Wife, mother, grandmother, and retired human resources professional.
Retirement means I don’t set the alarm, wear a watch most days, sit on endless conference calls, or worry about matching up a suit with heels and a purse anymore. I love it. 🙂
What I do worry about is whether or not I have good gardening weather, the right fabric to quilt with, an interesting photo opportunity, and getting away as often as possible to our beaches, lakes and white mountains.
I am a Master Gardener, quilter, love to take day trips around the New England area, journey to other interesting locations, and spend part of the winter in South Carolina.
Thanks for stopping by New England Garden And Thread. I normally publish once or twice a week
As most bloggers do, I look forward to and enjoy the exchange of comments.
Life is short so spend time with the really important, positive people in your life including some of the wonderful bloggers you meet. 🙂
NewEnglandGardenAndThread 
Welcome home, fellow gardener. What a lovely blog you have here. There is plenty here to like and learn. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
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Hi I’m also retired (just) with two beautiful baby grandchildren. I love gardening, the beach and trave. I now NEVER wear a watch
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Thanks for stopping by, and I’m with you about the watch. The days of the watch, Blackberry, pager and being on call 24/7 are over – well, unless we’re discussing grandkids.
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Thank you for stopping by!
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My husband’s the master gardener, and the cook. Lucky me. Have 2 awesome 7-yo grandchildren. May I suggest my Friday blogs for you and your grandson. I’m on a math jag now.
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Well, certainly you can and I’ll head right over and check it out. Thank you very much.
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Congrats! I nominated you for an award: http://liliandmums.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/our-blog-won-an-award/
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Well, thank you very much. So kind of you to think of us.
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You are very welcome!
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Thank you for liking my Wordless Wednesday post! You have a nice blog too!
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Thanks so much for visiting my blog and liking my photo! I appreciate it very much. I’ve enjoyed my visit here and i look forward to following your posts. 😀
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Great blog, glad I found it. My husband and I are also Master Gardeners here on Cape Cod. We are also into roses, we grow about 800+ in our yard. Our chickens amuse us as do our two grandsons who live here on the Cape (15 and 11) It’s pouring outside right now, maybe I will get something done in the house today – it’s been on the back burner!
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Thanks for stopping by. I’m chuckling even thinking about 800+ roses because it makes me feel good about my 400+ Hosta. We harvested our first crop of chicken compost this year, and it has been great. Fresh eggs and compost are a good thing. Hope we get some warmer weather so all our grandkids can enjoy summer here in New England. 🙂
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We used to have chickens in a tractor that my husband moved every day so different parts of the lawn would be fertilized with the chickens. We don’t have chickens any more, but we have green grass!
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Do you have green grass now because the chickens aren’t eating it? 🙂
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The chickens mostly ate the bugs, not the grass. And, because the tractor was moved every day, there wasn’t time for them to scratch it up and kill it.
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In our area, if the chickens ate the ticks you could probably rent tractors out. We have a huge tick problem from CT on north.
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The chickens didn’t eat the ticks. I don’t know why. We bought guinea hens because they’re supposed to be really good against ticks. But, they weren’t good at protecting their young and tried to stay in the trees at night so we couldn’t protect them in a chicken coop. They were all dead in six months. Keeping the grass low seems to be the ticket for keeping the tick population down.
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Your blog is a breath of fresh air! Thank you for sharing! Enjoy the beauty and seasons of New Hampshire!
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Wow! Are we kindred spirits?! I just did a quick peruse of your blog and I can’t not hit the follow button =-)
Ironically, the New England area is the only area in the U.S. that I’ve not been to. (OK, haven’t gotten to Alaska either) However, always wanted to get over your way and hope you can point me to some great campgrounds.
I miss volunteering as a Master Gardener. Unfortunately, I need to put food in my pie-hole also. I still help at the plant sales and with the 4H kiddies. I so envy your retirement status… I will return to volunteer as soon as I manage time.
Would you believe you are the first ‘gardening’ blog I’m following? Truth!
Welp.. See ya in the Reader!
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Geez, I’m feeling the pressure now. 🙂 We have something else in common because I lived in the Midwest, Kansas specifically, for many years. 🙂
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We’re not in Kansas anymore..
Couldn’t resist =-)
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Enjoy your blog posts Judy. You’re in a lovely area of the world. I was actually wondering where in New England you are? I visited some friends over there a few years back, and toured around Peterborough, Keene, Concord in New Hampshire… That your area?
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We lived in Keene for about a year, but for the past ten plus years we’ve been on the seacoast near Portsmouth. Were you on the eastern side of the state at all? 🙂
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No, afraid not. Just flew into Boston and then drove out west.
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Here is also one who is retired.
