Memories and moving

I'm so glad to hear that I am not alone in my AI thoughts. I love the comment that it's literally one giant dictionary; however, that's what AI is. It scours the internet for information faster than the speed of sound. If it scours a source with incorrect or outdated information, it will give you that. At THIS POINT in time, AI can't discern right from wrong; it has no "intelligence" per se, and it has no consciousness. But at the rate they are developing it, BEWARE. 

Developers and people in that industry are saying we need to SLOW down AI development because it could potentially take over our world. Remember, OUR world is very much connected to the internet. Imagine if AI took control of the internet? You laugh, you scoff --- don't, because it could happen!

So if you use AI - beware. What tasks are you asking it to do and why? Does the task even need doing? How much control are you giving a machine? How much brainpower are you losing by handing the task over to a machine? 

I know this is going to be a total oxymoron when I say, " How much of your life have you given to the machines? My blog contains a lot of information about me. If AI searched, they could create a mini me in no time. That's a risk I take. But how much data have you shared because you want to participate in a freebie, a giveaway, or just because you thought it was a good idea? All that data is stored somewhere! 

How many people did you tag because you needed to ATTEMPT to win something you didn't need or want? 

Ever wondered why every new appliance comes with Wi-Fi connectivity? Oh -- it's convenient for you to start your oven when you approach your house. Meanwhile, whatever is in there has been sitting uncooked all day? NO -- it's for the companies to amass data on what you cooked, how long, when, etc. It's not about your convenience - it's about collecting data. 

I use Microsoft products, and their AI agent is Copilot. When I open a blank document, be that in Word or an email, I get a prompt. "What would you like to write today?" Seriously? I HATE that, and I need to find out how to turn it off. It's darn intrusive, and it's awful. I think that AI being so intrusive is the biggest reason I hate it.

Guess what we are learning? We are learning to let a machine write for us. So where does that leave our brains? 

AI technology will never go away and will keep encroaching on our brain capacity. It is up to us to use it wisely!!!

Well, enough about that. It's time to tell you what happened yesterday, and oh my --- it was a monumental day. 

The travel part was just fine. I didn't get an upgrade, but seriously, 5 hours on a plane isn't that big a deal unless you are in a middle seat, which I was not. I had just enough time to get through security, and I looked at the line at Tim's and decided I didn't have time for that. I went back to the other food place and bought a hot breakfast sandwich, and it was very good. It costs more than Tim's, but time is money, so I may just avoid Tim's altogether in the future. I got tea on the plane.  

I watched the 7th Harry Potter movie. I use English subtitles on the plane because it's hard to hear all the dialogue. I do not bring my big headphones. OK--- so that leaves the final movie, and well, I'll watch that on the way home. I think I watched all the Harry Potter movies on a plane this year! 

I may or may not have one more air trip after this one. Probably yes, but a shorter flight. 

And yes, I achieved my 50K status this year with the airline, so that will be good for the rest of this year and all of next year. Yeah!!! Lounge access is probably the biggest deal, and I should be higher on the upgrade lists, so we'll see what happens. This is the first time I achieved that status. I'll enjoy it while I can, as it won't last forever. 

I took a bottle to fill with water on the other side of security. But it wasn't really meant for this type of bottle. I am NOT carrying a heavier reusable water bottle, so I keep this one for travel. I put the bottle under the tap, and nothing happened. But when I put it closer to the sensor, the water came out but missed the bottle. AHA, if you angle the bottle so the bottom touches the sensor and the top is under the tap, that works much better. Could AI tell me that? OK -- I'll stop harping about AI. 

My travel water bottle

I could find a lighter weight bottle, but I cannot drink from something metal. I need plastic. I've probably been scarred from years of drinking from a metal dipper when I was a kid! Yep -- we didn't have running water in our house. We had a large crock of drinking water, and we shared a communal metal (chipped enamel) dipper. The thought is, well - at the time, that's all we knew. 

Then I landed in Vancouver and took the shuttle to the float plane docks. 

I love the float planes!!! Although there is one problem. Before boarding, they give you the safety lecture. When you get in your seat, you attach the lifejacket strap around your waist. It's connected to the seat. Should you need it, you are supposed to put the top strap around your neck, not inflate it on the plane, and so on. Will I remember that if I need it? Doubtful!!! 

The floatplane safety lecture spot

It was one of the larger planes, seating 9 people, which was a bit surprising, since there were only three of us plus the pilot. But when we arrived at the dock in Ganges on Salt Spring Island, a fair number of people were waiting. I think they even had a second plane coming over to pick up everyone. The day couldn't have been more glorious. The sky was blue, the temperature was warm, and it was beautiful. A perfect day for flying over the water. 

The float plane

There's the Vancouver Airport from the air. 

Vancouver Airport from the air

And I saw several large ships, including this container ship. It's amazing how many containers are on one ship. All that weight and it floats on the water!!!!! 

A container ship

And there are so many small islands in the Gulf Islands between Vancouver and Vancouver Island. It is a beautiful country, and I am always in awe every time I come, and I've been here many times. 

Some of the smaller Gulf Islands

While I waited for my aunt, she had to park in a different lot, so we missed each other. I spotted this wind sculpture. YES --- the gallery where I bought the one for my backyard is right here!!! 

