I tend to hate change ... BUT

I am a lucky, lucky person.

I was felled when my employer of 16 years fired me without pre-amble,  problem or controversy, just called me in, gave me a letter and severed the relationship.

I was already reeling from a blow to my family and I had a real funk for a few days. And then I realized how much less stress I was having. Of course, I had a new stress with the Department of Labor, regarding my unemployment, but it was a lot less drama than my job of 16 years.

Three months passed while I applied for jobs that were just perfect for me, although the agency didn't think so, and jobs that were merely jobs. There were jobs that were more like slavery, 50+ hours a week, six days a week with a 70-minute commute? I don't think so.

... And there were job offerss that were just ridiculous. I had cashier three times in my job history; it is not a good cashiering history, and cashier was not only offered to me, but one company called me to ask me to be their cashier, based on my proximity to their store. *eyeroll*

I applied mostly in small towns, and not even once in a city. I had commuted twice before. Never liked it. I applied to be an executive assistant, a library director, a law office secretary, a church school secretary, a tire replacement technician, all kinds of things. Note: the DOL does not require your job searches to make sense.

Sometime in the third or fourth month, I applied to be an "office associate" in the office of one of the departments of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. I could do all the requirements with my hands tied behind my back and I would still be in Winnebago, which I like. I applied.

These wheels turn very slowly, and I got a call a few (?) weeks later to interview for the job. The head of Facilities had read the top one or two jobs I'd had and remarked "Quite a change!" referencing the difference between being a librarian/botanist/typesetter/darkroom technician/cashier/church secretary and being an office associate. To which I replied with an enthusiastic "Yes!"

Long story short, I got a temp hire and was there for 13 weeks. In the meantime, I did some big chunks of work, learned a bit of what I know to do my job well, and got on with everyone. I look out at U.S. Hwy 77's traffic going by and a grove of trees on the east side of it where I see red-tailed hawks sometimes.

After only a couple days, I decided that, even if they didn't keep me, this was a good experience. I decided that even though it was quite a pay cut, I don't care. And Friday they hired me full time.

Soon I'll have benefits and be ... well ... I'll have benefits, and I've been missing those.

*feeling grateful*

So tired, tired of waiting, tired of waiting for youuuuuu!

I had not realized how long it's been since I blogged. I have a good reason, though, and I'll leave it at that.

The garden which looked a lot like this at first; just dirt with furrows, has sprouted in the last five days and looks fabulous because it doesn't need weeding, mainly because the weeds have not sprouted.

And no, those milkweed sprouts are not weeds. They live there. Tomatoes and milkweeds, corn and milkweeds, these things can co-exist. If you don't like it, don't look at my garden.

Corn, onions, dill, radishes and squash have all sprouted. The tomatoes and peppers went in as plants. Now I'm trying to  remember to water somewhat frequently, and when I water, not to get so busy that I forget to turn the hydrant off. Other times I just go stare at the things that have NOT sprouted, like the other dill location and the spring onions.

Two perennial plants have been stomped on my some large animal, probably my dog. Each of these locations are pretty good for bunnies to hide in. I never catch her at it and it IS her job to "guard the farm." Sigh. My comfrey and BC's hostas are taking a beating.

I now have three sewing machines, as a sister-in-law gifted me with a 1934 Singer treadle that does not currently work. I found some cool stuff in the drawers, though.

I don't get much done in the way of craft or sewing projects once warm weather and a garden has set in. I do still take photos of it, for real.

Here are some of BC's plants. We planted poppies four times or more, and these are the first ones to take. Now they are thriving.

Remind me to tell you about Russian sage and mullein x2 another time. My yard is such a fun place!