The view never gets old!

 Oh, Elle — yes — a 24-hour backup would be pretty nice about now. However, I am still able to access the data on the FATAL error hard drive, but it's sometimes slow going. I'm not sure, but it appears there are some corrupt cells on the hard disk, and if a file happens to be in one of those cells, it's not available. Other times, it just takes a long time to open. Well, I have time, but more importantly, I have patience. I will not be a victim of this again. Twice is enough!!

So yes --- if your external hard drives have been around for a while, it's not a bad idea to back them up or migrate the data to a new one before they fail. 

I finished reading The Brain at Rest today, and I want to highlight a couple of things the author (Dr. Joseph Jebelli) mentions that are good for your brain. These things help grow your brain, so if you have injuries, you still have lots of brain cells left. It also helps your brain process information faster, reduces the risk of dementia, helps you live longer, and makes you more creative. That is a very quick nutshell, but here are the things he suggests: 

1. Don't Work Too Hard
2. Let Your Mind WANDER
3. Forest Bathing
4. Embrace Solitude
5. Sleep More
6. Play
7. Stay Active
8. Niks (doing absolutely nothing at all!)
9. Just Say NO!!!!!!!

It really is a wonderful list of things to do, and thankfully, I already do most of them. I'm learning to say NO, and I try not to work too hard (now). The rest of the things—I do regularly. I'm not a super social person - wait, I can be a social person when the time calls, but I much prefer to hang out with the girls and DH at home. Yep!!! I love solitude - no music, no audiobook, nothing, but my brain to entertain me. Trust me, when I let it wander, there is no telling where I will end up!

Forest bathing? Oh yes—Murphy and I did that today. She had to go to the vet for her appointment, and she was so excited to go for a walk in the afternoon that we left the house early. We had a few minutes to sit in the forest and contemplate life. It was glorious. It also helped that it was 21°C today. I was only wearing a sweatshirt, and I was sweating! Well, I had pants on, of course! 

MOM -- why aren't we going anywhere?

I don't think Murphy got the concept of STOPPING for a bit. I was sitting on a log, and she was wrapped around a tree, trying to figure out why she couldn't go anywhere, even though she was facing the correct direction to get out of her dilemma. 

Then she figured it was time for a rest. 

MOM -- I'm forest bathing, just like you!

That dog just doesn't get the concept of a leisurely stroll. It's FAST or STOP. Notice how my hand is outstretched! I swear that leash is about 12 inches longer than it was when I started using it a couple of years ago!

MOM -- you are too slow!!!!!

Then it was hard to resist! This view never gets old. I have the musical windchime in front of me, the bamboo one back near the greenhouse, so they don't always ring at the same time, and if a big gust comes by, it rings the cowbell behind my head! The pond isn't open yet, but when it does -- well, I see some big naps coming on. 

The view never gets old.

As a matter of fact, that gazebo is a great place to do almost everything on that list that keeps your brain healthy!!! Solitude, napping, letting your mind wander, etc. 

However, Miss Murphy just can't leave that pond alone. Earlier in the day, when I was sitting out there, she found a ball and stood for the longest time looking at the water and looking at me. I told her numerous times to not drop the ball in the water. 

MOM -- the ball -- it jumped in the water! I swear! 

Then, after we came back from the vet, I was sitting in the gazebo and noticed her hanging on the edge of the pond. WHAT????? 

MOM -- I'm so hot!!!!!

Oh yes --- she was so hot from the walk and the temperature that she was slowly easing herself into the water - right in front of my eyes. Of course, I grabbed the camera to get a picture before I grabbed her!!! There is a ledge in the pond that she is resting her front paws on. 

MOM -- the water is cold!!!!!

I love how she just slides right in. What a nut case!!!! After I got her out, she lay on the side of the pond while she dried off. Sigh...............  It's not even summer hot -- I'm going to have to get her swimming pool ready for her! She just runs HOT!!!! 

I got some samples made for my upcoming Facebook Live on the Husqvarna Viking Large Magnetic Hoop. That was great. I don't think I have any other samples to make, but I have an entire week to consider whether I need anything more. You can see all the details at this link. There are already quite a few people expressing interest in joining the presentation. It just got posted today at lunchtime! 

I'll be discussing the difference between metal and magnetic hoops, so it's going to have some great information. And some cool samples! 

So that was good to get the samples out of the way. I need to find one more sample that is upstairs, and I need to get that done tonight. I'm going to be away for a few days and won't have much time to get set up and make samples when I return. Plus, I have that guild presentation as well. I need to pull the quilts for that show. 

I'm not in a panic, and I have loads of time. All is good. 

I had to make this thing to take with me. It's an absorbent pad to place on a pillow to keep it dry. I bought a towel and some ZORB fabric. I created a backing from flannel. So it's like a quilt with the flannel as the backing, the ZORB as the batting, and the towel on top. The towel has extra length on the two sides to wrap around the pillow. I don't know if it will work, but I'm going to give it a whirl. 

