Loving this retirement thing

It's odd to realize that I've been retired for 4 months already.  It's not what I imagined really.  I thought I'd have all this time to fill, but instead, I have no time to fill at all.  I feel like I have to make time to get the things done that I want to get done.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining.  I'm loving it!  Truly loving it!

I've been taking a watercolor class.  I painted the ugliest pepper ever this week.  I endeavor to paint a good one prior to our next class on Wednesday.  I did of ours learn a lot through this failure and am sure I can correct my erroneous ways.  In addition, I spent time with a new friend this week and learned to needle felt.  so far I've only made a couple very simple shapes, but t's a start and I'm a bit hooked on all the things I've been seeing on Pinterest that are needle felted.  Of course, the trouble starts when I have to decide how I'm going to spend my time.  Shall I do some felting today?  Perhaps I will work on perfecting my pepper.  Go to the cafe and sketch (did that yesterday and loved it).  I've been watching some Pastel painting videos and I really want to get back to that as well.  Not to mention the acrylic abstracts that I've become addicted to playing with.  On top of all that, I saw some beautiful machine stitched collages this week and really want to try my hand at that as well.  Hmmm.  I've got a problem of lack of focus.  That's obvious.  If I do it all I will get really good at nothing - most likely.

I was rather hoping it would happen naturally.  I'd just gravitate towards the thing I love most.  Well, that of course is my husband and I do feel like we are spending more and better time together which is great.  But that aside, I'm going to need to decide where I want to concentrate.  Well, it's late and I'm going to sleep on it tonight.  We'll see where that goes.  Probably will do some soul searching and goal writing for the next 13 months and that should help me focus.

I'll post some pictures of my simple felting endeavors and perhaps a new acrylic work tomorrow.  I promise, you will never see the failed pepper!

Slushie the one foot snowman

Our youngest daughter and her two children arrived this afternoon for the holiday week.  What an amazing afternoon and evening it was.  We started with playing in the little bit of snow there was left since they live where there is no snow.  Snowball fights and building a mini snowman named Slushie complete with a mini carrot for a nose.

After warming up and having a few snacks, my granddaughter and I headed to my studio. She wanted to try everything,know what everything was for and who had created each art work.  She tried several different brushes, watercolor painting, Q-tip painting, pastels, markers, colored pencils, stamping and painting with nail polish.    She completed 6 journal pages ( see some below).  We had great fun.

My grandson tried each and every piece of workout equipment (the "gym" is next to the studio in the basement) and lifted every weight in the room.  He even tried his grandfathers inversion table, with help from his mom of course.

When we were done in the basement, we joined in a conga line to come up to the first floor where my husband joined us in the dance around the kitchen.

Next we played with Barbie and friends.  I have a Midge and a Barbie from the late 1950's, a Francie from the early 60's and another Barbie of unknown origin and timeline.  The dolls put on a fashion show for us.  While this was going on, the men (my husband and grandson) were playing in their amazing shared world in Minecraft.

At some point we had dinner and desert and even danced to a couple of songs.  Oh yes, and a bit of wrestling followed by meditation too.  All in all it was an amazing and delightful afternoon/evening.

So surprised and grateful today

What a wonderful pleasure to find 20 likes on my Facebook post of my last blog post.  And one person wanted to know if it was for sale.  Wow.

Earlier today, we went to WholeFoods and while we were walking around, a store clerk came after us, following us a down an aisle.  She said excuse me, excuse me, I just had to come tell you how beautiful your sweater  is!  I thanked her and my husband said, "she made it".  I did indeed knit it a few years ago, along with a couple of others similar to it for both my husband and myself.

If this keeps up, I may get a big head!

But seriously, I do plan to get to the point where I am selling my paintings.  I'm working now on building an inventory and will continue to seek feedback on various social media to gauge how I am doing.  It's not easy to be objective with one's own art.  I appreciate any feedback I get and hope some will be constructive as well.

Here's a work in progress.  Thoughts?

New Acrylic Painting

Acrylic 8x10 

It has been a very busy (mostly) 3 months since I retired.  I love it!  I haven't quite hit my stride yet, but I'm getting close.  I've been creating journal pages and pinecone wreaths, knitting, crocheting (actually taught a group of friends), and visiting family and friends.  I also completed the above painting and organized my studio.

In addition, I started taking a watercolor class with my best friend.  It's been a lot of fun and got me back to playing with my watercolors.  Watercolor paints and I have always had a love hate relationship, like many people, I understand.

