One of the great benefits of having so much free time is the flexibility to do things that I would normally have to wait for a day off to do. One of these things is Baking. I've always like to bake. I'm not the best at it but no one's complained.
Without the 9-5 thingy happening I can give in to the urge to have chocolate cake or oatmeal cookies, I can bake apples or make granola. Break hot out of the oven slathered with butter.
Yes, these treats will increase the waistline so that means I'll have to take some walks. And looky there, time to walk!
You'd think baking would be contrary to the goal of laziness but it does not entail getting dressed, going out into the wind, driving to the store or bakery, buying other random things, driving home (or to the liquor store), unpacking the bags, getting into comfy clothes and then having a piece of cold cake or dry cookies. Do they taste good? Maybe. If I'm smart (don't roll your eyes) I'll have baking ingredients during my earlier shopping trips. I'm online all day, why not look up recipes or drag out the dusty cookbooks. In the time it takes to get to the store and back I have hot oatmeal cookies. Bread takes a bit longer but most of that is rising time and there is nothing...NOTHING better than bread fresh out of the oven with butter.
And clean-up? I have to do dishes anyway, what's an extra bowl and beaters?
Give it a try.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Semi-faux-retired
A woman walks into a quilt shop...
Cute shop, lots of great fabric, help wanted sign...what could go wrong. I casually asked about what kind of help they were looking for and was told just part time and fill-in...in the fall. Who could resist a couple days a week and when someone needs a vacation? Who could resist a random customer who loves to quilt, is great with customer service and doesn't want to start work until after the summer and then only part time?
Sounds like a win win situation to me :)
Cute shop, lots of great fabric, help wanted sign...what could go wrong. I casually asked about what kind of help they were looking for and was told just part time and fill-in...in the fall. Who could resist a couple days a week and when someone needs a vacation? Who could resist a random customer who loves to quilt, is great with customer service and doesn't want to start work until after the summer and then only part time?
Sounds like a win win situation to me :)
Friday, May 9, 2014
The Simple Things
Crafting doesn't have to be hard or intricate or expensive. The dishcloths found in my Crotchety Old Woman cost less than $1, $5 if you include the crochet hook and yarn, and uses beginning skills. Scrapbooking doesn't have to include all the wild papers, buttons, punches and glue dots; why not just a package of photo corners and a variety of pens. Recover an old throw pillow with scrap fabric sewn together casually or with a few fat quarters.
Wander through Pinterest to find ideas for projects but don't be disappointed if your results differ from the pictures online, shoot for a fun experience and perhaps something useful. If you're not making items for sale does it matter if a scarf is a bit crooked or a quilt points don't quite meet? Cookies can be just as yummy if they aren't perfectly round or the chocolate chips aren't evenly distributed.
Today I decided to re-purpose a comfy sweatshirt.
A quick cut up the center from bottom to neck and a simple surgeon the edges and I have a casual cardigan.
It's not stylish, or fancy, but it's just what I wanted, an open-front sweatshirt without a zipper and hood.
I'm quite happy with my morning craftiness.
Wander through Pinterest to find ideas for projects but don't be disappointed if your results differ from the pictures online, shoot for a fun experience and perhaps something useful. If you're not making items for sale does it matter if a scarf is a bit crooked or a quilt points don't quite meet? Cookies can be just as yummy if they aren't perfectly round or the chocolate chips aren't evenly distributed.
Today I decided to re-purpose a comfy sweatshirt.
It's not stylish, or fancy, but it's just what I wanted, an open-front sweatshirt without a zipper and hood.
I'm quite happy with my morning craftiness.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
From the Inside
One of the great perks of not having to leave the house to go to work is being able to watch the horrible wind blow from inside the house. Unless I make an early morning appointment I don't have to scrape ice off my car windows. I can enjoy the cool basement when the summer heats up. I won't have to dig out my umbrella when the horizontal rains start.
Yes, Yes, Yes, I can't be a hermit but having to brave the Wyoming elements will be my choice rather than the daily torture I had to endure going to and from work.
The other nice perk of being home all day will be actually getting outside during the day. Being stuck in an office during the whole day meant that I missed some calm early mornings and beautiful (though rare) pleasant spring afternoons. I have already spent more time outside in the sun, I might even acquire a tan...or at least some sunburn faded to less-paleness. I'm not ready to go for long walks yet, maybe in a month to two.
Yes, Yes, Yes, I can't be a hermit but having to brave the Wyoming elements will be my choice rather than the daily torture I had to endure going to and from work.
The other nice perk of being home all day will be actually getting outside during the day. Being stuck in an office during the whole day meant that I missed some calm early mornings and beautiful (though rare) pleasant spring afternoons. I have already spent more time outside in the sun, I might even acquire a tan...or at least some sunburn faded to less-paleness. I'm not ready to go for long walks yet, maybe in a month to two.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
American Yum
I love to eat. I love to cook. I love to find new fantastic things to eat and cook. I love to watch others cook.
Dave and I decided to share our cooking experiences with others by starting a website: AmericanYum
Shortly after setting up the website Dave got involved with his own fine art website (more on that when it becomes active) and I was heading into a busy time at work, so it got put on the back burner (amusing pun). With my faux-retirement giving me lots of free time, Dave suggested I work on getting American Yum up and running. I slogged through the unknown waters of website hosts and templates and html code until I had something I could be proud of and have fun with.
I am having a great time writing recipes and tasting teas and sharing some of the enjoyment we have in the kitchen.
Dave and I decided to share our cooking experiences with others by starting a website: AmericanYum
Shortly after setting up the website Dave got involved with his own fine art website (more on that when it becomes active) and I was heading into a busy time at work, so it got put on the back burner (amusing pun). With my faux-retirement giving me lots of free time, Dave suggested I work on getting American Yum up and running. I slogged through the unknown waters of website hosts and templates and html code until I had something I could be proud of and have fun with.
