Saturday-10:30am

Good Morning!

Been over two weeks since I last showed up for a chat.  I have either been really busy or recovering from being really busy... 

...and watching the grouse go by pecking at the grass bugs and seeds. 

We've had lots of predictions of rain... 

...but what we got was mostly very light to just sprinkles or drizzle. 

I think the first storm might have been last night.  We sure had the wind, anyways.  Woke up to a brown lawn chair blown into the bush next to the patio.  Supposed to die down during the morning here.

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What have I been up to when I was functional?  Went down to listen to the dietitian from the University of North Dakota one afternoon--may have mentioned her.  She had a recipe for us to try at the end of her talk about nutrition.  I was surprised I liked it because it was such an odd combination of ingredients--for me, anyways.  California roll-ups with avocado, grapes, celery, greek yogurt, apples, lemon juice...goodness, that's all I can remember off the top of my head.  

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One does get tired of soups and pastas and rice...so I splurged and got everything at the beginning of the month.  Took me the better part of a morning just to cut and dice and slice (because I can only stand in one place for short periods of time--sets off the chronic sciatica).  But it is quite good and has been holding up well in the frig.  New recipes can be financially and physically challenging--LOL!

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Dagan and Leah ordered a collar for Annie that I found on an etsy shop.  She needs one with her name and my number on it.  Turns out the collar is coming from Taiwan--LOL!  But it is in the mail, so I need to finish working on that last closet.

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Yes, I have still barely touched the studio closet.  I have gone into a fibro flare, so have taken it pretty slow the past couple weeks.  Banker boxes...

...Ikea boxes... 

...and plastic containers were hauled out. 

But the smaller ones will be for use in the actual studio bookcases so they got moved into the hallway on top of those bookcases.    

I save old towels and washcloths to use for various art and craft projects (or for whatever else comes up).  These got purged down to one box.  Just those things took me three days--ROFL!  Pretty sad.  But, you do what you can do. 

Leah has still been coming over to trace and rough cut patterns.  

 We got the last ones rough cut on Thursday, but I haven't finished cutting them out yet.  Next I will take over sewing them all after I finish the closet.  See how slowly I am moving?  I thought I would be long done with the closet by now.  Oh well.

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We've been attempting to get together for crafts on Tuesdays and Thursdays until end of July, but you know what they say about plans.  Ian got sick.  Leah gets very tired now, too.  They were running late one evening when they were out visiting...you know how it goes.

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I haven't been doing great, myself.  Missed the CCC group and some afternoon tea event put on by Senior Companions this past week.  Plus it has been horrible out for folks like Leah and I who hate the heat.  Been in the 80s and 90s.  Awk! 

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I have been using the new breadmaker, though.  Thought you might get a kick out of this.  I am so short that I need a stool to be able to see to program this tall machine--LOL!

I did get something else done.  Went through all the old books from when I was a kid! 

Got them out of the decades old oranges grocery box, anyways. 

Does anyone remember when you could buy the weekly reader books in the 1950s in grade school?  At least I think they were Weekly Reader books. 

A few of these books I believe were my sister, Renee's.  And a handful of them were Dagan's when he was little...but the vast majority of these were mine.

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I remember how I waited with anticipation for that flyer and order blank to be handed out in class.  Such excitement!!  But that was nothing compared to the day the books arrived!!  I'd walk through that classroom door, my eyes would alight upon those colorful little stacks on the various desks, and I'd race to my seat to peruse my treasures.  Always loved the smell of the new books.  Even though they were small paperbacks, I had been taught how to gradually crack the spine of a new book so I had to wait to actually read until each precious book was treated with spine cracking respect.  Ah!  I loved book day!!

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The days of these last couple weeks have slipped by so quickly...but sweetly.

I couldn't believe it has been this long since I've blogged! 

This past Monday I had a nice visit from Alan and Marylu Belisle as they traveled through Fargo.  Alan was my first love--senior year--when I was 16 and he was 18.  Goodness--50 years ago now!  I am absolutely the worst at remembering to take pictures--too much living in the moment all the time--LOL!  But they do have a blog--footloose fogeys.  When they retired they sold their house and have been on a great adventure traveling around the US!  Oh--and Dagan stopped by, too, and joined in the conversation.  He remembers Alan because we have kept in loose touch all these years and see each other every decade or so--LOL!  (This time it was 17 years, I think.)  Anyways, was nice to meet his wife and we all had a good visit.

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On Tuesday Leah came over to work on making Ian's birthday party invitations.  (He'll be three on the 24th.)  On Wednesday Leah, Ian, and I went to Baker nursery!!  I picked out plants.  Leah picked out plants.  We went and picked up Leah's brother, Aaron, and dropped off her plants.  (Needed Aaron to help with the heavy lifting.)  Picked up a bag of rocks and a big plastic tub to hold soil at Home Depot (Ian and I stayed in the car).  We had a nice break to eat a Subway lunch at my place before potting the planter boxes in my garage.  (Was close to 90 degrees again that day--awk!)

