The office decluttering continues

Oh my -- the day was filled with stories. I wasn't as productive as I would have liked, as there was a computer glitch along the way, but the issue got resolved; however, it took a LONG time. BUT I learned something new, and what used to be a two-part process is now a one-part process, so that is good! 

I futzed around with my Canva file until it was the way I wanted, then sent it to the printer, and it was ready to be picked up! I can't say enough about the folks at Sherwood Copy & Print (Village Centre - Mississauga) -- they provide excellent service and great prices! For anything large, they are my go-to printing company. I believe there are multiple locations in other cities in this area. 

While that was one pattern, I have a second one that also needed to be printed, but I can print this one on my printer. So BOTH patterns are ready to go. I have fabric for one of the projects, have sorted out the quantities and colors for the second, and I'll go shopping on Friday. Then it will be heads-down to make both projects ASAP!

My two patterns for my next two projects

I got my next writing assignment, so I'm planning in my head what I'll make. I have time, but I need to wrap my head around the machine, the available techniques, and so on. It can sit on the back burner in my head for a week or so. 

Since I was out picking up that pattern from the printer, I decided to go to the other Fabricland. Yes—we are fortunate to have TWO of them within a ten-minute drive of each other. I wonder how long that will last? Anyway, I went to check for those invisible zippers. And you believe they didn't have burgundy either? So I got a red and a yellow one. I think the yellow will work the best. I see they only make short and long invisible zippers, which is a good thing. Short for skirts and long for everything else. You can always cut it off, but you can't make it longer! 

Two NEW invisible zippers

While I was there, I had started to mull over some projects for my next assignment, and I thought I'd look at the denim. I couldn't find any in the main part of the store, so I went to the bargain bins in the back and found a huge hunk at $15 a meter. I brought it to the counter to be measured, and the lady serving me said, "Wait - I think we have a better deal on the denim." So she went to the back, and YES—there was denim at $7 a meter!! So I selected one of those instead. Slightly lighter weight, but 100% cotton, and it will work. Although it will need to be washed because that indigo dye is just screaming to come off on everything it touches. They even fold it on the bolt inside out! 

But what excellent service (AGAIN) at Fabricland. And too expensive? Where are you going to find 54-inch wide denim for $7? 

The other hilarious story happened to Murphy and me on our morning walk. I'm not ready to take her into the forest on that very narrow path, and besides, I needed to get to the bank to get some cash. I rarely use cash, but I needed some as I was low. 

Murphy is always excited when we go off in a new direction, and we get to cross some big streets. I tied her to a post outside the bank and went in, only to find that only one of the three ATMs was working while the other two were being loaded. There were two people ahead of me. Great! 

The first man had just arrived at the ATM, and he turned around and asked if the gentleman behind him wanted to go first. They had a short conversation, but seriously - just get your money and run - stop talking! And it wasn't just one transaction that he needed to do. So we waited and waited, and I looked out a couple of times to see Murphy sitting patiently at the post. 

Then the next guy got whatever he needed, and then it was my turn. All went well at the ATM, but the gentleman behind me said he was impressed at how patiently Murphy was waiting! WHAT? Well, she was. But I think when I got out, she was getting cold because she had been sitting for so long. 

So we are getting close to home, and I see the NEW big green truck that picks up our recycling. They were supposed to pick up the day before, but that didn't happen. Likely because they are still new, and with all the snow, they probably had issues. 

Our cart was JAMMED full, and it needed to be emptied this week, or I'll have no room to keep decluttering. But since the truck hadn't come the day before, I put it back in the garage. The last thing I needed was for it to topple and have paper strewn across the street. OH MY GOSH -- is this truck coming to our street? So Murphy and I picked up the pace to see if we could beat the truck to the house. 

Was he going to turn onto our street? YES -- he turned on our street. Murphy had no worries in the world and found some wonderful smells. NO -- there's no time for sniffing at this moment in time. Because of the SNAFU the day before, there were only FOUR carts between the corner and my house. We hustled, and I ran into the house - had to unlock the door. My mitts were off by this time, I threw Murphy's leash on the floor, and carefully went to the garage. It wouldn't have been pretty to slip on the ceramic tiles with wet shoes.  

I had to wait for the garage door to open and then push the heavy cart to the curb, just as the truck was getting to the last cart before our house! PHEW!!!!! I made it, and now the recycling cart is empty, and I have lots already to fill it back up again! I bet the guy driving the truck got a chuckle out of that! 