A large version of my wind sculpture

You know the saying - be careful what you wish for. When my parents left the farm, I so wanted to get a dumpster, or dig a big hole and then systematically go from room to room and deal with all the stuff. What to keep, what to donate, what to give away to specific people, and then eliminate the rest. Throwing some of that crap in a dumpster would be so satisfying. Alas, that wasn't to be, and I don't know how many times we went through rooms, searching one more time in case we'd forgotten something. It was horrible, and it went on for years. 

My aunt, who has lived on Salt Spring Island for 34 years, is moving, and several years ago I told her I would come help her pack when she moved. Don't worry, her family is also helping, but this week, it's just the two of us. 

The timing is not perfect, but you do what you have to when the time comes. So here I am. 

When I walked in, there was stuff strewn EVERYWHERE, but that is typically the case when you are getting ready to move. She must have a guardian angel looking out for her because we were barely home when someone came to pick up a couple of pieces of furniture. A neighbor happened to be here, so the two of them emptied a big wall in the living room. 

This is PERFECT. So we started in one room and moved boxes of stuff to that empty space. This is the stuff she is keeping. 

The start of the keep pile

A few of those boxes need to be reboxed with better labels. We found a few more things that wouldn't fit in the first box we tried. That's a job for today. 

But then my super organizing skills kicked in, and I'm in my glory! We are trying to deal with ONE room at a time, and we did a pretty good job at clearing out one room. Now my aunt has been pretty good over the last couple of years at getting rid of things, and she had emptied most of the furniture in that room before I even got here. Where did it go? I don't need to know. 

We have piles in the house, several piles of things other people want, garbage, donate, burn (instead of shred), and so on. And the minute we unearth something else, it's fate gets decided, and then I walk it to the appropriate pile. I won't be going for a walk, so I'm relying on that process to get some steps in. 

But here's the issue. As we get older, I think we all get overwhelmed by everything. Your brain just doesn't function quite as you would like and I don't mean dementia - it's just that the thought of undertaking a large task like moving because a MAJOR life change. It's already a major upheaval, no matter how old you are. 

So while you may have dealt with big things, it's the little things that will kill you!! As I survey the house, I think about my own house and how I will pack things when the time comes. Thankfully, we don't have a ton of furniture, and we'll toss most of it when we move because we've had it for years. 

We have rooms in the house, a basement, and there is stuff in the garage. After surveying everything yesterday, I think we have a plan of attack. I have THREE days to do as much as we can, and I think we'll throw out or give away a lot of it since she won't need much of it when she moves into her new little apartment. 

What do you do with all those pictures/slides/negatives, etc that you know you should have dealt with before? I think we are going to pack them up and take them to the new place, but then I want to come prepared one day to deal with them. We don't have time right now, nor the proper equipment. 

A random box of slides

I know I have said I would deal with the phones multiple times, and I never did. I will book a trip, especially to deal with that stuff, or ship it back home and deal with it there. But I need to set aside time, and I mean serious time, to take care of it.

Why? Because memories mean a lot to me. They didn't when I was younger, but now they do. I want to preserve some of those memories. I was looking at pictures of my grandpa's garden and the gladiolas that were his pride and joy. We don't need hundreds of pictures of the gladiolas, but one or two will do. We can put them in a digital book, and we are done! Then when future generations of the family want to see what things interested their ancestors, we will have that information. 

Then we have found a couple of small boxes of pins and other odds and ends of jewelry. I found this bracelet and had no idea what it was. My aunt immediately piped up about where it came from. I took a picture and searched Google for it, and well, it's a bracelet from Wales with four Welsh symbols on it. Do you know what they are? 

A Welsh bracelet

Since I am going to Wales next year, I decided to keep the bracelet, and it needs a good cleaning so I can arrive wearing Welsh symbols! It's probably a cheap tourist bracelet, but it's memorable, knowing my aunt (dad's side) bought it, and I can wear it when I visit family on my Mom's side! I'm kind of sappy and sentimental like that. 

And then, of course, we found a couple of memory books, and here's a picture of my grandparents (dad's side) and M and her cousin, who now has his pilot's license and owns his own plane! 

Grandparents and two of their grandchildren 

And yes, my kid is eating a bag of Smarties! 

So what is my perspective on this situation? And keep in mind I am writing this down to clarify it in my head, and to get deadly serious about it when I get home. My saving grace is that only one room in the house needs serious attention: the office. Notice: I am in total denial about Studio B. That's a situation to deal with another day. 

