Saturday, August 22, 2009

First Few Days...Done!

Hi There!

I hope this finds you well and ready to enjoy a lovely late summer weekend. Our weather is supposed to be warm (hot?) and dry. A good weekend to be out and about. Both girls made it through their first few days of school and their enthusiasm and spirits are still very high. Jessica told me there's a new girl in her class from Afghanistan! Her teacher is still really, really nice and she comes out of class with a bright smile on her face. Amy adores, I mean, adores her teacher! It's so nice to see my girls excited about school (kind of like I was when I was their age). Amy's teacher had them sitting on top of their desks while they were doing a social studies lesson on the continents (I think). Anyway, they were "flying" from continent to continent during the lesson. Way to make it fun and interesting, huh? Amy was in awe that the teacher let them sit on TOP of their desks! LOL I heard Amy's friend, Hattie, tell her mom...I just LOVE Mrs. H...I think Amy feels the same way.

I thought maybe I'd get out into my craft room during the week, and obviously, that has not been the case. And I'm not sure just when I'll get back out there. Someday, soon, I hope. Here's the deal, just to give you a heads up. Several weeks ago, Steve bought a new version of Quicken. He's been inputting all our financial data into it. He wanted to show me the facts and figures and said, now that the girls are in going to be in school full time, have you thought about going back to work? The answer to that is no. And I felt a little mad that he wanted me to think about it. But I couldn't ignore that my purchases weren't helping our situation(it's not bad by any means, but the economy has done a number on our investments, like it has so many others). So, knowing that it's very important to me to be able to stay at home, I've been extremely conscious of my spending since then. I'm making use of free resources where I can and the library has proven to be a good thing. It's an older library and for a long time didn't have books I wanted to check out, but that's changed somewhat, or I'm more open to what they have to offer, LOL. Plus they are building a brand new building up the road that I think is supposed to be bigger. ANYWAY...I've been checking out books on cutting costs, living frugally, being thrifty, whatever you want to call it. And, some crafty books, too. (*wink*) If I'm brutally honest, there isn't a thing I really need in terms of crafty supplies. Sure, there are things I think I want, but I've got enough supplies here to last me a long, long time. And I've made a vow to myself to USE it! LOL So, when I get back out to my craft room, that's what I'll be doing. Stretching my brain and creativity to use what I've got. That should definitely help the budget(and give the old brain a workout).

As an off-shoot of that whole way of thinking...one of the things I've been really looking forward to now that the girls are in school full time is finally getting to work on getting better organized around the house. You know...without distractions! And I'm hoping doing these things will help me "earn my keep" around here. Maybe if I work on not spending needlessly AND taking better care around the house, I'll be able to be at home for a while longer yet. I don't think I'll be bored, but if I am, once I get done what I want to around here, then I'm sure I'll be much more open to maybe looking into some part time work.

So, with that in mind, I've gotten started on some of the things I've neglected for too long around here. Yesterday's project was finishing up washing the screens on the windows and getting the windows washed. Which entails much more than that implies. Our windows have storm windows in front of the actual window, so it's like I have two sets of windows to wash, plus all the debris that accumulates on the sills. And because it's time-consuming...I've not done it in a long time, making it take that much longer to get done now. I'm proud to say that I've done ALL the screens and gotten three more rooms of windows done, as of yesterday. I still have two more rooms to do and then this project will be done for a while. With plans to do it more regularly, so it doesn't get this bad again. LOL

BUT, if you've gotten this far, it's not all work and no play for me. I HAVE been working on crafty stuff...just not making cards. I've finally been working on making a pair of socks for me! Remember I started a sock earlier this summer? Well, in my recent library visits, I came across a book about knitting a pair of socks at the same time! Not just one, but both, so when I'm done with the project, I'll have a pair completed instead of just one and then having to start all over again for the second (which makes one want to sigh...I have to do this all over again??). I hear they call this Second Sock Syndrome, meaning a lot of times only one sock ever gets made. LOL

I found two circular needles similar to the length recommended in the book (a smidge longer than called for, but it still works) in my mom's stash of knitting needles that I found several months ago. They are all plastic, which I wasn't used to at all, but they are working out fine. And here's where I am with the project as of yesterday...

I've actually done the heel part (the part that intimidated me the most about making socks) and it wasn't too bad at all! Last night I finished the sole and am now working on the foot part, then it'll be the toe and I'm all done! Because I have rather "muscular" calves, thanks to my mom and grandmother (I could never wear tall boots comfortably because my calves are kinda large, couldn't zip them up without catching some skin-ouch-or squishing them so tight the boot never fit right) I am making these shorter socks than the pattern calls for. I figured I'd never get the sock over my calf and I don't want to do the work and not be able to wear them. This is just a basic sock, no fancy stitches or designs. I wanted to figure out how to do it first before trying to get all fancy. LOL

And if you got this far, bless you! I hope I didn't bore you to tears. I just wanted to give you a heads up as to what I've been up to and thinking about lately. I'm not upset or anything about the changes...I'm thinking of it as an interesting challenge and something kind of, sort of, fun to see how well I can do at cutting costs.

