Years! It's been years since I've posted in this blog. And how fast those years have flown!
I'm employed again, and have been with this job for 5 years now. I did have another before it - 2 years at a title company. Currently I'm back in the public sector.
I still have way too many crafts going at once. Right now I have a knitted wrap that's my "take it with me" project. I have a twin quilt waiting to be bound, a lap quilt being quilted, another lap quilt that's basted and awaiting quilting, and two queen quilts that need to be basted. I need to start a baby quilt for one of E's friends who is expecting. I have a cross stitch project I haven't touched in months. But that's all! Not too bad a backlog at the moment.
I've sold a few of the smaller quilts on Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/gamblebaycrafts). I also made some book boxes/clutches and have sold a few of those. It's nice when my crafting projects pay for themselves, but I doubt I'll ever make a living with them.
DH and I have become serious about planning for retirement. He would very much like to RV around the country so we've been researching trailers to determine what would work best for us. Right now we think we've narrowed it down to a Rockwood or a Grand Design, both around 25-feet. That's small enough that we can get into most state and national campgrounds, but large enough that we won't feel like we're on top of one another every minute. Both are higher-quality than most of their competition.
Upgrading to a bigger trailer will also mean purchasing a new truck. We've got about a year left before my Escape is paid off. That will also be the timeframe in which we expect to pay off our debt (except the mortgage - that'll be a few years more). So we're working to an 8-year plan to retire.
E had to put Kitty to sleep a couple months ago, and we had to put Chloe to sleep a few weeks ago. It was hard to say "goodbye" to both of them, but they both lived very long, good lives after they came to us. We still have our cats Achmed and Taz. A has Bubbles.
I think that this catch-up is a wrap. I plan to keep up on this blog, and use it to document DH's and my exploits as we start exploring more.
TTYL!
Friday, June 28, 2019
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Cats and dogs
I may have mentioned that I am currently volunteering at the local Humane Society. E wanted to work with the cats (since she won't be allowed to walk the dogs from the main kennel until she's 18) so we've mostly been volunteering in the Cattery.
Each of us has our favorites. Johanna is one that both of us like. She's a 9yo tabby who just wants to be loved. Her previous owner moved into assisted living and couldn't take her, and you can tell she was an adored lap cat. Ellie wants to bring Callahan home. She's got this thing for Siamese cats - especially the lilac points. Her current paranoid cat is one, and Callahan could be Kitty's twin: he's just as paranoid and scared of his shadow as she is. No thanks. Maybe if I could only have one.
Zeus is another sweet cat, but he's a drooler. I give him lots of love because he needs it and he eats it up, but I end up with slobber dripping of my hands. Yuck.
When I went in today I saw that both Traveler and Moo Moo had been adopted. Hooray!
But today was a day for dogs. Today I took the Open Paws 1 class and then joined a "dream team" to work with dogs who have just begun their training. Xena, Clarabelle, Darcy, and Slate all passed their Level II tests today - they sat when asked, sat while we put leashes on them, and then waited (mostly patiently) while we opened their kennels and brought them out. Poor Slate doesn't get along with Paddle (the dog on his right) and ended up with a bloodly lip from crashing into Paddle's kennel door. But the last time I brought him out he was able to ignore Paddle long enough to go out and back in.
All the other members of my dream team were convinced that Xena would never pass Level II. Apparently she "has issues." But for me she immediately sat, and I got her to sit again once I was in her kennel which my trainer wasn't able to do. And she very nicely waited while I opened the kennel door. After that, everyone else was able to get her to do the same thing. I guess I'm starting to be able to whisper dogs, too.
Working there makes me feel good. The love I give these animals is unconditional, and so is the love they give me back. I know I can't take them home - that at best I'll help prepare them to be at their best when people come to look, and to be well behaved for whomever adopts them. And on their part, they are happy just to receive positive attention. They want so much to be loved, and I love to love them.
Each of us has our favorites. Johanna is one that both of us like. She's a 9yo tabby who just wants to be loved. Her previous owner moved into assisted living and couldn't take her, and you can tell she was an adored lap cat. Ellie wants to bring Callahan home. She's got this thing for Siamese cats - especially the lilac points. Her current paranoid cat is one, and Callahan could be Kitty's twin: he's just as paranoid and scared of his shadow as she is. No thanks. Maybe if I could only have one.
Zeus is another sweet cat, but he's a drooler. I give him lots of love because he needs it and he eats it up, but I end up with slobber dripping of my hands. Yuck.
When I went in today I saw that both Traveler and Moo Moo had been adopted. Hooray!
