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The State of the World

You know we don’t have cable or any type local or state or national news on our TV. All I know is what I read online, when I want to read news online, which isn’t often. I have a very good friend who pays more attention to things than I do and has connections that share info with her. She knows what’s hype and what I would want to know and she writes, texts, messages me often when she’s heard something she thinks I should know.

Between the political divisions, the hatred, lack of respect and pure meanness in this world, I’m thinking we could all be in a bit of a quandary soon. I’m not saying the world is coming to an end. It may be . . I don’t know. But I’m not going to dwell on it nor let it consume me.

What I want to tell you is this:  Every day there seems to be worse news than what we heard yesterday. As I get online to write blog posts, I think about writing about my chickens, or the garden, or knitting, and it all seems so trivial with what’s happening around us and to people we love. I have a “first cousin once removed”, which is what the internet says I should call my cousin’s daughter, who is a police officer a few hours from here. I think of her and pray for her safety every single day. Even the police officers whose own precinct haven’t suffered losses … they’re affected too.

Sometimes I begin to write a blog post and I close the computer. It’s getting harder to write “fluff”. I want  you all to know that I feel my place in the blog world is not to discuss the sad events of the day, you don’t need to hear my opinion or my take on anything other than what goes on around our little piece of heaven. I feel my “job” is to offer a little humor, a little lightness to a very heavy world, a glimpse into my life . . a life that I love, a life where I find peace and contentment each and every day. I may be sitting on a bench under a tree, drinking water with sweat dripping from my brow, not a dry thread on me, with my ratty old rubber boots full of grass burrs but, aside from having Chad and his family closer, I wouldn’t change one thing about my life. I’m extremely happy. Chad and his family leaves. The anniversary of my nephew’s death arrives. Police are under attack in my home state of Louisiana, where I have many friends who were police officers . . thankfully most of whom have retired now.

In the midst of sorry and bad news, I may shed a few tears but those are temporary. The happiness always returns! Sometimes, I do feel a tinge of guilt at maintaining a blog that avoids news, avoids politics, avoids controversy as much as possible but . . that’s what it is.

Please don’t think that because I don’t write about things that are going on, that they don’t weigh heavy on me at times. I want everyone to come to Patchwork Times for a happy glimpse into my life, for a giggle, for a recipe I’ve just tried and loved. I’ve always tried to maintain the premise that everyone has enough bad news in their lives . . they don’t need to hear about my problems, which actually are few.

I have stopped writing about a lot of things that I once felt inclined to share. Even blog topics evolve and for whatever reasons, I no longer feel the need to share some of the things I once shared. There are probably things I share that I didn’t share in the beginning. 

Overall, my goal as a blogger isn’t to change how you think, how you cook, what you do in your spare time, who you’re supporting in the next big election . . I just want to bring a smile to your face . . even if you leave thinking . . she’s crazy!  🙂

Blogging is probably my outlet, a way of coping with the bad news. If I write happy stuff, then I’m not thinking about unhappy stuff. A whole lot of life is what we make of it. We can fall apart with the bad news, or we can buckle down, get tough and help brighten someone else’s day! That’s what I hope to do with every blog post I write. When I can no longer write happy posts, I will shut the blog down. For now, I believe I have a whole lot of happy left!  🙂

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hooray for Happy!!! Your correct!!! I read your blog for exactly the reasons you state. I like to hear what is happening in real peoples lifes, not all the Crap ( can I say that? lol) that is going on in the world right now.
    Our lives do not often reflect the bad in the news. We just do what we do to get along and keep moving in our own forward directions 🙂 We surely include prayers for those that need them and sadness for just a second. Happy rules!!!! Get over it and see the bright side of life..I love your everyday interesting life, blog. Dont change it and please dont stop! We can all use a little happy as well as the knowledge we are not alone in those other moments we would sometimes like to forget!!! ROFLOL You know the ones 🙂
    Thanks for giving us laughter and a dose of reality. Keep it going….

