Paralysis by Pandemic & Illness

      Here we are, mid-April, and I've done nothing creative with my hands since the last post, back in December, but fill in my planner and sketch out an idea for upcycling jeans and denim skirts. The pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 and the disease it causes, COVID-19, has turned the world upside-down. So has my beloved experiencing a stroke and TIA three weeks ago and my own usual string of infections since January. But I have two sewing projects to start working on, once my energy level increases enough to do more than the most basic housekeeping and cooking tasks. Even though it's been over 14 months since my first spinal fracture/herniated disc, sitting at a task chair is still painful and hard to do for very long, whether it's in front of the computer or a sewing machine.

      The first project is sewing some washable cloth face masks. We've been re-using the same disposable but un-washable masks each of the few times we've gone out in our car the last several weeks. Gross. Masks are needed not just to protect other people from us, in case one or both of us has asymptomatic COVID-19. Careless landscaping crew members blow dirt and debris off the sidewalk all over us. Between that, and pollen, and the dangers of soil bacteria becoming airborne when we're working with potting soil, having washable masks on hand year-round is just good sense. And others need them too.

     The second project  is upcycling some of my pants and possibly some of mu denim skirts. Anything to relieve the pain caused by the slightest bit of pressure on my abdomen, thanks to extensive scar tissue tangling up my insides. My beloved will be grateful to hear Miss Cranky Pants snarling and snapping less often. It's time to make another wardrobe modification to make life more bearable. Bye-bye belts and waistbands, hello suspenders. And hello to waistbands at least a couple of inches wider than my greatest waist circumference when sitting down.