Frugal after reading all I could think was wow, how beautiful. I only hope I can have someone holding my hand when I pass... Yes indeed you are very special!

*
I know I'm avoiding again when on page 7, I posted my goals on page 2 and haven't returned!!

HEALTH
See doctor for test results
See dentist for repairs
See optometrist 235$ later I’ll be having reading glasses
Exercise weekly and weight loss started to do a 10 minutes routine and something cardio the next day, having mixed results as work is hectic and in day or evening shifts, haven’t committed all the way yet.
FRIENDS/FAMILY
Help DGF with some home repairs
MJ’s Birthday celebration June 15th can’t wait!
See DM twice this is proving to be difficult, they started going to the cabin and is in town only a few days at a time...

HOME
Branch 7 took a pass...
Branch 8 almost done
Branch 9
Branch 10

CAREER
presentation of first project and written project number 2 & 3 to be done by June 2sd done
see the kid’s (from work) school teacher about information she gave me her phone number... oh boy, another call...
Make a special education tool for a kid at work as part of a project (did the writing part need to make up the actual tool so I can present it in August) work in progress, got all the pictures I need, have to arrange them in order, write the message below and print. Then it’s just a matter of deciding if I’ll be using the mini photo album or the page protector to present it.
4th and 5th written project to be done June 21 work in progress, half of the first is done.
FUN
wish to see a movie once
Go out to dinner twice once coming this Friday!
Laugh every day! Without a fail!

OTHER
Make call to the accountant
Get car cleaned

Day 3 of Summer break and I'm at it again!

-Floors swept and mopped
-Final coat of finishing wax on bookcase
-Back panel of bookcase covered with dropcloth material and awaiting assembly back on to the bookcase

More for today:
- Finish letter of intent and send off to apply for Intervention Specialist position at work
- Go through 10 bookmark/favorites on desktop (This is working wonderfully to clean that up. )
- Go through 1 box (I figure if it works for my bookmark/favorites I should try it with my boxes.)
- Work on quilt block of the month
- Do first blog post on the tips/tricks/recipes blog that I've created for my DS and DD

While rubbing the wax on the bookcase, I had a lightbulb moment for a present for DD's birthday. She turns 17 next month, and with it being the middle of summer and no income, I'm always struggling with being able to afford something for her gift. I'm working on the bookcase right in the middle of my office space (big as it is-NOT!). I had to move my office chair to get to the other side to continue rubbing the wax and *ding-ding* (that's the sound of the lightbulb in my head). I'm going to redo my office chair and give it to her for her room. It's just an old wooden chair, but a couple months ago I ran across a picture where someone had taken old sheet music and decoupaged a chair with it. DD saw the picture and said, "I want you to make me one of those." I've been scouring thrift stores looking for a suitable chair at a reasonable price (aka CHEAP!), but haven't been able to find one. Yesterday, while working at the music camp, DD said that she was sorting through old music and filing it. Hmmmm....I wonder if she has any that she is throwing away. Texted her. Yes, she does. She will bring it home tonight. (I didn't tell her what it was for.)

One problem solved, but then what will I use as a chair in my office where I sit for a million hours a day during the school year. Well, I have a bench that is halfway under my table/desk that I don't know where to put so it's just sitting there. *Ding-ding* (lightbulb again). I can use the bench for my office "chair". It's low, I'm short, perfect!

Gosh, I LOVE when this happens!

Bubblegum: Seems to me like you are making progress on your goals.

Carol: Wonderful idea for a gift for DD. Don't mean to dim your lightbulb, but, will you be comfortable sitting on a bench for hours on end? Or could you cover the bench with the music sheets and give that to DD, instead (and you keep your chair)? A bench might double up as storage for her room...

Oh Bless...I forgot to mention that the bench has a padded top/seat. The frame is made of metal so there isn't any storage. Plus, DD is tall and the bench is low so it wouldn't be comfortable for her. It's the perfect height for me though! And, when I painted and covered this particular bench a couple years ago, I painted the metal a satin black and recovered the top with an oatmeal colored fabric so it goes perfectly with the curtain that covers the laundry area that makes one wall of my "office". And, I just happen to be painting the bookcases/shelving the same. I think it was meant to be. Thank you for watching out for me though!

I have just finished putting the back on the painted bookcase, and I think I'm in love. It's JUST what I was going for. Now I only have 4 more to do. teeheehee.....

