Time to Bake

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.

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 :)

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.