September 18, 2023

My Hands Have Been Busy

If there was ever a journey I'd like to document, it's the activity of my hands over one day.  Between cooking, cleaning, wiping butts and noses, and of course giving hugs, my hands are always doing something.

I got back into a knitting groove this week, both because of the cool, autumn weather and my desperation to do something creative that I could tote with me around the house and on outings.
I just can't seem to get a chance to work on other crafts, having no dedicated work space, and for a creative person like myself, I feel like I'm drowning if I go to long without making something (dinner excluded).
A version of my Polish grandma's cabbage and noodle dish served with homemade refrigerator pickles
This week has been challenging, to say the least.  With taking care of 3 kids, two of which have been sick along with myself, I've felt myself spiraling into depression, having had very little alone time to recharge, either through writing on this blog or making something.  I've been having headaches, my face has been breaking out, and I just haven't felt right.  Ugh.

I started working on an afghan, just to have something to settle my thoughts.  The meditative rhythm of knitting often calms me, all the while allowing me to be creative.

Having been a knitter for 15+ years, starting a new project usually comes easy to me.  However, this afghan has caused many hours of frustration.  I don't blame the pattern, but blame my state of mind.  It's been interesting to watch how foggy my brain is, despite the cursing about having to rip out stitches repeatedly, and even having to unravel the entire project once.  As you can see from the photo, taken this morning, I still am not very far.

But like this week with the kids, I just kept starting over despite my mistakes.  As a parent, you really don't have a choice; you get up, take a breath, and begin again.  Somehow I just knew with my knitting that once I got into a rhythm, it would be worth it and I'd enjoy the process.  I've finally gotten into that groove (stitch markers have helped), and am hopeful that things turn around this week in the parenting domain.  Either way, I'll just keep trying, maybe even unraveling my negative thoughts in the process and hopefully starting anew.

Hope your week is off to a better start!

4 comments:

  1. Hope things go better and you are all on the mend.

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  2. Goodness, you do seem to have those hands full and working double-time over there lately! I hope you and the kids are getting over your sickness so you can at least have somewhat of your energy back!

    I completely sympathize in regards to the creativeness-If I go too long, it's like I'm going to explode with creative ideas! Then my mind goes a mile a minute and once I can actually sit down and WORK, I'm too overwhelmed o.O

    Keep taking those calm, cleansing breaths and take it one day at a time!

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  3. It's been that kind of week here, too, although I am not nearly as crafty as you. I'm going to share some pictures on FB of the yarn bombing project at our local college; I think they'll make you smile.

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  4. I pulled out my knitting again as well, though C doesn't allow for much progress during his waking hours! Are you doing the knitting club again this winter?

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