Kim Hanson

Writing & Quilting

A Daily Ritual

| 3 Comments

Good day everyone. Thank you to all those amazing souls who continue to read my posts. I so appreciate you all taking the time to read my words and to leave your comments. I feel so blessed to have you all here.

While thinking about my son, Mike, the other day instead of feeling so sad, I thought of ways to make my days better.

I came up with three things. I call them my Daily Triple Agenda. (DTA for short).

First, I try to learn something new every day. If I can’t actually learn something new, then I try something new. This idea can prove overwhelming or utterly daunting, but approach it simply. Switching up your daily routine, finding the motivation to tackle an assignment that has stalled or prepare a meal you’ve never made before can all put a checkmark in this box. Basic, simple things like getting your tea at Starbucks instead of Tims. Drive a different route home. Pick up your mail in the afternoon instead of the evening. It’s easy to tweak daily tasks you’ve been doing forever.

Last week, I had some housekeeping duties to perform on my website. In order to set-up an easily accessible online portfolio for prospective editors to access, I had to load up all my published articles to my press page. A web designer had prepared a step-by-step tutorial for me that he sent ages ago. I just left it sitting in my mailbox. I dreaded jumping into this one!

But to be true to my DTA, I took a deep breath and clicked on the link to the tutorial. To my surprise (and delight), the steps in the tutorial were not that difficult to follow! I was astounded and wondered why I had waited so long to tackle this job. Converting all my docs to pdfs, uploading them to my website and choosing a “featured image” was about all there was to it. The result is here. (click on the writing sub-category)

So now when I query an editor, I can point them in the direction of my press page and not have to enumerate what writing I’ve had published. I considered this challenge a win/win. I know this job would still be incomplete if it wasn’t for my DTA.

Second, focus daily on gratitude. I know this comes up a lot these days. But I’m mindfully paying attention to all that I have surrounding me. Sometimes I write down what I’m grateful for. Sometimes I just sit outside in the backyard with my cup of tea and think about what I’m grateful for. Sometimes I think about gratitude at night just before I fall asleep (if I fall asleep!). Again, this one is very simple. Choose to remember three things in your life that bring a smile to your face and a glow to your heart. Your garden, your friend, your pet. Your health, your home, your grandchildren. Having had Mike for 38 years.

Third, I’ve become more conscious of telling at least one person a day that I love them. If I forget during the day, I can always tell my little dog, Sophie, that I love her! Perhaps not a great substitute for a live human being but I do it anyways.

Keeping my DTA in mind has improved my life. Sure, I still concentrate heavily on getting my to-do list complete, but now I take the time to be sure I’ve also factored in my DTA. Somehow, someway doing three simple things a day makes life better, enhances my feelings of well-being and boosts my levels of happiness in the midst of all the chaos.

So, please feel free to steal my DTA or make up your own.

Thanks everyone. Take care.

 

Kim

Death of a Dream?

| 8 Comments

As many of you know, I’ve longed for a backyard writing shed for years. I’ve had a recurring dream since my 30’s of a peaceful, tranquil, creative space, all my own.

I visualized a little cottage-type shed, with white shiplap on the peaked ceilings and gauzy curtains blowing in the gentle breeze. My magical space had a built-in bookcase on the back wall, a comfy chair and-a-half tucked into one corner and my desk positioned in the center. Funny thing was that the little shed stood in the middle of the woods, in a beautiful, green-grassed meadow. Obviously, my dream embellished my backyard just a smidge!

I’ve coveted she-sheds of all shapes and sizes. I’ve coveted old sheds and new sheds. I even have a board for them all on Pinterest.

Some of my very favourites:

 

So, so, beautiful, right?

My dream writing space has always represented something tangible to me; a creative place where the words would flow naturally from my brain, to my hand, onto the page. They would flow so easily.

Now, in my 60’s, I still poke around online, looking for that perfect little she-shed. As luck would it, I found one! If it wasn’t perfect, it was near perfect.

Isn’t that cute? Someone was selling this little gem. I loved the tiny wooden porch, the outdoor lights and the scuffed-up door. I was pretty excited, and bonus: we wouldn’t even have to build it! It was already insulated, wired and ready to go. It was a good size – 8′ x 12′ and was located fairly close to our home. Movers were ready and available to move it to my backyard right away. Sounds perfect?

