Lexi and Murphy -- switched!

Dare I say that I'm back to normal? I walked 11.5 KM yesterday in those open sandals. Yes --- I'm keeping an eye on the dead skin on the blisters to ensure they don't open, and everything seems fine. I'm not running marathons here! But I need to look at a pair of new runners, which is a task for this week. 

The hardest thing is figuring out what day of the week it is. With no deadlines, it's a challenge! However, it's MONDAY, and we have Monday sewing today. Yeah!!! 

I was a busy bee yesterday and quite happy with my progress. 

Here are the two containers of quilt tops that I'm currently working on. I'm pushing to get as many of those community quilts tops quilted before I need to get back to work. I forget how many there were in these two containers -- I think it was about 20 in each. Yep --- that's a lot of quilt tops, some with backing, and I think all have binding. 

Two containers of community project quilt tops

This is what is still in the community project room. Each of those two tubs has 40 quilts in them. I know --- that's insane!!!!

Community project quilts waiting to be quilted

And each of these four containers has 20 quilts in them. But everything is neat and tidy, and I'm focusing on those other two containers, so I have to make room for the new stuff arriving in a couple of weeks. There is NO rush on getting these done -- I just don't want to keep piling them up, so this quiet interlude has been great! 

More quilts to be quilted

Here are the two quilts that I quilted yesterday. Again -- these are both small, so they don't take too long to load or quilt. 

Community project quilt - DONE

Community project quilt - DONE

Then I got myself busy and decided to get the binding on ALL of the quilts that have been quilted. So the binding has been stitched to the back of all NINE quilts I quilted last week. I'll try to get a couple completely done today during Monday sewing. But I might just sew something for fun! Anyway -- that was huge to get all that done. I'm pretty good at sewing on those bindings! 

Nine quilts with the binding half sewn on

The next one is loaded on the long arm, but I must join some batting before getting started. I'm being pretty efficient with the batting, so there is little going to waste. And the reminder of the backing is going into the scrap box to make another quilt (or two). So everything is up to date (or almost). I love that, and I may just make a small dent in that stack of quilts before I need to focus on other things. 

Then I decided to lay out that jigsaw puzzle while I watched another episode of The Great British Baking Show. Some of the contestants' accents are so thick that I can barely determine what they say. For some reason, this season seems a bit different. I can't put my finger on it, but I haven't built any connection to the bakers yet. 

Laying out the jigsaw puzzle

There are only 500 pieces in this puzzle, and it's not complicated. This is my current status, and if all goes well, I might have it done today. 

Status of the puzzle!

Finished an audiobook, and I have to say that the three stories in The Family Lawyer by James Patterson were OK. I did NOT enjoy the last one, as I don't think the characters were believable. I was glad to finish that one and get it out of the way! I'm almost done with the physical book (oh yes --- I'm resting!), and I hope to do that later today. 

I had to go to the mall to get more liquid calcium, and I took a detour to Indigo. Look what I found in the magazine section. 

A quilt block magazine

Does anyone recognize this??? There was a BOOK by the same author called the Ultimate Quilt Block Collection. 

I wonder why it was republished as a magazine??? The blocks are identical --- I think the editing and pictures are the same. 

Inside the magazine, which is the SAME as the book

Another block in the magazine

The book is available for $25, or you can buy the magazine for $20. I see on the label that it says Issue 7 --- I wonder what that is all about??? Anyway --- be careful what you buy, or you may end up with duplicates!!!!!

They are making good progress with the new movie theater at the mall. OK -- so this is NOT a good picture of the construction. But at least the framework is done. Thank goodness for multiple computers -- my keyboard just died on my desktop!!! Anyway -- I can't wait until the theatre is complete because I can also walk to the movie theater. I'm not a big moviegoer, but one less thing to drive to!

Movie theater construction

And I see they have finally started construction on the last entranceway that never got updated in the renovation that started years ago!!!

The last entrance to be renovated

I saw these things outside the door and wondered what they were. OH, bike racks --- well, they are in a weird spot on the sidewalk and look weird -- how am I supposed to lock my bike to them??? 

A bike rack

They just seem to be in an awkward space on the sidewalk  --- I might have to ride my bike there to check it out. 

