I'm late, I'm late for a very important date!

Before heading out to my parents to say goodbye, I exchanged the socks. And filled up that monster truck with gas. Good grief - a half tank cost $80! I can't even put that much gas in my totally empty car! 

I stopped by my parents,, visited for an hour,, and picked up a shower chair that needed to be returned to Saskatoon. 

I had one more errand in North Battleford, so I said goodbye and left. I dropped off a cheque and then hit the road. I had the entire morning planned out, and I was good for time. There had been some snow, but the roads were good. 

The nerve cream wasn't working as I would have liked, but there was no time to deal with that. I dropped off the bath chair on the opposite side of the city from the airport. But I'm good on time. I took the circle drive, so now I've driven completely around the city. There was ONE accident along the way, but thankfully people slowed down and all was still good. 

I get to the gas station, and of course, I use the we-serve. It's there - why not? But it took forever to pump the gas. I was getting close to the wire for time, and I needed to get going. Another $40 worth of gas. Can you imagine how much gas it costs to run one of those? It would cost me $80 to drive to and from Saskatoon every time. I don't think so. The truck was fun, but I won't rent one again. 

I arrive at the airport, park the truck,, and it seems to take forever to complete the rental paperwork. 

I arrived at the ticket counter because I was going to check that little suitcase, so I wouldn't have to deal with it on the plane. I was in a fluster, but I still had 10 minutes before the 60-minute window. The guy asked me what time my flight was. I replied that it was at 1:30. He said, your flight is at 12:30, and it's 12:25 right now! WHAT??? I was so confused with the time while there, and my watch wouldn't sync to the correct time. But that wasn't the problem - I thought the flight was 1:30. It's never been 1:30 - it's always been 12:30. 

Someone was watching over me yesterday because the agent said the plane was two hours late! OH MY!!!! He wouldn't even check my bag - he said the luggage was already loaded and I'd better take it with me, so much for trying to alleviate the overhead bin crowding. I now had my backpack, my extra handbag, and my suitcase. 

Security was slow. Some people needed assistance, and I'm OK with that, but don't stand right in the way. People are just so unself aware. Then, someone's bag had to be thoroughly hand-searched. 

There is no need to panic; I now have extra time. I don't think it even registered with me the mistake I had made. I wasn't feeling the greatest, and I just wanted to get home. 

I reached the gate and picked up some food at Tim's, which I had to wait for. I had just sat down,, and whatever the delay had been was fixed,we could now rt "early." I swear someone did something that allowed me to get on that plane. Whoever my guardian angel was yesterday, all I can humbly say is "thank you."

I had one bite and shoved everything in my bag - I'll eat on the plane. When we got on and were getting ready to take off, the pilot apologized for the delay. Me? I wanted to hug him! I have the app - I booked the flight. I just fixed in my mind that the flight was 1:30 and there is NO changing it from that mental note. I must take better notes next time. 

The flight home wasn't as bad as the flight out and I didn't have to stand once. And there were even a few times when I was great. The trick is, I'm going to have to learn how to arrange myself on the plane or next year is going to be a wash! It's all about learning to manage with what you have!

The last chaos of the day was the Uber driver. Taking Uber is super easy, but getting picked up at the airport, especially the Toronto airport can be a challenge sometimes. If the driver is new or has never been to the airport, they have no clue where to pick you up. That was the case last night. The driver was at the airport, but NOT at the pickup spot. Anwyay, I finally got home. DH told me it's OK to take Uber, but that he refuses to deal with the smozzle at the Uber pickup and takes a limo home. I can cope with Uber. 

Here's a few pictures for you. This is me trying to cram that large quilt into my tiny suitcase. Thank goodness it had a polyester batting. 

Cramming the quilt into the suitcase

The rest of my stuff got shoved into this red bag and I had to carry all this onboard the plane. No one said a word. 

My carryon luggage

I even  managed to do some learning on the plane. There was NO entertainment system on the plane and I tried to quickly download a book to read, but my signal on the plane while we boarded was so weak the book wouldn't come through. I had a magazine with me, so I read that cover to cover and I found some interesting things which I'll share with you later this week. 

I have ProCreate on my iPad and I want to learn how to use it. I had downloaded a book about it on my phone, so I sat there for a bit and went over all the tools. WOW -- for a program that costs lestt than $20 this graphic program does a LOT of amazing things. 

Playing with ProCreate on my iPad

 I am very impressed. And the other thing I'm learning and getting better at is the mySewnet software. I was going to do some work on the plane, but realized that the files were in the cloud and while I was IN the clouds, it wasn't the one where my files were! 

Have you ever noticed how people eat? Some people are good eaters and some are bad. But some people have the strangest habits. When my grandfather used a spoon, he turned it upside down in his mouth. 

Why do I mention that? On the plane, the woman in front of and on the other side of the plane ordered pizza. The pizza was right side up on her tray, but when she picked it up to eat, she turned it upside down. Why? What if the toppings fell off? They wouldn't for airline pizza, but they would for most others. It was very weird. 

I've already been to the gym this morning. There was some confusion about the start time - 5 AM or 6 AM. That WASN'T my fault. Brooke had told me last time that it was only ONCE that we would start at 5 AM. But when I looked at the app to see the time, it said 5 AM. Thankfully, she responded to my email and I got there at the right time. So all was good and I had a good workout. I can see these stretches and exercises she is giving me are going to help my posture and open those tight muscles. Hopefuly that will alleviate some of the nerve issues, but I don't think so. That's a whole separate issue. 

Anwyay, I feel not so bad today. It's pain, but hey - life can't stop for that. You learn to move on and that's what I'm doing. My "new" office chair is comfy, I can get a good night's sleep. What more could one ask for? 

I've got loads of stuff to accomplish today and I'm off (in the snow) to get that done. There was absolutely no snow last night and now we have snow. It's a mess out there. 

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

Sunrise on the prairies

I am shocked! I bought a cream that was recommended by my friends who have had nerve issues in the past. What can a cream do? Very skeptically, I applied some to my affected area. It took a while to take effect, but it made the day much more pleasant. It's called LivRelief, and you can bet that I'll be using it. I may not even need that stick for the flight home! There is a light at the end of the tunnel - at least for today. 

Thanks to everyone who recommended that product. It's not a cure, but the bite of the pain has subsided. That didn't help me when I returned to bed this morning and made a sudden, wrong move. But I digress. 

