Life In General

Wow!!! I can't believe 3 weeks has gone by already.  I wrote my last post while I was in Missouri visiting my husband for a few days. (not any where close to Hamilton unfortunately) And before any of you get concerned, he does still live here. He just spends more time on the road than at home. So I go visit him for a long weekend now and again. This last trip I drove, so I took my sewing machine with me.  That was a great idea.  I got Athena's quilt top pieced. And because I drove, I also brought back some 4th of July celebration supplies.

Anyway, Since I've been back, I haven't been doing a whole lot of sewing.  We spent 2 weekends canning tomatoes.  I also have been working 10-12 hour days. All those long hours have taken a toll on my health.  I've picked up a stomach bug twice in the past 2 weeks. 

Between picking and canning tomatoes and work and being sick, I really haven't had the energy.  I still have the put labels on the 3 quilts that are ready to go to their owners.   

My friend, Liz, Keeps telling me I need to start slowing down.  Last night, she reminded me that I will be turning 60 a full month before she does. Which will be happening this fall.  Liz is coming up on her first year anniversary of being cancer free. But she has suffered some neuropathy, It is very frustrating for her because she can't do the things she used to. Liz was more of a go getter than I ever was. She worked full time and baked and sold cakes, pies, etc on the side.  Her side hustle kept her very busy.  Cancer forced her to slow down. She keeps telling me that if I don't start slowing down, God will make me slow down.  She has a point.

So how do I do find the balance? I was doing really well with the morning sewing. But getting sick made it difficult to get up on time to do that. I was sewing a little in the evening but not getting home until 8:00pm makes that difficult. I do need to slow down but right now work has too much going on. When did I become a work-a-holic? 

Hopefully, things will slow down once our department is back to full staff.  I have to hire 2 more people. And my supervisor will be back in a 3 weeks.  That should take some of the pressure off.

As for canning season, My kids want to spend a weekend each month canning. This month will hopefully be peaches. Next month who knows.  But it is a good idea and we spend time as a family.  

This week finds me traveling for work.  I am taking my EPP project with me. that will be my sewing this week. I will do it on the plane and in the hotel room while watching TV.  When I get back it will be back to getting up early enough that I can sew in the morning. If I am not sewing I can be trimming up scraps, pressing blocks, squaring up blocks or prepping backs. Hopefully in the evenings I will work on EPP or labeling quilts.

I still need to organize the studio as well as find a place for all of my stash.  Right now I am going to just take everything one step at a time. Do what I can and then move on to the next thing. Mostly I need to get my head around what I need to do.  I have been unable to focus on any of it. I guess I need some selfish down time. Time where I am only doing what I want. But I don't know how to do that right now.

How are you doing? Are you finding the need to slow down? Have you found a Balance?