Flypaper thoughts: catch up edition

• This week I finished the manuscript on my next book
• Publishers aren't keen on revealing that you are writing a new book
• Since it will be about a year until it is out for sale
• For six months I have been sewing and writing every day on this project
• This has cut into my blogging time so much
• And I think you should know why
• So I would appreciate it if we kept this info between us
• But we're friends
• And I thought you should know the why
• Writing this one was hard
• I put in all my best ideas
• But thought that there would be more than a few readers who would think
• That's not the proper way to do it, is she nuts
• But you can only write what you have to write
• Nuts or not
• It's what you've got
• It was extremely strange to write a sewing book in the middle of a global pandemic
• The fabric stores were closed so I cut up coats and scrounged for materials
• You'll see 
• These are such strange times
• Here in Nova Scotia we remain Covid free
• The premier said stay the blazes home and we did
• We are in our own little world right now, living normally
• With the understanding that if a case comes in we will slam shut again
• When you are small and have a tiny border you can do that
• And when you more or less know or are related to everyone
• You aren't going to let them down
• It isn't that hard
• However I am cut off
• From my son and his family in California
• I never thought I would have a child I couldn't get to
• So just so you know I don't have any patience for those who won't do what they need to do and are prolonging this
• You are part of a community
• We all are
• That is our learning opportunity here
• As we used to say when I taught
• Now I am not sample sewing
• I am going to sew for myself
• Stay tuned on that one
• I have been knitting though
• Learning continental because it is faster
• I think it is important to live richly
• What are we waiting for?
• I have moved the crystal into the ordinary glasses cupboard
• I have been growing herbs and cooking Greek food because it uses herbs
• I have been treading water for whole afternoons and catching small boys barrelling off the water slide
• And landing with a belly flop
• I have realized that I made a mistake with my sewing
• I have been caught up on making the next thing
• And home now
• I am wearing what I have in the closet and appreciating it
• Maybe all the focus on making the new
• Has taken the enjoyment out of appreciating what we already have
• Seems like that is a mistake
• And another learning opportunity
• My husband is one of those older guys who loves apps
• Right now he is renting his tools through something called Good Neighbour
• He is a good neighbour and apparently 4% of all the rental tools in the greater metropolitan area are in my garage
• I did not know that
• I don't go into the garage
• It is the kind of place that you feel if you went in you might not find your way out
• Sort of like the Amazon jungle but with weird devices instead of trees
• Sometimes the kids have me lift the garage door for a look
• They stand outside, quiet
• And say "wow that's a lot of junk"
• And now it seems that there are things in there that other men want
• Mysterious things that are left on the front step when they are done
• My husband realizes that this funny extra income will allow him to buy more tools, off book
• I have fabric he has things that plug in
• Or screw together to help you screw more things together
• He is a super renter
• I didn't know that power washers came in two strengths
• One that cleans the deck and one that removes it
• But that's another story
• We rent both
• Apparently
• So I guess I wanted to tell you where I've been and that I am back
• Strange times or not
• But I am here
• And this is where that place is
• The anthem of my culture is in my head right now
• The right song for these wrong times
• It will be OK
• I promise