Think before you Monetize!!!!

OH MY GOSH - I love the story about the chipmunks storing nuts in the car. Those little devils!!!! And YES - I need to change my search engine - old habits die hard!!! I MUST try and remember!!! Perhaps a sticky note on my computer—that will remind me!!!!

Guess what? While I can buy that puzzle I wanted online, someone taking the ferry this week just offered to buy it for me on the ferry. That will have so much more meaning to me than buying it online. Thank you!!!! I'm taking that person up on their offer. I'm excited, and I will get to see the gift shop without being there, as they were instructed to take a photo! Now I can take the seaplane across to the island. It's much faster! 

You have to love the trusted circle of friends. And yes—if you want something out there, we all know there are one or two that will do that whether you want them or not. That's where you can have some fun, but I won't go there this morning!

Gosh—so quick on the return of that other flight, I had another travel day!! 

For those of you who are not familiar, there are four levels of self-driving on a Tesla. The most aggressive is called Mad Max. Well, that was my Uber driver yesterday. He was pretty efficient and slightly aggressive, even though he was driving his Tesla manually. We were scheduled to arrive at the airport at 9:07; however, he managed to shave 4 minutes off that time, and it's only a 30-minute drive. Well, 30 with no traffic, and it was rush hour!

And I really, really wanted to touch the roof of that car. I don't know the model, but the roof is completely glass and looks very celestial, and the join between the roof and the top of the walls looks very surreal. Next time -- I'll touch it!! 

Before I left the house, I managed to clear my puzzle table, and there is the next puzzle. This one is for October, so I'm ready when I get home. 

The puzzle table is clear.

I also did one of those quick jobs before I left. I spotted this tote bag that had been embroidered many months ago, and at the time I had to open the side of the bag to stitch it out. Well, I decided it would be a great sample to have with me - not only because of the time of year, but also because we have a NEW embroidery hoop for the free arm, where I could have done this WITHOUT opening the bag. The new PFAFF free-arm hoop (200 by 260). So the seam got finished, and one more thing off the messy tables in Studio B. Yeah, me!!!!

My trick-or-treat bag

By the way -- the white is actually glow-in-the-dark thread! 


So while the drive to the airport was quick, the darn security line was a mess. There was hardly anyone there, but they were replacing the machines, so we had to use a different line, and I have no idea why it took so long. OH -- we had to remove our laptops from our bags, but still. It just seemed to take a long time. 

The skyline from the Uber car

I met up with my colleagues for a chat while we waited to board. Traveling with them is extremely stressful. Some of them get to the airport VERY EARLY, and then I feel like I'm late. I'm not!! Then I ran to Tim's to get in line for tea. What? There was NO lineup. This is unheard of. So I quickly got a tea and then boarded the plane. 

No line at Tim's

I got upgraded, but so did one of my colleagues, and we were sitting beside each other! So of course, I talked her ear off, and she probably just wanted to sleep. We had lots of time to talk, since we were pulled off into the deicing area and made to wait for almost an hour. I feel pretty lucky because that's the first time that's happened to me. Something to do with not getting a gate in Montreal, but usually we get to Montreal before we know there is a problem. 

Waiting in the deicing area 

This is the Montreal scene on the plane screens. I used to work at the spot where the picture was taken. This was the view I had from my window before our department was moved into the branch where the robbery took place. I ate lunch there many times. 

Place d'Armes

And then we arrived in Montreal. 

Montreal airport

I heard that getting to the car rental was a bit of an ordeal, and OH MY GOSH --- you had to walk for a very long time under the terminal and out the other side, and who knows exactly where we walked, but we finally got to a shuttle bus and then got dropped off. It's a bit of a zoo, to be sure!!!! Why couldn't the shuttle bus pick up at the terminal, as if we were getting a taxi? I have no idea, but if you have luggage or mobility issues, it's a huge problem. Thankfully, I got a cart so I didn't have to manhandle two suitcases that distance. I am being wise with my decisions these days. I'm feeling just fine - but taking it easy. 

  

At last on the shuttle bus

And we finally got to the hotel, where I noticed I am now Elite Gold. Only to realize from my colleagues that I am just the second level; there are two more above me!!! Oh well -- it doesn't matter. 

Elite Or level

Then we zipped over to the Salon Quebec location, found our booth, and did some minimal setup. Mostly, we got the tables in order and figured out which quilts needed to be hung first thing this morning. We have all day today to set up. All the show quilts were hung—the ladies and their helpers are extremely efficient. 

Here is the sneak peek I forwarded to my Monday sewing group. They were not impressed!!! 

Sneak peek at the Salon Quebec quilt show.

OK -- I hope I don't get into trouble with this next posting, but I stole it from M's Facebook page. 

Madeline Frances (on Facebook)

I AGREE with her 100%. EVERYONE is attempting to monetize their social media accounts, their hobbies, and their creativity!!!! They make pretty things not for the sake of making pretty things, but so they can make money from it. The competition is fierce, and the pressure is intense. 

