Whew! Another good report!

Yesterday I had surgery - a colonoscopy which included removal of 6 polyps plus one that definitely did NOT look good (although biopsy showed no CA cells - that still wasn't the whole thing - plus most of the polyps from last November were pre-cancerous!).  As far as the surgeon can tell, that's it at least for now.  Everything was sent to the lab and official results will eventually wind their way back to me.  However the surgeon says that everything truly looks good and he doesn't expect to see me again for a year!  YAY!!!!!!

Even more exciting - I could EAT again!  Admittedly it was chicken soup (Big Y makes FANTASTIC chicken soup - chock full of shredded roasted chicken, LOTS of veggies and some noodles - and of course the soup part which is always delicious!)  Nathan, in addition to chauffering me back and forth, bought me a whole quart of the soup!  which of course, being me, did NOT last until morning!

Today I decided that even though I was cleared to drive, that I was still enough of a space cadet that I had best stay home - and sewed and sewed! (today I was cleared to operate machines - but not yesterday - not that I wanted to do anything but sleep!)  I've since modified my Fab 4 list to become a FAB 6 list - which is cool!  And fortunately I found enough bonus triangles (check out Bonny Hunter on this one!) so that I won't have to make all 388 HSTs.  Hopefully I won't have to make any! (I do have a BIG bag - somewhere in that mess!  For now I'm working off all the little odds and ends bonus triangle bags!)

I also got some cleaning done (a little), slept a lot, and am getting ready to finish up my binding on my Log cabin (HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) - which of course means I have to find my glasses AND the black thread!  and will be watching one or more of my favorite DVDs.  So far I have 12 possibilities sitting here on the night stand.  I think My Fellow Americans will be the first - especially considering how I feel about some of the potential candidates!

Monday - all day of it! Thoughts and bits and pieces! 03-02-15

The last couple of days, I've been working on my Crazy Quilt.  while I can't say it is all handstitched, I CAN say that the pieces are machine sewn together and that they will have hand embroidered work to finish them.  I can also say that this definitely won't be the only Crazy quilt I will be doing - if only because I have a bunch of scraps that I've been saving of a variety of fabrics (velvets, satins, velveteens, brocades and so on) that will be in the other one - the one I am hopeful of putting family pictures in (including those of folk whose names I have NO idea about!..  THAT one will also have laces, grosgrain ribbon, and so on along with all the decorated stitches as well.

THIS one - the one I'm working on now I am seriously debating whether or not it will become a Springtime vest, or jacket, or not.  It would definitely be a fun thing to do and I may decide that this is the way I will go.  I definitely like the fun blocks I'm working on now!  First step, though is to piece all the fabrics together I want to include in this.  THEN if I decide to go the jacket route (appeals to me the more I think of it!), the next step would be to cut it and to cut out a proper lining for it.  Then to make both the lining and the jacket, then attach the two together.

However, I truly do want to think a bit on this - because the crazy quilt fabric itself will be really stretchy and will need a foundation to keep it from stretching all over the place.  If I use the lining also as a foundation, then that would be attached to the crazy quilt fabric BEFORE the outer garment is sewn together - which can be done - BUT doesn't truly feel like a lining to me, even though there are lots of jackets that are put together just that way.

OR I can just use the all over fabric as the foundation, with the crazy quilt pieces sewn to it and continue onward with the lining done separately then attached after all is done.

Another thought too - my machine has all kinds of fancy stitches to it - and although I've owned it for almost 2 years now, I have yet to do anything other than straight stitching.  This might be a truly good project to learn all about the fancy stitches, particularly if I want to use them to "join" the fabric pieces together in the quilt.
.......................

Other thoughts/ideas/projects - well - back to that one!  I swear that I have a super messy gene!  I had my sewing room pretty well picked up - or so I thought!  I decided to work on my crazy quilt - which meant I had to pull out one of my scrap boxes.  Admittedly I had my ironing board out for easy access - and hadn't put away either the Passover table runner I've been working on, nor the "February UFO Projects" I was SUPPOSED to work on.  So - today I walked in there - and - OMG!  I have a teensy little pathway to use to get to my machine and chair - and had only a 3 square foot of space for that chair - most of which was already taken up by my Widget cat who keeps me company while I sew so that I don't get lost (which today, anyway, was a distinct possibility!).

