Garden report - 04-15-12

GREENHOUSE - FINALLY all the coles are popping up and GROWING!!!  So are the onions!  OK - I planted late - by about 3 weeks! :(    Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and tomatillos aren't up YET - but I do have hopes!!!!

PEAS/BEANS BEDS - Most of the peas are in (also several weeks late!)

SALAD AND POTATO/ROOT CROP BEDS - Am running so behind that I decided to finish making up the lasagne beds for these 2 - then flat gardening - with added in leaves - tilled, I hope - definitely NOT lasagne style - for the salads, nor for the potatoes and root crops. 

CORN/SQUASH AND TOMATO/EGGPLANT/SWEET PEPPER/TOMATILLO BEDS - However when I get to these - I SHOULD have time enough before they are ready for planting to get these 2 rows of beds set up!

Then this fall after everything is done for the year - I'll finish up at least the Salad section - and do the Potato/root crop section either then or the following spring.

HERBS - most of what I want to do here is done!

PERRENIALS/STRAWBERRIES - this is as done as it gets - unless I want to lose a bunch of plants in the process!  Strawberry plants doing ok - not as prolific as I would like to see - but give it another year and I think I'll be considering another bed.  Horseradish is in its own square - and honestly I only want the one main plant - considering the number of rootlets it puts out every year!  Asparagus - hmmm - what there is looks great - BUT we are talking about less than a 25% survival rate - so I am considering moving the asparagus bed over to the orchard area.  Mind you, I'm only CONSIDERING it!  Maybe I'll just start one all over there!  Rhubarb SHOULD be coming out my ears.  It isn't - too shady and the soil makes a BIG difference - this will DEFINITELY get moved! 

ORCHARD - I added 3 new trees this year and 1 bush arrived - so current count here is.... 2 apple (one probably will have to be replaced - just hasn't taken well to transplanting from being heeled in entirely too long to its new place.), 1 peach, 1 cherry (North Star), 1 pear.  I still want to get plums but both the garden catalog was out and so was my money for this!  :/ 

BERRY PATCH - this is still in transition - I HAVE lots of raspberries - stuck (heeled in) in the middle of my potato patch - and they gotta get moved!  Question is - before or AFTER they bear raspberries.  Each possibility has it's positives!  And yes - I may pull a switcheroo - probably be a good idea anyway - planting the potatoes where the raspberries are going - and letting the raspberries do their thing this spring where the potatoes are.  This is NOT a permanent arrangement - and if I say that often enough I may actually believe it!

This is where the Asparagus and the Rhubarb patch will be re-located (which leaves the question - what to put where the asparagus and rhubarb currently are and from where they will be re-located - hmmmmm)

CHICKEN PATCH - oh, I sure wish!!!!!  Not this year anyway - but will start doing some discussion with the city re hens only.

Of course there will NOT be a GOAT PATCH nor a CALF PATCH - although I sure wish!  And although I THINK there is enough room - there really won't be a WHEAT patch either - although the section on the other side of the fruit trees MIGHT work.  Oh well - can't have everything!

EQUIPMENT ADDED: son brought over his wheelbarrow - sure helps my VERY ouch back in hauling compost from the current position to where I need it.  This too will get moved to the top of my side of the driveway.  And a leaf bin (hardware cloth) will be added.  Son is starting to get into the act big time - it's funny!

Oh yeah - current count of the garden shovels/spades - 5!!!  LOL

Stash Report for 04-15-12

Didn't complete any projects this week but I did get some ideas from my dd about what to do with some of my projects. Spent most of my time on the garden or fretting about "what to do" with my quilt projects.

Used This Week: 0 yards
Used This Month:0 yards
Used Year to Date: 43 yards
Added This Week: 0  yards
Added This Month: 2.0 yards
Added Year to Date: 10.50 yards
Net Used for 2012: 32.50 yards

Stash report 04-08-12

Didn't complete any projects this week (close - but no cigar! :(   ) but then I didn't add anything either! LOL
It's a NEW month!!!