I thought about it for at least a week. I looked at the online photos of the shed every day, inside and outside. I went out into our backyard with my tape measure and paced out the size. Then, I did it again and again. Coming back into the house, I walked down the steps into my basement studio. Taking stock of everything I already had available to me. . . the light and space and comfort I had access to. . . I decided against purchasing this little, sweet, shed.

For days, it felt like “my dream was dead”. After all those years of thinking about my own little workspace, it was so hard to drop it. But, I realized this dream of mine had surfaced long ago, when our kids were young and space was at a premium in our home. I also realized there was no magical place where words would flow easily. Writing is not easy – it’s hard – no matter where you hang your hat.

In my home studio, I have space for my fabrics, my files and my desk. I have storage for scrapbooking supplies and finished photo books. It’s a warm and cozy space in the winter and cool and comfortable in the summer. I do have peace and quiet to write and quilt.

Things change. Life circumstances, mindsets and dreams all change.

My new dream is that I will become an (older!) published book author. Better late than never.

Kim

What is the name of this mystery block|?|

| 10 Comments

Good day everyone. Here on my blog and also on the Quilting for Kids Facebook page, we are running a new contest, and it’s a little different this time.

Here is a photo of a quilt block. It’s old – likely stitched in the 1930’s. As a contest entry, we are looking for the name of this mystery block.

You can enter below this blog post in the comments. Or you can head over to Quilting for Kids on Facebook (click the link above) and enter there. This contest is only open until this Friday – July 9th. So enter today!

An answer will be chosen at random from all the correct answers and the winner will receive this prize:

 

Best of luck everyone.

Kim

Quilter’s World – Summer Issue, 2021

| Leave a Comment

Good day everyone. I hope your spring is percolating along nicely.

I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing the mother/daughter quilting duo of Sherri McConnell and Chelsi Stratton. The article starts on page 64 of the Quilter’s World Summer 2021 issue. I’ve called it, “Living a Creative Life”.

Sherri and Chelsi work daily on quilt and fabric design from each of their home-based studios in Nevada. It’s likely, as a quilter, you’ve seen or purchased their work in the past. They are delightful, talented and very connected to family. You can read all about them and experience all the wonderful quilt patterns in the latest issue of Quilter’s World here.

Please take care of youselves.

Kim

Our Sweet Snowy

| 2 Comments

As some of you are no doubt aware, Rick and I rescued a ten-year-old Maltese just a few months after our son, Mike, died. Her name was Snowy. . . not a name we would have chosen for her, but one she responded to.

She became one of our family so quickly. Snowy was a love, who gave Rick and I so much joy when we needed it most. She made her way to our hearts in lightning speed.

She was an old girl when we adopted her; but we obviously hoped we’d have her for five years or so.

In March of 2021, Snowy’s health rapidly declined. She had Cushings disease, which began to ravage her internal organs, specifically her liver and her heart. When it became painfully obvious that the medications were no longer working like they should, Rick and I made the heart breaking decision to have our vet put Snowy to sleep.

We have a country vet – a beautiful soul who works from her home near Cochrane, Alberta. I sat in the back seat of Rick’s truck while he drove us out to the clinic. Snowy was resting on my lap and didn’t move during the drive out. We asked the vet if she’d agree to put Snowy to sleep where she lay. . . in the back seat of Rick’s truck. She, of course, consented to do that.

The three of us were crowded into the back seat of the truck. I was crying uncontrollably – sobbing really as I stroked her sweet little head for the last time. Rick turned Snowy to face me; he thought she’d want to see my face as she passed. He was crying and our vet was crying too.

We had her for three short years, but that little pet meant so very much to Rick and I. After her passing, we both went through another grieving period for our Mike. Snowy was our salvation and hope after Mike died, so when she was gone, it brought us both back to March of 2018.

Since it was so very tough to let Snowy go, Rick and I thought maybe no more dogs for a little while. Two days later, we were both searching online again for another Maltese, preferably female. Snowy meant so much to us that we couldn’t bear to NOT have another dog.

We found Sophie in Lloydminster, Alberta. She is a female three-year-old Maltese, just retired from having puppies. She looks like Snowy’s sister and we love her already.

She’s cuddly and lovely and likes to “hunt” sticks in the backyard.

Take care everyone.

Kim