no longer working in an office

Thursday was my last day in an office situation again.  I have to admit that there is a lightness to my being by not being in an office.  It does not mean I have any less work, because that is not true.  I just think it comes down to I am happier and I am around happier people.  I definitely do not make as much money this way but what I have I appreciate more.

I was hoping to jump right back into the making I do for my shop but that is not what is going to happen.  I have a pile of mending to do for Koda Bear.  I still have making for three for Christmas.  And I am still finishing two blankets for Blue. 

My Beloved asked for four shirts.  He has work shirts that are wearing out so he would rather use what he has and I can make him new.  He gets more color that way.  His shirts are always commented on positively by other men when he is out and about.

But it means I can go forage pomegranates and see what color they dye silk.  I can go forage the same types of greens that are coming up and see what happens.  I am curious about spinach because I am told it makes a cool green.  I can sew.  Maybe I can finish one of the sweaters I am making for myself or my own mending?  Too many things for me!

And my yarn boxes!  I can work on my yarn boxes!  Blue slept in his cradle while I dressed today because, even at two weeks, he wants to move.  And I was watching him so I needed the sides.  That small boy knows when I walk into a room. 

And it is almost time to plant a garden.  I am thinking of staggering plantings so I can do a little bit at a time.  But I know that broccoli and kale needs to go.  Cauliflower would be good too.  More bell pepper plants!

Small steps.  They work.  And this is a life that makes me happy.

adjusting

There is more adjusting for me going on then I expected since Blue has arrived.  I knew it was going to be a change but I am not sure I knew how much.  More change comes tomorrow.  It is my last day in an office for a bit.

I was going to write last Sunday.  In my head, there was a plan.  That was until I spent four hours teaching ice skating.  Then there were no plans in my head except taking the time to sew.  Which was very restful but not writing.

The thing I noticed most about being in the office and still coaching plus adding the small boys in, is that I have less time to create.  I am also creating different things.  Which I admit to having fun with the plain carpentry I am doing.  I am not going to get back to that until this weekend though.  One more day in the office and the same day coaching.  If my body does not come to a standstill on Friday, I have done well.

Blue and I are actually typing this.  Most afternoons and evenings I give his Mom a couple breaks.  He "helps" me with what I am doing.  Yes, at this point in his life it is sleeping in a sling on my chest so I can have both hands free but it is his job to sleep and grow.  My job to love on him.  I am a quiet spot.

I am hoping to finish a couple blankets to go in the cradle.  The octopus was a quick crochet while we were waiting for him to be born.  It sits in his cradle.  Little steps forward.  It is all I ask.  I still have pajamas to finish for Christmas.  And my Beloved has asked for his own sling and four shirts.  Yes, my life.  It is a good life.  A happy life.  Peaceful?  In a strange way, yes.

The cradle is finished!

I will say it has been an interesting week.  Next week is my last official week in an office situation currently.  There are rumbles they hope to extend for two more weeks or have me come back.  It is the quietest space in my life right now so I can see the positives.  I am not sure what not being there will mean.  I was used to a very quiet house before I went back to office work.  I was very happy in that space.  It is not so quiet anymore so I do not know.  I was thinking I may need a camping trip with a bag of yarn, a hook, and a pile of books when it is warmer.  A present to myself.  

A present like sitting down to the computer first.  I was getting things done yesterday but mid day decided to clean up from working on the cradle.  I was a bit filthy but sore too.  I could feel crud starting so I decided to take a relaxing bath.  My body said "Relax?  You are relaxing??  Time to rest!"  I just stopped.  Oh well.  At least my voice sounds better then most of the family this morning.

The cradle is done.  Koda Bear and my Beloved stained it for me.  They also stained an Adirondack chair we had built together many years ago because it is now outside.  The rearranging of furniture due to the addition of people.  That chair fits me well and there is not a current place for it inside.

I did more sanding and coated it with polyurethane.  Twice.  It turned out well.

My thoughts on it.  I took advice on what materials to use and next time I think I would use wood instead of plywood.  I would not have been so concerned about damaging the surface while I was working on the finish.  Also, I would have gone with dimensionalized 1" by 12" which really comes down to 3/4" by 11 1/2".  I think I would have cleaner connections.  There are a few nails that came through on the bottom.  I find that I hammer better on onside usually. 

The plywood chipped a bit when I used the circular saw on it.  I think the blade needs to be changed out but I did not realize that until after the cutting was done.  I was truly just happy that I had enough skill to use the circular saw as well as I did.  I started the curves on all the egdes with it and they were finished on a grinder.  Yes, pulled out the knife making tools because that was easiest and what we had.  I may invest in a reciprocal saw if I do more of this type of work.

I still have lots of projects.  Being out of an office will help.  But then I always have lots of projects.  I just got asked for shirts this morning.  I have fabric picked out for four.  And I really need to finish my yarn boxes.  I might get a bit done on those today too.  It is cold enough outside to make it hurt your hands to work outside for very long.  I may get there.  I may not.

This is my life.

and the plant dye comes out

I am the crazy lady who goes to the thrift store to buy baby clothes.  Ziggy Monster has worn mostly thrift store clothes so far.  Because I do not buy newborn clothes new and he was a bit small.

But I did buy some organic cotton onesies to dye.  In two different sizes.  And I also have some quilt cotton fabric that I am going to make a comforter for him.  I got the idea from India Flint who makes silk and cotton quilts for the babies in her life.  She prints them with eucalyptus but the Tall Person did not like that idea.

My Dad bought me a new dye pot at the hardware shop near him.  He showed off the one he bought himself and he had thought that it would be perfect for dying so he got me one.  Since my dye pot has become a bey blade stadium, I can no longer scoff.

I pulled some indigo out of my indigo pot and dyed four onesies a light blue.

The fabric really did not dye as dark as the onesies but that is okay.  It is no longer white.  Which is the whole goal.

I then got the purple cabbage out.  Added water, salt, and iron.  Boiled for a hour.  Strained.  Add four onesies and another piece of fabric.

The cabbage is a purple grey which is what I was looking for.

Again, not white.  Also boy without being so baby.  I can always dye them again if I need to but right now I need to see what they actually wash out too.

The quilt is next.  Soon, I will be done with the current list of projects for Ziggy Monster.  I think it will be nice to work on something else.

The monster has arrived!

Ziggy Monster has arrived.  About a week early.  Because he is a pound smaller then most of the babies that have been born into this family, he seems very small to me. 

I did well though.  I had gone to the thrift store to look for clothes for him.  Babies just grow so fast when they are small I thought why not.  I had found a elephant printed onesie.  It has been the only thing that has fit.  He will be coming home in it.  

With him being a week early, most of the projects I am doing for him are not done.  I enlisted Koda Bear's help to sand this morning and I got the cradle put together.

All the edges are sanded so even though it is not stained or polyurethaned, it can be used.  It does not rock very well because I just had a circular saw to cut all the corners.  The boyos took a grinder to it and helped me with the hand holds.

The cradle can be picked up but there is a hope that it will be able to be swung.  I felt the hand holds might be a way to do that.  Because it sure does not rock very well.  I will see if the Tall Short person wishes for me to stain and polyurethane it.  It will be up to her.