Used This Week: 0 yards
Used This Month:0 yards
Used Year to Date: 43 yards
Added This Week: 2.0 yards
Added This Month: 2.0 yards
Added Year to Date: 10.50 yards
Net Used for 2012: 32.50 yards

Currently (today) finishing up my log cabin quilt.  Also hoping to get that last strip done - then a new project and a bunch of sampler blocks (including one repeat - which I hope to duplicate for a quilt for a little one in England)

Tomato Tuesday (will be on Thursdays)

This is an idea I saw on another blog.  Kind of keeps me accountable for (1) planting, (2)care and maintenance of those beds (SHOULD be tomato/pepper/eggplant/tomatillo Thursdays!)  However....

Today I planted the seeds - only 2 weeks late for bell peppers and eggplants  for this region (March 22-28) and 1 week late for tomatoes (hot peppers would have been March 15).   Tomatoes, Basil (I'm raising some with the tomatoes this year in addition to my herb garden), cilantro (herbs), dill (herbs), Thyme (herbs) plus Oregano (I already have that - and it has been doing very well!) all are to be planted around here from March 29 - April 4 - IN THE GREENHOUSE - or inside - whichever!  And -= if I have extra tomato plants - I may try raising some in with the strawberries - SHOULD work.  Hopefully!

But then I also planted all the cool/cold weather crops (coles, onion seed) the week before - only 6 weeks late!  :(  Poor dears will be raised during hot weather - may have to put up some sun shading for them - either that or sink the peat pots into the ground a bit earlier than otherwise intended. (Leeks were supposed to be transplanted today in this region - I just got through putting in the seed!  Hmmm!)

Anyway - currently they are in the greenhouse - WAITING to grow. 

Also - pruned my poor apple tree.  The other 3 trees have been waiting to be planted - think I will scout around and see what I can find for a spade!  Nathan gets busy and forgets - besides - these are MY trees - and he more than has his hands full!

I quilted/cleaned with Wendy this past Sunday - was great!  I always have fun doing that!  Anyway - I think she is jealous - she wants A LOT to get started on her garden as well!

Nathan who was always the kid who was not about to garden - says he will be getting hot peppers and tomatoes and some potatoes - planting them in planters on his deck.  I think he will enjoy that!

Speaking of potatoes - MY potato order hasn't come in yet - and I'm getting VERY nervous!!!!  This would be the second year I've ordered from Ronniger's - and I know they have been super busy.  I just don't want to miss my planting dates (like I have the onion seeds!)  nor do I want my potatoes lost in transit!

Stash Report 04/01/12

Sent off one swap this week - have one to go, then samplers

Used This Week: 2.0 yards
Used This Month:27.50 yards
Used Year to Date: 43 yards
Added This Week: 2.0 yards
Added This Month: 3.50 yards
Added Year to Date: 10.50 yards
Net Used for 2012: 32.50 yards
Also worked on several other quilt things - but not finished.  Hopefully this coming week will see them done!

It's leftover Wednesday!

I'm TIRED!  Sent package to friend, did some sewing, got things ready for greenhouse onslaught.  (tomorrow will be teaching day IF they call tonight!) and menues planned for tonight and tomorrow.  Problem is - I'm too tired and sleepy to cook!  Not that I'll waste away or anything - but instead I'll wake up at 2 AM ready to eat a bedpost or something - and that is NOT good. (Neither is the bedpost!)

Selected colors and patterns - tentatively for another project.  Want to sew - spirit is willing - body is shot!  So tonight I think I will recoup a bit then cook supper  - not sure what I will have.  What I WAS going to have has been changed around a bit.  But I'll get over it - or not!

Do you know what is frustrating - is when you KNOW you have something - you've seen it in your house at least a dozen times or more - but can NOT find it no matter what!  It's like that this evening!  Tomorrow I'll look again - and probably locate it right off!

Stash Report - 03-25-12

No major change this week - due to not feeling well and sleeping almost 24/7 - well the first 4 days anyway.  DID try sewing weekend - ended ripping it all out!  Cut up quite a bit on Sat.  Should have more done by next weekend.


Used This Week: 0 (I was NOT feeling well most of week and slept most of time.  When I did sew - I ended having to un-sew every little bit - drat it!)
Used This Month:25.50 yards
Used Year to Date:  41 yards
Added This Week: 0 yards
Added This Month: 1.50 yards
Added Year to Date: 8.50 yards
Net Used for 2012: 33.50 yards


As of today - the 25th - this afternoon - I added one pattern for a class, 0 fabric (shopping from my stash first!), and have nearly finished 2 more items on my list! 

