I Have Such Wonderful Children...

Seriously - my kids are great!  Of course they're fully grown - one married and one certainly thinking that way! 

Anyway - Wendy gave me all the info I needed to "fix" my blogs so that there was PLENTY of spaces!  AND I have a FEW of the old pix save - but (sniff) not many of those I managed to earn!!!!  I rather imagine that if I contact the lady I got them from and went to an old website I might find them - certainly hope so!

I also hope to get my regular photo pix up and running as well!

BUT.... until then, I'm sewing up a storm!

Oh yeah - finally did send the Carpenter Star Quilt on to Wendy - will do a show and tell when it eventually gets back to me!  I know she's busy - and this may take a year or more to get there - but I don't want to push her.  She does such beautiful work!

Woo Hoo!  Wendy has TWO books coming out! - One is a collection from Breeze - that's a literary group she belongs too - most definitely will enjoy that!

BUT the OTHER one - that's an anthology of some of Wendy's works!  Oh so very cool!  Can hardly wait to see and read!

Congrats, Wendy!!!!! 

Son called yesterday - honestly - am so excited about the "other house" near here getting worked on - have been staying away.  BUT - we are also working on MY room, the sewing room, living room and dining room here this summer - and possibly upstairs as well - hopefully!  Would LOVE to have that front porch done as well - but we'll see!  I may move into the other house in the interim.  Do wonder though how much it would cost to rent this unit out - I REALLY do not like moving - although you would never believe it with all the moving around I do! (Upstairs to downstairs, to son's while my bathroom and kitchen were being remodeled). 

Besides he is wanting me to move orchard trees and garden over there - which I think would probably be a good idea.  Soil here is certainly better than it was for sure!  AND I would have a LOT of garden space over there - trees, a huge back AND a huge side yeard as well.  Hmmm - have to think on this one!  Briefly! 

Downside - it does have STAIRS in it - 2 sets - but is like a condo - sorta!  And I really like that!  Plus it will have or has soundproofing between the units - which is even better! 

Would miss my neighbours from here though - even if I moved only 2 blocks away!  Folks just don't like to really walk and visit like they did when I was a kid growing up!  I have neighbours from many different countries - and I thoroughly enjoy each and every person as well as the flavour and customs of each different culture!  So very neat!

And, too, all the big dogs (the ones other folks are scared of) know me and act like overgrown puppies around me - knowing that I love them all!  LOL - Frustrates my neighbours (especially the ones who say their dogs are fierce watch or guard dogs!  NOT!) no end!

Does anyone know how......

Does anyone know how to put paragraphs/indentations, etc. into their posts?

Mine seems to ignore all indications that I want a paragraph or any kind of spacing - no matter WHAT I do.... (and yes, I even would skip up to 2 and 3 LINES in order to give my - and your - eyes a bit of a break!!!

PS - Wendy just called - AND...... (Ta Da!)  I can now.... not only edit - but ALSO do paragraphs, identations and such!!!  (such an easy thing to figure out!  LOL)

Now that I Know HOW.....

Yeehaw - I can EDIT!!!!! FINALLY figured that part out!

Now to figure out how to take pix and upload to my computer - or to my blog - whichever!!! And to the owners of the blog - I apologize!!! Profusely! Even though I still believe that if something isn't broken - DON'T fix it!

More later - am off to a rousing morning of home-doned PT (they called and cancelled - yippee - saves me 3 hours! 2 of which are travel time!) and my "homeschool" (don't ask - I just re-set my studies - and already I'm behind!- so what else is nu?) as well as cleaning, paper sorting and .... and....

Oh yeah - this afternoon I plan on SEWING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just saw a neat idea on Heidi's blog - I too have these hideous plastic crates that I use for.... holding my study books when not in use, a launching pad of stuff I NEED to remember to take to the car/deliver/drop off, holding my ironing (they aren't big enough for all my mending!) So - I may be working on that this weekend - along with a kajillian other things!

Other noteworthy events - I had planned on going out to lunch with some of my former co-workers (I'm the former - they're still current) - but one of my friends couldn't make it - so we're re-scheduling for February - am thinking of a bigger group anyway!d Should be fun! At least 2 management, 2 team leaders, including my adopted sister, and several of my co-workers! Hmmn - not sure how I'm going to do this! Oh well, I'll figure it out!

Former... - oh yeah - well - I was laid off - which is just as well since there was NO WAY I wanted to go back through another spring season there - I don't do well under stress and pressure - and boy, there is definitely stress and pressure.

Not in the negative sense because folks there are great - but it is the sheer volume of work and the fact that it ALL has to be ACCURATE which is my waterloo right there! Not that I'm not accurate - but when it usually doesn't count as much! When it does - OH MY!

Regardless, I love the folks there dearly and miss them terribly - and I know they miss me as well. I don't have sour grapes about it because they kept me on a lot longer than I would have in their shoes, for sure! Terrific people!

Other news - I just harvested the last of my fall cabbages - well, ALMOST the last one - and the last I'm going to attempt harvesting - there are 2 more - little bitty things! It has now gotten VERY COLD although today is warmer than it has been. And I've finally discovered the cabbages to put up for fall/winter harvest - Savoy cabbages - they don't seem to hold as much water as the other ones! Which is what I want for winter harvest!

This week - today I am thinking - I'm sending one quilt top to be quilted and by tomorrow at the latest will have 3 packages ready to send of row strips (TG!!!!!) - and with a bit of luck - that last of all my swaps as well!!!!!! Re the quilt top - it will take quite a while for Wendy to get around to it, I'm sure - but it will be gorgeous when done! It is just that she doesn't really have a lot of time - because she is now in an entirely different type of position than what she used to be and is EXHAUSTED by the time she gets home - so we'll see! Anyway - that's where I'll be re quilt tops this weekend.

Then for the rest of the month I want to work on last year's quilts - finishing up 2 of the 3 baby quilts - with the third one going on THIS YEAR'S list.

LIST - oh yeah, I goofed (amongst all the other times!) I got my list together s- then mostly because of my stupid computer problems and not being able to edit, etc. - I procrastinated on sending the info and URL to Judy L.

Result? I (sob!) missed the date for being ready to post the list! With (sniffle, sniffle!) the slight possibility of being able to identify what number is being posted next - I can still work on that one. If however I can't -= I'll download the hat and use THAT for identifying. OR I'll ask Wendy to close her eyes and pick one! (and NOT the hardest - least done one either!!!!)

That's it for now - more later as I modify/change/edit to my heart's content!

STILL FIGHTING THE "NEW BLOG FORMAT" - UGH!

Ugh - other than getting a DIFFERENT blog spot (which I may do yet) - I honestly don't know what else to do - I have indications that I can edit - but they don't! Instead I get an error message!!!! Ugh!

AND I've posted for help at least twice I know of plus have posted on the forum -= and found others who aren't getting the help either! What gives???? UGH UGH UGH!

Re my Siggies - they're gone! I have to save each of the ones I already have again - and then figure out where I can get others! My old computer crashed - of course - just about the time that the blog stuff was all changed around! Ugh!

Anyway - Quilt list - I'm posting here because I can't change my sidebar - blast it anyway!

2011 SUMMARY - one quilt completed (Carpenter Star), others actually worked on - Underground RR (almost done), Christmas Ribbons (um - fair to middlin'), Samplers (that's a whole other story here!), Double Duty (this should have been a separate number - and I'm STILL looking for my setting triangles =- which I KNOW) I have - in a safe place, of course! The other 7-8 - uhmmmm - yeah!

2012 - I'm carrying over some - and hoping I'll finish up the tad bits on others without them being otherwise mentioned. Oh yeah, I TRULY hope to figure out the camera/photo stuff this year and put that on the second (or 3rd) page. Also am re-vamping a lot of other stuff too!

1. Samplers - this one I MUST do this month - and will trade whatever other item for the numbjer is drawn - so this one HAS to be my January. Let's just say I'm overdue on swaps - and leave it at that. Now if the quilt police show up at my door mid-month - you'll know why! And - this is absolutely the LAST swap I will do - at least at this time - and then ONLY with my dd who understands why I get so uptight about it that I can't do the work!

2. Nathan's quilt - Nathan is my son - very patient - fortunately - and I'm NOT telling how long I've had this quilt WIP

3. Double Duty - I will have sorted all my fabrics - and shelved them by the end of January. Hopefully. So if I haven't tossed - or used them elsewhere I will find the setting triangles - and will finish this doodad up!

4. Block in a block

5. Springin' out all over - my design

6. Child's choice - re-vamping a much disliked other quilt - I think this one will be fun - sort of an I-spy in a box

7. Baby quilt 3 - this is the zoo one. Should be cute - although I think I will change my mind about the chinese coins for a surround! Egads! That's a lot!

8. Victorian Crazy quilt - not expecting to finish this one - just want to work on it

9. Charm around - this was a swap I actually did ON TIME. Only involved sending fabrics around. which is why it was on time! Now to design a quilt around it. Has to be special because the focus fabric I only have a dab of - but I dearly love that fabric!

10. Tobacco Road - this was a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt - and fun for sure!

11. Row by row - uhm -= this depends on my January project - this was the swap I messed up BIG TIME ON - and then a ocuple of others - and it went from there!

12. Quick patch pink and blue - this is strictly a quicky - and is however big it ends up - possible twin bed or possibly a coverlet - not sure. Will be yarn-tied with blue. And there ya have it!

PS - FINALLY!!! I figured out how to edit stuff!!! Yee haw!!!!! Of course I STILL haven't got it figured out how to LIST stuff in the main blog!!!

Yeehaw! I can post!!! I Can Post!!!!

Yeehaw!!!! They fixed it = well, at least SOMEONE did!!!! I can post!!! I can post!!! Since my last post in September, I have been laid off (November 15)- am still on severance pay (TG!) which means my medical is covered - which is the only thing I've been concerned about!

Life here - well, I am enjoying the slower pace TREMENDOUSLY!!!! I've been to open sew - and am cleaning up this place the way I want it to be. I also am reading up a storm and have been putting myself through my own form of homeschool (currently behind - too much medical stuff to wade through!)

Have another quilt - the Carpenter Star - that I'm sending to Wendy - and am trying to finish up some VERY out of date swaps (who will definitely NOT want me back - not that I want to swap again for sure! My life is too chaotic for that!)

Also am finishing up 2 baby mats (the quilting part), 2 baby blankets - and, now that I have the framework of the sewing room back together - am trying to get the 5 bags and 4 bins unpacked, sorted and ready to go - a VERY needful thing since I have all the setting triangles for my Double Duty Quilt mixed up in there SOMEWHERE! Hope to have all that done this weekend - in addition to lighting Chanukkah candles, and wishing friends and family Merry Holidays!

Have signed up for a slew of quilting classes - just trying to figure out now how I'm going to pay for them! :/ They promise to be quite interesting though! One is a Log Cabin class - which isn't really hard although MAKING them is NOT my favorite thing to do - I do love the overall effect though! Another is the Quilt a Quarter class which I'm really excited about! And then there is the Open Sew class. Sigh! And that's just for January!

So I guess between that and housework, and studies, and volunteering either at food pantry and/or hospital as a cuddler that I'm going to be back in a somewhat frenetic pace again! Ugh! I need my brain examined!

Oh yeah - this is my new computer. Unfortunately, however, when the old one died - it took all my Siggies with it - which makes me NOT very happy! I need to replenish, I guess. Barring that - I guess I will have to break down and figure out how to upload photos from my camera to the computer and from there to the blog!!! Hmmm!!!!!

New computer!!!!!!!!!!!

Do NOT ask how I like my Janome!!!!

Grrrr!

Did I say I LIKE my sewing machine? You know - the one that snarls at the drop of a hat (am using quality thread)that breaks almost as fast as I thread it? I KNOW there is a hook somewhere that is catching the thread that SHOULDN'T be - I can see it! That is - I can see the upper thread stretched across the top of the bobbin - just not what is holding it there! At this point I am ready to (1)scream, (2)cry, (3)quit sewing and never sew again - that is, if only I would quit dreaming of new things to sew!

What am I sewing? I'm trying to finish up the last 2 borders on my Carpenter star - in preparation to sending it off to Wendy to do her good stuff on it!

Me thinks I need to set up and get going the new-to-me Singer straight back and forth sewing machine. Nothing fancy - just good sewing!

Wow - look what Wendy is sending to me!!!!

Wow - look what Wendy is sending to me!!!!

She has finished the Friendship Quilt I sent to her!!! Oh my! She is one talented lady!!!!

Oops!

I was TRYING to post on the other pages - and other than editing the original post - I can't figure out how!!!!

It has been one wierd week!

It has been a strange week (only ONE week?) - an earthquake (which I didn't even know about until I read it on FB!) and now a hurricane - which is on its way here. I've never been in a hurricane before (other than the one that came up the Mississippi - and that was just a lot of rain and a little wind).

At any rate there seems to be a whole culture about them. First are the hurricane parties - which I do NOT understand! I mean - like - a hurricane is a disaster - why then celebrate it with a party? Esp when you are using up supplies you may need in the next few days?

Second on the list comes the last minute rushing around and invading the grocery and other stores. Honestly it is worse than Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving) with people being almost as rude and careless! Like - someone backed into my neighbour's car as she was out doing last minute errands. They didn't even apologize - but just drove off. Meanwhile another lady started ranting and raving at my neighbour because my friend's car had blocked the new lady from getting HER car out of the parking space. When my friend stated that she had just been involved in a car accident - the OTHER lady (new lady) screamed that she didn't care but just move her (friend's) car out of the way! Ugh!

What was I doing? Of course - last minute shopping - and hoping - bottled water (none to be found). Came home and carried my expensive purchases indoors (kitty litter, kitty food - both DESPERATELY needed - TODAY! as well as 1 pound cheddar cheese - a splurge!) Anyway - once that was in - I went to my garden - harvested several likely tomatoes, eggplants, green peppers, some potatoes, greens (mustard I think), and am wondering if ANY or even some of this lovely produce will be here after the hurricane finishes in the area! I sure hope so!

Came inside - filled bathtub with water (for flushing the john as well as emergency useage), have filled all available containers with water (two pitchers, 2 thermos, 3 water bottles, and my "carry cups (3)) - this water all Brita filtered. Put that in the refrig - which should work until the power goes out (when I have a big cook-a-thon! - and by which time I can have most if not all water "canned" in my canning jars.

Speaking of canning - I have FISH and tomatoes (last year's) galore in my refrig - REALLY hate the idea of power outage and not being able to use all this lovely bounty - but I have no pressure cooker (item to get on new list) or appropriate jars for pressure canning (think Kerr - NOT the Mayo jars I usually use in Water bath canning). Still though I DO have veggies, so should do fairly well. Shall see! and make notes for next year.

Otherwise - what to do? Clean - of course. And quilt. At least until the electric goes out - then applique or slice and dice until it gets dark - then go to sleep! Oh yeah - and I MUST do laundry TODAY - BEFORE power outage!

Odds and Ends and a Carpenter Star to boot!

Ugh! I was going to post a picture of the project I'm currently working on (finishing up my Carpenter Star - only 3 years overdue!!!) but it would certainly help if I could find my camera! Definitely will be doing some picture posting this week - AFTER I find my camera - and AFTER I figure out HOW!!! Am excited.

The quilt wasn't really as far along as I had thought - but now I have to connect my rows together - tried some - but while I was "in the groove" yesterday - that sure isn't the case today! So - am working on the apartment - and doing laundry - which is really a good thing since I think there may be a ban on my showing up at work in just skin! At the least I know it would take a long time for my boss as well as CT to recover from the shock of it all!

Other stuff - Re-watched DaVinci code which I find interesting - but may decide to re-home the DVD - haven't decided. Not really my cup of tea!

Nathan is here today - and working on the second coat of paint in the bathroom - YAY!!!!

Made some Pasta Fagioli - VERY good - except I like mine spicy hot - and, of course, discovered at the last minute I'm out of hot peppers! I would say I will add those later - but the soup isn't going to last that long! I really hate to say how many cups I inhaled for lunch today!

Garden wise - still weedy - we had a really ominous looking thunderstorm - so no weeding - BUT - I harvested tomatoes (4), a few potatoes (um, a bit late - they were sprouting already!), and one of my eggplants - which are the long skinny kind! And I REALLY want some for supper - AND sooooooo..............

YAY - have reduced BP meds! Go Me! AND I lost 8.5 pounds since June!!! Yeehaw!

Wendy and I played work for 15/play for 45 yesterday and today - was GREAT! Mostly I focused on cleaning up my sewing room - which I did NOT finish - but it is better - a LOT better! YAY!

Two POSTS - what AM I thinking of.....

What! This is some kind of record here! TWO posts in one month! Maybe I should get a reward or something!

I miss Wendy and Vince something awful. I miss Nathan and Lynn too! (Wendy and Vince - back in Canada - relaxing after the visit last weekend - and having company this one! Nathan - in Canada on business - VERY late time getting home Fri night - and on call this weekend! Talked briefly to Lynn on Friday - which is when I found out about Nathan's hours! Short phone call so she could get some rest before picking him up)

Saw Dr. on Fri - and - YAY - I have PT prescribed for me now! Maybe with that my shoulder can give me a bit of relief! (and yes - he did offer me pain shots - No! that particular med is NASTY on the kidneys! and mine may need all the help we can get!)

Also made appt for cystoscopy in Sept. - It's during work rush season again - but I screwed up the last appt - don't dare miss this one! God willing it won't be anything major. But if it is - well, then, it is - and I will deal with it then!

All on hold in the adoption dept until I finish clearing up the remodeling aftermath and get some shelving up (so I can get stuff put AWAY!) and the cystoscopy is done.

Am de-cluttering like a fiend! Well - decluttering anyway! This is of EVERYTHING!

Still haven't worked on quilty stuff for a while - but I'm really getting itchy about it! AND I want to work on my fall wardrobe too!

Oh yeah - I have TOMATOES!!!! RED ones! And POTATOES (from volunteers!) BIG ones!

More later!

....And Now... It's AUGUST!!!! (Ta-da-da-dum! - drum roll here!)

aargh! And now I remember why it is usually a good thing to save my posts as drafts!!!

This particular post last week I tried to post 3 different times! And - my computer got them all!!!! Ugh!

Basically - I wanted to post about seeing my daughter Wendy - which was absolutely delightful! My work gave me the day off. So I had no really uptight time schedule!

We met Kathleen from Liberated Quilters - and then all of us went for pizza slices at the Pizza brick oven place in Simsbury! Was delicious! I will say though that I was really proud of myself for resisting the gorgeous batiks at the fabric shop there~

Wendy and Vince followed me home to my apartment - where we divided up the fabrics galore from Carole! (I still think Wendy came out short!) and then we all journeyed to Nathan and Lynn's where we all ate dinner and spent the night - and talked until fairly late! Next morning I headed back to work from there - and Wendy and Vince headed to Canada.

Friday we had a closing on the other apartment house! Exciting! (I saw the interior for the first time on Thurs night - Nathan had seen it before). Really liked it - and the lot is HUGE!

That's about it for now~

This, that and then the other thing.....!!!

Went to work today. Can I say I felt like warmed over bubonic plague victim???? BUT by the time I can home - I could seriously say - "I survived" Yippee.

Anyway - now to fix dinner - I have some pollock fillets. The last time I fixed this it as so bland as to melt away into nothing. This time I used allrecipes.com - found 2 possible recipes - Pollock Montreal - which I think I will fix - and copy the rest of the menu as well - asparagus (with a sauce) and rice. (Can I say FAT-TE-Ning????)

The other recipe is fish fillets with stuffing which really sounds equally intriguing! Both are rated 4 star high! So - I think I am about to discover some new faves!

Also recieved another RxR from Annie - gosh does that girl ever quilt!!!! And it is lovely! As I have done with each of the others I've recieved - I did a show and tell with both post-mistresses - who are becoming increasingly intrigued with quilts - and online quilt groups. Yay!

Now to clean and cook - but then it is at least 100 F outside - and me with no a/c yet! (Tomorrow is the big day! Excited about that - mostly not because of the heat - though that too - but because it means I will be able to BREATHE!!!!)

How does putrid green sound???

Feel like yuck today. Called in sick. Although I know it isn't - it FEELS like my face is alternating between a putrid green and a grayish beige. Yuck!

Saw Wendy did some quilting today - looks wonderful - as always! She is so talented - and this is not only her mom speaking!

Actually I'm very fortunate - both my kids are fantastic young people and I'm very very proud of both of them! Not so much because of what they do - although that too, but just for being themselves. I count myself very fortunate!

ok - off to beddy bye - which seems to be the place I've spent the most time this past weekend (when I had planned a LOT of delightful things to do!)

July Ho-Hums!

TG June is over - that's one of my busy seasons - and this past one was no exception! Add to that my returning home from a several month (since mid-February) stay at son's home. And yes, the house is NOT finished - but in terms of gasoline, etc. - soooooooo much less expensive to drive to work!!!

for those who are somewhat observant (certainly NOT me - it would take me to mid-December to notice this!!!) I've added 2 buttons - one for Judy Lacquidera's Monochromatic Challenge and one for her stash busting! Both more than well-worth while! (And both of which I am WAYYYYYYYYYYY behind on - working on last January, here!!!)

Other news - I decided after all to put in a garden - have some veggies (plants all) in - and as soon as I figure out where I stashed my garden seed will get that in too. I figure I've got until mid-next week before some of the veggies are on the no-no list for this year! Wish me luck!

Re the remodel - it is gorgeous gorgeous GORGEOUS!!!! LOVE my kitchen - and the bath is painted to match!~ AND I have a DISHWASHER and a REAL STOVE with a REAL OVEN!!! Yeehaw! I'm in hog-heaven!

Okay - who fast forwarded my calendar to May???!!!!

Geez - it seems like April just STARTED!!!!!

This month my challenge is #9. Hmmm - there is ANOTHER stars and stripes thing - this time my kaleidoscope!!!

The monochromatic challenge according to Judy is Red! Good! That is something I CAN do!!!

Swaps I'm in - Charm around (just this week caught up!) Row by row (mine has to be mailed out! - Monday is THE date - though not when it was SUPPOSED to be mailed out! sigh!) AND I've already got the next row by row - and keep envisioning blocks to go into it! I know I shoulda written it all down - because now I've forgotten!

Oh yes - other swaps (see how I keep sidetracking???) - Jacob's ladder - which I HOPE will be in different colors! An advance block - Twinkling star which is NOT twinkling terribly well for me at this point bt had better best be by Tues or Wed when I'm mailing it out! Also a 4 patch ladder which I think wold be cute and fun and may use p some more scraps!

I found out about a quilt retreat this week - which sounds WONDERFUL - in New Hampshire no less! They retreat twice a year - once in May and once in November - this is a ski lodge, btw - so it should be fantabulous!!! Hoping to find a way to go!

More later.....

Just got back from dinner out with son and his girlfriend (who I like a LOT!) It was fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

At any rate Lynn and Nathan (son) had just gotten back from a painting party at my house in W. I'm so excited - but neither will let me see the renovations until they are DONE! - this means paint, cabinets - the whole enchilada! I'm very excited to see it - although the moving back in aspect does NOT thrill me - but then, I'll get over that!

Re shoulder - saw the ER doc - and trying to make an appointment with the regular doc re my shoulder. ER doc thinks it could be an injury to or torn muscles with the scapula. Oh joy! This however would explain the pain, that I can't lift my arm above shoulder height, the pain, and so on. I need physical therapy for this arm for sure! and lots of painkillers!

Oh yes - the big thing - my life has now returned to almost normal - that is, normal for me! No more extended hours, wierd schedule - at least until next month!

More next time!

April???? Oh no... How Could It Possibly Be April????

I just went to Judy L's site - and found out that the NEW UFO challenge for April is #4 and the Monochromatic challenge is Orange. But.... but.... I'm not done with my March challenge (Or January or February's FTM) and just started my monochromatic challenge for March as well (ONLY because I REALLY wanted to start something new,.... - and it happened to be in mostly browns (and golds and orange-y browns).

URGH!!!! I am NOT ready for April - truly I'm not!!!! WAAAHHHH!!!!!!!

I am in so much trouble! ......

I am in so much trouble! I talked to my dd this AM - who gave me 2 delightful recipes - and some possibilities for variation (Strawberry-spinach salad) - MARVELOUS! This girl would rival most chefs with her cooking skills and her creativity!

Then - I made the mistake of going to both Allrecipes.com as well as to the Spark People chef site. I like Wendy's salad better - a LOT better! BUT while I was there at the other two sites - I fell in love with some additional recipes for items I have on hand (it isn't payday week so I like to actually use what I have on hand!) I swear I gained 5 thousand pounds just looking at all the stuff! I even started to plot what I was going to eat when on my menu plan (menu plan GOOD - using what my eyes and salivary glands see online - NOT so good!)

Now I know better than to do this! The last time I did this I spent double what I usually do when I went to the store - and that for only a week's worth (most of which is left over - but that's another story and has to do with starving myself from Mon eve to Wed eve - a whole other adventure in messed up hospital schedules for a procedure!) This time, my saving grace is that I have most if not almost all, the ingredients on hand. So - I will make these items. And freeze the leftovers for NEXT week! If possible. And if I can get them packed for the freezer as soon as the items are done and my day's portion is out.

I am actually looking forward to lunch time this week - neat salads, neat pita sandwiches, neat soups. Yup! all there! Now to keep from eating the items when the 8 PM munchies hit me! (Hmmm - maybe I need to plan for that one as well - so far it has been fruit - which I eat - and then want MORE - and don't really care WHAT more I want either!)

Wendy has been ill - sounds awful - and she's supposedly on the mend. I hate it when my kids are sick - even if my kids are fully grown and have been for some time.
Still I worry.

Oh yes, - Nathan was right about seed starting/planting dates hereabouts - and he was really nice enough (so far) about it when I admitted he was right (I looked at the Old Farmer's Almanac online! Plugged in the addy for Westfield - where I live - and again for Sturbridge where he lives. His plants start a little more than a week later than mine - still earlier than he thought it would.

Mine are not ready yet - BUT I need to have a whole bunch of stuff planted by March 15. That's 2 days from now. First though I need to brush the snow off......

Actually I will get stuff in the ground - just as soon as possible. If I do the beds (not made up yet, of course) then it will be sooner. Otherwise it will be as I can. Stuff that needs to be transplanted - well, most was to be started Feb 28 - but if I get it in the flats tomorrow eve - that will be great! Just don't know where I'll put the flats! And I am not crazy about bringing them here to Sturbridge - however that may be what I need to do - we'll see. I wonder if the flats have lids - that may be the only thing to keep McB away from eating the tender little plants! NEXT year - my side porch will turn into a sort of greenhouse - which I think will work just fine. Greenhouse for early spring and summer/fall sitting place and winter veggie/greens raising place - MAYBE.

Otherwise - today - I am sorting papers - and sewing. Mostly sewing since paperwork is NOT my favorite thing to do! Hopefully will almost finish the Underground RR quilt that I didn't work on during the last week. Think I will declare ANOTHER retreat for this week. Maybe I will actually get some work done!

March - already???!!!!!!?

Hah! On the UFO challenge for March - #1 - YAY!!!! #1 - Baby quilts 1a and 1b!!!! Yeehaw!!!!

Now mind you I am NOT done with number 6 for January, nor am I done with number 10 for February! Add to that the monochromatic challenge - yellow for January, and lilac or purple for February with the NEW monochromatic challenge for March being Brown!

Still and all - I'm somewhat pleased - numbers 6 and 10 were perhaps the most behind (with one more qualifying for that title) that I had. March should be a breeze! So - hopefully this weekend I will knock out one if not both baby quilts - then back to the salt mines to work on the Underground RR (which is not THAT far from being ready!)

Meanwhile - I am sorting papers! UGH UGH UGH!!!! Making chicken soup (tomorrow and another one that I haven't decided on for Sunday!). Also will be finishing up the seed catalogs and getting that little task done as well!

Would love to post photos of my quilts on here - but that would require me taking a photo of picture of them!!!

more later!!!

Quilting retreat!!!

I had a wonderful weekend - sewing, slicing and dicing blocks and otherwise making a wonderful quilty mess! Didn't work on son's quilt - though I will - but have been going full steam ahead on the Underground RR quilt! Mostly cutting - but sewing too! Did discover that I left 2 of my fabrics (which I THOUGHT - quite erroneously - were together!!!) at home. One I know what it looks like (yes, it HAS been a long time since I worked on this one!) and essentially where it is. The other one??? well, if I can't figure it out - then that calls .... for a trip to Southhampton quilts!!!! (and you can see how I suffer when I say that!!!!)

Other than that - it has been very quiet. Son's gf came over yesterday - I really REALLY like her. Of course it doesn't really matter whether or not I do - only whether or not son likes her! And I think he does! She's a very warm, caring person - who also has no problem telling N. when he's coming on a bit strong. She also volunteers to chip in and help where help is needed and continues until the job is done! All very positive things!

Other news - acc. to son - Dennis finished putting down the subfloor this past week - and apparently will be working on setting up walls, insulation and the rest of it. Who knows - I might even get back home before the end of March - although I'm not banking on it. Cabinets though won't be delivered until late Feb/first part of March = and I won't have them probably until sometime in May - however it will be nice to get back home and to my own sewing room, etc.

Still have to get my garden stuff ordered - think I will work on that tonight - I'm kind of quilted out for the moment!

Of storms and things.....

This is so weird! Last night we had a THUNDERSTORM - in February, no less!!!! Definitely didn't expect that! And Nathan's (son's) house is really neat in thunderstorms!

This morning - did my daily/weekly chores - and will be sewing most of the day. Which is great! Do miss talking with dd though! Miss that a lot!

Projects for today.... Sewing - Nathan's quilt (I am DETERMINED to finish that!), the Underground railroad quilt. Gardening - getting seed orders ready. Paperwork - processing any and all paperwork I have with me. - all of which means that this day had best be at least 2 - 3 days long! LOL

It's February!!!!! (Already!!!!)

