Finding the Thyme

I searched the cabinets, I knew that I had some thyme and I only needed just a little. It's a small addition, only half a teaspoon, but to a large pot of homemade chicken noodle soup, it's that one little extra that makes all the difference. I pulled a kitchen chair over to the upper cabinet where the spices are kept; crawled up to have a better look, and searched far in the back. "What are you looking for?" my husband asked, "thyme" I replied. "Do you think you'll find it in there?" he laughed. Not "TIME", I explained. And yet, that's something that I am constantly trying to find more of! If I can squeeze any extra minutes, or hours, that I can use each and every day, I try to use them wisely.  Maybe it's "found time" to stitch up a quilt block, do another load of laundry, bake a loaf of bread or sweep the porch. I admit to being very scheduled and, probably, a bit rigid when it comes to self-imposed routines; the kind that are all task-based. Over the last few months I've found myself sitting on the floor beside Augie when he eats his meals, as a puppy this totals three meals a day. We've never had a dog before who didn't gobble his kibble down the minute it hit the dish. Augie requires some coaxing; he's definitely not food-driven. Once he settles in at his bowl, he'll eat if we stay right there on the floor beside him. At first I thought "I don't have time for this." But, as time has gone on, I realize how much I look forward to this bonding time with my puppy. In the whole scheme of things, it's a very short amount of time spent, but it truly does make all the difference to Augie. Where else can that little bit of time have an impact? A phone call to a distant friend? An extra minute spent in conversation with a lonely church member after worship? A short, impromptu, walk in the neighborhood on a pleasant afternoon? There are places in even the most rigid of schedules (mine) for some unplanned relaxation of the timetable. Just like half a teaspoon in a large pot of soup, it's that something extra that can make all the difference. Oh, and yes; I did find the thyme and the soup was delicious!

    Life is Good!

On Being Efficient...

Each and every day I endeavor to be efficient. I live to make the best use of my time! So, a few weeks ago I volunteered to bring food for Fellowship Time between Sunday School and Worship for tomorrow. I knew what I wanted to make and planned out my times to make them. A batch of Jack O' Lantern Jumble, mini pumpkin muffins and homemade cinnamon rolls. I decided that I'd make a batch of the snack mix mid-week as a treat for Mr. G (and for Lucy Ann who was coming to spend the night on Friday). I had an extremely busy day on Wednesday (three scheduled medical procedures: bone density scan, mammogram and vascular ultrasound, all strategically scheduled to maximize efficiency, of course!) and I decided to make that first batch on Thursday when we were at home having the wood-stove insert installed in our fireplace. (This was more of an energy efficient move on our part, but efficient nonetheless!) So, I gathered all the ingredients on the countertop (I've made this for years on end!) and got ready to make up the Jack O' Lantern Jumble-- could I find my recipe? No! I am organized; my physical, printed, recipes are relegated to folders placed alphabetically: "appetizers, beverages, breads/coffee cakes, breakfast foods, cookies/brownies, desserts"... you get the picture. I was on a wild goose chase searching for the recipe and, all the while, wasting time! Grrrrrr. Let me tell you, these occurrences get the best of me! Finally, I found the recipe, folded and tucked behind another (???) in "appetizers". Why there? Who knows?!! I need a "snack" file.

I clipped this from the old Country Threads "Goat Gazette" newsletter some 20 years ago*. Needless to say, as soon as I found it I made up a batch for the countertop in preparation for a second batch today. 

The woodstove insert installation went much more efficiently. It's just been too warm to try it out yet. 

So, early this morning I got up to make the dough for the cinnamon rolls. Again, my tried and true recipe eluded me. I was completely defeated. Mr. G. asked me what I was searching for. When I told him he swiftly dove into my recipe files and handed me exactly what I was looking for! When I asked him where he found it he responded "breads/coffee cakes". "Oh", I responded, "I'd forgotten it was in a page protector".  That's true, I did. I'd already been through that file twice. 🙄 Okay, so being efficient and being effective are two completely different things. I might just need to rework my system! Let me tell you a second thing: the kitchen smelled heavenly while those cinnamon rolls baked this morning!

