It's all about the puzzles

After last week's decluttering, I surveyed this office this morning, and YIKES!!!! I had better get my act together. Actually, I have a pile of books in boxes that were supposed to be picked up in September, but that didn't happen, and now the new date is in November. Then, as I did at my aunt's, I should just start at one side and work my way around. 

I have several bags of books to deal with, a lamp to assemble, and a box for my stick vacuum to recycle. It's amazing how quickly we "unsee" life's detritus. And there is probably enough stuff for a trip to the thrift store. 

I need to focus on the crap on the floor. So I've pulled out the lamp box and the stuff on top, and that's my focus for the week. I don't have the luxury of an entire day right now. 

People were chatting about thrift stores yesterday and how it's better to support one that supports animals or people instead of for-profit stores. I can't help it; that's the one closest to me, and I'm not going out of my way to drop off one box. It's not ideal - I get that, but it works. 

All the presentations went off just fine, and except for one email to send this morning, I've finished all the follow-up emails. 

I have my UFO homework assigned, and I didn't go big this month: two small quilts to bind, plus one quilt block. I should try to bind those quilts this morning during Monday Sewing. I'm not sure how the month will go, and I don't want to end up with loads to do at the last minute. It's all about time management. The UFO Club is working well, and people have gotten so much done since I started that club many years ago. 

As the year winds down (OK, we still have two and a half months), it's time to think about next year, and YES, I'm running the club next year as well. I laugh (well, not really, because it's quite sad) at how many of us have shelves, boxes, and bags filled with UFOs. Yes, I know some of you have no UFOs, but some of us do! I'm focusing on all those "10-dollar" quilts I've taught over the last 26 years. 

I really must count them one day to see how many are done and how many are not! The ones not done will keep me busy!

I zipped off to the mall yesterday, and they seem to be having these market days. It's actually a bunch of vendors trading/selling cards. I have no idea what kind of cards, but it seems to be things like Pokémon? I heard that was big and that there were huge lines at Costco to bring the cards in the first place? I don't follow that, so I have no idea. 

Card trader/vendor market

It was a glorious day yesterday, and the sun was shining, so DH and I and the two girls sat on the front patio reading our books and soaking up the sun. We don't sit there so much in the summer, but these days? It's the perfect spot. 

Then because Miss Murphy is so busy and has a hard time sitting still, I went to the backyard with her. I found one sunny spot I enjoyed for a bit, and then I needed a nap!

MOM - I love the backyard!

On the protein front, I spotted this yogurt at the grocery store, and I bought a vanilla-flavored one. I tried a plain one last week, and it's a bit too bland for my taste. The vanilla is great, and I added a few slivered almonds. So we'll mess around with that and see how it goes. I miss my muffin, but this is equally good and probably a whole lot better for me because it has less sugar! A LOT less sugar!

High protein yogurt

I finished the last presentation (scrap quilts) at 2 PM, and I didn't really feel like sewing after that. So I went for a walk, sat outside and read, and then I did some puzzles. I know! A real slacker! But not really. 

Every time we volunteer to pack puzzles, we get to pick one as a thank-you. I typically go for the 1000-piece ones, but I spotted this two-sided puzzle, so I brought it home, since I don't have one of those. And you have to try all the puzzle types at least once. 

The "front" looks very weird as a puzzle, but I'm game to try something new. 

The puzzle front

And this is the back. At least, there is a big difference between the two pictures, so it should be somewhat easy to know which side is which. However, it will be a challenge to decide which side to do, since both sides look scary! But I put it on the shelf, since it's not my priority at the moment. I guess the idea is to do one side, then take it apart and do the other side! So technically, it's a two for one! 

The back of the puzzle

And yes, I did go back to working on the candy puzzle, and I'm happy to report it's all done!!! I got to the point where I could pick up a piece and knew pretty much where it went. So that is done. Before I disassemble it, I must find the monthly code word, take the appropriate picture, and then I can put this one away. I swear I could smell candy every time I worked on it! 

The candy puzzle

Now I have a dilemma. This is a brand-new (brand name - Eurographics) puzzle, and I don't really think I should give it away. I'm going to keep it to sell or swap. I'm happy to give away the ones I pick up at the thrift store, but not the new ones. 

In my quest to find the monthly themed puzzles, I spotted this one for November - Travel Destinations. It's loaded with travel destinations, and it's a 1,500-piece, so that will be new for me. I might just start it later this week. I wonder if all those little pictures will make it easy or harder to do? I got that one at the thrift store. 

My travel-themed puzzle for November

I also found a Disney puzzle. Someone has one, and I need to find out whether I am borrowing, trading, or buying it. I can pick that one up this coming week. The only one missing, and I'm sure I have something that will work, is the Bookworms theme. I just gave away a bookstore puzzle, but I'd already done it, so I don't need to do it again. I'll check my puzzle stash, and I can always keep an eye out at the thrift store. I also need a cat or dog puzzle, and I'm sure I have one. I LOVE this monthly themed puzzle concept.

While I was having lunch with my new puzzle friends, I heard that many of them redo puzzles. Hmm -- is that a thing? I must try to get more information. I'm not a fan of redoing or rereading something -- there are far too many new ones to do. I must find out what that is all about. But I think a lot of the people I volunteer with love the speed-puzzling competitions, so the goal is to redo the same puzzle and try to beat your time. I don't think I'll like that.  

I'm right on track with finding the theme puzzles, and I will say that puzzling is a wonderful diversion from sewing. 

But I have some samples to make this week, and I have a busy next couple of weeks with events, so that will take priority starting tomorrow. Today is Monday Sewing, so I'll work on my UFO projects and try to do a wee bit of organizing on the projects I need to finish by the end of the year. The ones on my Visual To-Do list, which I keep promising to share with you, but I haven't. 

I think it's time to focus on those things (my UFOs are on that list) and see what we can do over the next couple of days. The biggest issue with the samples is coming up with the idea. Yes -- no patterns allowed, which works for me. I love creating my own stuff with the tools I have access to. 

OH GOD -- I just opened a blank browser window, and two "new" buttons have been added. I'm sure they've been there for a while. Both relate to doing jobs with AI. Seriously? That is just wrong! Wrong in that we are now going to waste our time making pictures for things, and, by the way, several people have noticed that AI-created "signs" are identical and FILLED with words and other visuals. So much so that they are distracting, they are too busy, and they ALL LOOK THE SAME. 

So if any of you are using AI to create posters, your audience has already gotten tired of it, and we are no longer paying attention to those posters! Just sayin'! 

And this is what is going to happen with AI -- if everything looks the same, it doesn't stand out, and guess what? Your amateurish poster will look fresh and inviting. So don't rely on AI to be a star - you'll just become one of the sheep!

I've got to run as I'm off to the gym this morning. I'll be working out by myself, and that works for me. I have been so hit and miss over the past couple of weeks. I'm so glad all this travel is coming to an end. Next week will be the final long trip of the year, and there are at least two shorter trips, but I can deal with those. 

Have a wonderful day!!!! 

Ciao!!!