I'm such a card

I got up at 8. I did the exercises, range of motion and drybrushing. Some of it I did outside because the floors in here are creaky. It was wet but not raining. I drank several glasses of rain water with lemon. I checked my e-mail. I processed rain water with a little help from Faye and Kurt. That lasted all morning, and I got 6+ gallons. I juiced and made breakfast in between filterings. Kurt played 2048 which he downloaded for me. I haven't tried it yet, but he is addicted. Faye waved down the postman to get the Netflix movie in the mail. After lunch I drove us to post to get the mail, stopping at a trashcan to drop off all the junk mail. Then we drove to Huntsville Botanical Gardens. They had an Alice in Wonderland theme. We were given a map, but it was not very helpful since there were many more trails than the map showed. It was not the best time to see the gardens, but perhaps the storms had something to do with that. We were exhausted from walking, and came home around 6. I picked greens to go with our salad while Faye cooked turkey burgers. Faye also cut up cauliflower, and I made salad dressing. It was supposed to be mayonnaise, but did not thicken. We ate supper and Faye cleaned up. Kurt told us all about his upcoming BAHA operation. Kurt wanted to show pictures on our TV via Bluetooth but the TV would not do that. But we found out that my tablet did. We turned on Bluetooth in my tablet and somehow that led to me playing 2048 and thus the evening went. All too soon it was time for bed.

Sew what?

I got up at 6:15. I played an audio while exercising and brushing and doing range of motion stuff. I brought in rainwater and Faye got up while I was processing it. We discussed possible activities for the day. When Kurt got up, Faye made him eggs for breakfast and I juiced veggies, then had my regular breakfast. Kevin skyped us to see if we were safe from bad weather. Around noon Kurt drove us in Chris' car to post to check mail, but post was closed. Then we proceeded to the Asian store for kimbap. Kurt drove to the empty parking lot next door and I drove around it, and then back to the busier lot. We had to consume some of the kimbap to fortify ourselves for the task. Finally I drove out, heading for Publix. I did rather well until making the left turn into the shopping center. The car stalled in front of oncoming traffic (which thankfully had a red light). The car in back of me blew its horn. I had trouble restarting the car. I rode the clutch through the intersection onto the road but had to pull the parking brake to let Kurt drive. As we were shopping in Publix, Kurt told me he thought the car wouldn't start because I was actually in third gear. From Publix, Kurt drove us to Books a Million, and then to Costco. We did not find what we were looking for. When we got back, I found a lot of mail in our box, and all but one piece went into recycling. We put the groceries away. I was tired, so laid on the couch listening to an audio by Jane Goodall. Then Faye and I went downstairs to pin fit two of her dresses. She did her own sewing while I finished ironing all the fabric from Paducah. Then we made a locker organizer with 8 pockets for Faye to use at work. Kurt joined us and found my fancy non-working calculator. Even with new batteries, he could not get it to work. We went upstairs for supper. Kurt downloaded at least one app to my tablet. Faye played Words with Friends on hers. We made popcorn and went downstairs to watch “The Kings Speech”. It was pretty good. Then I came up to post to my blog and go to bed.

*  Faye took this picture while I was working on her locker organizer  *

Things are getting brighter

I woke up at 7:30. I checked my e-mail, and brought in some rainwater. I got an e-mail from Kurt that he and Faye were on their way. I listened to an audio while exercising and brushing. I put the boiled underwear in the dryer. i put all the items back in my purse. I cut up onions with vegetable broth and put it all in the crockpot. I made and ate the first part of breakfast, and packed a lunch. I packed my sewing box with the two largest pieces of fabric to iron.  Chris' boss called to see how I was doing.   I loaded my car and drove to the church. There were only 4 of us. They told me the news was predicting a terrible storm for the afternoon. Well, we stayed until two. I got my fabric ironed on their large rectangular ironing board, and tried drawing out a border piece for sri yantra. When I got home, I finished breakfast, took my supplements, checked e-mail, I laid out in the sun, then mowed in the front yard, all while wondering what the big deal is about the storm. The postman delivered Netflix and a box of fermented cod liver oil. I called Kurt to see where they were. I pulled up some wild onions and garlic to add to the soup. I did a little decluttering. I listened to the tornado sirens. Finally they arrived at 6:15. We adjusted some items in the third bay of the carport so Faye's car could be protected from the storm. Kurt moved Chris' car back to a more protected spot. Faye and Kurt replaced two light bulbs in the den. Then Kurt showed me pictures of his coin collection, so I got out mine. He spent a long time going through it while Faye amused herself on the piano. We listened to the sirens again. I drybrushed Faye's hands to see if that would help with the swelling. I left them talking while I posted to my blog for yesterday and today.

Sunday rain

I got up at 8:15, checked e-mail, and made breakfast. I posted half of Saturday to my blog, and then had to shower, dress, grab extra shoes, and go to church. I was a little early. During the service, Jennifer played the piano. I noticed that Chris would not have liked the liturgy. When I shook the pastor's hand, he asked if there was any kind of support I needed while Chris was away. I told Jennifer that she did a really good job. From church I went to Publix, and changed shoes. I shopped for groceries. The lady bagger carried out my groceries. I came home and carried them in. I checked the mail, and e-mail. I started washing fabric. I ran outside to mow as much as I could between raindrops. The mower battery ran out just as the rain decided to get serious. I checked e-mail again. I pulled the cars out of the carport so that the rain could wash the pollen off. I was just starting a second load when Chris skyped me. I folded the clean dry fabric, washed more plus the usual laundry. I put the cars back, then collected and filtered the rain water in the tubs. I listened to audios while ironing the washed fabric. I thought I was done at 9, so I came up, but my purse was missing and I realized that that meant there was another load in the washer. I put it in the dryer, then boiled my underwear (soaking it all week gave it a funky smell that the washing machine could not get out). When the dryer was done, I folded and sprayed the fabric pieces with water because I need them to be slightly damp when I iron them. I wrote and posted the second half of yesterday's blog post, took notes on today, and did some tapping before going to bed. 

