Translate

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Creating to fill the void...

I find it best to keep busy when sad things happen... keep the mind occupied so it doesn't go over and over things best left alone.  So... these last few days I've been crocheting like crazy.  Finished a mat for the cats that they can use in front of the Aga when the older rag one my DIL made is in the wash.  Used old left over balls of yarn in various sizes and colors in triplicate to make a very heavy duty rug. Got the idea from Pinterest.  The picture was taken with my phone so isn't the best, but you can see that I used all the different colors and types yarn that were left over from other projects.




Then I finished a small machine-quilted mat which I had started a while back to get the hang of machine quilting. You can see it here in this next picture where I set my freshly made chicken pot pie on it.  It's not great by any means, but it taught me how to go about machine quilting... when previously I had only hand quilted (and not much of that).




BTW, the chicken pot pie was very good.  It had chicken, carrots, peas, potatoes, onions, celery, and a cream sauce with a bit of white wine in it.  

So... as you can see, I've kept busy.  The flu is still around (last count North Texas has had 44 flu-related deaths) so we haven't ventured out much except to grocery shop or run necessary errands. We're not dwelling on it as there's no point to that... just being cautious. The weather is chilly, but not bad.  We have had some nice days lately with the sun shining. DH and I try to walk around the neighborhood when the sun is out - grab some Vitamin D while we can!

Hopefully the weather will get better for everyone in the next few weeks. Winter will evolve into Spring and life will go on...  God willing (or whatever Higher Source you believe in - or don't). 

Have a great weekend!





13 comments:

  1. You're right, often it's better to keep ourselves busy than dwell on things we can't change, with the caveat that we don't deny how we're feeling, avoid our emotions.

    And you've been very creative and productive!

    BTW, the chicken pot pie looks yummy. Really, it would be ever so much better (for me) if I liked to cook....LOL.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kim, you alluded to the fact that you don't like to cook. I know that you like cats and apparently from your blog are very good at doing things around the house (painting, etc.), and you like photography, yes? What other things do you like to do?

      Delete
  2. So far, it's been a good start to a busy weekend. I'm putting off going to the library for my latest book I put on hold so I can read the ones I already have! And yes, time marches on. I'll be leaving in a little more than two weeks to see my sister in Florida! Sunshine and warmth, here I come! :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I too just finished one book and started another. This new one is called "Holy Fools" and I know nothing about it except that a friend recommended the author (I think she wrote "Chocolat".

      As for going to Florida, I wish you a wonderful warm happy visit with your sister...

      Delete
  3. Machine quilting is a tricky business. Nicely done, that mat.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are being kind, Joanne... but it was done... and for a first, not bad. NOW I may machine-stitch the queen sized quilt that has been sitting in the upstairs closet for 2 years because I didn't have the heart to hand stitch the the whole thing. (I hand stitched the pieces all together and have the matting pinned in and the backing, but when it came to handstitching the completed piece, I balked...)

      Delete
  4. We had chicken pot pie this week too. Before I retired I only ever made the bisquick quick and easy version. Now I make the real thing and enjoy it so much more. Great way to use up the leftovers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love chicken pot pie and have learned that you really have to cook the veggies separately beforehand if you like them fully cooked (or as you mentioned, use left-overs). And we prefer to have a complete pie crust to just having crust on top... (more calories I guess, but good!)

      Delete
  5. It is good to keep busy and to create something in the process is even better. I do like the owl cups. Owls seem to be everywhere in shops these days I have noticed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Olga, my sister used to *love owls*. It's just funny that you mentioned that... as she would have been 78 just yesterday (Jan. 18). She died of cancer when she was 51.

      Delete
  6. Recently they added the word epidemic to the flu....very scary. Love the cat mat. Keeping busy creating is very helpful when sad. Also i believe a nice hot chicken pot pie would be helpful also. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yes, Dee... I have a kitchen towel that says "Pie fixes Everything"... and while it may not really fix *everything*, it does help.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Cooking and crafts are great ways to keep your mind and hands occupied!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for reading and commenting! It makes my day...