The Zen of tidying up!

I got one task out the door last night - well, not out the door, but it was completed, so that was good. I have one more urgent thing to work on today, but I need space to work before doing that. It was not just physical space; my brain needed to see some empty flat surfaces. 

As I pulled out patterns or other needed items, the cutting mat had become the dumping ground. I took photos, and then everything got left. I'm happy to report that the mess on the one cutting mat is done, and I can cut stuff! It didn't take long, but it needed to be done. And it's darn therapeutic. Slow and steady, and before you know it - poof! Everything is back in its home. As I've often said, when an item does NOT have a home, that's a big problem! The item becomes clutter because it has nowhere to rest. 

The messy cutting mat

I had several embroidery hoops on the cutting table; they are all back in their home. I'm happy to report that I remembered to detach the embroidery hoop adapter, and it's in the proper place. That darn thing is easily forgotten on a hoop, and I can't find it when I need it! 

The machine embroidery attachment

I had been using a lot of machine embroidery thread, and rather than putting it back in the storage boxes, it got shoved into an empty box. The container of thread that needed to be put away is on the left, and the thread boxes are the rest. 

A mess of threads to deal with

I had been using some metallic thread, and it was a mess. However, when I went to put it away, it didn't all fit in the container. Hmmm—did the lid close before? 

Metallic thread won't fit in the box

So, back to the place where I have a few empty containers, I found this box, which is the same as the other thread boxes I use, and it all fits!!! I have a few extra storage boxes. There are fewer than ten; depending on my needs, I check there first. It doesn't take up a lot of room, and it sure saves running to the store when I need something. The pile is constantly revolving as I need a bigger or smaller container for something. 

The new home for metallic threads

Oh shoot—I found another almost empty box with random threads, mostly metallic or variegated. The metallic threads are now in that box with the other. For now, the variegated thread will stay in this box. It's a challenge to know what color they are!!! 

More threads to find a home for

The embroidery arm is off the Designer EPIC 3. It's ready for some sewing and quilting later today. 

The sewing space

And now look—those two work tables are clear! That makes me so happy! The rest of the place is a disaster, but at least I have a nice, clear space to sew. I have some upcoming events, and there are samples or partially made samples sitting around. I'll be glad in the middle of June, when the last event is over for several months, when I can actually put some stuff away. 

Two work tables are tidy!

Then, I need some days to myself when I can start working on one table and continue making things until that table is empty. Hmm—I keep saying that, but will it ever happen? I hope so! 

Instead of doing some appliqué this morning, I loaded a quilt on the long arm. I'm not sure I'll have time to quilt it today, as I have a doctor's appointment and need to pick some quilts up for the Quilt Canada concurrent show. But I'll double-dip on my walk and the doctor's appointment, so that will save some time this afternoon. It's all going to work—I'm not worried. 

It's hard to see in this photo, but the fabric along the fold is faded and dirty. That's what happens when fabric sits out in a store and no one wants it! Does anyone remember Canadian Idol? I had to buy the fabric! And now it's backing a community project quilt! 

Faded and dirty fabric along the fold

As a rule, I am NOT one to walk and look at my phone, but as I entered the gym yesterday, I wanted to see the hockey scores, so I was walking and looking at my phone. I totally forgot that the male and female change rooms have been switched for the last two weeks. I walked past this sign and was about to enter the men's locker room when I noticed a guy walking out. OH!!! Wrong place! This sign is pretty big and a bit of a walk to the women's locker room. Yikes!!! 

Temporary women's locker room

I got a chuckle when I walked to my car after class. I don't park close to the door—the extra steps help with my daily requirements. Was there a memo yesterday? Are only red cars allowed to park in this section? You can just make out the back of my car in the distance! 

The red car parking lot

It's rare to find that many red cars in the same spot. Almost everything is black, white, and grey, although those matte, gun metal colors are becoming popular. I'm not a fan. But look at this car, which I spotted on my way home. It's a bright yellow car! Now, that one will stick out in any parking lot. 

Speaking of steps. Between tidying and loading the quilt, I've clocked over 2000 steps this morning! 

Those leaves I've been watching are almost out! 

