A good deed

You would think we would learn! Last night, we attempted puzzle number 2 in the Exit Game. It took a bit of thinking, and we came up with the correct answer, but it didn't have all the logic attached, so we looked at the clues and, oh, I see where we missed the logic. We got the correct answer, so looking at those clues didn't count. It was just to inform us! We are still good! 

But again - it was one of those 'aha' moments. We were struggling, and then DH looked at the puzzle and asked, 'Do these colors mean anything?' And that set us off to find the answer. Two heads are always better than one! Well, maybe not always, but in the case of us and the EXIT games, two of us are better than one! 

Oh my goodness --- I set the Monday sewing girls off on an adventure. You know how we've been chatting about AI so much lately. Well, I asked them to design a cake using AI. The results are hilarious, and I'll share them with you next week! 

OH, dear - Lexi and I had a bit of excitement on our walk. We were near the gas station on our walk when a man approached us. Typically, on a walk, people just say hi or ignore us, but this man walked up. He said he had dementia. So I asked him if he was lost, and he said yes. 

I said, Let's walk to the gas station so it would be a place where we could safely wait. I then called the non-emergency police number and spoke to someone. It was apparent that the man had to go to the washroom, but he didn't want to go into the gas station. He finally said he needed to go, and would that be OK? 

I'm chatting with the dispatcher and answering various questions. I wanted to let the gas station attendant know what was happening, so I wrapped Lexi's leash around a post and stepped in and then out. The attendant followed me out to inform me that this gentleman had been in the gas station the day before or two days before. On his way out, he had grabbed some bags of chips, ripped them open, and left them on the floor. 

OH -- so I had to tie Lexi up again, so I could watch him, so he didn't do it again. He came right out. All the time, I'm on the phone with the dispatcher, asking and answering questions, and trying to keep Lexi safe. Gas stations can be chaotic places, and she doesn't like waiting, and there was no place to secure her leash. 

The police arrived -- two cars with two cops each! They were from the community safety unit - I'm not sure if they thought the guy was going to be violent, but I was asked if he was agitated, and I said no. I was asked if Lexi was aggressive - No. And so on. Part of that was to pass the time while we waited for the police to arrive. 

Let's just say that I don't know how those officers could move or walk with all the stuff on their chests. Loads of pockets for stuff! All four of the officers were young, and anyway, they took charge of the poor man, and Lexi and I continued on our way. 

He knew his street, his name, and his birthday (he was younger than me), but he was turned around and didn't know how to get home. He didn't know his house number. 

Yikes --- that is terrible, and since this is NOT the first time, I hope the family comes up with a solution for him. Put his address in his pocket, but that won't help him get home. Someone will either have to start walking with him or not be allowed out. He only had sliders on his feet, so I don't think he intended to go far, although he's from Cairo, so this was probably everyday footwear for him! 

Thankfully, he was quite docile and happy that I helped him. Although the dispatcher was suspicious, just like me, and asked if I thought he was faking it, so he could get a ride home. I didn't think so, but you never know. It was the fact that he had been in that same gas station before that got me worried! Thankfully, it was the same employee, so I made sure the cops knew to chat with her before they left. 

Murphy, of course, was quite upset that she wasn't part of the action. I was thankful that it wasn't her. While Lexi happily got pats from all the officers, Murphy would have jumped in their car, waiting to be driven somewhere!

Look what I spotted in the backyard. Hmm --- fake or real? If that is real, that was one heck of a large snail. 

A large snail? 

The gardener was here yesterday to clean up the backyard. It was a bit messier than usual because I hadn't touched it in two months. However, it looks great and should last until spring. Murphy loves it when he is here, as she gets to bounce outside with someone there to entertain her. 

MOM - I'm supervising the gardener

The girls are not happy, as it's almost time to keep the back door shut regularly, or at least it doesn't get opened as early or stay open as late as it used to. While it's warm in the daytime, it's getting cooler at night. That means I have to make sure Murphy goes to the bathroom before I go to bed. It's OK now, but in the wintertime? That's not so fun, but better than her having an accident! 

Murphy had a blast with her new toy and managed to clean it out of all the treats inside. And then we played catch with it, and she was pretty happy. 

MOM -- this ball has good treats inside!

As I sat at the computer yesterday, I had a horrible realization that I hadn't bought a thimble from our trip this summer. Mind you, I don't think we saw any thimbles anywhere we went. But how did I miss that? I guess we have to go back. DH has already stated that he wants to go back!

No new thimble from our trip!

