And another jigsaw puzzle!

OH MY --- I'm at a loss on where to begin this morning! So much to say - let's just grab a picture and start! 

I called my parents and, while chatting with them, decided to tackle the next jigsaw puzzle. I know— but it was a mindless task, as all I accomplished was laying out the pieces. These pieces seem BIGGER than those in the previous puzzle, and while the shapes are NOT identical, they are much more regular than in the last puzzle. 

The pieces are laid out for the next puzzle

OK -- I did a bit more, I sorted out the border. I always do that when placing the pieces on the table, and I managed to get it together. I also pulled out some pieces for the top section of the puzzle, and last night, before going to bed, I managed to get a bit done on the top. No picture! 

The border is done! 

Here's the puzzle I'm working on. I love working on puzzles that represent places, especially if I've been there. I was at Whistler MANY years ago, so I wouldn't recognize the place now. 

Whstler puzzle

This is another 500-piece puzzle, so it should go relatively quickly. Then two 1000-piece puzzles, and then I'll have to retire my puzzle-making for a bit. However, I'm already prepping presentations for January's classes, and will start on some homework soon. I only have TWO classes to prep for homework, and it feels fantastic to enter the new year with that reduced workload! 

DH and I started another EXIT Game last night. A four-circle puzzle that is even harder than the previous one. While I was out shoveling the snow, he managed to solve one puzzle, but it wasn't the correct one and not with all the tools, so back to the drawing board! 

I had no choice but to finish reading my book yesterday. The book was "The Black Ink Heart" by Robert Galbraith. A typical ebook is about 400-600 pages. Some more, some less. But this one? It was 2,500 pages. And that is NOT a typo. It was crazy long. Granted, some of the length was attributed to how the story was presented - a lot of Twitter posts and so on. But still! This is part of the Cormoran Strike series, and I checked the next book (there are two more in the series I haven't read yet), and the next one is EQUALLY as long. Good grief!!!! 

That equates to 33 hours of audiobook! I've only listened to one very long book called The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (32 hours). Does a novel need to be that long? Perhaps the Lucinda Riley - Seven Sisters books were as long as well. Nope --- those are less than 20 hours! 

I had to return one of the ebooks on my shelf that I wouldn't get to touch, and I've put it on hold so I can get it when I have more time. I see they have changed the system so you can put a book on hold while it's on your shelf. That makes a lot of sense, and then you can return it without having to search for it again! 

I NEED to tackle this office, and I NEED to get that new computer up and running. The first thing I did was to put all the crap on the floor and ONLY put what I can deal with in a couple of hours in the tiny space beside my keyboard. My space does NOT work for me, and I'm well aware of it. I don't want to buy anything new, so I've got to put my thinking cap on and figure out how to use my existing furniture better. If I were left-handed, this space would work perfectly, but I'm right-handed! 

My small desk space

That means clearing all the paper crap off both desks so I can use the space. And that means I've got to face the final bit of paper! Once and for all! I must get this current writing assignment out of the way and then perhaps take an hour a day to sort through the paper. I'm sure that most of it will go in the recycling bin, so get it done! 

Of the stuff I went through yesterday, I found this. 

A note to myself

Obviously, it's some instructions for a quilt, but what? It's great to make notes, but they must be in context!!! The note is now in the recycling bin. 

One of the things on my to-do list was to reorder some labels for my quilts. I put this small identifying tag on all the personal quilts I make. I believe I had ordered a bundle of 100, and I was down to the last few. 

My quilt labels

I could NOT remember the name of the company where I had ordered them, and I remember it being so easy. Back to the blog to see if anything there would trigger my memory. OH yes -- I remember seeing these labels on Sew Fresh Quilts website and with a bit of digging, I found the name of the company and a discount code!! The way they have their website set up makes ordering labels super easy. You can insert a small picture, as I did, or create wash/care labels. The company is IKAPRINT, and they are the best. Right now, they are having a special - buy 100 and get 100 free. Guess what? I ordered 400 labels. That should last my lifetime. Don't forget - there are tubs of personal quilts to be quilted! 

