A Large Update and What I Am Doing

First off an explanation.  I named my blog "An Imperfect Woman's World" because that is what I am.  I will NEVER be the best woman, wife, mom, cook, employee, lover, house cleaner, friend, pet owner, blogger, gardener, crocheter, runner, dancer, seamstress etc...etc......

And you know what.  I'm ok with that.  I realize that where I excel in one area of my life, another area is lacking.  To find balance I have to give up the idea of perfection, and realize that a little bit in each area everyday is the way to find harmony.

With that in mind here is a very large update of what is going on in my life right now:

Update

We are officially being discharged from the Coast Guard at the end of June.  We will be leaving New England, and returning to the Pacific Northwest.  I was hoping to return to my hometown, but it looks like that is not in the cards right now.  At best we will be two hours away from it.  This is heartbreaking, but I am trying to look on the upside that at least it is closer than we are now.

Family

I don't like to post about my children because although I have ideas about the kind of mom I would like to be, each day is a different struggle.  Also, I like to keep my children off of this blog, and really I have no idea of what KIND of parent I am, if you can even classify parenting into a category.  My husband and I were relying on the military to schedule our move, however it has been decided that a do it yourself move would be more beneficial.  This is putting a lot of stress on us right now.  We're talking, and trying to roll with the punches as best we can.

ME

I have never really talked about this on the blog before, but I am still battling depression, panic disorder, and an extreme phobia of illness (even minor ones).  I made the decision in February to finally start fighting after 17 years of suppressing, and at best it has been a roller coaster of emotion, and self-examination.  The move is definitely getting in the way of my recovery, as is the worry of a lapse in health insurance, and the putting off of desensitization therapy, which I was really gung ho about getting started.

Food

Honestly I have been on a bit of a cooking strike since finding out we were getting out.  Maybe that will change before we leave, or maybe there isn't much point right now with everything we have going on.

Dance

Following a long stomach virus, severe weight loss, treating the anxiety, and a long recovery from a rib injury, and an emergency surgery that my dance instructor had to go through, I am finally back to dancing regularly.  I am working on a choreography with the wonderful dancer Zabel, interpreting my struggle, and recovery from anxiety.  The experience so far has been very empowering.  I also have two punches left in my card with the talented Melina of Daughter's of Rhea in Waltham, MA that I need to use up.  And starting July 9th I will be resuming classes at Yoga By Donation in Portsmouth, NH until the date we leave.

Crochet

I mentioned in my last post Belly Dance and Crochet that I had finished 4 dance belts. I have been crocheting hip belts using only natural materials, for the lovely Zabel, in exchange for private lessons.  I am starting on another set of those belts, and have been researching different crochet stitches online to change things up.  Zabel will be vending my belts, and possible barefoot sandals at belly dance events, and I am very excited to be working with her, and getting my name out there.  I'm not sure where it will go from there, but maybe it will mean displaying my work at another dance studio where we move to, continuing to work with Zabel through Skype, and PayPal, or even starting an Etsy shop.  For more information about my belly dance inspiration, and crochet inspiration click on the Pinterest link above, and for more information about Zabel in New England visit http://zabelbellydance.com/

 

Regular Barefoot Sandals and Medium Fun Belt Modeled by Zabel

Gardening

I gave away all of my seedlings to my neighbors on base except the tomatoes, and eggplant which will be going today or tomorrow hopefully.  The snap peas; which I planted 32 of outdoors, have yielded 12 plants, and the romaine; which I planted 12 of, have yielded 5 plants.  I am not sure if they will be ready for harvest before it is time to leave.  I plan on starting over next year, with my leftover seeds, and also planting a few new seeds, and starting some seedlings indoors as well to supplement those that don't take.  It has been the beginning of a learning experience, and I will miss seeing how this year would have turned out.  Other than that I have given away my potted plants, and have been deadheading, and weeding the flowers in ground until the time we leave.  I have been paying special attention to this shrub:

which I planted on the day of my Dad's death in remembrance of him.  It bloomed with the prettiest, tiny white flowers, and was a great comfort to me.

