I'm a jinx!

So much for a free day! I left the hotel at 9 AM, and I didn't get back until after 8 PM. Considering I didn't have a car at my disposal, that was a pretty full day! 

First, though, if anyone wants to see the classes I am offering, I have listed them in this blog post. I was going to do some work on the dates and so on yesterday, but I didn't have time. At least you will know what I am teaching - you just don't know specific dates yet. I might throw in a few short (one- or two-session) classes, such as a session on the Trendtex challenge kit, for anyone who is interested. And I might be doing something with that batting I get my hands on next month, but those will be short and mostly for informational purposes, not a new project. 

Feel free to purchase the patterns if you wish, but I am going to explain more and show you more pictures of the wool applique kits, and I'm still working out options, so you could get some thread for the kit. If you have a kit already or bought one at the show, no big deal. That is the class with the most options. There are kits by Sue Spargo and Wendy Williams, and I can't find the Wendy Williams kits online. There is no rush to buy anything, as classes will not start until September. 

I decided to go for a walk to start the day. It was beautiful, and I almost wished I had worn shorts, but given what happened, I was glad I did not. 

I passed by more artwork. This was a huge set of marbles in a park. I guess I should have walked closer to them to get a picture. I can't seem to find a way to crop pictures on this silly laptop, so I'll have to figure that out at some point. But those large marbles were as shiny as any marble you would hold in your hand. 

Giant marbles in a park

Then I thought I would check for any Adventure Lab artwork, and this is what I spotted along the way. You really can't see the artwork, and sadly, some of the paint is peeling. It was painted in 2015 and depicts the boat people who came from Vietnam. The mural depicts one of the men who came to Canada as a refugee. And it is painted on a building that this man owns. 

A mural

I took the most direct way to my destination, not the prettiest. So I mostly walked along major streets, but I'm sure there was a prettier way to get to my first destination. 

There was a power line corridor that had no houses. However, there were garden plots for rent in that area, and what a great use of the land. 

Garden plots for rent

And after an hour walk (equivalent to walking the girls), I arrived at my destination. The McNally Robinson bookstore - the original one. No quilts are hanging up as there are in the Saskatoon store. As an independent bookstore, this one is amazing!! I could walk around for hours. I notice there are NO places to sit. Sadly, those spots have been abused over the years, and they are gone. But that's OK. 

McNally Robinson bookstore

But I wandered around and spotted so much good stuff. Sdly, I don't have a lot of room in my suitcase. I spotted this GAMES magazine in the magazine section. This magazine had been around for a very long time, as I was introduced to it in my late teens. It used to feature articles about games and game events, but now it's just a magazine with puzzles. I did not buy it. I don't think I have any of the old issues still around, but the masthead is very similar to the original! 

The GAMES magazine is still around!

OH MY—you can find anything and everything online. The first issue was released in Sept/Oct 1977. Check it out here, and I remember that first masthead!!!! 

There is the craft section, which has been greatly reduced over the years. But the way we get our information in the craft world has greatly changed. I did pick up one magazine that is hard to find at home. 

The hobby/craft section

And then I got a phone call from my friend I was going to meet, and she said she'd come to the bookstore, so I browsed around some more while I waited for her. Oh my --- the puzzles. There were two big shelves of puzzles - I think the other store has more, but there were so many new brands I had never seen before, and it was like being a kid in a candy store. I can't wait to get home and finish the one on my table. 

Part of the puzzle section

OK -- so I bought a puzzle! Let's just say that it's going to take some creative packing to get all this stuff in my suitcases. Or as I mentioned yesterday, I might just have to take a tote bag on the plane with me. I'm good either way. At least, I don't have to worry about the weight in my suitcase - 70 pounds times three is my included limit. That is way more important to me than having access to the lounge. 

While I was looking through everything, I spotted this in the games section. 

Threaded, the game

This is a brand-new game, and it's all about choosing patterns and thread to create bargello embroidery. I don't really understand how it works, and it's hard to see from the boxes, but you can learn more on their website.  Actually, when you read the description, it's pretty funny because it's based on how we work! Wait for a sale and hope it's still there, or pay more and get it now!

The back of the box

And I got a chuckle from this sign. Isn't that like us quilters? Why buy one fat quarter when you can buy the bundle!