*  Here is another quilt from the show at Paducah  *

Everything is funnier at midnight - Paducah continued

The man said he is the husband of a vendor, and the CEO, which he says stands for Carry Everything Out. After he left, I walked to the bus stop area to see which bus would take me to Hancock's. When one arrived and I got on, I called Beverly, our cruise director, to tell her where I was going. When I got there, I took a cart and went to the back to look at remnants. But there was nothing I wanted. So I rolled up and down each aisle, which was difficult in some cases because the aisles were so narrow. Anyway, when my cart was filled with bolts of fabric, I got the fabric cut, and then loaded my cart up again. I loaded it three times while walking around the store. I bought fabrics to beef up my smaller stashes: pink, grey, white-on-white, and batiks. I also got some red backing fabric. I was surprised that the 108” wide backing fabrics were only $2 more than the 45” ones. I paid for my selections and went out to sit on one of the benches outside. A man sat next to me and told me his story. Soon our bus arrived with the rest of our group. As they shopped, a lady walked up and asked if anyone needed a ride anywhere. She said she has been offering rides in this manner for 23 years. She even had a 'business' card. When no one took her up on her offer, I said I would like to see Eleanor Burns fabric warehouse. She knew where it was and off we went. The place turned out to be small, and mostly not my taste in fabric. BUT, they were $4.50 yard, so I picked out the few I liked and bought yardage. Then the very nice lady drove me back to Hancocks and would not accept any money. Although we arrived before the 5:45 departure time, our bus was filled and waiting on me. But my seatmate said it hadn't been long and that I saved her from being the last one on the bus. The bus took us to Kentucky Oaks mall. Some of us got off there, and others were dropped off at a nearby restaurant. There were some quilts displayed in the mall and some vendors. I bought some more fabric. The others bought food in the 'food court' and I ate sunflower seeds. I walked around looking in stores for a flannel backed tablecloth in a solid color. Nope. When we walked out to the bus at 7:25, it was packed and waiting for us. That was funny because our cruise director was with me and she said it would be there at 7:30. It was good to get an early start on the road.

The trip home was long and uncomfortable. My back was not happy and I packed stuff behind me to support my lower lumbar region. I could hear the ladies talking, but not make out what they were saying, so I could not participate in the discussion. I tried to sleep. The bus pulled into a gas station so we could all use the restroom. Jane passed around a bag to collect tip money for the driver. Then the long trip continued. When we got to Alabama, we dropped off some people in Athens, then took the back way to Madison. Why did the driver go the back way? The lady in front of me said she thought his Garmin told him to. I thought she said his Gramma told him to, and that struck us all as extremely funny. It was almost midnight so that explains a lot. In the parking lot, we debarked. I got off almost last because of all the bags I had to carry. Then our carload of ladies waited until everyone got their engines started before we left. It was around 12:30 when they dropped me off. I scanned my inbox and replied to one from Chris and then went to bed.

*  this pic was taken at Kentucky Oaks Mall  *

Paducah here we come

I had a hard time getting to sleep. I kept hovering on the edge. The phone alarm went off at 3:30am. Last night I selected a new ring tone, but the phone forgot and played the old one. I got dressed, drank water, and packed my backpack. I still had a few minutes before 4 and I went to the bedroom for a spare pair of shoes when I heard the sound of an engine idling in the driveway. So I grabbed my sack and purse and ran out to the car. The three ladies said they were early and away we went. There was no traffic on the way to Old Time Pottery. We got there before 4:30, even though the bus was leaving at 5. And it was already half full. Melissa arrived at 4:50 and she sat with me. At 5 someone was still missing and we waited 5 minutes and then left. The bus stopped in Athens to pick up a few more people, and then headed north. I tried to sleep and the bus was dark, but there were conversations going on around me, and I could not make them out. At 6:30 I pulled out my breakfast and ate most of it. The bus had a bathroom, but we stopped at a rest area anyway. Later I took my supplements.

At 9:30 we pulled up to the convention center. I called Toniette to let her know I had arrived and I thought she was going to meet me somewhere. We all stood up to exit and I was practically jumping up and down to get started, but there was what seemed like a long delay in opening the door of the bus.. After we debarked, I went to the bubble building first, thinking to avoid the crowd who would go to the main exhibition hall first. It was relatively uncrowded at first. I stopped at the vendors I remembered from last year that had something I wanted but did not get. I bought the kaleidoscope creator software. And I was going to buy the halfsquare triangle ruler that cost $16 last year (I thought that was too much for a piece of acrylic then). But this year it was $28 and they were sold out. I finished viewing the quilts and vendors in the bubble building. There was a nice display of patriotic quilts and some had pockets where people left cash for soldiers.

Then I went to the main building, but the lower smaller exhibition hall. It was mostly vendors. I may have bought some batiks there. I proceeded to the upper hall which was half vendors and half quilts. I ran into Cass and Deb and Jen. Deb was talkative, and I was impatient to move on. I did not buy anything there. Finally I went to the main hall. I walked up and down the aisles taking pictures. When I finished, it was not yet 1, so I went back, taking my time, viewing the quilts at a leisurely pace. The 4 prizewinners were not impressive in my opinion. But there were breath-taking quilts , and they won nothing.

Then I went outside to sit on the curb and eat my lunch, which consisted of nuts and raw veggies. I thought I packed cheese, but it did not make the trip. There were food vendors set up in the parking lot but I would rather eat my own food. I called Toniette, but there was no answer. A man came and sat near me. After eating his dessert he struck up a conversation. 