So - what did I do?  Did I clean the place up?  NO!  I sat myself down, and sewed crazy quilt seams together, picked out fabric from one of the scrap boxes - which, needless to say, has to be put away again, and which has dribbled itself over the edges of the box and on to the floor, cutting down the 3 square foot of space even more!

Oh well - tomorrow's Tuesday - and I can definitely start off with a 20-30 minute pupa (pick up put away, for those who don't know!) then (not that Tuesday has anything to do with it!  It's just that occurs after Monday!)
.....................................
I got to babysit Evan again today - actually - unless it's some vacation or other or Lynn is sick - I get to babysit Evan every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and frequently on Thursday as well!
Today he was a bit grumpy - mostly because his teeth are driving him batty and he isn't getting to sleep (he fights sleep like crazy anyway and I swear must pry his eyelids open with toothpicks - he truly hates to sleep!)

LOL - I was singing nursery rhymes to him while cuddling him in my arms and patting to time - and suddenly he snuggled down and cuddled up and just went to sleep!  first time he's done that in a LONG time!  Reminds me of putting my son (Evan's dad) to sleep at about the same age.  I would put Nathan against my chest and pat his back in time with my heart beat - would put him to sleep every time!  But I swore that child would be 95 years old and I would STILL be patting his back in time to my heartbeat to get him to sleep!  Seems to run in families!  LOLOL

Still Evan is an awfully good little guy - just like his dad was and like his aunt Wendy (my daughter) was!  I'm so lucky!
..............................................
Re my study schedule - all I have to say is ..... Oh My!  and then tomorrow I will pick up and work on it!  Trouble is - that seems to have been what I have been doing for a while - or at least somewhat. Yes there ARE books I am reading in various subjects - not what is assigned yet - but what has been read.  And there ARE videos I'm watching (ie, How the Earth Was Made) - but I truly do need to work on various assignments (I assign them).  Recently it seems my studies have been all hit or miss - with more miss than hit!  That needs to change!  I do like the side bar though!
..............................................
That's enough for now!  Only other thing to discuss at present is the snow - the deep snow!  And I refuse to do that.  Ol' Man Winter does NOT need to be encouraged!  Enough already!

Progress Report - 01-27-15

Yup!  Still fluffy!

Sigh!  Would love to talk about how good I am about dieting!  (Yup - sure would love to talk about that!)

Would love to talk about how hard I am exercising!  (would rather NOT talk - or even think about how hard I am exercising! My poor body is letting me know plenty about exercising - so I don't need to talk about it to remind myself!)

And I've been on again - off again!  NOT giving up!  Just trying to realize that there is more to life than dieting and exercising!  I did join some online groups.  Have left some online groups (the same ones!)  I don't like a lot of diet groups.  Or really anything that talks about dieting.  Makes me hungry!

I'd rather copy all those Facebook pictures and recipes of foods and post to my page.  That's usually about how far it gets!  Then I go back to the kitchen and get an orange.  Or an apple!  I must say though, my FB page is getting quite full of recipes though!
.........................................

I've been spending a lot of time  planning my garden for this year.  Which is great and good exercise, etc.  Would be nice though to have more sunlight! And better soil!  and Money so that I could hire someone to design it for me!  Yup - would be nice!  But since those things aren't happening - at least right now - I'm planning it the best way I can!  Am also trying to update the garden pages too!
.......................................
What happened to my Design Wall and my Stash report pages?  Well, I am WAY behind!  I've been babysitting quite a bit with the most beautiful grandson in the world (not that anyone else's grandson is not beautiful - it is just that my grandson is the most beautiful! and precious!  and has VERY strong lungs!)  to say that he is spoiled - nah!  It is just that he has me (and his parents) trained now to hold him in the way HE wants to be held (vertically), walk quickly and repeatedly around the dining room table (this one doesn't work with me - my body says NO to that much walking!), dancing and waltzing with him (OK - this one I do!) and sitting up to watch Curious George on Netflix TV.  Serious - he's barely 3 months and truly does love to be in a sitting up position to watch TV.  He also loves to pretend like he's standing (with someone holding him up).  So we may have an early walker here - which truly does NOT surprise me (Wendy - walked by herself - actually ran - on tippy toes - at a bit more than 7 months, couldn't sit by herself though until after she was standing - and fell into sitting position - which is how she did it for a LONG time - at about 6-7 months as well! She was in the walker from 4 months on.)  (Nathan - walking definitely at 7 months - actually running.  Sitting - ummm - maybe at 5 months, maybe slightly earlier - hard to say - he loved to be in the baby walker from time he got up until naptime or time to eat!  Walker at 3.5 months)
...............................................
Back to design Wall - I'm ALMOST done with piecing Bonnie Hunter's Grand Illusion Mystery.  Almost done quilting some things too!  Machine however is now at repair shop.  Ugh!  Definitely will be glad once it is back!