Then my friend (Jeannette) showed up. Jeanette and I were in Katimavik together - almost 50 years ago! I have seen her on and off over those 50 years, and we have communicated a lot via text and Facebook. We had lunch together at the bookstore and chatted for hours. Then we needed to get moving - I was surprised that they didn't kick us out, but there was always at least one empty table in the restaurant, so we were good. 

Then she drove me to see her cute house in Winnipeg. She met her first husband in Katimavik and, sadly, after they had four children, he got sick and passed away. She married another friend later in life, and sadly, he is gone as well. So she now has this cute house in Winnipeg that is hers! 

Then we got in the car and drove outside Winnipeg to visit my Katimavik roommate from 50 years ago! Carol and I were roommates in Esquimalt (Victoria, BC). We have many memories together in that room! Carol and Jeannette both came from London, Ontario, and it's funny that they both ended up in Winnipeg. 

I have a picture to share, but I will wait until I get home. But Carol's husband, who Jeanette knows from London, is into medieval things in a big way, and he made these rattles for their new grandchild, who is arriving sometime soon. Many conversations were happening, and I couldn't keep them all straight. 

3-D printed sword rattles

They are not sharp and have beads inside, so they are true rattles. He made them on his 3-D printer. Apparently, you can find this design on Thingiverse.com. 

Sadly, we couldn't stay too long, but it was getting late in the day anyway. Jeannette had to pick up her daughter at the airport, and I was off to visit with my nephew. She dropped me off, and then Devin and I hopped in his Tesla and drove out to a different airport. We were going for a plane ride in his plane!

However, when we arrived at the hangar where he stores his plane, the darn thing had a flat tire, so we couldn't go!!!! How disappointing. This is the plane that my Dad went for a ride over the farm last month, with Devin as the pilot! 

My nephew's plane

While I was disappointed, it was OK. I'll just have to arrange to come back, or, as he needs to gather hours, he can fly to Ontario. 

It was funny because when my friend wanted to show me her new self-driving Tesla, the FSD mode wasn't working that day, so she had to drive the car herself. Then, just as Devin is about to take me for a ride in his plane, a tire goes flat. Hmmm --- what will be next? 

I have a free morning today, and then I'm off to Carellen Sewing Center to chat about our 24" Singer Momento digital cutter. There are two sessions -- one at 1 PM and one at 6 PM. So be sure to come out and see how it works, check out the samples, and learn all the fun things you can do with it. 

I'll be getting things organized this morning, so I may take a short walk, and then I'm going to Uber it to the store. It's going to be way cheaper to do that than rent a car. It's not that far away, but trudging a suitcase behind me? That's not going to happen. 

Then tomorrow is all about quilting with your embroidery machine, which will be fun as well. 

By the time my nephew dropped me off last night, it was after 8 PM, and we hadn't even gone for a flight. It was a long day! But it was fun to catch up with everyone. I'm now on my own for the remainder of this trip, but I don't have much free time either. 

Have a wonderful day!!!

Ciao!!!!

Taking inventory for vacation

You all have such great suggestions. If I get frustrated by the towel moving, I can use clips to attach it below. Problem solved! 

Happy Canada Day! It's a great day to celebrate our country, its people, and its beautiful lands. Take a moment today to reflect on the freedoms we have. 

Lately, when I've been walking the dogs, I've spotted people who were most likely not born in this country. They are out walking and exploring the neighborhood. They give me a hearty "good morning," and I almost feel their joy in living here! Perhaps they fled from another country. It's hard to say, but they certainly look thrilled! Let's hope all of us feel that way! 

I'm still working on the cutting table, and I found this from Quilt Canada. Someone had made stickers, and I put one on my name tag, without thinking. Hmmm --- Crazy Elaine - yep - that's about right!

My Quilt Canada name badge

As I tidied up, I added it to the rest of the lanyards I have from other shows. I know -- there is no reason to keep them, but it's kind of fun to see the pile grow. This isn't all of them, and yes -- I've been to a few shows. 

Name badges from other shows

There are many buttons attached to those lanyards - what does one do with all those buttons? 

We had Monday Sewing, and all was good. I have a lot of ripping out to do, and I'm working on that 60-degree triangle quilt from Diane. I now have four rows ripped and one trimmed, although I accidentally cut three triangles too small. I found a similar fabric and will just cut new ones. 

Ripping out the 60-degree triangles

I got the giant quilt loaded on the machine. It actually went faster than I thought it would, so that was a happy moment. 