 

The bike racks on the sidewalk

I went to Bulk Barn to get the calcium, and while there, I bought a couple of pig ears for the girls. OK -- this was a first. It was the first time Lexi ate her treat immediately, which had NEVER happened before. Murphy didn't quite know what to do with hers, and she carried it around for a bit which also NEVER happens. 

Mom? What do I do with this treat? 

And then the next thing I knew, she was digging a hole to bury it!!! That is only something Lexi would attempt to do, and Murphy would go and dig it up. Did their personalities get switched while I was away? 

Digging a hole to bury the treat

Oh, Muprhy -- you big goof, and now you have a dirty nose!!!

A big dirty nose

But she was happy, and that's all that counts at this house. It looks like she has a 5 o'clock shadow. 

Mom -- I didn't shave today!!!!

This is Lazy Lexi later on in the evening. She loves to lay beside DH when he's watching TV. Her head was too heavy to move, and she was resting on the dog bed. Not in, but against it. Oh, Lexi!!!!

Hey -- a little quiet here, please! 

I'm so bored

I am NOT moving my head, but I can see you!!!! 

And then later, when I was reading, they were attached to me like Velcro. They are so needy!!! They are like siblings who taunt and tease each other and vie for their parent's attention! 

MOM  -- look at me!!!!

OH --- did you get a picture of me? 

Mom -- my sister is crazy!!

Oh, the girls -- what would we do without them to entertain us!!!

Gosh -- I'm so excited about the progress I'm making with those quilts. I did some puttering in the sorting and putting away tasks, but nothing major. It's all good!!!!

On that note, I'm out of here! I see it's raining outside but not sure how much yet. And I've been getting advice about my feet -- well, my next pair of shoes and socks, not for every day, but for hiking, and I'm not venturing there yet. I have one toe that isn't quite right yet, but well on the road to recovery!!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

Community project progress!

WOW  --- it appears that flannel is on the way out! Two people commented that they got rid of their flannel. I mean -- there comes the point when you just say, "why are we keeping all this stuff?" More on my flannel in a minute. 

And YES --- I am taking care of my feet, and I'm taking care of me. But after NINE hours of laying in bed, my back was NOT happy! So there has to be a balance. For those who know me, I'm a slug these days, and while I can live with that for a while, it won't last long. But the good news is that the feet are doing great. Just two troublesome spots left to heal. The blisters are sealed up nicely, but deep inside, it will still take time. But I'm not going to sit on them until they look like brand new feet -- that'll take months! 

Tender loving care --- new shoes - and careful stepping are in order. 

I love sitting out on the front patio in the evening, having my after-dinner snack, and reading a book. Imagine my surprise last night when something whizzed past me. Yikes --- what the heck was that? Oh my gosh -- it was a FOX!! Yep --- I don't think he was expecting me to be there, as the darn thing ran within four feet of my chair. Let's just say it was good that the girls were NOT outside with me last night, although they are always on their leashes. 

I'm not sure where he was off to, but we surprised each other!

I was looking through a newsletter this morning from a local quilt shop (K&A Studio), and I stole this quote from their newsletter. 

I think that's a great inspiration and something many of us (and indeed myself) are not good at! I have no idea why we fear the completion of something. It didn't work out? We ran into problems? Got bored? Started something new? But in almost everything I do, I struggle to finish, which is why so many UFOs are on the shelves. 

I'm happy to report that while finishing things is still an issue, I'm making giant leaps and bounds to completing stuff or at least getting it to the "to be quilted" pile, which for the moment, qualifies as completed for me. 

I managed to get some work done, and although nothing was technically finished, I moved several projects ahead. 

OH -- before I start with the quilting stuff, let me share with you one of two small souvenirs I bought in Spain. I know --- one does NOT need more souvenirs, but this was so stinking cute, I had to buy it. I bought it at the duty-free shop at the airport on the way home, so it did NOT contribute to excess weight on the walk. 

My Spain shoe

Why did I buy this? Because I have a few others at home on my day pack. I know -- who needs to carry excess stuff on the day pack? Well, they are little, and after my experience on the Camino, my daypack would never weigh as much. It can handle a few shoes. 

My shoes! 