My super absorbent pillow pad

That item has been sitting here for quite a while, and YES - it was on the visual To-Do list. One more thing gone!!! Someone asked me if I ever add things to the list, and the answer is NO. However, I am going to make one exception. 

Every week at Monday sewing, I prepare a presentation for the group. It could be our show-and-tell or other things I've seen out and about. Today was all about postcards, and I was reminded that I still owe someone a postcard. It's only been 22 years since the postcard was promised. I think I should add the postcard to the Visual To-Do list. I remember exactly what I was going to put on it, but where is the project? 

But I might just figure out how to do the concept a different way, and I could make it, pop it in the mail, and see what happens!!!! Yes --- I might just do that!!! She doesn't read my blog, so no danger of her seeing my intentions here. 

Well, I had an amazing sleep last night—just over 8 hours, with almost 2 hours of deep sleep. DH is ready to throw my phone away because he doesn't get much deep sleep, and is tired of me always having more than he does. I typically get more than 1 hour each night. He is the one who started checking the sleep patterns, and I found them on my phone. It was never something I followed. One day, he will face the fact that my health is better than his. That doesn't say I will live longer, but I take better care of myself than he does. 

Anyway, speaking of that, I just heard the beep letting me know my laundry is done, and I need to toss a few clothes into a suitcase! Then I'm ready for my early morning flight. Yes -- the mouse, mouse pad, and the Fitbit charger are already packed. I'm sure I'll have forgotten something else, but all is good!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

You are never too old!

OH, I just realized that the title of yesterday's blog AND the first picture you see of a volcano erupting were perhaps a bit dramatic!! BUT getting that much work done in the office was dramatic! 

I listened to this audiobook MANY years ago when I started my decluttering journey. I just checked my blog and the date was March 10, 2014!!!!! Well, I listened to it somewhere, and I suspect it was before I started because the first room I tackled was the bedroom, and that's the first room mentioned in the book. For the record, and so I'll be able to find this post in the future, the title is "Throw Out Fifty Things" by Gail Blanke! 

Throw out Fifty Things! 

It's a quick listen - about 4 hours, and it's good to refresh what's in the book. Mainly, Gail discusses the emotional attachment to things that we MUST keep. And then she throws the items away. She also gives you permission to throw/donate or sell those ridiculous things we think we'll find the mate for (socks and mitts), we'll learn to relove or whatever. 

BUT she also talks about how you feel AFTER you purge. And that to me is the most important thing. It's not something you can describe, but I'll try. While our kitchen is ALWAYS pretty clean, a few things had accumulated during the day. A few dishes that needed to be handwashed (GASP), and some things that needed to be recycled, or whatever. Before I went to bed last night, I took 15 minutes (if that) and dealt with it all. 

When I got up this morning, even though I didn't turn on the lights, walking into that clean and tidy room was like getting a shot of euphoria drugs! I felt content, I felt happy, I felt like I weighed about 50 lbs. No monkey's on my back, no guilt, and it feels AMAZING to start the day like that. 

The same thing is starting to happen when I walk into the office. The mess has been here so long that even the small bit I did makes me do a double-take each time I come in here. WOW -- I feel like a huge weight has been taken off my shoulders. I feel more positive, more alive, and definitely more energetic. Watch out!

So, if you've been waiting to start tidying up, I can't help you do the physical job, but I sure encourage you to begin tackling stuff - you will NOT believe how amazing you are going to feel. I can't imagine how I'm going to feel when I am "done!" OK - let's face it - you are never done with this job! 

But if you can, have a read through that book - it has a lot of good things to say. It is not a detailed book, so don't expect to be hand-held, but it talks about the WHY, and that's all you really need. And that was how and when I started on this journey!! 

So I'm not doing so well on completing my three things each day, but I'm OK with that. At least I have a plan, and when I am working, I'm working on the three things I've prioritized!

I managed to finish another customer's quilt. 

Customer quilt - DONE

While the quilt was fine, it was my bobbins that were giving me grief. In my cleaning-up and trying-to-use-up mode, I had discovered some CLASS 15 bobbins wound with the fine thread that everyone is moving to for machine quilting on the long arm. 

The only problem is that those bobbins won't work in my long arm. OK -- they may, but I'm not about to try and mess up the tension. So I have to wind the bobbins onto the appropriate bobbin, and my bobbin winder is a speed demon, which has caused some issues. But all is good, and I think I got the hang of it now. I have enough of that color to quilt one more quilt, and by then, I hope my new bobbins in the correct size will have arrived. 

Rewinding the bobbins

And this fine thread is a godsend for quilting a quilt when the back is very dark and the front is very light. You can get away with a much closer in color match to the front, without seeing the thread in great detail on the back. I'll take some pictures so you can see what I mean. 

I made progress on my houses, which were the next item on the list, and I'll continue working on them today! And the third thing didn't get touched! But I'm OK with that. It's the plan  (including prioritizing) that counts, not actually getting it done on that day! 

Houses under construction

And on our Monday call, someone mentioned making blocks for fidget quilts from some items I had donated to her. Well, wait a minute, I remembered that I had a small tub of more similar items. Needless to say, I got that tub out yesterday and sorted and bagged like items! It's now waiting to get on the Pony Express. 