Spring leaves

And here's something you don't see often. Well, I didn't want these guys to think I was a nutcase, but two men were driving around the forest paths, just checking stuff out. Their truck is behind the tree! 

Maintenance people are checking the forest in their white truck

I walked a book back to the library and picked up a few groceries. Can you believe that little bag carried $90 worth of groceries home? I bought a container of dishwashing pods and a box of protein bars, which were almost $60. 

My grocery bag

I used to carry groceries home in a backpack, but it's too tall to pack. This little shopping bag works just fine. And if I have to go back every couple of days? It's a big deal—it's close, and everything will be fresher! Can you believe it's almost three years or maybe longer since I've been walking to the grocery store? 

Look who has been visiting my bathroom! The darn thing is all over the place, and I haven't the heart to find a new home for it! It's not hurting me. 

My new friend

I'm off to the doctor today to get the results of the MRI, which I had over a month ago. While I know something is still not right, the stretching, strength training, and better posture have helped enormously with the pain. Even the charley horse in my leg has mostly disappeared. Let's see what the results say and then go from there. I bet the bottom line is that I keep stretching and strength training, and I will be just fine. That's way better than surgery or telling me I have to deal with the pain for life. 

The other day, I talked about high maintenance, and someone said I sound like I'm high maintenance with all my exercise. I don't consider that HIGH maintenance. I feel exercise is regular maintenance that we all need to do. HIGH maintenance is the frivolous stuff, and I'm not into that! I find that the more I exercise, the better I feel. The more I loosen my shoulders, the better my posture is, and the fatigue in my back is significantly reduced. My legs don't hurt as much when I walk, and my low back/leg pain is almost non-existent. Call it what you will, I am committed to keeping that pain at bay as long as I can. My knees are not always happy, but they are better! Ageing is not fun, but I aim to age as gracefully as possible! 

Oh my—there is paperwork to do, emails to answer, and more appointments to be made! It just doesn't end!! 

But I'll take one day at a time, decide what is urgent for the day, and then go from there! 

Have a great day!!

Ciao!!

The art of doing nothing!

YES -- the walker will be adjusted, and YES -- the height is often the problem. DH instructed me to pay close attention to that little detail. That's why someone needs to drop it off so it is adjusted to her, and I MUST call today to make that happen!

Well, this is the third time in a row that the FitBit has died. There was no warning; it just died. That means it is definitely time to replace it. Maybe later this week, I can make that happen. I might wait until next week when I have a maintenance appointment for the car, and the place to buy the new activity tracker is in that area. Then I make a shopping trip during the waiting time, which works for me. Plus, I get my walk in for the day as I walk along that stretch of road. 

I accomplished some work throughout the day, but I also did a bad thing. I got hooked on this novel, and well, around dinner time, I said, "Forget work and finish the book," which I did! That's not a bad thing, but I really have things that are due, and now that the book is done, I MUST not touch another book until two things are complete. 

Once those two things are complete, the merry-go-round starts all over again with new projects. Don't worry—my subconscious and I are working, but the problem is that I have commitments, and I can't abandon those commitments!

Let me get through this round of commitments, and then I'll see how it goes. The book was "the Only One Left" by Riley Sager. I've read one of his books before, and it was good. This one was a page-turner, although part of it seems familiar. However, according to my lists, I have not read it. Twists? There are a lot of twists in this book - most of them I didn't see coming!

 However, the good news is that I made progress on the two projects that need to be done ASAP. I should be able to quickly finish one off later today (after Monday sewing), and I can work on the other during Monday sewing. That is my Cherrywood Challenge. It needs to be quilted and bound, which is the plan for tomorrow. 

The big question is, did I do enough to have my quilt accepted into the traveling show? If it doesn't get accepted, I won't be upset. The amount of learning and the result are enough for me. I love the piece, and that's all that counts to me. Getting it accepted will be a bonus. I won't share it until I know it's fate. 

I had a good chat with my Mom, and she sounded good. That's because she wasn't sitting in her chair like she usually does all day long. She was up and sorting through things, which is a positive.

Our weather was bizarre yesterday. The sun was out, and the temperature was in the mid-teens, but it was cool. I felt cold all day, but I did steal some moments in the backyard. The tree canopy has arrived, and it's like having a second very large room out in the backyard. 