While no tidying was accomplished yesterday, I am happy with my progress. I got some sewing done, and it was for one of my clubs this weekend. That was very exciting, and I'm making progress. By the way, I sewed two blocks together, and seven more are cut and ready to sew. You'll see them next week. My goal is to get the remaining seven blocks together by Sunday. This block had a ton of pieces, but then I was trying to finish my audiobook, so I continued to sew. I have one more hour to go on the audiobook, so I'll get that done this afternoon - actually, I think I have until nine PM, so probably after dinner. 

A block with a lot of pieces

I have this entire drawer filled with those little triangles to make half-square triangles. So I pulled some out as I was sewing those blocks together. 

My ender/leader drawer

I got this many enders/leaders sewn, and I'll press and trim them later today. 

Half-square triangles sewn

I also completed these houses for the Colour My World quilt. It's a bright, happy village! I'm using batiks, which are always cheerful and happy! I'm halfway through the homework for this month. For some reason, I thought this would be a difficult quilt to sew together. But slow and steady, and work on a specific assignment each month, and it's not bad at all! I'm loving that freezer paper for paper piecing!

Eight houses for the Colour My World quilt

I've had two people join up in the last two days. If anyone is still interested, it's not too late. Send me an email (elainetheriault@gmail.com) and I'll get you organized. 

And look at what happens at our house. There is Murphy, sleeping beside the bed, not in the bed. Why? 

Because her toy (the ball) is wrapped up in the blanket, and she is savoring it for another day to unwrap it! 

MOM - I can't sleep in the bed, my ball is wrapped up!

The writing is coming along nicely. Not as fast as I would like, but I have also been struggling with sleep for the last couple of nights. That is not normal for me, but I had a great sleep last night, so I look forward to an even better day today. The funny thing is that after dinner, I grabbed a bottle of Coke from the fridge. I don't typically buy the stuff, but I had purchased a bottle when I was driving to help me if needed. Obviously, I didn't need it, and I decided to get it out of the house because I need to swear off sugar soon! I know-- that doesn't make sense, but it's my life!

Anyway, I knew that I was potentially setting myself up for another failed night of sleep - caffeine so close to bedtime. I went to sleep an hour after drinking that Coke and slept through the night. So much for caffeine keeping you awake! Maybe that becomes my before-bed drink! 

On that happy note, I'm out of here as I'm off to spin class. 

And then I'll be back at the computer, as I need to complete more writing. Additionally, I need to work on the project that needs to be remade. It's going to be a busy day! 

Have a super day!

Ciao!!

A prep day

I love to teach - I think everyone knows that, and I seem to be a natural at it. Perhaps when I was a kid, I should have veered that way. But I'm happy things turned out the way they did. 

I lived a very isolated life as a kid, and the only job opportunities I saw were those of a teacher, a nurse, or a secretary. Can you believe that? But it was common, and that's why we have a lot of retired teachers and nurses who quilt. 

I learned to type in high school, either in Grade 9 or 10, and began my career in the secretarial world. For whatever reason, the other day, I said 'carriage return' instead of 'enter'. I kind of dated myself! I'm sure many of you can remember that! I've never regretted that class. The other day, someone mentioned that their typing teacher would put a bag over the keyboard and have them type to ensure they knew where the home row was. 

But when it comes to teaching, the amount of prep work involved is crazy. Of course, that depends on how much time you want to spend, but if I'm going to take the time, I want to fully understand what I'm teaching, and I want it to be well done. Yep -- there have been times when I've been rushed and didn't quite explore all the avenues, and I got caught! 

Nothing bad ever happened -- we're talking about teaching people how to sew a pattern or a quilt together, but still! I've then had to backpedal and do the work, and then follow up again!

Let's say I spent most of yesterday preparing for this one-hour class, and I was extremely thorough. I'm not quite done, and have about half an hour left to load some pictures into the presentation and to read one more item I found. 

I hope they enjoy the presentation! I'm excited about this project, which is called Colour My World. We are a reasonably sized group, and once those show-and-tell pictures start to come in, it's going to be very exciting. 

Here's a picture of the quilt, in case you're unsure what I'm talking about. The designer is Wendy Williams of Australia. 

Colour My World

Now, in my thoroughness, I learned something that had puzzled me from a previous class. Of course, it's about technology, and now I know the answer. I'm not sharing until I've told the class. It's amazing what you can learn just by exploring! I was pretty excited about that little tidbit!

I had to do some printing, and when I went to grab the printouts, this is the message I saw on the printer. WHAT????

A User or Counterfeit cartridge?

I've never encountered this message before, and what should I do about it? The cartridge came directly from the manufacturer. I selected OK, and it seemed to print my documents. I must ask DH about it. 

