Change Brings More Change

Change Brings More Change

Change as in planning, prepping, priming, painting, purchasing new furniture, and assembly, of course!

Plastic drop clothes ... for the win!

Deciding on the perfect color ... Bit of Sugar by Behr Flat Interior paint

Gathering all the needed tools of the trade.

First up ... prep and priming ... KILZ primer to cover the dark heavy gray color on the walls.

My new sewing room furniture ordered and delivered.

Now for the assembly ...

I promise to post the big reveal of my new space once everything is in place.

 

All Has Been Merry and Bright

 All Has Been Merry and Bright

End of 2025 Vibes

I've enjoyed a very quiet and peaceful holiday season with all of those whom I love. It has been spectacular! 2025 has provided so many wonderful God given blessings. A new job that I love. Good health, real peace, and happiness.

I am blessed beyond measure and I am truly grateful!

Ending 2025 in a quiet and peaceful place. My prayer for 2026 is continued peacefulness, good health, and profound happiness for each of us.

Happiest of New Years to you all!

Chocolate Milk

 Chocolate Milk

... and Grits in a bowl. There is a place where my sister lives in South Georgia where you can get grits in a cup. You can get your grits with cheese, bacon, sausage, eggs, any combination of those, or just plain grits.

Cheesy sausage and fried egg grits in a bowl with my favorite Nesquik Chocolate milk.

With the weather turning cooler a bowl of grits is a perfect weekend breakfast. This breakfast brings back lots of nice memories along with being comforting and delicious.

 

Puzzling

 Puzzling

I enjoy puzzles, and recently I purchased a few things that make puzzling more fun.

Working on puzzles is very relaxing. It relaxes the mind.

I purchased this puzzle board with a thin plastic cover on Amazon.

1500 Pieces Rotating Puzzle Board with 4 Drawers,34.25"x25.2" Portable Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle Table with Lazy Susan Spinning Cover for Adults

Brand: BuilderButler

Prepper

 Prepper

... of sorts

Over the weekend I prepared several 2 quart size crockpot meals to put in my freezer. I enjoy being able to put dinner in my crockpot before I leave for work and come home to a nice hot meal ready to plate.

I'm getting much better about prepping meals in advance. I shudder to think of all of the food I have wasted and/or thrown away because I didn't get around to preparing it before it spoiled.

Waste not Want not

Community

Community

I love things that bring us together as a community. Family, church, talents and games are just a few of those examples.

Last week these lovely like minded ladies came over for pizza and yarn fun. Over the years my daughter has been learning to knit and crochet, a few months ago our friend from our social bowling league asked me if I would teach her how to knit.

And just like our community of makers is growing.

😃😃😃

This beautiful hat was made by a young lady who didn't know how to knit 5 months ago! Amazing talent in just a few short months.

Community, friendship, and sharing of time and talents.

Work Space Upgrade - AFTER

 Work Space Upgrade

AFTER

Settling into my new work space and the new flow of the space has been a bit challenging but in the end ... change is good.

Or at the very least change can be good.

In my new space, my work flow is set up opposite of how it was set up in my previous cubicle. I am finding that the flow in which I process my work is a bit different. My phone and printer are on the left side of my desk as they were on the right side of my desk in my previous cubicle. That may not sound like a huge change in ones work space flow but for me it has been an adjustment. 

I feel like I am always looking around for where I have placed things, such as my stapler, date stamps, tape, and so on. That being said, I am finding a new rhythm. 

One of the things that I am really enjoying about my new work space is the amount of work surface space. I have plenty of room to spread out when I need to.

The quilt decor and the "blue chair" also came with me in the work space move.

Work Space Upgrade - BEFORE

 Work Space Upgrade

BEFORE

On Friday of last week I moved to a larger cubicle in my department to make room for more staffing ... easy peasy right?

Nope, not as easy as it looks, fortunately the gentleman in our IT Dept. moved all of the important things ... computer, printer, phone ... quickly, and he made it all look effortless. Which I'm sure it wasn't.

Now, it is up to me to move all of the stuff that make up my work life space.

The stuff that makes one's work space enjoyable and pleasing to the eye.

Comfortable if you will ...

Okay ... I'll be honest ... I didn't realize how much stuff I had in my cubicle until I started moving the stuff.

