What I wish I had learned when I started quilting (scroll down)

OH MY GOSH --- there are some great ideas for whittling down the stash and the books/magazines. That darn Elle wants me to do some hard work! A magazine before I get the fun of working on a puzzle. She would make an excellent professional declutterer. But she is right! I will take that upon myself when I get home. 

I know part of that task will be tough, so I'll be careful about which magazines I start culling. 

As many of you know who have been around the quilting world for a while, there have been loads of magazines. When I started, the three main ones were Traditional Quilting, Quilting Today and Miniature Quilts. OH -- let's not forget Quilter's Newsletter. All of those titles were shuttered many years ago, and I faithfully bought each one, or at least the ones I could get my hands on, and I may have subscribed to some of them at one time. 

Then, whenever I was at a local guild show and spotted magazines in the sale bin, I bought those as well. 

Now, to my credit, when I decided to get everything off the floor and had someone build the second bank of bookshelves, I sorted the magazines by title, and that is how they are stored on the shelves. In piles (or boxes) by the title. 

I have a soft spot for those titles mentioned above since they are "vintage," so I'll start with McCall's and American Patchwork and Quilting and work through those. I glanced at some of them when I bought them, and I doubt there is any pattern I want to keep. For now, I am keeping the ones I was published in; they are set aside, and I just need to pull my pattern or scan it. I'll decide, but first I'll grab a pile of the "fluff" ones and stack them on the puzzle table. 

Even better, I'll stack the pile on the puzzle table and put ONE magazine on the box that prevents me from accidentally working on the puzzle when I should be working. That way, I can whittle down the pile, and I'll actually see some progress. 

Some of the older magazines had some cool articles. Today, I find that most articles, if any, are just fluff. They talk around the main subject, but there is no meat in it. Do you find that as well?

I can access the current titles (McCall's, Love of Quilting, and AP&Q) through my library digitally, and you know what? I never open them up. I'm often on my phone and find the screen too small, but if I used my iPad, I might browse them. I don't even look at the titles when I'm at the bookstore! 

OK, so I have a plan for the magazines, and that will take some time. I don't need a plan for the books right now. I need to cull those magazines. If I find something of interest, I'll share/document the concept here, and then the magazine can go in the recycling. I am NOT saddling someone else with the magazine - it gets recycled. 

When I get to some titles, tossing the magazine might be harder. So I'm going to start with the easy ones first, then "teach" myself to toss, and when I get to the harder ones, it'll be a piece of cake!! 

Thanks for the suggestion, Elle. Let's see if I can make it work. I HAVE to make it work. Those magazines need to go!!! There are NO ifs, ands, or buts! They need to go, and I need to start the process now! 

I should not tell you this, but I will. It's nothing new, but I am a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants person when it comes to travel. I am often reluctant to reserve a hotel in advance, just in case I don't make it to that hotel and don't want to pay the cost. I'm also afraid of messing up and picking the wrong hotel in the wrong city. Too much planning!! So for this trip, I reserved the hotel the day before, and it all worked out. I had no issues finding a hotel. If I'm lucky, I choose the Holiday Inn, which is my preferred choice - they are pretty widespread in this country. 

I had forgotten to book a hotel for last night the day before. So as I was getting ready to leave Cochrane, I stopped to gas up the car, get something to eat, and then booked the hotel. Lots of rooms!!!! So if you like to fly by the seat of your pants, you can travel with me. If you can't, then find another travel companion!!!!

The events went off very well, and then it was time to load everything back into the car. It took me three trips, and not everything went back as neatly packed as it was the morning before. But that is OK; I don't have to catch a flight; I just loaded it in the car. It's all settled in, and I'm good. I can't wait to unpack it all when I get home! 

I am taking a different route home, which is a bit shorter than the trip up. That will be great!!! After leaving Cochrane, I drove for just over two hours, listened to Judith and her gang (The Marlowe Mystery Club), and was in hysterics as I imagined these "older" ladies getting into trouble. OMG, the vicar's wife who doesn't want to break the law, the dog walker crawling in through windows and stealing shredded paper. 

I can only imagine what this is like on a TV show. It certainly kept me entertained all the way here, and the book will take me almost all the way home. 

However, I think the floodgates opened on the audiobooks because I've gotten a fair number in the last couple of days. I must start suspending again! I have six now, but I should be able to finish two today and one I had partially read before. So that is doable, but I can't take any more at the moment! 

I shared this picture with you the other day of the train in Cochrane. For some reason, I only took this head-on shot, which is nice, but it has loads of shadow, and I totally forgot to get a side view. 

Locomotive Number 137 in Cochrane

Yesterday, I shared my blog post with Neil (my Tour du Canada cycling buddy) to show him the bakery in Espanola, or what is left of it. He spotted my train photo and sent me this. 

Neil's photo of Locomotive Number 137

OH MY GOSH!!!!! That is the type of shot I wanted to get - at least the angle, but look at that sky!!! It's absolutely stunning. I asked if he changed the sky; advanced photographers can do that. And the answer was a resounding NO. His rationale: if you start changing the sky for various shots, then it's no longer a photograph!!! Neil is an amazing photographer (runs in his family), and you can check out his website here. 

When he and his wife traveled the route we rode our bikes, they also visited other places on the way home, and Cochrane was one of them. By the way, he took that photo at sunrise, and he hustled to the train when he saw the sky!! 

Some part of photography is luck, being in the right place at the right time, but there's a lot of skill involved: angles, patience, and knowing how to use the camera settings, etc. 

I won't be giving up my day job to take photos!!!! Thanks for letting me post the picture, Neil!!

I was out early in the morning too, but the sun was still a long way from coming up! I walked back around the lake so I could sign the darn geocache log!!! Look at my photo -- blurry and not by choice! It felt quite warm out - warmer than the night before, but once I took my hands out of my pockets, they were freezing. I could barely write!!! But all is good in the geocaching world. 

The geocache log is signed! 

Then, as I walked back to the hotel, I managed a couple of decent shots with my camera phone. A pathway runs right through the middle of the lake. On the other side of this bridge stands a cenotaph for the fallen soldiers in World War I. I might be mistaken about that. 

The bridge in the lake in Cochrane

For a small community, the list of fallen soldiers was incredibly long. It was dark, and I didn't turn my flashlight on to see the top of the list. AHA, a quick search tells me the list was recently updated to include veterans and others lost in multiple conflicts. It's a beautiful spot. 

