Lazy Friday.

I am relaxing! I took yesterday and today off to watch Brie's girls, not realizing that Skye started first grade this past Tuesday. Brie's husband is keeping them through today and will decide if he is keeping them the weekend or bringing them to me. Since I had requested the time off in advance and it was approved, I figured I might as well use it. This is a four day drill weekend for Brie. 

Yesterday I did some chores, went grocery shopping, knit, and watched the Olympic Games on television. 

This is the Reyna shawl. Figured it would be nice for me! It's another of my WIPs (works in progress) towards completing things.  As i said to Eric, things lose their luster sometimes as I reach mid point, but then when picked up again become fun as I realize how close they are to being done. I promise this will look much better when blocked. Right now it's all scrunched up on my needles. It made for good tv watching knitting because the pattern is simple. So simple I screwed it up the first time I tried it and ended up ripping it all out and restarting. It was take two I got bored on and set it aside. 

If I have the girls knitting will be my handwork this weekend. If Eric K. Keeps them, then I plan to sew much of the weekend. I have patterns, notions, and material for a number of garments for me I want to make up, and I also have quilt blocks to embroider or make up... My Eric worked an overtime shift on Wednesday and we had yesterday off together. Now he works his three day weekend so my days are my own to get stuff done.

Which reminds me, I haven't had coffee or breakfast yet! Perhaps I'll take them outside :)

This heart cloud sat over me on Sunday afternoon and made me smile.  Weather today is similar, so I want to enjoy it before it gets beastly hot out! 

Anniversaries and reunions

On August 2nd Eric and I celebrated 8 years of married life.  I swear I don't know where the time went, but here we are and I couldn't be happier.  Eric surprised me with 8 beautiful red roses:

 

and we had a nice dinner at red lobster, where we enjoyed the "crab fest". We also enjoyed a new drink on the menu and came home with 6 new mugs! Reimond joined us for dinner as he was the only kid home, and it was nice to remember and acknowledge the changes we have all made in the past 8 years.  

Reimond drastically changed his look from being a boy as seen here in the photo with my mom and Liisa from mid July

To a more grown up look 

 Complete with shorter hair and lots of self confidence.  When I look at this picture I see my brother Erik in the upper face, and my brother Neal in the grin, my dad as a young man, and my son Anthony. I'm really proud of the decisions he's made and the path he is headed on. 

These last eight years have brought a lot of challenges and successes to our lives and I feel very blessed. I am notsurewhat the future holds for us, but I know Eric and I can manage as long as we have each other.

I finished another project that's been around for almost a year: 

The pattern was a mystery and while I finished the first one in good time, I took forever on the second one.  They are beaded and I am going to need to remove a bead or three at the heel because they bother my foot where they are placed. Otherwise I am happy with them. 

The little girls went home Monday (8/1) and man has this week been tiring back at work.  The caseloads are slow, which is good, but I cleared most of my active cases before I left for 2 weeks so now I have only 6 open cases (as opposed to 15-20 on an average week) and the day just drags! We are losing a supervisor to budget cuts, and two workers are leaving to move out of state, so things may get harder soon. Always a pleasure working for the government! I am looking forward to the weekend and just being. I learned I won a raffle prize from the yarn crawl--out in Washington Missouri!--so I plan to drive out there Saturday to get it, and maybe laze by the Missouri River for a spell or Finda winery to sit at so I don't just spend the day in the car.

Eric is in Indiana through Sunday for his 30th high school reunion. I had mine 6 years ago... I'm so glad he is able to go. It was serendipitous that he heard about it on Facebook and just happened to be on vacation this week, so he had the time and the freedom to go! He'll also be spending time with family, and I know he'll have a great time. Meanwhile, I will have a weekend by myself to relax and rejuvenate!

On that note, I am going to post some photos I took in the last two days, of a break in the storm clouds from last evening,and a lunch at a river park today.

Time to open my bottle of peach wine and find my knitting!

Three more days to go...

