Aaahh

A deep sigh of relief! 

I did a thing. After much consideration and consultation with Husband. I have retired from my position as an aide at the elementary school where I have worked for the last 19 years. 

The longest I have worked at any one place. The job I really thought would be my last and would last until I was much older. 

But, things change and the frustration outweighed the joy so we decided it was time. The decision was made many months ago, but I didn't tell anyone until after the end of year Teacher Institute.

So, big sigh of relief and onward to finally giving my house the deep cleaning it needs but I never had the energy for. 

Onward to finally getting my home more organized, old sewing projects completed and new ones started, spending more time with quilt friends and in my yard. 

I have time to think about how I want my sewing area set up and time to rearrange it if something isn't working. Time to play with my embroidery machine and try new techniques. 

These are things I did every summer, but now there is no more pressure to hurry, hurry, hurry to do things that must be done, but not the things that bring joy and satisfaction.

And, time to help other people. My sister-in-law has decided to move. She has been struggling to live in the house she and my brother renovated, but he will never be in again. She closed on her new house last week and is in the process of moving. While I hate moving I am helping her this weekend. It will be nice to spend some time with her. Time I haven't had before. I hope this move brings her ... something. She says she will never feel better, but I hope she can find more happiness and less sadness. An sense of peace, perhaps.

I will also enjoy spending more time with my parents. We live over 3 hours apart so it really isn't a one day trip. My dad has dementia that is progressing so I really feel the need to spend some time with him. 

I have been walking around my yard more. It needs lots of attention, but I am looking past the weeds to the beautiful flowers that are blooming now. 

I finally got the petunias planted. They are doing well, despite the wind we have had. 

Husband likes red so we chose red and white petunias for the planters. 

It is interesting the variations in the coloring.

Husband was finally able to get into the fields. Still a lot of standing water in some places, but he is slowly getting the ground worked and seeds planted. It was all going great, until it wasn't. 

Something is wrong with this tractor and it got picked up today for repair. As if that isn't enough stress, my FIL was been driving around and around and around the section watching to make sure Husband is working. He starts each day by saying 'I don't want to tell you what to do, but...'. Then he drives around to make sure Husband is doing what FIL didn't want to tell him to do. And to make matters worse he is going about 5 miles an hour and really has no business behind the wheel. 

Before you think that it is possible that he is out there checking to make sure things are going ok and Husband is safe, he isn't. In the past when Husband has had a problem he just sits in his truck, no offer to help or make a phone call, just sits and watches. 

I think I will go take another lap around the yard and take in all the beauty of those lovely blooms.