Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Play date!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


So one of the things that I have wanted to do for ever is make collages. Seems the only way to make that happen is to SCHEDULE some time. And get a friend to help!   Tish came over yesterday morning with supplies (yes - I have stuff), but anyway - we spent the entire morning just playing.

Here is all the stuff laid out!!!!!!!!!!!!  

And this is what Tish made - that little girl is her mom (oh dear - was it her mom or an aunt?)!!!!!    Isn't that so cute!!!!!!!!    Anyway - this is the type of stuff I WANT to do

And this is what I did. VERY LINEAR. 

 As you can see - I am going to need a LOT of help. I think my therapy should be to try and make a small collage EVERY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   At some point, I will get bored of linear and branch out into random?????    As I was rhyming off other "topics" I would like to collage, Tish politely told me that I NEED to be spontaneous!!!!    ACK!!!!!!!!!!     Thanks for the great time - had loads of fun, painting, gluing and chatting. I felt like I was in kindergarten!!   And I LOVED every minute of it.


Well the rest of my day did NOT go as planned. I had to run a few errands and they took a bit longer than planned. Tish had a couple of AMAZING picture books that she used for collage. The images in them were wonderful and she had picked them up at a thrift store. I decided to stop by Goodwill on my journey and see what I could find. There were a ton of books to look at and the books she had were ONE OF A KIND!!!!!  BUT I snagged this book which isn't' that bad.

A book on Waikiki!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But look at the great pictures for collage inside!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I went to the cash prepared to pay the grand sum of $3.50, BUT it was 50% off day so I paid $1.75!!!!!!!!!    Not bad!!!!!!!!!!!!


Then we had company arrive (I knew they were in town, but didn't realize they were coming today) so I scurried home and visited with them. I'll chat about Teresa and Vince tomorrow. I am in a rush today as I have to go for eye appointment.

But after dinner, I did manage to get some work done on Bonnie Hunter mystery. Got all of CLUE TWO marked and ready to sew. While I listened to more of The Power of Habit. That book is quite the eye opener and I hope to use it to create NEW useful habits in my life. I haven't got to that part yet. But since they are talking about advertising, marketing and all the psychology that goes with that - I just LOVE these kinds of books.

Clue Two - marked and ready to sew

 Also managed to get some more satin stitching done on my Christmas wall hanging.
Although you can't see it in the picture, but outlining stuff with satin stitch just makes them pop!!!!!!

This still doesn't do justice to the way the satin stitching makes those green bars stand out. But you get the idea - I HAVE to finish those edges - not for functionality, but FOR THE LOOK!!!!!



However - I have run out of that particular shade of green (GREAT!) and I will see if Fabricland still sells it since they are close to the optimist. This will make the FOURTH day in a row that I visit Fabricland!!!!    Thank god this is a DIFFERENT one - the people at the other store are starting to wonder about me!!!!!!


And if you haven't read Secret Daughter - you SHOULD!!!!!!!    It is a really good book and WOW - so many messages in that book. I am sorry I missed the discussion at the book club.


On that note - I am out of here!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, December 30, 2013

Time to get serious!!!!


OH my - if that (getting serious) ever happened in this house - well it would be a miracle.

Every morning I walk the girls in the forest. It is very early in the morning and I let them run free. There is NEVER anyone there or very rare. This morning, Sparky went off for a bit of hike on her own as she does from time to time. She usually catches up with us. But by the time I got home, she still hadn't caught up. OK - sometimes she is a few minutes behind us. Nope - not this morning. Oh crap - I have to go and look for her.


I don my new  BRIGHT red coat, my red hat and scarf and I am off to look for her. I decide to take Sammy - why not - she is fat and needs more exercise!!!!!    We are walking along the path and calling out Sparky's name. Then I hear her barking - a weird kind of barking. Hmmmm - where is that coming from?   Oh yes - it is BEHIND us. So we back track and there is Sparky trapped on the OTHER side of the fence that separates a town house complex from the forest. Good grief - get your butt over here!!!!  