I doubt you'll be able to see, but there is a dog in this picture! Our house now looks like the backyard - dead leaves everywhere. I swept some of it up yesterday, but the faster I sweep, the more she brings in!

Where's the dog?

I snapped this photo along my afternoon walk. The blossoms on the trees are so beautiful right now. Watching the outdoors come alive is one of the most exciting times of the year! 

Tree blossoms

Speaking of the outdoors, I've been eating lunch outside for a few days. Hey -- being outside is the best. Now, technically, I should be weeding! And if that book I was reading had been an audiobook, I could have continued to work - it was not! Now I'll pay the price today, but all is good. 

As for the reading, I hadn't been reading for a while, and then lately, I can't seem to stop. I had a goal of reading one book a week, which is very doable for me. Instead, I'm ahead of the game! But not too much over the goal. I need to stop reading and get the work done. Then I can read!

DH is still away, and I mentioned my little discussion with myself. He's all about me retiring—cold turkey! He says it's time, and I deserve it! He also mentioned that I probably have more than enough to keep me busy without prepping lessons all the time. So true! I have so many more thoughts to add to the pile. One thing that concerns me is that I'm very lazy! That may not be the phrase to use, but I'm happy as a bug to sit and read all day and do nothing, and I don't want that to be my retirement existence. Will I be disciplined enough to sew? That is really what I want to do and start getting some quilts quilted! 

But in the meantime, I must continue to fulfill my commitments, and I'll figure it out even if it takes a few years to get there. I have an absolute end date in mind, but it's not this year!

There's the thing about my afternoon walk. I always take (more or less) the same route into the commercial area near my house, although I have many options for going in other directions and having a quieter walk through the residential streets. Am I that much a creature of habit? I occasionally go through the residential streets but prefer the busier (more dangerous) commercial area. I'm a nut case! 

My issue is that I let my brain take over, and I just follow the sidewalk, and I don't have to decide which walk to take. How sad is that! But it works for me, and maybe one day, I'll switch it up more often. I stopped at the thrift store and took some pictures of some of the books, and yes, there are about 3, I think, that I do not have. These were published in the 1980s and are no longer in the library system. Although after some research, I found some older books in the library, and I swear those have been recently added. They are part of a series, and I swear I couldn't find them before. 

I may stop by tomorrow (seniors' day) and see if they are still there! 

I see "a few" emails accumulating in my "to-do" folder, so I must answer them. I'm sure I've missed a few, but this is a good way to try and sort through all the crazy stuff!

And now that I had a mostly "unproductive" day, let's hope I plow through a lot this week! 

OH - I hear the dryer just stopped, so now I have clothes to wear to spin class! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

I will not let the embroidery machine defeat me!

Thanks for all the insights into retiring! I think I will be one of those who phase out of things rather than quit cold turkey. So, I will continue to look at my calendar and evaluate the deadlines, and then I'll go from there. 

What I want is more time to do my things! I have many UFOs that I want to work on. There is more decluttering, and I want to explore some creative stuff, but I don't have the time or the energy after the necessary stuff is done. That's just in case you're wondering what I'll do with any extra time I find! 

I will bet that some things that make me unhappy would make me happier if I weren't so pressured! Ah -- there lies the rub!

However there is very good news from yesterday. I won! What did I win? Nothing except the satisfaction that I would NOT let the embroidery machine defeat me! I was on the last section, and well, the thread (metallic) was a challenge, the placement was a challenge, the design was a challenge (I used the software to split the design apart and only used part of it), and the thickness of what I was stitching was a challenge. 

There were almost 14,000 troublesome stitches to stitch, and I swear the thread broke every 100 stitches. I am NOT exaggerating. I was NOT giving up. When I say babysitting, this was very closely babysat. I couldn't walk away, or the thread broke! 

Almost done!

This is just part of the thread tails on the last 5000 stitches. I was going to stop and leave the remaining 5000 until this morning. Then, things worked well for a couple hundred stitches, so I decided to continue until the last 4000. And then, before I knew it—OK—it was almost 9 p.m., and I was done.

Lots of broken threads

I was never so happy to see this pop up on the screen!

I'm done! 

