Making two men very happy

I stayed in bed after the alarm sounded. But it must not have been long. I marked my territory in the garden and turned on the computer and started swishing by 8:22. I checked e-mail. Chris sent me the name of the new quilter on post. I looked her up on Facebook and sent her a message. There was no link to send a friend request. Odd. I did my exercises. I juiced, and meditated, then cleaned up. I combed whey through my hair to tame it. When I got to my car, I realized I smelled sour milk. Lovely. I rolled the windows down as I drove, hoping to dry it and that the smell would go away. I showed off my hexecontahedron at quilting. I gave Ann her recorder back and showed her how to use it. I talked to Beverly, and asked her if she could smell my hair but she said no. Jane talked to the group about caravanning to the Chattanooga area for RowbyRow at the end of July. Then I went to the Asian store for kimbap and sprouts. I forgot to tell her I would not be coming in next week. When I got home, the mail was being delivered. The mailbox was not steady, so rain must have weakened the ground. I brought in the mail and ate my kimbap with kimchi. I am looking forward to better kimbap in Korea. I called the church but got a busy signal, so I opened the mail: AARP wants me as a member, and our health insurance wants me to have a mammogram. There was one bill and I e-mailed it to Chris. I called the church again and the secretary said I could come right over. So I went to church to enter the last few Sundays of financial contributions. I printed out the second quarter statements in two batches: one for general fund and one for capital fund but under the general fund envelop numbers. I labeled them and put them in the financial box for the two Arts to find. Then I went to the farmer’s market. I bought beef bones and a kidney, eggs, romaine, tomatoes and a large cucumber. I took them home. I called Art to tell him about the 2nd quarter stmts. He said he is still two weeks short of having the first quarter statements out. Now he wants me to do the first quarter, too! I watered the plants in pots and cinderblocks. I put a pot of water on the stove to boil, and then sunbathed forgetting all about the pot. When I came in, I put eggs in the pot and turned the heat up. Then I went outside to water the kale, and came in to turn the burner off. Reading e-mail, I saw the HUD from the lawyer, and it was two hours old. I tried to read it, and called Parker, but there was no answer. So I printed it out, and printed out the seller’s net to compare. She called back, twice. I printed out the top sheet and signed it, and e-mailed it to Parker, She and I talked some more, and she answered all my questions, and promised to call in the morning when the sale gets recorded. I made egg salad from an egg and some goat cheese. I washed root vegetables and coated them with coconut oil. I put them in a glass dish and into the oven they went – except for one sweet potato that showed signs of sprouting. I put it in a jar of water. I made breakfast and ran water through the coffee maker. Fruit flies were attacking my breakfast as I ate it. They were desperate which means I am succeeding in closing off their food sources. I looked for more kefir starter on the internet. I found one that can be delivered in 5 days, but I will be at quilt retreat then so I will have to order it Friday or Saturday. I did the Sudoku puzzle for today. I put coconut oil in my hair to condition it. I had gotten out some frozen cherries to make more roll-ups, but the root vegetables were taking too long to bake, so I put the cherries in the fridge for tomorrow. I tried to play the next X-Files DVD on my laptop but it said there was no DVD in the drive. So I watched it on the desktop. I listened to a tapping audio while sewing on the hexecontahedron. When the audio ended, I kept sewing because I did not get an edge done on Sunday night. Chris skyped me and we talked until the call dropped. Then I finished the edge, posted to my blog and went to bed.
* This is what the polyhedron looks like under magnification *

Well, it's working, but....