1. START sorting and organizing now in preparation for your inevitable moving day. We have three days (I know some of you have done it in less, but I'm not the person to make the decisions) to get things mostly in order. 
2. Deal with the small crap stuff NOW. That is probably the worst thing of all to deal with. Oh, I'll keep that and make something special from it (I know, do not judge me because I say that all the time), but if after a year you haven't touched it, then perhaps it's time to go. 
3. Put LIKE things together. I cannot say enough about this one. If you have piles of the same type of crap everywhere, you won't get anywhere fast. The place looks like a hurricane hit, and you struggle to remain focused. 
4. Be methodical. Start in one room and keep at it until that room is done. If you continuously flit from room to room, you will never feel like you are accomplishing anything. 
5. If in doubt, throw it out. Those wire hangers? No one wants them. Throw them out, but keep some to hang up your clothes in the new place. 
6. If possible, make periodic trips to the recycling/garbage to keep the situation under control. We have huge piles of debris in the living room and the kitchen, and since we need to go to town today, my goal is to pack that into the car and get rid of it. That reduces the clutter and helps you focus. 
7. Keep a clean spot to work/live/eat/watch TV or whatever. You need some calm in the storm, or you will drive yourself mad. 
8. Enlist help if you can. My cousins have been here, but unfortunately the timing didn't work for us to be here together. However, I think that is actually a good thing. There is ONE decision maker in the house, and if there were too many helpers, it would be overwhelming. So we are taking turns, and it's all working out nicely. I won't be here for the final move date or the final push to remove all the remaining junk. 
9. Take pictures. If you think someone else would like something, take pictures and send them. I have a few pictures to take today, and then we'll see which pile those items go in. 
10. Be ruthless and brutally honest about what you need and don't need. What you want and don't want. 
11. DON'T wait; this is a job we should all be on top of. It's amazing how life's detritus creeps up on us. START NOW while you are physically and mentally able to deal with the situation. 

And here's one more thing before I close down for the day. I've mentioned this before, but I'll mention it again. It's all about those damn dishes. What to do with the dishes? If I don't come home one day and M comes to the house to collect a few things, or someone else wants something special of mine (sorry, we're talking dishes here, not quilts or a sewing machine), I want them to take my china mugs with the bicycles on them. I use them EACH and EVERY DAY when I am at home. They are my favorite dishes; they don't match any of my other dishes. I throw them in the dishwasher, and they are fading, but I don't care. The memories they bring me, and the memories I hope they bring to whoever gets those mugs, will be special. 

So your kids don't care one iota about the damn china and crystal because you never used it. But that special mug, or cup or whatever --- that's what they want! 

Use the special stuff! And use it NOW!!!! And that gold trim on the fancy dishes? Yep -- you've been told not to use those dishes in the dishwasher because the gold will disappear. So???? Why is that a problem? Put those darn gold-rimmed dishes in the dishwasher!!!

I think I have blabbed on enough. I woke up early, so I'll need a nap this afternoon. I think we both will after all the stuff we are doing. Not only is there a physical component, but it's emotionally stressful. However, we are having loads of laughs, reliving great memories, and while the timing wasn't the best, I wouldn't give up this week for the world! 

I just wish I could do this with my parents, but alas, I don't think that is going to happen because my Mom just can't cope with giving things away, even if it's a pile of clothes she's never worn. It's sad to be so attached to things, but that's the way it is. I might tell her about this week and see if that helps. 

And guess what? I'll get to help unpack!! That won't happen for a couple of months, and I've already volunteered! Unpacking will be another opportunity to clear out crap and deal with those photos once and for all! 

It's going to be a GLORIOUS day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

Just say NO to refined sugar!

I accomplished everything I set out to do yesterday! Did I have high expectations? Not exactly, but I'm trying to get at least three things done. Three somewhat significant things, but that doesn't always work, so I'll take three minor things. 

The biggest issue is that DH and I have been out THREE nights in a row. OK -- that could be taxing on conversation for some couples, but not for us! I keep the chatter going, and I'm sure there are times when he wishes that I would just be quiet. But the conversation is just too great! 

The first night was our regular night out. That's usually pretty quick: have dinner and be back home, since we typically go back to work. I booked tickets to see Spider-Man; the movie started at 6:20 PM and ran 2½ hours. I SWEAR I booked IMAX tickets, but I did not. Silly me. But the moment I sat down, I knew I was in trouble. 

I wasn't comfortable with my sciatic flaring up - where did that come from? I was tired, and I didn't find the movie very exciting. I considered getting up and going outside for a walk several times, but I pushed through, and thankfully the second half was a bit more exciting than the first. I must say, I was a time-watcher through that movie. I couldn't wait for it to end. But we also had dinner at the theatre before the movie, so it was more conversation. 

And last night, we were at the golf course for Thanksgiving dinner. Since I am away this week, it didn't make sense to cook anything at home. We arrived at 5:30, and we didn't leave for several hours. I still had stuff to do at home, but that's OK -- it can wait. 

What do we chat about? OH, let's say AI is high on the list for every single conversation. People are trying to convert me; DH is, too. I'm not saying that AI is bad. I just think too many people use it for inappropriate things. BTW -- DH uses AI all the time, so I know how it works and what it can do. 

Here's an example: DH mentioned that he and his colleagues were given a certain task. It involved some processing, and his colleague wrote a pretty spiffy script to get the work done. My question is, "How long did it take to write that elaborate script? And DH asked, "Did the task even need to be done in the first place?" He made a different decision that handled the task quickly and did NOT involve AI at all. 

So if people rely on AI to do "busywork" tasks, what the heck is the point? Just assign better, more efficient tasks in the first place. And if you think AI is doing a good job - great. But did the task even need doing? That's the question! 

Here's another EASY task that you can use AI for. Someone mentioned that they have their AI agent read a book for them and then ask AI to search that manual for stuff. Why would you restrict yourself to just that book? 

Just ask Google; you do NOT need other AI agents. Good old Google (now enhanced with AI search capabilities) will do the same job. AND it already has access to that book. I know many people aren't happy with Google these days, so pick your search engine and do the same. 

