Just One Stitch

As many of you are aware,

the last couple months have been a little trying

in our corner of the world.

During that time, I did little if any stitching.

The other morning,

I decided that I was going to 'play' in the fun room for a few minutes.

I was only able to make one more block,

but the therapy was wonderful.

It felt so good to get lost in points matching

and press towards the orange,

and not think about all the "stuff" we have to think about each day.

There will eventually be 99 of these blocks

to be set into a pattern.

I think I have 11 or 12 done.

I usually work on hand stitching so making a w-h-o-l-e block

in just a short period of time was very rewarding.

Perhaps you too have a therapy activity.

My wish for you is just one block:)

If nothing else, I hope you find that little bit of peace today

that rewards your heart and brings you joy.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

The Smell of a Barn

First things first...

I know anyone with a barn full of critters right now

is either going to be rolling their eyes

or be jaw-dropped & dumb-founded.

I am fully aware of my abnormalities:)

(You can read more about the Barn Quilt Block right here.)

But...

growing up, any time I was stressed, anxious,

mad, worried, or upset, I would go muck out the barn.

That was just my therapy.

Nobody would bother me,

probably for fear that I would either stop

or put them to work too.

So I had physical & productive work

while I sorted through whatever the issue was.

The labor, the sound of the fork and my breath,

the smell, and in the end, the accomplishment

all worked together.

I remember when I first went off to college

and had a stressful day/week whatever,

I drove around looking for barns

wondering if I knocked on the stranger's door

and asked to clean their barn 

if they would have me arrested or put in a white room

with a 'special' white jacket to wear.

I never had the nerve to ask.

Life of course is not without its issues.

I have been helping care for an elderly couple

who mean a great deal to me.

Over the past 6 weeks,

3 of them have been spent in the ER.

I am not saying this for sympathy or kudos,

but I still don't have a barn to muck out.

I'm pretty sure when you see a big old picturesque barn,

the first thing running through your mind is not

"If only I had a pitch fork and wheelbarrow."

It's kinda peculiar how the habits

we form growing up stay with us throughout life.

I think we need those things.

Now I usually go out and play with a chainsaw,

weed wacker, pruners, shovel, etc.

Do you have a (therapy) habit like that?

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches