Pick Up Sticks

Looking Forward to the Weekend

Despite just getting back from a week off, I am looking forward to a long weekend.  It is always hard being back in the office after time off because there is always so much to get caught up.  I wish I had a job where someone picked up the slack when I was out of the office...sigh....

I am going to get up early each of the three days off and go for a nice long walk.  Even if it is just a leisurely walk it will be nice to get some fresh air...I was going to say fresh air and sunshine but I am not so sure it will be sunny this weekend.  While our winter has been mild it has also been very grey and dreary.

Sunday I have plans with my knit group to go to our LYS for an invitation only sale.  I am looking forward to that - although I really do not need any yarn....well maybe just a skein in green to make some St Pat's socks...or something for a baby knit....we'll see.

Monday I have plans to go shopping and buy some new clothes.  I wear the same thing all the time and could use some new pants and shoes! 

Then back home to try to clean my craft room...it really needs a good reorganization.  The room is too small for my needs...but I guess I just need to pare down my supplies and get creative with my organization.  One of the problems besides being small is that the room has a sloped ceiling so wall space is limited.  I am contemplating moving out the large armoire that is in there.  While I love this piece and it stores all my yarn, it is just too big for the room.  I don't want to get rid of this piece and I am not sure where else in my house it will fit.  Plus my hubby would need help moving it.  But moving out this large piece would free up the largest wall in the room.  I would love to put a long workspace along this wall with storage underneath and shelves above.  I believe this would be more practical for organizational purposes.

Oh the joy of a small home!

 

TGIF

Of so glad it is Friday!  I have been fighting a cold/sinus infection for what seems like forever and it is kicking my butt...I am tired and in need of a break....which I will get next week when I have a 3-day weekend.

Today at work will be a slower day as our servers are down as we migrate to a new system.  so we only have access to email and any documents we saved to a thumb drive.  So I plan on working on organizing my office and reviewing audits.

I am usually at my desk by 6:30 am but dragged my feet getting out of the house this morning.  It actually felt good to relax a bit before heading to work. 

I have a relaxing weekend planned.  I have a few things to get done around the house and then hubby and I have some plans to explore. This is what we call days where we find a town or area to check out.  Not sure yet where we are headed tomorrow but I know it will include a trip to Troeg's Brewery and their new location in Hershey.

But first I will work a short day and then head home for PJ's and leftovers and a glass of wine, snuggled under a quilt with my latest knitting project and the dog.  Sounds like heaven to me.

It's Been a While

Really...last post in March!  Sometimes I wonder why I even try to blog.  I am really bad at this...going months without a post.  Yet I love the idea of blogging...keeping a record of eventful things in my life. 

So much has happened in the past 8 months. 

• Our youngest son graduated from college in May, moved out in July.  He doesn't have a job and has been struggling to find one.  But he moved in with his fiance who has a really good job and is supplementing his income with tutoring and using his savings.  But he is happy and healthy and working really hard to find a job.  He starts substitute teaching next week - even though education was not his field.  His area has a guest teacher program and anyone with a college degree can go through a program to become a guest teacher and sub.  He is really excited and now talking about going back to school to get his teaching certification as he has been told there is a desperate shortage or math and science teachers out there.
• We found out in June (on Father's Day actually) that we are going to be grandparents!  They were barely pregnant at the time but couldn't wait to tell us.  We are so very excited!  Baby is due in February and they are not planning on finding out the gender.  DIL is doing fine and now has a round little belly and looking adorable!
• We took a vacation to the Finger Lakes area of NY - specifically Seneca Lake and a lovely B&B called Magnolia Place.  We had a wonderful time exploring the wineries and breweries in that area and did a little hiking as well.  Here is a picture along a gorge in Watkins Glen State Park which we explored.
• We loved the B&B and would recommend it to anyone visiting the area.  The accomodations were comfortable and the breakfasts phenomenal!
  
