Today is the first day of our Spring Break.
Tessa is headed to Utah to spend the week with her siblings and Jim and I are staying home. This week we will practice being empty nesters.
The whole idea of being an empty nester stresses me out. I’m not ready. I’m not old enough!
If there are any empty nesters out there reading this, please, tell me it’s going to be o.k.!
I have declared this week (actually four days) of being an empty nester as Project Week.
I was inspired by my niece in law Michelle who recently confessed on her blog that she was awarded the “Queen of the Unfinished Projects” by her quilting group for being the member with the most unfinished projects. Michelle counted more than 40 unfinished projects at her house. She has even started a new blog to chronicle her journey to completing all her projects.
Michelle got to me thinking, how many unfinished projects did I have piled up in the bonus room, lurking in closets, on the floor of my bedroom? I started counting. I think I may be able to give Michelle a run for her money for that award!
There was the flower quilt I shared a few weeks ago still waiting for its binding and the other quilt top that is almost done, it just needs a little applique work. Then there was the pile of fabric waiting to be made into reusable bags for my etsy shop and the fabric I bought a year ago to make Cali an apron. Do I need to count the piles of fabric for the three other quilts I bought?? O.k. so you get the idea, I have a few unfinished projects around.
Then there are the unfinished scrapbooking projects, we are not even going to go there. Not sure I can count that high.
In the corner of my bedroom is the bag with the unfinished afghan, piles of unread books and the chandelier I’ve been wanting to hang in Tessa’s room for a year now.
You get the idea.
So this week is Project Week. First on the list are some sewing projects including that quilt that needs to be bound and the reusable bags. I’ll keep you posted on how I do. Check out Facebook for updates!
There will also be a few new blog posts with some yummy new recipes too this week so no worries!
How many unfinished projects do you have lurking at your house? How about choosing one and joining me for Project Week. Let me know which project you choose!
Check out what’s going on over at my other blogs:
Guys & Dolls Cast Gifts
Cooper Mountain Nature Park – a fun Spring Break activity
Oh don’t get me started on my unfinished projects! I could probably give you both a run for your money if you added both of yours together! Oh my! Did I just confess to that?? I was just thinking yesterday that I need to write down all of my unfinished projects and then commit to completing them before I start a new one. I think if I saw them all written down, it would keep me from starting a new one. Well, I’m hoping…
I never count unused fabric as an unfinished project. It is not until I actually make a cut, stitch, or pin pattern pieces to it do I count it as a project. Up until then it is merely a possibility! Same with books.
As far as the empty nest goes, it will be okay! I promise. I was in your shoes a year ago only I have only one child. I dreaded the day she left for college. I made tons of plans so that I wouldn’t notice she was gone from home. And do you know, my imagination was SO much worse than what reality was. Sure, I miss her when she’s away but it was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. You’ll find yourself enjoying your new normal.
My nest has been empty for 7 years, and my husband and I have had the time of our lives!!! It is like being on a honeymoon every day!! We have great friendships with our kids, talk to them several times a week in fact, and look forward to the times we can be together. But My One True Love and I had no idea that being empty nesters could be this fun!!! Enjoy!!!!
I have so many unfinished quilting projects that I have lost count! You have inspired me. I am going to finish two small projects this week.
I dreaded empty nest time. It has been fine. I still shed a tear when my daughter heads back to school though, but that is normal for me, I cry watching strangers at the airport say goodbye!
You will be amazed at how fast the time goes.
You should just buy some cats mom.
Unfinished projects? Yep, I have one or two laying around too. Empty nesters? It’s not as bad as I expected although I feel ‘blah’ the first few days after Mark leaves from being at home. I find if I purposefully plan a few things that must get done on those days it’s easier.
I fear that my unfinished projects won’t get done until I’m an empty nester… and we’re not even done having babies yet. Yikes! I’m thinking about joining you, but we already had our spring break the kids are way behind on their homsechooling, so I might have to delay until summer time. But it would be nice to get my 5 year old off my back for the blanket I’ve been promising to sew him for years!!!
i am in the same position as you , my last leaving for college this summer and i am way too young (39) for this!! i am dreading it but also looking forward to my husband and i having some fun and traveling to visit the kids, just like you do!
as for projects i need some!
Clark’s comment is too funny!!! But cats are a good thing!
Yes, we love Clark’s sense of humor at our house. The only problem is I’m allergic to cats and dogs!
Well I think you deserve a huge pat on the back for even starting all of those projects! Sometimes starting is the hardest part. Enjoy your project week and happy crafting completion week!
I am an empty nester as my youngest left for college this past Fall and I hated it. Now though we have fallen into a really fun pattern, just my honey and me. I love when they all come home and cry when they leave again but the in-between time is good. I laughed when I read your unfinished projects, my husband calls me the “idea girl” LOL Since my youngest went to visit his brother in California, I decided to strip off the old wall paper in his room and get it ready for his Summer return. I’m still in process
Leigh Anne, every stage in life has it’s blessings and challenges. You’ve done the hard part…raising four accomplished children, and now the best is yet to come: weddings to plan, grandchildren to bless your life…just enjoy each stage!
I so enjoy reading your blogs. I too am practicing empty-nesting and not doing so well at it. Project Week should be Project Month at my house! My husband likes to say that my hobbies are collecting supplies, not exactly doing anything with them. As I look at my yarn stash, my fabric stash, my scrapbooking stash and my cookbook stash, I wonder…..
