Never say never

I didn't have a chance to check out the list of smart devices, but YES --- we have tablets, iPads, computers, three sewing machines, the front door, and a smart TV (forgot about those last two), one Alexa, and well, I'll have to check the rest of the devices. No thermostat connected and no fridge or microwave! 

You laugh— a friend of mine just purchased a dishwasher, and it's Wi-Fi enabled. Why? I hope to have some time today to connect those pods, and then we can hopefully get a handle on this Wi-Fi issue. 

It's going to be tight to get everything done today that I would like, and I have two things that MUST be done - well, three if I count packing! I'm almost done, but I must do laundry before I finish. 

I had some help, of course I did! 

Grandma -- are we going somewhere? 

Bear loves jumping into suitcases! It's now almost full of my samples, and the rest of the stuff is on the kitchen table to toss in later today. That takes care of the work stuff, except I MUST finish one sample today - the one that I'll be using as a teaching aide, so it has to be finished. The best news is - I prepped everything yesterday, including threads, so it shouldn't take long to complete. 

I even got the opportunity to use an OLD zipper for this project. I have it all visualized in my head and will "make it up" as I go along. 

An old zipper got used

I'm reading a physical book, but I didn't want to travel with it. I was lucky and found the ebook in the Libby app, and I will return the physical one on my walk today. I got a chuckle as I found my spot in the electronic version. The book is a bit tongue-in-cheek about murder mysteries (Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson). 

This is the text at the beginning of Chapter 14.5. Nothing to see here. 

But look at the same text in the ebook version. 

A sentence has been added in because it's an ebook! Hilarious!!! 

Yes—I still like reading physical books, but for travel? Ebooks are the way to go! And if I took the train to work every day? I'd be reading ebooks all the time. I never thought I would enjoy that - screen too small, hard to read, lots of page turning. Nope — never say never, because I LOVE it, and I could almost say it's my preferred book style now! GASP!!!! 

I've been having some trouble with my foot - you know - the lost toenails, the terrible way I'm walking, which is causing so many other issues, curled toes to grip the ground when walking the dogs, a slight bunion, and pain across the top of my foot. I know -- a walking disaster, but this is not new. 

It had been on my list to see a chiropodist. In Canada, they are the same as a podiatrist. Anyway, there is one near me and it's in the building where Ruti's Needlebed used to be, so I was intrigued and had to book my appointment there! How will the inside have changed? 

Will the outside have changed? Nope --- there's still the sign on the back "Quilting, Knitting" painted on the back wall! 

The back of what used to be Ruti's Needlebed

The front door is the same, although I don't remember the door; I remember the funky painted mailbox. It's still there! 

The front entrance

But inside? OH MY --- it's very different. This is the waiting room. I don't think I have any pictures of the inside of that quilt store, but you could barely see the window for stuff. The walls were jammed with fabric from floor to ceiling, bolts on the floor, and samples everywhere. It was packed. And now? It's wide open with a few chairs! 

This used to be the central area of the quilt store

There used to be a counter about mid-way down the store - that is gone, and there's a new wall (room) with a new counter in front. The carpet is gone (I think it had carpet), and a lovely, clean vinyl plank floor is in its place. The walls are light grey and bare. Everything echoes in there, which it did NOT have a chance to do before. 

There's another room in the back. I'm not sure if it's another exam room - it must be, and the light to the basement was on - the door to the basement is just beside the door to that exam room on the right. It was all done in bright white/greys as well, but I didn't peek down the stairs. 

So it was fun to go and check out that building - what a transformation, and I can only imagine how much dirt and crap they had to pry out of the old walls! It used to be a hassle to park near the store, but now that the parking lot has paid parking, that problem has gone away! Funny how that is! It used to be the same thing at my doctor's office when I drove there. Now that it's paid parking, people don't park there.

As for my foot? You won't believe this! But not only are the muscles and tendons in my legs and hips tight, but so are my calves and my feet! TIGHT!!! 

I got a recommendation for a few physical aids to help me walk, including a toe spacer and a pad for the bottom of my foot. And then to visit an osteopath. But after getting some feedback from my sewing group about them, I'm not sure I want to go there. Perhaps a physiotherapist would be better!

The bottom line is that I need to start from the bottom up, and it looks like a daily half hour of stretching is in my future. Good grief -- who knew!!!

And here is the little guy, exploring the backyard. He is so funny, and while he's very high maintenance, I'm going to miss him when he goes home. 

The little explorer

The piles of leaves are almost too deep in spots, and someone is supposed to come clean them up since I don't have a working leaf blower, but I'm not bitter about that! LOL. 

I've done a pretty decent job of clearing my to-do list, but I need to send a few emails today and book a few things for this upcoming trip, like a car, a hotel, and possibly a plane. I'll see how it goes today. I'm pretty flexible, so I may have to switch some of those plans up. But it all works out! 

I have all the writing done for the moment - just one final proof this morning, and then I'm downstairs all day to get the last couple of physical things done. Laundry and finish packing, and I'm ready! 

It all works out, but it just seems like there is never enough time!

On that note, I'm out of here. Off to meet with Brooke at the gym!!!

Just back from the gym, and we did a LOT of stretching. I feel like a million bucks!!!! Now the goal is to schedule 30 minutes a day for stretching. This is not an option. This is all about keeping that mobility happening. Without it, I'm going to seize up and be old! I strongly suspect my knees are fine -- it's the muscles and tendons that are causing the problems! Case in point - I could practically run down the stairs after my workout, and my knees did not hurt! 