I'm going to blame Carol for the entire sordid mess. Why? Because she said, it will look so much better with metallic thread. OK - so she was right, but what a pain. Trust me - I tried everything. I was using a brand new toptitch needle size 16. That did nothing to help. I slowed the machine down to a crawl. That did not help either. It was what I was embroidering on, and once I share the results with my group, I can share them with you. 

Was all the hassle worth it? I think so. I really like the result. Now, on to the next stage, some appliqué in sewing mode. Then I need to decide on a quilting pattern and then bind it. I got this! 

Can you tell me why old people are so stubborn? I had to take MIL to the grocery store. She shuffles everywhere, but give her a grocery cart, and she's wheeling around the grocery store like she's in a race. Will she use a walker? Not on your life! But I have to arrange for one to be delivered this week. It was supposed to come last week, but it was the same day as her medical appointment. 

Yesterday, there were two presentations, but I still had some downtime in the gazebo. Yep, I had a nap! It was a peaceful one—I have no idea where Murphy was. I really need to do some weeding! 

Napping in the gazebo

I noticed this when I was in the gazebo, so we had to watch it daily. 

Blossoms are almost ready to burst

In the forest in the morning, I spotted more trilliums. Such a pretty flower. 

Trilliums in the forest

And what's this? My delicate miss, who never likes to get messy, is traipsing through the mud for the second time on the same walk. Lexi!! You are hanging around Murphy way too much!

Mom - playing in the mud is fun!!

Well, I found it! I found the junk drawer in my house. There is a small side table near the front door where we used to put keys, etc. There is one drawer for me and one for DH. 

I popped it open the other day. Yikes! What a mess, and what is all that stuff? 

A junk drawer

I found old car keys, a door handle, and much more. I only grabbed a few things and will deal with the rest later. This is not on my radar at the moment. 

So here's a story about my glasses—wait—it has to do with that drawer. I am BAD with glasses. I only need to wear them for driving, and I can drive without them, but technically, my license says I need them. When I travel, I used to put my glasses on my head if I didn't need them. I no longer do that because once, I was at the airport and lost a pair of glasses when I propped them on my head. Poof—they were gone!

I did the next best thing and shoved them in my pocket, and in December, when I traveled, this is what happened. Yep—I bent the arm on the plastic frames. I've already checked, and it cannot be repaired, and I cannot just buy a random arm and replace this one. Why? I'm sure I can, but the eyeglass place said they could not. Are you telling me that the little connector is that different on all glasses? 

Broken arm on my glasses

I've been babying these glasses like no tomorrow. When I travel, they go in a case in my backpack. I only wear them when I drive. They sit by the front door at home, so I know where they are. And all is good. 

But I was certain that at some point, I purchased a new set of glasses. Yes, when I lost the other pair, I bought a new pair that became the backup! Guess what? I found those brand-new glasses in the drawer! Now, can you tell me why I don't wear the new ones and keep these ones with the broken arm as the backup? Because I'll treat the new ones badly—that's why! 

Brand new glasses

They've been in the drawer so long that dust has accumulated on them! Good grief - I am bad!!!! 

I walked to the restaurant last night to enjoy dinner by myself. The manager is a nice guy, and we know him quite well now, so he and I had a good chat. Then I walked home, and that was my walk of the day! 

Well, I have one presentation this morning and then I have the entire day to myself, but there is much to do. I didn't get a chance to quilt a quilt yesterday - babysitting that embroidery was too much to try and do something else. 

And here's my Murphy! Such a happy girl - all the time! 

MOM - I love playing with my blankets!

MOM -- I love playing ball

But she needs her downtime! I had to laugh as she knows the routine when I walk in the afternoon, and she usually sits in the window and waits for me. Last night, when I went to the restaurant, which was out of the routine, she didn't know when I would return. When I came to the house, I saw her asleep in bed, so I quietly went to the window and tapped it! Wake up, sleepy head!!! 

This is Lexi as she tries to get Murphy to play with her. I don't understand them - they both want to play, but it seems at different times. What do I know about dogs? I think they do that to torment each other! 

Murphy - get up and play with me NOW!

And yes -- Murphy does have downtime - not often, but she does sleep!

