Ode to my new Shark Vacuum Cleaner

New Shark vacuum cleaner -
I love you!  I love you! I love you!

Now that I can repeat many times more!
Best part is that it cleaned my floor!
Dust mice, threads and grit

Whatever - I love my new vacuum cleaner! (and I'm NOT going to post the NEXT line which involves a word starting with S and ending with T!)

Design Wall for Week 30 - 07-27-15

BINDING NEEDED - Log Cabin quilt.
My darling daughter custom quilted this - and it's GORGEOUS!

FLIMSY - NEEDS QUILTING!
 This will probably go to the preemie baby ward

FLIMSY - NEEDS QUILTING!!!
This will probably go to the preemie baby ward as well!

ON POINT CLASS - PIECING

PIECING - JANUARY'S UFO - Irish Double Chain

PIECING - NOT A LE - BUT A DO-THIS-BECAUSE-I'M-BORED-AND-DON'T-WANT-TO-WORK-ON-WHAT-I'M-SUPPOSED-TO!  Virginia Bound by Bonnie Hunter - I love this - but screwed up - should have added a 1/4 inch all the way around and I didn't!  Drat it!  Still I think it will be a handsome quilt - chopped points and all!

Menues for Week 30 - 07-26-15

Hmm - end of the month.... before my check comes in!!!!  What to fix?  What to fix?

Why not (novel thought here!) food on hand?  Also called - ANOTHER good reason to have food storage!!!!

SUNDAY
B:turkey sausage, cheesy omelet (my favorite!), homemade toast from home made and ground wheat bread, butter, coffee
L:Egg salad sandwich on whole wheat bread, milk
D:leftovers
S:fruit

MONDAY
B:Cheerios, milk (from non-instant powdered milk - served COLD!), homegrown blackberries
L:Green bean soup (from last of last year's dehydrated green beans - in beef broth), coffee
D:homemade pizza (cheese), milk
S:fruit

TUESDAY
B:Toad in the hole (yup - gotta try it - should be good!), coffee, milk
L:tossed greens 'n' things salad with homemade French dressing, milk
D:Fish chowder, whole wheat rolls, tossed salad, milk
S:fruit

WEDNESDAY
B:Poached eggs on homemade whole wheat toast, milk, coffee
L:Grilled cheese sandwich, milk, coffee
D:leftovers or pancake night
S:fruit

THURSDAY
B:Rolled Oats, brown sugar, butter, coffee, milk
L:lo casserole dish (the rice one!), milk
D:Lasagne - vegetarian, tossed salad, milk
S:Fruit

FRIDAY
B:Fritters (blackberry!)
L:lo lunch dish (soup?, egg salad?, lo casserole? or pbj!), milk
D:Fish "provencal", small potatoes (boiled or steamed), greens, tomatoes, milk
S:Fruit

SATURDAY
B:Coffeecake
L:Crock pot - chicken pot "pie", coffee or tea
D:Tortas, salad, fruit, milk
S:Fruit

Stash Report for Week 30 - 07-26-15

2015
07-26-15 - Week 30 - Nothing new!  STILL!!!!  I've been trying to clean while babysitting AWAY from home (babysitting AT home is a LOT easier - and I can clean then - but not when I'm not here!)  As for my studies - ugh - hate to even think of that!  Quilting - so many plans/so much fabric/so nothing done!!!!  AGAIN!!!!  STILL!!!!
Used This Week: 0 yards/Used This month (July): 0 yards/Used Year to Date: 4.25 yards 
Added This Week: 0 yard/Added This Month:0 yards in July/Added Year to Date: 4.33 yard
Net Used for 2015: +1.92 yards

Goals for Week 30 - 07-26-15R

GO AND DO
Done Make appt - PT
Done Make appt - hearing
Done Post office
Done Babysit with Evan and Lilly
HOUSE

• Zone 1
• Front Porch 
• Done WHB
• Entrance and 2nd floor landing
• Done WHB
• Back Stairs
• Done WHB
• Zone 2
• Kitchen
• Done WHB
• Zone 3
• Bath
• Done WHB
• Laundry Room
• Done WHB
• Sewing room
• Done Zone - see Bonnie's Spiff up
• Done WHB
• Zone 4
• Bedroom
• Done WHB
• Zone 5:
• Living Room
• Done Zone
• Done WHB
• Study
• Done Zone
• Done WHB

EDUCATION (repeat last week's - didn't do anything!)