I've been writing this blog for many years, and I intentionally chose not to monetize it. I did that for two reasons. First, I write for ME, and I get way more value from the writing than I ever would from money. Secondly, I had no idea how widespread my blog would go, and I still don't because I don't check the analytics. I write for me and only me, but the fact that some people found it and follow it—that makes me happy. Your comments and story sharing make me happy. But I want a safe place where you won't be bombarded with ads. Hopefully you don't get that, and I never see anything on the site. 

Just in the world of quilt pattern designers—how many versions of the log cabin do we need? Many designers design pieced animals - I know of four without even searching. And then designers make a fuss that someone ripped off their pattern. Why not enjoy the journey and stop letting the internet run your life? I don't have the answer to that question, but young moms use it to earn money while staying home. Again—I generalized, so don't yell at me—it's a much broader topic than I want to cover here. 

However you work it out - don't just monetize your HOBBY for the sake of making a living. Perhaps you can monetize something else, but not your hobby!!

Quilting is my hobby; however, I do make money in the quilting world, but I don't go above and beyond to monetize what I do. And I have other non-money-making hobbies like reading and puzzles. I will never monetize those. 

Thank goodness the person above me is gone for the day. I swear I always get the heavy walker above me, and they literally stomp, stomp through their morning routine!! Good grief—get a pair of socks on and glide across the floor. LOL -- I was awake anyway. WAIT -- they just came back - they must have been at breakfast!!

WAIT—I forgot to tell you about the fire alarm last night. I was in bed reading and all of a sudden (of course—fire alarms do not ramp up!), the alarm goes off. A brilliant flashing white light filled the room, plus loud beeps and whatever. Hmmmm --- do I get up? I got up and reached for my clothes—I was NOT going to walk in the hallway with no clothes on—I don't care how big the fire is! Good grief—since when am I so modest? It lasted only 30 seconds, and that was it! 

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

Ciao!!!!

Tradeschool or university?

 Although yesterday was our Monday sewing day, I didn't spend much time with the group. I had a doctor's appointment. Why? 

Well, I think I cracked/dislocated/broke a rib. I know—what a silly thing to happen. But the way it happened really worried me. I was at the physio, and I was on my tummy and getting some compressions on my back and POP - I heard something, and I felt something so strong that my leg flew up in the air as a reflex. 

I thought nothing of it until later, when the pain would NOT go away. I totally get that there is nothing to be done about rib issues - you just take meds and wait for it to heal. BUT I am worried that if it was a break or a crack, my bone density is suffering. 

I had an X-ray yesterday and will get results tomorrow. Then I'll book a physical, and I'll get a new bone density test to see if I'm improving with the dreaded medication! I feel OK, but then I'm on Tylenol 3 twice a day, and it's still painful at times. Sleeping is the worst - how do you get yourself up without pain? I have figured it out, so I'm good. 

I tried to book a physical with my doctor yesterday, but I'm not really free until November. I am, but I don't want to deal with it until November. She said it's way too early, and they always have room within days of calling. How many patients does our doctor have? 

The second thing that happened yesterday was this. 

The Odyssey - IMAX 70mm

DH has wanted to go to this movie ever since it was released, and it was extremely challenging to get tickets, especially in IMAX and even harder in IMAX 70 mm. Movies aren't my thing, but with Dillon's help, I got the IMAX 70 mm tickets. I just needed to know when to book them because once they are released, they go quickly, and I am NOT sitting in the second row from this giant screen. The movie is almost 3 hours long, and I was worried. Would I fall asleep? Would I be able to follow the storyline? 

At some point in my life, I read The Odyssey, and I thought they did a great job of portraying the story. The theatre was full, and everyone kept their phones on silent or dark. WHAT????? At one point, I thought I heard the person next to me's phone vibrate, but it wasn't a big deal. There was no pre-show entertainment as with other movies. There was ONE trailer for Dune (we already have tickets in IMAX 70 mm for Christmas Day), and that was it. The movie started. I think some people expected it to start a bit later because a few stragglers arrived after the movie started. 

I have to say that I was OK with the movie. Would it be my first choice? No, but it was a much better experience than I expected. And I think we convinced M to go, as Dillon wants to see the movie again! 

I'm leaving again today and have finalized the rest of my plans for this month - thank goodness for that, and I have a breather between trips. I was so worried about getting home from this trip next week and then taking off immediately. This way, I can space out my homework prep!!! 

I'm sure my groups just roll their eyes - I have dates scheduled, and then I have to change them because my work events change things. I swear scheduling dates, and such is NOT my forte. However, what I had to move were NOT classes people paid for; they are really just opportunities to touch base, so I'm not worried about that. I try very hard to NEVER change a class that they have paid for, but sometimes it happens. 

The two groups involved have already been notified, so if you didn't get a notification, then don't worry. 

Fall is definitely coming. The forest floor is even more littered with acorns. Not all of them seem to be empty -- did the squirrels leave some goodies behind? I spotted a couple of squirrels trying to take some small leafy branches up a tree. Perhaps they felt they needed more insulation in their nest for winter! Wouldn't you love to see one of the squirrel nuteries? 

The ground is littered with acorns.

I am not a fan of squirrels and chipmunks, and I find them becoming quite aggressive. They are crawling all over the roofs of houses trying to find a cheap way to live this winter! They're even more aggressive in our backyard. However, Miss Murphy was on duty yesterday trying to keep them away. 