Stash Report for 03-18-12

Used This Week: 1.50 yards on 1 swap plus 30 yards on log cabin - swap has problems. BIG ones! = 31.50 yards CORRECTION - Log cabin used 24 yards - which included backing, binding which I am sending along to be quilted.  I can't add!!!!!   Total used this week - 25.50
Used This Month: 25.50 yards
Used Year to Date:  15.50 + 25.50 = 41.0 yards
Added This Week: 0 yards
Added This Month: 1.50 yards
Added Year to Date: 8.50 yards
Net Used for 2012: 33.50 yards

Stash Report 03-11-12

Used this Week:  1.50 yards
Used this Month: 1.50 yards
Used year to Date: 15.50 yards
Added this Week:  1.50 yards
Added this Month: 1.50 yards
Added Year to Date: 8.50 yards
Net Used for 2012: 7.0 yards

Earrings

Many years ago - way back when my daughter was growing up - I had my ears pierced.  I had a lot of earrings too.  But over the years, I got sloppy and didn't always wear them. 

When my son was born some years later, he was attracted to the pretty dangly things hanging from my ears - and would grab and pull.  Needless to say - I was NOT happy.

So - I stopped wearing them - just for a while, I thought!

Then I couldn't.

So - this week I decided WEAR the earrings - OR re-home them!  so I bravely took a set of posts - and tried them - knowing they would probably be tight.

Tight is NOT the word I have in mind!  The first earring went in ok - was a bit ouchy - but then it had been a long time. 

However - the SECOND earring - it was like re-punching the whole earring - the HARD way - a gazillionth of an inch at a time!  OH MY!  Pain!!!  Definite pain!  And once I had managed to push the earring all the way through (we will NOT talk about punch the earring - not at this time!) it continued to let me know it was there all day long.

I took them out at night - to let my ears relax - then put them in again yesterday.  Again - first earring - the left one - fine.  At least until both were in!  The second earring continued to be a royal literal pain!

Again - I took them out at night.  Today I am relaxing my ears.  Actually - I'm chicken!  Although I suspect the hard part may be over.  If so - I will put them in this afternoon. 

However I AM re-thinking my decision to wear earrings and wondering if it really is too high a price to re-consider re-homing them!

A Funny Thing happened....

A funny thing happened on my way to clean yesterday - I got a call to come substitute teach! 

YAY!!!

Especially since I Love to teach! 

Although the teaching yesterday was more all-day reading (all classes - 5).  Which was as well.  In the interest of "modeling" reading behavior - I decided to join my young students - and read one book by noon (quite interesting) and ALMOST (with exception of 50 pages) completed another by school dismissal (this one was of one of my favorites - the young Sherlock Holmes).  Still and all it was a nice restful day.  didn't accomplish a thing at home - in fact, I got home and proceeded to fall asleep over the computer so took myself off to bed for a nice nap.  Woke up several hours later - fixed and ate dinner, played TM for a while, made plans what all I was going to do today - and went back to bed. 

Does it help any to say that while the classroom was definitely overheated - my apartment was definitely the other direction and I felt like I was freezing???? (This despite the thermostat saying it was 70!  The thermostat LIES!)

So - what to do?  Son is supposedly coming over today so we can (oh joy!) clean and clear off that side porch, put up plastic so I have a temporary (read the word TEM PO RARY!!!! and pray that isn't for the next 5 or more years!) greenhouse!  Should be easy enough - hopefully.  6 ml plastic which is what the greenhouses use.  Lathing to hold the plastic in place so it won't rip.  Hopefully. Wind the plastic around the OUTSIDE of the posts.  Put something across the porch floor to cover the 1/2 inch wide cracks between boards - and cover that probably with cheap indoor outdoor carpeting.  Get a table (potting table for now) and set it up. 

Oh yeah - door - flap on one end - so I can use that as a doorway. 

Gro-lights - that's the only thing that is tricky - not even sure I really need them since I get a lot of indirect light during the day - as in this is NOT a south facing exposure - but east with another house maybe 20 - 30 feet away.  Some shading - but NOT really that bad at all.  Still and all.....