I hope you have a terrific weekend! The girls are itching to swim again and now that the weather is supposed to warm up...I think that's what we'll do.

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12 comments:

Sharli Schaitberger said...

Jeanne,

You are so wise - this is very do-able! I agree, with all that I already have, I could probably work on stuff for years without having to purchase another thing. I think wanting to have the "latest-greatest" is a bit like an addiction - and it really isn't that healthy! We need to work at re-discovering the beautiful things we adored so much last year when we had to have them!

As for the windows - YIKES! I don't have storm windows - it's a pretty simple process and I still don't do it very often. Hats off to you!

So glad the girls love their teacher, and love school. It helps!

Hugs.

Kathi Carlson said...

Oh man, I wish you lived next door, so we could talk this out over cups of coffee ... oh wait, a couple of Pepsis! While the reasons are different, we seem to be on the same wavelength these days. Were I to share my thoughts here, my comment would be longer than your post! Just know, friend, I know where you're at and understand. There's only one thing I ask and that is that you pop into the blogosphere just a bit more often cuz' I miss you ...

P.S. Love the socks and can totally relate to "Two Sock Syndrome." Were I to knit, I would be the one with a pile of single socks. That's if my attention span allowed me to get the first one done. LOL.

Wonderful, too, that the girls are still lovin' school. I miss hearing stories at the end of the school day - a benefit to all of being/having a SAHM!

Alanna said...

Jeanne, I'm glad to hear what you've been up to. I think it's fantastic news that you're going to try and use up what you've already purchased. I'm sure that most of us could live on what we already have in our craft room for a long time. I know I could.

Your window project sounds like a big one and I'm so happy that you got so much done.

How lovely that both your girls are so thrilled with school. A zest for learning and for being at school is a good thing for sure.

I hope you enjoy your weekend. I'm stuck indoors studying for my test on Monday but wish I could be enjoying the nice weather and doing something fun with the kids.

Sparkplug17 said...

Your socks look adorable and so comfy!

Sarah said...

I am SO glad your girls are enjoying school and love their teachers! That is SO important.
I LOVE your socks LOL...can't wait till my mom gets here from the UK and I can show her your blog and all you do!
I hear you about the economy...you know it is impacting us....I looked at all my 'stuff' and realized that it would take me a VERY long time to use it all up. So it is totally about wanting and not needing with me...sigh...tough lesson to learn.
WTG on the windows...mine need doing too !

stampmonkey said...

Hi, Jeanne! I can totally relate to your needing to be frugal AND having enough supplies that I could have my own crafting 'store' at home. This industry certainly does its best to drag us into this never-ending commercialism, and now with all the blogs and DT artwork, it's everywhere you look --even when you're not really looking! I should be joining you on your quest...probably in need of it more than you are! If you come across any good tips, please share them. ;) I only wish I had some 'alone' time where I could get organized, etc. --that's one of those mixed blessings with homeschooling.

I love the fun and colorful yarn you chose for your socks! And it looks like they're coming along nicely. What a great idea to make both at the same time, and how special it must be that you get to use one of your mom's needles for this project! I've never heard of the "Second Sock Syndrome," but now that you mention it, it makes total sense. lol (But what would you do with just one sock??) Anyway, it doesn't look like you're gonna have that issue. ;)

What fun it must be for you to hear how much your girls, especially Amy, are enjoying school and their teachers. I think it does make a huge difference when the teacher puts forth the effort into her lessons to make learning fun for the kids. Let's hope that she can capture their hearts and minds all year long and not just in the initial stages of their 'courtship.' ;)

Thanks for sharing all you do! Life's not ALL about crafting (not that I'd mind if it were.... lol). ;)

Kim Burmeister said...

Glad to see you knitting again! Perfect time, because the cool weather will be here before we know it.

Felicia Fernandez said...

1st and 3rd grade...wow. The girls are getting so big. We kept Gabe back in Kindergarten and Marcellino is in the 4th grade. It's so crazy!!!!! I toss the idea about a part time job when Xavier is in school sometimes. But nothing big...Borders or a craft store. Very part time so I can still volunteer at school too. But I also want to work in my craftroom because I just can't seem to do it now. I have been pretty determined to not buy anything new until my stash is pretty depleted, of course it helps that there isn't a Michaels or Joanns in Hawaii. The local stores are so expensive and that definitely helps. Hugs!

mE said...

Hi Jeanne!

You already told me the other day how busy you were, but just reading your post has worn me out. LOL!

I know it's tough, but your family will be blessed with you staying home (it may be in the long run)... You're right about the stuff to last a lifetime in our scrap areas. It's such a good idea to use what we have. I think it will help us to stretch our creativity, too! Just the other day I made my own Glimmer Mist because I wanted a different color than the awful pink that I purchased.I should have tried it in the first place because Id have saved myself $6.00 plux tax!

I can't wait to see your completed socks!

Hugs to you!

Erin

AaronB said...

I so wish I had your will-power! I have so many supplies and not enough time in the world to use them all! You Go Girl~

Heather said...

Hello, dear craft goddess and creator of beauty! :) Keep posting those projects. I love them all. ALL of them, I tell you!

Jackie said...

are the sock heels hard to do? not great at picking up stitches....