I am retired after teaching for 38+ years.  I am enjoying my retirement by making quilts for us and as gifts for family members.  Other projects I have made include baby blankets, burp cloths, bibs, lap quilts, Little Dresses for Africa, blankets for Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, pillowcases, crocheted stocking hats, and crocheted dishcloths.  Currently while still making quilts, I sew a lot of facial masks for us, friends, family, and strangers.  I also had my first experience with sewing a couple PPE gowns for a company where a friend works.  If you are a friend on Facebook, you have noticed that we have a garden.  Our latest canning adventure ended up as 32 pints and 3 quarts of spaghetti sauce (I wish the cucumbers would have produced as well as the tomatoes!).

I joined a Facebook business educators' group, so I have been reading about their successes and challenges. I also keep in touch with my colleagues from Hawkeye Community College when I can. It has been challenging to get together with the retirees from HCC's business department, but we try to gather (at an open-air park shelter) to have our picnic lunches.

Pre-pandemic I traveled a few times with my sister (who now is a travel planner and still does medical transcription on a part-time basis).  Last Christmas my husband and I went with my sister and brother-in-law to Arizona to spend the holiday with my 88-year-old father and his wife.  My sister and I have tickets to fly to AZ in November, and we will get to see Dad again for a few days.  My plan is to get to AZ a couple times a year, while all of us are still enjoying good health!