It’s been two weeks since I last posted and so much has happened in that short space of time. You know some of it already but there’s always more. I needed to re-focus, spring clean my mind and space, so despite the lack of posts I’ve been a busy little bee. Since so much has been going on, this week’s gratitude post will be more pictures than words. So let’s have it, shall we? 😉
click on image circles for larger view
While I was gone I:
- created new work spaces. Moving my sewing machine to the window gives me a lovely view of the neighbourhood at night while I’m sitting at the work-table.
- put together my new storage system for all things yarny, fabric-y and otherwise crafty. For a moment, I was kinda scared that my yarn wouldn’t fit, but except for two smaller bins of sweater quantities and acrylic, all my babies are there for me to access easily. Having the tower of bins out of my bedroom has made such a difference in the way the room looks now. Sometime in the near future, I’ll be painting most of the brown bookshelf matte black with one side of it in chalkboard paint.
- made a template so I can make covers for my new storage boxes. I plan to cover these with fabric.
- registered for Stitches East 2014. So very excited to attend that.
- am watching new things come to life — watercress, basil, impatiens, cilantro (that’s almost ready for transplanting) and newly sprouted today jalapeno pepper shoots — was so soul nourishing. Small evidence that in the midst of death, life continues on in many forms.
- adopted a succulent garden. The challenge is to make have them make it through the winter then I can call myself a real gardener. 😀
- made rye soda bread with chive butter (the base for the butter is brie). Delish!
- had my building management put in a set of stand-alone cabinets with counter-top, now my juicer can be used daily instead of living in a box. That change has made such a huge difference in food prep and cooking. I’m really grateful that they saw my vision.
- updated and sent out something that needed to be updated and sent out. No words necessary except to say that it’s time.
- said goodbye to my old dress-form (Malynda). She was a gift from my mother. At the time, I thought having a foam form would work as my body changes because you can tweak her casing to fit your frame, but I didn’t count on the foam eventually drying out and not being able to sustain the stand. So I’m in the market for another form. My waist to hip ratio is so wide, it was hard to shop for a form previously, so any tips would help.
- did a whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooole lot of spring cleaning. I’m almost done. What’s left can be done as the mood strikes. Except of course for my crafty WIPs, I have to really get these under control. I’m struggling with the size of my mood blanket, but we’ll talk about that later.
- spring-cleaned my life. New goals, new challenges, new habits to be formed. Some will be documented here for accountability.
- was reminded of how good it is to experience new mercies from God every day.
I’ll be back next week with my old format, but before I end today’s post I have to say thank you so very much for your support over the last two weeks. Some of you contacted me through email, left messages here, or contacted me through Ravelry. It’s really wonderful to be a part of your life and community. ❤
I also want to thank Elisa for my new blog header. We’d talked about her making me a personalised one before and I was supposed to point her in the direction of ones I like. I didn’t do my homework. 😦 However, on the day of my friend Lorraine’s memorial service, I got an email from her. Said she had dreams about me and I should check my email. It was a wonderful surprise on a day that was so very difficult.
Hope you’ve all been well and cheers for a great upcoming week.
D'NALI 
What a great post. Love seeing the progress on the garden and spring cleaning. Makes me realize even more I need to get my act together on those (and other things) myself. Spring Cleaning life as you said above.
And you are a real gardener already. It’s more about the process in creating the garden and putting forth the effort in caring for the plants that makes one a gardener.
-Nizzy
Thanks Nizzy. Home and life spring cleaning have really made a difference in how I feel lately.
And thanks so much for the gardening encouragement. I love looking after these little shoots. Getting bounty for them is icing on the cake.
PS: totally love your new header!
Thank you! 😀
Loving, loving, loving everything you’re revamping and planting and nurturing! It must be so satisfying and freeing once all the hard work done. I should put the list that’s in my head onto paper and begin getting my spring cleaning done 🙂
It definitely is satisfying. When I started, I thought I was in over my head but once it came together it was really grand. My space is small so purging often is necessary for me to keep down the clutter. I’m sure if I do another once over, I’ll find other stuff to toss. 😀
Glad I was able to help! By the way, if you ever do your homework and want different ones, just send them my way. I don’t mind at all. 🙂
❤ to you always!!
The blog header looks really nice. You’re definitely in my prayers, you have a lot going on in your life. Jesus is always there even when we walk through those dark passages. I look forward to see what you’re sewing!
Thank you so much Opal. For the blog love, prayers and encouragement. ❤
Life being lived to the fullest, that is great and I’m so happy to see you in this space.
And I’m glad to be back. I didn’t realise how much I had to share until I started to type. You all make this space such a joy to come to. ❤
Wow you were really very busy. Love love everything that you have shared here. 🙂 Yum to the bread and grow little planties grow! 🙂
That bread … oh my! I have to make sure I don’t make it every week. My neighbour’s already requesting one. Woooo Nellie!
That little garden is getting some heavenly input; I’m sure of it. I started my planting so late, it’s amazing to me that they’ve all yielded shoots already. That’s supposed to be near impossible given the germination timelines for some of them. Whatever I get this year, I’m grateful for it. It’s wonderful watching them grow. 😀
Everything looks so nice! I happen to love succulents. They don’t need too much care. Just don’t over-water them. I bet the cilantro smells good! You may want to toss some cedar balls into your yarn box. You have been busy!!
Thank you so much for commenting and for your advice. I’ve been letting the soil dry out completely before watering. I use a skewer down the side of the pot to test if the soil underneath is moist or not. Rather than spraying the pots, I’ve been dunking them in filtered water.
The cilantro is amazing me every day. I honest thought the frost here killed them and was about to plant some more. Instead, I’m getting ready to transplant those babies this week coming. I’m still shaking my head.
Will do re the cedar balls. Do you get yours online or locally? I really should do that quickly since my city’s a critter haven. God forbid I should lose any of my babies that way, I’d cry. LOLOL!
Keeping busy have definitely made things easier over the last two weeks.
I think we picked up the cedar balls at Container Store. One box is plenty for your containers of yarn. Some if those succulents will surprise you with beautiful flowers. Enjoy! All the best.
Thank you so much. I’ll go the cedar balls this week and I can’t wait for my surprise flowers. 😀
You have been busy! I have spring cleaning on my mind too. I like your idea of spring cleaning life too 🙂 xxx
Sometimes you have to spring clean life too you know? The last two weeks brought some things to light that I could really work on — things that would definitely improve my overall well-being. It’s time to listen and toss what’s not working. 🙂
Glad to see such a happy post–hugs!
Thanks love. I’m definitely making my way back to my happy place. 😀