I'm cleaning and tidying up Studio B. I'm looking for a particular project box. I cleaned up two shelves; more on that tomorrow. I need to make lists of what's on the shelving unit I've attacked! Any project that is not started is being seriously evaluated and pulled apart. 

I had to go to the mall, and I took a look at the quilt magazines. I confess I don't buy many of them anymore, as I get them online through the library. This saves the hassle of getting them home and then the angst of letting them go when I finish reading them! I can zip through the online version in short order, as many of them are just patterns! And I do NOT need to add a new pattern to my mess. 

Quilting magazines 

I picked up a box of Press'n Seal, and it's not for the kitchen. This was once a big deal for machine quilting, but it has since fallen out of favor. Now it's resurrected again, and it's not for sewing! I'll try it and let you know how it works. 

Press'nSeal

I had received a notification that my phone (leased for two years) was expiring - the contract, not the phone and I went to see what the situation was. Oh my --- I walked home with a new phone and saved $90 on my monthly bill! That just seems wrong, but that's what happened. I no longer have a US plan as I haven't been to the US in quite a while, and it's likely to be a while before I go again. I can always add the US plan if I go. 

The lady I chatted with was very friendly and very fast, and all was good! I don't think it took even ten minutes, and I came home with the S25 plus from Samsung! I guess competition has forced them to decrease their prices, so that is good. I should have called about my plan months ago. 

My new phone

I have to switch the settings and then return the old phone, so I'll take care of that this week. I wasn't going to get the phone before I went on vacation, but well - I did. 

Do Band-Aids have a life? Well, I wouldn't say the band-aid does, but the packaging - yes! We rarely use Band-Aids in this household! I went to get one the other day - the tiny round ones that I could put on a spot that I keep "worrying" and I want to let it heal! The packaging literally disintegrated as I pulled the band-aid out. They all need to be thrown away as they are useless. We have some other band-aids, and I'm sure they are just as useless. 

The band-aid packaging disintegrated

I can now say that our big vacation is next month! It's time to see what gear I'm missing. It's going to be a bit crazy to pack for very cold and very hot temperatures on the same trip. I checked the drawer with all my long underwear, which I purchased for cycling. OH BOY—I found at least three brand-new items, not even used! I don't need to buy long underwear. It just seems wrong to be packing long johns to go to Africa! 

Brand new long underwear

Essentially, I require three items: hiking boots or shoes, a new warm jacket, and hiking pants. And I want all the clothes to fit in my 30-liter hiking backpack, including a sleeping bag! Can I make that happen? At worst, the sleeping bag can hang off the backpack while the clothes fit inside. The rest of the things I need—toiletries and a small portable office—will go in a much smaller hiking backpack. And that's all I plan to take! 

I think I got myself too wound up last night and struggled to fall asleep. Note to self: do the planning during the daytime! 

I spotted this screen on the side of the street, assuming the people had thrown it away. First, it was here, then on the other side of the driveway, and now it's gone. I was tempted to pick it up and carry it home to use behind me in Zoom class. It would be perfect, and I could have put stuff in those windows! I did not, and now it's gone! I'm fine with the messy design wall behind me. 

A screen for pick-up

Here are a couple of pretty flowers I spotted on my dog walks. 

A rose - love the color

A clematis

And there are the lilies in the pond in all their glory! It's hard to see the blooms from the shine on the leaves.

The lilies in the pond

And do you see my big orange frog? He's been hiding under the overgrown bushes in the back, but now he's out front and center. 

The pond watcher

Murphy had fun cooling off with a sprinkler the other day. What a goofball!!! She would go mad if we had one in our backyard. 

MOM - I love the sprinkler

I love it when she's outside and content to watch over me in the house. Is that just by chance, or does she really know I'm there? Oh, she knows I'm downstairs as she looks in the window from time to time! 

MOM - I'm guarding you! 

I don't know who she thinks will steal her toy, but she's not letting anyone near it! Oh Murphy - such a silly girl!!!

MOM - this toy is MINE!

Today, I'll fire up the long arm and an embroidery machine, and while they are working, if I get a free moment from winding and replacing threads, I'll continue searching for the missing project box. Actually, I need to get some paper and identify everything on that shelf. Perhaps, I need to go back and be a bit more ruthless? And I found parts of a project, but I'm not sure where the other half is. OK -- I'll make a first pass and then decide what to do! 