Have a good day!!!

Ciao!!!

I've got MAIL!

It comforts me that I'm not alone in daily life's "time-wasting" minutiae. It appears we all need a "wife" to do all the follow-up for us. Can you imagine how freeing that would be? I would love it - so if I ever won the lottery, I'd hire an assistant! 

Life got back to normal yesterday - as normal as it can be around here. The girls are not behaving normally - Murphy is so needy, and Lexi is being Lexi. I think they are out of sorts with DH being away, and they better get used to it because the situation doesn't get better until June, and even then, it's still topsy-turvy. All the time we spent at home during the pandemic spoiled them. 

The forest is beautiful these days. The leaves are almost in, and there is a calmness the minute you enter. If you think forest bathing is a joke, take a walk one day, and you'll feel it. Even though this forest (OK -- so technically, it's a woodlot) is in the middle of a busy city, it's calming. 

The calm forest

The trilliums are out, and they are beautiful. 

A trillium

I didn't take a picture of our backyard, but the wall of trees has made it so private. I attempted to eat lunch out there yesterday, but it's still a tad chilly, so I scooted back inside. 

I came home last week to discover this dead animal in the backyard. What the heck happened? This is the new "backyard" toy, and it's been decapitated. That never happens, so someone must have been mad. 

A decapitated toy

Where's the head? Oh -- she was running around with it in her mouth. 

MOM -- this is much smaller and easier to carry

But that wasn't enough for her. Nope -- she had to bring her new toy outside, which is not allowed. Sigh. 

Mom -- you can't catch me! 

Remember my shopping bag that I was going to cut down? Well, I didn't, and good thing because I often fill it up, especially when popcorn is on sale at the drugstore! Then I had to stop at the grocery store, and the bag came home almost full. 

My almost full shopping bag

I had my appointment with the podiatrist (shoot -- forgot to ask the difference between chiropodist and podiatrist). I arrived late because I was hanging around the house and miscalculated the time to get there, but it was OK. 

OK -- so I got a whole bunch of information in a short period of time. That guy can talk, and he didn't write anything down. So I had to remember FOUR things when I left. So the mechanics of my feet are GOOD. Yes, I have a bunion and should try to prevent it from getting bigger and from having one on the left foot. The broken toe can only be confirmed with an X-ray, but it's not a big deal. The little toe has a pinch callus that will likely never go away, but I now have a little cap for it. 

Like all body parts, I need to STRETCH my feet to keep them limber. Did you know that? If the joints (particularly the big toe) start to seize up, you are in trouble! Mine are OK but must be stretched to keep them that way. Moisturing your feet is good, but make sure the product has UREA in it. And toe stretchers are also another way to help stretch and keep your feet limber. A foot powder is also good, but I already have some. 

He recommended orthotics, and I said that I have too much happening right now to add that to the mix, so he suggested that I get some from the drugstore. This is different from the brand he recommended but close enough. 

My new foot care products

So now, in addition to using a hot compress on my eyes (recommended by the optimist) for 10 minutes before going to bed (or at least once a day), I have to use my toe stretchers for 10 minutes once a day. The packaging says you may have trouble putting them on initially, but they worked like a charm. Now where's that lacrosse ball for the bottom of my foot? He also recommended the non-leather Birkenstocks for indoor footwear. 

My toe stretchers

I was at the long arm and working on something for me. Let's say that this fabric is BRIGHT. 

A bright fabric being quilted

But it quilted up beautifully. I just hope there is enough. 

My piece of quilted fabric

Then I washed it, and OH MY --- it is so soft, I can hardly wait to make my jacket. I'll have to buy more of the batting I used, which is perfect for making jackets. It's NOT stiff, and the fabric already feels like a well-worn jacket. I'll be at Stitch by Stitch next week, where I got the batting. 

It washed up beautifully

The pink is the front - I never wear pink! But that's OK, and no one will miss me when I wear it. 

The lining for the jacket

Poor Murphy --- I tried to play ball with her, and we did, but she NEVER tires of it. I had to return to work, so she brought the ball downstairs for me. 

MOM - come play ball with me!

They couldn't care less about the iRobot vacuum any longer. But it's weird- you would think it would go back and forth instead of bouncing in diagonal paths across the house. I'm not sure I want to keep it, so it's been good to test it at no cost. 

The manic iRobot

The mess in the middle of the floor in Studio B looks better, but not really. But trust me, I did put more stuff away. 

Stuff still to put away from the retreat

I trimmed the last of the half-square triangles (the cut-off from the blocks) for the current homework of the Barn Star Sampler quilt. 

Trimming half-square triangles

But the big news of the day was this. I knew from the tracking information that it would likely be delivered yesterday. Our house is on the delivery schedule for 5 PM regardless of the carrier. 

OH -- that's a BIG box

That is a HUGE box - no wonder it cost a fortune to ship. It doesn't weigh very much, but it's awkward. I have no idea how the delivery guy got it on the step! I haven't opened it yet -- that's a job for today, but I have more errands and quilting today, but I NEED to get that set up. OK -- I don't need to, but I want to! I can't wait to see it!

My new toy for the backyard

And there's Miss Murphy, with her indoor toy - actually inside! Yeah, Murphy! But clingy? Holy -- she is going to drive me crazy. 

MOM -- I NEED YOU

Well, I'm off to spin class with a busy day ahead. I still have many errands, so I will schedule a few each day. No sense in doing them all in one day as I do them on my walk. 

Have a super day!!!

Caio!!!