Mr. Squirrel --- STOP right there! 

She might not be able to run as much as she wants after them, but one big bark should do the trick! I'm very happy to report that we have all settled into a new routine with her. Shorter, more frequent walks, helping her up the stairs, and so on—it's all working out, and hopefully she will continue to be herself for a few more years. Nothing has changed her enthusiasm for life! 

It's kind of like dealing with aging parents. Once you get over the shock that their physical capabilities have changed, then you learn to adapt and move on!!!!

One more sign that fall is close is the trees changing color. I love watching these trees change color, and these ones will become brilliant red. 

Leaves are changing color.

Oh - back to the movie. I splurged on a large bag of popcorn, which I didn't finish because it got very salty toward the end. And I had a bottle of water, which I didn't drink all of so I wouldn't have to go to the bathroom. 

Snacks for the movie

Speaking of the bathroom, here are the tiles at the theatre, just in case you were wondering what they looked like! That could become a quilt, but it has a bit too much black for me; it could be changed!

Tiles in the movie theatre bathroom

Oh my gosh—I spotted this on my social media, and I haven't stopped laughing! Yep—that pretty much sums up my life: I solve all my problems with quilting! 

Too funny!

I seem to be getting a lot of words-of-wisdom-type posts these days, and I'm OK with that. I love this one, which was focused on sewing. 

Mistakes are your friend!!!

I cannot stress enough that almost everything I have learned comes from experimenting (which people are afraid of) and making mistakes (which people are terrified of!). You need to put those emotions away and embrace experimenting and making mistakes. The materials cost for both is minimal. Have you ever thrown out a cake that flopped? What about a plant that died? 

It's kind of like going to university. I think university wasn't about learning facts. It was about learning skills. You learned how to research, write, manage your time, and many other things. YES -- you learned facts, but none of them are relevant today. But knowing how to research and write are lifelong skills. 

EXCEPT in the face of AI, those skills matter less. So why do we go to university? Personally, I think trade school is a far better choice, and while AI can assist in the trades, it cannot take over. Job security? I'd go with a trade! 

Imagine going to school and getting a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in marketing. Hmmm—where do you even begin to find a job? And the chances of you keeping that job are likely slim. So then you spend more time looking for another job. 

But let's say you go to school to become a plumber. You are always a plumber! You join the union, you apprentice, and then you are a plumber for life. It doesn't mean you are a big, uneducated oaf, which some people associate with tradespeople. These trade skills are changing because of technology, and the technology they deal with is often more sophisticated than what people who went to university use. 

Do NOT underestimate the power of the trades, nor their knowledge. They are smart—and they earn a very decent salary. If you have someone in your life looking for something in life -- encourage them to learn a trade! For the average person, which most of us are, they will be much better off. 

Office jobs are more likely to be taken over by AI, while trades will be assisted by AI but won't completely disappear. 

It's funny, I was talking to someone who has worked in logistics for many years, and they said that unloading a truck, sorting the packages, getting them on the beltways in the warehouse is NOT something that AI can do. I forgot to ask how big the crew was, but they have up to 30 trailers to unload in a night. Can you imagine? Those are 53-foot-long trailers, by the way! 

Yeah -- the day has come!!!! The Villager puzzle company, which seems to be pumping out puzzles faster than you can count, has released this new one. This puzzle will only be sold on the Villager website OR the gift shop on the BC Ferries. I am so tempted to take the ferry on my next trip just to buy the puzzle that way. I still have time to decide, and you know what? I may do that. It just takes a lot of time to take that darn ferry! 

Cynthia's latest puzzle with Villager

Even better news: this puzzle is artwork by Cynthia Frenette. Cynthia drew the puzzle for M's wedding. I love what she creates, and this puzzle is called Coastal Hiking. How cool is that? I swear - jigsaw puzzling is booming right now!! 

I spotted this a couple of days ago. While I consider myself lucky and have a lot of people around me that I trust, there are a few people in my circle that I do NOT trust. 

I don't need to reveal who they are, but I know who they are, and I take what they tell me with a grain of salt. What people don't realize is that if you think keeping your information "secret" is good, then you can think that. But other people know of your story, and that gets back to me! Don't worry—it doesn't involve anyone who reads my blog—well, maybe that person does! That would be hilarious! 

And information is golden! If something goes wrong, I go straight to the right people and let them know something awkward/bad happened, like the iron and Maureen. If that got back to my boss, she likely wouldn't care, but by letting her know immediately, no one can hold that over me!! And I think everyone had a laugh about it. I'm laughing about it - such a silly little detail, and I never thought of it! That's what bugs me more than Maureen outing me on it! 

Well, the laundry is done, my bags are packed, and I just have to finish off the blog and walk the girls, and then I'm off to Montreal for Salon Quebec. It is held in St. Hyacinthe, which is about 45 minutes east of Montreal, so if you are in the area, be sure to stop by our booth. And yes—I'll lift that silly suitcase carefully. I can lift - I just have to be careful. 

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

Ciao!!!!

Progress on the UFOs

I love how we are all working together to keep our houses neat and decluttered. YES—I have an older laptop and a desktop that both need cleaning up; it shouldn't take too much time (right?), and then we can donate them. There is no sense in keeping them. I also kept my desktop "just in case." Actually, the old desktop was needed to print things, but the new computer prints just fine now. So both can go. They are in the office and will have to wait until I can get there. 

