It's been a while since I have shared some deep ramblings from the studio and my mind... and I hope you don't mind that I am back with some random thoughts. I've recently finished my Wild Goose Chase placemats and have the table set for some "Tea and Crumpets", as my Grandma T. would say.
Won't you join me?
If you would rather not stay for the visit, or don't have time, I understand... shoot, I probably won't even know. ;)
I have found myself stuck in a rut of griping, murmuring and complaining lately. I've tried to keep it to myself... I really do try to keep it to a minimum. And I certainly try to keep it from bleeding over to social media and here at MLS. But it seems as though things have just gotten hard. And they seem to stack up on each other.
For example... Last week was a rough week with all that was reported in the news, and the fighting and arguing that took place on-line about "who is right." I'll stop right there.
But like the children's book If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, one thing prompts another and then another... and then another.
Here's what I've been dealing with... I got the monthly email message that our statements were ready. It was over the weekend, so I waited until Monday morning when I typically manage all of the "office" tasks. I was not able to successfully log in and a verification code was required. The code would be received via our landline phone... When I expected the home phone to ring, there was nothing. :( The phone line was dead.
I had to cancel the log-in process and contact our phone company. (We had this same phone problem in July...) The internet was still working properly. I scheduled a repair time for Tuesday... and they so conveniently gave a window of time from 8 am to 5 pm. Ugh.
We were due for a visit to the clinic for fasting bloodwork on Tuesday as well. We arrived early (before the clinic opened) in hopes of avoiding a long wait. We were too early and decided it was best to go at separate times since a repair tech was scheduled... at least now we knew the repair would be done between 8 am and noon.
Fast forward to today (phone is still working!) when I remembered that I still needed to get the monthly statements... Because I had abandoned the login attempt on Monday... I was locked out. **HEAVY sigh**
After nearly an hour of trying to get someone from the local bank on the phone for assistance... I did get logged in. I was able to get the monthly statements and balance the accounts. Whew...
I'm worn out... Do you need a refill of your coffee or tea? How about another gingersnap cookie?
All of this to say... Remember the little blessings in life! Do you remember when I started a blessings jar?
I have continued to fill it with the small blessings, sometimes considered ordinary blessings.
I was reminded today after a call from a friend that I haven't heard from in nearly a year, that life is not something to be taken for granted. This is the same friend who had cleared out a large stash in 2023. I am still using fabric that Pat gave me then! That rainbow stripe flannel used as the backing of the RSC Korner Kabin quilt was from her. <3
She briefly mentioned that she has been facing some health issues and the news that from here forward, she is on a downward spiral. She was reluctant to offer any further details. But the conversation with her was a huge reminder to me that I need to be thankful for the little blessings.
A few things I jotted down on small paper scraps... the changing of the seasons and the vibrancy of colors that come in Autumn... the scent of Dave as he lies on the pillow next to me at night... his gentle kisses and warm hugs... (this is something I am well aware of as my SIL grieves her husband today on his birthday - and their anniversary is just days away as well)...
There's nothing like a little gratitude to change one's attitude!
How do you get your attitude changed?
Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you! I'll even get a refill...
Oh, and by the way, here's a photo of the scrappy back of the Wild Goose Chase placemats. ;) You can see a full view of the front of the pieces here. ;)
Keep Piecing,
Melva
Linking with:
m
I cuddle the cat or call a friend I haven't talked to ages - both always cheer me up (until the cat tries to bite me). I love your Wild Goose Chase placemats - they are sooo cute.
ReplyDeleteCuddles from a pet are wonderful. I remember how they (our Shelby and before her, our cat, Ty) were always attentive to my mood and knew how to offer comfort. ❤
DeleteHi Melva! I love your placemats! So pretty! I have also been a bit down and crumbly lately. A blessing jar is a great ideas. I am very blessed and need to remember it! I was able to see my grand baby a few days ago and will see her again soon! I have so many things I want to make for her and do with her so I will happily focus on that! Your blog is one I look forward to reading every week! Thank you for your wonderful posts!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your kind words. Enjoy every moment you have with your grandbaby. <3 I know that you will pour an immense amount of love into each item you make. :) I miss the grands terribly! I am happy to know that I brighten your day when you stop for a visit. Your visits brighten mine as well! Mwah. ;)
DeleteOh the backs of your Wild Goose Chase placemats are "almost" as pretty as the front!
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to your friend. "Downward spiral" does not sound like fun. And for your SIL, bless her heart.
