Day 08: Progress for His Pilgrims [40 Days of Gratitude 2023]

 Today, I'm grateful for:

• A productive day at work.
• A cold, but beautiful day.  The forecast called for cloudy skies, but it was nice and sunny.
• Progress on the new Armstrong Center on campus.  I go on campus every few weeks for various events, so I get an accelerated view of the building's progress.  This will house CCU's library, student chapel, and several other departments and classrooms.  There was much consternation surrounding this new building, so I'm excited to see the construction continues to go forward.
  

 

 

 

 

 

• My tree is up.  Yeah, I know there's no topper, but I have to fix it before I can place it on the tree.

 

Day 07: Fixin' Stitchin' [40 Days of Gratitude 2023]

Today, I'm grateful for:

• The encouragement of friends.
  
• The gift of creative interpretation.  Let me explain.  I've picked up counted cross stitch again.  I'm nearly finished with this project:

 

Yes, I know that it isn't outlined yet.  I'll get to it.  I found this pattern for free on Pinterest.  Now, if you know anything about DMC embroidery floss colors, you know that they are like paint colors--very specific to the number.  The colored squares on the pattern pretty much matched the finished project, but many of the floss colors that were to correspond to the colored squares were listed incorrectly.  Whenever I try a new pattern, I think of the newbie who usually follows charts and directions exactly.  If this were the case with this pattern, the mane of this unicorn would not be a lovely rainbow.  I was able to reinterpret the pattern to get the colors right.  Here's my dilemma, for the sake of the newbie who might want to try this pattern, I want to comment to the creator of the pattern about the errors in the pattern.  However, I've had bed experiences with pattern creators who asked for feedback, but were rude and offended when they got it.

• The scented oil diffuser I got for Christmas last year.  
• My Christmas tree is up.  There's nothing on it, but it's up.
• The renovations going on at my apartment building.  I'm not sure how extensive they will be, but I'm glad they starting to upgrade some outside fixtures.
  

Days 05 & 06: Time After Time: The Weekly Hodgepodge [40 Days of Gratitude 2023]

Join the fun! 

Come on over to 

From This Side of the Pond 

for the Hodgepodge link-up!

Does anybody really know what day it is? Last week we skipped the Hodgepodge and I just assumed this week would find us in December, but nope. Still November. Do you wear a watch? Use a paper calendar or strictly electronic? What's your favorite hour of the day? Why? 

Well, in all fairness Miss Joyce, we will be in December on Friday. Anyway, to answer the questions:

• Yes, I wear a watch.  I hadn't since my old one wore out nearly three years ago.  The only thing that made me buy a new one was because I wanted a more up-to-date Fitbit (part of the features of the newer ones is a watch).  Otherwise, I could just check the time on my phone.
• I use a paper calendar for my personal appointments, but use Outlook's electronic calendar for work.  I know this sounds weird, but I find a paper calendar more portable and user-friendly.  I never use the Google calendar on my phone because it's a pain in the butt to change or delete anything.
• My favorite hour of the day is 6-8 a.m. (OK, it's two hours).  It's quiet, I'm not in front of a computer screen, and no one at work EVER contacts me at those hours, so I can start my day in peace.
  

Tell us something about how you celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday. 

I went into details about my Thanksgiving in my post here.

What's a sound you hate to hear? 

• Any dissonant high-pitched noise (think feedback from a microphone).\
• The yelling of the F-word or the Lord's name in vain.
• "Karens" being "Karens."
• Gary Danielson calling an SEC game on TV.
• Unruly children yelling at their parents (or any authority figure for that matter).
• A fork being dragged across someone's teeth (how does that not make their skin crawl?).

Where do you not mind waiting? 

I have enough experience to know that hurry and impatience are not my friends.  In most situations, I don't mind waiting.  However, as much as I understand that certain car repairs take time, I hate to be without my wheels for an extended period of time...even when I had no plans to go anywhere anyway.  This spring, I have some repairs and maintenance to schedule for my car and I'm dreading having to find alternate avenues of transportation.

I really wish____________________________________. 

I really wish for my dream Christmas.  It's not expensive or selfish (at least not to me).  My dream Christmas includes gifts I'd like to give and receive, and people with which I'd like to enjoy the holiday.

Insert your own random thought here. 

Days 05 and 06.

I am grateful for:

• Dental insurance.  I went through a three hour ordeal today (Tuesday) that won't be complete for two weeks, then I have another procedure in a few months.  The good thing is with insurance, it's affordable...and I'll still have all my teeth in the end.  I'm making up for lost time and all the years I didn't have dental insurance before moving to Colorado.
• A faster computer.  My work computers have always had high processor speeds.  Finally, I have a personal computer that's more up to speed.  The coolest thing about it is that it was a gift.  Talk about God providing.
• Store brand or generic pain relievers.  I remember (I sound like I'm 1000 years old) when all that was available were expensive name brands.  Let's just say I've needed a dose (or two) of generic Excedrin for a few days in a row and it has helped tremendously. 

