Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Happy New Years

John and I managed to get out for a New Years Eve dinner. This is something that we have not done since the early 1980's. I was surprised that at 5:00 pm we almost did not get a table. I hope that this is a good omen for next year.  

As usual I will not be making any New Years resolutions.  I just plan on having the best year possible. I hope that everyone has the best year possible too. 

Now it is time to finish the next baby blanket.  

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

I Hope I Don't Get the Bug

As I write this blog, both guys have the tummy bug that is going around. Eric is making copious amounts of laundry, but is not quite on a record setting pace. To break the old record he would need to make 8 loads of laundry today, so far he has only made 6 loads of laundry. I am keeping up with folding in my own fashion, meaning I only have 2 loads to fold right now.

I have cut Eric off from TV for a few hours and making him listen to a book on tape from the Library of Congress. He has a stack built up that I would like to send back.  Right now it is Sports Illustrated Kids. While things are relativity calm I plan on getting some house cleaning done.

I think when Eric's aide gets here this afternoon I might sneak off to get some dinner so that I can say that I have gotten out of the house today. Since I am soloing for dinner I might just get something John does not like.

I have not gotten very much done on the creative side lately because I feel like I have been waiting for the other shoe to fall. I guess that this is it. So its time to get back to creating. I really need to end the year with a few finished projects. Its not like I have not been making and creating this year, I have completed around 15  to 18 dozen projects so far this year including 2 new pattern designs and 200 stitch makers for holiday gifts.  Its just sometimes I feel like I am in a rut.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Repurposing

This is what I did with a spindle that was to out of balance to spin with.  It is currently residing on my friend Lisa's tree. I turned it into a Christmas Tree Ornament. 
I thought it was just hard to spin with a Turkish spindle. No,it's only hard if the spindle is out of balance. If you are having a hard time try to get a hold of a Jenkins Turkish Spindle, they spin like a dream.   

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Attack of the Pantry

After one too many cans fell on my feet, it was time to clean the pantry from top to bottom. Well I actually started in the middle which was the messiest shelf.  Did I also mention that it is the easiest shelf for me to get to? I then hopped around from spot to spot. I made an executive decision that John would be the executive cleaning the top shelf so that I do not have to go up and down the step ladder. It must be nice to be tall enough to reach the top shelf without climbing or using a grabber.

Since this was mostly a solo act today, the pantry will not be finished until tomorrow. I have about 3 square feet left to clean and John has the entire top shelf. It will be interesting to see what has landed on the top shelf. I wonder if any of it needs to find a new home?

As my reward I plan on spending tomorrow after the pantry is finished spinning, weaving and knitting. I wonder if I will need to find a hiding place to get some fun time?

Right now even though I am too tired to  move, I think that it is time to get dinner on the table. It is one of those throw everything but the kitchen sink in the red pot and hope it comes out well. Then serve it with store bought dinner rolls. Maybe even cookies for dessert if they thaw in time.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Oops

I know I have screwed up when at the end of the holidays I find gifts that I bought over the summer.  So I need to say oops.  I forgot to give them to their intended giftiee's. So now how do I explain that I have been so overwhelmed at life that I did not pay enough attention to some people.  That is a really bad thing. I still care a whole lot about about these people. So if you receive a call or package out of the blue, it's me not you.  

I am also finding time to work on some fun knitting projects for me and a fundraiser in the spring. I need to change things up a bit. I think I am a little burned out on hats. Which is odd because I only knit a little over 11 dozen hats this year. So it's time to knit up a storm.  

Friday, December 19, 2014

Frustration

Right now I'm pretty frustrated Eric has been getting sick on a very regular basis we seem to have been having about four days to recoup between the next time he gets sick. However, this week we got him back to program and then the next day he's home with a cold. I'm really tired of the moms and dads who send their kids to school or day programs knowing that their kids are sick. How do you guys feel about that?

I can't be the only mom in the world with this gripe. Is Tucson just unusual in that the parents always send their kids sick? Is this happening in your neighborhood schools and they programs too?

Part of this frustration is that I am worn down and tired. I would like to be able to get out of the house a little bit more and do things. It seems lately by the time I get Eric back on his feet I'm just too tired to go out and do the shopping I need to do or want to do. I know we're just going through a rough patch right now but I'm still tired. I am hoping things will get better and that he'll be going to his program more often. Right now I just have to cope and be cheerful about it.

I know it's not Eric's fault that he's getting sick. I blame it on the parents who send their kids sick all the time. I wish they wouldn't be so short sighted and only see how it affects them and their days. I wish they would look at the global picture and see that if they send their child sick, that they're going to get other kids sick and other people sick. It's not fair to the rest of the world if you know your kid is sick to send them to program. I guess all I'm asking for is a little common sense. That seems to be in short supply these days.

