Last of summer, first of fall

I hang onto summer as long as hard as I can, even though the first part of fall is typically beautiful in Michigan. Today is one of those days.

Life has simplified a bit since my last post now that ties to the cottage have been cut. Wonderful memories will last a lifetime but the worries of maintenance are gone. In a difficult year nationwide, many things have eased for me personally. Being home more has reminded me that I am happiest doing quiet things which include making cards and scrapbooking, knitting, reading, and I have learned to binge watch TV. That was a surprise to me, I never thought I'd enjoy it but here I am, an old dog with a new trick. 

I worry about the divide in this country and while the election can't come soon enough (get it over with!), the hurt between citizens won't heal anytime soon. I know there aren't people that I won't look at the same way again, not because their opinions differ from mine, but the way they have behaved. This is true on both sides of the proverbial fence. There are many whose basic beliefs I agree with but not the delivery. I am disappointed when either side, whether in a political, religious, or something as benign as Coke versus Pepsi adds unwarranted comments to their argument or claims that ALL of  "them" are wrong and NONE of "us" have ever made a mistake. I wish everyone in high school was required to take a debating class. They would learn to research BOTH sides of an issue and how to argue for each side. We routinely were told to flip and suddenly present the opposing view as if we hadn't just been arguing for instead of against. 

Hello Fresh meal kits

I've been in a rut when it comes to making dinner. I can't blame it all on shopping, being alone, or other aspects of restrictions under COVID but all of that has made the rut deeper and longer. I've considered meal kits for months, did research to figure out which would best suit me, and talked to friends who have tried them. A neighbor has been happy with Hello Fresh so that is what I chose.

I made the first of three dinners last night. Each of their meal kits serves two people so three kits will make 6 dinners for me. I don't mind having leftovers so I will stagger the meals (cooking and then reheating leftovers) and see how this goes.

Last night's dinner was Creamy Dreamy Mushroom Cavatappi. The directions said it would take 30 minutes to prepare and that is exactly what it took. I supplied the utensils, water for cooking the pasta, butter, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Everything else was provided in the amount required. Here is the amount that I served myself in front of the recipe from the kit. My mushrooms seem to be hidden in the bowl but are visible in the pan. It appears I didn't evenly divide the amount because what remained looks like more than I consumed, but it truly was plenty and very good.

Here's to eating better and getting out of my rut!

I'm tired of bullies and herd mentality

The incident that sparked this post is going to remain vague in my description because I am not going to name the troublemaker and give her any more attention. The crafting community is mostly very generous by nature. Sure, each designer and manufacturer hopes you will purchase their design but most don't run each other down.

The key word in that last sentence is "most". Someone with a history of attacking other designers is trying to paint a well-known figure in the craft world as a racist. Her story didn't ring true and is being discredited by many who are in a position to know, but that is only part of what angers me. There have always been people with agendas and that isn't likely to change.

Perhaps worse than the people making false accusations are the herds who follow them. Why do so many people believe something because they read it online? We've all fallen for a few falsehoods that seemed plausible but most people that I know have learned from those experiences. We've all seen phishing emails that look legitimate until you read closely and see that the sender's email address is not from Amazon, it is from Almazon; Facebook posts that tell you that Bill Gates will donate $1 to a worthy charity each time a post is liked or shared; and stories that tell you not to buy a certain nationally known product because hidden in their logo is a secret message for a subversive group. If a person thinks "huh? That doesn't sound right" they investigate for themselves or at the very least, they don't perpetuate the rumor.

Why do so many believe outrageous stories? It doesn't help that we currently have a narcissist in the oval office who labels anything that favors him as the truth. In the past, when the country as a whole was hurting, presidents have set an example by speaking to all of us, assuring us, telling us at least part of the plan to get through the turmoil and be okay again. I am appalled that he continues to make comments that widen the racial divide in this country. I am angry that he granted clemency to Roger Stone who committed 7 felonies. I can't fathom that he discredits military experts and scientists. I am sickened that he is ramrodding the opening of public schools amid a pandemic that he still isn't taking seriously. With this as an example of leadership and what is morally right, I shouldn't be surprised at anything and that is very sad.

Four months later....