Well apparently she couldn't find the hole that she crawled through to get to the other side and she was STUCK!!!!!!    We walked all the way down to the end of the fence - NO HOLES. At least not big enough for her to crawl through. Now this doesn't seem like such a big deal, but keep in mind - I am wearing a BRIGHT RED coat, there are NO leaves on the trees (and I am fighting my way through the trees and snow and ice), and Sparky is howling like an idiot because she can't get through. I am surprised that we didn't get yelled at for being a peeking tom since this fence is just behind the town houses - so we are practically in their back yard!!!!!!!!!  


Stupid dog - she wouldn't stop howling!!!!!    We ended up having to walk the ENTIRE length of the fence in the opposite direction and I had to go into the complex from the street before I could get her. I do not know where she went through the fence, but she found a hole somewhere!!!!!    Needless to say - she got a lecture - which promptly went in one ear and out the other!!!!!!!!!  


Oh well - that was humiliating!!!!!!!!!!!


I don't have a lot of time this morning thanks to Sparky as I spent an HOUR outside in the cold to get her. Thank goodness I had dressed for it.


Got down to SERIOUS business with the Bonnie Hunter Mystery.

Step One of Clue Three - DONE!!!!!!!!!!    Yes - there are 200 half square triangles. 

Step two involved making 25 pinwheel blocks - I got two done. The rest of the HST are used in Clue Five. Will try to finish those up today. Feels good to be making some progress on this. I hope to be completely caught up before the next clue gets published on Friday. 

As I was working on other stuff, I managed to use the little cut offs from Clue Two as my enders and leaders. And I got a bunch done. These ones are even pressed and trimmed. As I worked on them, I had visions of what I could do with them. A couple of things come to mind. 





I will post pictures tomorrow, but I started work on the cutting table. Just went methodically through one project after another. Some took more time than others, but over all I did make progress which is what counts.


Today I have a play day planned and my partner in crime is due to arrive very soon. I can't wait!!!!!



Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Is that a habit????


I am loving these lazy days!   Not getting as much done as I would in normal FRENZY mode, but progress is being made and that is what it is all about!

I was working on those secret projects that I was supposed to have done by Christmas. Since things changed there is no rush to get them done and I am working on them now so they will be done by Christmas 2014!!!!!     The good news - two are done!!!!!!!   And I decided to make two more. And as I was working on parts of the first two - I was doing parts for the second two. Let's just say the second pair will go together much faster because of that.

However - I needed some cording for the projects. Found a nice cording at Fabricland (and I've been back TWICE more to get more cording and other things as well!!). If you have ever worked with this cording you know it unravels like crazy!!!!  I was trying to find a way to seal the edges.

Cord that frays!!!!!   Unless you secure it with scotch tape and THEN cut it
I tried burning the end - UGLY. Then I tried to stitch the end - EQUALLY UGLY
Then I tried fray check - nope - did nothing. Then I tried glue

And it worked. A nice neat end - the top one is glued, the bottom one is held with tape


I am going to experiment to see how aggressive you could be with the glued end before it gives way. Anyone have other suggestions to securing the ends?????     The projects won't get much use, but I want them to look nice for a long time.


Then I started a NEW project. I know - well it really isn't new. Well new in the sense that nothing had been cut out. But I need this. It is a small sewing caddy. And why do I need one????   Well the caddy is mostly to put my hand sewing tools and this is what I currently have.


