A down day

it was bound to happen. 10 days into this new chapter of life and I'm struggling. I'm just....struggling. Work is not fun. I'm bored. I feel like I'm back in my old spot at a competitor where I'm not challenged and I'm not happy. I'm frustrated with myself because I feel like this is just a state of mind and if I just try, I can 'get over' this blue feeling.

Tomorrow will be better. 

Surprise it's a bike.

So a few weeks ago I saw in my neighborhood, two yellow bikes just sitting in the playground area. Then I saw one near a corner. Then another one. They are everywhere. I've only seen a few people riding them so I'm not sure if they are getting ridden or if they are being moved by brownies and sprites.

I watch the news and if they announced a bike sharing thing, I missed the story.

Near the mailboxes...

At the maternal unit's apartment complex

From the drive thru at Sonic....

Happy biking! Now if they start leaving Cadillacs at my curb, I might try a quick drive!

Books. Books. Um yeah, books.

so after the bookcase switcheroo, I realized I had books all over the house. I had those I bought at the book sale for my mom, some of which I might read. I had some impulse buys, etc. so I decided to pool the books in one place, sort out the keeps, the give aways and the maybes.

The total pile.

The keep 'for sure' pile

The give away pile.

The maybe pile. Now I like to read but....this is more than a weekend project! 

I went to the mail after this sort and there was another book I had ordered long before the massive sort. How embarrassing!  But! It's not hoarding if it's books, is it?

Thrift store fun

so just for some fun, a friend and I decided to roam around goodwill. The workers aren't quite as friendly as St Vincent de Paul workers but it's still interesting. I was on the hunt for some plastic bowls to use for cat food dishes. We found only one at first with Chinese type style on the side.  We went to a second store and low and behold, there were two more! How funny. While looking around there we saw some dog leashes hanging on a hook. Behind them on the same hook, a set of Christmas cards.  Later, we saw some something hanging in the dish section. I can't remember what, but there was a padded bra dangling in front!

We spent some time in the book section until the need to alphabetize something nearly overwhelmed me.  I just love to see what is donated. It's a hoot!

Speaking of a hoot, what is this? The tag says miscellaneous!  Truth in advertising!

And do I spy with my little eye a quilt square?

I think so!

PLVD part two

so we went to a huge antique mall yesterday. If you want wooden rolling pins or baking dishes from the 70's, this place is for you!  An hour was spent but Blueman found his treasure in the first row!

It's a combination barometer thermometer that drew Bluemans fancy,

Blueman was bummed that I didn't find anything I couldn't live without.  We then went to St Vincent de Paul thrift store. I love this store. It's where I found my craft table for half off. Yesterday I found a bookcase and Blueman found a fan. Mine was 40% off and his 50% off. So I set down a twenty for both items.

No marks or dings. Turns out this little beauty was originally from ikea and retails for 69$. I spent 15! Mama loves a good deal!  

This is the second bookcase I have purchased from this thrift store. The first was a two shelf maple one with a beautiful curved edge. Love, love, love the store and the people are soooo nice.

The day ended with an hour long nap and some light housework. Perfectly lovely! I expect more of the same for today!  Happy Saturday!

A perfectly lovely vacation day part one

today started with a trimming of my hair by Blueman. It had been long overdue and I'm always amazed by what happens after. My hair shrinks up from the weight loss, and it always feels thicker immediately. Then you comb it and the comb stops shorter! Of course I captured the moment...well the cast off anyway.

About 8-10 inches of length gone.

Then we went to a salad buffet for lunch after shopping (finds shown tomorrow).  These cute planters were out front to greet us.  Today was a day for fun pictures!

Carrot and cherry tomato! Way cute!

Celery or zucchini? And of course a strawberry.

If you're gonna eat healthy, it's nice to have fun doing it!

Nipple cars

yes, I said nipple cars.  They are all over my town and I think they must congregate near my work because every morning at least one gets in front of me.  I thought at first they were mapping the town for google maps. Then folks said they were testing self driving cars. I have no idea what they are but I know they are annoying. They start out from a stop at a left turn lane very slow. Sometimes, not consistently, they do one or more of the following:  leave two car lengths between them and the car ahead of them, tap the break multiple times if you get less than two car lengths behind them, and/or speed up / slow down on a whim.