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Work has been kicking my butt - as usual.  Hours are long and it has been stressful and I need to figure out a way to handle this better.  More on that in another post.
• September found us taking a long weekend trip to Burlington VT for a family wedding.  We stayed at a wonderful resort where the wedding was taking place - The Inn at Essex- which was lovely.  It is also a culinary resort - they offer packages away to go and take cooking classes - and the food was fabulous!  Even my typically snoopy husband stepped outside his comfort zone and tried - and loved - new dishes.  We travelled up to the area a few days early and explored.  We unfortunately saw the devastation of flooding in VT.  So very sad.  But had a wonderful time with family, visiting wineries and breweries and enjoying cider donuts! 
• And speaking of flooding - September saw unusual weather in our area - including an earthquake and a tropical storm that left 15 inches of rain to our area in 24 hours.  Our small town is still recovering from the flood damage as is our whole area.  While we do not live near a river or creek we did have a large amount of water in our basement from rain sewer water backing up through basement drainage in our neighborhood.  We spent a sleepless 48 hours in the basement pumping water with two sump pumps and two emergency pumps trying to keep ahead of the water pouring into our basement.  But we survived - despite 3 days without power or phones.
• The latest unusual weather happened this past weekend when we received 6+" of heavy snow - in October!  Our area again had major power outages because of downed trees from the heavy snow combined with leaves still on the trees.  October snow sure played a trick on trick or treat!  But our power is restored and life goes on!

But life is good.  My goal is to keep up with my life on this blog - if only for me!

 

Busy

I seem to have quite a few posts about being busy.  Life never seems to slow down.

I did receive the promotion at work!  It was a long process as they had 52 applicants and I was luckily chosen for the position.  Now it is a matter of getting us fully staffed so I am not working 70 hour weeks. 

Amongst all this we went on vacation...planned long before all the hassles at work.  And it was greatly needed.  We camped in NH in the White Mountains and had a wonderful, relaxing time - just me and the hubby.  We biked and hiked a little - hit up several microbreweries and had wonderful fall-like weather.  Daytime temps were in the 70's and night time in the 40's.  I night the whole ride up on Traveling Woman - and ended up using it as soon as it came off the needles - unblocked and no ends woven in.  I had knit it in DK weight yarn and it was so warm and cozy to wear at night around the campfire.

This picture was of the creek 10 foot from our campsite...so peaceful! 

Then we headed to VT to stay with my aunt and uncle for a few days...they live just outside Burlington.  Again we had wonderful weather and had a great time.  We went to Stowe one day for the Taste of Stowe Festival - with great food and wonderful artisans.  I celebrated my new promotion with lots of purchases including some great pottery pieces.

We spent Friday evening on a dinner cruise on Lake Champlain.  They served a NE Lobster dinner - so good!  And then we headed out on the upper deck to watch the sunset over the Lake.

 This vacation was so relaxing...we had no set plans except for the number of days wew wanted to spend in each place.

I visited 2 lovely yarn shops - one in NH - Yarn Garden - and one on VT - Kaleidescope Yarns. Of course I bought something from each shop - I try to buy yans I can't get in my area. 

The highlight of the trip was taking the Cog Railroad to the top of Mt Washington in NH.  The views were spectacular!  Unfortunately our pictures do not do it justice.

 

Nervous

Today I have an interview...within my own company.  

Two months ago our controller was told he was being let go.  It really wasn't a surprise to manyof us including him.  Things just were not working out.  The past year has been a struggle - for all of us at our organization.  Working for a non-profit is always challenging but with the financial crisis these past two years we have seen funding decrease while expenses are always increasing.  We have received some additional stimulus money from the feds - but along with that comes increased reporting and lots more work.  The controller - my boss - didn;t handle the changes very well.  The more changes that came along the more he withdrew and the worse his position in the organization became.  At the same time a decision was made to eliminate a bookkeeper position - so our small department of three will dwindle to two.  And that coupled with the controller leaving at the end of July has made for a few interesting months.  (Yes - despite being let go they gave the two leaving the ability to stay until July 31st - not a good idea)

The controller position was opened up and after a lot of thinking and worrying I decided to apply.  The chances of getting it are slim.  But I was encouraged to apply by some of the people involved in the interview process.  Still - they are hoping to get someone with a CPA - which I do not have.  But I do have two years of experience here and know the workings of the department better than anyone.  I decided to apply because I decided it may be better to try to be the one to come in and make the changes that needed to be made rather than waiting for them to hire someone who would need to learn the job and then make some changes.  All in all - I am not very confident about getting the position.  We'll see. 

I hate to interview!  I get very nervous.  And todays interview will have a panel of 5 people - dear lord!  Granted I know 4 of the 5 very well and they know me and my work ethic so that is always helpful.  But my stomach is in knots this morning.  I am prepared for the interview - did the "homework" they sent out - analyzing another non-profit's 990 form - and feel good about that.  I know I just need to go in and talk about the work I have done here and what changes I feel need to be made.  For the most part I have had this conversatin with our executive director already this week - as my yearly evaluation was on Tuesday. 

