Blogging from A to Z April Challenge- Letter C

WELCOME, EVERYONE:

 to my second year in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.

Since I plan to retire shortly, I thought an alphabetical look back at my paying library career and a look ahead to my crafting and writing career would be a good use of my 26 days in this challenge, 26 wonderful words for retiring me. Hope you enjoy. I am looking forward to reading whatever you share this month on your blogs, too.

LOOKING BACK: 
Courage- (the quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., with firmness and without fear.) 

Wow, when I look at the definition of the word, I am humbled. It has taken courage to come to this spot. This is actually the 3rd date I have set with my husband (who is retired) in the last 18 months. For whatever reasons those other 2 retiring dates were postponed (I partly chickened out hoping work would get better), mentally and emotionally I'm tired. I feel like the boy who cried wolf. I need to move on to....

Looking ahead: 
Celebrate- (to observe or commemorate, to to make known publicly, proclaim.)
"Hey, celebration time, come on." With that tune in my head, I'll go to my great little craft room where I work on greeting cards, scrapbooks, do a little painting, take online classes, write, create poetry, stare at my garden and dream. I need to let some fresh air in my brain so I can be inventive.
After much hard work, my daughter is publishing her first book. Maybe there is a book in me, too. My poems and articles have been published in the library newsletter, who knows, they might appeal to a wider audience. All I can do is fly....

Thanks for stopping by.

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge- Letter B

WELCOME, EVERYONE:

 to my second year in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.

Since I plan to retire shortly, I thought an alphabetical look back at my paying library career and a look ahead to my crafting and writing career would be a good use of my 26 days in this challenge, 26 wonderful words for retiring me. Hope you enjoy. I am looking forward to reading whatever you share this month on your blogs, too.

LOOKING BACK: 
Bittersweet- (pleasure mixed with pain or regret.) 

What did I enjoy most at the Library?

• Availability to books, books and more books. 49 local library's collections at my fingertips.
• Good friends to discuss life's problems with on a daily basis. We have always been there for each other.

What least?

• Communication breakdown with the Library Board.
• The loss of purpose, appreciation and reward.

It is time for me to go.

Looking ahead: 
Blending- (to mix smoothly and inseparably together.)

Once I stop working out of the house, I'll have some work to do blending my life back together. I 'll need to put house cleaning, gardening, crafting and writing together in a way that keeps it all interesting and gives me the sense of purpose and accomplishment that I feel I've lost.

Thanks for stopping by.

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge- Letter A

WELCOME, EVERYONE:

 to my second year in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.

Since I plan to retire shortly, I thought an alphabetical look back at my paying library career and a look ahead to my crafting and writing career would be a good use of my 26 days in this challenge, 26 wonderful words for retiring me. Hope you enjoy. I am looking forward to reading whatever you share this month on your blogs, too.

LOOKING BACK: 
Achievements- (something accomplished by superior ability and social effort.) 

I worked 18+ years in a small town library. For some years, I was the head of the children's and teens department. Story times, crafts, summer reading programs, you name it, I did it for kids from 2 to 18. Loved it and the kids I worked with; I excelled.
I was asked to move up to Assistant Director. I wore many hats: record keeper, bookkeeper, human resources admin, expeditor, planner, committee member for 2 unsuccessful building expansions, peer coach, you name it, I did it and did it with excellence.
Lately, a black cloud has moved over the Library; anguish, anger and arguing are the words of the day. It is no longer the place I want to be.

Looking ahead: 
Anticipation- (realization beforehand, foretaste.)

Been humming Carly Simon's song Anticipation for months now. Been counting my days. You should be able to see the count down listed in the right column over there. I've got a bucket list of things I want to do. I am so ready.

I'm including a very big THANK YOU today to Arlee Bird, the founder of the Blogging A to Z April Challenge. What a wonderful way to spend the month of April- creatively sharing with 1000+ bloggers. 

Happy Bunny Day...

Just wishing everyone a lovely day with family and friends.

For the month of April, I will be participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. Each day (except Sundays) I will be entering an article on here corresponding to the letter of the day. 26 letters of the alphabet, 26 days in the month.

This is my second year. I plan to use the content this year to help transition myself out of my job into retirement. Hope you will join me to see what words I use.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy St. Patrick's Day.....

We are about to head over to the Warwick Firehouse to have Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner with the kids.  Chris and Heather are volunteering for the event. It has become a tradition.
15th Annual St. Patrick's Day Dinner - Excelsior Hose Co. #1

Today at 3:00pm

Warwick Fire Department in Warwick, New York

You may have noticed the Countdown gizmo on my side column. I will be retiring in the middle of this year and my daughter kindly put the counter up for me to track the days. I am getting more and more excited. One of the outcomes of retirement will be more time for crafting and writing. Another will be possibly moving to someplace a little warmer.
As we get closer to the end of June, I'll start writing about the trip we are planning to look for a good spot for our new home. Right now, the hubby and I are doing our research.

Just wanted to wish all of you a great day.

St. Patrick's Day Memories...

I'm excited. I am submitting a piece to the Got Green Blogfest 2.0. I just happened to have a piece about my Irish Grandma and this seemed like the ideal place to share it. I'm looking forward to seeing the other entries. Thanks for visiting.


St. Patrick's Day brings up thoughts of my Grandmother, Catherine Chapman, who was born in Ireland in the late 1880s. She was a feisty lady who lived with my family from when I was seven. She often told stories of coming over on the boat and working as a domestic; she was an excellent cook and baker. As someone who creates scrapbooks now, I wish I had kept a diary of her best stories.

My fondest recollections of her are from St. Patrick's Day, HER Holiday. My sister and I would come home from grade school in the afternoon. Mom and Grandma would have the parade on the television- Channel 5. Jack McCarthy would be announcing the marching bands and joking with New York City's Finest in Blue as they passed in review.

Grandma Chapman would make us cups of hot tea and bring out hot cross buns with butter and those bakery cookies shaped like shamrocks with green icing or sprinkles on them. We'd watch the parade together and soon Grandma would talk of relatives I'd never met and of the Ireland of her childhood- which sounded less romantic than you might think. Afternoon would slip into dinner time; I'd eat my corned beef and cabbage with her stories dancing in my mind.

As the years went along, life got busy and it wasn't "cool" to watch a mere parade with my Grandma- teenage things you know. Grandma continued her tradition without me ( maybe with a little Jamison's in her tea).

When my children were old enough, I tried to instill an interest in the tradition but it never seemed quite the same. Although my kids liked the cookies, without my now departed Grandma, the magic was gone, that special feeling she created. Perhaps Grandma sprinkled leprechaun dust on those cookies or it was her ties with the "Old Country" that warmed a dreary March day. Whichever, I dearly miss my "Wild Irish Rose" of a Grandmother.

A Wednesday note....

March is sliding by and I am falling behind.

I am starting my  writing for Blogging A-Z Challenge; I need 26 entries for that. I am working on art for my Letter Love 201 class; got about 10 more pieces to do for that. Got some birthday cards to make, several poems to write for the Library Newsletter due by next week. I am also planning two short and one large trip between now and June.

As you can see, I am writing here instead of doing any of the above.  What's wrong with this picture?