It's all abut Bear

NOOOOOOOOOO -- time goes by so quickly, and it's time for us to leave today. I confess I'm a bit sad. Not only were we here for a beautiful wedding, but we had a wee vacation, and spent a lot of time visiting with friends and family. Not nearly enough time, but we did what we could. Not only do we have to go home, but others must as well. Several people left yesterday, and I think the last of the guests, including the bride and groom, will leave tomorrow. We have a two-day journey home, so we need to leave today. 

Now we could probably have pushed and done it all in one day, but too many connections that could go wrong, so it's best to leave some flexibility in there, and no sense killing ourselves. 

We had breakfast with long-time friends in the Pointe Restaurant. The view of the ocean was spectacular, and the company was great. 

There are two bald-headed eagles in the neighborhood - could be more - we've only seen two at the same time. They were flying in very close proximity to each other, and OH—we could see why. One of them had a fish in its mouth, and the other one wanted it. They had a bit of a mid-air fight, and the fish dropped. WAIT --- I haven't seen any fish in the ocean, so what the heck was it? Anyway—whatever it was, it got dropped. 

Then we spotted one of the eagles, and perhaps he was looking for what they dropped. It was beautiful to watch soaring over the waves. We had seen them the day before as well. 

The eagle is looking for his lost lunch.

And here was my rhubarb waffle. A lot of decoration on that waffle. The portions are not huge, but the prices are! This hotel has the Relais & Chateaux designation. In my unsophisticated world, that means absolutely nothing. To DH and alas to M, that is a huge deal. I just see $$$$ when the bill arrives. 

My rhubarb waffle

But you can't beat the service at the hotel. Everyone has been super attentive, supportive, and helpful, remembering your name and why you are here! They are also young, and many have accents from around the world. As a matter of fact, I don't think I've seen any middle-aged staff members, let alone older ones! 

Bear and I had wandered out for a walk along the beach, and it was spectacular, as usual. I noticed that the tide seemed quite far out, and we never got the waves we had the previous day. But I'm pretty sure that's all in my head!!!! 

What was interesting was that this is the view in the morning. The sky is clear and sunny, and the view is spectacular. 

The view in the morning

This was the view (from a different window) a few short hours later. The fog just rolled in, and we couldn't see a thing. You couldn't even see the beach chairs close to the hotel. It was wild, and it stayed like that for a long time, but eventually the sun burned off the mist, and we were back to a wonderful day. Hmmm - that reminds me of the Stephen King book called The Mist. Very creepy book!!!!

The beach is gone in the mist!!!!

But let's talk about Bear because it's his day!!! He is so funny, and as I was getting dressed to take him out, I spotted him lying on the bed like this. What a pose. I think he knows he is special. 

Grandma, hurry up! I'm waiting!!!!

And then we were off for our walk. This is all pre-fog, and with few people on the beach, it was amazing. WAIT --- I had to drive one of the girls back to their hotel. More on that in a bit. 

Grandma -- I love the beach!!!!

And look at this cutie!!!! He is such a good dog and listens pretty well. I will say that the wedding was a bit much for him - he is 10 or 11, so it makes sense. 

Grandma - I'm so handsome!!!

He was exhausted by all the commotion the day before, and yet, he was super patient and sat for a long time while I fiddled with how to put the pillow on him. He slept a lot yesterday, but as the day picked up, he was back to his scampering and mischievous self. 

While I will miss visiting with M and Dillon, I will miss Mister Bear and his attitude as well. So we made the best of yesterday. 

The word was out that the "party" was on the beach, and as the afternoon wore on, more and more people came out and joined us on the beach. Little Bear needed a break and to escape the hot sun, so he found shade behind an empty deck chair. 

It's nice and cool behind this chair.

I mean - just look at him -- he's such a comic. He had a huge bottle of water in front of him, but you couldn't really see it because it was clear. But what a little monkey!!!!

Hey world -- look at me!!!!

At first, it was just a few people, and I spent a lot of time chatting with the groom's parents and their good friends. It was good to chat and get to know them better, since the bride and groom spend so much time with them. They went into town to get some food, and while they were away, the group exploded, and Bear and I decided we were done with the beach. 

The friends party on the beach

Besides, I don't think the younger people really wanted us old fogies around!!! Oh my -- I haven't used that word in a long time. 

But then Bear and I found a quieter place, still in view of the big group, and it was somewhat shaded. I ran into a couple about my age, and their son is getting married next weekend, but not here. He's getting married on the other side (more populated) side of the island. Anyway, we got to talk about travel, and this lady would be the perfect travel companion for me. I thought of The Celestine Prophecy as we sat there. 