Yeehaw - another snow day!!! LOVE that! However to be honest - I DID try to go into work this AM - all the way up to where I realized that while I could see the car ahead of me - the one ahead of THAT (not that far away) I could barely see the outline (yes, my eyes are bad - but not THAT bad!) and that the snow was coming down REALLY hard! Add to that roads which were slippery - and egads - NOTHING is worth braving that and taking my life in my hands! Particularly when the farther south I went - the worse it got! So I called my boss. Anyway - she relayed that they will be dismissing work early because of the weather - so I feel better about that!

Have been playing Flylady Bingo this AM - LOVE doing that - makes my daily chores go SO fast - and it's fun! 3 15-minute sessions of different chores (I draw up a list - assigning numbers - and someone calls out a number and that's my next chore) followed by a 15 minute break! Works for me!

I found out that Judy Laquidara has chosen Violet or purple for the next monochromatic color - for the month of Feb. While I have LOTS of violet - I'm not sure if I have any strings that color and I really would like to focus on strings. That being said - a particular quilt pattern I want to call Lilacs in bloom calls me - something I'm kind of creating along the way. More later on this!

She (Judy) also chose #10 for the next UFO quilt item - which for me is...My Underground Railroad - which is hilarious considering that I was contemplating doing a square in different ones of those LAST month as I worked on son's sampler - which BTW is NOT completed yet - but which I really hope will be further along this week! Hopefully even to the point where I can ship it off to Wendy - much less post pictures of it!

I may do some string blocks anyway - hmmm - last month was golds or yellow - so maybe golds and brown strings???? with either solids between the string blocks - OR set the strings up as a sort of medallion - with other things around...... hmmmm - thinking on this one! Esp since Wendy (Inky Threads) mentioned something about quilts still definitely being needed for Haiti.

More later

Bits and Pieces....

Today is posted in bits and pieces. No reason - just thought y'all might want to know!

Have been playing FlyLady Bingo - which I enjoy - sorta - while I clean up the place and move stuff around (getting everything ready for remodeling whatever part it is - number 4??? or 5???? Anyway - FINALLY have living room done - looks good - but I need more bookshelves and a table (LR is becoming my library - and I REALLY like it this way! A WHOLE section devoted strictly to Ancient history - so cool!!!!)

Getting the dining room ready too - for all the stuff that WAS in the kitchen (from pantry, bathroom - and of course, the kitchen!) Now this is the frustrating part! - I've been buying rolled oats - however I have a BIG bin of rolled oats (25 pounds) that isn't even opened! Why buy then? Well, when the guys are doing a remodel-deconstruct - all that plaster dust and debris becomes airborne. I'd just as soon it didn't settle in my rolled oat bin and spoil the batch! So - it remains - here - but unopened!

This last 2 weeks have really shown one of the many reasons I buy in bulk - we've had a horrendous amount of snowfall - and it has NOT been easy to do fun things like ... shop for groceries! Am soooooooo - glad I have some pantry supplies! Definitely plan on continuing this venture for sure!

Exercise - A few weeks ago I would have been delighted to point out that I had managed to pull a shoulder muscle (exercising with cold muscles) or that I had messed up one leg (same thing). Now that I've been exercising pretty much on a daily basis - I feel really PO'd!!! Well - I'll get over it - or not! Will try lifting dumbells again tomorrow. AFTER warming up my muscles, of course!

January has been for the last few years a busy season. This one has been no exception. However it is now heading into February - so we'll see how that one goes too! (April is the month I dread!!!!)

Quilting - ummm. I am supposed to work on son's quilt - and hopefully finish the flimsy - at least! Key words there are .... ummmm! am SUPPOSED TO and HOPEFULLY. Does this give you any ideas about where I stand on this? Now I HAVE figured out WHAT and WHERE - sorta. Mostly I am going to wing it - the rest of today - and all of tomorrow!

Oh yeah - the remodeling date... - they begin Feb 9 - what would have been my mom's bday.

Happy New Year!!!!

New month, new day and .... NEW YEAR!!!!! (Actually I'm still working on July 2010!!! A bit chilly out though for growing green beans!)

January - a time for resolutions (and sometimes breaking them), new beginnings - a time when I feel like Superwoman - and invariably take on more than 20 people can handle. That lasts until Jan 2 - when I suddenly realize exactly what I've done! So - now I do try (honest!) to hold it down a tad. Maybe instead of resolutions (solemn upright things those resoltions - all stiff and staid) I will try ONE (or so - probably the or so!) GOAL - complete that one and work on the next - as in it keeps me moving and focused - that's the thought anyway - and it keeps me from snowballing myself under! Hopefully!

Therefore - in THAT light... I'll post my goals to the side.

First - I do want to adopt - or at least try to do so. So this needs to be a major focus here! And is!

Second - I DO want/need to work on my weight! Most definitely - especially if I want to walk without pain.

Third - there are all those lovely quilts waiting to be completed - and even more - there are soooooooooo many more in mind to be begun!!!!! (me drooling here!) So one quilt at a time - and focusing FIRST on the challenge quilts!!!

And the FIRST challenge quilt - is #6 - Nathan's quilt! I'm not saying it will be DONE - but it will be worked on for sure!!! Now to make out a sort of time table here.....

Fourth - My house. Now this includes the Flylady Focus, remodeling insanity..... uh oh..... I see a major glitch (did I say GLITCH???) here. Well, I'll work on it!

Focus is to work on these things and HAVE FUN!!!!

Starting again - or ... Isn't life really all about starting again... and again... and again???

LOL - back again - and I have clean clothes for tomorrow too! LOTS of clean clothes!

Today - my dd called - and we played the 15/45 game - that is - work our buns off for the 15 minutes (actually 20 in this case) and then spend 45 minutes playing - which for us means QUILTING!!!!

Today - I spent most of the time cleaning - uh - doing laundry! - PLUS eating (I take my lunch with me and t
n eat that!), doing some light shopping (I had the Spark menues for the week and the shopping list! so didn't get into TOO much trouble!!! :) Also cleaned out my handbag, and the car while waiting on the laundry. All this in an effort to avoid doing my well overdo paperwork! AND - I succeeded! Of course - NOW I feel guilty that I didn't get the paperwork done! Maybe 15-30 minutes tonight.......

Oh yeah - re the quilting end of things - for those who know me - and know that I REALLY promised to NOT start another new project but to work very hard on all the old ones and get them FINISHED!.... I lied! As of 20 mintes ago - I have all the pieces cut out for Christmas ribbons - which is a very cute quilt! Have set up a paper of all the stuff that I want to finish - one step at a time!

Exercise wise - today is cardio day - and some truly intense cleaning (and rushing around like crazy) for about 20 - 30 minutes and I'm caught up on that! Not going to count Pounds on lifting and moving laundry about or on carrying bags of laundry upstairs - although I COULD......

Food - I changed my dinner menu a bit - mostly becase I didn't eat all the lunch foods. Dinner - I have peas and carrots to eat with my broiled salmon - (in other words - I forgot to head to the garden for the broccoli spears!) Also - eating 1 apple as opposed to eating grapes! COULD eat some strawberries - but I have the apples and need to eat those first (strawberries are dehydrated! and will hold longer!)

Tomorrow - work day! Packing up lunch tonight - and have tomorrow's breakfast ready to go already! Now to pick up, clean up and go find my DVDs and settle down in front of my TV!

Have a great day everyone!

Hmmm - some other possibilities .....