(pics and the rest of the story to follow)

Preparing for Paducah

I got up at 7:15, tried to read my e-mail in the sun. I took a few moments to search for the laptop case and found it in the garage. By then the sun was hidden behind clouds. I listened to an audio while exercising, etc. I put the Netflix movie in the mail. I picked irises for a bouquet. I entered a quilt on the TQS website because they were having a random drawing thing, but I only did one because they don't make it easy. I juiced, and washed extra for lunch tomorrow,. I meditated after drinking the juice. During the meditation, the laptop shut off due to high temperature. I turned it back on and placed it on its back so I could finish the meditation. I drybrush, and started making two breakfasts. I ate half of one breakfast, and made up next week's supplements. I order more of those getting low. I plunged the drain in my bathroom sink, which for the first time actually worked. I laid in the sun, which spent almost as much time behind the clouds as not. Chris told me to take a try at fixing the sink stopper, so I taped the rod in place and that seemed to work. I mowed in the back yard, but mostly the highest parts, 'till mower was barely running. I checked the mail, but it had not gone yet. The dead mouse was still there. Maybe Kurt will take it out next week? I brought two short PVC pipes up to prop the laptop on so it can get some air. I cleared more e-mail, and listened to an audio.  I finished the last four blocks, photographed them in place and e-mailed the pic to the lady who asked me to make her a red background for a dove.  I picked some greens, and made too large a salad. I could not eat it all. I tried to move files to the ipod which I charged earlier, but there was no option for that, and Windows said it needed troubleshooting. I decided to blog, shower and go to bed so I can get up at 3:30 to go to Paducah.

Mao's Last Dancer

I finally got up at 7:10 after lying in bed wanting to slap the bird making the same oo-ooo sound over and over. I read e-mail, and listened to two audios on weight loss, during which I took the recyclables out, exercised (including jumping), brushed, and juiced. I ate the first half of breakfast, and showered. I cut some bright red strips, and then went to Stitch-Its, where I worked on the last 4 blocks. Many of those ladies will be on the bus to Paducah. I packed up at 2. When I got home I finished breakfast, and laid in the sun. It was hot and intense just the way I like … never mind. I mowed the front yard. When I came in, I found a dead mouse in the garage. I finished an audio from this morning. I tried to order fermented cod liver oil, but my credit card had been deactivated. I activated the new card, finished the order, and e-mailed Chris about it. I tapped for my mom. I listened to another audio. I cooked a package of organic ground beef. After more tapping, I ate some of the beef. I sat outside again in the sun, and then pulled some weeds. Then I watched a movie called Mao's Last Dancer. It was worth 2 hours of my life. In fact I was tempted to watch it again as soon as it ended. I looked up the main character because it is based on a true story. I downloaded some audios that I could listen to on the bus. But I want to put them on my mp3 player which needs charging and I can't find the cord. After searching high and low, I decided to post and go to bed.

Seeing red

I was up and in the kitchen by 7:08. I tried to read e-mail but the sun was coming in at an annoying angle. I played an audio and exercised, then read e-mail. I juiced broccoli, a green pepper, celery, carrots and rhubarb. It wasn't too bad, but then I added maca, and that was a major yuck! I cleaned up and meditated after drinking most of the juice. I made breakfast, and tapped. I laid out in the wonderfully hot sun. It warmed me to the core. I got an e-mail from Chris. I washed pantyhose and other nylon-type foot coverings. I took my laptop downstairs to listen to a tapping for weight loss DVD. As it turns out, I've seen it already. I made 4 more red blocks, lighter than the last row. Frustratingly, similar fabrics are ending up close together. I pulled up black-eyed susans to avoid overcrowding. Also small trees. Then I picked greens for a salad. As I was eating the salad, MaryAnn skyped me. Then I finished an audio, and supper. I did some general tapping. I sorted the recyclables for tomorrow. Then I sat down to tap for Kurt and for Jennifer. I posted to my blog and went to bed.

Drinking in the rain and the sun

I got up around 7:45, brought in some rainwater, and read e-mail. I listened to an audio while going through my morning routine. I filtered the water and put it in the fridge. I took a shower. I juiced and cleaned up the juicer, then grabbed the red block project and headed west. First I went to post to pick up the mail. There was a yellow slip indicating mail that would not fit in the P. O. box. So I waited in line to get that box. Then I went to the church for quilting. It was a really small group today since so many of them went to Paducah. I sat and talked with the few there. I even got a little bit of work done, as much as was possible without a machine. On the way home, I stopped at the Asian store for kimbap. There wasn't much left. When I got home, I had collected about another cup of rainwater. I ate the kimbap while reading e-mail. I also ate some sweet potato and some frozen strawberries. The rain picked up. I read about cleaning drains with baking soda and cider. Since the drains in my bathroom are REALLY slow, I tried it. It did help. William called to tell me how I could get a used transmission for my car for way less than the price my mechanic gave me. I went outside to take a few flower pics. I pulled some weeds. The marigolds that I have been trying to establish in the flowerbed are coming up in the cracks in the sidewalk. So I replanted them. I did a 20 minute meditation and it made me so sleepy that I laid down on the livingroom sofa for a while. When I got up, the sun was shining so I sat out in it for a bit. I collected more rainwater and filtered it. I made my breakfast for supper. I sorted my healing techniques file to move the EFT ones to their own file. I may make a separate one for the finger healing ones too.  I did some tapping as I came across scripts I hadn't seen in a long time.  Not sure how, but I ended up on Facebook watching a short comedy video. All of a sudden the sound stopped and my screen went blank. I gave it a few minutes, then closed it and moved to the desktop computer. However, before I could bring up my e-mail, the laptop recovered. The soundtrack alerted me, and I picked up where I left off, closing the Facebook window in case it was running an unstable script. Soon it was time to post and go to bed.

