A sidewalk story

 Elle is BRILLIANT!!!! She suggested using the new doggie bench (when it arrives) as a grooming station. That is brilliant! It'll be sturdy; the bed just sits in the frame around the top and can easily be removed. And hopefully, Murphy will be occupied by the great outdoors. Gosh -- I want Elle to be -- well, I want her to be my consultant -- she is very clever. Thanks so much for that brilliant idea. 

Yesterday was all about free-motion quilting and the second part of the free-motion class at Thimbles and Things. Well, technically, NOT at, but hosted by them. It's amazing how smoothly something can go when you are prepped, and I spend an hour or two (at least) preparing everything - taking pictures, setting up cameras and machines. But I've got it down to a science now, so it's not too bad. 

There's a second two-part session in April. If you're interested, you can sign up -- there's still a bit of room in that second class. 

I also learned a thing or two about scheduling. Oh yes  -- with the pricing and the class structure, some students have discovered an "out." I had a couple of people who couldn't attend part two of the class for one reason or another, and some of them were legitimate and asked to move to the next class. So I've learned a lesson --- there will ONLY be one session during each class cycle. Then there's no switching! 

Personally, it's not a big deal, but each switch requires I process the e-mail and add them to a distribution list. Not huge, but if everyone asked? Well, I suck at admin work at the best of times - it's just more room for error. I've noticed many people traveling or have gone south for a month or two. And that's a good thing -- it means that stuff is starting to open up or people are feeling more comfortable, and I'm all for that. 

I'm thinking of booking some trips, and I need to do that FAST as there are a lot of places I want to go to this year, and I can't let work take up all the good slots. Of course -- I can have my classes prepped and teach it from anywhere in the world, so as long as I'm ready to do that prep --- look out, world -- here I come! Well, anywhere I can get good internet or good cell service and use my phone as a hotspot. 

After the free-motion class, it was back to the sewing and embroidery machine to finish getting ready for the classes today. We have the machine embroidery club and one of the sew-alongs. I'm happy to report that everything is prepped and ready to go, which is good since the first one starts at 9 AM. But I'm going to have a totally free afternoon, and I plan on hitting the long arm. 

I finished my 100,000+ embroidery

I have a little side trip today into the world of walking outdoors. It's that time of year when the great outdoors gets a bit sketchy for walkers. 

I've already reported one neighbor for shoveling the snow from her driveway into the street. The by-law officer came by and had a chat with her as the next time we had snow, NONE of it was shoveled into the street. 

I'm being very patient with another neighbor, and well, they've tested me, and the next time we have a snowfall, guess what? I'm calling. Why???? 

Look at the condition of the sidewalk across their driveway. I don't think they shoveled the drive at all and the windrow at the end of the drive? They just drove over it -- it was smaller than mine. It's a total disaster. There is snow and ice everywhere, and at least THREE capable adults live in this house. 

A messy sidewalk 

BUT --- they could shovel the little light around their fancy posts at the end of the driveway.

BUT they can shovel the snow off their fancy light

 Seriously???? This is the neighbor, who yelled at me because I was verbally disciplining Murphy one day as I walked past her house. I know the city was called to their house last year (not by me) as they do the same thing every year. OK -- I'm going to be the mean and nasty neighbor, and I'm calling EVERY time they don't clean. It's dangerous. As a matter of fact, I'm taking a paper and pencil and writing down the house numbers of the ENTIRE street. I'll give them 24 hours (maybe 48) to shovel, and that's it! I've had it with our street and their lack of shoveling abilities. NOW  -- it's about 10 houses, not the entire street, but still -- it's darn annoying. 

Just because the sidewalks on major streets in our neighborhood get plowed does NOT make them safe. 

This is that busy street that is used by a lot of school children. This photo was from several days ago, and it was a nightmare. Murphy didn't care -- "HEY MOM -- I've got four legs to keep me steady!" And people must have complained because this is after the city plowed it the SECOND time. At least the path is wider but still very much covered in ice. 

 A busy sidewalk covered in ice

A day later, this is the condition of that same sidewalk. So yes, it looks a whole lot better -- the above freezing temperatures took care of some of the mess. 

A day later, on the same sidewalk

But in other parts of that sidewalk, the warmer weather also brought huge puddles of slush or water. 

Long patches of water on the sidewalk

And let's not even talk about this mess. Most sidewalks have a small patch of grass between the sidewalk and the street. This sidewalk, which is near the community center and one of the high schools, has no grass between the sidewalk and the street. So the city has cleared a path but in the MUD. The snowbank is sitting on the sidewalk. 

A MUD path

Gosh -- I think I need to forward this blog post to the city. The city planners, the snowplow drivers, and the admin people who schedule all this stuff need to get out and walk the sidewalks for which they are responsible. Then they may get a better appreciation for the job they do. And there are a LOT of people who use these sidewalks. 

Here's something else about sidewalks. They are made of concrete with a seam in them. Or do we call that a join? Anyway, remember the saying when you were a kid -- don't step on a crack, you'll break your mother's back? Well, there's some truth to that. Look at the cracks in the sidewalk. FILLED with slippery ice. By the way -- I just looked up the origin of that comment, and it steps from racism? Really???

Ice in the sidewalk crack

And don't get me started on the painted crosswalks. That white paint is slippery when wet. Very dangerous to pedestrians and probably to cars that need to break on that crosswalk!

Yet - look at the paved multi-purpose path. It's totally clear and dry and seems to be so much easier to plow. Why can't we go from concrete to paved paths everywhere???? 

The paved path is clear!

Anyway --- I'm not going to stop walking because of the weather, but this time of year becomes very dicey. And it was actually better walking in the forest yesterday than the sidewalks. Those paths, which are NOT maintained in winter, will become very dangerous in a couple of weeks when the well-packed snow becomes a skating rink. Thankfully we have options, but right now, walking requires a LOT of concentration or attention; it's not only cars we have to watch for, but lots of ice! 

Oh, look, with all my shuffling around, I've cleared a spot or two on the top of the bookcase in Studio B. Oh yes -- I'm determined to get everything nice and tidy. Slow and steady will be the trick. I'm about done with the shuffle, and now it's going to be time to get to work and get stuff accomplished instead of "wasting" time with the tidy-up! The best news is that those empty spots will NOT be filled with something unless I decide to bring a few more things from upstairs to try and have everything in one room. I'll think about that. 

A few empty storage spots on top of the bookcase

And that Lexi!!! What has happened to my sweet angel? She's been watching Murphy and Bear and thinks that HEY -- if they can jump on the furniture, then I can too. DH was on the couch, and she just decided to pop up and make herself comfortable. There was no getting away from Murphy on this one. But she only does it when someone is on the couch. She's not shy!!!

Lexi sleeping on the couch

And she stayed there for quite a while. Oh, Lexi -- and you were always the good one. The problem is she has a TON of hair, and now it's going to be all over the couch. DH loves it! NOt the hair, but the fact that Lexi snuggles with him on the couch. I should leave her brush on the couch!

I've seen ads on Facebook for those big comfy blankets for dogs. I'm not buying from a Facebook ad, but has anyone seen them locally??? I see them online at paw.com. Does anyone have one, and are they truly waterproof?

And what happened to the weather? We have super freezing temperatures this morning. Apparently, it's only for one day, and then it gets warmer. The temperatures will fluctuate a lot in the next couple of weeks. Oh yeah!!

On that note, I'm out of here -- off to brave the sidewalks and the cold!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!