"A daydream is a meal at which images are eaten. Some of us are gourmets, some gourmands, and a good many take their images precooked out of a can and swallow them down whole, absent-mindedly and with little relish." ~W.H. Auden
Apparently in the late 19th-century daydreaming was held in disrepute in society and was associated with laziness. Some people argued that those who had daydreams were filled with grandiose fantasies and self-gratifying attempts at "wish fulfilment". In the 1950s, some psychologists even warned parents not to let their children daydream, for fear that the children may be sucked into neurosis or psychosis.
Leopard dreaming
Truthfully I can't remember the last time, in a long time, where I have just sat in my chair and suddenly drifted off into my own little world, you see, the therapy I am undergoing for
PTSD is very quite intrusive and hasn't allowed me to find peace inside myself for nearly a whole year now. The therapy makes me feel so spaced out and at times, numb and detached. I can quite easily just gawp blankly at the wall, no thoughts, no feeling, just zilch. That was until yesterday. Yesterday was totally different. A whole half hour just disappeared, I was fully aware of what was happening, and this time I wasn't just staring at the wall - I was daydreaming. I was daydreaming about putting together a Happy Box, a box that I will fill with objects and treasures that make me joyful when I'm down. A box full of my secrets and wishes. Well, in reality, I wasn't dreaming about the box itself, I was dreaming about what makes me happy. What do I find comfort in? What sight, sound, smell makes me happy? And anyone who has suffered from
PTSD will know the last sentence is crippling and downright terrifying, to say the least. These three senses can cause nightmares, flashbacks and quite a likely foreboding if the trauma is left untreated.
So where did my daydreaming take me? What makes me happy? Where do I start? My first daydream ( in no particular order) I have a fondness for:
-The feeling of t-shirt material between my hands, although it has to be cold.
-The feeling of velvet, the way the pile moves under my fingers
-Freshly laundered bedsheets, (this peeves my O/H off, as I always manage to jump into bed before him) so I gain all the newness to myself.
-The softness of my dog's ears.
-Frozen soil, crunching under my feet
-Scuffing my feet through fallen leaves.
-Period dramas such as Pride and Prejudice, Bleak House, Tess of the D'ubervilles and Emma.
-Michael Nyman's soundtrack for The piano
-Gattaca soundtrack
-The innocence and naivety of the character Amelie in the film of the same name
-The Flumps, Bagpuss, Bod, Timmy Time and Button Moon
-The smell of warm bread
-Falafel
-The smell of coconut, chocolate and vanilla
-The sun on my face
-Wading into the sea
-My dog sleeping and snoring at my feet
-Red gerberas
There is additional dreaming, but I won't bore you with a huge list.
While daydreaming, I may have also had a smile on my face, which freaked Paul out and lead him to ask what I was doing. I couldn't even reply as I was still lost in my own little world- Squirrel world ; D
Anyway, enough daydreaming. I have been a very busy squirrel, spring is here, and I'm out of hibernation and been squirrelling away (sorry). I've been getting to grips with loads and loads of knitting, I've been very occupied, in truth no housework or spring cleaning has taken place for the past few days, and I was doing so well on the cleaning front too, what a shame..... Not lol!
Another adorable baby pattern:
Tiramisu Baby Blanket by Alicia Paulson. Crocheted blanket with an easy repeat pattern. Decided to use ricrac to weave around the blanket border. Used ribbon for the bow which was secured in place with a teddy bear button.
Waistcoat from Sirdar Early Knits booklet. Yarn used Regia Extra Twist Merino in Greens, button band and arm edging- yarn is Regia Extra Merino Twist in Chocolate.
Baby Mittens used Sirdar Calico in Turquoise the booties behind are
Chausson's Mignons in Sirdar Calico Turquoise colour wave.
Makes a very beautiful baby set.
The pattern is
Dear Wee Baby Singlet by Justine Turner knitted in Regia sock yarn by Design wave by Kaffe Fassett.
Improvised design, faces are from
Monkey by Mary Ann Stephens on a basic roll brim baby hat.
Both items knitted in Sirdar Calico Cream and Dark Blue.
Baby Sweater Vest by Bley Hack knit in Sirdar Calico Turquoise and topped with Teddy Bear buttons.
Enchanted Wrist Purse by Michelle Heaney.
I'm loving this, and if Paul ever asked me to marry him (wishful thinking) I would make this to accessorise my outfit for the big day
On the iPod this week
And
Also listening to Cosmic Dancer by Marc Bolan & T-Rex
And
Other activities on my agenda that is other than sitting on my behind knitting. Decorating the living room. Paul would like the main feature wall this colour:
Dulux Red Currant
And my colour choice is this:
Dulux Blue Babe
I do like red- it's my favourite colour. However, I do think it is a touch overbearing, loud and angry for our living room. While the blue is calming, in fashion and will go with the sofa (cream cord) and curtains (rich cream) - think I may need a better argument lol. I wonder if I will win the war of the living room! I've never seen an angry Squirrel before. Have you? Wonder if they're any good at fighting mmmm! Only one way to find out I suppose. Lol!
Paul "the blue will look too cold" my reply "well stick a jumper on then" Squirrel 1, Paul 0. Lol!
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My poor mum, not once did she tell us to grow up or behave. She was truly mortified by our
