It's time to get back to work!

What an insane day yesterday was! I started the day with Brooke, and we focused on the upper body to avoid further knee issues. I took shorter and slower walks with the girls (they were NOT impressed), and Murphy hung around the front door for a good part of the day, hoping to go for another walk. Then it was off to the dentist. I did walk there, but not before icing the knee to keep things under control. It's not that far, and if I walk slowly, I'm OK. 

Can you believe I got a reasonably good bill of health from the hygienist? Gums are in better shape than they have been on previous visits, and she even said that, while I could clean more, there was less buildup on my teeth. WOW!!!!! Now that makes me want to floss every day!!! I like using those little floss things—they are on a handle, and you can floss with one hand. So much easier and less messy than the string. 

Home with a bit of time to catch up with KU, comparing notes about our travel after the wedding. Then it was off to lunch with the Monday group. And while I was waiting for my dentist appointment, I called the doctor, and she could see me at 3:15. 

So I drove there after lunch. We had a great discussion, and I am finally getting what I want! Some follow-up. I got X-rays done yesterday on BOTH knees because both have various ligament issues. How do I know? I can FEEL the side ligament on the right knee snap into place when I get up - not always, but often. It has stretched over time, so it's not nearly as painful as when it first started. Sounds gross, and that is probably not what is happening, but I can feel it. 

Then I have ultrasounds booked for both knees in three weeks (could have been two, but I'm at retreat and didn't want to come back for that), and then I'm getting a referral to a sports medicine clinic, which is the perfect spot to figure out the issue. 

The doctor was reluctant, of course, but I told her I was tired of self-diagnosing and treating myself to get some relief. So this is the plan, and I'm OK. If the sports medicine team decides an MRI is in order, they will request it. I'm OK -- I need some direction --- more stretching, less stretching, what kind of strengthening exercises or not. How bad is the tear? and lots of other things, and hopefully, they can guide me to getting some answers. Hopefully, the sciatic issue will resolve itself in the process. 

I came home from the X-ray place, was exhausted, and didn't do much for the rest of the day. It was already 4 PM. I went to bed at 7 and slept, except when I was awakened by the pain in my knees. But what else is new? That's what medication is for. 

I feel great now and will probably need a nap later today, but that's OK. 

I've been so focused on dealing with those books that I haven't had much mojo for sewing. But today? I feel much better today. 

Here's what happened in Studio B and what it looks like. 

This is the quilt side of the bookcase, and almost all the books are back on the shelves. There are a few open pockets here and there, and I'm going to find a home for everything that remains on the floor. I know it's not ideal, as there are many more books that I don't want. But my brain is so tired of dealing with the books that I can't, and don't want to, process any more at the moment.  

The bookcase is almost done.

I'm perfectly fine with the books the way they are. They are sorted into categories and on the shelf, and all the spines are visible. That works for me and will make searching for any book so much easier than it has been. 

I do want to catalog them, and I know someone mentioned LibraryThing for cataloging books. It's a free app, and I may investigate it. Just not at this moment, I'm done with books!

This is what got culled and is still downstairs. I need to address all this before I even consider moving on. This has always been a big issue of mine. I get started on something, and then I don't finish, and it becomes a huge mess. So I am trying to learn—get this step done first; then you can make another mess. The books in front are spoken for, while the books on the steps and the post will be donated to the thrift store. There are a few more to add to this pile, including a nice pile of beautiful books on appliqué - complex appliqué that I will never tackle. If anyone is interested in seeing those, please let me know. 

Some of the culled books

The magazines that were on the floor are now on shelves, and there is only this pile left to sort. I've done a pretty good job, and I need to set aside some time every day or every week, or whatever, to start looking through the magazines and tossing them. I do NOT need all those magazines, yet I hate to just throw them out without at least looking at them. That's my way of handling it, and I need to do it before we move. I do NOT want to move all that stuff. This is my wake-up call, and I must NOT miss the train! Doing it now will prevent huge issues when we decide to move. 

Magazines to sort and put on the shelves

The sewing machine tables are clear of projects, except for two mending jobs for DH. Good lord --- he buys all this fancy clothing, and it always needs some kind of repair. I hope to at least get the pants fixed today. I haven't looked at the seam finish yet, but when you buy an expensive pair of pants, I don't expect the crotch seam to come apart. Isn't it sewn with a safety stitch? I'll let you know what happens. 

The sewing tables are prepped and ready to go.