I had another successful day of arranging things. I went back to Walmart to exchange socks, only to have to go back one more time this morning to exchange them yet again. But at least we found something Dad can put on himself and that he likes. That's all that counts. I'm not happy with the quality—these are diabetic socks, which are more than likely worn by someone wearing house shoes or slippers, not work boots. 

We did banking (two banks), found a house cleaner, picked up a quilt that I need to take home, and many other fun things. I only brought a small suitcase, and now I have a big quilt to take home, so packing will be entertaining this morning. Thankfully, I had a folding shopping bag, so I checked the suitcase and will carry some stuff in the bag on the plane, along with my backpack. Hopefully, the quilt can be crammed into the suitcase. I'll make it work, and you'll see more about the quilt when I get home. It will be a "fun" job to finish and a perfect example for my binding class. 

It's funny how examples fall into your lap when you least expect them. 

This morning has to be short as I'm running out of time. Why? Did I sleep in? No - I had a book to finish. I know - but I just couldn't get into this book and couldn't read much on the plane. But it's called Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce. Well, I finished it in time. I had ONE hour left before it was going to be returned. It's funny, it's sad, and, well, it's an intriguing read about learning to break out of your shell. Get up your GUMPTION, and you can do anything! 

The sunrise was happening as I drove to the apartment yesterday at 9:30 a.m. I wanted to stop and take a picture because it was spectacular. However, that was not an option as I was on the bridge, so I had to drive a little further to get off the bridge and past the town. This is what I saw. 

Sunrise on the prairies

Before the sun appeared, the "flame" shooting into the sky was very long, and it was amazing!!! This is the best I could get. Where in Ontario (at least in the city) would you ever see this? The sun came out and slid immediately behind the clouds for the day. 

The temperature? A mere minus 25 without the windchill! 

The temperature at 9:30 a.m.

It actually warmed up to minus 18 during the day. How civilized. It's currently minus 23, so that's an improvement. It will get much warmer as soon as I leave!

I couldn't help myself. As I walked past the puzzle in the apartment's common room, I had to place a puzzle piece. The pieces left are for the grey background, so it will take some work. I'll leave them to that. 

I found a piece! 

Perhaps when I get home, I'll dig one out and take a wee break. Then, I can get to work with a vengeance. While I only have the two UFO Zooms left for this year, and I just have a bit of work to complete my homework, there is MUCH else to do. 

It was a day of visitors, as my aunt and second cousin stopped by my parents to say hello and brought an incredible tray of homemade goodies. Shoot, I forgot to post the picture of that. Thanks so much to Arlene, Jaxxon, and Sadie (the dog) for the visit. 

Then, on my way to the hotel last night, I stopped to visit another aunt, Norma. We had a good visit, and I picked up one more thing to bring home from her. Yes, I will have to do creative packing, so I checked that small bag. It's just going to be easier. 

I also chatted with my Aunt Irene, a quilter, on the phone. So, I made good rounds of visiting the family in a minimal time frame! 

The weather will be much nicer next time I'm back, and I'll have more time!

Speaking of time, I must get going as I have two errands to get done before I head to the apartment. My flight is at 1:30, and I have to get there. We had some snow and blowing snow yesterday, but I imagine the highways are fine, and I have ONE more errand to complete in Saskatoon. Since I have checked my luggage, I need time to get that thing checked. So, I will barely have time to say goodbye this morning and then be on the road, where I'll listen to my audiobook that will also disappear today because it's due in a couple of hours. 

I don't know what happened, but I had a long list of holds, each saying it would take weeks or months to arrive. Then, POOF—many arrived simultaneously. I've been delaying them, and I'll have lots next week. I'll just keep delaying them. 

I don't know who else is staying at this hotel, but they have a heavy foot! STOMP STOMP and I hear it at 3 a.m. Doors opening and closing, knocking -- I have no idea, but it has happened every night. Thankfully, I can get back to sleep quickly. 

OK -- Now I must run downstairs, get breakfast, shower quickly, pack, and leave!

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

The joys of getting old!

It makes me chuckle while I'm here. Whenever I come, I think, "That's it—we've got everything figured out." Then I return, only to find that new things have popped up. These things are simple to us, but to aging parents—one housebound, with a mindset still in the 40s, and the other who doesn't like change—life is a challenge. 

It's so bizarre because my Dad is into computers, and you would think he would be fascinated by the self-checkouts and ATMs, but NO - he wants human contact when he shops. So, there will be no self-serve stuff for him. 

I hate to say this because the bankers amongst you in the larger centers would cringe. I cringed when I heard it. But using a bank card at the bank? What the heck is that all about? The teller sees their customers enter the bank and immediately pull up their accounts. 

But if a stranger, like me, attempts to get a balance, their lips are sealed! It's a small town where everyone knows everyone! Me? Stranger - danger! 

On the agenda for the day was to buy socks for my Dad, yarn for my Mom, and CBD for me, but that's another story. Anyway, I found socks - they must be black, and unbeknownst to me, they had to be loose around the tops. I bought two different kinds, and I'll exchange one pack later today to get the looser of the two. That'll give him 12 pairs of socks, which will hopefully last. But he'd rather wear socks with holes in them (for months) than go to Wal-Mart to buy new ones. 

How often do you have to tell a grown man they have PEOPLE at Walmart to check you out, not just the self-check-outs? I got the yarn for Mom. They didn't have a great selection, but enough to make her happy. Why doesn't she tell me before I drive out here so I can check in Saskatoon, which is a larger center? 

I went to the bank to do some banking for my Mom, and my name was not on the account. I swear my name was on the account. So yes, I could deposit cheques - no problem, but no to getting any cash for her and definitely NO (directly from the manager standing there) for the balance. Interestingly, the balance does NOT appear on the paperwork when you make a third-party deposit. 

My name is even on the cheques - how could I not be on the account? Turns out my Dad had gone to Mom's bank for something and - I have already forgotten the details and said my name didn't need to be on the cheques and inadvertently took me off the account. AHA - a mystery was solved at dinner. It's a joint account, so I technically do not need to be put back on it, but the bank card expired over a year ago. So -- as "punishment" for taking me off the account, I told Dad he had to go back with me today to get a new card! Then we could use it at the ATM to get cash - LOL.

Then, it was time for the annual financial review, and all was good, but I hope to make a few minor changes today. It's funny how people think -- if I don't ask for a high-interest account, then the bank will "wisely" give the little guy a break because I wasn't greedy. DAD -- the bank and the economy do not work like that. It's every man for himself. TAKE as much as possible - the only winners are those who look out for themselves or the big guy. 

