The luxury of free time!

There are no coincidences -- things happen for a reason! I hope you watched the movie! It's kind of freaky when stuff like that happens. Is there a parallel universe? Are you in the past or future, trying to send messages to yourself? It reminds me of that movie about space, but one of the characters was trying to get a message to their family through a room of books. Or something like that. Hmmm -- I think the movie is called Contact. 

Well, I have to say that I am thoroughly enjoying all this FREE time! Yep --- I'm not stressed about a single thing, and that's amazing! I have two presentations this morning, and most of the work was done weeks ago, and I just had a few participant photos to load. I've been doing that as I receive them, so adding the last few this morning was a no-brainer. 

I see I have "double booked" myself with two deadlines for next weekend, so I'll have to work around that, but it's all doable. 

And yes -- I'm slowly working my way through this mess of digital files. It's unbelievable that I let such a mess accumulate, but there is no point in looking back—that won't help. I must just take one folder at a time and move or delete the contents. When I'm done, I suspect that I won't have much content left! But that's OK. I didn't find any treasures yesterday, but the files on the old computers (only in the download folder) are now on one of the external hard disks. 

That means that all my digital files are now on the OneDrive or one of the three external hard drives. There are two boxes of embroidery files still to be dealt with, but that will happen only once the current mess is cleared. 

All is good in that area, and while there is still a huge mess to clean up, I feel so much better and that I can actually accomplish that goal. I chalk it up to that visual To-Do list. That's how I roll, and it works for me, but for others, you may need a different kind of motivation! 

My desktop still looks a mess - I haven't wrapped my head around that, and I've let a few things languish on the computer to-do list, and I'm OK with that. I'll get to it - just not at this point in time. 

This week will be filled with completing all the tasks for the UFO Club, and I can't wait to survey the current project table and find other things to fill the UFO blue bin with for the following month. That's the exciting part!

I sure wish those little labels would arrive, as I have a few quilts that need binding, but I'd really like to have the labels first! I have a tracking number, but it's only for this country, and the package is coming from France. I have only found a phone number to contact them, so I must try to find a solution. I could call, but I'd prefer to do it via email. 

I did some sewing last night and made more half-square triangles that still need pressing and trimming! The pile on the left is what I did last night. The pile on the right is from the other day - I'm behind! I cannot afford to let these sit; perhaps later today, I can tackle them. I MUST tackle them. There is no time to be silly and let things pile up!

Half-square triangles that need trimming

I will have a few things to share with you next week that I made in preparation for today's two presentations. I think it's only fair that the groups see my stuff FIRST!!!

The good news is that EVERYTHING I am working on is on a list - the UFO list, the Many Blocks list, a class, or that visual To-Do list. EVERYTHING! I've become so focused it scares me! And what if I run out of things on the Visual To-Do list? I doubt that will happen, but you never know! There is loads of stuff on the current project table to find something new to do! I have no worries about that. I just want to start seeing some open space, but that may take a few months!

I'm also thrilled to say that I accomplished what I set out to do on my Cherrywood Challenge. I took a look at it in the afternoon, and thought to myself, " How the heck am I going to accomplish what I want to do. So I put my thinking cap on, got out a specialty ruler, and soon, I was on my way. I did make an error in cutting, so it's a good thing I had lots of fabric to play with. All is good, and the top is together. And I LIKE IT!!

As I lay in bed last night, I broke the rest of the work into days so I wouldn't spend all day, every day on it. I have about 5 components to do, and if I do one a day, I can finish in plenty of time and still have a day or two of leeway. I'm good!! Is it good enough to get accepted? I don't really care - that would be a bonus, but the process is what gets me excited. And I used some new techniques and more to use, so I'm learning as I go. 

But what was equally nice was that I had to drop that quilt off, and it was an hour drive to get there. Then I had a delightful and leisurely lunch (3 hours) chatting with a friend. It was glorious, not looking at the time to see that I should be getting home. And of course, it was an hour drive home. I didn't care! I listened to my audiobook in the car and finished it when I got home. 

Where did we go for lunch? OH MY GOSH --- you do NOT want to go to this place. It's bad!!!! Just kidding - there better not be one near me. The food was terrific, and everything looked so yummy!

A box from Paris Baguette

I had never heard of the place, but I found it with ease on Google Maps, and it was NOT where I expected it to be. Let's just say that Newmarket has expanded across the highway on the west side. 

They offer regular sandwiches and croissant sandwiches. OK - I had one of those. But the desserts? OH MY!!!!

The cakes in the display case

Let's just say that one of those cakes will set you back a bit. But they sure looked good! In case you can't read that sign - that cake was over $60!

Ouch!!! $ 

I caved, and I bought a treat for us. Good grief - we are all trying to be good and cut out the sugar, but I couldn't help myself. I bought a chocolate croissant for myself, and while it was good, I don't think it was as good as those in Spain. I think it's the guilt-free attitude one has after walking 30 KM in a day and then having a chocolate croissant, versus walking only 6 km with the girls and then having one! But they are very flaky and very airy inside. 

My treat last night

Like I said, you probably do NOT want to go to this place. OH GOSH - I just checked, and there is one near me. I will NOT go there! It was a treat, and I'll leave it like that! It is a chain owned by a South Korean company. I'd not heard of it before. 

Well, it was cool walking with the girls yesterday! Minus 20 with a wind chill of something. But I was dressed for it, though my feet were getting cold toward the end, because I did NOT have my wool socks on. It's almost as cold this morning, but we got this. I'm not a fan of constantly checking the weather app, and I mainly use it to figure out what to wear when I go outside. But they "promised" that yesterday was the last cold day, and it would be warmer today. Not so. Now they say the cold won't lift until tomorrow. And you know what they say - tomorrow never comes! 

I posted this skit last year, but it is so funny, I thought I'd post it again. It's hilarious! 

I find it funny that people say they're busier in retirement than when they were working. That is NOT going to happen to me. I WANT to enjoy my time as a semi-retired person. I do NOT want to fill it up with all kinds of things, and especially not to be doing things for others. Nope -- I'm going to be extremely selfish with my time, so if something comes up - like that extended lunch - I have time for that! 

So I have another full day of sewing and stuff lined up! I'm also getting a lot of reading done, which is good as I need to clear that mess of books in my audio and ebook reader, and a few physical books are hanging around! I'm loving all this FREE time!! By the way, the books are in good order - I have to create some chaos around me. There are only three books on my shelf, so I'm good! 

And on that happy note, I'm out of here!!! 

Have a super day!

Ciao!!!