2022 Happy To Be Here

Another day of waking up before my alarm clock and going to bed later than I wanted. Hopefully that means I will get to sleep easily when I finally rest my weary head. It was a good day. Keziah and I spent some time at the studio, she is still there. My work week starts tonight so I couldn’t stay. Here are some happy things: At the studio this morning I pulled out the latch hook that I didn't quite finish earlier this year. I've finally started putting on the backing. What I got done seemed to go quickly.  The back looks good... While I was sitting hand sewing the backing, Keziah was busy sewing with the serger. She talks to it. Sweet, loving talk to keep it working well. It is pleasant to listen to and makes the rumbling sound of the machine seem a little less harsh.  When I sit down for lunch at home I like to watch something. Today I decided to just start going through all the corny Christmas shows that Netflix keeps suggesting. I started watching Falling For Chr...

Our camp is close to a small castle.  It is one of the many things that lends to the atmosphere here at Pennsic.   Other happy things from today: --There is a new group camping with us.  Many of them have a Viking persona.  They brought a flag that I let them hang by our gate. --The flags waving in the breeze looked really nice today. --Sewing got pulled out this evening.  A friend hemmed my new chemise while I worked on finishing some seams on my green Viking dress.   ☮️ Thank you for being part of my happy things.  Stay safe. 

For whatever reason my motivation is failing me in the mornings again. I want it back. My best guess is that I have a general lack of sleep. So this morning, I went to the dog park with Keziah and Aesop in hopes that it would jumpstart my day.  He wouldn't stay still. Afterwards, I tried to take a nap. As usual, naps are good, even short ones. Other happy things from today: There was enough energy for me to do a little lawn mowing. Later in the afternoon I went to the studio. I'm going to estimate that the chemise I am making is close to halfway finished now. Yay studio time! Keziah and I have been watching the Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries and we finished it tonight. I really enjoyed watching it and getting a glimpse at the middle years between the movies. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , Joan Borysenko. Currently listening to: The Will to Battle , by Ada Palmer Thank you for...

 Thursdays are long, even with a nap in the middle of the day.  Although, I have to wonder if a person dreams about work, does it still count as being asleep?  I know I should sleep more, but there are always things to do. Here are some things from today that made me happy : This evening we watched Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , an episode titled "Trials and Tribble-ations".  This episode did a fantastic job of splicing together parts of it with that of the original Star Trek series.  It was a fun episode.   In the SCA there is an award system.  I actually thought of a person that I am planning to write in for an award.  An alarm has been set so that I can remember after the event. I did some sewing at the studio.  There are now more sashes for the event this weekend.  I also worked on the hem of my Viking dress.  It will not be done for this event.  Thank you to Keziah for taking a picture for me to share here. ☮ Currentl...

Mother's Day.  Keziah and Zed went away for the weekend leaving Gideon with myself and Zed's mom.  Today I was gone most of the day and so Gideon had time with his other grandmother.   I was able to spend a little bit of time at the studio.   I've been trying to get some SCA garb repaired and ready for upcoming events.   I was able to use the sewing machine for something today but it turns out hand stitching will be best for most of this outfit.   I've been working on it at home tonight with movies on.  It's been nice.  Other happy things for today: -I planned a walk that friends who were available could join me.  It being a holiday, only one friend was able to come.  We had a nice time walking and chatting.  The weather was practically perfect.  A breeze kept the bugs mostly away and it wasn't too warm or cold. -Both of my children called to wish me a Happy Mother's Day.  Keziah is enjoying her mini vacation a...

This evening I took a two mile walk in town. On the way south on the street I had a lovely conversation with TF. On the way north, the wind was blowing so the conversation ended. Instead I got to watch the sunset. The clouds were layered and the different layers changed colors differently. There were various shades of orange/peach and dark gray lavender and pinks.  Other happy things from today: I’ve been enjoying watching the bulbs, tubers, and rhizomes start to grow in the triangle. I’m kind of wishing I had planted more, but they have room to multiply.  Hopefully the pips will start coming up soon too. One of the cats decided that the bathroom sink looked interesting.  😁 Most of the afternoon I spent at the studio. I printed out a flat cap pattern, made some adjustments, then made the hat–out of an old pillow case. It came out pretty good.  Day 98 of the A&S challenge was making a hat.  It took a lot longer than the 15 minutes needed to complete...

After some random things at home like dishes and dog care I went to the studio this morning. It seems that being at the studio is always a good thing. Here are some other happy things from today: Day 92 of the A&S challenge was me trying to make a flat cap again. Today I found an actual pattern, printed it, and used it. The hat isn't complete, but it should fit Keziah when done. It is just a mockup, so it most likely won't be worn. The printer. We were given a used printer that the owners couldn't get to work. I got it to work with my laptop. It has a scanner that I haven't tried yet, but for just printing black it is fine so far. After lunch time I met my friend, Amy, for a walk. We did just over four miles. My map program glitched (had us going over the pond) but hers didn't. Good times. On the drive home I saw a red tailed hawk taking off near the highway. It was beautiful, but I was driving, so no pictures. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of M...

Days off can be the best. Also the most tiring. I've been awake too long. The evening ended with friends and games. We played a different version of Kill Dr Lucky. We also played a new-to-me-game called Codenames. Other happy things from today: In the morning Aesop (the dog) and I took a walk around the back property.  There were wisps of clouds rising from the trees in the distance. I started a walking group on Facebook and a few of us met up for our first walk today. We walked a little over four miles on a rail trail. It was a beautiful day to be outside. Sometimes little things can drive me crazy (figuratively). One such thing for me are the towels in the bathroom. We have them hanging on hooks on the door. The problem is when people close the door they sometimes fall to the floor. I've been thinking for a while that I could add loops to the towels and they would stay hanging better. I began the process today with some of the towels. It isn't pretty, but it shou...