Sorting a tub of embellishments

And that reminded me of this pile of things on the floor that have been there for a while. I ran out of steam while tidying up Studio B a while back. And I need to deal with those things, so I now have a pile that needs sorting and putting away. The LAST homeless stuff in the place!! Is that exciting or what? 

The last of the homeless items in Studio B

Not the vacuum, nor Murphy, but the pizza boxes and the two blue tubs! Granted, there are tons of things to deal with, but these are the last homeless items. There's a huge difference. Homelessness creates clutter (OK - quantity does as well), but this is huge! And it's only taken me ten years or perhaps a bit more to get to this point! 

I'll never go back, and now I can grab a category, sort through it, and then move on to the next. Baby steps!!!!

Let's go back to the candle wax. I put it in a bag and brought it into the office, which is why this place is so messy! It has EVERYTHING in it that doesn't have a home. Hopefully, by the end of the year, this mess will be a thing of the past!

The leftover wax

I am tempted to try melting that wax and make a new candle. I know -- I don't need to, but I'd like to try - just for the fun of it, and how long can that take? I have to head out this morning to get dog food, or Murphy won't be eating tonight, and Michael's is right there. I bet they have all the supplies for making candles! Then I can try it, and if it doesn't work, guess what? I can donate the supplies and let someone else try it! 

And last night, as one of my cleaning tasks, I poured boiling water into the dish to heat the glass, then I emptied it, and wiped it down with a paper towel. Hmmm—now what do I do with it? 

The clean candle container

I could put it on my desk to put odds and ends in! WAIT --- I don't plan to have odds and ends by the computer—I plan to find a home for everything! What a FARCE!!!!!! 

But I do have another burned-out candle downstairs, with a ton of wax left, and it smells very pretty. I might melt that wax down and make a new candle in this. Then I would use it!! 

I must write the city to say how happy I am that the sidewalks are clear! It's a dream to walk the dogs without fear of falling on the ice. Although I almost took a dive yesterday. I was turning the corner on the bustling street, where many cars were stopped at the light. We had had a light snowfall, so the treads on my shoes were full, and there was a wee mound of snow right by the light post. 

I have to admit that I was probably very entertaining for all who were stopped, as my arms and legs went flying, but I remained upright! Trust me, I was ESTACTIC!!! Why? It means that my balance is so much better!!! Murphy just looked back and said, "Mom - get over it, you're slow!"

But what amazes me is how silly people are. I passed one house; they had shoveled their driveway and the boulevard part of it, but left the sidewalk. How much more effort would it have taken to shovel that little bit of snow? Or what about the person who shovels the sidewalk and then leaves a pile of snow on the sidewalk at the end of their property line? Sigh...........

Could they not have shoveled the sidewalk?

Our neighborhoods are way too car-centric and have no idea that people use the sidewalks. But with the milder temperatures (no sun though), the sidewalks are relatively dry and not slippery. Knock on wood! I even walked to the hardware store and brought home two storage tubs. I walked, of course! 

With the number of times I've cooked oatmeal in the microwave, you would think I would have perfected the technique. I'm using up a bag of oatmeal, and it takes 3 minutes, not 3½ like steel-cut oats. I had that process on the microwave keyboard down pat, but yesterday? I forgot to drop the power level. Trust me - it makes a difference!

What happens when you forget to drop the power

And I can't post without mentioning the girls, who were having a grand time in the backyard. Another silly rabbit has moved in, and they are on the hunt! They work as a team. One stands in one spot, and the other goes to where they suspect the rabbit is, in an effort to flush it out. How do dogs know how to do that? 

Rabbit hunting

So I washed my jackets in that new soap I bought. Here is the before of my orange down sweater. 

Before washing

And here is the after. The lighting is NOT the same, so it's not really a good comparison. But it is cleaner. 

After washing

However, if you have ever washed a down jacket, you will think you have ruined it! This thing goes to nothing. Just two layers of nylon with nothing between. Until the feathers dry, and then a bit of puff remains. But sadly, it is on its last legs as a winter jacket, but I'm not ready to retire it yet! The lower half of both sleeves has been replaced, as has the zipper - thanks to Patagonia, who did that for free as part of their sustainability goals. THANK YOU, Patagonia!!!! 

And the best part? I may have paid about $300 (at the most) for this jacket in 2012. The cost to replace the coat is still in that price range!!!! I have sure got my money's worth from it. I won't even consider any other brand!!! What I love is that it's warm and THIN, so you have loads of mobility! I don't want to be the Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man!

I had a quick chat with my personal trainer yesterday as she waited for her client to show up! And then I got an email in the afternoon, asking me what my goals for 2026 are. Hmmm --- that's a good question. So I thought about it. 

But there was one thing I observed during the day. When I went to change the bobbin on the long arm, and the machine was all the way to the back, I could easily reach under and change it. In the past, it had become a struggle, so the stretching is paying off. YES -- I could move the machine to the front, but why if I don't have to? 

