Where have I been?
I’m going to keep this as short as I can. I have been struggling. It’s as simple as that. I’ve been surviving and not much more and avoiding social media. Between my amazing husband getting hit by a car in August, to missing a dear friends wedding, to a new job, aforementioned husbands long recovery—he is still needing a cane to walk. Basically the injury and recovery read: extra work and lots of worry for me coupled with a new job equalled we cancelled vacation, Thanksgiving and most of our (important to us) Christmas celebrations. We returned quilts to customers that I just knew I couldn’t get to, cancelled all my teaching gigs and I basically haven’t been in my sewing room. The fall and winter were tough—add on infected lungs, pneumonia, flu and overall tiredness, and you have the perfect recipe for wanting to run away and hibernate. The return of these extreme cold temperatures isn’t helping my mood any.
What now?
Don is healing—and we are counting our blessings. He can’t ride his bicycle outdoors yet as he can’t get around without his cane yet. Yet—is the key work there. We see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel
I LOVE my new job, I have met some amazing people have plans to meet many more and have an extremely supportive, understanding and accommodating boss who made it possible for me to work and care for Don.
I am really enjoying learning a new machine and my BERNINA is truly remarkable. It makes me wish I had taken the plunge years ago and invested in this brand of machine. The Stitch quality alone is truly remarkable.
We went to a restaurant a couple of weeks ago to celebrate the twins birthday—going out to a restaurant is a treat for us—but we haven’t been out since before August 13th so it was extra special.
I’m back in my sewing room, quilting for others and working on a long overdue project for myself. Pictures soon.
I have friends who reached out, willing to help and I am so grateful for them and want to have a party to celebrate them
What’s Next
Travel for work—I have a lot of travel to do for work and catch up from last fall. The original plan was for Don to accompany me on most of these trips and turn them into partial mini-vacations but he isn’t up to airport travel yet so hopefully he will join me on my fall trips.
Quilting—I love to quilt for others and it brings me peace so hopefully this will pick back up for me now that I am able to give those quilts the love and attention they each deserve
Finishing a few of those UFO’s—I haven’t purchased any new fabric since last summer but also haven’t finished on personal thing so with every project I finish I get to shop!
Volunteering—I will keep volunteering but am going to limit it a bit more than I have been. These past few months have taught me the importance of real life balance, so I am going to keep doing the things that bring me true joy and get rid of the ones that dont—or at the very least get rid of the part of volunteering that deals with people who aren’t always nice.
Advocating—I am trying to shop Canadian more, support Canadian fabric designers and stores.
Walk more, move more—I’ve been pretty sedentary since August so I need to just stretch and move more if I want to keep up with Don on his bicycle this summer.
Struggling is not a pretty picture or a good place to be.
Healing is slow but steady—looking forward to walking outside again.
Travelling for work on my own this spring—grateful Don is well enough to stay alone.