Then I discovered another way back to the hotel, right along the side of the lake. As you can tell, it was still quite dark outside! 

A neat walk along the edge of the lake

I'm laughing this morning as I type because for some reason, the Q on my keyboard is sticking, and if you are a quilter, that is a problem!!! 

I spotted this in the hotel lobby. OH MY -- we have one at home, and I need to get it on the wall. I was looking for something to do this afternoon when I get home, and I should dig that out and put it up. 

A world map for adventurers!!

If you haven't noticed, I'm on a decluttering kick in the blog, and it's easy right now because I can shirk all responsibilities since I'm not home to deal with them. BUT I am conditioning my brain that when I get home, I need to tackle things. Keep in mind, this isn't urgent at my house because I've been doing it for 15 years! But I need to keep at it, and I have a few tough areas to tackle. Or retackle those areas because I didn't do a deep dive the first time. 

I found this list, which I have had the pleasure of experiencing these things. But so many things or actions we think are hard are only hard because we haven't started! Once you start, it becomes quite easy. 

But here's a list (of course) that I would like to send to quilters (crafters) that I wish someone had given me at the beginning of my quilting journey. 

1. Just because something is on sale is NOT the reason to buy it. 
2. Just because you walk into a quilt shop doesn't mean you have to buy something. Do you buy something at the hardware store just because you couldn't find what you wanted? 
3. If you are buying just for the sake of buying and have no intention of using it, then why are you buying it? Owning an item isn't healthy if you don't intend to use it.
4.  What about those impulse items at the cash register? Yes -- some of them are fun, but will you actually use them? 
5. What about those magazines and books? If you are not reading the ones you have, why buy more?  
6. Don't go on a tangent and keep buying the same type/style of pattern without ever making it. When you actually make one, you may find you don't like that style or design. One will work; you don't need twenty. 
7. Just because your friend says you need to buy that kit or pattern doesn't mean you do! Don't let someone else coerce you into buying something. 
8. If your friend is buying something, you don't need to keep up with the Joneses. Buy what YOU like. 
9. Don't buy the latest trend, and that goes for patterns, designers, and their fabric. If you will use it, then buy it. If you won't and just want to be part of the group, don't buy it.
10. Don't buy something because it's so pretty and, as the store says, when it's gone, it's gone. It's not gone; another collection will come along that is just as nice, often from the same designer. 
11. It's good to have a stash, but your styles/likes will change with time, and then you are stuck with a lot of fabric that you will never use. Be cautious!
12. Don't buy fabric, bring it home, shove it in a box, and store it under the bed or somewhere else. You will NEVER use this. 
13. Don't store fabric in closed bins because you think you will get around to using it someday. If you can't see it, you won't use it. Don't have a big space? Don't buy a lot of fabric. 
14. Just because you have space, you are NOT obligated to fill it. As mentioned above, empty shelves are great as they are!!!

I'm sure the list could go on and on. But here's the thing. There is NO SHORTAGE of fabric out there. And yes, it's getting quite expensive, and the quality isn't what it used to be. If you only buy what you need, plus a wee bit extra, you can keep a small but workable stash and avoid a massive problem. 

I wish someone had told me those things when I started. Not only told me, but gave me a good lecture on how to downsize a stash when the time comes. I remember being horrified when a friend with a beautiful batik collection just gave it away or cut it up. I've forgotten what she did with all her fabrics. But it becomes an obsession, and we can't control it. Then we're left with a horrible mess. So many are overwhelmed that they decide to leave it for a friend or family member to clean up. Seriously?????? 

I'm not going to give up quilting anytime soon, but I would be much happier if I didn't have this huge mess to get rid of. I'm almost at the point my friend was with her fabric. I have so much to do with my kits and UFOs that that stash feels like a huge weight on my shoulders, and it's not making me as happy as it once did!!!!

I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer; I'm trying to be realistic!! And to warn you about getting in head over heels. It seems fun at the time, but the consequences are huge. 

But first - we tackle those magazines!!!!

I may have to shift my blog's focus from quilting to decluttering. Well, I've sort of done that. The two go hand in hand! 

The weather has been amazing. It was 15 yesterday with a bit of rain. But when I started driving, it wasn't raining; the roads were dry. It's warm again this morning, and there might be some rain, but fingers crossed, I'll be out of this area, and it won't follow me!!!

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

An amazing travel day by car

LOL --- Soon the comments will be more entertaining than the blog!!! I love it all! And yes, each of us handles our stash differently. I know tons of organizations take donations, and that may be what happens, but I also want to have fun with that stash, and I'm trying to think of creative ways to get rid of it. And who knows, I may just end up keeping it all until I don't need it anymore. But the books and magazines? Those have to go! 

I laugh when I read that paragraph back. Who would have thought I would ever consider getting rid of all that fabric? That was my pride and joy for years, and now, sadly, it has become the monkey on my back!! Funny how things change as you get older. 

Then I would have room to put my puzzle collection in those bookshelves!!! Just kidding!!!!

It's one thing to talk about it; it's another to put your money where your mouth is and actually take charge. No more shuffling things off for tomorrow; do what needs to be done today!!!

I'll be home tomorrow, and then I have two blocks I NEED to finish for Many Blocks on Sunday. And if I get my butt in gear, I could get more done as well. This is going to happen. Why? Because I have a super cute project I want to move on to; actually, there are two, but I have to pick one. And I cannot start that one until I finish this one. 

The old me would just abandon Sylvia's Bridal Sampler (again and probably MANY times in the past 14 years!) and move on to the more fun project. I am NOT doing that now. If I don't think this project is fun, then I should just finish it as it is, or give it away. I NEED to choose how I spend my time, what is important to me to finish!!!!

Since I am so close to finishing all the blocks, I just need to get my butt in gear and make that happen. That would make me very happy, so that is my focus!!

Yesterday was a travel day, and a good one. I had to get something squared away with the store before I left, so I didn't leave until almost 10 AM, but since that was all I was doing yesterday, it wasn't a problem. I had some investigating to do anyway. 

Here's the store - Cindy B's in Espanola. I love the barn block on the front!! And what is nice is that Cindy's daughter is involved in the store, and guess what? She's YOUNG!! We love the young quilters. Tiffany is also a pattern designer, and you'll find her patterns on the website. Cindy also hosts a very popular quilt retreat (twice yearly). It's so popular that someone has to die (well, not quite, but almost) to get on the list!! 

