I thought perhaps I should start this venture with an introduction. I realize all of you currently keeping tabs on me, (thank you BTW) already know me, but the hope is that someday I will gain followers who aren’t friends and family. 🙂 So, if you are so inclined, share my blog and help me grow!

Who am I?

(Sung a la The Who, introduced to me in high school by my friend Dierk.)

I am re-learning what it means to be ME. I am Sherri Lea Ploeger Niles, I am 51 years old and I know what I want to be when I grow up, finally. I’ve never looked at my age and thought “old” or “young”. I worked with 80 and 90 year old’s and they always thought I was young! So I learned that age is a number, and depending on how you look at that number you can be as old or as young as you want. I have finished one successful career, and am embarking on this teaching journey to give back, revitalize, and connect with teenagers.
So what and who am I? I am creative: I take old things and make them beautiful and usable again. I make rugs from worn out textiles on my 100 year old rug loom, I repaint and fix furniture, relishing the history and patina of things from long ago. I collect rusty gold for use in my garden and home. I love working on hand work: embroidery, crochet and sewing. I think dish towels should be embroidered and potholders quilted. I sew and quilt. My beds are covered in patchwork. I am nurturing: I love to grow things, vegetables, flowers, and yes even weeds! I enjoy watching my chickens scratch in the dirt and dust themselves in the sand. I love warm puppy snuggles with Tsuki and warm lap sits with Thistle and Nettle. I am fascinated by the bees in my hives and lose track of time watching them work. I am teacher: in the broad sense of the word. I share what knowledge I have with those around me; gardening to the neighbors, bee keeping to the elementary students, theatre to the high school students, and cards to my niece and nephew. I am pioneer: I like the sense of accomplishment from a full freezer and full pantry shelves. I like to fix things, not throw them away. I think home made is the best made. I cook, can, jam, jelly and dehydrate. I wear aprons and wide brimmed sun hats. I am loving: I connect with friends and family any opportunity I get. I support and bolster young people, I listen and respect the old. I lend help whenever I can to whomever I meet. I shop local and support my fellow entrepreneurs. I love spending time with my Dad and my children. I love my brother and sister and their families. I am me, unapologetic-ally me. I am weird, silly, playful, hard-working, constantly learning and passionate about the things and people I love. I AM ME! Nice to meet you 🙂