The week was nice and slow. The weather was sunny by mid week. I have been keeping up with a few things that I need to get done but not in a rushed way. A great week!

I did go to quilt guild’s class this week. We made rope bowls! I was looking forward to the class so much. I really had fun making mine. I chose to zigzag the rope with variegated thread before class as prep, two passes, before assembling the bowl. It was so fun to see what different types of projects people made with their cotton clothesline.

I also long armed a little and I can see the end of this last customer quilt rolling up! It has been a long process custom quilting this beautiful quilt but I will be very happy to start quilting my own quilt tops this summer. I have enjoyed having more relaxing time for my non working hours vs filling it with a side hustle. I need more time to myself , my health practices and my projects.

I haven’t got to the storage unit to get my garden tools yet, but the flowers are really starting to grow. It will be the perfect time to thin them. I am hoping we have the storage unit empty by the end of the month now that the basement is decluttered. It just needs some cleaning before putting the items from storage in there.

I have been really working on keeping things simple and not overly complicated. I have to say I really enjoy when I have my weeks go like that. Too many productive goals, projects and packed schedules are not necessary any more. I have been able to reel in my list of things to do. I have been picking one or two things I want to work on each day with some movement activities and some creative outlets.

Here is the paradox. When I quit trying to pack my schedule and be “productive” with lots to show for my day, I seem to get more done by spending 15 min on things when I have it. I am amazed that when I try to do things like Tiny Tidy each day, how much nicer the house looks and clutter is at bay. I have rope bowls, quilt top together and hung at work, mini collages and journal entries as well as a journal with stickers for work to show progress on this week! Wow, way more than I thought I could ever squeeze in with the quilting, class, full time work and home life.

I have decided shorts is where I like to post vs long videos that are so much work.

I have perennials in my flower beds that are easy to tend to vs showy annuals that are so much more work and fussing.

I have chosen Hello Fresh again after a little break and I am eating better with less stress meal planning and shopping.

Simplify has been the theme for the month. Searching for wonder each day in my simple daily life. Slow down and work on things when I have 15 min. I have my routines that have helped me complete my days without too much thinking about it, I just do it! I have had a great slow living week!

I have been watching the show on Peacock called “Swedish Death Cleaning” based on the book that has inspired me to keep thinning my house of clutter and things that don’t serve me/us. It is funny, sweet and touching. It is a show about living and not being a slave to your things. I love it and hope another season is in the works! The book, and now the show, is what started the 5 year plan to get this house less cluttered and ready for retirement. As the book says, it doesn’t get any easier the older you get. And who knows, we may down size homes and move. We may not but whatever the future brings, I don’t want to be cleaning the crap outta this house in a short time period and under stress.

They use two phrases on the show that really stuck with me Lagom. A swedish word for not too much, not too little … just right. That’s how I want my belongings to be including my crafty space.

Also fika. Which is a coffee break. As in you really take a break, often with others and chat. A Social time, maybe with a little treat, checking in with others. We all need fika and lagom. We push too hard for perfection, productivity and performance in our culture.

I am going to have my coffee and fika before we go to watch our son and his girlfriend in a Gilbert and Sullivan play this afternoon. It will be a day of relaxing, seeing family and taking a much needed break from it all.

Vicki