MOM - I'm so sleepy!!

And on that happy note, I'm out of here!

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!

My subconscious is hard at work

I haven't purchased anything yet, but I'm going to! Thanks for the recommendation on the Garmin tracker. I guess the bottom line is that I won't be going back to FitBit. 

So here's the silly thing about charging devices. It is highly recommended not to charge your devices 100%. I don't understand the technology, but something about the battery (obviously) and how charging to the max is not good for the battery's life. 

WAIT -- I can Google that to find the answer. OK -- have you Googled anything lately? If so, have you noticed what is happening in your Google search? 

The FIRST thing that pops up is an AI overview response. WHOA!!!! What the heck is that? Well, of course, I Googled what that meant, and generative AI is being used to summarize various sources to create an answer for you! Yikes! 

Now, I appreciate the fact that it's fast and, for the most part, seems to be accurate, as I've used it numerous times. Here's a link to what it tells me. The links to where it pulled its information from are listed (you have to open the little LINK icon), and it cuts out the duplication. I got a chuckle at the bottom when it says that you may find offensive or incorrect information in the recap, so, like everything, buyer beware. 

I reluctantly agree that it's a good use of AI, but I also believe we must be careful. Make sure you realize that some of that information may not be appropriate or correct. If the data that AI searches is incorrect, then the summary will be wrong. We lose the ability to sift the wheat from the chaff, but there's so much chaff these days that perhaps this is the way to go. 

But as far as doing some of the dirty work, it's a good system—it's fast, but like anything, don't trust it 100%. 

As far as the battery thing goes, constantly charging it to 100% kills the battery's life. So, can you tell me why we can't set it to 90%? Technically, you shouldn't charge your phone at night because that will take it to 100%. So, where and how do people charge their phones? 

Has anyone heard of a Human Library? It's been around for years, but I only heard about it today! An interesting concept. 

This was the message in my tea yesterday! Yep --- it's a gift - use it wisely and thank the people who made it possible. It's Mother's Day tomorrow! 

Quote of the day

And another customer's quilt is done! 

Customer quilt - DONE

I had to chuckle because someone called me later in the afternoon and asked how it was going. Well, to tell you the truth -- it sucked at that particular moment. I was struggling with a thread caught in the bobbin of the long arm, and the embroidery machine had stopped because the thread was shredding. I couldn't keep up! I didn't tell them that, though - they didn't need to know the details of what was happening!

But the quilt got done once I cleared the threads from the bobbin case. Some people are pretty particular about their bobbins and clean the case after every bobbin change. That would drive me mad, but every once in a while, a thread will catch, and it needs to be removed. This mostly happens when you change bobbins. I'm lucky that my long arm is pretty reliable, and it's like me - almost maintenance-free!

And the embroidery machine? Well, it's been working extra hard these days, with all kinds of weird threads and a long overdue needle change. All is good, and progress is being made. I have two more motifs to embroider, and I hope to get them done today. One is easy, and one will be a challenge! 

There are three more empty bobbins of machine embroidery bobbin thread! So far, the piece is looking amazing, and I can only hope that it continues! 

More empty bobbins

Wait—I could charge my phone while I'm writing the blog. But I really wish I could find the setting to set it to charge to a maximum of 90%. Well, the generative AI in Google Search just told me how to make that happen!! I just switched it to 90% maximum, and I'll move the charger to my desk. 

As for the headphones, they are well-used, and I'm not losing power. Well, it's complicated, but they turn on and off on their own. Sometimes, I move my head, and they shut down. Other times, they just shut down. And then they turn back on—it's almost like a loose connection. I am not about to take them apart, although I could. Since I have threatened to replace them, they have worked just fine! Of course they have! But sometimes I put them on and I can wait up to two minutes or more before they turn on! They are just very inconsistent! 

Here is Miss Murphy with her stuff all over the floor again. She's just a nut! 

MOM -- I love our new game!

And while I was working last night, she NEEDS to get as close as she can. And then her tail pops up between the trays on the desk. Sigh......................

MOM - I need to be close to you!

Is anyone in need of some portable desk lamps? I bought these for a quilt retreat house we used to go to. Since that house closed, and the other houses have good lighting, these are no longer needed. If someone wants them, they are yours. But if not, they will go to the thrift shop. My pile at the door is getting big again! 