Hmmm - have been trying (as in racking my brain!!!) to think of other possibilities for earning extra income.... One involves making quilt - and then raffling it off through my company - (maybe even several quilts)- as well as several other similar bt different possibilities! (like - a catered dinner for some lucky soul at work - or breakfast in bed basket - champagne style - no alcohol involved though - for someone else. As I said - several possibilities!

I do like (really LOVE) the idea of the camp - whether or not it would involve piano lessons or whatever - and that might be possible but would need to think it through

Other possibilities include teaching that quilting class in ME or NB like I had talked about.

All of this depends on my job though. And tomorrow our whole section is meeting to discuss some changes in the offing. Shall see! Then shall figure out what needs to happen! (please pray - I do not like meetings like this!!!!)

Oh yeah - on the schedule for today - it is (Gasp!) CLOSET day! Ugh Ugh Ugh! The long dreaded day when I take EVERYTHING out of the closet - clean it really good (that part takes 2 minutes) then figure out what goes in what season~ Now MOST folks would go with a 2 season division - but I'm difficult - and prefer a 4 season division (as in sleeveless in early spring - nyet! Summer is the time for that - EXCEPT under a nice jacket or over-shirt!) So I get to figure out what it what!

Add to that - a short session of living room de-cluttering (don't ask! has to do with remodeling creeping stuff! and the desperate need for BOOKSHELVES!!!!!!) and cleaning out my poor refrig (this is a definitely don't ask - and don't look! just wish I didn't have to!)

Other stuff - an hour's worth of paperwork - can you see how thrilled I'm not?

Re other stuff - like the Spark people diet stuff - I need to check in - and finish up (as in do) my exercises. It won't help that tomorrow (day before our challenge begins) our boss is bribing - uh - supplying us with Pizza while we are listening to the new changes (pizza makes most things go down well! Trust me on this!)

And more to add-on......

ok - add-on's here.....

Son really REALLY wants to get the kitchen remodeled this January - was supposed to happen in December - but funding just plain not there. Since I find myself now in the over committed state of having committed that money 3 times over so far - it should be interesting.....

At any rate - with us doing the major part of the remodeling (excluding what Denis and his team do while hacking up the place)it shouldn't be too bad - hopefully!

Also have some definite whether or not and regardless plans for spending quite a bit of money - which now entails me getting off my duff and earning extra! Not sure how this will work. - HAD envisioned teaching piano to earn extra - however piano's and plaster dust demolition does NOT work out well! Still - should be able to do that come April - however - the timing is really loused up (as in - when isn't it!!!!)

Also have tentative plans to get my sw license re-issued - this will involve me taking the blasted tests all over again - and they are TOUGH!!! Son wants me to go on and work on my Master's - mmmm - probably not at this time - although it depends..

At work - I have been working in a different department - we won't discuss the many ways I've discovered to mess up! Fortunately I'm still in learning stats when in that department! (TG!!!!) Also - have some ideas for our team to work on - don't know if it will work or not - but certainly worth a try!

Oh yeah - I joined the (don't laugh! you CAN commiserate however....) Lemon team for the Biggest Loser in the Winter Meltdown 2010. Not sure how many are on the team - however - am very interested in keeping me accountable for my actions (and for what I eat!) We officially begin December 1. Am EXCITED!!!! I outlined my goals, will have MY info automatically go to Facebook (not sure I want to do THAT part though!), told my dd, was too chicken to tell my son, set up my rewards (a very pretty fabric to turn into a lovely vest to go with a top I already have!) My goal is to lose 2 pounds a week, exercise 6 days a week (3 strength, 3 sorta cardio - I'm including remodeling and intense housework on this), NOT eat out (and THAT one is the tough one!), drink 8 glasses water daily, and take one med at ugly hours of 3 and 4 AM - and the rest later! (that one is a thyroid med)

All I can say with all I have outlined is... ummmmm - pray!

Reply to Zen and the Art of Single parenting

I read an excellent article on a blog entitled Zen and the Art of Single Parenting - and - as per usual - felt that I could NOT keep quiet.

For those who don't know - I'm hoping to adopt a little one(s) - and am hoping this very strongly. The article was written by a single mom of 2 littles - and I definitely understand where she was coming from!

BTDT re adoption by single mom - although it wasn't adoption - bt it was legal guardianship of a little one with multiple multiple special needs (she is back with bparents now), it was raising my son to adulthood with NO help (he did fine, btw - has now put himself through college - dual major and working on his master's plus he has a very well-paid job in computers, it was raising my dd with little to no help (only $65 a month child support) to adulthood (she is now an authoress of 5 books, has put herself through college on her BA, owns and sells books at her own shop)unofficially fostered 6 other littles who are grown and gone and most doing well, 2 official foster littles - one of whom was adopted by another family and 1 of whom aged out of the system but who had multiple problems on arrival 5 months prior to aging out - and who sadly did NOT improve over time before aging out.

YES - it is expensive - BUT not as expensive as many would have you believe. It all depends on what your priorities are. Nike shoes? OK then if that's what the child wants - the child can earn part of the cost. Newest whatever at the mall? Probably not - but then I don't get that either!!! It depends on your priorities!

Braces for the teeth? Dental extraction? Eyeglasses? Hearing Aids? Medical and dental stuff? Definitely yes.

Education? I am a homeschooler from the word go - and my kids do and have recieved the best education possible to give and to teach. As a result my homelibrary is VERY extensive although I could - and did use the public library a LOT! Books are a priority here!

Friendships and friendship possibilities are a priority as well - although that does NOT mean public school necessarily - or even as a first choice. It DOES mean Scouts, 4H, church or religious groups, relatives (maybe), neighbors (maybe) - and it does NOT mean inundating the poor kid with constant "socialization"

Things that ARE hard - when the little one is having royal king-sized temper tantrums (read as rage filled hours - not moments - at all the stuff that has happened in the past) - there might be no one to take over while you step outside for a quick breath - or several - of fresh air and where you contemplate the eternal question of "WHY???!!!!!" and then come back in to continue parenting in the calmed down (hopefully) manner you hopefully usually do.

However - if you have friends locally - or know of other moms who have experienced similar situations - yo CAN contact them - in person, on phone, or in one of MANY MANY email groups - and know that you can cry on their shoulders and that they have gone through the same things as you!

Children DO benefit from 2 parent families and they DO need to be exposed to parenting from males as well as females. Thing is though that while it is ideal if all this can occur within the same family - it does NOT do well for the parents to pull in different directions. The reality is that in today's world that does not always happen for whatever reason. And it is still profoundly better for a child to have at least ONE parent than to have NO parents - to have a mom, or moms or dad or dads who love their little one and can open the doors of what it really means to be a part of a family than to always wonder.

Single parenting is HARD. ANY parenting - whether single or not is HARD - the hardest and most important challenge any parent has ever done - and it is (I think - biased viewpoint here) even twice as much so when you are a single parent. For those who think they can be both mom and dad - no. You can try to be the best mom or dad you can be - you can't be both - but that's ok. You can also make sure you have role models in the opposite sex who are close by, somewhat available - but who may not (nor really should) act in a parenting role. I have my son (who lives 30 minutes from me). I also have my daughter (who lives with her dh about 5 - 6 hours from me). And trust me, either or both have no hesitation about telling me what they think.

Which brings up another question - when you adopt a child - you think of you, your child, maybe your significant other - but what if the unthinkable happens and you, through death or severe physical or mental disability, are no longer in the picture? Single parents HAVE to think of this. ALL parents SHOULD think of this and many don't - whether birth, adopted, guardianship, foster. For me - my adult children will parent my kids. And trust me on this - they make awesome parents!

I love that you, Erin, are mom of two - and am so very very happy for you! And yes, I do believe that you and your littles are so definitely meant for each other.