Well, I have no advice on being an emptynester… my kids are only 6 and 3, so I have a ways to go. I can, however, relate to the unfinished projects! Your post made me feel better… I really thought I was the Queen! At least I know I’m not alone! My husband built me a huge craft cabinet a few years back and it is FULL of unfinished or “yet to be started” projects!
I had big plans to get some projects done around the house today, but my daughter came down with a stomach bug last night so she is home sick today. Looks like my son is getting it to, so I guess the next few days will not be very productive at all!
Karyn
I am in the same nest as you are this week. We just sent our college age daughter back to school. Her spring break was last week. And our two high school boys are out of town at a baseball tournament. An empty nest is too quiet for me!!! I hope to work on a few scrapbooking projects this week…and clean the kids bathroom;)!!
Where do you get your fabrics? I love them. I wish I was better about finishing projects, but I am glad that I am not alone.
My fabric place to shop for fabric in Portland is Fabric Depot over on the East side. They have by far the best selection in Portland. Portland is a little lean on good fabric stores. Once a month they usually have a 35 percent off sale and I usually wait for that. You can also order online from them.
I have plenty of unfinished projects too! Light fixtures to install, scrapbooks to do (not just finish!), boxes to still unpack after living here for almost 5 years, clothes to mend (that are probably outgrown by now), papers to file, letters to write to the insurance company…… Anyway, I made the mistake of thinking I’d get some things done this week too during Spring Break. But since the boys are home, they want all my attention! What was I thinking?!?! Oh well. I’ll just add “Spend time with the boys” to my list!!
Are we supposed to finish projects??
As far as ‘empty nesters’, we have 6 children in 5 different states. Life is as crazy as when we had 4 kids under 5! It is just a different kind of busy. We have more people to worry about, pray for and love. Life is good.
I thought I would be an empty nester this summer. My youngest daughter will be going to school and the Army is sending us to a new city. However, my husband of 5 years has his 15 yr old son joining us as we move. YAY! I get to be a full time mom for a few more years. I am very mouthy and tell my kids that an empty nest doesn’t scare me, but I secretly miss them all and love the time we have together. I do love my alone time with the hubs. We’re still honeymooners. Less than 6 years of marriage and two different 12 month deployments has left us little time together.
Hi Leigh Anne!
I am a serious project supply collector and starter…..it’s just the finishing that’s a challenge. I am glad to see that I am not alone and if you’re having an unfinished project competition, I am definitely running ahead of the pack. One time a sewing project sat at my mom’s house long enough for her to finish it for me! I thought the “magic time” for me to finish “everything” was when my son moved away to college. Well, that didn’t happen since the university was looking for parent ambassadors to host events and then a friend started a non-profit and of course there’s always elderly family folks to help care for……..and well, the closets never got cleaned and the projects were never finished. I’m thinking I’ll get to these things done when I retire. Empty nesting is a transition. I had (have) lists upon lists of things to do, however, when the stillness and silence hit, all I could do was pace. You will find your new normal and a rhythm for this new stage of life. By the time you hit your stride it will be winter or spring or summer break and you’ll be putting your projects away & enjoying family time together. All-in-all, life is an adventure, have F-U-N!
With all our blogs, projects, and energy you will have no problem at all when Tess leaves for college. Plus it will be a blessing to have more time to do things with your amazing husband!
When our number 4 and last child graduated from high school, I threw a Mom’s Graduation Party. Invited were a group of mom’s who’s last child was graduating from high school. The party was on our deck and we brought food left over from our graduation parties. We ate, talked and laughed for hours! This was in 2005. We have a party every May – alumni are invited back each year and every year, we add more Mom friends whose last child has graduated from high school. The food we now bring is something good that perhaps our husband’s/kid’s would perhaps not eat but we sure like it!
Seriously, if you raised your children to be independent and self-sufficient, the empty nest time will be one of the best times of your life.
I agree with previous comments…fabric doesn’t count as an unfinished project. As a quilter I see my fabric the same way an artist would see oil paint and brushes. The fabric is my medium and a generous variety of fabrics is like mixing colors on a pallet. How sad it would be to have only a few predictable colors:-)
As for the empty nester dilema, I’m afraid I haven’t got the experience in that department yet. In fact, my son Aaron, his wife and their two little girls have been living with us as they save their money to buy a house. It has been a delight. It’s all the fun with none of the responsibility! I will miss having them here when they move for sure.
I took a quilt class in December of 2008 where I was to choose an artist and work of art that I loved and choose several elements from it to incorporate into my quilt. That class took me WAY outside my comfort zone, but I finished my “Monet Iris” quilt this week and I love it!!! I also started and nearly finished silk draperies for a sliding glass door this week. The mountains of fabric going across my lap made me excited that I was getting it out of my stash and on the way to where it was supposed to be!!! To reward myself, I made a quilted Duffel Tote bag I had been wanting to make for several months! I started and finished it!!! I had to since my goal was to finish things!!! I have too many unfinished projects to count!!! I agree, you can’t count fabric! That’s part of our stash and creativity! It can always be made into something other than what we originally intended!!! Keep up the good work… I know with all your energy you will accomplish as many projects as you set out to!!