As essential workers keep the world going, many Sequimites remain home during Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” initiative. With its tentative end weeks away, people can only play solitaire so much, take safe, socially-distanced-appropriate walks, and/or use a laser pointer to play with their pet.

So here are some Sequim-centric things to do at home during the pandemic.

• Write a letter

Members of Olympic View Church, 503 N. Brown Road, opted to write encouragement letters to spread cheer to people at senior living and memory care facilities in Sequim who cannot have visitors during the pandemic.

“We thought sending notes of encouragement and cheer to people is something any of us can do while spending more time at home,” said church administrator Melissa Moore.

So far they’ve sent 165 letters out.

• Think lavender in spring

The coronavirus led the governor to restrict group gatherings and multiple events to be postponed like the Sequim Irrigation Festival to an unknown time. How long regulations will stretch out is unknown but it’s not too early to think about one of Sequim’s biggest assets – lavender. Helping farmers now could help them later if the tourism season is reduced.

Most lavender farms have year-round online farm stores, and you can find websites for Sequim’s farms at www.sequimlavenderweekend.com, lavenderfestival.com and sequimlavender.org.

A lot of local authors have books available to read online or in print, such as Sequim’s Lisa Preston with her Horseshoer Mystery series starting with “The Clincher.” Submitted photo

• Read a local book

There are enough authors in Sequim with enough material to read through a dozen pandemics. A few notable names include Lisa Preston, Aaron and Charlotte Elkins, and the many writers with the Olympic Peninsula Authors (www.facebook.com/OlympicPeninsulaAuthors).

Versions come in print and digital.

North Olympic Library System has various services available through its website, too, at www.nols.org.

• Take up sewing and/or fabric donating

Community members have come together under the Facebook group Sequim Face Mask Challenge to create masks, gowns and even 3-D printed face shields. Efforts continue with the active group as requests across Sequim continue to come in for personal protective equipment (PPEs) to go to essential workers and residents.

Whether you’re online or not, and whether you sew or not, you can help.

Drop-off and supply pickup options remain active at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave., Sequim Community Church, 950 N. Fifth Ave., Sound Community Bank, 645 W. Washington St., and Greywolf Elementary School, 171 Carlsborg Road.

• Take a meal home

Many of your favorite restaurants remain open with some offering new takeout and carry out options. Some restaurants have gone to drive thru-only. Call around and see how you can help your stomach and your favorite eatery. Gift certificates are another option to help any retailer.

• Explore your artistic side

People around the world are sharing their artistic gifts playing ballads on balconies and bagpipes in the streets. In Sequim, people are drawing inspirational messages on fences and sidewalks, and in windows. Some local groups include Sequim Rocks (rock painting group), and the Olympic Peninsula Art Association who continue to share their art and suggestions for future projects.

Local retailers like Forage Gifts & Northwest Treasures offers local puzzles like Sequim photographer Keith Ross’ images to do while staying home during the coronavirus “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” state order. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

• Finish a puzzle

Prior to the pandemic, local photographer Keith Ross released puzzles of his popular images of eaglets and a great blue heron. He’s made the puzzles available through his website keithsframeofmind.com; and at Forage Gifts & Northwest Treasures by calling 360-797-1018.

Multiple retailers like Dungeness Kids Co. (360-582-1700), Clallam Co-Op (360-683-4111), pharmacies and others offer puzzles for all-ages, too.

• Become a master of your garden

With Mother Nature helping “Sunny Sequim” live up to its nickname in recent weeks, many residents have taken advantage of caring for their yards and gardens. For those with a little extra time and ambition, the Clallam County Master Gardeners continue to offer their Green Thumbs Garden Tips series online. Find more information on scheduling go to extension.wsu.edu/clallam or call 360-565-2679. Also, look for the “Get It Growing” column each week in the Gazette.

• Adopt a Sequim senior

High School seniors across the nation and in Sequim got shorted in the twilight of their K-12 academic careers.

Spring sports, prom and other milestones are out for the school year. Options continue to be explored by district officials about graduation. In the meantime, enter: “National Adopt a 2020 Senior Project,” a Facebook group that encourages locals and strangers across the nation to adopt high school seniors by sending them letters, cards, gift cards and more to let them know they’re supported. Some Sequim seniors have been sponsored but more than one sponsor is encouraged.

• Check-in with your shops

A majority of Sequim’s businesses are small ranging from self-employed builders to florists to coffee shop workers to shoe repairman to clothing sales. Extended closures could be detrimental but it’s likely phone messages, email and/or social media is being checked by businesses. Check in and see how they are, and if there’s anything you can do to help them while they help you.

Editor’s note: If you think of anything additional that the community can do in quarantine specific to Sequim, let us know at editor@sequimgazette.com.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.