Although I actually go back to work Monday and Eric will have child duty until their mother gets here.

Eric very graciously played chauffeur and nursemaid on Thursday so I could do the yarn crawl with children in tow. 

As you can see by my purchases, I tried to be responsible and only got what spoke to my heart: the gold and the variegated on the left screams large shawl, in a lace weight, the purple on the right. Is soft and cuddly; the top yarn is for socks for Eric, who needs more work socks, and the two middle yarns Skye said were needed: one makes a hat with a cat for a pompom, the other is a princess shawl. I also got a lovely shawl pin. 

The baby is not the best road tripper. She does not like the car seat. Skye Is a wonderful traveler and helper. We got stuck in a major traffic jam when a semi carrying hay caught fire closing down the freeway as we were coming home, and we spent 2hours in gridlocked traffic. Not fun!  The previous part of the day was nice though, with lunch near the Missouri River in Washington Missouri, and Ted Drews at Knitorious.  

I finished Eric's socks, and they are the same size, just need a soak and being blocked (although I think he's wearing them today already). 

This has been the story of our weather this week: ostensibly comfortable, with an unbearable heat index.  Sadly we haven't done a lot of outside activities, except sporadically and in the shade.

 

Skye played with a neighbor's chameleon and was fascinated by it. 

I have decided I was amazing with all I got done as a daycare mom. Keeping two little ones and keeping up with chores has been a challenge. I feel like there is stuff I wanted to accomplish over my two weeks off, but haven't seen the end of much of anything. I almost could use anger few days off after they go home to rest up! Oh well, it's been worth it. The girls are wonderful and I love being a grandma. 

Anyhow, that's how this week has gone!

10 days and counting

I've had the little girls since Friday night (7/15) and I am starting to feel it.  I've loved having them, but today I am feeling burnt out. Eric was home for 4 days after his 10 days training in Little Rock, so we did more playing than working and now I have to catch back up.  A load of dishes in the dishwasher, a baby napping, a little girl playing on her tablet, and me taking a quick breather... 

Yesterday the temperature reached 102 degrees and a 112 ( or higher) heat index, so we went to the pool. We had a good time and used plenty of sunscreen. It was nice--the water was about perfect, warm enough to sit in and refreshing compared to the air outside. 

I am about a third done with Eric's second sock, and I am in the mood to make doll clothes. Maybe I can squeeze in some sewing this week. So far pick up knitting has been easiest to do, with all the interruptions but we'll see.  The yarn crawl is down to 6 shops now and Eric said he'd come with so I can participate this year. We are going to do it on Thursday, when it starts, with both girls in tow. It may be interesting!

The heatwave has broken, or so they say, but today is overcast and gloomy.  Time to turn on some lights and get active again.

I'm back!

I'm back!

I post on Facebook when anything big comes up, or even small things, so I have gotten way from blogging. Work has strict guidelines for computer use, and when I am home there are often other things taking my time and attention.  But I got an email from a dear friend who pointed me to another blogger and I found myself captivated again. I spent a week reading her blog from oldest to newest and was reminded of why I loved my blog and I missed it.

So a brief synopsis of things since over a year ago:

I still work in child protection. There are thinks I like and appreciate about it, and others that have hurt my heart. I still want to do counseling/therapy, and still feel drawn to it, but I am not seeing signs that it is time to move on yet.

Eric still works for the federal government.  He's had a promotion, and more responsibility. It's a job, it pays the bills, and he works hard. He takes good care of me and we are happy.

We are down to two kids at home, for however long. Aurora graduated college, and Reimond decided it wasn't for him. Both are living at home for the nonce. Patrick is living in town, and Brie and her girls are in Missouri, about 90 minutes away, with her husband.  I have the girls for two weeks while Brie is at guard annual training. I took two weeks off to do it and we are managing just fine. Skye will be 6 in August, and Adrianna is 5 months. 