My first priority in the morning was to fix the F11 on the dishwasher. I must remember to clean that filter regularly, as there tends to be loads of debris (OK - hair that accumulates in the filter). It must belong to the dogs! 

However, I also found this in the small section with the ball bearing. I believe that is a bit of bone. No wonder the dishwasher wasn't happy. And I must remember to take a picture of that little gizmo next time and order a new one, as I see the seal is starting to break down. 

A bit of bone in the dishwasher

I did NOTHING towards tidying any of the mess in Studio B or Studio U. It was all hands on deck to get that presentation ready. This is what Studio B looks like at the moment. It's a disaster, and I had to shove a bunch of stuff out of the way on the cutting table to find room to cut something this morning. 

Studio B - a disaster

I couldn't even find scissors or a seam ripper this morning, so I had to go into my retreat box to retrieve these tools. Sheesh -- they are in that room somewhere, but where? I'll start by clearing a space so I can work, and I'll get my writing done while putting things in order during this coming week. Let's not forget about the project that needs to be reworked. 

However, it was a blissful day. I was not in a rush to get anything done. If I wanted a wee nap (which I did), I took it completely guilt-free. I read during my lunchtime, and I went for a long walk, where I ran into a neighbor who cycles. We had a grand conversation about cycling. He invited me to join their group, and well, I just might get my butt back out on a bike. It's been a long time. I told him I would join them in the spring, after I have a bit of alone time with my bike. There's no need to embarrass myself by falling over when I'm clipped in, although that has never happened before. LOL. 

But this is how I want to spend my days. I don't want to be rushing around from one event to another. I hear so many retired people who are literally running from one thing to another, and my question is, WHY? Does every minute need to be programmed? Not for me! 

Oh - I also browsed at the library as I had to pick up a book for DH, so of course, three books followed me home. I can't help myself!!!!

And now let's have a peek at what those entertaining girls did. This is Miss Lexi, who is DH's guard dog when he's working. 

MOM - stay out - this is Dad's private space! 

All Murphy wants to do is play ball! I was wrapping it up for her, and she got so excited that she jumped up on me and lightly scratched my arm. So we had a good talk, and she went into a time-out for a while. But then she happily unwrapped the blankets to get that ball. 

MOM - I WILL find that ball

MOM - That was too easy!

MOM -- Look, I actually pulled the ball out of the toy! 

And Lexi and I need to have a chat. From time to time, she takes food from her dish or perhaps it's a treat and tries to hide it. She isn't trying to hide it from Murphy; she is trying to put it away so when she wants a snack, she has one. 

Lexi is trying to bury snacks in Murphy's dog bed

This is where she tucked a couple of pieces of kibble. Sadly, this won't last long, so I put it back in her dish. I felt bad, but Murphy will gobble that down without even thinking about it. There is NO safe place for Lexi's food or snacks, except in her dish, which Murphy will not touch. 

Lexi's hiding spot for the kibble

These were the flowers outside the library. So pretty!!! 

Flowers at the library

And what is it with this dog and staring! She is intense and very creepy when you catch her staring. There was nothing she needed, except my attention!

MOM -- how are you? 

You can't really tell in this photo, but yesterday was one of those surreal days, almost like fake lighting that throws things into a twilight zone. I didn't get a chance to sit outside as I was at the computer or walking for most of the afternoon. But today? I might just make it there - I now have many books to read and I'd better get to it!!!!

Surreal lighting in the backyard

And here are the links to the Virtual Retreat for tonight and tomorrow. I removed the references to Colour My World and the Digital Cutter Club; the groups are already aware of the classes. I should also mention that the transition in creating the distribution list for 'Colour My World' went very smoothly. I was extremely diligent about my filing system, and it worked! I double- and triple-checked before sending things out. It paid off! 

September 27 (Saturday) - Virtual Retreat - Starts at 6 PM EDT

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

Meeting ID: 826 9370 2241
Passcode: 795071

September 28 (Sunday) Virtual Retreat - Starts at 3 PM EDT

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

Meeting ID: 810 7353 6036
Passcode: 596838

And in case you are wondering how October looks, because no one believed me when I said things were quieting down, I have two classes: the Jacket class and Colour My World. TWO!!!!! They are on Zoom and one hour each. I have my five clubs, and they are also hosted on Zoom, each lasting one hour. The prep work for the clubs will be minimal, as will the next Colour My World class. The jacket class will require extensive prep work. But that's it! There is NOTHING else on the calendar except a few appointments, and I'll be adding to that - dog grooming, a massage, etc. But I refuse to fill that calendar - as far as I'm concerned - I'm booked full! 

