My subconscious is hard at work

I haven't purchased anything yet, but I'm going to! Thanks for the recommendation on the Garmin tracker. I guess the bottom line is that I won't be going back to FitBit. 

So here's the silly thing about charging devices. It is highly recommended not to charge your devices 100%. I don't understand the technology, but something about the battery (obviously) and how charging to the max is not good for the battery's life. 

WAIT -- I can Google that to find the answer. OK -- have you Googled anything lately? If so, have you noticed what is happening in your Google search? 

The FIRST thing that pops up is an AI overview response. WHOA!!!! What the heck is that? Well, of course, I Googled what that meant, and generative AI is being used to summarize various sources to create an answer for you! Yikes! 

Now, I appreciate the fact that it's fast and, for the most part, seems to be accurate, as I've used it numerous times. Here's a link to what it tells me. The links to where it pulled its information from are listed (you have to open the little LINK icon), and it cuts out the duplication. I got a chuckle at the bottom when it says that you may find offensive or incorrect information in the recap, so, like everything, buyer beware. 

I reluctantly agree that it's a good use of AI, but I also believe we must be careful. Make sure you realize that some of that information may not be appropriate or correct. If the data that AI searches is incorrect, then the summary will be wrong. We lose the ability to sift the wheat from the chaff, but there's so much chaff these days that perhaps this is the way to go. 

But as far as doing some of the dirty work, it's a good system—it's fast, but like anything, don't trust it 100%. 

As far as the battery thing goes, constantly charging it to 100% kills the battery's life. So, can you tell me why we can't set it to 90%? Technically, you shouldn't charge your phone at night because that will take it to 100%. So, where and how do people charge their phones? 

Has anyone heard of a Human Library? It's been around for years, but I only heard about it today! An interesting concept. 

This was the message in my tea yesterday! Yep --- it's a gift - use it wisely and thank the people who made it possible. It's Mother's Day tomorrow! 

Quote of the day

And another customer's quilt is done! 

Customer quilt - DONE

I had to chuckle because someone called me later in the afternoon and asked how it was going. Well, to tell you the truth -- it sucked at that particular moment. I was struggling with a thread caught in the bobbin of the long arm, and the embroidery machine had stopped because the thread was shredding. I couldn't keep up! I didn't tell them that, though - they didn't need to know the details of what was happening!

But the quilt got done once I cleared the threads from the bobbin case. Some people are pretty particular about their bobbins and clean the case after every bobbin change. That would drive me mad, but every once in a while, a thread will catch, and it needs to be removed. This mostly happens when you change bobbins. I'm lucky that my long arm is pretty reliable, and it's like me - almost maintenance-free!

And the embroidery machine? Well, it's been working extra hard these days, with all kinds of weird threads and a long overdue needle change. All is good, and progress is being made. I have two more motifs to embroider, and I hope to get them done today. One is easy, and one will be a challenge! 

There are three more empty bobbins of machine embroidery bobbin thread! So far, the piece is looking amazing, and I can only hope that it continues! 

More empty bobbins

Wait—I could charge my phone while I'm writing the blog. But I really wish I could find the setting to set it to charge to a maximum of 90%. Well, the generative AI in Google Search just told me how to make that happen!! I just switched it to 90% maximum, and I'll move the charger to my desk. 

As for the headphones, they are well-used, and I'm not losing power. Well, it's complicated, but they turn on and off on their own. Sometimes, I move my head, and they shut down. Other times, they just shut down. And then they turn back on—it's almost like a loose connection. I am not about to take them apart, although I could. Since I have threatened to replace them, they have worked just fine! Of course they have! But sometimes I put them on and I can wait up to two minutes or more before they turn on! They are just very inconsistent! 

Here is Miss Murphy with her stuff all over the floor again. She's just a nut! 

MOM -- I love our new game!

And while I was working last night, she NEEDS to get as close as she can. And then her tail pops up between the trays on the desk. Sigh......................

MOM - I need to be close to you!

Is anyone in need of some portable desk lamps? I bought these for a quilt retreat house we used to go to. Since that house closed, and the other houses have good lighting, these are no longer needed. If someone wants them, they are yours. But if not, they will go to the thrift shop. My pile at the door is getting big again! 

Desk lamps to be donated

I have no time to deal with the magazines, as the machines downstairs have a couple of deadlines looming. I have more writing to do, and I'd better get it done! 

I don't know if I should say this here or not, but well, I will. My subconscious and I have been having MANY conversations these days. I won't go into all the details, but here's the tip of the iceberg. 

Subconscious: You don't seem happy these days.

    Me: I'm TIRED! I'm tired of the constant deadlines. 

Subconscious: You don't have to work - you know. You're old and can retire!

    Me: That's an insult - I am not old! 

Subconscious: Kidding - but you don't have to work! 

    Me: But I LOVE what I do!

Subconscious: Yes - but maybe you are doing too much!

    Me: I don't think it's too much. 

Subconscious: Well, maybe not, but you have a lot of deadlines. 

    Me: I agree. I'm getting to the point where I'm unhappy with all the deadlines, and every weekend is tied up!

Subconscious: So you know what you have to do. 

