On excelling at EXCEL!

I often wonder how many people no longer have a computer and simply use their tablet or iPad to connect with the world. Well, tablets seem to be merely a connection to the world, although they are changing and now have programs (excuse me - apps) that actually allow you to do things. Impressive things like a lite version of Photoshop and the Creativate embroidery software, to name two. 

But I am surrounded (almost) by people who use EXCEL to run their lives. Yep -- a bunch of EXCEL geeks!!! Who knew? Books read, budgets, and MANY other things. I'm kind of out of the loop since I only use EXCEL to prepare my expense reports, and now I have that list of QUILTsocial articles. I am way behind the times. And here's something else - did you know there are ESPORTS? Yep --- there was a tournament in Vegas (of course) for EXCEL!!!! I am not making this up!!! Here's an article about it. You won't get rich winning one of these tournaments, but you get some money and a BELT!!! Oh my --- I must up my game for sure! 

Plus, I learned about an app that I can use to track my books instead of the two I currently use. Hmmm -- that might allow me to get my books off that online one. They do NOT need to know which books I read. I'll see how that works, but guess what? It likely means I have to convert the data to an Excel spreadsheet and download it into the app. 

I guess I'll be adding learning EXCEL to my list of things to learn! The learning never ends. 

I learn so much from others when I'm at the retreat! Well, it's not just at retreat. It's also the 30 minutes before our Zoom session, virtual retreats, and whenever I have the opportunity to ask questions. But who knew so many people use EXCEL, or I'm just amongst a bunch of geeks! 

The other thing I learned is that I can edit my pictures on this silly computer. To do a quick edit, I can RIGHT CLICK, and that allows me to rotate the images. But there is a limit. Somewhere in the settings, I need to change the default photo editor. So that's a joyless job for later today!! 

We saw the moon the other day. What about the sun? This was sunrise yesterday. It was beautiful, and while the day was cold, we still went for a walk. 

Sunrise on the farm

It was more pleasant than the previous day because there was no wind!!! We always stop at the creek to see what's new!! I tell you - looking at the creek is fascinating, and we both have a similar curiosity about the world, so that is great. I spotted this set of tracks right down the middle of the creek. The ice wasn't thick, but thick enough for a fox or a coyote to walk down the middle. And there was a section of cracked ice, so he must have taken a quick exit! 

A set of tracks on the creek

Helen Anne spotted this one. The wind (afternoon) was moving this grass around like it was drawing in the snow. Sadly, many people are in too much of a hurry to observe anything these days. Pole Pole!!! Remember --- life will pass you by before you know - so slow down and enjoy!!

Grass sketching in the snow

Sadly, the right-click photo rotate did NOT save them that way, so they are wonky again today. 

What did I work on yesterday? Well, it was a day for ORANGE scraps. I had started a scrappy orange project a few years back. ONE block was completed, which you can see in the top-left corner. And the rest sat on a mini design board for a long time. A while back, when I was cleaning up, I grabbed all the loose bits and threw them into a bag. That bag went into the retreat bag, and it surfaced yesterday. 

The orange scraps

This is the type of thing that makes me happy. Playing with scraps. Yes - working with new yardage is fun, but scraps? Well, that excitement!!! 

I hope to schedule that scrap session in the new year on Zoom, so I can share some of the fun with anyone who wants to join. I'm home soon and won't be going anywhere until perhaps the end of March, so I will actually have some time to get myself organized. Here's a tip for working with scraps - divide and conquer!!!! 

Making scrap blocks

I went through a process; the strips in the back are the pieces I could add to the "blocks." The pieces in front are ready to sew. Because I'm making blocks that I'll trim down, I could rip through them with the sewing machine. It's so satisfying and fun!!

Preparing to sew

As I neared the end of the process, I realized I could finish this task in one day! And I wasn't going to bed until it was done. 

I put the blocks on a design wall as I sewed, and when I was having dinner, I got to see them from a distance. OH MY --- I'm loving them. Of course, the debate for me was how big would I make this? Would I use it as a background for some applique, and if so, what kind of applique could I use? Lots of questions. 

After the count, I was missing ONE block to achieve a 9-by-6 configuration. The blocks are 6 inches finished, and I was thinking of a wall hanging. No need to make a big project. 

I looked at the table and found these scraps that I was hoping I could eke out one more block form. 