Desk lamps to be donated

I have no time to deal with the magazines, as the machines downstairs have a couple of deadlines looming. I have more writing to do, and I'd better get it done! 

I don't know if I should say this here or not, but well, I will. My subconscious and I have been having MANY conversations these days. I won't go into all the details, but here's the tip of the iceberg. 

Subconscious: You don't seem happy these days.

    Me: I'm TIRED! I'm tired of the constant deadlines. 

Subconscious: You don't have to work - you know. You're old and can retire!

    Me: That's an insult - I am not old! 

Subconscious: Kidding - but you don't have to work! 

    Me: But I LOVE what I do!

Subconscious: Yes - but maybe you are doing too much!

    Me: I don't think it's too much. 

Subconscious: Well, maybe not, but you have a lot of deadlines. 

    Me: I agree. I'm getting to the point where I'm unhappy with all the deadlines, and every weekend is tied up!

Subconscious: So you know what you have to do. 

    Me: Yes, I do. And I'm trying to decide how to proceed. I can't just stop everything cold turkey! 

And so you see where my head is at! I'm in an endless loop trying to figure out what the next steps are. As the quote of the day states, this life is a gift, and I want to do stuff for myself—every day/all day—and right now, that just isn't possible. 

I've got some ideas, and my subconscious and I are continuing our daily discussions. I first have to finish my existing commitments, and then I need to figure out what happens after this summer. Don't worry—I will NOT stop cold turkey, but a definite slowdown has to happen, or I'll lose my mind! 

On that sobering thought

Have a great day!!!

Ciao!!!

Replacing technology

I was at the gym early this morning, and one thought came to mind. This is working! My range of motion is so much better, I'm shocked. I never would have thought it would come back so quickly. I'm not pumping iron five days a week to make that happen, but a couple of good stretching sessions each week have given me a new outlook on life! I'm hooked. 

What is shocking is how and when I lost this mobility. I used to be able to stand on one foot and put on my socks and shoes. Then, one day, I realized I was sitting down to do everything. Whoa! What happened? It was over some time, and so subtle that I never noticed. 

Now, I proudly stand on one foot, put on the sock, and then the shoe, and I'm good. The stairs are good, and sitting down is good, even first thing in the morning. Is the extra time each week worth it? 1000 percent. I'm just a bit miffed that I didn't see what was happening to me and just blamed it on getting old. Just because I'm getting more experienced doesn't mean I must relinquish my physical freedom! 

I got my dentist appointment over with in the morning. I hate when the freezing comes out, but the entire process is painless these days. This is from someone who hated the dentist. I was a white knuckler at the dentist, and now, I could probably nap! How did that happen? I don't know, but our dentist is the best. When he retires - I'm screwed! 

Then it was back home to fire up the machines. This is what my embroidery area looks like. I think I have almost every color box out! The piece is coming along quite nicely, and I love the result. I'm over the halfway point so that is good and I hope to finish most of the machine embroidery today. 

Boxes of machine embroidery thread

I had to devise a plan B for a couple of things, but I think I've got it under control! 

I also got the next quilt off the long arm. It's for community projects. AI managed to get the next one loaded, minus the batting. 

A quilt for community projects - DONE

I emptied another cone of thread. I wasn't sure I would have enough for the bobbin, but there was just enough! I love how that works out! 

One more cone of thread bites the dust!

And here's the update on the leaf. 

A leaf is born

And just like that, a leaf is born. It's fascinating to watch nature. I don't know if you saw the comment about the kids watching an animal decompose on their daily walk! I've seen a few of those in the forest or along the road, and yes, it's fascinating to watch the process! Perhaps gross, but it's all a part of the circle of life! 

It's hard to tell in this next photo, but the pair of ducks was in their glory in this pond in the forest. They were having a great time, although Murphy was beside herself when I told her to keep quiet. She does not do quiet nicely!

Ducks are swimming in the muck!

I did a little bit of investigating about a new fitness tracker. I think I'll move away from Fitbit since it appears that Google is not interested in keeping it going. They have discontinued the model that I have been buying. I could go with a smaller FitBit, but will Google continue to support the app? I also need the app, so if they cut out support for that in the future, I'll have a dead FitBit. 