This is "not" a collection. OK -- so anything with three or more "like" items is a collection. I do NOT want anyone to contribute to this collection, as I have found/collected the shoes on my own! 

OH -- and this is the second waist belt I bought for the trip. This is more of a runner's belt and is quite robust, but it worked like a charm for the poop bags and my cell phone when walking with an outfit with no pockets. I should have purchased one of these years ago!!!!

My new waist belt for neighborhood walks

It is made of neoprene or something like that, fits flat to the waist, and it's perfect!!!!

OK -- let's check out the flannel situation. I have a "few" things stored in a closet in one of the bedrooms. And I knew there was flannel in addition to what is in the stash room. This is what I pulled out of the closet. 

Stacks of flannel

Yes -- there is a HUGE amount of flannel, and this is all kids' stuff. And there are yards and yards of backing. I planned on making and selling kids' quilts, which will not happen. Where was my brain in those days, and how much time did I think I had?

So I trundled it downstairs and put it in the community projects room. It mostly fit into that cubby, and now when Diane calls for more stuff to sew, guess what she is getting? I love that I have room to mess with all this and keep the floor neat and tidy! I'm definitely making inroads toward clearing up this mess. 

The flannel is ready to be delivered

Once she has sewn this up, I'll dig out the rest of the flannel on the shelves in the stash room. Yep --- it's time to get the flannel out of the house. Thankfully, I have Diane!!! 

Seriously though --- if you know someone who wants to sew, doesn't need to make another quilt for themselves, and doesn't want to spend a lot of money --- give them your stash to sew up community project quilts. It's a win-win for everyone!!!!

Look at your stash today and see what you no longer need/want. Then we need to recruit a bunch of people who want to sew but haven't anything to sew, and let's get moving!!! I remember years ago when two of my friends were destashing. I was horrified. "How could you give away your precious fabrics?" Now I know -- I guess it's like the circle of quilting or something. There comes the point when you no longer want/need this stuff and are happy to get rid of it. 

I'm happy to see it be made into something rather than just giving it away. But that is me. I bought it -- I want to have the pleasure of seeing it be made into something and then to help finish it. That's just me! Just giving it away seems wrong unless I know the recipient will do something with it, which isn't going to happen in most cases, and it will just end up cluttering their stash rooms.  

And there's my helper in all this. She's just glad to have me home -- I think! She's been barking like mad lately -- too much fun stuff on the other side of the fence. 

Murphy looking totally bored!

Here are the two quilts of the day. These community project quilts are small (40" by 44"), so they don't take long to quilt. 

Community project quilt - DONE

Second community project quilt - DONE

All the quilts that are quilted are trimmed, and the backing/batting has been dealt with. When I first started, I had no idea what to do with the trimmings, and my studio had huge piles of them. I've come a long way. 

Even DH is wondering what's going on. He saw me standing in front of the bookcase, selecting my next book to read. NO -- I haven't finished the one I started the other day, but getting the next one ready. I'm weird like that, and I need to know what's next. Why can't I be content to just read? Anyway, I told him I was giving away my fabric and anything else that wasn't nailed down. Does he believe me?? 

Then I decided to tackle this pile of stuff on the floor. It doesn't look much better, but I put some stuff away. 

Stuff that still needs to be put away

I emptied a couple of baskets by putting the stuff where it belonged. Funny how easy it is to leave things, and then you end up with a huge mess. 

One empty basket

And this is the second basket where I found some weird things. 

Second basket to sort

Can you tell me WHY we need to pick up or accumulate this junk marketing stuff??? 

A marketing thing?

I swear the marketing people drill that into our heads when we are mere babies. If it's free -- you MUST get it. Companies, designers, fabric makers --- everyone has to be on the bandwagon to make "free" stuff. Remember --- FREE is NOT good. FREE usually means clutter in your house. You get something free, you win something, and most likely, it is NOT something you want, and it ends up being regifted or trashed. Why do we have this mindset??? 

Going forward, you need to question everything FREE that you bring into your house. Whether that is literature from someplace --- you can always take a picture and look at the information online. Fabric and patterns that someone doesn't want. Are you going to use them NOW -- if not ---it's clutter. And especially those little gimmicky things. I have a lot to deal with in the office and dread looking at it. I know -- most of it will be trashed, but it seems such a waste that I even picked it up in the first place. 