Panda Monday

I was up by 7:39. I read e-mail, and tapped. I listened to an audio as I: swept sand from under the rug, exercised, brushed, and juiced carrots and frozen rhubarb. I ate two kiwis because there was so little juice. Then I cleaned up the juicer and tapped with another audio. I did not pack a lunch, just my red block project. When I got to the church, Rebecca was waiting. We chatted with the group for a bit, and then she and I went to Panda to celebrate her finishing 12 zodiac blocks. I got yellow fin and she got the tuna roll. After we got back, the others had eaten their lunch. I got to work on my red blocks, using up strips cut previously and having to cut some new ones to length. About 4pm I finished the fourth block and trimmed them all. I was feeling dizzy as I packed up. I figured it was dehydration, so I drove straight home and drank two glasses of water. I also ate some ham. I went outside for light and air, raking up magnolia leaves, and monkey grass clippings in my bare feet. I read more e-mail, and listened to some short audios. I e-mailed Chris back and forth and then Kurt. By the time I went for groceries, it was almost dark. I put them away, and then looked up black garlic and how to make it, after reading about how nutritious it was. I tapped for quite awhile, but less than an hour because it was after 9. At 10 I wrote my blog post and prepared to go to bed.
* This was the altar at church on Easter.  *

skyped for Easter

I got up at 6:19, read the time and went back to bed for 10 minutes. My phone alarm went off at 6:30. I boiled water, then emptied the dishwasher. I added fermented coconut milk to the extra breakfast I made yesterday. I ate most of it while reading e-mail. At 6:56 the sun popped up in the kitchen window blinding me and making it hard to read the computer screen. I took a shower, then put on a skirt and blouse. It fastened in the back and Chris was not there to help me, so it took some time. It also needed a necklace, but even then I did not like it and was going to change the whole outfit when I noticed the time and had to run out of the house in the first pair of shoes I found. I got to church 10 minutes before the service, which was enough but I had planned more. We played through first service. I mentally ticked off each hymn as we played it. Between services, I talked to several people. Erin showed on her phone pictures of the tomb she and her sons built, and how they woke up to discover that there was no Jesus in tomb this morning. Somehow I missed seeing the children put flowers on the cross, but I did get to see the finished product. Then it was time to play for the second service. It was the same music but in a different order. At the end I quoted my favorite words of Jesus - “It is finished.” I wonder if he felt the same relief I was feeling as I drove home. When I got home, I changed my clothes. I had just as hard a time unfastening the hook as I did when I put it on. Then I finished breakfast and checked e-mail. I wanted to go grocery shopping, but Publix was closed for Easter. So I laid in the wonderfully warm sun for awhile. I ate some frozen ham and read e-mail. Kurt Skyped me for about an hour. Then I watered my tomatoes. I was preparing to go down and sew when Chris skyped me. We also talked for about an hour. He seems to enjoy his job and is keeping VERY busy at it. So then I did go down and sew. I was also listening to a Feng Shui audio when Faye skyped me so that I could talk to her and Kevin and Mom and Dad. After she hung up, I made 4 more red blocks, a little brighter than the 4 previous blocks. It was almost 9 so I came up to tap for an hour and write to my blog.

Math problem

It was 6:55 when I got to the microwave to read the time. I checked my e-mail, and swished with coconut oil. I listened to audios while I exercised, brushed, and juiced leftover vegetables. I did the 20 minuted meditation by Oprah and Deepak. I ate some sprouts and did the 12 minute meditation by Ariana Huffington. While I was lost in silence, an equation popped into my head. It was a2 + b2 = c2, otherwise known as the Pythagorean Theorem. It is only for right triangles and I wondered if there was a similar one for other angles. Specifically, is there an angle associated with a2 + b2 = 2 c2? I dressed for practice, and got lost working the problem on paper. Then I was late getting started for the church. I posed the problem to the trumpet player who is a retired math teacher. Jennifer practiced the hymns with us (lower brass trio). Actually we practiced with both Jennifers. I left my trombone and its stand and choir music there. When I got home, I made two breakfasts and ate one while listening to Day 5 of the Feng Shui series. Because it was sunny, I clipped monkey grass, and planted the tomatoes. Some of them are over the buried fish. I pulled up wild onions and crushed them to mask the smell of the dead fish so nothing will dig them up. I covered them with leaves as mulch. I pulled up treelings trying to grow amongst the black-eyed susans. I uprooted some susan's too. Then I started the laundry, and read e-mail. A friend sent me a link to a home video of the atoll of Kwajalein. That was interesting and then I followed other links to videos about the place. It is smaller than I thought, and I wasn't expecting to see so much grass, or bus stops. Before the laundry was done, I took the Netflix movie “ Mrs. Brown” downstairs to watch. I was in the mood to relax and be entertained. However, it was not as relaxing as I hoped because the people spoke with accents and there were no subtitles. I would have watched the entire movie with subtitles if it had them. When it was over, I came up to check e-mail and get the dishwasher started. I brought up the laundry, folded it, and put most of it away. A few things needed to dry just a touch more. I tried to get some help with the math problem from the internet, then I did some tapping because I committed to doing an hour a day. Finally it was 10pm and time to go to bed. I set my phone alarm for 6:30 because I have to get up early to play for church tomorrow.

*  This quilt was shown at the guild meeting.  *

Good Friday

I got up at 7:30, with the realization that menopause has not fully kicked in. I tried using my laptop to read e-mail, but it was locked up, so I rebooted. I played an audio on my tablet while I drybrushed and exercised. When the laptop came back up, it was better, but it would not highlight/copy so I had to use the desktop to follow a link in the quilters yahoo group. That lead to more links. Finally I went back to the laptop so I could juice and make breakfast. I listened to another Feng Shui audio but not from the series. I read more e-mail, got dressed and went downstairs to cut foundation squares and red strips. I was also able to make the template that I was looking for on-line. Today was not sunny, but it was dry, so I mowed some more, finishing inside the fence, the right side yard and most of the front. Jane stopped as she drove by to say hello. She offered me a ride to meet the bus to Paducah next Saturday. Yea! When I put the mower away, I brought the mail in: another Netflix movie. I prac ticed for Easter. I sewed strips to four of the foundation squares, paying attention to the angle. Then I took a shower, and made a large salad. After supper I went to church, taking Jen's pillow with me. It seemed like a long service, especially the choir piece with six verses, and the lights getting turned off. After the service, I gave Jen her pillow. When I got home, I played more of an audio that I started while eating. I went through an hour of tapping videos on Youtube, and then it was time for bed.