For example, if I wanted to learn how to use a specific tool in Creativate Embroidery Software, I could consult the reference manual, but that isn't always a clear learning experience. As an experiment, I searched for  "How to use the Encore tool in Creativate Embroidery Software." I got EXTREMELY detailed instructions on how to use the tool. It also referenced MANY online sources (videos, blogs, etc.) that gave more instructions. 

So --- do you need CHATGPT and do some of the work yourself? Or do you just use Google AI and search the ENTIRE internet at once? And yes --- Google will also ask follow-up questions. 

Think of the task at hand and find the MOST efficient way to use the tools we have. If you want to use a different search tool, I'm sure it works the same. 

And those conversations go on and on. We have conversations about sales and marketing tactics, relationships, travel, and so much more! We are a very animated couple at the dinner table. And we push each other! Sometimes to the extreme, but we have matured and mostly respect each other's opinions. We still have our moments! 

Some of you might think I am living in a vacuum and reluctant to change, no electronic wallet, no ChatGPT. That is NOT the case. I'm pushed to do these things every day, and I understand the pros and cons, but I am also NOT following the crowd - I am ACTIVELY making choices that work for ME. 

To change the topic completely, does anyone want an electric knife? This knife has been used for crafts, cutting foam, so it is NOT for food. But if you want it - it's yours. 

An electric knife for crafts

And I spotted this picture on the art-dailydose IG account. They come up with the most creative things on that account, and this series paired two objects that had nothing to do with each other. Can you see the two items? 

What two items do you see?

I was looking for a particular quilt top to photograph. Well, as I went down that list, I spotted MANY other quilts that would work for my presentation. I spent a bit of time digging through the tubs! OH MY GOODNESS --- so many memories in those tubs and so many amazing quilts. I am going to have to work harder and smarter to get them all done. Don't bother offering to do them; I'm perfectly happy to work at my pace, and one day I will slow down so I have more time to long arm. I found the quilt top in question, and it was the one I suspected, beige/brown pinwheel. 

Digging through the tubs of quilt tops

This fall, I took on TWO scrap classes, but I can reuse the same material for both, Show and Tell, Forty Shades of Grey, and My Kinda Town. That's five hours of classes, plus four hours of clubs per month. That is nine hours. The clubs don't take much time. But the biggest issue is scheduling time, and when something comes up, I have to move things around. Between personal trips and work, it's been a nightmare. 

NOTE to SELF: Nine hours per month is too much. I have the same amount scheduled through April, then 8 hours in May and June. Nothing in the summer. Next fall, do NOT schedule so many events; I struggle to find a consistent day of the month to offer the session. And if I have to move something, it's not pretty. 

OH --- I have to share this with you. In our Many Blocks club, I'm working on Sylvia's Bridal Sampler. That quilt has 140 blocks, and I have done most of the easy ones. I haven't been working on it as diligently as I would like, so I got busy the other day and did this. 

I had prepped a few blocks on the one day I was at the quilt retreat. This particular block was going to be a challenge. Look at the pieces. 

That's a lot of itty bitty pieces.

Here is the block, and I swear that every single seam was a Y-seam, meaning you had to stop and start ¼" in. Well, not the curved pieces, but those were tight little curves. 

The block is not pretty, but it's done!

I will NOT win an award for the piecing on this block, and the edges aren't as even as I would typically make them. The back is very ugly, BUT the block is more or less 6½", and it's DONE. As they say, done is better than perfect, and I'm just happy it's done. 

I have some applique blocks coming up which will be a piece of cake compared to that one above. This just needs some stitching and is sitting on the sewing machine waiting for me to come back. 

The next block for Sylvia's Bridal Sampler

In total, there are about 21 blocks to finish. I hope to get them done by the end of the year. It's time to stop this madness and finish this quilt. 

Why? How long do I want to work on this? Not long, but I don't want to abandon it again! PLUS, I want to start a new Many Blocks project for 2027. I already know what I want to work on, and it's FUN, bright, and cheery. 

As I dug through the tubs of quilt tops, I glanced at posters of all the year-long projects I have made, and OH MY, there are still lots that aren't finished. There are four pages of these quilts for a total of 80 quilts. I haven't figured out how many are not done. 

One of four posters of the ongoing quilts I've taught

Look at this cute girl. She stole Lexi's bed. 

MOM -- this is NOT Lexi's bed. It's for both of us!

Then she moved to be right in front of the fireplace. She doesn't settle like she used to, but then she's not the same girl! But still full of beans on most days. 

MOM - I'm trying to get warm!

So what were the three things I needed to get done? I got this quilt quilted. This is one of the quilts on those posters. 

The second winter quilt is done!

And so you don't think I keep using the same picture for both; here they both are. They need to be trimmed and bound! AND add a label. 

Both of the quilts are quilted.

Then I made a scrappy backing for one of the community project quilts I keep promising myself I'll finish this year. The backing is the blue you see around the edges. I think there are four more to quilt. 

The backing (blue) is made for the scrappy quilt.

And the third thing? I think it was to get my laundry done, so I could pack my suitcase last night when we got back from dinner! 

It's only been two days since I completely eliminated refined sugar from my diet, and I still need to replace those morning digestive cookies. Brooke says I should just throw the food away. I can't do that, so I will finish the box, but at two cookies per day, I don't think there's much sugar. And those gummies (supplements) need to be replaced, too. 

Anyway, in two days, I already feel better, and I know that is simply psychological, but I'm OK with that. It's the POWER of making and holding onto those decisions that is making me feel better. 

