What's been going on

I haven't posted here since the beginning of December 2019.  Things in my life have taken a turn; I no longer live in the house that was my home for the past six years.  I now live in a room in a friend's house with my cat, Mayumi, aka Yum Yum kitty.  Once it warms up here (I am in Maine) I will move my African Grey parrot, Peggy.  

What happened?  On January 1, 2020 I got into an "altercation" with my long time partner of 25 years.  He shoved me and I called 911.  I was just so sick and tired of all of the arguements, disrepect, name calling and emotional and verbal abuse.
He was arrested, a no contact order was put in place; and since his parent's own the home I was the one that had to leave.  I couldn't afford the house on my own and it was for my best emotional well-being to leave.  I usually don't post things of such a personal nature here but do want all of my reader's to know that I haven't fallen off the face of the earth.
I also want to let everyone know that the kind of "co-dependent" relationship that I was in isn't acceptable or healthy for either one of us.  I know just how hard it is to leave a relationship, how overwhelming it can be to try to survive on your own.  I am still overwhelmed, I am still unsure, but I am beginning to get my life back on track.  I am in counseling and am trying to get a case worker that can help me fill out applications for housing assistance.  He wants me to move back in, I can't do that until he gets the help he needs.  Honestly, I don't know if I even want to go back.  It is a very confusing time for me.  At the end of this post I will provide links and phone numbers for the Domestic Abuse Hotline.

My very dear friend let me move into a spare room that she has.  I was left with all of the credit card debt and a large car payment.  If she hadn't offered me this room I would be homeless right now. 
I have "caught up" on all of my payments and am back on track, broke but my monthly bills are being paid. I struggle financially; but who doesn't?
The pandemic that has us all "social distancing" has put me (along with many, many other's) out of work.  Since I only work part time I do not qualify for Unemployment Compensation.  Have you had to file for lost wages through Unemployment because of the Corona/Covid 19 Virus?  I pray that if you have, you get the benefits you deserve.  I hope that none of you or your family members have contracted the virus and that everyone is healthy and happy.

It has been a difficult time and I haven't been able to do much designing.  I have been knitting though.  I have made a minimum of 8 scarves, all of them my "Scarf with No Name" pattern.  I have done them in Red Heart Supersaver, Lion Brand Mandala and one with mohair and alpaca.  I have found that knitting these simple diagonal garter stitch scarves is very theraputic for me.  What do you make/do to calm yourself?  Do you knit?  Crochet?  Read?  

National Domestic Abuse hotline
Our advocates are available 24/7 at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) in more than 200 languages. All calls are free and confidential.  
​You can also chat with an advocate through this website.  I do hope that none of you are in the same situation, please, if you are, reach out, you are not alone.