Goals for Week 19 - WB 05-11-14

Rhubarb.
Although mine right now is up and looking lovely - I did transplant it from this location (too shady!).
Have planted 2 more plants this year!

GO AND DO

• DONE Post office
• Canceled Hair appt (cancel?)
• DONE appointment
• DONE Lawn mowing (MUST be home for this!)
• DONE Dr. appt
• DONE Go to Vet and get diabetic kitty food - wet and dry
• DONE Ice Cream and cake with Lynn, Nathan and Sherry
• Worked on it Stashbusters quilt retreat (a Stay at Home retreat!) that begins Thurs or Fri and continues over the weekend (I extended mine through the following Monday!)
• NO Landlord meeting????
• DONE 3 meals a day
• DONE 3 snacks (part of each meal) - and mention

HOUSE - springtime decluttering - and freecycling

• PAPERWORK - a mountain of it! work on at least a half hour a day
• DONE 1 hour - Things to do
• DONE T
• DONE R
• DONE F
• DONE Sa
• ZONE 1
• Front porch
• DONE WHB for LAST Fri
• Side Porch 
• DONE Zone
• DONE WHB for LAST Fri
• Entrance
• DONE WHB for LAST Fri
• Back Stairs
• DONE WHB for LAST Fri
• ZONE 2 - 
• Kitchen
• Zone 2
• DONE WHB for LAST Fri
• Dining Area
• DONE WHB for LAST Fri
• ZONE 3 
• Bath
• DONE Zone 3
• DONE WHB for LAST Fri
• Laundry Room
• DONE Zone 3
• DONE WHB for LAST Fri
• Sewing Room
• DONE WHB for LAST Fri
• Study 
• DONE WHB for LAST Fri
• ZONE 4 
• BR - 
• DONE WHB for LAST Fri
• ZONE 5 
• LR - 
• DONE WHB for LAST Fri

GARDEN - 

• Rake lawn
• DONE S - front and W side house.  Prepare seed beds - W. side house.
• DONESeed inventory - Complete this Sunday
• DONE Seeds ready to order - 

STUDIES - (NOTE - will work on week's assignments - Mon AM to update from weekend frenzy)

• RELIGION
• DONE Work on "Counting Omer" lapbooks 
• DONE Work on lapbooks (Thurs)
• THE EARTH
• TOL 
• DONE pp. 72-75
• EH - 
• DONE  31-34
• DONE Lapbook
• EXERCISE - week 5 (increase times and add a routine - date/3 + R)
• Yoga A wk 5 (date/3 +1)
• DONE 05/13
• Yoga B wk 5  (date/3 +2)
• DONE 05/14
• Yoga C (date/3 + 0)
• DONE 05/15
• MATH
• DONE 88
• DONE 89
• DONE 90
• RUSSIAN
• Continue Daily review
• DONE Lesson 8
• DONE Lesson 9
• HANDWRITING
• Book A
• DONE M
• DONE T
• DONE W
• DONE R
• DONE F
• CREATIVE WRITING
• Writing Strands 
• DONE 12-6
• LIFE SKILLS
• DONE Paperwork 

KITCHEN

• SOUPS (serving kept out for Monday - freeze the rest)
• DONE Garden Vegetable soup - Version 1.
• BREAD
• DONE Challah
• DONE Whole Wheat
• DONE Apple fritters
• MAIN DISHES
• DONE Cheese and refried bean burritos
• DONE Deviled eggs
• DONE Fish croquettes
• DONE Pasta Mezzalune with Eggplant
• DESSERTS and SALADS
• DONE Tuna salad

QUILT  (Depending on what I finish today - I may add other projects!)

