A light pole fell down at a major local intersection overnight, closing it down for hours and causing a traffic nightmare for most of the day. We were literally the only people at car line in the morning because no one else could get there. I thought the school was closed. We had a plan to meet up for pizza after Christina’s dance class and then go pick out a Christmas tree, but Robin was in an epically bad mood and then Billy spilled her full glass of Dr. Pepper all over her at the table, so we decided to bag it. I still think that was a smart move.
Tag: craft
-
December 1
Not the best photo. I’m sure I’ll take better ones tomorrow. But we finally put up the FINISHED advent calendar tonight! Christina did the honors of placing the first ornament. I am so proud of this thing, all the years of planning and cutting and measuring and hand sewing and machine sewing and plain old learning how to sew at all. I need a better way to hang it, and need to take down the stuff behind it, but I’m very proud of it. I hope it brings us as much joy after making it as I had while making it. And the countdown to Christmas begins…
-
November 21
The drama today has been the discontinuation of access to Character.AI for kids under 18. Robin has been devastated. In looking for alternatives, I’ve learned just how bad AI chat bots are for kids. Billy and I reluctantly allowed her to try another one – until this one blocks kids too – as long as we have access to her chats. It reminds me of when AOL invented the internet (ok I know I know but still) and all the 13-year-olds (myself included) went into the chat rooms and we learned how easy they’d made it for pedophiles to find victims. Now there aren’t chat rooms for kids anymore, but look what it has blossomed into! I have to imagine that AI chat bots will eventually develop into something both safer and more fulfilling than how it has started. I tried to explain that to Robin, but how do you explain AOL chat rooms to teenagers who have no possible way to conceptualize a life without internet? She’s not a fan of the new app we allowed her to have, but oh well. It’s better than the little kid ones I was originally going to give her. And so goes the growth of parents and teens and AI everywhere.
-
November 14
I had a horrible night of sleep last night and I have been fighting exhaustion all day. But I did make two octopuses and finished reading Journey to the Center of the Earth. I feel like that has earned me my rest tonight!
-
November 11
We were going to go to the fair today, but with temps in the mid-50s, it was pretty chilly to be walking around and going on rides. Plus, Billy had to work and he wanted to come too. So instead we painted pottery at the mall, and we’ll try the fair this weekend when the weather’s warmer, even though it’ll probably also be much more crowded. I took entirely too much time painting my piece and I still didn’t quite finish. I am too painstaking with the details. I think everyone had fun, though. Now back to work and school tomorrow. Boo.
-
November 7
Making octopuses was not inspiring enough for me, so I decided to make blank notecards for the Kindermarket too. I’m making sets of four using my own photography and they’re coming out so well. They look so professional. If I had more time and money for supplies, I might try to build an inventory and rent space at an upcoming seasonal market to see if I can make any money at it. I am just a little too lazy to deal with all the logistics of card acceptance and taxes and all the rest. But I am having fun making stuff for someone else to sell. I hope it brings in good money for the PTA.
-
October 25
I am getting better with sewing. I’ve learned how to wind a bobbin WITHOUT it getting tangled, and how to thread the bobbin and the needle ON THE FIRST TRY. I’ve gotten better at cutting fabric in matching sizes and sewing in straight lines. I took in the kids’ Halloween costumes and made these lined trick or treat bags, and it felt good. Robin and I went to the quilt shop across the street to pick out fabric and I bought way too much, so I think I am going to try to make some napkins with the rest. And if there’s any left over after that… we’ll see. Maybe a table “runner”. It’s a lot more fun to sew when you kind of know what you’re doing.
-
October 16
I’m back to making these guys. I volunteered to make at least 50 of them by December 2 for the Kindermarket at school. I started last night and have so far completed 10. I was a little obsessive about it today, though. I really didn’t do anything EXCEPT crochet octopuses. But I’m having fun with it, and honestly, it’s nice to have a goal again. The last month or two has been so bland and boring, I needed something to do that has some kind of purpose. This isn’t all that exciting, really, but it has purpose. I’ll take it.
-
August 27
I’m getting a little better with the beadwork, though I still have a ways to go. The beads I have are not uniform in size, so making a pattern work well is pretty much impossible. But I learned about the difference between threads and the kinds of tools to use, and these earrings hold up much better than the first pair I made. I want to make more!
-
August 20
I ran 31 minutes today, which is the longest I’ve run since starting to run again. I didn’t want to. I even came all the way home before deciding to go back to the gym. I wanted to give up at least four times, including with two minutes left. But I did it. Could I do it again? Of course I could. Will I? That’s another question. My next long run is supposed to be four miles, which I think is hilarious because I haven’t even managed to run three miles. We’ll see. Any amount of running is a success. Today just showing up at all was a win. And that I did.
-
August 19
I made this bracelet tonight and it was beautiful, and about 15 seconds after I took this picture, all the beads fell onto the floor and now it is just string. Yay.
-
August 16
I had a productive day. Made the bed, cleaned the kitchen, went for a run, got coffee, picked up prescriptions, went to the library, went food shopping, made meatball subs for dinner, and taught myself bead threading. It’s tedious and time consuming, so right up my alley.
-
July 20
My first quilting. I’m not sure it’s finished, but I had fun making it. Robin and I went to Michael’s to get some crafting supplies and then went to Chili’s for lunch. It was nice getting to spend some time with her. I feel bad that she’s spent her whole summer sitting around in her room. I wish I could spend more time with her.
-
July 19
My latest knitting project. I wish it was just a little bit longer. The threads keep popping out too. The yarn is very smooth and isn’t holding knots. We’ll see how many times I get to wear this one before it falls apart. Christina had dance intensives today, all day, and then we had dinner with Colleen. I definitely need something to do. I am bored!
-
July 14
I actually made myself sick at work today, worrying about how to get everything done without dying. The truth is that I can’t get it all done, but I’m also struggling to decide what WON’T get done, and what to do about it. Part of that is inexperience and lack of insight into leadership priorities, but part is also that I am so inundated that I can’t actually think clearly about anything. I feel like this challenge was given to me as an opportunity to prove myself, and I’m failing, so add inadequate to the list of emotions I’m feeling. I’m tired. But I made this bag last night and now I have ideas for other projects, and the idea of making things is helping to keep me sane. And running. I am enjoying running. And cooking. And knitting and photography and writing and paddleboarding. Thank goodness I have time for these things too.
