Spiffing Up Lunch

So...I'm on the Weight Watchers wagon (again - for the umpteenth time). I actually like some of the Smart Ones frozen meals. One that I'm particularly fond of is the Pasta Primavera. For 5 Points Plus it's a pretty tasty lunch choice.

When I was working it was a fast choice to throw in my lunch bag on the way out the door. Since I'm not working, I haven't had a frozen meal for lunch in several weeks. I just happened to be at the store right before lunch and decided to grab one of these babies for my lunch.

After the requisite heating, here is what I had -

I know it's a little silly, but I just wasn't feeling the love. It was like I was back at work, rushing to choke down my lunch so I could attend to the plethora of tasks waiting for me. Well, I decided it was time to change things up a bit. So out of the plastic and into a bowl sitting on placemat. Much more appealing. 

I think my Weight Watchers leader would be proud. I know I was more satisfied. 

P.S. - I probably should have added a salad. 

Learning from Death

Last week I found out that someone I knew died during a routine operation to repair broken bones in her foot. This gal was actively involved in fitness and had dropped weight recently. She was on the right track. By all accounts she was "healthy." But that didn't matter. It seems that her death was related somehow to anesthesia. That isn't really as relevant as the fact that this wife and mother of four children is no longer with us.

My initial reaction was shock. After the shock, it was time to pray for this gal's family as they dealt with all that follows a sudden death. Then a rather self-centered reaction crept into my thoughts - that could easily be me. My family could be mourning my death, due to totally unforeseen circumstances. It could be any of us. That realization is very sobering.

Life is a gift. It is to be appreciated. I was overcome with gratitude for all I have and all the potential life I have yet to live. I have been given the gift of time for this season of my life. There is a lot I want to accomplish. In addition to all my to-do lists, goals and organizational tasks, I need to remember to enjoy life and the people - yes, the people (not the things) whom God has placed on my journey.

The weight of this loss of a casual friend has been striking to me. I didn't know her well, yet I know that she was a blessing to many people. I hope to have that kind of legacy. And right now I plan to make it a priority to focus on relationships, rather than tasks. This is the best way I know to honor my friend.

Taking a Sabbatical

Dictionary.com defines sabbatical this way: any extended period of leave from one's customary work, especially for rest, to acquire new skills or training, etc.

Since my customary work for the last few years has been as the manager of a quilt shop, then I guess it is fair to say that I am on a sabbatical. In other words...I'm no longer the manager of a quilt shop and I'm "between jobs."

I'm allowing myself (with extreme gratitude to my husband) to take a much needed break from employment. Since my job generally didn't come with fringe benefits such as paid time off and since I've had to work the majority of Saturdays for the last 5 years, there are plenty of things around the house and in life generally that have gone undone. So, this is my time. 

I enjoy waking up to each day stretched out in front of me like a long road. There is so much potential and a very long task list. It is easy to get distracted and fill the time with things that are of no consequence like surfing the web and watching HGTV, so I am trying to be purposeful about planning tasks that bring progress to projects that I've dreamt of working on for as long as I can remember. One of those projects is blogging. I'm not making any trite promises about future performance, but I do plan to post more frequently. 

As my blog subtitle says my goal for the blog is focusing on being positive and finding the beauty in life. What's positive and beautiful in my life right now is time. And I'm thankful that I have a chunk of it to do whatever I please, at least for a little while.

Time Well Spent

Quilter Bonnie Hunter says that cutting fabric for just 10 minutes a day will yield great results. I'm a big believer in this philosophy, so that will be a goal of mine for the next month. Bonnie is my hero and if she says I'm all in.

Today I started with a stack of neutrals like this -

Then I set the timer on my phone like this - 

After 10 minutes I had this - 

It's not super impressive. I least I have something to show for my time and I'm a wee bit closer to getting my stash cut up. Now I just need to determine which project I am cutting for. 

To be continued....

Sifting Through Quilt Books

In preparation for a scrap club that I'll be leading next year, I have been pouring over several quilt books that focus on scrap quilts. I believe I have narrowed my selection down to the following:

Cut the Scraps!
by Joan Ford

Scraps Plus One!

by Joan Ford 

The Big Book of Nickel Quilts
by Pat Speth with Charlene Thode

Amazing Nickel Quits
by Pat Speth

I'm looking for books that show actual scrappy quilts not just quilts with a lot of coordinating fabric. It would be good if the books used "standard" size units like those that Bonnie Hunter uses in her Scrap User System (since I've already been cutting those sizes for years). A variety of sizes would be nice, but isn't critical. Some education about color, value, tint and how to put things together would also be welcome.

The book I'm looking for will be the text and basis for a club that will meet monthly for the sole purpose of using one's stash. I think it will be fun and I can't wait to stitch up some scrappy quilts. I think I've narrowed down my options to a final choice. But I still have a little more research to do.

A Yummy Pork Roast Recipe

I love it when I nab a great deal at the grocery store, especially when that great deal happens to be on meat. I scored a 4 pound pork loin last weekend for around nine bucks. Awesome! Now...what to do with it. Pinterest to the rescue.

I found this great looking - I mean the picture is delicious - recipe from a site called Six Sisters' Stuff. It's called Slow Cooker Honey Balsamic Pork Roast. Not only was the picture delicious, the actual roast was pretty yummy too.

I've steered away from slow cooker recipes because the meat sometimes seems so dry. And yes, this was a tad on the dry side too. But, the gravy you make with the sauce takes care of that quite nicely. Add some oven roasted potatoes and sauteed green beans with onions and we are good to go.

The best part...I got to play the day away while dinner was making itself (well, mostly).

Have a happy Saturday!

Stained Glass Table Runner (Top) Is Done

In the spirit of celebrating small goals set, I am excited that I completed something I started less than a week ago. I think I first saw the idea on Pinterest. Sure that I could recreate the Christmas Table Runner I saw, I determined that I would draft a pattern based on what I saw. Silly me!

Cut to Craftsy...where the pattern was for sale for a nominal fee. As I went through the checkout process, I felt a certain sense of satisfaction that I didn't actually follow through with my original idea but instead concluded that actually sewing was a better use of my time. Which is why I finished in record time.

Next I need to sandwich it and machine quilt it, most likely in the ditch. I think I'd like to try using Pinmoors for basting this baby. First, I have to buy some. So it may be a bit longer before I get to that, but I'm thinking this will make someone a nice hostess gift in the upcoming holiday season. Yay!