Preemie-cause it's one day early!

I'm one day early with my latest goal! The pink/white is my oldest project and I'd given myself a goal of finishing by end of month. I finished this morning. This project spans four years at least. Sadly it wasn't until the last pink band was up for stitching that I realized I had more than one flavor of pink. I used stash materials as part if my "no purchases in 2017" goal. We'll just call it strawberry swirls!

I finished the variegated colored prayer shawl as part of the finish it or donate it mission. The materials had been given to me several years ago but I didn't like the partial project pattern that came with it so I went with a favored pattern and planned to out it in the closet for a "who knows when" time.  It and the brown suede one found a home unexpectedly.

The handbag was just for fun. I'm working on a clutch size. Not sure what I will do with those.

This was the month in review. What fun!

Uplift

So the recipient of my first two finished projects sent a pic of them in use. Way cool. Evidently newborns like my work, too!  Grandma of said newborn is interested in getting one too. So I may have a project with an actual home in my future. Way cool! Did I say that already?

Spoke with a vet today at the clinic. Can't discuss history like Blueman can but I managed to chat further after Blueman scooted to his appointment. One more toe stepped outside my comfort zone. Woot!

Finished a good book by Anne Bishop tonight. Good news as library trek is tomorrow. Nearly done with my oldest UFO. If it weren't nearing the midnight hour I'd finish it but alas, the beauty sleep beckons. Not that I'm not already fabulous, but enough sleep usually stops me from ripping the humans in half should they cross my path unfortunately.

Blast from a recent past

So today I received a random text from a former coworker (who had moved on to work for a competitor). She wanted to know if she could give my contact info to her department head. I proffered up said info and that was that. Now comes the waiting. What do they want? To offer a job? To dig for info? Curiouser and curiouser. I'm content to wait until he calls or emails but man oh man it's driving Blueman to distraction. I'm not dependent upon them to offer me employment, I have no valuable information to share so for me... It's just a curiosity more than a nail biting stress fest.  Wow, look at me being all patient and stuff!

I'm doubling down and working to finish my oldest UFO. I'm convinced I can finish it by month end. Fingers crossed!

What do you think of me?

perception is a funny thing. Defined as the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses, I know that no two people will necessarily reach the same conclusion even if they were in the same position at the same time.

I'm nearly always taken aback by what people think of me.  "Funny" - I get that. I'm a bit of a hoot.  Today I was told that I'm such a positive person. Really?
I read that I was considered brave. Huh.

I guess it's good that not everyone can see inside your mind or know what you think at any given time. I wonder if what I present to the world is authentic. Perhaps I am a positive person. Maybe I have a brave soul. Isn't being brave just feeling scared but doing it anyway? Self deprecating humor can make folks laugh and has helped me to fit in so perhaps that's a positive trait.

All I know for certain is that what you see is what you get. I'm just me. Crocheting, knitting, sewing, reading, singing, softhearted woman.  Lover of books, furry children and other assorted human families and blessed to be Bluemans lady.

One good turn and all like that

I took a chance and followed my heart and it was met with the precise result I had hoped for. Sometimes it pays to take a step forward in faith. I fully understand that not all overtures will be met with the same level of approval, but this feeling will surely tide me over for some time to come.

Insomnia you are a cruel so and so

I guess technically fighting sleep and then waking up choking two hours later is not insomnia.
Sitting in the chair wondering what the flip flop just happened and afraid to sleep was not insomnia.
Fighting to maintain ownership of your own lap from the furry children while not getting to sleep is not insomnia.
But the after effects are the same. Draggy, cranky, overwhelmed by tye small stuff.
Only basic tasks got taken care of today and for once, that's okay.
For in this new chapter of life, self forgiveness is the key to a happy life.

Survival

Whirlwind cleaning days
Mil and Fil came to visit
For a three hour tour

The upside of the visit is that we cleaned nicely beforehand so afterwards we're left with a clean house. Still, it was a short visit and we were all on our best behavior. I managed to feed my growing addiction to hallmark movies before and after so that's good, too. The afghan is within three to four rows of being done and two prayer shawls are ready to go to deserving parents.

I guess today was more than just survival after all!

1 good deed = 1 punishment ?

Happy all things green.