Why, oh why, did I accumulate so much stuff and start so many projects? It's beyond me, but I'll continue to slog my way through it. 

I had better tell you about this exercise story. First, my legs have not felt this strong in a long time - yes, even with all the walking. One also needs strength training. I also generally feel much better from all the stretching - it's incredible how a few minutes, a couple of times a week, can make such massive changes. After my "brutal" workout with Brooke on Friday, I was tired, but all was good. The next day, however, my quads were so sore! It appears that we worked on a few muscles that hadn't been exercised in a while. The stand-up/sit-down exercise? It was almost impossible to do because of the soreness. But all is good now, and I can stand up and sit down with great ease. Baby steps — it's all about taking those baby steps, but you have to start taking them! You will be so happy when you're older and can still move around. 

On that happy note, I'm out of here! There's a lot to get done today, including more paperwork. That to-do list is shrinking, but not fast enough! 

Have a super Canada Day! Stand proud! We are a great country—we're not perfect, but we are great! 

Ciao!!!!

On being a caregiver

I'm starting with a disclaimer about the title of caregiver! DH is away, and MIL had a medical test that couldn't be changed, so I had to take her. It took five hours of my day. While everything went just fine and there was no hard work on my part, I was exhausted when I got home. 

I know many of you are full-time caregivers for aging parents, spouses, or someone else. I do not know how you cope. I got nothing else done yesterday. All I can say is, if you are a caregiver, try to take care of yourself as well. I know—it's not an easy thing to do. But if you don't, how the heck do you manage? 

I started by picking her up and dropping her off at the hospital's front door. She would not have managed to get to the DI on her own. Well, she may have managed it, but I had visions of her lost in the hospital, so she sat and waited. 

Because parking is expensive at the hospital and can take a long time to find, I drove across the street and parked at the mall. YEP—it's frowned upon. There are signs, and a fence was erected to deter people from doing that. But since walking is my thing, it was no big deal. The walk, including waiting at the lights, was almost 15 minutes!

Then I was a mean DIL because I didn't get her a wheelchair, but I made her walk all the way to DI, which wasn't that far. I wonder how many people miss these appointments. You are supposed to arrive 30 minutes BEFORE your appointment, and it sure doesn't take 30 minutes to register. It was the same thing for my MRI. Surely, after waiting months for some of these tests, people don't miss them. 

They were pretty much on time for the entire process. The bone scan in nuclear medicine uses quite a large machine, and there's a big sign about NOT taking pictures, so I did not, even when the technician left the room. 

She got an initial bone scan and the dye injection, and then we had to wait two hours. I went for a cup of tea and read my book. Then we waited together - you're not supposed to eat or drink in this area, and I needed my tea. At one point, she stands up, and then she sits down. And then she stands up and sits down. She is counting. OMG - she is doing the stand up/sit down exercises and she's pretty good at it. Considering she is 87 with a fracture somewhere in her back, that's pretty darn good!

When they called her in for the final stage, an hour-long scan, I walked back to the mall for lunch and some quick shopping. 

Then I had to walk her back to the front door. Partway there, she asked for a wheelchair—too late—you're almost there. I'm such a mean person! And then I had to walk back to the mall to get the car. Needless to say, I got my steps in yesterday, and I didn't officially go for a walk!

When I finally got home, I went to the gazebo for peace and quiet. Alas, Murphy was beside herself because they had been home alone for hours, and she insisted on playing with her fish. When I wouldn't get up to play with her, she threw it in the pond, so I had no choice but to get up! 

Mom - my fish is in the pond! Help!

Let me tell you the story of my compost bags. We use compost bags in the kitchen for scraps, and they get put in the larger bin each week for pickup. We had run out of the darn things, but I found a box of the larger bags, which are supposed to be liners for the cart. Why can't we just use those and use them up? 

When they talk about the bags being compostable, they aren't kidding. The lifespan of those bags is over! I put one in the small kitchen container, and all seemed OK, but it was shredding before my eyes when I put something in it. So I tried double-bagging. Nope—that didn't work. I'm unsure how old those bags are, but I suspect they are past their prime. 

The old and the new

So the remainder will go in the compost bin, and I have new ones to use! That's what I bought at the mall. 