 

Tony's kids are growing too: Justin is 11 and Alexis is 9.  He just bought a boat and it looks like such fun! He and Andrea are going strong. Liisa got divorced the end of last year. She has a new guy in her life who makes her happy. I am so proud of the adults my children have become. They are wonderful people.

I am still very actively doing my handwork.  I just finished knitting a summer sweater for me, and a sweater for Skye. Still need to make Adrianna's matching one. I also finished an entralac scarf. Now my knitting focus is a pair of socks for Eric. I have a couple of quilts being stitched, and two to quilt. I have cross stitch projects and crochet projects too. I also am still spinning on the drop spindle. Have not gotten a spinning wheel yet, but still hoping for one.

 

I need to focus more on my diet and exercise. I saw the cardiologist who said I need to lose weight and become fitter. I'm trying. The girls are keeping me moving that's for sure.  Small steps are what I need to do...

Anyway, it's a start!

January recap

In the spirit of trying to get back in the swing of things, here are some pictures from a little "minication" Eric and I took two weeks ago. I had a Friday thru Monday off, and he was on vacation Friday thru the following Saturday, so we went to Frankfort KY for a few days, leaving Friday after my doctors appointments were done (the reason I took Friday off) and drove back Sunday afternoon.  Our "excuse" for visiting Frankfort was a shop called the Woolery, which sells weaving looms, spinning wheels, fiber, spindles, and rughooking supplies. The key here is the number and variety of products sold. I am interested in getting a spinning wheel and this was a way to see and try a variety of them, including the brand I was considering.

This is the wheel I have my heart set on. Hopefully it will be mine sometime this year.

The Kentucky River and an old bridge. We walked the river trail, had a snack at a college coffee shop, spent a good hour or more in the shop, where we met other fools who drove from out of state just to shop there (we met couples from Florida, Ohio, and Tennessee there, along with us who traveled 5 hours to get there); we went to a local winery, had dinner at a local restaurant, and enjoyed two nights in a very nice best western. On the way home we explored the shorter tour of the Marengo Caves in southern Indiana. That was awesome!

And I did buy a new lace drop spindle because it was pretty, and some fiber to spin up because I liked the colors.

We came home and I immediately worked the next 11 days straight, sometimes 9-10 hour days, and I got slammed with cases (5 cases per day the last 2 Friday's when a normal day is 1-3 cases max per day...) I began a writing day on Tuesday with 40 open cases and was able to close 16 of them by the end of Wednesday (most were close to being closed, just no time to finish the paperwork until this week), but then added back in 9 new ones, getting 3 emergencies on Friday plus two 24 hour ones... Needless to say I am exhausted. I spent yesterday reading for a bit and relaxing, and playing everquest with Eric now that the desktop is working and we can enjoy playing together again. Today I plan to do as little as necessary too, because Monday it begins all over again.

I find my job challenging and sometimes stressful, lately even overwhelming because of the sheer volume of the cases coming in. We have some new people who will enter the rotation soon, as they finish up training, but have been running short staffed for what sounds like forever. Some positives of my job are seeing newborns and sweet little ones, going into old houses and imagining what some of them were like in their heydays, and being in and out of the office. Most cases aren't terribly "serious" although all need to be addressed, and for that I am grateful too. It's just how they seem never ending sometimes. There are times I think there but for the grace of God it could have been (or was) me once upon a time, and there are people who leave me humbled by their strength and their faith. I was touched by one woman who said to her adult child "you can talk to her, she's one of the good ones who really care." I think every one I work with really care, but sometimes there isn't much we can do. I do a lot of praying.

Aurora is back from Costa Rica and had the trip of a lifetime. Brie is struggling with a loss of hours and lack of security in her job situation. Patrick is in the process of moving out and into an apartment. Reimond is looking at a possible promotion of sorts at work, and his girlfriend has been accepted to Penn State,her dream school, next fall. Classes are resumed/resuming for the college kids for spring semester, Eric is back on overnights, and life is trying to find what passes for the new normal.

