Purling Oaks

An Office

Oh yeah, I used to blog, once upon a time.  

 

An Office.  With a Door.

So, it turns out I enjoy having a desk and a chair and my computer attached to a large monitor.  It motivates me to write.  Who knew?  Not me, certainly.  I'm still discovering new things about myself, even in my fifth decade on this earth.  That is a good thing, it keeps me interested.  Sort of like dating myself, as in the "let's go get a coffee" kind of date.    

I'm in the midst of perfecting my office set up.  (Probably a cyclical task.)  New big-ish monitor, a nice clackety mechanical keyboard that my hands enjoy, and a second smaller screen (my little MacBook Pro) to use for research or whatever.  There is still the issue of using a tabletop that is several inches too high for comfortable long-term typing.  The lighting is nicer--warm light from the tapestry loom side of the room.  Maybe a floor lamp is needed?  I need to hang pictures.  Perhaps, I will share photos when I'm done fussing with the arrangement.

One of the things I liked about working in DC was my little office.  It was tucked on the backside of a building, a big city block away from the White House.  Goodness, I don't even remember what floor of the building it was on (4th?), but I can remember my office.  

An interior office, the room enjoyed a moment or two of natural sunshine every day from the atrium window and it had a door I could close, allowing me to focus on a project or eat lunch at my desk.  There was room for a chair for visitors.  A plant or two perched on the top of a filing cabinet.  A stash of tea, instant coffee, and snacks had their own desk drawer.  I had a spare outfit hanging, in the event of a clothing disaster. It was a small sanctuary, yet a productive environment. When I left DC and went back into the field, as before DC I shared basement tables with mismatched chairs or handsome conference rooms with my fellow examiners, whatever space we were allowed at each assignment.  Far from an ideal environment, it takes some fortitude to train yourself to work without distraction.  I guess I had enough fortitude to deal with it for over twenty years.  Then I retired, waving goodbye to all that, thinking I would not miss any of it.  

Odd revelation, missing an office with a door.  Crazy, I know. And yet, there is a little part of me that is humming with happiness as I sit in my "updated" home office. This particular room has almost always been "my office" so I think the humming must be due to a change in my attitude.  I'm still musing about that. 

Five Years

I have been retired from my previous career for five years plus a month and a half.  I couldn't continue to work with all its required travel and be there for Mom, so retirement it was.  And that was okay. It's what a person does if circumstances allow.  

The first two years were years that I'm not too interested in remembering in detail, the continuation of a rollercoaster ride that I'm sure many other caregivers may relate to.  Three years ago, Mom moved to a very nice assisted living home located about ten minutes away from my house.  She's doing great there.  Ten minutes means it is so easy to visit and collect her for shopping or medical care or getting an ice cream cone.  We are both happier.  

I am so thankful for the recommendation from a friend regarding Mom's current home.  To my bones thankful.  Down to the marrow in my bones thankful.  Yes, really.

Typepad Stuff

There are still a lot of cobwebs here at the blog that will need to be dealt with.  I have forgotten how to find and change parts of the blog.  I remember thinking way back when there were tricky bits and there still are ... as that knowledge is eluding me.  There is a bunch of other stuff that I bet I'm clueless about.  I'm open to resource recommendations if anyone happens by to read this post.  I'm sure I'll stumble about and eventually get things tidy here.  That said, there was an iron trivet with this saying hanging in the back entryway to my parents' home and Mom always smiled as she recited it: 

Come in, sit down, relax, converse.  Our house doesn't always look like this, sometimes it's even worse.

 

Gusty winds of change, candy correlation, and unexpected treasure

Blog?  Posting, what's that?  Life outside the blog is taking up a lot of my energy.  However, situations are changing.  I'll be giving up Purling Oaks East in less than two months and soon will be based from only one location--home!  I can comfortably say with confidence that I'll have more weekend time at home.  The rest is still up for determination.  Or is that self-determination?  