You'll find the ones I ordered here. Scroll down, and you'll see the label size options with the template right on the screen to fill out. It's so easy, it's child's play! I'm glad that I found that website! 

And if you want the discount, here's the link to Lorna's blog (Sew Fresh Quilts) to get the discount code. 

I put the remaining labels in my little tray under one of the sewing tables, so I will find them when I want them. 

A home for my labels

It was a snowy, blustery day, and just that little bit of snow made the sidewalks treacherous. I walked both girls in the morning, but did not venture out in the afternoon. It wasn't worth it. I know where the non-slippery streets are, but it's getting to them that is the issue!

Walking in the snowstorm

Miss Lexi didn't mind the weather at all. 

MOM - This weather is perfect for dogs! 

Murphy is beyond herself! Yes -- there is another rabbit in our backyard, and in the morning, she can barely wait until 7 AM to be let out. She drives me mad with her little mutterings at the backdoor! 

MOM -- there is a rabbit, and I'll find it!

Mom - I'm on guard duty! 

Mom - it doesn't matter how cold and windy it is - I'll catch that rabbit

And then she sat beside the deck last night. Waiting for what? The rabbit to spring out and say BOO? 

Mom - I can sense the rabbit under the deck!

She's been so cooped up that I'm throwing the ball for her in the house to tire her out! She is a big dog and over ten years old. Will she ever slow down? I doubt it! Then she has a good sleep, and then starts fussing all over again! DH - just thinks she wants to go out, and then two seconds later, he has to get up and let her in. He doesn't get it! 

Sad news -- a helicopter crashed on Mount Kilimanjaro on December 23rd and killed 5 people. Two hikers, the pilot, a doctor, and a guide. I remember the guides pointing out the spot as we walked. That was the last stop to be rescued by helicopter. After that, the air is too thin. No idea what happened, but it's sad when people are killed rescuing people who want to experience extreme conditions. I know I've climbed the mountain, as have many others before me, but should we? 

 I've got another play date lined up today! I can't wait to try my new skills (digital cutting), and we're working on a new material today (new for me), so let's see how we do! 

I worked on my projects yesterday, and all I can say is that the final project, which you'll see in January, is amazingly CUTE!!! I would change a few things next time, but because I forged ahead and made one, the next one will be even easier!!!! It's all about playing! I don't need a pattern - I just use my imagination. 

I have to laugh because that sounds like my Dad! He loves to rebuild stationary engines. The ones he's working on were made in 1918 or thereabouts. Only a few of this model were made, and at that time, engines used magnetos, not spark plugs. These two have been converted to use spark plugs, but he is determined to convert them back to using magnetos. Only one problem -- you can't buy those parts today. He has checked everywhere! So he's going to make them! The man is 93!!! He had just found a picture of what he wants to make! Inspiration comes from everywhere! 

I placed an order for something yesterday and wasn't expecting it to be processed until next week. Nope -- the order is in the mail! How's that for service? If you are into machine embroidery and need supplies at a reasonable price, check out Monfil.ca. A couple of people I know buy from them, so I'm anxious to see the stuff when it arrives. Free shipping on orders over $100! 

We have a Virtual Retreat tonight and tomorrow. Here are the links. 

Saturday, December 27th --- starts at 6 PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82693702241?pwd=QpQkm8Ppppy1XwCPOqva1bcgJCWKdP.1

Meeting ID: 826 9370 2241
Passcode: 795071

Sunday, December 28th - starts at 3 PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81073536036?pwd=uxRqMnK1aSKrmrcSO78w8QQs5g44eA.1

Meeting ID: 810 7353 6036
Passcode: 596838

And on that note, I'd better get myself organized for the day!!! 

Have a super day!!

Ciao!!!

What are you reading?

 Oh, I love your comments, and I'm a bit behind in responding to them! Patience! And yes, I think using ChatGPT is a matter of experience, and I'm brand new to it. I need more information, Tammy - like, did he get it saved to a PDF, and if so, I would love a copy! 

