It was one of those days, when my health issues were keeping me at home. I cleaned the house, fed the critters, threw a load of James’ work clothes to wash, and was done. Since the kids are grown and gone, housework doesn’t take very long. An entire day was ahead of me, and I didn’t want to spend it, watching Law & Order again.
‘How do I turn this ‘nothing’ day...into ‘something’? I was sick enough that I couldn’t leave, nor eat anything. But I wasn’t sick enough to want to lay around and do nothing.
I’ve dabbled in crafting, off and on, for years. It’s quite therapeutic, for me, to turn ‘nothing’ into ‘something’. From painting to embroidery...I’ve managed to decorate my little home with all sorts of handmade pieces. Of course, I have many of Mama’s handmade treasures as well. She was a true crafter, never allowing herself to have an ‘off’ period. Her specialties were crocheting and quilting, but she could do it all. I grew up watching her create many ‘somethings’ out of ‘nothings’; so it was inevitable that I would try to follow in her footsteps.
Last week, I stumbled upon an idea, to make roses out of book pages. I made one...and then one...became twenty. This...I am thoroughly, enjoying. Mama left behind; literally hundreds of books. I decided to take some of those, and make paper roses. I absolutely loved the concept, as well as the color, because many of her books are very old, with brown pages... which made some beautiful flowers.
Knee deep, in paper flowers; I took a break, and hobbled to the mailbox. Usually, the most interesting thing about that trip is a flyer or a bill. More often than not, there’s nothing in there at all.
I reached in, with the same excitement that one feels while sorting socks. Oddly enough, there was something different in there.
I received a fan letter! The little ole, plain Jane, unimpressive dingbat... got a fan letter. And I was on top of the world. That was SO much better, than a flyer. And DEFINITELY better than a bill. I must’ve read it seven times. Instead of ‘nothing’, I got a wonderful ‘something’.
Afterwards, I went right back to making paper roses; and in spite of not feeling well... did so, with a smile.
That ‘nothing’ day, much like making crafts, turned into ‘something’... thanks to paper roses and a precious letter.
