2020 brought the COVID Pandemic and the shutdown of businesses and schools. However, 2019 was a difficult year for me. With lingering health issues and the loss of my job, to keep me sane, I picked up my crochet hook for the first time in over 15 years and am enjoying it more than I ever have. This craft has kept me motivated and engaged and has provided a much-needed creative avenue that I thought was lost. I am not an advanced crocheter, however, I am proficient enough to modify stitches I find in my wonderful crochet books or see on YouTube to create bottle cozies/covers and ornaments that are worked in the round instead of in rows. Very challenging but it’s a great exercise for both my brain and my arthritic fingers. With so many new techniques to learn and motifs to create, I don’t think I’ll be bored very soon. I still have a list of other crafts that I want to try out . . . journal making, paper crafting, weaving, . . .If I can just find a good ceramics/pottery class in town I'll be a very happy woman.