A small needle case that I picked up at a guild show that is laden with pins, clips and needles - none of which are INSIDE the needle case. The little pouch contains my two sewing thimbles (the winter one and the summer one - OK - so the fat day one and the skinny day one). This will pouch was clipped to the needlecase by the ribbon and the small clip that you see on the needlecase - the scissors were on the ribbon. Well the bad news is - the ribbon finally wore out the other day - so now I need something new and something that doesn't look so silly!!!!!
When I was going through a drawer the other night - I found this pattern that I had printed out from Connecting Threads. It was a freebie on their web site - MANY MANY years ago. While it is much bigger than what I currently have - it will allow me to place a small project - like an embroidery square in it as well. Or an applique block. Perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And since you are cutting one - you might as well cut TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!I did get some sewing done on it last night - in the middle of the night. I had a bad night - could NOT sleep which is the most annoying thing in the entire world. Reading didn't work, sewing didn't work. At last I did fall asleep. I think the lack of getting my butt to the gym isn't helping the sleep situation!!!!    I need physical activity and lots of it in order to sleep at night. 


Started a new book - Secret Daughter. A novel about a mother in India who has to give up her daughter (not nearly as valuable as a son) and about the parents (the father is from India) in America who adopt the girl.  Some parts of the book (while it is fiction - you know that a lot of it happens) are heart wrenching. I just can't imagine how these people survived and how hard they worked (and continue to work) for so little. So very sad!!!!!

Well I also started my LAST audio book using CDs - or so I hope!!!!    This one was on the Book Club list. I did not get to the meeting when they discussed the book, but it had also been on MY reading list so time to buckle down and get it read!!!!



The power of habit


The first part is a bit techno jargon. Going through case studies (maybe the entire book is that way???),  but it is an eye opener to see how much our brain looks for habits so it doesn't have to work as hard. If things become routine, the brain doesn't have to think. This is likely why some times we get somewhere and do not remember the trip. Our auto pilot (the habit of going to work) kicks in and allows our brain to think about other things. It really is quite interesting.   If you think about it - why are most people reluctant to change????   Well they will need to make decisions about something - that requires brain power and well...........   you see what I mean!!!!!!!!!!!!     The same thing happens to your body - do the same work out every day and your body doesn't even react any more. You have to CHANGE things up!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Case in point - I have been searching my studio (not actively) for my yellow ball that I use to get the tension out of my back. I know the muscles are tightening up and I haven't been able to locate the ball that I use to roll out the knots.

Then yesterday - BAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There was the yellow ball.


Do you see it??????    Yes - it was sitting on my cutting table the entire time. But my brain was so used to seeing it that it didn't even register that it was there. I guess this is why things jump out at you when you can't find them initially and at soon as you buy a new one - the old one pops out. I bet it is because the new one creates a NEW image and then your brain looks for patterns. Oh dear - that is all complicated stuff!!!!!    Anyway - the entire premise of this is interesting. I can't wait to get to the section on HOW to change your habits!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Speaking of NOT wanting to change - I need a new pair of slippers. Yes - I am NOT good with foot wear which is why I am suffering from plantar fasciitis. Purely my own fault. Well here are my slippers - what do you think????   I need a new pair????


Old slippers

 
Yep - there are even holes in the sides!!!!!!     BUT no holes in the soles of those things, but the rabbit fur is long gone around the tops and the fleece in the bottom - long gone. They have held up well. I have had them so long I don't even remember how long. 


So I did replace them the other day with these..............


I KNOW - PINK Slippers!!!!!!     We were at the mall (getting my new phone) and I saw them on sale. The only colour they had and since I HATE shopping - I just bought them. They are sure BRIGHT, but very comfy with memory foam in the bottom and nice fleece lined. 


And if you think I have a disease - M has it just as bad. What to do with the old slippers. I know - you are saying THROW THEM OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!     Before I did, I thought - hmmmmmmm - is there any part of them that can be saved and made into something. I know - I couldn't help myself. Then I tossed them in the garbage in my studio. M came down later and exclaimed - YOU CAN'T THROW THOSE AWAY - you could make a quilt or something out of them. I know - memories!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I dug them out of the trash and I will perhaps cut the beaded part away and use it for a memory quilt of me!!!!!!!!!


Slippers BACK out of the trash!!!!!!!!!!!!