No cross-body bags for her!!! She has pockets in her vest to keep her valuables. I still like my small flat pouch, and I've been wearing it the entire time I've been here, including at the wedding!!! No one knew I had it on. I mean, how can someone even think about robbing you when they can't see what to take!! 

She had friends who had cross-body bags in Italy, and got swarmed and had passports and money stolen. I will never wear a cross-body bag while traveling. Take the MINIMUM you need (passport, room key, and a credit card); you don't need more. Unless you need meds, and then that is a whole different story. 

I forgot to mention, only because it didn't fit in the flow of the pictures, but I had an amazing visit with my aunt and cousin. Oh my—how nice it would be to be a bit closer, but our family doesn't work that way, and we seem to be able to pick up where we left off. If we lived closer, that may not happen! 

The owners had a dog named Charlie, and his dog house is still here. I think it's a wee bit big for Mister Bear, but he had to explore it nevertheless. 

Grandma, this doghouse is huge!!!!

Speaking of big dogs, we saw a couple with two retrievers yesterday. TWO big dogs. I can't imagine the chaos in the hotel room. It's bad enough with Bear and all his stuff. 

And see him scampering down the hall. He's back!!!!!

Grandma - let's run!!!!!!

That little devil. He was getting his mojo back and was happy to try to scamper down a hall when we needed to reach our room. And it didn't take him long to learn where his room was. He is so darn cute!!!!!

Before the wedding, M had sent out a note asking people to send her a voice message about the wedding day. Bear and I did that yesterday. We sent THREE messages about how we felt during the wedding and to wish them the best as they start their new life together. It was a very cool idea. 

I think the bride was a bit overwhelmed yesterday (and tired), and busy with her friends. She will have a lot to process when they get home. But first, they have one more, hopefully, less busy day, and more for themselves to enjoy on their own before they take on the enormous task of packing stuff in their car. I can't even begin to imagine how much stuff they brought. They are NOT light packers, and since they are in the car, it's easy to overpack!!! 

M even said that NO ONE was allowed to comment on how much stuff they brought. I totally get it -- it's like when we go to a quilt retreat. We have an empty car and X days to quilt, so you might as well fill the car and have lots of choices. I've been there and done it!!! But on a plane? That's different - I don't want to deal with all the stuff, so I pack very light. 

One thing I noticed over the last couple of days is how M and I are pretty similar. Well, certainly not in all ways, but a couple of things came to mind. I like jigsaw puzzles, she likes jigsaw puzzles. She likes to read, I like to read, and can you believe that we read a lot of the same books? She's not into the murder/mystery ones I love, but she's into many other philosophical ones (The Celestine Prophecy) and historical fiction. 

She likes cucumbers, I like cucumbers. And she always wore mismatched socks when she was a kid. I swear she bought new socks (or we bought them, more likely), and I swear she took one sock out of the package and threw the other away. When she left, I found a lot of single socks and never found the mate for any of them!!!! 

So imagine my surprise yesterday when I pulled out a fresh pair of socks to find this!!!!!

OH MY  - mismatched socks

I almost died laughing. They are similar in color and feel, and when I was folding the laundry, most likely not paying attention, I grabbed these and put them together as a pair!!! It doesn't bother me in the least!!!! Oh, M—you have no idea what's ahead of you!!!!! But I love you to bits, and that's all that counts. You have learned to be flexible, and you'll go far with that character trait. Very proud of who you have become!!!!

In the late afternoon, I left Bear at the hotel and took a long walk on the beach. Something I'm not always able to do with Bear, unless I carry him. He does get interested in everything - other peeps (not his own) and dogs. I decided that I had to put my feet in the ocean - at least just to feel the water on my feet. YIKES --- that water is freezing. 

VERY cold water

People have been surfing along this shore, but they are wearing wetsuits. Others are going for short swims in the water. A bit too cold for me!!!!

And here I am on the beach. The weather has been perfect. This was about 7 PM last night. 

Me on the beach

DH and I ended up eating at The Point restaurant again last night, then we wandered back to the hotel room, where I tried to clean up some of the mess. I am usually very neat and tidy in the hotel room, but there was stuff strewn everywhere. So that all got cleaned up, and after I finish the blog, I can pack the office backpack. 

We have to make two stops on our way back to the other side of the island, and we have travel plans we have to meet at 4 PM, so we don't want to leave here too late. 

As I was packing, I found my wedding earrings. They were long and dangly, and they matched my outfit. I don't think the two greens in the earrings matched each other, but it all worked out. They were a bit heavier than I wanted, but I put my little studs back in, and my ears are almost back to their normal self. 