Look at that lovely spread of desserts at dinner last night. I wasn't even tempted. NOT ONE BIT. 

The dessert table that I completely ignored last night

It was a rainy kind of day, and when we got home I had to give the girls a quick walk. The lights in the front yard look so pretty. Subtle, but pretty! Murphy and Lexi were both happy to go out for a bedtime walk, even though they came in a bit wet! 

The lights at night in the front

I just have to finish packing up the rest of my portable office, and then I'm off. I will NOT be getting upgraded this morning, too many people on the flight; however, I am happy to report I'm not at the bottom of the list. Of 41 people on the list, I'm number 18. How will that change when I get my 50K status on this flight? 

This is a personal trip, so thankfully no heavy luggage required. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow. I'll be in a different time zone, so the blog will likely be late each day until I'm back. 

It will be a WONDERFUL day!!!

Ciao!!!

What's OLD is back in vogue! That's not new!

Pepper on cottage cheese? OK -- I must try that. I'm away this coming week (AGAIN!), but I'll try it when I get home. I still have two road trips before the end of the year and one and perhaps two plane trips. Wait -- and a weekend quilt retreat. It's going to be silly. 

PHEW -- both presentations are done for this morning. I swear it's amassing my photos for the darn things that can take so long. Thankfully, I have a very good filing system for my pictures - NOT perfect by any means, but not bad. But it still takes time to find some of them. 

Sometimes I need to take pictures of things, so I have to find the samples to do so. In an ideal world, ALL samples, including details, would already be photographed, tagged, and sorted, so it would be even easier. But hey -- Rome wasn't built in a day. 

I have a task this afternoon: find a particular quilt top that hasn't seen the light of day in years, and while I have my master list of unquilted quilt tops, I'm not sure exactly which quilt it is. Sometimes my description on my master list is vague. Brown/beige doesn't really cut it when looking for something specific. BUT in going over the list, I found a couple of other quilts that sound interesting, and I will dig them out and see if they are picture-worthy for an upcoming class. 

Since I am away this week, I'll have to work on my scrap class presentation while away. That means I have to find/sort/take some pictures this afternoon. But the majority of what I need is already filed, either on the shared drive or my portable drives. 

I have to share yesterday's homework with you. The first quilt is Forty Shades of Grey. Some very neat color combinations are emerging, and it seems almost everyone is using scraps with a few purchased fabrics thrown in. Is this a sign of the times? Or is it our age and the realization that we, in fact, can't take all that fabric with us to the grave? Or have we finally just become scrap happy? 

Whatever the reason, scrap quilts are big these days. I've had several chuckles from my scrap class groups, as many of them perceived scrap quilts as UGLY. But they don't have to be ugly. Be careful when you choose your fabric, and you can make beautiful crap quilts too. 

Here are the recent blocks I made for Forty Shades of Grey, and you can see where I'm missing that Jinny Beyer Dark purple eyelash fabric. I don't think I'll find it. I did another search online, and I can't find anything, not in that color. So unless someone has it in their stash, I'll find a close substitute and use it to finish that block and the remaining blocks. 

My homework for Forty Shades of Grey

These are my blocks from last month. Yep, this isn't really a scrap quilt for me, as I'm very focused on green and purple, and I did pull yardage. I'm OK with that. 

September homework

The second quilt we did yesterday was Show and Tell. And I have to say that when I finished the first complete block and hung it on the wall, it's so darn cute. Here is a deer holding its half-square triangle quilt. 

Block one of the Show and Tell quilt.

OMG --- is that not adorable or what? I can't wait to work on more blocks, but I ran out of time to finish all three deer blocks, which is this month's homework. 

In case you are wondering, YES -- I did twirl all the seams on the back of the half-square triangle block. How could I not? And it lies perfectly flat. 

Twirled seams on the half-square triangle blocks

I grabbed a few bits of paper from the junk box and quickly sorted them into recycling, keep, and so on. While sorting, I found a card of someone who makes hand-cranked socks. OH MY --- I remember chatting with this person. 

Bits of stuff from the junk box

So now her card is attached to the manual for my hand-crank sock knitter. This picture was taken BEFORE I found the card. I don't get why we can't deal with this mess as it happens, instead of waiting months/years to deal with it. I understand that you can buy a NEW hand-crank sock knitter that is 3-D printed. Seriously??? Here's a site I found this morning. Remember the telephone receiver from yesterday? NOTHING is new!!!

Instruction book for the hand-crank sock knitter

I am taking a wee bit of hand work with me in case we get some free time from packing up a house. I needed a crochet hook, and I went through my meager stash and attempted to clean it up. I found one hook in a package with NO number on it. I added a piece of tape and wrote the number on the tape. The quality of this crochet hook is questionable, so it may not stay in the collection. However, I've had it for years and never used it, so I may never use it. 

Marking the size on a crochet hook

I didn't find the size I needed, so I went to the mall and picked that up. I dug out a little bag that I bought years ago, and it still had the tag on it. The tag is gone, and the bag contains my crochet. I'm going to add a small hexie project as well - I just need to find the thread and a needle. It's all set out on the cutting table to finish packing today. 

I've been to the mall two days in a row! It's a 20-minute walk from the house, so no big deal. The first day, I forgot my phone (camera) at home. There were a few things I wanted to take pictures of!! 