pf

Guild gone long

I got up at 7:45 feeling like I'd been kicked in the head. I tapped, and I drank a lot of water. The morning unfolded slowly. I read e-mail.  I got one from Michele which greatly relieved me. Other e-mails had links that did not want to work and the laptop would get caught in loops. Finally I decided to play an audio with the tablet. It wanted to update, but I told it 'no' since updating seems to be what caused all the problems with the laptop. I put the tomatoes out when the temp reached 50. I completed my routine while listening to the tablet. The cucumber that I juiced was so big that it made 2 cups of juice all by itself. I also picked up here and there in case someone comes over to help me change the sheets. I showered. I took a saucer downstairs to draw new corners on the pillow cover. Then I took my stack of four-patches and the pillow and sewing stuff and off I went. When I arrived, there were only about 6 ladies and two left to pick up lunch. I set up my machine. I worked on the pillow cover first. I had to make tucks in the corners so they would fit. The other ladies said that was acceptable, so I considered it finished. Then I sewed my four-patches into sixteen-patches. People left early, but Pat and I waited for Christie to arrive because she had a key. When I left, Pat followed me home. She helped me change the sheets on the bed. We talked for awhile and she was impressed with my fabric collection. After she left, I turned my attention to e-mail. My laptop software (Windows) was so slow it was agonizing. Slow as in 'give it a command and go make a sandwich while it figures out what to do and how to do it'. I don't eat sandwiches so I made breakfast and ate most of it. Then I went outside to lay in the sun. Then I mowed the backyard and inside the fence. I ate a piece of fish. I finished the day 4 audio on Feng Shui. I made up the next week's worth of supplements. I started an audio on the tablet, then changed my clothes and brushed my teeth. I practiced my hymns for Easter. Then I gathered my guild night stuff and headed to the meeting. Elaine parked beside me in the lot, so I asked if I could see her quilt book, and she lent it to me. I dropped off my strips and the quilt top. I sat at the end of a row so I could get up during the meeting to collate strips. But when I did get up, Debbie had already done it. Denise came and sat with me. There were a lot of announcements and I needed notepaper to keep track of them all. The program portion of the meeting was a lady explaining all the signatures on a quilt she made to raise money for a Huntsville landmark. There were signatures from presidents, movie stars, authors, scientists, supreme court justices, nobel prize winners,generals, etc. The list was VERY long and the PA system was VERY loud. At 9pn I had had enough and ducked out. I was not the first by any stretch. Sadly I forgot to pick up my strips. But I had such a headache that I did not go back. When I got home I was going to read e-mail, but was not up to fighting with the computer. So I decided to post to my blog, then tap and go to bed.

Looking for Michele

I got up around 7. The angle of the sun coming in the kitchen window made reading my laptop impossible. I put a card for Chris in the mail, as well as the Netflix movie. I tallied our bills for the month and was surprised. I meditated. I listened to a Fengshui audio, stopping a couple of times to take advantage of the knowledge. I exercised, drybrushed, and juiced. I meditated again since I missed one yesterday. Then I cleaned up the juicer and made breakfast. I cut fabric to make a cover for Jennifer's pillow. In stuffing it in, I decided it needed a permanent cover first. I listened to another Feng Shui audio. Then I laid out stuff for Thursday night. I ate lunch, and sat outside in the sun. I decided it was warm enough to lay outside. And we are supposed to be having a cold spell? Hah! I came in to power down my laptop which was making quite a racket. But it would not power down until it updated Windows. I left it to get the mail. I mowed the side yard and part of the back. By then the laptop was off. I heard the next door neighbor mowing and wondered why he wasn't at work. I went back to work on the pillow. I had to tweak it, then stopped to make a salad plus some eggplant for supper. I plugged in the tablet for a short while before I left. When I got to choir practice, the battery was dead. Apparently the other end of the charging cord was not plugged into the wall. Doris had her tablet-like device with a piano app. She asked me if Michele was on the Korean ferry of students that sank. I hadn't heard about that, so then I worried because I did not know and could not find out. After choir was over, I came home and e-mailed her and Chris. I also looked for her on Skype and Facebook. She did not respond, probably at work. I skyped Kurt because his Skype emblem was on. Chris wrote back that he would look into it. Kurt told me all about what he does at work. Then I felt better and hung up with him so I could post to my blog and go to bed.

*  This is the blue zipper quilt for tomorrow night  The pictures from my camera won't load so I had to go into the camera and grab it.  Windows updates may be new, but they are no improvement.  

Something new for supper

I got up at 7. The internal temp was 67, so I closed the windows and turned on the heat. I brought in the tomatoes, and watered the other seedlings. I exercised and drybrushed during an audio. I juiced the usual stuff and some cauliflower. This time drinking the juice was worse than cleaning it up. Ugh. I left some sit out hoping the strong taste would volatilize, but it did not and I threw the rest out. Then I went to post to pick up the mail. I stopped by the Tuesday group, and stayed to talk to Beverly. I went to the Asian store to buy kimbap. On the way home I stopped at the gas station. I came home to eat the kimbap, and tell Chris about the mail. I cleaned out some jars, and processed more water from last night. I listened to an audio, and made breakfast. I watched an episode of TQS. I cut up the eggplant, and salted the pieces. I washed the sweet potatoes, and rubbed them in bacon fat, and put them in a dish, ready to cook. I called Dad to see if a package arrived. Later my Swanson order was delivered. I practiced for Sunday, and took a shower. I went to the church to meet Jennifer. We had a great session. I stopped at the fish market for wild salmon. When I got home, I ate a piece. I patted the eggplant pieces dry, then put the dishes in the oven. I listened to another audio and read e-mail while the food cooked. When both dishes were done, I went down to watch the rest of One flew over the cuckoo's nest. Nurse Ratched looked familiar, but I don't know where I have seen that actress before.