I wasn't smart then; I am now! Well, at least more informed and knowledgeable. 

Here's the other thing I found in that basket. 

Wool Stainless Steel

It's a cone of Wool Stainless Steel. Now where the heck did I get that from? And what is one supposed to do with it?? I did a Google search and haven't found anything satisfactory yet. But if anyone has some ideas -- I'd love to hear them. I do not think running this through a sewing machine would be wise!

OH --- I did manage to turn on my sewing machine, and I got the binding sewn to two of the community project quilts. Just one side since I don't have to change my thread. But that's a start, and I don't want to get a backlog. 

Binding on a community project quilt

Binding on a second community project quilt

The next quilt is already on the long arm, ready for this morning. I'm getting into a rhythm, which is good since there are so many to quilt. If I can make a big dent in these small quilts in the next couple of weeks, I'll be happy!! And then devise a plan to keep working on them. Not at the same rate because October will be a totally insane month, but I'll keep at it. Remember --- Finish what you start!!!!

Now I'm up-to-date with the Amazing Race Canada (DH -- says he thought I didn't watch TV). I don't consider that I'm watching TV. OK -- so it is watching TV, but it's MINDFUL watching. I don't watch to fill my hours, and I don't want endless hours. I'm highly selective. Yesterday, I started watching Season 12 of The Great British Baking Show. I love that show!!!!! And while I was watching, I was pressing half-square triangles. 

Watching the baking show and pressing

And I got this huge stack all pressed and ready to trim. 

Half-square triangles ready to trim

I may trim them while I watch my daily episode later today. I have started to unsubscribe from e-mails that I get. Not quickly, but a few each day. I have been ignoring my e-mail -- OH -- I check for important stuff, but nothing significant is coming in. I LOVE it. 

And as I was reading the local paper yesterday, I spotted this about kids' backpacks. HOLY!!!!! 

Recommended weight for backpacks

 

They say the backpack's weight should be no more than 20 percent of the child's weight. That is a LOT. While I agree with using a backpack, I think they must look at their style and weight. Twenty percent is a LOT, and it's heavy. No wonder the kids are shuffling to school!!!! And I bet these backpacks are NOT designed like a hiker's backpack, which helps to take the weight off the body and is supported by the backpack structure. 

Well, can you tell I'm feeling better? I hope that most of the bandages on my feet will be gone later today. YES --- I am being super careful --- just because I'm very lax in most things, I'm not silly! I know the importance of my feet (well, one could argue that point), but I'm being super careful! But here is one thing I have learned about my feet that I never really paid attention to. My feet are sweaty! Not stinky sweaty --- they just sweat. 

Case in point, I took Murphy for half her regular walk yesterday in my open sandals, and by the time I got home (before 9 AM), my feet were sweaty! I never noticed it as a big deal before. So that has to be a HUGE consideration point in my next pair of shoes and hiking shoes. The problem is that I can't wear mesh shoes because my toes will poke through the front within weeks of putting them on. It appears that I walk weirdly, and it's coming to light now! 

Perhaps I'll investigate a pair of hiking sandals??? One guy from Paris had walked hundreds of KMs in his, and he loved them. I'm not so sure! What about sticks poking in??? Something to check out. Or just walk in the cold weather with leather upper shoes. Sigh.....................    Got lots of research to do. 

On that note, I'm out of here!!!!

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!!

Community Quilt projects

I'm going to become positively boring if this continues! But I must say that when I went for my wee personal walk in the afternoon, I could feel myself (and my feet) feeling much better. Here's the good thing which I'm sure you'll all be happy about. I do not have a pair of shoes I can put on for a good walk, so I'm currently stuck with sandals. 

I need new running shoes, in a larger size, before I can go far. I hope to remedy that next week. I dare not damage what healing has happened. I changed my bandages yesterday, and things are looking good, except for one tie, and if it's still infected, there is NO WAY that I will be able to deal with the pain by myself. So if you're a nurse and close to me, I may be calling on some assistance. I'll see how it heals over the next two days! 