So here's something else that surfaced! Actually, there are several things here. Dad went to the doctor the day I got here. The issue? He has nosebleeds. It's not the first time, and the doctor keeps telling him he should use a humidifier. It turns out they have one, but Mom wasn't letting him use it—too much mess, leaking, etc. And she made him put it in the kitchen, a far distance from the bedroom, so it did NOTHING for him. Sigh! 

I investigated, and it works just fine, although the mist is quite fine, even on maximum. And I had to explain to Mom, as Dad had done, that the doctor wanted it right beside his bed. I don't know why Mom gets these ideas in her head, especially about stuff for my Dad, and disallows the use of such things. They bought this damn thing in 2014. If I hear that he's not allowed to use this, we won't go there. 

It's frustrating! Very frustrating. No wonder Dad spends all his time at the Museum! The other thing - as I'm telling her stuff she has no clue about, she sits there and says, "I know." Finally, last night, I said, Mom - you DON'T know,  that's why I'm telling you. That drives me nuts and has for my entire life. Then, she will go on about how she never knows anything. That's because she drives people nuts, and they don't talk to her! Sigh.

There's one last issue. Oh yes - Dad had gone to the doctor about the nosebleeds. I'm tempted to buy a new humidifier that will crank out the mist to clear the dry nose issue up quicker than the one they have. I might do that today. However, he mentioned the carpal tunnel on his hand while at the doctor's and asked when he would get an appointment with the surgeon. He was given a piece of paper and told to appear at the hospital at 4 PM. For what? A consultation? The surgery? No idea. He seemed to think he was getting the surgery, and I thought - no way! 

I arranged to go with him, and the next thing we knew, he was going to have the carpal tunnel issue resolved by the surgeon right NOW. It turns out that they attempted to contact them in October, but if they don't recognize the name on the phone, they don't answer it. Which we have told them. So they are following that instruction, but they missed this call. The surgeon felt generous and had a good relationship with Dad's doctor, so he took him the next day (yesterday) to do the surgery. 

I got to be a fly on the wall while they did it and learned a few things. I always thought that carpal tunnel was restricted to the wrist. NO --- it can happen at any joint in the hand, and Dad's issue was near the baby finger and resulted from the stroke he had three years ago. It's been bothering him ever since. So they opened it up, and because of the length of time, the top tendon was actually wearing away and was damaged but still connected. So he got three stitches and drove home! We were in separate vehicles as he came from the Museum. 

Now, I need to set up a voicemail for them on the home phone and teach them to use it. And yes, they will get junk voicemail, but hopefully, they will no longer miss important calls. 

I do not know why his doctor didn't follow up - the initial call was months ago. 

One last parent thing: It's about the phone. We have told them REPEATEDLY that those calls with no name or crank calls or whatever are generated by computers. But if they see a local number, they must look it up to see who "called." DAD! Just stop doing that!!!!! I don't get the need to know who attempted to call them. Those local numbers are FAKED to look local. Just recently, they got a local number, and he traced it to a real person's name, so then he spent the next couple of days asking around to see if anyone knew that person. Sigh.........

It will be another wonderfully filled day of sorting out issues. Who is going to do all this for me when I'm old? Hopefully, it won't be an issue, but gosh knows what kind of technology will be around when I'm 92. WAIT! M can teleport to my house to straighten us out and then teleport back home. 

And I hope I find those old socks in the garbage when I get to the apartment. I should have nipped them on my way out. Dad asked about it and said that Mom would likely rescue them to do something. God knows what!!

Many hydro/gas workers stay in this hotel, and by the time I left in the morning, it wasn't hard to find my white truck amongst the other white trucks—they were gone! 

My lone vehicle in the parking lot

The ubiquitous puzzle in the common room at my parents' house. Someone is always working on it. 

The jigsaw puzzle

I had to go to Staples, and oh my - look at the crayons! Doesn't that make you want to color something? Look at all the colors and an equal number of neutrals!!! 

Crayons at Staples

I spotted this blank journal, and I almost caved. But I did not. I left it in the store for someone else. There was no price on it, so I didn't need it. 

Love the journal cover, which I did NOT buy

Then, based on some advice from friends, I went shopping for myself. I was NOT encouraged when I saw a whole section at the pharmacy devoted to pain creams for nerve pain. This means many people have this issue, and there's no cure. I was very disheartened by it. 

Nerve cream

I even went to the cannabis store to look for something that someone recommended, but it wasn't there, so I didn't buy anything. 

Shopping at the cannabis store

I tried the cream this morning after a good sleep, and the pain woke me up, but alas, I'm not getting much relief from it. I may be taking a short stick with me for the flight home. Then I think of my Dad, who never complains about anything, and well—I'd better buck up! I can get through this. But I can see why people become desperate and will spend money on any kind of crazy promise to alleviate pain! 

What makes me "upset" with myself is that I've felt twinges of this pain for 5 years and did nothing about it. Perhaps there was nothing to be done. But now it's hit hard, and well, like my Dad, I'll find a way to cope. And hopefully, find some exercise or treatment that will alleviate the pain. I'm not sure I can fly or even want to fly if I don't find a solution. Even driving is not fun. What's worse is the more I talk to people, the more I find other people with it, and they still have it. But I'm not going there. 

I must have picked the coldest day of December to be here. This was the temperature this morning, and it starts to warm up the day I leave!!! You have to love Saskatchewan!! Remember—it's a dry cold, so it's not cold! I think it's warming up to minus 20, not including the wind chill! 

The temperature this morning

But these prairie people are tough. Yesterday, I saw people in sweatshirts, no hats, and no mitts. They are tough!

On that note, I'm out of here. There's a treadmill downstairs, and I might just crank out a KM or two to try to loosen this nerve!

Have a great day!!!

Ciao!!!!

A "memorable" journey

Let's say it was NOT memorable from a pleasure point of view. I knew it would be an uncomfortable trip and was not disappointed. 

I'm happy to report that I got to the airport with plenty of time to spare. I was at the gate at least 60 minutes BEFORE the flight was to leave. Positively loads of time. However, the airport was busy (Monday morning), and more and more people have NEXUS passes, so that line was long, but not nearly as long as the other one. It took time to get through security, but again, I had loads of time. 

When I arrived at the gate, I discovered no plane was there—even the pilots were waiting. We were delayed by 45 minutes as we waited for a plane to be towed to the gate. No worries. I found a place to sit away from the crowds and walked a bit. No checked luggage was required since I'm only here for a few days. 

