a little charred...but open to joy
I was going to post this delightful "senses" post about how I spent my day yesterday…but life kicked in at some point and things shifted to some other things…like the following:
1) Jon's grandmother, Gram, is in the hospital. She fell and broke several ribs. She is in a lot of pain. They are concerned about pneumonia (she is 91) and it hurts her so much to cough. As of our last phone call, they were not moving her to intensive care, and she had been sitting up in a chair for a while. So that is good news. Please keep her in your thoughts. She is a dear lady full of life and light and laughter. A hippie and an artist; several of her pieces hang in our home. I feel blessed that she came into my life and we both adore her.
2) I hoped to get my etsy shop open this week…but I think I will need to wait until next week like I thought all along. Need to finish a few prayer flag sets, but then, I have to take pictures of everything. The weather is not cooperating (well, and then there is the part that you have to be finished with everything before you can take pictures). The other reason is…
3) Several urgent files came in for my "day job" this weekend. Files that need to be done asap. Which means working on Mother's Day. Not that I am a mother or anything…but… And, of course, it isn't my boss that is insisting I work. No. But, our clients need these things turned around and since it isn't sunny enough to take pictures of things I haven't yet finished…I am editing today. Well, and you can't finish things that need to be sewn when you have to spend the afternoon at a café because….
4) I tried to burn the house down today. Okay, I, of course, did not try to burn the house down, but, I did start a darn nice fire. By accident. Who wants to start a fire in their kitchen? On an electric stove? When the person is just trying to make tea? The story: I filled up the tea kettle and turned on the burner and went back to my little room to edit. And just when I thought, "oh it is probably boiling by now," I started to smell something burning. And thought, "oh there must have been some rice from dinner the other night on the stove or something." And then edited two more sentences before heading to the kitchen. My brain was starting to compute, "hmm…something smells like it is actually on fire" and my eyes started to burn from smoke and I turned the corner to the kitchen/family room. In no particular order of absent-minded horrors: a) I had turned on the wrong burner. b) There was kitchen towel on the stove. c) I had turned on the stove when a kitchen towel was on it. d) The kitchen towel was on the "wrong" burner. e) There were pretty huge, high flames that had engulfed that kitchen towel. f) There was that scary "flames are around" sound as the towel burned. The good parts, in no particular order of importance: There was a section of the towel that was not burning. That section was enough for me to pick up the towel and throw it in the sink, without burning myself (or starting a second fire). We have one of those water hose things in our kitchen sink so I was able to quickly douse the entire towel in water. The flames had not reached the towels that hang from our oven handle. Our smoke alarm went off (remember when it didn't?). Oh and no one was hurt and our house did not burn down.
Of course, being a blogger and all, after I had opened all the windows and assured my husband (who had been in the shower) that all was okay ("but would you please turn off the smoke alarm as Millie's ears are hurting from it?"), I decided to take a picture. And share it here...
(As I write this, someone has started playing a cello here in the café. Oh, it brings tears to my eyes, the sound is so beautiful. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon writing a blog post and doing a little work as someone plays the cello.)
As I looked at my charred, W-S wedding-present towel, I had the thought that maybe some of you might have had days lately that have left you feeling a bit "charred" around the edges…
So do you want to do something fun? Like maybe a kitchen/tea towel swap to invite some joy in?
it is what it is, this is me
Reader Comments (11)
Bless your heart. I guess life does kick in sometimes, huh? I'm so glad that you didn't burn the house down and I will keep Gram in my prayers. Please keep us posted on her status! She sounds like a magnificent person.
I'd love to do a swap. Just let me know when and where and I'm there! :) Sounds fun!
Enjoy the cafe and the cello. Sounds so amazing!
Oh Liz, I am so relieved all was ok and nothing other than a towel burnt.
I am sending healing thoughts and good vibes to Gram who sound fabulous. She's the kind of person that needs to be around for another 25 years...
YES! I NEED new towels sooooo badly. I am up for this swap! I hope the deadline isn't TOO soon thought because as usual I have overextended myself.
xo
Oh I will pray and light a candle for Jon's grandmother.
Glad you caught it while there was still a bit to grab.
XOXOXO
me oh my...you are a fire goddess!!
i'm glad that the only thing this resulted in was a whole lot of excitement! i had to laugh at your photo. i walk through my days always blogging in the back of my head as well.
i hope that jon's grandma is ok. she sounds like a wonderfully interesting woman. she's in my thoughts.
I'm sending healing prayers to Jon's grandma, broken ribs hurt so much poor sweetie.
I've done that same thing in the kitchen, feh. YES please! I'd love to be in a kitchen towel/tea towel swap, I'm in. xo
I'm glad you still have a house!!!
The fire..in the kitchen...while trying to make tea...SO something that would happen to me too! :-) I am just glad that you caught it and that all is safe and sound.
I will defintiely add Jon's Grandmother to the list of intentions and be thinking good, healing thoughts.
And, still looking so forward to your Etsy shop. It is amazing how much time and preparation it takes though, isn't it? It will all be wonderful, I am sure of that!
xoxoxo
sending good thoughts to Jon's grandma...
life kicked in here too...
Maybe the burnt towel will release some good energy.
Jon's grandmother is in my thoughts and prayers.
What a day you had! I have started kitchen fires before. Always an adrenaline rush, eh?
Okay...so I totally want one of your purses, so I cannot wait until your boutique opens!
xoxo
Nothing hurts more than broken ribs. My hubby did that a couple of years ago and it was hell! I will pray that she heals soon and well.