On the personal side, there are days when I feel lost and not sure what to do with myself, but they are becoming fewer.  Mostly, I feel like I still don't have enough time to do what I want to do.  How can that be?  I have no idea.  I start my days with a workout at least 3 days a week and a walk with my husband every day that isn't too cold (like last week).  Then I dig into life.  Catching up on various social networks (this is where blogging should fit in) before heading to my studio.  Well, that would be ideal.  In reality, I spend time paying bills, cleaning the house, cooking meals, running errands, trying to figure out which insurance plan is the best deal so I can get enrolled before it's too late, and making lists.  Then I head to the studio.  Yes, there is time left for the studio.  I just want more!

The above painting is a small acrylic.  I love Golden fluid acrylic paints.  The colors are so vibrant and mix and flow off the brush beautifully.  This painting was done with only 4 colors, with many layers.  It would have been 3 colors, but I didn't get the red quite right the first time around so I ended up putting a transparent red over the original red to get the shade I really wanted.

Day 7

I've been busy picking up pine cones as I mentioned and took the time this weekend to make a couple of fun items. I'm very pleased with them.  What do you think?

I'm not really sure what I'm going to do with them yet.  Keep them or give them away...

Day 4

It's day 4.  I cleaned the house a bit this morning.  I don't like cleaning.  I never have. but wielding that vacuum cleaner up and down the stairs is pretty good exercise.  I don't even feel guilty about not going to the gym this morning.

Now I'm sitting here thinking I really need to call an insurance broker to help me navigate through the healthcare coverage nightmare that Obama has created for us.  I've tried doing it myself and though I consider myself a pretty intelligent person, I gave up.  I will do that momentarily.

Meanwhile I've been thinking about my first project and I've decided to create some pinecone creations.  I can't really explain it but I love pinecones.  I have loved pinecones all my life.  They smell good.  They are messy though since they usually have some pitch on them.  There are many different types some of which are available here in Colorado and some that are not.  It's disappointing that I cannot get any white pine cones here in Colorado.  I'll have to visit my family in New England to get those.  Not that it's a problem to visit them.  I can't wait to visit later this fall.  Perhaps I can find a box of pinecones and ship them back here.  I wonder if I could check a box on the airplane without them getting crushed before they arrived here.  hmmm.

3 days in

Ok, so it turns out I just couldn't find the drive to post everyday about my retirement thoughts as the day approached.  I'm new to this blogging thing.

I am now retired - have been for 3 days now.  I still don't feel like it's true.  I've gotten quite a bit done in the 3 days, but haven't even been in my studio.  That's ok.  Though I have not been creative, I have gotten exercise everyday and accomplished several things that have been waiting for quite a while.  I also made a delicious dinner last night.  I thought is was delicious anyway.  My husband admitted that for fish, it was very good, but he just doesn't care much for fish.  Really wish I'd taken a picture of it for you.  I have to start thinking about this blog more often so I will have pictures to post.

My goal for the next 2 days is to get into the studio and get it cleaned up and more organized and hopefully at least complete a journal page.  Also we are in the process of putting up some lighting in the studio so it would be great to get that done too.  Wish me luck.

26 days left in my countdown

20 work days with three weekends in between.  I am not looking forward to going to work tomorrow. On the other hand, I'm really glad the time is going by so fast and certainly don't want to slow down the progression.  I'll wish for slower time when I'm finally retired.  I've started making small changes, or it feels like I have.  It seems I have a bit more energy at home.  I'm getting more done, although I can't really say what I've accomplished.  It's more of a feeling.  I think I've slowed down a bit and am enjoying relaxing.

This weekend was wonderful.  We didn't do much, but spent time just being together.  I enjoyed it very much.  Today we went for a drive in the woods, took a little hike, partly in the rain and saw some moose.  I had never seen moose on the eastern slope before.  Indeed, I'm not sure I have ever seen a male moose, or certainly not like these.  They were huge animals and had huge racks and I could't have been more than 20 feet from the closest one.  They were eating like they would never eat again.  The bushes were tall and the moose were deep in it, but I was able to catch this shot with one of them looking up.

Day 33 - out of order

33 Days!  24 Work days!  Wow!  I really can’t believe it is coming so fast. 

Work has become difficult.  As one of my team members put it today – I have senioritis.  (I’m amazed that the Word spell checker actually likes that word - Ha)  Anyway, it’s difficult for me to concentrate on my work.  I am trying and getting things done, but certainly not at my usual level. I’m somewhat annoyed about it – with myself of course - but can’t seem to get my head around it.  The announcement finally went out to the company today.  I’ve received quite a few emails and been stopped in the hall a few times already with congratulations. 

