I will not let the embroidery machine defeat me!

Thanks for all the insights into retiring! I think I will be one of those who phase out of things rather than quit cold turkey. So, I will continue to look at my calendar and evaluate the deadlines, and then I'll go from there. 

What I want is more time to do my things! I have many UFOs that I want to work on. There is more decluttering, and I want to explore some creative stuff, but I don't have the time or the energy after the necessary stuff is done. That's just in case you're wondering what I'll do with any extra time I find! 

I will bet that some things that make me unhappy would make me happier if I weren't so pressured! Ah -- there lies the rub!

However there is very good news from yesterday. I won! What did I win? Nothing except the satisfaction that I would NOT let the embroidery machine defeat me! I was on the last section, and well, the thread (metallic) was a challenge, the placement was a challenge, the design was a challenge (I used the software to split the design apart and only used part of it), and the thickness of what I was stitching was a challenge. 

There were almost 14,000 troublesome stitches to stitch, and I swear the thread broke every 100 stitches. I am NOT exaggerating. I was NOT giving up. When I say babysitting, this was very closely babysat. I couldn't walk away, or the thread broke! 

Almost done!

This is just part of the thread tails on the last 5000 stitches. I was going to stop and leave the remaining 5000 until this morning. Then, things worked well for a couple hundred stitches, so I decided to continue until the last 4000. And then, before I knew it—OK—it was almost 9 p.m., and I was done.

Lots of broken threads

I was never so happy to see this pop up on the screen!

I'm done! 

I'm going to blame Carol for the entire sordid mess. Why? Because she said, it will look so much better with metallic thread. OK - so she was right, but what a pain. Trust me - I tried everything. I was using a brand new toptitch needle size 16. That did nothing to help. I slowed the machine down to a crawl. That did not help either. It was what I was embroidering on, and once I share the results with my group, I can share them with you. 

Was all the hassle worth it? I think so. I really like the result. Now, on to the next stage, some appliqué in sewing mode. Then I need to decide on a quilting pattern and then bind it. I got this! 

Can you tell me why old people are so stubborn? I had to take MIL to the grocery store. She shuffles everywhere, but give her a grocery cart, and she's wheeling around the grocery store like she's in a race. Will she use a walker? Not on your life! But I have to arrange for one to be delivered this week. It was supposed to come last week, but it was the same day as her medical appointment. 

Yesterday, there were two presentations, but I still had some downtime in the gazebo. Yep, I had a nap! It was a peaceful one—I have no idea where Murphy was. I really need to do some weeding! 

Napping in the gazebo

I noticed this when I was in the gazebo, so we had to watch it daily. 

Blossoms are almost ready to burst

In the forest in the morning, I spotted more trilliums. Such a pretty flower. 

Trilliums in the forest

And what's this? My delicate miss, who never likes to get messy, is traipsing through the mud for the second time on the same walk. Lexi!! You are hanging around Murphy way too much!

Mom - playing in the mud is fun!!

Well, I found it! I found the junk drawer in my house. There is a small side table near the front door where we used to put keys, etc. There is one drawer for me and one for DH. 

I popped it open the other day. Yikes! What a mess, and what is all that stuff? 

A junk drawer

I found old car keys, a door handle, and much more. I only grabbed a few things and will deal with the rest later. This is not on my radar at the moment. 

So here's a story about my glasses—wait—it has to do with that drawer. I am BAD with glasses. I only need to wear them for driving, and I can drive without them, but technically, my license says I need them. When I travel, I used to put my glasses on my head if I didn't need them. I no longer do that because once, I was at the airport and lost a pair of glasses when I propped them on my head. Poof—they were gone!

I did the next best thing and shoved them in my pocket, and in December, when I traveled, this is what happened. Yep—I bent the arm on the plastic frames. I've already checked, and it cannot be repaired, and I cannot just buy a random arm and replace this one. Why? I'm sure I can, but the eyeglass place said they could not. Are you telling me that the little connector is that different on all glasses? 

Broken arm on my glasses

I've been babying these glasses like no tomorrow. When I travel, they go in a case in my backpack. I only wear them when I drive. They sit by the front door at home, so I know where they are. And all is good. 

But I was certain that at some point, I purchased a new set of glasses. Yes, when I lost the other pair, I bought a new pair that became the backup! Guess what? I found those brand-new glasses in the drawer! Now, can you tell me why I don't wear the new ones and keep these ones with the broken arm as the backup? Because I'll treat the new ones badly—that's why! 

Brand new glasses

They've been in the drawer so long that dust has accumulated on them! Good grief - I am bad!!!! 

I walked to the restaurant last night to enjoy dinner by myself. The manager is a nice guy, and we know him quite well now, so he and I had a good chat. Then I walked home, and that was my walk of the day! 

Well, I have one presentation this morning and then I have the entire day to myself, but there is much to do. I didn't get a chance to quilt a quilt yesterday - babysitting that embroidery was too much to try and do something else. 

And here's my Murphy! Such a happy girl - all the time! 

MOM - I love playing with my blankets!

MOM -- I love playing ball

But she needs her downtime! I had to laugh as she knows the routine when I walk in the afternoon, and she usually sits in the window and waits for me. Last night, when I went to the restaurant, which was out of the routine, she didn't know when I would return. When I came to the house, I saw her asleep in bed, so I quietly went to the window and tapped it! Wake up, sleepy head!!! 

This is Lexi as she tries to get Murphy to play with her. I don't understand them - they both want to play, but it seems at different times. What do I know about dogs? I think they do that to torment each other! 

Murphy - get up and play with me NOW!

And yes -- Murphy does have downtime - not often, but she does sleep!

MOM - I'm so sleepy!!

And on that happy note, I'm out of here!

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!