Helen (who also has counted down the minutes until naptime and then wished that bedtime were earlier!)

Procrastination Tuesday..........

Urghhhh!!!!

Have you ever wanted to do something so badly you could breathe, taste, smell - or just plain BE it? Yup! I'm there! AND am running into challenges - not real blockade blocks - but the kind my feet tend to find (especially my Murphy broken big toe!!!) in the dark at night (and nope - I don't believe in turning on the lights at 3 am! I SHOULD - but I usually don't and just stagger about from bedroom to bathroom anyway! - hence my broken Murphy toe!)

Anyway - after throwing a big homongous pity party - to which Me, Myself, and I attended - I've decided to go ahead and do what I was going to anyway - maybe not quite the same way - but I'm stubborn!

What on earth am I talking about? Well, more later!

Other stuff - much as I hate the idea - I am gonna have to get OFF this chair and head to the kitchen and fix dinner (and clean up the dinner debris as I go!)

Tomorrow should be interesting - Nathan is bringing Mr. McB over to stay for a couple of weeks. Mickey had finally gotten over his freaking out whenever he saw me - and Nathan THINKS that there will be no problem. I really hate to tell him..... no, actually let it come as a surprise! I love Mickey B - but he associates seeing me with his beloved Nathan not being available for him for whatever reason! He's wrong - but that's the way he thinks!

Egads - just remembered - I am SUPPOSED to have created a costume for tomorrow. Ummmm - nyet! Not likely - there are only so many hours in a day - and I'm NOT doing that!

This 'n' That - and then T'other Too!

Yes - it HAS been a long time since I published on this blog!!

Notes up to date - and don't remember if I said before or not - we (son and I) have been renovating bathroom and pantry - which means the mess of all messes in the kitchen, dining room with the living room STILL not being ready to be inhabited!

In fact - I stayed at son's home for 3 weeks while the renovation guys destroyed the old bathroom and pantry (they saved a LOT of wood, etc. and hauled it away.) and they went clear through to the outside wall - leaving just the outside shell - it all went! ceiling, flooring (5 - 7 layers of REALLY old linoleum), ancient insulation (such as it was) - it ALL went! Then they put in new insulation, new tub, etc. and I have new wiring as well. The pipes had been worked on previously so they were ok. The flooring has yet to be completed - which is WHY I AM SO FRUSTRATED!!!! since I can't put shelving units in there until the flooring is done unless I want to haul everything out periodically! So it all sits in my kitchen, my dining room - and who knows where else! I DID localize MOST - but not all - the tools and odds and ends for remodeling though - but kept the paint out of the pantry - that will probably go into the basement - or upstairs in the upper closet - not sure!

Anyway - that was supposed to take place for only 3 days. Three WEEKS after I went for an overnight stay at Nathan's I was able to come home - to a plywood (not the permanent one) floor in the bathroom and no electric in the bathroom. And ftm - no heat (remember, all this was because this part needed to be done BEFORE I had my new furnace installed). 2 weeks later the furnace went in. And by then you KNEW winter was coming - if not already here! (and of course, it warmed up the day AFTER the furnace went in!)

Am I complaining? Not really - just explaining what all went on.

Since then - I've been trying to get this place sort of straightened up a bit.

Oh yeah - next item for re-modeling is the kitchen. I say no earlier than next spring - that lasted until son pointed out some things - so who knows!!!

Quilting - while at son's house - I really did get a lot done - not as much as I would have liked to of course - and I did hit a VERY MAJOR snag on all the charity lap robes I wanted to do. Wanting was fine - but the slice and dice and actual doing - well, let's just say that this would have gone a LOT better and I would actually have something done if I had some hand holding. I don't know WHY I get so hung up on approval and actually getting these things done - but I do!

Oh yeah - FWIW - the time table for all these lovely quilts and such - most are in the state of "won't take much" - some are in the state of "not in this lifetime, Butch!" and some are in the state of .... I can't think of any other states! Anyway - you get the idea! I DEFINITELY have too many down - but then maybe SOME will get done! At least I'll do the best I can and go from there!

Work is doing quite well - and who knows I may be allowed to learn other departmental duties as well as those for the 2 departments I usually am in. Would be interesting anyway. We'll see!!!!

Oh yeah - I've decided in my spare 2.5 minutes a month to lose some weight - or at least to (1) go back to exercising so my body will be sore while my mind is boggled down, and (2) eat what I plan - which happens to hopefully be somewhere in the ball-park of a WW diet - sorta!

That's it for now - I'm quite sure I will think of more later!

I REALLY hate being sick!!!!

Aaargh!!!! Have I ever said I REALLY REALLY dislike being sick? Actually I refuse to even THINK sick! What I really dislike therefore is hacking, coughing, sneezing, headachy, feeling like the before Dristan ad - and sharing the wealth with everyone who passes by!

An autumn cold? Maybe.

Flu? Bite your tongue - but there may be more truth than not to that thought!

And of course - it happens at one of the busiest times of our work year! - not the most busy - TG! However.....

On another note - I find that more and more of my daily activities are taking place near where I work! LOL

Have finally settled on patterns (note the PLURAL) for charity lap robes! They do NOT look terribly hard! Now to get started! Just wish that they could be in other than patriotic colors (required by the charity) as in pink and lavendar would look stunning! So would green! Oh well! More for me on other quilts!

Found my calendar (don't ask why I couldn't find it before) and have updated it somewhat - including with the daily menus.

News from IL re house - NOT good! Ugh! Decision time.

Need to get back to my studies! And decluttering my living room! Will work on that tomorrow!

SEPTEMBER!!!! Already????!!!!

Wow! This year is FLYYYING by! September already AND it is the SECOND week!!!!

Update on all activities. Schooling was somewhat waylaid (what else is new?)

1. Adoption - not ready yet. Soon HOPEFULLY - and NO - I'm NOT too old. Internationally I can adopt from the Ukraine, and definitely from several different countries in Africa. There is no upper age limit. However I know I must provide a "plan" - the "what if- " kind which I firmly believe folks should do anyway - most of the people that I know that passed on - did so in their 20's and early 30's. And left children.

Also - I'm working on setting this apartment up for adoption as well.

2. One project per month COMPLETED - I need to see and repeat MANY MANY times that last word! COMPLETED! COMPLETED! COMPLETED! COMPLETED! (think that will work???)

3. Education - um - as I said above - schooling was waylaid this month. Super busy month - all kinds of stuff going on..... uh - stuff like Treasure Madness, Treasure Isle - lame stuff like that! Hopefully am back on track now.

4. Exercise - That I HAVE been doing - pretty much daily! A 6 minute routine! Yoga - that I NEED to do as well. Working on this one!

5. Gardening - have plans figured out for beds. Have been harvesting - but not replanting - at least at this point - though I will plant some brassica greens (kale, mustard, turnip) in part for the cleansing action they do and mostly because I happen to like eating greens!

Roots - umm - next spring.

6. I still have N's red car - STILL! son keeps forgetting his title. Personally I am ready to push it out on the front lawn and put a "free" sign on it!

7. House - still working on dining room and living room - have decluttered a LOT in the DR as well as in the kitchen. More to go still. Amazing though - I have decluttered FREQUENTLY - yet still find more to go when pushed into it!

8. Quilting - am involved in projects at work - for donations - including quilts. Had hoped to do some crochet projects - but the bag of squares I had wouldn't work. So - now doing squares for other things. Mostly star types. Not sure what I will do re batting though.

9. Work - we had our company picnic - was fantastic!!!! And I was sooooo tired afterwards!!!

Also we had our survey - and that went really well also! LOL - I trained as an ambassador - but they apparently didn't need me!