I have to laugh at the trails around our house. The bunnies need to get around, and they are creating their paths through the deep snow. Some of them are smart and stay on the sidewalks, but that doesn't always work! Not so good for stealth! 

Bunny trails

We had some sun yesterday, and now we have a few more bare patches in the driveway. I'm going to shovel the last bit of the driveway end and maybe try scraping it this morning to help with the drying process. I hate when it's messy!

I had to sit at the computer and wait for files to upload, which took forever, so I had "nothing" to do. I looked at the piles of crap on the floor and decided to tackle the files from the filing cabinet that I had removed the other day. 

Most of the stuff went into the recycling or the shredding box. There was one folder I thought was full of old dentist bills, but it turned out to be a giant mishmash of things, including bills from our old house. We moved 23 years ago! I found a few more medical things that I would like to keep - my Red Cross Card with my blood type on it, which I can never remember. And my immunization record. So all of that is now safely stored in a medical folder. I may go back another day and sort some more, but I think I'm doing a pretty good job of culling as I put things away. 

I haven't tackled the dental bills yet, but seriously—every last one can go. I had the contents of that folder spread out on the kitchen counter, sorting them into piles. 

More sorting!!

Oh my -- look at what else I found in that supposedly medical, but really was a miscellaneous folder. An invoice from Quilter's Fancy! Does anyone remember that store? 

An invoice from a long-since-closed quilt store in our area

It's gone! They used to have a physical store in Etobicoke, then they moved to their house, and then they just disappeared off the face of the map!!

Then I got really ambitious and cleared out the rest of the folders in the top drawer. I probably shouldn't have taken that many out, but I suspect that most of it is crap that can be recycled or shredded. 

The condition of the filing cabinet - top drawer

I got the label maker out and made a label for one of the folders, and so while it doesn't look all pretty with color-coded file folders, the stuff is sorted, culled, labeled, and in the drawer. That works for me. When I'm done, I'll probably sort the folders into categories—house stuff, personal, etc. I'll see how it goes—but first, let's just get rid of the junk and the garbage. 

I cannot imagine someone else having to do this for me. I can just hear them say, "They have lived at this house for over 30 years, and they still have bills from an old house! They must have been hoarders!" Nope -- I'm not going to let anyone say that about me! I'm on a tear, although a slow one, but we are going to make this happen! I CAN & I WILL - WATCH ME!!!! 

The one thing I will say is that the more I do, the easier it becomes. And what I had trouble throwing out before, now is a no-brainer! I even question my sanity with my need to keep so much crap! I swear it was easier to put it in a folder than to deal with it!

I also managed to get a lot of computer work done yesterday. I almost have my pattern from 2013 recreated, and the first part, if not the first three parts, will go out today. My new computer screen is large enough that I could have the old one on the left and the new one on the right and CLICK CLICK CLICK -- recreated!!! Super easy! Thank goodness for Helen Anne finding that for me! 

I had one document I was writing for my Machine Embroidery Group, and I finished it as well. I will say one thing about Google. I know a lot of people learn from YouTube, but Google has become my go-to for learning. If I need to know how to do something in a software program, I ask the question, and GOOGLE AI gives me the answer. And it's been right so far!! I love learning, and now my documents are looking way more professional than ever!! You should see the difference between the original pattern from 2013 and the one now! Night and day!!

I had my private class on Machine Embroidery Software. As we were working through the homework, I had a couple of questions. So I got out the Reference guide this morning and OH MY - I learned a few more things! I have decided to become super efficient with the parts I mostly use, rather than struggling for the sake of teaching. Now I'm learning at my own pace, and it's so much more relaxing and easier! 

I reread that particular section of the Reference Guide and added two tasks to my To-Do list to explore further. It's one thing to tell others to try it out; I need to do it myself. Because learning the basics really, really well goes a long way to understanding the more complicated parts later.  

I also spent a great deal of time in the kitchen, and it did not involve sorting paper! I had a bunch of veggies to chop for soup. So that is almost ready, and I'll finish it off for tomorrow since I'll be going out for lunch today. 

I have to say that things are going pretty well. Not because I'm lucky, but because I'm focused and I've made a decision to be that focused! 

I sure hope to get to work in Studio B today because not much happened yesterday. I was at the computer for almost the entire day!!

And on that note, I'm out of here! I've got a lunch date later, so I need to work around it. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!