I've been working remote again - at least some days, and am walking the dogs at lunch (until it gets too hot!!)  The wildflowers have been out.....

 

Monday was the first day after the computer conversion to the new bank…. So I felt it was very important to be there to help my team through learning the new complete system and processes. So what happens???  Alli’s helper called in sick. Even worse, she called in to her employer, but they didn’t call me, even after I called in to them twice….  I was so frustrated with  everything by the time I figured out I was not going to go to work that I started cleaning….I worked off my mad by 1:00, but was only halfway through the project…

I started with washing down one wall in the kitchen and ended up washing and scrubbing all the cabinets and oiling them.   Here’s the door to the garage before:

And after

This shows half of one of the cabinets done:

And finished 

All in all, a productive day, but I’m a day  behind  my team for setting up my computer.  I made good progress yesterday but I don’t think the conversion went well for many of our loans…and I don’t feel like taking them I told you so.  They didn’t listen to anything we try to tell them, and it costumers will beat the brunt of it.

And a few more blocks done for quilt club...

 

Playing with the camera on the new phone - Spring is here!!!

 

Here are a few of my arrangements of the blocks of the baby quilt - I think I took longer playing with the blocks than it took for me to make them!  I settled on the bottom picture for the quilt, and decided to add a heart to the white square - which I haven't done yet, but....the  quilt top is sewn together...

 

Now the tulips are blooming!

 

Here's the first attempt for the baby quilt.  I think I'm going to trade out the light gray fabric  - it's too light, I think.

It does have a sparkle to it though.....shiny!!

I made a good start on my quilt blocks for the quilt club!  This year, we are doing the Farm Girl II quilt.  I have yet to make a club meeting, though.  Between needing a babysitter for Allison (January) and catching a cold (February) I missed the meetings.  I now have a regular babysitter set up, so I may just make the meetings!  I like making these types of blocks - tiny intricate piecing, but then I want to go out and make a nice quick big block quilt....so I started a baby quilt this week too.  No pictures yet....

The March club meeting is the Saturday after conversion, so I'm hoping I don't get pulled in to work.  I doubt it - so far they haven't cared too much for my help, so I don't see that changing...most of the "legacy" bank people agree that they will have some problems - mainly because they ignored us - "we know what we're doing, don't bother us, we're busy....".  It's harder to not be the one in charge than I thought it would be, and I really hope I did better with the conversion I worked on. 

Spring is blooming in the countryside too!  We had a run of really warm weather (high of 85!) a couple of weeks ago, and all the trees burst out in bloom.  Today, it was 28 degrees.....what a change!  Hopefully all the fruit trees had a chance to set their fruit, and the freeze doesn't hurt them.

 

I bought some bulbs and pots at Christmas, meaning to make presents with them, but...that didn't happen.  I ran across them in my gardening shed a few weeks ago and decide to go ahead and make some pots up.  I sent one home with Cindy, and put the others with my plants in the sewing room....and they are blooming!  I planted daffodils and tulips, and so far, just the daffodils are blooming. 

 

I thought I killed it - I obviously forgot to water my plants, and I didn't think this one would pull through, but....

It's doing just fine, after a good soaking!

 

My Christmas cactus is a bit confused, or just late - not sure which, but it's beautiful right now.....

 

Sorry I went MIA for a while - life got a bit busy......

I spent a week in Tacoma for training - which was a much needed boost to my confidence that Columbia will actually keep me after conversion, as well as a great opportunity to see "how they do things".  There is still no complete road map for the Umpqua conversion though - for now, I should still have a job until next March, with more details to come, of course.

Cindy came down and sat with Allison while I was gone, thank goodness - that's a true friend to give up a week of your life.....and while I was gone, it looks like I will have a permanent provider for Allison!  Eileen started last week, M-F, 8:00-4:00!!!  So much pressure gone!  Juggling watching Alli and working added a whole new meaning of stress in my life.  Eileen is great with Alli, and has started walking her and playing with her - she can hardly wait until summer to get her in the pool!

And in the hopes of summer, I put up lights on the patio this weekend!