But today was a day for dogs. Today I took the Open Paws 1 class and then joined a "dream team" to work with dogs who have just begun their training. Xena, Clarabelle, Darcy, and Slate all passed their Level II tests today - they sat when asked, sat while we put leashes on them, and then waited (mostly patiently) while we opened their kennels and brought them out. Poor Slate doesn't get along with Paddle (the dog on his right) and ended up with a bloodly lip from crashing into Paddle's kennel door. But the last time I brought him out he was able to ignore Paddle long enough to go out and back in.
All the other members of my dream team were convinced that Xena would never pass Level II. Apparently she "has issues." But for me she immediately sat, and I got her to sit again once I was in her kennel which my trainer wasn't able to do. And she very nicely waited while I opened the kennel door. After that, everyone else was able to get her to do the same thing. I guess I'm starting to be able to whisper dogs, too.
Working there makes me feel good. The love I give these animals is unconditional, and so is the love they give me back. I know I can't take them home - that at best I'll help prepare them to be at their best when people come to look, and to be well behaved for whomever adopts them. And on their part, they are happy just to receive positive attention. They want so much to be loved, and I love to love them.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
SSDD
Compassion. Charity. Helpfulness.
These are things that most people want to be known for, but also things of which we don't want to need to be recipients. I like being able to help others, but am loath to accept (much less ask for) help. I give to charity, but not need to accept it.
My in-laws are helping pay for T's band trip. My mom paid her college deposit. My dad insisted that I continue seeing doctors to determine what's going on with my hearing - and paying the bills for those visits and tests.
I know how good it feels to be in a position to help. I remind myself of that, and graciously accept the financial assistance. But inside I'm crying and ranting and upset. I'm 45 years old - I should be able to take care of my family and myself! I have over 20 years work experience - I should be able to land a well-paying job!
My self confidence (never my strongest characteristic) is once again under siege. I question my abilities, my skills. If hiring managers don't think I can do these jobs, am I just fooling myself? I've prided myself on being able to step into a variety of roles, on being a jack-of-all-trades. Now that flexibility seems to be a liability. I've done some training. But I've never been a "Trainer." I've done some training design. But I've never had formal "Instructional Design" classes. I've written technical documentation and marketing materials. But I've never been a "Technical Writer" and I don't feel that marketing is my strong area. I've been a technical support analyst. But I don't hold any technical certifications and, having been a manager, I'm over qualified. If I'm capable of doing more than the job entails - hire me! I'll do the job and keep asking for more! And you'll find that I'm very loyal.
----
On a different topic, I did make it down into my craft room for a little while today. I stitched the binding on the ugly cat quilt I made and used as a practice quilt for free motion quilting. Achmed was intrigued by it again and is looking forward to having it to sleep on (I can tell). I also did some work on the second grey glove for T while I was on the ferry. So, that's two of the UFOs on which I am making progress. I'm restraining myself from starting another quilt - mainly because I've got a double-handful of blocks for one, and some cut pieces of a different block - and neither are what I want to work on. But I also don't want to start something else new when I have so many UFOs already.
Job, health, house, yard, crafts...I'm very restless about everything right now. I wish I could afford a vacation. Or enough fabric to make a quilt for which I've picked and purchased specifically for it.
These are things that most people want to be known for, but also things of which we don't want to need to be recipients. I like being able to help others, but am loath to accept (much less ask for) help. I give to charity, but not need to accept it.
My in-laws are helping pay for T's band trip. My mom paid her college deposit. My dad insisted that I continue seeing doctors to determine what's going on with my hearing - and paying the bills for those visits and tests.
I know how good it feels to be in a position to help. I remind myself of that, and graciously accept the financial assistance. But inside I'm crying and ranting and upset. I'm 45 years old - I should be able to take care of my family and myself! I have over 20 years work experience - I should be able to land a well-paying job!
My self confidence (never my strongest characteristic) is once again under siege. I question my abilities, my skills. If hiring managers don't think I can do these jobs, am I just fooling myself? I've prided myself on being able to step into a variety of roles, on being a jack-of-all-trades. Now that flexibility seems to be a liability. I've done some training. But I've never been a "Trainer." I've done some training design. But I've never had formal "Instructional Design" classes. I've written technical documentation and marketing materials. But I've never been a "Technical Writer" and I don't feel that marketing is my strong area. I've been a technical support analyst. But I don't hold any technical certifications and, having been a manager, I'm over qualified. If I'm capable of doing more than the job entails - hire me! I'll do the job and keep asking for more! And you'll find that I'm very loyal.