There's a merger (of sorts) in process at work and everything is changing for just about everyone.   Yes, chocolate consumption is high and there was absolutely no Easter candy left at the drugstore next door for reduced sale after Easter.  None.  That's more telling than anything I could write about anxiety, water-cooler talk, or fake job assignment letters left at the printer.

Last week I went to a Nationals game with two friends, Mary Jo and Roberta.  It was fun and the stadium is new, nice, and clean.  The nachos and hot dog were tasty and the beer cold.  I haven't had baseball nachos in ages.  That will do me for a while but they were still good.  Caution:  iPhone photos!

We had better seats than these photos show but they were still nosebleed seats.  

When I'm back inWisconsin, I'm going to miss the dinners, lunches, outings and talks with Robyn, Kathleen, MJ, and Roberta.  Three of us have places in DC, besides homes and family in points west.  Two of us are based near DC but may end up elsewhere (like an island!). I know/hope that when we go to the four winds, or is that five winds?,--me first--that we'll still get together.  I really didn't expect the friendship I found in the east and I'm glad I'll be able to carry it with me.

This morning's task is laundry; this afternoon's list includes errands and a trip into Madison.  Tomorrow, we're going north to see Mom for an early Mom's Day brunch.  I hope today's weather holds.  It is beautiful outside this morning.  Sunday---back on the road.  

If anyone is interested in a one-way Road trip from DC to Wisconsin in mid-June, let me know.  A navigator would be fun to have along.  :D

Happy Birthday, Mr. Lincoln*

Hai!

I've sipped and savored my first one and a half cups of coffee this morning.  Now to start working the keyboard.....

Here's a bit of catching up.....

Way back in January....but less than a month ago...I met up with Nora and some new-to-me friends in Watertown, Wisconsin, for a few hours of talking knitting, yarns, shoes, spinning and other things that knitters talk about when gathered.  It was a cold, sunny, and lovely day.  I brought along my spinning wheel since my ability to knit correctly and talk while making sense at the same time is challenged at times.  Nora described the day with more photos and details here.  Speaking of Nora....

She took to it quite well.  I know that our work to create a wheel spinner is not finished yet but we are so much closer after that day in January.  

Just a few days later in Washington, D.C., I had the great pleasure of meeting up with Angie (aka Lori-Angela) for a long lunch at a sandwich place just a block from my office.  She was visiting our capital city from western Canada with her husband who had the handy excuse of a convention to come to visit.  We share a name and, in fact, our husbands share a name, which is fun to mull.  She's a very productive knitter and I'm not, but we didn't let that stop us.  We had a lovely visit and a nice discussion of knitting-relating stuff and of transitions (which we're both experiencing).  The time went too quickly.  It was so nice to meet another "virtual" friend and have her materialize in real-time.  

 

I'm contemplating ripping Williamsro.  The time that it has been tucked away has moved me to different sweater likes for myself, although I still love the pattern, just not for me.  I'm considering a top-down cardigan, probably Laura Chau's pattern here and probably with the yarn from Williamsro although I do so love Noro Silk Garden.  My plan is developing.  I had considered using the yarn I won in the NMO funds drive over at our Stacey's (looks like I'm too late for a page linky) but the gauge I'm getting won't give me the quick (at least in my mind) or faster knit that a heavier weight than Silky Wool will give, although I love that yarn, too.  Yup, I did a gauge swatch.  I'll do another with Cash Iroha, maybe today on the drive north.

We're taking a day trip up to visit with my mom and family to celebrate her birthday, that was this past week Tuesday.  Happy Birthday, Mom!   I'm looking forward to our visit and better sign off to get myself ready to go.

 

Have a good weekend!

 

*This was the first thing that came to mind for a title.  Sometimes, you just have to go with the flow to get a project started and finished.  

Sunday's FO

Day three of two weeks of vacation (more or less).  I arrived at the Madison airport in a timely manner Friday afternoon and set out to make significant inroads on my Christmas shopping.  Inroads achieved, I heading home.  Home.  (sigh)  I only have a bit of work-related stuff to do this coming week, so I'm looking forward to shopping, wrapping, baking, reading, knitting, spinning, and all sorts of fun stuff in the next few days.

