Have you ever seen those posts online where they show something really cute that someone made and someone else tries to make it and it just turns out abysmal? Well, I’m a bit of a perfectionist and I try not to mess up…but man, I sure did yesterday! I made those little Christmas stockings earlier in the week by altering a pattern for a larger size. I thought they were maybe a little bit too small, so I decided to make the original size.
It’s been a long time since I could sit in my studio and just create whatever I wanted. I ended up making some Christmas gifts… attaching prayers and love to every stitch. Mr. FixIt was in town so the house was quiet. I was cozy in my little corner of the basement. The stove was glowing, soft music in the background, a hot mug of tea at the ready. My workspace is beginning to look like a tornado blew through it. Such is the life of the creative with ADHD.
God has taken care of us in ways we could never imagine. We went into the year with three vehicles, a leaky roof, and somewhere along the way the furnace died. We’re going out with the money from the totaled car, a surprise warranty on the heat exchanger, and a guy that knocked on our door and asked if we needed someone to finish our roof. We had a pallet of shingles sitting at the end of the house for the last year, and he was just driving by.
Doing a little shopping…for little bananas? Have you ever eaten one of these? What’s the point?
Mr. FixIt and I are together all the time. We love to be together and enjoy the same things for the most part. And, every once in awhile, I need a day that I can take just for me. I do that at The Farm whenever I can, but I seldom get a day to myself in town. Our trips to town usually entail one or both of us having an appointment or shopping. I had an appointment yesterday for my eyes and Mr. FixIt had the roofers at the house, so I went alone after knitting group.
No change in hair color, no makeup other than lipstick in the right photo. And, no filters. I’m so happy to feel better!
We went to our high school class Christmas Dinner on Friday night and it was so much fun to see so many of our friends there. We missed those who couldn’t come or who are no longer with us. Ours was a large class so the more you have to begin with, the more you will lose.
The other day, one of my besties…Gail…posted that she got a circular knitting loom and it’s a game changer. Not wanting to be left out, I started researching them. At the same time, one of the gals at knitting group told us she had one and went home to get it. She gave us a demonstration and I was sold. I ordered one online and it arrived Friday Afternoon. We had the Class Christmas Dinner Friday night so I had to wait till yesterday to play with it.
Every year I get up on my little soapbox and talk to you about why I say “Happy Holidays.” Now, before we go any further, I’m not saying this should be YOUR greeting if what you wish to say is Merry Christmas! If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you know I lived a Jewish life for twenty eight years so I have personal experience. Someone who is Jewish will most likely never say a word when you wish them Merry Christmas, even though Hanukkah may have already started. After all, they would never think to come up to you and say Happy Hanukkah. They more than likely will give you a gracious “Thank you…and same to you!” There is no offense taken.
I’ve seasoned a couple dozen iron skillets in my day and I’ve never quite gotten it right… till now. It started with that griddle Mr. FixIt bought at a junk shop in Colorado. I read about all kinds of methods. Stove top, outdoor grill, oven. Water, never water. Lard, avocado oil, vegetable oil, grape seed oil. Metal spatulas, NEVER touch with metal. Low and slow heat, turn up your oven to the highest setting. It was all so confusing. So, this time I kind of chose a little of this and a little of that and did it intuitively.
Anniversary reactions. It’s a real thing and it’s predictable. It’s the annual echo of a past trauma that is triggered by events, smells, sounds, dates…any number of things that bring you back to that painful moment in your life. My brother was in a terrible accident when I was in fourth or fifth grade. It happened in the fall and here we are…all these years later. Every year, on a certain autumn day, this feeling washes over me and I take notice of it.
As promised, I stayed home and had a lay low day. I did a little cooking. I worked on the computer awhile. I watched some instructional videos on YouTube. Mr. FixIt went to town to unclog a pipe in the rental house. When he came back, we watched football. It was a lot of fun to watch the students win big scholarships to further their education. It makes the high cost of sodas a little less painful. We got to have a video chat with some of the Colorado family, and that is always a delight!