Juggling

When I was a younger mom, I juggled: running a yarn company, 3 kids (+ extras!), home, husband, farm animals, church responsibilities. Now that my life has been simplified, I wonder how I did it. I watch my amazing daughter-in-law juggle as many things and I am both awed and am thankful I don’t do that anymore! It’s exhausting and busy and stresses me now. I get impatient and unkind. I like quiet time. I like having days with nothing written on the calendar.

Lately, I’ve found myself juggling again. Not nearly so many things. Mostly I’m juggling different sides of my business life. I spend most of my work days designing for companies like Red Heart, Cascade, Willow, Love of Knitting, Creative Knitting, Soho, Cast On and others. But I also like to have some of my own Ravelry work poking along in the background. I don’t publish a lot of patterns, but each one is a victory because it is a design that is all mine. I didn’t have anyone else approve it or change it. I’ve done it just the way I like. I’ve then spent time and money for photography, layout, tech editing and test knitting. When it finally goes up on Ravelry for sale, the sales are all mine, forever. Now I’ve added a third part to my daily work: Zombie Yarns. I’m launching a hand dyed yarn company. It’s a big goal but I’ve done it before so I’m not worried. I’m excited! The only problem is juggling, working on all of these at the same time whether I’m in the mood or not.

Now who is going to cook my dinner?

Laughing Out Loud

Since this is my first, and thus, TEST, blog post, I’ll make it brief and silly.

I am sitting at Starbucks, at a long table with lots of outlets for gadgets. On my left is a woman who is working but getting a text every 2 minutes. My phone is almost keeping up with hers. When they chime in unison we make eye contact and giggle.

On my right is a concrete salesman. Well, that’s what he just told someone on the phone. He’s stressed. And married. Maybe it’s all the same. Just kidding.

I’m in the middle. I keep laughing, alone. I signed on to wordpress and while I waited it said “beep beep boop”. That cracked me up. So I laughed out loud. Alone. Then a text from my daughter saying “I made my first loaf of bread in the bread maker and changed it. It turned out perfect so either the bread maker is fool proof or I’m awesome.” I already know she’s awesome. So I laughed out loud. Alone.

It’s funny to me to be around other people yet in our own worlds. I’d like to interact with people more.