• RELIGION
• Complete P. module
• How to Run
• Done 398-403
• Done 403-407
• Done 407-415
• Done 415-419
• Done 419-426
• Done 426-431
• Done 431-437
• Done 437-442
• SCIENCE (doing review of some of work)
• Catch up
• Review 
• Done CB4
• Done CB5
• Done CB6
• Done CB7
• EARTH
• Origins: The Evolution of Continents, Oceans and Life
• Done New Look at an Old Planet
• Watch 
• Blue Planet
• Done (5a) Bonus Material
• Review (because I LIKE the DVD) Origins - 
• Done Earth is Born
• Done How Life Began
• Done Where Are the Aliens
• Done Back to the Beginning
• Read + Notes - Story of Earth
• Done Hadeon Eon - Birth
• Done The Big Thwack
• Done Black Earth 
• Done Blue Earth
• Done Gray Earth
• Oxygen
• Done p. 1 - Intro
• Done p. 16 - In the Beginning
• Life on a Young Planet
• Done Chapter 1
• Done Everlasting Sea
• EXERCISE
• Done Call for PT appt
• ALGEBRA
• Done Lesson 13
• CREATIVE WRITING
• Level 4
• Done 1 -1
• Done 1-2
• Done 1-3
• Done 1-4
• Done 2-1
• HANDWRITING
• B - 
• Done 13
• Done 14
• Done 15
• RUSSIAN
• Done Lesson 33
• Done Lesson 34
• Done Lesson 35
• Done Lesson 36
• LEARNING TO LEARN MODULE
• Done Ch. 8
• Done Ch. 9 
• MUSIC
• Done Rachmaninoff - 2nd C
• Review sect 1-11
• intensive 12 - 14
• once over up through rest of first movement - through 16

QUILT

• Done STASH REPORT (Sunday)
• Done DESIGN WALL (Monday)
• Done 15 MINUTE "SPIFF UP" WITH BONNIE (IN STITCHES' BONNIE!) (Wednesday)

Goals for Week 29 - 07-19-15R

GO AND DO
Done Dr. visit
Done Post office
Done Babysit with Evan and Lilly
HOUSE

• Zone 1
• Front Porch 
• Done WHB
• Entrance and 2nd floor landing
• Done WHB
• Back Stairs
• Done WHB
• Zone 2
• Kitchen
• Done WHB
• Zone 3
• Bath
• Done WHB
• Laundry Room
• Done WHB
• Sewing room
• Done Zone - see Bonnie's Spiff up
• Done WHB
• Zone 4
• Bedroom 
• Done Zone
• Done WHB
• Zone 5: 
• Living Room
• Done WHB
• Study
• Done WHB

EDUCATION (repeat last week's - didn't do anything!)

• DAILY
• MUSIC
• Done Rachmaninoff - 2nd C
• Review sect 1-11
• intensive 12 - 14
• once over up through rest of first movement - through 16
• SUN, MON, TUES
• HANDWRITING
• B - 
• Done 10
• Done 11
• Done 12
• CREATIVE WRITING
• Level 3
• L. 14 - 
• Done 14-4
• WED, THURS, FRI
• SCIENCE (doing review of some of work)
• Catch up
• L4 5
• Done 4-1 Lab
• Done 4-2 Lab
• Done 4-Plant ID
• Review 
• Done CB1
• Done CB2
• Done CB3
• LEARNING TO LEARN MODULE

• Done Ch. 6 
• Done Ch. 7

QUILT

• Done STASH REPORT (Sunday)
• Done DESIGN WALL (Monday)
• Done 15 MINUTE "SPIFF UP" WITH BONNIE (IN STITCHES' BONNIE!) (Wednesday)

Bonnie's In-Studio "Spiff-up" or "Hmmm -- there seems to be a pattern developing here! " - #3

Hmmm -- there seems to be a pattern developing here!  On Wednesday's I have Bonnie's "spiff-up" - unfortunately - by the time Wednesday rolls around, I'm tired - and spiffing ANYTHING up is the LAST thing on my mind!

