a well earned rest

    Today I went to work, and did my four hour shift. I helped chop vegetables for a new concoction thought up by The Awesome Store owner, Loraine. Equal parts red peppers, carrots, squash, celery, onions, green peppers, and I don't remember what else. Everything got cup up, then mixed in big batches. After that it was my job to fill jars with the mixture.


    Tomorrow she will be pickling all the jars. Along with all the jars of brussel sprouts that I trimmed and stuffed into jars today also.  It was very interesting to be in on the beginning of a new product for the store!


    Even though I only work part time, I really enjoy it. As I haven't worked full time in nearly four years, even this part time gig is kicking my ass. I get so sore, and my back aches for days afterwards. But I think it's totally worth it. I've actually lost a little weight in the last few months!


    It will probably take me a few days to get over the soreness and stiffness. After I got home today, before I could stiffen up, I washed all the dishes in the sink. And my knitting finger is starting to be less sore too. I will give it another day or two before I start knitting again, though. All in all I'm going to have a well earned rest!

Saturday, Sweet Saturday

    Today, I took the day off from my weekends-only part time job. You see, I had convinced my daughter to have a 31 purse party, so I could check out one of their purses that I really liked.


   Her Pampered Chef friend also sells the 31 products, so she knows all of us, and has been to Sara's house more than once. That party was today. I went, and had a good time. I must say I was pleasantly surprised that the bag I liked was actually much bigger than I thought it would be. So, of course, I ordered one!


    It also just so happened to be Sara's birthday today. My oldest child, my heart. It makes me so happy to see her settled and married to a great man. But don't tell him I said that... I wouldn't want him to get a bigger head.


    I hung around after the others had left; I wanted to see his hands, for Gamer glove thumb hole placement. Once that had been decided, I beat feet, and let the kids decide where he would be taking her out to dinner to celebrate.


   But tomorrow, it's back to work. I am still hoping some local friends will stop by the Hudson Valley Market Place to see me. There are a lot of vendors there, selling all kinds of things, from mattresses to purses, and clothes to jewelry. I hope to see some of you there! Remember, it's that gift giving season again!

On to New Projects / An Awesome Dinner

    I think it's past time to start the promised fingerless gloves for my bestest son-in-law. Tomorrow, when I can walk again, I will go through my stash and hopefully find an appropriate yarn. I will then sit and crochet them until they are done!! On this you have my solemn vow.


    This weekend was fun at work. We were really busy and I like that. It's fun to talk to lots of people. It was hard for me to open up at first, and just do it, but now it's much easier. I'm even finding myself smiling and saying hello to people in the grocery store! I get some weird looks. It's OK, it makes me laugh.


   After my little four hour shift, I stopped at the grocery store, to get some stew beef. It was chilly outside, and I just knew it was a good soup day. So now, the soup is cooking, and the house smells terrific. Gotta love the smell of a good home made soup! (even if it does come from the Awesome Store!) I'm making my Hubs' favorite, the vegetable barley, I add my own beef. I also add a few other things, like a small can of corn, and about two tablespoons of honey. You can add anything you like!


  


   

Awesome Adventures

    My part time job is at the Awesome Store (aka Awesome Country), they have a large booth at the Hudson Valley Marketplace. I work Saturdays and Sundays, since those are the only days the Market Place is open.


    It's a very cool place, like a big indoor flea market. There's a food court, an aisle for food-goods vendors, and lots of booths where people sell all kinds of things! I went there a couple of times, with Bonny, and by myself, before getting the job.


    There have been a few memorable customers, in the weeks since I've been there. My second weekend, these two teenage boys came up to my tasting station. I greeted them, as I greet everyone who walks by. They looked at each other, and said "Do you know that we have walked through this whole place, and you are the first person to talk to us?" They ended up spending money in our booth because of my talking to them. That made me feel good.


    At my tasting station, I always warn people, if it says "hot" or "spicy" on the label, it's usually really hot or really spicy, so if you don't like spicy stuff, stay away from those. Last weekend, a couple came up, and the husband tasted our "hot salsa". It has flames on the label. He told his wife that it wasn't that hot, and she should try it. Well, she did, and started hitting him, and waving her hand in front of her mouth, and yelling "Are you crazy? Are you trying to kill me?" That really cracked me up. I warned them!


    Slowly but surely, it's getting easier to be standing for my shift. I get to walk a bit too, so that really helps.


    If anyone reading this is local to Dutchess County NY, come on by! The Marketplace is on the Salt Point Turnpike, across from the cemetery. For real locals, go up Innis Ave, all the way, then bear right on Salt Point, it's just past the old railroad bridge.

    They're open Saturdays and Sundays, 9am to 5 pm. Hopefully, I'll see you there!

I'm So Very Tired Tonight

   Getting up at 5:30 a.m. sucks. That's why I'm so tired tonight. I wouldn't take a nap either, if I did then I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight. I was so tired, I can't even tell you how many times I almost fell asleep in my chair.


   I did go out today, to Michaels. I didn't get to go yesterday, my bestest buddy canceled on me. I wasn't too upset, really, I was so sore, I could hardly walk. It worked out for the best. So I went today, and used a 25% off coupon, for entire purchase! I got three balls of wool yarn for $10. Not too bad.