Sewing

I will be finishing up a six week sewing class this Saturday, and hopefully will finish my first article of clothing on that day.  I hope to continue learning to sew, upcycle, work with patterns, make alterations, and mend at the next place we live.

Blogging

I gave the blog a makeover into a simpler, and prettier template via Blogger.  I think the paint splotches really highlight the blogs theme, and while pink isn't my first choice, I do think it has a cleaner look now.  I hope to revamp the blog, learn more about HTML, and working with GIMP or Picasa, and gain more readership at a later date.  Now I am sharing my projects with my friends on Facebook (which is private) and on Pinterest, and have been pleasantly surprised at a few repins!

Health

I downloaded the C25K app on my Iphone, and will be doing Day 3 next.  I also walk my dog once a week for 2-3 miles with a friend of mine, and there is also the belly dancing.  I hope to in the future to quit smoking again, and eat healthier since I would still like to lose about 15 more pounds.



It's coming along.....

We Got Seedlings Coming Along

When You Walk in the Garden......

Starting plant seeds indoors.  I am starting my first vegetable garden this year.  Between this, crochet, private belly dance lessons, and my family I have more than enough to fill my plate.  Better make sure I don't take on anymore.

So far I have started Cherry Tomatoes, Roma Tomatoes, Eggplant, Cucumbers, Zucchini, and Summer Squash indoors. I used peat pots because the decompose, and made markers with skewers, masking tape, and a sharpie.

Next up: Planting Sugar Snap Peas and Romaine in the actual garden patch...........

and this is why I am starting them in a dog crate.

Fall Planting Spring Flowers

At the beginning of October my daughter's school had a frundraiser.  They sold flower bulbs from a company called Dutch Mill Bulbs.  I got 10 bags of bulbs and have been slowly, but surely, getting them in the ground before winter sets in.

In the ground......

Waiting for the huge pot I have......

I read that these can pull up other flowers if you need to dig them up and divide them, hence the putting them together and putting them in a pot.

Waiting to go in the ground........

And in the fridge....

I got super excited about these, because they are an indoor perennial.  However, once I got them I found out that they only bloom once and then most people throw them away.  Plants that don't come back year after year always make me kind of sad, and in my opinion are a waste of money.  That being said, these are in the fridge, because I am trying to delay blooming until Christmas.  About 4-6 weeks ahead of time you plant these in a pot, and set them in a dark cool place and slowly bring into the sunlight to "force bloom" them.  I think you confuse the plant into thinking spring has come, since most bulbs need a cold, dormant season to thrive.  Come Christmas I will have sweet smelling, lovely blooms that will eventually end up in my yard where nature will take it's course. 

All photos taken from the Dutch Mills Bulbs website:

http://dutchmillbulbs.com/

Gardening in the Front Yard

Here are the pictures of my "garden", and also pictures of the plants when they are grown by a professional.  I got the latter from google.  Keep in mind that when I received these plants they had been in there original nursery containers for almost the whole summer so they are not going to look as pristine as they would if they were in the ground right away.  You can't beat free though and I hope they make a big comeback in the spring/summer.

First is the Daylilies in Chicago Apache.  This is what they look like now (well what they looked like in August)

Next is a "planter" I guess is what you would call it, that's in our driveway.  Hopefully I finish the rock border soon.  I'm just using rocks I find in the backyard when I dig up flower beds.

And a different view shot with the much prettier toy- cam app on my phone.

 These plants are growning in there. Coral Bells in Caramel

 False Spirea in Peach

Jacob's Ladder

It took me forever to find out that these are called Cardinal Flowers.  I don't have a current picture from the internet because I didn't know what they were called until recently.  However they don't look much different then this.  These will actualy be moving out back because even though they can live in the shade, they preform much better with some sun.

Lastly the Vinca Vines.  These are in the large "planter" by our front door.  These are supposedly fast spreaders that will grow almost anywhere.  Hopefully they will go from looking like this......................

To This!

Thank you for reading this blog.  This is just a small selection of the plants I received from my husband's grandma.  Also, since most of our front is shaded the selection that I could put out there is limited.  I will be posting a follow up to this showcasing the backyard (where the really pretty stuff is!), and the bulbs I will be getting from my daughter's school.