Anyway --- all is good, but I'm becoming a slug! I finished one book last night and, of course, immediately started another. It's an older Sandra Brown (Mirror Image), but those books on the shelf have to go, but not before I read them. The audiobook I'm listening to is three short stories (The Family Lawyer by James Patterson), and I finished one of those. I love to read, but I'm getting bored and restless. Too much sitting around, and it's driving me crazy. 

So I turned to the long arm. I got two more community quilts done. 

Community project quilt - DONE

Community project quilt - DONE

Remember that each of these is small -- about 40" by 44" so they do not take long. Those five quilts are now waiting for the binding to be put on, and I should attempt that today. 

So I thought about all the community project quilts waiting to be quilted. How many are there? I decided to sort and clean up that area -- well, it was neat and tidy, but I wanted to sort and count the quilts. 

Remember that MOST of these quilt tops were sewn by Diane. There were a few done by myself and a couple sewn by someone else. How many are there? I'll tell you in a minute. 

Except for a handful, ALL of them include binding, and about half include the backing. I might be way out to lunch on that number, but there are backings for some of them. Some are a complete package to quilt (backing and binding), some just have the binding, and some are just the top. Diane did what she could with what I gave her. Can you imagine how many miles of binding Diane has made?

A good percentage of them are lap-sized -- we aimed for 60 by 72. Some smaller ones are more appropriate for younger children in size and color, and there are quite a few of these small quilts. I dug out the small ones and all the flannel quilts, as that's where my brain is these days, and I want to use up that polyester batting. 

There are TWO large tubs (the kind you store decorations in), 2 cardboard boxes, one plastic tub, two laundry baskets, and a cloth container. How many quilts, you say?? 

There are a grand total of TWO HUNDRED quilt tops! I know --- that's crazy!!!

I have seven more in progress -- five are quilted, and two are on the slate to be quilted today. Three are sitting in the front hall waiting to be delivered, and I've already given away three. 

In total, that equals 213 quilts. Never mind that I have two more large tubs with quilt tops and backings I made before we started this project that are slated for community projects. 

Let's just say that if Diane is willing to sew? I'm willing to feed her with something to sew. I do NOT need all this. All I can say is that I'd be in a HUGE mess without her generous offer to sew quilt tops! Thank you, Diane!!! I'm afraid to touch base with Cathy, who also took scrapes and other bits from me, but I should see what she has completed! 

What is scary is that I have NOT touched my personal stash for most of this. Yes -- I have dug in to find some backings or a border, but I have NOT touched that stash. And that makes me very afraid. How much fabric is in that stash? Way MORE than what I've been giving to Diane! At first, I wasn't going to touch my stash other than to use it for backings, but that thought has long gone from my head. I'm down to three tubs of "donated" fabric, and it's becoming harder to find coordinates.

So I'm going to dig through my stash, color by color, mix these neutrals from the three tubs, and start giving her that when she needs it. I'll be selective when I touch the stash -- I do NOT want to give everything away, but I know what I keep skipping over and that no longer needs to be there. 

Or I might focus on my flannels and try and use them all up. Maybe that's what I'll do. I'll have to see how I feel in the next couple of days and look around, and if I could clear all the flannels, that would clear an entire length of two shelves in the stash room. Yep -- -I might just do that! 

I did not clear up any more papers yesterday, but I should. Too much reading -- well, I'm lying in bed, which is not good for my body. So I need to move!!!!! How will I ever get old? 

I'm up-to-date on the Amazing Race Canada. OK -- those episodes were just too darn stressful. We see how the episode was edited, but what was the actual time difference between the arriving teams?? And seriously?? Those brothers were amazing! I cannot believe the physicality they put into that last episode; they deserve an award for that. The other speed bump for a previous group was NOT nearly as challenging. 

Well, that's it for me. I really need to get busier, so the blog is more interesting. But it's still all about decluttering and quilting! Yes --- I'm tackling all that flannel fabric. Oh --- I have to go -- I'm so excited now! I have a purpose for my day!!!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Long Live the Queen

What can I say about Queen Elizabeth? It is a terrible sadness that she has passed and to think she swore in the new Prime Minister just two days ago! I never met the Queen, never attended an event where she was present. But I remember her picture hanging on the wall of my one-room schoolhouse so many years ago, and she became a presence to an impressionable 6-year-old. 