Today started out well enough but a distressing thing happened whilst taken my treadmill walk.  I shall set the scene a bit for contextual authenticity. Last week a senior had run into the glass door at which time her sunglasses gave her left eye a one two punch that left her with a nice shiner. She was there today. Fast forward to me beginning my treadmill experience.  Once I'm set up, I like to nose around while I walk. See who is there, how much faster than I am they are, as well as glancing at the TVs.

Up walks a little old lady. Her headphones are nearly bigger than her little head. She takes off on the treadmill at quite a higher speed than me. I'm 2x her weight so I quickly cut myself some slack. She trots along gaining my admiration with each minute. I mean she looks like a walk to the mailbox will wipe her out but no!

That's when it happened.  In my nosiness, I see that her shoe string is untied. I can't take it. What if she trips, takes a header and gets seriously hurt?  On the floor it would be awful, on the treadmill at her age, could be deadly.  I considered many scenarios. Tell the counter clerk who looks to be around 16 and has no command. Two women finished their workout and I considered flagging them down to gently inform the old lady. Then I was concerned that the ladies might not speak English. Finally, because I couldn't bear it any more, I paused my machine, trotted over to her and climbed up in the treadmill beside her. I got her attention and told her. She shortly acknowledged me and went back to her walk.

I climbed aboard and reinstated my workout.  Grandma Moses continued on with her workout. Finally she stopped and left. Seven minutes later she returned and climbed aboard another treadmill for another five minutes. I will not lie. I stewed. I didn't expect gushing thanks for saving a life, but gee a little less "drop dead" look would have not been out of place.

I focus on the direction my heart led me to. I cannot control others response to me but I 'stepped' out of my comfort zone and that's the real prize.

Unexpected gifts and finished WIPs

An old friend told me she had some yarn for me. I expected a few partial skeins of random colors. She added another friend had given her some yarn to give to me. I expected maybe a target sack or two. After church she led me to the backseat of her car. Three bags slightly bigger than target bags were handed over. Then two 13 gallon trash bags full also. The haul filled my dining table twice. Very little is less than half a skein, some brand new skeins. I estimate the value to be over $200. Just eyeballing the lot, I'm guessing I could get 10 prayer shawls, 6-8 afghans or 4-5 full size blankets out of this lot. The possibilities are numerous. It's like Christmas and birthday goodness rolled into one pile of woven loveliness.

Luckily, tonight I have finished my second prayer shawl for this month. I should be able to finish the afghan I've been lugging to various doctor appointments for the last six weeks by the end of the month as well. In yarn works, I have only two or three left to complete. The afghan is over four years in process, the balance less old but it quite nice to complete things. More so since I've added trips to the gym amongst all the other outings.

I may work in some sewing too. I haven't forgotten about all the beautiful fabric with its own possibilities. Sew many crafts, sew little time!

a few scary truths

So it's been 1.5 months in my new lifestyle. I've read more books, taken more naps, run more errands and crafted more than ever. I've created a sort of routine and am planning more consistent activities. It's been a struggle to adjust. I think the biggest surprise is the guilt I feel for not working outside the house. Well that and this overwhelming hatred of housework. I can put things away, I can organize. But then it comes to the lets-get-the-mop time and suddenly anything is more important. I'd be more apt to tattoo myself with a vegetable skewer and beet juice extract than clean the oven. Okay probably not really but it was a good way to underscore the point that I believe housework is an evil curse. It would be nice to have just a dusting of that "everything must sparkle or I cannot sleep" gene. Not so much that I need medication, but just maybe a freckle or two.

Ah well. Maybe tomorrow will be the day that my counters will gleam and my floors will look like new! Or maybe my vegetable juice tramp stamp idea will become a reality.

Ostriches, pigs and calico horses

On the spur of the moment we decided to go to the annual Ostrich festival. It boasts pig races, ostrich races, games, snakes, rides, overpriced food as well as featured performers like high divers, dancers, musicians, trampoline acrobats (there may be a more specific name for the last)

In our wanderings we did not get to see the ostriches as they were too far back and it was hot out and we were a bit lazy.
We did not see any pigs as the crowd was three to four people deep.
We did see three spotted horses and neither of us citified folk could come up with the type. Blueman offered Palimino at the same time I mentioned the word Calico. This caused Blueman to laugh which lets face it, is my favorite thing to do. Even after we were told the word we were looking for was pinto, I still like calico better!