Elle - you can continue to regale us with your decluttering stories! Somewhere along the line, you got it right from the start. The rest of us are playing catch-up! It's "nice" to know even you struggle to get rid of some things. You are human after all! Thanks for the stories -- no need to stop!

But here's the thing—once we let go, we don't regret it. We relish the new freedom, the new table and chairs, the new empty space, or whatever it is, and then we know how good that will feel next time, so getting rid of things becomes so much easier. 

I spent a good part of the day working on some homework for an October class. If I showed you, that group would eagerly jump in to start sewing. And well, the purpose of the class is to show them the trouble areas—oh yes—a seam ripper was required, along with a few other tips. So those homework pictures are safely stored in the appropriate folder for October.

I needed some show-and-tell for you, so I finished off the two winter quilts. Remember, these are relatively small - they are wall hangings. 

Quilt number one

Quilt number two

And so you don't think I cheated (LOL) and used the same picture twice, or the same quilt with two different pictures, here's a picture of both! 

YES -- there are two quilts!

I even made the binding for both. 

Binding for the two quilts and the pattern

But then, do you think I could find the backing I pulled the other day? Absolutely not! It was nowhere to be found. Then I opened the project box to find some 3D bells to put with this quilt, and VOILA - there was the backing - in the project box, where it was supposed to be. Funny, I didn't find the 3D bells in this box, but I found beads I can use instead. I will put them in a small bag and attach it to the quilts, but not stitch the beads on until they are quilted. 

The missing backing

I'll organize the backings later today. One pattern, the summer one, remains in this box, and I would like to make that (two of them to keep the sets) happen in 2027. In the meantime, I'll put away all the bits and bobs I won't use for the winter quilts, then keep the summer pattern and a few buttons in a smaller basket. I can reuse the project box for something else on that table. 

I started these quilts in 2004, so they definitely qualify as UFOs; I had one made (or parts of it), and I used the other to demo the parts while teaching them in person. I think I did that for two years (five quilts in total), and I never did that again! 

I didn't take a picture, but so far, the only things on those two extra tables are the current projects for classes - that are three of them. The scraps are on a different table. And on the second current-project table are the T-shirts for those quilts, plus a couple of tubs of things that could be easily accomplished in 60 minutes. Funny—since I set those out, I haven't had a spare 60 minutes to make one. 

There is still some stuff on the floor, and I won't have time to deal with it for a while. I'm OK with that. 

Murphy is often the one you get to see, but let's not forget our beautiful Lexi. She loves to sleep in her bed beside her DAD while he watches TV. I think she would still like to be on the sofa beside him, but it was looking pretty bad, so it's been gone for a couple of years. This works just fine! And yes, she is a cutie, and she knows it! 

MOM - no pictures, please - I don't want someone to steal me! 

Do you get Country Living? There was an article about quilting in the June/July 2026 issue. 

Country Living June/July 2026

The article is actually a bunch of snippets about various things related to quilting, celebrating the United States' 250th anniversary. Quilting came to America from Europe, but the US has definitely made a huge mark on quilting's success and progress. 

Quilts carry a lot of heritage and history, and here is one of the more famous quilts. 

Reconciliation Quilt

OMG—I went to find a link to that quilt, and the first thing that popped up was a 300-piece jigsaw puzzle. Do you think my search engine knows me or what? It's amazing how quickly those search engines (and even quicker if they have AI attached) learn your habits. So even though you are doing the searching, you are not really. And then are we only getting to see what the algorithms want us to see? That's the scary part. When we did manual searches in a library, we were 100% in control - we are no longer in control. 

I did a second search, and here is the information about the quilt. 

There was a brief timeline over the last 250 years, and this was the final entry. I'm hearing this over and over again from lots of different sources. I can only hope that this is happening, and I applaud the younger generation for stepping away from their screens. If you have ANYONE who even breathes the words, "I want to learn to sew," grab them and sit them down with fabric and a sewing machine! 

Can it be so? I sure hope!!!

Since I brought puzzling back into my life, I am scrolling less, and I'm loving it! I'd rather be an active participant in something (solving a logic puzzle or putting a jigsaw puzzle together) than mindlessly scrolling. 

Now here is something else that warms my heart and makes my head happy. Now that I'm seeing the cognitive issues in my family, I'm not worried, but it does give me pause to think. And this is certainly NOT a scientific test. There are five children in Mom's family - she is the eldest. Four girls and the last one is a boy. They are between the ages of 83 and 90 - I think that is right. 

All of them know how to use their hands, but only one of the girls became a quilter. A true and true quilter like myself needs to figure out patterns, cut small bits of fabric, and then sew them back together again. Of the five, she is in the best physical and mental shape, although I didn't get a chance to see her these past two trips. Life was not easy on our aging bodies in my family. Knees are the worst!

The moral of this story is: become a quilter, and you won't lose your marbles! OK -- so I love to generalize like that. BUT wait -- have a look at this that I spotted when I did take a few minutes to scroll through social media. I think you can click on the pictures to enlarge them. If you can't read that, there is a link here to the same kind of information. 