I get to my seat at the back of the plane to find an older woman in the middle seat. And an older gentleman in the middle seat behind our row. As I sat down, she grumbled that she wanted to sit with her husband and made a big deal of asking him if he was OK and made it seem like he needed help. I said I needed to get up OFTEN and was not giving up my aisle seat. My apologies to the elderly for that call, but it was NOT happening. My needs were more significant than hers. And he was FINE. He even talked to the young man beside him for part of the trip! 

To make matters worse? My entertainment system didn't work! What a farce!! I managed to read some of my book, but I really wanted to sleep, but that wasn't happening. 

What was very strange was that when I changed my seat the night before, the plane was half empty. It was now COMPLETELY FULL. Some flights were delayed the night before, and those people got put on this flight. 

I stayed in my seat for the first hour of the three-hour flight. It wasn't comfortable, but it was manageable. Then, it wasn't pretty, so I tried to stand as much as possible. I'm sure the people around me were annoyed, but I didn't care. I was not bothering them. But do you know how often they go up and down the aisle with those carts? LOTS!!! People were going to the washrooms, so I also had my fair share of sitting. 

Thankfully, there wasn't a lot of turbulence, so the seat belt sign was mostly off. But the one time it was on, and I stood up, this young attendant waved me to my seat! I think they were new!

I got my vehicle for the time I'm here. I went with something different because it was less expensive than an SUV. 

My rental vehicle

Good grief—I have emergency equipment in this vehicle—a big flashing yellow light on the back seat, a big fire extinguisher in the back, a back rack, and a big radio antenna or something. I feel like a seasoned prairie person driving this vehicle. Do I like it? Absolutely not. It's sluggish and enormous. I will never rent one again, but to get me around for a few days, I'm OK. 

It's enormous for parking - who in the city would want to drive one of these? No idea. 

I made a quick stop at Robinson McNally bookstore in Saskatoon. Sadly, like all bookstores, the selection of crafting books and magazines is slowly dwindling, especially in the quilt world. I don't need anything anyway, so let's move on! 

I stopped to see Dad at the Museum because I knew he would be working there. So, I got to see the latest things he's done and what they are all working on. I have to chuckle, as Dad likes to refurbish old engines. Being more than 100 years old, these engines would qualify as antiques. In the day, they were used as generators to power equipment without built-in power. 

Currently, he has five of them in the shop. Doesn't that sound familiar to the quilters amongst us? So I asked him why five. Why not -- it's the same question we ask ourselves all the time. AH -- perhaps he is waiting on a part for one, an answer to a puzzle on another, and so on. Yep - just like the quilters do!! 

Then I went to the apartment to visit Mom while Dad finished at the Museum. 

It's a strange relationship that my brother has developed, and all I can say is basically, my parents are on their own, except he will drive my Dad to appointments and stop in to visit with him at the Museum. But NO ONE other than my younger brother is allowed to set foot on their property. Why? What has happened? He's become one old, eccentric, grumpy man! His loss. But what has happened is that my parents are on their own to care for themselves. I will have to come home every three months or so to ensure things are OK. 

Most elderly people don't want to spend money on things, or Mom says one thing, but it's not true. Well, you know how "old" people are!! So I'll spend two days sorting out many things, hopefully addressing these issues, and then wait to see what surfaces in the next couple of months. It's a struggle to be far away, but we'll do what we can. 

They struggle with how to do things and are reluctant to change. My Dad refuses to shop at Walmart because of the new self-checkouts, so he walks around with massive holes in his socks. Sigh. 

Some letters come, and they need clarification or just need confirmation that they read it correctly. Again, we'll do what we can, and I'll write notes for them to follow up on. I need to call more often and get them to read the stuff to me on the phone. 

I took a photo of the Christmas village at the Museum. Sadly, there is NO quilt shop! 

The Christmas village at the Western Development Museum

The other day, we were talking about the velvet pictures. I saw this in the shop at the Museum! Oh gosh -- those velvet pictures are still around!!!!

A velvet picture!!!

And if you think the weather sucks back home, look at this. This was the outside temperature last night as I arrived at the hotel. A tad chilly, and the weather app said it felt like minus 27 with the wind chill, but I didn't feel the wind. My suitcase had been in the truck for several hours, so I had to warm up my PJs before I put them on! 

The outside temperature last night

As they say, though - it's a DRY cold, so it's really not cold at all! And it's OK. But only in really cold places do you see electrical outlets in parking lots everywhere, so block heaters can be plugged in! 

Imagine making a temperature quilt and using the temperature of where I was! This would be a drastic color change! 

I won't be walking outside here. There is too much snow and ice everywhere, and only the main highways are clear. So, I must see if there's a treadmill at the hotel and get in a few miles. I'm so close to my goals that I would hate to miss them. 

On that note, I'm out of here. I must see if I can buy any kind of pills to relieve nerve pain before I head home. I don't think I can get anything OTC, but I'll hit the drugstore to see. I don't know if I can bear the journey home. The thought of getting off the plane even crossed my mind before we took off. Gosh - I'm such a big wimp!!

Anyway, have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Airline seat selection

In Canada, we have a couple of airlines. I've only flown Air Canada (in Canada) throughout the years. While they occasionally do silly things, I've mostly had good service. And now, with my status, I can take three 70-pound suitcases for free. That's important for the job I do. 

But when they do stupid things - it irks me. It's not enough to change to another airline, as I'm sure they all do this and I think it will get worse!

I bought a ticket a couple of weeks ago, and it's the fare class that allows me to choose a seat for free, which I did. I chose an aisle seat, which is also on my profile as my preferred seat. I don't know what row it was, but it was near the front of the plane. 

When I checked in yesterday, I was surprised to find myself in a middle seat in row 16. WHAT??! 

Thankfully, the plane was not full, so I moved to an aisle seat at the back with an empty row to stretch out. I received a notification when I changed my seat. However, did I receive a notification when Air Canada changed my seat? I did not! I hate that they are sneaky about that! 

If they needed to move people because they were with small children or family members, I get that, but when there were loads of empty seats at the back of the plane, why are they moving ME to a middle seat? I should have left myself there and bothered the crap out of the person in the aisle seat because I needed to get up for my leg. 

Do they not realize that people pick a seat for a reason? What if I have a weak bladder and must go every 30 minutes? Would someone want me in the middle seat? I just don't get that! 