My wedding earrings

I bought a couple of other pairs while I was at the store, so you never know what you'll see me wear in the future!! You might as well have fun with this stuff!!!! 

After the reception, we went to the party tent. I would say that by 11 PM, most of the "older" people were gone. And I'm OK with that. The tent shut down at midnight, but it was still too early for the new couple and their friends to call it a night. So they changed, went, sat on the beach, and watched the sky. OH MY GOD ---- what a beautiful way to end the wedding night. I was so excited for them. 

I got the feeling that many of them barely slept. That was the case with the friend whom I drove back to her hotel very early in the morning. I am so glad that so many of their friends could make the wedding, and the comingling of friends from both sides was solidified that night. What a wonderful idea. 

While we had seen the stars on our walk home from the party tent, we did not see as many as if we were on the beach. So last night, I was determined to stay up until it was dark enough. That's why I puttered and put everything away. 

I know, it's very hard to see in this picture, but there are loads of stars. Not like what they would have seen hours later, but it was fun. 

A starry night

And then I grabbed these photos of the beach. 

The beach just after 11 PM

All of those photos were taken with my camera phone at about 11 PM. Wow!!!!!!! It's no wonder we pay a lot for those darn phones - the thing we are really buying is the camera!!!!!

And then I had some time before I finally fell asleep to check out some social media stuff and OH MY GOSH. Can you believe I found this?????

Well, I can't find the announcement at this point - it may have been on IG, but the World Jigsaw Puzzle competition will be held in Toronto in 2027!!!!! I will not be signing up, but I can volunteer and check it out!!!!!

I've already marked the dates in my calendar - it's the beginning of June. Good grief -- I had no idea this puzzle world was so big. I would love to get home and work on my gradient puzzle. I'll be there soon, but I do NOT have much time. When I get home, I have a couple of urgent things to finish, and I need to pack for the next trip. Nothing for months and then everything this month. Sigh.......

I think I got a bit too much sun on my head yesterday! Of all the days we have had here, the weather order was perfect for the wedding. The prayers that M sent up (and many others, I'm sure) were answered. I hope that's a good sign!!!

Well, I'll share more wedding pictures and memories another day, but I must get myself organized to take the little guy out for his walk, and then I'm taking one last bike ride into Tofino for my last donut. Tomorrow, no more donuts!!!!!

And on that wonderful note, have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

Prepped for Quilt Canada

What can I say? It was a crazy day, but everything is done. I spent most of the day at the computer! 

It took me FIVE hours to complete the labels. I know—five hours to make 30 labels! But they had to be formatted, and some of them needed a little bit of editing. But all is good. 

I had a few other things to print, so I prepped those and was about to load them on my USB to take to the print shop when I remembered they needed to be in PDF format. I wonder if I can print the Word documents. Probably. 

Anyway, I was printing away, counting, and recounting that I had everything when I realized I had forgotten to load one document on the USB. CRAP!!! It wasn't there in any format, so I would have to go back!

I also wanted to get some of those plastic tabletop display holders. OH MY --- I had sticker shock when I saw the price. I thought they would be about $12, but the cheapest was  $25. I could buy four for $84, so I went that route and got $5 off at the counter. 

Sticker shock on plastic display holders

We finally got our Bombas socks! I ordered some for DH and some for myself. He is so picky about stuff that I'm sure he'll find something to complain about - he's a glass-half-empty person! I will wear mine - perhaps I'll wear a pair today since they match my shoes! How cool is that? The labels are upside down in this picture, and the other image with the labels right side up is fuzzy, so this is what you get! 

Bombas socks

If you want to try them, use this website. At checkout, use the code Jenna20 to get a 20% discount on your first order. That's why we bought so many pairs. 

We have company for a couple of days. A quilting friend is attending Quilt Canada, and it makes a whole lot of sense for them to stay here rather than book a hotel. Hotels are just at a crazy price these days. And I have a spare room! I managed to get most of the quilts put away, and the rest got shoved into a corner of the room. Thankfully, it's a decent-sized room! 

She pinned sleeves on three of the remaining quilts last night while I completed the binding on the last quilt. I pinned that sleeve on this morning, and everything is ready. Oh, and I still have to throw a few samples into my sample suitcase, but it's mostly done. 

Here's what a quilt show looks like before it leaves your house. 

All the quilts for the concurrent show

There are 28 quilts here, with three more coming directly to the show. Each one is in a clear plastic bag so it doesn't get dirty during transport. Inside the bag, each one has a big label with its number and other important information. Two suitcases are under those quilts, but they won't all fit, so I have my wagon to help transport them. 