Making a block from nothing!

And voila -- the last block. I had found several tiny triangles - well, small, not tiny. 

They were too small to go in the HST box, but one of them was perfect for the corner of this block. 

The final block

This is what was left. Some of the pieces didn't make the cut, primarily because of the color. I think I did pretty amazing with the bag of scraps. 

The leftovers

So what did it look like when I was finished? This is not the final configuration - it's just how big the design wall was. But I LOVE it!!!! I think it's busy enough and doesn't need anything else. 

My orange scrappy blocks

Here are the last two blocks that didn't fit on the design wall. 

The last two scrap blocks

And there's the bag of scraps that will become a pet mat. Before you attempt those, be sure you have a home for them. Not all places will accept that style of pet mat. 

A bag of scraps

I'm running into an issue, though. I have now emptied the two partial spools of thread I brought with me. The only thing I have left to sew with is that tray of partial bobbins. I think there are 17 of them, and some are fuller than others. Working with the scraps uses up the thread faster than sewing something you have to cut and sew. I have a different project for today, so that will slow me down a bit. 

My last spool of thread is done! 

I should be fine for one more day, and I will get those bobbins used up!!! But I must restock that retreat box with thread, or I'll be in big trouble at the next retreat. 

I also managed to sew a few half-square triangles. I doubt I'll finish that bag, but I might!!! No worries - there are still more bags of them. 

Half-square triangles

And for fun, I grabbed one of the house puzzles to have a diversion from the intense sewing of the scraps. The puzzle had only 350 pieces and was labeled "family." What does that mean? Oh my -- when I opened it, I got a laugh. There are three sizes of pieces—huge, medium, and regular!!! I only put the large and the small in this photo. Look at the size!!!!

Puzzle pieces from a family puzzle

With minimal effort, I got the big and medium pieces together. How does it work? The puzzle is split into thirds. One-third is giant pieces, the center is medium, and the right side is small. It's pretty clever how they go from big to small!!! My goal is to finish that later today. 

Two-thirds of the puzzle is done

And that's all the "mutterings" for today!!! I heard that from someone yesterday, and I got a chuckle over it!!!

The temperature is much warmer today, so we'll definitely be out walking. We actually went for a second walk in the afternoon, and it was glorious. I get it that walking isn't for everyone, but what a change in mindset it can be to get out in the fresh air!!! And it doesn't have to be for long. 

Have a wonderful day!!!

Ciao!!!

It's a beautiful day!

Yesterday was a glorious day here. The temperature was pretty decent, and the sky was blue. I started the day off by taking a walk along the waterfront, which is just a few short blocks from here.

The seaplanes had no issues with fog and were frequently buzzing across Stanley Park. Oh well - I'll just have to come back to do that trip. I've flown over Vancouver Harbour once, and the view is spectacular. 

The seaplane and clear blue sky

It was earlyish in the morning when I went out. I think the temperature was 4 degrees Celsius at the time, but that didn't stop Vancouverites from walking/running in shorts. And people were playing tennis!!! They are certainly not afraid of the temperatures or the rain. Yet, others were bundled up in their long puffer coats. 

I started out with my orange jacket, which is on its last legs. The water repellent is gone, and the down has become so thin. But it still works. I had thin gloves and my scarf on, but by the time I got back from my walk, I was sweating buckets. Did I mention that there are hills in this area? It's fine going down, but coming back up? 

Anyway, I spotted the sun rising by the Lion's Gate Bridge, which was beautiful to watch. 

Sunrise and the Lion's Gate Bridge

It is pretty amazing when you think I take all my pictures with my phone. The features on it are much better than those on my DSLR camera. And that is why cell phones are so expensive. The phone? It probably costs a couple of dollars, but the phone's camera, with all its features, is what costs so much. So if you are NOT taking advantage of the camera, then you probably don't need a new phone. 

The walk along the water's edge is stunning. If I lived here, I would be walking there every day. And the best news? It's a DOG PARK!!!!! My girls would be in their glory. However, I'm not sure how they would behave, as most dogs just ambled along with their owners, while my girls would be buzzing around like mad. Of course, there are no squirrels or rabbits to distract them, so it might work. 

The dog park!!!