DONE STASH REPORT (Sunday)

DONE DESIGN WALL (Monday)

DONE BONNIE H. ARCHIVE NIGHT (Tues)

DONE STASHBUSTER RETREAT (THURS, FRI, SAT, SUN, MON - I extended the times by 3 days!)

PIECE 

• More ARE DONE LE - Jamestown Landing - String  blocks
• Piecing
• Celtic Solstice
• DONE Borders!!!
• DONE Underground Railroad - Pieced sashing for quilt

Goals for Week 14 - WB 04-06-14

And I'm STILL on the lookout for GREEN!
Even if the snow has almost completely melted!

GO AND DO

• DONE Library (books and DVDs return)
• DONE and WOW!  I did good! Citizen Police Academy (Sat - shooting range)
• DONE groceries for Passover (why can I never find potato starch or matzo farfel?)
• DONE Bills (ugh!)
• DONE Hair appointment 
• DONE Dr. appt?  check on this

HOUSE - starting on springtime decluttering - and freecycling

• PAPERWORK - a mountain of it! work on at least a half hour a day
• DONE M + 1 hour - Things to do
• DONE T
• DONE W + 1 hour - Filing
• DONE R
• DONE F + 1 hour - Bills
• ZONE 1
• Front porch
• DONE Zone
• DONE WHB on Fri
• Side Porch 
• Entrance
• DONE Zone
• DONE WHB on Fri
• Back Stairs
• DONE WHB
• ZONE 2 - 
• Kitchen
• DONE Declutter
• DONE WHB on Fri - 
• Dining Area
• DONE WHB 
• ZONE 3 
• Bath
• DONE WHB on Fri
• Laundry Room
• DONE WHB on Fri
• Sewing Room
• DONE WHB on Fri
• Study 
• DONE WHB on Fri
• ZONE 4 
• DONE BR - WHB on Fri
• ZONE 5 
• LR - 
• DONE WHB 

GARDEN - 

• DONE Garden Design

STUDIES - (NOTE - will work on week's assignments - Mon AM to update from weekend frenzy)

• EXERCISE - week 3
• Yoga wk 3 (increase times) (Sun, Tues, Thurs) 
• DONE S
• DONE T
• DONE R
• Yoga wk 3 (Mon, Wed, Fri)
• DONE M
• DONE F

KITCHEN

• SOUPS (serving kept out for Monday - freeze the rest)
• DONE chicken Rice
• DONE tomato soup
• BREAD
• DESSERTS and SALADS
• DONE apple fritters
• DONE cabbage-apple-raisin slaw
• DONE MAKE MENUES for the week (do Monday)

QUILT

• DONE STASH REPORT (Sunday)
• DONE DESIGN WALL (Monday)
• DONE BONNIE H. ARCHIVE NIGHT (Tues)
• DONE SLICE AND DICE NIGHT (Wednesday) - 1 bag scraps (only 4 bags left!)
• PIECE 
• DONE LE - Jamestown Landing - String  blocks

Goals for WB 11-10-13 - WB Sunday

I'm not sure you can tell - this is a clock tower in the meridian (is that the right word?)  I'm not sure whether this is an old one re-positioned from a demolished building when they were building the other bridge - or whether it is a new one set there to look nice!  Regardless - I like it!  (Again, picture taken from my car with a hopefully aim and click of the camera - as I drove past - slowly - and with traffic car horns going behind me going full blast!)

GO AND DO

• DONE Post Office
• DONE Library (books and DVDs return)
• DONE Menues
• DONE Veterans day - day off!
• DONE - we went out for dinner! Nathan's birthday on the 16th!
• DONE Walmart
• DONE Grocery store