Well it is time to get back to Eric and squeeze in a few minutes for lunch I hope everybody's day is going well.

Monday, December 15, 2014

A Busy Day

Eric spent half of the night needing attention of one kind or another.  This left me very tired with a full day of chores and holiday planning.  

I finally got to the grocery store today. Between coupons and rebates I did fairly well and saved close to 50%. Then after I got most of the groceries put away, I drove down to World Cate and dropped off Eric's old wheelchair. If you happen to have a wheelchair laying around the house not being used World Care is in need of about 35 to 40 wheelchairs to for people on their wait list. 

 I finished making most of my holiday presents today. Now I just have to tie them up in pairs with ribbion from the never ending roll of ribbion that I bought in the 1990's when the kids were small.  And wrap the rest of the holiday gifts. It looks like it's going to be a very very busy week this week..

My hope is that Eric sleeps tonight.  


Sunday, December 14, 2014

Finishing Things

Today was spent cleaning and finishing projects. The gifts are almost done. I finished 2 more hats for charity, I will try to get a dozen done by this weekend.  A friends  son is working at a charity collection center this weekend. This will give him something to put on the bus.  I just have to find out when, because I know where it is.  

I am hoping for a good week for Eric and getting everything done on time. I hope everyone has a great week. 

Saturday, December 13, 2014

The Cleaning Moves On

Today the cleaning moved to the garage. John and I started by deciding which boxes needed to be thrown out. The recycling bin is almost full. Eric's old wheelchair will be leaving the garage to go to the loan chest for medical equipment next week. My plan is 5 minutes a day until the garage is done or it gets too warm to work in there. 

Eric is feeling much better today.  We might even be able to find a Toys for Tots drop off site tomorrow. I will also try to finish the holiday gifts and the cleaning that did not get done this week. I also need to wrap gifts this week and clean the Menorah. 

I am really hoping that Eric sleeps tonight and past 5:30am. I think it is time to call it a night. 




Thursday, December 11, 2014

Very Busy

It has been very busy around here lately. Between Eric getting sick a lot and me playing catchup. I am only a little behind in the things I want to do.  I am getting all the have too's done.  I have even tried tried to talk Eric into making a little less laundry, he just laughed at me. 

Next week I hope to get all of my holiday gifts finished. I also want to finish wrapping my loom, it's currently half way done. 

 My sewing machine is also fixed, I find it very sad that the factory authorized dealer loosened 1 screw in order to try to up sale me on a more expensive machine. I will never go back there again.  Thank goodness for Kathy's on Speedway who got it fixed today.  If you are in Tucson and need your sewing machine or vacuum cleaner serviced I would recommend Kathy's. 

Well it is getting very late and I want to call it an early night. 



Friday, December 5, 2014

I am Superwoman

Eric is sick again.  I wonder if there is a coralation between my taking Thursdays off to run errands and spend time with friends knitting and spinning.  

I was able to keep up with the 2 eyrpy loads of laundry last night. Today I managed to get 4 loads done and half are already folded and put away.  

I am getting a little tired of Eric getting sick every week after a few months when he was hardly sick at all. For a few months he made it to his program almost every day.  I felt like I was getting my life back.  After being up with Eric most of last night I took time when he was resting comfortably to do a little cleaning and organizing.  It kept me more in tune with everything and gave me something to do other than sit, knit, watch Eric and PBS kids.  

Eric is asleep now so I am going to try to get some sleep. The to do list will be long tomorrow.  

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

I Got the *+%#*% Cold

The cold the guys have been sharing caught up with me today. All I can say is that is a bad one.  It totally zapped me today.  Almost nothing got done.  I  hoping for a shorter course than the guys had. I would love to feel better by tomorrow. 

Since I was too tired to warp the loom, spin or follow a pattern, So I am back to knitting hats today.  For me they are quick mindless knitting.  

Bits and Pieces

We had a great Thanksgiving visit with Teri and Tej, they are both safely back at home. We are so incredibly lucky to have them in our lives. Eric is feeling better and is back at his day program after 5 days off. I am playing catch up and should have everything back to pre-holiday madness in a week or so. The laundry room was higher than knee high yesterday.

 My body hit the proverbial brick wall after going full speed ahead for more then 3 weeks running. I really hate when I get so tired that I can not move and just have to fall asleep on the spot. Thankfully John was able to pick up Eric today and make a wonderful dinner. I really need this flare up to go away so I can sleep at the normal time. I really can not say it is a positive getting the cleaning and laundry done in the middle of the night when I need to sleep.

We had a second scorpion in the house today. Thankfully it was a baby one that John scooped up with tissue and disposed of it. All without smashing it on the bedspread, saving me another load of laundry. Yeah John. I would have smashed first and scooped second. I guess it is time to get the foundation sealed and the house painted.