They are another example of buying up the competition! They are putting their money into their Pixel products! I think it's Pixel. 

I don't really want a smartwatch, and I don't need one, so I'll keep looking. Did you know there is such a thing as a ring that tracks your activity? I'm not sure that will work for me, as I like having time available to me. I do not want to depend on my phone, so the watch works for me. 

I find this hilarious because there was a time when I hated wearing a watch. And now, I like wearing one again! It's weird how we fall into and out of habits! 

I'm not sure what to do about my headphones. I want to replace them, but then the darn things behave and work fine. 

It took about 1 minute for them to turn on, and then they stayed on for hours! Usually, they will turn on and off multiple times. Yes - I know most wouldn't have patience for it, but I like them and they mostly work!

My sporadic headphones

I was at the gym bright and early with Brooke, and then used the compression legs, and well, I'm running out of time. While I don't have an appointment today, I have to pick something up, which will take some time. And then I must get ready for some classes this weekend! It never ends! 

BUT the most important thing is that I'll be able to sit down after the walk with the girls and have a nice cup of tea, while I try to catch up on paperwork!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Sobering thoughts

Another day—another appointment. This time it was for the girls. Let's just say the day was traumatic for all. 

It started with them going outside to discover that a rabbit was in the backyard. However, the rabbit was quicker than they were and scooted under the fence. But then the big investigation started. Why was that rabbit in the backyard? Was it digging a nest? And so on. 

MOM -- that rabbit was here! 

Right after the walk, it was time to get in the car. The girls hardly go for car rides, but they think it's the best thing, so I have zero issues getting them in. For the last few years, they have only gone to the vet! 

MOM - We love the car!

We arrived, and handling the two was not fun, but we managed. I wish I had pictures of what Murphy did, but I don't, so I can only describe it to you. First, a new technician—a young man—is kind and helpful. As I tried to get one of the dogs on the scale, he took Lexi, as they were too hyper. 

Murphy puts her big butt on the scale and proceeds to cleverly put a back paw on the floor! What? That little scammer - she was trying to cheat on her weight! I was laughing so hard, I don't think I even noticed if she had gained weight. I think she's about the same. 

Then it was Lexi's turn, and she popped onto the scale - what? She can't be that weight. And then we realized that Murphy had her paw on the scale! What a dog! It was hilarious. 

We popped into the exam room and waited for the staff to organize things. Both of the girls were pretty well-behaved. 

MOM - Are we getting treats? 

As I waited, I talked to them to keep them entertained, and well, it was a good bonding moment. When the vet came in, she commented on how cute my chatter with them was. Hey, they are my family, and I would chat to my child the same way. People miss little moments like this because they are on their phones! 

It's a new vet as well, and she's young. The girls were disappointed because the old vet gave them lots of treats. They didn't get treats! 

Murphy got taken into the back to get her blood taken, and I did hear her squeak at one point. So much for being the big, brave girl!

When she returned to the room, it was Lexi's turn, and they gave her all her shots, which she did NOT appreciate. They have to muzzle her because she doesn't like it. I was keeping Murphy quiet and under control, because as much as she "hates" her sister, stuff was happening and it wasn't good! Then, when they tried to get blood, it didn't go so well. After the third attempt and the third leg, everything was good. They were happy to be free! 

Maybe they won't be happy to get in the car next time, although I doubt that!

Speaking of nature, here's what one day can do! Look at that leaf!

The unfurling of the leaf

I popped into the thrift store to look for a pair of denim stretch jeans to rip apart. Oh boy --- men's jeans are $16 - $22 and this pair had a big rip in the crotch!!!! I say they are expensive, but they aren't, but you have to be careful, as some stuff is a bit overpriced! 

Men's jeans are expensive at the thrift store

I couldn't find what I wanted, so I didn't buy a pair. But I found this crazy blanket - a biscuit quilt. I did not buy it! I must take my missing book list because they have a lot of older books, and I want to see if there is anything there. 

A biscuit quilt

Then it was time to get to work, and I accomplished stuff, which was good! I was quilting a quilt, and I use painter's tape for my marker, which I frequently lose. Why and where? It gets stuck to my jacket! Now I know where to look for it!

