Summer projects before and after

So today is the day the fisherman comes home. Yay! I've missed him. It sounds like they have had a fabulous two weeks. Great weather, lots of fish. Even had wifi in the cabin so we were able to FaceTime several times while he has been away.

Thought I'd do a summary post of all the projects I've done while he was gone. First up, and the biggest in my book....the garage. Dramatic difference.

I had already started tossing stuff before I made the top picture. Got rid of a lot, hired out the painting, purchased new storage containers. I love it. So clean. I am hoping I can keep it this clean. Next up the living room...

I've been wanting to replace the recliner and couch for a couple of years now, to something more neutral. I like change and I like to change out quilts and pillows for the seasons. I also painted the lamps black. The old furniture went to a pastor and his wife. They returned from Brazil as missionaries a few years ago and have had to start from scratch. No home, no car, no furniture. It blessed my heart to bless them with it.

...then the dining room. I'm very happy with the beadboard wallpaper.

It brightened up the dining room. Love that stuff. I'd like to put up more.

Then because the old, old fridge in the boat garage bit the dust, we replaced the refrigerator in the kitchen and moved the old one to the garage. I didn't think I wanted stainless but we got a great deal, only in stainless. Very happy with it now.

And, I believe this is the last project. I've been wanting to make a barn quilt for my front porch, but I just hadn't slowed down enough to do it. One of my friends from church makes these so I commissioned her to make us one. I designed the block and picked the colors. It is 20"x20". I like it on the front porch but I may end up putting it on the screened porch, where I can see it more often.

I'm very happy with it. My friend and I snagged the little antique table at a flea market yesterday.

And just in case you thought I hadn't been busy enough, I ran 6.2 miles this morning.....I did a virtual race sponsored by Skirt Sports.

All of this in two weeks, and I worked 55 hours in these two weeks. The Lord blessed me with boundless energy, or at least a goal oriented mind. I love lists and I always start my "stay at home while he is away fishing" time with a good long projects list.

Not sure I mentioned it here but I did go back to work part time. I'm really enjoying my new job.

 

Free race photos

The Hot Chocolate race in Nashville provided FREE professional race photos. I think that is cool. In both the half marathons I've run you had to buy the photos. They were not that great and were terribly expensive.

 

 

Fun times..

 

Hot Chocolate 15k

I ran my first 15k this morning in cold Nashville. The hubby went with me and we stayed last night in a down town hotel. Brrrr, very cold this morning. In the 20's at start time. It took me two miles before my fingers and toes quit being numb. I was worried because at my last long run of eight miles my right foot gave me some trouble. It did fine today. By mile six my left knee and hip were bothering me some, but not enough to make me walk any more than I was already doing in the 5/1 intervals. My goal was to finish in less than two hours and I beat that by a good amount! Official time was 1:51:55 and I was 46 out of 94 in my age group, 2302 of 3219 overall, and 1487 of 2255 females.

The jacket was awesome as well as the medal and all the chocolate! Chocolate candy, chocolate marshmellows and tootsie rolls at the water stations. Hot chocolate and chocolate fondue in a big chocolate mug at the finish line. I was so thankful my foot did fine, and was thanking God while I ran.....that I can run....I just felt so blessed.

Garmin lap stats below....

Split Time Distance Avg Pace Summary 1:52:01.8 9.39 11:56 1 12:28.1 1.00 12:28 2 12:45.3 1.00 12:45 3 11:28.9 1.00 11:29 4 12:10.9 1.00 12:11 5 12:16.0 1.00 12:16 6 11:35.1 1.00 11:35 7 11:34.8 1.00 11:35 8 11:48.3 1.00 11:48 9 11:44.5 1.00 11:45 10 4:09.8 0.39 10:36

It was so cold I didn't take hardly any pictures at the race. I regret that. Here's the medal...

..and this mug had hot chocolate in the center (in a removable cup), a banana, pretzels, Rice Krispie treat, marshmallows, and liquid chocolate fondue in the shallow side part!