I call them nipple cars because of their look. I'm sure you could choose something a little less obnoxious. I feel obnoxiously rude when my driving experience is corrupted by these awful road annoyances.

The bane of my morning drive.  Notice nipple like appendage on top.

Maybe it's helping

im tracking my food. More than just tracking it from the fork to my mouth. I'm tracking calories and carbs. Nice little tracker app on my phone. Supposedly I had some calories left over and if I keep that up, I could lose ten pounds in five weeks. I have the potential for more but I'm trying the slow and steady thing. I'm tired of buying new clothes because my current ones don't fit.

Yesterday I felt positive. That could be because I have a vacation day coming up causing a four day weekend.
This morning I got up early and started housework and laundry. That could be due to the fact that the cleaning girl comes today and I hate the fact that she sees our house at its worst.

But. It could be because I'm trying to drink more water. It might help that I've eaten more vegetables. The answer may also be found in the fact that I'm finally taking control of my health and resolving to make a change.

It's early days. If it takes 30days to make a change a routine, I've still got 28 more to go.

I liked that this was calling me a superstar. But then I read the fine print!  (And this was embibed BEFORE the new eating regime!)

Creativity and choices

I made a comment today about a memory I had from high school. My guidance counselor wouldn't let me take an art class because I had heretofore not shown an interest or ability in art and as there were only so many spots, I wasn't allowed in.

I think I'm creative. I love yarn, fiber, fabric and designing things that use these mediums. So what might I have become if I had tried an art class?  Maybe I would have parlayed that into something else? Perhaps I'd have been inspired to a technical job like graphic art.  Who knows?  I ended up doing things I enjoy in my free time but what if my path had been different?

As adults I think it's very easy to try and mold people into what we want them to be for us. It's especially easy to do this to children because "they are too young to know what they want." But is it the right thing to do?

I've recently decided to leave my church. I like the pastor but the denomination believes that women cannot be pastors. So if I hear God say I need to serve him, according to these men, I can be a teacher. Not a deacon but a Sunday school teacher. The young girls in the church will never believe they can lead anyone to Christ except as a "helper".  I'm not a raging feminist. I also am not a non-traditional type of believer. But to discount the impact that a female can have in furthering ministry simply because she can house life within her body is ludicrous. And demeaning.  I refuse to believe God would call an ineffectual man to ministry but not see the skills of a girl or the benefits a woman could offer at the same time.

Maybe I would have hated art class. It might have been the worst memory of my high school years. But. It might have been the best.

Pics from the car

we get dust storms. The can be severe -like snow storms except it's not white out conditions.  Being as how I work on the reservation in an industrial park, a good wind can stir up dust.

With dust

Without dust just a matter of seconds later

My four year old baby rolled over to 25,000 miles on the way home.  I'm pretty sure the little papa johns delivery driver didn't appreciate my pause at a stop sign while I snapped a pic for posterity.

UFO Trois

this little beauty made of clearance yarn (one of my favorite things) was started just for my knit/crochet group. The only other project I had I did not want to carry (it was getting big and bulky)

So it only has a few hours invested in it and it's perfect for travel.

The picture doesn't do justice to the color or texture. The thick to thins are subtle as is the color variations. Very pale peachy pink. Pretty!

And it goes so nicely with my new glasses case.

Useless shot of new glasses now with *gasp* trifocals!

Does that mean I have 20/20/20/20/20/20 vision?,

UFO numero dos

This is the only project with a real deadline. Annnnnnnd, I'm behind. Of course.

Finally trimmed to an even size. I didn't realize the jelly roll would be so off. Add that to my uneven sewing and....there you have it.

Trying to layout an idea. Need to figure it out before I cut the fabric.  

Cause this it too beautiful to waste!

Gratuitous pic of square next to border fabric....

UFO number 1

Last year's birthday brought me a lovely skein of soft yarn from Blueman. It was only one skein and I had no idea what I would do with it. I sweet talked him into another one and then I bought myself a third one. It's pricey and I couldn't see making a huge project with it. I'm thinking it will be a project bag when it's finished. I want to put a liner in it. Just need to decide on the handles.

The edges curl so you don't get to see the full size. This is two skeins worth so I'll try to finish up with the last one. I really don't need another tote but totes are one of my addictions!