    • Amen to what Vickie said. Your blog posts almost always make me smile. And sometimes just outright giggle. Case in point, the one about your new friend. Keep up with the happy and even occasionally the very serious. Every evening I look forward to reading about your life.

  2. Thanks for a GREAT post, Judy…..your blog does bring a smile to us so often and it’s really appreciated!

  3. Judy, there is so many terrible things going on in this world that I don’t need to see it discussed on your blog also. I read your blog to hear about the chickens, Cat, Vince, the garden, cooking, bread making etc, everything that makes the day a little brighter and gives me a laugh. I am a quilter so am always checking to see if you made it to the sewing room and have the quilting bug again.

  4. Right on, Judy! I applaud you for your daily dose of fun and information. There’s enough sadness in this world and, yes, I, too, am wondering what it will all come to but we can’t dwell on it. I usually can stand to watch 10 minutes of the nightly local news and then change the channel to the food channel or home improvement channel. I just feel so sorry for my grandchildren and the world we are leaving them with when we are gone. Thank you for making part of my day so enjoyable.

  5. Amen, Judy. Two people have shared thoughts that I’m going to share with you. M. Russell Nelson told BYU-Idaho graduating students to “Face the future with optimism.” I think it doesn’t hurt, and it generally helps, to have a positive attitude. The other is From Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The happiest people I know are … those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments.”

    So yes, keep telling us about those every day worthy pursuits of yours, the stories of the chickens and the cats and the dogs, what’s happening with Addie, the funny conversations with Vince. Yes, I come for those! I come to reassure myself that life is still happening normally and happily somewhere, and I personally know the person living it. =)

  6. Judy, I can count on you to make me smile every day and often (as in the case of your previous column) laugh out loud. Thank you and keep up the good work!

  7. Don’t call your blog fluff. I feel that what we as quilters are doing is adding beauty to the world in our small ways and that this counteracts the badness and meanness. We bring some light.
    I often feel I should comment but then I remember why I blog about myself and my quilts and others quilts. That is all I can do to add light to the world. The only other real impact we have is to vote.
    We also never watch the news and pick up plenty of into online from the New york Times and all the other purveyors. It is more than enough. For most of history, people never knew what was going on in the “outside” world and not knowing made no difference to anyone. I think we are too bombarded with news which has been sensationalized.
    I like all your blogs.

  8. I agree with all the other comments…love the “everyday-ness” of your posts. Wish I lived close enough for you to teach me to knit socks. At 72, I am loving the pressure cooker that I never would have tried had I not been reading your blog. I keep mentioning it to my daughter who recently bought one. She, her husband and 4 children have been on a 32 day trip across the country and she has used her insta pot for almost all of their dinners (and leftovers for lunch. Thanks to info i got from you, they figure they saved about 50% on their trip. I came to your blog for the quilting information, but have stayed for your life information. Thanks so much.

  9. Judy, continue doing exactly what you have been doing. I come here to read about what is happening in your little piece of heaven in Texas. I originally came because of the quilting and have stayed because I have learned so much about other things. I love the stories about Chad (the duck calls in MO), Nicole and Addie. I love hearing about your garden and all the work that both you and Vince do. I love your conversations with Vince. I love hearing about the chickens, the dogs, the cats, and even the knitting. Years ago I used to crochet but haven’t done that in years. I want to learn to make socks but so far I haven’t been successful. I now use a pressure cooker because of your posts. I have tried recipes that you have shared. I recently went grocery shopping and bought “Slap Ya Mama” seasoning and love it. I am a city girl and always have been but really enjoy reading and learning about your life. Thank you for sharing so much with us.

  10. Judy, I’ve read your blog for years now and this is probably only the second time I’ve commented. Personally, I love your blog just as it is, homey, personable and fun! The events going in in our country scare me tremendously, as I have a son who is a policeman and has been for 18 years. I can’t imagine losing him to the violence that continues in our beloved United States. Being a cat person, I especially like reading about Boots and Cat. Please done change one thing about your blog. It’s perfect!