The new cubicle offers more space for getting the job done.

More space to utilize ...

And, of course, a quilt to brighten things up.

Stay tuned for the AFTER the move post.

Being Kind

 Being Kind

Being kind to others is easy but being kind to myself is a struggle. I really have to work at and be intentional about being kind to myself.

The other day I came across this list on social media. A schedule of activities to prompt kindness and self-care ...

I love a list! And what is kinder than making a list of ways to be kind to yourself and those around you.

12. One day devoted to your hobby/hobbies

13. One day focused on cleaning/decluttering an area in your home, car, yard ...

14. 

What would you add to your "self kindness" list?

Curly Girl

 Curly Girl

I have spent my entire life straightening my hair.

Via Chemicals, hot rollers, and tons of different hair products. Last year I decided to give up the fight and embrace my curly hair.

I'm still getting used to the curly look. Surprisingly it's such a different look for me that I can't decide if I like it or not.

I like the ease of my naturally curly hair but there are years of styling my hair that is hard to let go of. There is a comfort associated with the process of styling my hair daily ... a process I feel I have perfected over all of these many years.

Puzzled

 PUZZLED

I love games and puzzles and coloring in coloring books. I feel very fortunate that I grew up before iPhones, computers, and social media.

I have been enjoying working on a puzzle in the evenings as of late. Relaxing my mind one puzzle piece at a time.

No internet, computer, or iPhone required.

Just brain power and the pleasure of simple relaxing play.

Sock Knitting Season

 Sock Knitting Season

Snowy weather and sock knitting go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Cuff down on double pointed needles, the first sock is complete and the second sock has been cast on.

Toe up socks in the round in self striping yarn.

Just beginning the cable motif on the leg of the sock. This is my second pair of socks with the cable. I was intimidated by this pattern because of the cable but cabling is surprisingly easy.

Sock knitting and my favorite tea in my favorite cup.

Preparedness

 Preparedness

I have a N.O.A.A. solar crank radio that I keep charged and close at hand just in case the power goes out. I have taken to filling up all of my water bottles (cups) with water ... just in case. I always have plenty of shelf stable pantry items.

I usually never have to use any of these items but I have them ... just in case.

A Sweet Gift

 A Sweet Gift

This year I was commissioned to make two very special gifts for the loved ones of two of my friends.

This bear is made from a shirt of my friend's father who passed away.

The Bear is a gift for her mother who is terminally ill.

I was asked to make this memory quilt for a friend's wife. Their son was killed in an accident 10 years ago on the 16th of December. The quilt is made from t-shirts printed with special photos of their son and the t-shirts and clothing that were special to him.

I was and still am very honored to have been trusted to make these special heart felt gifts.

Handmade

 Handmade

Naturally, I love handmade gifts. As it turns out both my sister and my daughter are phenomenal handmade gift givers.

These soaps are gifts from my daughter, one from her trip to Hawaii and the pottery soap dishes are gifts from my sister. 

Island Lavender soap

I love hand crafted soaps ... my skin loves them even more.

These soaps are gentle and make my skin feel soft and clean.

My sister has an eye for beautiful handmade things. Actually she has a wonderful eye for home decor and fashion that I have forever been so envious of. 

She has a knack for beautiful things.

Such as the handcrafted pottery she has gifted me.

 

Finally

 Finally

I'm not sure why but for over two years now ... I have been looking for a recliner for my living room. But I just couldn't make a decision and commit to actually buying one.

Yesterday was the day! I made the decision and purchased a recliner.

I purchased this recliner from a local Wholesale Furniture store. From the clearance section no less ... probably the reason I was able to commit to this particular recliner. However I was worried that the chair would be to big for my living room.

My house was built in 1964, at that time both furniture and people were smaller.

I was pleasantly surprised that the recliner fits perfectly.

I predict many happy relaxing moments in this recliner.

And, not an ounce of buyer's remorse.

WINNING!!! 

Simple

Simple

I am working on limiting the time I spend on my phone and on social media. So it pains me to admit I found this on social media.

Astoundingly a positive message.

The message ... Don't over complicate life ...

Instead of muffins, I'm baking bread.

Although I did bake the cookies. Instead of soup I am making a Shepard's Pie.

The concept is still valid ... take the time to make what you love.