Resigning From Stress

At the first of April I actually resigned from something! The title of my blog has been resigningasthegeneralmanageroftheuniversity for years and yet I never resigned from anything. If anything, I took on more things! But this year was the year. I resigned. It’s a long story, and not appropriate for this blog, however, I can say I had enough shenanigan’s, turned in my keys, and never looked back. I no longer write lesson plans. I no longer get up at the crack of stupid to face a day of mostly talking for my own enjoyment in class. I no longer have rehearsal and stupid long days. I no longer give up my weekends for set builds, tech rehearsals, and performances. Instead, I am working on my health and stretching a new creative side of me.

I have to take it slow, but I have kept myself busy, mostly in the garden. I have started most of my plants in little seed pots on my porch. I have plants in pots on my porch. It’s fun to walk out and cut some lettuce off for a sandwich or to snip a few fresh herbs for something I am cooking. So far in my porch garden I have lavender, thyme, oregano, cilantro, basil, chocolate mint, spearmint, chives, eggplant, lettuce, broccoli and a few flowers for good measure. I’ve started lots of seedlings – all perennials and fruits and vegetables. So far I’ve successful started 5 different kinds of lettuce, cabbage, red cabbage, Chinese cabbage, Brussel’s sprouts, bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower, yellow watermelon, crimson watermelon, mouse melon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, beets, radishes, tomatoes, and spinach. I planted my tomatoes in pots and I’m trying my hand at potatoes in grow bags. I started onions, garlic, peppers, broccoli, and kale in my raised beds. John transplanted all the strawberry shoots and I add asparagus because I read that they grow well together. We had blue berry bushes in the same bed and they are doing well this year. This weekend I will transplant cucumber and plant zucchini, acorn squash, yellow summer squash, green beans, peas, butternut squash, carrots, and more spinach. It doesn’t look like much now, but I am hopeful. At least I have the beginning of a great tan. LOL.

I made this t-shirt quilt for my friend’s daughter… first time I ever made a t-shirt quilt. I decided to use featherweight fusible interfacing so I could cut straighter lines and and keep the t-shirts from stretching. I also tried “quilting” on a machine for this project rather than “tying” the quilt. I feel pretty good about it. My only mistake is that I missed stretching and flattening the back on one run of the “stitch-in-the-ditch” process so it puckers in one spot. (and John’s socks?).

I made bears for the graduating seniors whom I adore. There are 12 senior I want to celebrate so I am making 12 school color bears and will attach mini graduation hats on their little heard. I feel bad for the seniors I left behind. They have had a rough senior year. I just want to celebrate them.

I made a chicken coop with my daughter. I travelled to Klamath Falls to help make this chicken coupe. McKay found some cool brackets that allow you to attach 2x4s to t-posts. They were slick! I think I need to order some to build a little fence at my house.

I also helped her clean up her kitchen and set up the coat organizer thing I built her a few years ago.

I am liking this new routine. I am sleeping better and more. I am eating healthier meals. I am getting some exercise in my pool nearly everyday. I am exercising dirt therapy in my garden nearly everyday. I am blogging more often. I am able to chat with my kids more often. I am able to meditate and to study my scriptures. I am feeling my connection to God growing stronger and stronger.

I may have resigned from teaching school, but I also resigned from poor sleep, poor eating habits, lack of exercise and STRESS! Resigning has to be the best decision I have made in a long time!