And on that very happy note, I'm out of here!!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Clean up in Studio B!

I went to bed at my usual time, and I did not take any cold meds. Guess what? I got up at my usual time, so that's all sorted out, and I feel fine. I'm probably a bit tired and dehydrated, but I'm trying to fix both. Travel is a big culprit in messing with your health! At least for me. And I mean travel for work, not for vacation. 

But the dreams I had? Oh boy!!! You would think the world is coming to an end, with alien ships traversing the sky and spying on people and, well, all kinds of nasty things. Now, where did that come from? 

It must have been the remnants of a book I finished the other day called Argylle, which is a spy novel. It was a random e-book that I got through Libby. Here's the weird bit about this book - it was released in early 2024, and then there was a movie released in 2024, but it wasn't really about the book. It was about the author writing the book (or a series of books). It's a very convoluted story; you can get all the details at this link. If you read the comments on Goodreads, I don't think anyone liked the book; many believe it was a prop for the movie. 

Did I enjoy the book? Well, it was a bit far-fetched, which is probably where my dreams came from. Yes, it had excitement and intrigue (The Amber Room), but it just seemed a bit over the top. 

Here's the trailer if you want to check out the film. I think the movie might be better than the book. It's long gone from theaters, so I must wait for it to come to Air Canada and watch it on the plane!

There were some rumors that TS (you know who she is!) wrote the novel because of the cat in the movie. But all was revealed in that first link I gave you!

I have another book to tell you about, but not today. I must get on with the rest of the story. 

Yes, I have started to tidy up Studio B, not that I did any of the tidying up yesterday. I had to take MIL to her appointment (2 hours), the dentist for me (1 hour), and walk for groceries, and I managed to get my 12 km in, so that was good. I sat outside on the front patio because it was such a glorious day, and I wasn't wasting any of it. 

It's front patio time!

Yes, I LOVE our front patio. At this time of year, the backyard is in the shade in the afternoon, which is cool, but the sun is the right temperature. Murphy sat with me for a bit, and I read and enjoyed my afternoon tea since I didn't get a chance for tea in the morning. 

Oh boy -- it sucks to get old, and the only thing you can focus on is your health. I'm sure that's the case with my MIL, and she seems to get her fair share of appointments and follow-ups. Yesterday was a follow-up, and everything is OK. But the amount of scent she had was enough to give me a headache in the car. I think that is part of her problem -- too much scent is NOT good for your respiratory system, but she didn't seem to think so. 

We had to go to the One Heart Care Clinic, which is a big place devoted to heart health care. I suspect I might be seeing more of that building in the near future, and it is NOT for me. 

I spotted this car in the parking lot. How many quilters bought it? Do you have the reference? 

KONA car

When I was at the grocery store, I noticed the giant pumpkin on display. Well, I suppose you could buy it if you wanted. I put my shopping bag on top so you could reference the size. I will NOT be bringing that pumpkin home—at least not on my walk! That watermelon the other time was much smaller and almost killed me! 

Big pumpkin! 

While listening to an audiobook this morning, I got the "to be quilted" area back in shape. There are some piles of batting waiting to be assembled for upcoming community project quilts, but otherwise, everything looks perfect! It's nice and neat, and I have a few customer quilts to get started on next week. Also, I'm "behind" on my goal of twenty community project quilts by the end of the year, so I hope to get one loaded later today. 

The "to be quilted" pile is back in order

Then, I cleaned up the two work tables for my sewing machines. It felt very good to get that done. I hope to finish one machine embroidery project today, as I need it for our machine embroidery class on Sunday. Well, I would like to have it done by Sunday. 

The sewing machine tables are in order

My computer desk is also clear, so that's another bonus. 

The computer desk is clear!

The ironing board is a mess with some small projects that I want to tidy up, and the cutting table is a total disaster. I hope to peck away at them this weekend as I plan on attending a fiber art show this afternoon. It closes in a week, so if I don't go now, I'll never get there. The show is in Oakville and called Hanging by a Thread, in case you want to go. It closes on October 18. 

I haven't touched my "pending" folder in months, and a lot of paperwork requires follow-up, so I pulled all that this morning. Yeah!!! It's something that has to be done, or I get way behind, but hopefully, it won't take too long to make that all happen. A lot of it is just looking up an email, marking it complete, and then filing it. Well, I'm adding it to the pile that needs to be filed! 

So, I think I'm back on track, which is great! I have lots of sewing to do and a few samples to tidy up, which I'm going to start later today. I've got three short audiobooks that need to be listened to in the next week, so it's all good!

