There's Still A Lot of Work to Do.

I’ve been thinking about posting something for a while but I don’t have a whole lot to say. There’s a lot going on right now.

Massage work is picking up this month, just as I thought it would. January and February are always slow months for me. With all the other pots on the burners, I’m feeling that nagging pain on my upper back, right between the shoulder blades, emanating up the back of my neck. I’ve already made a self-care massage appointment for this weekend. We can never forget to take care of ourselves.

On the creative front, I’ve finished the “Sidecar Jacket,” which is as cute as I’d hoped.

I didn’t have the cash to purchase the required Spud & Chloe Outer yarn (it would have cost me about $185.00). Instead, I used Cascade Magnum, which cost about $90. This yarn is a good buy because although it’s loosely twined, it doesn’t seem to break like other similar yarns. (I did, however, do all my seaming with a tough worsted weight yarn because the constant friction caused by the sewing would have indeed broken the Magnum.) Magnum is appropriate too, being 100% wool, making this a soft and warm jacket for spring, fall and maybe even winter days in this cold Midwestern city.

I bought some fabric scraps to help me put together my baby quilt. I’m still in the process of cutting squares. It’s taking me a while!

I’ve started a new project in the midst of all this. It’s a paneled top, using Noro Silk Garden yarn. I was intrigued by the simplicity of this garment: Just two rectangles sewn together, with a ribbed waistline trim. The beauty of variegated colors of Noro yarn will be all this garment needs, and I’m enjoying the process of making this!

The work at the Food Pantry will be the start of a new journey for me. There’s no way I can learn it all in a day. Last week, my first day as a bona fide “Manager” was filled with so much information. All morning I took notes, learned names, trying to absorb as much as I could. My head was spinning when I came home. Tonight I poured over my notes, making my little “to-do” lists for tomorrow. I realized that like everything else, it’s a process that I will learn as I work there week after week. I will have to be patient, and calm.

In a few weeks also, I’ll begin laying out the newsletter for the West Walker Civic Association for the first time. That should be interesting. Especially because I’m used to 20-year-old design software…Quark Xpress! Now I’m cramming with Adobe InDesign. (It IS pretty cool I have to admit.)

Of course, all this comes right on the heels of the “Magic Mushroom” crazy-train. Magic Mushroom, a summer vacation bible program I’ve been working with for the past seven years, begins enrollment next week. There’s publicity, staffing, and programming to do as well.

A friend who’s a retired social worker received a “Volunteer of the Year” award from our church a few years ago. In her acceptance speech she said, “There’s still a lot of work to be done.” I’ll never forget that. It’s so true. There will always be a lot of work to do.