Gro-lights - a shoplight suspended by chains with electric cord probably wound around and through the chains - and plugged into my kitchen (no outside outlet) after being wound through windows - including the busted one (storm window is busted - NOT the inside one).

SHOULD work.  Hopefully it will!

AND if son does NOT show up (as in NO ONE in their right mind looks forward to cleaning off that porch - in the snow, yet!) - then I can haul stuff up to the fence.  There are some doors - and I have clothesline, hammer and nails - and can rig up a way to haul the jerry-rigged toboggan with it's full load of JUNK to the fence for easier access.

It's Gorgeous Out!!!

Everywhere around me is covered with snow - SOFT snow - but it is absolutely gorgeous!  I keep feeling like I should break out in singing "sleighbells ring...." etc. - but I'm concerned my neighbours would throw hard slushballs at me!

Best part though - I don't have to go out in it!  I can sit here at home in my sewing room - and sew and sew until my machine falls apart!  That is, AFTER I have finished my morning routine AND have done some anti-procrastination items!!!! 

Anti-procrastination - on the schedule for today - Declutter dining room the rest of the way - and toss as much as possible (NOT the books though!)/  Also - sitting down with my lesson book sheets and working on that!

And then a mountain of sewing!  Yeehaw!!!!  First off - gettting those charms ready to go. (all ready - just need the envelopes)  Then the RxR - I have most of the messed up stitching removed from the first one (thank you Janome!  sarcastic humor here!) and only need to sew blocks together.  Like my new machine for sure - I'm not fighting it all the time! 

And a baby quilt - that only needs to be finished being quilted. (borders only and binding). Which is part of my March project (there is another baby blanket) from last year! 

first big package ready for Wendy. 

IF I can get out of my driveway - and this is a major if here! - send all this stuff from the post offfice!!!

List what I can on Freecycle.

And solve world peace! 

It's SNOWING!

I just got back from the grocery.  Earlier I had picked up the mail - and my garden seeds were in.

Let me tell you - that is a wierd feeling when the garden seeds come in - and the area is in the midst of an old-fashioned blizzard!!!  Not quite white out - but ALMOST!  Definitely hazardous road conditions - if only because the weather had been so warm - and acted like we were going to skip winter this year!

Nevertheless....

Re the grocery store - I picked up a bunch of spices and herbs.  Earlier this week I had decided to finally tackle my spices and toss those whose expiration date was past.  I expected a few to be tossed.  OH MY!  I tossed a bunch!  Worst were the ones I remember "inheriting" from my mom and dad when dad passed on.  Dad died in 2003.  Mom had passed 5 years earlier and I KNOW she didn't invest in any new spices during the last few years of her life.  Shall I say that the spices I tossed were definitely "vintage"?  Now I know of someone who likes to hold onto spices and herbs beyond their usual expiration date - he says it gives the spices a richness and mellowness he wouldn't find otherwise.  Mine should have been so rich that they NEVER would need to be used!

So - while I carried home just a few dinky bags - there were a lot of spices that I USE in there (garlic, tarragon, red pepper flakes) at least to tide me over until my herb garden perrenials decide to do their thing again! and then there was the tobasco sauce - now in hot and beastly cry your eyes out hot!  Got some of that! 

Also picked up some canned chili.  Could have made some homemade - but wanted some pre-canned at least in stock.  Wanted Taylor's chili - but couldn't find it.  There is something about cold weather, snow and the need/desire for Taylor's chili!  Yum!

My Camera and Me

I thought in terms of putting pix of quilts on posts - or at least on other pages - that it might be nice to take some NEW pix.

Well and good!  Unfortunately that involves me using my digital camera. 

NOT well and good!  I'm not sure what all happened to it - but it required major cleaning up.  Which I did.  What didn't happen was for me to remember WHAT to do.

It seems it is a more difficult procedure than the old Brownie camera of grab, point, and click.  Now I have all these buttons, programs and who knows what else to do.  And I don't remember how to do this.

I DID try to take a picture of my shelves (which do NOT look great - it is for MY practice ONLY.  So far I only see this wierd line across the camera.  NOT good.  the flash worked - I think.  Not sure.  SOMETHING flashed.  Just hope it was NOT something that wasn't supposed to!

