Too Much Screen Time

Although I have been making great progress on my weekly task list, I have been spending way too much time looking at the computer screen, and especially software like this.  Going through pictures, making adjustments, etc, from an event a  month ago (yes I'm behind), is starting to get the best of me.  Too much sitting, too much staring; my eyes are crossing & my backside feels like it is spreading.  I may need to get outside tomorrow & take a walk just for a change of scenery.  I understand it was a beautiful day today - I missed it.  Maybe I'll catch it tomorrow.  Is anyone else looking at the screen a little too much lately?

Focus 52 (2012) Week 2 (Jan 8-14)

I am ___

Week 2 prompt:  "I am __"
My response:  .. keeping up (barely).  Starting the year off with my task list for the week, and although I am making good progress, there are still many things on my list and probably more will be added as the week goes on.  Often I find myself drowning in incomplete tasks, this year I'm hoping to  at least keep my head above water.
Not sure I answered the prompt correctly in that they wanted to know about you, but sometimes my lists are what defines me, frustrates me, keeps me on track.

Lemons in Winter

One thing on my to-do list, during my day of domestic duties, was to hopefully pick lemons from our Meyer Lemon tree.  Sadly they still aren't quite ready - they are so beautifully yellow & smell so good - cannot wait to juice them & turn them into lemon bars (one of my favorites).  We may not have the beautiful winter scenes with snow & mountains, etc., but we are able to have lemons in winter (along with limes (hopefully my next tree to plant) and mandarin oranges (new tree still looks sad)).  I guess I could call them organic as well since I don't do anything to help them - no pesticides, no special fertilizer, etc - the tree survives on its own. 

My lemon bar recipe is very basic - just can't mess with the natural sweetness of the lemon... I'll share it if anyone is interested.  Anyone else growing something ymmy this winter?

Forest Light

I took a walk through a nearby park today hoping to take a few wildlife pictures.  I did get a few (not sure if they are keepers), but also noticed the sunlight filtering through the forest canopy illuminating some of the leaves.  From that point on, my walk was to find more leaves, different colors, different shapes, etc.  Not sure if my photo actually captured how the light was coming through this brittle, thin leaf, but it was striking in person.

Check out my flickr photostream for other pictures from today's walk (link is on the right side of the page).

Happy New Year & Cleaning Out

Hope everyone had a safe New Year and has been enjoying their holiday time.  I am never able to stay awake to welcome the new year, but I do get up early to get a jump start on the day (& the new year).  One area I tackled this morning was coupons.  Coupons are my friend, my enemy, my source of clutter and frustration as well as entertainment.  I'll explain.
Coupons as friends -- they save me money (who doesn't like saving money)
Coupons are enemies - they are often for products that I don't use and they tempt you to buy something just because you have a coupon (too much for many people)
Coupons are clutter - there are times when coupons (& sales ads) are the only thing you see on my kitchen table - they become the kitchen table
Coupons are frustration - whenever I'm not able to keep on top of the clutter of coupons they tend to pile up very quickly, sometimes I overlook a coupon that I could have really used, other times life gets in the way & I'm not always able to use my coupons before they expire
Coupons are entertaining - in our house it is almost a game - how much can we save?  Mind you we are not extreme couponers (not even close), but saving an average of $20+/month on things we normally buy - pays for a family outing (entertainment) - maybe the movies. 
The above picture shows coupons that I threw out because they expired.  No, I don't feel guilty about throwing them away (some would say I'm throwing out money) because I didn't buy those items anyway (coupons again trying to be my enemy - making me feel guilty for not using them)
I've posted before how I don't agree with those extreme couponers (especially shelf-clearers), but I also feel that putting forth a little effort in clipping coupons & combining with sales for items your family already uses (that's my sole guideline) does add up.  Sure a $.25 coupon doesn't sound like much, but combine that with a few other coupons (and possibly a sale) and savings adds up quickly.  The economy hasn't bounced back yet for us, so every penny saved is a bonus.  I've always used coupons and probably always will.  I just wish I could be more organized with them (my friend has a nice binder system that I just can't get used to using - I have the binder, the pages, etc. - but end up with my own simpler system). 
What did you tackle today in terms of cleaning out & preparing for the new year?

Happy Holidays

Hope everyone has a wonderful & safe holiday.

Possible New Project

Granted I haven't picked up a crochet hook in over 20 years, but I'm hopeful that I can make some sense of this easy, free crochet pattern for a cowl.  My expectations are realistic & on the lower end in that I am just wanting something to help keep me warm at the horse barn.  My sister was better at crocheting than I'll ever be, but surely I can do a bunch of single crochets (which is all this pattern is).  I haven't started it yet, but I have my materials bought (hook & yarn - even bought the same dye lot - yeah me).  Right now, with all the holiday madness, I'm trying not to start any new projects or start reading any new books (which is a tough challenge), but I'm ready when I do have the time.  In hindsight, it would have been nice to be able to make a few of these for Christmas gifts - maybe next year.  Is anyone planning on making their own Christmas gifts or returning to an old hobby?  In all honesty - I really have no business restarting an old hobby - I can barely keep up with my life as it is - but something about this one project really calls to me (or is that my age?).

In case you wanted to try this free pattern - here's where I found it:  http://www.kraemeryarns.com/patterns/ (scroll down to "Crochet" & you'll find it among several other free patterns, will open up in separate window as PDF).  If you decide to try it - let me know how it turns out.

UPDATE:  My sister beat me to this project & sent me a finished cowl in a tan color.  I've enjoyed wearing it to the barn & it has helped keep me warmer (or maybe the warmer winter has helped too).  I still intend to make this for myself, but it has obviously been pushed back on my to-do list.