Then I got to working on yet ANOTHER project. See - if I don't plan - I just flit from project to project!!!!!!!    Let's not forget that I completely finished TWO PROJECTS in the morning.   Now I was going to work on some applique. And YES you can call me crazy - but I can't stand to see the edges of fusible applique left unfinished. I know - it is insane especially on seasonal wall hangings, but have a look - which one do you like better??????????????


Edge finished with satin stitch??????


Edge not finished?????

Come on - you have to agree - the finished edge pops off the background!!!!!!!!!!!!!     And since it is my time and my machine LOVES to do satin stitch - I will continue to finish the edges of my fusible applique.
Got all the letters stitched - there is the second half of this wall hanging yet to stitch. 

And here is the label that I made when I started it in 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 As the end of the year approaches I had visions of my studio being fairly organized and everything in its place. And for the most part - I am in good shape. But there was the question of the stuff on the tables - I was hoping to have dealt with all the stuff on the tables. Alas - that is not the case and I will give it a good try, but not sure that it is going to happen.


This set of tables should be fairly easy to clean off - but still going to take time
The sewing table - full of stuff - but it is all current!!!!!!!!!!




And this laundry basket that has been floating - there are SEVENTEEN projects in here!!!!!!!!!     Including the PJ pants that I found. Yes - I went to the flannel stash and picked up a fabric and YES - there was the missing pattern and elastic to make PJ pants for me. Now if I was smart - I would make them now and put them away for next Christmas. And I will and then I am going to schedule myself a note about the PJ pants and where they are as well as these other secret projects that I am working on. 

The ironing board could use some tidying, although I made this mess last night when I couldn't sleep and I got HALF of the pieces cut for the second two secret projects - the other one is going to be worked on today and then all this can go back to the stash room. 

Cutting table - also needs some work, but again - this is all current stuff. Won't take long to get it tidy. 




Hmmmm - how much of that can I deal with between now and New Year's Day??????


On that note - I think today is going to be a slow day. Lack of sleep does that to me.


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Christmas Club reveal

Yes - this post should have happened a LONG time ago. The important thing - I AM at last posting it. I told you yesterday that procrastination is one of my ENEMIES!!!!!


I wasn't able to attend the Christmas club meeting in November as I was away at the retreat. And then we couldn't meet in December because of the weather!!!   Well we will plan to have a show n tell in January to see what we missed in December.


But here is what the ladies were working on...............   (from the November meeting)
The sunflower was from a class that Linda took at CreativFestival with Jennifer Houlden - you create little bargello panels of gradated colour and cut your fusible petals out of them, orienting the petals to enhance the colour change in the finished piece.    Hey - I bought that pattern !!!!!!



Marlene brought her wall hanging and she has made progress on the thread painting, having done several of the trees and some work on the house

   Helen Anne is working on a shawl  (hopefully it is done by now)   (a Ravalry pattern called Art Deco) and has totally stopped quilting for the moment as she is doing it; it is an unusual and striking pattern and, as it is for herself and she can't wear wool, the yarn in it was interesting too (alpaca and mink, something else and the multi-colour is a pure silk



Hmmm - I am AFRAID - VERY AFRAID to go to that Ravalry site. I love to knit and I had better get my knitting projects out of the way before my fingers SAY NO to knitting (I have a bad feeling that is going to happen one day)


The snowman wall-hanging and the three advent calendars (see the pictures below) are part of an East Toronto Quilters Guild community donation to The Red Door shelter for Christmas. 



I think I have this panel as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hopefully these cheered up some person's home for the holidays

Beautiful angel advent calendar

Oh Christmas tree advent calendar




Thanks Linda for taking the pictures and passing them along.   I know Mary has completed her wall hanging as well. I know I posted a picture of it when we had the iron man challenge. Hmmmmm - when was that??????        I noticed that there wasn't a LOT of work done on the current project?????  

Yesterday was a  LAZY day. I decided to take the day off. And why????   Just because................