If you thought the conversations with my subconscious and myself about the magazines were just for fun, they were NOT. Those were actual conversations, and they were serious. I need to go through that mental process to make myself realize what I really want to be doing and how to get the time to do that. I grew up with the mindset that I wanted to read every book in the world, and therefore, any reading material that came into my house needed to be read by me!

Yes, I had the wrong attitude, but that happened. I'm learning because I had those conversations and left some of the more "sentimental" stuff for last to declutter. If I had just tossed the reading material, I would have felt great angst, learned nothing, and started to accumulate all over again. 

So, if you struggle with that or any other issue, have a serious chat with yourself and see what happens. Ask and answer the tough questions, and be ruthless!  

This next pile of magazines came to the house with the local newspaper. They were aimed at very high-end homeowners, and there wasn't really anything in there for me. I did enjoy reading them, but I probably got absolutely nothing of value. 

This is how the conversation went for those ones: 

Subsonscious: So - here's another stack of magazines. What are you going to do about it? 

    Me: I just need to browse the index to see if there is any cool story of a local artist. 

Subconscious: And then? 

    Me: Then they go. 

Subconscious: See - these discussions are good and you are learning. I'm very proud of you!

    Me: I'm also proud, and thanks for helping me realize there was a monkey on my back. 

The  next pile of magazines to go

I have a few more issues to quickly browse the index, and they are gone. Yes, I could throw them out, but I'm doing just fine with my methods, so I don't need your advice! I want you to see that everyone has to find the way that works for them. For some of you, this is easy to toss, and for others, it is not! 

I ended up reading for the remainder of the day, which isn't a good thing as I have much to do, but  I had no mental or physical energy left, and today is another day. I'm OK with that. 

But that Murphy! She is like a toddler who demands attention for everything. I was all comfy in my media chair, and she was outside barking to come in. Can you see what I have to deal with? 

MOM - I'm trapped outside. HELP!!!

And she is smart! If the door is shut, she sits in front of the door and barks. But since she knew the door was open, she went to the window so she would look more desperate! That girl! Meanwhile, Lexi is sleeping in the kennel, and you wouldn't even know she was in the house. 

Here are some pictures I took while walking in the forest. This one is of a tree that overhangs the fence near one of the entrances. It's so pretty!

Tree blossoms

And look at the drop of water on this leaf that's just about to unfurl! Nature is so fascinating. But imagine walking to school with your kids and stopping at the same tree each day to see the progress? Nope—most kids get taken to school in a car!

A leaf about to unfurl

Well, I now have more sewing and embroidery to do today. There are emails to answer and one appointment for the girls, which will certainly not last five hours, but it's going to be exhausting to deal with both of them together. 

But it's all going to work out. With all the time I spent reading yesterday, I managed to finish my ebook, which is good because I have another ebook that has to be returned in a couple of days.

I'm off to spin class. 

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!

The art of NOT complaining

When I got up this morning, I had almost two hours before I had to "do" anything! That meant two free hours of sewing. I was beside myself—where would I even begin? 

On the days I go to the gym, I lose those two hours, and when I have a deadline, I must work on the deadline items in those two hours. Today, there was nothing, although I still have writing to do, and I'll focus on that later today. 

So I dug out my older sewing machine and dedicated a spot to sewing only. And I sewed! My design wall is just to the right, so I was able to sit on my little stool, grab the blocks from the design wall, and sew!

Glorious sewing!

My headphones seem to have completely died, so I listened to my audiobook on a speaker, which is OK but not my favorite. I may be getting new headphones soon, or I'll try my earbuds. They don't work well as microphones, but listening should be OK. There must be some interference with all that electronic equipment that causes my microphones to bug out. I don't have time or the inclination to solve it, so I use the computer mic, and it works for me. 

I was torn—should I work on bindings? I have a number of quilts and placemats that need binding. Or should I work on my UFO? Or what about my Many Blocks project? I settled on my UFO, and as ender/leader, I'm sewing the Many Blocks. All is good, and it was nice to just putter and not have to stress.

Trust me - there are a few other "urgent" projects, but I can put them off for a day or two. Some of my personal stuff is also "urgent" to me. I need time to do both. Hopefully, this month will be a tad quieter so I can steal a few moments here and there to make that happen. 

If you wonder how I'm making out on the magazines on the floor, this is the current status. 

Remaining magazines to deal with

A few piles are gone! Here's what happened. 

Subconscious: What's this? What are these magazines?