I can't believe how dark it's getting outside these days. It's 7 AM, and it's DARK! Even the girls are not anxious to go outside. 

OH—before I go, here's an article about Thimbles and Things' 25th anniversary. It's rare that a quilt store lasts that long, and this one, which changed ownership, is still going strong. 

Speaking of which -- for anyone in Spice Market, Dear Jen, and the Saturday Sampler (the later two at Thimbles and Things), I hope to get all confirmations out this weekend. So sorry for the delay. There is NOTHING that anyone needs for the first class except the pattern. 

On that note, I'm out of here! Got to get the girls walked and then downstairs to get some work done. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

A new respect for caregivers

I have a new appreciation for caregivers! Especially those looking after a loved one in the house! 

I got absolutely nothing done yesterday. I didn't even make it downstairs except to find a bag to put something in and add to the stuff on the cutting table. 

I had an appointment first thing in the morning, and the doctor was on time and I was out of there before I knew it, so that was good. 

Then, because DH had some issues with the pre-op tests, he needed to get to his doctor, who is also my doctor. So, in the afternoon, I had to drive him back to that medical building and make that happen. The one thing I'll say about our doctor is that when we want an appointment, there is ZERO waiting. He called in the morning, and he got an afternoon appointment. When I dropped in with DH, I got to see her as well—basically without an appointment. 

The good news is that my shoulder (yes, I am very behind in getting that information) is relatively fine. There are NO TEARS in the rotator cuff, so that is good. The bad news is that there is some calcification (is that the right word?) from overuse and minor injuries (like falling when climbing a tree), and it could use some physio (specialized exercises and limiting lifting heavy things) to let it heal properly. 

I don't understand how the doctor works, but I feel that the receptionist is very good at scheduling and doesn't overbook the appointments. That is done, and now we are waiting for the calls to see the specialist. 

Then it was the pill dispensing! DH has six different pills that have to be taken at different times, so I was in charge of that. The nerve blockers wore off in the afternoon, and that was a game-changer. I think he now has a bigger appreciation of the magnitude of the surgery and the fact that he can't move that shoulder for three weeks. 

What he had was actually NOT a new shoulder, but a reverse total shoulder replacement. They reversed the shoulder socket and ball. Even when I look at the pictures, it still doesn't make sense to me. 

I have to make lunch, dinner, and whatever else he wants! We haven't even moved on to the hygiene part yet, and I can't wait! NOT!

This is a temporary thing - hopefully, just the three weeks he has the immobilizer on. I can't imagine having to care for someone who needs constant or almost constant care and there is no end in sight. I spoke to a neighbor yesterday, and her husband is not well. He doesn't have long to live and he seems to be in constant pain. I feel for her as she is frustrated with the medical system and dealing with too many people. 

I took time to read my e-book, which I really need to finish, but then he started talking to me. Oh boy! So it was an interesting day. I hope he feels good enough to work even for a couple of hours each day soon (he's on the phone a lot), but the doctor told him to take the week off. Personally, if it were me, I'd be sleeping and reading all day. 

There are appointments on Thursday and Friday, so the entire week is gone! I'll just write this week off as well. I want to get to a local fiber art show, and hopefully, I can do that on Saturday. 

I managed to complete part of one important piece of paperwork, so that was a bonus, but there is much more that needs to be done, and I have to start working on classes for this year since we are now in October, and they start this month. 

It doesn't help that I'm still not 100% myself. I am still sleeping in and losing two hours each day because of that and another hour-long nap, so a huge part of my productive day is lost to sleep. But my body is telling me that I need it, so I'm not worried. I love this change in weather and could stay in bed all day with lots of quilts and just relax.

I now need to catch up on all my errands in the neighborhood. I made it to the grocery store yesterday, and the girls got their walks, so all is good in that department. I'm not even checking how many KMs I'm walking each day. I'm in the ballpark of what I need to end the year's challenges, but certainly not like I was doing there a while back. That's OK -- it's good to take a break! As for spin class? It's not even on my radar at the moment. I'm hoping by next week, things will have settled down. 

Oh boy -- here's a picture of Murphy. I swear, when I get my camera out, and we are in the forest, she refuses to look at me. Everything else is more interesting. If I change directions, so does she! She is trying to tell me what we are doing is NOT interesting. We need to be on the move - that's where the interest lies!! Silly girl. 

MOM -- STOP taking pictures - let's GO!!

Pictures never seem to do justice to the changing of the colors, but I noticed the trees in the area are starting to turn. These will be spectacular as they go through several color changes. 

Leaves changing color

On that note, I had better try to make today as normal as possible. But it's totally beyond my control! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

Ten quilts - ten days!