Read the directions?  Uh - re the directions - I KNOW they are here - SOMEWHERE!!!  And eventually I hope to find them.  Hopefully before son's 50th wedding anniversary (he's getting married this Sept.)  Sure would be nice to use this at his wedding!

And re using my phone - NOT a good idea - and I'm not just talking about how it costs me minutes.  Although that too.  But my cell phone has ISSUES!  One of which is probably me!

So that leaves the old disposable camera.  Hey - if it works - don't knock it!  I just have to remember that I took it to the printer. (Hmm - that's what calendars are for!) and then find a way to upload or fax it to my email!  Still - that would take less time.....

Ta - Da - and Ta - Don't

Are you ready for this????  I can (TA DA) upload pix from my digital camera now.  All I have to do is..... TAKE SOME FIRST!!!!

Seriously though - I can upload pix of my quilts, etc. on the quilt page and go from there.  I also need to think of what is going to happen to the other "pages"

You know what is silly?  I just got a new sewing machine (I got mad at the one I had - which had a LOT of probs - and was acting just like the Janome that Wendy had) - but I am totally intimidated by it!  You see, when I first turned it on - I had switched to the new quilting foot - and the needle came down, broke in half - and the point hit me on the chin!  then vanished who knows where!  Even though I wasn't hurt - I was soooooooooo lucky that it didn't hit my eyes!  And now - I'm scared silly of it!

As for the broken needle - despite repeated searches (including hands and knees) I can't find it.  That will last until sometime I go padding in there in my bare feet, I'm sure! 

So - I'm slicing and dicing.  Just not sewing - but I need to get over that FAST!  I mean - there is a limit to the amount of fabric one can store all sliced and diced.  I think I reached that point long ago - but who knows!

Re reaching that point - I read on Bonnie Hunter how to sort fabrics after slicing and dicing them.  I don't do most of my fabrics that way - ust the ones left over from various projects.  And store them like Bonnie does - by width.  and color group (light/dark).  Whenever she gets a full bin she starts up on a quilt = and uses up her fabrics that way.  I did that.  In fact - I did my Log cabin that way - I think I totally upset poor Maureen when I walked into class with 3 bins with strips neatly folded in them.  But seriously - it was easier doing that than otherwise.

But then Bonnie Hunter FINISHES up using her fabrics that way.  I've hardly made a dent in mine.  I did sort out some fabrics for Freecycle (Non-quilting type - scraps and even some yardage) and will have more to come I'm sure).  But I have a hunch I could sew up a dozen quilts easily from my scraps - and KNOW I can from my yardage - EASY.  (My sewing room resembles a fabric store - only not so well organized!) AND make several year-around wardrobes (that's FOUR seasons worth of clothing) without sneezing twice.  And STILL have yardage left over.  So - uh - why aren't I doing that?????  Well - I USED to have the whole thing of TIME.  Now however - I have more TIME, ENERGY (wish I had this much when I was in my 30's!)  - so maybe I'll give SOME of it a try.  At least until I figure out what else I want to declutter!

Stash Report - 02-26-12

Used this Month so far: 14 yards
Used year to Date: 14 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 7 yards
Net Used for 2012: 7 yards

Actually this is good.  I've sliced and diced quite a bit - just haven't finished the projects yet (will have some finished hopefully by end of day!!!  Woohoo!!!)  Will count then!  Hoping to send tomorrow the stuff I was working to send last week (week before, month before, etc.) 

Am still intimidated by my new machine (Brother runway one - has bells and whistles - and is COMPUTERIZED - which means my son LOVES it!)

Stash Report - 02-19-12

Used this Month so far: 14 yards
Used year to Date: 14 yards
Added this Week: 7 yards
Added Year to Date: 7 yards
Net Used for 2012: 7 yards

Still in the black! woo hoo!

Good Morning! It isn't Groundhog day anymore!

Well - Groundhog day is long past!  FTM so is Valentine's Day.  Presidents' Day is coming up this coming Monday. 

News here - Log Cabin needs only the outside 2 borders and backing and off it goes to Wendy for quilting!  I finally got the fabric for the outside 2 borders yesterday - and think it will look terrific - and help actually tone down some of the red distraction in that little flower in the Navy Calico strips - that and with the deep navy outside border - just what was needed! 