This has happened only once before, and I was just about to board the plane when I realized they changed my seat. I was in the line to get it changed, but that never happened, so I was in the middle seat for that flight. It was a short flight - I don't even remember where I was. If someone has children or someone they need to sit beside, then they should be buying tickets or fares to make that happen! It will all get much worse next year when their new rules come into play. 

If it keeps happening, I'll be kicking up a stink! So, I moved from row 16 to row 35. I'm not in a hurry, I can wait a few extra minutes, but so could the person who took my aisle seat in row whatever it was at the front! 

It's going to be COLD where I'm going. I can hardly wait for that brisk, cold air to whip around my face! I may or may not be walking! 

Two more Zooms yesterday, and all is good. I spent most of the afternoon with all the follow-ups, and they are done! Pretty comfortable in my new chair! I have two more sessions on Zoom for classes, and I'm done for the year! I have some virtual retreats, but I am not 100% sure of the dates. The monthly one is on the 28th and 29th. I plan to book another one for next week, Christmas week - probably on Christmas Eve. Stay tuned - I'll try to finalize that date soon. 

Then, I spent much of last night working on my new project. It's not new, but could I find the files I had previously scanned and cleaned? I could not, so I completed all 25 files last night, and they are now ready to be digitized for machine embroidery. This is a massive issue for me—I have started this project numerous times and keep losing the files. Don't yell at me—I know my digital files are somewhat in disarray. 

However, yesterday, I found two photos that people had sent me. Because I was organized and named them, I found them within a minute or two! I'm not entirely unorganized, but I need to get better. 

Can you imagine how different our world would be if there was a giant lost and found so people could get those lost mittens back? 

Lost mitten

This was found near the school; I swear the number of lost mittens is huge. 

OK—so here are my Dear Jen blocks so far. I love the black-and-white background, but they are busy. I'm trying to convince myself that they are OK. I will rearrange them so all the dark is in one row and then all the light. It's so darn hard to see the contrast that I'm even tempted to start over! GASP!!!!

Dear Jen blocks

Well, that's it for me. I have a few things to finish packing this morning and deal with the girls, who will NOT be happy when I leave. But it's only for a couple of days. They will survive!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Change is good (and necessary)

Do NOT YELL at me, but I fail miserably at ergonomics at my house, especially in the office. Hence my poor posture, which was never good, and whatever other ailments that brings. 

What happened? Well, you know I have this silly pain in my leg, and sitting on a hard chair is a tad uncomfortable. I've been good on my sewing chair in Studio B because it's somewhat cushy. But my office chair is not too well padded. Last night I hauled a comfy chair from Studio B to the office, and well, I'm embarrassed to say that the chair I've used for years sucks! 

My NEW office chair

The chair is a little bit higher than my unadjustable one. Guess what happened? My arms are now probably at the proper height for the keyboard. I tilted the monitor up, and I sat straighter. Good grief - I'm such a dolt. I already feel 5" taller! And my leg doesn't hurt nearly as much when I have lots of work and have a deadline. 

There are days when I wonder why we don't change things that aren't working. We get stuck in a rut, and this chair was just sitting in the basement with a roll of batting on it! It's not like it was being used. All is good, but I must be much more aware going forward. 

No birds have visited my suet feeder yet, but I know they are around. The birds have loved my feeders in the past. But the squirrels are not interested either. They may have tried and were discouraged or are not interested. However, I've noticed the squirrels sitting on the ice in the pond having a drink. However, they ran away when I sneaked to the window to take a picture! 

The squirrel making a getaway from the pond

Where do birds and animals get their water otherwise? There is little water lying around at this time of year? Well, they are welcome to use my pond! 

So here's our Murphy. After she ripped the dog bed apart, I moved the blankets to that spot, and she is pretty happy to lie there. Lexi? No - she insists on sleeping on the couch! No floor sleeping for her! You know how they say pets mirror their owners? Lexi is DH, and Murphy is me! 

Mom - this bed is just fine!

OK—I am my own worst enemy. In the morning, I noticed an F11 error on the dishwasher, but there was no time to fix it because of all the Zooms. Once the Zooms were over, I opened the drain and spotted some paper from a plastic cup that I was "rinsing." DH told me I was NOT supposed to put that stuff in the dishwasher. Rinse and put it in the recycling. OK!!

F11 error

Then I started the dishwasher. Guess what? I got a second F11. What? There was NOTHING tomato sauce-related in the darn thing. OH - I put a jam jar in there, and the label came off and got stuck. OK - note to self -- NO paper labels in the dishwasher! I'm so silly!!!

The four Zooms went very well. It takes a lot to prepare, but things go smoothly when you are prepped! I'm working on the follow-ups today and got two of them done; two more to go. And then there will be two more follow-ups after the Zooms today. I don't just send the recording link; I often have other links to send, clean up the slides, and add notes if necessary. I try to take notes of what I need to follow up with, and I have one person who sends me the notes in case I forget! Thanks!! You know who you are!

I was on a roll this morning as I prepped all the follow-up stuff. Perhaps it's the new chair. I even started a list of all the assignments and dates for the January classes so I could quickly review it and see where I am and what needs to be done! As I send out the follow-ups, I'm adding what needs to be done for January to that list. WOW—I'm going to be so organized!!

At least I'll know what has to be done! 

We are zipping right along with our EXIT Game Advent Calendar. We have completed five puzzles and were able to figure them out without looking at the clues. And the last two were relatively quick, so what do we talk about now? It was hilarious! 

Here are a couple of my blocks from the Spice Market quilt. This is a great quilt, but the pattern could be better. It's a "bit" confusing in spots and obviously wasn't tested. 

Spice Market block

Spice Market block

Hot and spicy colors are where I'm going with this. 

Thanks for the feedback on the classes. I've decided to go with another series of lectures for the Saturday Sampler at Thimbles and Things. And thanks to discussions yesterday, I now have most of the 6 topics chosen. I'll let you know when that goes out or get on the newsletter for Thimbles and Things, so you'll be alerted when the new classes are posted! 

Once everything is set, I'll post the information again—what classes, how to sign up, and all the relevant details. It's a great way to learn in the comfort of your home, and you won't be disappointed! I'm trying to divide my teaching between techniques/lectures and projects. I don't want to overload anyone or myself!

On that note, I need to get organized. This morning, I have two Zoom meetings. One is ready to go, and the other requires some work. However, they are very relaxed Zoom meetings and less work than yesterday's!

Have a super day!!

Ciao!!!