Cindy B's

What's funny is that when I rode my bicycle through this town in 2013, I don't think I even knew there was a quilt shop here, and yes, it was open way back then. It opened in 2007 - you can read their story at the link above. 

I remember stopping at a small bakery to get something to eat. I wrote in my blog that, even though it was a bakery, they didn't have any baked goods. GASP!!!!! How is that possible? So we had tea and toast!!!! It was called Marantha Bake Shop and Cafe. 

I couldn't post pictures on the blog while traveling back then, but I really must add them one day. When I get home, I'll check that hard disk and see if I took any pictures while in this town. I did not grab that hard disk before I left for this trip. 

Anyway, I checked out (on Google) what bakery was open in 2013. Yes -- you can search for stuff like that. It's hilarious!!! 

This is the building I thought the bakery was in. 

Where I thought the bakery was

But no - this is the building the bakery was in. The one above has something to do with the motel. It looks like it hasn't been a bakery in a very long time! I must send the link to today's post to Neil, who rode with me a good part of the way across Canada. He and his wife drove a good part of the trip this summer and stopped by to visit me. So much fun reminiscing about that trip. They didn't stop in Espanola, which is why I was determined to find that bakery! 

Where the bakery was in 2013

I grabbed a few things to eat for the next leg of the trip, a 5.5-hour drive through beautiful country. And let's not forget that the weather is cooperating 1000%. I couldn't ask for nicer travel weather; the sky is mostly blue, there is a little construction, little traffic, and, well, it's perfect. 

I don't have any pictures of the terrain because that would mean stopping the car to take them, but this is very isolated countryside. Lots of rocky terrain at the start of the drive, plenty of trees, and lakes. When we were riding our bikes, we called it sticks, water, rock! 

The country is BEAUTIFUL. Yes --- it was 5.5 hours of the same scenery, but you know what? Life is too short to get bored by looking at nature!!! It was stunning and would have been even more so if I'd been here a week and a half ago, when the colors (changing leaf colors) were out. But my brain can imagine, and I was doing a lot of imagining yesterday!!!

I had also started a new audiobook which is hilarious. It's called The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood. It's about an older woman who creates crosswords, and there's a murder! The main character's name is Judith, and she's hilarious. I see it's been made into a series, probably a British one, so we know it's good!!! 

I crossed the train tracks a few times and passed a train, then saw the railway crossing lights flashing ahead, so I stopped to wait for the train. 

The train is coming

Thankfully, it wasn't a long train. But look at the sky!!!! Seriously? How perfect can a day get? 

The freight train

I have never seen this type of railroad car before, so I don't know what they were hauling. Thankfully the train wasn't long, and I was off again. I would say it's some form of hopper car, but it was short and didn't seem to have a hopper bottom. Something to do with hauling minerals, rocks, or whatever. Hmmm, I asked Google what they are, and it said those cars are likely open-top gondola cars (or also hopper cars) used to carry bulk materials like coal, scrap metal, or ore. And there you have it!!! Google also called them potentially a bathtub gondola!!!!

A form of hopper car

As I have mentioned numerous times, I am NOT good at driving. By that I mean, I get sleepy quickly, and my sciatica drives me mad. Yesterday? I drove the entire way without stopping. I had food in the car, and while I felt a twitch or two from the sciatica, there was zero pain, and I wasn't sleepy at all. It was an awesome travel day!!!! Let's hope that lasts for the long drive home! I still have enough of that audiobook to take me all the way home. 

I stopped at the Needleworks Studio in Cochrane, Ontario, chatted with the owner, and then headed to the hotel. I've been to this store before, but it's been quite a while since I was last here. 

Halloween seems to grow each year, and I've spotted some houses plastered with Halloween decorations. Here's one of them. There are some pretty big skeletons these days!!!

Decorated for Halloween

Since today's events are at the same hotel where I'm staying, I brought all my crap into the room so I could sort it out. I no longer need some things, so I bundled them into one suitcase. I shifted other stuff around, and I put loose items back in their bags. It was great to get that done, so I didn't have to do it this morning. 

All the stuff from my car! 

I'm going to take what I don't need back to the car this morning. I had frost on the car yesterday morning, but it's above freezing this morning, so there shouldn't be any. But then I'm not going anywhere, so it doesn't matter. 

Then I went for a walk and spotted this old train across the street. Shoot, I only got a picture of the front. But this is a well-known locomotive, number 137! 

Locomotive Number 137

Here is the story, though it's a bit hard to read. 

The story of Locomotive Number 137

Then I wandered around some more and checked the geocaching app, and yep, there's a cache nearby. So I wandered over to it and quickly found it. Do you know how hard it is to look UNDER a bench that is facing downhill? But by feeling along the underside, I found it. 

The geocache

Now there is only one problem. I didn't have a pen, so I couldn't sign the dang log, even though I was the first person to find it. So I logged it and noted that I didn't have a pen. The owner sent me a note saying it would be best if I went back and signed the log. So guess what I'm doing shortly? Yep -- taking a pen and signing the darn log. I must remember to put a pen in my little pouch. DUH!!!!! But the walk will be good for me!!! 


How many of you have lamented that you don't have time to declutter? I know I say that all the time. I wish I had an entire day to tackle the office, but that never happens. However, have you noticed that I have still made huge leaps and bounds in sorting and decluttering? Why? Because I often do it in bite-sized chunks. And that works for me. Yes, it's taking me longer than I would like, but it's better than doing nothing at all. 

Here is another list with examples of how to keep your house decluttered in short time frames. 

I have to say, this list is brilliant, and it is how I do a lot of my decluttering. Wait -- it's more like how I keep things clear. While the kettle boils, I clear the few things that have accumulated on the counter (the recycling that needs to go to the garage, emptying and reloading the dishwasher, etc.). 

I could do more; I need more "spare" time in the office because that is really the area that needs work. But you know what? I'm getting there. Every week, I get something sorted and tossed. Slow and steady, it will all happen. 

By the way, the Instagram account where I'm finding those lists is called One Drawer at a Time, and it says right at the top: AI-generated. Sigh......

I need to focus on the books and magazines in Studio B. I'm going to try to figure out how to make that happen, but first I need to take care of the books and magazines I've already culled that are sitting in the office. It doesn't make sense to cull more until I have completely dealt with the ones I started with. 