Coronavirus hit Michigan hard this spring. No one in my family has had it but I did lose one friend to it and know of others who have had it, and a few who didn't survive. I don't usually speak of politics but the president has shown no leadership at all in this. Trump refuses to wear a mask, still holds rallies because this is an election year, and says the virus is going to disappear one of these days. He is a despicable person at best and that is all the space I will give him here. Numbers of cases are spiking again, restrictions for our safety are returning, and I can't guess when we, as a country, will be finally on the other side of battling coronavirus.

All of this and a divorce in my family have been the reason I haven't blogged in so long. I still made things, mostly cards, but didn't feel like talking about anything. I know of only a few people who read my blog. I appreciate them and this entry is written to explain the absence.

The reason for this blog has always been to catalog what I've made for my own purposes, including details that might interest another crafter. I will be entering many posts that are dated to reflect when the items were made rather than when the blog entry was written or shared.

Blogs aren't read the way they once were. I'm just not an Instagram gal, partly because I do a lot of posts from my PC and Instagram is a mobile device product.

So.....what am I working on, thinking about, and what am I reading currently?
I am crocheting an afghan that will be a surprise gift for someone. I hope to have that done and photographed soon.

I am thinking about kindness. I try to always be kind and perhaps set an example. I have no problem avoiding those who are spreading negativity to the point of hiding and sometimes unfriending some people on Facebook, even relatives. I know I'm well past the halfway point of my life. There will always be problems and difficult people to deal with, but I can choose who I spend my free time with in person and on social media. It is a kindness to myself.

I just finished reading The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. Wow. I love a novel that makes you think and this is one of those.

No longer sweater weather, but a new photo won't happen until
after a haircut (finally!) in four more days!

Valentine touches around the house

It is a gray sky kind of morning. The snow is patchy and any snow near the street is dirty. Not the best look outside, but my home brings me comfort and changing small seasonal decor brings me pleasure. Not all of these are seasonal but all are about love.

This piece of furniture belonged to my parents and while I'm not sentimental about all furniture, this piece is one of my exceptions.  It usually holds some of my collections.

Like many of my collections, the first item purchased wasn't intended as item #1, the collections just sort of happened. When my husband retired, he built a few birdhouses. Watching birds was (and still is) fun. The first set of decorative birds are not in these photos. They and another pair are elsewhere in the house. I keep saying I am NOT going to buy more birds but then another set speaks to me and finds it way here. I'm hopeless.  Is it corny that I think of us as lovebirds or that I think of my sweetie whenever I see a cardinal now? Not all, not to me anyway, and that is what matters.

 

I also have a fondness for Snoopy and the Peanuts gang, and Disney too, especially characters from my childhood. These next three items and the first pair of birds above are all Jim Shore creations. Lady and the Tramp stay in place all year.

 

  

Boyd's Bears are another collection I have throughout the house. I don't keep as much out at one time these days, I rotate what I display. Some Boyd's Bears are actual plush bears. That company was acquired by a larger one and the whole line was retired in 2014.

 

I had to have this mouse because she not only plays with scissors (like me!), she has a ladybug, another one of my "things".

Both of the mice are Enesco products. I'm not sure this particular line is still in production. 

This is a shelf under my TV. The sign is out nearly all year, moved only for autumn and Christmas signs that fit there. The snowmen on either side are SnoWonders by Sarah's Attic, another company that no longer exists. 

This wall hanging is between my living room and kitchen, made a long time ago.

And last but not least, this hangs on my front door. It is beginning to show its age, but so am I.

Happy February

I've just changed a profile picture, the background and header here, and I've rearranged the living room. Why? Winter-itis, or as one friend suggested, I'm controlling what little I can. I think she hit the nail on the head.

My part of Michigan was having an easy winter until this past Monday. The polar vortex business was bad news but it was worse elsewhere so I'm trying not to complain about it. I did have a frozen pipe at the kitchen sink. It is an outside wall and to make matters worse, the exterior area is a corner that seems to like to collect north wind. I leave cabinet doors open under the sink in bitter weather but that was not enough this week. It has been at least 15 years since I had to use a hairdryer to thaw a pipe. This week was worse. When I didn't get a relatively quick result with that, I put a heater inside the cabinet. It took nearly an hour which was 20 minutes past my comfort zone. I don't think I'm an impatient person. My problem is uncertainty. How long is too long? When is it time to call in help?

Rearranging the living room worked off that tension and moved where I usually sit away from an outside wall.  I hate winter despite not wanting to leave Michigan. I'm so complex! 