2025 Classes

I need to set up my second bird feeder and install the darn new pole, but there isn't time. Then the birds will come back, and the ones that like the suet will be with them. Thanks to Tammy for keeping me updated on the birds—I'm terrible at knowing who is who! 

But it isn't so much time; it's like I'm in hibernation mode. I've been napping a lot this week. Is it because I'm tired? I'm getting decent sleep, but perhaps not as long as needed. Is it because it's cold and I'm a bear? Is it because I'm very dehydrated? Or is it because my brain is overwhelmed with what I've assigned it, and it is just saying, "No?"

It's probably a combination of all those things. Despite having someone come to discuss a quilt I will make for them, and Murphy going to the vet for her regular check-up, I managed to get all four presentations done or mostly done. I'll sort the slides on the last one at lunch! That's cutting it close!

Murphy is such a "brave" dog when she's on her own terms. She was pretty well-behaved at the vet and only barked a few times, which is a significant improvement. But when it came time to get on the table? WHOA!!! You are NOT putting me up there!

MOM - why can't we leave? 

Once on the table, she was OK with everything except the second needle. MOM - that HURTS. I need to go home NOW!!!!

And the second she was off the table and had a treat, she was her usual self! 

I am now even further behind on other things that need to be done, but it will be quiet after today. I knew it would be crazy to prepare for those four presentations, two of which were moved because of the holidays. This should be the last time that happens, at least for these sessions, which end in June. 

Here's an interesting thing about classes. Before Zoom, hosting an online class was almost unheard of. Everyone would trudge their sewing machines and supplies to the store. And if I were offering lectures like I've done since 2003. people would come to the store for a one-hour look at the new assignment for the month. 

I did a random and unscientific survey on what people want as we plan for 2025. Guess what? Online is the way to go, especially for the lectures. Think how much time it saves everyone. No one needs to pack up their stuff, and everyone gets a front-row seat to see exactly what is being explained—it was never like that! 

Best of all, at least for my students, is the follow-up. They get a recording of the class for 30 days, the slides, and many other handouts as applicable. That NEVER happened in the in-person classes. 

I am a firm believer in online classes. You can do it online if you have the right technology and knowledge. I don't have to take a bunch of step-outs to show my progress, and I don't have to pack and carry a bunch of stuff. And when I get home, I have to unpack it all. 

While some of you out there prefer hands-on, I get it. We all have different ways of learning, but as we age and are still thirsty for knowledge, I think online is the way to go. It is excellent to have platforms like Facebook where you can share photos or ask for help. It is so much better than it used to be when we all went home with a list of blocks to make, and you were required to take notes or remember! 

Speaking of online classes, I saw a crazy new paper pieced BOM. I'm not allowed to publicly share that photo, but it's very cool, and I wonder if there would be enough people wanting to do a paper piece Block of the Month? It would start in February or thereabouts. I think that is when the pattern is being released. When the pattern can be shown, I'll let you know. 

I promised to list my class and club offerings for 2025 on the blog, but I haven't done so yet. So here's a quick recap. Note that nothing much new is being added at this point. I am trying to be very reasonable with my schedule; nothing new has been added. One thing will go away (Out of the Box). I'll cut back on others at some point, but for now - this is what it is. 

NOTE: ALL classes mentioned are on Zoom. And if there is room in one of my clubs, I've noted it. 

The Hobby Horse Quilt Shop: 

Crossing the Finish Line - (started in October) will continue until June

Crossing the Finish Line - demand was so high that we're going to run a second class from January to June (a shorter version - but I want all classes to finish before the summer)

Chatsworth - Will run as a monthly class from January to June. 

You can sign up for Chatsworth on the website, and I'll check on the second Crossing the Finish Line. I may not have provided dates for that one yet. 

Thimbles and Things: 

Dear Jen - continues until June 2025. 

That leaves an opening for a second class. Do people prefer the technique lectures (Saturday Sampler), or would you like a project class? I have several ideas, but I'm open to anything. 

CrazyQuilteronabike: 

Spice Market - continues until June.

UFO Club One and Two - will continue for 2025 (January to December). I may have ONE or TWO spots open, but everyone loves it so much that no one wants to drop out. 

Machine Embroidery Club: will continue for 2025 (January to December). Again, I may be able to squeeze one or two more people in, but it's very popular. 

Digital cutter club: will continue for 2025 (January to December). There will be spots available in this one - we are cutting anything - paper, vinyl, and fabric. 

Many Blocks: will continue for 2025 (January to December). This class is similar to the UFO Club but without a financial commitment. The projects are those quilts with MANY blocks (like Dear Jane, Town, and Country, 365-Day Challenge, 100 block challenges, and temperature quilts) that we had great intentions of completing and did not! You set your goal! There is space in this club for anyone who has that type of project and needs motivation. It's free, but I would prefer you not start a project just to join. I would prefer that you are trying to finish an existing one. 

Embroidery software (mySewnet)

I will continue to teach classes at Stitch by Stitch in Kingston and Needleworks Studio in Cochrane. You must check the stores' schedules for information. I have yet to provide the new dates and topics to the stores, but we are continuing the sessions. NOTE: Each store will have different monthly topics, so all sessions will be different.  

And now I better organize myself as it will be a long day in front of the computer!!!

Have a super day!!

Ciao!!!

It's all about BALANCE

I hear you about the paper -- deal with it right away. I try - I really try. But here's what I face. At the retreat, I made a list of things I needed to send to people. The list is half complete. I bought a magazine and wanted to share an article with a colleague - it's still sitting on the desk. I must finish writing some documents - the paper is still on the desk. I must follow up with emails - some of that paper is still on the desk. I got a book from the library to help with one class. Guess what? Yep - it's still on the desk. 

That's my biggest issue - I need to take the time to make phone calls and write emails, but it's a very time-consuming thing, and well - I'll get through it - it's just going to take time. 

Have you ever noticed that life is all about balance? How much time and resources do you have? Then, you must decide how to spend your time, money, or whatever the resource is. 

However, another type of balance is equally important. Today's blog is a bit late because I was at the gym. This was the first morning with the personal trainer, who emailed me last night to see if I could come at 5 a.m. Sure, I can do that. 

While I think I'm in good shape, I'm not! Yes - all the walking and the cycling, with nothing else, has been a naughty thing on my part. I needed to stretch and build ALL my muscles, not just a few. So, it was an eye-opener this morning. I'm not weak - I can use 10-pound barbells for shoulder presses - just! 

