plans, ideas and unfinished projects

I haven't posted in at least 3 weeks and not much has changed. Work is still crazy busy and going to get worse since the '09 crop of peanuts are coming in. Joey has cut back 2 positions and is looking at cutting a 3rd. We had 2 techs out all week and 1 at least won't be back any time soon. I expect she'll need surgery. The other can't keep her blood pressure under control.

Still behind on my quilt blocks. I can't believe how tired I am when I get home. I have no energy to work on anything. I am barely making any progress on this quilt block of the month. Plus I still need to quilt the project from February and figure out if I can teach this class on paper piecing. Not to mention I haven't done any piecing of Arianna's quilt, made Nathaniel's quilt, made Jethro's quilt. Plus the 1/2 dozen or so other quilting projects I need to do.

The Down The Street Bead Show is coming to Havana, FL in 2 weeks. I've signed up to take 3 classes. That will come to $200. If I take the kids I'll need another $100 to give them to buy beads. Plus I'll need some to buy beads myself, easily another $100. Plus money for food. Beading is another expensive and addictive hobby. I'd love to learn to make lamp work beads as well.

Why can't I be happy just doing one or two things? why do I keep just building up craft supplies and unfinished projects. I don't have time to do all these things when I am working and I can't afford to do them if i don't work. I just keep burying myself. Who out there has these kind of problems?

The End of August Already

Where did the month go? I mean really why is time warping on me? I just can't seem to get everything done and worse, I'm not sure I want to. That is what is really bothering me I am getting apathetic.

Went home for a week. It was really good to get together with my family even if I did miss two of the brothers. Too short a visit though. I had to get back to work.

While on vacation, I did go visit some really cool places. The National Quilt Museum in Paducah KY; Fenton Glass factory in Fenton WV. Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY; The Remington Gun Factory in Ilion, NY; Hershey"s World of Chocolate in Hershey, PA; and a mine your own gem stones place in Hiddonite, NC. it was whirl wind trip of 10 whole days.

Of course when I got back things were a mess at work. Lots of things left undone, some things done wrong, etc. I spent 3 days getting things straightened out. While my boss was there on Monday, he wasn't for the rest of the week. And true to form things fell apart while he was gone. Fortunately I was in touch with him and he isn't coming back to the mess cold.

Quilt blocks are slow in getting done but I am making some progress. I need a all day sewing retreat so i can focus. It would not take a lot to get them done just time and no distractions.

Ah but that is impossible. I got 2 phone calls last night and 3 today all from work. They can't ever get ahold of Joey so they call me. Which would be totally fine if I was salaried and a supervisor. I am still just a senior tech. That makes me hourly. I am making decisions and having to make judgement calls while not on the clock. Basically working for free. I am just praying that the corporate policy makers get their heads out and make me a supervisor and do it soon. I don't mind being on call as long as I get paid for it.

I guess I am feeling that I may never see that happen. I really want the raise and title. One, it would make it easier to get out of debt. Two, it make some of the techs actually have to listen to me. Three, I am already doing the job. Four, I deserve it. I really do a good job for the company.

Okay enough griping. I'll try not to go a whole month before posting again.

Another week

Sunday once again. I am feeling okay today and church was spiritually invigorating. I am still tired though. I am expecting work to be a little stressful this week. But Joey will be there to handle things.

I'm still behind on my quilt blocks and haven't done much sewing lately. I need to get myself back on track.

The diet is going okay. I've lost some weight and feel a little better. I think my husband is getting tired of it though. he says he isn't losing right now. We enter the second phase this week. We slowly add carbs until we are still losing weight but not as rapidly as the first week. We also get to add a few more choices in the food. I am still not really motivated though and need to find some motivation.

The kids are pretty bored now and school is sounding good to them. Killian is a little nervous about going to high school and Tatianna is worried about doing well her Senior year. TaKayren is not worried at all since she likes school and Perigrine wants to have perfect attendance. Arianna is trying to get herself enrolled in classes at the local community college. It is all having to happen so quickly.

I don't know where July has gone. We have a mere 5 days left. Not enough time but the same as every one else has. I guess we need to prioritize better.

Tired, stressed, unmotivated

Sunday and I am sick. The boss will be out all next week and some of the techs are trying to get away with stuff. Could be a long week. One tech will be out for family illness and we have extra stuff to do. Sick or not I have to go to work tomorrow.

I am still behind on my quilt blocks. I get home from work and am so tired that I don't feel creative. Saturdays are tied up with family and Sundays are tied up with church. I am totally not motavated right not.

I need to get out of this funk.

canning/quilting/dieting and life

It's the 11th of July. I must be getting older because time is going by faster. The family is canning today. The garden is doing great. cabbage, tomaotes, hot peppers, zukes and summer squash. Watermelons ripened too early because of the heat so the seed to pulp ratio is higher than it should be. They still taste good.

I am way behind on my projects. I need to make time to work on all those unfinished projects. I am also way behind on the quilt block of the month. I guess that I shouldn't be trying to do 3 of them. It seems I have lots of projects that are all but finished. I am hoping to try to work on them in the evenings and Sunday afternoons. TaKayren wants to sew a dress and we need to get the pattern cut out. I could really use some new clothes myself.

