Today Off

I think I will be baking some cookies today.  Nothing new – I’m making these, I think, since I have a lot of limes and a bag of shredded coconut.  Not sure if there will be nuts in them or not. 

I was at Alex’s baseball game last night, sitting on the bleachers, when Julia came running up to tell me someone was here to see me.  (Julia spends Alex’s games playing with whichever younger sisters of other baseball players are around.  There’s a good supply of them.  Most are girls she knows either from school or from the season last year, and when she spots them and they see her, it’s like a tenth year reunion of best friends who haven’t seen each other since graduation.  Very cute.)

Anyway, the someone was the mom of one of Julia’s former classmates.  Her son is playing baseball, too, and he had a practice that night.

She asked me how my writing was going, and for a minute I had no idea what she meant.

Oh, yeah, this blog.  Um, I haven’t been doing much writing over the past year.

I’ve been thinking about that a lot, on and off.  I even thought, recently, that maybe this website had run its course.  Maybe I should just say thank you and goodnight.

But…nah. 

Still, I keep finding that I just don’t feel like writing about food.  I think, maybe, that I don’t need to write about food like I used to, because cooking is now “what I do for a living.”  I just don’t feel like photographing what I make for dinner and talking all about it.  Unless it’s something very different or really interesting.  I don’t know.  It’s weird, but that fire has burned out.

And I came to the conclusion (yesterday, after mulling things over), that that’s fine.  I’m not required to write about food.  I can write about whatever I want to.  Or not. 

I see my stats dip way down when it’s not pre-Easter (when those posts about coloring eggs are all over the place), and at first I felt this panic – Oh no!  I have to get those numbers up! – but…why?  I am not dependent on the ad revenue.  It’s nice, but not crucial.  So…I can relax about that.

I have today off.  My days off are so precious to me.  At first I’d use days off to catch up on all the household things – do tons of laundry, dishes, shopping, cooking, baking, etc.  But now, I don’t want to use up my time – MY time – doing all that.  So I try to get as much of that stuff done on work days, or have the kids do some of it, so that I can spend my days off doing what I WANT to do do.

Lately it’s been all about the fabric.  I’m working on a quilt but I can’t show you because it’s a baby quilt and a gift and no one gets to see it (out there in internet land) until after the baby arrives.  Which should be soon.  SO excited!!

I love fabric.  I love designing quilts or little wall hangings or pillows… and I haven’t really done a lot of that in a LONG time.  But now, I think now that I’m cooking for a living, it’s like THAT hobby or passion or whatever it is has been sated, and now I have room for other creative pursuits.

And isn’t that a great thing? 

I still need to get back to repairing other quilts we have – a project I started a while back and then dropped.  But it can wait til after this baby quilt.  And it’s Spring – we don’t need as many quilts.

I’ve also been sucked into the black hole of Pinterest, and that’s actually been a great motivator for me.  I see all these amazing creative projects (including quilts), and I just want to make them all.  Or not – but make my own things.  Because why not?

So that’s what I’m working on today.  Hoping to finish the baby quilt.  And then a couple other little projects…and then….? 

I have no idea!

And that’s sort of the best part.

Comments

[Lori]

I am always entertained and informed by your writing. It is interesting when I look back, that it was your quilting that originally drew me to your blog. That was probably three years ago and I don't know which post it might have been. Looking forward to more quilting or whatever you feel like writing about.

[Judith]

I love your writing, always have, I also know that feeling of 'lost the feeling for writing.' I don't even look at the stats, if I did, I'd have jumped off the water tower long ago. Go for the random babble blog, that's what I do, look where it's gotten me! Those cookies look really good, and Julia was so little....

[Zoe]

I am always pleased when I see you've updated. I like all posts, food, garden, quilting, your family. All enjoyable.

[Pamela L.]

It's good to hear from you, no matter what you write about. Your writing has made us care about you, and your family...

[Joanne]

I love reading your posts and being allowed to glimpse a slice of your life. Often your posts resonate with me and it's nice to know that others have similar highs and lows! I first found out about your blog from my Mum, who passed away 3 years ago. I often wonder how she found it because she didn't even know how to switch a computer on! Even though you will not know many of the people who read your writing, please know that your thoughts and photos are very much enjoyed.

[laura]

I've always enjoyed your blog, food related or not. I hope that you'll keep writing when you can. I try to remember that I write mine for me, and if others enjoy it then that is great. I don't think I could handle the pressure and stress of trying to write for other people. Anyway, just wanted to say hi and hope you had a great day off.
blessings
~*~

[Pam]

Thiking about it, if you wrote stricktly on food I probably wouldn't be as active a followerer. Don't get me wrong I love the food posts but what I really love is the glimpse into your life you give us. I love hearing about the kids and whatever project it is you are working on or just what ever thoughts are rumbling around in your brain. Many of us have more than one thing we are creative or passionate about. I do, I love to cook, sew, knit, crochet and cross stitch. I dont remember how I found your blog but I am glad I did.

[Kristi]

I just love peeking through the little window into you and your life... not as a voyeur, but more like a kindred spirit in many ways. We're very different in some ways, but not so different in others. I feel like we're friends. I like you.