Monday, April 1, 2019

the week ahead


Welcome to this week's Happy Homemaker post.

Looking out on another day...
The weather in Aurora CO
It's spring-like ... but temps don't tell the whole story here.
It is all about the sun and the wind.
It could be 40F but if there is sun and no wind it feels like 65. Or like yesterday 50 with wind so biting it felt like 30.
We got another 3-4" of snow on Friday night into Sat. The good news is it was wet snow so it melted fairly quickly this time, not clogging sidewalks and streets. Therefore snow is not the problem... not clearing it off traffic areas is the problem. Man made problems... so if people did what they were supposed to do and cleared it, there would be no problem.

The Week at a glance
I woke early this morning and couldn't go back to sleep. I haven't really slept well since moving... so a long time now. Sleep is restorative, so I need to find an answer.
In general, I can't stay ahead of sleep deprivation and dehydration these days, and it leaves me more anxious than usual. Gotta work on that.

What am I wearing? 
 With the unpredictable weather here, I feel I should start out with a pair of shorts and t shirt, layer on long underwear, put sweats and a sweater on, and just peel off and add on the rest of the day.

To Do
>Return books to the library that they say are due, even though I've hardly had them for very long.
The library seems as mercurial as the weather
>Take down the project that has roadblocked my creativity for a week... just pack it away, let it sit and think about what it's done in the "Naughty Project Chair"
>try to clean Milo's hairy ears and make an appt with the vet to have them really plucked and checked
>Drink more water and walk at least twice today
>resume studio sorting of kits and projects this week. Before the move, I had started to just pile things in a closet, then moved them like that, so there is a fine mess to look through now.
>Go to Target for yard decorations that will make me smile... color to break up the brown landscape
>Meet People...The new neighborhood group forming, postponed the gathering to this week. Hope it brings new friends.
 Connection is very important to me.


Watching
I enjoyed watching this video of make up and hairstyle lessons from the 50's... still relevant and fun to watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3bB-13dtnQ
 
American Idol... what will I do? I like so many of these fine talented young people...but I do have a favorite already. I'd buy his CD today. Alejandro has many youtube videos of his original songs and I just love his guitar and voice. He is humble which is a welcome relief in this day of bragging. In fact all of these young people seem to be humble this time.

Project Runway... I sure like watching talented people approach a challenge. They are not humble on the whole however, and the worst of them went home last week so that was nice.
Call the Midwife is back for a new season. I read the original midwife's books and she was a wonderful writer.

I am part of an online QuiltArt group, that has fallen silent over the last year, and since I really missed the discussions (many seem to have moved to looking at pictures on IG instead of discussions) I introduced questions to the group at large.(there are about 3000 international members)
and I'm happy to report there is talk going on again.
We can make a difference, all of us. People forget that we are social animals, who all have something to share.

Inspired by...

Also, Did you know astrophysicists are working with citizen scientists (people like you and I) who help with data gathering. The scientist giving this talk, said citizen scientists have contributed to many discoveries that the physicists are following up, leading to new awareness.
https://www.ted.com/talks/tabetha_boyajian_the_most_mysterious_star_in_the_universe

You and I could do this... imagine a country where we focus on learning and exploration, not just how to keep other people away, or make more profit for a few.
Imagine a country with forward thinking, using talents of it's citizens for the betterment of the world.

Imagine giving kids, a way to contribute.

I think a lot of people do not even know how to contribute, or think they don't  have anything to contribute. I've seen it in quilt guilds... people with talents don't know how they can help the group... I was in charge of setting up demos in my last group. It was important to me to give members a chance to share their knowledge, and they wanted to, but didn't realize they had knowledge to share.

What if people were taught ways they could help the world from a young age, so they could grow up wanting to do great things in both large and small ways.
It would require a change in focus, it would take new ways to approach education, and using the talents of our citizens.

Reading

In Farleigh Field (2017)

The latest Rhees Bowen book... so good. I have read her other series and now she has written two books out of series that are reminiscent of Maeve Binchy. This one is set in England during the war.
It is about the yearning of a young woman for more meaning in her life, and how the world changed as she reached adulthood. She expected to grow up, marry, and take her place in life, but the men her age were being killed and changed by war...