In case you missed it:  

* My previous Hodgepodge post:  "...And Cake" is here.
* My latest First Line Friday post "#15:  Practicing Christian Doctrine" is here.
* My latest Monday Mess Making post on my Auntie's Workshop blog "Quilt in a Day...Well:  Episode 3" is here.

Day 04: Technological Wonders [40 Days of Gratitude 2023]

Today, I'm grateful for:

• Online church services.  No, I'm not a hypocrite. I stand by my statement during the "thing" that church online does not substitute for the real thing, but it is a good supplement when I can't be there.  Because of the snow and ice this weekend, I wasn't comfortable driving to church today (#ImStillSouthern).  The second service at 10:45 is streamed live on the website, then saved on the website and the church Vimeo page.
• One more day of rest and relaxation before heading back to work tomorrow.
  

Day 03: Risers for the Occassion [40 Days of Gratitude 2023]

Today, I'm grateful for:

 

• Bed risers...but no for why you'd think.  Because our set up for quilt group is transitory and has to be taken down so that the rooms can be used for something else, the group uses several folding tables placed on bed risers.  While it sounds odd, using the risers under our cutting tables is a good ergonomic move.  Rotary cutters are best used while standing, so the top of the cutting surface should be counter height or better to lower or eliminate stress on the back.  Since I don't yet have a dedicated studio space, I decided to put this same type of inexpensive riser under my dining table for cutting fabric.
• Roll Tide! That is all.
• I'm grateful that there is no set time one must decorate for Christmas.  As much as it bugs me that people set up trees and play Christmas music before Thanksgiving, it's still their holiday celebration and they may celebrate however they wish.  Do I wish people wouldn't completely skip over Thanksgiving?  Sure, but again, that's their business. My personal tradition has been to start decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving.  Today is two days after, and I've only pulled my decorations from under my bed, but have not yet set up anything.  Why?  I'm not sure.  Am I tired?  Yes, but I've been resting.  Am I a little blue?  Sure, but it's winter with shorter days and more isolation, so working harder to stay emotionally healthy is to be expected.  But, there are no "decoration police" telling me I MUST decorate this weekend.  So, maybe tomorrow.
  

Day 02: Auntie's Babies [40 Days of Gratitude 2023]

Today was a quiet day of creativity and rest.  The snow started last night and will continue through Saturday, so all the Black Friday shoppers can have at it.  It feels strange not having to rush around and try to get things done before I boot up and clock in for my work day.  Goodness, has it been that long since I've had any real days off?

Today, I'm grateful for:

• Creativity that blesses the babies.  Picking up where I left off who knows how long ago, I finished the crochet items for one of "Auntie's Baby Showers in a Bag."  Because of some good changes to my skills and equipment, I'm making some slight changes to what's included in a set.  Now the sets will contain:
• One sewn diaper bag.
• One baby blanket (crocheted or quilted)
• Hat and booties.
• One crocheted or sewn stuffed toy.
• One tissue box cover:  crocheted or stitched on plastic canvas.
  
• A painting, wall hanging, sign, or stitched project that goes with the theme of the set.

I have several sets started and hope to finish them over the winter so I can take them to Colorado Family Life Center this spring. They've moved to a new building and I'm excited to see it.

• Having a warm place to live amidst the snow and frigid temperatures.

 

Day 01: The Kids' Table [40 Days of Gratitude 2023]

Hey y'all.  It's been a hot minute.  I haven't posted in a while, and I've not done this challenge since 2017.  For some reason I stopped at day 30 and for the life of me can't remember why.  Anyway.  I hope that these posts will not only catch y'all up, but get me back to consistent blogging again.  It's not for a lack of trying.  For the past few weeks, every time I've sat down to attempt a post, every word that traveled through my brain sounded like Charlie Brown's teachers.

 

And who wants that?

So let's begin.

Today, I'm grateful for:

• Finishing my final class of the year.  In 2023, I taught seven courses.  Now you know why my brain is mush.  This officially starts my teaching sabbatical.  I'm still working my full time job, but I'm taking a break from teaching.
• A place to go for the holiday after my initial plans fell through.
  

My friend Chris and her family owns J. C.'s Cafe in Golden.  Every Thanksgiving, they close the restaurant and have a potluck for any of their family and friends who don't have anywhere to go for the holiday.  The food was great and I had a good time.  

I even sat at the kids' table for a bit and colored with the children.