Final finish for April

Blueman conceived this idea moons ago. I nudged hard yesterday to start and today we finished.

To think this came from

This, which was

Originally just thus

Last finished project of April

the squares took no time to crochet. It's the first project out of the large donation. I gave over my squares to the maternal unit for piecing together which I won't do any more. It made her nervous and uncertain. The edging was fun because it reminded me of a tennis skirt from the 70's.

Rainbow love

 I have Frosty Blue on my needles and Good n Plenty on the hook for May completions.
For April, I had Troubled Waters, Rainbow Love and the kitty cushion.
March was Srawberry swirl
February were the Amelia's parents projects and a handbag.
So my total is 7 to date and all without purchasing any new "ingredients"
What a fun year so far. I believe I only have four more ufo's left in the stash but lots and lots of new opportunities. I can't believe there were 10 originally.

Kitty cushion

I intend to be in the craft room more so I know the boys will follow me.  We are blessed with a window seat but it's cluttered. I'd tried a couple of things but finally decided to repurpose some purr pads that hadn't been used since we moved.

Here is the official dining table pose

And here it is waiting for them to wake up from a nap to test it out!

Frustrations and fluidity

when time has no meaning, it's hard to follow a timeline. Plans are made spur of the moment wise and change precipitously. And if a task doesn't get done, well, there is always tomorrow. Sadly this means the checks on the to do list are fewer and fewer unless you have focus, motivation and determination. The days where all three of those attributes are there are also fewer and fewer.

This leads to frustration and as I don't have anywhere else to lose this, it tends to back up on those closest around me. And then I hear about it. Almost as soon as my eyes are open sometimes, I hear about it.

I think I'm still trying to find my way in this employment free zone.  If I don't zoom around all day, am I not being productive? If I read or craft, is it a waste of time?

Much like moving your geographic location doesn't change you, life isn't a sparkling shiny new place once you stop working outside the home.
I need to lose some of those preconceived notions behind me in the dust and just make my own path.

Worries and obsessions

In law invasion went well. The pre-visit routine of frantically cleaning was finished in time. For a woman who can speak her mind on anything, it amuses me when she whispers words so the menfolk can't hear. Words like ....shhhh, yeast infection. Really? You'll trash talk the president (although come on, that's just fun!) you'll spill every opinion about religion that there is, but yeast infection has to be said in an aside so as to not ruin a relationship?  Funny.

Speaking of opinions....The maternal unit sat in my chair yesterday and much like goldilocks, deemed it unacceptable.  It was a brief flash of what life will be like if/when she becomes part of our household again and feels the need to consistently share her opinion. I figure we will have to decide more about the future in the next seven months. I'll have to work on being ready for a potentially difficult decision.

Tomorrow I have an appointment to discuss my spiritual future. Feeling the gentle nudges from God lately has let me know I might need some more guidance than I can figure out on my own.
I shall pray that the meeting does not involve me yammering for an hour unable to stop.

Finished project and new home.

It's finished and this is all that is left!

 
I call this shawl "troubled waters".  While working on it, I kept thinking of a friend who had gone through a bit of a rough patch. With lighter peaceful patches in the shawl, there are also darker confusing times in our lives as well and I felt a call to reach out to my friend just to see how she was. She told me that she'd had a tough week and was glad I'd reached out to her. Well, as soon as my little "hug in a box" can reach her, she'll have a part of me to hold onto even though we are 2000 miles apart.

I realized through this process that I don't have to fear my path in life. After all, it just starts with a single stitch....er I mean step!

Sleepin babies

Lately the youngest likes to try and climb into bed with us so I dutifully clear a space for him to lay down. I spoil them, I know!
Today I just happened to be within reach of a camera.

He's pretending to sleep.

"Put the camera down, already!"

Ahh, all is well in the world.

Hermit like

I've not really gotten out for the last couple of days and I haven't really minded it. I focused on indoor tasks as well as crafting. A minor crafting kerfluffle sent me into a quick tailspin. My carefully laid plans were all askew. While this isn't poison gas kind of serious, it was nonetheless a bit of a bump in my self designated road. I had to sit and think this through. Luckily I was not alone. Two of my furry kids came to give my their support by way of a lap cuddle. One for each leg. We petted and talked and generally took my mind off my concerns. It's amazing to me how much they sense a mood. Now granted, when they want food they could really give a rats patootie about my mood. But other times... They are truly therapy animals.  They certainly make being home a little more comforting.

My kids aren't this little but I still love my middle cats head. It's soft and flat from head butting! 

