I am free

Hi all 5 of you out there.  :>)  The post title is a great one for me.  I am no longer working 50 hours a week.  You will never know how relieved I am to say that.  I have been off for a month now and it seems like a few days.  I have been catching up on sleep and resting as much as I can.

I am not fully retired, but am looking for either a part time job or full time (which now seems like part time after working so many hours for a year and a half).  That will help me do some reno work around the house.

I was able to order a great shed and the man and I got it all built and still like each other.  That's a real accomplishment.  ha!  Pictures soon.

I have been doing a little of the following:  reading, spinning, knitting, applique, gardening, organizing, etc.  Cool huh?  I am thrilled.  The first two weeks were so frustrating.  First off, I didn't know what to do with so much time.  I would get up early and do a few things and then crash.  I do still take naps when I want to or when I really can't keep my eyes open.  I am sleeping in until 8am or so every day now and staying up way until 10 or so.  It feels so decadent.

My front yard looks pretty darn good if I say so myself.  Last summer I was lucky to get the lawns mowed.  Now, I am finding actual plants in my garden beds and enjoying all that again.  I still haven't gotten my veg garden redone yet, but by fall it will be done and all ready for spring next year.  That is so exciting!

I will take lots of pictures and post.  It's so nice to be back here.
J

pictures! wahoo

 This is a new sweater started.  Similar color to the Tapestry sweater.  I doubt if I have even talked about these projects on this blog, but have blabbed about them on Ravelry.  This is another rust colored sweater a bit deeper in color than the Tapestry sweater.  This is a Drops pattern 134-55.  Sometimes they name their patterns but not this one.  This is an interesting pattern to knit.  This is the top back piece.  Then the next part is to knit each side that starts middle back and goes around the back piece and to the front and up the front. It will be fun.  The next part is the second back/side/front and then the sleeves.  This is bigger yarn and is faster to knit.  Oh, yeah, Birdie managed to stick her foot into the picture and I didn't even know she was doing that.  See how she points to the fabulous knitting.

Here is the Tapestry sweater.  It's really slow going but a beautiful pattern.  I am almost to the waist.  It's a longer sweater.

That's it for knitting for now.  Now for quilting projects.  We (my applique group that I have been a member of for over 10 years) are working on "Welcome to the North Pole" another Piece'o'Cake pattern from way back when I joined the group.  Then we moved on to other projects and most of us never finished this one.  It's way cute and we are doing it 25% bigger than in the book.  I will embellish the quilt after it's quilted.  There will be all kinds of stuff on this quilt, sequins, beads, braid, buttons, and maybe glitter and fancy paints.

I have gotten some glitter onto this block already and had most of it done years ago.

This block is the next block that I finished.  Way back then, when I had only ever done a small amount of applique, this project scared me to death.  Lots of tiny, tiny pieces to be sewn.  I don't use fusible webbing very often and try not to.  So, I am learning and growing!

Is this not cute?  I don't have the little signs on the different buildings yet, but this one is the Royal Toy Works, the Candy Cane Factory and the Hats & Mittens Shoppe.

The Reindeer Barn.  Talk about tiny pieces.  omg  There is a little N on one of the front feet of the Reindeer on the weather vane.  Finished size of that N is about 3/8" x 3/8"

This is the home of Mr. and Mrs. Claus.  While reorganizing my fabric stash and UFO's I found a whole box of Christmas fabric.  I love this plaid with the gold threads running through it.  I love the pattern and it's wonky windows.  So fun.

This is the Japanese/denim quilt that I finally was able to finish (thanks to friend Malinda the machine quilter).  This was a wedding present for my Nephew and his new Wife.  So, they have been married for 4 or 5 years now, but better late than never.  The Japanese fabrics are really beautiful.  Stamp printed with Indigo in wonderful organic prints.  I couldn't resist naming the quilt "I'm Turning Japanese".  Heh, heh.  It's a big quilt and is meant to be that quilt that's used constantly for years and years and years.

I am thinking now of other stuff to show and tell.  But, will take more pictures and so you need to check back later.  :>)
J

What?

Seems like I have titled more than one post with that title.  I have taken pictures.  Yesiree.  But, they are at home in the camera.  I will get my act together one of these days.

I have been out in the garden moving railroad ties.  And despite them being riddled with ant colonies, they are HEAVY.  I have learned not to use railroad ties for gardens.  The creosote even when very old, will stop anything from growing.  I am redoing my vegetable beds back to flat garden that I can make natural raised beds by shovel and rake.  This makes them movable and I can compost grass clippings, newspapers, etc. on the walkways.  Easier for me, good for the garden.

I ordered seeds from Park.  They have a big sale on right now Website  I used to order from Burpee's a long time ago, but they are EXPENSIVE.  sheesh.  Last year I joined a CSA but they have now overpriced what I got last year.  How much Swiss Chard, Patty Pan squash and Eggplants can one possibly eat?  Me?  Not very many.  The fresh greens were excellent though.

I attended the Helper Spring Retreat this year.  It was so very nice to have Michelle and Al take care of us.  Amazing food as always.  I spun all weekend (3 plus days).  I am almost done with the purple thrums.  yay  Something yummy will follow.  I have lots to choose from. 

Still working 10 hours of overtime a week.  Things are stressful as the project is behind and over budget.  And the project is in process of being turned over to the client.  Did I say stressful?  yah.  I don't know how long I will be here.  Am hoping for not long.  Ready to move along.

Update on the kitty.  Her toe surgery was an adventure.  She was not amused.  But, she is running around like a kitten again.  The toe had to be cut open to remove the rogue toenail.  She endured a "cast" of white tape and then a very modern sticky colored tape of emerald green.  She could walk on it soon after surgery so I am hoping it was healing pain and not pre-surgery pain.  The vet did an amazing job. 

J