This has been a most interesting year. I joined several quilt-a-longs to hopefully, move forward some ufos. Did not happen. There was really only one quilt start and it was the one thing I worked on every month. Oh. There was another impulse. The lazer cut pre fused Huguenot Friendship Quilt. It was boring. Really. I did bring Bright Jane out to play for a few months. That was fun. Then impulsively I wrote up 26 blog posts about ufos never before mentioned here. It was quite a journey. But not a stitch to move any of them forward. I did complete a few blocks for Beyond the Cherry Trees and my Morrell even one for Antique Wedding Sampler. And I completed the 1857 Album and got it ready for quilting and layered Dear Jane for quilting. But all that was before Dear Daughter came into my life and took over my stitching time. That and a lot of diapers.
On my calendar for 2019 I have several quilt-a-longs written down for a January start. I wish. And then I think about not starting any new quilts at all next year. Sounds impressive. But oh the self control necessary to maintain such a goal. The reality is, I enjoy starting new things. Do I get bored with the old? Maybe. But usually the adrenaline rush is such that I just have to jump in and start. The other reality is, I have a couple of big things that I need to get done and just floating from one thing to the next most days, apart from family stuff, keeps me going day by day.
I was in India for 2 weeks last month then came home and got a stomach bug from family here that had me out of it for a good 4 days. Being in jet lag recovery did not make that a happy journey. I finally feel human again and there is an itching within to start on something new. I have been considering doing some serious clean eating again to feel better and hopefully shed a few pounds.
In August I started intense chiropractic treatments 3 times a week for my neck and back. I decided to not change any of my eating habits for a while until I could see if the treatments were working. They were. They are. I have little pain in my hands these days, where, before, I had pain all the time. I have more immovability in my neck. I realized that I am sitting straight in my chair. Also, I can stand straight more often but not for too long because I have trouble breathing. Turns out my diaphragm and right lung are somewhat compressed from bending over for so many years and sitting most of the time. Yes, getting moving is the answer, but that seemed almost impossible for so long. But things are shifting. My spine is a bit straighter. I do move around more. My daily responsibilities have lessened with our daughter and her little boys no longer here 4 days a week and now our son is living here and the girls half time. They are such a joy. Most of the time. I can hardly wait until hormones awaken. He says we will just buy lots of chocolate.
I finally got to visit family in Saskatchewan. Rented a 2018 Dodge Charger and saw some beautiful flat country. My Sweet Farmer and I took a few days and drove to Iowa for a Guernsey Cow convention. Had dinner on a river boat on the Mighty Mississippi River and saw an eagle. Shipshewana quilt retreat in April. And I even stopped playing computer games but that only lasted for 5 months.
In may submitted one course for my doctorate in Christian counseling. Now just 8 more to go. And I wrote 2 whole pages for Surviving Menopause. I gave NaNoWriMo a half-hearted try to write 1 page a day while I was in India in November. I ended up writing 22 pages for Sister but no where near the required 50,000 total.
I mentioned that I had wanted to do some clean eating: no dairy - I am a dairy farmer- no grains, no legumes, no sugar, basically eating only real foods but specifically fruits, vegetables and meats. And absolutely nothing with chemicals. Try to find that. So, I realized that I had been eating real foods in India everyday for 2 whole weeks. I ate a small chocolate bar today and it tasted really awful. Really. Then I had a sugar cookie. It was way too sweet. Really.
My daughter completed her Master of Social Work Strategic Leadership and graduated. Hurray!! That means I no longer had her little boys coming to the Farm every week for 4 days at a time and changing diapers. I have again taken the long through Toronto drive to visit her. I love visiting her home. It is so orderly and the view out the back is her large yard and the farmer's fields behind. We will be there for a 2 night sleepover house party over Christmas. She is cooking the turkey this time. Maybe they will barbecue it since our son will also be there with the 3 little girls.
Winter has arrived. At least for a while. The snow is all gone for now as rain has taken over the weather. The crops are all in and we are all settled in on the Farm, looking forward to those quiet days at home. The Farmer watching football and me at my computer. I am decluttering the work space here and changing a few things so there is room for me and the girls to be productive. Now I must get back to yet another book report.
