I knew that it rained here, and I knew that we got more of it than we had seen in quite some time, and I knew that the weather peoples were jumping up and down hollering "EIGHT INCHES! EIGHT INCHES!", and I knew that Miss Jane had water in her basement...
But I was completely and totally clueless as to the extent of the devastation both here and in Louisianna.
Shame on me.
Please don't think poorly of me over what appears to be a total disregard for the plight of others. I simply made a decision a month or so ago to stop putting things in my basket.
(In The Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood, the Yayas are explaining what happened to Vivvie, and they say "She dropped her basket". I always thought that was a simple, profound, and utterly perfect way to describe what it's like when someone simply cannot live in the world as it is for one moment longer and they just go...elsewhere...to regather their wits.)
Between Stewey's diagnosis, my own crazy health issues, family drama, the current political climate, war, pestilence, and famine, etc etc etc....my damn basket is just full to overflowing. In what can only be described as the very first adult and wise decision I've ever made before in my pitiful little life, I told myself "ENOUGH CRAP IN THE BASKET!" and I stopped putting stuff into it.
This means that I decided to go headfirst into things like the Olympics and crazypants stitching projects and the Flosstube and spending hours upon hours doing nothing but cuddling my Stewey Little while reading Namcy Drew mysteries to him.
It's been great for my mental health, but I have to say...it really does make me feel like an uninformed boob that comes off as singing la di da, la di, da while the world crashes, floods, and burns all around her.
So...dear friends...if you are someplace that is having troubles of any kind, or if you are having a particularly rough go of it in your own pitiful little heart and you feel that I'm not paying attention or give a flying fig, please don't fret. I say my fervent prayer every night that all will be well for you and yours and hope that whatever ails you will soon pass.
On to stitching...
After a lovely evening out with my Church Guild stitchy sisters, I un-stitched and then re-stitched a few blocks of Good Stuff. The varieagated just wasn't blowing my skirt up, I had a mis-matched blue, and my center double fan doubled was troublesome with both the texture and the hue of the thread.
So here is where we stand as of this morning:
I've cleared the decks for nothing but stitching today. As you can see, if I have any hope of finishing this piece before the games conclude, I had better put the pedal to the metal! I have, though, in the spirit of this newfound gentleness with myself, decided that I can continue to work on it through the end of August if necessary amd that I shouldn't ruin such a fun stitch with a crazy/frantic deadline.
Wow. Wee. Who knew that turning 50 would mean I would start to get it? Maybe I'm not so clueless after all...
Nothing wrong with a little self-care. Be the best you.
ReplyDeleteI am sure people come here for you - I don't think anybody felt slighted because you didn't mention the weariness of the world. You keep being you!
ReplyDeleteToo funny, that is you and I am glad to find that when I visit.
ReplyDeleteAs a very wise person says to me, 'You can't take care of the rest of the world until after you take care of yourself.'
ReplyDeleteMost aware people I know have to put the basket down from time to time...
Nothing wrong with doing what you have to to maintain your sanity, Coni.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand Miss Spinster. I feel much the same way. And thank you for turning me on to Floss Tube. It is AMAZING and cheers me up to no end to see everyone sharing their stitching and their skills. I just watched one of the Twisted Stitcher's tutorials and now I want to try to do some of my own finishing. I have a good framer but really how many framed pieces can you display at one time!! Hope you are all feeling better....
ReplyDeleteIt looks great! I never know what is going on either.
ReplyDeleteYou are far wiser than you think you are, Coni dear, and
ReplyDeletemost are aware of and appreciate your caring spirit..... OK to put down the basket for a spell and gather quiet and wholesome thoughts with which to fill it, while
creating beauty with your needle and giving comfort to
His Nibs and Pal.....On to the games...
I have stopped putting things in my basket. For awhile, I want life to be sunshine and rainbows and unicorns. I can't deal with all the bad, violent, negative stuff of the world.
ReplyDeleteConi, you are not the only one who was clueless about Louisiana. Seriously. While I admit that I am not a newshound - don't read the newspaper or watch the news on the TeeVee - I do get enough local and national news on the radio to keep me somewhat informed. I may not get all the details, but at least know the major headlines. Do you know I did not hear one single word about Louisiana's deluge? Not one word. The first clue I had was some picture meme type thing on Facebook, then a radio show personality was hosting a fundraiser at a local grocery store. That's it. Instead the news is full of Donald and Hillary. Phooey. So it may not be you, my dear. It may be the media.
ReplyDeleteIt's the media. You are right.
DeleteWhatever you do, don't climb in the basket. Then you will be saying, "Where are we going & why are we in this hand basket?"
ReplyDeleteThank you for mentioning Flosstube. I had never heard of it before and just started watching The Twisted Stitcher. I hope to find some with primitive designs. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteHave you checked out Primitive Stitcher on Flosstube? I make videos too, Ms. OhSewCrafty, though I don't tend to stitch primitive pieces.
DeleteMiss Coni, what you don't understand, is that when we are about to climb into our basket (or already have) we come here! This funny, sweet daily blog by a talented writing Spinster helps us keep our sanity in a crazy world, too! Hugs.
ReplyDeleteDebbie in Kansas
Coni, I definitely never have thought you clueless. I learned a long time ago that we all "do the best we can with what we've got." I would definitely put you in that category. I learned to forgive a lot of people in that way. I love your stitching and whatever you do; create, rip, restitch, rethink... in the end it all turns out beautifully. Just got to keep on keepin' on. Hugs & prayers, -Cathryn
ReplyDeleteWell you were right about the little blue things, much better than the overdye! Are those little Chilly Hollows? However, I reserve judgement on the DFD, I quite liked the overdye.
ReplyDeleteYes, it does seem as though our baskets overfloweth of late. Sigh.
Your stitching is looking great. Yours and the little guys' well being come first. I did the same exact thing myself a few years ago. I couldn't take the overload with all of the news. For me, sometimes, ignorance is bliss.
ReplyDeleteI was ignorant of the flooding too, since I was on vacation without internet access. And though I watched tv, it was only the Olympics, not the news. Your red white and blue piece looks great so far.
ReplyDelete