That being said - for the next 30 minutes I'm pretending like it is Wednesday.  After that 30 minutes are up - life can go back to being Saturday!  In fact, I would really like it to!

Bonnie's 3rd assignment (http://institcheswithbonnie.blogspot.com/2015/01/15-minute-studio-spiff-up-week-3.html) is to straighten up the FQ collection.

Ummmm - mine isn't in TOO bad of a shape - mostly because I store my FQ in plastic shoeboxes and by predominant color.  IDEALLY however, once cut into - the FQ is no longer a true FQ - and needs to move on to large hunks of scraps.  However I don't have a good system in place for that - just grocery bags where everything is jumbled.  So the cut-into FQ goes BACK into the box - hopefully with the cut side out so that I can tell I used part of it.

There is a down side to doing it this way.  For some wierd reason - I will use YARDAGE.  I will use SCRAPS.  But - I DONT seem to use the FQ - and so they linger and linger and linger!  I'm better about it than I used to be - especially since some of the quilts I've been working on DO use FQ.  However, given half a chance, I ignore the FQ and go for the scraps almost every time!

.....
This hasn't seemed to take too long - and hopefully I will find my camera so that I can take pix of some of my FQ collections.  It isn't terribly extensive - and it would be SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO easy to "just drift into the quilt shop and pick a few" now and then!  good thing that I head QUICKLY - head down, past any temptation and back to the sewing tables for class!

Design Wall for Week 28 - 07-13-15

And a very HAPPY SHOUT OUT to my daughter Wendy who was born this day - and I'm NOT saying how many years ago! (not if I value my life!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WENDY!!!!

****************************************************

Not a lot of changes here...........

BINDING

The Log Cabin Wendy quilted for me - needs binding still!

 QUILTING

Buckeye Beauty baby quilt

Baby quilt #1 from extra squares

Baby quilt #2 from extra squares

PIECING

Virginia Bound
BLAST IT - I forgot that I had to add 1/4 inch to all sides!
Now not only will 6 squares be too small - but my points will be REALLY chopped
(instead of only slightly chopped like usual!)

 CLASS (PIECING)

On Point quilt pattern
It's a BOM with 2/month.
So far I'm working on the second block for last January!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WENDY!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WENDY!!!!

Here's wishing you a fantastic birthday 

with special wishes come true!

Love you, my daughter!

Mom

Goals for Week 28 - 07-12-15R

GO AND DO
WENDY'S BIRTHDAY!!!!
Done Summer clothes shift (long sleeve stuff away and get the skinny shirts out!)
Done Post office
Done Babysit with Evan and Lilly
HOUSE

• Zone 1
• Front Porch 
• Done WHB
• Entrance and 2nd floor landing
• Done WHB
• Back Stairs
• Done WHB
• Zone 2
• Kitchen
• Done WHB
• Zone 3
• Bath
• Done Zone
• Done WHB
• Laundry Room
• Done Zone
• Done WHB
• Sewing room
• Done Zone 
• Done WHB
• Zone 4
• Bedroom 
• Done WHB
• Zone 5: 
• Living Room
• Done WHB
• Study
• Done WHB

EDUCATION (repeat last week's - didn't do anything!)

• DAILY
• RUSSIAN
• Done Lesson 33
• Done Lesson 34
• Done Lesson 35
• Done Lesson 36
• ALGEBRA
• Done Lesson 10
• Done Lesson 11
• Done Lesson 12
• MUSIC
• Done Rachmaninoff - 2nd C
• Review sect 1-11
• intensive 12 - 14
• once over up through rest of first movement - through 16
• EXERCISE
• Done Yoga

QUILT

• Done STASH REPORT (Sunday)
• Done DESIGN WALL (Monday)
• Done 15 MINUTE "SPIFF UP" WITH BONNIE (IN STITCHES' BONNIE!) (Wednesday)
• FOCUS on above

Stash Report for Week 28 - 07-12-15

2015
07-12-15 - Week 28 - AGAIN - No finishes - drat it!  Maybe today......  NOT counting new batting as fabric though!