*  The irises are in bloom.  Just the purple ones now, but the other colors are coming.  *

Sweet rain

I got up at 7, consolidated the rainwater collected during the night so the containers could collect more. After being in the rain, my bed seemed so clean and warm that I laid down again. I got up at 8. I read e-mail, then put out more containers. I turned the wheelbarrow right side up to collect water for watering plants. The temperature was going down, so I closed the windows. I put on a 20 minute video to listen to while I exercised. But I missed the part where it was actually an hour and 20 minutes. And there was some tapping involved, so I let it run all the way through. Some really painful issues came up, which was good. Then I juiced, and put on today's meditation while digesting. Then I made breakfast. I was running late, so I did not pack a lunch. I brought in the garbage can, and loaded my sewing stuff in the car. It must have been around noon when I got to the church. The ladies had ordered lunch. Joan asked why I was so late and I explained that I had my morning routine and she wanted to know what it was, and finally said she wanted to spend the night at my house to observe these rituals. Then I talked to Carolyn who explained all the dental problems she was undergoing. I worked on the blue zipper quilt, adding borders. Jennifer called to ask about music for Sunday. We decided to meet tomorrow. I finished the quilt top, then worked on the scrap 4-patch. I packed up at 4, went home to eat lunch and process all the rain water. I brought it in, ran it through the coffee maker, then through the Brita once it cooled. I listened to a tapping audio, and brought in the mail. I got an Easter card from Maryann. I ate some tiny spinach leaves from the garden, and picked some dandelion, wild lettuce and oxalis for supper. I meditated again since Oprah is running another 21 day series starting today. I ate my salad and read e-mail. I stood on the porch, watching the rain, and tapping. Then I put on the Netflix movie “One flew over the cuckoo's nest”. I stopped it about 10 to prepare for bed. Some of it seems so familiar.

  *  This is on of Barbara's quilts that she did not finish before she died.  *

Being thanked with flowers

I got up about 7, which was 0surprising after being up so late talking to Chris and Michele on Skype. I read my e-mail, exercised, practiced, showered, dressed, and ate breakfast. I emptied the dishwasher, packed up my trombone, and went to church. Jennifer told me that the early service had gone half an hour over so that those who came to sing at the early service had to wait a long time. I practiced with the choir, then set up my trombone in the room behind the organ. We all gathered outside to process in waving palms. I thought the pastor looked really sharp today, and wondered if it had anything to do with my new glasses. It was an extra long service because of the reading of the passion story. I did deep breathing exercises in the pew. Coming back from communion, I sat near the organ. The last hymn got cut for time so I moved during the quickly inserted doxology. After all my practice and breathing exercises, when I played, my notes shook. Still, I got it under control by the time I played the third verse, which was acapella. Several people came up to say something nice after it was over. I was given the flower arrangement as a thankyou.  I thought that was very nice.  I took my instrument out to the car, then came back for the flowers. Jennifer said there would be a practice for the brass next Saturday at 10:30. I came home to change my shoes and dress for something more comfortable. I ate lunch, and took my supplements. I watered the seedlings, and checked the garden. Finally I went grocery shopping. One of the ladies from the church was there and said nice things about my playing. I am still amazed at the cost of food for one person.   I put the groceries (mostly veggies) away. Then I went to the stitch group. I was at a loss when they discussed their favorite candies. I finished binding the teal Linus quilt. I came home for supper. Then I mowed in the front yard because of the forecast of rain. The little boy from next door stopped by to talk. He was playing by himself. I put the mower away and plugged it in to recharge. I took out trash, and positioned it by the street. I listened to an audio, and ate frozen fruit. Then I called my in-laws to ask for a ride back to Alabama in May. The call went long and covered many other subjects. When it was over, I had to recharge my phone. Then I had a few minutes to tap before it was time to write to my blog and go to bed.

Crab

I got up at 7:20. It seemed later because of all the light streaming into the house. I read e-mail, and there was one from Netflix saying they got the movie. So sometime after dark, the mailman must have picked up the movie. Usually he comes between 10 and 2. I left the windows open all night, and the inside temperature was still 70. The seedlings were out all night, and they looked fine. I watered them in the morning. I got an e-mail about a funeral today, but I chose not to go since I barely know her and never met her husband. I felt guilty though. I had to tap for that. I guess that's what happens when you hang around with the older crowd. I tapped through the morning, and read e-mail, and listened to several audios. I laid out in the sun for awhile. It was a wonderful feeling. I watered the seedling again and the garden, too. I brought in the mail, not sure if it was from yesterday or today. I cooked some quinoa, and stripped the green sheets off of the bed. I slid the laundry baskets down the steps in order to wash it. The juicer basket was getting cloudy again, so I covered it in baking soda and poured vinegar over it. The resulting reaction was satisfying even if it doesn't come clean. While the second load of laundry washed, I sewed. I fixed my robe, and a pair of pants. Then I made another rectangle for the scrap quilt. Now I have four, but I need five. After getting the dryer started, I came upstairs to eat supper and glance at e-mail. Then I did some more sewing, finishing another rectangle while listening to an audio. I brought up the laundry and the laptop. I watched some tapping videos. 

I looked for Chris on skype. I did some tapping for panic and performing in church. I put a clean top sheet on bed. I folded clean sheets from the laundry. I used the crevice tool to vacuum the computer room since the beater bars were ineffective. I put the laundry away. I sang songs from a gospel book, looking for something Jennifer might want to play. I perused quilt pics on the internet, waiting for Chris to finish his game. I stacked and ran the dishwasher. I started another audio. I skyped with Chris and Michele for awhile, then went to bed.
*  I did not take any pics today so here is one of a coconut crab  *

Happy Birthday, Mom

I got up just before 7. I put the tomato seedlings out. I had trouble reading e-mail because the sun was shining in my eyes at that time of day. I listened to an audio while I did my exercises and juicing. I put the Netflix movie in the mail but it never went. I made and ate breakfast. Chris skyped me at noon and we talked for some time. I laid in the sun for awhile. Then I planted some peas that were soaking for several days. I scratched up the ground in the garden, then watered it. I topped it off with compost and pinestraw. I called my parents to wish Mom a happy 79th birthday. I did a lot of tapping for weight loss, and then tapping for playing trombone on Sunday. I practiced. I picked some greens for my backyard salad. I ate the salad and listened to an audio from the Art of Love series. Kurt e-mailed me a pic of Mom at her birthday supper in the restaurant. I sent back a pic of me eating, and he responded with pics of them eating. Then he sent me a short video clip. So I made a short video clip to send back, but for some reason it was really large and took a long time to upload. It didn't work out in the end. I finished that audio and another one. Then it was after 10 and time to go to bed. 