 It doesn't happen often, but once in a while a manager type actually walks around and talks to the regular associates.  This was one of those rare occasions.  I was told how fast I was at my job and how good I am doing.  I got to let them know that I want to learn more positions.  It was good.  Other happy things from today: Last week I planted some cat grass and it is sprouting.  Nothing else is yet, but there is still time. Gideon has ideas on creating a chess game variant.  He is so smart and imaginative! I went to the studio for day 72 of the A&S challenge.  While there, I finished my project.  The whole thing probably took four or five hours over the last few days and I don't like how it came out.  I made a hat, a flat cap is what it should be, but there are some problems.  I plan to tweak the pattern and do a few things differently and try again over the next few weeks.   ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of M...

 Waking up this morning I thought it would be a great day.  It wasn't bad, but some mistakes were made.  Thankfully they all became learning experiences.  Learning experiences and other happy things from today: My first mistake was not communicating with Keziah well on timing.  The goal for me was to arrive at Joann's when they opened, timing put me there about twenty minutes early.  The good part of this was that I got to wander around the city for a little bit before doing my little bit of shopping.   It was a nice walk to the studio from Joann's. Setting off right away to get some sewing done I realized, too late, that I just purchased the wrong interfacing.  It is what it is.  I used it as best I could and got a good start on my project.  It also counts as my 71 day of the A&S challenge. That is my project so far. No mistakes in the afternoon.  I went for a walk with my friend, Amy.   I didn't have any pie tod...

 It was a good and relaxing day.  Let me share with you some things that were happy for me today: There were some tracks in the driveway brought to my attention this morning.  I believe them to be mouse tracks, but I'm still learning. Keziah and I went to the studio where we cleaned and reorganized the place.  We also put together a shelving unit to keep things better organized.  I should've taken a picture! Sometimes when walking upstairs a person will bump their foot on the stair ahead of them.  Sometimes when this happens and the stairs are painted, the paint chips.  Sometimes what is left is a blotch.  Sometimes what is left is a polar bear.  I like to think that the building where the studio is wants art to exist so much that it just happens accidentally.  When I go up the stairs at the studio and see the polar bear it makes me happy.   I learned that previous Baronial heads of Stonemarche gifted small stones to the incom...

Somewhere I messed up counting the days for the A&S challenge I have been doing.  Today is the 68th day in a row that I have done at least 15 minutes of some kind of an art/craft/science.  Okay, I don't think I've done any science.  Suddenly I want to come up with something to do with the sciences for this.  I'm not sure when I mixed up the number, but I did.  Perhaps it is a good thing that this is not a math challenge!!  Happy things for today include: Breakfast!  Keziah, a friend, and I went out to breakfast this morning.  It was a perfect start to the day! I spent time at the studio.  I did part of a hem on a chemise for SCA and I sewed a pocket onto a pair of jeans.   Walking downtown I saw a llama and some sheep in a shop window.  Aren't they adorable> A bit reflective. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , Joan Borysenko. C...

 Yesterday was the first day of Lent and thus the first day of my personal get-rid-of-stuff challenge.  I picked a shirt that I don't like how it fits me to get rid of.  Ideally I will be flexible with myself, but if I didn't find at least one thing on the first day it would be hard to keep going.  Since I will be busy for the next few days I decided to find six more things today so I can not stress over the weekend.  At some point last year I turned a bunch of my closet hangers backwards.  I read somewhere that if you do that and check on what is backwards after some time the hangers that are still backwards are the clothes to get rid of.   I didn't get rid of everything.  I did find five more shirts though.  I also pulled out a few metal hangers and a mask I haven't worn to get rid of.   I now have a box to take to a donation bin.  Other happy things from today: In the afternoon I took Aesop, our dog, out for a walk....

 Happy Mardi Gras!  Tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, is the first day of Lent.  Last year for Lent I made YouTube videos about downsizing.  My goal of going through a box a day and getting rid of at least one thing was met.  I had hoped to use that momentum to go through all the boxes that I have been holding onto in storage since I moved a few years ago.  That has yet to happen.  This year I will be going through my stuff again.  I wasn't working last year and a box a day was doable.  This year I am working and I don't know how many boxes are left so I am changing the goal.  Between March second and April sixteenth (not the actual Lent dates) I will find at least seven things a week to remove from my life.  This gives me the flexibility to skip days if I am busy and tired from work.  Ideally by Easter I will have gotten rid of at least 49 things.  I'm hoping for much more than that.  I also have many other things going on an...

 This morning I did what I said I wasn't going to do anymore and I left work after only two hours.  They had me assigned to busy work and I couldn't stop thinking about the things I could be doing at home.  When I say at home though, I really mean the studio.  I didn't go straight to the studio, I did a few things at home first.  I spent at least 8 hours at the studio and forgot to eat lunch!  Happy things for today are: At the studio I finished the tunic I have been making for a friend.  No picture because I forgot and it doesn't look different, I just reinforced some seams and tried to make sure all the threads were cut. I worked on the tunic for Gideon.  It is almost done.  I'm supposed to leave the neck for when Keziah can size it up on Gideon.  I also left the clavi unfinished in the back because I needed to get home to get ready for work tonight. Another thing I worked on at the studio was a pair of earrings.  I've had the pa...