But I also saw this in an e-mail which I thought was wonderful.   It was posted on the Life-Time web site. Honestly - you should look at it and PICK AT LEAST ONE THING to give yourself. I think I have PLANS (even before this came out) for EVERY ONE of those items. YES - they are important and haven't I been preaching about some of them for months - especially the goals). Hey - I wonder if new slippers counts as NEW SHOES??????  

Anyway - enjoy the list and hopefully you will find something to inspire you (as if my nagging hasn't been enough)


10 Healthy Gifts to Give Yourself Post-Holiday

When all the gifts are unwrapped, the dinner is done and you're beginning to look toward the New Year, think about one more present you need to give--the one to yourself! With the winding down of the holiday season, it's a good time to imagine what commitments, tools and supports might help you ring in a happy and healthy New Year. Consider what you'd like to accomplish and also what you need to de-stress from the busy holiday weeks. Below are my ten suggestions for healthy gift ideas I highly recommend to my clients (and myself!) post holiday.

A Day Off

A day off can mean so many things: a day off from working out, a day off from eating perfectly, a day off from your typical life, etc. I’m a huge fan of routines, but I do believe that sometimes we are over-regimented and overcommitted to our lifestyles. Maybe you indulge in a complete spa day or keep it simple with a day off at home where you can just relax, take a bath and breathe. The goal is to give yourself full permission to play hooky from your normal life, responsibilities and expectations for the day.    

Self “Discovery” Book

What are your goals for this new year? Maybe it’s to save more money, better your relationships or even learn to eat more healthily. Whatever the goal, arm yourself with a book you’ll enjoy learning from. Reading is one of the most rewarding pastimes, yet many of us don’t make the time to do it. Commit to reading at least one book post-holiday on a topic that intrigues you and will enhance your wellbeing.  

Access to an Expert

When I ask my clients about their ultimate healthy “wish lists,” many mention how much they would appreciate a year of personal training or nutrition coaching, etc. Having an expert as a coach can be a true benefit when it comes to achieving your health and fitness goals. They’re there to help you implement the “how” and support you along the way. Maybe you’ve tried a new fitness routine or eating plan and haven’t seen the success you wanted. Alternatively, maybe you want to do an ultra endurance event (marathon, etc.) but have no idea where to start. Arm yourself with an expert this year to help do the thinking, planning and coaching as it relates to your goal. 

A Commitment to Yourself

With the new year approaching, now is the time to start taking personal responsibility and make the commitment to embrace a healthier way of living. We often find it easier to commit to others and put them before ourselves. Commit to making more time for yourself whenever you can to help maintain your health.  One way to fully embrace this could be participating in Commitment Day.  Commitment Day happens on January 1st and is a nationwide, family-friendly New Year’s Day 5K. More than a 5K, however, Commitment Day gives you the opportunity to start the new year off right with the goal of embracing a healthy way of life throughout the entire year. Once you cross one finish line, you’ll be more than ready to discover your next one, whether it be another 5K, a gym membership or other healthy behaviors. Registration for Commitment Day is now open.

New Shoes

I’m always surprised to hear how infrequently people replace their gym shoes. If you’re a regular exerciser, be sure to replace your workout shoes at least every six months. A new pair of shoes after the holidays can be a great motivator to get you going on your New Year fitness routine and gives you the opportunity to make sure you’re taking care of your feet. You can preserve your shoes by only wearing them indoors at the gym or club, especially during this time of the year when most states have snow on the ground.  

Relaxation Tools

Purchasing tools that encourage you to relax can be a great gift for yourself. For my clients who need regular massage but are terrible at getting them done, I encourage them to get into a monthly membership. Buying a yoga mat or meditation audio book might be just the tools you need (strategically placed in your house as a reminder) to embrace new relaxation habits each day. I often commit to a monthly date with my sister on the weekends to get a manicure or pedicure done just because I know I’ll feel amazing and relaxed afterward. Find out what helps you manage stress better and give that gift to yourself throughout the entire year.