The other items, such as a ladder, step stool, tools, printed material, etc., are all waiting at the front door. We contemplated loading the car last night, but I did not want to leave those quilts in the car. Even though we live in a very quiet neighborhood, I was not taking that chance. We must be up early, load the car, walk the dogs, and leave. 

I'm excited about the day. Why, I have no idea, as set-up day is one of the worst days of any tradeshow. It's long and hard work, but you get to see so many people you haven't seen in a while, and that's the exciting part. You know what they say—many hands make light work, so let's hope that this will be the case today. 

We also got this in the mail yesterday, which means we are just one step closer to that wedding! 

The upcoming wedding

I do not envision any major planning on my part, so I will go and relax! Will that statement come back to bite me? June next year will be a hectic month as there are other events that month as well. At least I won't have a quilt show to put together! 

Weddings are so different today—well, all events. There is no longer a return card; you can do that online at a website. Who knew? 

I have one article that I need to work on, so I'd better take some time this morning to finish it. It needs to leave my house ASAP. 

If you are coming to Quilt Canada, stop by and see me. I'll be in the Husqvarna Viking/PFAFF and Singer booths for most of the show. We are in booths 307, 308, 310, and 312. It's all connected, so you can't miss us. 

And then be sure to come visit my concurrent show, which is part of Quilt Canada. Those shows are at the back of the hall, so you have to walk through the vendors, through the National Juried Show, and past the food court, and there we are. I'm on the far left-hand side—Booths 500-509, not 599, like I wrote yesterday. 

I should have rented an extra chair so people could come and sit. Hey, if there are open chairs, that means I need a volunteer, so sit down and entertain yourself. I haven't seen all these quilts opened up, so it's going to be a surprise even for me. But it will be a great show, so be sure to come on out!!!!

On that note, I'm out of here! 

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!

Getting back to normal

YES --- I like SmartWool as well. I have one pair! When I first bought hiking socks, I bought several brands! It was just that I noticed the bottom disappearing slowly on the WrightSock! 

My SmartWool sock

I just went to their website, and WOW—it's easy to pick what you want, as they have a checklist. It's very civilized. I signed up for the newsletter and got 15% off. I might be buying some new socks today! 

I must check with my brother, as the socks he buys have a lifetime guarantee. They are more expensive, but they never wear out! That's worth the price! 

Anyway --- back to the regular stuff! 

I had a terrible night of sleep. My brain just would not shut off. I finally slept, but did not go to spin class this morning. I slept some more! All is good, and hopefully tonight, all will be better. That doesn't happen often, but it does sometimes and annoys me. The more I get annoyed, the more I can't shut my brain off! But that's OK. I'll get back on track. 

We had two great Zoom show-and-tell sessions in the morning. I LOVE show-and-tell, and I don't mind those ones since I only have to put the presentation together. I must prep something for my show-and-tell, but you know what I mean. There are no detailed step-by-step photos to deal with! 

And after the Zooms, I settled in to deal with all the stuff that came home from the retreat. 

Stuff to sort and put away

That is a lot of stuff, and I needed to deal with it all before I could do any work. It all has a home and just needs to be put away. I'm happy to say that all was good by the end of the day. 

All that was left at the end of the day

There is still one pile of things on the cutting table, and that's because I'm doing a Facebook Live on Wednesday, and this is some of the stuff I need to prepare or sort through. 

The topic is Decorative Stitches in Embroidery Mode. I'll demonstrate my techniques using the Husqvarna Viking Onyx 30 and the Husqvarna Viking Designer Epic 3. The Onyx 30 is NOT an embroidery machine, but it's there to get started in the process. If you want to watch live, here is the link to sign up. I will demonstrate STEP-BY-STEP how to get decorative stitches into embroidery mode. 

Check it out—it starts at 3 PM EST on Wednesday, June 4. If you watch it afterwards, you don't get to ask questions—if you watch it live, I'll answer them. Be sure to stop by and say hi!!

I have to spend some time today getting all the cameras hooked up. I got a third camera, so hopefully, all the switching will be good! I'll do a test run tomorrow. 

I got a customer's quilt quilted. It was so small compared to what I did last week. 

Customer quilt - DONE

And here's the 60-minute-or-less project of the day: I stitched the binding on two of the five placemats. 

Two of five placemats - DONE

I have three more to stitch, and hopefully I can get those done today.

I sorted through my stabilizers a while back, and they are mostly in order, but I need to do it again. Then I can put some more tubs away downstairs, and hopefully, I can have an empty one where I will put all those small 60-minute-or-less projects in. It'll stay beside the sewing machine; each day, I'll reach in and grab one! They NEED to be done! That tub will sit right beside the tub with all the quilts that need the binding attached. No lack of things to do even when my brain is dead! 