The backing is a Civil War Repro - and I positively drool over it!  Sure hope there is enough left over for a vest for me (I have this thing about vests!  Some folks are like that about socks - I'm like that about vests!)  Should look great - will help tie all colors together and look special in its own right!  Haven't gotten the binding yet - but am seriously thinking it will be the red.  Possibly the navy - won't really be able to tell until the rest is done.

Other news - I have a new sewing machine.  As in BRAND NEW - and it is computerized (which is both a plus and a minus as far as I am concerned!)  Am learning how to use it now.

Have got a lot to sew up today - as well as all the housework I've goofed off on.  Wish me luck! 

Am re-setting goals for coming week, etc.

GROUNDHOG DAY!!!!

LOL _ and where else do we celebrate the appearance of a critter who we usually do NOT see - and when we do, unless it is February, we complain at the destruction he does in our yards! 

Posted recipe reply to Wendy's comment this morning.  Guess I need to address the subject of my cooking!  (Alright, Wendy and Nathan - time to stop laughing, pick yourselves up off the floor!)

Reality is - I make these WONDERFUL menues, fantastic recipe concepts - and sometimes am even a superb cook!  Then there are the other times!

Foods I can usually cook well include breads (including rolls, an occasional brioche, challah, pastry, pastry pockets, meringues - and on and on), USUALLY soups - including some of my own creation. 

Refrigerator soup - Set pot of water - about 4 - 5 cups or so on to boil, open refrigerator door - add leftover greenbeans, the last of the tomato juice, scan the vegetable drawer, any leftover chunked up meats/sauces/etc. (usually one - maybe 2 kinds of meat IF I use meat - NOT a sweet/sour recipe though - that goes in something different).  Journey through my dried foods - and maybe add some dried corn, maybe beans or peas, dried carrots, whole grain - wheat, barley - add SOME of each.  Bring whole thing to a boil. (Maybe add a cube or so of appropriate flavored bouillion to soup)  Turn off (dried beans - remember????) 

Leave for about an hour (alternative is to add maybe 6 -7 hours to cooking time) then turn back onto a simmer.  Cook for a while longer - maybe adding rice at this point if using.  Season appropriately - for me - that is Mrs. Dash - and a tour through my herbs - usually involving savory if I have beans, thyme, maybe sage - whatever I think will taste good.  Oh yeah - and lots of garlic and PEPPER!  Including maybe a dash or four of hot pepper.  Add potatoes during last hour of cooking.  Make sure that you have added tomatoes - whether juice, fresh from garden or canned (or frozen tomato marbles, LOL)

I think that's it.  Oh yeah - you need toast with this.  Great for cold winter days or when you have a cold.  Or - just about any time!

Other than that - quilt class last night - log cabin - she is so great at teaching that class!  AND is so helpful during those times when class is not in session and I call frustrated that my quilt is NOT DOING what it is supposed to!  Anyway - quilt top is DONE - excepting the borders (need to get some different fabric from what I have - which isn't enough) which has to wait until day after payday!

Now on to clean house, sort papers (UGH UGH UGH) today and tonight - work on another quilt project for at least an hour.  At least. 

It's FEBRUARY!!!!!!

Yeehaw!  It's February! 

LC quilt ALMOST done.  Love the outcome - but the making of it - OMG - BORING!  This one is a scrappy blue and light!  HOPE I have enough deep blue for outside border!

Other than that - ummm - have been doing a lot of not much!  So now it is time to pay the piper and do a LOT of much - AND quilt!  STILL have those samplers to finish - not hard - just I am scared to death of them - have already mucked up 3 blocks I'm doing for one!  Grrrr!  Keeping blocks - but they are entirely too small to go into this quilt!  Drat it anyway!  One would think I can't divide by 4 (instead of 2 :/ 

Cooking - made chopped chicken liver on toast points last night - thought I'd died and gone to heaven!  My tummy had been feeling peckish all day - apparently this is what I needed, despite my misgivings.  That I was CRAVING them - for sure!  Even dreamed of fixing and eating them!  OH MY GOODNESS were they good!