HOUSE - 

• ZONE 1
• Front porch 
• DONE WHB
• Entrance
• DONE WHB
• * Side Porch
• Declutter - super fling
• WHB
• * Back Stairs
• DONE WHB
• ZONE 2 - 
• Kitchen
• * Zone 
• DONE Pantry straighten up
• DONE Broom and mop sweep up!
• nope - had new - then old DW sitting in the middle of it!  hopefully will EVENTUALLY get N. to move that OUTSIDE! Dining Area
• WHB on Thurs
• ZONE 3 
• * Bath
• Zone - 
• DONE Fingerprint patrol
• DONE Bathroom vanity 
• DONE Inventory list
• DONE Baseboards and floor
• DONE WHB
• * Laundry Room
• DONE 5 minute rescue - room patrol
• DONE WHB
• Sewing Room
• DONE 5 minutes room rescue
• DONE WHB
• * Study
• DONE Declutter 5 minute room rescue
• Home office area - 5 minute room rescue
• Super fling
• ZONE 4 
• BR -
•  DONE WHB
• ZONE 5 
• LR -  
•  DONE WHB 

GARDEN

STUDIES - nope - didn't happen!  would LIKE to say it was because of this stupid cold (I HATE colds!) which is still hanging in there! - but the reality is - uh, I didn't wanna!

KITCHEN

• DEHYDRATE
• some cut for stir fry collards/ cole greens
• SOUPS (serving kept out for Monday - freeze the rest - portions)
• DONE MAKE MENUES for the week (do Monday)

QUILT

• DONE STASH REPORT (do Sunday)
• DONE but scheduled to post on Monday! DESIGN WALL (do Monday)
• PIECE 
• all pieces cut for #1 placemat - and ready for applique Improv - applique
• Step 4 completed and MOST of step 5 is done! Back to Square One
• * worked on it a bit - missing one piece though - grrrr!  Runnermania - Thanksgiving table runner - class
• SWAPS
• * library visit done - BUT will need to hand draw - blast it! - Paperpiece Christmas Block Swap
• DONE Southhampton quilts 4-patch?
• SEWING
• KNITTING (Friday!!!)
• I knit - and reknit and re-re-reknit - and ripped out everything I had knit! Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief

Tuesday ... Are there REALLY 52 Tuesdays a year??? WAIWO 10-29-13

Surgery done! Man, do I love Versidd!!!!  If Versidd were a man, I'd marry him!

Doctor (poor guy!  I told him he was the anaesthesiologist!!  He wasn't sure HOW to take that!) said that everything looks good. Still and all, they sent lumps, etc. to lab to make sure there was no cancer!

Since then I have been sleeping - off and on - and more on than off!  With this lousy cold (yup, it finally decided it was a cold -  not an allergy!) I have been doing more sleeping than not.

Oh yeah - and I was ALMOST late for my operation.  Somewhere on the paper I got (and the phone directions AND the hand written directions) it said that yes, the surgery was at 3 PM - but I was to show up at 1 PM to register and all.  Let me say - the staff there at Mercy was GOOD!  All forms completed, signed, and everything, along with IV in place, meeting anaesthesiologist, doc (again) and everyone on the team by 326.  What time did I actually arrive?  305 PM.  And, yes, they COULD have cancelled - but they didn't!  It has been a long time since I've been late for anything - but at ONE time - I was late for EVERYTHING!!!!!  And no, I'm NOT going to revert to then!

Question is - how much of what is below did I do?  I went for surgery.  PERIOD!

GO AND DO

• DONE Dr for surgery

Goals for WB 10-27-13

GO AND DO

• DONE Dr for surgery
• DONE Call Dr re cold
• DONE Post Office
• DONE Library (books and DVDs return)
• DONE Menues
• DONE Take some new pix of local areas - PUHLEASE!

HOUSE - 

• ZONE 3 
• Bath
• DONE WHB
• Laundry Room
•  DONE WHB
• Sewing Room
• DONE WHB
• Study
• ZONE 4 
• BR - 
•  Zone 
• DONE Fingerprint Patrol
• DONE WHB
• ZONE 5 
• LR - 
• ZONE
• Declutter flat surfaces
• DONE decorations
• DONE paper stuff
• DONE Detailed vacuuming
• DONE Dust decorative things
• DONE Look up - tops of stuff
• DONE WHB 

GARDEN  Stayed out of garden - VERY nasty cold, cold weather - and OUCHY places on me that underwent surgery!