Thanks for all the suggestions on taking the pill! Well, not THE pill, but my weekly pill. I will try my new alarm and see what happens. Quite frankly, I'm a dunce, and why did I do what I did? Well, there are wonders in this world, and that was one of them. It's not my most brilliant move, to be sure. If that doesn't work, I like the idea of these other medications that don't require a weekly pill. I'll definitely look into those. 

So there is some GREAT news this morning. The last quilt in the ten-quilt marathon was pulled off the long arm just before lunch. That was a great feeling, and even though those quilts aren't huge, there was a lot of pressure to get one done daily. It'll be easier now that I'm down to one a week. And I'm excited to get started on that group. I have pulled enough backing and batting to prepare the first one later today. I have to make the binding for all those quilts, and you'll see the progress as the week goes on. 

Community project quilt - DONE

Then to really say that I finished ten quilts in ten days, I needed to get my butt in gear and finish the bindings. And here they are -- all ten quilts now have the binding on them. I probably won't arrange for delivery at this point; they are hanging out on a quilt rack, and closer to the end of the year, when there are more, I'll arrange to get them delivered. 

Binding number 7

Binding number 8

Binding number 9

Binding number 10

Finishing those quilts took a fair amount of my afternoon, as I'm much slower when I'm chatting on Zoom. However, I then moved on to the applique. I refuse to let myself down on that commitment. This has nothing to do with the financial commitment to the UFO Club, it has nothing to do with peer pressure, it has to do with myself and what I want to get done. So I persevered, even though I was getting tired and I completed my daily quota for applique. 

By that time, I was getting pretty tired, and there were only three of us on the call, so I shut the retreat down early—well, after 7 PM. 

So yes, this new focus in my life is pretty amazing. I'm getting so much done, yet I'm not working all day. I still get in my walks, I'm still reading—more than I ever have in the last couple of years—and I'm enjoying my cup of tea on the front patio in the mornings. 

The other day, I removed the remainder of the "junk" magnets from the fridge. That left these as the ones I want to keep, which are all keepsakes from some trip. 

The keepsake magnets

I've since rearranged them so they look like this. 

The magnets are now arranged in one corner

Our fridge feels positively empty, but I like the new look. I have yet to finish sorting the items I took off the fridge to see what works to give away and what needs to be thrown out. That is a job for later today. That is one area where I could improve at finishing the job. But I'll get there. 

Someone gave me a book the other day, and rather than just throwing it on my bookshelf, I looked at my lists to see where it belonged. Since there wasn't any room where it needed to go, I found a book that was next in a series and pulled it out to make room. Because I had taken the time to sort and organize, that task was fairly simple. It's all about keeping things organized, and I have to say that I love it!!

Keeping the bookshelf organized

I am supposed to be sorting through my boxes of novelty prints to find something for a friend. The boxes are still strewn on the floor, and I need to get that accomplished today so I can put the boxes back in the room and close the door. 

Sorting through novelty prints

When Miss Murphy and I went for our walk two days ago, we spotted this fairly large tree that had "fallen" overnight. No—the tree did not fall, but it was hit by a car. It was hit so hard that it pulled the roots partially out of the ground. The tree was more forgiving than the concrete light post the car barely missed. But how can the car (in a 60 zone) go so fast that it jumps the curb and mows down a tree? We won't go there. 

MOM -- someone pushed down this tree!!!!

When we went by yesterday, this was all that remained. The tree is gone, and the stump is a huge mess. 

MOM -- where did the tree go?

Speaking of Miss Murphy, I think she was trying to tell me something yesterday as I was sewing. 

MOM -- STOP sewing and play with me!!!!

And Lexi? Soon, there won't be much left of her. I'm trying to keep her brushed, but it doesn't matter how much hair I take off each day; there is more the next day. I swear it's like her hair multiplies, and I can do nothing to keep on top of it. 

Lexi getting her daily grooming in the forest

See, I've just removed three huge brushes full of hair, and she doesn't look neat at all. Her fur is a train wreck!!

MOM -- enough - let's get walking!!! 

Here's the Pony Express Depot at my house. It's looking pretty empty at this moment, which is a good thing. I've since added another item to the pile, and all will get picked up or delivered in due time. 

The Pony Express Depot at my house

I've had this cordless iron for eons. For some reason, I stopped using it, and then I resurrected it again. But now, it's totally done. I finally gave up on it the other day. It's in the electronic waste pile, and the plastic cover is in the garbage. It would no longer heat, so I guess that means the end! It's not like this is a huge issue, as I have six or seven more irons in the house, and I believe two of them are brand new. But like a true pioneer, I'm "struggling" with the almost-dead ones. I need to give my head a shake and move on. 