Seriously? If I were of any age and I spotted that, give me a rotary cutter and some fabric. I am quite happy to be a quilter, and if it's going to help prolong my mental health, I couldn't be happier. So the next time your family says, "Mom -- why do you keep making quilts? You tell them that not only is it your therapy for your peace, but it's your therapy to keep your marbles! And then offer to teach them to sew! I would hand out copies of the above so they get it! And then tell them, it's none of their business how you spend your time. 

One other thing I want to share this morning. I also spotted this on social media. There were many other pictures, but this is so true. What the heck is happening to our society? 

While I'm not sure I want green fixtures in the bathroom, you can add color with accessories. But this neutral business is a bit much for me. We have a red car, and as long as we can buy a NON-neutral car, we will. I really need to wear more bright colors, as I tend to wear black a lot, but I'm not afraid to wear color and can sometimes be seen in the summer with orange shorts and a pink top or vice versa. Why not? 

I typically wear my orange flowers in my hair. For the wedding, I wore pale green that matched my outfit, and I look like a washed-out old lady. I'm OK with it - it can't be changed, but I wish I had not changed the color of my hair band! It was for M that I did it, but I won't again. I'm OK with it - but drat -- the pale flowers in my mousey hair? Boring! Looking at the pictures, I see that pale green is not my friend! I need bright colors to make my hair and skin shine. We do things for our kids, but now that she is married, I can wear whatever I want, when I want! 

I must get myself organized for the day. I did NOT get to the gym - there is a good reason for that, and I'm not prepared to share with you this morning. I have a doctor's appointment today, and all will be revealed. It's ridiculous. 

Plus DH and I have a BIG adventure this afternoon. I can hardly wait to see what all the hype is about. We have Dillon (new SIL) to thank for that. I'll give you all the details tomorrow. 

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

Ciao!!!!

Some like it hot!

Oh my gosh --- such great comments! Try to go back to yesterday to read them. Amazing how sometimes the husband is the hanger-on and sometimes it's the wife. But whoever it is—there is an important message: if we save something because we are afraid of breaking it, we'll never use it. If it breaks? Who cares! It is an object! An object that no one wants once we are gone. That is something that so many people don't seem to comprehend. That item will unceremoniously go into the thrift shop, where someone might buy it for one of those wine-glass-throwing parties. And you never got to enjoy one single drop, while someone worked out their anger and frustration, or just for the fun of it -smashing your precious wine glass! 

I confess I have always wanted to do that. Take some glassware or china and just smash it for the fun. I have never done that, but wouldn't it be cool? OK -- now where do I find one of those fun houses? 

As for the gift idea—what a smart idea. When you visit your kids and see what a beautiful home they have made for themselves, and the fact that there is ZERO room in their house for your china/crystal or brown furniture - will that change your mind? Never mind that your stuff doesn't fit their decor - I bet their house doesn't have a big open spot earmarked "Mom's buffet!" in it! 

Nope—I doubt there is any extra room because they have filled the house with THEIR memories. After seeing their lifestyle, giving them gifts that work for them - spa days, travel vouchers, or whatever things they want is brilliant. But unnecessary clutter, like buying a new lamp that they likely won't use? Why bother. The item will likely end up in the thrift store, and you might as well have saved your money. 

And kids need to be honest with their parents. DO NOT say to your parents, "Oh, I'll take that item, but I can't right now." Guess what? If they really want the item, they'll make room. No -- they are just prolonging the dream for YOU, not them! Thankfully, M is pretty blunt - perhaps too blunt sometimes (OH gosh -- I sound just like my Mom! LOL), but you know what? Blunt is good. We don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but it's good to be honest with your parents. Just soften the blow, please! 

Gosh -- we are all so smart! 

I have a bit of travel this coming month, and when I'm back, I hope things settle down for the remaining two months of the year. Then I can attack the kitchen, the closets, and the office with a vengeance. Studio B may be a different story, but at least the remainder of the house will be clear. And then all I need to focus on is Studio B. I'm OK with that. 

I had to walk the girls together yesterday, and you would swear there is nothing wrong with Murphy. She was at the end of her leash and wanted to be in front, just her usual rambunctious self. She does have back leg issues, but she's doing quite well. We have perfected the method to get up the stairs, and I'm letting her use as much of her weight as she can. I use the support strap mostly to prevent her from slipping. It does happen, but I've got her! It all works! Phew -- I'm glad to get that sorted out. 

MOM - I can hear you talking about me! 

I went to my event yesterday, and everything was good. As usual, we had a great time and lots of laughs. I stopped at Tim's to get a bagel for lunch and some tea. Have you ever wondered about your order? I know they are trying to avoid huge line-ups, but how the heck do they actually toast a bagel in under 30 seconds? 

My toasted bagel

If I get a bagel, I always ask for it toasted. I don't eat it hot, so I have no idea why I ask for it that way. It comes to me HOT, or at least as hot as it would be if it were toasted. But how does it happen so quick? Or do they slap it in the microwave to warm it up and then put the cream cheese on it? 

I'm curious if anyone has made this quilt? I saw it at a store recently, and I really like the quilt. I don't think the quilt is easy to put together, despite the designer classifying it as a confident beginner. It's called Cog in the Wheel by Teresa Down Under.  