I have about ten boxes of books that were supposed to be picked up in September, but that didn't happen, and the new date is in November. There are also three bags to deal with, and then I can start the process again. I think there are a couple of piles of magazines that should probably be tossed because I've read them, but I wanted to point out a couple of things on the blog. I should make that a focus for next week!! 

Well, it's time to start the day. I have several hours before the events start, and I just have to walk down the hall!! But I must get out and sign that logbook!!!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Memories and moving

I'm so glad to hear that I am not alone in my AI thoughts. I love the comment that it's literally one giant dictionary; however, that's what AI is. It scours the internet for information faster than the speed of sound. If it scours a source with incorrect or outdated information, it will give you that. At THIS POINT in time, AI can't discern right from wrong; it has no "intelligence" per se, and it has no consciousness. But at the rate they are developing it, BEWARE. 

Developers and people in that industry are saying we need to SLOW down AI development because it could potentially take over our world. Remember, OUR world is very much connected to the internet. Imagine if AI took control of the internet? You laugh, you scoff --- don't, because it could happen!

So if you use AI - beware. What tasks are you asking it to do and why? Does the task even need doing? How much control are you giving a machine? How much brainpower are you losing by handing the task over to a machine? 

I know this is going to be a total oxymoron when I say, " How much of your life have you given to the machines? My blog contains a lot of information about me. If AI searched, they could create a mini me in no time. That's a risk I take. But how much data have you shared because you want to participate in a freebie, a giveaway, or just because you thought it was a good idea? All that data is stored somewhere! 

How many people did you tag because you needed to ATTEMPT to win something you didn't need or want? 

Ever wondered why every new appliance comes with Wi-Fi connectivity? Oh -- it's convenient for you to start your oven when you approach your house. Meanwhile, whatever is in there has been sitting uncooked all day? NO -- it's for the companies to amass data on what you cooked, how long, when, etc. It's not about your convenience - it's about collecting data. 

I use Microsoft products, and their AI agent is Copilot. When I open a blank document, be that in Word or an email, I get a prompt. "What would you like to write today?" Seriously? I HATE that, and I need to find out how to turn it off. It's darn intrusive, and it's awful. I think that AI being so intrusive is the biggest reason I hate it.

Guess what we are learning? We are learning to let a machine write for us. So where does that leave our brains? 

AI technology will never go away and will keep encroaching on our brain capacity. It is up to us to use it wisely!!!

Well, enough about that. It's time to tell you what happened yesterday, and oh my --- it was a monumental day. 

The travel part was just fine. I didn't get an upgrade, but seriously, 5 hours on a plane isn't that big a deal unless you are in a middle seat, which I was not. I had just enough time to get through security, and I looked at the line at Tim's and decided I didn't have time for that. I went back to the other food place and bought a hot breakfast sandwich, and it was very good. It costs more than Tim's, but time is money, so I may just avoid Tim's altogether in the future. I got tea on the plane.  

I watched the 7th Harry Potter movie. I use English subtitles on the plane because it's hard to hear all the dialogue. I do not bring my big headphones. OK--- so that leaves the final movie, and well, I'll watch that on the way home. I think I watched all the Harry Potter movies on a plane this year! 

I may or may not have one more air trip after this one. Probably yes, but a shorter flight. 

And yes, I achieved my 50K status this year with the airline, so that will be good for the rest of this year and all of next year. Yeah!!! Lounge access is probably the biggest deal, and I should be higher on the upgrade lists, so we'll see what happens. This is the first time I achieved that status. I'll enjoy it while I can, as it won't last forever. 

I took a bottle to fill with water on the other side of security. But it wasn't really meant for this type of bottle. I am NOT carrying a heavier reusable water bottle, so I keep this one for travel. I put the bottle under the tap, and nothing happened. But when I put it closer to the sensor, the water came out but missed the bottle. AHA, if you angle the bottle so the bottom touches the sensor and the top is under the tap, that works much better. Could AI tell me that? OK -- I'll stop harping about AI. 

My travel water bottle

I could find a lighter weight bottle, but I cannot drink from something metal. I need plastic. I've probably been scarred from years of drinking from a metal dipper when I was a kid! Yep -- we didn't have running water in our house. We had a large crock of drinking water, and we shared a communal metal (chipped enamel) dipper. The thought is, well - at the time, that's all we knew. 

Then I landed in Vancouver and took the shuttle to the float plane docks. 

I love the float planes!!! Although there is one problem. Before boarding, they give you the safety lecture. When you get in your seat, you attach the lifejacket strap around your waist. It's connected to the seat. Should you need it, you are supposed to put the top strap around your neck, not inflate it on the plane, and so on. Will I remember that if I need it? Doubtful!!! 

The floatplane safety lecture spot

It was one of the larger planes, seating 9 people, which was a bit surprising, since there were only three of us plus the pilot. But when we arrived at the dock in Ganges on Salt Spring Island, a fair number of people were waiting. I think they even had a second plane coming over to pick up everyone. The day couldn't have been more glorious. The sky was blue, the temperature was warm, and it was beautiful. A perfect day for flying over the water. 

The float plane

There's the Vancouver Airport from the air. 

Vancouver Airport from the air

And I saw several large ships, including this container ship. It's amazing how many containers are on one ship. All that weight and it floats on the water!!!!! 

A container ship

And there are so many small islands in the Gulf Islands between Vancouver and Vancouver Island. It is a beautiful country, and I am always in awe every time I come, and I've been here many times. 

Some of the smaller Gulf Islands

While I waited for my aunt, she had to park in a different lot, so we missed each other. I spotted this wind sculpture. YES --- the gallery where I bought the one for my backyard is right here!!! 

A large version of my wind sculpture

You know the saying - be careful what you wish for. When my parents left the farm, I so wanted to get a dumpster, or dig a big hole and then systematically go from room to room and deal with all the stuff. What to keep, what to donate, what to give away to specific people, and then eliminate the rest. Throwing some of that crap in a dumpster would be so satisfying. Alas, that wasn't to be, and I don't know how many times we went through rooms, searching one more time in case we'd forgotten something. It was horrible, and it went on for years. 

My aunt, who has lived on Salt Spring Island for 34 years, is moving, and several years ago I told her I would come help her pack when she moved. Don't worry, her family is also helping, but this week, it's just the two of us. 

The timing is not perfect, but you do what you have to when the time comes. So here I am. 