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Don't faint but I actually have a finished object.  Really.  See......

Watch cap number one (ravelry link)

Pattern:  Turn a Square by jared flood  

Mods:  Made in one color, otherwise knit as written.  

Yarn:  Cascade 220 Superwash, less than one skein

For my #2 nephew--hopefully he doesn't read this blog, since it will be in his January birthday package!

I'll be making another in hunter orange for my model, DH...

I think I started this in September and I finished it today.  Mainly airplane/metro knitting, when I remembered or wasn't sleeping.

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Min visited my office last week.  He was ready to help with the phone and my Texas coffee cup.    

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Enough silliness.  Have a fun week and try to enjoy the season.  I know that's my goal.

 

Where are my tap shoes?!

Oh, so, what have I been up to?  Well, on Friday I work up early-ish (but later than a work day) in DC, took the Metro (Orange line to Red line) to Union Station, joined some work friends and we rode the Northeast Regional to Penn Station.  The forecast had threatened a damp (or downright wet) day but we were pleasantly greeted with a lovely day for walking in New York City.  We made our way north and found lunch at Pax Foods near Bryant Park.  The ice rink was icy and there were a lot of retail shopping opportunities in the park which we regretfully passed by.  We did make a stop at the Magnolia Bakery.    The bakery smelled wonderful but was packed and I had to go stand outside to maintain my sane demeanor.  K was intrepid though and stood in line for Red Velvet Rockette cupcakes. 

We reached our goal for the day in a few more blocks....Radio City Music Hall!  We had tickets for the first day of the Christmas Spectacular.  The pluses for going on the first day include reduced ticket prices, warmer weather (maybe), and reduced crowds on the sidewalks of NYC.  The minuses include not being able to see the Christmas windows at Macy's.  Another work friend and her niece met us in the theatre and we sat down to enjoy the experience.

I really enjoyed the show.  It was very professional, the costuming was incredible, and I'm a sucker for anything involving tap shoes after taking tap and ballet lessons for about eight of my formative years.  I don't perceive 3-D movies in the same was as most of the human population but even I enjoyed the sleigh ride through the streets and skies of NYC.  Makes me kind of wish I had come to NYC to be a Rockette rather than go on to higher schooling.  (I said "kind of," Mom..... <g>)  The show was over oh so quickly.  (The fastest 90 minutes, ever!)

We walked around a bit after the show and then had supper dinner at the 21 Club (pre-theatre menu!)  The five of us enjoyed a very nice meal and our server even brought a birthday candle to the table.  K had called the day before to let the restaurant know there was a birthday to celebrate (early).  

We had a nice but rapid walk back to Penn Station and enjoyed a nice, quiet trip back to DC.  And the next morning I flew back home to Wisconsin.  

My time in NYC was too packed this time to visit with Jessica although there was twittering (tweeting?) but I intend to take the train north again to visit with my NYC and surrounding area friends.  Maybe I can even try a food truck or four with the recommendation from those in the know.  :D

 

So, today is my 52nd birthday!  Yay!  DH and I celebrated early with some yummy home-cooked seafood and I'll celebrate again this Saturday with more family.  I'm looking forward to another very good year--- full of wonderful experiences, a loving husband, happy kitties, loving family and super friends, and a great job.*

 

 

 

 

*Not sugar-coating, just encouraging all the good to stay.....no reason to linger on anything but good. 

Some Saturday random

October all ready?!?  Where did the time go?  :D

Some Saturday randomness for you all since I clicked over to this compose page in an almost random manner.....