I should add a bit more stretching into my day, but I'm doing great. My balance is good -- shoes and socks (even the hard-to-put-on ones) can be put on easily while standing on one foot. 

Hmm—OK—I know what I want to improve. My BMI! I need to get toned as I have a few rolls. WAIT -- before you roll your eyes -- one can be smaller, but still have excess fat! That's me - I used to be in better shape. So while I don't want a six-pack, like my SIL has, I want to be better toned, and that means cutting out all sugar and weight lifting! That doesn't have to be huge weights, but it needs to be weight lifting. That's also essential because if I fall down, can I actually lift myself up, even if I have a chair close by? 

So we'll measure that by BMI (body mass index). I did the basic calculation with height and weight, and I'm just at the top of the normal weight range. I'll use the machine at the gym to get a better measure and then see where we go from there. So lower BMI, and toning - that's my physical goal!

And that speaks right into the quote of the day!

How true!

The last thing I want to mention today is that I am grateful for the body that I have. I have taken care of it (mostly) throughout my years, and thanks to my Mom, I have worked out at a gym for almost all of my adult life. Why my Mom? She has always been overweight, and I vowed NEVER to let myself go like that. I try hard, and many people think I'm obsessed with food. Yep -- I am. Because if I weren't obsessed about what I put in my mouth, I would be just like her. I won't let that happen! 

Funny how you get influenced by others on what to do, and also on what not to do! 

And yes -- the volcano is Mount Etna in Sicily! 

The next quilt is on the long arm and ready to go—much smaller than the last two, so that is good. And I have to get some computer work done today! That's OK -- and then I'll sit down with my calendar and figure out how to utilize my time to get prepped for the Zoom sessions this weekend and, more importantly, the following weekend, which is my one big weekend per month!!! 

WAIT—this is my week to chat on QUILTsocial, and I have some fantastic things to share!!! You must check them out. 

Day One - A quick discussion on cotton versus polyester thread

Day Two -- Felting on your embroidery machine --- super cute!!!!

Have a super day!!! Be positive - there is always a silver lining!!! 

Ciao!!!

Backyard blooms

Good progress is being made in many areas. I spent the entire morning on the computer. I used to resent that time as I wanted to be sewing. I still wish I were sewing, but I've resigned to the fact that computer work is required for what I do. Get it done, then you can guilt-free sew and hopefully meet all the deadlines!

Just how the heck is there constantly something that needs to be done? I'm making progress for the fall schedule and trying hard to reduce, consolidate, and eliminate the commitments on my time. So far, so good. I should start writing out that new schedule of classes and keep it by the computer, although it's getting super easy to say no! 

Why? It's realizing that you need to make changes if you don't look forward to something. How you make those changes is up to you, and I'm learning, but I still have loads to learn. 

The most significant stressor, at least for me, is anticipating something I perceive as challenging or different. Once I get started, I find that the task isn't so bad, and suddenly, my shoulders feel weightless. It's simple—DO something, make a list, start packing those excess projects in a box (labelled with lists), and suddenly, the world is not so bad. 

These last few weeks have shown me that while my studio is somewhat organized, the UFOs are out of control. The biggest issue is not knowing where things are if I need to find them. So, as part of my downtime in July, along with many other things, I would love to get those bins organized, labelled, and with lists, just like I did with the "to be quilted" tubs. It's so easy to find a quilt top, so why not do the same with the UFOs? 

While I won't have any class commitments in July, I have a lot of plans! Those plans will make me much more efficient, and I can't wait to start!

I see the peony is starting to burst with blooms. I love that color, and we could really use more color, but I'm OK with just the one plant. It's weird because I shared a peony in the neighborhood that was in bloom weeks ago! Must be different varieties. 

Peony in bloom

The rose bush is also starting to bloom. These two plants are side by side, consolidating all the colors in one spot. I didn't do that. 

The rose bush is also blooming

We'll likely have the first bloom in the pond today, as I see one bud. There may have been more, but it was slightly before 7 AM when I took this shot, and Miss Murphy couldn't keep her mouth shut, and I don't want any neighbors calling to complain! When we are outside, she NEEDS our attention!!!!

A bud in the pond

I got another customer quilt quilted. The queue is even shorter, and I've got my list! I might even get a few of my quilts quilted this summer! 

Customer quilt - DONE

I swear, the days just seem to roll into one another. Can you believe that it's already Friday, June 13th? Where is the time going? 

I have already been to the gym with Brooke. She's a killer - I know my arms and shoulders will be sore tomorrow. But the flexibility? I've got flexibility! Not nearly as much as I would like, but all this hard work has made an enormous difference in my life. I feel better, move better, and function better with everything I do daily - stairs, washroom, putting on shoes, etc. Those simple daily tasks are so easy now that I've taken back responsibility for my physical well-being. I'm almost back to "bouncing" up and down the stairs, but with CAUTION. 

I'm not sure how long that slide had been going on, but thank goodness I woke up and decided to make some changes. I do not want to lose my mobility! I know this sounds silly, but I can put on my tight wool socks while standing on one foot. I'm darn proud of that fact! Yes -- only I would still be wearing wool socks at this time of year. I love them! 