When I walked in, there was stuff strewn EVERYWHERE, but that is typically the case when you are getting ready to move. She must have a guardian angel looking out for her because we were barely home when someone came to pick up a couple of pieces of furniture. A neighbor happened to be here, so the two of them emptied a big wall in the living room. 

This is PERFECT. So we started in one room and moved boxes of stuff to that empty space. This is the stuff she is keeping. 

The start of the keep pile

A few of those boxes need to be reboxed with better labels. We found a few more things that wouldn't fit in the first box we tried. That's a job for today. 

But then my super organizing skills kicked in, and I'm in my glory! We are trying to deal with ONE room at a time, and we did a pretty good job at clearing out one room. Now my aunt has been pretty good over the last couple of years at getting rid of things, and she had emptied most of the furniture in that room before I even got here. Where did it go? I don't need to know. 

We have piles in the house, several piles of things other people want, garbage, donate, burn (instead of shred), and so on. And the minute we unearth something else, it's fate gets decided, and then I walk it to the appropriate pile. I won't be going for a walk, so I'm relying on that process to get some steps in. 

But here's the issue. As we get older, I think we all get overwhelmed by everything. Your brain just doesn't function quite as you would like and I don't mean dementia - it's just that the thought of undertaking a large task like moving because a MAJOR life change. It's already a major upheaval, no matter how old you are. 

So while you may have dealt with big things, it's the little things that will kill you!! As I survey the house, I think about my own house and how I will pack things when the time comes. Thankfully, we don't have a ton of furniture, and we'll toss most of it when we move because we've had it for years. 

We have rooms in the house, a basement, and there is stuff in the garage. After surveying everything yesterday, I think we have a plan of attack. I have THREE days to do as much as we can, and I think we'll throw out or give away a lot of it since she won't need much of it when she moves into her new little apartment. 

What do you do with all those pictures/slides/negatives, etc that you know you should have dealt with before? I think we are going to pack them up and take them to the new place, but then I want to come prepared one day to deal with them. We don't have time right now, nor the proper equipment. 

A random box of slides

I know I have said I would deal with the phones multiple times, and I never did. I will book a trip, especially to deal with that stuff, or ship it back home and deal with it there. But I need to set aside time, and I mean serious time, to take care of it.

Why? Because memories mean a lot to me. They didn't when I was younger, but now they do. I want to preserve some of those memories. I was looking at pictures of my grandpa's garden and the gladiolas that were his pride and joy. We don't need hundreds of pictures of the gladiolas, but one or two will do. We can put them in a digital book, and we are done! Then when future generations of the family want to see what things interested their ancestors, we will have that information. 

Then we have found a couple of small boxes of pins and other odds and ends of jewelry. I found this bracelet and had no idea what it was. My aunt immediately piped up about where it came from. I took a picture and searched Google for it, and well, it's a bracelet from Wales with four Welsh symbols on it. Do you know what they are? 

A Welsh bracelet

Since I am going to Wales next year, I decided to keep the bracelet, and it needs a good cleaning so I can arrive wearing Welsh symbols! It's probably a cheap tourist bracelet, but it's memorable, knowing my aunt (dad's side) bought it, and I can wear it when I visit family on my Mom's side! I'm kind of sappy and sentimental like that. 

And then, of course, we found a couple of memory books, and here's a picture of my grandparents (dad's side) and M and her cousin, who now has his pilot's license and owns his own plane! 

Grandparents and two of their grandchildren 

And yes, my kid is eating a bag of Smarties! 

So what is my perspective on this situation? And keep in mind I am writing this down to clarify it in my head, and to get deadly serious about it when I get home. My saving grace is that only one room in the house needs serious attention: the office. Notice: I am in total denial about Studio B. That's a situation to deal with another day. 

1. START sorting and organizing now in preparation for your inevitable moving day. We have three days (I know some of you have done it in less, but I'm not the person to make the decisions) to get things mostly in order. 
2. Deal with the small crap stuff NOW. That is probably the worst thing of all to deal with. Oh, I'll keep that and make something special from it (I know, do not judge me because I say that all the time), but if after a year you haven't touched it, then perhaps it's time to go. 
3. Put LIKE things together. I cannot say enough about this one. If you have piles of the same type of crap everywhere, you won't get anywhere fast. The place looks like a hurricane hit, and you struggle to remain focused. 
4. Be methodical. Start in one room and keep at it until that room is done. If you continuously flit from room to room, you will never feel like you are accomplishing anything. 
5. If in doubt, throw it out. Those wire hangers? No one wants them. Throw them out, but keep some to hang up your clothes in the new place. 
6. If possible, make periodic trips to the recycling/garbage to keep the situation under control. We have huge piles of debris in the living room and the kitchen, and since we need to go to town today, my goal is to pack that into the car and get rid of it. That reduces the clutter and helps you focus. 
7. Keep a clean spot to work/live/eat/watch TV or whatever. You need some calm in the storm, or you will drive yourself mad. 
8. Enlist help if you can. My cousins have been here, but unfortunately the timing didn't work for us to be here together. However, I think that is actually a good thing. There is ONE decision maker in the house, and if there were too many helpers, it would be overwhelming. So we are taking turns, and it's all working out nicely. I won't be here for the final move date or the final push to remove all the remaining junk. 
9. Take pictures. If you think someone else would like something, take pictures and send them. I have a few pictures to take today, and then we'll see which pile those items go in. 
10. Be ruthless and brutally honest about what you need and don't need. What you want and don't want. 
11. DON'T wait; this is a job we should all be on top of. It's amazing how life's detritus creeps up on us. START NOW while you are physically and mentally able to deal with the situation. 

And here's one more thing before I close down for the day. I've mentioned this before, but I'll mention it again. It's all about those damn dishes. What to do with the dishes? If I don't come home one day and M comes to the house to collect a few things, or someone else wants something special of mine (sorry, we're talking dishes here, not quilts or a sewing machine), I want them to take my china mugs with the bicycles on them. I use them EACH and EVERY DAY when I am at home. They are my favorite dishes; they don't match any of my other dishes. I throw them in the dishwasher, and they are fading, but I don't care. The memories they bring me, and the memories I hope they bring to whoever gets those mugs, will be special. 

So your kids don't care one iota about the damn china and crystal because you never used it. But that special mug, or cup or whatever --- that's what they want! 