Upper part of the picture shows the wrapped skein.

Happy birthday to me! Nearly a year ago.

Mama's day

so, the maternal unit got her flowers a couple of days early but I was rather disappointed. Next time, I'll buy them and deliver them myself. She was happy with them, though so that's the important thing.

Then at church today we were given a gift even if we weren't actually a mama.  Would have meant more until you remembered last year's gift.

This year's free gift.

Last year's free gift!

I'm appreciative but I think it's funny!

Happy mamas day, happy step-mamas day, etc.

Final conference post

Regretfully my evening in the best hotel room I've ever stayed in was over. To make sure I never forget it (like that is possible!) I took fun pics before I had to leave for training.

All sinks and faucets were different and lovely. Let's face it, sinks aren't sexy. But these sinks and faucets were unique. So they are memorialized here!

If you dislike the idea of a sink-a-palooza, feel free to end now and go about the rest of your day.
If I've intrigued you... Welcome to my world of weird and wacky.

Half bath off the hall. I guess they wanted to make even a half bath fabulous!

Master bath, had two of these bad boys. The movable faucet was cool.

The faucet was the star of the wet bar sink. Tres chic!

Kitchen sink.

Half bath sink off the kitchen. Huge basin. 

Conference part 2

I was blessed with an unexpected surprise the evening of day 1.  There was a lot of whispering at the front desk and I was getting a bit worried that I wouldn't get the reduced rate for the conference. Well, I got the rate. I just didn't get the right room. Apparently they didn't have any more rooms so I got a room not rented often. It was the presidential suite!

I'm not going to lie, all of my small town country girlness came out and I ran squealing through each room of the 3000 square foot apartment taking pictures. It had a piano, dining table that could seat 10, a kitchen, wet bar, two living areas, two bedrooms, office, two full bathrooms, two half baths, six tv's......and a fireplace!

Office - I love the art work through the suite

There were two of these which I called game tables.

No heat just a relaxing ambience kind of thing.

Piano, and secondary seating area. The double door entry way is to the right of the piano. Sooooo beautiful!

I am blessed

I went to church with a friend today. They confirmed 18 new children today at the service previous to the one I attended. They baptized three young children at our service. The pastor spoke about houses made in Guatemala and the blessings he experienced in doing that project.

Then it happened. The senior lady acting as usher was going to sit with her friends but they didn't leave a space at the end so she decided to sit in the pew behind me. Suddenly she couldn't see the baptism so she asked the woman in the pew to move down. "I have a mountain in front of me." She told her. It was me. Five foot six me. Yes I am wider than most but a mountain?

So after considering scathing retorts and really, really wanting to partner with my inner mean girl and deliver a scathing retort, I did nothing. It would have embarrassed my friend. It would have upset me that I let this insensitive mean old lady get to me.

I am Blessed. I have people who love me inside and out.
I am BLessed because God gave me a brain to know there are insensitive people in the world.
I am BLEssed because this experience will not do last damage and perhaps the next victim would not be so lucky.
I am BLESsed because I am old enough to know that old people can be mean yet young enough to let it go.
I am BLESSed because I can choose my reaction and how I respond.
I am BLESSEd because I have ears to hear God's word and not her word.
I AM BLESSED!

Love. That's all.

Conference part 1

I was chosen to go to a two day conference. I was more nervous about finding the conference center than in attending the actual conference.  It was a beautiful venue and the food was a shock and delight. I thought the best part would be the relief from my whiny coworkers but I had such a good time, there were too many "best parts"!

Continental breakfast and ready to go!

Who doesn't like a good palm tree shot?

Taken on day one before I realized how close my room would be!

Hint of the pool -view taken from the hallway outside my room.

Accessories and ear bobs

while on our recent weekend trip, I managed to snag some cute earrings which I refer to as ear bobs. A gal I worked with years ago called them that and I'm quirky enough to continue the tradition.

One pair, not yet pictured, are starfish dangles done in gold. Since my collection includes geckos and spider ear bobs, why not add a few more?

And then I was victim of a fingernail gel sample. Apparently it's the newest craze in nail art, replacing liquid and brushes, etc.  ay yi yi.

She did my middle fingers only (it was just a sample after all.).  It's cute but I think a handful of gold glitter would be more that I can handle.