    Me: That's Mike Holmes. He's the best! 

Holmes on Homes magazines

Subconscious: You watched his TV show many years ago—more than 15, just for the record. 

    Me: Yes - I loved his show

Subconscious: And did you ever take on any of his projects?

    Me: No

Subconscious: Did you ever read any of these magazines? 

    Me: No

Subconscious: And why is that?

    Me: I didn't have time

Subconscious: Let's face it—if you need to do a renovation, are you going to read a 10-year-old Holmes magazine?

    Me: Well, no. 

Subconscious: So what are you going to do? 

    Me: I could browse them to see if there is something in there I want to learn. 

Subconscious: Did you know building codes, ideas, and trends change?

    Me: I know. Stop it - you're bullying me! 

Subconscious: This is not bullying, this is reality! 

    Me: OK - I hear you! 

Subconscious: Think about it - which would you rather? Read 10 - 15-year-old magazines or sew a 15-year-old project. 

    Me: OK -- you got me!

Subconscious: So what are you going to do? 

    Me: I will toss them without reading them.

Subconscious: I'll be watching! 

After that little discussion, the magazines are in the recycling bin waiting for pickup later today. A few other stacks got the same fate. 

I have to be realistic—this is a 2010 Travel Guide to Canada. I think it will be a bit dated, and if I want anything, I can go to the internet. 

A dated Travel Guide

And you know the magazine is dated from when there was a survey where you could win an iPod. Do they even make those anymore? 

Hmm - a bit dated

The rest will likely suffer the same fate, but I have to do it my way, and that works for me. I rescued a couple that I want to browse a bit, and then they will go. 

But I uncovered this little gem of an article about complaining. Did you know that complaining (and negative vibes) are extremely bad for your health? Oh yes, I knew that, but I love getting confirmation of it! 

Complaining is bad for your health

Here's what the article says: When we complain, our bodies release cortisol, which is a stress hormone. High levels of that in our body can lead to compromised immune systems, higher blood pressure, weight gain, and increased heart disease. If that isn't enough, here's what else it can do. It can harm the GOOD parts of our brain - the ones that deal with cognitive functions and problem-solving! 

Whoa—if that can happen, we do NOT want any of that negativity around. I must save my brain—well, not save it for a later date, but protect it so I'll be sane at a later date and can still ask questions! 

Listening to others complain can be just as bad as if you were doing it yourself. 

The first step to getting over complaining is to track how many times you complain! Wow, I wonder how many times a day I whine about something. A lot! 

I should learn to think mostly on the positive side, and I do for a good part of things. Which brings to mind what the rest of my day is going to look like. I have to take my MIL to the hospital for a four-hour appointment today. Yippeee!!!!! I'll take something to do in the downtime while we are waiting. Bonus time, and maybe I'll just read a book!

Instead of just complaining, you should try to find a solution, and I agree with that 100%. There is no sense in complaining if you're not willing to do anything to solve the problem. It's incredible how many people can continually find the negative side of anything, even when many positive solutions exist! 

I had to chuckle when they said to write about the things that bother you in a journal. OK, so I blog about those things all the time. Perhaps that's what makes me feel so good!

The articles also stated that if something happens, instead of dwelling on the negative, figure out how you can learn from it and move on! I'm all about that! 

Last, don't spend time with negative people. Their bad vibes can roll off on you, and that's not good! I'm 1000% in agreement on that one. The problem is that most negative people aren't self-aware! 

One of the worst things is when you meet someone or just start a conversation and ask how they are. Fifteen minutes later, they are still spewing verbal diarrhea, and you haven't even had a chance to say one word. People, be SELF-AWARE. I don't care about your problems, or at least allow me to empathize with you. It drives me crazy! 

A conversation with anyone is a TWO-WAY street. They ask about you, you ask about them! It's simple. Otherwise, the person you are spewing to? They will NOT ask again, and will avoid you! 

I had a great workout at spin class yesterday. I don't know if it's the strength training, the stretching, or just a mental note to get better, but I can crank out more KM than I've been able to in a long, long time. I can still feel twinges in my back/leg, and I must call the doctor for the results of the MRI, which was done a month ago. But overall? I'm doing amazing. That horrific pain was a wake-up call, and I answered it, and I'm going to keep it at bay! There will be NO complaining from me about my health unless I'm prepared to do something about it - if I can!! 

