I've since Retired (from my job)

Hey y'all.  I know, I know.  I've been absent a long time.  I ran out of projects although I have kept myself busy in the shop making signs and fish and, and, and.  I didn't feel it warranted a full blog on how to make a sign.  
YOU CAN DO IT

I finally retired last summer.  OMG what will I do?  My plan was to get an RV and travel but the RV needs gas to run so that didn't happen.  No, I didn't buy an RV either although I have found some perfect ones.  Oh well, maybe next year!  I did however spend the summer at camp in Vermont (actually NY) 

Many nights sitting by the fire.  So peaceful.  Didn't do a whole lot.  I did bring some of my tools

 and made a few things. 

 I read 11 books in the first 11 weeks as the WiFi was out at the campground....grrrrr.  I cleaned up the garden in the background of the above picture.  I planted some perennials so it should look better this year.  It was a time to relax after working 40 yrs in the trucking industry and many of those were 15+ hour days.  I got good at doing nothing.  I think I have learned how to relax. 

 I'd sit on the deck and watch Sugarbaer stalk a chipmunk. (no, he never caught one).  He had fun in the woods that is for sure.  

  

  He played in the lake and relaxed with toys.

  Played with the other dogs.  He was in heaven.  After a few weeks he became a real camp dog...where as he would lay in the dirt and grass where before he would NOT.

I kept busy and here are some of the things I made while at camp...

 



Check out my Face Book page where you can see all the items I have and have been making.

 I was able to keep myself fairly busy and even made some $$ on some of these!! 

Other than the regular animals that wondered around the woods - deer, chipmunks, rabbits and even saw a snake - there were many other interesting things to see.

Although not in the woods by camp, the "cookie monster" in the woods was a cute find.  

Have you ever seen a BLUE mushroom? 

 There were lots of them, plus other kinds in the woods towards fall.

I even went kayaking for the first time. I loved it.

  I thought it would be hard on my back, sitting there without much support but it wasn't bad.  So relaxing.  I went with my daughter-in-law and we talked about everything.

Then Hurricane Florence came to visit my house in NC. 

What a mess.  I was so, so, lucky.  No damage to the house.  No flooding as I'm at the top of the hill. Many people lost everything...so sad.

 My daughter was so brave and stayed at the house.

Lost my big shade tree out front along with a large limb

on the maple plus 5 arborvitae trees out back. But NO damage to the house.  She was without electricity for 5 days and it was 90 degrees in the house.  Yuck.  Luckily she has a good brother who came to the rescue.

  He drove from VT to NC

to cut up the trees so him and her could get to the side of the road for Fema to pick up.  All roads into Wilmington, NC were flooded and closed and some covered with fish.... but luckily by the time he was close, they opened up and he was able to get through.  THEY did an awesome job.  Kris stayed 2 days then drove back to VT.

 By the time I got back to NC at the end of Oct., the tree debris had not been picked up. When Fema did come by to get the bulk of the tree, I asked about the stump.  Could they pick up if I had it beside the road.  The guy said yes.  And, because my daughter is clever (!!!) She must get that from her mother!!!  I had a tow truck drag it to the curb/street for Fema to pick up.  And they did.  Yay.

On a lighter note, Fall took hold in the north

while I was still there.   Only a couple of the pictures I took.

Then, it snowed a little bit and it was time to leave!!!   I had to deal with a little clean up from Hurricane Florence but Tonia had done a great job which left me very little to do.

Again, I have kept myself busy with signs (mainly) but I did have the living room painted. I am so past doing that.  Michael had it done in 6 hrs.  After that I put up ship lap on a wall as you enter the house.  Before and After...

 

I did this while a landscaper/clean up guy cleaned up the front yard (sort of) and filled the hole in where my big tree was.  I think I will replace the tree with a River Birch and some perennials.  That will be the next project. 

That brings us current.  Be sure to check out my Face Book page under Knot So Perfect Designs.  Check out the "photos" section so you can see everything.  Let me know if you need to order something. 

Again, shake out your wet laundry before putting into the dryer.  They will dry quicker and be less wrinkled.  I don't know about you but I hate to iron.

Don't forget to LIKE and SHARE.  I appreciate it.