Look at this picture. The flowers are made with a commercial version of punch needle. 

Commercial version of punch needle

And did you know you can do some punch needle designs with your embroidery machine? This is one design that I made a couple of months ago. 

Punch needle by machine.

All the stitching was done with machine embroidery. I've done my share of hand punch needle, and I would be hard-pressed to see the difference between the two. I used to teach classes twice a year at the Creative Festival, and I hear it's making a comeback, too. WAIT --- punchneedle, NOT the Creative Festival!

Machine embroidery on a felt tablet case

A while back, I took a picture of some crochet flowers, and will I be able to find it? STOP!!!!!

OMG, I just checked the blog for the picture I was looking for, and I found a post dated January 20, 2020, about my meager crochet hook collection. LOL. 

OK -- here is the picture that I went back to the blog to find. This was from the end of March, 2026. Notice how full the buckets are. 

Spring crocheted flowers on display in a mall store window.l

The other day I passed by the same display, and this is what it looks like now. They are selling the flowers for $10 a piece. I was tempted, but what the heck will I do with it? I think there are more flowers on the inside as well. Hmmm -- maybe I should get the sunflower!!! 

All that remains of the floral display

And then I spotted these small crochet displays. Nothing came home with me, except slippers for DH, which is why I went to the mall the second day. Since I didn't have my phone the previous day, I couldn't ask his size. 

Little crocheted flowers

Oh, every time I go back to the blog to check out something, I get caught up reading or skimming through MULTIPLE posts. OK -- so I might be a bit biased, but so many interesting things have happened over the years, and it's always fun to go back and revisit some of those days!!!

Now I'm going to be late, so I have to close off. I still have a few more pictures to share for tomorrow! 

It is going to be a WONDERFUL day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

You've been spammed!!

I get spam in the blog comments all the time, and I try to delete it every day. They still come back, and it's amazing what triggers the comments. 

But yesterday I got spammed differently. And I "almost" got scammed. I received an email from an acquaintance, but she was also part of an organization I belong to. Since the information was vague, I asked for more details. The response came back with legitimate information, although still somewhat vague, and I will say that it crossed my mind why this person would contact me. 

Then I got an email asking if I would buy two $200 gift cards and send them somewhere (maybe electronically) and how I would like to be reimbursed! 

I don't think so! That's when I looked at the actual email address of the "person" who sent me that request. Bogus, as it was a series of numbers!!! I was telling DH about it at dinner when I received yet another email asking if I had gotten the details. 

The big issue is how many people would fall for that? I don't see how anyone could, since you are sending $400 to people you don't know, directed to do so by someone you vaguely know, and it boggles my mind that anyone would fall for it. 

So what I learned from this? Next time someone sends a request with vague instructions, ignore it! I felt a bit silly when I realized, but hey, we have to learn somehow, and thankfully, no money was sent. I am very tight with my money and wouldn't send it to anyone I didn't know; even to people I do know, I would definitely think twice depending on the circumstances.  

DH and I chatted about wallets last night, and yes, he knew that you could put the boarding passes in a wallet. I remember now that our airline asks if we want to pin the boarding pass in a wallet. I assumed it was the airline's wallet. As mentioned yesterday, since my boarding pass could change at the last minute  (upgrade) and I've never had issues with no Wi-Fi access, I'll keep using the airline app. 

I bought tickets to another movie last night, and I'll use the theatre app for those as well. It's easy, and I don't want to complicate my life with another app. The movie is Spider-Man, and we go tonight at 6:20. It's 1 1/2 hours long. I'm doomed! 

The two presentations are locked and loaded for this morning. So that is good. I wish I had a bit more time to sew everything, but I got enough done to show the homework, and OH MY, the blocks are so amazing!!! I'll share tomorrow. 

I was chatting with M last night, and who knew that she and a chum from early school days still play Nancy Drew computer games? I didn't know that. Apparently, her friend enhances the atmosphere with candles and music. You can find the Nancy Drew computer games at herinterative. Who knew??? They are not free, but you can buy bundles. I'm tempted!!!! But I don't have much control with these types of games, and I don't want to go down another rabbit hole.  

Here are the dog photos of the day. I just missed getting Lexi asleep with her head resting on the table leg. That must be so very comfortable. 

MOM -- SHHHH -- bedtime!

And while Murphy is still full of fire, she is much quieter during the day and often spends the entire day outside. I saw her parked outside one of Studio B's windows. She likes the cool air, and while she can come downstairs, she isn't a fan of me helping her up the stairs. 

Murphy enjoying the outdoors

So here is one of the messes that we cannot leave our children. I have a box in the office that is filled with odds and ends. On a good day, the lid closes flat. I was rifling through it, so it's a bit askew. 

A box of odds and ends

When you open the box, it's filled with JUNK. But not really junk - it's filled with odds and ends. 

A portable junk drawer! 

So far, I've found some receipts, a pair of shoelaces you don't have to tie (where were they when I bought two other pairs?), and many other small things. I am trying to deal with a couple of things every day until the box is empty. But there are things I want to keep, simply as mementos. I should make this my box of memories (not junk) and mark it so it gets thrown out when I am gone. 

The problem is, how many of those types of boxes are there in the office? I know there are other boxes in here, but I think most have been sorted into categories; they still need to be sorted through, and most of the contents need to go! I see FOUR boxes on the shelf by my chair, and there are several more on the table. 

