Winter Time

So, I have been working on a few projects. I'm still feeling pretty tired most of the time and I've been working some weird hours at work lately. I'm almost done with a quilt top. I just have four more rows to sew together, then I get to go shopping for batting and backing! I have bought a few baby fabrics to start a baby quilt. Hopefully I can get it done before the baby is here.

We still have yet to put our garden stuff away, or rake leaves. We've been pretty lucky that we've only had flurries so far this winter season. I know our luck won't hold out much longer. I don't think it will be that detrimental to our garden if things aren't taken out before winter, but I'm not really an expert on stuff like that.

More Apple Butter

I have finally made the last of the apples into apple butter. I composted a good ice cream bucket that had started to rot and still made almost 12 pints. I'm very excited that I made my own, but more relieved that I no longer have a tub of apples sitting in my kitchen.....not that it was a huge problem!

It is now starting to be time to work on my indoor projects. I have a quilt that I have been working on and am getting excited that the weather has started to get cooler. I have a hard time convincing myself to work on things like quilts and blankets when it's warm out. I have squares ready for one quilt and laid them out the other day. Our cat decided to "help" and pounce on random squares that sent her flying over the others, causing me to rearrange. I didn't mind since she was so funny about it. Besides, she's my "helper"!

Mistake

I finally got batteries for our camera, so I can now show you my quilting mistake. This is what the square is supposed to look like. This is what I did.
It might not be noticeable since I didn't finish out the "mistake" square, but it would look funny if the squares weren't the same and since I have more of the "correct" squares started, it's just easier to fix.

Crafty

So, I try to be crafty. I'm not very artsy, but I try to be crafty. I try to grow my own vegetables. I try to quilt. I try to knit. I try to crochet. I'm not very advanced at any of these things. But, I do try. My handiwork isn't always the prettiest, or nicest looking. And there's always flaws that I can't always seem to fix. But it's the feeling of accomplishment of making something. Making something that, even if it's not perfect, it will still be used and is special to the one who owns it, and that's all that matters!

Mistake

I was working on my quilt project today. I got quite a bit done. I'm working on a double nine-patch and am really enjoying the pattern. Until I realized I had started sewing the wrong side of the strips together. The pattern for the one block has four squares in the corners with the matching bottom inside squares matching the middle square of the block. I did that backwards and didn't realize it until after about ten blocks. So now I have to pull out stitches so I can fix them and continue on. After I get these blocks done, I'll be ready to sew my blocks together! It's all downhill from there!

Productiveness

Today was one of my days off this week. I spent it running some errands and made my own laundry soap. I have to let it cure for a couple of days before we can use it, but here's hoping!

I was also able to do a lot of other stuff today too. I made lemonade from lemons, I worked on a quilt, knitted a little, toned, and rode with my husband for a little while. The best part was sleeping in for a little bit. My husband and I don't get to do that together very often. Our bed is quite comfy and warm, so it's hard to get out of bed.

Why

A little information before I get into why I've started this blog. I work for a state university. And if anyone has worked for a state institution in an hourly position, you'll understand my plight. At the end of August of 2009, I was approached by a different department head and "encouraged" to apply to transfer to a position in his department. I did and he promptly retired. Nice, I know, but he was tired of what was going on and he didn't like being helpless. I don't blame him. It's not his fault. In October, I was called into a meeting with human resources and was told that my position was being offered for someone else to bump into. Needless to say, I have been very stressed out ever since. My husbnd and I have been doing what we can to keep our sanity. Tomorrow, March 26th, I find out what happens. Do I get to bump someone else, or do I have to take the layoff.

So, since my employment is uncertain, I have decided to try my hand at blogging for others to read. I do have a blog that I write for my family and another I write for my gaming friends. (Yes, my husband and I are gamers. Both table top and computer!) I will try to blog once a week, possibly more. However, I do have projects that I do, and I have learned that I need to set time to do these projects or they don't get done.

My plan is to blog about my projects and other things I've learned. I quilt, knit, garden, bake, cook, play computer games, table top game, play piano and other things. I've been trying my hand at making my own food mixes and own laundry soap. I've even made my own dishwashing soap, without great results. I'm still learning.

Please feel free to comment on my blog at any time. Ask questions, even! I do check my blogs on a daily basis, so I will try to answer everything I can!