But what about the other stuff? Like lunges? Oh boy, we had to modify that one—the knees and legs just didn't want to dip deep! Brooke was very kind and supportive as I went through those motions. 

However, I excel at one thing—balance! I had to stand on one of those half-bouncy balls (a BOSU ball). I was a little shaky the first time, but soon, I could do 30 seconds on either leg with zero movement in my arms! 

Physical balance is critical and can prevent falls, increase longevity, and reduce pain. Some studies indicate that the better your balance, the better your mobility, and hence, the better your longevity in life! Funny - we were just talking about balance at the retreat! If you try doing the balance thing with your eyes closed, it's much more challenging. Since I can easily do 30 seconds with my eyes open, I need to work on 30 seconds with my eyes shut! 

Here's hoping the strength training and stretching will become as good as my balance, and I'll be ready to go!

Once we finished the routine, I got to try the compression legs! The what? Yep, compression legs. They are like very long booties that you put on, and then, like a blood pressure cuff, your legs get compressed. It's the weirdest thing, but sitting there for 15 minutes while your legs are squeezed is pretty cool!

Compression legs

It was a weird feeling, but it was relaxing. Hence, I'm late because of the leg compression routine! 

Yesterday, Muprhy was in her glory, with all the wind and leaves blowing around. Then she found some pine cones, which she tried to convince me were indoor toys. They are NOT! She was not too happy but content to play outside with them. 

MOM - pine cones are for indoors! 

MOM - I'll play outside with them, but it's not as fun!

The birds are still wary of the suet feeders but love getting water from the pond! 

A giant birdbath

There are so many things I want to learn - there is NOT enough time for it all! I made significant progress on the homework to present tomorrow, but today will be busy. There will be no embroidery or quilting going on! It's all about taking pictures, sewing, and taking more photos and loading them into PowePoint. 

I better get going - the girls are getting anxious to get on their walk! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Murphy is a bully!

I don't think any birds will be visiting my suet feeder today. It's windy, like mad outside, and there's a wind chill! Yeah, I can hardly wait to take the girls for their walk! I'll be bundling up for sure. Thankfully, I do not need to go anywhere once the girls are walked. I have one Zoom class this evening, so I can stay indoors!

Speaking of email woes, this one is a doozy! We have a monitored alarm in our house, which I absolutely hate. If it weren't for insurance, it would NOT be here. We actually had part of it (motion sensors) deactivated because of the annoying low batteries, beeping for warnings, and zero follow-up by the company. What I dislike is that they install the system and never show you how to change the batteries in these things or explain what will happen. 

Last week, I received an email saying the battery at the front door was low. No problem—we have a keyless entry, and I know that the battery has to be changed. I'm good with that. However, I was notified one minute later that the battery was OK. Now that's weird. And then, I proceeded to get the same two emails MANY times until I could call and had a technician come to the house yesterday. 

The ^%$$^ battery in the sensor at the front door was low. OK -- I get that I should have received a notification, but I received THOUSANDS of emails in the last week concerning the issue. First, the battery is low, but OOPS - the battery is not low. So is it low or not? 

What drives me mad is why the emails can't say, "The battery in the front door SENSOR is low," with a link on how to change the darn thing. But why did it have to send THOUSANDS of emails? I'm not kidding—I would get a notification about every 5 minutes—two emails back to back. 

I think they need to change how their system works. Perhaps I'll add that to my list - to write them a note on how the emails should be worded! It would save a lot of time and effort on my part and the company's part. 

Here's the bad battery, which I saved and put in my battery box with a note. 

The dead battery

Once you know what to do, it's easy. But since this has never happened before, how do I know how to fix it? And what needed to be fixed? If the email was more explicit, it would have been a breeze. 

I'm not sure what I did yesterday, but it didn't seem like I got enough done! I have a bit of work to do to get all those presentations together, and well, I'm running out of time, so today, I must focus on that. 

But last night, I wanted to do some embroidery. I've also realized that I CANNOT get the embroidery done for Christmas. I don't have time, as each part takes a long time. I should have started a lot sooner. This is why I never plan on getting things done for Christmas. I'm not sweating it—it was a whim, which I will set aside. I will, however, finish the current project. It's a four-part embroidery, and two of the four are done. 

So, when I went to do the embroidery, I ran into a snag. Good grief—if I'm using this hoop, I need a hoop adapter, and where the heck did I put that? I will say that the new system for attaching the embroidery hoop to the arm is BRILLIANT. I love it. 

Hm - these do NOT go together

I ended up changing the hoop because I didn't have time to find the darn adapter. No big deal. Then, as I sat by my computer doing something, I spied the hoop that the adapter was attached to! I gave myself a scolding because that adapter is supposed to always be left in one spot. 

The missing adapter

It is supposed to be in this box when not being used. I must order a few more to always have one in an "emergency!" OK -- now you can yell at me because I made "fun" of people who lost their keys the other day! Technically, I didn't lose the adapter - it was attached to a hoop, and I knew it was. The question was, which hoop and where did I put it. So I must start remembering when I'm done to remove the adapter! 

The adapter should be in THIS box

I got a customer quilt done. This is Tequila LIme - the paper-pieced quilt we did last year. Choosing the thread color was a challenge on this one. I went with a black thread because it would have muddied the pattern to put a pink thread on the black background. So, while you can see the black thread on the design, it all looks just fine! 

Customer quilt  - done!

I did have to babysit this one a bit, but that's OK. And my long arm FROZE at the end of one row—it just froze! So I had to get out of the stitching program and get back in. But all is good—no one would ever know that happened. 

Oh, I should say that I tried something new with the machine embroidery from the previous night, and I like this method much better. Just because the pattern says one thing does not mean I have to do it that way! I'll be sharing that story with my embroidery group! 

Now that I bought my new running shoes, I'm still getting ads for them. Why did I buy three pairs? They were $50 off, so I saved $150. That's a good enough reason for me to buy three pairs! 

It's so fun to have something to look forward to each day, and right now - it's the EXIT Game Advent Calendar. We finished Day Three last night. I know - we are way behind, but that's OK. We do it when our schedules work. Perhaps I shouldn't say this, but we are three for three! There is no need to look at the clues; as I've said before, we work well as a team on this. I probably would be struggling by myself and DH as well. I'm sure we'll have to look at some point, but I'm OK with that. We give it our all, and I can't wait for dinner! We must wait until Saturday to play again, although DH suggested taking it to the restaurant on Friday. Seriously?? 