It's funny how you seem to work, but not much gets done. Well, I had those presentations in the morning, and then lunch, a walk, a snack, and a 30-minute nap—and next thing you know—it's four p.m.! 

But that's OK—sorting through all the stuff from the retreat took several hours to put away. I have three more Zooms this week (the week ends Sunday), a Facebook Live, and an in-person class. Plus, Miss Lexi must return to the vet for a booster shot. So it's a relatively quiet week, and I'm looking forward to it! 

Speaking of the girls, Miss Lexi is so quiet, but Murphy? She's just everywhere. I could hear her barking her head off yesterday, and when I quietly went out and looked around the corner, I spotted her sitting there, fully alert and barking at something on the other side of the fence. Why? 

Miss Murphy is our alarm!

Later, I went out, and she was lying on the path. I swear, when she sits out there, she ensures she's sitting beside one of the windows to spy on me!!

MOM - just saying HI!!!

Then I spotted her on her dog bed after she ripped the blanket bundle apart. She's trying to get at the pink ball in that toy. She can do it if she flings the toy, but she's having a DUH moment! 

MOM - I'm busy!

And then, while I was having my snack in the gazebo, she was on the other side of the yard watching me. 

MOM -- can you see me? 

Can you tell that I love that new Zoom setting on the phone camera? Oh yes, I'm using it a lot more because it's so easy to touch the button instead of zooming in. Thanks, Samsung, for making a great change! 

I had helped Murphy get the pink ball out of the toy, and what did she do? She brought it outside and dropped it in the pond. I swear she was looking at me as she did it! I told her not to do it. 

MOM - it slipped - I swear it slipped!

And there's the lilac near the gazebo—it's almost in full bloom, and it smells wonderful as I sit in the chair. The scent is pretty intense to bring into the house, so I'll leave it outside and go there and enjoy it!

My blooming lilac

I have a new water bottle. I found it on my table during the retreat. Thanks - you know who you are! I like it because the base is small and should fit in the cup holder in the car. The other one does not, and it's always rolling around on the floor or the seat. I noticed yesterday that the base size isn't much smaller, but it looks like it was made to fit in the cupholder. I must try it out, as that will be quite handy when traveling. 

The new and the old water bottles

We have Monday sewing today and lots of great show-and-tell, thanks to the members. It's a great place to share ideas, and well, I LOVE Monday sewing. It's my therapy and a great way to stay in touch. Without Zoom, I would almost live in isolation! At least as far as quilting goes. 

Well, it's time to start the day, and the girls need to go out for their walk. They are so habitual! But then, so am I, so it all works out! 

I have loads to do—when will I ever have nothing to do? I have lots of emails to respond to and write, and I MUST now focus on Quilt Canada. There's a lot to get done before that show, but first, I need to finish some samples for the Facebook Live. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!

Buying socks

I'm home! The girls are happy! Everybody is happy! 

There's a new dog in town! This is Crosby - a puppy just adopted by our neighbors! I haven't had a chance to meet him yet, but I can't wait! I sure hope we get to babysit from time to time! He looks so soft and cuddly! 

Meet Crosby

An update on the Machine Embroidery Retreat: We had so much fun! The two days were long, and I was exhausted. I slept like a log last night. But everyone learned something about their machines and went home much more confident in how to use them. That makes me very happy! Will I do another one? I'm not sure, but there are no dates left for 2025 at that retreat house. The place we usually go is booked solid for the remainder of the year. There is another retreat house, not too far away from the one we went to, and I will check it out next month. Perhaps if there is enough interest, we could book that house. 

What is it with this weather? I went out for a walk in the morning with FOUR layers on. I had completely forgotten to take a jacket with me, so I had my T-shirt, a long-sleeved shirt, a fleece vest, and my denim jacket—one of my samples! I was warm, but it was crazy! 

The wind was blowing quite a lot as well. Can you see how much the leaves are blowing? 

The wind is BLOWING!

And if you can't see from the leaves, perhaps this will help. I was sharing a room with two other people, and when I got up, I had not placed my hairband where it was easy to find. Hence, I had no hairband. I could barely see where I was going! 

I can't see!!!

I spotted lots of snails along the road. I managed to see these when I was walking in the opposite direction, my hair blowing away from my face! 

Snails

There were moments when the sun was out, and I could see my shadow. But it was cold and windy! 