NEW this month -

1. Work - finish up tag ends of projects, busy season, prepare for company appreciation week - our portion of it. Also - we have a small feast for those who were for whatever reason unable to attend the picnic. Should be fantastic! Our team has sure gotten a lot of kudos - and our leader sure deserves all of them! We have selected awards this quarter for those we think have gone above and beyond! And our leader will recieve one - as well as several other folk who, although they are not a part of our team but have been involved every step of the way! and have certainly gone way above and beyond to help!

2. This month one of the groups I belong to is having a series of contests as well as a readiness program - which should be a lot of fun (and panic! LOL)

3. Son says that we will begin the demo work on the bathroom and pantry this month! Ugh! However that needs to be done - and my new furnace installed!

4. Quilt - new LE blocks - patriotic. If possible also crochet!

It is GORGEOUS out!!!!!!!

Good morning (yes, it is still morning here in MA!)!!!

It's a lovely overcast, cool and rainy day outside.

Now where did the lovely come from? Probably came from getting within eyesight of finishing a flimsy I've been playing around with this last year or so! Yes, I found my Flying Geese directions AND the ruler (at the same time - they are both now in their "home") - and have finished MOST of my flying Geese (I only have 12 more to go - actually less since I did the beginning stages on 2 sets of 4 last night) Then off to trimming and stitching the flying geese and log cabins up in rows, attaching the setting triangles and stitching the whole thing together!!!! THEN I get to send the whole thing to Wendy!

DID occur to me - as I'm doing my Leaders and Enders that I COULD work on my next quilt! So I STARTED with these really cute churn dash blocks (a favorite of mine!) that I dressed up into flower gardens - then discovered entirely too soon that (1)

I needed to cut up a LOT more of fabric for more of these - and while searching through my blocks and strips - got wonderfully sidetracked onto what had to be a gazillion rectangular blocks of various widths that I had trimmed from some blocks that a friend gave me (she got tired of working with them) and that I had sized down considerably so as to get something remotely like a uniform size (those blocks are also ESSENTIALLY stitched together - BUT am missing one vital color currently). It occurred to me that one quilt I have wanted to try for years was a very simple basket weave! So - with that in mind I have my new and current L&E project, keeping in mind that I do tend to hyperfocus - and the add-on project all too often becomes the major project!

Now - this morning it occurs to me that since I want to tie BOTH quilts with blue yarn (I want the pom-pom effect) - that maybe I want to combine them - as in putting all the big blocks in the center and basket weave a border all around! Maybe/maybe not - have to think on this more - but mostly =- have to get both finished as far as I can go!

Did have a wonderful time yesterday though digging in all that fabric - sorted (sorta) out my block bin - and discovered I REALLY do NOT like sizing the blocks - PLUS - the block bin is NOT my scrap willy-nilly bin for odds and ends I don't want to size down. Attended to this yesterday - so that is somewhat straight. It was amazing though - that the block bin - for being as full as it was - after I pulled all the blocks for the project I started with - and then after I pulled all the blocks for the blocks for the basket weave - is a LOT LOT LOT smaller! Actually almost reasonable again!

Then I really made history (at least in my family) I actually PUT EVERYTHING AWAY where it goes! Yay! Go me! So this morning was NOT a horrifically frightening mess to walk into! AND I have lot of blocks that I sewed on yesterday that have to be pressed (hence my "running away" for a few!)

At any rate - today - am finishing up writing on a couple of modules, cleaning my house, doing my poor laundry, and cooking up a storm for this week (soups, bread). If I have time today - still have to do some garden work - won't get it all done - but will definitely get SOME done! And am having to think about WHEN I'm going to diet - and HOW I'm going to diet with my crazy schedule and all.

Did talk to - and actually visited with Nathan yesterday for a short time - he came to pick up his mail - and arrived before I had finished sorting it all out. We talked and he also did some fixits on the dryer outlets. Sadly though I will have to get a new dryer - the one here is ancient - plus does NOT fit any of the plugins for current day 220.

Also chatted briefly with Wendy this AM - will talk more with her later today hopefully! I called early - mostly because I really hate to interrupt their family time in the PM. But had forgotten that they had company this week! My bad!

That's it for now - more later!

Whoa - it just turned lovely and sunny with a tiny breeze mixed in! Just gorgeous out! Now I want to go out and play in the garden!

Wonders never ceasing

Wow - will wonders never cease??? It's Wednesday - and I'm BLOGGING!!!!

Have moved some stuff around on my blog a bit - and will be doing so this coming weekend again. Among additions - several work related items - ie, courses I take while I'm at work (nearly finished with 2 - need final exams done - and of course - FORGOT my study notebook! : /

Anyway - Wendy commented to me on how much I had on my week's agenda - not that I really EXPECT to get it all done! LOL At any rate - how to do it all? Tread water!

More in a bit.........

This and that.........

Egads! It has been a while!!!

Glanced over my last post and noticed I talked about my ARCHITECTURE module for learning! Geez! No~ I MEANT to say my archaeological module for learning! Or rather some of the items that I feel would give me (or any child) a fairly good idea of what archaeology is all about!

This for starters. And this study of archaeology would continue throughout history as well.

At any rate - I have the basic module set up on that - complete with experiential activities, etc. for a variety of ages. And am studying as well - while currently designing learning modules for different eras here on earth - starting with the Archaean era or Pre-Cambrian era. [Evolution, infinite variety of life (1)/First day – Precambrian, cyanophytes, stromatolites, primitive bacteria (2)/Paleozoic – Cambrian (1) and Ordovician (1) = 5 weeks]

Also am working on my Russian - starting again (I should be REALLY good on Chapter 1 by now! LOL)

Wendy and Vince visited here July 23 - was so neat to see them both! And I miss Wendy! She called on Sunday - and we played a bit - at least until my headache caught up with me (has to do with a pinched nerve because I slept "funny") Sure hope next year she and Vince can spend a lot longer! Also would love it if Nathan could go up there and visit a bit as well. Preferably with me tagging along - but at least to visit with his sister a bit!

Wendy brought me a copy of her newest book - this one photography! Was really neat! and I can understand why it keeps selling out!

Associate Satisfaction week was last week - when the company I work for rewards all the Associates with all kinds of fun activities - and the Focus team I was on was responsible for ALL the activities of the whole week. True - we farmed out 2 days for some of the entertainment - but still maintained the focus for fun activities and for food events as well as the 3 days that were exclusively ours! Busy - busy busy!

Had a lot of fun though - and the last day - we had dancers in from the Ethnic Dance Company in Hartford. And of course we had to do the Limbo - which I dearly love and which I USED to do quite well (of course this was - ahem - a LOT of pounds ago!) It WOULD have helped a lot if I had remembered just how long ago that was and how much less I weighed then than now!

Now I'm - uh - let's just say I am NOT top heavy! if you know what I mean! At any rate while trying to bounce under this stick held by coworkers - I bounced a little too hard and sat down very suddenly - on my - um - sit-down place. VERY hard! which did not help any headache I had either! However - it was a great lot of fun - as was the whole week - and today the management rewarded EVERYONE with an any flavor at all ice cream cone - which was just a lot of fun! (I had a chocolate sundae thingy! Yum!)

Tomorrow - I am looking forward to a lecture by Breast Cancer survivors group - and Wednesday I have both a meeting as well as a training session - which makes for a very easy day as well. So - when do I work? Yeah - trust me, I do - and very hard. It is just that right now our volume is way down - and so it is a very good time to do all this other stuff. I do like the idea of receiving training time during working hours though.

I do know one thing for sure with all the food I've eaten this last month - I'm lucky I can still walk in the door - instead of rolling my way in!!!