It's the detritus of life that we don't want to throw out, but we don't really need to keep. 

Those are the kinds of boxes you need to sort. Sit on the sofa with one box and start sorting and tossing. That's what your kids will do when they see the mess - wait! I mean they will toss, not sort! But wouldn't it be nice to save only the memories, then sit from time to time, enjoy the memory triggers, and put it away again? And when you are gone, no one needs to see the stuff in the box. Simple. 

I know there are at least 8 boxes on the bookshelf in here, and most of the contents haven't seen the light of day in years. Thankfully, the boxes are small, but they still need to be dealt with. 

When I was at the grocery store the other day, I spotted this. It's a tiny container of Vaseline lip care. Yes -- the colder weather is approaching, and my lips are dry. I bought this, knowing that it's totally impractical. How the heck do you get your finger in the container to get the contents out? Now I need to find a small applicator, which is one extra thing to carry. I shouldn't have bought it, since I have plenty of lip balms in a tube! But it was cute!!!!

Cutest container of lip balm

I'd like to say good-bye to my last bran muffin. Brooke and I talked at the gym the other day, and I had already decided my body just can't handle the sugar in these muffins. This wasn't from Brooke; it was from me. I had completely cut out all refined sugar a couple of years ago, and I felt amazing. I've let it creep back into my diet, and I hate what it does to my waistline, so out with the bran muffins and in with something protein-filled. 

My last bran muffin

I'm thinking of cottage cheese or yogurt with almonds? I need to do some investigating since I will need a snack tomorrow. 

But seriously? If I am trying to cut sugar from my diet, this is NOT the puzzle I should be working on. The sugar content in this thing could kill just by looking at it!! 

Progress on the puzzle

I am making decent progress. As I mentioned, I'm looking for small color groupings and trying to find homes for them. It's a nice, calming activity to do after dinner. 

And have you seen this? It came up in my feed yesterday. 

A cell phone accessory

OMG --- I had to laugh, but this is a REAL thing you can buy for your phone. I guess what's "old" is new!!!! 

If anyone is interested in purchasing the Trendtex Challenge (hosted by the Canadian Quilters' Association), it is available. And I'm pleased to say the five fabrics look very decent together. I could never understand why at least one of the five was so out of whack with the others that people shied away from doing it. This year, you can't use that excuse. I believe they are looking for small quilts and bags. 

If you wish to order a kit, here is the link. If you are a member, you can buy a kit right now. If you are NOT a member, you have to wait until October 15. 

I've decided to forego the Cherrywood Challenge. It's become so expensive to buy the kit, and I decided it's time to let it go. I've had two that traveled in their shows, and I've made six in total, though one is being reworked! 

Well, that's it for me. I'm out of here to walk the girls and then give two presentations. Then I have two more tomorrow, and I have a little work to finish and the presentations to assemble. Those two are easy!! 

It's going to be a WONDERFUL day!!!

Ciao!!!!

The right to vote -- be sure to use it!

I made good progress on the paperwork yesterday, but I still have a lot to do. It involved several phone calls (yeah, for a cell phone that works), being on hold FOREVER, and still getting the wrong documents, so I had to start the process all over again. 

I had another task: preparing a document, and I got it done and sent it off. Then the recipient asked another question, and I had to take it one step further. That's on today's agenda.  

Then I wonder why I never make headway. However, I've moved the pile of paper from the floor onto the desk, and I'll whittle it down as best I can. 

But the good news is that I renewed one of my memberships before it expired, and I voted in the advance polls. So I am making progress! 

I won't be around on election day, so I got myself to the voting place yesterday. It was near the library, so well within my daily walk. Only to find when I got home that DH had a book at that library! Sigh..... But that's a destination for my walk today. 

Get out and VOTE!!!

Well, things have changed in the voting world. In the past, it was always a paper ballot, and you marked your candidates with a pencil. This time, I got a long slip of paper with some information at the top and the rest was blank. Hmmmmmm, should I ask, or just go to the voting cubicle and see what happens? 

It was all electronic!! You insert your paper into the machine, and the eligible candidates appear on the screen for the various positions: mayor, councilor, trustee, etc. You select the ones you want to vote for on the screen. You can make changes if you mess up. And then the voting machine spits the paper back out with your choices on it. It then goes into the scanner where your votes are counted.

I was excited about the changes and posted in my Monday sewing group, only to discover that one person votes by mail in their area, while another votes on their smart device. Hmmmm, so many ways, but it doesn't matter as long as the data is protected and it lets MANY people vote. 

So if you are NOT planning on voting, think twice. The opportunity to vote is a hard-earned RIGHT, especially for women. If you don't take advantage of it, you are doing a disservice to your community and to yourself!! 

As I was walking back, I spotted this, and this is not the first time I've seen this kind of mess. 

This looks serious

I'm not sure what type of wires these are for, but doesn't that scream that someone is missing some kind of service somewhere? 

It also begs the question: why did it get damaged in the first place? 

Please note, this next comment has NOTHING to do with the above; it's strictly an observation, and my brain put the two thoughts one after the other. I always seem to go for my walk at the same time the high school lets out for the day. The one thing I have noticed is how LOUD these kids can be. The kids usually hang out in groups, which is typical of high school students, but within those groups (usually girls or boys, rarely mixed) there are one or two more exuberant people. 