    Me: Yes, I do. And I'm trying to decide how to proceed. I can't just stop everything cold turkey! 

And so you see where my head is at! I'm in an endless loop trying to figure out what the next steps are. As the quote of the day states, this life is a gift, and I want to do stuff for myself—every day/all day—and right now, that just isn't possible. 

I've got some ideas, and my subconscious and I are continuing our daily discussions. I first have to finish my existing commitments, and then I need to figure out what happens after this summer. Don't worry—I will NOT stop cold turkey, but a definite slowdown has to happen, or I'll lose my mind! 

On that sobering thought

Have a great day!!!

Ciao!!!

Retirement!

 

Nope - I'm not retiring. Besides, what would I do when I retire - sew more? I'd probably sew less! Nope - I'm not quite ready, but the day will come, but not yet. 

Katheleen retired this week. There's been a countdown for the last couple of months, and now she can do whatever she wants every day!!! A couple of us went and had a mini celebration. It was great to visit in person. 

A while back, Katheleen had mentioned that I still owed her a postcard from an exchange that took place YEARS ago. Yikes - that item has been on my list of things to do for a LONG TIME. Not on The Task Master, but just a regular to-do list. 

I'm happy to report that I finished the postcard yesterday and it's now in her hands. I gleefully put a checkmark beside that item. 

The postcard is finished!

The darn thing was ALMOST completed and had sat for years - many years. It took all of 15 minutes to finish it. Can you tell me why? It doesn't matter - it's now done!

After several conversations before the retirement, it was concluded that Katheleen would spend countless hours lounging by the pool drinking margaritas!!! So I made her this small wall hanging to commemorate that event!

Margaritas by the pool

We did have margaritas on the deck, and I was supposed to get a picture of it, but my brain was not functioning properly. I was positively giddy visiting in person. 

I was so excited to get them done that I completely forgot to take pictures and had to ask Katheleen to send these to me! 

Part of that was because of the label. I wanted to put a label on the quilt, and I got everything ready to print. I use muslin taped to a piece of paper so I can run it through the printer. I knew that the initial piece wasn't taped as flat as possible, but I thought it would be OK. 

Well, the printer had different thoughts about that. It jammed, and despite trying several times, I could not get this label to be printed. 

Jammed label

Then the printer had to be restarted, and I couldn't find the on/off switch (which was right on the FRONT of the printer). I was reminded by the printer that I shouldn't unplug the printer to turn it off. Seriously??? These devices are very clever! I had to reboot my computer TWICE to clear the jammed message from the printer application. 

And at last, minutes before I was to leave, I was able to print the label. I pinned it to the back of the piece. I had no patience for hand stitching at that time. 

And this is all I had left of the binding strip when I was done! That was a good calculation. 

The remainder of the binding

I think Katheleen is not going to have any trouble filling her days with stuff to do. She's got a fabulous set-up for sewing/quilting and journaling. And she's darn good at all of them!!! Enjoy your retirement!

I'm very out of practice for leaving the house. I stalled the car at the first stop sign and then realized that I had my slippers on, so I had to come back and get some proper shoes! 

It was very late in the afternoon when I finally arrived home. I made it home on fumes in the gas tank, but that's OK. It was a good test of the fuel pump that was recently installed. No issues, although I did have issues with the GSP. It worked just fine for one part of the trip, and on another part - it refused to recognize the phone. Sigh...............

Lots of people in my neighborhood had Canada flags out yesterday, which was wonderful to see. I did have a flag and my maple leaf on the gate. That's my neighbor's flag. Mine is to the left of that one. It's a bit faded - I should get a new one for next year!

Canada Day decorations

But the fireworks??? Seriously?? The city needs to put some by-laws in place for fireworks. It started at 8:30 or thereabouts, and it didn't stop until 11:30. Really people? 11:30 at night? I was annoyed as I'm sure many other people were - some people are trying to sleep here. 

At least, both the girls seem to be handling thunder and fireworks like grownups. They are a bit apprehensive, but not the drooling messes they used to be, so that's good. 

Here are a couple of shots from my walk with Lexi. She did NOT want to walk in the forest, but rather on the sidewalk, so we did our winter tour when the forest path is too slippery with ice. 

These flowers remind me of my mom, who loves all flowers but in particular the tiger lilies. 

Tiger lilies

And look at this cheeky little guy. It looks like he posed for me! 

Cheeky chipmunk

I didn't get the quilt loaded yesterday, but the backing is made and now loaded on the machine. I also have to put the binding on for this customer, and the binding is made. I'll be working on that later today. 

Binding for a customer quilt

OK -- I MUST stop looking at the news. There are so many crazy things going on, and I seem to have this morbid fascination with disasters. I'm spending way too much time, and it's time to STOP. 

We started our cross Canada walk yesterday, and three of us logged close to 30 KM. Yeah!!! We'll be eating up those miles and be across the country before we know it!!! Go, team, GO!!!!

Besides quilting, I have a couple of phone calls to make, some writing, and maybe get some sewing done. We'll see how the day goes, and I have an errand at the other end of the city. I HATE errands like that as they consume a ton of time!

That's it for today. Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!