My hubby has decided to do the low carb diet again. Which is crazy since the garden is doing so well. We have veggies galore and not a lot of meat. Meat has gotten way expensive. But I may join him, I have hit over 300 and don't like myself much right now. Work keeps me on my feet alot and I am tired by the time I get home.

I would love to work just long enough to get our credit cards paid off and quit but we have kids that will need college tutition and no savings. There is so much that we need to take care of. Plus I know I would go nuts staying home all day. I would spend time doing crafts and well that costs money. Hmm, either I have time and can't afford to do my hobbies or I can afford them but don't have any time. Same Song Different Day.

The Middle of June

Work is crazy. Church is busy. Kids are nuts. Cars are breaking down. But the house in Utah may actually sell/close this week. So Life isn't too bad. Things may be looking up.

Tithing actually pays off. So far we can figure out how to pay for the car repairs.
We have enough for our bills and living expenses and here shortly we'll start paying off our debts.

We've not been to the temple yet and won't make it before the Atlanta temple closes for renovations on July 1st. That means we will have to go to Orlando to do Temple work for the next 18 months.

I still am behind on my Block of the Month quilt blocks. I need to do the Stamp Basket Blocks and the Dresden Plate Blocks in the next two weeks. But I did teach a sewing class at church last Saturday and we made aprons. It was fairly successful.


We (some of the women in Releif Society) are going to make cookies to pass out to the men at church on father's day. I am coordinating this project and will need to get supplies tomorrow. I guess we are busy.

Our Garden is feeding us regularly. I love having fresh veggies. We are eating a lot of stir fry. We will doing pickles soon. We've had some salsa as well. Plus Kim's family's cucumber, tomato, and onion salad. All comfort foods for us.

Well need to get back to work. As everyone knows a woman's work is never done.

more updates

I am currently working on a block of the month quilt. Because I am rather inexperienced at quilting, I am making it three times. The first out of scraps, the second out of bargin fabric (which is fabulous) and he third out of expensive fabric. I have the first two blocks done out of scraps, the first out of the bargin fabric. I hope to get the rest of the first two blocks done this week so i can get onto the third block. I've also found another BOM that I am thinking of doing.

I still so many projects that need finishing. I am just hoping that things start to settle down soon. Church is keeping me hopping and work is still very busy. I just need to stop watching TV every night and chip away at the pile.

I finally got all of Arianna's quilt cut out. I hope to make her help me with it this summer. I also want to make a flying geese quilt before long. I want to use up all the pre-cut squares I've bought on some thing as well. I guess I have more dreams/ambition than time. But oh well a little at a time and try not to take on anything new.

Easter was rather uneventful here. The Bunny made his annual visit of course and we dyed eggs but it didn't feel very festive to me. Maybe because I am so tired lately.
If I don't work on Saturday, I am doing something for church. I would realy like to just be at home working on the house. Doing my projects and being with my family.

Kim's garden is growing. I will be canning this year. I am looking forward to it. Canning gives me a sense of accomplishment. It also makes me feel self reliant. It will be nice to have some food storage again.

Wow it's may already

Time has just flown by. Let's see what have I done. Worked lots of overtime. Adapted to a new boss. Last one was let go all of a sudden. We are changing things in the lab. Techs are being moved around. Drama has ensued. I get to be the moderator. Not too bad though and I really do like my job.

Arianna has had a rough semester in CEU. Now she lost her schlarship because of financial cut backs. She will be coming home and going to school here in GA.

Tatianna went to her jr prom and I made her dress. I did it in only 5 days and i worked every day. I was up to midnight every night but she looked great. Everyone commented on her dress. She really did look like a princess. Many say she looked like an elven princess. She is so beautiful.

Wow, how time flies

I am shocked that it's been almost two weeks since I posted. Life has been crazy. All I want to do when I get home these days is sleep. It has been hectic what with covering for the techs who've been out sick and doing my job as well. Plus we are still getting things set up for a McDonald's product. On top of that we have a Safeway audit next week. My boss is having to scramble all over the place. By the way we don't make the peanut butter that is suspected in the salmonella outbreaks.

I have been waiting to hear about my background check to be a 4H leader. I couldn't understand why it was taking so long. After all I was a leader in Utah for 4 years. Lo and behold I hadn't sent in the form. I dropped it off at the 4H office on Tuesday. I don't know when we are going to teach these classes. I am hoping that Marianne will go with Saturday mornings. Or in the evening on a weekday.

I got a new electronic sewing/quilting machine for Christmas and I am getting excited to start using it. I still need to find a few more typewriter tables so all the machines are set up for us to use. I also need to find a new repair center. My original machine still needs some work on it.

I am in the middle of knitting an Afghan. It is really a nice size already but I have 4 more skeins of the yarn so it will probably be about the size of a full size mattress. I am trying to work on it in the evenings while watching TV.

I am also working on Arianna's quilt. I need to cut about 4300 more 1 1/2" squares. I am glad I have the shape cut plus. It does make cutting those little squares easier.I am have to have 5500 of them and I need a diagonal drawn on the back of all of them. Plus I think I will do a block of the month quilt. I'd love to have some of other women to do it with but I decided I am not going to wait until I put a group together. I want to do them as scrappy quilts to use up some of the fabrics I already have. Also I really want to do a flying geese quilt for my bed. I guess I just need to get moving on these things.

Well I really need to get the Kitchen organized and start some bread. I'll try to post some pics next time.