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Thanks so much for following Oh, the Places We See. We look forward to your posts about your area as well as about quilting. We are interested in registering our blog with Bloglovin’, so if you have time, let us know how you like being a part of that. Best wishes for continued success. And here’s hoping your winter is pretty but not terrible!! http://ohtheplaceswesee.com
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If you check my contact page, you can send me an email and I’ll happily respond with regard to this question. 🙂
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It is encouraging to hear that life does not stop when one retires. A colleague is due to retire in two years’ time and is scared about how she will occupy her time. I suggested that she starts doing something that she can continue doing after stopping work. I hope I will have something to do when I retire, like you 🙂
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Retirement does take some adjustment. When you worked full time outside the house you had extra spending money and no time, then you retire and you time and a fixed amount of money. 🙂 And, if you have a significant other retired and at home full time, then that is a different type of adjustment because he’s trying to figure out his journey as well. 🙂 Here’s to you having a wonderful retirement when it is your time. 🙂
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Gardening in New England has to be challenging – unless you have a hot house. We remember it being brutally cold when we lived in West Lebanon, NH. When we had our house in Corpus Christi, TX I loved working with roses. Since we live in our RV and travel from spot to spot, it is not possible to ‘carry’ our garden with us. House plant gardening is not practical because Our cat loves our indoor plants.
And yes, retirement is a major adjustment, just like marriage and having kids. It does require having a plan.
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Having lived in West Lebanon, you have first-hand knowledge of how cold and snowy this part of the country can get in a severe winter, and there won’t be any gardening until all the snow melts and the soil warms up. 🙂
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I like the sound of you! i too love to garden, I knit, crochet and sew but don’t quilt though I just love quilts and the skill involved in them. My Mum used to quilt. We have travelled in your neck of the woods and loved it. We have 4 Grandkids who are the joy of our lives though we don’t see them often enough.
I love being retired too! Time now for all the stuff we love to do though I did love teaching too. Good to meet you! 🙂
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You have to celebrate when you meet a new friend so here’s to both of us. 🙂 I have two grandchildren that were the light of my life and they had the nerve to grow up – who knew they’d do that so quickly. 🙂
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Indeed! Ours are growing up too! The six year old seems much older than ours did when they were six! 🙂
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Thank you for visiting my blog and for liking one of my posts. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
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I see we have a few things in common (including Dan’s blog!) and I’ve enjoyed scrolling through your posts. New Hampshire is a beautiful state to call home. I look forward to your photos and descriptions.
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When I see Dan’s blog post in my email, I know a smile and a chuckle are coming my way along with some deep thinking. 🙂
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I love your ‘about’. I just read it for the first time. Retirement is great, isn’t it? I’m 10 years old again, and playing and learning all the time!
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It is fun isn’t it. If we lived closer, I might even be a better quilter. 🙂
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‘retired human resources professional’ – I imagine you have some wild stories you could tell…
Thank you for stopping by my blog. That has brought me here today and I have enjoyed my browse through a few of your posts. We will probably travel through New England in the next few years. We have the kids getting out of college in a few years and then I retire – boom – we will be on the road. It will be a great time.
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Spent a whole summer in Concord, lived with my grandmother during this time. My memories of this time will forever be etched in my mind.
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Hope they are warm memories. 🙂
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They were.
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I hope yu are enjoying the Retirement and keep busy, I bet yu wonder what you did with all that time working and not creating, your natural gifts, ~Jackie
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Life truly is a book of chapters. You close one and start another. I sure don’t miss the alarm clock or being on call 24/7. 🙂
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HI Judy, thank you for stopping by. You have a great blog and I can’t wait to explore more of it. Thank you for sharing 🙂 – Faye
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New England is on my bucket list, especially in the fall when the leaves are dressed in their fall splendour.
Getting my Master Gardener designation is also on my list. So many things to do, so little time!
When I’m at home, during our summer months, I garden, quilt, and enjoy my neighbours. Seems like we have a little in common. I think I’ll enjoy following your blog. Happy to have found it.
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Well, it sure does sound like we have several things in common and could probably get a good conversation going. Looking forward to interacting with you. One can never have too many blogging friends. 🙂
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Judy, we are finally getting to New Hampshire — only for a day or two. But nevertheless, I’m so excited. We’re flying in to Boston and heading to Stowe, VT to stay a couple of days at Stoweflake Resort. May be able to spend night on coast — like Portsmouth or somewhere like that. If you have a recommendation, send it my way! Thanks!
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If you are passing through and only get one NH town, Portsmouth should be your stop. They have so many great restaurants and a couple of breweries, and you can park and walk the entire length of town while checking out the architecture, Prescott Park, and Strawberry Banke. Feel free to send me an email for further info on hotels, breakfast, beer.
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Judy —
Thanks so much for visiting my blog, thereby inviting me to visit yours. I am not a master gardener, can’t quilt, am sugar-dependent, and I always wear a watch, but I feel very much at home in your blog. It’s very welcoming.