I’m beginning to see how I’m really going to miss these people and the regular interaction.  I am going to have to find lots of ways to be social that I do not currently have in my life.  I will need to talk a lot more than just with my husband, weekly evenings with my best friend and weekly phone calls to my mom.  Otherwise I’ll start driving my husband and the store clerks crazy.  I can see it now.  I go to the local Whole Foods to buy some cage free and organic eggs and as I’m checking out, I start telling the cashier all about my week, the jeep trip we took, the art I’m currently working on, how beautiful my walk was this morning, how I found the perfect smoothie combination…  See what I mean?  Not good.  They’ll all be talking about me in the break room and asking to go on break when they see me coming into the store.

Anyone have any good suggestions on how to make friends for a person who has never spent any time cultivating friends and – yes – at the ripe age of somewhere close to 60 has no idea how?  Really!

It’s day 29.  I truly have been writing my blog each day but just couldn’t get it posted.  Why not you wonder?  Well, mostly inertia, but partly my severe addiction to an online farm game.   Is there a bigger waste of time out there somewhere?  Probably not.  I love the game, even though there isn’t really much challenge and you never “win”.  I don’t understand my addiction.  I guess it’s just my personality type.  Although truly, I’ve never been addicted to anything else in my life except maybe food – but I’m not sure that counts – does it?

I decided to start doing some crochet in an effort to avoid the game, but instead I ended up crocheting and then updating the game afterwards resulting in going to bed later, not getting enough sleep, and causing me to be exhausted today and not able to muster enough energy to go to the gym before work.

I need a new plan.  Does anyone have a good idea for how to break the habit?  I tried just deleting it, but what I found out was that even after you delete it, your farm stays there.  I reloaded it and it was like I’d never left.  Not good.  I need some way of really deleting it. 

Meanwhile, on the work front, I have serious senioritis.  It’s difficult to concentrate.  I’m ready to be done.  Somehow I didn’t think that would happen to me, but alas, it has – big time.  It’s only 21 more work days, but they are going to seem like months I’m afraid.

Not much to tell on the art side of things.  I’ve done absolutely nothing.  Well, there you have it.  I’ve got to muster some energy and get rid of that game!

35 and counting

I'm sure I've told you that my husband, rather than counting down the days till my retirement is actually counting down the days till his freedom is taken from him.  Well today I realized why.  I'm unable to relax and do nothing or even entertain myself.  He's told me that for years but I haven't listened.  I was going stir crazy.  I kept bugging my husband to ask what we should do next.  Felt like I needed to do something, anything, but didn't know what.  I ended up going to the gym and working out for 1 1/2 hours.  That did the trick.  I felt great after that.  I could sit and enjoy relaxing on the patio.  I've decided I need to create a list of " what to do in case of craziness" list and give it to my husband so that when I get like that and need some direction, he can simply hand me the reminder list to set me straight.  What will be on my list?  Well, go work out for starters.  I'll have to think about what else. 

Here is a pic of the cottonwood we sit under after we recently had it trimmed.  It was a major improvement and seems quite happy.  Funny thing...the squirrel that used to raid our bird feeders hasn't been in the yard since we had the tree trimmed.  Now we can enjoy watching him from a distance and spend a lot less on bird food.  A happy side effect.

Happy Birthday America!

36 days ... today is the 4rth of July.  Happy birthday America!

We had the most wonderful day.  We took our inaugural trip in our new jeep that we have named Rubi Too.  Our old Jeep was Rubi of course.  We started off by removing the hard top and installing the "premium" soft top.  Then we took off up the Boulder Canyon.  We headed up Magnolia Road and then just kept turning onto dirt roads that presented themselves.  It was great fun and we got good and lost.  Then we discovered we could ask our GPS "Where am I?" and it would give us coordinates and  the closest address. Gotta love GPSs.  Isn't technology wonderful?  Actauly we were't really lost as we just kept going and eventually came out on highway 119 between Black Hawk and Rollinsville and knew exactly where we were, but since we didn't know where we would end up or even if it was a through road - I can say we were lost.  I love getting lost.  Thanks to the GPS, we can find this place again which was truly beautiful - as you can see below:      

While we were out there, we found a group called SCA who apparently like to dress up and live for a weekend like people from England during the 8th to 16th centuries and fight and shoot each other.  Fake shooting of course.  They have a king and queen and various barons and earls and things who get their titles by winning fights and hold the title for 6 months until the next meeting and fight,  They invited us to come walk around, but sine it was beginning to rain and we had no windows in out jeep because we left them at home along with our jackets and anything to eat, we declined the invitation.  You'd think we'd know by now not to ever go out in the Jeep without bringing all the proper things like food and clothing, but truly we did not think we were going out this far or for so long.