Blueman got some love from the VFW group and even strangers who thanked him for his service.

The major downside was in line for tickets and right after. Young pubescent girls in shorts showing their complete disregard for respect of their bodies as well as public decency. I know I'm aging and becoming more a fuddy-duddy each year, but I don't believe showing your bare backside is necessary. I mean, it would hurt like heck if they ever tried to ride one of those calico horses!

Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmygosh

Sticking true to "the finishing of WIPs and purchasing no new supplies" hit a snag today.  I was trucking along and quickly realized I was going to run short. What's a poor crochet maven to do? Give in and try to purchase a matching little bit or put it aside again to either finish in 2018 or rework the whole project which is nearly 2/3 complete?

I put it aside for a few hours and went to clean another mess I'd made on the guest room bed when doing my original project sorting task. I had two good sized balls of leftover yarn and was searching for the ball bin.  While looking for THAT, I happened upon some unchecked bins, one of which was the general white bin (so named because of all the miscellaneous white yarn that had been donated to me over the years).  Voila, ta da, etc and there is some yarn hidden in there that just might work for the afore mentioned work-in-process. The utterly sad part is how excited I was.

I won't tell you that I unearthed my next UFO while wandering through my stash either nor how excited that made me. That might seem just a little too sad. 😉

omg, qayg, and other things I've learned

My education keeps growing these days. Acronyms abound -twa's are everywhere!

One I found that I like is the omg. One monthly goal, that is. So my main goal for this year is that I will buy no new craft things (donations welcome though) and I will complete some ufo's - unfinished objects.. So in the spirit of that, I logged my progress for this first week of the month.

One washcloth whose seam disintegrated so I sewed that.
One small handbag knitted and lined with a strap that is long enough to cross the chest.
Or prayer shawl crocheted from this big yarn that looks and feels like sued. Note: the shawl was completed this week, not started and completed.

Transported with Tom

yesterday was a take a moment day. I had no big plans. I happened to come upon a Jesse Stone movie, the character portrayed by the gorgeous hunk of man name of Tom Selleck. Even as crusty damaged Jesse, Tom is someone women probably still sigh over.  I know I did a time or two and after a 10 or twelve hour marathon, I'm still not over it.

The boxes he checks off are tall. I do appreciate a tall man.  It's one of the first things that drew me to my own Blueman
He's more than competent in his field both in this character and in real life (presumably)
This character is tortured, stubborn and temperamental which pulls at that part of some of us that stands up and yells, "come here and I will fix you, help you, make you forget your troubles if only you flash that dimple at me"
Oh wait, maybe that's just me.

Still and all, an enjoyable day with sewing/knitting thrown in,
Niiiiice!

Unexpected silver lining

So, I've been beating myself up about the yard. Think weed. Times 200. In a space one child would find confining. I have been feeling all sorts of negative emotions over my complete and utter lack of desire to do yard work. I have the time to do it. I just don't have the inclination. None. Zero. Zip.

Today we finally took that step to get this insidious sub shrub monkey off my back.  We called for a quote for a professional clean up and imagine my surprise when I was told that I'd been doing my weed removal incorrectly. I thought I just needed to work harder but it turns out I was making the situation worse. Who knew?  I've never been more pleased to have a failed job taken from me!

Alongside this was the news that one of my dying piles is actually rosemary. I already had sage. I just need to get some parsley and thyme to complete the quartet.

I got my ash to church

Ash Wednesday. Blessed palms from last year burned for ashes for this Holy season.  Also a time of fasting and repentance.

While reading about today's holiday and considering implications, I wondered what it would be like if we were to do something similar. What if we took last year's issues, bad memories and sadness, wrote them down and burned them to ash? Refocus the question. Could we even remember last year's hurt feelings that we caused? Are we feeling the lingering pain of betrayal as we in the role of betrayer?

I like opportunities to review myself and my behaviors even though it's not always enjoyable.
I am still a work in progress. I hope to always be, for that means I will not have given up.

Blessed Ash Wednesday to all believers.