Doldrums
We are quickly approaching the end of summer. Or, at least the end of summer break. Many of you are already back at school, and this little family returns to schooling a week from today. As usual, my list of things left undone this summer is longer than my list of accomplishments. That might have something to do with how ambitious I tend to feel in June! I was never any good at smörgåsbords either.
One of things on my ridiculously long list was to sew up a few of these beach and picnic throws for Thrifty Goodness. I have been collecting great vintage fabric and sheets all Spring and it seemed like the perfect item to put in the store for Summer. It didn’t exactly happen.
I feel like most of my “to-dos” are in process. Which, I suppose is better than never having started. However, living in the chaos hasn’t exactly inspired creativity. Or the necessary organizing required. In fact, it’s only been recently that you can even see the floor to my craft room. Instead, I look at the mess around me and find myself a wee bit overwhelmed.
With Boy Wonder in day camp this last week before school, I did manage to find a few moments to clear away enough of the mess to sit down at my sewing machine. And with the cargo ships drifting up and down the Columbia in view from my sewing perch, I put this one beach and picnic throw together as a belated birthday gift for a friend. The river was good company while I pulled seams. For the life of me, I couldn’t sew a straight line this week! Eventually, I just decided that imperfection was a fairly good representation of the giver; it doesn’t make the gift any less lovely.
Now, in the last few moments before camp lets out for the week, I am updating my blog and then I’ll make a last minute attempt to clean this mess around me. Tomorrow I leave for Seattle, a mad dash up and back for a girls’ night that is bound to be a foretaste of Autumn. Clean, clean, pack, pack, race! I can’t help but wonder if there is time enough for one more lazy afternoon.
And it has been a lazy summer, warm and slow. But the dashing of September is just around the corner and I can feel it coming my direction. Floating like the cargo ships, picking up speed downriver. And maybe this is why the weather changes in these last few moments of summer, why the air picks up speed and we begin to describe it as “Crisp” and “Brisk.” Perhaps it’s just the nudge we need to get out of the doldrums.
August 23rd, 2007 at 2:12 pm
I feel the doldrums too, but see the rush-rush busy days coming too soon. I could have organized cabinets. I could have painted some rooms in my house. I should have done way more than sit on my butt and read. Oh, well.
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Heh, I managed to get the walls done in my bedroom—but there are miles of trim to do still. ~W
August 23rd, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Margaret meant derriere and I simply can’t have the doldroms after gazing at those pretty fabrics and thinking about picnics on the beach. You write evocatively, Wende. Thanks for the nudge.
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Oh, thank you Bonnie. Your brilliance with words always stuns me. I still think you should have penned those lines on the bathroom wall. Next time, I’m bringing a sharpie.
~W
August 23rd, 2007 at 7:06 pm
I was just telling Michelle ( Green Kitchen) that I am feeling the same way. I can’t believe how much i didn’t get finished this summer. I did get a lot done but I not what I imagined. And nothing done properly so that it is FINISHED.
I wander from mess to mess too overwhelmed to anything but recognise that it too is disorganized and needs a good going over.
Thanks for sharing .. nice to know I am not the only one.
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Oh! I know that feeling. I came home to a clean house–because IZ tackled a bunch of things, but my work is still cut out for me in my own spaces. ~W
August 24th, 2007 at 4:18 am
See now, I think Margaret meant “ass.” But I’ve been known to have a potty mouth. Will you miss me tonight? I will miss you terribly.
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We missed you terribly. But I hear rumor you started a brawl over on your site. I’m too exhausted to really read and comment. But it looks like you already have
sycho, er, people already stirring the pot. Next time it might be easier if you just COME to the meet-up. And Vicki is NOT SHY AND QUIET. She stirs pots. Hee.:D ~WAugust 24th, 2007 at 5:27 am
I read your blog all the time + I think you have done tons this summer
But I do know what you mean. Enjoy your time in Seattle! I hope sophie is feeling better.
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Seattle was a whirlwind, and I think it might take a few days for me to process it all. Thanks for the well-wishes for Sophie. She greeted me with a growl–evidently, she enjoyed the day being solo with IZ and wasn’t too thrilled I came home. It’s nice to be loved, heh. ~W
August 25th, 2007 at 9:05 am
May I adopt you?
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Yes! But I come with baggage…
~W
August 25th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Great post, it really feels like I was supposed to *do more things* this summer. Things I never got around to doing, either. I think that’s what Fall is for, preparing for all the snuggling of winter.
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I know, I’m already plotting for Halloween.
~W
August 25th, 2007 at 11:00 am
Perhaps we could have joint custody?
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Bonnie already claimed dibs… but no worries, she’ll toss me back eventually.
~W
August 25th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Thank you for the beautiful birthday throw. And for calling me FRIEND.
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You are most welcome. It was delightful to meet you. I would say that you are EXACTLY who you claim to be on your blog. . . and that’s a GOOD thing.
~W