This is Miss Murphy in the forest. She has taken to moving sticks. She grabbed a big one but didn't carry it too far. 

MOM - I found a stick! 

And the trilliums are in bloom! 

Trilliums in the forest

Speaking of Murphy, I was on several Zoom calls yesterday and looked over my computer and saw this. 

Despite the fact that there are several rugs on the floor for her to nap on, she has picked my quilted bedspread to sleep on. YES—I'm supposed to make a jacket from that! 

Mom - this is so cozy

What was hilarious is that when she got tired of sleeping on one side, she moved over to sleep on the other! 

Mom - I have to sleep evenly!

And she doesn't try to unroll it or move as she does with her dog bed blankets upstairs. It's only to rest her weary head! 

Mom - my head is very comfy

That is where I found her this morning! What a silly girl! I'll make the jacket, and I can always wash it. 

Well, it's time to start the day - part two of the day! It's incredible how little junky things can pile up on my desktop, so I scooped some of the bigger stuff off and I'll deal with these little things later today. That's my downfall - little crappy stuff --- how to get rid of it. I know - daily and one piece at a time! 

And on that HAPPY note - I'm out of here!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

The angst of decluttering magazines

We had a conversation about my magazines at the Virtual Retreat yesterday. Just throw them away - AHA! - They didn't listen that I need to do it my way! 

But here are a couple of reasons why I need to do it my way. I gave this a lot of thought during my morning walk with the girls and my afternoon walk. 

• I may find inspiration for something in the magazine.
• I may find something (or multiple somethings) that then become a story for the blog. 
• Or my warped sense of humor may just be amused by a tidbit I find.  

In light of the quantity of magazines, here's what I did. I sorted through the stacks on the floor and pulled out all the CAA magazines. That is the equivalent of the AAA in the US. 

A stack of unread CAA magazines

Then I sorted them by date. I HAVE to - I'm a Virgo and we like order. And this was the oldest. Yep - that's Sarah Richardson on the cover - she's 37. 

The cover of the  oldest CAA magazine

I know that means nothing to you - it means nothing to me. But here's the date. OK - a bit dated. 

Yikes - more than 15 years old!

This was a conversation I had with myself throughout the day. 

Subconscious: How old are those magazines? 

    Me: They date from Fall 2009 to Fall 2021

Subconscious: Did you buy these magazines?

    Me: No - they came automatically as I was a member of CAA

Subconscious: Did you ever find anything of interest in past issues? 

    Me: Typically, little tidbits of information that I didn't really need. 

Subconscious: Did you ever use any of CAA services that would require you to stay on top of what services they provide? 

    Me: Whine - No, stop asking me the hard questions. I want to keep those magazines! 

Subconscious: Do you agree that all information related to technology is outdated? 

    Me: Yes - I agree. 

Subconscious: Do you agree that most of these interesting tidbits could be gleaned from another source that is current in your life? 

    Me: OK - I agree. 

Subconscious: Look at the cover of the oldest one - take a close look. Do you care about identity theft? Yes - you do, but not using information from 2009 - technology has changed since then. Same with renovating - you're not going to renovate your house. And do you care about Sarah? She's onto something else these days. What about the housing boom? Do you think it's the same now as then? 

    Me: STOP! Stop being a bully!

Subconscious: So, you're going to go home and toss those CAA magazines out. Right? 

    Me: I can't!

Subconscious: But you want to - don't you? 

    Me: Yes - I do, but I can't! Not without looking at them! 

Subconscious: OK -- you do what you want, but you are wasting your time! 

What happened? I looked through the two oldest magazines. And I found this ad, which I thought was hilarious, as it was a huge thing at that time. This northern community advertised everywhere as a retirement community. And lots of people have moved there! The ads worked! 

Ad for a northern retirement community

Let's leave those CAA magazines for a moment. 

I found several magazines on organizing and decluttering, which I added to the stack on the bookshelf. I'm not sure I really need to read the rest of the decluttering magazines, but for now, they stay put. 

More decluttering magazines

And then this happened. 

The new home for the CAA magazines

Subconscious: I TOLD YOU SO!!!!

    Me: Shut up!!! You sound like my mother! 

    

    Me: OK - I don't mean to be harsh, but you were right! 

Subconscious: Thank you! And you'll thank me as you now have MORE time to sew! And think about the weight that is being lifted off those shoulders! You won't need to go for therapeutic massages in the future! 