A Health Workshop

Workshops are fabulous learning experiences because they provide education along with showing and practicing the “how” in an easy, low-barrier experience. Yoga workshops, cooking classes or fitness-related seminars are all great examples of ways to gain more knowledge and inspiration without a big price tag. Find some friends or relatives to come learn with you, and make a day out of it!

Fitness Technology

We use technology every day to make our lives easier and more efficient. That can hold true for our health as well! Certain devices can encourage and track our healthy behaviors and activity. There are all sorts of options depending on what your health goal is, but arm yourself with at least one device this year to help keep you on track. If your goal is to move more, an activity monitor or FitBit might be a nice gift for yourself. If your goal is to get more sleep, a Zeo sleep monitor can help you track towards your goal. Take some time to determine what’s most important for you and choose a device that will make the process easier.

A Gratitude Journal  

gratitude journal is something I re-buy for myself each year. There’s something so powerful about taking the time each week (or even each day) to record what you are grateful for. I always pick something beautiful that I’m going to want to open up frequently. Whatever your style, the real gift comes with the process of recording and the difference it will make in your life. Reflecting on what you’re grateful for increases overall happiness and mood and gives you quiet time to look at the bigger picture of your life. 

A Planned Vacation  

I can’t speak enough about how imperative it is to take time off. Research has shown that almost 60% of Americans don’t take their full vacation allotment each year. Don’t let that be you this year! Work stress can make it feel like there is never a good time to be away, but if you plan ahead, you’ll be more likely to stick to it. Your time away could be anything from a luxurious beach vacation to a simple stay-cation at home. It could be a full week off of work or a long weekend. The point is to commit to it--for your health’s sake.  
Have these inspired you? What gift will you give yourself for the new year? Share your ideas, and happy holidays, everyone!
Written by Anika Christ, Senior Program Manager of Life Time Weight Loss
This article is not intended for the treatment or prevention of disease, nor as a substitute for medical treatment, nor as an alternative to medical advice. Use of recommendations in this and other articles is at the choice and risk of the reader.




Isn't that just WONDERFUL advice!!!!!!!!!!!!!      I am so excited about 2014 - well NO - actually I am EXCITED about each new day and what new things I will discover!!!!!  

I went to the library yesterday morning because there was a book that the library said I still had out and it was now ONE WEEK over due, but I was CERTAIN that I had returned it. A quick phone call to the branch that owned the book and a system verification and VOILA - I was RIGHT. The book was logged in properly and the fine was taken off. Whew - bad enough that I already one book in the house that I can't find and will have to pay for.

While I was at the library, I saw a book that I have on my HOLD list. It is the latest Kathy Reichs book - Bones of the Lost. Well I saw it on the lightening loans shelf. That is SEVEN days - I don't normally take out those books because one week sometimes is not enough for me. Yesterday I thought - what the heck. Nothing pressing today so I will get the book. I finished it this morning!!!!!!!!!!!!    A good book, but VERY DISTURBING subject matter.


Didn't get much sewing done, got a few errands done and I think I am ready to work today!!!!!!!!!!!   Oh yes - I have managed to download music, pictures and podcasts to my iPod, managed to download an audio book from the library onto my computer and Berke helped me get the audio book to my iPod. That damn Apple and their proprietary systems - they do NOT make it easy UNLESS you happen to buy the book from iTunes - then it is easy as pie. However, people in the know (Berke) managed to get past them and now the book is on the iPod waiting for me to listen to it!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Poor Sammy does NOT like the fluffy snow - it gets in her paws and causes her pain when she walks. So we finally bought her boots. Well that isn't going to work either.



We tried putting two of them on her last night and then she tried to walk (without using her two front feet). It was hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!     The darn things just don't stay on - but we will keep trying. 