I was on the hunt for an Adventure Lab (part of Geocaching), and I managed to get most of it, but M and I finished it off later in the day. There are benches along the way with plaques. This would be a cool spot to put a memorial bench. I may not have lived here, but the view is spectacular. 

Benches along the path

And there is one section near the bridge where you walk through the forest, which is very different from my forest back home. 

Forest bathing - BC style

You know you are playing EXIT Games too much when you start to spot numbers everywhere. 

There's a FIVE!!!!

I think that was an earthworm who had seen better days! But seriously --- you can't miss that number!!! The walk was excellent, and I made up for the lack of steps the previous day when it was raining. 

I stopped at a cafe for a hot chocolate. And I got this cute motif on the top. My body (and wallet) are going to go into withdrawal when I get home. Not many Tim's here, and the cafes aren't cheap!!!

The motif in my hot chocolate

Interesting that when I got to the bottom, the motif was still there. Hmmm --- what is it made of? 

The motif lasted until the bottom of the cup

After lunch, M and I went out, and we walked along the waterfront to finish the Adventure Lab. And of course, Bear had to come with us. It wasn't in the plan that he was coming, but he was pretty insistent when we were getting ready to leave! He has such an attitude for a little guy. 

As we were down on the pier, we spotted this giant ship coming out of the harbour. Hmm --- what is that? It was GIANT and not like anything I'd seen before. I guessed that it was a car carrier, and when we did a Google image search, that's what it was!!!! Here's a video if you want to know all about Ro-ro carriers. Ro-ro stands for roll-on/roll-off, so they are designed for anything that can be loaded via its own wheels, eliminating the need for a crane. Who knew???

The Ro Ro carrier

WOW -- it's like a parking garage that floats!!! Pretty impressive. I imagine that this ship just unloaded a load of cars, but I wonder what it takes back? Does it sail empty? I don't think so because some of them can carry cargo, but it would be limited since they don't have an external loading system. 

We also watched people crabbing off the pier. They load something to entice the crabs into an open net, then wing it into the water. I'm not sure how the net closes, but then they can reel the net in. This person was measuring, so I guess there are regulations as to what size you can keep. 

Measuring the crab

Then we stopped at another cafe in the afternoon. And it was glorious. We sat there in our shirt sleeves. OK - so there was a heater on the patio, but it was a beautiful day. And this is what they had inside. 

Macarons

Among many other goodies, but we only had a few macarons. And of course, Bear was the center of attention. He just gets people going, and he knows it!!!

Here's a group shot of us at one point. I think we were on the pier at this point. No background to see, but we were on the ocean! Or harbour or whatever you want to call it. I guess it's between Burrard Inlet and the Vancouver Harbour. 

Group shot

I had some computer work to do in the afternoon. Working on a big project, which I hope to share with you all in a couple of weeks. I have a lot of work to do before I can show you. Bear was bored by it all since it didn't directly involve him, but he got lots of love. 

Grandma - computer work is boring!!!!

We had to pop out to Michael's again, and M spotted this. OK -- water bottles are a big deal, but look how tiny this cup is. Useful? Novelty? I don't know, and it had a metal straw in it. 

A tiny water container

And then I got a lesson in reusable cups. You can buy accessories for them, including snack trays. Oh boy -- I'm out of the loop. I just want something that I can put my water in. 

Snack trays for water bottles

While on Salt Spring Island, I spotted some diamond painting kits, so I bought one for M, since I knew she liked rhinestones. Well, she finished it last night and was wondering how to frame it. 

Finishing the diamond painting picture

We went to Michael's to get a mat cut for an inexpensive frame. We asked for 6 1/4" by 6 3/8" as that was the size of the colored part. We were all excited, but when we got home, it wasn't the correct size. Despite confirming several times with the clerk, she wrote down 6" by 6 1/8". So she missed 1/4" on both sides. Hmmmmm -- that's insane, so we have to go back today. Well, M will have to go back because I have a plane to catch. 

My plane leaves at noon, so I have to get everything packed, and then we'll head to the airport, as I have two suitcases to check. 

While it's been a great time away, it's definitely time to go home. I have so much to do, and so much I want to do, and I'm only home for a day before I leave again. Who did the planning on that? OK -- so it was me, but it was also just how the timing for things worked out. That will be the LAST trip of the year! 

