I've been a bundle of thoughts since I last wrote a post. So much bad news in the news and sadness abounding it seems. And this heat...which I say feels like you're stepping out into warm, thick pea soup, has also served to dampen my spirits and sapped my little energy along with it. How hot has it been? So hot Hubby is wearing a short sleeved t-shirt without a long sleeved shirt over it. I've never seen him wear such before.
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| Ned is learning to enjoy the walks especially in the shade on a hot day. |
So we are bumbling along. My hair, which has a little natural curl, has been frizzy just like any time I was in Florida. It makes no difference to pull a comb through it. This, of course, is the least of my concerns just now.
It's more my mood that worries me. Up and down and all over the place. Reminds me of that saying, which me am I now? The normal me is, if graphed, a straight level line but not lately. And oddly I've had a hankering for hearty food during this heat. I made a large pan of colcannon which is basically mashed potatoes, cabbage and bacon. And a large tuna/macaroni casserole that lasted two suppers for us. Not suffering a lack of carbs!
And of course, my concerns pale in comparison to what people are going through in the western provinces where folks have died of the heat and now are coping with massive forest fires. On the heels of the residential schools continuing horrific news- all the loss and suffering! I find it all distressing to hear about.
Meanwhile everything in the garden is growing wildly for Neddy's first summer.
A bit overgrown as I've neglected the weeding this week.
Nice to see purply sedum and lavender, my additions, doing well in the garden.
I did get to try out the foundation papers to stitch two new Courthouse Steps blocks. It worked quite well and definitely improved the accuracy of the straight lines. Now that I have the hang of it, I'm doing three at a time. I'm pleased with myself for trying something new. I still like the heritage red fabric and love the using up of scraps too. This pattern has the center block smaller and the same size as the two nearby red blocks (unlike the vintage block I had sewn before).
I'm reading this book and enjoying it, After the Fire by Henning Mankel. I like books where the protagonist is old; how they are coping with life is interesting to me. Perhaps I can pick up some pointers.
34 comments :
I know what you are going through -- except for the heat. Hang in there; you will find balance soon.
So distressing with all the news lately. I hope some of the cooler weather arrives to you soon. I love your flower garden - it is 'rustic' and perfect. Pretty courthouse steps blocks too. Love the red.
We hope all is okay up your way, it's been darn hot here too, but we're sort of use to it this time of year. The heat and the bad news is very exhausting, but all will get better in time. Thanks for joining our Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
I agree with the news being depressing. I hope your mood improves. Thinking of you. Stay cool and safe if you can. Hugs.
www.rsrue.blogspot.com
the news is always depressing - I want to know what is going on in the world but yet when I do listen I wish I hadn't. It sounds like you have the heat and humidity that we have all summer - it is hard to move around at times and my energy in summertime is less every year. Every year I seem to spend more time in my air conditioning and less outside. I am amazed though that your husband has not been seen by you in a short sleeve shirt - what are the normal temperatures in the summer and do you have A/C?
Keep cool and may the next week be that way
Bumbling along is the perfect way to put it, Jocelyn! Aren't we all doing that these days?! The news is often distressing, and then coupled with heat and personal worries and there you go! It's good you are stitching and reading and enjoying your beautiful woods. I always enjoy your posts.
I think we are all tired of the restrictions and now the heat and, for myself, we are also under a water restriction. I just want things to be normal again, whatever that is. Stay cool.
Oh Jocelyn, that sounds as if the whole world is tumbling down around you, and well it might be. The Canadian atrocities, I had to stop reading about them all, the heat, just the opposite down here, we had 3C this morning.
What a lovely wood lot you have there, Jocelyn. Seems cooling just looking at it. And Neddy must be a pleasure to take for walks as he discovers sights and scents for the first time in his young life. Yes, the news is full of disasters and awful discoveries. We wouldn't be normal if it didn't effect our emotions. Since I seem to share your taste in many things, I put my name down to borrow the e-book, After The Fire, from the Ottawa Publc Library. Havn't been sewing lately but plan on converting one of my old dresses into a tunic one of these days. I just have to find the right mood. (sigh)
Doing what you can, cooking what you love, worrying about the news and the weather, guess we are all bumbling along too. We have just had a polar blast sweep up the country from Antartica, quite a different scenario from the heat waves in your part of the world.