I am having a great time writing recipes and tasting teas and sharing some of the enjoyment we have in the kitchen.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Crochety Old Woman
Lazy, that's what I want to be. What can be lazier than sitting in front of the 2nd season of Downton Abbey with a skein of yarn and a crochet hook? It would be a lot lazier if this hobby didn't also include shopping for yarn, finding new patterns, watching hours of YouTubes every day. I started an Intermediate Crochet class but it wasn't challenging enough so I just started out on my own.
First it was a scarf, then a sampler for class, then more slippers, then granny squares, then a bag, then washcloths, and now crocheted loofahs!
I do love looking industrious while watching Mr. Bates get out of prison. And thought I feel the washcloths look good enough to sell and the loofahs are soooo cute, but Etsy is full of washcloths and slippers and crocheted items of all shapes and colors. I know I'll keep buying yarn and crocheting fun stuff, so I hope the family enjoys getting surprise packages.
First it was a scarf, then a sampler for class, then more slippers, then granny squares, then a bag, then washcloths, and now crocheted loofahs!
I do love looking industrious while watching Mr. Bates get out of prison. And thought I feel the washcloths look good enough to sell and the loofahs are soooo cute, but Etsy is full of washcloths and slippers and crocheted items of all shapes and colors. I know I'll keep buying yarn and crocheting fun stuff, so I hope the family enjoys getting surprise packages.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Faux Retired
My husband has been "retired" for almost a year. I put that in quotes because I always saw retirement as a time to go fishing, plant a flower garden, take up golfing, make doilies, take care of grand children, work at the church bake sale. Dave hasn't done any of those things. But then...Dave isn't a lazy person.
Last year my daughter came up with a plan to get me out of my IT job and write full time. It included saving a lot of money and writing a lot of short stories. Last December I accomplished the first part of that requirement and in March gave my notice.
I had some vague plans as to what I'd do all day with no job to go to. I thought I'd move to a new city that was greener, larger, and a LOT less windy. I thought I'd write for hours and hours, maybe start of a third book. I thought I'd sleep in every day. I thought I'd level-cap my Horde Paladin and start raiding. I thought I'd stay in my slippers all day. THAT was what I wanted my "retirement" to be.
It's not turning out the way I planned.
Ok, so I did get my Paladin to 90, and I do wear my slippers a lot, and 8:00 is sleeping in right?
With my husband home I don't feel like I can just sit on the couch and watch Downton Abbey all day. He doesn't begrudge me relaxing and has never glared at me when my Hunter is running through Karazhan, he hasn't mentioned that my laundry pile has fallen over or that the catbox needs changing. I love my husband, he lets me be lazy. But...I wanted to create a lifestyle rather than just behaving like I was on vacation. So I decided to make a effort to get fully dressed during the week, choose a chore each day, get out of the house (when it's not too windy), and finish some of my craft projects. Dave suggested I work on a website we created a year ago.
It doesn't look like I'm going to get caught up on my 10 seasons of NCIS DVDs.
Last year my daughter came up with a plan to get me out of my IT job and write full time. It included saving a lot of money and writing a lot of short stories. Last December I accomplished the first part of that requirement and in March gave my notice.
I had some vague plans as to what I'd do all day with no job to go to. I thought I'd move to a new city that was greener, larger, and a LOT less windy. I thought I'd write for hours and hours, maybe start of a third book. I thought I'd sleep in every day. I thought I'd level-cap my Horde Paladin and start raiding. I thought I'd stay in my slippers all day. THAT was what I wanted my "retirement" to be.
It's not turning out the way I planned.
Ok, so I did get my Paladin to 90, and I do wear my slippers a lot, and 8:00 is sleeping in right?
With my husband home I don't feel like I can just sit on the couch and watch Downton Abbey all day. He doesn't begrudge me relaxing and has never glared at me when my Hunter is running through Karazhan, he hasn't mentioned that my laundry pile has fallen over or that the catbox needs changing. I love my husband, he lets me be lazy. But...I wanted to create a lifestyle rather than just behaving like I was on vacation. So I decided to make a effort to get fully dressed during the week, choose a chore each day, get out of the house (when it's not too windy), and finish some of my craft projects. Dave suggested I work on a website we created a year ago.
It doesn't look like I'm going to get caught up on my 10 seasons of NCIS DVDs.
Laziness
I am a lazy person. I am the first to admit it. If given the choice between a walk on a beautiful spring day and sitting on the couch watching infomercials I would wave as my husband closed the door. Between a homemade stir-fry and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich...hand me the raspberry jam.
I'm not a slob, even if my laundry pile just fell over. I see myself as a low-energy being. A body at rest stays at rest and I'm very restful.
On the first of April I became faux-retired. I am not old enough to be officially retired and I assume I will eventually have to get another job to pay the bills...but not for several months.
After several years of imagining what this would be like, I figured I knew how this is going to play out:
I'm not a slob, even if my laundry pile just fell over. I see myself as a low-energy being. A body at rest stays at rest and I'm very restful.
On the first of April I became faux-retired. I am not old enough to be officially retired and I assume I will eventually have to get another job to pay the bills...but not for several months.
After several years of imagining what this would be like, I figured I knew how this is going to play out:
- Sleep in until 10
- Coffee and cereal in front of the morning Facebook posts
- Change out of PJs into sweats and slippers
- Play some Warcraft and Candy Crush
- PBJ and Fritos for lunch
- Afternoon nap
- Read a book on the deck
- More Facebook
- Watch Dave make dinner
- Catch a few cop shows or a movie
- Warcraft and Facebook until 2am
- Climb into bed
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