  11. I read your blog everyday and enjoy it very much. The bad news I can get anywhere 24/7. Recently I have been leaving the tv off and avoiding the news as much as possible. A quick scan of the headlines lately is more than enough.
    Keep writing about the good stuff and know that you are bringing some joy to your readers.

  12. Like others, I read your blog at least daily and often more than once a day! I enjoy your stories about your cats, your dogs, your chickens, your husband, your son, your granddaughter and so much more.
    Your blog does make me smile. And it brings to me the “normal” things in life. In this crazy world, if I concentrated on the news, I would be just horribly stressed out.
    Your blog posts help me remember that the crazy happenings in the world are just a small part of what life is all about. The majority of people are caring for their families and knitting socks, feeding their families and trying to make it day by day.
    Like you, I have no TV reception, no cable, no nothing and I get all my news from my computer and have for the last 7 years or so. I keep fairly current, but don’t obsess about the news.
    So please keep sharing your life with us, we look forward to that bit of fun and sanity in a crazy insane world!

  13. I agree with your other readers, but I’d like to hope that most lives are like ours– mostly happy, shared with people and pets we love. I would give a lot to see this majority be closer to total; everyone deserves to have a chance at happiness.

  14. Hurray! You go girl! I made your recipe with the chicken and zucchini and carmelized onion. Hubster loved it. Brightened our day. This morning as I entered church with all the thoughts of the world and it’s madness, I was greeted at the door by a gentleman in his eighties, handing me a cross. A small wooden cross that he carves out of basswood and gives to people he meets. It is his way of spreading a bit of love to the world in need. He has given over 3000 crosses away. Whether you believe or not, the point is, this man focuses on doing good. There are millions of people out there doing good and making this world a better place. We hear so little about them. Judy, you make the world a better place, a place where I think,”There is no way I’d being doing that”, but love hearing that you do. I thank you for giving us a respite from the “news” .

    Dotti

  15. I read and appreciate your blog everyday. I’m interested in most everything you write about…well, I don’t knit, but I like seeing what you make. I too have a positive outlook on life. However, a lot of days my hub is “Mr. Negative”, lol. Bless his heart!

    My brother was in law enforcement for years. Thankfully, he made it thru and retired. All those years, in the back of my mind I dreaded that we’d get a call that he had been shot.

    There’s a quote I often think about – something like: We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm. I know I live a soft life. I’m at home, and generally do what makes me happy. I am truly grateful to our military who do stand ready and our civilian first responders who serve their communities. While I’m aware of the troubles in the world, I’m drawn to happy, humorous and lightness. Your blog fits the bill! Judy, thank YOU!

  16. You are a bright light from all the madness going on. I am to the point where I’m afraid to turn on the tv. You are a nice relief from all this. Keep up doing what you do. Thanks

  17. Go Judy! We love “happy” and both my husband (via me) truly enjoy your numerous and heartfelt daily reports of your lives in Texas and previous states as well. Please don’t change anything — our lives are as ordinary as yours and Vince’s. Maybe no snakes, large bugs or chickens, but ….. We have three adult children with families but one child and her family live far from the family home so we are able to relate to how much you miss Chad and his family and we understand the tears that you shed when they return to their regular lives. It is good to know that we are not the only parents suffering separation pain! We cook, we garden, we travel and I quilt, knit (not as many pairs of socks as you create!) and crochet when garden produce does not require preserving. We listen to all the news of horrific acts of human hatred that we struggle to get a handle on but we try our best to enjoy our lives, to be proud of the children we raised, love them to bits along with seven grandkids, enjoy our community and to find the “best” in every day. It has worked for us for almost 50 years – humour and love and laughter are a part of each day and we plan to keep it going. We hope you and Vince do too. A big thank you from a Canadian follower.

