Why do we have so much stuff?

—On my Facebook page I am posting “Fine-art posting #, coronavirus season,“ one each every day, of one of my paintings. I have a lot of inventory!

—If there is one thing I have a good supply of, it is hand soap. For Easter, in lieu of the traditional egg hunt, I plan to put out at the end of our driveway a basket of—wait for it—soap!

Not soap

Thank you for reading. I appreciate you all. Stay safe. Wash your hands. With love,

Rebekah