How bad is it that?

How bad is it that ...
This time every year I get to thinking about my blog ...
How bad is it that...
After a post or two I get completely distracted by life and forget to post all the wonderful things we have been accomplishing?
How bad is it that...
I keep trying knowing I will again forget to post here?
****SIGH****
so off the op of my head things that I have accomplished in the last year
-first and foremost I survived!!!
-I crocheted an afghan for Sebastian that he finally loves  (3 try's latter)

-I knitted an afghan for Dez

- I learned how to crochet socks, booties, hats, rabbits and ohhhh so much more

-I changed jobs to BMG and wow was that a switch!!! but I survived and thrived
And ohhhh so much more that IF i remembered to keep up would all be here.. how bad is that?

Since I cannot edit my sisters post....

So like I was the only one to "complete" my challenge? I don't know if that is anything to cheer about. Let me be clear- it is only because the appointments are already made. Does anyone else find some things in life that are supposed to be good for you excruciatingly distasteful?

I carry stuff around.

I though if I kept it on a leash it would not be so heavy. Now I see the problem.

Mary Anne and Gina am I making any sense at all? 

I made a baby quilt too-here is a piece of it. I will try to remember to get a photo of the whole thing this weekend while I am in Seattle. Because I am the worlds most traveled homebody ever. And it is a chance to be with my daughter.    

I also painted some flowers.

And went way outside my comfort zone and skied up there somewhere! 

Also I have had my first PDA 

(Public Display of Art) 

at a Coffee Shop here in town.

I am tired - and even though I should be packing I think I will take Mary Annes example and take a nap.

February is over and we are 1/2 way into March..BUT...

 I think Teri was the only one to complete her goal for last month.. and that was with a bit of a struggle!(great job! for not even remembering what your task was) I did attempt the online information to get every thing started for my heath care but hit a few snags in other words.. yup still on the to do list for me. Gina got a little busy and didn't get to volunteer... but i have a sneaking suspicion she will be making some big changes soon! As for what we did get done Gina has been jumping leaps and bounds with her computer skills and even learned how to video chat with Teri and I!!!

And look we all have "Teri hair" we also found out we all have the plastic tooth pick right on hand and with in arms reach.. don't ask LOL. I also had some time and taught myself how to make perogies and raviolis. And I have found a new mindless art project that is using up my stash of beads... BEAD SPIDERS!

A new challenge

Starting 2/14/2014 completion 2/28/2014..
     We have chosen to really push ourselves out of our comfort zones. Each in a different way. Teri has chosen to fulfill a commitment she made to herself by keeping some difficult appointments(if she wants to elaborate she can in the comments). Gina Is really putting it all out there not only by job hunting but by making steps to volunteer at a hospital near her (way to go!!!) I (Mary) have decided its time to call and get my health care reinstated.
       I understand deep inside why each of these tasks are so hard for each of us, BUT I can only explain mine. One may simply think .. "heath insurance.. how could you not have it?", "well just pick up a phone", or "just fill out the papers" "how hard can that be?" For me VERY! Why?(keep in mind even this is hard for me to admit) For a long time I part took in a system that our country offers as a "means to get back on your feet" what they don't realize, or care to acknowledge is the system is broken, and the only way off is sometimes the hardest struggle a person can face. Worse than being hungry, or serving up your dignity to the supermarket cashier as you swipe your card with "free money" for the fist time. They make the transition off difficult, like they want you to be dependent, like some drug dealer "give them just enough to get hooked, but not to much so they stay away to long. keep um coming back for more." That being said it took being so sick of my reflection and who I had become to motivate me (with the support of my hubby and kids) to go back to school and spend day after day after day filling out applications and calling on jobs. To finally land a my job I have now. I love my job and it does pay well. But as part time its not enough, so I pick up hours, this giving me full time hours with out the benefits.. no bonuses, no extra pay, no perks.. but even more on heath insurance(at a reasonable price). I was so happy when we no longer "qualified" for the food stamps.. and rent assistance .. I am proud we have gotten this far.
    But now I need to suck it up and go back so that we can have the health coverage we need. And it sucks.. BUT I know I can do it.. Just like I know my sisters can dig deep inside themselves to find the courage they need to get done what they have set there minds to! Love you both, feel free express why why you are doing is so hard if you like! LET THE CHALLENGE BEGIN!

So, what have we been up to?

Well we have,


Sown, knitted, and quilted

baby quilt made by soon to be grandma Teri

a fresh attempt at socks , by Mary

and we have "hung out" and made lots of food

lost a friend or two

had some winter fun

and then decided we where done with winter, and its time to think spring!!!

then took a few naps 

Had ummm... some more fun with food..

made lots of juice!

 and had a drink or two along the way!

CHEERS to a new year!(already well under way)

Cabbage Soup

That was fun. :-)

Canning…

By definition: noun

The process or business of sealing food in cans or tins to preserve it.

   But it is so much more, its an art. It is a way to care for your family and friends. It is that personal touch. It is what I believe is missing from the lives of many the hoarders out there . No really, think about it. It is natural and instinct to “squirrel away” food and prepare for winter. To stock up and such. Well I think there are so many people who have lost touch with the earth and there true nature, but there instincts are still there. So they grab and store and store meaningless and trivial things that give momentary satisfaction. They have all the intent to “give this to” so and so.. or “this would be great for” but it never happens. Or maybe I am completely wrong and because I fight the desire to keep every thing and hoard “stuff” maybe canning is an “acceptable” form of it and I am just trying to rationalize it .. Ether way winter is on its way fall is in full swing and although my garden was not out of this world bountiful, do to a very wet summer, I am in “squirrel” mode, and canning every thing I can get my hands on.

       

       

I just cant seam to get enough jars filled with all sorts of fruit and veggies, and ohhhh the Jellies and Jams with their shiny jeweled tones, they are so pretty and so yummy. The verities of mixtures are just endless. Then when you give them away and you get a card from an 80 something year old woman who is admitting to being brought to tears because she has so missed the taste of “real food”, well it feels good! …. oh and as for de-cluttering we are getting rid of 2 fridge’s and replacing them will more efficient fridge and freezer.. and because we are doing that my pile of stuff to go that has been keeping my hall way occupied is now (mostly) in our Jeep waiting for a drop off.

                     

       

So far I have canned 25lbs of peaches, 25lbs of Roma tomatoes, about another 25lbs of mixed tomatoes into salsa and stewed tomatoes, a sink full of Italian plums, 1 gallon freezer bag full of corn off the cob, bushels of pears, lots of jams and jellies, and this week coming up.. I have about 6 bushels of apples to prep.. :)