While working yesterday, I heard Miss Murphy snuffling in the family room. Yep - she was trying to disassemble her puzzle. It's so funny to watch her as she does that! What a goofball! 

MOM - thanks for the puzzle!!!

OK—it will be short today as I have things to do and am late because of the gym. And gosh—I had a dream that I was back on the Camino. I wish I were going back—it was the most carefree vacation ever, and I will go back! I love it! 

Have a super day! Get up and stretch! Remember to stand up or sit down! It really works! 

Ciao!!!!

The art of NOT complaining

When I got up this morning, I had almost two hours before I had to "do" anything! That meant two free hours of sewing. I was beside myself—where would I even begin? 

On the days I go to the gym, I lose those two hours, and when I have a deadline, I must work on the deadline items in those two hours. Today, there was nothing, although I still have writing to do, and I'll focus on that later today. 

So I dug out my older sewing machine and dedicated a spot to sewing only. And I sewed! My design wall is just to the right, so I was able to sit on my little stool, grab the blocks from the design wall, and sew!

Glorious sewing!

My headphones seem to have completely died, so I listened to my audiobook on a speaker, which is OK but not my favorite. I may be getting new headphones soon, or I'll try my earbuds. They don't work well as microphones, but listening should be OK. There must be some interference with all that electronic equipment that causes my microphones to bug out. I don't have time or the inclination to solve it, so I use the computer mic, and it works for me. 

I was torn—should I work on bindings? I have a number of quilts and placemats that need binding. Or should I work on my UFO? Or what about my Many Blocks project? I settled on my UFO, and as ender/leader, I'm sewing the Many Blocks. All is good, and it was nice to just putter and not have to stress.

Trust me - there are a few other "urgent" projects, but I can put them off for a day or two. Some of my personal stuff is also "urgent" to me. I need time to do both. Hopefully, this month will be a tad quieter so I can steal a few moments here and there to make that happen. 

If you wonder how I'm making out on the magazines on the floor, this is the current status. 

Remaining magazines to deal with

A few piles are gone! Here's what happened. 

Subconscious: What's this? What are these magazines?

    Me: That's Mike Holmes. He's the best! 

Holmes on Homes magazines

Subconscious: You watched his TV show many years ago—more than 15, just for the record. 

    Me: Yes - I loved his show

Subconscious: And did you ever take on any of his projects?

    Me: No

Subconscious: Did you ever read any of these magazines? 

    Me: No

Subconscious: And why is that?

    Me: I didn't have time

Subconscious: Let's face it—if you need to do a renovation, are you going to read a 10-year-old Holmes magazine?

    Me: Well, no. 

Subconscious: So what are you going to do? 

    Me: I could browse them to see if there is something in there I want to learn. 

Subconscious: Did you know building codes, ideas, and trends change?

    Me: I know. Stop it - you're bullying me! 

Subconscious: This is not bullying, this is reality! 

    Me: OK - I hear you! 

Subconscious: Think about it - which would you rather? Read 10 - 15-year-old magazines or sew a 15-year-old project. 

    Me: OK -- you got me!

Subconscious: So what are you going to do? 

    Me: I will toss them without reading them.

Subconscious: I'll be watching! 

After that little discussion, the magazines are in the recycling bin waiting for pickup later today. A few other stacks got the same fate. 

I have to be realistic—this is a 2010 Travel Guide to Canada. I think it will be a bit dated, and if I want anything, I can go to the internet. 

A dated Travel Guide

And you know the magazine is dated from when there was a survey where you could win an iPod. Do they even make those anymore? 

Hmm - a bit dated

The rest will likely suffer the same fate, but I have to do it my way, and that works for me. I rescued a couple that I want to browse a bit, and then they will go. 

But I uncovered this little gem of an article about complaining. Did you know that complaining (and negative vibes) are extremely bad for your health? Oh yes, I knew that, but I love getting confirmation of it! 

Complaining is bad for your health

Here's what the article says: When we complain, our bodies release cortisol, which is a stress hormone. High levels of that in our body can lead to compromised immune systems, higher blood pressure, weight gain, and increased heart disease. If that isn't enough, here's what else it can do. It can harm the GOOD parts of our brain - the ones that deal with cognitive functions and problem-solving! 

Whoa—if that can happen, we do NOT want any of that negativity around. I must save my brain—well, not save it for a later date, but protect it so I'll be sane at a later date and can still ask questions! 

Listening to others complain can be just as bad as if you were doing it yourself. 

The first step to getting over complaining is to track how many times you complain! Wow, I wonder how many times a day I whine about something. A lot! 

I should learn to think mostly on the positive side, and I do for a good part of things. Which brings to mind what the rest of my day is going to look like. I have to take my MIL to the hospital for a four-hour appointment today. Yippeee!!!!! I'll take something to do in the downtime while we are waiting. Bonus time, and maybe I'll just read a book!

Instead of just complaining, you should try to find a solution, and I agree with that 100%. There is no sense in complaining if you're not willing to do anything to solve the problem. It's incredible how many people can continually find the negative side of anything, even when many positive solutions exist! 