I have to say that the forest looks better this morning. Many trees that were bent over are slowing going back up, including my Japanese Maple in the back. It doesn't look too bad this morning. The temperature is up and the ice is dropping like crazy in the forest. I would almost recommend a hard hat to walk there. And I think almost everyone has power back or will soon. It has been crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!


On that note - I am off to sew.   Oh yes - I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new phone.


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday, December 27, 2013

Technology - friend or foe??


Ah - technology - my MOST favourite thing in the entire world!!!!

The other day my Dad asked if I had Skype on my computer. Nope - I do not. My brother convinced him to download it so they could talk on Christmas Day. So while I was on the phone with him - I downloaded Skype. Now because I was on the phone, I might not have been paying as much attention as I should have.

We hung up and I went to use the computer. OH CRUD - I now have a BING toolbar. I had this Bing toolbar before as well as a YAHOO toolbar and they are just a pain in the BUTT. And I was having all kinds of pop ups coming up - protect your computer, do this, do that. Oh dear!!!!!!!!!!!

I got adventuresome and DELETED all that stuff. The only thing I cannot delete is the toolbar. I have gone in to the settings - can't find it there. Gone into programs - can't find it to delete which is unusual. So it must have another name. Well I sorted the programs by date installed and got rid of everything installed that day - but still have the annoying toolbar.

Then I tried to call my friends in India - well NO ANSWER. I guess they must be mad at me. I was chatting to them the other day and they tried to tell me I SHOULD upgrade to Windows 8 and instead of listening to me when I said NO (it was December 23 and they called me). Well I hung up on them. They have tried to call back several times and I won't answer. I am SO ANNOYED - when I say NO - what part of N O do they not understand. I doubt we have a language barrier happening either!!!!!    NO is pretty universal.

And the other annoying thing - all those little add-ons that downloaded with Skype - well my computer just wouldn't shut down. It was running HOT - the fan just wouldn't shut off. Very annoying. And as I am deleting the programs - I get little messages - so sorry to see you go - are you sure??????  
Seriously???????

But it is mostly under control. Just that one thing to fix up. And NO - I haven't even tried Skype yet.

While I am deleted files - I am also marking the squares for the Bonnie Hunter Mystery. And now you know why I get messed up - I am NOT paying attention to what goes on!!!!!    No - everything was fine last night. 




I do have to say that my little FitBit is working just GREAT. A seamless piece of technology. I love it - M got one for Christmas - so I have a new friend. But you can see stats compared to everyone who logs on - well I don't know who - but anyway it is quite interesting.


Daily steps - ME (green) compared to the rest of the FitBit population


You want to be on the RIGHT side of the Bell Curve in this situation. I am in the 81 percentile - meaning I take more steps than 80 percent of the FitBit population.   I walked an average of 4.3 Miles per day last week which is FORTY PERCENT more than the average.

And on the other things - like weight - well I am on the OTHER side of the Bell Curve - which is also a good thing. My asleep time is considerably less than the population and I have even added ONE extra hour a night.    Anyway - it is interesting to note the stats. But you get ONE week free and then you have to cough up $50 for a year. Which I don't know that I will do.


Even though I did get a lot of sewing done yesterday - well I can't show it to you. We have decided to hold off on the secret project until February. It's a long story and honestly - I am getting tired of it!!!!   I went to sew yesterday and the colours are ALL WRONG.   How this is happening to me lately - I have no idea. Perhaps I need to take it upstairs in day light and see. But here in the basement - the colours are all wrong.


So I messed with  my new iPod. I managed to download a TON of podcasts. Free podcasts - let's hope they are decent ones. And I believe this little gizmo has Bluetooth so I can hook it up to the car. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!    Anyway - I will get into the song playlists next. I am trying to download a book from the library which reminds me that I downloaded the book - I have to figure out how to get it on the iPod. I may never get an audio book on CD again!!!!!!!!!!1


And the ultimate in technology woes is my PHONE. My family finally told me to SHUT UP and just get a new phone already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    So I did.