KITCHEN

• DEHYDRATE
• DONE herbs
• SOUPS (serving kept out for Monday - freeze the rest - portions)
• DONE Kale soup with potatoes, sausage or other meat
• BREAD
• DONE MAKE MENUES for the week (do Monday)

QUILT

• DONE STASH REPORT (do Sunday)
• DONE DESIGN WALL (do Monday)
• PIECE 
• worked on border - STILL need to figure out setting for blocks! Holy toledo (mine NEW one!!!!) Now to sew it together!
• QOV
• DONE Block Drive - mail 
• Swaps
• DONE Wendy's

Oh wow! It's Friday!!! WAIWO - 10-04-13

Yeehaw!!!  Saw breast surgeon today - and yes, he IS going to do a biopsy and all - but does not think that I have breast cancer - however will know for sure later.  He's just not happy (at all) about the blood issue (neither am I FTM!)

Told N. and L. about what surgeon said.  As soon as we have dates for surgery and all, N or L will drive me (I will have anesthesia so will need driver).  They took me out for lunch which was neat!

N. sounds sooooooooooooooooo much better - and isn't running a fever anymore - but neither of them is feeling completely up to par either.  Just that bit of drive out - and N was ready for a nap.  Same for Lynn.

Apparently L. won tickets to 6 Flags which was great and I know she and N. will enjoy that a lot!  Anyway - they picked up those as well, we came back - and I came home, decided I was tired so took a nap.  so much for my things to do for today!  However L. loaned me a DVD player - because I did something "interesting" to mine!  namely screw up a tape - which is now so much spaghetti!

Fixing dinner - which N and L had leftovers of (I had planned chicken - but am glad for the meal that N and L gave me since I'm sick of my own cooking!)

STILL have plans of getting SOMETHING done from the list!  Hopefully!

GO AND DO

• DONE Dr. office - Breast surgeon
• DONE Post Office
• DONE Borrow N and Lynn's extra DVD player  

• ZONE 1
• Dining Area
• ZONE 2
• Kitchen
• DONE WHB
• DONE Declutter
• DONE Zone
• ZONE 3
• Bath
• DONE WHB
• Laundry Room
• DONE WHB
• Sewing Room
• DONE WHB
• ZONE 4 
• BR - 
• DONE WHB
• ZONE 5
• LR - 
• DONE WHB

GARDEN

STUDIES -  *

• STUDIES - Thurs. assignments (actually Wednesday's!)
  
  • RELIGION
  • Shabbat -
  • DONE IAM 4-6
  • DONE SWS 49, 64, 81
  • SCIENCE
  • THE EARTH
  • Life on Earth 
  • DONE p. 23-28
  • Usborne PW 
  • DONE 8-9
  • MATH
  • DONE 59
  • LIFE SKILLS
  • DONE WHB
  • Totally Organized
  • CREATIVE WRITING
  • RUSSIAN
  • DONE Lesson 15
  • ART - 
  • MUSIC

KITCHEN

• DEHYDRATE
• FREEZE 
• SOUPS
• BREAD

QUILT

• MACHINE QUILT 
• PIECE 
• SWAPS
• SEWING
• QOV

SEWING 

WHEW! Finally! It's Saturday again!!!! WAIWO 09-21-13

Big Blocks for Big Block Drive (Alycia's QOV Big Block Drive) - FIRST installment!
Needs only one more stripe on 3 of them and trimming for them to be done -
would then be 12 instead of 10 (either short term memory is shot! or I can't count!)
Aaack!  That would be 9 instead of the 12 I mentioned - and for sure I can't count!
(Personally I was a LOT happier when I thought I would have 12 ready!)

GO AND DO

• DONE Library (books and CDs return)
• DONE Potty Lynn and N's dog
• Ongoing observance through part of next week Holidays - Succot 
• DONE Tylenol

HOUSE

• ZONE 1 
• Side Porch
• Declutter
• Zone clean
• ZONE 2
• Kitchen
• Zone Clean
• Dining Area
• Declutter
• Zone Clean
• ZONE 3
• Bath
• Zone clean
• Laundry Room
• WHB
• Sewing Room
• WHB
• Study
• Declutter
• Zone clean
• ZONE 4 
• BR - 
• WHB
• ZONE 5 
• LR
• WHB

