The Little Everyday Things

 Hello Friendly Folk~

It is apparent that I'm not the only one struggling

to write when our world as it is seems to be in tumbles.

Over the past several weeks, I've started two different posts

but just couldn't finish them.

Blogland has been pretty quiet.

I hope people are finding home and heart.

Christmas was a new experience for so many this year.

When reflected upon,

may it be that kindness is chosen over the many alternatives.

It's been pretty quite at our home also.

We've been fortunate that we've been busy at work.

It's been a crazy, hectic, chaotic year, but we have work

and we are grateful for that.

It's only been the in past few weeks that we've been able

to have our winter evenings.

I love winter evenings~

Though, since the time change I've not slept through the night

more than a handful of nights.

(Things on my mind, I s'pose.)

So my evening activities usually end about 7:30-8PM 

when my eyes begin to water and tell me to go to bed.

We do wake about 4-4:30 so I guess that's eight hours.

I've been able to do a little stitching (finally!) and reading.

If you ever run across a copy of Della T Lutes "The Country Kitchen,"

snatch it up.  It is one of the funniest books I've read in some time.

She does share methods about the foods they prepared and ate,

but she has a knack for telling of the accounts in such a way

that has humored both Mr. LB and me.

When you laugh out loud while reading a book,

you know it's funny.

And right next to my book and glasses is a big hoop

with the quilt I'm quilting on.

This is the one on the hoop.

I told myself I had to quilt 2 quilts before I could start another. 

Did I listen to me?

Nooooo. . . 

Go ahead and roll your eyes at me.

I know.  Bad, bad, me.

I couldn't help myself.

Those Singers are like sea nymphs calling, luring me to stitch. 

I have yet to sew a whole quilt on Birdy.

I don't think you've met Birdy yet.

Here, let me introduce you.

She is a 1940 Singer Featherweight - my youngest Singer.

That's how she got her name.

Isn't she beautiful?

She was a gift from Hubby, and I love her.

(And him too by the way:-).

And go ahead and listen to that.

You can't hear anything can you?

That's one of the things I love about her.

She is soooo quiet and stitches like a dream.

I've only made a few blocks,

but I can't express how much good it did my soul.

I'm replicating a vintage pattern.

I kinda do my own thing so I have measurements like

2 1/8" x a generous 3 3/4".

It really doesn't matter as long as it's consistent.

It's just like cooking "a skosh more" or "just a smidgeon."

Heehee~

The Christmas decorations are gathered and ready to go back into the tote.

The tree will soon be out of the house.

I didn't do a ton this year.

More and more, I am finding that less really is more.

Not just in decorations, but in general.

Before Christmas, I finally went through a box of photos

from my friends who passed in '15 & '16.

I got all that I'm keeping into a very thick album,

sent some to their one living relative, those I thought she might want.

And the rest went into the burn pile.

There were lots of pictures of flowers etc. among the family pictures

so going through them took time.

I think we all have these projects.

I have a tote out in the garage that is full of photos

from when the kids were little.

Once the tree is out of the house, and I haul the Christmas tote out,

I will bring it in and begin going through them.

For some reason, I am feeling the need to get down to those things

that matter in the long run.

I still have a constant donation box though these days

it's slower to fill than it once was.

I still like to call it "editing."

I think I've mentioned that long ago when we were considering down-sizing.

I'm not sure we will ever go much smaller,

but I sure don't mind an empty shelf here or there.

And open space is refreshing.

Speaking of refreshing,

it's about that time~

A fresh new year.

Have you chosen a word of the year yet?

I've done this for several years now.

My 2020 word was "Grace."

God somehow knows what we need, doesn't He?

My word for 2021 is going to be "Flourish."

We don't know what lies ahead, 

but I hope whatever the year brings that I might find a way to flourish.

And for the new year, 

I'd like to wish every one of you a year filled to the brim with blessings.

Until next time~

Blazin' Trails - Watch Out 2020!

Whew!

After 2019, I might need a nap!

(source)

It was a year of many changes for us.

