what to do

during an "extreme heat index" ... well, I went to work ... the a/c was running, computers were running and well, I was getting stuff done.

1.  finished my continuing ed gig (w/36 hours to spare :))

2.  uploaded, scanned and completed a pile of quarterly payroll reports

3.  did a payroll

4.  attacked a pile of scanning (literally)

5.  moved furniture in the "green" room

6.  created another box of shredding

7.  watered the plants

8.  emptied all the trash cans (upper management gig)

and I'm going to do it all over again tomorrow ... might as well.

I took a walk this evening -- left the house at 7:45 ish .. thought it would be cooler 

it was but not much ... didn't go far

a spot of dizzy's again this week

well, more unbalanced than dizzy

and I said I'd never go back to the Maker Fair

after the fiasco of attempting to register in April & May

today they sent us an email

did we want in ... with the booth location and size

we said YES

I'd better start sewing I'm 2 months behind.

thoughts

the monkeys that haunt me are still out there ruffling the feathers .... it's just been crazy peeps. -- spent another hour in a webinar this morning regarding the changes to all of our Minnesota Returns ... damn ... it just keeps getting worser and worser

elder #1 had his second cataract removed yesterday morning -- side affects again with this one ... although he was sleeping when I went home to check on them this noon --- they weren't answering the phone so I drove out there ... elder #2 hasn't mastered the call waiting feature of our phones ...

I did take a walk on Tuesday night -- it was mind clearing -- 35 pillow cases cut out and ready to mass produce -- maybe more this evening (and another walk) ... my ethics self study gig is done -- ready for the final exam :)

3 more boxes of stuff hauled up from the office basement and shredded .... more trash too ....

I spied the quilt below on WasteBook -- looked at it a couple of times and inspiration hit ... maybe tomorrow night -- the Diva's are getting together ... I'm dreaming of large solid 4 patch blocks ... I purchased a book on Amish Quilts -- lots of ideas ..

back to basics ... and skill building are okay

monkey's

   the circus my life has become is full of monkey's ..

   draining monkey's .. I'm not sure what happened to my resolution about not sweating the small (and large) things in life -- I'm grateful June is almost over ... but that just pushes the nasties into July ...

   my one fun thing a month is still on target .. might need to move that to one fun thing a week! 

it's life peeps ...

and zee mini's ... oh so perfect

and here are the mini's from the quilt show -- absolutely fabulous .. perfect piecing -- tiny piecing -- beautiful -- most of them were less than 24" ... some as small as 12" ... I was fascinated ...

well, the crazy week is almost over -- meetings, meetings, boat cruise, meetings, I think Thursday there was nada -- and I know yesterday was empty but I'm not sure where the day went ... I did manage to run the roomba and empty the trash -- and attempt to organize my life -- 

I keep trying to organize and zap -- another whoosh and something crops up.  My tote bag is packed for the cabin (the sewing / technology / book bag) .. a stop at the store and I'm off ... 

oh what a jewel

  I spent a chunk of Wednesday afternoon on Swan Lake -- it was awesome.  Undeveloped and unspoiled -- I don't think I've truly understood the beauty of that pothole.  That 10,000 acre pothole.  Since the lake is high -- we had access to bays that are sometimes cut off.  There are little or no fish in Swan -- it is a waterfowl/wildlife watershed/management area.  the water is clear -- at the 8' depth I could still see the bottom. 

  We didn't see a lot of ducks/geese -- I saw a swan!  terns!  ducks!  yellow headed blackbirds.  We were the only people on the lake -- because it is so shallow -- it needs a go-devil style motor to power thru the weeds, rushes and cattails. 

   There are simply no words to describe the beauty .. it was perfect weather which added to the experience ...

   I can't wait to go back .... 

what a weekend

so peeps, the quilt show was fabulous -- an explosion of color -- traditional, modern, vintage ... it was very nice.   Jan and I drove to Rochester early Saturday morning -- Ruby road trip -- we made really good time and got lucky parking.  (lots of construction around the Mayo Clinic facilities) ---  we toured the quilts, hit up a few vendors and met cousin Sue for lunch -- and then drove home.  We dodged traffic and bad weather -- :)  that is a blessing.  

