Making Stuff

Totally ignoring the fact that it's sleeting/turning to snow outside my window.  Honestly, this has been the grayest, coldest winter I can remember.  And I grew up in a cold, snowy climate.  I reckon it's the old lady I've become.  Ugh.  Remember, I'm the one worried about freezing in the assisted living facility.  I'm still worried about those socks and sweats I'll need.  And I also want to be able to amuse myself.  Amusements are very important to me.  I've never understood people who say they can't stand to stay home because there's nothing to do.  HA!  Look around you.  There's plenty you may not WANT to do, but there's plenty to do.  And that's not even digging up the amusements. Amusements are part of my reason for living. My amusements include knitting and painting and drawing.  When we travel, amusements are the first things packed.  I take more amusements than clothing.  Sometimes I make the huzbin crazy on driving trips because I take so many amusements.  Flights are fairly safe because of the bag restrictions.  Driving trips, not so much.  I began amusements years and years and years ago when I was about 6.  I was making paper dolls.  And I looooooved coloring and working puzzles.  And making "stuff."  Any kind of stuff.  I would make designs out of twigs or rocks. I would make doll clothes.  I would get into the cabinets at home (without my mother's knowledge, of course) and make "potions" in the bathroom sink.  Santa Claus brought a chemistry set to me one year.  Jackpot!  I could make all kinds of interesting combinations - until I burned a hole in a table.  Hey, why follow the directions when you can "make something fabulous?"  By the time I got to 7th grade, sewing was a school requirement.  I loved it.  We made triangular scarves and skirts - using no pattern!!!  Wow!  I don't remember the skirt, but I remember the scarf I made was turquoise with white pompoms around the edges. I was soooo cool - in my head.  I don't remember actually wearing the scarf.  Then I moved on to dresses and robes and prom dresses and embroidery.  After I got married, I made my clothes and most of the daughter's clothes.  Not the jeans, but almost everything else - even tees and coats.  I was sooo good at sewing, I was sewing for friends and neighbors.  I loved it.  It was relaxing.  Roaming through fabric stores and sorting through patterns was like a drug for me.  I would just about space out touching exquisite cottons and choosing fantastic buttons.  Looking at trims would take another half hour of time.  Sooo many choices.  It was intoxicating.  I would finally bring home the goods and set to work.  I was one of those freak sewers who would stay up all hours of the night working until the project was at the finish line.  I could hold off on the hand sewing until the next day.  Those were the good old days.  My sewing skills now are mainly repairing this and that because I think I may have fried myself on so much sewing. These days, knitting is very calming for me.  As is painting and drawing.  And as I sit in this sleet globe, I find myself wanting to be in this painting.  It looks warm there.  Better weather days are ahead.  That's a promise.