I had to chuckle when they said to write about the things that bother you in a journal. OK, so I blog about those things all the time. Perhaps that's what makes me feel so good!

The articles also stated that if something happens, instead of dwelling on the negative, figure out how you can learn from it and move on! I'm all about that! 

Last, don't spend time with negative people. Their bad vibes can roll off on you, and that's not good! I'm 1000% in agreement on that one. The problem is that most negative people aren't self-aware! 

One of the worst things is when you meet someone or just start a conversation and ask how they are. Fifteen minutes later, they are still spewing verbal diarrhea, and you haven't even had a chance to say one word. People, be SELF-AWARE. I don't care about your problems, or at least allow me to empathize with you. It drives me crazy! 

A conversation with anyone is a TWO-WAY street. They ask about you, you ask about them! It's simple. Otherwise, the person you are spewing to? They will NOT ask again, and will avoid you! 

I had a great workout at spin class yesterday. I don't know if it's the strength training, the stretching, or just a mental note to get better, but I can crank out more KM than I've been able to in a long, long time. I can still feel twinges in my back/leg, and I must call the doctor for the results of the MRI, which was done a month ago. But overall? I'm doing amazing. That horrific pain was a wake-up call, and I answered it, and I'm going to keep it at bay! There will be NO complaining from me about my health unless I'm prepared to do something about it - if I can!! 

This is Miss Murphy in the forest. She has taken to moving sticks. She grabbed a big one but didn't carry it too far. 

MOM - I found a stick! 

And the trilliums are in bloom! 

Trilliums in the forest

Speaking of Murphy, I was on several Zoom calls yesterday and looked over my computer and saw this. 

Despite the fact that there are several rugs on the floor for her to nap on, she has picked my quilted bedspread to sleep on. YES—I'm supposed to make a jacket from that! 

Mom - this is so cozy

What was hilarious is that when she got tired of sleeping on one side, she moved over to sleep on the other! 

Mom - I have to sleep evenly!

And she doesn't try to unroll it or move as she does with her dog bed blankets upstairs. It's only to rest her weary head! 

Mom - my head is very comfy

That is where I found her this morning! What a silly girl! I'll make the jacket, and I can always wash it. 

Well, it's time to start the day - part two of the day! It's incredible how little junky things can pile up on my desktop, so I scooped some of the bigger stuff off and I'll deal with these little things later today. That's my downfall - little crappy stuff --- how to get rid of it. I know - daily and one piece at a time! 

And on that HAPPY note - I'm out of here!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Out with the old

Oh my --- I do not want to get old. WAIT! That's not right. I guess I don't mind getting old because the alternative isn't great. But I want to get old gracefully, or as gracefully as I can manage. I want to get old by maintaining my body as best I can. And I want to get old by keeping my brain active and asking questions, being curious, and having a purpose each day when I get up! 

Can I control those things? Not 100%, but I will do my darndest to make that happen. I guess what I'm saying is that I want to be like my Dad for as long as I can. 

I'm home alone! For the next couple of weeks, but now I'm in charge of babysitting MIL, which will be a challenge. She has a lot of issues and is on a lot of medication, which causes confusion. But she knows how to use her phone! I already got one call, asking me if she needed to get dressed to go out. Well, yes, but we are NOT going out until Tuesday. Sigh.....

I would so hate to be in that position. It's going to be a challenge this week as I have to take her for a nuclear bone scan. With her limited mobility and cognitive issues, it's going to be a challenge to get her there and keep her at the hospital for four hours. I'll be exhausted at the end of that day. 

That said, you MUST keep yourself occupied and try to keep your body in as good a shape as possible. It might be all fun and games at this moment in time, but when you're older, and you will get older, it won't be so pretty!

This relates to DH, who has his head in the sand! There was a book by the door that needed to be returned. He usually leaves it there, and I walk it to the library. He said he didn't know if I had time, so he would take it in the car. Seriously? This is from a person who got on a plane later in the day to play golf for two weeks. And he can't walk 10 minutes to the library and then 10 minutes back? 

Oh boy - the apple didn't fall far from the tree! What scares me to death is the fact that he is NOT taking care of his body, and guess who is going to be the caregiver? I flat out told him that if the day comes that he can't make the stairs, he's going to an apartment, and I'm staying here! I'm pretty brutal and blunt and callous, but sheesh --- take care of yourself! Why should I be punished if he doesn't take care of himself?

Now, I might be more accommodating if he got ill and couldn't make the stairs! So much for sickness and in health! Well, we never got married (GASP), so I didn't make any vows! 

For my walk, I went to the mall to see if the luggage store had office backpacks. DH hinted that if I was going to get one, he wanted one as well, and wouldn't it be good to have for his trip? So I walked in the morning, not the afternoon, which was fine. 

I lucked out! I found the perfect office backpack. It's leather, so it's a bit heavier than the nylon ones, which I may regret, but I liked the look. They had two, and they were 40% off. Perfect! I'll take two, please. 