What am I doing to get through the winter days?  In no particular order of priority or preference, I am knitting a long scarf. It will be loooooong.

I am doing color charts for three types of colored pencils (each has a different attribute, I'll spare you a lecture) and Copic markers. The charts below are just the pencils. I primarily work on white, but it is good to know how the colors will look on kraft paper (beige) and other mid-tones, and then on black. This is homework for online classes I will be taking. This was going to be simple. Ha! While not difficult, this represents over 7 hours of work. 

The current book I am reading is this one:

Most of my TV viewing lately is either YouTube videos from cardmakers and artists or Acorn TV, a subscription channel that has programming from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Click the Acorn link if you'd like to know more about it. There aren't many American network shows that I watch anymore.

My unintentional but frequent hobby is blocking phone numbers on both my landline and cell phone. If this was exercise, I'd be positively svelte by now!

One reason I won't be svelte anytime soon is this gift from neighbors. Chinese New Year is this Tuesday, February 5th.

 

Is there a meaning behind French Cookies with Chinese packaging arriving on Groundhog's Day? I think there is. I think I am supposed to make another pot of coffee, turn the TV on to Acorn, pick up my knitting and enjoy both the cookies and thoughtful neighbors!

Farewell 2018

Whether your inclination is to say a year was bad or good, a year is just 365 days strung together under a four-digit classification. Sometimes the best we can do during tough times is to decide to handle them with as much grace and comfort as possible. When we label something as bad, the negative dominoes in our minds begin to fall and soon everything about that day, week, month or year is tainted. 

2017 was a very difficult year for me personally. 2018 meant the final rounds of "firsts" to endure after a terrible loss and I was pretty much ready for them. I am, by nature, a survivor emotionally. I don't know if that is in my DNA, something I unconsciously learned, or if it is sheer will-power. What I didn't foresee and therefore prepare for in 2018 was witnessing the pain of others who are now in similar circumstances. I hurt for them and I hurt for me again. 

What can I do to help them and also me? I can be realistic. I can do mundane things for them that won't alter their journey but will free up time cooking and shopping, doing a load of laundry, etc. I can be there if they want to talk and know first hand not to push for updates because the last thing they might want at that moment is to talk. I can empathize but I don't need to carry this all day. Oddly enough, I didn't feel that way when it was my load to carry. I chose to find some good in everything and smile because it sure felt and looked better than showing fear.

We all have things to celebrate but we sometimes forget this. I have forgotten this a few times in 2018 and I'm saying farewell to that. 

Kindness matters and way too much of society has forgotten that. 

I've said things on Facebook that I still believe politically, but I don't need to say them to get thumbs up from like-minded friends. and negative comments from others. The division in this country is alarmingly wide and when confronted with a Them vs Us mentality, not much can be said that would open a discussion rather than an argument. 

I'm not going to fix the world or likely even affect much of it, so what is my plan for 2019 and beyond? 

1.  Take care of me. That isn't selfish, that is practical and healthy. 

2.  Help my family, friends and my neighbors. 

3.  Remember to look for the good in everything.

Can you imagine how great it would be if we all did this? If I take care of me, I'll be too busy to see that you are eating canned vegetables, watching more than 2 hours of television, letting your kids stay up too late, and whatever the latest thing to ridicule on social media might be.

If I help my friends and neighbors and they help their friends and neighbors, won't this chain of extended hands soon reach across the city, states, the whole country and maybe the world?

Do I sound like an aging hippie? Perhaps, but isn't that better than bitter?

Goodbye, 2018.  Thanks for the lessons and for the laughs. Thank you to my Sweetheart who provided enough love to last a lifetime and beyond. 💗

Home from Alaska

If anyone had told me years ago that I would visit both Hawaii and Alaska, I would have rolled my eyes and said "sure" in my best sarcastic voice, but I have done just that. I visited Hawaii with my husband and good friends in 2012, and now I've seen part of Alaska with one son and a group of friends in August.