Maureen O’Hern
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Welcome, Maureen. There were many years I didn’t garden or quilt. I will always be sugar-dependent although I am reading more ingredients and making different choices so I can appreciate my sugar in that turnover or cookie. I do only wear a watch when I go out to be sure I’m not late. One can never have too many friends so I’ll look forward to ‘chatting’ with you. 🙂
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What a lovely blog you have here! I am by no means a master gardener, but I’m doing the best I can while raising four teenage boys. No one wears a watch in our household, we have clocks in every room 😉
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I was amazed to spot the painter with the see-through canvas, because he’s also busy creating seascapes, no, riverscapes (is there such a term?) in Hamburg, Germany, where I live. Where did you spot him?
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He is located at the Great Island Common (park where the Piscataqua River meets the Atlantic Ocean), in New Castle, New Hampshire, our smallest town. It is a lovely place to visit, view a couple of lighthouses, enjoy a picnic lunch, and watch the boats going in and out of Portsmouth. 🙂
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Here’s the link to the painter’s identical twin. Or is he a doppelgaenger? https://anglogermantranslations.wordpress.com/2012/09/05/sichere-pinselfuhrung-und-klare-linien/
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That is amazing. 🙂 Sometimes it really is interesting to see the similarities in this global community. Thank you for sharing.
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I’m looking forward to seeing some beautiful quilts and gardens, Judy!
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Hi Judy, I enjoy reading about your gardening adventures and especially enjoy your Thursday Doors. Thank you for your comments on my blog but I’m unable to respond back by email. It looks like you’re set up as a noreply-comment blogger. I forget how to fix that but I had the instructions on my blog at one point. It may still be there. I don’t want you to think I’m a snob.
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Thanks for letting me know. I understand how technology sometimes throws us all a curveball and other times the road between the various blogging sites is not a smooth one. I admire your quilting skills and am always in awe of your projects. Your recent project reminded me of the fabric artist I mentioned on Thursday Doors.
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This blog feels like home. I look forward to following. I ❤ New England!
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Thank you for the kind words, and I hope I can provide some interest for you in between your very busy daily life. 🙂
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am enjoying your blog! thank you!
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First, I LOVE your Thursdays Doors posts! Second, if someone was visiting New England for the first time, what would be your top three “must see” spots? My daughter and I are planning to visit soon. We love small, quaint, artsy, and historic! 🙂
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Thanks for stopping. Now, that’s a big question. 🙂 If near Boston, I’d take time and do a ‘tour’ where you can see and hear all the historic highlights in 1-2 hours. Lexington, MA, is a lovely small town with a huge history. Portsmouth, NH, is one of our most beautiful small towns while Camden, ME, is my favorite small town up north. If you want to tell me what route you might travel or how long you will be there, I can certainly come up with more information for you. 🙂
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Thanks so much. We just recently decided to do this. Haven’t started planning yet, but this gives me some good information to begin mapping out a plan. We’re excited!
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It is a pleasure meeting you Judy. Isn’t retirement awesome. Every day we wake with joy of what the day will bring. So many interest to explore and things to learn. Its going to be great fun following along with you as we learn of the world through your eyes and words.
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Hello, I lived in New Hampshire for 11 years but recently moved back to Florida (yuk). I love New England and will enjoy reading your blog, even though the gardening info will most likely not be what I need! I am impressed by your Master Gardener status…!
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I think I’ll envy you being in Florida this weekend, as we get another round of cold, blustery winds, and possibly snow. Yuk. 🙂
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You have my sympathy.
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Thank you so much for checking out my new blog and liking some of my DIY’s. I recently moved to the country and am learning how to grow flowers and vegetables, so your blog will be helpful. I am also new to the WordPress community. I have a lot in common with you and was very inspired by your story. Thank you for your support.
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Welcome to WordPress. I think you will find a nice community of bloggers. 🙂 Living in the country where you can flowers and veggies is a good thing for sure. 🙂
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When I visited your blog I noticed that we have some of the same followers. Always a good sign. I am also retire human resources (insert eye roll here) who happily stays away from people and spends her time analyzing cats. They make more sense most of the time.
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Oh my goodness, we’re kindred spirits. I happily do some volunteer work from home. When they ask me to lead a group or speak at a workshop the answer is always the same – no thank you. Been there, done that, don’t want to do it anymore. 🙂
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I did a couple gigs the first few years (been retired 8 years). Then I fully retired. Each time I did it, I had to spent time prepping. Unless they were willing to pay me a ton of money, I was done with that!
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Hi and nice to meet you! I just left another comment on your most recent post. I just retired from the University of Minnesota and I’m looking forward to doing more blogging as well as checking out more of your blog.
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Welcome to the ‘retiree’ chapter of life and more time to do whatever makes you smile.
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Thanks!
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A first-time visitor. Cheers to retirement and your blogging longevity. I’ll snoop around a bit.
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Thank you for stopping by. It looks like you have the ‘retirement’ part all figured out. 🙂
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Retirement is a joy, but as we know, there are people who don’t figure it out. Now that’s sad! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
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Great site! I found you via Nancy at Two Trails One Road. Looking forward to following. Have a great day!
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Thank you for stopping by, and Nancy has a lovely blog that provides seasonal inspiration for all of us.
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