My new office backpack

I like that it has loads of pockets and a structure so that it doesn't expand into a massive, stupid backpack like many you see. My old one was sort of like that. This is compact, and it looks nice. I can't wait to use it! 

Talk about instant gratification! I went to the mall, found what I wanted, and came home with it. There was no carbon footprint in that purchase! And I got it immediately! What a concept that is! I would prefer to do all my shopping that way, and I sure attempt it, but it's not always feasible. 

I didn't do much yesterday—well, that's a lie! I did, but I can't share it with you until later. But I was happy with what I did. 

However, I got hooked on the thriller (ebook), and well, I just read all day until it was done! It's by Rick Mofina, a Canadian author. I like his stuff, and I'll read more of his work. My headphones weren't cooperating yesterday, so I couldn't listen to anything. I'll try again today, and if they don't work, I'm buying a new pair. 

The girls were beyond themselves as we prepped for their morning walks. Separately, of course. I am almost 100% certain that my back/leg issues are from walking Murphy! Yep - she likes to pull, and I started by walking them together. I should have stopped that immediately when I saw what was happening. And I should have spent more time teaching Murphy to walk on the leash. She is good, but that first day after not having had a walk for a couple of days, she's just enthusiastic! 

I see Miss Lexi is getting more and more used to her new bed. I'm sure she'd rather sleep on the couch, but well—we don't have a couch anymore!

MOM - I like this bed, but it's not the couch!

But Murphy? Oh -- she's just a big goof! And she can't help herself. She loves to play, and she needs attention! 

MOM - Are you looking at me?

These days, instead of throwing the ball, I'm wrapping it up in blankets in her bed and letting her find it. She loves it, and it takes her about five minutes to do that. But five minutes is better than the five seconds it takes her to fetch! 

MOM - I can smell the ball!

I tuck her bed into the corner, and within minutes, she has it out! You just can't help but smile and laugh at her (with her, of course). That dog has lots of entertainment value! 

MOM - it's here! I know it!

At one point, the ball rolled under Lexi's bed. So she sat there and watched it for a while. What is going through her head? 

MOM - Do you think it will move on its own?

And at last, she was exhausted and needed a nap! I swear she is more active and demanding than a toddler!

Mom - I'm just having a quick nap!

We had our final show-and-tell for Chatsworth—a quilt I taught over the last few months, with the Hobby Horse as the host. I'll try to remember to share it with you tomorrow. I have two more presentations this morning, but they are ready to go! I need to get back into the swing of things this afternoon—there is a lot of work to do, and hopefully, I can accomplish a lot in the next two weeks as I enjoy my home alone time! 

Don't get me wrong. It's not that I can't get things done at any time in my house if DH is home. But I like to work in the morning, and well, I like to make noise. He's a later sleeper than I am, so I must attempt to be somewhat quiet. That doesn't always work! Now, I'm free to make as much noise as I want, and no one will care! Yippeee!!!!!! The girls will be begging me to be quiet!

Remember --- only YOU can help yourself by staying physically and mentally active. You might be OK today, but what will you be like in 10 years? 20 years? Think back ten years? Are you better or worse? The same with the clutter. Get rid of it! That alone will make you feel younger! GET IT OUT OF YOUR HOUSE! Stop watching mindless stuff - do something to keep your brain active and learning. Puzzles are good! Do puzzles - read - do something! 

I will focus on the magazines that are still on the floor. I need them gone, and I may just toss them all without looking. I'm getting brave! Am I all talk? Or will I make it happen?

On that happy note, I'm out of here! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

Can you stop the ageing process?

I think we all know the answer to that question. The aging process can't be stopped, but it can be slowed. Even though I was and always have been very active, there were certain things I was NOT doing for my body, and it was starting to show—big time. This was not just because of aging but also the issue with my leg/back—whatever it is. 

So I decided to take back my life! I started stretching more—not enough, but way more than before. I started lifting weights (I'm never going to have a six-pack, and I'm OK with that). And you know what? I've never felt better, especially in the last couple of years. Things just start sliding, and we're not even aware of it, and then one day, you wake up, and you're not independent anymore. 

Everyone can stretch! You don't have to get down on the floor - you can stretch in your chair. You could stretch in bed, but you need to stretch to maintain flexibility in your body. And that flexibility will help with balance (no one wants to fall!). Find a routine that works for you! 

As for weight training, I get that not everyone can go to the gym, but you can get resistance bands and use those at home. Again, this can be done from your chair or just standing up next to a counter for support. You can do it while watching TV, so you don't even have to miss out on anything. But seriously, it can help turn the clock back! 

My legs feel stronger and definitely more reliable. There are times when the issue in my leg/back is gone, like this morning. I feel so much better after that workout yesterday. I know it won't sustain that, but it is getting better. The best news? No medication! 

Yes - it's easy to take a pill for any ailment, but at what cost? And I don't mean monetary costs! Living better means better mobility, mental health, independence, and hopefully, a longer and happier life! Trust me, I have issues -- two knees with torn meniscus or other tendon issues, a shoulder, and an elbow that are not happy. A neck tighter than a bow string on a violin, but thankfully, no headaches. And that leg/back issue. But you know what? I work around it because my independence is important to me. 

