Showing posts with label Ruti's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ruti's. Show all posts

Thursday, November 20, 2025

Never say never

I didn't have a chance to check out the list of smart devices, but YES --- we have tablets, iPads, computers, three sewing machines, the front door, and a smart TV (forgot about those last two), one Alexa, and well, I'll have to check the rest of the devices. No thermostat connected and no fridge or microwave! 

You laugh— a friend of mine just purchased a dishwasher, and it's Wi-Fi enabled. Why? I hope to have some time today to connect those pods, and then we can hopefully get a handle on this Wi-Fi issue. 

It's going to be tight to get everything done today that I would like, and I have two things that MUST be done - well, three if I count packing! I'm almost done, but I must do laundry before I finish. 

I had some help, of course I did! 

Grandma -- are we going somewhere? 


Bear loves jumping into suitcases! It's now almost full of my samples, and the rest of the stuff is on the kitchen table to toss in later today. That takes care of the work stuff, except I MUST finish one sample today - the one that I'll be using as a teaching aide, so it has to be finished. The best news is - I prepped everything yesterday, including threads, so it shouldn't take long to complete. 

I even got the opportunity to use an OLD zipper for this project. I have it all visualized in my head and will "make it up" as I go along. 

An old zipper got used


I'm reading a physical book, but I didn't want to travel with it. I was lucky and found the ebook in the Libby app, and I will return the physical one on my walk today. I got a chuckle as I found my spot in the electronic version. The book is a bit tongue-in-cheek about murder mysteries (Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson). 

This is the text at the beginning of Chapter 14.5. Nothing to see here. 



But look at the same text in the ebook version. 




A sentence has been added in because it's an ebook! Hilarious!!! 

Yes—I still like reading physical books, but for travel? Ebooks are the way to go! And if I took the train to work every day? I'd be reading ebooks all the time. I never thought I would enjoy that - screen too small, hard to read, lots of page turning. Nope — never say never, because I LOVE it, and I could almost say it's my preferred book style now! GASP!!!! 

I've been having some trouble with my foot - you know - the lost toenails, the terrible way I'm walking, which is causing so many other issues, curled toes to grip the ground when walking the dogs, a slight bunion, and pain across the top of my foot. I know -- a walking disaster, but this is not new. 

It had been on my list to see a chiropodist. In Canada, they are the same as a podiatrist. Anyway, there is one near me and it's in the building where Ruti's Needlebed used to be, so I was intrigued and had to book my appointment there! How will the inside have changed? 

Will the outside have changed? Nope --- there's still the sign on the back "Quilting, Knitting" painted on the back wall! 
The back of what used to be Ruti's Needlebed


The front door is the same, although I don't remember the door; I remember the funky painted mailbox. It's still there! 

The front entrance


But inside? OH MY --- it's very different. This is the waiting room. I don't think I have any pictures of the inside of that quilt store, but you could barely see the window for stuff. The walls were jammed with fabric from floor to ceiling, bolts on the floor, and samples everywhere. It was packed. And now? It's wide open with a few chairs! 

This used to be the central area of the quilt store


There used to be a counter about mid-way down the store - that is gone, and there's a new wall (room) with a new counter in front. The carpet is gone (I think it had carpet), and a lovely, clean vinyl plank floor is in its place. The walls are light grey and bare. Everything echoes in there, which it did NOT have a chance to do before. 


There's another room in the back. I'm not sure if it's another exam room - it must be, and the light to the basement was on - the door to the basement is just beside the door to that exam room on the right. It was all done in bright white/greys as well, but I didn't peek down the stairs. 


So it was fun to go and check out that building - what a transformation, and I can only imagine how much dirt and crap they had to pry out of the old walls! It used to be a hassle to park near the store, but now that the parking lot has paid parking, that problem has gone away! Funny how that is! It used to be the same thing at my doctor's office when I drove there. Now that it's paid parking, people don't park there.

As for my foot? You won't believe this! But not only are the muscles and tendons in my legs and hips tight, but so are my calves and my feet! TIGHT!!! 

I got a recommendation for a few physical aids to help me walk, including a toe spacer and a pad for the bottom of my foot. And then to visit an osteopath. But after getting some feedback from my sewing group about them, I'm not sure I want to go there. Perhaps a physiotherapist would be better!

The bottom line is that I need to start from the bottom up, and it looks like a daily half hour of stretching is in my future. Good grief -- who knew!!!

And here is the little guy, exploring the backyard. He is so funny, and while he's very high maintenance, I'm going to miss him when he goes home. 

The little explorer



The piles of leaves are almost too deep in spots, and someone is supposed to come clean them up since I don't have a working leaf blower, but I'm not bitter about that! LOL. 


I've done a pretty decent job of clearing my to-do list, but I need to send a few emails today and book a few things for this upcoming trip, like a car, a hotel, and possibly a plane. I'll see how it goes today. I'm pretty flexible, so I may have to switch some of those plans up. But it all works out! 

I have all the writing done for the moment - just one final proof this morning, and then I'm downstairs all day to get the last couple of physical things done. Laundry and finish packing, and I'm ready! 

It all works out, but it just seems like there is never enough time!

On that note, I'm out of here. Off to meet with Brooke at the gym!!!