My cordless iron has bit the dust

I have a few other items like this that must be thoroughly evaluated and tossed. I think—OH—I might get a little more use out of that, but I need to be more realistic. 

Here's my tip for the day: When you sew, make sure that you use the proper stitch length. If your stitch is too long, the threads will start to pull out at the end of a seam, which looks ugly and can affect the integrity of that seam. 

The threads are pulling out at the end of a seam

Your seams should look like this!!!

Good stitching all the way to the end

People say they use a longer stitch length, so it's easier to rip out. Well, that is just wrong in so many ways. What is the correct stitch length? It's about 2.0. But you can easily test. Sew a seam right to the end. Then, gently try to pull that seam apart at the end. If nothing happens, the stitch length is excellent. If several stitches come undone, the stitch length is MUCH TOO LOOSE. Fix it!!!!!

FYI- the next Virtual Retreat is set for September 21 and 22. 

And now it's time for spin class, so I've got to get myself organized, and then there's an exciting day ahead. Not only is it Monday sewing, but I don't have to quilt a quilt. I have quilts to quilt this week, but I might just load the next one and wait to quilt it tomorrow. I must also work on my projects for the upcoming filming session, continue with the applique, work on the blog posts, and I cannot forget my Many Blocks homework! Good grief -- that applique just seems to go on forever, BUT there is a light at the end of the tunnel!!!

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!

Christmas in July

Thanks for the comments! Yes --- other crazy people like me love scraps. Most people love scraps to some degree, but the definition of scraps to some people kills me. It still blows my mind, and let's face it, people have no patience, so they toss what they don't want. NO - give it to us scrap users! There's a good story coming about some scraps. I got a note yesterday, and I'm unsure how to respond. I must look at that later today. And then I can tell you the story!

It makes me laugh, but as I press those green scraps, I contemplate what to do with them. The thing is, I have no more room for another scrap box. That means something has to be done to eliminate one of the boxes. As I'm thinking. I have several boxes of green scraps, and let's face it, some of the scraps are really too small to keep. 

I might start again in the green boxes or pick a different color and start cutting. I will NEVER cut everything into a precut size, but I need some 1½" squares for a project. If I can't cut a 1½/" square or make a 1½" HST from it, it's garbage and will go into a pet mat. I need to have rules, and I think anything smaller than that borders on insanity, and I can't keep everything. 

I'm unsure how much that would free up in a box, but I must start somewhere. I could continue to watch The Quilt Show while I sort and cut. 

I'm still working on this scrap basket, but I'm making excellent progress. I'm practically giddy with excitement. 

The current state of the green scraps

I'll continue my quest to finish this, and then I'll find another tedious job that is sped along with Ricki and Alex! I get a chuckle as I watch some of the techniques that are shown. I also learned the story behind the BEST QUILT BOOK ever—Quilts! Quilts! Quilts! by Laura Nownes and Diana McClun. This was THE book to read when I learned to quilt, and it's probably still one of the best. I think I gave my copy away. 

I was all prepped for my Zoom, and I think the shop forgot to send the link. Hmmm—no worries. I knew they were busy with another in-store event at the same time, so I didn't bother them. I'll send an email today. I'm a bit disappointed as I had to get set up—it wasn't just turning on the computer. 

Getting set up for a Zoom call

And then I lost 1½ hours of my day. I got an email the other day about an online birthday bash from an embroidery company. Oh - that sounds like fun, but I didn't sign up. Then I got another email yesterday morning, so I signed up. I mean -- I had heard great things about this company, so why not check it out. 

Well, it was a blatant infomercial for 90 minutes. They were tooting their two clubs - one was free, which I'm signed up for but have never downloaded any designs, and the second one is $300 a year. What if I want to buy a design? I don't see where I can just buy them. I must look into it more. 

Infomercial

I totally lied. YES, you can buy all their designs on a different web page. OH --- now I have some decisions to make. I love some of their stuff, but I can't make anything and use it as a sample because we need to show our samples, so if I make something, it's for me. But some of them are super cute and very unique. OK, I might cave and just have fun with one of them. 

Anyway, after they did a big infomercial on their clubs, they proceeded to have the SLOWEST countdown to prizes I've ever seen. I have no idea why I continued to watch. I guess I was hoping for something, but that something never came. There were 1000 people watching online and others on YouTube. Good grief—how much of everyone's time got wasted? 

And the groupies!! The comment pages flew past so fast that I could barely read them. Why do people do that? I guess the presenters keep the comments and read them afterward, but if you don't have anything to say, why bother? 

