TGIF | 1.21.22

TGIF | 1.21.22

Today I have a bunch of random things to share and I am making them fit TGIF. I think it works.

And so let’s get started!

Teaching (myself?):

Last year, I mentioned that I had some socks in need of some mending… well, the number has grown since then. How is it possible that all.the.socks. are wearing out all at once? It is boggling my mind to be sure! And, ironically, this arrived in my email the same week the latest sock become “holy” … a darning “class”? Okay. I am in! And the same day a darning mushroom was on sale on Amazon and it seemed inevitable. It is being delivered to my house today (along with some darning needles). I have 4 pairs of socks in need of heel repair and I am determined that I will learn how to do this and have the end result be four *comfortably* wearable pairs of socks! (and then I can fix the uncomfortably repaired pair!)

A Healing of the Heels is in order!

Getting (uncomfortable): 

Speaking of uncomfortable…it needs to get real, Gentle Readers. Very real. Uncomfortably real… this is our year to be uncomfortable. I lowered my reading goal this year… for a reason. I wanted to spend more time reading things that made me uncomfortable. Things that will help me see beyond my white privilege. Things that will help me better understand what the BiPOC community experiences on a daily basis. Things that will make me uncomfortable…

This thread by Nikole Hannah-Jones. It opened my eyes. It shocked me. And yes, it now has me wanting to find all of MLK’s writings that I have never, ever read and get uncomfortable! (and to have some wearable reinforcement…I have asked Steve to get me this for V-day instead of flowers)

In (my worry corner):

The past 3 weeks have been rough. My son’s girlfriend started the COVID Train… she was exposed and then, sadly, came down with it. Which meant, of course, that my son got it. (She was quite sick, he had a slightly milder case) and yesterday another family member let me know they now have COVID. (It’s my sister who is not boosted… who is living in group housing… and is now in isolation… which I don’t think is good for her at anytime, but right now, I think it’s especially bad.) I realize it is but a matter of time… so to speak… until we all have it with numbers skyrocketing. But my worry level is off the charts… (add to all this there was a tragic accident on Monday at my son-in-law’s place of employment … a boat … and I am really needing for my people to be close enough that I can see them, hold them, and feed them…)

Finding (diversions): 

This week it was all about occupying my mind… so I wound the Base 12 yarn and cast on that Hitchhiker. I also wound so many skeins of yarn… enough to fill a HUGE knitting bag… and started Gnome One in the Year of Gnomes. It is a pattern I purchased but never knit! Welcome to the start of ADVENTure Gnome! I have started on the hat and I am loving how this looks… now to figure out the ball at the top of the hat! LOL

A Worry Hitchhiker seems so appropriate but coupled with the silliness of Gnome Knitting… there is a bit of balance.

Both knitting projects are excellent diversions because they require me to keep track of something physical… in other words, they are not mindless knits!

I also was shocked to find that Stacy Abrams book, While Justice Sleeps, was available on Overdrive so I downloaded it. And yes… it is lovely to have breathing space between reads to be able to read something totally unexpected!


And that is all I have for this week! Have a great weekend and stay warm if you are in the path of this bitter cold!

See you all back here on Monday!

With Service to Others

With Service to Others

Carole gives is a challenging task for this week’s 10 on Tuesday:

10 Things You Can Do To Serve Others

I spent some time yesterday pondering this and wanted to address this not from the things I am currently doing, but rather from the idea that there are things I could/should be doing that I am not.

So, with self-improvement in mind, I present my list of 10 things I should be doing to serve others:

A kinder, gentler attitude that is

less critical,

and less frustrated.

One that is not participating in gossipy conversation and

not playing the “one up” game – no one likes a laundry list of all the things you did.

Being more of a “Doer” and less of a “Sayer” and

actively listening to those around me and

to not take everything that is said so personally.

Realizing and accepting that my way is not the only way and

not expecting anything in return, ever.

This is a tough list and one that won’t be perfected overnight, but I am hoping that in this year of focusing on gratitude that I will find these things have become an integral part of me as the year draws to a close.

What Would MLK Do

Today as a nation we remember MLK, and while for many it will just be a long weekend. I think we need to stop and remember what he wanted for this nation and it was not the divisiveness that somehow permeates our politics and our cities.

If we all tried to be a little more like MLK we would realize that we can make a difference.

Together.

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