My faint shadow

So, what socks do you wear? I used to wear those white athletic socks that you could buy in a 6-pack for cheap. Sometimes, I would buy those fancy little decorative socks. Both are epic fails for me. It doesn't take long before there were holes in the heels, toes, or tops stretched beyond wearing. 

When I went hiking in Spain, I bought GOOD socks. And something very weird happened. The toes and heels are intact, but I see the bottom is wearing thin! Who would have thought that would happen? 

The bottom of my sock

It's hard to tell in that photo, but the soles under the ball of my foot are wearing thin. The socks are double-layered, so all is good so far. I don't think those can be repaired. How would you? They are made from recycled polyester performance yarns, and I LOVE them. I'm not sure how much wear I got from them (but worn over four years), but I will never buy those white athletic socks again! The brand is Wright Sock. The cost per pair is $33. CDN. But if I have to replace the cheaper socks regularly, this is a better deal! Sometimes, it doesn't pay to buy the inexpensive stuff! 

Another brand I want to try is Bombas. Jenna Phipps frequently has them as a sponsor on her YouTube channel, and I should dig out the code and buy some. I like comfy socks, and the colors are fun as well. 

Check out this link if you have not heard of Jenna Phipps (and Nick, her partner). It's a five-minute interview about what they have done so far. I cried! There are over 1 million subscribers, and we are invested in this house! We want them to succeed, and when you see the house's condition, you'll see it was a mess. The house had been abandoned for over 30 years and leaking for the past 20 years, but it is in a POSH neighborhood. By the way, they had known each other for ONLY 6 months before they decided to buy the house. I think it was 6 months - very little time to see if you and your partner can handle such a massive project. 

Did you check out the tutorials for journal covers yesterday? Do you have one planned? 

I have two Zooms for today, and both are ready to go. There are only 12 more until the end of June, but who is counting? I feel the stress just roll off my shoulders. Even though I have a lot of work to do, my schedule is starting to be mine again, which makes me very happy! 

On that note, I'm out of here! 

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!

Oh Murphy!

Poor Murphy had a good news/bad news kind of day. I'll tell you the quilting stuff first and then what happened. 

We had Monday Sewing, and I love our conversations. Between the group, we know EVERYTHING! Plus, we get to learn about tools (both old and new), and everyone has a different view of them. It's all good. OK—I confess that I'm VERY opinionated about many things. I'm also the first one to compliment someone on their skills, but sometimes, they also have some very bizarre ideas, and what is that all about? 

I managed to work on that stack of quilts that need binding. 

The binding was finished on this one, and now I need to make a label, then wash the quilt, and it is going in the mail. 

Binding number one of the day

I also got the binding on this one, which I hope to deliver this week or early next week when I complete the group of ten quilts. I still have one to quilt and several to bind. 

Binding number three of the day

I got the binding on a small wall hanging that belongs to me, but you can't see it yet. 

One more blog post is gone, leaving one left. I hope to get that out of the way today as I need to move on to other things. 

I did not get to the long arm, but I hope to get there today. So I had a good day. Murphy did not! 

When I drove DH to the train in the morning, I decided to let Murphy come along. She loves the car and is generally a good passenger. However, when he got out of the car, she wanted to go with him (imagine that!), and she cried. But she soon settled down.

MOM - I LOVE the car

When we got home, I opened the car door and told her to go to the house. HA! She bounded over the front step and ran between our house and the neighbor's. When I followed her, she was peeing, which was OK. Then she ran through the small garden, and I lost her. When I walked around and into their driveway, she was sitting pretty as punch on their front step. 

Looks good, Murphy, but that's the wrong house! She bounded off the step and ran through the next neighbor's front yard and around the corner towards their gate. The gate was open, and she bounded through. OH - I almost lost her amongst the weeds in that yard. And there's a dog at that house, but with the gate open and the mess, I wonder if they ever use the backyard. It's a shame because this is a huge and, at one time, gorgeous backyard. 

After she had her romp (bounding through the weeds to see), she came back, and we walked back to our house together. I swear she lay in the front hallway with the biggest grin. As if to say - I listened, but not before I had a little fun! 

And the rest of Murphy's day was great. However, when they should have been in the house later that night, the two of them were outside, and, well, remember that skunk that lives under the porch around the corner? Perhaps he was out for a stroll, or this was a neighbor. But poor Murphy got hit in the face. 

MOM - my eye stings!!!!

She was very unhappy and kept trying to rub her eye with her dirty paws. I've no idea what she was doing outside - DH NEVER pays attention to them in the backyard, so they could have been doing anything. If he had been more aware, this could have been avoided! Oops. She was rubbing her eye with her paw or in the dog bed to relieve the pain. Poor thing, but I didn't feel much sympathy for her! 

