The Olympics have officially begun!

FOCUS --- it's a tricky thing! But I have my visual list and my blue UFO bin, and I refuse to let anything get in the way of finishing those projects. Oh -- there are loads of things to do, but I know I can't do them all, so I picked a few, and that's my goal! It has taken me a very long time to get to that point, but I refuse to get sidetracked!

Just a teaser: this is the project Dede and I worked on. Wait—soon you'll get to see it yourself. Absolutely stunning and totally worth all the time!

Some assembly required! 

As part of my goal for this year, I was back at the computer, trying to sort the THOUSANDS, dare I even venture HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of files that need to be sorted. OH my --- what the heck is this? It's a picture of a letter A, but for what purpose? Let's just say that I've found a few other odd things, but this is gone, as are many others. 

A picture of a letter A behind bars!!

What I don't understand is why my brain was so muddled that I didn't create a folder, and then when I needed that file, it would be easy to locate. I had the resources and most of the knowledge. No - I went and downloaded the files again, and again, and again! And each time, they went somewhere different. It is a massive mess, but I have to say that once I got over that first day, it's getting easier. 

I tackled the Fabric Download folder yesterday, and I'm happy to say it's done! I kept two folders of fabric, as I still have yardage of those and can use the photos to create something in EQ8. The rest - gone! BUT it's a good thing I went through the files one by one, because I found more embroidery files in that folder, as well as stuff for the longarm. Do not ask - I don't have answers!!!

But the sorting process continues, and I try to do a little bit each day. It seems that within each high-level folder, I find one or two subfolders that are titled "to file" or "to sort," and I'm tackling those. My goal was to get all the embroidery files in one folder this month. I still have the old computer to grab files from, and then I'm done! Hopefully, it won't be too bad, but if memory serves, the download folder is filled with stuff!

OH - I got the binding on that quilt, and it was hilarious because I was also listening to my audiobook while doing it. I can tell you that the quilt has some words on it, and can you believe that the SAME WORDS were put together in a very similar way on that audiobook? I actually had to stop for a moment to appreciate that coincidence!!! What are the chances? 

Speaking of audiobooks, I know why this Canadian author (Carley Fortune), who was on the top ten most circulated library books list that I happened upon recently, wasn't on my list. It's a steamy summer romance, and well, they aren't my go-to books. But now I want to know what happens, so I have to keep reading. The book is due tomorrow, and I have about 3 hours left. I should be able to make that happen. This book is set by a lake near Barry's Bay, Ontario. 

While I was sewing the binding on, I used up another spool of thread! 

Another spool of thread - gone!

I also got some binding made. And I could kick myself. I measured and cut the three strips, only to realize I needed bias binding, not straight-grain binding. Good grief, so I had to cut a square and make bias binding. DUH!!!!! But it's ready to sew on, so maybe later today. 

The bias binding is made

Then it was time to stop procrastinating on the next project. The clock is ticking, and I don't have a lot of time. It's the Cherrywood Challenge, which is due February 15, and it's the 7th today!! Don't ask!! I like the last-minute pressure, and this is my sole focus for the next week. The theme is StoryTime. 

Fabrics from the Cherrywood Challenge

I'm happy to say I made good progress on it yesterday. I hope to have the top completely done by tonight. No excuses, no distractions!! The top has to be done! 

There is a lot of appliqué, and I want it all in place by the end of today. And then I have to figure out a couple of components for the border - that also needs to be done TODAY! The embroidery (machine and hand) and other embellishments will be the focus of the next couple of days. 

And while I traced and cut, I watched the Olympics!! Well, the opening ceremony, which lasted almost four hours!! It was amazing, and they did a great job at incorporating all four sites. Although the athlete parade was almost over before I realized there were FOUR locations, not two like I initially thought. I was totally confused by that!! Go Team Canada!!!!!

Streaming the Olympics on my computer

I have to say that I was highly impressed by the Olympic Cauldron. WOW --- that is pretty spectacular, and there are two of them!!!! In case you missed it, here is the lighting of the TWO cauldrons. Stunning, and I find that ceremony emotional. Why? No idea!!!!

So what's this all about? My two girls are hanging out at the back door. One is ready to pounce on the door, demanding to come in; the other has snow on her face and lies in the snow. 

And what's with the weather? Last night when we went out, the temperature was minus 2. This morning, it's minus 20!!!

I have to say our house is ideally situated on the street and gets the most from the sun. However, that doesn't mean that our roof is clear of snow yet. Nope --- we had so much that it's going to take a while for all the snow to melt. Because of the crazy roof line, this is the house two doors down from us. We have the same roof line, but ours is pretty clear. I thought I took a picture, but I can't find it this morning. We have a few small icicles, but nothing like this. 

Nasty ice build-up

We've had ice like this on both sides of that peak in the past, and it's not good. The interior walls are damaged, and the drywall tape has come loose. It's a mess, but until we get the roof issue fixed, I'm not touching the inside. I bet there is water damage behind the drywall, and well, it's going to be a job to fix! So I'm thankful this year that we haven't got to this stage, and I hope we don't. 

Why do we have barely any ice, and two doors down, they have this mess? We are on a curve, and there is a big tree close to the front of that house. So the slightly different angle and the shade from the tree don't allow the ice and snow to melt as fast as on our roof. Thank goodness we are where we are. Our driveway dries much quicker, and we just get more sun! We love the sun!

Well, I'm off to brave that cold temperature, and looking at the forecast, this is the last (LOL) cold day for two weeks? I'll believe that when it happens! The girls will be happy, they are frisky when the temperature drops!

I have two short documents to finish writing for the quilt I am delivering today. One is almost written; it just needs proofing, and the other should be pretty simple. I must get those done this morning. Then one more thing can come off that visual To-do list. While it's not directly in my face, I can see that list whenever I'm downstairs, and I go over to look at it occasionally, and from that, I pick the next thing to work on. My blue bin for UFOs is also a daily reminder of what I need to be working on. It's better to get four things completely done than advance 8 things, and nothing is complete!!

OH -- and here is the final post about the newly released Husqvarna Viking Designer Epic 3 Nordic Frost Edition. It's all about yarn couching. I LOVE this design and need to do some more work on it!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!