I have never been invited into so many homes as I have been since the COVID virus struck across the world. I have been giving a glimpse into how people decorate and furnish their homes. I have been able to discern what their reading habits are.
On MSNBC, Senator Claire McCaskill often comments from her kitchen. Everything has its place. There is always a fresh bouquet of flowers that coordinates with the colours of her cabinets. Our television is regularly stationed to shows like “Home Town” or “Good Bones” when a completed project will show designer decorated rooms for new buyers to purchase. You would never know that the couple buying the home might have two or three children and a couple of dogs by the staged home.
Since the virus struck, I have been invited into homes across Ontario, the district and Canada either through “Zoom”, “Skype” or “Go to Meeting”. Often the moderator operating the video call, will be using their office, but sometimes, especially for evening calls they are in their homes often using a kitchen or dining room table to host and have all of their notes at hand. We sit back in our homes and participate.
Some people will dial in while most use their computers and video are delivered to all the participants. Some people who are working remotely do have offices in their homes to work from. Many have head and earphones or ear buds.
People have their computers located throughout their home. Some are in bedrooms. Some are simple I-Pads that they use while seated on comfortable cushiony couches or easy chairs. One of the participants in a recent meeting had a beautiful black and white giant picture focussing on barren aspen or birch trees. The picture seemed to dominate the room.
During “Meet the Press” on Sunday morning, Corrie Lewandowsky, a republican spokesperson, took the meeting from what I suppose was his study. Behind him on dark cherry wood bookshelves, I could see awards, the neatly folded triangle US flag, and many books about Donald Trump. I remember the room, but not the interview.
Anna Palmer, a senior Washington correspondent for Politico, was also interviewed and I was struck by the beauty of her room. The white and yellow florals on black background wallpaper accented her bookcases that were not packed with books. There was lots of space for groupings of books, for knick knacks and treasures.
I watch as people have painted burgundy walls, and others have off white or cream walls and they are often the setting for oil or watercolour paintings and occasionally treasured photos.
I wonder what many of those people who I am meeting with, think of my background. It is a bookcase/hutch with Doulton and Lladro figurines. Often behind me is a treasured log cabin scene created by Jean Renberg, an artist in Fort Frances. It shows people around a table with a fireplace enjoying each others company. Each plate, cup, chair, table, and person were created individually and put together in the scene. It is a unique piece of district Canadianna and I treasure it.
Each home has its own personality. And I enjoy every visit and hope others enjoy coming into my home.