• I was the recipient of a flu shot Thursday, my first ever.  Thursday "day" was fine but that night and last evening were not so fun due to major muscle freeze on my left side, despite a massage on Friday.  I'm trying to keep it mobile today and I took some Advil so I'm crossing my fingers for better sleep tonight.
• I am happy to be home but I am missing being at Rhinebeck this weekend.  Last year was fun and I intend to make it to the festival next year, if at all possible.  I am really missing the people part.
• However, I'm missing Rhinebeck for a good reason.  My mom's family is celebrating Christmas early with our annual Lutefisk gathering Sunday.  No, I don't eat lutefisk but it is a family tradition to at least smell the stuff and I'm all for traditions.
• A monarch butterfly was waiting for me when I arrived at the DC apartment last Monday.
  
• A chrysalis had been hanging from the doorway of my basement apartment when I left ten days before but I just didn't register that a monarch would emerge from it.  (Thinking about other things, I imagine.)  So, excellent timing, Butterfly, to greet me before heading out on your journey.  
• Have I ever mentioned that I love this variety of butterfly?  That as a child, I made construction paper butterfly wings (in orange and black), had my mother pin the wings to the back of my shirt, and ran down the road imagining the beauty of wings sprouting from my body? I'm still smiling thinking about Monday's happy occurrence.
• The trees are far more bare today at home in Wisconsin than they were a week ago.  
• I had a nice week of (almost) stay-cation before returning to see my doorstep visitor.  
• I started a sourdough starter.  That sounds odd but I think you know what I mean.  Now we just have to keep using it and feeding it in hopes of it developing a nice tangy flavor....probably in six months or so I've read.
• I made a skirt and top without using a paper pattern that I felt confident enough about to wear to work.  (IPhone photo in the apartment hallway.)  Nothing fancy but I'm pleased with myself.  :D
  
• I walked home one night this week and was able to take this photo from the National Mall:  
  

Getting the broom out and....

*Brushing away the blog cobwebs.....*

I've found that getting adjusted to a new travel schedule, setting up and moving to POE, and a seemingly heavier work schedule took some, well, adjusting.  More adjusting than I thought but after a few weeks the schedule has been smoothing out and the psychic adjustments that DH and I have had to make are also smoothing out.  We are continuing to make changes and find more time together, quality time.  Maybe more than before, which is nice.  We didn't know we were missing that.  Anyway, I thought I would check out the blog and show you a few things that are interesting at Purling Oaks Central this weekend.

Lamb's ear has spread around my garden.  I've been harsher with it this year to contain it but I still love it for the texture and color of the leaves and the pretty lavender flowers.  

Lime thyme is flowering....along with all the other thymes.  This one does have a citrus aroma, leaning toward lime, but I think the color of the leaves may have as much to do with the name of "lime" as the fragrance.

 The black raspberries are just beginning to ripen.  Fortunately for berry production, we've been getting rain.  As I type this it is raining---of course, I am also wondering what the rain will do to my flight schedule today.  No big worries though.  I'm reading Nora Roberts' Kindred in Death in paperback and have a book or two available on the iPad.  

Yes, iPad.  I gave in to my inner geek and bought one with 32 gig - wifi only.  I really like it and found that I don't miss having the 3GS service.  My back up plan, should I need constant wireless access, is to buy one of the wireless access points I can carry in my purse or pocket so it can be used for multiple devices.  I'm not at that point yet.  I like that the screen is large enough to actually *see* something and I can stream Netflix over the wireless at the apartment.  

Blue on the Rock on an early summer Wisconsin day:

 

Have a great Sunday and a very good week!

 

  

Peachy Monday

Peach blossom!!!  This is a blossom of a Reliance peach, rumored to be hardy enough to stand up to a Wisconsin winter and, so far, the rumors are true.  The winter and rodents were very tough on our crabapple trees, which don't look so good after the darn rodents ringed the bark after eating through the protective paper DH applied last fall.  Oh well....the peach tree looks, well, I won't say it.  :D  Today was a lovely day in Wisconsin, especially after the dreary, wet (but much needed) weekend.  

