We Love Our Jobs

So yesterday was spent in one of the most beautiful places on earth and I was able to call it "working" since I was hosting another knitting teacher! OK, so we really did talk about knitting and teaching, but mostly we enjoyed the wonder that is Yosemite. Chris Bylsma and her husband Charlie arrived Tuesday evening after flying into SFO. Wednesday morning we got up early and headed up to the Ahwanhee for a late breakfast. This was the most fabulous breakfast buffet that we had ever seen and the view was absolutely incredible. We then spent the day seeing the various sights in the Yosemite Valley floor.

Throughout the day, Chris and I would remark on how we love our jobs. We get to meet the neatest people, travel throughout this incredibly beautiful country and even occasionally knit! It really is good work if you can get it! Chris and Charlie left the morning after breakfast and picking a good supply of oranges and tangerines (yes, both just grow in our yard) to head south to begin the teaching tour that will finish up when we meet again in Santa Clara for Stitches West.

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Busy Knitting

I have been AMAZINGLY busy the past month (yes, that was the excuse for no postings in a month). January - March always fly by because it is busy season for EVERYTHING that I am involved in. I have to prep for and then attend meetings for our church's Board of Ordained Ministry, it is ski season and I am a part-time ski instructor and then there is all the knitting stuff. TNNA happens in the beginning of January followed by filling orders, sending out new season catalogs. February brings teaching at Stitches West. March is a slower knitting month, but it is when I have to start preparing for the next busy season in June and I have to get the garden spring cleaning.

I do know that I would rather be busy than not, but I have averaged over 60 / week for JUST the knitting business stuff this month. So now I am trying to get the last bits of my new patterns done and through tech editing. So watch for my next post, it will have information on all the NEW stuff for Knitability. But for now, I need to get back at it!

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Just in Time for Christmas

So a couple days before Christmas Arlis and I decided to do some more car shopping (with no intention of buying that day), but we came home with this!! We have already taken it up skiing once. It snowed most of the day and started snowing heavily as we were leaving. It was FABULOUS!! It handled well and is super comfortable. I think we are really going to enjoy this new truck.

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It Has Been a Web Kinda Day

I never ceased to be amazed how much I can get done when I just put in a bit of focused effort. Today has been a website update sort of day! A few days ago I went through and looked at a few areas that needed some work. Today I got almost that entire list checked off and also added a new page that has been on my to do list for some time! I will probably be updating this one from time to time, but it is not a bad start.

I also added several testimonials to existing pages. I have finally started remembering to ask folks when they e-mail me if I can add their statements to the website. I probably should also create a testimonials page that has a bunch of them listed, but at least this is a start.

Of course, there is always a lot more to do. Truly, a website is NEVER finished. But at least I really feel like I got something accomplished. I won't need to feel the least bit guilty skiing tomorrow!!!

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Cleaning Can Be Fun Too!

So yesterday (and today and by necessity tomorrow), I got the cleaning bug! Over time, the surfaces within my office have become more and more covered with STUFF. Like the chair I have for someone (usually my husband) to sit and talk to me while I am at my desk, has been completely unaccessible for at least 6 months and I bet it is closer to 18 months! But today it is not only accessible, it has also been cleaned.

I have thrown out nearly a complete garbage can full (the big ones) of paper, notes and other stuff I will never need again and if I do, in most cases, it is still on the computer. I now have a surprising amount of work surface in which to, well, work! I can see almost the entire surface of my desk, half of my file cabinet (half is covered by the printer), and most of the work table surfaces. This, truly is novel for me!

I have never been a "neat" person. The trick for me is I don't have an "official" spot for something, then it just gets put anywhere -- and that is where the problems begin. So when I am cleaning, I have to designate a spot for each thing or throw it out. Because this has become such a huge task, I have been putting it off for many, MANY months, but it finally got to me. And although I will still need to clean tomorrow to make it clear around the room, the end is in sight. Surprisingly, the process has not been too painful and at some points has actually been fun. Who knew?!?

Most importantly, I can tell I will at least feel more productive, if not in fact, BE more productive once my space is cleaned and organized. So tomorrow will be one room down and only 9 to go!!

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