:Musings:

Twofer: 17/52 & Craft Challenge Round-up

Nicky9 Comments

This week has been long, short, trying and happy all in the same vein.   I was out all day yesterday which leaves today as the one day I have to get everything I need to get done for the weekend.  So instead of doing two posts I’m going to do my “Blessings” post and my craft-challenge round up together.   Hope you don’t mind.  😳

17/52

  • This week brought me two very unpleasant professional interactions that made the second part of the quote below very real and very true.

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  • But while those interactions were unpleasant, one thing that I did appreciate was that I  recognized early in both interactions the reality of the second portion of the  quote and knew when to stop talking.  That minimized the level of frustration I could have felt and provided added impetus for me to get certain things done.  I can’t say that I’d like to repeat those interactions but they definitely were great learning tools.
  • Spending the day outside my urban jungle yesterday.  It was a splendidly beautiful day and it was just so refreshing and rejuvenating being away from all the lack of quiet and privacy that exists in an urban environment.
  • Being able to reconnect with a young woman I used to babysit when I was 19.  The trip outside the city yesterday was to attend her baby shower.  It’s been a couple of years since I’d seen her but I recently reconnected with the family.  It was wonderful to see the woman, wife and soon to be mother she’s becoming.  Just heart-warming!  Best to you T!
  • I may not be able to purchase yarn, but I’m not going to lie, the two unpleasant interactions (discussed above) made me want to do some retail therapy.  It was awesome that my two yarn club installments from Oct and Nov of last year piqued some interest (the colours didn’t work for me) and I was able to do two kinda sorta trades.   On Friday, I got two of these babies:

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Two Madeline Tosh Merino Light skeins in Magenta.  To replace my yarn club Vishnu and on their way are

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  • Four skeins of Madeline Tosh Sport in Gilded for my three skeins of Tosh Mo in El Arbol.  Yes you read that right!  😛  I’m getting four for three since the price paid for the four (bought on sale) is just a few $$ short of what I paid for the three skeins.
  • And, if that wasn’t enough, my friend E, is sending me some undyed skeins (I should get those tomorrow) so I could continue to practice dyeing!  So while I didn’t purchase yarn with my own $$$, these stash enhancements came as wonderful treats without me having to break my cold sheep streak!!!!  How awesome is that?!

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As for my craft book challenge this month, I:

  • had some fun and created some cuties aka my Spring Time project.

All of these projects came from these books below — although I need to tell on myself and disclaim that the Spring Time cuties came from 500 Crochet Blocks which was recently purchased.  😛  Aahhh well.  At least it’s not some random magazine; it’s a learning tool. That means I can catch a break right?  😀

april 2013 craft book challenge

I still haven’t started Z’s blanket because I’m wavering on if I should use the Red Heart Super Saver yarn or if I should get something softer.

The apt hunting and other changes count-down is on for me so I have to be brutal with my time management.  With all of that however, my goals for May is to:

  • test swatch this project and maybe even start it.
  • learn a new technique
  • start and try to finish my first garment.  I mean, I’m ridiculous with this now.  It’s been on my list for two months.  It’s only a baby sweater.  One that I could supposedly finish in 5 hours.  In May, I have two long weekends, I MUST finish this.  #teamtenacity
  • mess around with my dyepot some more.  I’ve been bitten by the dyeing bug!  😀
  • if I have the time, try to join the #teamsocklovers and at least start my first pair of socks.

Hope you all had a great week and cheers for wonderful happenings in the upcoming week!

16/52

Nicky2 Comments

This week was an interesting week.   Not in a bad way, just interesting (for lack of a better description).  There have been some signs of change that were small, but concrete.    Although there are some things I’d rather just have go away, these events this week were encouraging to me.  They added impetus for the life changes that I’m working on.  😀   This week, I felt blessed and grateful for:

  • Not having to pay back any monies on my tax returns.  Last year, between federal and state I owed 1K plus dollars.  In 2012, I upped my pre-tax contributions to the limit and that worked in my favor.  So very grateful for not having to owe any this year.
  • Seeing the end of a project I’ve been trying to complete for the last five years.   Between the stalling of executive staff, them losing valuable paperwork, I was just never able to move this project from the “must do” stage.  This week, an email from the vendor, giving me paperwork I need to review was a huge step in the completion of this project.
  • Getting a speedy response from another vendor who I’m trying to work out some additional benefits for for an employee who’s now looking at long-term disability.   This was especially gratifying because I know he needs the benefit but mostly because his current supervisor and my supervisor are looking to “replace” him because he’s exhausted leave time.  I needed to have that application reviewed and accepted by the insurance vendor before they terminate him and it was done!!!!   😀
  • Believe it or not, a health scare this week turned out to be a blessing.  Reminded me that I need to treat myself better.

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  • An email from a friend regarding her work situation which motivated me to not be afraid  or too upset about my own current happenings.  It made me remember that no situation (good or bad) is going to last always.
  • An email exchange between me and my play-sister.  It’s been a while since we had a chance to chat like that.  She had me laughing out loud in my office with tears running down my face.   That felt so good.  😀

New Beginning