I still have not mailed out Christmas gifts, despite their being done. Not home when the post office is open... So kids will get gifts in February I guess. I am hoping Eric can mail them Monday before he heads to bed.

That's the update! Now time to get another cup of coffee and the next item on the list.

Thanks for the nudge, and a Happy New Year!

Thanks for the nudge, and happy new year!

First, some recent photos for color:

Skye at preschool last week.

A cross stitch tragedy: after almost 8 years of inconsistent effort, I found a small (I believe) coffee stain that had been covered over by the drape to hide it... I tried spot cleaning and it wicked out into a horrid puddle of brown that I couldn't live with. So I soaked it in cold water and orvus and prayed, rinsing it in clean cold water and soaking more... The color ran on the silks and stained other silks, and the background fabric also bleached, and I am so sad. Other stitches have said its cool, to keep going and to see if I can duplicate the bleed on the other side, but I can't. My only decision now is whether I want to try and save the beads or not, because there are so many in it already. Not a single sitting project by any means. I have ordered new fabric to start it again, and if I need to I may scavenge from it, but I may have enough on hand still.

This is my new to me car, a 2012 Nissan Versa. It handles well and gets great gas mileage, so I am pleased. Given my work schedule of late I have primarily driven back and forth, but with gas prices falling it's almost cheaper than train fare, and faster a commute too.

I finished my Christmas sewing late, and need to mail things out this weekend, but I have been on non-self-imposed bed rest the past four days. I got hit with a horrid case of viral gastroenteritis, and have been soooo sick! I literally have been in bed other than a trip to the clinic on Tuesday, where I was given a shot in the butt of phenergan, a prescription of that too, and was told I needed to take things easy. I was sent home, told to drink plenty, and take it slow. The virus screwed with my pulse and blood pressure and they were out of whack, which explains some of the shortness of breath etc I have been dealing with lately. I plan to go to work tomorrow to deal with anything pressing, and do have a doctors note. Then while I am babysitting this weekend, at least I will have a couple more days. I am feeling better, but not yet me.

Aurora is safely in Costa Rica, on her biology class trip, and I am hoping she is enjoying the rain forest. Patrick, Reimond, and Brie have been working. Eric is picking up overtime as it comes available, and I have worked weekends and holidays over recent weeks that helped to burn me out. 

My job is going ok. I am a perfectionist and my job is one that doesn't ever go as you expect. I like it, am challenged by it, and occasionally frustrated by it. But there is still so much to learn and I try so hard to do it right. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by it all. The big thing I have realized is I need to find some balance, between work and taking care of me. Meals are a challenge because even though I am in charge of my office versus field work, I hate eating on the run, but I also hate taking away from the time I have for visits when it seems like a never ending battle to find/meet with the families we are concerned about. On Friday I had my first door slammed in my face, but I have heard it won't be the last time it happens. My current case load is fairly manageable, but missing 4 days of work has my already knotted stomach anxious about what I may have left undone that needed handling. My performance is measured in outcomes, including how quickly I make first contact, when I get signed off by my supervisor, and other deadlines that are mandated both by the state and federal governments.  My numbers are not great right now, no matter how hard I try, and it is a combination of circumstances, types of cases, etc. those factors do get included, but none the less I worry about my performance. I am trying so hard!

I am not knitting much lately, although I did start a cross stitch sampler for the new year, and I have been reading quite a bit. Most of my tv watching has gone by the wayside, and I only play everquest on the weekends, hit or miss fashion. I have realized that there are things that can function without my direct supervision, but there are times it feels like everyone has their own agenda and expectations of me and I am not living up to what everyone wants right now. Felling a bit stressed as I try to find my way. 

Anyhow, I am not making any major New Years resolutions, just continuing to try and move forward on being the best person I can be, with Gods grace and direction. I am slowly losing weight (not holding my breath that the 4 lbs I lost being sick will last), I am walking about 15 miles per week, and I hope to begin doing the yoga again. I also hope to focus on projects around the house. That's it. Nothing too major. 

Hope everyone has a blessed new year!