Perhaps if you paper-piece it - that would be fine, but to piece it? That's an intermediate at least. 

I did a wee bit of tidying up yesterday, but I was exhausted by the end of the day and had a long nap. Oh my goodness, and then I had a good sleep even though I had a nap. Nothing super physical happened, but the mental fatigue was there. I think I am caught up now and back to normal, until Tuesday when I leave again. 

I have already started the homework for the October classes because I won't have much free time, and those presentations MUST get done. Oh great—I just checked my calendar, and I'm working on the later class in October, NOT the ones I'm supposed to be working on first. I guess I'll finish what I'm doing today and then dig out the next one! Good thing I checked! 

I'm loving those logic problems. It's one thing that comes very easily to me. I have done them since I was a teen, and it's just loads of fun to decipher the clues and figure out who did what, when! 

Has anyone read Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy? I'm 75% through the audio version, and I'm a bit on the fence. I like the storyline; love the narrators, and I mostly like the characters, but this is a classic case of keeping big secrets when do the secrets really need to be kept? I haven't unearthed all the secrets yet, so maybe there is a good reason. I've got two days left before the book is due. 

Can you believe I only have FOUR books on my Libby shelf? That's the digital library shelf. Two are audio, and two are ebooks, and I'm listening to one audio and reading one ebook. When I'm done, one of each is waiting for me. I seem to have gotten things under control. When a "skip the line" book comes in, I ignore it. And I have a couple that will need to be unsuspended, but not quite yet. 

I have NOTHING to do today! I think I'll spend the day in Studio B, cleaning up more things, and I have to get a few things organized to take to Salon Quebec on Tuesday. And I must work on the homework assignments.

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

Ciao!!!!

An unventful travel day!

As I sit surrounded by junk in the office, I remind myself of the list I put together yesterday. I don't have time to deal with any of it today, but I'll keep plugging away at it. I just might have more incentive now. 

OH—there is one thing I need to add to that list, and this is NOT new. 

USE the good things NOW!!!! I don't care if this is your favorite china, crystal, or the FABRIC that is too good to cut. If you don't use it now, someone is going to take your precious china and dump it unceremoniously outside a thrift store drop box. That good fabric? It might go on the back of a community project quilt or be chopped into tiny pieces. If you don't use it now and enjoy what you bought, then someone else will do with it as they wish. 

It's like my china tea mugs. I bought them, put them in the cupboard for a special day. Then about ten years ago- no, make that eight years ago, as I bought them ten years ago- I started using them. EVERY DAY! I put them in the dishwasher even though it fades the paint. I DON'T CARE. I have two, and one day I use one and the next day it's the other. I am enjoying them - I get a wee thrill every time I pull them from the cupboard. When I'm gone - those mugs can go in the trash. I'm not kidding about the thrill - I LOVE those mugs, and using them makes me feel special - they have bicycles all over both of them, and they are fun! 

When I am gone, M might say, "I want one of those tea mugs because it was Mom's favorite." And they are my favorites because I USE them whenever I am at home. And only for tea and never in the microwave. Something doesn't become special when it's stored in a box in the back of the cupboard.  

Thankfully, I never got into the china-and-crystal thing. I have NOTHING exceptional in the dish department, EXCEPT for those two mugs. 

LOL --- I just checked my email, and I see that I've been upgraded in advance for my next flight in a couple of days, which is only an hour-long flight. It doesn't matter -- I'll take the upgrade when I can. But I never seem to get upgraded for the long flights. 

Yep—I'm back home, and I'm tired, but I'm off to work today. I'll be doing some demos of the PFAFF creative icon 3 at Sew Productive, in Acton. One session starts at 9 AM and the second one is at 2 PM. It's free, so if you are around and want to see what all the hype is about, come and check it out.

As far as travel days go, it was uneventful, which is just how I like it. I zipped over to my parents' in the morning, chatted for over an hour, and tried to tidy up some last-minute details. Only the bank is giving us grief, and I need to call them because there is one transaction we can't do online, and I'm not sure why. 

I know people drive through Saskatchewan and say it is so boring. People say the same about the Meseta part of the Camino in Spain. People ---- you get to see for miles, and the vistas do not disappoint. As many times as I have seen those wide-open spaces, I never tire of it. It's some of the most beautiful country in the world. The next time you want to drive across the country, please do NOT bypass Saskatchewan. It's beautiful in a different way than the mountains. 

Gassed up the car and dropped off the rental car. Since it was NOT at the airport location, they gave me a lift, so that was good. Then I filled up my water bottle at the refillable water station. And yes—that is my Booster Juice shake. I was running out of hands to hold everything. I didn't have to wait too long, and we were ready to board the plane. 

Refillable water station

I have no idea why I was so exhausted, but I was asleep before the plane even took off! The next thing I know, we have been in the air for almost an hour! I didn't do anything physical, but it was exhausting mentally. I went to bed early, and I could probably still be asleep if I had time. But that's OK. 

Thankfully, I had all my samples sitting on a table in Studio B, so all I needed to do was grab a small suitcase and throw them in. 