*Interestingly: Country Threads posted this recipe on their "Chicken Scratch" blog this past week!

Life is Good!

D.E.A.R. Year

When my daughter was a classroom teacher she had D.E.A.R time scheduled for her students: Drop Everything And Read. I love to read; but, typically, I don't have (or, to be more honest) I don't make the time to sit down, even for a short period every day, and read. This year I vowed that it would be different; I declared this year to be my D.E.A.R year! The books pictured are ones that I have already read in 2015; with the exception of the Lutheran Study Bible, I haven't read that through in its entirety, but rather, am enjoying digger deeper and reading all of the notes and commentary included by Bible scholars that appear in the margins and in the additional sections. My reading of this Study Bible will be ongoing.  The Hiding Place was added to the top of my list as the result of a book report by Quiltkeemosabe during a "Bible Study" workshop, I've known of the book and Corrie Ten Boom for decades but had never read the book, it has left an indelible impression. Firstlight has been a re-read for me, it was like being reaquainted with an old friend; one who never fails to inspire me.  Walking On Water is the conclusion of Richard Paul Evans' "walk" series, this one too was almost like a reunion with some old and dear friends; although each installment could easily stand on their own.  The Quilt That Walked To Golden is a fascinating historical compilation that I found I couldn't get enough of; which led me to the spin off of that book, The Quilt Walk (a novel written for 9 - 12 year olds). This is a sweet and endearing historical tale; I like knowing what's available for young readers in this same genre. A Quilt For Christmas was predictably charming and, yet, I never lose interest in the winning way that this author weaves story and characters into a seamless whole. I have plenty more in the queue for February and am excited about the prospects of my growing "I've read that" list for 2015; I've certainly not found that I'm missing out on whatever D.E.A.R. time has replaced, perhaps it's just the satisfaction of making this happen that's far more valuable. Hannes is most pleased with the lap time that D.E.A.R affords for him as well, it's a win-win!

Life is Good!

How Are You Spending Your Beans?

Take two minutes to view this video, it might just be the time you spend...it's a great visual reminder.

Life is Good!

Fritter-free Zone

Clocks. Timers. Schedules. I use them all in an effort to be productive and stay focused. Which, if any, work? It depends on the day and on my frame of mind at any given time. Somedays it seems like I fritter away hours and... am I content to do that? "No!  I'm not", the answer is a simple one. Where does the time go? Usually it's time wasted surfing on my laptop... hours upon hours can be frittered away there, I'm aware. Time management strategies are one of those things I obssess about. My latest trick for making the most of my time is this: to have at least one thing, something concrete and tangible that will account for  how my hours have been spent that day. It could be a quilt block or two, some embroidery, quilting, a clean house, freshly ironed clothes, anything that qualifies as a "thing". Computer time doesn't count. I've taken to setting a five minute timer which allows me to harvest my e-mail, make quick responses if necessary, and hop back onto the task at hand; I do this a couple of times a day, even composing blog posts in this fashion. I'm human though, I don't always respond immediately to the beeper! Sometimes I may linger a bit longer; but, I am completely in control and have heightened awareness of the ticking clock using this tool.  It works for me. I am amazed at the success of this simple plan, little bits of time are enough to accomplish quite a lot.  I'm enjoying the peace of mind that is derived from my self-designated fritter-free zone!  The best part? What makes it all worthwhile? The daily show and tell!

Life is Good!

 

Wool Gathering

I'd like to thank Cathi, from Shakerwood Woolens, for her personal assistance in choosing these warm and wonderful hand-dyed wool pieces for the project pictured above. You've got to love a business that has the following scripture verse printed on her business form: "She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands." Proverbs - 31:13  The hands are willing; now to just schedule some God-given time for this sweet bird and berries! I believe that the approaching cooler weather will be the perfect time for wool!

Just look at who crept (and flew) into the sunflower block, and just in time for class next week! The symmetry of this block is very appealing, it must be the Libra in me; I'm always searching for balance.

Life is Good!

Monday's Mission: Time Saving Strategies and Multi-tasking

This is the final installment of my time management crash course. I know you are all breathing a huge sigh of relief! Hopefully, over the past four weeks you've gleaned a tidbit here or there. Today I am going to share some of my tips for time saving over the long haul; time invested in one spot that will pay out rewards in time saved. These three chicken pies, ready for the oven, is a good illustration of how I manage to save a bit of time now that will pay off later. If I need to take food to someone I will often put together a chicken pie ready to bake. These can also be frozen at this point, if I'm cooking chicken and assembling one I will do several at the same time; it really doesn't take any longer to do that, and the bonus, I will stick one (or two) in our freezer for a meal for us later on. That's maximizing time now for later! I do this with meal planning for the week, and draft my grocery list from that menu. It's the same thing for sewing projects. I always make sure that I have everything I need before I begin, and if I am stitching a gift item I will often do several (a pattern or technique that is familiar yields happy results!) and stash them away for the proper occasion. These little tricks work for me. It's all a matter of prepping, taking care of those little, preliminary, steps ahead of time. Another, recent, example: I have a long list of thank-you cards to write. I addressed and stamped all the envelopes, paired them with the note cards (and the pen) and set them on the kitchen counter, in plain view. Whenever I have a free moment I will write one or two and they're good to go! I don't need to devote hours on end to doing them all at one time, nor is it necessary to look up the address for each one as I go or hunt for stamps over and over, that's already done! You get the idea, I'm sure you can come up with lots of similar strategies once you begin thinking, and prepping, ahead.

As far as serious multi-tasking, that's not one of my strong points. I like to jot down tasks, however small, the moment they pop into my head so that those competing thoughts don't distract me from the job at hand. I know myself well enough to understand that I need to stay focused, my productivity depends on it; but, if I make notes, I'm confident that I won't forget those tasks, thus removing that worry, and can turn my attention to them later on when I'm ready.

That's it! I believe I've covered it all. You have stated your objective at the outset. You know now where you spend your time, you're aware of your time wasters and hopefully you have developed a plan to skillfully combat them. You've looked at goals and understand how you need to work around your priorities to reach them. Today you've examined a strategy, through specific illustrations, that might assist in preparing your own work that can yield hours saved in the future. Good luck with your own plan for organizing, I hope this has helped as you begin down your time management path.

Plan your work and work your plan!

... and take time to enjoy each and every day...

Life is Good!

Monday's Mission: Goals and Priorities

I don't know how many (or few) of you are still with me. We've looked at time logs and scheduling over the last two weeks and now we're down to the nitty-gritty; goals and priorities... or, why we're even looking at any of this in the first place! (I know it's easy to lose sight of a goal. I remember when I was in labor with my daughter, I looked up at the ceiling and there, on the light fixture, was a small sign, that read: "THINK BABY!" "Oh, yeah... now I remember why I'm here. For a moment the pain got in the way!") If you're still with me , reach around and give yourself a pat on the back; you deserve it, you rose above and conquered the pain (or whatever your distraction is)! I left you last week with ditching your television and your laptop if they were your time "robbers". The only people excited about continuing would be those who were addicted to All My Children, since it aired it's last episode on Friday; you have nothing but time to devote to something new! In all seriousness, your time wasters have been exposed and, hopefully, by limiting them and excluding (or at least moderating time spent) them from your schedule you have a fresh outlook on productivity. I have no idea what your stated objective was for beginning this journey, only you know that. You've kept time logs for a week and you've given scheduling a try; so, where do we go from here? Let's stop right here and see where you are and where you want to go... I'll throw an example out there, one of my own: the goal this month is to finish a wallhanging for my granddaughter's room, it is to be a birthday gift presented to her next Sunday. I have, probably, somewhere between six and eight hours of work left to complete the project; and I have one week to accomplish that. So, I know I need to spend a little more than an hour a day to reach my goal, can I work that in to my schedule? Yes, I can. Is it a priority? Absolutely, it is! I will make this happen, even if that means getting up and hour and a half earlier each day! If this were a Christmas gift; or even a birthday gift for, say, November it could slide a bit; I could devote smaller segments of time over a greater span. But, since this has become a TOP priority, I will schedule even a little extra time for this one. If the time isn't all used, and I have realized the goal, I will pour this time somewhere else... into another day or another task and move on to what's next on the list. I do set a monthly goal, by this time in the month it's clear if I am going to reach it or not, because of that I do figure in a few "mop up" days during the last week of every month, that way I don't become discouraged by falling short; the days are there if I need to use them. The time itself is finite, but the goals and the priorities change, they're fluid. What do you have to accomplish this week? How can you best utilize your objective to reach your goal? Don't be discouraged if you don't get everything done that you had hoped to... begin small and celebrate the little victories, they will spur you on to the next big thing! This entire way of thinking/planning/living is a habit to be cultivated; it takes time to nurture your plan and keep the time wasters away at the same time, (think of it as waging war~ guarding your precious time and fighting off the time-robbers, basic good vs. evil), as you get better at it, it will seem easier to manage. Next week we'll look at multi-tasking and tips for effective time saving! Until then... plug in bits and pieces of time, where you can, those that will help you recognize your priorities and reach your goals; and remember:

Life is Good!

"Don’t underestimate the power of small incremental changes. Dream big and constantly pull yourself in the right direction by checking off to-do after to-do…one small task a day can rapidly eat away at something that looks and feels unreachable."

Monday's Mission: Time

I've had a couple of friends ask me for help, they're looking for assistance with getting their lives organized. Me? Really?? I'm not keeping any secrets nor do I possess special skills in the organizational arena, there aren't any easy answers to getting it all together and keeping it that way. At least there aren't any that I have found; I am dogged by the same distractions and struggle to keep up just like everyone else. I explained that, and yet, they persisted; they begged for an intervention. "Please, think about it" my friend looked me in the eye and implored the other day. I did think about it and have decided to do the only thing I can, share what works for me. I know how to beat those "time wasters" into submission, maybe I could offer some help, at least I will try.

Getting started will be a two-fold approach:

#1. Where do you want to go?

#2. How can you best get there?

Number one will involve a written objective. Do you seek more organization because you want to restructure your days so that you can finish more quilts? Do you simply feel like you're running in circles and you need a clearer focus? Whatever your objective is, either specific or more generalized, it needs to be written down so that you understand what your destination is. Over time that may change, and that's OK. Number two requires note book and a pen. For the next week write down everything that you do; all day, every day, and how much time you spend doing it. Mark down the activity on the left side of the sheet and the elapsed time beside it, on the right. Start a new page each day. In a few short days you'll easily identify time 'wasters'; some you'll be able to eliminate and others (your job, children, household chores) can't be eliminated but can be streamlined into a framework for time management. This 'keeping track' task will be one of the most important tools to organizing your days, don't worry about how it looks or what it says about how you spend your days; no one will see it except you. We all get the same number of hours every day, we can't 'bank' hours not used, we have to spend all of them every day. If you're ready to get started, grab a notebook, write down your objective and begin; right now, keeping track of where the minutes, hours and days go. Understanding how to best use the time we have comes down to stewardship, we don't want to squander God's gift to us! Next Monday we'll sort through the data and begin to put together some sample schedules (your road map) that will, perhaps, lighten your load and provide a more efficient approach to finding time to arrive at your stated objective (the destination). Let's go, time's a wastin'...

Life is Good!

“Nothing changes until something moves.” ~Unknown

Keeping Busy!

A dear friend shared this cartoon last week, it was entitled: "the first senior moment, why dinosaurs are extinct!" I can relate to this feeling. I've been so busy lately that I do feel like all those really important things are quite possibly passing me by without me even noticing. And yet, will it ever be different? I find myself rationalizing within my own head... "when I finish this, this and this then I'll have time for that, that, and that"... but, will I? I imagine myself as a hamster on a wheel with no jumping off point; run, run, run. I was loading my car the other day after Quilt Ministry at church when a friend stopped and gave me a big hug. She thanked me for all that I manage to get done! That comment took me by complete surprise; and then, (as if I wasn't surprised enough!) I heard myself tell her, in reply, how much I love to keep busy! I did a quick mental inventory on the drive home. She was right, I do actually get things finished, it's so easy to lose track. No, I'm not a caged rodent running aimlessly; some days it just feels that way. But, I was speaking the truth, too... I do enjoy keeping busy, I am blessed that way. Hopefully, I can stay organized enough not to miss the Ark when it floats by!

Life is Good!

In Snatches of Time

My focus is shot, my concentration is practically non-existent! I find myself thinking like scatter-shot and my projects of the last week and a half reflect that! What's happening at The Strawberry Patch? Last month's applique block is completed and next month's block is getting prepped. My pieced block of the month is ready:

Sundance is helping me out with a string quilt for the Neuro-science Intensive Care Unit:Three out of sixteen graduation quilts are layered, embroidered and ready for the Quilt Ministry to tie:Oh yeah... and then there's some more smocking going on too; that helps me to relax in the evenings. I haven't been idle; it's astonishing, really, what has been accomplished in small, stolen, snatches of time. To tell the truth, if it weren't for this photo proof I'd have a hard time believing it myself!

Life is Good!

Pace Yourself!

When it comes to me and my quilts, slow and steady wins the race. You know, Mr. Aesop was pretty smart, it really does all comes back to this:

"Give yourself the time you need to find your dynamic balance and rhythm before your body decides for you. Remember, you want your life to be a marathon not a hundred-yard-dash, so pace yourself."

~Betty Mahalik

Life is Good!

How Hot Is It?

Really hot! We've broken 90 degrees for the last three days straight. I've moved my flower pots off the patio and under the shade trees to give the plants some needed relief. This heat wave just happens to coincide with an extremely hectic time here in the studio. I have a few quilts to finish and a pile of embroidery waiting too, how can one person ever be grateful enough for air conditioning? Mason was here for the weekend and that kept Nana and Papa hopping, he is very busy and active... all the time! I haven't had a chance to turn my attention back to my smocking but I hope to... soon! In the meantime, I'm making time for what needs to be done; and sipping strawberry lemonade!

You will never find time for anything.

If you want time, you must make it.

~Charles Buxton

Life is Good!

To The Point

I'm big on saving and managing time. This should come as no surprise to those of you who aren't reading here for the first time, I'm forever looking for the most efficient way to do just about anything. Last Saturday evening we attended a function at our local fire department. The station's chaplain, a retired Moravian Pastor, approached me and extended a hand in greeting. Looking me straight in the eye he asked, without any small-talk, "so, where do you go to church?" I was certainly prepared with an answer but was caught off-guard by his direct, to the point, method. We spoke for a few minutes about mutual friends when he learned my congregational affiliation and then he moved on. I heard him inviting several individuals to worship with him as the evening progressed. I have continued to ponder his direct objective all week. He employs every tactic I'm in favor of, time management and direct and focused action; why then did I find his no-beating-around-the bush way of doing business so noteworthy? Probably because, as Lutherans, we're not as quick to ask our friends and neighbors to join us at church. I've heard that the average Lutheran only invites one person every twenty-seven years! I've invited folks to worship, my average isn't quite that shameful, but I may just try my new friend's more direct approach to Evangelism from now on. I know this one thing to be sure, it does save time and certainly grabs one's attention, it got mine! In Matthew 22, the parable of the wedding feast, the table is spread for all to come. Jesus is issuing the invitation for all to join him as God's guests. I need to do that too, simply issue the invitation. I need not fear being direct and to the point, I simply need to do the asking!

Y'all come~
Life is Good!