----
On a different topic, I did make it down into my craft room for a little while today. I stitched the binding on the ugly cat quilt I made and used as a practice quilt for free motion quilting. Achmed was intrigued by it again and is looking forward to having it to sleep on (I can tell). I also did some work on the second grey glove for T while I was on the ferry. So, that's two of the UFOs on which I am making progress. I'm restraining myself from starting another quilt - mainly because I've got a double-handful of blocks for one, and some cut pieces of a different block - and neither are what I want to work on. But I also don't want to start something else new when I have so many UFOs already.
Job, health, house, yard, crafts...I'm very restless about everything right now. I wish I could afford a vacation. Or enough fabric to make a quilt for which I've picked and purchased specifically for it.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Hire me already!
It's almost the end of April, which means it's almost 6 months since I was last employed. The last time I went this long without a paying job I was in high school. I have kids in high school now!
It's not like I don't have job skills. Aside from double-ledger accounting I have yet to find something I cannot do. (In my MBA accounting class - although I got an A - I never could seem to get the two sides to add up correctly.) I think part of the problem is that I'm a Jack-of-All-Trades, and master of several.
I've run technical support and customer service departments. I've created and delivered technical training. I've hired, fired, managed, and mentored. I'm a quick and thorough proofreader. I've written marketing materials and created detailed functional specifications. I can effectively multi-task and efficiently switch from one activity to another at the drop of a hat.
What do I want to do? Right now I just want to work! If I had my druthers I'd be doing student advising or life coaching. I'd be happy doing training - technical, topical, or new hire orientation would be fantastic. I enjoy learning about and documenting process, so a business analyst role would be up my alley. The only thing I really don't want to do again that I've done before is deal with unhappy customers. At this point, though, I'm again applying for customer support management positions - I just want to be employed!
It's not like there's not enough to do around the homestead. I can definitely keep myself busy here. In addition to the aforementioned crafts there are a shy 2.5 acres around me that need some serious love. In the short time we've had decent weather this year I've already cleared about 10 cubic yards of overgrown back yard. That's more than I managed the past 4 years or so, and it feels good to re-claim that space. There's a lot more of that to do, and that's the easy part of the work! If I ever get that done, I can attack the English Ivy that's trying to kill my forest, or clean up the space where the old barn came down (most of the barn was burned for firewood, but there's a lot of junk in that clearing), or I could scrub the livingroom floor (which needs it desperately), or wash windows, or de-junk the library, or.....
None of those things, however, brings in income (with the possible exception of the crafts, if I ever manage to finish and list something). We're squeaking by on UI, but without medical insurance for the girls and I. And once that runs out....
Anyone need a Jack-of-All-Trades?
It's not like I don't have job skills. Aside from double-ledger accounting I have yet to find something I cannot do. (In my MBA accounting class - although I got an A - I never could seem to get the two sides to add up correctly.) I think part of the problem is that I'm a Jack-of-All-Trades, and master of several.
I've run technical support and customer service departments. I've created and delivered technical training. I've hired, fired, managed, and mentored. I'm a quick and thorough proofreader. I've written marketing materials and created detailed functional specifications. I can effectively multi-task and efficiently switch from one activity to another at the drop of a hat.
What do I want to do? Right now I just want to work! If I had my druthers I'd be doing student advising or life coaching. I'd be happy doing training - technical, topical, or new hire orientation would be fantastic. I enjoy learning about and documenting process, so a business analyst role would be up my alley. The only thing I really don't want to do again that I've done before is deal with unhappy customers. At this point, though, I'm again applying for customer support management positions - I just want to be employed!
It's not like there's not enough to do around the homestead. I can definitely keep myself busy here. In addition to the aforementioned crafts there are a shy 2.5 acres around me that need some serious love. In the short time we've had decent weather this year I've already cleared about 10 cubic yards of overgrown back yard. That's more than I managed the past 4 years or so, and it feels good to re-claim that space. There's a lot more of that to do, and that's the easy part of the work! If I ever get that done, I can attack the English Ivy that's trying to kill my forest, or clean up the space where the old barn came down (most of the barn was burned for firewood, but there's a lot of junk in that clearing), or I could scrub the livingroom floor (which needs it desperately), or wash windows, or de-junk the library, or.....
None of those things, however, brings in income (with the possible exception of the crafts, if I ever manage to finish and list something). We're squeaking by on UI, but without medical insurance for the girls and I. And once that runs out....
Anyone need a Jack-of-All-Trades?