The puzzle table is clear, and the next puzzle is waiting to be set out. There's also a box of things that need to be repaired - i.e., glued back together, including the two missing magnets from the fridge. I might tackle some of that later today. 

The next puzzle is ready to sort

This is some other work that I need to tackle - the jacket on the top needs some hand stitching to finish it off. The jeans (from my Dad) need to be cut apart, so I can make something with them. I thought of a duffel bag for the gym. And a garment in the blue bin for my Mom, since it's next to impossible to buy caftans online in polyester fabric. Why is that? And the bottom bin is photo transfer stuff because I need to print a picture, and our printer is acting up. I need to resolve these items.

Things to deal with

Of course, the debris got put onto the cutting table, but at least half of it is clear as I prep the blocks for Sylvia's Bridal Sampler. 

The cutting table needs some work.

I even managed to trim some half-square triangles that I found on the ironing board. 

Trimming half-square triangles

And then, as I was prepping stuff for the upcoming quilt retreat at the end of this month, I found this box of half-square triangles. They are sewn, but not pressed or trimmed. So I started trimming them this morning. They are not a priority, but it's a mindless task I can do until I wrap my head around sewing. I'm in a bit of a slump since coming back from vacation. 

Half-square triangles that need to be pressed and trimmed

And here's everything I've prepped for the quilt retreat. 

Quilt retreat prep

YES --- it looks like a ton of stuff, but there are two totes and two tubs of fleece scraps that are either already cut into 6½" squares or need to be cut and sewn into 6½" squares. If I take my chair risers, I can raise my table to cutting height and cut with the others while they sew. It's a mindless task, perfect for a retreat. YES -- I will take my cutting mat because cutting fleece can crap up a mat, and I'll take my old one, which is perfect for this kind of job. 

So Murphy is pretty smart. I spent a bit of time sitting in the kitchen icing my knee and reading some magazines while she was outside. She likes to sit near the gazebo because she can see me through the window. 

MOM - I can see you!!!!

And since I wasn't going outside, she thought she would encourage me to play with her. I felt really bad - a short walk and no playing ball. I must step up my dog mom game today! We'll try a bit longer walk, but slow! 

Anyway, I looked out the window, and there she was with the ball in her mouth, standing right on the edge of the pond. And she was looking right at me. When I said, "Do not throw the ball in the pond", she immediately dropped it in and looked right at me! That little devil!!!

MOM - the ball fell into the pond

While Lexi is an intelligent dog, she is nothing compared to Murphy. Murphy does things with intent! She's like a child, and she tests all the time! They have been very agitated this morning, and I just spotted lightning immediately followed by thunder. AHA -- now I know why!!! Now I'm the Mom sandwich with a dog velcroed to each side of my chair. And it's raining sleet at the moment. 

OK—so let me tell you the story circulating at the gym. After my class on Wednesday, I bumped into one of the ladies from spin class, and she was quite upset, like everyone else. She reported a separate incident to the manager regarding her daughter, and the outcome wasn't positive. Basically, she was told that her daughter was at fault. Then I saw one of the other ladies from class come down, and she had her cycling shoes on, so I chatted with her. It's funny because this lady is a complainer - she even mentioned it, but I've had dealings with her in the past, and I have never found her friendly. I thought long and hard (5 seconds) before I spoke to her. By the way, there were only 5 people in the spin class compared to about 25 when Joseph taught it. 

Anyway, she actually talked to me! In the past (a couple of times), she's been super snarky! I was prepared to be snarky in return, but we had a lengthy conversation about the situation, and apparently, the manager is pretty incompetent. I've heard that from other people I know as well.  

The bottom line is that the gym's manager is not performing well, and we have seen the gym deteriorate during her tenure. 

So that's an incentive to write a letter to the US office and cc the manager, who is not doing a good job. 

It took me a long time to get out of the locker room that day! 

Well, it's time to take the dogs for their abbreviated walk and hope that it's enough - perhaps they can get two short walks in a day. I'll see how things go. 

And I'm excited (finally) to get to work in Studio B. I think I have to make that list of THREE things to do and focus on them so I don't overdo it and kill my enthusiasm. It doesn't help when I don't have any major deadlines! Those deadlines were a major push in the past, but I have things to get done this month, so I need to get to work!!

BTW -- the Featherweight book went fast, so if you didn't hear from me, it's because it already has a new home. 

And if there is any book you'd like, or if you are a heavy-dutyappliquéé person, I might have a book(s) for you. 

If you are interested in attending the free two one-hour Zoom sessions on making quilted jackets, check out this blog post for details. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!