Crabulous day

So last week we dutifully showed up to the maternal unit's kidney doctor appointment the requested 15 minutes early.  My crochet hook had fallen out of my bag so I sat there with no craft to work in but no problem, I can make due with my phone. Thirty minutes after her appointment I'm getting a bit annoyed to be still in the lobby.  We waited another twenty minutes before leaving. The gal at the front desk used the same excuse for everyone. "Well, he had two new patients today." As that was a good explanation for over scheduling. If new patients take twice as long, schedule them further apart. This does not appear to require a PhD or anything.

Fast forward to today. We had to go have her finger pricked to extract a drop of blood for a routine test. This requires another 40 minutes of sitting in the waiting room. Our appointment was for 9am. How can you be behind on a finger stick by an hour at nine in the morning? Walk ins are NOT welcome.

After a night of little continuous sleep, I was not a nice human being and being delayed twice in six days was pushing my limits of polite language.

Not quite this... But close....

Status of a lovely day.

two Sunday services sang -check
A delightful lunch with Blueman and the maternal unit -check
Four hours or so of knitting whilst clearing items out of dvr backlog -check!

Yesterday Blueman innocuously asked how long it takes to do an inch or so of knitting. I measure the time to do one row and guesstimated about an hour. So for the math prodigies, using that calculation, a six foot shawl will take approximately 70 some odd hours. Holy guacamole batman!

I measured and I nearly have three feet done of the project I am calling "Troubled Waters".  It doesn't show too clearly but it's like and dark colored 'waters' in aqua mix and periwinkle grey mix. The darker stripes take the majority here for two reasons. 1- I have more dark yarn than light and 2- metaphorically the darker color symbolizes to me a churning water. When seas are calm, we renew, refresh, enjoy the peace.  Too much calm begets complacency. Without a churning sea,  you don't see challenges in life. There is little to make calm seas favorable.

Wow. That's a heavy load for this comfy prayer shawl to carry. No worries though. Prayers for the recipient are stitched all the way through.

Happy Easter.

A new view

in the spirit of finishing WIPs and clearing through old projects, I pulled out a knitting project. I half heartedly did a row or two just to say I did. My last three yarn projects are not holding my attention.

Yesterday I just randomly started tucking edges on the knitting project and it looks more appealing. I knitted several times, and the project has become interesting so I'm eager to keep going.

It makes me wonder how many times in the past I have let a struggle derail me into quitting when a small adjustment might have led to success.  In a world that values problem solvers in the workplace, it's interesting to note that the same principles also work for something as simplistic as a hobby at home.

If awareness is the first step then I'm on the right path.

Recycle repurpose to hopefully reuse

My friend is retired and starting the "let's figure out what's been in this drawer for five years" program. Insert closet, box, garage, bag, etc for the word drawer. She found a set of placemats that she no longer cared to own. They were quilted and quite pretty. Below is a picture of the design.

She also knows I'm nutty about my crafts these days. As soon as I saw these I just knew they were crying to be used. A little trimming and we have a cute little tote.

Now to find someone who needs/wants a little bag.

Accountability

A few days, weeks ago I requested some guidance via my pastor about my "life's work". That's a very dramatic way of suggesting that I feel I could, should and can be doing more in my service to others but need a bit of instruction on how to accomplish this.  I've had what I can head-thinks where it felt like God tapped my head and said listen to this.  I'm quite nervous of this next step in my life because I'm stepping out in faith and will attempt to follow where He was wants me to go.  I hope we both (pastor and I ) can see a more clear path for me. I've not dealt closely with my pastor before. I'll probably cry so I'll warn him first it could happen!

I think you need to be accountable in relationships too. Blueman and I have talked about my word choices and he has agreed to draw them to my attention in a constructive way and I have agreed to accept it without snarling and drawing blood.  I think my attitude and word choice will affect the maternal unit's vocabulary as well or at least I'm hoping it will.

Yesterday I was under the impression that lunch was to be with the girls and so I left Blueman behind. Lo and behold my sister brought her cash cow to the meal. She deliberately wrote everything in singular, I'm dressing, I've got a booth... Blueman felt excluded and snubbed and now I feel like I've got to do something about this.  Either clarify the players before, confront selfish sibling, or simply reject the invitation.

Speaking of Blueman, I must say he is doing so well. We've had some great moments and not so stellar ones in healthcare recently and some have been pushing him appropriately while others are pushing buttons. He has risen to the occasion by doing what he must for the betterment of his well being. I couldn't be more pleased.

Such deep thoughts on this Palm Sunday.
This is the day that the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Date day

Had a lovely say with Blueman. A little shopping, lunch, and home again.  I'm so glad we like spending time together. We've been making some short term and longer term plans lately and it's nice. While working, I was constantly telling him no when he'd suggest things. Too tired, too busy, etc. now that I'm taking time, it's just nice.

I finished the squares for the rainbow prayer shawl.  Will drop it off to the maternal unit to put together and then I will border it.

I'm dragging my feet on the knitting project. I shall make it a priority next week. I'm not sure I can finish for April but for sure by May.

