Linda,

Just got on for the 1st time today - DH on vac still so we are getting things done around the house -- yesterday yardwork, but you're right - here in NW Ohio it feels like Feb again!! It's actually below 40!! We just got back from NC where it was in the 80's all weekend! Oh well, it is what it is.
Got the binding half on a summer-y quilt for our bed today, planted some more beans & tomato seeds (indoors) & hopefully after dinner I'll feel up to the hand-finishing of my binding. I really want this quilt on the bed, so I do have the desire, (just not necessarily the energy!)
Whenever DH is home I get more of some things done than usual & way less of others. He will be retiring this summer, so it will be interesting if my old ways get changed much:) We really enjoy each others' company so I'm looking forward to him being around more. I have sev'l friends who moan A LOT over their DH' retirement & I'm determined NOT to do that! Mine is such a jewel & I don't bad mouth my fav guy! So maybe here is an unofficial QOD--any words of wisdom from those of you who have already tread these waters??

Hi Linda - your cold nasty weather is headed to Maryland - looks like a bad storm (as predicted) is brewing.
I've been sewing today - in between working :) I am piecing a Stack- n- whack for a young grand (great) nephew - it wasn't the pattern I planned, but when I received this skateboard fabric, it was screaming Stack-n-whack! I got 4 blocks finished.
I agree it has been very quiet here for a few days.

I'm quilting for a new client this week. I've been reading, just not taking the time to post. Galveston's been beautiful this week: sunny, highs in the low to mid 70s. This is why people chose to live here!

Sounds like heaven Annie - and so glad you are establishing new clients :)
Enjoy your wonderful weather.

I've been working on the yard, we are having beautiful weather here in Florida and I'm trying to take advantage before it gets too hot. Got my machine (brand new) out of repair this week, it was a blown fuse. Hope this isn't the beginning of a very bad relationship???

Hi Linda, Salijo and the rest of the family left very early this morning and should be home within a couple of hours so I've been mostly MIA while they were all here. Beautiful weather while they were here, which from what I understand, is not what they'll be returning to in Indiana.

quiltpartner, DH retired in 1997 and I think the people who have problems are the ones who must not have hobbies or things of interest to take up their time. We have no problems here. DH has his studio for artwork and the greenhouse and outside for bonsai and other plants/trees. And, if my fabric and quilting things are in various areas of the house, he doesn't care.

SharonG/FL

All I can say I wish you only the best but it has been my experience that too much a good thing can sometimes be tiring. Love my DH but there is something to said about alone time. Jayne

DH had eye surgery yesterday - GAH!! up at 4 am to be at the hospital at 5:30. Horrid. The surgery went pretty well (he had a macular pucker in the retina), except he evidently tried to "help" the surgeon, LOL, so they doped him up more than usual for that sort of surgery.

We had an exciting time in the recovery room - he kept nodding off and his breathing would slow to the point the nurse would come in and yell "TONY!! Breathe!" Stressful then, pretty funny now. We were actually home by 11 am.

Then this morning, back to the doc for a post-op visit. He's doing great, of course.

I had really planned on getting into the studio today, but found myself more tired out than I could believe. I handle stress well until it's all over, LOL.

I baked spelt bread and made a curried split-pea soup for dinner, instead.

We'll also be gardening tomorrow and this weekend - but at least I convinced DH to hire someone to dig in all the compost before we plant the rest of the veggies! He's restricted to carrying a few plants and pointing. He hates it, LOL. Blind in one eye? or point and let others dig? He'll be a good boy. And our garden guys are really solicitous of him. They will be watching him like hawks.

Oh, Quiltpartner, I should have answered the retirement question, too!

DH was offered early retirement when he was 59 (he's 70 now), and the package was way to attractive to turn down. He did do some contract work on patents for the first couple of years, so he wasn't home 24/7 at first.

There are adjustments. I did actually tell him - "I married you for better or worse, but not for lunch!" I can't remember where that quote comes from, LOL.

My concern at that point was that I worked from home. My job was still important to our family, and he needed to be occupied and not interrupting my work. He got that very quickly.

Don't fool yourself. There is an adjustment period, just like there is when you first get married. You learn to be together differently, and you learn when to give each other a bit of space.

I LOVE having him home all the time. And I LOVE that when I'm in my studio, he's in the garden, or gone to the library, or whatever else has taken his fancy for the day.

I guess we kind of drift in and out of each other's orbits 4 or 5 times a day. But we each have our own interests. We share and talk about them, but he's probably not going to quilt, and I'm certainly not going to take up small engine repair.

The trick is to learn to allow the varied interests and not expect to be joined at the hip, simply because you're both home.

My husband is a jewel, too, and I love having him home!

I'm still dealing with the after effects of my flooding but check the forum at least once a day. Yesterday I retrieved some stuff from my sewing room so I can hand stitch sleeves to a couple of quilts that are going into our guild show in May.

Spring in Central Florida is gardening time so that's what happens on weekends and my quilting time is relegated to a couple hours in the evenings during the week. If I didn't have a full time job I'm sure I could get lots more done!