*  I hope this is the right video  *

Warm and sunny

I was out of bed by 7:15. I read e-mail, and did my exercises. I set the planter of tomatoes on the porch railing to get some sun. I watched a video on sonic geometry and the Anunnati. I took out the recyclables, and rolled my sewing stuff and dates out to the car. I arrived at the sewing group around 11. I set up my machine but talked to the lady next to me. I turned in my heart block. We stopped to pray and sing Happy Birthday to those having birthdays in April. We lined up for our once-a-month potluck meal. After eating, I sewed borders on the green zipper quilt. At 2 I packed up and came home. I brought in the recycling container and checked the mail. There was none. It was so sunny and warm that I laid out in my bathing suit for half an hour. I came in to read e-mail, and open some windows. I drank lots of water, using up most of the rainwater. I looked up stuff which I can't remember now. I worked through some tapping scripts for weight loss. I cleared more e-mail. I watched some episodes of TQS. I picked some greens for a 'backyard' salad. I cooked up some organic ground beef to go with it. I watched an audio on thyroid disorders. When it was over, I went down to watch “The Prince and Me”, courtesy of Netflix. Most of it seemed new, but a few parts were oddly familiar.  In hindsight watching a romantic movie by myself  was unsurprisingly depressing.  I came up to write to my blog and go to bed – unless I decide to practice my trombone, which I can do because there is no one here to be kept awake.
*  Blooming tree in front yard  *

New glasses?

I got up between 7 and 8, a little later than usual. I deleted the first round of e-mail, then started reading and listening. I made some dandelion tea. I finished all my pre-breakfast activities by 9:30, including practicing the Easter hymns. It felt good to have all of that out of the way. About 10 I stopped to make juice. I found an organic eggplant at Publix, so I tried throwing in a piece. It was not good. I added 'eggplant' to my do-not-juice list. Then I fixed breakfast. After breakfast, I was reading e-mail and found an article about how watching people eat on TV is increasingly popular in Korea, especially in one-person households. I got a call that my new glasses were ready to be picked up. I made up a week's worth of supplements, and identified those that needed reordering. I laid out in the sun until it went behind a cloud. I like it hot, but the sun was only warm. I took a shower. The water wasn't draining properly, so I plunged the drain. It brought up icky stuff which I tried to wipe up.

After getting dressed, I searched online for locker caddy pattern. I planted the tomato seedlings in the flowerbox so I could bring them in at night if necessary. I planted more pea seeds in the garden. I picked up glasses at the office. I could see fine right away, which was suspicious because the doctor told me it would take me 2 weeks to get used to them.   What if these are the same lenses?  I read e-mail, then decided to test my glasses by sewing. I put some scraps together in blocks. Then I gathered the recyclables together and put them where I will hopefully see them tomorrow to put out at the street. I picked some dandelion and wild lettuce to add to my salad for supper. I packed up my trombone and headed for church. I saw a person wearing aGuy Fawkes mask walking down the street. I got to church in time to talk to several people before practice started. After practicing with the choir, I practiced my trombone piece with the organist. I went home and brought the tomatoes in, just in case. I skimmed my way through a long audio. I was interrupted by unexplained fireworks to the west. Is today a holiday of some sort? After the audio, it was time to go to bed.

*  Flowering kale.  Sadly the flowers taste like kale, too.  *

I love batiks

I got up about 7:15. I read e-mail, listened to audios, all the usual activities. The shattered jars of rainwater had partially melted in the plastic tub overnight. I put the glass shards in the wastebasket. I rinsed off the chunks of ice and put them in the Brita pitcher. I made juice, and breakfast. I only ate part of it because time was getting late. I drove to post to get the mail. There was a renewal notice, so I paid the renewal fee. Because it was so close to 11, I skipped the quilt group and stopped off for kimbap. I also went to Kroger for organic lemons. Their coconut water had ingredients (couldn't read them clearly but I figure coconut water should only have ONE ingredient). I came home, and ate more breakfast. I watched more of a really long tapping video. I checked the garden, and saw that something dug under the wheelbarrow to get more fish out. I continued the tapping, finishing that video. I picked up sticks in the yard, then read more e-mail and listened to more tapping audios. I spent some time working on the zipper quilt tops, sewed strips, and cut borders. Then I constructed a batik heart block for a quilt that the Thursday group is making for a recently widowed quilter. All this happened while listening to tapping for weight loss audios. Still listening, I came upstairs to eat a salad for a late supper. I took a break to intersperse making the salad with practicing hymns for Easter. After eating the salad, I discovered that dark chocolate and dates are really good together. There were more audios to play until it was time to go to bed.

Rain, rain, everywhere, even in the freezer

Last night I brought in some of the rainwater that collected in the tubs and ran it through a coffee filter. I put it in jars in the fridge. So it was quite late (or early) when I went to bed. I had some trouble getting to sleep. I was wondering if I should put out more containers since I don't know when it will rain again. Eventually I slept and was able to get up a little after 7. I quickly deleted the e-mails that I knew I wouldn't read. I put the Netflix movie in the mailbox. It's door was hanging open and was wet inside. Then I brought in the rest of the rainwater. There was at least 5 inches in the tubs. It was too heavy to bring in all at once. I was glad I did not put out more containers. I began the slow process of filtering it into jars, then running it through the coffee maker, and then the Brita. Some of the jars were put in the freezer. I exercised, drybrushed, juiced, and made breakfast, all during a long audio. I packed my lunch. My sewing stuff was already in the car from yesterday. I checked the basement, and saw that the towel was wet, but not very. I checked the garden around the wheelbarrow, too. There was a mess like something barfed up fish guts. Soon after I arrived at the church, lunch was delivered. I was not ready to eat so soon. Cakes were brought for those who were born in April. I heard they were very, very good. Carolyn took the splinter out of my thumb. Joan wanted some water, so I offered her some of mine.  She asked what kind of water it was.  I wondered why, but I told her it was rain water.  She drank some and said it tasted fine.  I worked on the green zipper quilt from yesterday and made a blue one from strips I had brought with me. Lauri and I worked until 6. When I got home, I checked the mailbox for mail. I realized that I hadn't eaten lunch, so I finished breakfast and ate my lunch for supper. I spent the evening listening to audios. I found a box on front porch which contained my maca order. I practiced my trombone. I am trying to strengthen my lips because I will have to play 18 verses (three hymns, two services) on Easter. I heard cracking noises. I was bothered and bewildered, but finally looked in the freezer to find that most of the jars had cracked badly, Even the ones without lids. So I put the jars in a plastic tub to melt. Then I can clean up the glass and throw it out. I did a meditation and some tapping, and will go to bed soon.