My missing tape marker

Here's the quilt I finished. 

Customer quilt - DONE

I love my CNC technology. While I was working on the quilt, the embroidery machine was working on something else. I must "run" between the two machines to keep them threaded and change bobbins, but it's excellent for achieving steps! 

Working on two machines

The next quilt is loaded on the long arm and ready to go. I had to piece the batting for it, as it's a community project quilt. 

Piecing the batting

So, a good and a bad thing happened in the same phone call. Late in the afternoon, I got a call on my cell phone. I did not recognize the number, but it was a 306 area code, and I decided to answer it. OH MY GOSH --- it was a friend from high school. WOW!! That was a surprise. You see, there were five girls and we became close friends when I started going to town school in Grade Six. I don't remember how we got together, but we were our little gang of five. We even bought the same pinkie ring with our initials on it. I wore mine for years until I had to retire it about ten years ago. 

Here are the five of us at our high school graduation. I confess that after high school, I kind of lost touch with them all but visited sporadically with them over the years. 

The five friends at graduation

Marilyn (in yellow) called me yesterday to say Bernice had passed. NO!!!!! Bernice is second from the right. And Cheryl, who is on the right, passed away 1½ years ago. These girls are too young to be passing! And my date (my first boyfriend) also just passed away a month ago. All three of these people were in their 60s and way too young to die! 

The good news is that Marilyn and Lori (second from the left) and I will get in touch and hopefully stay in touch. One lives near my parents, and the other is near M. I will connect with both. But after I hung up the call, I got out my photo album, and it's not like it is today. I had a handful of pictures of us, but taking pictures was a whole different ballgame back then. 

Rest in peace, Bernice and Cheryl! The sad thing is that both families were riddled with illness. Cheryl's brother lived in the same building as my parents, but he passed a while back. Bernice's sisters and brother have passed, although her Mom lived to 97. Her younger sister died at 56. 

I guess the moral of that story is - you better live your best life NOW. And I don't even need my subconscious to remind me that when dealing with the clutter, I better ask myself -- would you rather read magazines that add ZERO to your life, or would you rather be chatting up a storm with the girls? Or whatever. Get rid of the clutter so you can enjoy your life NOW. Getting rid of the clutter is good -  you live the memories, learn how to cope, and your house is clean! 

Of course, when I was sitting outside earlier in the day, Miss Murphy was up to her old tricks! She threw the fish in the pond. She's pretty proud of herself for doing that! 

Ooops - the fish fell in the pond! How did that happen?

And thank goodness for the gazebo. While chatting with Marilyn, it started raining, but I was safely ensconced in the gazebo, and I didn't get wet. The weather got very weird as the sun shone brightly while pouring rain. Hmmmm

Nice and dry in the gazebo

Of course, Miss Murphy is outside enjoying the rain. There is a lot of leaf coverage above her, so she wasn't that wet. 

Mom - I'm not getting wet!

Well, there's another appointment today, and this time it's for me. I have a dentist appointment to have one filling replaced. Then I'm home and have work to do! Those appointments are time-consuming! But at least I can walk to this one. 

And I will have to break down and buy a new FitBit. This one has started to just lose power with no warning to recharge. It's lost power twice this week, so it's on its last legs. But I've had the darn thing for years, so it doesn't owe me anything. WAIT --- I just checked the blog - I bought this one in July 2020, so it's not as old as I thought. But still --- it's time for a new, more reliable one! 

Here's a sobering thought for the day, and one that I have trouble wrapping my head around. What would you do each day if you had one week to live? Yes - we'd spend time with our family and friends, but I'd also clean up the paper. Would I want someone to see this mess? More importantly, would I want someone to deal with it? And I'd be getting those UFOs together so someone could actually finish them! 

I don't want to do that on my deathbed, which is why I'm doing it now, while I'm physically and mentally able to deal with it! I'm also enjoying a clear, uncluttered life, which makes me happy! I'm learning that less is more, which also makes me happy. When it's time for me to go, I won't have anything but a suitcase of possessions! 

And I'm off!

Have a super day!!

Ciao!!!