Use the special stuff! And use it NOW!!!! And that gold trim on the fancy dishes? Yep -- you've been told not to use those dishes in the dishwasher because the gold will disappear. So???? Why is that a problem? Put those darn gold-rimmed dishes in the dishwasher!!!

I think I have blabbed on enough. I woke up early, so I'll need a nap this afternoon. I think we both will after all the stuff we are doing. Not only is there a physical component, but it's emotionally stressful. However, we are having loads of laughs, reliving great memories, and while the timing wasn't the best, I wouldn't give up this week for the world! 

I just wish I could do this with my parents, but alas, I don't think that is going to happen because my Mom just can't cope with giving things away, even if it's a pile of clothes she's never worn. It's sad to be so attached to things, but that's the way it is. I might tell her about this week and see if that helps. 

And guess what? I'll get to help unpack!! That won't happen for a couple of months, and I've already volunteered! Unpacking will be another opportunity to clear out crap and deal with those photos once and for all! 

It's going to be a GLORIOUS day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

Think before you Monetize!!!!

OH MY GOSH - I love the story about the chipmunks storing nuts in the car. Those little devils!!!! And YES - I need to change my search engine - old habits die hard!!! I MUST try and remember!!! Perhaps a sticky note on my computer—that will remind me!!!!

Guess what? While I can buy that puzzle I wanted online, someone taking the ferry this week just offered to buy it for me on the ferry. That will have so much more meaning to me than buying it online. Thank you!!!! I'm taking that person up on their offer. I'm excited, and I will get to see the gift shop without being there, as they were instructed to take a photo! Now I can take the seaplane across to the island. It's much faster! 

You have to love the trusted circle of friends. And yes—if you want something out there, we all know there are one or two that will do that whether you want them or not. That's where you can have some fun, but I won't go there this morning!

Gosh—so quick on the return of that other flight, I had another travel day!! 

For those of you who are not familiar, there are four levels of self-driving on a Tesla. The most aggressive is called Mad Max. Well, that was my Uber driver yesterday. He was pretty efficient and slightly aggressive, even though he was driving his Tesla manually. We were scheduled to arrive at the airport at 9:07; however, he managed to shave 4 minutes off that time, and it's only a 30-minute drive. Well, 30 with no traffic, and it was rush hour!

And I really, really wanted to touch the roof of that car. I don't know the model, but the roof is completely glass and looks very celestial, and the join between the roof and the top of the walls looks very surreal. Next time -- I'll touch it!! 

Before I left the house, I managed to clear my puzzle table, and there is the next puzzle. This one is for October, so I'm ready when I get home. 

The puzzle table is clear.

I also did one of those quick jobs before I left. I spotted this tote bag that had been embroidered many months ago, and at the time I had to open the side of the bag to stitch it out. Well, I decided it would be a great sample to have with me - not only because of the time of year, but also because we have a NEW embroidery hoop for the free arm, where I could have done this WITHOUT opening the bag. The new PFAFF free-arm hoop (200 by 260). So the seam got finished, and one more thing off the messy tables in Studio B. Yeah, me!!!!

My trick-or-treat bag

By the way -- the white is actually glow-in-the-dark thread! 


So while the drive to the airport was quick, the darn security line was a mess. There was hardly anyone there, but they were replacing the machines, so we had to use a different line, and I have no idea why it took so long. OH -- we had to remove our laptops from our bags, but still. It just seemed to take a long time. 

The skyline from the Uber car

I met up with my colleagues for a chat while we waited to board. Traveling with them is extremely stressful. Some of them get to the airport VERY EARLY, and then I feel like I'm late. I'm not!! Then I ran to Tim's to get in line for tea. What? There was NO lineup. This is unheard of. So I quickly got a tea and then boarded the plane. 

No line at Tim's

I got upgraded, but so did one of my colleagues, and we were sitting beside each other! So of course, I talked her ear off, and she probably just wanted to sleep. We had lots of time to talk, since we were pulled off into the deicing area and made to wait for almost an hour. I feel pretty lucky because that's the first time that's happened to me. Something to do with not getting a gate in Montreal, but usually we get to Montreal before we know there is a problem. 

Waiting in the deicing area 

This is the Montreal scene on the plane screens. I used to work at the spot where the picture was taken. This was the view I had from my window before our department was moved into the branch where the robbery took place. I ate lunch there many times. 

Place d'Armes

And then we arrived in Montreal. 

Montreal airport

I heard that getting to the car rental was a bit of an ordeal, and OH MY GOSH --- you had to walk for a very long time under the terminal and out the other side, and who knows exactly where we walked, but we finally got to a shuttle bus and then got dropped off. It's a bit of a zoo, to be sure!!!! Why couldn't the shuttle bus pick up at the terminal, as if we were getting a taxi? I have no idea, but if you have luggage or mobility issues, it's a huge problem. Thankfully, I got a cart so I didn't have to manhandle two suitcases that distance. I am being wise with my decisions these days. I'm feeling just fine - but taking it easy. 

  

At last on the shuttle bus

And we finally got to the hotel, where I noticed I am now Elite Gold. Only to realize from my colleagues that I am just the second level; there are two more above me!!! Oh well -- it doesn't matter. 

Elite Or level

Then we zipped over to the Salon Quebec location, found our booth, and did some minimal setup. Mostly, we got the tables in order and figured out which quilts needed to be hung first thing this morning. We have all day today to set up. All the show quilts were hung—the ladies and their helpers are extremely efficient. 

Here is the sneak peek I forwarded to my Monday sewing group. They were not impressed!!! 

Sneak peek at the Salon Quebec quilt show.

OK -- I hope I don't get into trouble with this next posting, but I stole it from M's Facebook page. 

Madeline Frances (on Facebook)

I AGREE with her 100%. EVERYONE is attempting to monetize their social media accounts, their hobbies, and their creativity!!!! They make pretty things not for the sake of making pretty things, but so they can make money from it. The competition is fierce, and the pressure is intense. 

I've been writing this blog for many years, and I intentionally chose not to monetize it. I did that for two reasons. First, I write for ME, and I get way more value from the writing than I ever would from money. Secondly, I had no idea how widespread my blog would go, and I still don't because I don't check the analytics. I write for me and only me, but the fact that some people found it and follow it—that makes me happy. Your comments and story sharing make me happy. But I want a safe place where you won't be bombarded with ads. Hopefully you don't get that, and I never see anything on the site. 