I'm sure the girls will be excited to see me, but they have been walking while I was away, and I have my SIL to thank for that! She's also been working on her quilt in Studio B, so she's keeping Murphy company or vice versa. I've been sending advice when she needed it via text!!!! She knows how to sew, so it really isn't a big deal. But I remember the first time I made a quilt with HSTs --- I didn't know how to trim, and there wasn't a single one done properly on that quilt!

We watched the next episode of Project Runway Canada, but there was only one more to watch. The episodes are being released weekly, so the next one doesn't come out until Friday. Will I watch it on my own? I'm not sure. So then we moved to the current season of Project Runway. Oh boy -- how much of the attitude is scripted or hyped up? Some of the cast are pretty flamboyant!!!!! And the drama? Wow!!!!

Well, I'd better get myself organized so I can finish packing up my stuff, which kind of got spread all over, and that's OK. 

Before I go, here's the next post on QUILTsocial. Today, it's all about textured machine embroidery (yarn couching). This is appropriate for anyone with an embroidery machine, so be sure to check it out. 

Have a wonderful day!!!!

Ciao!!!!


























 

What are you reading?

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

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

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

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

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

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

The remnants of completing my project

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

Creative sewing position

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

Sunrise in the city

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

Sunrise on Mount Kilimanjaro

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

Beautiful flower

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

The storage area for excess machine bits is tidy

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

Blank sisal mats

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

My painted mat

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

Pink flower

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

A folk art pillow

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NEW mystery books to read!

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

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

I have just under three hours left. 

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

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

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

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

The EXIT Game

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

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

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

My corral of supplements

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

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

A minor loss

 OK --- I tried to come up with a catchy title regarding toenails, but I didn't want to gross anyone out with a title. I'm happy to report that one of the two toenails fell off, and the second one, the one that was black and blue, is looking much better. Yeah!!!! Baby steps, and it's incredible to see the new, teeny-tiny toenail growing in place. It makes you wonder why we even need them. 

If you do some research on this, a toenail that falls off can happen for many reasons. My trauma occurred when I descended Mount Kilimanjaro. And it's mostly because your toes hit the end of your shoe and get bruised, causing the nail to separate from the nailbed. Or something to that effect. 

This time, I don't think that was the cause at all. My shoes were huge - almost too big for me. What I think is happening is that I grip the inside of my shoes with my toes, and of course, with the constant downhill, I have a grip of death with those toes. I suspect that intense pressure dislodged the toenail. It is only my right foot - the left has zero issues. 

The same with bunions, blisters, calluses - it's all on one foot and not the other. I strongly suspect it's all because of that darn toe that broke some years ago. So when the medical people say, "We don't set broken toes," I think that is wrong. I am suffering (OK -- suffering might be a strong word), but I have many issues with that right foot because of that broken toe. 

So I'm adding that to my list of things to take care of in October besides the grooming for Murpy, and other appoinrtments for me. I need to see a podiatrist to see if we can solve this issue once and for all. It's just darn annoying. And I want confirmation that my gait has changed because of how that broken toe sits. 

I've been wearing a sock on that foot constantly to protect the nails from catching on anything. One down and one to go!!! I'm sure if there were a nurse around, they would "rip" that other toenail off as well. But I'm letting nature do its thing!

Yesterday was a very long day, but I get totally energized by what I'm doing, and so I'm like the Energizer Bunny and I just keep going!

I was up very early and loaded the car. I didn't take pictures, but it was packed as I had an embroidery machine and two large suitcases in there besides some of the other samples. I'm getting good as it only took about 10 minutes to load, but where were those men to help me when I needed them! Thanks again to the gentlemen at the Buckhorn Quilt Show who loaded my car when I was leaving. 

Then I was off in the dark! I guess you know that it's very dark in the mornings now! Thankfully, the traffic wasn't too bad on the highway, but there are a lot of trucks. 

As I worked my way down to Windsor, Ontario, I thought of many people that I "passed" along the 401. You need something to keep you occupied as you drive! So people who live in Londa, Chatham-Kent, and many other places along the way. I stopped twice - once at Tim's to get some breakfast and once to take a bathroom break. I was fine with the driving, and all was good. 

Sunrise at the OnRoute stop

Thank goodness for Google Maps, because it brought me to the exact place and at the exact time it said I would arrive. I also used it last night to get to my hotel. For a minute, I thought it had gone crazy. The event is in Harrow, but there are no hotels around, so I had to drive to Windsor for a hotel. Lots of crazy little roads and then poof -- I'm in the city. OK - the roads were not little, nor were they crazy, just typical roads in the country! 