Homemade bread - pumpernickel - TG for bread machines and grain grinders - love LOVE LOVE mine!  Nothing like freshly ground flour! Esp in homemade bread!f

Soups galore - have made chili, bean soup, cholent (exceptionally good - think stew and there ya have it!)  Need to make some homemade mixes - ie biscuit mix.

Looking forward to Fri eve - have my mind set on Chinese!  Yum!  General Tsao's chicken.

Needless to say - it is lunch time - and I''m waiting for my chili to thaw!  Menues in process of being made out for coming week.  This PM - sewing rows together - won't finish - but will tonight - and then will do borders I think.

I'm Excited!!!!

I'm excited!  I took a sample of my background material for my Double Duty quilt with me - and they STILL had a little bit of it left on the shelves!!!!  Yee Haw!  I can finish that quilt!  And I'm cheering!

That being said - what am I doing today?  Not working on that quilt - at least not yet!  Because I had gone to class last night for the Quilt in a Day Log Cabin.  And I like THIS method of constructing log cabins sooooooooo much better!  At any rate - I am correcting mistakes from last night (Ribbit! Ribbit!) due to the lighting and my head getting in the way of the light (at least that's MY excuse - and I'm sticking to it!) where I would invariably sew wrong side to right side!  Grrrr!  So - I'm doing that and trying to get the rest of the 36 blocks for the square Queen's LC quilt at least through the second round!  Then  I'm putting that away - and probalby collapsing - at least after I slice and dice the setting squares for the DD quilt! and read through and set up for the PP for that one blasted strip!

I'm not even worrying about housework today - although I could very easily do SOMETHING to make my life - and day - a little more productive - at least in terms of chores!   I DID do my morning routine - and everything looks pretty straight.  Tomorrow I'm doing my WHB.  May do some paperwork (MUCH needed) later - or may not - not sure yet!

Oh yeah - am using Bonnie's Orange Crush 4 squares as LE - Gosh those are cute cute cute!

My Carpenter Star

And there ya have it!  That's my Carpenter Star - and it's at Wendy's awaiting final quilting!  LOL - she changed her mind from meandering to Custom quilting - says the star is begging for it!  LOL  I'm just glad she's doing it because I know how insane her schedule is!  AND she is EXTREMELY good at quilting! 

Right now she says she is figuring out 3 different possibilities - and will send those to me when she is ready. 

As I said - I'm excited!  Can you tell?

Do you know how many squares 150 4-patches is?????

Egads!  I figured I was in trouble when I saw the 150 4-patches.  But - not to worry - I could sew 2" strips together then slice and dice them!  NP

Yeah - right! 
My first problem came when I realized that I DO NOT cut straight - and that the guiding lines on my ruler LIE!!!!  There is at least a micron difference between one side of the guiding line and the other!  And invariably by the time I've sliced and diced my way past the 3rd or 4th I'm well on the way to sewing curved lines!

Not to worry.... Maybe!  I just straightened the line out - best as I can - and then used my handy dandy slicer thingy to even things out.

Now I love to save fabric.  In fact, I'm a fabriholic!  As both my adult children will readily testify to!  But - do you know that how many times I'm wasting that little tiny pieces - just to "straighten out that line"?  And probably not succeeding terribly well at that!  Let's just say that my giblet bins are exceeding 2 oatmeal boxes as it is!  (although, to be honest, not totally from yesterday either!)

Speaking of saving fabric - one thing I love to do is sew strings together to make larger pieces of fabric (squares).  Somewhere in this mess I have bits and pieces of some Taz fabric - which I am using in a Taz-man quilt - and which I figure to have completed - oh say, maybe around 2025 or so.  Cute designs!

This morning I got a chance to peek at Wendy's (daughter) Orca Bay mystery quilt (Bonnie Hunter
mystery quilt).  If you get a chance, go see it!  She uses her string squares so effectively - just darling!

I can feel the urge to sew creeping up on me - I got 100 2-patches done (equals only 50 squares - don't get excited!) - but today is paperwork.  And HAS to be paperwork - or else the paper monster is going to rear right up out of those baskets/boxes, etc. and come get me!  Besides - I'm STILL looking for my passport which is somewhere in there!  IN A SAFE PLACE!  Ugh!  That and my studies! (which if I'm going to do them, I'd best get my rear in gear!)

Man - life is Soooooooooo much happier now that I can do paragraphs and such!!!!