The biggest change was moving from my home of 18yrs.

Then a few months later changing my job of 6 1/2 yrs.

Then all those adjustments that go with those two moves:

where the vinegar is in this grocery store,

what cupboard the tablecloths are in,

how do I do X at work?

There are so many things in a routine that we take advantage of.

Change is difficult, Good, but difficult.

So a few things looking back before we plow forward.

There have been some challenges, to be sure.

Taking care of two homes that are an hour apart took its toll on me.

Becoming my own employer is/was a particularly difficult transition.

I wasn't sure what I was "supposed" to do as there is no job description.

It's been a good transition but difficult to wrap my brain around.

I tend to put myself in the helper role rather than the leader role.

(That's so backwards from my younger years.)

My word of the year for 2019 was Prosper.

It wasn't really for financial purposes though that was included.

For me it was about the changes we made and wanting them to be good ones.

I wanted the year to be prosperous with friends, 

 family, home, work, and goodness.

Of all of that, I would say I was better at keeping in contact with friends.

I'm generally horrible at that since I'm not on social media.

So Prosper served me well for the year but I'm ready to move on.

In addition to learning, I've had to relearn.

An example was our tomatoes.

I planted 1/2-2/3 as many plants as I usually did up the mountain

and my oh my.

We had a tomato jungle!

By season's end, I was tired of seeing them

even though my inner being loved them for the winter sustenance.

What's ahead?

This is always more fun, isn't it?

(source)

My word of the year this year is Grace.

It has multiple meanings and all in all is what I'm after.

If you do a word of the year, I'd love to hear it.

I will be taking a CAD class beginning next week. Yikes!

It was kinda funny when applying.

There were questions like:

Can your parents claim you on your insurance - haha.

How 'bout it Medicare? 

Will I have graduated high school by the beginning of the term?

I sorta remember high school-heehee

Anyways, that was a hoot!

We are designing our own home and whenever the time comes

will general it ourselves.

We have some time ;-)

It will also be a huge perk with work.

I will be able to do the detail drawings required for many jobs.

I'm very much hoping to sell the mountain house this year.

We'll work on that more towards spring,

but I'm hoping not to have to keep up with 2 yards this year.

(Prayers on that one greatly, hugely, enormously appreciated!)

Along that note, I'm looking forward to the garden this year.

Now that I have a glimmer of what gardening here is like,

maybe I can plan a little more appropriately.

Beginning January 1, I am challenging myself 

to see how long I can go with no spending.

I did this a few years back and made it to April.

I will do the envelope system for groceries

and pay our regular monthly expenses but nothing more.

I don't beat myself up if something arises that I spend.

I just start again at the beginning of the following month.

The trickiest part is being mindful of what day it is so I remember to do it.

I do keep a list of things we need or could use.

They are usually in the form of an antique so are things

that take time (sometimes years) to find.

I know if a cider press came along for the right price

sometime in February, I wouldn't think twice about breaking my challenge.

It would cost me more in the long run to wait and pay a higher price.

Bottom line is, I do what I can but don't take it to unreasonable extremes.

The other thing I'm hoping is to decrease my fabric stash.

Rather embarrassing, but I donated 3 carloads full of fabric.

Much of it had been given to me, but more and more I tell myself

"I'm not a storage unit."

At one time I made most of my clothes so had quite a bit of apparel fabric.

I enjoy quilting so primarily kept quilting fabrics - totes and totes of it!

I'm hoping to do a show or two next holiday season

which if anything sells would also generate some green stuff.

There are one or two other things I am hoping to make happen,

but I'll keep those a secret so you can be surprised.

Ain't that just like me - save the juicy stuff - heehee.

I'm looking forward to 2020 and to settling in to life here and now.

I don't anticipate any major life changes this year which is a relief.

 I have found the vinegar and tablecloths and

 am figuring out what needs to be done at work and when.

Are any of you routine people?

It sure throws me for a loop when my routine is upset for any length of time.

I do pretty good with short divergencies.

I think it's because I have that base routine to get back to.

Anyways, 2020 holds many promises for each of us.

