What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

We're back!! DH and I both read the story in the graphic novel EXIT Game. Then we collaborated, and between the two of us, we got the answer! Not before I goofed AGAIN and missed a bunch of letters, so we had to redo the puzzle multiple times. Although DH insists we found the answer unconventionally, I don't care! We solved it without using the clues. He's so black and white; I'm every shade in between! 

Teamwork! It's all about teamwork! 

Should I mention what happened to the kitchen table? This happens when you use ...

AHA --- Someone mentioned that it might help if one person read the EXIT story. That's what we typically do, except this is a graphic novel, so that won't work. We'll each read and then collaborate on the puzzle solving. We didn't get a chance last night as DH was working late. 

I must remember to focus on what I did! But that's usually what I do on the blog anyway. It's kind of a recap of everything that happened the day before!

Oh, the second thing I made on my digital cutter arrived at ...

Well, this message has hit very close to home! 

I'm listening to an audiobook by Oliver Burkeman called "Meditations for Mortals." Oh boy -- it's about trying to do everything in life and not always succeeding. It talks about our busyness, which is me! 

It also mentions how we feel we must read everything that comes into our house—that's me. We must listen to audiobooks/podcasts at double speed (NOT me) and millions of UFOs (OK—that's me). He wasn't talking about quilting but unfinished projects—like painting the living room, fixing the bathroom door ...

We had our Zoom session on digital cutters, and just when you think there is not much more to learn—oh, who am I kidding? I've only scratched the surface. But here is something that I made a while ago. Now that the recipient has received it and the group has seen it, I can share it with you. 

I have several digital cutters and used the Singer Momento to make this one. I found a project on the mySewnet website and modified it slightly to suit my needs. 

I hate giving a gift card. Well, it's not ...

I think we all know the answer to that question. The aging process can't be stopped, but it can be slowed. Even though I was and always have been very active, there were certain things I was NOT doing for my body, and it was starting to show—big time. This was not just because of aging but also the issue with my leg/back—whatever it is. 

So I decided to take back my life! I started stretching more—not enough, but way more than before. I started lifting weights (I'm never going to have a six-pack ...

I swear Brooke (my personal trainer) is trying to kill me! Her philosophy is, let's just sneak a bit more weight on there when Elaine isn't looking! But all is good, and my mobility continues to improve. I'm not so sure about the tightness in my muscles, but I can only hope! I need to do more stretching at home, but there are definite improvements, so all the hard work is worth it!

I don't want to say that yesterday was a total bust because there was some significant learning involved, some sewing, but not much ...

Did you notice what I missed yesterday? As I was walking the dogs, where I get my most profound thinking done, I realized that if I don't change the pharmacy on my chart at the doctor, they will merrily send the next prescription to the old pharmacy, which hopefully won't be for a year, but I'll forget by then. So I called the doctor to make that change. Good grief - they need the fax number. FAX? I didn't have that, but when I went to pick up the prescription, I got the fax number, so that ...

In this insane world of ours today, what is the biggest timewaster?

OK -- after social media! 

It's follow-ups! 

It doesn't seem to matter what you do these days, but everything requires follow-up. You can't seem to accomplish a single thing without some form of follow-up, and it can suck up so much time. 

Like my new theatre seating, which came with no trays, but that is all taken care of now. 

Like going to the doctor to renew that prescription and having to follow up because it got sent to the pharmacy, but I wanted to change ...

I love lists! Lists make me feel in control! This little apple did not fall far from the tree. My mom keeps tons of information, but most of it is useless, like tracking the amount that the telethon (they still have those out west) raised over the last 50 years. Now, that's a list I can do without! However, I have to say that having a list like that and keeping track of it for 50 years is a feat! 

My most extensive lists are book-related! 

Back in the day, and I could not find an exact date, there ...

I love our Pony Express! We've shuffled many things around on it, and there's quite a stack at my front door. Granted, some of that is not technically for the Pony Express, but it's waiting for me to make some donation drop-offs. 

And I have to say that having friends who live in other places is a great thing! I was alerted to another amazing user bookstore in Brockville called Book Trader. They have a Facebook page, and I contacted them. Within minutes, I had a reply. I sent my list to them, and within minutes, I ...

