From pillow sham to yoga tote

 When I was still doing a lot of needlework, one of the things I checked at the thrift store was pillow shams. They often had interesting materials or trim. I had six of them that I moved with me, planning to make pouches to protect fabric books.  

So when I needed a bag for my yoga mat, I  thought a pillow sham  was the perfect size.  All I would have to do is make one long seam, but it looks so naked. I did have a lot of lace and maybe I can sew a little onto it.  And, lo and behold, I found  that by using my left thumb to keep track of the edge of the lace and the spacing of the stitches, I was able to do it . The stitching was a little wonky but it was secure.  At first I kept going to my big magnifying  lamp to see how bad the stitches were; but after three or four times of checking, I decided what the heck, I didn't  really  care what they looked like.  I just had fun doing it. 

Then I decided I wanted a pocket for my phone. I tried to do it with the sewing machine on slow speed, but I made a horrible mess of it . Then I tried holding the pocket with my left hand and just turning the sewing machine wheel with my right hand and doing it one stitch at a time.  I was able to attach the pocket. So I added another pocket with lace.  I just gathered up the bottom, and now  just love it. 

This got my creative juices going and I couldn't wait to try something with another one of the pillow shams.  

I have a feeling this is going to open up something that will be lots of fun this winter.  How many things can I do with pillow shams?  The nice thing about them is they are finished and lined and ready to be embellished.

Stitch in, stitch out, stitch in, stitch out.

Back again

 There is an old adage  that when one door closes, another door opens.  This has happened so many times in my lifetime.  When I graduated from college with a teaching degree, I envisioned my  entire life as  a teacher. But  instead I have gone through many doors that led to  being  a graphic artist, nursery owner, public speaker, and a planter of a forest of over 5000 trees.  Who would have dreamt?

Losing my  sight has permanently closed one door after another and has turned my life upside down.  The tricky part has been learning to stop pounding on  the closed doors.  Having a needle in hand has been the constant joy all my life, and I thought I would  never stop grieving over losing it .   But  there has been a recent change here which I will blog about later.

Other passions such as cooking and gardening are still doable but  are greatly modified.   I have found I also  dearly miss writing my blog.  I loved the connection with all who read  the ups and downs in my world.   So I am still pounding on that door.  I really think if I can master the right technologies  and  with a little editing help from friends, I could do it.   

I struggled for months with the  text reader (Narrator) on my  computer, and although I haven't mastered it I am using it all the time.  Now I am trying to get a dictation feature working with my word program and hoping to get everything in sync. In closing this first blog in over a year, I must add that some interesting new doors have opened  and I hope to share those. 

Notre:  I'm ab;e to post because of the wonderful; support and encouragement from the Lilac Ciry Services for the Blind.

Daffodil Daze

 My favorite flower without a doubt is the daffodil.  When I moved to the farm in 1980 there was a huge clump of daffodils behind the house that was so overgrown that there were mostly green leaves and few daffodils.  I divided them, added to them and moved them everywhere.  By the time I left 40 years later I could go out in the spring and pick huge bouquets of them for weeks.   In fact, the area behind the pond I called "Daffodil Hill."  I brought bags of bulbs with me to this house and wish I had brought more. 

I loved having luncheons and teas for my lady friends and had several with a daffodil theme over the years.  The most elaborate was in 2004 and here is the menu.  I wish I could still cook like that.  Yesterday it was all I could do to make a batch of cookies and cook dinner... even then I burned one pan of the cookies.

My memories every April

 For many years I have done "happy memories" whenever I'm stuck in a waiting room, awake in the night, convalescing in the hospital, biding time at a medical office etc...   It;s my form of meditation.  I close my eyes, slow my breathing, relax, and focus on one happy memory. 

 I try to put myself right into that memory, smell the air, feel the weather, listen to the sounds etc.  Different months and activities trigger different pleasant memories, but April always triggers one of my favorite memories... lambing.

 I imagine my ewes all swollen and   uncomfortable no matter what they did.  I try to actually feel my hands buried in their fleece and massage their backs and rub their tummies. They would lie down and then stand up over and over.  Then one morning I would walk to the barn and as usual, smell the alfalfa, hear the ewes shuffling, and then a  mewing sound of a newborn lamb was music to  my ears.  What a thrill that was.  It has been years and years since I had sheep but I will carry those precious moments to my very last days....

"foot" dog

We have had Moxie for 3 months now and she is still settling in and still very much "my" dog.  She spent the first few days under my bed and that is still her safety retreat.  Not only does she sleep under the bed, she sleeps under "my" side of the of the bed and when my foot hits the floor in the morning she is on full alert.  Whenever I sit down anywhere, she has her head on one or both feet so if I move, she is moving also.

It doesn't matter whether I have shoes, slippers or no footwear at all.

And if she can manage it she gets her head between both feet

She was so obese when we got her but has lost 4 1/2 lbs. and has 3 pounds to go.  I faithfully walk her 1 1/2- 2 miles a day which has been good for both of us.  She loves her walk and does well on the leash now and has learned to sit and rollover.  She was such a poor soul when we got her but every day now a happy personality is emerging.  She is my "furry" antidepressant and one heck of a foot warmer....