Happy Labor Day..........Some Things That Are Making Me Happy

Here we are at Labor Day!  In Denver, we have partially cloudy mid seventy skies (unfortunately much of the cloud/haze is from fires to the north, so windows are closed). Tomorrow it heads back to the sunny eighties!

Meanwhile, things making me happy (and one not so happy thing)!

1.  The fact that I am sitting at home, chilling, knitting and reading. Not that I would object to a barbecue as such, and son may end up grilling lamb steaks. But in retirement I no longer feel the need to take advantage of every single three day weekend and holiday. In fact, unless family togetherness demands it, I avoid entertaining on extended holidays along with travel. Today my son had one of his rare full days off and we actually spent it doing some organizing and TV binge-ing. Works for me.

2. In the area of un-happiness, my phone fell out of my hand, face down onto the pavement in the parking lot at the grocery store. No screen cover could save it on this occasion (I don't use a case). The poor screen is so shattered that I cannot use it even underneath a screen cover.  The happy news, however, is that that monthly smart phone insurance I pay is well worth it, as I am getting a brand new Samsung S9+ tomorrow via FedEx for less than $100. 

3.  I FINALLY went to the monthly Saturday lunch outing with the women of my new church-and had a wonderful time. While I miss the church I went to in some ways, and will still travel there on occasion there is SO MUCH to be said for a neighborhood church. I mean, whether it's Sunday morning, mid week or late night volunteering (This church serves as an overnight host for the homeless four times a year), said church is literally three minutes driving from my house!! 

4. I'm moving mainly to smaller projects on the quilting type front and finding it is making me so much happier. I'll finish the large quilt tops I have done, and occasionally make a gift of a quilt, but it seems my interests have moved to smaller projects (bags, table runners, napkins, pillow covers). I dunno, perhaps my attention span has slowed down? I know my attention has wandered as I pick up new hobbies, and much prefer more immediate results in many things. Whatever the reason, my happiness quotient is up in this area.

5. I was thrilled to find this yarn. It is called a "shawl in a cake" and has enough yarn (for less than ten dollars) to make a full sized shawl. Pictures cannot do this yarn justice,  even with an extreme close-up. I now have two shawls going. I suspect one of the reason I am moving to smaller sewing projects as well as sketching and knitting is portability. I can work on this stuff in the garden, in front of the TV, on the road, even at church. I do love quilting but it really holds me to a single place, ya know?

Happy Day, be you traveling, grilling, or just sitting in the back yard or in front of the TV!