I got up around 7:30. I peed in a jar and then got dressed. I watered a large circle around my tomato plant. I could see more signs of disturbance. The cucumber plant had few leaves left, only those above 4 feet. Then I brushed my teeth and started swishing. I turned on the router and laptop. As I was reading e-mail, I saw one from the post library saying that X-Files was due Thursday but I could renew online. So, I applied for a web account and renewed it. But when I saw the new due date, I realized I should have waited until Thursday to renew it. Because now it is due on a Monday and they are closed on Sunday and Mondays. I placed the Swansons order that I meant to do last night. I did one seam of the hexecontahedron. I exercised, and juiced. I meditated while an audio played. Maryanne called to say she was coming over so I could show her how to water my plants while I’m on retreat next week. I went out to hook up the long hose. I cleaned up the juicer and started making breakfast. Maryanne knocked on the door. I showed her all the plants and where to water. She was very positive about it. After she left, I finished making breakfast and ate it while listening to the rest of the same audio. I unstacked the dishwasher. I took a shower and got dressed.
I drove to quilting in Chris’ car without stalling it. I went inside and all the ladies were having lunch. I set up my machine in the back of the room. I finished Rebecca’s scarf and then worked on the Sudoku quilt. I had to rip out one block that I did yesterday, but otherwise it went well. I had a good time talking with the other women. Debbie wants to see my hexecontahedron. Lauri will pick me up at 11 on Monday, and Sheryl wants me to come over on Thursday. By 4:30 I was packed and ready to go. I went home to change cars and have a really quick bite to eat. I was at church by 5, I think. Art was just setting up the chairs. There was only one service and we were able to count in less than an hour. It worked out perfectly the first time. After he left, I called Tamara. She and her daughter came over. I meant to give her swatches back, but I could not find them in my purse. I placed an order for king size blue sheets and queen size white sheets (for the bed in Korea). Then I placed the Pokemon folders in the youth room for Heather to find. I also found the second box of fabric and stuck it in the back of my car. It was heavy. I went home to have supper. The mailman was delivering the mail as I drove up. Then I went out to mow inside the fence. As I was mowing under the tree, the blade hit a root and somehow jumped up and sliced into the motor housing. It took some effort to dislodge it. But then the slice of housing was hanging down just enough that the blade could not miss it. Frustration! I had to fix it ‘cause I did not want to buy a new mower for just a few months use. And the riding mower would not fit inside the fence. I could not get the plastic parts off to fix it from the inside. It seemed like most of the screws were stripped. So I came up with a plan to drive a nail perpendicular to the housing and run a wire from one end to the other catching the sliced part. It was very hard to do because there wasn’t room to swing a hammer or use the drill as a screwdriver. I even took off the blades but it didn’t help that much. I drilled a hole on each side and tried to connect them. I guess it eventually worked. But then I had trouble getting the blade back on so it wasn’t wobbly. And when I was finished, and thought I could go back to mowing, the mower sounded funny as it started up, like it was hitting something. I turned it over in front of a mirror so I could see what was happening. Only it was too fast. I ran my hand around and had to scrape dried grass off to give best clearance. I think the center shaft got bent. Anyway, it was dark when I decided I had done all I could do. I mowed anyway in spite of the sound. Then I put the mower up and cleaned up the pile of tools I had amassed during my efforts. I checked e-mail, and finished up the chocolate avocado pudding. Iatched an episode of X-Files, expecting Chris to call. He did not. I got an e-mail from Parker saying the closing did not happen today but is on schedule for tomorrow. Then it was time for bed.
* This is the large zucchini that Denise gave me *