Old phone on the left - a piece of crap and the new sleek - SAMSUNG S4 



OH MY GOD - this was like going from a Model T Ford to a Lamborghini.     There is NO COMPARING the two phones. One is a dud and the other is AMAZING.     Although I obviously made a mistake when I set the alarm this morning because it did NOT go off, but I had my FitBit and my old phone to remind me. But then the phone TOLD me what my next TO DO item was. Schedule three critical things to do today!!!!!    Pretty funny - but it was so WORTH getting the new one. It is fast - I don't have to wait MINUTES for Facebook to open. The screen is big enough to play Scrabble. Well I am in LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!     Just have a few more apps to download and then all these widgets to figure out.


So much exciting stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Someone mentioned to me yesterday that I PLAN a lot. DO I?????    Well probably more than most, but honestly if I do NOT do it - things get forgotten. And will NOT get done. Like the little quilt project that I unearthed yesterday. It even had a label with it. The date on the label - 2009 - the quilt is no where near finished!!!!!!!!!!!!      But now it is on the 2014 shelf and will get done this year.    I guess all those planning and scheduling classes that I took when I worked have paid off. But I do have to admit that all the scheduling in the world DOES NOT cure procrastination. It helps. Oh yes - it helps and I am a BIG CULPRIT for procrastinating. Sometimes it is like I WANT TO FAIL by procrastinating. I don't know why.

Well on that note - I still have TWO things to do on the my critical list of three (and I don't always get the three done that day, but they stare at me every time I sit at the computer) and I want to get them done today.



Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Celtic Solstice - Part FOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Oh my - again the EVE of the release of the new clue and I am working like crazy to get more work done on Celtic Solstice!!!!   I LIVE for deadlines!

I broke down and decided that I wasn't making enough progress (and being able to keep up) by doing this as enders and leaders so I am just sewing!   I did manage to get all of Clue One done completely as enders and leaders.


Clue One - DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Clue Two - all cut, one chevron DONE and working on the others. I think I will mark them all tonight - then they will be ready to sew. Because half of these go one way and the other half the other - this is best NOT done as an ender and leader!!!!     I need to FOCUS!!!!
Clue Three - partially cut (haven't counted how many I have cut in the tray). 10 are trimmed and a couple more waiting to be trimmed
Clue Four  - OK - this is BRIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!     I got a couple units made, some pieces cut and ready to go - need to cut more orange. 


Now for the other crazies around here that are also working on Celtic Soltice - here is their progress and most of them are in really good shape!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





Mary - Clue Three - DONE
Mary - Clue Four - DONE   (she is ALSO DONE Clue One and Clue Two). I posted her pictures last week and I cannot find them this week!!!!!

Anne - she has steps 1 and 2 complete and two blocks done of each of steps 3 and 4. She was going to be working on them today so I am sure she will be done or pretty close to it!


Evelyn has steps one, two and three done as at this morning. I would imagine that step four is now done as well.


Jan - I am not sure if she was able to get any more done. She was affected by the recent ice storms that we had and I know that she was without power for DAYS (yes in the middle of winter). Hopefully she will surface and get caught up. I don't think it will take her long. 

Looks like Linda is NOT TOO FAR behind. She has lots of pieces cut and ready to sew!!!!  




Tish got all of Clue Four done

And working on the others!!!!!!!!!


Today I heard that my friend Kathy (who used to live nearby, but now lives in IRELAND) is also doing this quilt. How fitting for her to be working on Celtic Solstice which was inspired by Bonnie's trip to Ireland.    She has part one done and was travelling over the holidays so is a bit behind!!!


Wow - that makes EIGHT of us working on this somewhat together!!!!!!    I LOVE IT!!!!!!  


On that note - I am out of here. Going to mark those little squares so in the morning when I am not brain dead, I can get sewing them together. So nice to have this "quiet" time  - no deadlines - no customers. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!1


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!