    Since I was in the plaza, I went to the Stop n Shop down there. Our new one that opened just this past Friday is very nice, but I'll wait for the furor to die down. I don't like shopping in a huge crowd, or having to wait for a parking space. O do need to go exploring the new one, I need to find where they put the bottle return machines. I have some bags piling up that need to be returned.


     I am so tired, I had to put my knitting up. I can't keep my eyes open. Very soon I will go to bed, as I have another early day tomorrow. But tomorrow, Hubs won't be getting up too, so I can sleep until 5:45. Woo hoo!


    I almost didn't post tonight, but I decided that since I already skipped a day recently, I can't skip another one without a Dr's note. I wouldn't want you guys to worry about me.  So here I am, and if I sound a bit out of it, I am. G'night!

A Tale of Sore Legs

    It seems that standing for hours at a time is difficult for me. At least I get to walk around a bit, which helps a lot. My new job is part time, four hours a day, each Saturday and Sunday. I am having a good time with it, even though I end up in pain.


    Today is usually the day I spend recovering. But I decided to go out with my friend to Michaels and a few other places. Of course I had to walk. So now, my legs hurt all over again. It was worth it though, I enjoy spending time with Bonny.


    I came home and sorted socks, as I promised Hubs I would, I have yet to do any dishes. It still hurts to stand up. I need to start some more laundry, too... but that involves going down and then up the stairs. Not fun at all. But I'll probably get to it later on.


    I am also working on my bucket bag when I can. I did a few rounds last night, and more this morning. No new photos yet.

Didn't Post Yesterday...

   I didn't post yesterday, actually for a few reasons. First, I worked my four hour shift on my feet, and was very tired. After I got home, I was only able to rest for a couple of hours before we went out to dinner to celebrate the 23rd birthday of my youngest child.


   And the second? Yesterday would have been my dad's 80th birthday. I can't believe he's been gone for 20 years and about 4 months. I spent some time yesterday, thinking about him, wondering what he would be like if he had lived. I can't picture him as an octogenarian! It blows my mind.


    Today I put in another four hours on my feet, and again I'm exhausted. My legs really hurt. I'm hoping that eventually, I'll get used to it again. I think it's going to take some time. One day at a time, I guess. Or, more accurately, one weekend at a time!

I'm Idle, Craft Wise

   I haven't worked on anything, since I finished my black felted crocheted/knit bucket bag. Even Hubs, just this evening, mentioned that I've not been knitting lately. Perhaps I'm just knitted out, for now.


   This working part time thing is cool, it's a weekends only job, so far; at the Hudson Valley Market Place, on the Salt Point Turnpike. I'm actually working for The Awesome Store! I figured "Why not?" since I am so taken with many of their products!


   It's really hard, after being idle for so long, but so far, so good. It's challenging to have to talk to strangers, but I'm learning. Being on my feet is tough, even for the short four hours that I'm there each day. But today my legs hurt less than last Saturday night, and I'm sure that tomorrow will be better too. Slowly but surely, I will get back into shape.


    And with Hubs on the day shift now, I get to see him every night! That is the best thing of all! It's even not as bad as I thought, having to cook dinner every night.

Still Recuperating, and Other News

    Today, I'm still recuperating, sort of. I feel much better than I thought I would. Spending that much time on my feet was... difficult. It got to the point where I had to just keep walking, or I would have fallen right over.


    After I got home, I took some Advil, and put my feet up for a while. I was actually getting cramps in my leg muscles, and couldn't really get comfortable. But I slept well, and got up to find that I wasn't in too much discomfort. I'm still taking it kind of easy today, but I am doing laundry. Up and down the stairs is fun.


    Last week, I went to my mom's to help her pack up some stuff for the move to the new, smaller apartment. I ended up bringing more stuff home than I packed! She gave me a box of kitchen stuff that she doesn't need, and a coffee table.


    Not just any coffee table. This table was a very large part of my childhood. I have memories of turning it upside down, and playing in it. Looking at it now, I couldn't have been more than 2 or 3 years old! Maybe 4 at the outside. Mom has kept it all these years. She, of course, has painted it. It now has two children in olden days clothes on it, all done up in folk art painting.

   Unfortunately, it also has a pretty good crack in the top. I have asked Hubs if he can perhaps repair it with clamps and some glue.


    Here is a shot of the right side of the top, you can really see the crack.

   And the left side, with the matching daisies.

    Perhaps tomorrow morning, when the light is better, I can carefully turn the table over, and  show you my favorite play area.


    I am currently not working on anything, craft wise. Although.... a certain pregnant lady greatly admired the pot holders I made for Sara.... Maybe I can make her a pair. I'll call Sara later, and ask her about color combinations.


    And P.S. - Today is my mom's 80th birthday! She is from a tiny little town in upstate New York, which doesn't actually exist any more. It became overtaken by another town, as it grew. I think my mom is the only person I've ever known who actually attended a one room school house. It boggles the mind, doesn't it?
  

I Was Totally Wiped Out Yesterday

   Yesterday, I started a new job. It's part time, and so far, weekends only. But after not working for darn near 3 1/2 years, my little four hour shift wiped me out. I am going back today, we'll see how it goes.


    In general, it isn't a hard job, but I find it difficult to engage total strangers in a conversation about the company products and story. Hopefully I will get the hang of it.


   Wish me luck.....