Each day is getting just a little longer and each day brings us closer to our tomorrow so we might as well enjoy it, because

tomorrow it will be a memory.

Wishing you all much Grace

and many Blessings~

~Hold onto Your Hats~

Happy New Year!

There is so much to share, 

but all in due time.

We have a beautiful -8 degree morning

out here in Oregon to kick off 2015.

One exciting thing is my honey got me a new computer for Christmas.

Well, new to me (it's actually a couple years old.)

The only glitcher is it's a Mac

so I have to learn how to operate it.

There are times when computers make me grumble

and others when I think they are just the cat's meow.

One of the meow bits is that

there are so many talented folks out there,

and I love learning.  So, when I ran across

the post that Connie shared, I was thrilled.

You can see it here.

How to make fabric twine.

It's one of those things that makes me think...

Why didn't I think of that.

I love it!

I am rather frugal (no kidding:)

so I save scraps that are too skimpy for anything 'real.'

Here is what I have done so far.

With that, 

I will wish you all glad tidings

and a healthy, happy, and prosperous new year.

Until next time,
Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

~Tying Up Those Loose Ends.... & Some Super Glue~

I think I am ready for 2013

to be a page in the past.

The day after Christmas,

I was taking a plate from the shop fridge to the compost pile

which should have been done long ago.

Being careful not to get any of that compostable stuff on me,

I slipped on the ice, went splat & broke the plate to boot.

Not long after the slip,

I went to add a log to the fire & burnt a knuckle.

Yesterday, the all-star match between 

my paring knife and me ended with the paring knife

being named champion.

I still have my finger - it stopped at the bone.

Mr. LB grabbed the super glue he prefers
which is the liquid.  I prefer the gel.
By the way, you should keep this in your first aid kit.
It's the same thing as skin adhesive.
The glue ran down my finger and glued my wedding ring
to my finger as well as to my other fingers.
I immediately pulled my fingers apart,
and it took a little bit before I got my ring to spin,
but there will be no removing it to clean it
until my finger heals.

So, onward and upward...

The good news is that Mr. LB & I treated ourselves

to a wonderful day of skiing.

And you will be so proud of me.

I am no longer just a green circle; I am a blue square!

Not a good one, but one nonetheless.

(Mr. LB is a black diamond)

In case you don't ski, those are the levels of difficulty of the slopes.

Mr. LB was born with skis on~ my poor mother-in-law.

The other fun and yes, I do realize that I am the only one 

who would qualify this as fun, is that I have been doing 

more de-cluttering.

We have had or have been a part of 3 yard sales in the past 4-5 years,

and we will be having another this spring.

I cleaned out and am still sorting through a room full

of 'goodies' that have never really had a home.

You know...THAT room.

I also cleaned out (de-cluttered:) the refrigerator.

I know it doesn't sound like fun, but it is so nice when

I open the door, and it sparkles back at me.
Honestly, how many open jars of jelly does one fridge need?

One would think it should look like

"Sanford & Son" around here, but surprisingly,

it is the fact that I take a bag to the bargain counter

nearly every week & have the stack started

in the shop for the yard sale

that keeps it all under control.

If you have not been there yet,

there is an amazing blog in my sidebar

Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth.

Jes has a fabulous and seemingly endless

supply of both knowledge and resources on the topic

of home and home organization.

Every home has its own character, and

there are so many ways that folks make it all work.

She has a way of simplifying it and

making it beautiful all at the same time. 

I am hoping to start 2014
on a slightly more organized footing~
in order to keep it simpler and
enjoy the harmony that nature provides,
and we humans mess up.
I don't make new year resolutions,
but I do have ongoing goals.
One of my goals at the moment is
PRIORITIZE.
A few things to prioritize:
stuff vs. space
relationships (enriching vs. draining)
time vs. events/obligations
sanity vs. rushing
health vs. convenience
There are probably more.
Feel free to add your own to the list.

I am looking forward to closing the books on 2013.
So to each of you, I wish a very blessed and prosperous
2014

Until next time,
Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches