Back in the sewing room!

I had to put the sewing aside for gardening, now that that has slowed down I can get back to some projects.

Still working on my kaleidoscope quilt.  I'm  just about done with putting the blocks together.  While I was in my room, I thought I would do a little organizing.

I had a few tee shirts put aside to see if  Rocky would like them put into his tee shirt quilt.  When he was home in March I got the "okay."

I cut them up today and added them to the bunch of others I have put aside.  My goal is to get this quilt done by graduation 2015. 

I have so many strips of fabric I thought I would gather some red, white and blue fabric from previous Americana projects and make some table runners.  Nothing fancy; something simple.

Thought I'd make myself one and a couple for gifts.

Look for future photos.  

I still have 2 quilts on the quilt wall, leftover blocks from previous quilts.  I decided to make a lap quilt for my aunt in Florida and the other, hmmmmm haven't decided yet.

After the table runners, I'll be putting together my aunt's quilt.

So Much!

Hard to believe this beautiful girl can shed so much!!!!!

Shadow was a shredder too, after all they are golden retrievers, but not as much as Annie.

It seems I can go on forever and never run out of hair to brush out!!!

Here is one small brushing, well really, about 10 minutes of brushing.

It seems I could have used this for something????

Oh well, no matter what we love her sooo much, hair and all!

Volunteering

One of the best things about staying home (wish I would have started sooner) is my "job" at the Shelter.  After a couple of months of being at home I needed something to "go" to and I needed to get out!

In the back of my mind, when I retired, I wanted to volunteer at the Shelter.  Well, here I am with nothing but time so I went to orientation in March.

My regular schedule walking dogs is on Fridays and Saturdays, 2 hour shifts. 

I also help out with setting up for the monthly book sale, the last Thursday of the month.  The book sale is the last Saturday and Sunday of the month.

I have been cleaning out my books and taking them with me on those set up days!

They have a lot of special events coming up.  I've signed up for a shift at the booth on July 4th in Lithia Park in Ashland. So, if you're at the parade stop by and see me!

When I do find my forever job, I will continue to walk dogs on Sunday and hopefully I'll be able to sign up for those special events that occur mostly on Saturdays.  Since they desperately need dog walkers on Saturdays, I won't give that up at this time.  I do know when I get back to work, and if it's full time, I can realistically only give them 1 weekend day.

I do have to say the Shelter has such a wonderful volunteer force.  There is so much that is done to make dogs and cats very comfortable while they stay there.  A lot of training is done so they are adoptable.

They get massages. They get kongs or some other challenging item filled with peanut butter every afternoon  They have an agility park and a wonderful little shade-filled park named "Slim Jim" after a beloved dog that passed away there. They have a "cuddle" room that is set up like a living room. 

The cats have a free roaming room that has all sorts of fun cubbies for them to explore and play in.

They get a lot of attention, in particular the pits and pit mixers.  They can be a little excitable so they do a lot of training with the "Pit Crew," a special group of volunteers.

I am enjoying this part of staying home. If I lived closer I would volunteer more.

This is one of my favorites, Benny.  He is a one year old, pit mix.  I think he has the body of  an American Bulldog. He reminds me of "Chance" from the "Homeward Bound" movie, his head and face are different, but his body and they way he moves is exactly like the breed used for the movie.

He's been at the shelter for a couple of months and has gone through a lot of training and has become a wonderful boy.  If I didn't have a big dog, I would adopt him, he's that lovable.  I'm crossing my fingers that his wait is long because he'll go to a wonderful family.  

Work..................

Still waiting for my "forever" job, really 6 years more.

It's officially 6 months that I've been looking for a job.  I apply for at least 2 jobs a week, sometimes up to 4. I have applied for some great jobs that fit me perfectly, but alas not even an interview. I have learned not to get excited about anything I apply for because it most likely won't go anywhere.  

Sometimes I don't even get an acknowledgement; gotta love those!

I've only had 3 interviews; 2 I knew would not work once they described what they really needed, one job I had 2 interviews.  After these interviews I had to go into the unemployment office and the counselor actually congratulated me on having interviews so quickly; it had been 3 months or a little longer!

This is the first time in my life I've really been between jobs.  I do know, and it's been confirmed by my unemployment counselor, that it's my age.  I guess employers rather hire a young person with no experience so they can mold them, they believe they're more adaptable, an older person is not. 

I guess that might be true for some older people, but not for me.  I love to learn new things and I love to keep up with technology as much as I can.

I have to believe that some younger people have no business or work ethics, it can be taught, but a lot of our younger society is so used to having things done for them, I wonder.

I thought for sure I would have a job by this Summer, but here I am!

I am getting those large projects done at home, but I still feel like I'm lost with no direction.  I don't really have a "purpose." I guess with time that will go away.

Keep your fingers crossed for me............ 

I'm Done!

At least until Fall..........After planting 45 plants "Project St. John Wort"
 is done!  I am sooo tired.  Now I'm crossing my fingers that most of those plants make it!

In the interim I was having a "squirrel" issue with my Shasta Daisy, it was never going to make it despite all my efforts to save the tender new growth.  Instead I have planted another peony and I've covered it with chicken wire until it's established.  I DID buy another daisy and planted it in another spot and it is also covered until established.  

I have to say after spending time in Nan's garden and seeing all her peony plants I just knew I needed another one.  

I still have to get down to her place and dig up some more iris'.  

I'm also buying a climbing hydrangea for a corner where I have to move the plant that is there.  I will keep the hydrangea in a pot until I can plant it this Fall, it's just too warm to plant more right now.

I will post a photo of Project St. John Wort when it finally establishes, right now it looks so sad :(