They shout at the top of their lungs, usually individual words rather than sentences. I wonder if they have inside voices when they get home? 

Here's a couple of other things I noticed in the neighborhood. We had rain the other night, and I'm not sure how torrential it was, but at one point it was raining hard. As I was walking, I realized I was on the part of the path that gets the worst erosion when it rains a lot. 

Hmm, I didn't see any signs of erosion at all. No ruts, and no gravel running off into the forest. Could that section really be fixed? 

Zero erosion on the path

And there are still lots of beautiful flowers out. Miss Lexi and I spotted this one on our walk. 

Some plants are still in bloom.

In that same garden, we spotted a different colored flower, and I was taking a picture when a bee flew into another flower, and I captured this picture. 

The bees are still busy.

I decided to set up my iPad with the new puzzle website. I don't think this is going to happen. My brain just wouldn't function properly with this setup. I tried. Then I tried a different puzzle style, and I went from my desktop to the iPad. That isn't going to happen either. The format is different on the iPad, and it sucks! 

Trying to do a puzzle online

So I think I'll be relegated to the desktop, and I'm OK with that, although I much prefer having a piece of paper in front of me to solve a puzzle. And I tried!!! Multiple puzzles, different sites - didn't like any of them. 

I got one presentation ready to go, just waiting for a few more photos from the students to add. And I've got most of the next quilt cut and ready to sew together today. I hope I can get through it quickly; I seem to be in slow-motion mode this week. 

However, I need some help! I am missing a small piece of this fabric to complete a block. If I can't find it, I'll substitute something, but I thought I'd try. 

This is a Jinny Beyer (eyelash) fabric from the late 1990s. It is deep purple in color. I don't need you to suggest a substitute - I can look in my stash for that. I am trying to find this exact fabric. I did a bit of searching online, but I haven't had much time, and I was hoping someone might have it in their stash. I need a 1 1/4" by 20" strip. 

MISSING fabric

I also got the next quilt loaded on the long arm. But not before I had to load the back THREE times because I wasn't paying attention to centering it. Thankfully, I was able to quickly do that because of the magnets. Note to self --- put a mark on the leader indicating the center before you load the next quilt. 

I was hoping to quilt it, but that isn't going to happen. 

The next quilt is loaded.

Now seriously --- why can't all dogs be as good as Miss Lexi? She is a bit eccentric and likes to sleep with her head between the table legs, but I'm OK with that. 

MOM -- trying to get some beauty sleep here!

Murphy, on the other hand, is just trouble. I had laid out some fabric on the floor to see how it all fit together, and the next thing I knew, she plunked herself down like it was just for her. Never mind that there are TWO mats on the floor especially for her. 

MOM -- this fabric needs to be dog approved!

It looks like one area passed the test, so let's test a different section. 

MOM -- I need to test the edges - they are very tricky!

She was back at it this morning after I sewed part of it together. 

MOM - this feels very comfy after you sewed it together - I approve

I spent more time on the jigsaw puzzle, and yes, this one is tough, but I have managed to put part of one corner together. Can you guess what it is? 

Progress on the jigsaw puzzle

It's candy!! There are multiple spots with the same colors, and none of them are big. It's a very busy puzzle, and it will keep me going for a while. I NEED to have it completed by the end of the month. That doesn't sound like a big deal, but I'm away for most of the rest of the month, so timing will be tight. 

Shoot, I'll post where I'll be for the next couple of weeks, so if it works for you to visit one of my events, you'll know where I am. I'll attempt that tomorrow. 

OK, I get alerts for houses for sale in my area, and I sometimes look at the pictures to see whether the house has been upgraded or how the kitchens and baths were redone, etc. From time to time, I spot unusual furniture, and well, this is unusual!! That looks like a princess chair!!! You can sit on that in your big, fluffy princess dress, and everything is contained. 

A chair fit for a princess.

Maybe Murphy would like that chair? Although she isn't a big fan of jumping up anywhere on her own. Not even her window seat at the front window. Those days are past for her. But she still does the stairs with our help, and all is working just fine. 

I see there is only one Frank Lloyd Wright house in Canada, and it's privately owned, so no go to visit. BUT I could buy one --- there are currently seven of his houses for sale in the US! I finished the book yesterday, and while the man was a genius with architecture, he was lousy at love. Married four times, and two of the four wives were very manipulative and caused him a lot of grief. The man could have done so much more without their interference! 

I'm also reading a book about Princess Diana. Her brother wrote it, and I have to say I'm on the fence about it. While the book is technically supposed to be about Princess Di, it seems to include a lot of information about the author. 

From the reviews, it seems no one likes the book. I tend to agree; while there are some interesting tidbits about their lives as young children, it keeps harping on how bad their lives were. And the struggles they had. I don't know why everyone assumes they had such a bad childhood - not openly loved by their parents, etc. That was pretty common for parents back then; not many showed one iota of affection toward their children. 

What the book tells me is that she had mental health issues that were never addressed, and then she became Princess of Wales, which only exacerbated the situation. It's the story of someone who married too young into what she thought would be a fairy tale and ended up with a nightmare. 

It's all rather sad! And a good part of the book seems to focus on the eulogy at Diana's funeral. 

Anyway -- I must get organized for the day. 

IT WILL BE A WONDERFUL DAY!!!!

Ciao!!!