Just in the world of quilt pattern designers—how many versions of the log cabin do we need? Many designers design pieced animals - I know of four without even searching. And then designers make a fuss that someone ripped off their pattern. Why not enjoy the journey and stop letting the internet run your life? I don't have the answer to that question, but young moms use it to earn money while staying home. Again—I generalized, so don't yell at me—it's a much broader topic than I want to cover here. 

However you work it out - don't just monetize your HOBBY for the sake of making a living. Perhaps you can monetize something else, but not your hobby!!

Quilting is my hobby; however, I do make money in the quilting world, but I don't go above and beyond to monetize what I do. And I have other non-money-making hobbies like reading and puzzles. I will never monetize those. 

Thank goodness the person above me is gone for the day. I swear I always get the heavy walker above me, and they literally stomp, stomp through their morning routine!! Good grief—get a pair of socks on and glide across the floor. LOL -- I was awake anyway. WAIT -- they just came back - they must have been at breakfast!!

WAIT—I forgot to tell you about the fire alarm last night. I was in bed reading and all of a sudden (of course—fire alarms do not ramp up!), the alarm goes off. A brilliant flashing white light filled the room, plus loud beeps and whatever. Hmmmm --- do I get up? I got up and reached for my clothes—I was NOT going to walk in the hallway with no clothes on—I don't care how big the fire is! Good grief—since when am I so modest? It lasted only 30 seconds, and that was it! 

It's going to be a WONDERFUL day!!!!!

Ciao!!!!

A smooth travel day!

OH MY ---- what is old? That's a great question. Remember when we were kids, and our parents were OLD! When I thought that, they were way younger than I am today. Being old is no longer the same as it was before! Thank goodness, and I have no intention of ever being old—my body will start to fail me (OK—so it has a wee bit), and my mind will start to go (maybe), but I will never consider myself old. 

It's only when you put a number to things that you start to realize - wow - 45 years married or a 50-year reunion - well, that just stops and makes you think! 

I don't tell people my age, although some of them try hard to guess. What does it matter if I'm 60, or 65, or 70 or 75? It doesn't matter to my friendships. I'm just me! 

OK - on a scale of 1 to ten with ten being chaotic, my travel day was a minus 5. Nothing happened - it was so smooth that it was almost unheard of! And that's a good thing. WAIT -- that's not true -- there were a couple of tiny glitches, but I had to dig deep to find them. 

I was a bit hesitant to leave Miss Murphy because of her anxiety, but she seems to be holding her own, so that is good. I had time to give them a walk together in the early morning before I left for the airport. 

Murphy, in her typical self to be FIRST, was pulling on that leash like she was in a race to get a juicy steak at the end. Why? Why can't she just walk normally when I walk them together? I could feel all the good being undone in my body because she hasn't been pulling lately. But they were happy to go for a walk. They won't be so happy this morning. 

MOM - hurry up - it's a race, and I need to be first! 

But I had to laugh because I typically wear a waistbelt to put my important documents in. I hate carrying a purse when I travel. OK - so I hate carrying a purse ever! So into that small pouch goes my passport and NEXUS card (never travel without either), and then I go through my small card holder and pull out only the cards I may need when traveling - health card, driver's license, debit and credit, and my Aeroplan card, although that information is in my app. You would think by now that I could remember the darn nine-digit number! OK -- I must check where the number is in the app and then leave that card at home. 

When I was putting stuff in my travel pouch, I found the last boarding pass. Hmmm -- I seem to favor seat 17D on planes! 

17D - my favorite seat

I have another small pouch that I use to walk the dogs. I can easily put my phone in it (I can put my phone in the other one as well, but it's tight), and I have poop bags for the girls. I put that one on too and reminded myself not to forget to take that pouch off when I got back to the house. 

Yep—you guessed it—I forgot to do that (saying goodbye to the girls, hustling the bags out the door because the Uber is close by, and I ended up at the airport with both pouches on). No worries - I used both. I don't care if anyone thought differently about me. It's no big deal, and I had my shirt tied around my waist because it was HOT at the airport and hot on the plane. I rarely ride on a plane in only a T-shirt. Above the waist - you get that! 

We had a lady pilot, and she was efficient. OK -- that's probably just the way things happened. The plane was loaded quickly (not one of the big ones), and we actually pulled away from the gate one minute before we were supposed to. I saw the notification that my bags were being loaded on the plane. OH -- wait - I forgot that small detail. 

When I went to print my bag tags at the kiosk, I got a boarding pass, but no bag tags. So I went to another kiosk. The lady beside me said she didn't get bag tags either, and she was watching me to see if I did something different. Neither of us told an Air Canada agent, so it will be a while before that machine got flagged as "ran out of paper!" Shame on us!!!!!

There seems to be an issue with the automatic bag drop. It sometimes has trouble reading the tags. I got lucky (again), and it only took two tries to scan my large bag and once for the small one. And then I was through security in a flash. All told, it took about ten minutes to get from the Uber drop-off at the front to beyond security. 

I watched the sixth Harry Potter movie. Oh boy -- they are getting dark! I have a hard time hearing with my tiny earbuds, but it was enough to keep me entertained, and I also slept well because I didn't sleep well the night before. Well, it wasn't that I didn't sleep well; I couldn't get to sleep. Too excited to see Bear, I suppose!!! 

Just for old times' sake, there is the tile in the Vancouver Airport washrooms. I think it's the best tile around. I checked the tile in the Toronto Airport, and it's boring. So boring, I forgot to take a picture of it!

Vancouver washroom tile

OH—I forgot to tell you what happened before I left my house. I went downstairs to have a quick peek to see if I left anything. No, but I picked up a few things and put them on the cutting table because those will be a priority to deal with. I put the two pet mats on the cutting table so I can fix the ends on the serged seam. Hmmm - I heard a clunk, and because they are filled with fabric scraps, there shouldn't be any noise. 

Then I started feeling one of them and OH MY --- I seem to have thrown my Chaco-liner in one of them and serged it up! I'll have to fix that when I'm home. 

OH—my Chaco liner got stitched into my pet mat.

Then I retrieved my bags at the airport, which didn't take that long, and off to the car rental. Let's just say that cars are expensive here, and I was told that's because it's summer. Well, it's summer in other places, and the prices are not that high! 