MOM - help me - I'm dying!

Thankfully, she was OK and didn't get a total blast in the face. Within a short time, she was finished rubbing her eye and is just a bit stinky, but not a huge deal. Lexi got off easy, but then she had been sprayed years ago and perhaps remembered! Let's hope that Murphy learned her lesson. I doubt it!

This morning, her eye is still a bit wonky, so I might give her an eye bath outside. It'll probably take a day or two to get back to normal. 

Speaking of neglected houses on our street, here's another one. This one has been a mess for years. A huge tree on that lawn was cut down several years ago, but they left this unruly shrub, which has now grown up. The driveway is filled with cracks, and weeds are merrily growing. The grass rarely gets mowed. 

A neglected house

I wonder why people won't take care of the outside of their property. If they can't or won't, why don't they move to a condo or a place where someone else does the outdoor maintenance? Or hire someone to do the work. One person lives in this house, and to my knowledge, they are very capable. But we rarely see that person. It's a mystery house!

So, it's time to start prepping for my big trip. I've been walking in my clown shoes for a couple of weeks, and it's time to dig out the socks I will wear. These are the Injinji socks with individual toes. 

Walking shoes and socks

I like these socks even though getting each toe into the right spot is a hassle. I have to chuckle because other people who have done this walk or other hikes swear that these are the best socks and will prevent blisters. I got blisters wearing these socks, but only on one foot. There are so many variables as to why you could get blisters; the type of sock alone is not enough! 

The best part of these socks is that if you have to bandage a toe because of a blister, the bandage stays nice and snug in the separate toe! At least one pair of these will be coming with me. 

I still need to book my ticket home. I had enough points to book a ticket there, but not back, and the security team in Spain may not want to let me in if I don't have a ticket out! So, as I wind things down here, I can start packing for next month. I'm almost done with all my commitments and even working on those for September, which I won't tell you about because it's scary! My life seems to be feast or famine some times!

Well, I have to run. There are lots of things on the agenda for today, and I'd better get started, or I'll never get them done. 

Have a super day!!

Ciao!!!

It's all about TEAMWORK

I'm going to confess right up front- this will not be a pretty blog post. 

I'm having one of those days—a pity day, perhaps, but I'm so frustrated that I feel like throwing in the towel, ditching all the technology and people. Curling up in a chair and reading—not just for today but forever—is tempting! I told you it wasn't going to be pretty!

OK, I feel better having written my frustrations out and then deleted it! 

I feel that there is too much of everything in this world, and people are trying to do it all, watch it all, or do it all, and let's face it—we CANNOT!!! For example, I came across a disturbing post on Instagram yesterday. 

I've met the person who posted, but I don't know her that well. She is a wonderful lady who posts about her life on her farm. I do not expect to see regular posts from her, and I see her posts occasionally, but I don't dwell on how often she posts. But from this particular post, it sounds like people do. She said that she is not a content creator and finds it challenging to keep up with social media - she was almost in tears. 

This is a problem. How many other people out there are in this same boat? They spend so much time creating content to get those likes or views that they ignore the things they love. Then, they get a plaque or some other recognition. Why are they spending their entire lives living to create content? For the little bit of photography that I do, styling photos can be a tremendous amount of work. Doing videos is even worse! 

How many people have multiple social platforms? I do not - I refuse to bow down and let other people's lives dictate how I spend my time or view the world. I have my own struggles. 

Everyone wants a piece of the pie and to claim their 15 (or more) minutes of fame, but at what cost? And at what cost do we follow along? I'm so tired of it that, as I mentioned, I don't post any longer (not that I posted much), but I'm trying to unfollow so many. I don't need more of anything in my life!

I search for information if needed, but I do not watch anyone religiously. Where's the "fun" learning if you always watch and learn from someone else? What happened to the "fun" of figuring it out ourselves? OH GOD—that's why I'm stressed! Let me clarify that I'm not stressed from learning; I'm stressed because my device is not working properly. Is it me, or is it the machine? 

Oops, that's another sentence I wrote and deleted. Yes, there are things I want to tell certain people about how they make me feel, and I should direct that to them, not in a blog post! So I wrote it and then deleted it! 

Let's put it this way -- I cannot wait for my three-month hiatus this summer. I want to get away from Zoom calls, emails, and requests. I want to leave it all behind. I may even figure out how to set an "out of office" on my email and shut it down for three months! I know how to do it, so don't be surprised! People who walk the Camino become obsessed with it. I don't think it's the walking or the location. I think it's the ability to leave everything they know behind without worrying about their daily life. 

