After all that

Saturday was my 58th birthday.  We had a good day.  I wish we'd thought to take pictures. 

We got up and I fought with my computer, trying to do some business, then I just reset the whole thing and reinstalled windows and it and went on with the day.  I was sewing away, adding points to border sections when Rob came in and asked if I'd decided not to go antiquing for my day.  I said no, I had not, but it was only about 7am...we had plenty of time...except it was really 9 am.  I had completely lost track.  We hit a couple of antique stores where we didn't buy much, which was good!!!  We don't need much.  Then, we had a fabulous home cooking restaurant lunch (best chicken and dumplings since my Grandmother's) and went to a huge nursery in Seguin, Texas.  But, they didn't have their plants in for this year yet, so all we bought was a beautiful hanging basket of orange pansies that is hanging in the back yard and a bag of nasturtium seeds.  Then we came home and settled in and picked up Syd and we all went for Mexican food and margaritas for dinner.  It was a truly good day. 

On Sunday, I worked in the yard some and did a lot of chores.  Rob asked me to look in the closet where we keep our pants and pointed out that 80% of the rod held my pants and his pants were in the other 20%.  So, yesterday I went through the lot and only kept what will actually fit my older, wider self and am sending my "aspirational" jeans to the goodwill.  Let's face it, I'm never gonna be that size again.  Then, just so I could talk about how exciting my life is, I rearranged my underwear drawer.  But, I also finished the last border section for the new quilt.  Here it is laid out.  I still have to add some small black pieces to the middle of each side of the border to fill in those small arc spaces, but at least the piecing is done. 

I thought I'd share some garden pics since I've been spending so much time out there.  These are the last two camelia blooms.  They were really late, but a welcome point of bright color in the mostly green garden.

This is the woodfern bed.  I've moved a couple around and given a couple away this year.  I found a great spot for them and they thrive with very little care and maintenance.

When we have a warm winter, like we have this year, the forsythia doesn't put out much of a bloom show.  The blooms come with the leaves, so it's not as vibrant as the years it is covered with little yellow flowers.  But, it's still beautiful. 

We had the new air conditioner installed last week.  Their quality control guy came a couple days after the install.  Let's just say that we had a lot of feedback.  They skipped the step where they balance our output so that every room gets the amount of heat or air that its square footage needs to be comfortable.  So, the studio was so hot I could hardly sit there while the kitchen was getting no air.  I think the QC guy thought he could climb in the attic, make some very unscientific adjustments and we'd be fine.  I gave him a different thought to occupy him and they are sending the crew to make the adjustments, and it needs to be soon.  They've gotten on my last gay nerve about all this and I'm sorry I gave them the second check.  I should have held it until I was happy and the work was complete. 

While the crew was here, I had the dogs in the studio with me.  They were very relaxed, considering what was going on around them and in the rest of the house. 

I had a meeting last week with my young manager.  He wanted to talk about how he could help me develop my career.  First off, I'm 58.  I don't have a developing career.  I just want to be able to do my job for a few more years.  That took him aback.  I know he's managed people my age before, but think he was surprised that I didn't pretend that I was aspiring to something better.  When he asked what he could do to help me develop, I said make sure I have time to work on the nationwide projects that I get asked to help with that bring me attention.  I explained that my career had done just fine waiting for people to ask me to do new things, then learning how to do them, then executing them well and basking in the attention that made someone else want to ask me to be part of their project where I got to do that all over again.  It's my willingness to say "yes" when so many others at my job level are too intimidated that's made my career the job I enjoy now.  He asked the question a little differently and my answer was make sure to keep the variety.  Monotony is my enemy and everything suffers when I'm bored. 

P.S. This was my to me/from me gift.  I have a small (very small) collection of Roseville pottery.  It's so expensive I can't afford much of it. 

This is what Syd wrote in her card. 
Do me a favor, will you?  I couldn't think of anything to write, so please act like you're reading something really touching, maybe even wipe a tear or two, and then look at me and say...I don't know...maybe "that was beautiful.  I didn't know you felt those emotions about me".  Then, if anyone asks to see the card (Rob) refuse and tell him it was just too personal.  Thanks, I owe you one!

I was literally laughing so hard that I couldn't breathe.  I did everything she asked, even wiped a tear, but it was from laughing so hard.  Eventually, I did read the card to Rob.

Everybody have a wonderful day!  It looks like it will be a busy one for me...you know, that variety thing and all. 

Lane