I was bitter about that for a couple of hours afterward! But I have no one to blame but myself for continuing to watch. I couldn't log in on my laptop, so I was stuck in front of the desktop!

I got another quilt done. I hope this one is large enough for Quilts of Valour. I made it years ago and certainly do not need another blue-and-white quilt. So it'll get donated once I get the binding on, which I hope to catch up on this week. 

Community projects quilt - DONE

The backing is on the long arm for the next one, which is small, but I have to do something to the top before I proceed. 

I made good progress on some samples and learned so much in the process. Now, it's what I do with that knowledge that the fun comes in. I don't know why people are so afraid to make samples—and by that, I mean stitch-outs. Learn what your sewing machine can do—try some of those decorative stitches or a new presser foot. Wait until you see what I am doing! 

A play date with a sewing machine

One thing that I love is that thread box on the table. I'll take a better picture of it, but it's the best thing ever!!!

I walked to the library and got that book, which was easy to spot on the shelf. My account is just fine until July 25, when I have some books due that CANNOT be renewed, so I best deal with them now. 

We had heavy rain at one point in the morning, but it eventually cleared up, and then we had angry skies for most of the afternoon. 

Stormy skies

OK—I did something last night that I haven't done in a long time. Just before getting into bed, I glanced at my Fitbit. Oh my, I was short of 20,000 by 100 steps. So I had to walk down to Studio B to check something and then back up, and that almost killed the 100 steps. A quick trip to Studio U, and I was good! How silly is that? 

20,000 steps

I also noted on my walk that the sign for what is coming to that store is now posted, although I have known for a while since they had the name on some paper covering the windows. This would be super convenient, but I'll keep my gym. This will replace the Women's Only upstairs in the same location. 

A new gym in town

I was back in the garden last night, and I've placed almost half of the bags of mulch. 

The garden is coming along nicely

Right behind the tree to the right of the photo is a raised bed of lilies. It's extremely challenging to weed because the pond is on one side, a tree in front, and you are reaching DOWN from the back. I'm sure the sight wasn't pretty as I balanced on a rock by the pond, trying to get all the creeping vines out of that spot. I did pretty well but knew that a slip would have me going for a swim! But it was the best spot. I got it all cleaned up just as my calf was starting to cramp! 

I'll tackle a bit more tonight and definitely will go back for more mulch. The gardener guy is coming on Wednesday and will be surprised at what I've done. There won't be much for weeds. He can do the trimming and the tidying up! It really is a mostly maintenance-free backyard, and I LOVE it. 

The girls were very sucky in the morning. There must have been a storm brewing, and they were sticking close because they were scared. Or perhaps they were protecting me! Oh, they say, protecting me. Of course, girls! 

MOM -- we're protecting you!

And well, it was Christmas in July! We finished the Exit Game Advent Calendar, so Christmas really happened. The end got a bit weird, as we found the hidden door for Day 24 on Day 23—totally by accident. But that's what happens when you take an Exacto knife to your game box! 





And by the time we were done, the entire game was toast! They say it's a one-time play, and they weren't kidding! 

What's left of the EXIT Game Advent Calendar

I need to remove the non-paper stuff, and then it can be recycled. I think we paid $45 for the game? And it has taken us three months to complete. As far as I'm concerned, these are the BEST values for your dollar entertainment. However, you MUST love puzzles. If puzzles and logic are not your thing, then this is NOT the type of thing for you. 

In total, we had to look at the clues for four of the 24 puzzles. The clues are written in three levels for each day. We usually got the first level but didn't know where to go from there. We only went to the end of the three clues once, and we still weren't sure of the logic. I think we worked extremely well as a team—I know I could not have done it on my own. 

I have one more advent calendar but from a different company. We're going to take the summer off, as both of us are out and about for a good part of it. Once we're back, I'll dig it out, and we'll have until December 1 to finish it because, come December 1, we'll be working on the NEW EXIT Game Advent Calendar. 

I've been having some challenges with my noise-canceling headphones. They will turn off for no reason and then automatically turn back on. I meant to contact support, but I didn't. Then yesterday, they wouldn't turn on at all, even though they had half a charge. So, I tracked down the support page. I LOVE (not!) when the support page is not friendly. You had four choices for why you were sending them a note, and NONE was about support. How silly is that on a support page? 

I don't know where the receipt is, but I told DH I would find out when I bought them by searching the blog, and I was right! I mentioned them in my May 19, 2020, post. You have to love a searchable blog! 

I did not get a chance to open that box - perhaps later today, although I still have some sewing to do before I start writing. 

On that note, I'm out of here! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!