So hot and getting hotter here in Saskatchewan....Not as hot as some places in BC and Alberta, but hotter than we are used to at this time of year. Add in the rain we got at the end of last week and now the blood suckers are out so can't even enjoy the deck.
My mood has been swinging also. Much of it due to the graves that are being found. I am devastated that so many FN children did not make it home... I do know some of the graves at one site are probably adults and because there was a church there before the school many of the surrounding people not just FN are buried there (this is one of the sites in Saskatchewan, Cowessess First Nation site. My heart still bleeds for those lost souls.
God bless.
It's been unusually hot here as well. There is no such thing as a good hair day and probably not one in sight for at least a week. I am suddenly looking forward to winter!
I'm with you on the weeding! The humidity has been totally sapping me. Storms coming through are bringing some relief. I hope you get some, too!
Jocelyn - we all go through times when nothing seems to be right with the world. I usually find that nature pulls me through ... right now it is raining, breaking the record heat we've been experiencing. What a blessing! I hope you find your "way back" soon!
I am afraid that these dreadful climatic aberrations are going to become standard. There is a cascading effect as fires release more carbon into the atmosphere, exacerbating global warming.
I know this feeling, Jocelyn, although it feels strange and unfamiliar to me. It has come an gone for over a year now and just when I think it has run its course, it comes back around. I made comfort food baked macaroni and cheese and grapenut pudding recently (with the air conditioners on) which I never make in the summer. Today is is cool and rainy and I hope this relief from the heat finds its way to you. Your garden is looking green and lovely. Your puppy Ned is looking adorable. The courthouse step blocks are very nice. I am making log cabin blocks at the moment and tried one with foundation paper and one without and the paper definitely makes the seams more even and straight. May your path level and bring you peace. Happy sewing ... <3 Pat
Your description of your current mood reminds me of how I felt during the early days of lockdown last year when it seems like there was no way out. I think many of us are still encountering bouts of sadness with lethargy added due to the heat, which I find exhausting (no AC here). The only good part of the news is that it is no longer dominated by a singularly obnoxious individual who shall remain nameless. At least Canada is making some progress with vaccinations, so you will hopefully be able to get out more once the heat subsides.
Pat
I'm sorry your country is going through so much right now. Your mood is understandable. Love the pics of Neddy. I love your garden. To me it has the English cottage garden look that I love so much. I like older folks now in my books too. I recently read a pretty light series of books about an older woman that goes on an RV adventure by herself, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It certainly is understandable that you are feeling that your world has tilted a bit. The news out of Canada is certainly sobering and depressing. It takes some time to work through all those emotions, so give yourself time to rest, eat carbs :-) and enjoy the flowers and cute little Neddy. Your comment about liking books where the protagonist is old, made me think of the Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman. It's an old series, but one I enjoy reading every now and again.
Sending hugs and healing thoughts. We are all a mess these days and I have to keep reminding myself that the heat and humidity we've had isn't nearly what they are having out west. Keep your chin up! Hugs!
We are unseasonably cool here in central Texas, and this afternoon we are expecting a ‘cold front’…..a laughable thought to Texans in the summer. Our poor northwestern states have suffered incredible temperatures. The world seems upside down, especially when I listen to the news in our country. Bad is good and good is bad……so upsetting!
I will look for the book you show today…..I have enjoyed Mankell’s books before. We are enjoying a seventh season of Bosch, one of our favorite series. My husband read all the Michael Connelly books that that series is based on. And we are looking forward to the return of Virgin River, as well as a 4th season of Yellowstone. When things get too crazy we watch another episode of Longmire, our all-time favorite. I think we are on the third or fourth watching of that series.
Summer is my least favorite time to cook. I like warm, cozy meals and it is just too hot for them in the summer. However tonight we’re having a tuna casserole with kluski noodles, new to me! Comfort food!