...and the official finish...notice it took me almost 29 minutes to even get to the start line....the corrals were separated by three minutes and us slow pokes were in corral H. But there was even two slower groups, I and J.

I'm very sore tonight but happy that I did it. And to be honest, I love that sore feeling from a long run.

 

Second finish for 2015

I think I'm on a roll here. Love this quick quilt. It is from the book Growing up Modern by Allison Harris. Her blog is Cluck Cluck Sew.

I'm still trying to be very frugal with my quilting. Everything came from my stash/scraps but the navy and striped binding. Love the punch the binding brings.

 

 

Goals for 2015

 

I love goals. I love lists and goals. My goals last year were pretty aggressive and I didn't meet some of them. That's ok, I did meet some. First draft for 2015.....

• Make three baby quilts for gifts
• Make a remembrance quilt for my co-worker
• Make a friendship quilt from my retirement blocks
• Run at least 600 miles in 2015 (did 561 in 2014)
• Run a half marathon, a 15k, and a few 5ks
• Run faster in 2015
• Work on a morning routine of stretches, lunges, and planks
• Attend more book club and quilt club meetings at church
• Continue with daily bible readings (Spurgeon's daily Morning & Evening, Beth Moore's Praying God's Word Everyday, and Jesus Calling)
• Work on being more like Jesus
• Shop grocery sales and cut our food budget

...I also love goal quotes...

So, go ahead, set yourself some goals. Make some that you think you can't do. Stretch yourself. You grow by doing things you think you can't do. I'd love to hear your goals.

 

 

Lists

I admit it. I am an obsessive list maker. But the truth is I love making lists, and I love marking things off my list. I've even been known to put things on my list just so I can mark them off. Evidently I am not alone....there are ...at least three of my coworkers the same way.

I've started my list for my staycation in June. I get so excited thinking of ten days off from work and all the things I will get to accomplish. No major projects planned this year but hopefully a lot of sewing, cleaning, and organizing. Oh yeah, and I plan to make my own DIY air conditioner. Hint: a five gallon bucket, PVC, small electric fan. Google it. Can't wait to try it. My sewing room is upstairs where the summer heat rises.

I also made up my next half marathon training plan. I used Jeff Galloway's run/walk method but stretched it out from now till November. I hope to do one half marathon at the first of November and another at the end of November. Hopefully I can progress so slow and easy the knee won't give me any trouble.

Lists keep me on track and help me to accomplish my goals. Are any of you list makers?

 

Goals

At the first of the year I like to think about and write down my goals. I did that this year. The simple process of writing down your goals increases your chances of reaching them. I found my 2014 goals this morning.

I've completed a few, on track for some, forgotten about some, and blown some. However, just seeing the list is motivational for me. So, I am going to try to set a few goals for the weekend --- finish a book club book, sew on a quilt I cut out ages ago, do a little research on making a wooden quilt block for my porch.

...but in my task oriented life, I need to remember what I read this morning in Jesus Calling,

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

—Proverbs 19:21

 

Fabulous weekend

The kids were here for the weekend, so I got a ton of snuggle time with my sweet baby girl Emma. She makes me heart sing! And.....I ran my first half marathon!!! That was one of those bucket list items....but I really enjoyed it and even though I am so sore I can hardly walk, I will probably do another some time. Enjoy some of my pictures...

Because I am pretty slow, I started in corral D, about three minutes behind the faster runners. There were 2487 half marathoners, 692 marathoners, and 1794 5k racers, all starting together.

I finished!

The hubby got up at five this morning to go with me. He's a sweetie.

My runner/quilter friend ran it too. Our goal was to finish upright. We made it!

The hubby even bought me this shirt and a 13.1 sticker.

Then home for some snuggle time....

I didn't want to put her down. We both chilled a bit....then she woke up, bright eyed.