Whether you agree with the monarchy or not, you must give her credit for her grace, determination, and dedication. And a certain someone recently married into that family makes me angry that they totally disregarded all that for whatever their personal agenda is. It is a shame that the Queen's biggest enemy appeared within her own family. 

The Queen wasn't afraid of color, and this photo montage is one of my favorite ways to remember the Queen. I love the bright colors and the classy way she wore them. And how many hats do you think she had made over the years? What happens to those hats? Wouldn't it be cool to own one of the Queen's hats? Especially the orange one? Or to stand in her hat room and try on all those hats? Gosh -- I hope that isn't disrespectful!! 

The Queen in glorious colors!

Rest in peace, Queen Elizabeth II; you have indeed served your country proud!!!

On the other hand? I'm feeling like a slug! I get up late, and I go to bed early. I nap in the afternoon, or I'm reading, or I'm reading in bed. I did spend a bit more time on the phone yesterday than I planned, but it was something that had to be done. 

Even Murphy is checking me out to see if I'm OK and why I am in bed so much!!!

MOM -- are you OK?? 

Some parts of my feet are itchy, which I suspect is a good thing -- isn't itchiness a sign of healing? I get the joy of changing the bandages today. Where's my nurse when I need her? But I don't think it'll be too bad. It's just the toenail thing that is going to creep me out. But probably not as much as the rat that Murphy caught (found) in the backyard last night. I know there's an issue in the city, but this close to our house??? We have no food out there, but maybe they are attracted by the neighbor's garden? Anyway, I heaved it over the fence once she let it go. 

My biggest problem is I'm restless! I watched two episodes of Amazing Race Canada and one more. I could barely watch for fear of who might be eliminated. But it was a non-elimination leg, and so everyone continues!! What will happen in the episode I get to watch today? And there's a new season of the Great British Baking Show. Yeah! 

And my book --- I'm halfway through the book and trying to keep myself from looking ahead. These books with dastardly secrets!!! How do the characters get themselves into such trouble? And how do the authors dream up these scenarios? The book is "I know my name" by C.J. Cooke. Again -- it's a physical book; if anyone wants it -- it's yours. Otherwise, it's going in the donation bin. 

I managed to do a smidgen of sorting on that large pile that resulted from my work the previous day. I have more to go through, and then I'll start again! Yeah!!! I might try that later today. 

I managed to trim that entire pile of half-square triangles while I watched the Amazing Race. 

Half square triangles trimmed

I have to figure out what to make with these. 

And then I got a small quilt done on the long arm. 

Community project quilt done

And then I felt somewhat energetic that I got one more done. 

Community project quilt - DONE

I have a roll of polyester batting that I'm using for these small flannel quilts. I don't like it, but I want to get it used up! And then I dug out some more flannel quilts that Diane had made. I might as well get all the flannel stuff out of the way. That's my goal, but I won't do more than two a day. That should keep me busy for a while, as I know more quilts are coming from Diane and Cathy, so I need to try and keep somewhat on top of it. If for no other reason than to have room to store the new stuff. 

Don't worry -- I'm not on my feet much. Once I get the quilts loaded, and I'm much faster than one hour now -- I let the machine do the work, and I can sit down. I hate to say that I don't feel like I've got a lot of energy which drives me crazy! But by next week, I should be pretty much back to normal!!

Shoes are still not an option!! But the sandals work well, but I have to be careful because the pressure points are exactly where the straps are, and while it doesn't hurt, I don't want to rub off my new skin. I'm cautious. 

I spied this on my short walk into the woods yesterday. Why was it there? Apparently, they replaced a light post at one of the entrances, and I saw it when I ventured out again for a SHORT walk. Hey -- I'll explode if I don't. 

A digger in the forest

This has always been me. When I needed emergency surgery on my appendix (Grade 12), I was out of bed the next day and pacing up and down the halls. The hospital finally sent me home (I got a ride to my school and took the school bus home!). So this is NOT out of character for me!!! But I will be careful --- oh, don't you worry about that! 

It's time to get moving on my slow-paced day! What will the excitement be? Who will be eliminated from Amazing Race? Will I finish my book? Maybe, I'll dig out a jigsaw puzzle? 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!