A long day

I woke up at 7:30. I put on a nightgown (could not find one last night) and went back to bed. I got up later to check the collection tubs. I saw a mostly eaten tomato lying on the patio. The war had just escalated! I brought in the water but did not have time to process it. I swished and checked e-mail. I made breakfast. I washed up and got dressed. I grabbed my grocery list and went to church. I was there in plenty of time, but met Jeanne coming out and she talked to me until church was almost ready. When I took my seat, the intern and a supply pastor walked down the aisle to give the announcements and begin the service. After the service, I helped Art count the loose cash. He said he could not count today so we agreed on 5pm tomorrow. Then I talked to the organist. She identified some places I could play in the new setting. I promised to try them at home this week. Then I talked to Tamara about the box of fabric at the church. She said I could have it for Denise to make quilts for foster kids. Then her daughter asked me to buy sheets for a fundraiser for cheerleading. They were $40 for any size. She gave me the swatches so I could see if they can be sewn through. I might want some as quilt backings if they work. I got the papers from my mailbox at church, and headed to the grocery store. I got the usual groceries and watermelon. It was on my list but I am not sure why. Maybe because the lady who gave that talk said she ‘fasts’ one day a week on watermelon? When I got home, I changed my clothes and put the groceries away. I e-mailed Denise to ask if her husband could build chimes that would ring if a deer got into the garden. I finished an interview from this morning – the guy was a scientist and farmer. He used glyphosate regularly and when he ran out of coyote urine to keep the animals out of the fields, he started spraying with his own urine. He was amazed to see that his urine killed the plants! So he investigated and is now trying to get glyphosate off the market. It kills microbes in the gut and that has all kinds of deleterious effects on mice and humans. I took Chris’ car to quilting. I turned in the blue and white top. Someone picked out a lovely backing fabric. I had to cut and piece one to fit. Then I worked on the pattern of the month which was a Sudoku quilt. I got the first three squares done and cut some two inch strips for sashing since the black was gone. When I got home, I noticed that there were fruit flies on my bananas even though they were in the microwave. So I put them in the oven. Whatever it was came back and finished the tomato while I was sewing. I read e-mail, and made a chocolate, banana, avocado smoothie which was more like a chocolate pudding. I tried adding some coconut oil and putting in the fridge to see if it would be stiff enough to use as a frosting. I read about using whey for hair, so I combed it into my hair and it did a remarkable job of controlling frizz, just like hairspray. I went downstairs to organize in the garage. I removed items from a ‘save’ box to a better box. I moved boxes around. I shoved the fish tank towards the back. I filled boxes with donation books and wheeled them to the garage. I boxed the ‘save’ books and put the boxes back on the industrial shelving that they came from. I found parts of two wooden quilting frames but not the whole of either. I did find my PVC set and put all its pieces back in the bag I made for it, ready to go to Korea. I found more Pokemon cards to take to the lady at church. I wonder if she wants manga too. I did not stop until 9:30. I made myself come upstairs to watch an episode of X-Files. Chris skyped me in the middle of it. He met a wife who quilts, and just moved in. So I will have someone to sew with when I get there. He suspects she might have quite the stash as well. I finished the episode. I checked on the patio – no critters I could see. I ran the rain water through the coffee maker. I posted to my blog and went to bed.
* this is Lynette's version of the pattern *