I went to work this morning for a couple of hours and headed out to the cabin -- I managed to piece a table topper, read (and finish) my book and -- see the Thunderbirds fly over !!!  oh boy!  they are loud and impressive ...

back to work tomorrow -- busy week ahead!

more adventures :)

Last weeks accomplishments (like the week before this week)

I quilted on the long arm

I bound -- a lot of binding at the cabin -- and one at home :)

channel quilted table runner made from a charm pack

and a second one -- love the texture of the channel quilting

and the crib quilt ...  a lot of white for a crib quilt

and this week I have done nothing productive

elder #1 had his first cataract surgery yesterday -- all is well in 12 days he'll be ready for eye #2

so he says.

Hello Monday

I took this shot while sitting at my office desk this morning ...

just the little details that make MONDAY's tolerable
not sure if they are working or not :)

we all just keep plugging along don't we

Happy Monday ... Tuesday is just around the corner.

ahhh

bugg stuff -- works on gnats -- all the local sources sell out as soon as it hits the shelves -- so I ordered on Amazon -- they delivered 4 days earlier than anticipated -- 

lunch -- at the lake -- what to eat is never an issue

Nick took Jean and I for a boat cruise ... we're going slow here

tgif (i think)

ah one of my toys - I've owned this jewel 6 years .. best craigslist find ever!  (well, the only craigslist find) ... Tuesday night I tossed on a crib quilt from the "un-quilted" pile and away we went -- It has been 6 months since I used her ... nary a burp, skip or fart -- just motors thru ...  

Last night I spent the night squaring up the quilted projects -- 3 table runners, the above mentioned crib quilt, a throw made from a layer cake and the ugly queen from 6 years ago.  Bindings were cut ... all are in a tub and ready for the weekend sewing.  I'm going to the cabin to sew.  I have a table runner out there that needs to be quilted too -- 

After the squaring, chopping and swearing -- the sewing space and basement needed cleaning (what else) so an hour with the vac was in order -- tonight I'm going to make a back and load the long arm with another layer cake throw.  

At least the gnats are good for something -- keeping me indoors and getting the UFO pile managed.  I even managed to mend a pair of leggings that had a seam let go (they came out of the package that way) .. 

Tuesday night's crib quilt -- not sure what I was thinking ... it's a lot of white for a baby ... I've got a home for it ....

Road Warrior Diva

me - the one who has the dizzies and is unbalanced ... yep, a few miles on Ruby in the last two days ...

Tuesday was a ditch gig in Gaylord -- pictures on my phone ....
Wednesday was an AMC meeting in Saint James ... ya, St James -- they have roundabouts in downtown St James and Hwy 60 has road construction (forgot and didn't plan for that) .. then back to the office for a couple of hours and presto!  back to Mankato for a R9 meeting --- back to St Peter for an open house and finally home by 7:15. 

It was a bad food and move day -- too much fast food, too much coffee and not enough movement -- today will be better.

life amid the gnats ..

this is how we roll amid the swarms of gnats.  large hungry un-relentless gnats.  I have welts upon welts ...since I'm a lazy snob -- it's not from mowing, gardening or other outdoor pursuits ... they attack between the car / house, while getting the mail, while watering the unplanted (but purchased plants) .. I gave up on hanging out the wash to dry -- I was freaking attacked.

Mom and I went to the lake yesterday -- to sit indoors and look out the windows.  no breeze ... or the breeze was blocked by the cabin.  down by the lake it might have been better -- but one would need to get there without being carried off ...

so here's my done list so far ..

1.  3 table runners pieced (one at cabin two at home)

2.  backs and batts prepped for said table runners (will quilt at cabin)

3.  Saturday night was spent at office 3 1/2 hours of 

     a.  odd shit 

     b.  lots of odd shit

     c.  Saturday morning was tax returns :)

4.  porch has been cleaned and vac'd ...

5.  gas and wash for Ruby 

6.  4 loads of laundry ... it never ends.

and my to do list ...

1.  quilt those table runners

2.  wash truck (if car wash is open)

3.  plan the week (it's busy)

4.  more laundry
5.  Menards run ( oh gee)

6.  plant tubs / planters at home and office

7.  dye my hair orange (:))