GARDEN

• HARVEST (Sun and Fri DONE, ) 
• only a few need harvesting now - but moisture content still to high Beans (dried)
• not sure - don't think they are ready butterpeas
• checked - ALMOST but not quite ready Squash
• DONE tomatillos
• FALL PROTECTION
• Romas almost done for year.  Brandywine and others still going for tomatoes
• for Okra
• leaves are falling off - it's fall! for beans (new crop)
• FERTILIZE FOR NEXT YEAR
• Sweet corn bed (next year - potatoes)
• Squash bed (next year - root crops)
• STRAWBERRY GARDEN
• See below - I want to set up another bed AND give away a bunch Weed
• See below - I want to set up another bed AND give away a bunch Plant in grid
• We need to move herbs - replace soil - next to house? Set up new bed
• ASSESS vegetables - each bed, each variety

STUDIES - on hold until Oct. 1

KITCHEN

• DEHYDRATE
• Tomatoes
• beans
• peppers (sweet)
• peppers (hot) 
• greens (turnip)
• greens (mustard)
• FREEZE
• SOUPS
• Split pea
• homemade chili
• corn chowder (Mon?)
• BREAD
• Sour dough starter
• Challah
• pancake/waffle mix
• snack cake mix
• Biscuit/muffin mix
• MAKE MENUES

QUILT

• MACHINE QUILT
• Fri NOT DONE - need more batting Hurricane Sandy
• Fri NOT DONE- tried to pin this - need to add additional pieces to backing to make larger Baby Quilt #1
• Summer Breeze
• PIECE
• Improv - still needs one plus centerpiece to be finished and applique done
• Back to Square One - Step 5 (finish) 
• Back to Square One - Step 6
• Hexie flowers
• SWAPS
• Pumpkin fall block swap (with or without faces?) - Quilter's Newsletter magazine 2011 (free! at quilt group last night!) has several of the pumpkin blocks in it
• Christmas Block (ornaments and stockings - Santa claus?)
• Sampler blocks (eons old)
• QOV
•  almost DONE! 1 to go! Big Block Drive - 10 blocks

Overall goals for this week........

GO AND DO

• DONE Dr. office - call and make appt and go see (N. goes with)
• DONE Post Office
• DONE Library (books and CDs return)
• DONE SH Quilts - machine
• DONE SH quilts - deliver 4-patch
• DONE SH Quilts - Open Sew
• DONE Mail Wendy's Swap
• DONE Holidays - Succot 
• DONE Radiology - 2 tests
• DONE Help Nathan get car from brake center
• DONE Help Nathan get tire fixed
• DONE Take Nathan to Airport

HOUSE

• ZONE 3
• Bath
• DONE - Mon Zone clean
• Laundry Room
• DONE - MonWHB
• Sewing Room
• DONE - Mon WHB
• ZONE 4 
• BR - 
• DONE- Mon WHB
• ZONE 5 
• LR
• DONE - Mon Zone clean

GARDEN

• HARVEST (Sun and Fri DONE, ) 
• DONE tomatoes
• DONE Peppers
• DONE Hot Peppers (Mole and Poblano)
• DONE Beans (green)
• DONE Crowder Peas
• DONE Okra - all one of them!  :(
• FALL PROTECTION
• FERTILIZE FOR NEXT YEAR
• STRAWBERRY GARDEN
• ASSESS vegetables - each bed, each variety

STUDIES - on hold until Oct. 1

KITCHEN

• DEHYDRATE
• DONE Tomatoes
• DONE tomatillos
• DONE eggplant
• DONE peppers (sweet)
• FREEZE
• DONE Okra
• DONE Rhubarb
• SOUPS
• BREAD
• DONE whole wheat bread
• MAKE MENUES

QUILT

• DONE machine fixed and operational!
• DONE STASH REPORT
• DONE DESIGN WALL
• MACHINE QUILT
• NOT DONE - need more batting Hurricane Sandy
• NOT DONE- tried to pin this - need to add additional pieces to backing to make larger Baby Quilt #1
• DONE 5th Fancy Flowers Placemat - this one is Mine - and a table centerpiece
• PIECE
• DONE - mostly Improv - still needs one plus centerpiece to be finished and applique done
• working on them - waiting room time!!! Hexie flowers
• SWAPS
• DONE SH 4 patch swap
• DONE Wendy Swap
• QOV
• DONE almost!Big Block Drive - 10 blocks

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~

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!)

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!

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!

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

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!