Just back from the gym, and we did a LOT of stretching. I feel like a million bucks!!!! Now the goal is to schedule 30 minutes a day for stretching. This is not an option. This is all about keeping that mobility happening. Without it, I'm going to seize up and be old! I strongly suspect my knees are fine -- it's the muscles and tendons that are causing the problems! Case in point - I could practically run down the stairs after my workout, and my knees did not hurt! 

Have a good day!!!

Ciao!!!





Friday, December 19, 2014

Playing catch up!!!

Fabulous road trip yesterday - will share the details tomorrow.

Have a look at what has been happening around here..............   Had to fill up the car the other day - I certainly don't mind road trips when the price of gas is this!!!!!!!!!!!


It's been 4 1/2 years since we saw this!!!!!


We had embroidery club on Wednesday morning.  I am so excited!!!!   I am down to the LAST block on the Christmas quilt. The one on the left is DONE and all that remains is a bit on the block on the right.  I should be able to finish that off in an hour?????   Perhaps I will even get it done before the next club date, but I doubt it - there is a LOT of work to be done in the studio - stuff that has to be done!!!!   Yep - we are having embroidery club (even if I am the only one) on Christmas Eve just so I can guarantee that these blocks will get done!!!!!!


Last embroidery block!!!!!   (time to get the next project organized!!)


So I am a softie!!   I had a couple of people ask me (somewhat late, but NOT last minute) to get a quilt done for them for Christmas. Since I don't really have any other quilts that NEED to be done before Christmas - I thought I would help them out of a bind. You remember the other one - that had a flange!   Well - this one was a bit tight on the backing!!!!!  The backing was totally pieced and I ironed the heck out of it - trying to gain every millimeter I could. The top also needed pressing, but I didn't touch it. It wasn't wrinkled, but the seams could have been pressed a bit differently!

When I was done - the top measured 52 1/2 inches wide and the backing - 53 1/2".  Yes - a bit too tight. But I threw it on the machine and it quilted up not so bad - but the edges are just not as nice as they could be. So DO NOT think you can get away with this!!!!!   I will charge you more for the added fussiness that has to happen when I do this.


A little tight for space on the quilt edges

The top and bottom were not much better!!!!

Customer quilt - DONE (Customer was thrilled and her husband is going to be one happy man! and yes we did have a discussion about size of backings needed!!!!) 

The back of the quilt



It would appear that I am at Ruti's Needlebed pretty much every day. Have you ever heard someone say "oh what a shame that "quilt store X" is closing. I will miss that store." And they rarely go there????   Yeah - weird.  But if Ruti's ever closed - I would be LOST. TOTALLY LOST. I go to that store for counseling, I go to the store to provide counselling, I go for show n tell, I go to see show n tell, I go to chat to Susannah, Marlene, Diane and Ruthi, I go just because - oh - I do also go to buy stuff!!!!

You never know what treasures one will find - most often out in open view on the cutting table.  This is what I saw the other day and almost died.


This is the finest MULBERRY SILK and that price is NOT a typo!!!!!!


I did NOT buy this.  What would I make with it????   Looks too fancy for my liking!!!

And the other day, I went to take a picture of Marlene with her tacky Hanukkah sweater. I missed her, so I had to pull this off Facebook.


Love the SWEATER!!!!!!!   


In my madness of running around - I stopped at Erin Mills Town Center. The new entrance by the food court is open and it looks fabulous!!!!!!   I went back yesterday and took more pictures which I will share tomorrow.  This mall is going to look awesome.  Totally different!!!!!    I LOVE Erin Mills Town Center.  It really is a nice mall and will be so much better once the renovations are complete.


New entrance to the Erin Mills Town Center.   The seating area for the food court will be in this glassed area


I also needed a new utility knife - my old one seems to have walked. Funny how that happens when there are others in the house. I am very good at putting things back where they belong. The others- not so much.  So look what I bought!!!!!!
Hey - if Olfa makes an awesome rotary cutter - their utility knife is probably good as well.  Now I can cut through those election signs with ease!!!!
 And here is the current status of the Storm at Sea quilt.  The more I work on this quilt - the more I am LOVING it.  It has been so worth all the work.  I haven't measured it yet - but it is big - it is almost floor to ceiling!

Storm at Sea


Well I had an awesome workout this morning. I have been "cruising" for a while because of my leg. With all the extra stretching and foam rolling - it is better. Not perfect, but much better and I feel that I can push a bit harder.  Oh yes - you do NOT get endorphins unless you get your heart rate up there!!!!   I am so pumped this morning - I could conquer the world!!!   I am all full of energy to get things done which is good because I am sorting and piling and sorting and piling through this mess in the studio.  Not quite sure of the total plan yet - but I am getting there. Took pictures this morning - will share tomorrow.

You have heard people talk about tea being a diuretic.  I don't have any expertise in this area, but I do know that when I drink tea - I don't drink water. And that is a BAD thing.  So I don't drink nearly as much water as I should and when I took my blood pressure the other day - ooops - it was really low - both numbers were very low. But I didn't feel dizzy or anything.  But this is NOT good.   I MUST MUST MUST drink water.  Going to have to tie the damn bottle to my belt loops so I remember. I just don't think about drinking and I am sure that the low blood pressure is the result of dehydration. And I should know better.   Maybe I could just guzzle all the water first thing in the morning and get it over with????

YES - it is that time of the year when you set goals - and drinking more water is one of mine.

On that note - I better hit this mess flying or I will never surface from the mess.

Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!