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Leah and Aaron did all the work while I kept an eye on Ian--who was helping in every way we could think of--LOL!  Then we wheeled the planter boxes to my apartment--and brought the brown lawn chairs, too.

Then the planter boxes got soaked really well. 

There are two on each end of the patio. 

Ian was helping to water but his arm got tired... 

...so Mama helped. 

He loves to help these days...and has just started the "why" stage--LOL! 

I picked out lots of colors. 

I hope all these baby plants take hold and grow.

And that they can survive the wind up here.  I really do live where a wind tunnel is formed by the long stretch of buildings one after the other that are connected.  The flowers look like they did pretty well.  The wind is dying down some after two days of 40mph wind.  I'll see who stands back up and who doesn't--LOL!  Some never got bent over, so they are probably going to make it.  This is the first time I have had outside potted plants since Dagan was Ian's age!

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Leah was here Wednesday night to trace and rough cut the last of this batch of patterns!  I have been such a total zombie since the trip to Baker and all that in the heat.  Like I said--either busy or recovering from being busy--LOL!  ;)

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I watched Bloodline, Vikings 4-2, and am getting close to the end of the new season of House of Cards.  I might finish that tonight over at McFamily's.  I have a super easy babysitting gig.  After Ian's asleep I will keep an eye on the monitor while Dagan and Leah go see the new Wonder Woman movie.  :)

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I will try not to let so much time go by.  Though, life is just like that sometimes.  :)  Have a great weekend!!

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"Every exit is an entry somewhere else."

Tom Stoppard

Thursday-10am

Been a titch over a week since I stopped by to say hello.  We've had a lot of dark, cloudy days where they have predicted rain...and a few days where we actually got some light rain.  

Good!  They have had fire watches up here because it's so dry.  Could use some downpours with thunder and lightning.  (I do love thunderstorms.)
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What have I been up to this past week?  Mostly cutting pattern pieces... 

...and working on the hall closet. 

I just kept plugging away on both. 

Look what I found in with my sewing stuff!

Does anyone remember troll dolls?
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 Well, I found mine in the garage in one of my "Nostalgia" boxes.  I had a small one (Juniper--named after the wild rabbit I managed to raise) and this larger one I named Bengie.  (And I have my sister, Renee's, too, I believe.)

I gave him a good bath, dressed him in his cave man outfit, and he is now in with Ian's toys.  Not sure he's going to like him, though.  When I found Bengie in the garage Ian was scared of him.
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  Note: the felt outfit was from the above McCall's troll clothes pattern--sewn by hand in junior high when I was about eleven.  Bengie is about 55 years old and so is that pattern--LOL!  You never know what you might find in my stash.  I haven't even shown you the box of books from grade school yet, either.
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Anyways, stepping out on to my patio these are my views--left...

...center... 

...right.

I still do have lots of sky, really.  Just a different angle than when I used to live on third floor.
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I finally finished cutting pattern pieces yesterday. 

Leah was here for crafts on Tuesday and is coming back tonight.  We wanted to try out some diaper liners (that's what's on top) so made a pattern, cut a couple pieces of zorb (an absorbent core fabric made in Canada), and did a water test.  Not too much difference in how much water they could absorb, but the zorb did dry faster and was harder to wring out.  So going to try making a couple of diaper liners and see how they work. 

Leah had ordered some more Zorb II and some white micro fleece (SOOOO soft!) for wicking from a place called Wazoodle Fabrics online.  (Don't you love that name?)  They had the cheapest price for the Zorb we could find so we took a chance on this new company.  Really impressed with how fast it came and the quality looks good.  They are washed and ready to go.

I finished up in the hall closet.  Now it only holds sewing supplies and two boxes of oil painting supplies...so far.  

As you can see there is half a shelf left open--tada!!
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I finished all the cutting of the pattern pieces we had ready to cut. 

I can see my carpet again--LOL! 

But in the studio...there are plastic bins...

...and banker boxes waiting to be filled.

This little closet will get an overhaul. 

I've already shoved a couple containers in there--geez!  I do that a lot.  Need to put something away...see an empty spot...and shove.  No wonder things get so chaotic so fast.

This closet will get completely pulled apart and reorganized.  There's room for a couple more things in the hallway closet, too...and even on the garage shelves...thank goodness, eh?  LOL!
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So that's what I've been doing the past week.  I'm down to one closet.  Oh, and Annie needs a collar with her name and my phone number on it before she comes over, too.  So it won't be too long.  
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After the closet...
Sew, sew,sew.
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Today is the CCC group.  I was too shot to make it down for the library on Tuesday and haven't had time to read, anyways.  But today they have some lady coming from NDSD to talk about something or other, so I might try to make it down.  Too shot to even work on zendalas, anyways.  Last week I only popped down to say why I wasn't staying--LOL!  This reorganizing stuff wears me right out and stiffens me right up--LOL!  But I am nearing the end, anyways.
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Leah is coming for crafts tonight.  We need to layer up all the pads and pantyliners the way she wants so they are ready to sew.  And Leah is working on a little organizer do-hickey for her purse, too.  So nothing strenuous tonight.  ;)
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Oh--hurray!  Just got a text wanting to know if I was up for a spontaneous visit?!  From Ian and Leah--always!!  Later!
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“The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours - it is an amazing journey - and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins.” 

