by Kat | Mar 27, 2020 | General, In This Moment
You cannot see the wood for the trees. — John Heywood
This week brought increased worry for both the rapidly increasing numbers of the sick as well as all those who are caring for them. The stories don’t sound like something from a first-world country, but rather they sound like the horror stories from a war zone or a third-world country that you might vaguely notice in the news.
I read this post yesterday and it really made a huge impact on me. Gratitude + Perspective is my new focus. Less complaining. Less rose-colored glasses views. Less meaningless lists. Less foolishly looking back at unimportant things with misplaced longing.
But, it’s not all less…because there is so much more! More heartfelt conversations with loved ones. More prayers for the sick and those caring for them. More gratitude that I have a home to shelter in and that I can easily communicate with my children. More gratitude that my library is serving the community mightily from a distance. More gratitude that I have no lack of projects to work on. More gratitude that I have an abundance of food. And, finally… more gratitude in just staying home!
Thank you, Carolyn for helping me adjust my perspective!
I do have some “lighter” things to share… things to, you know, STAY HOME and do!
Have you wanted to learn to crochet? There’s a CAL for that! Thank you, Casapinka!
How about knitting a bit of Wool Week? The hat pattern is out today!
I don’t know how this pattern appeared on my radar, but it would be the perfect spring shawl!
Then there was this from Lori Versaci. Gorgeous, but and the color combinations in the test knits are what really caught my eye!
That is all I have for this week. Again my mantra… stay home, wash your hands, and stay well!
by Kat | Nov 13, 2018 | General, In This Moment
We still have a few leaves on the trees and bushes, but most have become a lovely jewel-toned carpet for the ground. And, I think that is beautiful no matter how you look at it!
Last week’s refocus on gratitude has improved my outlook (and my inner-look as well) and my plan is to be mindful of that focus as I move through the holidays!
I hope your Tuesday is full of new optics as you look at the world around you.
by Kat | Nov 8, 2018 | General, Words
I feel a bit like this week of Gratitude Week got off to a bit of a rocky start – I found Monday’s prompt to be so comfortable – like slipping on my favorite pair of well-work and super comfortable jeans. Easy, happy, feel good gratitude!
Breathe in, breathe out…
Tuesday, I did not even think about gratitude – not how it sounds, or how it feels, or tastes, or even what it looks like. MIA Gratitude? Or does gratitude surround us when we are busy and overwhelmed?
Breathe in, breathe out…
And, then Wednesday’s post arrived like a shot through my heart. When disappointment strikes, can you find gratitude? Is there gratitude in pain? In failure? In setbacks? Tough questions, yet perfectly timed – Michelle has an uncanny knack to send impactful prompts that are not always comfortable. I especially loved her quote: “Some days you might be grateful for ten things. Some days it might be one.” Oh, my. How true is that? Maybe even more true for me to ask are there days where there is not even one? Perhaps. And, then I realized that even on the not one day, I still have my voice…I can be kind, I can speak out, I can speak up. Perhaps the true gratitude is in discerning which voice to use.
Breathe in, breathe out…
Thank you, Michelle, for yesterday… for the tears, and the frustration, and yes… the not one thing but my voice. (and imagine my surprise when I looked at today’s prompt about breathing!)
Oh, and please make sure you stop by Carole’s to see what everyone else has to say today!
by Kat | Dec 30, 2016 | General, Words
“It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.” – David Steindl-Rast, Benedictine Monk
I worked through 2016 with a focus on gratitude – and though it took some effort, I really feel like I am ending the year with a better understanding of gratitude. This includes gratitude in my everyday life. From the simplest things to the most complex – I feel like gratitude is part of my being now.
Which brings me to 2017 – where do I go from here. I have been contemplating several words to focus on in 2017 and my mind kept circling around joy and then when I got an email on Saturday from Churchmouse Yarn and Tea with the above quote – the word seemed to leap out of the email.
It is so true, gratitude does make me joyful.
It is not complicated, nor does it indicate that I am adopting a Pollyanna-like view of life – but really, a simple joy stemming from gratitude in all things – even the difficult things.
In 2017, I hope you will come along with me as I celebrate finding joy in the journey.
Happy New Year to all of you!
by Kat | Nov 1, 2016 | General, Making, Words
Hello, November!
It seems like just yesterday that you were here, but then I look back at the year and I realize it has been a very full year. A year full of so many good things but with temps slated to be in the 70’s here again today – it hardly seems like it can even be November!
This has certainly been a lovely autumn.
I have much to be grateful about today beginning with the Halloween festivities of last night. It was not a banner year for visitors – we had less than 30 Trick or Treater’s. However, seeing their excited faces was an incredibly pleasant break in the usual evening activities. And, really – I prefer visiting children to the news of late! So, perhaps for the next week we can just replay last night. Sort of the “I am so sick of politics” version of the movie Groundhog Day.
Several of you kindly commented on the soup from my weekend. I roughly based it on a recipe I found here. Changes I made: I used left over roasted chicken from earlier in the week. I shredded the chicken and added it with the onions as they cooked. I used Trader Joe’s Cuban Black Beans and Cannellini beans (instead of kidney beans). I did not have diced tomatoes or a can of diced chiles. Instead I used a large can of whole tomatoes and crushed them with my hand before I added them and I added a can of Rotel™ tomatoes. Instead of corn, I diced up the last few Anaheim and Cubanelle peppers from our garden. So, I changed it quite a bit! Haha! It was good and will be made again!
Sigla’s sleeve number two is almost done – I just have the ribbing to finish and it will be done! Just in time too, because cooler weather is in the forecast!
Lastly, I am grateful for all of you who read my blog each day! Thanks to Random.org I have a winner – and that is commenter #8 – who is Carole of Carole Knits! This is especially wonderful because it is thanks to Carole’s invitation last year to join her in NoBloPoMo that reinvigorated my blogging and brought so many new friends to my life! Congratulations Carole – MDK’s Stripes will be on its way to your house!
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