Yesterday I was doing webinars for my company all day and didn't have more than a minute or two to check my favorite forum!

Busy day today too so I won't be here much. Work really gets in the way of my real life!

Kate

Until today the weather has been lovely (in Reading PA)for getting caught up with the yard work and have been doing just that. This winter was terrible for broken branches and all that good stuff to pick up and get rid of. Today is MUCH cooler - guess more normal for us - and I plan to be indoors getting things done in the house that needs to be done. I am planning to get some sewing done in the evening instead of watching TV.

On the retirement note... my other half plans to retire fully this fall, and my problem is when he is home for a 4 day vacation stretch, he just does not know what to do all day, the problem is he has no hobby to occupy any of his time. This is really going to be a trying time for both of us... especially me as he constantly is asking me what I am doing and watching me all the time. I am not looking forward to him being around 24/7.

My DH retired four years ago. He doesn't have any hobbies and is around the house all the time. In the summer he will work in the yard but winters are long. He does help around the house more than before retirement.
I am glad he is able to be home but I still work part time and that is what keeps me sane. I also spend time in my sewing/computer room. It is hard for me having someone watching everything I do. I like my own space.
Linda

I wish I was retired :) ~~~~soon~~~~
Mary - how difficult was it to "stop" your business ??
Glad your DH is doing fine after eye surgery . Heck of a way to get out of hard labor~LOL~this way he can "pretend" he wants to do the heavy gardening and instead he gets to be the "Big Boss"! Seriously, I hope he listens to the Docs and takes it easy......

Hi Marsha, stopping my business wasn't the least bit difficult for me. I was doing needlepoint finishing, and had already quit taking in upholstery. I told the shop owner in November 2006 that I would work until the end of February (which was when I turned 50). So she had 4 months to find a new contractor.

I already had my long arm and very little time to quilt, and I really hated that my busiest time of the year was October to December (all those Christmas stockings!!). For years my holidays were pulled together at the very last minute, and I didn't get to enjoy them much. I was more than ready to let it all go.

I have been trying to pull weeds and finish a baby quilt. I said I was going to spend 1 hour everyday learning FMQing and I haven't.
DH and I both were sort of 'forced' to retire when they closed our office in Lake Mary, Florida.
He retired 3 years before I did so we were not 'thrown' together 24/7.
Our adjustment at first was he was home all day so he had a lot of plans for us when I was off. I was working full time and finishing my degree so I was getting really tired.
I was a single parent for 20 years and used to having some me time.
I took early retirement at 52 and we both worked at Disney for 3 years, 2 days a week.
He loves Disney and we spent a lot of time there with the kids.
We moved and I have a huge prob with the neighbors. One doesn't work, has no hobbies, is in her 40's with elementary school kids, and is constantly looking for a baby sitter.
We have politely explained that we have plenty of family looking for babysitters and we have given her numbers but she always has an emergency and the little girls is always asking to come over.
I find that people think you have nothing to do when you are retired and this neighbor is just a little to needy for me. I cannot go outside without them coming out to visit with me.
My body is still going through changes and they are really stressing me out and DH is wonderful with me. I can b**** to him and he listens lol.
There is an adjustment, as Sharon stated it works wonderful (IMO too) when you both have hobbies and other interest.
And as Mary stated we are not joined at the hip lol we just give each other space.
I do spend my evenings knitting or crocheting and talking with him and we eat lunch together everyday.
He doesn't get the fabric obsession, but as long as I keep my sewing room door closed he only goes in there to use the iron.
The first year you need a lot of patience lol. Now if I can just get rid of the neighbor lol!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rosa

Rosa~neighbors do not understand working from home either~~the key word is "working" meaning, no I can't watch your sick kid because he can't go to school " you" take a vacation day! Send the kid over in PJ's and a blanket, anyway - 'just for a few hours' & I find out the mom went shopping after she left work???? Respectful neighbors/ friends are hard to find. Please don't tell me it gets worse when you retire.
Mary - I am concerned about my sub - contractors that depend on me for their work/income. I'm the prime. The cr*ppy economy is making it easier.

As of about 10 days ago all the snow has melted from my yard, although there's nothing "green" showing yet.

Still, I've been busy modifying and spiffing up the Purple Martin rack. I will have the capability to offer 16 gourds this season (instead of eight) if I attract enough PMs in.

I'm so excited. They should start showing up the end of April or first part of May.

When we refurbished the front bedroom, which is now my sewing/crafting/ladies' tea parlor room, I added an extra tall window. I set up the sewing machine in front of it and have a great view of the tree that holds the bird feeders, the front garden, the Purple Martin pole, and part of the shade garden.

It's Heaven, absolutely Heaven, in a 12x12 room. Now if I'd just get something finished.

I've also been packing books away to empty the living room. We're removing the old carpet and refinishing the original 1952 white oak floor. We're also adding a closet and a window seat flanked by two tall storage cabinets to the south end of the room. A new door, window, and paint and it will be a whole new room.

The north end functions as a TV/family room; the south end is the breakfast nook.