You know how when you plan something that life has a way of laughing up its sleeve?  Yup!  It happened!  I've been in a state of grandmother delight - babysitting my grandson while my daughter in law was trying to recuperate from a combination of nasty concussion and the sinus infection from He!! !!!  Have had a wonderful time - and DID have time to actually quilt/clean house/do other stuff - if only I could have stayed awake!  

I DID manage to pull out a LOT of stuff (paperwork), more paperwork, my sewing projects, more paperwork yet, and thoroughly discombobulate any and all sense of almost order that ever existed (if any!).  this week I'm trying to back track and get it all either (1) put away, or (2) more likely, stashed in any neat hiding places that I wish I had!

I DID manage to work on my sewing room though - and pictures would be wonderful - if only the world was ready for that!  Let's just say that it resembled the aftermath of a war zone! And now, after concerted effort, it has managed to de-escalate to a rather unfortunate resemblance to several major battles!

Used This Week: 0 yards
Used This month (July): 0 yards
Used Year to Date: 4.25 yards 

Added This Week: 0 yard
Added This Month:0 yards in July
Added Year to Date: 4.33 yard

Net Used for 2015: +1.92 yards

Bonnie's In-studio spiff up (OOPS! Pretend it's last Wednesday!) - #2

#2 OOPS!  07-11-15 - Guess who forgot!  I'm going to pretend it's last Wednesday and do it TODAY!

Bonnie assigned Step 2 as the day to "Tackle your cutting space." 
>http://institcheswithbonnie.blogspot.com/2015/01/15-minute-studio-spiff-up-week-2.html<  (I would love to comment on her blog - but for some wierd reason - my computer won't let me comment on ANYONE's blog - drat it!)  At any rate - this one may take a while - mostly because I need to figure out WHERE I'm putting the stuff I take OFF of the table!

Granted - I have one of those vertical office file thingies that hang up on the wall - like they have in Dr. offices - and use that for holding  patterns - mostly applique patterns.  This HAS to sit on the table since my plaster is so old and weak that it would shatter if I tried to nail a nail into it!  I also have little trays - a cutting tool tray - has scissors, slicers, etc. in it - that I use on that table.  And I a baggie for scraps - which hangs on the doorknob right next to the table with those plastic rulers hanging right above.

My "work" door - actually a door to a closet that is extraordinarily narrow.
I use the door for sewing machine directions, paper piecing patterns,
goals, and mostly for rulers and templates that I use a LOT!
(the 6.5 x 24" I use on yardage, an 18.5" one, a skinny little 3.5 x 12.5" and a 4.5 square)

All my other rulers sit inside the closet
hanging on hooks that are probably as old as time!
On the floor sit a craft case and my rollaway sewing machine bag.

Table is semi-cleaned up.
You can see the plastic vertical file holder filled with quilt patterns.
You can also see the green felt covering different miniature "design walls"
that I can  toss into my sewing machine bag.  The yellow Nestle Qwik cans
I use to toss thread and snip its into and when full take them to the LQS for a
lady who makes doggie pillows from them.  We will NOT discuss the
cardboard boxes of SCRAPS hiding in various places!

My sewing machine desk - machine sits on an old cutting mat - that is warped beyond belief!
Next to the machine is the gray cutting mat that I use for quick snips as needed.
Top drawer holds all my thread - well... SOME of all my thread.  More thread is in
its own case tucked in the center open space (along with pin boxes, directions for the machine).
  The bottom drawer holds 2 trays - one for scissors and slicers, the other for odds and
ends - like pencils - stuff like that!

The pictures are OLD - and so right now, my goal is to at the least get it BACK to that level of decluttering and picking up - and then figure out WHERE my problems are (as in accumulation of fabric - scraps and yardage) on the cutting table and see what I can do to resolve that!

Design Wall for Week 27 - 07-06-15

NOTE:
Some of the quilts do not have pix as yet - but I wanted to get this posted.  Currently I'm babysitting my grandson - will post the pix later!

BINDING

Log Cabin Quilt - more of the quilting detail!
STILL working on stitching down the binding!
Some year I may actually get it done!

QUILTING

Baby Quilt 1 from extra blocks

Baby Quilt 2 from extra blocks

Buckeye Beauty baby quilt

There is one more!  
Unfortunately I don't have pictures of it - 
mostly because it isn't THAT far along yet!