The trip was a cruise on Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Sea. I cruised twice on Carnival ships in the 1990's, on Norwegian in 2012 and on Disney in 2016. Carnival may be different today, but based on my experiences, Carnival was #2, Norwegian was #3, Royal Caribbean was last in my overall experience and Disney was far ahead of everyone in the #1 position. It wouldn't be fair to compare every part of the cruise experience when over 20 years have passed since the first Carnival cruise. Some things about that will always stand out because it was our first cruise. I am not going to bash anything about Royal Caribbean or staying in a home in Vancouver through Airbnb. Everyone's taste and expectations vary. There wasn't any one thing wrong with a capital W on either the cruise or the house in Vancouver the night before the cruise, I simply won't use either company again. Maybe it is true that we get set in our ways as we age. All I know is that I have certain expectations and want to relax when on vacation.

There is beauty in every state, province, island, and neighborhood I've visited. Alaska was certainly no exception. Most of the excursions were in ports that featured rugged outdoorsy events. That is so not me, but neither is an endless line of stores selling items labeled "Alaska" with made in China or the Phillippines on their labels, nor the high-end jewelry stores. Personally, if I am buying something pricey, I'd rather buy it close to home in case there is a problem.

What were the best parts of the vacation?

 

Towel creatures appeared a few evenings.

This music was lively but sadly the actual shows and the comedian were not. 

Lots of peaceful views of water and sky, nearly always with clouds. Alaska has precipitation 300 days per year. Flowers were gorgeous. My baskets at home are fried despite daily watering.

When it came to eating, lunch at The Twisted Fish in Juneau and lunch at Club Paris in Anchorage were both great. Even if dining onboard is wonderful, it is nice to have a change of scenery and the food at both places was very good.

The best part of the whale watching excursion (through Liquid Alaska, Juneau tours) was seeing 6 whales and learning so much about them.  I don't have a good photo of a whale breaching but here are some of my travel companions dressed for the weather.

The best part of the cruise itself was seeing the Hubbard Glacier.  With some knowledge of art and colors, I was familiar with the color "glacier blue" but seeing the actual source...oh my!

The weather changed before our eyes. Mist, then clear. Dark clouds, then a bright haze.

I think the one block of time I enjoyed the most was the scenic train from Seward to Anchorage. Seward was where we disembarked at 6:00 AM. Our return flight home was later that day from Anchorage. A shuttle would have taken us there in a shorter amount of time but the almost 6-hour train ride was lovely. My son and I were part of a travel group of six, but each of the three family pairs were seated across from other passengers. Our travel mates were a couple from Texas that had traveled extensively and were great conversationalists. Breakfast on the train was reasonably priced and good. The information shared by the tour guide was excellent.

 

I didn't think to take a photo of the train before we got on or immediately afterward. Getting up at 5:00 AM may have had something to do with that. If anyone knows Thomas the Train videos, doesn't this conductor remind you of Sir Topham Hatt?

Traveling can teach us so much about things we aware of in other parts of our country or the world, and also makes us appreciate what we have at home. No matter how comfortable your lodgings were, is there anything better than your own bed and pillow after a week or more away?

Top Chef competition between sister restaurants

The restaurant that held this is Testa Barra in Macomb Township, MI. The first restaurant the owner opened is named J. Baldwin's. That one is classified as American cuisine (and I love everything I've had there) and this is his Italian restaurant which opened a year ago. Chef Baldwin is classicly trained in French cuisine. Having worked with many chefs before opening his own place, then training sous chefs, and seemingly being a nice guy and fair boss, he hand-picked his chefs and mixologists for both restaurants. The Top Chef competition is between various chefs at both restaurants. The diners vote for their favorites between 2 drinks, 2 salads, 2 entrees and 2 desserts. Each winning chef gets a cash prize and bragging rights. All of the diners had registered and paid for this event. We were given printed recipes for each submission but occasionally an ingredient or specific description (such as Tuscan kale and another variety versus generic kale) were omitted.

First was the Cocktail Course.

  

Not much to see in the photo to differentiate the two but they were very different. The one on the left is a Grand Anejo Paloma. Ingredients were El Mayor Anejo (premium tequila); Grand Marnier; agave nectar; lemon juice; red grapefruit juice; Angostura bitters; and an orange slice. The rim of the glass had a crust of cinnamon sugar.

The drink on the right was a Ginny Hendrix. This used Hendricks Gin (another premium label); lime; lemon; agave syrup; Peychaud's bitters; cucumber, and torched a rosemary sprig. Yes, you read that right. He torched a rosemary sprig, then muddled the rosemary, cucumber, lemon, and lime.

