I sewed something!

Despite the sewing room pitch-and-toss/reorganization being done (...because the guy who was going to refinish my tub suddenly had a couple of days free and could do it "right now"!!! )  ...I did a little sewing today.

My DIL found an over-sized pillow and asked me to make a pillow cover for it so that grandson George can prop up and read with it behind his back.  BTW -  George is oldest grandchild who is going off to college in a couple of weeks.

With the closure of my LQS, the only options I have for fabric are Hobby Lobby and Walmart and I was fortunate to find some cotton duck/canvas that wouldn't be embarrassing for a college freshman (i.e., no flowers, kitties, or puppies)

I kept it simple (no zipper or buttons), just an envelope back...   but while I was sewing, I was reminded that my next sewing project needs to be a non-slip mat for the sewing machine pedal that likes to slide further and further out of reach.

I had pinned instructions for a non-slip sewing machine foot pedal mat (link) on Pinterest for this day...   and it will be my next project.  

After I finish up the sewing room redo, I am promising myself to clean up after every single project.  Anyone want to bet how long that resolution lasts???

Retirement: A Month In

I have to say that adjusting to retirement has been interesting and this past month has definitely had a different feel than "summer vacation" in the past...  for example, I don't feel as if I need to rush on projects.  Don't get it finished today?  That's okay... plenty more time to get it done.

I've been doing a number of little chores around the place such as taking apart and cleaning my vacuum cleaner and mopping the front porch... fun stuff that no one notices but you.  However, I have started hoeing out the sewing room, which consists of many steps.  I've been offered help but honestly, the hauling stuff out and cleaning is the easiest part.  The organizing/putting away will take some time but the hardest part:  rearranging sewing furniture in a 10'x10' room with wall-to-wall closet doors.  Not many places to put stuff.

It would help if I moved the desk and file cabinet out of the room but I don't know where I'd put it.  I like having all my "office stuff" together, and when following an online tutorial, it does help to have my laptop in the same room as my sewing machine.

(Yes, there are holes in the radiator cover... yet another project ahead of me.)

Previously, I had my ironing board set up in an L-position with my sewing tables but I swapped that out for a shelf with a portable cutting board-that-reverses-to-a-ironing surface.  I'll be able to store the iron on the shelf as well as the serger, which can be moved to the top shelf when needed.

I've also moved lights around and tried to brighten the dark corners of the room.   The moving/cleaning part is the easiest... it's the figuring out where to put stuff that is hard.  Several cups of tea were required....

No estimate on when I get this done but it's not a problem...  after all, I'm retired and have all the time I want!

New Adventures Ahead

Yes, it finally happened... retirement!  There have been times when I didn't think I'd make it but I did.

Tomorrow is the first Monday in June that I don't have to be at work at the crack o' dawn in 11 years.  Nice...  so this afternoon, I made some red pepper hummus (link) because I'm not pushed to get everything done today...

A friend gave me some lovely roses last week for my retirement so, this morning, I recut them and gave them some nice fresh water to drink...

I imagine it's going to take a while to get used to this and I probably won't "feel" retired until school staff start back to work in August.... but I don't mind!  I want to savor this being retired...

The end of April, there was a bit of a "heart incident" resulting in a ride to the ER and subsequently being admitted to the hospital.  Nothing found but I racked up medical bills over $12K in less than 24 hours.

It was my first (and hopefully last) episode of atrial fibrillation (link)  but, in addition to new meds, I also had a bunch of appointments and medical tests in May (still found nothing)...  on top of work, getting stuff done related to retirement, and normal life stuff.  So things went to heck in a hand basket around the house.

Since last Wednesday (first day of retirement), I've been organizing paperwork to file away, pitching and tossing stuff that needs to be recycled or discarded, and starting to do some deep cleaning.

My "to do" list is l - o - n - g but I'm already making progress.  When people ask what I'm going to do in retirement to keep busy.... I just laugh!

One of the first big projects on my list is to clean out and reorganize my sewing room.  It's a disaster right now and I won't be able to start sewing again until reorganization...

Surprisingly, I've gotten involved in local politics related to public school funding (or lack thereof) and I foresee my becoming more and more involved in various issues going forward. 

  

I think I'm going to find PLENTY to do in retirement....