Not to tempt fate or anything, but I am having the most relaxing days and no dreams last night - at least none that I remembered. After I delivered my project (more on the project in a second), I had time to spend a leisurely afternoon chatting with a friend - FOR HOURS. It was glorious. Neither of us was in a rush; we had much to discuss, we hadn't had that much free time together in eons, and it was just an excellent way to spend the afternoon. 

What was even nicer was getting up, knowing that the day was relaxed. I hope there are more of them! In case you think I didn't like what I was doing before, that is NOT TRUE. I love what I do, but the constant pressure of not having enough time for myself and to prepare properly was driving me crazy. Now that I have time for both and still get to do the things I like, I'm feeling a whole lot better and enjoying the preparation much more. 

Let me tell you about my project. The little tweaks that I made were PERFECT! I had gone to bed the night before, realizing that something had to be done. Since I have no one to ask, I just let my brain do the work, and it came up with a plan. I executed the plan, and it was perfect! I had to solve a few more engineering issues before it was completed, but my past experiences came into play, and all was good. 

That's why it's so good to just do things. If you mess up, that's when creativity kicks in. To me, creativity is all about finding solutions to problems. Experience allows us to solve those problems much faster and with greater success, the more you do. Yep -- I've had many screw ups, but I've also been able to recover almost anything where I made a mistake! Just DO IT!!!

Since I want the project to be a surprise (OK -- it's for a publication, so I can't show it to you yet), but here's what my sewing table looked like when I was done! A bit dusty! 

The remnants of completing my project

And it required a bit of ingenuity in sewing the last bits. And that's all I'm saying! 

Creative sewing position

This was the sunrise yesterday. It's getting so late - this is just after 7:30, and in the summer, it was almost 2 hours earlier? That can't be right, but the sun came up a lot earlier. Now, sunrise in the city is a totally different thing than if you're in the country and can actually see the sunrise over the horizon. I get to see it rise over the rooftops. 

Sunrise in the city

Nothing can beat the sunrise near the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. This would be at an altitude of almost 18,000 feet above sea level. That was quite the morning, and I will never forget that sunrise. It was cold, my nose was running, and it was freezing (gross!), and I was tired of climbing. However, the view from the top was so worth it. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Any takers? 

Sunrise on Mount Kilimanjaro

There are so many beautiful flowers around - I like to take pictures to appreciate the colors and the beauty of nature, and hey, this reminds me of the sun! My flower pictures are taken on the walk with Lexi, who loves to stop and smell the flowers. With Murphy? There isn't time to even spot the flowers. 

Beautiful flower

Well, I even had a few minutes to start tidying up, and oh my -- it felt terrific. I have now returned all the accessories, including machine embroidery hoops, to their rightful spot on my storage shelf. At least those that don't have some project in them waiting to be finished. A few random items are piled on the cutting table, and I hope to clear them away later today. However, I hear the weather is going to be spectacular, and it will be hard to keep me inside! 

The storage area for excess machine bits is tidy

By the way, if anyone is looking for blank sisal mats to use for painting (example coming), IKEA has them. I saw piles of them in the store, and they come in two sizes - large and small. Good price!

Blank sisal mats

Here's one that I painted several years ago. This is one of Lexi's favorite spots to sit and eat snacks. It's hilarious because sometimes she runs to the mat when Murphy is chasing her. I think she lives in a dream world. Remember when we were kids and we had certain spots where we were safe? That's the world Lexi lives in! I used a digital cutter to create the stencil. HEY -- I should have bought a mat, cut a new stencil, and made a new one for the front door!

My painted mat

OH -- I found another flower picture. A pink one this time. The flowers are so beautiful. 

Pink flower

Often, people ask, "Where do I get my inspiration from?" EVERYWHERE and EVERYTHING. I spotted this folk art cushion at IKEA as well (I did NOT buy anything), but it is painted/printed on the cloth. Any one of those components could become the starting point of a design or the basis for coloring. Or it could be from those flower photos -- look at all the colors! 