With dinner but not a competition, a red wine was served. It was Spanish Quarter Cabernet Sauvignon/Tempranillo. This was a 60/40 combination of those two wines, the second one I had never heard of but that isn't saying much. I am not an oenophile even if I know that word. 😉  The description said this deep, purple-red wine had a nose and palate of ripe, dark berry fruits with a hint of dark chocolate and vanilla oak.

The Salad Course featured kale.

 

One the left is Warm Kale Salad with Pear Vinaigrette. The unexpected ingredients (to me at least) were broccolini, white navy beans, and toasted garbanzo beans. He seasoned them and toasted them in a skillet. Delicious! The seasoning was omitted in the printed recipe and I couldn't hear what he said while cooking.

The salad on the right is New Kale Salad. This kale was raw where the first one was slightly wilted. Both dark and golden raisins were added along with pine nuts. The dressing was balsamic vinegar, brown sugar and honey.

The Main Course had two very different meals which were plated together for ease of serving to approximately 70 people.

On the left is Blackened Shrimp & Grits with Andouille Sauage. Cheddar and gouda cheeses were added to the grits and a ladle of beurre blanc sauce went over the shrimp. On the right is Lamb and Beel Ragu made with beef short ribs and lamb shanks. This was served over sriracha strozzapreti (pasta) with crumbled goat cheese to balance the heat.

The Dessert Course featured fried pastries.

The J.Baldwin's Doughnuts with Caramel Sauce were tossed in cinnamon sugar and served with a salted caramel sauce. The Bombolinos with Creme Anglaise had a lemon flavor that is missing in the recipe and was undoubtedly given but couldn't be heard.

My opinions and the winners.

The winning drink was the Grand Anejo Paloma. I didn't vote for either because I didn't care for either one. I rarely drink alcohol anymore and admittedly do not have refined tastes. If pressed to choose, I would have picked the Paloma over the Ginny Hendrix. Normally I prefer gin over tequila but the cucumber really did not appeal to me at all. The red wine was completely lost on me but others seemed to enjoy it.

The winning salad was the Warm Kale Salad. Both salads were good and I am not a fan of kale. If the New Kale Salad had been served first, I might have liked it more. The warm salad was much better in my opinion and having eaten that first, the other one didn't stand a chance.

The winning entree was the Shrimp & Grits. The vote count on this was close, deservedly so. Both entrees were very good. The heat of the ragu wasn't overwhelming, but it was there. If I were to make this at home, I would omit the sriracha but that is just me. The Shrimp & Grits were perfect.  A lot of people born and raised in Michigan without any southern heritage don't like grits. I am the rarity among my friends and most relatives. Everyone near me liked these, even those who aren't fond of grits.

The winning dessert was the Doughnuts with Caramel Sauce. I totally agree. The other dessert was just fried dough to me. Doughnuts are not an item I ever choose (no fried pastry ever is) but these were very good.

This was a fun event and I have nothing bad to say about the restaurant. People are another story. This gives you an idea of how close we were seated but this was still comfortable. Most people were there with at least one friend. We were asked to be QUIET while a chef was speaking. Twenty years ago, background noise didn't interfere as badly when I'm trying to focus on what someone is saying but LOUD boozy people who are regulars at an establishment (meaning they are as comfortable as if you had entered their home) would have been hard to block out even when I was 20-something.

 

If I go again, I would get there as soon as the doors open (the restaurant is normally closed on Mondays) and get a seat as near the chefs as possible. The chefs each had a mic so hearing wouldn't have been a problem if people hadn't been rude. The mirror over their work area was easily visible for all in attendance. I am not likely to make any of these recipes at home but not because anything was too difficult or distasteful. I paid to enjoy the evening and learn but the boozy broad next to me talked over all of the details.
over all of the details.

The things we don't think about....

There was a massive fire last night at an automotive dealership. No lives were lost and it appears that the fire was accidentally started by a spark when a cleaning crew was buffing a floor. The new car showroom was not directly affected although there may be smoke damage and must have an unpleasant smell this morning. The entire repair facility burned though, requiring firefighters from 12 stations to extinguish the flames. No people were injured but between 20-30 customer owned vehicles were lost.

Why am I writing about this? The business that my husband had was near this dealership and we interacted with them routinely. This alone would make it feel like a family member has suffered. More than that, despite being a business owner for many years with a large desk in his office, my husband was always a mechanic at heart. I've been a mechanic's wife since I said "I do" all those years ago. 

