Later.

Last Saturday for yellow!

Finished up 24 yellow tumblers.

I have more strips cut but not enough variety for the tumblers.

The strips will be added to orange or cream

LATER.

I did make some yellow 9 patches 

but

there's so little difference in the shades that I'll be taking them apart.

Then I'll add white, cream or orange to them

LATER.

I haven't been sewing much this week.

Guess I just needed a break.

Planning the gardens I'll put in this summer.

One of many decisions I made this week.

I hadn't planned to add gardens 

BUT

I'll be here several more years and I just

 can't

 live happily without digging in the dirt!

Another week

Since I last posted.

Sigh.

Busy cleaning,

watching Little League games,

moaning about the icky weather.

The cleaning will never be done-

A couple of times a year I try to really deeply clean everything.

I've been in this house over a year now

haven't done it once.

Not making much progress either.

Oh, well.

It's still going to be there.

I have managed to stretch all my muscles four of the last six days.

Which is real progress.

The key seems to be doing it first thing after breakie, 

before I get started on something else.

The weather has come around some.

So Quinn and I are managing a walk most days as well.

I'm working on some menu plans.

I find cooking for one quite a challenge.

Plus there's the whole healthy diet thing.

Which by the way comes at a cost.

I don't mean financial either-although that's true as well.

It comes at the cost of joy.

I love to bake but all this weight loss, 

healthy diet stuff has taken all the joy out of it.

Well, out of any cooking really.

And replaced it with guilt.

I wonder if any of the weight loss gurus realize this.

I've spent a lot of my evenings cross-stitching.

Nora's sock is coming along!

In fact I'll be beginning the backstitching soon.

I've finished two blocks for Tanya's black and gold quilt.

Only 40 more to go!

Gold has turned out to be tricky.

A large piece can read gold and look yellow once it's cut.

Still I think it will be a stunning quilt when finished.

Later.

Time evaporated!

I took the last stitches in the binding of G2 last night!

Tossed it in the washer and dryer.

I missed a couple of hanging threads

will have to take care of that.

I will send Nora a photo of both Grannies

 and then send her favorite to San Diego.

The other will go to Maddie in Montana.

I hope they both enjoy them.

Actually, gushing would be lovely!

(Grin)

Last week was brutal.

Makes me appreciate those middle school (and high school) teachers

who repeat themselves 6 (or 7) times each day!

It's exhausting.

I required a nap nearly everyday.

It didn't leave much energy for much of anything else.

So, NOW I am majorly behind.

House is a mess.

Time to Spring clean/purge though so it will straighten out.

Spent HOURS yesterday in the studio.

Without taking many stitches.

Moving furniture.

Cleaning.

Sorting.

Still have a bit to do today.

After a trip to the Post Office to mail my taxes.

Could have sent them electronically but they wanted my

driver's license number!

Homeland wants to pair them up to Social Security numbers.

Supposedly, to help prevent identity theft.

I don't trust them to only do that!

There was no way to OPT out on line.

Funny as the paper documents didn't even ask for it.

I certainly hope it's not a week before I get back here!

Talking too much!

Most days the only one I talk to is the dog.

Quinn doesn't talk back so the conversation is limited.

This past week (and the next one) has been spent talking.

To 8th graders.

6 groups a day,

About Diaries, letters and recollections of those that traveled the Oregon/California trails.

A subject I truly love.

That said, My throat is sore from overuse!!

By the coming Friday I shall not be able to do more than whisper at this rate.

In spite of all that talking 

I have managed to a bit of stitching.

I'm all caught up on the Granny Squares for Rainbow Scrap Challenge!

The colors look better in person, sigh.

I also made a mat for under Jill the Janome.

I didn't make this one as fancy as the other 

I didn't add the small front pockets on it as I never use them on Belle's mat.

So that's three things from that terribly long list!

I've worked on Nora's Stocking most days 

Scanned in more photos most days 

Worked on Family History most days.

All in all a pretty productive week.

Looking back-looking forward

Looking back over March at my progress on the Intentions list.

Truthfully,

Results are mixed.

Some things are nearly habits,

 Still it lifts my spirits to see all those little checks!

Others, I manage part of the time.

Many, I never manage, sigh.

Looking at April.

I'll attempt to add a few more this month.

In reality I know that I will NEVER do all of them EVERY day.

That's okay.

I try not to beat myself up about things.

I can be my own worst enemy!

In the stitching area.

I was productive.

That said I didn't manage to get to everything on my goal list.

Again, I don't really expect to.

I keep a list so that I don't even have to THINK about what to do next.

Keep that in mind.

Here's the LIST for April:

Finish G2

Finish the machine mat for Jill the Janome.

Piece (at least) Tanya's Black and Gold quilt

Make 8 (that's 2 a week) Civil War Letters blocks. (Foundation pieced?)

Make 8 tumbler sets for RSC-this one depends on my having enough yellow/gold.

Make 2 Granny blocks for RSC 

Catch up Granny blocks-blue and purple.

Keep making 9 patches for RSC-leader/ender

Begin Steve's Dragon

15 minute projects:

Missouri Puzzle hand quilting WISP

Civil War Sampler blocks WISP

Add hexes (2 a day) to Gail's Wildflower Garden WISP

Extras:

Kindle bag

placemats

Cross-stitch- Nora's Stocking

Dollhouse-exterior and roof

With all those on my list I should also say that for the next two weeks

I will be giving talks on Oregon/California Trail Diaries, Letters and Recollections to

8th graders at the trails museum.

  6 groups a day for 8 days!

Poor Quinn.

She'll be alone a lot.

Will need much "Mom" time!