The bad news: I've not been blogging because I've not been sewing :(
The good news: I HAVE been clutter-clearing!
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| Before What...you think I exaggerate? Maybe a little...but it FELT like that! |
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| After OK - truth is, nothing changed much here except for the surface of the desk. I face that bookshelf and wall a LOT, so it has to give me pleasure to look at it. And it does :) |
Many of you know that I've been my darling, 97-yr-old Mom's caregiver for a number of years, with this past 2 years being, at times, rather intense in time and energy expenditure. In-home Hospice care (aka, Angels in human form) has been one of my life, time, & sanity-savers during this past year. Two years ago, sewing re-entered my life. To my absolute delight, the sewing bug has been another life and sanity-saver during this time. I'm building up a fun and fabulous new wardrobe, my creative juices have a yummy and productive outlet, and I can do it all at home, while being available for the Mumsy. Win-win-win!
What sewing has NOT been is a time-saver. Nope, let's just call a spade a spade here, and admit that it's been taking a LOT of my time! And yes, some of it, I daresay, has possibly been "wasted" time (although I'm not convinced there really is such a thing as "wasted" time...) And let's not even mention the blogging, ok?
As a result, what's fallen behind (WAY behind) is house cleaning and organization, paper work, gardening, and, as a self-employed person, work & $$-making. Now this is not all the fault of the sewing obsession...my health took a bit of a beating due to the stress of 24/7 on call duty (HOW do single parents do it???? Oh wait, I know....they're in their 20's, 30's, even 40's.......they're not, ummmm....my age)
The bad news: Regarding health stuff - when the Mumsy stopped being able to walk, roughly a year ago, I started living with sleep deprivation, and the ensuing lack of energy crept up on me to the point where I was, at times, completely non-functioning.
The good news: About 6 months ago my homeopath diagnosed adrenal fatigue, and thanks to the remedies and advice she gave me, I am finally beginning to remember what a day of "normal" energy feels like!
The bad news: Although I am far, far more patient with myself and others than I used to be, the healing process seems to be taking a long time, and I still need to remember that I DO need to rest, preferably before I hit the proverbial wall. In my perfect world, sleep would not be necessary. I'm learning to really, really love a good night's rest-filled sleep.
The good news: I am prioritizing, making healthier choices, and thoroughly enjoying the regained energy I do have! The house is getting cleaned. Paperwork is being dealt with. The basement is getting de-cluttered. The garden! Oh, the garden! Two truckloads of tree trimmings and weeds have already left the property, and another is in the driveway, ready to go. My magical garden is beginning to emerge again :)
The bad news: The Soho Raincoat has been sitting on the kitchen table, half-cut, for a month now.
The good news: I have done a tiny bit of sewing - door curtains in the basement entry have finally been made! (I've had the fabric for well over a year now - probably closer to 2 years)
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| Boring Curtain Pic. But I love it, because it's DONE, looks good, and hides a multitude of sins lurking behind. |
The bad news: No sewing = no blogging. I'm not one of those who thinks that I'm letting my readers down or anything, & don't have any reason to apologize for my lack of blogging presence...heck, I feel blessed to have any readers at all! :D
There is no more bad news; it's all up from here! I'm working a bit again, the house is really shaping up with furniture being shuffled around, & the pile of stuff to be removed from the house (one way or another) is growing.
More good news: I even (finally!) got the treadle set up! I was waiting to refinish the cabinet, but decided that was silly - USING the sewing machine is more of a priority than having the cabinet look pristine.
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| This is in my office, since there isn't an inch to spare in my sewing room. Barring my dream of turning the backyard shed/barn structure thingy into a sewing room/office, this is where it will live.... |
Oh wait, there is another bit of bad news. Well, maybe, depending on ones attitude about fabric-aholism....I've noticed others mention that when you don't sew, you buy fabric. I can attest to this. WHY do we do this???? I was being so good in January...no new fabric....and somehow in February I accumulated 7 or 11 new lengths of goodies. *sigh* **headdesk** *sigh again*
Oh yeah, the other touch of bad news is that I'm way. Way. WAY behind on blog reading. I just had to "mark as read" hundreds of posts in my Reader, because there was no way...... I know I missed a lot of goodies, but if I haven't been commenting much, that doesn't mean I didn't at least skim, and I hope y'all know that I LOVE reading your blogs, but frankly, I love even more the fact that I can wander my garden with tea in hand, and see the bulbs poking their heads up, know that the cymbidiums are transplanted, fed and healthy and blooming, the fruit trees have sunlight reaching all their branches, and I can walk on actual pathways, not weeds!
Pictures of the visible accomplishments will pop up in coming posts....and the Soho Raincoat WILL get done (even if we don't get any more rain this so-called rainy season....)
May we all figure out ways to find healthy balance in our lives.....and find a way to recognize what's important, and have the health & energy to have it :)
ETA: WHOA! Another little good news update! I just realized that, somewhere along the line, I magically hit 100 followers! This calls for a celebration of some sort, I'm sure; meanwhile, how about if everyone who reads this has a drink of their favorite beverage? On me. :) Well....virtually on me, at least until we meet in person....