This means war

I woke up shortly after 7. I sat in the den and meditated/dozed. I checked the basement for water since it was raining. I checked the tubs but they did not have much in them. I emptied the water in the wheelbarrow. I collected the laundry. I took the items out of the Swansons box and saw that I ordered two different kinds of magnesium. I listened to a health audio. She said few people chew enough. I remembered one from yesterday that said yawning was the quickest way to relax. Yawning and slowly stretching was even better. I did the weekend Sudoku puzzle. I drank four glasses of salt water. I swept the kitchen floor again since the mop knocked over the expresso carafe and it shattered last night. I was so mad. It is one of the most useful items in my kitchen. I was also barefoot. So an extra sweep seemed to be in order. I did a 7 minute workout on Youtube. Not too bad except for the wall-sits. I swished and then took my pre-breakfast supplements. I did some sewing on the hexecontahedron. I juiced and meditated. I made breakfast and ate while listening to an audio. I put the laundry in the washer and stayed downstairs to cut pieces for the Three Shades Of quilt. When the washer finished, I put the laundry in the dryer. I continued to cut. I would have been finished, but realized that the second set of 23.5 inch squares were only 23 inches. Grooooooan!!! I decided that maybe there was some way of redesigning the quilt top to avoid having to cut more squares. I loaded and ran the dishwasher. I reloaded my fruit fly trap. I put my bananas in the microwave to keep the fruit flies away from them. I packed up some goat cheese and tomatoes to take with me. I went out to the garden to see if there was a ripe cucumber. But what I saw was that something had knocked over the cage around the cucumber vine, and had eaten all the leaves on my squash plants. As Bugs Bunny would say, “You realize this means war.” I put out a highly scented bar of soap (because I have no stinky perfume.) And I put a cage around the squash plant. I am not sure it will help but I had to try something. I called Denise and told her I was on my way. When I got there, she was getting ready to make sauerkraut. I helped her cut up the cabbage (with the food processor). She massaged in the salt and we filled jars. She gave me one to take home. We went outside so David could show me the windchimes he is making. Then I got to see their various plantings in various places. I tasted several herbs. Then Denise made some steaks on her induction grill. She had potatoes in the oven and she cut up lettuce for salad. We ate at the table which was right in front of a large TV. It was a little close for me. They handed me the remote to look for the capitol fireworks, but I could not find it. Then we heard shots outside. I ran down the sidewalk to find a good spot to watch. Fireworks were being shot off from several places behind houses or trees. I was so excited that I was jumping up and down. I might have leaked. We watched until the rain hit and then she got out an umbrella. But the night was cool, so we went in soon. She showed me her scrap book of quilts and several projects she is working on. Then I was surprised to discover the time was 10pm. I thanked them for their invitation and the large zucchini and jar of sauerkraut. I drove home in the rain, squinting to see the road. There were fireworks being shot off in spite of the downpour, but I was able to stay focused on driving. It was a relief to get home. I was greeted by a large cockroach. I saw that Chris had skyped me so I sent a message back, and then he called. We talked for a short while, but I was so tired from all the excitement of fireworks. Then I posted to my blog and went to bed.
* What critter ate my squash leaves? *

Busy day

I laid awake in the morning, listening to the rain. It was heavy and had been falling for a long time. After the alarm rang, I got up to check the open window. The rain had not come in. I also went to the basement and was relieved to find that it was dry. I went to the kitchen to deal with the various jars of goat milk. I strained each one to get the curds at the bottom. Then I put it in smaller jars in the fridge. I washed the gallon jars so I could fill them with rain water. I brought in the collection tubs and filtered the water before running it through the coffee maker. I washed the tubs and put them back outside. The rain had stopped but it still looked threatening. I had to restart my laptop to get Firefox updated. It kept all my open windows which pleased me greatly. I found some time to exercise in between processing pots of hot water. I searched for a key to a box in the garage. I found two other keys but not that one. I juiced two peppers and part of a large cucumber. I meditated. I made and ate breakfast while reading e-mail. Then I took a shower and washed most the oil out of my hair. It looked a lot better after almost 24 hours of absorbing oil. Then I got dressed and drove to Sheryl’s house around noon. They were sliding a couch down the stairs. Eventually it went into the room where she hopes to keep her granddaughter when she visits. We put the table top up against the wall behind the small couch. Then we worked on the sewing room. Her husband brought up two more shelving units and we assembled them. He made space in the room across the hall and assembled a table the right height for cutting. We made a table out of the two shelving units and a glass table top. At 7:50 I left for home.
I ate some goat cheese and then a sweet potato while I cleared e-mail. I tried to watch an episode of X-Files on my laptop but was having trouble. I took the disc out and wiped it good and then it did not play at all. But I had no trouble watching it on the desktop computer. Then I listened to an audio while I whipstitched another edge of the hexecontahedron. I cleared more e-mail, did the Friday Sudoku puzzle and decided to go to bed.