Monday, April 23, 2012
The Squirrel has gotten loose
A few years back I made a deal with myself. At the time I had about a bazillion UFOs (that's UnFinished Objects for the uninitiated). It was a bit out of hand. In order to get things back under control, I decided to give myself some limits. I could have no more than two projects in progress at any given time: one I worked on at home, and one that I could carry with me (mostly to work on during my ridiculously long commute). That worked great for a while. I whittled down the UFOs, then lived within my limits for, oh, at least a year. (That's pretty amazing in itself).
Things started to go sideways, though, when I had a 100 day sabbatical from a Microsoft contract (if you're a certain type of temp, Microsoft lets you work for 1 calendar year, then makes you take 100 days off to prove to you that you aren't really an employee). I figured I had limited time, so I'd just pound out a bunch of quilt tops, then complete them over time once I was working again.
That first part worked great. I made probably 15 quilt tops. A few queen size, a bunch of baby/lap quilts... I tried some new patterns and fabric combinations. Lots of fun!
The second part, though... Well, the fun part of quilting for me is the designing and piecing. Basting the things is a combination of aggravating and boring, but I don't have access to a long-arm machine so baste I must. Then I have to quilt it either by hand (I've done that a couple times - it takes for-fricken-ever!) or on my home machine. I do NOT enjoy trying to ram a queen-sized quilt through my home machine's throat at the dining room table. I've recently discovered, however, that it's the workspace that's the problem, not the quilting. You see, if I had a proper table for my sewing machine, the deck would be level with the tabletop and everything would be so much simpler. I could just.... what? Oh, sorry. There goes the squirrel again.
Anyway - I still have some of those quilt tops in a bin. I've also taken up knitting and have three pairs of fingerless gloves 98% complete - I just need to weave in the ends. If I'd done that last summer/fall when I made them I probably could have sold them on Etsy last winter. I WILL finish my nephew's cross-stitched baby quilt before he turns 5 in a few months! I think I've finished all the bead jewelry I had in progress. I need sugar before I can turn last fall's blackberry juice (currently in the freezer) into jelly. I have 3 feet by 1/4 inch of touchup to do and then the bedroom is completely painted...except for the pass-through to the kitchen that is...
It's been a long time since I've done any embroidery, though, and I have three kits waiting downstairs for me. But there's that quilt I want to get started for Jim (I really need to make a quilt for my husband since I've made one for just about everyone else in my family). And I'd like to make some gloves for the secretary at the high school who's been so great helping Ellie with her diabetes this year. Oh - but the "secret project" has to take priority over everything else, since that's on a deadline. And I've got some ideas for next year's band booster auction quilt...
Look - a squirrel!
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Quilts!
One of my favorite leisure activities is making quilts. I spend almost all my free time in my sewing room designing and sewing quilt tops. I've even gotten my daughters interested in learning this traditional craft.
I have so many quilt tops made that are waiting to be basted, quilted, and/or bound! And I can't wait to start on that next quilt top - there are so many I want to make! But I've made the time to complete a few.
Critters in the Crossroad I
Size: 42" x 49"
Critters in the Crossroads II
Size: 38"x39"
Traditional 9 Patch
Size: 36" x 37"
9-Patch Tulips
Size: 35" x 44"
Log Cabin Fever
There is no quick way to make a Log Cabin quilt. Each peice must be individually added to the block. This scrappy quilt used a significant number of different fabrics from my scrap bin, from the reds in the centers outward. But why is it that my scrap bin doesn't seem any emptier?
Size: 38" x 38"
Blue Rail Fence
Size: 43" x 51"
Celestial Music
Size: 43" x 54"
Gentleman's Fancy
This one I gave to a friend of my daughter for a fundraising auction.
I have so many quilt tops made that are waiting to be basted, quilted, and/or bound! And I can't wait to start on that next quilt top - there are so many I want to make! But I've made the time to complete a few.
Critters in the Crossroad I
Size: 42" x 49"
Critters in the Crossroads II
Size: 38"x39"
Traditional 9 Patch
Size: 36" x 37"
9-Patch Tulips
Size: 35" x 44"
Log Cabin Fever
There is no quick way to make a Log Cabin quilt. Each peice must be individually added to the block. This scrappy quilt used a significant number of different fabrics from my scrap bin, from the reds in the centers outward. But why is it that my scrap bin doesn't seem any emptier?
Size: 38" x 38"
Blue Rail Fence
Size: 43" x 51"
Celestial Music
Size: 43" x 54"
Gentleman's Fancy
This one I gave to a friend of my daughter for a fundraising auction.
 |
| While this is washed out, it's much closer to the actual colors than the other picture. |
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