I am laughing at "Wordy" Wednesday instead of "Wordless"! You and my husband would get along great. He is SO sick of verification codes - he gets them via his iPhone or by email - and sometimes they come and sometimes they don't. He keeps up an irritated conversation with his laptop all day long - lol!
I really resonate with your descriptions of blessings. Being able to lie near your husband is such a blessing.
For me, the horror of the death of Charlie Kirk has changed me in a good way. I already followed him (and no I didn't agree with every single thing he said but I loved him), but now I am seeing more of his videos and one really stuck with me, the one about keeping the Sabbath holy. And as I shared with you, I'm reading the Bible. And less social media. Coincidentally, Instagram made a change to their format on the iPad (made it "better" -HAH!), and it is not inviting to me anymore, and I don't like doing it on my iPhone, so I was already spending less time there - a very good thing! And I stopped following the "cat rescue" accounts, because many of the posts made me cry. My husband said why do you follow something that makes you so sad? So I unfollowed many of them. So overall, tragedy can result in some good changes.
Thanks for a chance to chime in!
Hahaha! The placemats could certainly be reversible! 😉The Goose Chase is more fall-ish, while the backs are much more pastel and spring-like. I did not plan that, but it works! =D
DeleteI consider myself rather tech savvy, but banking on-line is for the birds. I am ready to throw in the towel and get the statements directly from the office in town. I can still manage transfers and such via the touchtone telephone system. I mean, I appreciate their effort to keep our accounts hack proof, but when the owner of the account can’t even get in??? Ugh. Time to count my blessings, again. 😉
Instagram used to be less “political” than fb… not the case anymore. I try to steer clear of the fray of the messy stuff and stick with quilting. I turned off the notifications for all social media and email on my phone 2 years ago. I only check them as time allows and I am not dictated or controlled by them anymore.
Many of the younger generation are ditching their phones and returning to flip phones because they don’t want to be available 24/7. Good for them!
Thanks for the visit.
I agree. Focusing on gratitude is a powerful weapon against sadness. The last couple of weeks have been very hard for us all.
ReplyDeleteCounting my blessings, and you are among them. ❤
DeleteI wish I knew how to turn one's attitude around easily. I tend to let things fester as I mull it all over in my mind. Hugs to you Melva.
ReplyDeleteIt is a challenge… one lady (now in her 90s) used to refer to her worry as a cow chewing its cud… sitting there ruminating over and over, constantly chewing it over.
DeleteThe word picture isn’t very pretty to me. I grew up with a “pet” cow and always thought is was gross that she would chew her cud. BLEH!
I love your Wild Goose placemats, Melva! What an inviting table they set, and I would love to come over (or is it "down" since I am up here north of you?!) for coffee and ginger snaps. Sometimes the frustrating little things conspire to bring us down, don't they? I'm guilty, too, of complaining about the dumb stuff and forgetting to count my blessings, of which there are many. Another thing that helps me is getting out for a walk and being in nature - that's such good therapy. Hope you're having a lovely Thursday!
ReplyDeleteUp, Down, Over? I don’t know. I have cousins in Longmont and they always said they came up to Trinidad. Their reasoning was Trinidad (well the canyon where the cabin is) is a higher altitude that Longmont.
DeleteI always said down because geographically speaking, it is south.
No matter… I would welcome you at my table. 😊
Walks and time in nature are always a good remedy. And I know that is part of my grumbly nature. I googled my symptoms, and I just need to go camping. LOL
Techie problems and lack of tech support can really be frustrating but you made it through! Thanks for joining Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
ReplyDeleteThanks to a patient person! Blessings, M <><
DeleteI loved your list of small blessing, especially the scent of your husband lying next to you at night. I lost my husband 4 1/2 years ago and that is one of the things I miss the most. In hindsight I wish I had kept something of his, unwashed, so I could possibly still have that scent.
ReplyDeleteI have heard of others doing that very thing. I've heard from some that they get visits in dreams and how comforting those are. I hope that you find that same comfort. Thank you for the visit. Blessings. M <><
DeleteSorry for the chain of woes, Melva. When I feel overwhelmed and poor-me I count my blessings. ..... The geese placemats turned out splendidly!
ReplyDeleteYour placemats look great!! I agree with Nann - count your blessings ... even when it doesn't seem like there are any, find at least one! All of a sudden, you will have more!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking to TGIFF!
I love your placemats, the flying geese look very happy and what pretty fall colors! Perfect for the season, your table is very welcoming! The blessing jar is a great idea to be comforted during difficult times.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing with us and linking up.