June showers bring July veggies

I got up at 8. I brought in the collected rainwater. A bird had pooped in one of them. I saved that water for indoor plants. I washed out the bird poop, and boiled water to clean the containers. I added more goat milk to the fermented portion. I got dressed, swished, and checked e-mail. I took out the recyclables. I turned off the AC and opened the windows. I exercised, cleared e-mail, and put checks in the mail. I put new checks in my purse. I processed the rainwater which overflowed the coffee pot. No sense crying over spilt rain water. Parker sent an e-mail saying she is not sure closing is happening today. The test came back fine, but the buyer’s attorney has not returned her calls to verify that they are closing today. An insurance lady came by to take pictures of the outside of the house for Mr. Bannister while I was juicing. I got an invitation from Denise for Saturday, but wasn’t sure if I should accept because Sheryl asked me if I ate steak and told her husband that she bought it for the weekend, so she might think I am coming to her house. I had to wipe goop out of the sink. The drain is not the low point so water sits and collects food debris and it gets yucky. I finished juicing and meditated, then made breakfast. I read e-mail while eating, then did the Thursday Sudoku puzzle. I shredded some papers from the garage. Then I brought in the mail, and sent bill info to Chris. It was time to drive to Stitch-its. I sat next to Marjorie, but talked to Julie who showed me a website that identifies trigger points to use depending on where the pain is. Marjorie showed me the quilt she was making. We figured out how many blocks she needed. Mechelle drove me in Chris’ car to the gas station. At first she did not believe that I could let all the way off the clutch before engaging the gas. Then she tried it. She said the car was very hard to stall. Gee, and I manage it all the time. It took us a while to figure out how to open the gas tank. And the gas machine did not work the way it usually does. But we accomplished what we set out to do. Marjorie was insistent that I should have done it myself. But Christie said it was ok to ask for help. Most everyone was gone by then, but I stayed long enough to finish one more row of the red scarf. Then I packed up and went home. I stalled three times getting onto the main road before I realized that I was still in 2nd. When I got home, I heated the goat milk, then added lemon juice, and then vinegar, waiting for the curdle. Maybe watched milk doesn’t curdle? I read e-mail for a while to give it some privacy. I blended a bag of frozen thawed cherries. I spread it on parchment paper on a baking sheet. The fruit flies got very excited, but were in for disappointment when I put it in the oven. I made some science experiments with the uncurdled milk. I mowed the entire lawn with the riding mower. However, it does need some touchups. I watered my vegetables with compost tea. I picked four tomatoes and my first cucumber, which I subsequently ate with fermented nut cheese. Parker wrote that the package from the lender came too late to close today, so they are closing on Monday. I scooped more curds out of the whey. I sewed one edge and all the concave intersections of the hexecontahedron together. Chris skyped me, and then I watched an episode of X-Files. I gave permission for a new version of Firefox to be installed. So then I worked on the other computer, but wasn’t sure when I got back if Firefox actually updated. I turned off the oven and let the roll-up rest. I think the oven seals well enough to keep the fruit flies out. And now it’s time for bed.

They now come in 'extra crispy'

I got up at 8 with the alarm. I swished and watered the sweet potatoes. I thawed a package of acai berry slush and drained the liquid. I exercised and drybrushed. I rebounded and boiled coffee. I found that the juicer basket makes a pretty good coffee filter. Four rounds of detox and several audios later, I considered juicing but decided to fast instead. I wanted to go to the sauna to sweat since today was not hot. But I wasn’t sure about the time. I brought in the mail and found a package from Swansons on the front porch. I cleared a fair amount of e-mail and then went downstairs to cut pieces for the ‘Shades of’ quilt. I figure I will work on it at retreat. I stopped about 2:30 and ate the nuts I normally have with breakfast. I turned off the oven. It had a very crispy roll-up in it. I drove to Sheryls house. She called to say it was raining heavily where she was and she would be delayed. I did not experience heavy rain until I got there. I sat in my car and called Suyapa, talking until Sheryl arrived. We brought in her groceries. Then we went upstairs to work on her sewing room. We assembled another set of shelves and hoisted them on top of the ones we did last week. Then we organized boxes and bags of stuff. Her husband came home late. We stopped at 8. I left the drill for him to use as a power screwdriver. I came home and ate supper while talking to Denise. I watched an episode of X-Files, shot like ‘Cops’. Chris skyped me in the middle of it. I finished the episode and looked it up on Wikipedia. I posted to my blog and went to bed.
* Or maybe this is the new 'crime scene' fruit roll-up *