I managed to get rid of some paper and answer some emails, so I'm in good shape, but there's still so much to deal with! No wonder my office is such a disaster. The paper comes in faster than I can process it! But any progress is good! I'm happy to celebrate the little things in life and let bygones be bygones. It blows my mind how some people are "happy" when they complain. That's all they seem to do - hold grudges and complain. I complain - get it out of my system and move on! Life is too short to live unhappily!

Murphy is sneaky! We have allowed her on the sofa occasionally, but she usually doesn't stay long and never climbs up when we are around. Imagine my surprise when I came downstairs this morning to find Lexi leaning against the wall in the hall. Yet - I heard someone jump off the furniture. When I checked the sofa, it was warm, and who came around the corner. Yep - that would be Murphy! Why? Did she push Lexi off? Or jump up when Lexi wasn't on the sofa? Lexi was not impressed and said that Murphy was a bully! 

I hope the decluttering is working out OK for you. I know that some of you are diligently working on things like boxes of CDs in the car. We all have these skeletons in our closets, and we know we don't need the stuff, so it's time to get rid of it! We need to be mindful of our stuff, not just living with it but becoming aware of it all. You might be surprised at what you see. If things are around too long, they become invisible. 

On that happy note, I'm out of here. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

When you hear PLOP!

Oh boy—this paperwork is going to be the death of me! I spent the entire morning at the computer, and I swear the desktop doesn't look cleaner! Emails and phone calls got done, but I don't think any physical paper disappeared. I'll try again this morning, but I also have a lot of sewing/embroidery to do, and I need to be downstairs! 

But any progress is progress, and we just keep moving forward. I tackled a few more CDs, and the pile is almost gone. What did I find? I found three photos that I wanted to keep. The rest of the stuff went in the garbage as there was nothing of any value on the CDs. That's so bizarre - I kept that entire stack, yet nothing was important! 

That happens when things get put away and become invisible. 

Here are the pictures that I transferred to my hard disk. They are of a quilt that I made years ago and sold. I LOVE this quilt! I'm glad I have pictures of it. 

Blowing in the Wind - a quilt I made

I used yarn for the dandelion, which was perfect! Gosh, I made this quilt many years ago, but I always remembered it! 

A close-up of the quilting

The yarn detail

Someone sent me this quote, which is fantastic. While I'm happily doing the first one and have to say I'm working well on the other two, this month will drive people mad. I knew people who would stop sewing for the entire month so they could prepare their house for Christmas dinner. That's a bit much—at least at my house! 

Great quote

Again - some of those traditions become invisible, and we don't realize that even though we're doing the same thing because we HAVE to, we don't have to! I was talking with someone yesterday who threatened her three adult children to come home for Boxing Day (they all live close to her) because none wanted to go for Christmas. Not that that is sad, but it shows that our children move on, and it's OK to change what we do!

I was getting ready to take Murphy for her walk when I noticed a box at the front door. Oh my—it was largish but extremely light. Could this be my running shoes? Yes, my three identical pairs of running shoes have arrived. 

My running shoe stock for 2025

I stacked them sideways in the hall closet, and I'll dig the first pair out on New Year's Day. The pair I have right now are perfectly fine until then. 

Stored discreetly in the closet

Several weeks ago, I bought new bird feeders, and it was time to get them out. I also have a new stand, which I need to install, and since it's warm out, I might try for that later today. This is the suet feeder. It holds two things of suet, and it's supposed to be squirrel-proof! I haven't seen anyone visit it yet, but it might take a day or two for news to travel. I've not been a good birder, and I'm sure I've been taken off the bird-feeding route!

My new suet holder

DH is getting into the swing of decluttering as well. If you think my desktop is bad, you should look at his. It's like a tornado went through. There are stacks of business cards for people I'm sure are no longer alive! He has a two-drawer filing cabinet, as well as two portable boxes. He emptied one of the boxes, which basically had NOTHING in it. He needs to empty the second one and then go through those two drawers, and whatever he doesn't need must go!! I do NOT want to be saddled with going through his crap! And I told him so!

Empty file box

I will hold onto the box and the hangers for a bit. I aim to empty that four-drawer filing cabinet in my office, so I may need a place to put files. This box takes a lot less room than the bigger cabinet! 

I was standing at the long arm, prepping a quilt, when I looked up. Good grief—that girl is like an Elf on the Shelf! And she just sits there and watches! It's kind of creepy sometimes!

MOM -- it's me! 

I'm running between the long arm and the sewing area as I try to prep something for later in the day. I hear PLOP, and oh my - what happened? Ah - the spool of thread was near the end, and it popped off the stand and onto the floor. That was an easy fix, and nothing happened to the stitching. I babysat that until the row was done, as near the end of a spool, the thread sometimes "sticks" to the plastic cone. 

The thread fell off the machine

I had just enough thread to finish the row, but only after the bobbin also ran out!

I won!

The community project quilt was done, and it's partially trimmed. I'll finish that later today. 

Community project quilt - DONE

I'll load the next one later today and get to work on that. Then, it was over to the embroidery machine to work on a project I'd wanted to do for a while but couldn't get my act together. 

I read the instructions, which is a good thing. I did not print them out but kept them on the computer, which sits by the sewing machine. Gathering all the threads, fabric, and other tools consumed much time. 

The supplies

And then it was time to start! I will share what I'm working on once it's delivered, but it's super cute!!

Starting the embroidery

And after close to 20K stitches, the first part was complete. Only three more parts!

The embroidery is done!

I will try something slightly different with the next part, and we'll see how that goes! 

I'm off to spin class this morning, and let's see if I can reach the water bottle. The constant stabbing pain has abated, but that doesn't mean I'm out of the woods. The pain is still there, just a lot more manageable, and that's good enough for me—for the moment! I want it fixed, but what if it can't be fixed? We won't go there. 

It will be another day of total chaos with loads of stuff to do. But I'm relaxed, and I do what I can. Let's say I go to bed exhausted, which is good because I'm sleeping through the night like a log. 

Good luck with the decluttering in your house. Remember, this is a new lifestyle you're trying to build, and it will take time! But also look at your schedule - how crazy is it? Are you overwhelmed? If so, you may want to cut back! While I'm busy, I'm NOT overwhelmed, and I'm not running or doing things for others. If I don't have time for this project, it won't get done, and that's OK. The presentations are coming along nicely. One is complete except for adding student photos as they are posted. The second one should be done today, leaving two to complete over the next couple of days. I'm good! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!