On the way home,we went to Pasta Jays for dinner and that is where I took the first picture here of the bikes decked out for the holiday.  A bit of Knob Creek at home while writing this blog and then off to bed.  An absolutely perfect day for celebrating our wonderful countries birthday.  America the beautiful and greatest country on this earth.

I can't wait to be done with this!

It's 37 days till I no longer have to do anything I don't really want to do.  Well, ok, maybe that's a bit of a stretch since I really don't like doing housework, and I'll have to do housework.  Perhaps now that I will have plenty of time, I won't mind doing housework.  I can always hope.

The first thing I'm going to do is clean and organize my studio.  It's a great space in our unfinished  basement.  We are in the process of hanging some new daylight florescent lighting to add to the not large enough north windows.  I am also planning to add an exhaust system over my encaustic table.  I'd love to also add an exhaust system on my pastel easel but I need to do a lot of research first.

I also plan to join some local artist groups for networking in hopes of finding a mentor and some people to plan plain air outings with.  I will also attend sketching sessions regularly instead of only occasionally.  That's as far as I've let myself go with the planning.  37 days......

38 days to retirement

In 38 days I will begin my adventure into retirement.  I’m excited and feeling very ready.  I thought it was going to be difficult to leave my job, but I don't feel that way at all today.  I'm am very ready and anxious to start the adventure.  I've always had difficulty waiting for things.  I embrace change and once I know a change is coming, I want to go for it.  I know the 38 days will go quickly, and I'm glad of that.  I also think it's going to become difficult for me to concentrate on the job.  I've already experienced a bit of that today.  I will need to keep myself very busy and ensure I don't have time to dwell on the future while at work.

Funny thing is, I'm not really thinking much about it at all.  I love lists and planning and setting goals and yet I've not actually made any lists or plans for what I will do once I retire.  Perhaps that's for the best, since the more I think about it, the more anxious I may get to be there.

Changing the subject for a minute, we bought a new Jeep this week.  We traded in our old Detonator Yellow Rubicon for a brand new Flame Red Rubicon.  I'm hoping we can do a  trail this weekend and get it a bit broken in and dirty.  It's beautiful!

Countdown to retirement- day 39

I have 39 days until retirement!  My intent is to blog about the transition into retirement and dedicating myself to my self, my husband, family, friends, my art, ...life.

What about just relaxing, rejuvenating from the craziness that was my job over the last year and half?  Of course, that goes without saying.  There will be lots of time to figure out what my retirement will be like and what I want to accomplish.  Meanwhile, I will relax, enjoy some playful art and enjoy my free time.  Meanwhile, I'm off to work!

Basketball

Last night's basketball game.
I was playing and laughing so hard, my stomach muscles were sore and I was exhausted - but it was a great exhausted.  You just can't beat an all out street game with the 4 grandkids and 2 daughters.  We played to 21 and it ended 19 to 21.  The team I was on lost - after winning the other night.  Tonight will be the final rematch and I am very much looking forward to it.

Today is our last day here which is sad to think about.  I realized when thinking about going home that the quicker I get back to work, the quicker my retirement date will be here.  So - that makes it ok.

Woodland adventure

A fun family excursion in the woods.

Backyard beauty

Visiting our daughter and family in North Carolina.  Impressed with the beautiful trees and bushes in bloom everywhere.  Not so impressed by the humidity and heat, but the company made it perfect.  Both daughters, all 4 grandchildren and our son in law.  Having a fabulous time.

Big day

I gave my retirement notice yesterday!  I couldn't be happier.  I'm very ready.  I gave a 2 month notice and hope those two months go by fast.  I'm sure they will.  Then what do I do with myself?  Can't wait to figure that out.  Lots of art, reading, walking, time with Ted.  Even Ted seems excited about it, despite his comment this morning that he only has 2 more months of freedom.  He keeps saying we're going to have fun...yes, we are!

A serendipitous weekend

Stressed beyond my limit....left work Thursday morning.  Went home.  Husband and I decided to go to Moab for the weekend.  Easter weekend is crazy in Moab, but we got the last room- literally!  Absolutely amazing weekend.  Beautiful beyond belief trails.  Perfect weather.  Perfect company.  I am so blessed!

Visitor

It's been a wonderful week with my family.  Of course it went by way too fast and we must head home in the morning.  Below is a picture of our daily early morning visitor.  He would come to my mom's back deck to eat seeds for breakfast each day.  His mate was with him, but she was shy.

A drawing

Waiting at the airport

Day at the beach

Perfect day.  So sorry it is our last full day in LA.