I LOVE these logic puzzle books. I'm speeding right along in this one, and I'm somewhere in the 30s. There are 50 in the book, so ONLY after I finish this one will I allow myself to start a new one. Some are quick; a couple of them have given me grief, but it all keeps the brain active. I will do whatever I can to keep my mental faculties working. Dementia seems to run in my family (sigh), so I have to try to prevent it from attacking my brain cells. At least it hits (if it's going to) in the 80s, so I still have time! 

Logic puzzles

Before bed, I tidied up a few things in Studio B. A small gift from someone at the retreat. Two crocheted dishcloths and a scrub pad. You can never have too many dishcloths.

New dishcloths and a scrubby

Those scrub pads are crocheted, and this is what they are made of. The one above isn't sparkly, but this ball that I purchased is. I had thrown it in my bag to work on at retreat. Alas, that wasn't to be this time. 

Yarn to make a scrubby

I also acquired a new puzzle from someone, so it is now added to the pile, and this one isn't going to be easy!!!! I won't have time for a couple of weeks to work on a puzzle, but I'll do what I can. Maybe I can get the next one sorted, and that would be great. It's a good activity for the evening when your brain is dead. 

A new jigsaw puzzle

And darn those new food labels. I wondered if anything would be classified with all three "bad" items, and yes—I spotted this on the kitchen counter this morning. DH bought half a pumpkin pie because you can't live for fall without one. 

The warning label on the pumpkin pie

The trick is to LIMIT, but not eliminate foods with those warnings! I tried—I really tried — to eat better on this past trip, but I wasn't always successful. It is what it is. 

I have to run because I need to walk the girls. They were so excited to see me last night, but I think all they wanted was a walk, and I was tired. So now I will have to walk them together this morning because of time, and they are going to be wild! Slow and steady. 

It will be a WONDERFUL day!!!!!!

Ciao!!!!

A checklist for aging!

If you get a chance, go back and read yesterday's comments. There is some very valuable information in there from people who have dealt with or are currently dealing with family downsizing, elder care, etc. 

This ongoing experience is teaching me a lot. See—even when we think we know it all and have nothing left to learn from our parents, they step right back into our lives and teach us more! 

While we mostly learn WHAT to do, we also learn valuable lessons about what NOT to do. Here are some of my insights:

Avoid hoarding: It's tough. My parents' generation lived in the depression (or were born during the depression) and had nothing, so having things around them - even unvaluable things is important. Can you imagine the kids of today living through a depression? Do they even know what that is? 

Let stuff go! If you no longer need something, get rid of it! Your house looks nicer; you have physical and mental room to enjoy life. 

Do NOT wish to die in your home! This was Mom's story all along—she was never going to move from the farm (by the way, she was born on the farm about two miles from where she spent her entire life). There is the issue of safety and, in her case, getting the proper medical attention needed - well, that is for both Mom and Dad. They were EXTREMELY reluctant to move, but once they did and they settled in - guess what? BEST decision THEY ever made. A little secret here—they did NOT decide; their health needs dictated that they move, but we'll let them think they had a choice! 

Don't wait until it's too late! If you wait until you are older to move from your house, you are that much frailer, less able to make decisions, and getting rid of stuff is that much harder. I have an age in mind for when to move, but you know what? I may have to reconsider that, and sometimes, I think it would be so nice to go on vacation, lock the front door, and not worry about a thing. Freedom! 

START DOWNSIZING NOW: I don't care if you are 15 or 65 or 95 -- you can't take it with you. Start getting rid of anything you never use. I must take that to heart with my stuff—there is so much in the house that we don't use, and we have been downsizing for 15 years! I'm thinking particularly with clothing, and I've already gotten rid of half of what I had. And I need to tackle those quilts --- they need to go! 

STOP BUYING STUFF: If you think you want it, don't buy it yet. If you really, really want it -- then go back and buy it. OK -- I need to have a wee chat with myself because I have had a buying spree or two and I need to stop that DEAD!

Get all your paperwork in ORDER NOW: That means wills, health directives, POA, and any other important papers. Birth certificates, bank and investment accounts, and whatever else you deem important. Oh yes—let's not forget our social insurance numbers. If you still live in your house, what utilities do you pay for, etc.? Dig out all the account numbers and type it up or put it in a folder or whatever works, but get it together. 

Don't be afraid to ask questions if there is something you don't know. Dad threw me for a loop yesterday when he asked, "Who do we call if someone dies?' Wow— I had never thought about that. I assumed it was 911, even though it is no longer an emergency if they are dead. We Googled it and chatted with friends, and yes—you call 911. 

Information should be available to those who need it. If you have a health directive with things like a DNR or other pertinent medical directions, make sure the person responsible knows about it and has the paper in hand so that, if needed, they can make the appropriate decisions. You might also want to put a copy on your fridge in case you have a medical crisis. If the person on the health directive isn't handy, emergency response teams can access the information and act accordingly. They will always try to resuscitate unless they have other directions. And the document for a DNR must be official - it cannot be a handwritten note! 