The repurposed placemats into tote is just awaiting it's straps. Will finish over the weekend.

I pulled another WIP out and will probably complete it by end of month provided I have white in the stash of yarn. I know I have the other two colors for the good n plenty colored project. I hope it's not the first project to be left incomplete because of my "no purchases in 2017" rule!

Also love to read other blogs. One mentioned saving change all year and then using that for guilt free draft purchases. How lovely!

Words that make you think

I was reading a book. There are stories that can be read quickly and those that were obviously meant to be read in small bits.
Some stories are light, read today, forgotten tomorrow.

The book I read today was Woman of God by Patterson and Paetro.  Or maybe he put his name on it to get you to pick it up, I don't know.

It wasn't bad, it read well, but there was something that felt unbelievable maybe even cliche in that just everything wrong happens to her.
She's brilliantly smart but due to a lack of affection in her childhood, she looks for acceptance in the war torn Sudan. She doesn't get raped but gets shot and nearly dies. Married and a new mother, their family dies in a freak series of events so back she goes looking for God. Married again later in the story and with another child, they change the look and rules of the Catholic Church. Then death of spouse again and another shooting.

I enjoyed the portions where she felt she clearly heard God's voice in her life. It certainly happens, but I think it was heavy handed to suggest you only hear Him during trials in your life.  I have heard him speak to me and it only requires you to be open to listening.

In the end, it was successful. I finished it and it's caused me to think about it far after it is sitting waiting to go back to the library.  Isn't that what any author wants?

Repurpose

i was given a set of placemats simply because they were a quilted design. I was told do with them as you will and so I'm making a tote out of them.  Perhaps someone could get some use out if them as placemats but I donate a heck of a lot if stuff so this I kept for myself.

I've de-trimmed them and cut to size. I need to decide if I raid the massive fabric stash for sides and bottom or hack up one placemat a la an illegal car chop shop. I think hacking is the way to go. I'll probably hand sew the pieces together because I don't want to deal with the unwieldy machine in tight corners. The edging will be previous trim and will also cover straps.  If I'm as smart as I think I should only use three mats. The fourth may find its way to mom who lives alone and doesn't mind having a solo placemat.

I said I wouldn't start a new yarn project, but I don't think I agreed to no new fabric projects. Plus, I think I can complete this in April without jeopardizing my other two projects. A girl has to have some variety!

Facial tissues and hereditary behavior

when we moved it was planned, yet still seemed to be a fast process. It was very overwhelming and based on what I threw away and donated after we arrived, a lot was unnecessary.
It quickly became a joke to see how many partial boxes of puffs facial tissues we could find. There were even partial boxes of facial tissues from hospital stays. We ended up with more partials than rooms in our previously vacated home.  Amazing!

Yesterday while going through the final four or gives boxes in the garage, I found yet another partial box. This made me laugh because puffs have been a huge part of my life. My mother has suffered from a continuous runny nose her whole life so even before she became a grandmother, she was the keeper of the tissues.  We don't call them Kleenex as that is a brand name and mom doesn't like them. Too rough. Puffs are softer and stronger and for someone who has had to carry tissues in every outfit for over 80 years, she's surely the expert.

I don't suffer from the same disorder as my mother but I've certainly picked up a lot of her traits.  Now that it's starting to become more clear that I'm her main source of support, I'm realizing how much she is a part of me, too. I keep napkins in my car, far more than I need. I enjoy creating works of art and comfort from yarn.  I'm sassy and snarky and independent just like she is. She taught me how to stretch a dollar and that "there is no shame in being poor, it's just darned unhandy." If you can't finish a meal, you eat the meat first.  Give 100% to your job but save a part of your heart for yourself for when you have to pick up the pieces. Be generous with money but don't let people drive your car.

As we face the truth of aging, (she is the last sibling alive) our roles are starting to change and I find myself wanting to know more before the info is lost.

No fooling

So I've been considering the as yet incomplete projects still staring at me. I have rainbow squares (crochet) which is 3/7 done. Troubled waters knitting which feels just started but may be longer. Knitting is slower for me because I don't practice as much!
I have the project that looks like a sports team colors at purple black and white.
I believe I also have a patriotic one project (red,white, and blue)

Sewing...I have the quilt tops I started and I think there are two. Then I have the ones my aunt did.
I have the grand babies learning map/game quilt. I have a cat blanket I've longed to make. Newborn A needs something, the granddaughters should get something so as to not feel left out. A friends daughter is getting married in the fall so I'd like to do something there.....

Rumor has it my old job may need help. Hmmm nice to be thought of but... Not sure my other work will allow room for paying job.  :-)

I will set the goal for two this month. I will also vow to not start something new until at least one is assured of completion.

Who needs work stress? I have yarn and fabric and I'm okay.