I am sorry for the loss and inconvenience that the vehicle owners are experiencing but I believe insurance and good business practices (this dealership has a good reputation) will take care of them. As a mechanic's wife, my heart goes out to the mechanics who have lost the tools of their trade. Hopefully, insurance will take care of them too, but replacements won't appear overnight. 

The things we don't think about...

If you aren't a mechanic or related to one, do you have any idea how much they have invested to those huge tool chests?  Here is the Snap-On Tool site if you'd like to get an idea. Mechanics are paid hourly. No place to work means no income, and depending on how long it takes for insurance to investigate and issue checks to recover the cost of replacements, they have no tools to work anywhere at the moment.

The things we don't think about...

I've experienced snobbery by people who have never had grease under the fingernails. Some think that "grease monkeys" really are more monkey than human. Some of these people don't know which part of a paintbrush is held to apply paint to a wall so their limited opinion means nothing to me. Every single profession is necessary. Those who look down on trades annoy the hell out of me. If we are lucky and remain healthy, we may never need a surgeon. Many people never consult a lawyer in their lifetime. I'm not implying that doctors and lawyers are guilty of snobbery, but some people who make assumptions will think only the letters that they recognize after a surname (B.A., J.D., M.D.) are people of value. How shallow and wrong they are! Everyone is going to need a plumber sometime in their life and wants a mechanic that they can trust. Every person has value. Your education, your home address, and your religious beliefs can all be worthwhile to you, but they don't intrinsically make you better than another human being.

The things we don't think about...

Getting back to the loss of tools, I'm wondering how many of us have up to date inventories of the tools we use in our livelihoods. Or how about inventories of valuables that would be necessary if a fire occurred in our homes? We always think we can do the paperwork tomorrow, but sometimes tomorrow comes with a blaze that isn't just bright sunshine. 

If I could make three wishes for the world at large, they would be:

Respect one another.

Be kind.

Take care of your own business, both work and personal business.

If we all spent more time tending to our own thoughts and actions, we'd have less time to judge others. Can you imagine how different things could be? 

My inner voice is speaking

Throughout my life, people have told me that I should paint, knit, sew, etc for a living. I don't have the right mind set to be commissioned to make things and charge for them. The comments I've heard at craft shows while sitting with friends who were vendors made me want to scream. Someone who has sewn on a few buttons and bought 3 yards of lace for $1 from the bargain bin thinks a hand sewn, smocked baby dress made of Swiss batiste is overpriced at $50. That price doesn't cover materials and the hours put into it, even at minimum wage.

My creative hobbies are almost as important to me as breathing. I have never spent more than a few days away from creating something.  I learn while creating even if I occasionally want to scream and rip things apart, figuratively and literally. Sometimes an effort is "good enough" depending on the item's purpose, but if a person always stops at "good enough", you don't really grow and learn.

The woman who made the beautifully smocked infant's dress might not have made mistakes on that particular gown that needed to be undone and restitched, but she had many dozens of that style completed in her history of sewing and smocking, not to mentioned hundreds of hours of teaching both. She smiled at my frustration with the comments we overheard. She had learned to tune them out and listen to her own voice.

What does my voice tell me?

When I look at a finished item,  it is okay to appreciate it for what it is and how well it is done, perhaps the biggest accomplishment sometimes being that it is FINALLY done. A recent sweater threatened to be on needles forever...or so it seemed. But that voice inside? That voice said forget about "seems" and look at the arm seams. They aren't terrible but they could be better. Taking them out and restitching isn't the answer because the problem that I see was in the knit pattern itself, the way decreases were shaped, started and stopped. If that made no sense to you, just know that many things in life aren't obvious until after you've gone the distance. I'm not going to knit new sleeves, I will just know to do them differently next time.

I'm not being negative by seeing my mistakes, or if not actual mistakes, areas that could be improved. If I were a negative person, I wouldn't pick up the needles, brushes or scissors again. My inner voice reminds me that I am not in competition with anyone but myself. My goal is to try to be better today than yesterday, and that applies to everything in life.

Getting better one day at a time has led to Weight Watcher success (my weight loss journey is here), improvement through practice and repetition in my crafts, and in my outlook toward the world. If you aren't careful, the media and angry voices in social media and on the streets can make you think the world is coming to an ugly end. It isn't though, not any time soon because I have too many projects to finish and techniques to perfect!