Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Turning Negativity Into Positivity

Much time has been spent in the last week or so trying to come up with an interesting, uplifting bit of a post to put up here.  It's evident my brain cells have not been up to the task.

I do believe the general blogging atmosphere is in a slump right now, and I can't help but think it's because of the political atmosphere, both here in the U.S. and worldwide, that is affecting our daily thoughts, actions and plans for the future.

And, of course, there is COVID that has had such overwhelming consequences which we've all had to deal with in our own personal lives.
 
I don't believe anyone with functioning gray matter can continue on these days with their head in the sand without heavy concern as to the changes around and most likely before us.
 
All of this makes me extremely grateful for our lifestyle and the daily many blessings we can still count in our lives.
 
I can't do anything but work through the days I may have when that underlying sense of unease threatens to take over.  Let's all keep doing the very best we can on a day-to-day basis, remembering to be kind and helpful to all those around us (including ourselves) as being unkind never, ever helps but only hurts (once again, ourselves included).  Let's put the emphasis on all the positives and avoid falling into the depths littered with the negatives.
 
So, on with the blessings.
 
Liverwurst!  Our good neighbor has been sharing his latest culinary creations with us.  A couple of days ago we received some of his homemade liverwurst.  We happily dined on it for our dinner that night and found it really yummy.  Yesterday, he brought over a package of his head cheese for us to try.  That's on the agenda for sometime today.  He grew up on a farm where his mama used every bit of all they grew and raised to feed her hungry brood and now in his retirement, he's had the time to do what he enjoys, and he's darn good at it.  Lucky us.
 

Yep, the X-stitching bug is still with me.  The current project is an Easter motif piece which I've just barely started.  "Happy Easter" in the center surrounded by bunnies, carrots, flowers, etc.
 

In the works is a new rag rug for in front of the kitchen sink made in dark blue to go with my blue and white January decorations.  Good choice I made to use dark blue rather than white, eh?  (Tongue firmly held in cheek.)
 

The first sock of the latest pair for Papa Pea is almost done.  Because Mr. Big Foot needs big socks for his big feet, I wasn't sure this particular skein had enough yardage so chose to make the cuff, heel and toe of the contrasting gray color.
 

Today I'm determined to sandwich and start the quilting on this couch quilt that has been shaming me for months by hanging on my design wall in its unfinished state.  I'll machine quilt it with an all-over meandering design.  I think.  But I could change my mind.  But probably won't.
 
It's now 9:30, we slept in this gray, windy morning, and we have yet to have our breakfast, so I really should step away from the computer here and get on with the day.  It's gonna be a good one! 

16 comments:

Cockeyed Jo said...

Mama, we too are sleeping in most mornings. We delay getting from underneath our warm quilts and start the day's wood fire. No pressing problems that we have to tackle either for a change too. I bought a bolt of cream muslin to start the new cathedral windows quilt for my bed and it glowers at me from the corner. The bag of contrasting colors are pinned to it waiting for me to start cutting the strips. But that'll have to wait until after spring planting. My afghan needs to be finished first. I work on it three hours each night and it's getting there.

tpals said...

For someone struggling to fill a post, you did fab. I've had one of my all day headaches which makes it hard to see silver linings, but I butchered the last three extra roosters this morning and all the hens are grateful.

Please let us know how the headcheese is; I've never had the opportunity to try any.

Mama Pea said...

Cockeyed Jo - I made a Cathedral Window quilt many years ago. It's such a good project in that you can sit of an evening to do the handwork. Speaking of which, your afghan gets three hours each night of progress!? You will find it done in no time!

tpals - Yeah, that's what so often happens. I think I won't be able to make two paragraphs for a blog post, but once I get going it seems hard to stop! Everyone should be glad I'm not like that when talking. I've always been more of a "writer" than "talker."

Oof, hope your headache has flown the coop by now. I get one very, very seldom but find I'm worthless when I do. I'll remember to let you know about the head cheese. (Wish there was a better name for it.)

Leigh said...

I'm exceedingly thankful for our lifestyle too. No matter the time of year, there is something useful and productive to do. That's a great idea for a rag rug. Are the pieces sewn in a strip or simply ironed in a fold? I love the colorway for Papa Pea's socks! I'm still darning my pile. P.S. Did you know Wyomingheart started a blog???

Tigger's Mum said...

Mama Pea - in NZ your 'head cheese' is called brawn. I was never a fan but growing up on a farm meant the same to us as your neighbour.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Yep, I think we are all struggling. It's hard to write a post and not think about what will happen to us over the next 4 years. Very worried indeed. I often feel about reducing my posts because I don't think many are up to even reading it anymore. On a good note, some stores are opening dressing rooms as of yesterday. Although I am not out shopping hardly at all anymore, it's a good thing for most people. Love all your handiwork.

wyomingheart said...