Taming The Scraps, One Hour At A Time

I have my work cut out for me. I have been grabbing up arm loads of scraps accumulated from years of quilt making and turning them into usable sizes. The task seemed daunting until I broke it up into small snatches of time. For me, the time available is pre-dawn; I have been getting up an hour earlier than usual and spending that hour sorting, pressing and cutting. I am finally beginning to see progress, my bins of cut pieces are full to overflowing! One thing leads to another, which means that soon my scrap-cutting time will lead to sewing time. Oh yeah, my work is cut out for me alright, that hour is time I would have only been sleeping anyway...yawn. This isn't an original idea, it's the method promoted by Bonnie Hunter, she calls it her Scrap User's System; and, by the way, I'm fairly sure that she doesn't sleep either! A word of caution here, if you begin to tame your scraps you might want to keep that little tidbit of information to yourself, once your generous quilting friends learn that you collect small pieces for future projects they will be all too happy to donate their leftovers... ask me how I know. As I said, one thing leads to another, and with an endless supply of scraps and snippets your nights' sleep may just become shorter and shorter... shhhh!

Life is Good!

Last One Out...

... turns off the lights! After much soul-searching and careful, prayerful, deliberation I have decided to throw the switch and shut down this blog; for now. There's no way that I can ever thank all my blogging friends for the wonderful experiences of the last three and half years and 728 posts. Someone asked me if I had a bad experience and if that had influenced my hiatus; no, that's not the case at all! I have enjoyed every single minute spent in blogger-land and it makes me sad to think about not being here anymore, I'll miss you! Your support and prayers have fueled me and encouraged my daily efforts, thank you for being here, both for commenting and for following. But, I've decided that it's time for me to go, the hours invested on the computer have simply become entirely too demanding. There's more than just composing and posting; the reciprocal blog visiting, commenting and responding to comments via e-mail have all combined into what could easily be a career move, time-wise. In the weeks that have passed since I've been on a blogging break I have reclaimed that time and focused it on finishing and organizing projects both in the sewing room and around the house; that has provided an enormous amount of peace of mind and I am happy and relaxed at the end of the day. I check my e-mail morning and evening every day, but that's the only time my computer is on anymore. Don't think of this as a permanent good-bye, but more of an "until we meet again" post; the lights might be off but I'm not closing and locking the door. Drop me an e-mail from time to time, I'd love to hear from you and stay in touch, I wish you all well. I am extremely grateful for your time and your friendship.

Life is Good!

~ as always~

On A Break

This blog is on a break. Actually, this blogger is currently conducting an
experiment by spending more hours in and on other areas; basically
investing myself elsewhere. It's all about stewardship of time and it's all good...
Life is Good!

Where Does It Go?

Time flies when you're having fun, that is most certainly true. It flies when you're not too. Let's face it, time flies. Where does it go? My "to-do" lists have been filled with appointments and commitments lately, there goes the time, in both the planning and the doing. I could write lists upon lists of all the tasks I want to get back to, I need to get back to, the ones that have been crowded out lately; the ones that have been pushed to the back burner because there's no time left. I have felt pulled in too many directions, way beyond a stretching point that's comfortable. I sat down to prepare a Bible study for presentation this morning. I opened to the book of John and began to read of God's gift of living water, through Jesus, to the woman at the well. God's peace settled around me like a well-worn quilt, I was wrapped and warmed by it. The gift of time opened and I dug deep into the vault, I had all that I needed. I was cheered and reassured, all was well and I could take my time; God would give me all that I needed!

Life is Good!

Same Blocks, Different Fabrics

Another quilt top in the making, the same Blocks of the Month, 2008. This time, in batiks. These blocks are sitting on the design wall, they're not attached together... yet. Every time I return to the studio I study them, change my mind, rotate one or two, and shuffle the blocks. I think I've finally settled on this arrangement. I used EQ6 to design a border (a first for me!), it looks great; at least on paper it does! Stay tuned for that. My commitment to turning blocks into tops isn't nearly as daunting as I had built it up in my mind to be. At this rate, Sundance and I will be very busy all summer long!

Life is Good!