If one exercise at the gym hurts, then we try another one that doesn't. It's easy! 

To change topics, here's something simple, but we don't always figure it out! It's about remembering to do things. If that thing is not in a location that works for you, you will never make it happen. A case in point is that silly bone density medication, which I am committed to taking for the next year to see what happens. My goal is to get off that medication because I don't want to take it if I don't need to. I'm hoping that with weight training, I can eliminate the problem. So, the medication is now in my vitamin tray, and when I get out of the daily vitamins, I can remember to take that pill on Sunday morning. 

The same is true for the podcast. It's in the same folder as my audiobook app, so it's easy to remember to open that up and listen to two podcasts a day. Before that, I would forget because the app wasn't in the right spot. 

If something isn't working, try a new place, routine, or whatever to make that a part of your daily life! It has made a massive difference for me. 

I am very productive in the early morning and have resented giving it up (three days a week) to go to the gym. But I'm over that; getting back in good shape is more important than sewing. GASP!!! Hey -- if I'm not mobile, I will have difficulty sewing! 

I had fun playing with my digital cutters yesterday! There are so many things I want to make and so little time! I will share what I made with you after tomorrow, as I want to share it with the digital cutter group FIRST. 

Cutting stuff on the Momento

But I learned something while doing that project. I NEED to sort through all my papers. Oh my -- I have a lot of paper, but is it organized? Nope! So, I need to spend some time sorting through it so it's easy to find when I want something. I've got colored paper, plain cardstock, and so much more! All different sizes, and it's on shelves, but not neatly. I don't think I've ever shown you that area, and I'm not sure I want to. It's a bit of a mess!

Paper to sort

As I searched, the old part of me said, "Just go to the store and get exactly what you want." The new me said, "No. You have something here that will work," and the new me was right! 

Yesterday, I had several errands to run, so that was the basis for my walk. I'm so glad I'm able to incorporate the errands into my daily walk. For almost everything, I have stores or services close to me to satisfy almost all my needs. On occasion, I need to take the car. Bookstores, doctors, hospitals, dentists, post offices, grocery stores, furniture stores, clothing stores, thrift stores, etc. are all within walking distance. 

However, I will say something about that. I think I seriously started walking in 2020 or 2019. I'm not sure, but before that, walking to Tim's (less than 1 km) away was a BIG deal. It was a special day when I walked there and back. Actually, I think it was when we got these two crazy dogs that I started to walk more seriously. That would be about 8 years ago. Walking only to Tim's now would be a piece of cake. 

It's all about baby steps. You don't just decide to run a marathon—you need to train for it. So, smaller walks to build up your stamina, both physical and mental, are so important! 

And those crazy dogs of ours are—well, they are just crazy. Murphy just loves to play with her bear, and she ALMOST got this one out of the house. As Lexi was coming in, and the door was open, she grabbed that bear and made a beeline for the door. I managed to get the door shut with the bear still inside! But once the warmer weather hits, that bear will be outside! 

MOM - my bear needs fresh air!

Lexi is learning to love her bed. She spends more and more time in it. She's just not happy with any change, and I spotted her on the floor beside DH's chair last night rather than in the bed. Gosh, she needs to be brushed! She's one big ball of fluff. I must remember to take her brush with me and brush her in the forest! 

MOM - just chilling! 

I'm looking for a small table to replace the rickety TV table in the family room, and I spied these footstools. They are made in India and cost $50. WOW --- so lovely - I wouldn't want to sit or put my feet on them! I found various tables, but I need to measure them for height, so I'll go back. If I buy one, I'll need to pick it up with the car. They are a bit heavy to carry home. I don't want a repeat of that watermelon incident! That almost killed me. 

Beautiful footstool

But it reminds me of an incident years ago in Montreal. Does anyone remember Consumer Distributors? They were a catalog store. You would look through the catalog and write the product SKUs on paper, and the staff would go into the back and pull the items. I worked in Old Montreal and took the Metro to work every day. I bought a set of dumbbells! Hand weights. I don't remember their weight, but I had to carry those silly things MANY blocks from the store to work! Then I took them home one at a time! What an idiot!!! 

I needed to take some photos of things with a lot of shine on them and figure out how to hold my reflector screen. I could have placed the screen on its stand, but I was lazy. So I improvised, using the tables to hold the screen and putting the items on the floor. Then, I used the voice commands for my phone to take the picture. It worked for me! 

Taking pictures

The podcast I'm listening to is so entertaining and makes me laugh so many times that I forget what I'm doing, which is quilting a small piece that has been sitting here forever. It needs to be done NOW. The quilting has taken me 1½ hours, and I probably have one more hour. Like, why didn't I do it before? 

A little bit of piecing was done before I put the quilting thread on the machine. All is good!

All is good, and there are no Zooms today, so I've got the entire day to myself, which is good because I have a lot I want to accomplish!! 

Remember, look at something in your life today that isn't working. How can you arrange things differently so that it becomes part of your life? And don't forget those stand-up/sit-down exercises. They are so important! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!