4 baby blankets!!!  2 flimsies from last week (see note about Valence), 1 Buckeye Beauty and 1 hopefully finished Sunday - or Monday.

PIECING

(No pix - sorry!  I forgot!)

*Stars and Strips  (orig. was Stars and Ribbons)

*On Point BOM blocks

 - bring up to date!

On Point block 1 -
called "Broken Dishes" which is NOT
the broken dishes pattern I'm familiar with!

APPLIQUE 

*Halloween wall hanging 

Other Halloween items

The hanging has been untangled and the threads cut
that inadvertently were wound around the hoop!
Now to sew it back together!

************************************
WHAT I WORKED ON THIS PAST WEEK!

2 baby quilt flimsies completed the same afternoon they were started!!!

Menues for Week 27 - 07-05-15

My menues for this week (and probably the next few months) are from SparkPeople.com - which is a FREE site that includes foods, exercises, community, emotional support for weight loss.  I do like this site - and am choosing to use their menues, instead of plugging in other foods that I choose - which is also possible.

SUNDAY
B:Grapefruit or other fruit in season, toast with cream cheese (I use neufchatel), tea
L:Asian Chicken Salad with Whole-Wheat crackers; tomato slices with cottage cheese; fruit cocktail
D:Brown rice with Chopped Broccoli and Almonds; Applesauce; Milk
S:Peanut butter and celery; herbal tea

MONDAY
B:Peanut butter toast, orange juice; yogurt
L:strawberry yogurt, salad with strawberries and walnuts, crackers
D:garlic Ginger Rice with Almonds; green beans; blueberries, milk
S:Peanut butter and celery; herbal tea

TUESDAY
B:Flake cereal (Kashi?), milk, banana, tea
L:Strawberry yogurt; salad with strawberries and walnuts; crackers
D:vegetarian spaghetti with lentil sauce, cantaloupe
S:turkey breast with salad

WEDNESDAY
B:Cheerios (try Kashi warm Cinnamon O's), blueberries, tea
L:Asian Chicken Salad with whole wheat crackers, tomato slices with cottage cheese, fruit cocktail
D:Chicken Marsala atop whole wheat spaghetti, broccoli, cottage cheese topped pineapple, herbal tea
S:Celery with peanut butter (they say cashew butter - which I don't have!)

THURSDAY
B:Flake cereal, milk, banana, tea
L:Broiled tilapia Parmesan, wild rice, salad, oranges or other fruit, milk
D:Ground turkey burger, tomato slices, topped with cottage cheese, apple, tea
S:Grilled chicken salad

FRIDAY
B:Warm Cinnamon O's (Kashi), blueberries, tea
L:Baked sweet potato topped with black beans, brown rice, sour cream and salsa, tangerine or other fruit,  milk
D:Skillet white beans and tomatoes over spaghetti with Parmesan cheese, fruit cocktail
S:Salad greens with cranberry vinaigrette and almonds, tea

SATURDAY
B:Shredded Wheat with Blueberries, coffee
L:Salmon salad, Greek Yogurt with Berries, wheat roll
D:Salmon, Brown Rice, Mixed Vegetable, Pineapple topped with cottage cheese, decaf coffee
S:Turkey Breast with salad

All of this is adjustable!

Goals for Week 27R - WB 07-05-15R

GO AND DO
Done Post office
Done Babysit with Evan and Lilly
HOUSE

• Zone 1
• Front Porch 
• Done WHB
• Entrance and 2nd floor landing
• Done WHB
• Back Stairs
• Done WHB
• Zone 2
• Kitchen
• Done WHB
• Zone 3
• Bath
• Done WHB
• Laundry Room
• Done WHB
• Sewing room
• Done WHB
• Zone 4
• Bedroom 
• Done WHB
• Zone 5: 
• Living Room
• Done WHB
• Study
• Done WHB

GARDEN

• Harvesting 
• Done blackberries?

KITCHEN - get pantry ready for lts/ menue will be Spark People (trying to lose weight) for the next 3 months

• COOK
• BREAD
• Done Challah
• Done whole wheat bread

EDUCATION (repeat last week's - didn't do anything!)