Do NOT be afraid of death. OK -- this one might be tough, but I was so reluctant to talk about death and funerals and the "what if," which I now just call "when" because, let's face it, they are going to pass, and it will be within the next decade. No one likes to think of their parents' or other loved ones' death. However, we have been to the funeral home (several times) and had other discussions, and guess what? I'm happy to talk about this stuff, and I don't need to cry. OK -- shedding a tear here! Have those tough conversations with them now - it will save you so much heartache in the future, and I think it will make our parents feel more comfortable. They have accepted fate; we need to, too. 

If you are struggling with any kind of thing in the house - DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Hire help, move, or whatever it takes, but don't just accept that as the only way. If stairs are a struggle, then move. If your house is too cluttered and you can't do anything about it, then hire someone to come in and get rid of stuff. If you can't get in the bathtub for a bath, install a shower or move to a place where you can safely bathe. 

Don't compromise your safety because you are too proud. If someone says you need a cane or a walker or whatever for stability -- get a cane or a walker. Who the heck cares if you need a cane? Have you looked around your neighborhood? If I need a cane - give me one! 

Maintain your mobility and strength for as long as you can! This means exercising to the best of your ability. And if you dislike the word exercise, then think of it as just being active. Don't use the remote - get out of the chair and change the channel. Walk to the kitchen to get something, instead of asking someone else. Chair squats, lifting cans of soup to maintain upper body strength -- whatever it takes, but do NOT NOT NOT take your mobility for granted! 

And I'm sure other things can go on that list. If you have something to add, let me know, and I will type it up pretty when I get home. I need to refine this list and put it on my fridge because I do NOT want to be caught in any of those situations, and I see a few I can improve. It's not that I need to make my life perfect, but I need to ensure that the people in my house are safe and that we are not creating issues for our children. 

OK -- I got that off my chest! I bet Mom and Dad will be so happy when I leave this morning. It's been an exhausting mental and physical couple of days, and while we covered a lot of ground, they still have a couple of things to consider. I'll be making some lists. 

We now have a book in place - well, it was before, but I've added to the book, and I have a list of all the documents in the book with the date of issue so we know that is the most recent copy. A copy of that will go in the book as well, but they don't have a working printer at the moment. That must kill them because Dad used to print everything, and the printer hasn't worked for a couple of years. That saved a LOT of trees!

Here is the wooden puzzle I bought the other day. Trust me—I have a rule with puzzles, and I am following it: I make them and give them away. This one is pricey—only a very worthy person will get it, and I have someone in mind. 

My wooden puzzle

This will be me one day. This is the stack of puzzles in the common room at my parents' apartment. They trade puzzles with other groups, or people like me drop them off, and it keeps them going. It's a great social thing, although I would have to STOP wanting to only do the puzzle myself! I can do that! 

The puzzle stash at my parents' apartment

OK -- seriously though - puzzles are everywhere here. We stopped at the drugstore, and there was a rack of puzzles, including a couple of wooden puzzles. 

Puzzles at the drugstore

And look - there was a quilt puzzle. I did NOT buy it. 

Quilt puzzle

This was one of our many stops - the cemetery. And this is Dad in front of his infant son's grave. 

Dad in front of infant son's grave

It's funny how not so long ago all trips to my parents were strictly for "pleasure." And within the last eleven years since they moved off the farm, all the trips have involved some form of getting all the crap dealt with! It's all fun and games, and while we are far from perfect and I'm sure we've prepared as much as we can, something will still rear its ugly head when the time comes. But we are far ahead of the game. That's all I care about. And I have the contacts and information if I need anything. Since I have reviewed it all many times, if any questions arise, I can answer them on the phone without reviewing the documents. 

Next time, I sure hope I can start clearing out a few things. How to convince my Mom? Mom has always considered me to be "too chatty (she uses a different word) for my own good." And let's just say that her definition isn't kind. But you know what? If someone doesn't take the bull by the horns, we are all going to get run over! She isn't a take-charge kind of person, and she can't handle seeing me do that. Who cares - I don't care. But it makes it darn difficult to get anything done.

We managed to get almost everything done, except one thing, which we'll keep working on. And I'm happy to say that my estranged brother and I had a wonderful two-hour chat in the coffee shop. It was just like old times - almost! And he is doing a great job at dealing with day-to-day stuff. I feel content going home, knowing that. I couldn't ask for more, and I'll keep doing what I can from a distance. 

I don't think I've ever talked to my brothers as much as I did this week! But everyone is on the same page; everyone knows the situation and the critical triggers for the next step. They don't know the details of some stuff - they don't need to know until the time comes. That works for all of us. 

Well, that was a very "wordy" post, and my Mom would say that I am too vocal, but who cares - get over it! 

What you do in your home, with your stuff, and with your accumulation of stuff is your business, just as what I do with mine is mine. PLEASE do not let it become a safety issue in your home, and for heaven's sake DO NOT SAY that you'll leave it for the kids. Your kids did NOT create that mess—it is YOUR responsibility to get rid of your footprint in life. Some of the houses I've been in this week make me cringe. I want to get the garbage bags and start clearing the kitchen table, the counter, and so much more. 

Thank goodness I brought all my digital data with me, as I needed something yesterday, and I was able to accommodate the request, and it is done! I love my new office setup - I can work from anywhere with ALL my digital data! Yes -- I know - it needs to be cleaned with a backup. I KNOW!!!! 

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


Ciao!!!!