Sometimes Monday

finds me reflecting on time well spent.  Last weekend was a long weekend for me and it got started with a 3pm dismissal from work.  What a great way to end a Friday and start the weekend.  Steve and I had plans with Karen, Ron and Polly that evening, so we met for dinner at a new for me restaurant Local on North and then we went to a theatre production that was a play on the screenplay writing of Gone with the Wind.  The food, company and the play were fantastic.  Saturday included a visit with my Mom, and while the weather was crummy we enjoyed a delicious quiche [thank you Costco] and 2 very cheesy movies on the Hallmark channel - I had time for get some knitting done while she worked on her embroidery.  Simple, easy and no make up required!  Sunday Kim and I were able to get together for lunch an more catching up.  We met up at a restaurant that has been transformed over the years; it was a Burger Chef back in our day.  If you click on the links you can tell that the building hasn't changed at all.  I also got a chance to see her very cute home which I have clocked at 1/2 mile door to door!  Monday my friend Brenda came over, I have't seen her since August and this was also the first time she has had a chance to see our new place.  It was great catching up with her and I know with her daughter getting ready to graduate from college in just a couple months she is going to be very busy.  Sophie and I managed an exploratory walk on Monday, and then come Tuesday work proved to be pretty hectic, and since I had to take a day and a half off for doctor appointments I ended up working over the weekend so as not to get too far behind-this is not the time of year for that!

 This weekend I managed to begin cutting the fabrics for my very hungry caterpriller quilt.  I'm doing much better with my cutting, but did manage to mess up on a couple strips, but I think I can get those sorted without too much trouble.

Sophie and I walked on Saturday and Kim joined us on Sunday and we had a great time reminiscing about where our early years were spent.  We should have taken a selfie in front of our old elementary school-next time!  We stopped at Roswell Provisions for a quick breakfast and since this isn't a real restaurant Sophie could come inside!  We will definitely make this place a regular stop on our weekend walks.  It feels very satisfying to balance out time spent with family, friends, outside and getting things done.  With the pending inclement weather I find myself with an unexpected day off-mmmm I wonder what I can get accomplished!

Sometimes Monday

Finds you getting closer to being organized and ready to get back to crafting.  The to do list for the weekend was long, but luckily it was pretty flexible on deadlines.  I didn't have to leave the house or return by a specific time and could take the time needed and not feel any pressure.  Saturday morning was a bit cloudy, but a great place to enjoy my morning coffee and fold towels- cause that's where everyone folds their towels right?!  Sophie heard our neighbors chickens for the first time, and I'm teaching her to get used to the sound so she doesn't disrupt their laying.  We headed out for our exploring walk and I chose a route that would put us at the Roswell Farmers Market at the end which is closer to our house.  I got some wonderful tomatoes, a cucumber and peaches.  I am planning more trips before it shuts down for the fall.

We walked by/through the Smith Plantation-on our way home.  I used to cut through this property on my way home from school. It was still a private residence at the time like Barrington Hall [which was close to where my grandparents lived] so I have never been inside.  I'm really looking forward to touring these properties soon.

 Saturday included far too many hours shopping for rugs and towels.  I am a bit traumatized by trying to shop with other shoppers in isles that are not big enough for this activity!  I manged to survive and I had a nice glass of wine before I tackled my other chores.

Sunday was my day to get started on unpacking my office/craft room.  Sophie and I went on another long walk, and I think she regretted the route she "decided" to take.  Steve had to attach the hutch before it could be moved into place, and he also took care of the one in the guest room, so I was able to unpack some books and get that space looking more guest welcoming.

Here's are the before shots.  Everything was mostly in piles, but I've been without a dedicated desk for at least 2 years, so I'm trying to maximize the layout so I can work at my desk and sewing table.

 While I was unpacking one of the crates with fabric I came across this lovely fabric which I had purchased 3+ years ago, and I'm hoping to find the coordinating fabric so I can make a quilt.  I may do this to go on our bed as we are in desperate need of a new duvet cover and these colors would look great with the wall color.  Whatever I do it'll be something simple so that a) I'll actually finish it and b) it'll be finished sooner rather than later!

 After shots-still some organizing to do, but I need to some organizing items in order to completely empty the crates.  I am sure Ikea and the Container Store will be able to help with this phase of the project.  I significantly paired down my fabric stash after we moved to Dunwoody as I had collected fabrics that were what I liked and would perhaps use sometime down the road.  The top shelf are the Christmas fabrics I've collected that I didn't want to part with and hopefully I can complete a couple small quilts to use during the holidays.  The middle shelf are fabrics that have I intended to make project/tote bags, or is enough to make a small project.  I'll have to get my friend, Brenda, to help me with these.  She's been doing a ton of designing lately.  The bottom shelf for now is holding loose patterns.  I had to put my knitting/quilting books in the bedroom for now, but the goal is to have everything in this space.  In the drawer are kits that I had purchased and just never got to, or just forgot about!   My lofty goal is to empty this hutch so that I can have fabrics for garment and small quilt projects.  I'm hoping Mary will help with the garment making and that we'll have a chance to visit this new store in Midtown this fall.  In the closet are my project/tote bags and my quilting/sewing supplies and WIPs.  I'm going to go through this box before I start any quilting projects and decide what I want to finish and what I'm not ever gonna finish.

 What remains to organize is the yarn stash which I think is not too out of control.  The WIPs are only project recently started, so no long languishing projects.  The crate at the far left is actually empty and has my embroidery stuff inside.  I plan to use the cubby that was in my closet and put my stash in that until I figure out my storage/work space needs.  There are 2 boxes of desk/sewing stuff that I need to go through, but I'm going to need another table or drawers before I can call this totally finished.

 I also emptied the last few boxes of photo albums that are on the book case in the basement guest room.  It felt great getting so many boxes out of the house, I still have a few that are kitchen/china cabinet type items, so I need to put some thought into what will stay and what will go.  I think this we a weekend well spent!

A month to the Day-Sometimes Monday . . .

Finds you amongst a gazillion boxes and unassembled furniture waiting for the movers.  Looking forward to officially beginning House 3.0 this week.  Yes, the time frame was between 8 and 10 am and it's no 9:23.  The dog is fretful and the hubby is fidgeting-I think I'll break out the knitting-guaranteed to have the movers show up to interrupt!