Making
It occurred to me, that I lost a week of making by trying to find the right fabric to put my painted birds into a Spring banner. I can't seem to make it work, and now I must pack them away. It feels like giving up. Know what I mean?
But what it is, is a change of focus. Sometimes in life if there is a problem you can't seem to solve, you can delay it. I couldn't make anything, for trying to make this!!! So away it goes for a while so I am free to be creative in other ways.
Speaking of which... I'm making the cutest little pin cushion bunnies to send to a few people this year...
More later on that!
They are perfect to sew while watching a show on TV at night. I like hand embroidery.

From this week's calendar
Life is like this: sometimes sun, sometimes rain   (Fijian proverb)
Hope you all have a fine week, with love and learning and productivity mixed with creativity!

Linking to these parties...
Esther's blog Wednesdays 
Let's be social Wednesdays  
https://stitchallthethings.com/ to do Tuesday 
happy homemaker monday
design wall Mondays at smallquiltsanddollquilts
lovelaughquilt.mondays

14 comments:

easyweimaraner said...

your easter bunnies are so super cute!!!! ..I totally forgot my easter decoration... I think I'll do it right now before I remember it in may or june LOL

Sandee said...

If you have Milo in your posts all is right with the world. A huge Awww.

Have a woof woof day, Milo and enjoy the spring weather. My best to your mom. ♥

Sara said...

Those bunnies with the hand embroidery are just adorable!! I don't have any Easter decor up yet so this made me think about it. I know I'll be happier when things begin to turn green, although then my allergies will flair up too. But I can deal with that and enjoy some green grass and flowers.

Judy Hansen said...

Love, love, love your little bunny pin cushions! Like others have commented, it made me think about Easter and getting out my spring decorations. Thanks for linking with Design Wall Mondays, I enjoy reading your blog.

Lisa said...

Adorable pin cushions! Just in time for Easter. Our weather sounds a bit like yours. Show showers on Saturday and suppose to be 70 by next weekend. We can go from heat in the morning to AC or open windows by 2pm and back to heat in the evening this time of year. Crazy. It's a good thing I was not drinking anything when the make up tips got to the "powdering" part! I would have ruined by computer. Funny stuff. Hope your week is a good one.
https://peripheralperceptions.wordpress.com/2019/04/01/happy-birthday-cabo/

Tails Around the Ranch said...

In the Mile High, the buzzword is layer, layer, layer. I started this morning's walk out with a hoodie, a vest and light jacket. Half way through I felt like the Wicked Witch of the West..i.e. "I'm melting.." And I know better. 😍

Those pin cushion bunnies are beyond adorable!

Mrs. Laura Lane said...

Hope you have a terrific week!
Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

Luludou said...

Great easter rabbits. I've started making some this weekend for a garland, but they are crochet.
Hope you have a nice week, I liked the thought of contributing with scientists

Jodi said...

Look at those cute bunnies!! Alejandro is one of my favorites too! So much good talent this season!! Have a great Monday!

Jean said...

The key to spring (and fall) dressing: layer, layer, layer! LOL. Those bunnies are super cute. They just seem to say "Spring is here!" I bet putting aside your birds will help an answer come to you about the banner. Hope you have a wonderful week.

MissPat said...

Cute bunnies. I actually got my Easter decorations out this year and even found the spring table runner. Most of my Easter stuff is bunnies and some eggs.
It's ok to put a project in time-out. There's too many other possibilities to get hung up on something that isn't working. You'll get an ah-ha moment about it when you least expect it.
Pat

Jeanna said...

Those little paw prints in the snow! Awwwwww. Hairy ears, ha, I suppose that could cause some type of issue, I've cleaned out the occasional dog ear but never noticed the ear hair. I've gotten my dad to trim his nose hairs and counted that as a win.
Same dealio with the weather here, sun no wind yes please, otherwise it's been cold enough to wear a jacket which I refuse to do now that it's April.

Christine Slaughter said...

I think it is a good thing to be able to put a project away when it becomes one that stops the creative flow. It isn't ready yet to come fully into being, so I'm glad you were able to let it go for now and start working on something else. It is SO hard to do that, when you have a desire for it to be done, but we know trying to force it just won't work. I know it will shout out to you when the right fabric comes along! And those bunnies... THE. CUTEST.

threesidesofcrazy said...

Your bunnies are ADORABLE!!!!! I bet packing away that project is exactly what you need to renew the creativity! Have a GREAT week.