I sleep better when I'm writing (sometimes)

Before I slip into all about writing, let me say that Gigi is no longer broody! She didn't need to be placed onto the wall-shelf last night, and has spent the last two days out with her sisters. Yesterday we received SO MUCH RAIN, over three and a half inches in twenty-four hours. Owl and Nadia were out in the rain MOST OF THE DAY. Camilla joined them for the latter half of the afternoon, and by evening, as a mere drizzle fell from the sky, all eight hens were poking around the grass and gravel as if worms had fallen from heaven.

Eight hens preening or chillin' out, sweet chickies!

Also, I completed the medallion-Minnesota quilt, but it was TOO WET to hang it out for photos. My husband acquiesced to act as holder, and I'm very happy with it. Right after the photo session, I carefully folded it, and now it's on the stack of finished quilt tops/backs that are beginning to pile up in the closet where my stash lives. Not sure at all when I will get to them, or in what manner; hand-sewing, machine quilting? My shoulder remains iffy, so I have avoided any kind of hand-stitching. I have another collection of squares on the design wall, and once the entire quilt-in-prepping is applied, I'll share a picture.

I can't wait to start another medallion quilt!

But taking up morning time has been MY NOVEL, lol. I managed half a chapter today, not sure if I'll finish it tomorrow. Last week I found I was zonked out once bedtime arrived, and I slept very solidly. Over the weekend, not so much. So far this week has been a mixed bag. Previously, I was mentally exhausted every time I started a new book, but I'm older now, ahem, and what with this wonky shoulder, I'm kinda feeling my age. But better to be feeling those years than, um, be done with adding years, you know?

No one can tell a person younger than them exactly how aging affects all parts of one's life. Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually; all aspects of existence alters, in varying degrees certainly. But back when I was forty, just starting this writing gig, I simply had no clue as to how energy levels would taper off, hah! The same can be said when I began sewing at forty-eight, though once I incorporated English paper piecing, I did wonder if eventually my hands would tire of the intricacy. I didn't think my shoulder/neck would be the bigger issue.

So I'm learning to adjust expectations. Quilt tops/backs await my attention, not to mention a plethora of EPP projects that I truly have no idea when I'll get to them. I have books to read, books I want to write, squeezing in chickens and laundry and SLEEP to gain. I enjoy my quiet early mornings, I also find wonderful how the sky is less dark, hehehe, although soon enough the time change will lop off an hour of my morning daylight, bah. The chickens won't care, but it will be odd to see them outside after six p.m. Daylight Savings Time won't affect the writing, I hope! I'm in a nice groove with this novel, and just want to keep spinning the yarn.

As sixty years on this planet approaches, I am changing. Which again beats not aging, yet parameters long accepted as normal are now...different. I guess it makes for interesting times, lol. Good to not always know what's happening next, embracing the mystery. Writing a story about fictional miracles is a surprise, using my sewing machine more than previously is another. And those hens! I wasn't pondering them a year ago, and now they are an integral part of our lives, mine and my better half. Together we look after those hens, together we're racking up days and weeks and months and now I'm soon joining him in the Sixty Club. If there is anything special I want to do while still in my fifties, well, completing my book would be awesome. Maybe I'll make that my goal; I'll try to wrap up THE END before I say hasta la vista to fifty-nine.

And get some good sleep in the interim.