Hey Momma Pea! Just because I walk around this farm scatterbrained, does not reflect my age....it is a direct result of trying to keep the sane part of my gray matter from thinking about all the current events of our world. . . Just sayin ! My mom who is 90, makes rag rugs, and they are really beautiful! I am left handed...the only one out of twelve of her children, and she tried and tried to teach me to crochet... let’s just say that I was always better suited to other much needed crafts on the ranch ! Lol ! The best is yet to come!!!

Mama Pea said...

Leigh - I do take the time to sew the strips for the rug together. Just kind of as insurance, I guess. No, I DIDN'T know wyomingheart had started a blog! Great news, and I've already checked it out. Finished the toe of that one sock last night and wove in all the ends . . . a little task I dislike as it seems to take forever! (Yes, I'm basically an impatient gal.) ;o)

Tigger - Brawn? I'd never heard that term before although knew many farmers did make head cheese, at least in the past. I'm sure you have lots of stories to tell from your growing up on your family's farm.

Kristina - I know I don't comment on your posts frequently, but please know that I read them every morning. They are a slice of life, real life, which I think is what we all need right now.

wyomingheart - Great news to hear you've started a blog! I will be a regular reader, you may be sure. I've always thought left-handed people were special. My brother is and a very talented, artistic aunt was also. I've known of others like you who found it nearly impossible to learn to crochet because of their left-handedness. My mom was an excellent crocheter and I remember her trying and trying to teach a left-handed, young gal who wanted very much to crochet . . . but they both gave up after much struggling. As for you, I'm sure you have many, many other talents!

linnellnickerson@gmail.com said...

It's wonderful you are enjoying all your projects. They all look good. I love to crochet rugs, but my arthritis doesn't allow me to do that anymore . Thank goodness there are so many other things I like to do. I like the color combination of your socks. It looks like your quilt is almost done? I pray our country gets back on the right track! Take care and stay safe!!

Tami said...

Preach it Mama Pea!

There were several days last week when I too felt that I was waiting for the other shoe to drop! I try stay out of politics as much as I can (to SM's frustration as he loves a good political argument) however I will say that I know in my heart we all want peace, health and prosperity. It's pretty simple. Everything else is just noise.

Mama Pea said...

linnellnickerson - Yes, the rag rugs I crochet are very hard on the hands. I'm sorry you're plagued with that darn arthritis that limits what you can and can't do. :o( My last couple of days when I thought I'd spend lots of hours machine quilting that quilt just haven't happened! But maybe tomorrow and the interruptions haven't been bad ones at all. Stay warm!

Tami - I was very concerned as to how January 20th would come out. I think we all breathed a sigh of relief when no further violence came to be. Yes, peace, health and the chance to prosper. I really hope our country can return to allowing its citizens that choice.

Rosie said...

I think many of us are struggling with our blogging, but I really enjoy reading the various blogs I follow and it makes me understand better the life others have in other parts of the world. Here in Australia we are so far away, but we still experience the same highs and lows in life. You add a lot of enjoyment to my day even though you have to deal with more Covid problems than we do here. I hope you continue to fill your days with all of your crafts, I think having many interests is key to getting through all these things.

Mama Pea said...

Rosie - What you say rings so true with me. A person who has many interests (throughout their whole life!) is faring so much better in these days of our restrictions, home quarantines and social isolation. I know it is much more difficult for those living alone, but fortunately our modern technology brings the opportunity to "visit" with friends and family via the Internet.

I've tried all this last week to carve out time in my quilt room, but other than some knitting last thing at knit on the couch, life has interfered with my handwork! This morning I woke at 4 a.m. and couldn't get back to sleep so got up, stoked up the wood stoves, made a cup of coffee and happily spent a couple of hours starting the machine quilting on my current project! That felt very good.

Thanks for your comment, Rosie. Sending best wishes to you all "down under!"

Unknown said...

As an Australian I'm not alone in wishing our American cousins a safer 2021 in terms of Covid 19, the political turmoil and even those blizzards and tornados. I'm so glad you have crafting and neighborly friendships and family love. All the very best.

Nancy In Boise said...

It's funny but I guess for me I'm not feeling like Im in a blogging slump. I try to focus on one day at a time and just moving forward with our normal life such as it is. Liverwurst! My mom used to serve that to us as kids on rye bread with thin sliced white onion and some mustard. I bought some a few years ago and it was pretty disgusting way too greasy. Homemade is probably great. All of your clothing and stuff looks great! Which I wish I could make wool socks. It's been pretty gray in yucky here but we're expecting some snow late next week so fingers are crossed!

Mama Pea said...

Unknown - I'm frankly very humbled that those of you living in other parts of the world show your kindness and caring for the situation in which we here in the States find ourselves. I'm not in any way proud of the social mess we find ourselves in nor inspired by the manner in which the virus is being handled. Thank you so much for your much appreciated support from so far away.

Nancy - A few months ago I purchased a "roll" of liverwurst from our organic Co-op hoping it would taste like that from my childhood when we had it served in much the same way you did. Ugh, it was AWFUL and it went right into the chicken bucket.

You have always done a great job at blogging regularly and hope you always continue to do so!