So, how can we create that lifestyle here at home? SIMPLIFY --- stop taking (and giving) so many classes, trying to do it all, trying to make and read content online, go back to what YOU LIKE to do, and have fun with that. 

As I said, today has been extremely frustrating so far, so I'll go back to the basics, see what happens, and work my way up from there. Perhaps someone is trying to teach me a lesson—to slow down, to enjoy life!

It doesn't help that I've injured my shoulder and am in constant pain, which doesn't do much to one's morale. Now DH and I are a matched pair—his right shoulder and my left. Let's just say I'm too old to climb trees and leave it at that! 

Anyway -- we all have that kind of day, and I'll get through - I'm strong enough to do that, but it's easy to see how those with less stamina can get bogged down, and I can't imagine dealing with this daily. Hopefully, the machine issue will be resolved by tomorrow. The shoulder is another story!

But let's find something happier to talk about—the EXIT Game Advent Calendar! So we unlocked door 12, and we'll solve that puzzle tonight. What is hilarious is how we solve the puzzles. Last night, we opened up the clues, and there's this diagram that looks like Pac-Man. Two other cards and some diagrams are in the box (room). 

The EXIT Game

I was going to spend time deciphering the drawings in the room. Dh says that so far, we haven't needed what's in the rooms. OK, so then he reads the information and tells me that he solved the puzzle the night before and that it's my turn. I kind of freeze, and then, in a flash, the answer or the methodology comes to me. So, while he's puzzling over the cards, I'm figuring out the numbers. 

Then he looked at me and offered his idea, and I was excited to show him. So I punched in the numbers, and voila -- it worked. But if he had not said, don't worry about the box, I might still be there. I think we would struggle individually, but collectively, we make a good team. SHARING IDEAS -- it's all about sharing ideas!!! 

That's what I want my classes to be—sharing ideas, but so often, I feel that I'm the only one sharing! I know that's not true, but it sure feels like it on some days—until I start asking questions. 

I desperately need to go through my sock drawer and eliminate the ones with holes. I know I get attached to them, and yes, I'll wear the holey ones! So, I made a start yesterday and pulled out a brand-new pair of socks. They're pretty wild colors. I didn't even notice there was a left and a right until I had them on. They look like alien faces! 

My new socks

Looking closely at the green area, you will see an orange letter - left and right! 

I haven't been walking as diligently as I have in the past, which might have something to do with my mood. I admit I'm irritated by many things, and most of those things are small, and it's starting to show in my interaction with others. So I better get my butt back out and walk! I'm not behind on my Virtual Challenges, but I must get outside and walk to blow off that steam! 

I stopped at the dollar store yesterday to look for two things various people mentioned. I found precut parchment shapes, but only rounds and loaf liners, not the cookie sheet ones. I don't need them as I can create the same thing from the boxes of my own parchment paper. 

Pre-cut parchment shapes

I found cotton rope in the craft section. I do not need any more of it, as I have oodles of it here. 

Cotton rope

I also found this: Seriously? That looks like the real thing and look at the price. The brand name is Calvin. 

A weeding tool

I did not buy this as I now have so many scrappers and weeding tools, but I love that there is only one of each. It's simple, and well, you can't beat the price. 

This is a huge problem; how can the dollar store sell something like this? How does $3 cover the material cost, the design cost, the packaging cost, and the shipping cost? And then how do the other brands compete? Paying only $3 becomes an item that we don't care so much about and can easily replace, adding to our throwaway society. 

I think dollar stores have contributed significantly to our society's waste. Because things don't cost much, no one cares about them and throws them away after one use. That's bad. The other day, someone mentioned something (making a photocopy) I shouldn't do because it wasn't environmentally friendly.  I do ALL my errands on foot, I don't buy packaged food, I recycle like mad. HEY—let's just say we are saving the planet each in our own way! And there are days when I see how others treat the planet, and you think - seriously?? A photocopy or two is NOTHING compared to the waste in the corporate world or in some people's houses! 

By the way, I checked the label on the car's side door and saw the vehicle is manufactured in the US. I did further research, and NO CARS are being made in New Zealand, so while I liked all the other information the guy gave me at the Toyota dealership, I think that information was incorrect. 

So, while I have nothing official to do today, I have loads of work. I'm going to allow a certain amount of time to figure out my issue, and then I'm going to walk away from it unless I can get it to work. There is some computer work I can do and then I have many other things that I need to tackle. 

Here's hoping the day goes better than the last four days. And who knows, I may be walking miles and miles today to blow off steam! 

Have a great day!!!

Ciao!!!!