Friday, February 5

A Self-Portrait............

Ya gotta have a sense of humor in this particular winter. Such was the case for me this past Tuesday. Lulled by the sun and also by the need to get some exercise, I decided to shovel the couple of inches of snow that had fallen the night before. I was bundled up and actually enjoying myself as the temperature was nearly 20 degrees above zero!! As I was shoveling, my neighbor, Jerry, pulled into his driveway and asked if I was having fun. I answered truthfully, "yes, actually I am because the sun is shining and I need the exercise!" It felt really good. I went back and forth pushing the fluffy layer of snow off to the side of the driveway. I figured I'd shovel most of the driveway and let my husband finish the rest when he got home. I was all finished and headed into the house when I decided to make a couple of "last swishes" along the edge of the driveway. So I stepped forward and there under the fluffy snow was a mound of ice that had been dripping from the edge of the garage roof and I did not know it was there. I went down on my left knee......ouch.......and the right.....again ouch........and as I started to reach out and break my fall with my hands............memories of another fall reminded me not to do that. I relaxed and fell "face first into the snow". I laughed. Really I did. Then I was mad at myself because I should have been more careful. I got up and finished the "couple of swishes" and then went inside. I grabbed some lunch and then I drew a quick "self-portrait" because no papparazzi are waiting around the corner to film my every move. However, my fall was so funny that I thought you should get a laugh out of it, too, because the snow that is hitting most parts of the U.S. and abroad is driving some of us crazy. With a little bit of humor it can be tolerable. So here is my self portrait of my expert dive into the snow............
For those who wish to know the technique that I used to create this masterpiece (I'm being silly here but remember I am trying to look at this with humor).....it was done with a number 2 pencil then traced in ink so I could color it with my Prang crayons. I didn't have time to color it until tonight so I did it while I was watching Robin Hood and his merry men starring Errol Flynn. Notice that I captured my gray hair and my plaid scarf that kept my ears warm. My thick black gloves kept my hands warm as they slid through the snow and my heavy-weight red wool coat provided ample cushion as I slid to the ground as if I was heading for homeplate. I even captured the tread on my tennis shoes that were totally worthless when it came to the challenge of gripping on ice. My wounds were small......I have a black and blue spot on each knee but other than that, I am fine. (Some have wondered and "no, my face never hit the snow", although I don't know how I avoided that.) It was kinda fun to send an e-mail to my husband that said........"help, I've fallen and I can't get up". You see I fell a few years ago and broke my wrist and that's a whole other story that I keep saying I'll share but I never get to. Someday, I'll share.
Anyway, all kidding aside, my fall was funny and it would have made a great shot on one of those video programs but no one was around to see it. What it did for me though, was remind me that in an instant a person can be okay and the next thing you know ......... you have an accident and life changes. So, here's some advice, especially meant for those of us challenged by the snow.........
....walk carefully - ice isn't the only slippery surface, though, you could slip on a banana peel!
....drive defensively, look out for the other guy, don't talk on your cell phone and don't text, etc. etc. etc.
....if you are safe at home, stay there, the snow will melt and the sun will come out tomorrow. Annie says so. :-)
Time to turn out the lights. Goodnight all, sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite. Just had to close with that. My dad would have loved the "face in the snow" story and picture. :-)
Sandi

P.S. Photos of some dyeing I did last weekend of wooly fabrics are coming up in my next post. :-)

14 comments:

antique quilter said...

sorry you fell, cute story though and LOVE the picture.
hope your not sore today from the shoveling and/or the fall, take it easy
Kathie
would love to see you make this picture into a small wallhanging :)

Barb said...

I am glad it only ended in a couple of brusies....now my question to you is....I have fallen several times and kinda ended up with sprang wrist....so if you fall on your face, wouldn't that be worse? I need to know because I fall alot.....expecially here on this island when we go walking on the lava by the ocean or in the slippery mountains.

Christine said...

Nice self portrait!! :) It really amazing how in an instant things can change. I'm a physical therapist and after every big snow, we have a flurry of new evaluations. We're supposed to get a big one this weekend- I hope not!! Christine

Joanne Lendaro said...

I am so glad you were NOT hurt!! Geez!! I have to admitt that your story did make me chuckle, and the self portrait is hilarious! Whew...hope you aren't feeling any side effects today.

Sarah Vanderburgh said...

Glad you are okay from your fall. I must admit, as a Northern Ontario gal, I'm missing the snow this year! Last year we couldn't see across the street from the front window because the snowbanks were so high! This year it looks like the snow flew south:) Stay warm. I had to chuckle - the thought of tennis shoes - and a scarf on your EARS!!! Use what you have and make up the rest:)Thanks for sharing your self portrait with us.

Pat said...

FUNNY self-portrait since I know all ended well. I got a broken wrist from "breaking" my fall when I was a child. It's hard to just LET yourself fall, though, but it's best that you did. We are trihng to get ready for the blizzard that will soon be upon our area.

Jocelyn said...

Sandi, so glad that you can keep a humorous prospective. A fall is not fun, and can really set one back (as I am sure you know). Be careful out there ;-)

Laura said...

Sorry to hear that you fell Sandi, but I love your self portrait. Be careful and take care.

Lisa @ Life with 4! said...

i'm glad you didn't get too hurt. cute little drawing!

I love the new header photo. and the story about your family to go with it is so sweet.

Crispy said...

I'm so happy you weren't hurt. Doesn't it make you feel like a total goof to fall? That hidden ice is scary, though I've been known to slip on ice I know is there. Living in snow country isn't for wimps LOL.

Crispy

Owl Lady said...

I am glad that you weren't seriously hurt. As a klutz with osteoporosis, I have had to learn that habit of not trying to catch myself with my arms, and it is hard to make the change.
I got a chuckle from your drawing since your injuries weren't serious.
Did you think about making snow angels?

Judy C said...

thanks for the chuckle, glad you didn't get to banged up.
I can't wait to see your dyed wool, I was wondering how to do that is the a tutorial somewhere?
can you share how you do this?

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

I'm so glad you did not get hurt when you fell Sandi! Only you could make a cheerful post out of this incident!

Unknown said...

I JUST LOVE THIS:) i love that you inspire me and we have never even met!!:) thanks !!! you will never know how you encourage me!

"Peace can be found in the piecing of a quilt."
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