Love how expressive she is with her eyebrows. Then one last smile for Mamaw.

Great weekend! how was yours?

 

2013 Year in review

What kind of year did you have in 2013? Are you glad to see it go or reluctant to let it go? Was it a year of trials or abundance? We all need a new start, and God gives us that over and over. His mercies are new every morning.

Looking back, I see a great year in my rear view mirror. I was more productive in my quilting than ever. I started a new hobby that I enjoy very much (running). My husband and I are closer than ever and were able to have a good vacation visiting a couple of national parks. And, the most exciting is that this year I found out I am going to be a grandmother! God is so good to this undeserving sinner.

I made 19 quilts this year. Two for my granddaughter, and gave 12 away as gifts or donations.

 

I started the couch to 5k and ran four 5k races, one 10k, and am up to seven miles in my training for a half marathon in 2014. I am so thankful that God has given me a body that can run.

We were able to visit Yosemite, Mammoth Lakes, and Sequoia this year on vacation.

...and God has richly blessed me to be a grandmother to Emma Grace, expected to arrive in February 2014.

Of course I've had some disappointments and struggles but I prefer not to dwell on them. I am learning to count my blessings and look at the rest as opportunities to learn. Do I have bad days? Sure. Do I struggle with things in my past? Absolutely. Do I have wrong attitudes, actions, and sin? Yep. A sinner saved by grace. I enjoy God's blessings despite myself. He continues to be faithful. Looking back, it was a very good year. How about you? Was it a good year?

 

Refining my 2014 goals

I am still thinking goals, and thought they needed to be more specific.

• Make 12 quilts Make playground quilt (Camille Roskelley design) for Emma
• Make Swoon quilt for us (another Camille quilt; already cut out)
• Make 3-4 Remembrance Quits (ministry to those who have lost loved ones; have three offers outstanding)
• Read a classic book (not sure which one yet)
• Attend all book club meetings (read at least 6 of the book club selections)
• Teach or assist in a new quilting class at church for the quilt ministry
• Run, and finish, a half marathon (Knoxville Covenant)
• Run 500 miles (9-10 miles per week)
• Participate in the winter women's bible study at my church
• Learn to sew clothes and make a dress for Emma (my new grand baby!)

...and for a little viewing pleasure.....these creatures continue to come through the yard, usually a couple of times a day....

 

2014 goals

Been thinking about goals for next year. I love goals. I have learned the excitement of trying new things and reaching for something difficult. Even if you don't meet all of your goals, you have stretched yourself, tried new things, learned important lessons, and had the thrill of finding you can do hard things.

Some good goal quotes:

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. Jim Rohn.

Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible. Tony Robbins.

“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.” ― Louisa May Alcott

“If you're trying to be miserable, it's important you don't have any goals. No school goals, personal goals, family goals. Your only objective each day should be to inhale and exhale for sixteen hours before you go to bed again. Don't read anything informative, don't listen to anything useful, don't do anything productive. If you start achieving goals, you might start to feel a sense of excitement, then you might want to set another goal, and then your miserable mornings are through. To maintain your misery, the idea of crossing off your goals should never cross your mind.” ― John Bytheway, How to Be Totally Miserable

I love the last one.....if you are bored or miserable, change your life! Set a goal, try something new, pray for the Lord to spark a passion in your life. Your passion can spark others.

These are some I am thinking about for 2014:

• Make 12 quilts
• Read a classic book
• Attend all book club meetings
• Teach a new quilting class at church for the quilt ministry
• Run, and finish, a half marathon
• Run 500 miles
• Participate in a bible study
• Learn to sew clothes and make a dress for Emma (my new grand baby!)

These are pretty lofty goals and I may not do them all, but I think it is important to have goals that stretch you.

Have you thought about goals for next year? What are some of yours? If you are not used to this idea, you don't have to start out with 10 goals, just set one or two and learn the joy of reaching and accomplishing something outside your comfort zone.