Sewing

In spite of the difficulties I have been sewing. A lot. There is a modern machine here that requires less fine motor skills from the operator than a traditional one. So far I've pieced a lap quilt,  a baby quilt and two table mats. I even tried my hand at free-motion quilting. That needs more control than I've got but straight line quilting with a dual-feed works. Go figure.

I'll go home with a few projects. I'm very happy. I'm especially happy that my sister encouraged me to try. Fear made me think I'd fail and in some ways I did. I failed to handle big pieces of fabric so I used pre cut strips, squares and scraps. I can't do very small pieces either so sis sewed the binding. She also cut backing and put the quilt sandwich in place. She shared her space and her skills so I could create something that I was afraid I'd never do again. I almost missed out.

Makes me wonder: what else might I have missed for lack of trying?

When I was diagnosed the doctor said to start doing the things I wanted to do, bucket list style.  The only thing left is traveling around North America and Britain. I'd like to see oranges growing and find out if they really do taste better ripe off the tree. I'd like to hear the music of North America played in each state or province, their way, in their home. I'd love a walk on warm white sand, a picnic on an Atlantic beach and a midnight sun party. I'd like to hang out in Britain and see how people do life there.

But you know, if I never do any of it I'm okay with that because mostly I've learned to make the best of my days. The quilting for instance came up when I was very sick with an infection and quite discouraged.  Meds and a tooth extraction helped but getting my mind onto something else is what really worked. Now I have something to show for my efforts along with happy memories of working with my sister.

Make the most of my days..... The sewing machine is not coming with me when I leave so I doubt I'll be doing much of that but I'll try.  Someone will help.  I'm sad when I think of how hard'everything' is - the broken coffee server tells that tale- but to refuse to try is the only true failure. The times of acute illness will become more frequent and my disabilities greater but if I give up won't I be dead in a living body?

Fear of failure isn't going to stop me.