I'm sorry you're not feeling like yourself lately. Between the weather, the fires, and the quarantine, I think a lot of people are having the same feelings. I'm sure you'll snap out of it soon! After all, the Courthouse Steps are challenging and turning out beautifully! Enjoy your lavender. Maybe bring some in and set it next to your chair. Lavender is supposed to calm nerves and might be just what you need! Wish I could grow lavender. Mine died several years ago and I haven't been able to get any to grow since. Blah!
Hi Jocelyn! Oh, Neddy!! You keep on smelling those flowers. Next time your mood takes a dip, just take a peek at that picture. Neddy is reminding you that everything will be okay as long as you stop to smell the flowers. {{Hugs}} Heat, fires, and those children are hard topics to dwell on, and yet we must. But sweet Neddy will always be there to love you, no matter what else is going on. I can only hope the heat breaks very soon and the fires are under control, as well. Quite ironic, the title of the book you are enjoying. ~smile~ Roseanne
I have learned that my psyche is best served if I try to stay away from the news as much as I can. There's so much that's horrible in the world and even though I know Covid is, and has been, a thing, I'm getting heartily sick and tired of it being the focus of pretty much everything everywhere. How I wish they reported on more feel-good stories to at least help balance the gloom.
I don't know how old you are, but part of feeling so dispirited is that most of our lives have changed, indelibly, forever. I'm 72, and I never thought I'd spend more than one precious year at home by myself. We all have to readjust our future plans, and realize that Covid will be with us always. I suffer from COPD, and catching Covid would probably kill me, so I was excited to get the shots, but my doctor still reminded me that they are only 95% effective at preventing the disease. ANYWAY, chin up and chipper up -- the New York Times had an interesting article a few weeks ago wherein they labeled the way we all feel "languishing." See if you can find it in NYT annals, it made me feel that I was not so alone.
You're so right, the news has been so depressing as of late. I think I've been reading more so I can escape what's going on. I suppose all we can do is be thankful for the positive things around us and pray for those less fortunate. I'm so glad you have Neddy to help you through this difficult time! Dogs are so loveable!
I read way too much news and watch it on TV in the evenings. Somedays I just don't even look at it -- too much going on is right. Luckily usually my quilting takes my mind off of the news and I just enjoy fussing (and sewing and quilting) in my studio. Or even reading a happy ending book. Hopefully your heat will dissipate. I know I am thankful for some cooler Canadian air we've been having. Love to see your pup. He should keep you entertained too. Take care.
Oh Jocelyn, I hope that many things spark joy for you this week! Neddy looks to be growing quickly, and I bet he does some funny things when he gets excited. 🙂 Your courthouse steps blocks look great. Paper piecing is wonderful for making precise blocks isn’t it? We are not as hot as you have been, but will be at or near 90 (32 C) for the next 4 weeks without any break and no rain. It does get so very old, especially with no AC. Hang in there, my dear, you are a special lady!
The weather in the northern half of the world is very worrying and far too hot. We, on the other hand, are having a nicely cold (in Australian terms) winter.
I think your garden looks great - and I'm sure the bees cant differentiate between weeds and other flowers!
Hope all is well - Stewart M - Melbourne
I hope you will not have to endure the heat like in the western part of your country. It seems to get worse every year. And still there are people not believing in global warming.
Your house and garden looks great.
What can we do to help get your spirits up? I appreciate your honestly and vulnerability. Blogland needs to know that everyone has lows and life isn't always roses.
I’m really glad the foundation piecing method is working for you for the courthouse steps blocks! There’s a lot to be worried about these days, especially climate change, but also political craziness, so it’s completely normal and right to feel unsettled. It’s frustrating not to be able to do much to affect the biggest of our concerns. My solution is to “shine a light in the darkness” with acts of kindness whenever possible, do what little I can to help, and to cherish and enjoy my daily life and hold onto hope that the next generations will find ways to flourish.
Those photos of the birds are so pretty. As I was reading your post, my son was freaking out because our cat way "playing" with a bird. I tried explaining the cycle of nature, but alas, he left disappoint4d and traumatized. Your tumbling blocks EPP is quite lovely! Yes, if we're going to spend time sewing, let's sew what we like!
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