22 comments:
I need to find out why I am so tired all the time. Thought it was just something that would pass, but its been going on for months now. Glad you are feeling better. I wish it was time to garden here, still have snow on the ground, but tomorrow is supposed to bring warmer weather. I hope so, I am so ready!
So that's what happened to you. I was getting ready to send you another e-mail because I was getting concerned.
I always took you for a person with a lot of energy.
Everything will look spectacular when you're done. :)
Arlene, I hope you do find out what's going on! When it comes to energy-sapping, I absolutely recommend a good holistic or homeopathic doc who can get to the source, rather than someone who just prescribes drugs. Best of luck to you!
Yeah, I tend to live life 'as if' I was full of energy...you didn't see me when I went home & crashed for 2 days straight! ;D
Cheers! I claim to be your 100th follower, although that might not be right because your total was 100 both before and after I added myself! Congratulations on this and your renewed energy. I love your work.
Cheers! (virtual clink)
I'm so sorry that you have been feeling zapped lately, but I'm glad your house and garden is feeling the love too, and don't worry, there will always be time for sewing!
KC I see your adorably distinctive avatar everywhere, but I'm not seeing it on my Followers list. Blogspot...eh.... But hey, I'll grant your claim anyway, and thank you! :D
I agree; I daresay sewing is here to stay with me this time around! Definitely no more 20+ year absences!
So happy to hear your energy is back!
Glad to hear that you are feeling full of vigor! It's a lovely feeling to have one's home in order. Enjoy it before entropy strikes, lol!
clutter cleaning is good for the soul... xx
I had noticed your absence and was hoping everything was okay. I was trying to decide whether to email you or not. So pleased to know that you and yours are okay. Nothing like clutter busting to make you feel like creating more clutter. 8-)
PS-for those with low energy, try going without wheat for a few days, it works for me. The difference is incredible. Getting tested for celiac today.
There is no way you can keep up with all your passions and still have time left over for blogging. No worry-just enjoy your clean desk, new curtains, and bulbs popping up. I have some plants coming up in warm corners, but we still have snow on the ground. I passed on a Versatile Blogger award to you and after reading this post, I'll understand if you don't participate. See you Jillian, and take care :-)
You probably have a lot more than 101 (last count) because not everyone follows through Blogger. I use Sage feed reader so you haven't counted me!
And you are the angel to take on full care of your mom along with everything else. Even with help it's a difficult task. Not everyone can or will do that. My own dear mom ended up in a lovely care facility during the last few years of her 93 and though it wasn't an easy decision, it was the best one for us all in our case. But every family has to come to their own solutions, don't they? Just wanted you to know how much I understand your reverence for a full night's sleep!
Thank you for your thoughts Elle :) And I second the recommendation to go wheat (and gluten) free! I've not completely eliminated wheat, but I've been slowly cutting down on it over the past few years, and it's getting a lot easier to find tasty alternatives these days.
Mary - you're such a sweetie! Thank you for the award; I really appreciate it! I was thrown for a bit of a loop with passing it on to FIFTEEN others! This is also my second time receiving it, and it absolutely feels wonderful, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to receive it & pass it on just yet.....I'll hold it in abeyance for a bit, ok?
Thank you Louisa :) As an only child, it was never a question in my mind that I would take responsibility for Mom if need be, especially since she moved to California to be near me as she aged :) I also reached the point, more than once, of not being sure I could do it, and I know that every family needs to make their own best choices. Decisions like this are not to be taken lightly!
I have some sort of blogger/tracker thingy that theoretically tells me info about the non-public followers, but I have NO clue how to set it up to make any sense to me lol! I'll just remain clueless for now ;~D
You are an angel to your mom, that's for sure. I second Elle's suggestion to give up wheat. I gave up sugar, all grains and cereals, including rice, two months ago and will never go back. My energy has increased a hundredfold - I really am amazed at the difference. I follow the Primal Diet now, feel great, and am even losing weight. Not that you need to lose weight, but the increase in energy is worth giving up the white stuff!
moushka 26 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Happy to read up on what's been going on in your life. It sounds like you've accomplished a great deal around the house, which is terrific. I'm looking forward to seeing your next sewing project, but I will wait patiently!
jilly, i completely empathize with trying to stay healthy, energized, and passionate while dealing with the health of a family member and the pressures of trying to maintain a clean home and a normal life--more than you know! your post is thought-provoking and i was smiling right with you as you walked through your garden with your cup of tea. i am glad you are feeling better and look forward to seeing what comes out of your sewing room AND your garden as spring goes on!
Hey Jilly, finally catching up on blog reading, thanks to a bout of insomnia. So glad to hear you are ok, and your absence was a productive time. I completely understand and can empathize with being a caregiver - I too took care of my Mom until she passed, and now we are caring for two other older relatives. Sleep deprivation is hard on the body and mind, so take care of yourself. Cleaning, organizing, and gardening is a wonderful therapy. Nothing like getting your hands dirty to clear the mind!
I know, from my own experience, what you're going through with your mother. Care-giving is draining, physically and mentally. Continued good health to you. Blessings to you and your mom.
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