Carol:
Your Lightbulbs are lighting over time! Great ideas! I was wondering about finishing wax....are you putting that over the paint? I wonder if that would work as a finish on my breakfast room table....it sure would look nicer than the dull white, or should I get a small amount of white enamel paint and do the top with that instead. You are always painting and recreating (have you ever thought about starting a business for decorating?)
Thanks for your ideas.

I never got downstairs! I went from the post office to paying bills to taking the cat to the vet, to letting the grandpups out, to dropping off some papers for DSIL, and eating lunch at 2:30! DS2 called and caught an earlier plane so I didn't have to go back to feed the pups. Instead I worked in my craft room, and finished a beaded project.

Yes, I put the finishing wax over the paint. I used it in place of a varnish. This is actually the first time that I have used it. I really like the finish it gave me. It's shiny and protective, but not glaring, sparkly, "hey-look at me". I was going for a vintagey, distressed look so it worked really well. I don't think it is as durable as a varnish, but that's OK for me. This was a last ditch effort to make the shelves look presentable before they were headed to the dumpster. They are the cheap ones from Tarjay, not even "real" wood. I've had them for 10 years so I've got WAY more out of them than I had expected.

My dad thinks I have a flare for making something out of nothing too. (I actually get it from him. The man is ALWAYS creating some kind of gadget.) He wishes that I could buy my own house just so he could see what I would do with it. Sorry Dad. Not enough moola for me to do that. Anyway, I think our town is WAY too small and too poor to turn it into a business so right now it is just a hobby that saves me money and also my sanity as it is another creative outlet for me. If I'm not creating, I'm not happy.

This morning, I started in on shelf/bookcase #2. Sanded (I hate that part, but I ran out of primer and I didn't want to go get any more), first coat of paint on and dried, waiting for me to put on the second coat of paint.

I've also finished up block #6 of the 2 Blocks of the Month quilt along. I'm just now starting block #7. It's paper piecing hexagons and so far I'm not liking it. I'm sure I will love the end result. It's just a tedious process to get there.

Yesterday, I started my blog for my kids. It's going to have all of my tips, tricks and recipes on it so they can just look them up whenever they need to know something that dear ole mama taught them, but they can't remember. It will come in handy when they can't reach me by phone or they just have to know something right now and it's 2 a.m. DD actually asked me to put all my tricks into a book, but I didn't want to write them all down so I decided to do the blog. I figured it would be easier that way, and since DS just bought his house, he could use it too, and then I wouldn't have to make TWO books. He's always calling me about something (sometimes 3 - 4 times a day!).

Imagine a whole queen size quilt top of paper pieced hexagons, and that's what I am doing, currently. In the 'grandmother's flower garden' quilt pattern. This will be my 2nd such quilt top - I wore out my 1st grandmother's flower garden quilt, which I made in 1974/75.

LOVE that pattern. One day......
Hear paper piecing is a little difficult!

Carol
Could you tell me what brand you used as a waxing agent? I have no clue....do you brush it on or rub it on?

Oh Bless! I can't imagine doing a whole quilt with these darn hexagons. My grandmother made one that I had on my bed when I was a teenager, and I always admired all of the time that she put into it. Now, I know exactly what it was like.

Dianaro...I am using Paste Finishing Wax made by Minwax. You rub it on, let it sit for 10-15 minutes and then rub it off. It's just like waxing a car.

I made a major decision today. I finished my resume for the Intervention Specialist position at my school, but I've been procrastinating writing the letter of intent. I gave it some major thought today, prayed about it, and also talked with DD about the position. I've decided to not apply for it afterall. It is a position that I would really like, but the timing is just not right for us. I need to be available during the day for DD for the next year, and with that position, I would not have the flexibility to work around her school/music schedule. She will be 18 in 13 months, and then, I can take on such a job. It wouldn't be any more money anyway, just something that I would like to pursue.

I emptied the box that has been sitting in the hallway this afternoon. Hurray! It is so nice to actually be able to walk to the bedroom without having to dodge it any more. Next up, the remaining boxes in the living room.

Carol:
Thank you for the information. I don't want a varnish that would "yellow" the white on the table, but I want protection without the expense of glass on top. Will check that out next time I am near the paint store.

Yes, sometimes the time isn't right, but I personally think you are making the right decision in postponing applying for the Intervention specialist postion at this time. DD has a great mom!