It's the small things that make a difference

Oh crap --- it's likely that I messed up the links again. I'll repost the link for that video on how learning a second language can save your life. Please tell me that it is only some links, not all!!!

Here is the missing link from yesterday. 

I cannot tell you how happy I am these days! Getting those niggling little UFOs done does way more for my happiness level than money or happy pills ever could. And I've taught (forced) myself to be persistent and focused. And get the darn thing DONE - don't just move it to another stage, and then let it sit for another ten years! I'll happily share all that got done, but it has to wait until tomorrow. 

It's the SMALL things that make the difference. Lots of small things create massive amounts of clutter, but get them done, and guess what? Clutter gone!

And after today, which is UFO Club, I don't have any online commitments until February 8, and I'm happy to report that everything I wanted to get done for the two sessions on February 8 is already DONE!!! What? Yep --- that's how much I'm pushing! 

I have a writing assignment this week, as well as two quilts that also need to be made from scratch. All three of those things are on the visual "to-do" list, and they all have deadlines! 

I wish I could put my finger on what the trigger has been. But I suspect it's the culmination of the decluttering over the years and celebrating the small successes. The less mess, the easier it is to do things, and the more you want the rest of the mess out of the way! The physical and mental impact on me is monumental! 

Speaking of decluttering, I've been tidying a few things in Studio U. It needs a major sort and put away of all the quilts and projects that have sprung from their hiding places. But there were also some bags and boxes from M's downsizing last year, and I need to go through them. I've been recycling and finding things to donate, so that is all happening. Slowly, but that's how I roll!

It doesn't matter how fast or slow this is happening; what matters is that I'm DOING something about the messes in our house. I want to do it while I'm still physically and mentally able to deal with the stuff. I can't imagine having to wait for someone to fill boxes or carry things. And I certainly don't want my daughter to have to do it. Nope -- I need to get it done. And the day we decide to downsize, I want the real estate agent and the movers to walk in and say, "Wow, you don't need to do anything to get ready to move." That is a goal! 

I do want to start back in the closets and the kitchen, but there's no rush, and it wouldn't take that long - probably one day each, and I would be able to get rid of half (or more) of what's in each spot. So that's not a big deal, but I will tackle them - just not at this moment in time. 

The only thing I really need to focus on is the office, and I've made significant progress there, and in Studio B, which will always be the worst area. Not because of junk, but sheer quantity. But if I can get stuff done and find a home for it -- well, that's what I'm doing! It's all good! 

Now I'm going to ask you the same question. How are you doing? Have you lost your New Year's Mojo already? You have to take responsibility, and you will NOT believe how good you feel to get this stuff under control. I think that's why I'm in such a great mood these days! I'm not sitting in a pile of crap anywhere in the house! There might be a lot of stuff in Studio B, but it is super organized, and the work surfaces are CLEAN!

I didn't trust the internet in Studio B for the two big calls I had yesterday, so I set the laptop up beside the old computer, and it worked just fine! The laptop is back downstairs, where I use it as an entertainment center with a big monitor. I watched the finale of Project Runway Canada the other night. OH MY!!! Not the outcome I expected!

Doing Zoom calls from the office

Then, after the excitement of the morning, it was time to buckle down and get a couple more projects on my UFO list done for this morning. I had a quilt to bind, and I wasn't looking forward to it. I don't know why. But imagine how uplifted I felt when I realized that the binding was already on - it just needed to be topstitched to the front! Bonus!!!!

Here is the Bi-Level TopStitch Foot that I mentioned yesterday. You can see in the picture that there is extra metal thickness under the bottom on the left side. That helps to keep the foot level. Which prevents skipped stitches!!!

Top stitching a binding

And the PFAFF creative icon 2 has built-in AI that recognizes which foot is on the machine. This is great if you don't know the names of the feet. And this little box is something that we should always look at. What recommendations are needed for the job at hand, what stitch, etc? I love it. I also moved the needle to the left by 2.0 mm so it's right on the edge. You must remember to move it back! 

The settings and recommendations for topstitching

I even had something that needed repair, which I fixed last night. It's only been months since it was tossed from table to table downstairs. But it's done. I'll share that story tomorrow. It's hilarious!

The only thing left was some handstitching, and so I set up the station to do that last night. I even had a helper! Although I think she was only hoping I'd throw a slice of cucumber to her every once in a while! Comfy chair, stool to rest my feet, a table to support my project, and to catch up on some YouTube videos. 

Getting ready for some hand stitching

It was hilarious because at one point, Murphy moved around so she could see the screen, and was actually watching TV. There were no dogs on the screen, just home renovations! 

Mom - this show is exciting!

The hand stitching job wasn't fun, and I wanted to quit several times. BUT I also wanted to be truthful when I posted my pictures to the UFO Club that I was truly finished. And before I knew it -- that project was done!! I also finished another small project by hand. 

Thread and other hand stitching necessities

There truly is hope that the current tables mess will be cleared. Then what will I do with those empty tabletops? WAIT!!!! I'm getting a little bit ahead of myself there! 

Before I shut the lights out in Studio B, I cleared up all the stuff from the hand stitching, but a few things are on the cutting table that I need to put away this morning. What a great habit I've developed, and I LOVE it. The same happens for the kitchen and the dining table. EVERY SINGLE DAY!!! Soon I will be in that habit in the office, but we're not quite there yet!

So Miss Lexi was a little bit mischievous yesterday. I give her a little grooming each day, and when in the forest, I just loop her leash (with the retractable handle) once around a tree. She was frisky yesterday because of the snow, and when I went to remove the hair from the brush, she started leaping and dancing, and the handle looped back around the tree and came loose. 

Usually, when that happens, Lexi gets scared because the handle bangs on the ground. But with all the snow, it didn't make a sound, and off she went with her leash trailing behind her! And she kept going! I had to walk a ways to catch up with her, but she didn't get that far, and thankfully, there were no other dogs in the forest at that time! What a silly girl! And of course, she was innocent of any wrongdoing!!!

Well, the two presentations are ready to go this morning, and I need to get the girls walked, and then I have the afternoon "free." 

I need to start working on some of the homework for next month, as it will take a while to complete, and I need to focus on the writing and those two quilts! No immediate deadlines, but still loads to do! No rest for the wicked! It's about looking at all the categories on that visual "to do" list and picking from each, which I'll be doing this week. 

Have a super day!!

 

Ciao!!!!