Trendtex Challenge

Stand up - sit down! Do that ten times an hour, and WOW!!! That makes a difference. It gets easier! If you can't do ten times - try ONCE an hour! Your quads will thank you! I won't say that my leg feels better because of this, but with all the extra stretching, it's so much better than it was. I have my moments, and they are really dependent on how I sit. So, I'm learning to live with it until I get some answers. 

Now, I need to catch up on other things that have happened over the last few days. Yesterday, I did not declutter, as it was a Virtual Retreat in the afternoon and writing in the morning. 

Here's a thought on the writing. We had a big discussion about AI and Chat-GPT yesterday. While they are NOT mutually exclusive, I think they are two different things, or one is a subset of the other. If you look at using computers to do research, that is NOT new. If you call that AI, so be it. I call that the power of a processor to grind through data. 

If you feed the computer enough data, it can predict things. To me, that is data crunching, not AI. AI is when the computer generates ideas, pictures, etc., although the computer can only generate from what it has in its databases. It does not (not yet, anyway) have the power to write independently. 

And that's where I have an issue with Chat-GPT. I think it's wrong to tell the computer the outline of your paragraph, essay, or book and let the computer generate the text. And if you decide to do that because writing isn't your thing, then be prepared to EDIT the darn result! 

Using an existing document as a basis for a new one is much harder than writing from scratch. Yesterday, I faced that challenge. I revamped a document I had written several years ago, which took much more time than if I had started from scratch. 

As I've mentioned, I use Grammarly to edit my blog posts, and it's becoming increasingly involved in the process. Some words and phrases suggested are NOT my style at all. Sometimes, I let the suggestion go; sometimes, I don't. It takes as long, if not longer, to edit these posts than to write them! The worst offender that Grammarly does is to change the meaning of the sentence. It likes to do that a lot, and that's NOT what I'm trying to say. I've put examples up for you in the past. 

OH -- As I was researching some information on the internet yesterday, I came across a passage that was generated by AI. That was mentioned at the beginning and end of the four paragraphs. Hmmm -- decent enough information, except that what it said in paragraph two was contradicted in paragraph three!! All it did was search for this topic online and create a decent enough article, but it wasn't correct! Does anyone check the facts? I don't think so!

I accomplished something major yesterday, but I can't share it with you. 

I ordered the Trendtex challenge from the Canadian Qulter's Association in October. This is their annual challenge - it's been going on for many years. Trendtex is their sponsor and provides five somewhat coordinated fabrics in the challenge kit. I purchased one kit, and these are the five fabrics. 

Trendtex Challenge 2025

The theme is Blooming. So, what does one do with that? I got an idea pretty much as soon as I looked at the fabric, and I used EQ8 to help with the design. I had taken it to the in-person retreat but didn't have time to work on it, which was probably good. The other day, I cut the fabric and started to sew it. It was a great project to sew during the virtual retreat. 

I will be able to finish piecing the top today. However, as I worked, I had some concerns that I wouldn't have enough black fabric, so I had to do some creative piecing to get enough to complete the design. This piece is 1" by 4" with a seam down the center! Phew—I just made it!

My final piece

This is all that is left of that fat quarter of black. This piece is about 8 inches long. 

All that remains of the black

Thankfully, I did NOT even bother to measure before I started the piece, or I would have been discouraged. I just winged it, and it worked! 

When the piece is complete, I won't have much of the five fat quarters left! Sheesh -- it took a lot of fabric to make a small piece. 

Anyway, it's not done - it needs some quilting, embellishments, labels, hanging sleeve, etc., but at least I've started and must keep going. I'm good at buying the challenges and never doing anything with them. This year will be different!

We had turkey for Christmas. We don't buy turkeys because—well, we just don't. So we bought a thigh and a breast. I cleaned off the carcass and saved the bones to make turkey stock. I know—me? That's what I said, but it seemed a shame to throw the bones out without using them to their fullest. 

That's why I went to the grocery store on Boxing Day but had to wait until the next day to get some carrots, celery, and an onion. 

Making turkey stock

When I went into my nicely organized spice drawer, it was still neat and tidy, but there was a huge mess in the back where the bags of excess spice are stored. So, while the stock boiled, I had to clean that up. DH does not see the messes he makes in the kitchen. Spills on the floor? Nope—he doesn't see those either. But he cooks, and I can follow behind and clean up the spills. 

The spice drawer

After the stock had boiled and cooled, I cleaned everything off the bones, removed the ugly bits of turkey, added more turkey, cut up more veggies, and made the soup, which I had for lunch yesterday. It was pretty tasty and a nice break from my usual soup, which comes in a can. 

I really should start making my soups as they are easy and mostly require some veggie chopping, which isn't hard. 

Oh, here's my UFO, which I'm working on. All the pieces are prepped and ready for the final sewing stage, which is a huge accomplishment! 

The state of my current UFO

Here are three interesting items I found in the storage/organization magazines that I think are ridiculous! 

See how they added this slim cabinet in the corner? Yes - it looks like such a great idea; however, what about the big white vase filled with flowers. Doesn't it seem like it's in the way? OK - that can be moved. What about the light fixture above? Did they just cram this thing in the corner for the photo? This reminds me of an AI-generated picture. It doesn't make sense. Does no one edit this stuff?

Cabinet squeezed into the corner

With all the AI-generated photos, we must teach people how to tell reality from fake. I won't say more about that today, but I have much to say! And what about pictures on IG that are so staged that they're ridiculous? 

OK - here's another example of storage in the bathroom. It looks pretty, and it looks neat. But seriously? Who wants to bend down and pick up those three baskets every time you clean the floor? That would NOT happen in my house! It might have happened before, but it's not happening now! 

Would you pick up those baskets to clean?

And here's one more. The labels on these drawers are done with chalk. How long will that stay that way in a child's room? One press against the drawer with the body or hands to close it, and POOF - the chalk label is gone! It's pretty and cute but not practical. 

Chalk labels in a kid's room?

If nothing else, the storage/organization magazines are great entertainment on what NOT to do in the storage world! 

We had a white Christmas, but except for a tiny pile of snow beside the driveway, which is fast disappearing in the above zero (Celsius temperatures) and the wind and the rain, the ground is bare! 

Don't forget throughout the day - do your stand-up/sit-down routine. Although I haven't been doing it that long, my legs already feel a difference. Do yourself a favor and PROTECT your mobility!! And protect your balance! Both are equally important to remaining independent as we age. Don't screw it up! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!