Blessings,
Chris
On my calendar for 2019 I have several quilt-a-longs written down for a January start. I wish. And then I think about not starting any new quilts at all next year. Sounds impressive. But oh the self control necessary to maintain such a goal. The reality is, I enjoy starting new things. Do I get bored with the old? Maybe. But usually the adrenaline rush is such that I just have to jump in and start. The other reality is, I have a couple of big things that I need to get done and just floating from one thing to the next most days, apart from family stuff, keeps me going day by day.
I was in India for 2 weeks last month then came home and got a stomach bug from family here that had me out of it for a good 4 days. Being in jet lag recovery did not make that a happy journey. I finally feel human again and there is an itching within to start on something new. I have been considering doing some serious clean eating again to feel better and hopefully shed a few pounds.
In August I started intense chiropractic treatments 3 times a week for my neck and back. I decided to not change any of my eating habits for a while until I could see if the treatments were working. They were. They are. I have little pain in my hands these days, where, before, I had pain all the time. I have more immovability in my neck. I realized that I am sitting straight in my chair. Also, I can stand straight more often but not for too long because I have trouble breathing. Turns out my diaphragm and right lung are somewhat compressed from bending over for so many years and sitting most of the time. Yes, getting moving is the answer, but that seemed almost impossible for so long. But things are shifting. My spine is a bit straighter. I do move around more. My daily responsibilities have lessened with our daughter and her little boys no longer here 4 days a week and now our son is living here and the girls half time. They are such a joy. Most of the time. I can hardly wait until hormones awaken. He says we will just buy lots of chocolate.
I finally got to visit family in Saskatchewan. Rented a 2018 Dodge Charger and saw some beautiful flat country. My Sweet Farmer and I took a few days and drove to Iowa for a Guernsey Cow convention. Had dinner on a river boat on the Mighty Mississippi River and saw an eagle. Shipshewana quilt retreat in April. And I even stopped playing computer games but that only lasted for 5 months.
In may submitted one course for my doctorate in Christian counseling. Now just 8 more to go. And I wrote 2 whole pages for Surviving Menopause. I gave NaNoWriMo a half-hearted try to write 1 page a day while I was in India in November. I ended up writing 22 pages for Sister but no where near the required 50,000 total.
I mentioned that I had wanted to do some clean eating: no dairy - I am a dairy farmer- no grains, no legumes, no sugar, basically eating only real foods but specifically fruits, vegetables and meats. And absolutely nothing with chemicals. Try to find that. So, I realized that I had been eating real foods in India everyday for 2 whole weeks. I ate a small chocolate bar today and it tasted really awful. Really. Then I had a sugar cookie. It was way too sweet. Really.
My daughter completed her Master of Social Work Strategic Leadership and graduated. Hurray!! That means I no longer had her little boys coming to the Farm every week for 4 days at a time and changing diapers. I have again taken the long through Toronto drive to visit her. I love visiting her home. It is so orderly and the view out the back is her large yard and the farmer's fields behind. We will be there for a 2 night sleepover house party over Christmas. She is cooking the turkey this time. Maybe they will barbecue it since our son will also be there with the 3 little girls.
Winter has arrived. At least for a while. The snow is all gone for now as rain has taken over the weather. The crops are all in and we are all settled in on the Farm, looking forward to those quiet days at home. The Farmer watching football and me at my computer. I am decluttering the work space here and changing a few things so there is room for me and the girls to be productive. Now I must get back to yet another book report.
Blessings,
Chris
You have enough going on. I don't feel guilty anymore about not starting Stonefields in 2019 with you. I'm glad your hands don't hurt anymore. Good luck with your 'clean eating' during December. Happy stitching!
ReplyDeleteThanks to Gretchen's encouragement and inspiration, I only made one new quilt and completed all but one of my UFO (piecing and applique projects). I am about 50% through with Brinton Hall and will complete by end of the month. That leaves 3 applique UFOs going into 2019. It was difficult to not meander to new things, but all in all it feels good knowing I am caught up.
ReplyDeleteI had to give up carbs and lose weight (Type 2 Diabetic) Did not know until Oct 3 - I have lost 18 pounds going for another 5 or 10, but there is a withdrawal from sugars and when you try to eat something boat loaded with sugar it really does not taste as good. I still crave my carbs, but trying to hold down to 40 grams a day.
Feel better and now to train the brain to accept that this is the way it is and I will go with it!
Take care of that back, walking is the best if over 29 years old (LOL) Have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful Happy 2019 New Year! (I am 1/2 the way through Stonefields and it will be completed in 2019! Take care!