We have a great group of people at the machine embroidery workshop. And all levels - some of them are very experienced or very comfortable with their machines, while others are total newbies. 

So they managed to get the project done, although not without MANY questions. That is a result of people not understanding their embroidery machine, and I get it - we all have to start somewhere. Still, they definitely need to create something every day (at least until they get it) so they don't forget what buttons they need to push to make that happen. I'll be giving them a little chat about that later today. 

We started with a small project in the hoop, and then we moved on to an appliqué project in the hoop. 

One of our projects yesterday

I didn't get all the cardholders in that picture, but we are a fairly large group. 

Meals are provided, but people eat and rush back to their embroidery machines. Which makes me laugh, but they are excited and eager to learn, so let's run with it!!!

Then, after dinner, I presented a trunk show of all things machine embroidery. Some of it was commercial designs that I stitched, but most of it is stuff that I created from thin air! Well, with the help of my embroidery machine and the Creativate Embroidery Software. I will never forget when I first purchased that software back in 2008 or somewhere thereabouts. 

And can I just stop here for a minute and say that while I am NOT a fan of using AI for writing (only editing), it does a fantastic job at providing a synopsis of any question you ask it on Google. What stuns me is the speed at which it compiles that information. Of course, we must remember that it only compiles what it reads, so if what it reads is garbage, then the symposis is garbage. So beware, but it's good. 

Anyway, I saw that software demoed at a Creative Festival, way back, and I was enamored with it. However, I got it home, opened the software, and was like a deer in headlights. I had no clue where to start. I played around with it a bit, but had no idea what it could do. Now, many years later and several versions later, I'm still learning it, but I'm way more proficient than I was before. 

Of course, I did not book a hotel room before I left. How crazy would that be? I did check to see what the availability and prices were like, and knew I would find something. And I had no trouble finding a room, and can you believe that before taxes, it was under $100!!!! And it's a very decent room and clean. That's all I ask — I don't need fancy. 

So I'm now ready to go. We have a lot to cover today, and I'll be heading home later this evening. I'm sure it'll be slow, as I'll probably need to stop for a nap. I'm much better at driving in the morning than I am at night. 

And I'm almost finished with my audiobook - A Two Spirit Journey. It is unbelievable what happened to this person in their life. She overcame so much, only to be thrown another curveball, and yet she overcame that as well. I can only imagine how difficult it is and was for a gay person to exist in a world of heterosexuals when it was/is "wrong" to be gay. I'm not going into more detail than that. I don't want any kind of backlash! But wow!!!

And in case you are keeping tabs on me and wondering why I'm not sending out Zoom links for UFO Club tomorrow morning, those will get sent out early tomorrow morning, as I do not have the distribution lists with me. I must learn how to put those on the shared drive so I can access them when I'm not home. 

September 19 and 20 - Machine Embroidery Workshop - Thimble Quilts and Sewing Company, Lasalle, Ontario   --- call the store to get the details and get signed up. This is a great event and loads of information. If you are new to machine embroidery, you will go home an "expert." Or at least a whole lot more confident. 

September 23 - Stitch by Stitch, Kingston, Ontario, A what's new with PFAFF and Husqvarna Viking. Two separate events. Check for times - one is in the afternoon (PFAFF), and the other is in the evening (HV). 

September 25 - Store Opening - Sewing Machine Magic - Cobourg, Ontario. This store sells PFAFF sewing machines, and I'm excited to present a series of demos that day. It's all about the magic!!!!

September 27 - Colour My World (Online class hosted by me) at 9:30 AM. I need to send out an acknowledgment to those who have paid. But you have all the information you need. No supplies required for the first class. An email will be sent out on Sunday regarding the class. 

September 27 and 28 - Virtual Retreat - the links will be posted on my blog next week. 

I need to find another audiobook to listen to, as this one won't last the entire trip home. 

On that note, I'm out of here!!!! Wait -- this was the price of gas last night as I headed into the hotel. I should have filled the car for the trip home, but I was tired. It was almost 10 PM when I fell into bed. 

Cheap gas!!!

Have a great day!!!

Ciao!!!!