A folk art pillow

I had to laugh at Murphy last night. The baseball game was on, and while I'm not a huge baseball fan, this is different. "Our" Blue Jays won the ALE (American League East), and now they are playing the Yankees. As the game neared its end, it became increasingly exciting. Not because they might lose (if they screwed up that lead, there would have been hell to pay!), but because it was thrilling to see them push so hard, and it was the first game of the playoffs. 

You know Murphy loves ot watch TV. But I don't think baseball is her thing. 

MOM - I don't care if the score is 7-1 for YOUR team

Even when the game was over, she wasn't phased by any of it! 

MOM - big deal - just a bunch of men throwing a ball around

Perhaps if we were playing a game of ball, she would have been more interested. 

Speaking of reading - what are you reading these days? I'm all over the place, and I'm actually enjoying breaking out of that mold I was in for so long. I only read a particular genre, and they were the cookie-cutter ones. I hate to mention names. But they crank out so many books, you wonder if they are actually writing them. Hmm -- what about CHATGPT? WAIT -- I will NOT go down that route because it's a huge issue. The big question is, how could the AI company be so silly! And you can substitute many words for silly! 

Anyway, every time DH sees one of the mystery book reviews in the newspaper, it lands on the table at my spot. I add it to my pending folder, and I eventually add them to my reading list, which is very long! 

NEW mystery books to read!

And I get and give recommendations all the time. I sometimes get a book and wonder, "Why is that on my list?" Case in point about the latest audiobook I'm listening to. It's called "The Wager" by David Grann. What's it about? Back in 1740, a squadron of man-of-war ships left England to go around Cape Horn to fight the Spanish.

Anyway, it's the story of one of the ships that eventually got shipwrecked, and the few survivors end up back in England. Two different groups of survivors! A court-martial is held, and what will happen? I'm just at the point where the first group leaves the site of the shipwreck. It's actually pretty exciting, and I have no idea how anyone survived the conditions they were in. 

I have just under three hours left. 

And then what else am I reading? The second book of the Nancy Drew series - The Hidden Staircase! How diverse! But I think that's the fun of reading. You can be anyone and anywhere at any time! I love it, and I find rereading the Nancy Drew books to be kind of fun! Keep in mind that society has changed somewhat, so Nancy may seem a bit prissy, but the stories are well-written! 

And are there any coincidences? I don't think so, and according to Harry Bosch from the Michael Connelly books, there are NO coincidences. So, what's the deal with the word' confluence'? The only time I had ever heard it before was in relation to the Fraser and Thompson Rivers meeting in the interior of BC. Then it becomes the theme for the TrendTex challenge for the CQA - Canadian Quilters Association. And now I see the word everywhere! Here's a use of it in one of the Harry Bosch books! 

That is just too weird. But I have my Trendtex challenge kit and I have some ideas, so I need to get started on that. 

DH and I had time to look at the EXIT game last night. We had to cave and look at a clue for one puzzle. What I hate is when the answer is so darn obvious - if it were any more obvious, it would jump out and bite us! That was the case last night. I was mad - just a little, because we should have gotten that! However, we then solved the next one without any assistance. 

The EXIT Game

This game is a first for us. There are many things that we are "collecting", but no need for them yet. That was part of this game's trickiness. You have to figure out what you need and don't need to solve the puzzle. We are pretty good at that, but sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees!

OK - we need to prime our brains back up; it's been a while! 

Now I know why people use those little pill containers for the week. That's a lot of bottles to open every day! But because some of them are gummies, I would need an enormous container. I can handle opening them daily! I guess I could put the pills in one of those things, and then just open a few bottles each day for the gummies. 

My corral of supplements

And on that happy note, I have two presentations this morning, and both are ready to go! It's always fun to go through people's pictures to see what they have been working on. And it was fun because I have lots to share as well. Sometimes, I get "depressed" when I have done little or nothing! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!