• DAILY
• RUSSIAN
• Done Lesson 31
• Done Lesson 32
• Done Lesson 33
• Done Lesson 34
• ALGEBRA
• Done Lesson 7
• Done Lesson 8
• Done Lesson 9
• Done Lesson 10
• Done Lesson 11
• Done Lesson 12
• MUSIC
• Done Rachmaninoff - 2nd C
• Review sect 1-10
• intensive 10-12
• once over up through rest of first movement - through 16
• Czardas
• EXERCISE
• Done Yoga
• SUN, MON, TUES
• RELIGION
• EARTH
• HANDWRITING
• B - 
• Done 7
• Done 8
• Done 9
• CREATIVE WRITING
• L. 14 - 
• Done 14-1
• Done 14-2
• Done 14-3
• WED, THURS, FRI
• SCIENCE (doing review of some of work)
• Catch up

• LEARNING TO LEARN MODULE
• Done Ch. 5 second half
• ART
• Done Lesson 4 

QUILT

• Done STASH REPORT (Sunday)
• Done DESIGN WALL (Monday)

Stash Report for Week 27 - 07-05-15

07-05-15 - Week 27 - 2 more flimsies and a valence (that still needs the trim).  No finishes - drat it!  Maybe today......

Used This Week: 0 yards/Used This month (June): 1.750 yards, (July) 0 yards/Used Year to Date: 4.25 yards 

Added This Week: 0 yard/Added This Month:2.33 yards in June, 0 yards in July/Added Year to Date: 4.33 yard

Net Used for 2015: +1.92 yards

Vickie W's UFO Challenge

July 1, 2015

# Project In Process #1, 7, 4, 86, 12 plus swaps

# Projects Completed 2 flimsies and 3 valences - all #4

# new project started - uhm - the 2 flimsy baby blankets, 4 more projects

# UFOs trashed - thinking about 2-4 - not done yet!

# projects in process June 30 - 11

Wednesday - "in studio spiff up" #1

I recently looked with a Fresh Eye at my apartment/house.  Oy Vey!  Amazing how a mess creeps up!  Especially when it creeps up until it is overwhelming!  Not the worst by any means, but I glanced into my sewing room - and - egads!  What tornado hit here????

Somewhere over this past week, I checked on a fellow blogger's blog - Institches with Bonnie - and found the 15 minute studio spiff up page!  While I most certainly am NOT doing before pictures - I am thinking of maybe AFTER pictures (which will still look pretty Before to others - but fine to me!) as I journey through the weeks of blog URLs she has posted and work on MY sewing room as well!

#1 - Vacuum whatever amount of floor I can get to!  I like this blog list of Bonnie's already!!!!
#2 - List any and all UFO projects.  Bonnie uses an Excel spreadsheet.  I don't dare - since I am a Procrastination winner at using any and all spread sheets!  Simple is best for me!  I KNOW what still needs to be done to various projects - even when they are 12, 15, and 20 years old (thankfully I got rid of the pretty dress I had sewn for my dd that still needed buttons and a hem!  She was 6 at the time - and over 39 plus - when I re-homed it in year 2000!!!)

So far I have over 86 quilty things listed - not counting the 2 baby blankets, nor the other projects (5 of them!) I began this past week!  Somehow I don't think my mind has grasped the concept of winnowing DOWN the number of UFOs!

I also found Vickie Welsh's UFO challenge and may do that as well!  Who knows!  I may even complete some and at least NOT add any more for a while!  One thing she does that I'm adopting is that she posts a list of things done - and I think I may do that as well!  so - Another page - and a once a month post!  Sounds good!

By NO MEANS is this all of my UFOs.
I have more - LOTS more - in boxes on the bottom or
bottom 2 of each of the 3 shelving units in the room

More of the UFOs - on the very bottom shelf.

My project basket
IDEALLY it would hold ONLY 1 WIP for machine piecing, 1 flimsy for quilting,
maybe 1 for binding, 1 for applique.
Ideally!
Not that I'm admitting to a mass pile-up or anything!

And for the truly BAD parts.......

Obviously this is the BEFORE picture from working without picking up and putting away!