Most of our livelihood is in the storage... I feel light and restless... (:

Since I don`t have a lot of supremely important things here, in this rented apt in Morningside Heights. E.g.: I don`t my Persian Lamb Coat (which I hardly ever wear), our kid`s gate that used to create a protective zone around the table with many of our sharp and pointy possessions, neither do I have most of my daughter`s toys here - her recently purchased bike and scooter, her Retro Rocket Flyer, her Russian-speaking doll, you name it - we don`t have it ): So I had to summon all of receding imagination and come up with ideas on how to entertain my daughter in almost Spartan (according to the modern standards (:) conditions. The first effort was painting with Q-tips and washable paints earlier today. I looked it up on Instagram on another brave stay-at-home mom`s profile - so it wasn`t entirely my original idea. Sofia dabbled a bit with it and in the end with the lightning speed dipped her finger into the brown color trying to get it into her mouth. I intercepted this action and the painting session ended in some crying. Next, what can we try next? I would not say I`m desperate for ideas but after searching online and finding such tips as: Developing your child`s motor skills with needle and threads (totally unsafe and unsound as an advice I believe), I do need some ideas. What do we have here: my clothes, her clothes, some toy food, 3 children`s books, lots of breakable adult dishware, open fridge (the fridge lock does not work on it), an always accessible sink, 4 wooden light chairs that Sofia is capable and very fond of dragging around, 1 wooden table (seemed to be in almost new condition when we first came to this apt, which is a week ago), bathroom - off limits because it is freezing cold and why should it be of access in any case? Ah, and of course I forgot to mention the whole neighborhood near Columbia University that we have at our disposition for another 23 days or so. When the temperature gets over its current rebellious state (19 Degrees today), we are going to explore it in full! And planning to set up as many play dates as possible. Let the PD marathon begin! Will try to provide comments soon on how current situation progresses. P.S. The photo is from our previous 1-junior bedroom apt (basically a large studio in other words) where we had this so desirable now baby gate...