  18. I come here to read about your life on a little farm. What Vince might be up too. How Chad and his little family are doing.Keep up what you are writing about.

  19. I don’t knit and I don’t own any chickens or cats. I don’t have a pressure cooker or a dehydrator and I’ve never canned any food. Your life in the “country” is quite different from mine in suburbia and that may just be the reason I read your blog! I’m glad you talk about what’s happening with you and Vince and charming little Addie. I see enough death and disaster on TV!

  20. Judy I read your blog daily and I love it for all the reasons that you mentioned in this post. I don’t often comments but this was necessary. Love your blog and thank you.

  21. I live with Mr. Gloom and Doom. I don’t have to watch the news because he keeps me more informed than I want to be. He’s a good person but he thinks about the negative while I try to get away from it. Your blog is a ray of sunshine and a big bright spot in my day. You’re a great storyteller and you make everything funny, even big grasshoppers that could carry you away. If I want to hear “the news’ I can turn on tv if I want a laugh or a good story I can turn on Patchwork Times. Let’s keep it that way even though I don’t mind hearing what you are worried or concerned about because it’s still real life and usually something that there is a solution for in time. The World is a scary place but I don’t want my whole life to be consumed with the scary. I want joy and laughter to hide some of the scary parts.

  22. I read your blog for the happy. I like the everyday down to earth life and to know that there is somewhere in the world that happens. As stated by others if I want the news I have a TV or the Internet – from you I want a recipe or to hear about the animals.

  23. That’s why I keep coming back! You do what you do so well, you don’t need to justify ANYthing!

  24. From one Judy to another, thank you for your down-to-earth, humorous thoughts and stories. All of the reasons above are why I read and enjoy your blog. Thank you for sharing your “little slice of heaven”.

  25. Hi Judy, don’t change a thing, we can pick up on the sadness and madness and sheer badness in this world easily enough in other places. Your blog shows the life that the majority of us enjoy, simple pleasures, kind words and deeds, funny moments, crafty projects, family fun and caring, sharing with friends. Many thanks for sharing your very interesting days (I live in England and it’s sooooo very different here), I love reading your blog it’s a joy to spend a little time with you each day, alfl the best, Elaine

  26. Thank you, Judy, for writing about what you love. I keep up to date on the larger things, but I try not to dwell on the bad or the things I can’t control. I believe that a little bit of happiness each person can (and should) share can help everyone in the long run. If all people would try to make things even just a tiny bit better for someone else every day, whether by blogging, telling jokes, paying a compliment, sweeping a neighbor’s sidewalk or ‘paying it forward’ in a larger way, the whole world could be a better place. Thank you for making my day better with your blog 🙂

  27. Thankfully you don’t write about the issues going on in the world today. Yesterday I opened the NBC news app and every single story was about violent acts. Not one positive story about anything. Surely, despite the current problems there’s one feel good story out there. Off my soapbox. Keep writing what you write – I love reading about your life. I have more fabric, yarn and projects than I’ll ever use thanks to you and those things make me feel good. I’ll never be the cook or gardener you are – perish the thought – but I’ve tried a few recipes and enjoyed them. Keep on keeping on you make a lot of people happy:)

  28. Hello Judy. Please keep writing. I moved to a small country town last year and am looking forward to using your gardening and canning knowledge when my vegetable garden starts in Spring. I appreciate your chatty blog, it’s like catching up with a friend.

  29. Your blog is an escape from all the bad news we hear every day. Even experts recommend that when the news is getting you down and making you sad or anxious, that you watch less news!! I can’t ignore it completely. I know relatives of some of the police officers who have been killed in the last week, and my son is a firefighter and and EMT and he is out there every day in sometimes dangerous situations, so I do worry. But we all still have to live our lives, and humor, and your blog, make it a little more pleasant! I can’t change the world … but I can change my little corner of it, and that’s what I try to do by being kind, being generous, and not letting hate have a place in my life.