That was hard, but I need to be aware of the balance between time and value. Will anything I glean from browsing those magazines change my life? What about the 10/10/10 rule?

In ten minutes will I remember the tidbit? Probably yes, but there's a good chance that unless I write about it - it's gone!. 

In ten weeks? Probably no. 

In ten years? Definitely not, although its amazing what little tidbits of information stick in your head. 

Before going to bed, I sorted the rest of the stack into either titles or categories. Do NOT yell at me for doing this. I threw some away - so no yelling. 

The rest of the magazines are somewhat sorted

I put the next category on the kitchen table, and I'll deal with it later today. Hopefully, my subconscious will be there to guide me. 

Subconscious: Oh, you bet! I'll be there whenever you need me. I'm trying to clear your mind and your physical space, so we can sew. I much prefer sewing to decluttering. It's less work for me! 

I found two magazines that I NEED to keep, and I'll share them with you later this week as I go through that stack. I would love to be able to process those piles and not put them back on the shelf. I can do it, but I have to do it my way! And I appreciate how good you have all been about not giving me advice. It means you are listening to me and hopefully feeling my angst.  

You have to understand that reading material is probably the MOST precious thing in the world to me. I was a voracious reader when I was a kid. I didn't have access to a lot growing up where I was. I never had access to a public library or a store where I could browse. Definitely not any electronic stuff. I was 100% dependent on adults for reading material until I went to a larger school in Grade 6, where they had a school library. I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. 

Let's not forget my Mom, the hoarder, also has a thing for magazines, so it's hardwired in my brain! 

I think I did pretty well to toss those magazines yesterday. It's not the first time, and part of me still wants to sift quickly through the pages, but then I get this: 

Subconscious: It's not worth your time! 

    Me: OK OK - I'm getting it!

I did NOT buy those CAA magazines. I did not choose for them to be in my house. And let's face it, most articles in all magazines are not in-depth. They are written extremely generic. I may empty that recycling basket so I don't hear them calling me, as the recycling bin is next to my computer!

Once those magazines on the floor are dealt with, I believe all the magazines in the office will be dealt with, except the occasional ones mixed in the boxes of paper. Ooops --- I just remembered there are a few on the desk. Well, let's get these done first. I'm fired up and motivated. 

The best news is that I'm on my own for a while, as DH has some upcoming trips and I'm way more productive when he's gone. Do not ask me why. I think it's because I can work at any time of the day or night, and there are zero questions. Lights can be on, music if I want, and any time of day works! 

I feel the urge to purge!!!! 

I have a crazy day ahead of me. I'm speaking at the East Lake Simcoe Quilters Guild in Cannington, and thankfully, their meeting is in the afternoon, so I can drive there and back during the day. But it's going to take most of the day. 

I have a lot of follow-up from the weekend, and then I need to hit the ground running as I have two projects that MUST be done this week. 

But first, I'm off to spin class. 

Here's an assignment for you. What is the one thing in your house that you struggle to deal with? For me, it's magazines. And we won't even talk about quilt magazines, although I do read them, albeit very slowly, and I enjoy them, and then they go in the recycling.

OK - so you've identified the problem item(s). Start asking yourself some questions like I did above. Why? When? How? Where? Etc. Will you learn anything from the item? Does it give you pleasure? Etc.  Be brutal; if the answer is that you need to keep it, then keep it and stop feeling guilty about it. If you don't need to keep it, what can you do to start the emotional detachment from those items? It's HARD - very HARD and I'll be thinking about those CAA magazines for a couple of weeks until I let it go. OK - maybe a day or two! 

And an interesting thought was brought up yesterday. Just because I'm on this decluttering journey - OK - let's face it - I've been on this journey for over 15 years! I'm just getting faster and I've staunched the incoming - at last! But don't feel compelled to declutter just because I am. You need to declutter because you WANT to. That's been my problem -- I bought the magazines, read the articles, but I wasn't ready, so it took me a long time for it to become a real desire. 

BUT now that I see how much better I feel (mentally, especially) and the fact that I LOVE clean, open, and empty spaces, I wish I had been faster. But it doesn't matter - I'm doing it now. This is for ME, and if you pick up a tidbit or two for later in your life or now -- that's your choice! Your journey is yours! 

Have a super day!!! 

Ciao!!!!