There are going to be a lot of big changes here. Right now my life is in an upheaval and I'm not entirely sure what it will look like when the dust settles. I've got a lot going on a personal level that I'm not looking to post publicly, but it deserves to be mentioned. There's a lot going on behind the scenes and I'm stressed out.
Due to some recent events, I have had to get a job. Because I don't drive, my options were limited. I accepted the first job I was offered, but the pay is low and the hours are minimal. I don't know that it will actually pay my bills, and even if it does, I'm not sure how I will be able to get to work during inclement weather, especially winter snow storms when it isn't safe to walk along the road. I have until the end of summer to come up with some kind of effective work-from-home job that will consistently pay the bills.
I took the time to update the Bonanza Shop. It now has an assortment of crocheted items in addition to the jewelry pieces I had listed before. As of right now there are pot holders, coasters, and amigurumi octopus toys. Any purchases there would be helpful in filling in additional home expenses like pet food, vet bills, and so on.
I also put together a new Amazon Wish List. This includes fun craft stuff that I can use to make more stuff to put in my shop, as well as things I actually need, such as cat and dog food, or a pull cart for my bike so I can get the kids or animals to appointments or be able to bring home groceries from the local store.
As I said, things are changing here in a way I hadn't anticipated, but I'm trying to pick up the pieces and find a new normal. I have plenty of ideas for new projects, but for all my fun ideas, marketing the finished product to make sales isn't always my strong suit. I loved making jewelry, and I love making crocheted items, but if they're not selling then I'll have to find something else to try. I need to supplement my income as much as possible. The hope of course being that I can find something to do from home over winter, but I'm not sure what is available or how that will work out.
My most recent crochet project was an ambitious one. I decided to crochet a sloth. A life-sized sloth, with no pattern, using only reference photos from Google images searches for sloths. The head, body, and legs are stuffed and I'm working on adding fur, but it's a long process and I'm getting a little bored with it right now. I may just set it aside and find something else to do for a while until my motivation returns. It was a huge project to undertake and I'm actually pleased that I've gotten this far with it and it even looks decent!
I've been battling ear infections for over a week now. First one ear, then the other. The first medication (ear drops) didn't seem to be helping after a few days, so I went back and they gave me another type of ear drops and an oral antibiotic. I'm finally able to go most of the day without needing ibuprofen and my hearing is beginning to return to some semblance of normal.
Yesterday we went to Itasca State Park to see the Mississippi headwaters. It was a lovely family trip with all seven of us. We enjoyed a day of walking, sight-seeing, and playing. We finished the day off with root beer floats on the way home.
Change can be difficult, growth can be painful; but both are necessary sometimes. Here's to change and growth!