Some cook, I sew and write: creativity brings joy

Recently I had a soul defining moment that I've been dodging for YEARS. It's called RETIREMENT, and it's LOOMING over us like someone else's nightmare. And it has another name:  DEBT.  I finally had enough about a year ago.  Jim quit his job and went to the more risky venture of contracting his services.  In the process, he finally started getting paid closer to what he is worth. And nothing changed.  Okay, his diet plan got easier to pay for.  But that was it. How did that happen?  I know because I've always kept track of our money, but I didn't control it.  We simply responded to need and concerns.  We've tried very hard to teach our kids to avoid some common mistakes, mistakes that are labeled as DEBT.  Both of our sons have bought their cars with cash. And then one son wrecked his car.  Yucky lesson.  It doesn't look too bad, does it?  But you can't see the underside. You can see the flat tire but you...

Have you ever reached that point that you realized that you were working like crazy and getting behinder by the minute?  Have you reached that point of having four or five quilt tops that are ready to be sandwiched and quilted but no funds to pay someone else to quilt them?  Or realized that you don't have anyone that really needs them? Or have you heard the word MINIMALIST so many times that it's starting to wear on you about how much you AREN'T living that reality? Or maybe TAX time slaps you in the face and you realize that later is now? That happened here. So my frenzied reaction to having a federal tax bill is this: And you are saying, "HUH?" But some of you may recognize this as a small, comfort sized quilt.  This one is actually going to somebody my friend knows, but I have a duplicate headed to the Ronald McDonald House.   How is that going to help? Simple.  It's a tax write off using fabric I already own, already bought....

In the last few days, I've finished enough blocks to bring the total to 36.  I think I'm going to settle with that and make a square quilt.  So my next challenge is how to put up a design board to lay up the blocks. Additionally, I've been resting.  Sunday my family and I went to choir practice to prepare for an ecumenical service, and I came home with a bad case of laryngitis.  Monday I wasn't better; it turned into a full-fledged cold.  <grumble, grumble> The weather turned cold too so I've been staying home with this: I love honey vanilla chamomile tea!  Recently I discovered Integral Collagen from Trim Healthy Mama so I've been adding a teaspoon of the collagen into my tea.  It doesn't do much to the taste, but it's good for hair, skin, and nails.  As a wife and mother, chief cook and bottle washer, sewist, accountant, and whatever else is needed, I am in need of extra help in that department!  Believe me when I say I've d...