What Have I Been Up To?

As you know I haven't blogged in several months. I am not sure exactly why.....maybe I just didn't want to share my thoughts for a while. My mind is in a different place now, so I will let you know what I've been up to.

I've done some traveling, not too far.....Sauder Village in Ohio, Chicago for the International Quilt Festival, to the Ludington area for Quilt Retreat by the Lake II, to East Tawas for a family reunion, to my sister's home up north for our annual family gathering, to Chelsea/Ann Arbor to see a friend from sixth grade who was visiting from Manhattan, to Flint to see the Chihuly Exhibit and later to attend the Michigan Quilt Artist Invitational opening reception, to Marshall for a quilt show and the list goes on and on.

I got an iPod and learned how to use it. I don't use it enough but I am working on remembering to take it with me when I walk and when I work in the garden.

I saw lots of free outdoor concerts this summer featuring great local music. I also saw a few plays. I had dinner with friends several times.

I have been spending lots of volunteer hours with Habitat for Humanity Lansing attending meetings, participating in fundraisers and helping spread word about our good work in the community.

I sorted through tons of stuff in my home and had a huge garage sale two weekends in a row and sold lots of stuff. All my proceeds are earmarked for a new roof in a few years.

I endured six furlough days this summer and I assume we will have even more next fiscal year. At this moment the state budget has not been finalized for next fiscal year and it is quite likely that state government will shut down come October 1st. I am very busy at work and receive tons of calls from people with really sad stories such as being without health coverage, needing help with health insurance problems and needing answers to tons of questions that come up when people are being laid off and loosing their health coverage. I am glad I can be of some help but it also makes me thankful that I have a job. Having close relatives and friends who have lost jobs recently makes me even more thankful.

I made my first purchase off of Craig's List and now I am hooked. I got two Japanese Maple trees at a fraction of the normal price. Ebay is still my fav though.

I've spent way too much time on Facebook but have gotten back in touch with old classmates.

I moved 5 yards of mulch to my gardens in the backyard and spread it without any help and I wasn't in too much pain afterward. My new wheel barrow was a big help.

I've made a few quilts for my niece and nephews. I have more quilts in the works. I will share pictures with you later.

I found out this last week that I had mushrooms growing in my attic.....yup....seems the attic fan area has had a leak for many years and it had just started showing on the bathroom ceiling after we had a few hard rains this summer. It has been fixed as well as some other areas of my house that needed repairs. Unfortunately, I have more painting to do now....the bathroom ceiling, the office wall where the window had been leaking (which means the whole room will probably need to be painted), and the guest room that suffered moisture damage. I was planning to paint the guest room this winter so that wasn't unplanned.

My lawn has not looked this healthy in several years. It has stayed lush and green all summer. It seems the cool summer and frequent rains, not to mention my regular fertilization, has done the trick. I surveyed the yard this weekend and pulled a few healthy weeds but all in all I am quite pleased with my lawn.

We lost some icons this summer: Michael Jackson, yes.............I am and always will be a fan. He had a sad life but he had more talent than anyone I can think of; Ted Kennedy....I hope they pass some greatly needed health care legislation despite his absence. He was a great man, human and imperfect, but he did so much for all of us; Mary Travers....I used to sing Jim and Terri to sleep when they were younger by singing "Leavin' on a Jet Plane". That was one of my favorite songs when I was about 12 years old.

If you didn't get a chance to see the movie about Georgia O'Keefe on Lifetime last night, catch it tonight or later this week/month. It was really interesting to learn about her life. There were occasional shots of her artwork too. Great acting too.

Today is the first day of my third year as a divorced person. I am still grieving but I feel much stronger than I did a year ago.

Well, I am tired from a long hot day working in my garden and "Mad Men" will be on soon (I am hooked on that show).....so until next time.....

OOPS! I almost forgot to remind you about the Habitour this week...if you can make it, please come see our latest home being built by.....Walmart and its volunteers! The Habitour is Wednesday, September 23 from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm at 429 Chilson off of North Larch in Lansing. I hope to see you there.