 

Have a lovely week!  I'm building my apartment-finding mojo for the coming weekend.  I don't NEED one this weekend but I certainly would LIKE to find a nice place to live while in DC and soon.  (key words:  Eastern Market, affordable, sunny, near  Metro, washer/dryer)

Time to sleep fast but here's my hero, Blue:

 
  One down, many more to vanquish.  Good boy!  Maybe the fruit trees *will* live another year.........

 

Saturday news bits

I have no organized thoughts for you all this morning so here's some random this Saturday morning.

• Yesterday was a lovely day in Wisconsin.  The sky was blue with few clouds and the high temperature was in the low 50s.  Perfect.  I had an early (7:30 AM early) hair appointment for a trim so there was no sleeping in.  My body clock thinks of time based on eastern zone, at least at the beginning of the weekend, so I was wide awake anyway.
• I still have the cough.  It isn't so wracking but I will be very pleased when it disappears.  Soon, I hope.  Today, yes?
• I need to look up Kansas on iTunes.  Charlie FM was playing one of their tunes yesterday and I had a pleasant flashback.  
• I saw this article this morning.  Parallel universe theories fascinate me.  Yes, I am also a fan of Quantum Leap.
• The rest of the weekend looks like the weather will be great.  I'm ready!  There is only a small chance of rain later today.  I want to open all the windows and give the house an airing out.  
• I'm also getting the itch to work on doing some organizing and drawer-cleaning, so to speak.  I better take advantage of the itch while I have it!
• No, I haven't purchased an iPad.  Yet.  I'm waiting for the 3G version to come out.  :D
• Although I am still waiting for official paperwork, I'll share that I received and accepted the job offer.  So, the job I've been working on/at/in(?) will continue with me.  (insert happy dance)  There has been a lot of discussion at Chez Purlingoaks about the pluses and minuses of accepting the position.  Ultimately, we decided it is best to be happy and this job contributes greatly to my happiness.  So when I am home, I won't be the grumpy and irritable person I had been a year ago.  That is good for everybody.   I'll soon be looking for a home away from home base in DC and continuing to add to my frequent flyer account.
• My number two nephew will start college at Harvard this fall, which is so very cool and we are all proud of him.  I'm glad I'll be on the east coast, too.  :D

That's it for the random today.  Happy Saturday!

Thursday's sky on Saturday

Where have I been?  Well, on Thursday during lunchtime, I walked down to the Tidal Basin with a co-worker to enjoy the cherry blossoms in peak bloom!  

 

Seeing the cherry blossoms has been on my "to do during this lifetime" list, and the day was perfect for taking a nice walk.  It was in the 70's with a completely blue sky and just a very slight breeze.  We walked part-way around the Basin -- it would have taken another hour or so to walk all the way around -- then we walked back to work with the sun almost hot on our backs.  

The cherry blossoms are lovely but they also make traffic a nightmare in D.C.  These two photos don't really give a full impression of the walk.  Here's another one......

 

MJ and I weren't the only ones to enjoy the cherry blossoms on Thursday.  :D

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As a follow-up, because I did leave you all hanging, the interview went fine.  Well, as fine as can be, since I'm not a mind-reader.  The interview was a structured one with three interview-ers and five multi-part questions to answer.  I knew all three panelists, and genuinely like two of them, so it was more comfortable than sitting in front of strangers.  All the same, it *was* an interview.  I should have more to share with you next week about the results of the interview.

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I've been dealing with a nasty, barky cough this week and yesterday it mutated into a cough and cold.  Yes, I did fly yesterday; my ears are plugged as proof.  I went through a metric ton of napkins and tissues trying to shelter my fellow travelers from the worst of it.  I'm showing improvement today after getting some decent recliner-sleep at home.  Just for the record, I hate coughing.  Hate.to.cough.  I am sooooooooo glad I didn't have to make any major presentations and that my supervisor did most of the presenting in the one meeting we did have this week to spare me an embarrassing moment or five.  
 

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Happy Easter!  May the Easter bunny bring you your favorite goodies!