After the interview - which is at 2:30 - I am out of here for the day!  My parents are on their way here from NC.  They will spend tonight with us then head up to our hometown in NE PA to visit.  Then on Saturday we will catch back up with them and head to our family reunion.  I look forward to this so much each year.

So off for a busy day...wish me luck!

Busy...Busy...Busy

I miss the days when my kids were little and summers meant long lazy days exploring the creek, making tents in the backyard, cathcing fireflies and lots of popsicles...when school was out and there were no alarm clocks to worry about.

Now my boys are grown up and I am no longer a stay at home mom...but getting up for work everyday and working long days with little satisfaction.  I keep trying to talk my hubby into letting me be a stay at home mom again but he keeps reminding me that we no longer have kids at home.  But what about Dallas...our little pound puppy?  Doesn't he need me home with him during the day?

Sigh...I could easily enjoy being a housewife...just think how clean my house would be, and laundry would be done and I would have time to exercise....

But I know I need to work...it's put 2 kids through college without loans...and additional money into retirement so we won't have to work forever.

But work has been very stressful this past year. I work for a small non-profit that supports a network of larger non-profits.  My immediate boss and our executive director have never been on good terms...long story.  There are confidence issues which have lead up to two people in our department...of a small department of three...losing their jobs...leaving only me as of 7/31/10.  It is awkward and stressful at the moment.  They are replacing the position above me but not the bookkeepers position...should be interesting.

But in the mean time I am back to my days of not sleeping...I let things worry me too much.  I think it is because I care too much about work to be able to let problems at the office.  I need to find a better balance of work and personal life.

My goal this summer is to get to work early and leave by 4:30.  I have been getting up early and walking for 30 minutes each morning and that is helping with the stress.  I love to see the sun come up and enjoy looking at the gardens of my neighborhood - some are beautiful - some not so much.  There is plenty of wildlife - birds and bunnies.  And while it has been unseasonably hot and humid I am enjoying the peacefullness of the early morning.  This has been a good start to my day.  I finish my walk and come home to a big glass of fresh ice tea and peruse my gardens a little - pulling weeds and watering when needed.  Then I sit on the back steps and read the morning paper...then off to get ready for work.  It is a great way to start my day.

  

Signs of Spring!

Last night I came home from work and decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and longer daylight.  After taking the dog for a walk I went in search of signs of Spring.

Flowering Plum Buds

Hyacinth

Hydrangea Bud

Chives   

Glorious Sunshine!

After a gloomy rainy and windy week we finally have some sunshine!  I crave the sun...I truly believe I have SAD - Seasonal Affect Disorder.  On dreary days I have no energy and just want to hibernate.  On sunny days I have more energy than I know what to do with................

I am looking forward to the weekend as we are expecting highs in the 60's.  I want to get out into my gardens and do some cleaning up...and maybe wash some windows....I LOVE clean windows! 

Back to Normal

cabled neckwarmer
Originally uploaded by hearts812

Well today is back to reality...I head back to work...except for leaving a little early to take Matt to the doctor. He gets his splint, drainage tubes and packing out...he can't wait. He will spend the day with his girlfriend...who is here for a few days over Spring break.

I hate that weekends seem to go so fast. I spent Saturday morning working on my craft studio...trying to make everything fit in my tiny space...but it's getting there. I also took some pictures of finished knitting.

This is a cabled neckwarmer I made after the last big snow storm. It was so windy and my scarf kept blowing off so I decided to try some neckwarmers... one for me and one for my husband. We have been wearing them when we walk and they are toasty.

Here is a picture of mine...hubby's is the same except in a back tweedy yarn. I didn't use a pattern just cast on and figured how to make the cables work in the round.

Prize Winner

Manos Silk Blend
Originally uploaded by hearts812

I have read Margene's blog for a long time. I read a lot of blogs but tend to be a lurker rather than a participant. Margene's blog always has wonderful knitting and great pictures of her area...spectacular pictures.

Last week she had a blogiversary contest...post a comment for a chance to win...and I did! I won four beautiful skeins of manos silk blend. It came in the mail today and is so pretty.

Now...how to decide what to knit with it...hmmm....