BUT, the agent at the car rental called someone to find my car for me. Yep—they had a car, but no idea where it was parked, and it took the guy a few minutes to find it and drive it to the pickup area. 

And then I drove to M's house so I could spend the afternoon with Bear. 

HEY -- Grandma came to see me!!!!!

He was freaking out when he heard me come in, but then he freaked out when Dillon came home from work. It took him quite a few minutes to settle down. I decided to sit on their gorgeous back deck and continue figuring out the error in that pattern. I wanted that off my plate. 

The view from the back deck

And I did!!!! I figured it out and sent off one last email to the designer. I have now put that pattern to bed, and when I'm home, I need to get the twelve blocks together, find a border, and put it in the "to be quilted pile!"

Once that was out of the way, it was time to do some exploring. Bear and I headed out to find some lunch. I chuckled because they live in an older neighborhood where the houses are being torn down and rebuilt. And they still have door-to-door mail delivery!

You've got mail!!!

Can you imagine how much exercise the mail person gets? All those hills on the streets and then to face this kind of walkway to all the houses? Down the steps from the street into the yard and then up the steps at the house, then back down and repeat at the next house. This location is not for the faint of heart or those afraid of steps! When you look down from the back deck, which is on the second floor of the house, it's a long way down!!! 

The walkway at the front of the house

We have to go down a relatively steep hill to get to Marine Drive, the main drag close to the water. There are several cute (not cheap) restaurants along that strip, and I found one. 

Going for a walk with Grandma!!!!

While they have dog-friendly patios, I'm not so sure about dog-friendly in the restaurant. I just grabbed him, took him inside, and ordered my food. Since they offered to bring it out to me, I'm assuming they don't like dogs in the restaurant. 

I've been here with M before and OH MY -- look at the desserts. They had small tarts that were $14 for ONE TART. I didn't buy that, but I did buy something as a treat. 

Yummy treats

I had avocado toast with salmon, and it was to die for. It wasn't super big, but oh my --- very yummy. 

Lunch - avocado toast!

And that little guy is a chick magnet. He gets comments everywhere he goes, and I think he knows it, and that just makes him even cuter!!!! 

We walked down to the beach and walked along until we got to the leash-free part. Some of the bigger dogs were having a grand old time in the water. I wonder what my girls would do? Lexi would probably take a wide berth, but Murphy might venture in. A couple of retrievers were having a heyday!

And then Bear and I sat on the rocks, and I ate my pain au chocolat! Yep -- that probably threw my body into a sugar tailspin! But it was a treat, and that's the first and last treat of the trip! 

Eating my pain au chocolat by the water

I mean - look at how cute he was sitting. This was when I was eating my treat. I didn't have treats for him, but he was a trooper. 

Grandma - I'm a good boy and deserve a treat!

Then we walked back to the house. I carried him up the hill because he was getting tired by then, but he did amazing! We sat on the back deck and snoozed - they have the same type of chair as I have in my gazebo. I took a call with my colleagues, read a bit, and just messed with my phone. The weather was glorious, and it was so nice to just relax and not have anything to do. Well, I suppose I could have done a bit of prep work (just exploring) some of the stuff I'll pass along today, but I think I got all that down. 

If you think gas is expensive back home, think again! 

Price of gas - over $2 a liter!

And in the neighborhood where M lives (on a hill), there are some houses I would never consider buying because of the driveways. I mean they are STEEP. This picture doesn't do justice to the pitch, and of course, the streets are narrow with no sidewalks and lots of trees - hedges, so visibility is crazy. 

Steep, narrow, and winding driveway

I wonder why giant hedges are a thing here? That is one thing I remember from coming out here as a kid -- why all those giant hedges? 

Giant hedges for privacy

While there are highways here, they are few and far between. To get to M's house from the airport, you have to drive right through downtown Vancouver. I spotted this building on the way to her house, and managed to get a picture on the way back. Can you imagine living in that cantilevered space? No thank you. It was dizzying just to take a picture. OH GOD -- when I was here last fall, I also took a picture of this building! 

Would you live in this apartment?

Dillon and I went out for dinner last night. M wasn't around yesterday because of work, so we had a quick visit and then I was off for a long drive through the traffic to get to my hotel. It wasn't that bad, but an hour drive through traffic? Not fun! When I arrived at the hotel, I brought in my bags and went to bed - I was exhausted with the time change! Bridges are bottlenecks!!! 

Every time I drive over the Lion's Gate Bridge (and I probably mention it in the blog), I'll never forget the time when I was riding my bike to Inuvik in the Northwest Territories, in 2010. We started in Vancouver, and I remember riding through Stanley Park and seeing that bridge in the distance, knowing we had some steep climbing to get to it, and then we had to ride over it!! I need to go back to my old blog pages and remove them, because I fear they might disappear one day. 

I noticed that breakfast is no longer included in these hotels - Holiday Inn. Well, I'm not sure what price breakfast is, but I'll stop at Tim's. 

Oh shoot—I need to find a photo editor on my laptop that will crop photos. So I can't do that. In that case, I'll just share ONE word of wisdom today, which I think applies to many of us. 

What do you think? This is perfect!!!  OK—I Googled how to crop the photo, but that didn't work! Hmmm—as for the hobbies, I have one for keeping me in shape, and the other two? They just blend together. Do I make money? I do, but it never seems like much, and I'm OK with that. It's just fun!

Thank goodness Dillon and I were chatting throughout the day as he alerted me to buying movie tickets. Can you believe that I bought the tickets for our Christmas Day movie yesterday? Yep—tickets for Dune 3 in 70mm IMAX were released yesterday, and I managed to get decent tickets for Christmas Day. That's insane!!!!

August 17th was National Thrift Shop Day, and I found this video. It's very interesting and short, so be sure to take a peek. It's interesting how fast fashion has changed the world. It's not just fast fashion; it's all the stuff at the dollar store that has mostly become one-time use. That is very sad and so bad for our environment. 

I had no room in my sample suitcase and I mentioend that it weighted in at just under 50 lbs. I had to put the three puzzles in the my clothes suitcase and I dropped off two of those yesterday. I now have a lot of room and the suitcase is much lighter! 

And on that note, I need to get moving. I have to get ready for today, find breakfast somewhere, and then check in for the next flight later today. Yes—this trip is a whirlwind. 

If you are in the Langley, BC area today, be sure to pop out to Castle Sewing Center and say hi, check out the New PFAFF creative icon 3. 

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!