Homebound citizens get busy with housework,TV

The saying goes that “home is where the heart is.” Good thing, because home is where many of us have to stay to keep ourselves and others healthy during this time. For those used to going, going, going, home is a place with which they have had to get reacquainted during their unprecedented downtime. What’s that stuff piled in the corner? Wait, who are these people claiming to be my spouse and children? Um, I have to actually cook?!

We asked some regular High Profile party attendees how they’re holding up while social-distancing at their various haciendas.

What have you finally gotten around to cleaning that you’d previously put off, forever?

“I have cleaned every room and drawers as if I will be gone tomorrow. But apart from fun, it was truly a spring clean of my house except for the kitchen.”

— Indu Soora, clinical

research coordinator, Myeloma Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

What new things are you realizing about family members living with you that you hadn’t previously realized?

“Both my husband and I are busybodies, so I realize that he has to be doing something and that’s OK. One day, he cooked gumbo. We realized we would have to freeze some or give it away as the two of us won’t eat even half of the batch he made. The next day, he was washing our cars.”

— Kristi Smith, director

of alumni association, interim/senior director of development, University of

Arkansas at Little Rock

What is your best homecooked meal?

“Veggie burgers made with puree from early morning juicing of beets, kale, celery and carrots. I added a few more items like King Trumpet mushrooms, onions, black beans and oatmeal.”

— Garbo Hearne, director,

Hearne Fine Art

What are you doing for exercise?

“I have created a couple of fitness challenges! Currently, I have increased my daily steps goal. During commercials, I need to get in at least 500 steps, or if watching Netflix, I must get in at least 500 steps between each episode. I am also challenging myself to run outside at least three miles each week as long as the weather is nice.”

— Martie North Hamilton, senior vice president, director of community development/ CRA regulatory and consumer

affairs, Simmons Bank

What are you bingewatching and why? “Containment. It’s a movie about a pandemic.”

— Virgil Miller, Group CRA Director-Arvest Bank Operations

What have you finally gotten around to cleaning that you’d previously put off, forever?

“Cleaning and mulching the wooded area behind my home (an eyesore “forever”) and planting wildflowers and herbs. Already looks 1,000% better; can’t wait to see the flowers and enjoy the herbs this summer!”

— Brenda Scisson, retired public relations executive

What is your go-to stayat-home outfit?

“Being in fashion retail, I practice what I preach. I make myself wear jeans. Some days they are more snug, but I’m determined to not resort to yoga wear 24/7.”

— Lila Ashmore, dressing room coach, Vesta’s

What are you binge watching and why?

“I had to look up binge watching to make sure that I was answering the question right! The only thing that I binge-watched was the Netflix series Self Made that chronicles the story of Madam C.J. Walker.”

— Terri Hollingsworth, Pulaski

County circuit/county clerk

Are you beginning to hear voices in your head? (Just kidding … kind of.) “I’m writing a lot these days, so as most authors do, I’m hearing the characters in my head a lot!”

— Janis Kearney, author, founder, Writing Our World Publishing, Celebrate! Maya Project

What have you finally gotten around to that you’d previously put off, forever?

“I have finally gotten around to turning my kids’ old playroom upstairs into my new ‘she shed.’ Pretty white sofas, pictures hung and my own TV. It looks so nice and it is clean.” — Michele Towne, owner and

publisher, Inviting Arkansas

Jesha Thomas; Indu Soora and her husband, Siva Soora; Sara Tariq; Dr. Tina Ipe and Anna Strong attend Bollywood Nights in February. Indu Soora says she has “cleaned every room and drawers as if I will be gone tomorrow” — a task she had put off until becoming homebound through social distancing.

Virgil Miller, Dr. Lee Nayles and Charles Zeigler attend the 2019 Holiday Jazz Brunch presented by the Little Rock Chapter of The Links Inc. in December at the Statehouse Convention Center. Miller says he’s been binge-watching the pandemic-theme movie Containment as his social-distancing activity. Frederick Gentry and Terri Hollingsworth attend a 2018 Arkansas Arts Center party. She says her stay-at-home outfit consists of “an old sweat shirt, my pajama top and my Coca-Cola motif sleep pants.”

Cherie Abston, Diana Smithson and Martie Hamilton attend the Home for the Holidays Fashion Show by Barbara/Jean Ltd. in November at the Capital Hotel. Hamilton created some fitness challenges to get herself through her time at home.

Kimberly and Ryan Davis with Kristi Smith and her husband, Greg Smith, attend the 25th annual Ivy Ball in February. Kristi Smith says the thing she now realizes about her husband since social distancing is “that he has to be doing something, and that’s OK.”

William Moss, Lenore Shoults, Dr. Archie and Garbo Hearne and Kat Shoults attend KUAR’s Block Beer and Bourbon in January. Garbo Hearne says she counts veggie burgers as her best home-cooked meal.

Adele Holmes of Benton with Janis Kearney attend the Celebrate! Maya Project’s Fifth Anniversary Celebration in October at the Clinton Presidential Center. Kearney, an author, is “writing a lot these days, so as most authors do, I’m hearing the characters in my head a lot!”

Larry Walton and Brenda Scisson with Ray Tucker attend a January University of Arkansas at Little Rock event. Scisson says her best home-cooked meal is a chicken and rice dish. “It’s a Campbell’s soup ad and recipe that I clipped from a magazine years ago.”

David and Lila Ashmore attend a February book launch. Lila Ashmore says she and her husband have enjoyed cooking together. “He will do the heavy lifting and I’ll toss the salad. Or I’ll take control and he will be my sous chef.”

Teresa Clow and Michele Towne attend the Hope Ball 2018. Towne has been watching Grace and Frankie on Netflix. “It is hysterical. It makes me laugh out loud.”