  30. Judy, Your blog is a bright spot in my day. We need more things that make us smile. Maybe if more people were involved with such ‘trivial’ stuff as you, they wouldn’t be filled with or have time for hate. Please keep up what you are doing.

  31. I agree wholeheartedly with all your readers that we love you “just the way you are” and what you write about. I think it’s wonderful that you share so much of your life with us whether it is funny or serious. I too have been introduced to many things because of your blog and for that I am very grateful. I love learning new things and you are so much like me in your way of thinking and always trying new things. I too have never met a stranger but I live with a man who is a lot like Vince (if it’s on sale – buy them all, whether we need that many or not).! He is very security conscious and not very outgoing either – unless he knows you or shares an interest. Please keep making me smile or laugh with all you post. I love it all and have learned so much because of you.

  32. You bring us into your world – for either a “boy I wish I had a life like that” moment – or maybe just the opposite. But no matter what you let us see another life – another lifestyle – we learn things from you – isnt that what living is all about? Learning about other people – places – lifestyles? That is why you have a blog – and that is why I (we) read it…..

  33. I follow and read your blog faithfully for all the reasons you mention; not because I want to hear about the news and the world out there, but because of you and your world that you are so generous in sharing. It’s a huge ray of sunshine and I need that in this crazy world. You are also the reason that for the last year I have been finishing up quilts; getting them quilted and binding them. And this weekend when I was once again putting the binding on the latest quilt I said a little thank you to you for showing us how to put the binding on by machine. I have shared your video with friends and how many years has it been since that was posted? Please continue to blog and know that even the silent ones like me are enjoying every sentence you write. I don’t expect to ever meet you (much less ever get to Texas) but you are important in my life. Thank you!

  34. Please don’t change the tone of your blog. I come hear to read about your adventures. If I want political commentary I can go somewhere else. Today at lunch my husband commented about a misshaped chicken egg. I casually mentioned that it was probably from a young hen. “Hmm,” I thought to myself “I learned that on Judy’s blog.” Thank you.

  35. I first visited your blog several years ago when you were posting a lot about quilting. You don’t write quilting posts very often, yet I’m still here! It’s funny because I live in an urban setting, don’t knit, and am a picky eater. Technically we don’t have a lot in common, but I love reading your blog! Perhaps it’s because your life is so different from mine that I find it interesting; I don’t really know. I live in Missouri and know of the towns you mention and make a trip to Texas once a year, so I guess your family seems more realistic to me than someone who lives in, say, Alaska.

    I usually don’t go more than two days without checking in, although I rarely comment. I find your blog entertaining and informative. As a wife of a police officer I am all too aware that things aren’t going well in the world. If all I did was focus on the negative possibilities I would be a nervous wreck. I have to trust in his training and ability and assume he will make the correct decisions during his shift so that he comes home at the end of it. He had to work the riots after the Michael Brown shooting, and I was so tense. I knew exactly where he was going and what he would be facing when he got there. It got to the point that I had to just stop watching the live coverage every day.; it weighed on me so heavily. Constantly rehashing everything, all day every day, is draining. I appreciate that this is a safe haven I can come that is devoid of all political and social events. 🙂

  36. Judy, I live for your posts everyday! They help me forget the current state of affairs that are happening in our very own country, in some of our very own back yards. You make me smile every day and wish I was living the very life that you do! I love your stories from cat all the way to your wonderful Granddaughter, chickens included! I grew up in Iowa until I was 16 and relocated to South Texas (Corpus Christi) so your posts make me feel like I’m living just down the road from you. You don’t know me at all but I know you and love your posts, keep them coming and Keep them real as you always do. With much love and adoration.
    Jeri

  37. I am so with you – but I get on to read blogs about things I love, and the hobbies I like, and the life I want to get better at ( and yes, yours helps me – we have not run out of TP since I started reading your blog,…. and I even cook!!!) So hugs to you and keep on keeping on!

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