Life here... - house LOOKS like it is cleaned up - relatively speaking.  The relative part is  because I STILL have a lot of things with no home at present (don't worry, Mom!  I know it is in the middle of the floor where I put it - but I'm building shelves next day/week/month/year....you get the idea! - and then we'll put stuff away!  I'll even help you!  (NOT!)

I'm slowly - as in sloooowwwwwwwlllly - unpacking and putting away the rest of the binsd I brought here to MA when I moved from IL.  I did say slooowwwwwwwly didn't I?  That's because I moved here in 2005 - Dec.  Moved to this place in 2006 August.  Remodeling so far over 2 years (and this year we tackle - gasp! - the two bedrooms).  Still not done. 

Seriously - we've acquired another house as well - and with remodeling that (easier - no one in it!) and there really isn't any time!  Also - with remodeling here - I may be moving to the other house - which has 3 floors (hmmmm - stairs?) and which may/may not be sold as condos - or rented out (for more $$$ than I currently allocate for my rent) 

Still and all - it has a HUGE back and side yard - just perfect for a lot of gardens - BIG veggie garden, along with herbs, flowers, orchard (mini) space. and playyard for kids!  Am seriously thinking of it.  I do love this house here though - but NOT the partying that the kids upstairs do!

Plus - I'm almost unpacked.  This would mean re-packing and putting stuff away again!  Ugh!
So - just thinking on it.
More later.

Later....

back from PT - and have been officially discharge - not because I don't need it anymore - but because my insurance runs out tomorrow - and I'm back on Sr. Citizen garbage starting tomorrow!  Most Drs. approach that like the Bubonic Plague - and apparently PT's are no different!  It is funny though - that those things we paid for most of our life (and, trust me, we DO pay for them - beforehand - from our paycheck and at present - from Soc. Security amount deductions!) that the actual benefits from them - while helpful - are NOT as good - and that Drs - most of them - REALLY hate Medi-whichever one it is that you have to be 65 or older for!  Why?  Outside of the fact that they are VERY slow to pay - they will disallow AT LEAST 20% of the actual bill (which means (1) EVERYONE'S bills get hiked up, (2)at the least the patient's bills are inflated to compensate for that 20% or more!)  MAJOR ugh!

That not withstanding - dd called - and instead of doing what I WAS going to do (every hour - 15 minutes study, 30 minutes papersort and/or process - I'm behind again!, 15 minutes house clean).  It WILL get things done - trust me! and the time is short enough I can stand to do that.

Anyway - dd called - I'll be doing that tomorrow - today is sewing day (which I was going to do tomorrow).  Yeehaw!

So far - I've gone through the rest of that tub, started on the next one - stuff put away or put in with laundry - or with ironing - depending.  I've sorted and gotten stuff together for a Bonnie Hunter Leader/Ender mystery - an old one - Orange Crush! =- and I'm ready to go.

Maybe more later - if not - tomorrow!

Today.....

Of course - now that I finished up the other post - what I want to do.....

1. Morning routine, of course
2. Send Non-Sew Swaps (REALLY - this is ridiculous - these are NON-SEW!!!)
3. Finish up sewing swaps for sending on Monday.
4. TOTH (Top of the Hour) - alternate between 15 minutes Sewing room sort and toss (yup - am actually tossing SOME) fabrics or Ironing some of the fabrics/blocks/yardeage already to go.
5. Would LOVE to journey out to SH Quilts and get my log cabin book - which of course, is probably the ONLY one I don't have!  I have IFmore than enough fabric so that I can do a light/dark scrappy one - and actually am looking forward to it!  Also am hoping that I can do this block without wanting to run screaming from the room.  I LOVE the overall look - but as fiddly as I am - I REALLY do NOT like that I fuss so blasted much over each and every stitch! (which invariably has to be done over again!)
6. IF I get my swaps done in time this weekend - or even today (I am setting a goal - just for today) - then I will get to (EXCITED tones here!) start on .... (notice the START on) Bonnie's Orange Crush quilt! 

I wasn't so thrilled origiinally at that particular quilt - as I saw it with all that ORANGE in the print out part.  But WOW - the final quilt is just delicious!  SOOOOO - I gotta do one!

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!!!!!!!