Thanks to everyone, I have half of the books on my list. Well, I found 11 of 23 books at two used bookstores. The best part is that the two stores recommended had fantastic service. Allison the Bookman in North Bay, received my order, gave me a price, and I paid via transfer. The books are being picked up later today. Fast service. 

I had the same speedy service at Bearly Used Book Store in Parry Sound, and three more books were checked off my list. They got picked up yesterday. All of them will be on The Pony Express ...

 I found EIGHT books at the used bookstore in North Bay. And I love that ALL their titles are searchable online. Even better, you can search by author, and whatever they have from that author comes up! It's called Allison the Bookman, and I LOVE the site. I will call today and pay for the books, then they will go on the Pony Express. Yes - Our Pony Express reaches faraway places! Now, I need to update my list, and I have a couple of other bookstores to check out. Oh my -- this is super exciting! 

Oh, I should mention ...

 Oh, I see I have two leads on used bookstores. I'll check those out later today. Thanks!!! 

Although it's Wednesday, I did NOT go to spin class. I was out late last night, and even though I woke up at the same time, I decided to continue sleeping. And now I'm up—obviously! 

I spoke at the Quilting Corners Quilt Guild in Alliston last night, and the topic was scrap quilts. What a fantastic guild! They produce a lot of quilts, they have a very active community quilt program, and when some work needed to be done ...

Oh my—what a treat yesterday was! I had nothing on the agenda, and I could do what I wanted when I wanted. I certainly needed that mental break. I haven't even cleared up the tables in the film area yet. 

A bit of tidying needs to be done

I'll do that later today, or maybe I'll do it during Monday's Sewing and set up for the final presentation. Yeah! Then, I think April will be very quiet except for my "personal" classes and a couple of challenges I must work on. A few quilts need ...

Dare I say that I'm out of the woods? Or that I can finally see the trees in the forest? I am almost finished with this crazy workload that overtook my February and March. 

I want to acknowledge your comments about that "opinion" I mentioned yesterday. This was not the only instance. I saw a different person post something similar to someone else. The gist was, "Why are you voicing an opinion about our country?" Well, I couldn't help myself - I had to respond. But seriously? Do people not realize what is happening? Some people seem to be ...

I laugh about the subwoofer! It would be in my STASH room if it was bolted to the floor beneath the family room. It's going to stay where it is - behind the sofa. But it makes sense - it's a SUB woofer, and it's just an ugly-looking box. I've no idea why, for 20 years - it had to sit front and center in our family room. But that's a thing of the past. 

And if all goes well, the old TV and surround sound will be picked up in an hour! I have a few other ...

Yesterday was like a "vacation" with only one presentation, but I can't say I accomplished much. I did, but it wasn't what I wanted. However, I'm thrilled with what I made. Unfortunately, it's a gift for someone, so I can't share it yet, but I will. And it involved paper, not fabric. Imagine that! 

Wait - I took one picture to share with you. 

Cutting paper on the Singer Momento

Yes, that is the Singer Momento digital cutter, and I love it! I had fun manipulating an already-made design in the software and using some cool ...

Oh my goodness --- what a coincidence! Someone was in Buenos Aires waiting for that plane that had the onboard death in Sao Paulo! What are the chances! It's sad as that gentleman was on his way to a cruise. I hope his body got back home without too much hassle. It does make you wonder how much hassle the family must go through and at what cost to get a person back who has died while on vacation. 

I've definitely become a slacker when it comes to taking photos. Trust me—I took lots of photos, but not ...

Technically, this isn't the end of an era - that happened a couple of years ago when the farm was sold. Surprisingly, no tears were shed when the farm was sold. That's a bit weird, but my parents have moved on, my Dad especially. Mom doesn't talk much about it. I think she knows and just has to deal with it. 

There are not many buildings on the property anymore - the tornado in 2010 saw to that. After the farm was sold, the granaries were sold and moved, as were a couple of shipping containers used for storage ...

If only everyone could have an attitude like Tammy's sister - "I will love it because I made it!" Seriously? How cool and practical is that? If only everyone had that in mind as they make things. And let's face it -- there are some things that we excel at and others we do not! Pick your battles. 

It was an exciting day, and I have nothing to show you! I did paperwork in the morning and almost got all the follow-ups from the weekend out. And then it was the Virtual Retreat, and I was on that call all ...