Bob Moawad

Wednesday-10am

Good Morning!

It's been chaotic over here, but getting a lot done!

I started on the hall closet last week. 

There were storage containers shoved everywhere. 

I slowly transferred the closet craft supplies into those new big plastic tubs from Costco. 

I filled eight out of twelve... 

...and stacked up all the sewing supplies in the living room. 

Some of which came out of the studio closet. 

Will be nice to have all the sewing stuff in one place.  Now I have more room in the studio closet, too!

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On Mother's Day McFamily and Leah's brother, Aaron (in the red shirt), came to rearrange the garage now that the Paseo was towed away. 

Leah was the supervisor for the large Valley Con stuff of theirs that I am storing and the bigger stuff. 

Ian was watching with Gramma and eating craisins. 

Then I went through the shelves--boxes--most of which hadn't even even been untaped since the move in August of 2015--to decide what to move where, which things could be tossed, and which could be moved to the give away pile.  It was hot!  80 degrees!  We made a lot of room for all the tubs in the apartment...

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...which were finally hauled out!  And my fans were brought in--nice!

Even the four empty tubs, too.  (I went out to transfer more of the boxed stuff into those on Monday.) 

The hall closet is ready to be filled. 

Here sits the stuff to be transferred into new boxes, labeled, and moved...still looks the same today--LOL! 

Yes, I am sick of these old boxes which have been written on, scratched out, and written on again--banged up--taped and retaped.  I did save the boxes in the best shape for inside, but they all have to go.  I do eventually want to have clear plastic bins inside, too.  Just can't afford it right now.  But that's okay.  The plastic bins in the garage are a decade's old dream come true.  My impatience is showing--LOL! 

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While I worked--the scent of roses wafted through the living room and dining room.   

But I have to say I have never seen anything like this one rose and how it is drying up!?

 Can you see the three separate petals that are completely brown?  One is even on the inside!  

Really strange.

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Anyways, these are the "after" garage pictures.

Since I'll just have one borrowed car at any time... 

...we could just store stuff all around the sides and I still have a ton of room to park in the middle. 

After I was out there Monday and got rid of some more old boxes, I knew for sure that I still needed a few more tubs to finish the job. 

I went through the smaller cat stuff, too, and brought in what I would need for Annie.  (Too hot and tired on Sunday.) 

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Starting to really look like I am expecting cat company, eh? 

Leah was at Costco Monday and Aaron was with to help carry.  They picked up some new cheap banker boxes for me!  

And in the garage are some more big storage tubs and potting soil--but I haven't been out to move any more stuff yet.  I totally reached a wall yesterday--been on R&R (rest & recovery).  Leah was running late and cancelled craft night last night--which turned out just fine because then I ended up in bed early.  Was nice and chilly last night, too, so I slept well.  Not sure if I am off R&R yet, though.  Doesn't appear to be a supple, energetic day so far, shall we say--LOL!

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Caroline came to clean yesterday.  Been dark and damp...with occasional drizzle.  We really need some pouring rain.  Been so dry they've had fire watches in the area.

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Oh, I had to laugh!  Dagan told me that Ian forgot to talk to him about the garbage truck fire when he got home that day but remembered as soon as he woke up--so at 5:30 in the morning he was telling sleepy Daddy about the garbage truck, the fire, cans exploding, and the firemen eventually saving the day.  :)

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  And when they came over he got his little toy garbage truck out and wanted to hear the story again.  He loves it!  It has everything--danger, suspense, humor, explosions (what guy doesn't like explosions), and the firemen save the day in the end.  Sure glad I remembered that.  And--yes--Dagan remembered that adventure, too--LOL!

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When they left Ian kissed my "baby belly"--ROFL!  I told him I just look like I have a baby belly but mine is just belly--LOL!  He kissed Daddy's and Aaron's baby bellys, too.  If he is asked what is in Mama's belly he says, "my little sibling".  But we don't think he actually understands what this is all about.

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He also knows that Annie is going to come over to my house because Annie is lonesome for Sammy and Gramma is lonesome for Karma.  Won't be long now.  I just have to  finish the closets inside here.  :) :)

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Leah will try to make it over tomorrow for Craft Night.  I will try to make it to CCC tomorrow afternoon to work on zendalas and socialize a little.  But, for right now, this tired, crackling old body is heading for my big comfy chair.  Plan to work on letters.   I think I owe about half a dozen right now.  Been busy...but today is a perfect day for paper and pen, I think.  ;)

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Love and hugs from Fargo!  :) :)

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"Gratefulness is the keeper of a happy heart."

Barbara Waque