*  This is my blue version of the zipper quilt  *

Zipper quilts for Linus

I got up about 7. I was reading e-mail and listening to audios passing the time until church, when I realized that I could be spending my extra time sewing. Accordingly, I got serious, completed my morning routine, took a shower and got dressed, and then it was time to leave. So much for sewing. I got to church in time to warm up with the choir. I spoke to Mary about the piece on Palm Sunday. The service went well, as did the anthem (except for the low a's ). After the service, when I shook hands with the pastor, he asked about Chris so I told him where Chris had gone. From the church, I drove to the Publix a block beyond. I changed into comfortable shoes. This store turned out not to be as nice as the one we usually go to. The lighting was dim and the organic veggies were not all in one place. Still, I bought quite a few and the total was less than $100. They did not have boxes of coconut water. When I got home, I changed my clothes and put the groceries away. I listened to part of an interview that was going to be taken down at 3. I ate lunch, then cut some strips for the next Linus quilt. I rolled my sewing cart out to the car and drove to the corner church. Everyone was already there, in full swing. They were making their quilts one piece at a time. I sewed my strips together and cross-cut, which gave me the same effect, but not as scrappy. Still, I was not able to finish in time to show it off. This is someone else's quilt top. Before Bertha left, I asked her to take a splinter out of my thumb.  But she needed a tweezers rather than a needle.  We cleaned up and were out by 5. When I got home, I checked the garden. Sure enough, something had been digging up the dead fish. A few fish were lying on top of the ground. I used a shovel to add more soil to the spot, then put the wheelbarrow upside down over it. I will check in the morning to see if it worked. I opened my rainwater containers because I felt a few drops. I finished the audio and ate some leftover beef and sweet potatoes. I put my trombone case by my choir folder to remind me to take it on Wednesday night. I did some serious tapping inspired by the audio. That made me sleepy, so I laid down and fell asleep. When I got up, it was 11 and raining. I got an e-mail from Chris that he started a flicker page to post pictures of Kwajalein. I wrote to my blog and tried to go back to sleep.

Chris with fish

I got up around 7. I had e-mail to read and audios to listen to. I went through my normal morning routine. After breakfast, I unloaded the dishwasher. William called, but afterward I realized that he never said why.  I read more e-mail.  I brought in the mail, which consisted of something for Chris and the latest Swansons order.  That was quick.  I raked pinecones in the side yard barefoot. I put on shoes and I mowed that space of yard and everything that did not get mowed this week. Craig was outside doing yard work and he stopped to talk. He said he could teach me how to drive stick, and that it was easy. He showed me his large tubs of bait fish, and said he had to salt them to keep the fish calm. He had a bucket of dead bait fish which he brought over to bury in my garden.  Last year he did the same thing and some animal dug holes to get the fish out.  I tried to think of ways to protect my stash of dead fish, but nothing feasible came to mind. 

I finished mowing the lawn, and came in to make a salad. I read e-mail, then went down to iron all the fabric I bought this week. I watched Prince of Persia at the same time. I came up to e-mail, and got skyped by Chris. He added Michele and later Kurt (who kind of appeared on the scene). He sent me a picture of himself after he caught a fish, and a link to photos of coconut crabs: wicked looking beasts which are said to inhabit the island.
*  Chris caught a bluefin in Kwajalein last weekend  *

Comfy quilt day

I got up at 7:30 to get dressed and collect rainwater. It was not as much as I had hoped for. I ran it through the coffee maker and the Brita. I completed my usual morning activities. I packed a lunch and took my sewing stuff to the car. I drove to the Whitesburg church. There were not that many ladies sewing. It was a special day to work on comfy quilts for the large local guild. The block of the day was a large halfsquare triangle. I spent most of the day drawing the diagonal line for someone else to sew. Then I started searching through the piles of fabric for ones that complemented the squares someone else had cut for me. I ran home for a 12.5 inch ruler. We broke for lunch when it was delivered. The subject of conversation was situations where they had been confronted by strange men. I did NOT need to hear these stories. After lunch, I continued to cut, draw and pair squares. The sewing ladies turned from sewing squares to putting the blocks together. So then I sewed the squares I had prepared. As they left, one by one, I also had to press and trim. I stopped at 4 when the piles of fabric were carried out. Only one top had been completed, but we had enough squares for two more.   Soon it was just Jodi and me. She let me tap with her. Then we went home. When I got home, I read e-mail, and ate a sweet potato, and cooked up the ground beef. I stacked the dishwasher. I listened to an audio while working on binding. I cut the corners off of the fabrics I bought. I sorted it into light and dark piles, added regular laundry, and started washing. I practiced my trombone for Palm Sunday and Easter. I wrote a check for church. After the last load washed, I ran the dishwasher. I listened to one last audio and went to bed.

A word about the ants: they are exhibiting an unusual behavior. They appear to be drinking the poison, but are unaffected by it. When I check on them, they scatter, then come back later.

A little fabric here, a little fabric there...

Not sure when I woke up, but it turned out to be 6:24 when I got up. I turned off the alarm, and quickly scanned my e-mail. It was 78 in the house last night so I left the windows open. It was still 75 when I got up. But I closed the windows so I could play an audio without disturbing the neighbors. I did my drybrushing and exercises. Then I showered and juiced. While I drank the juice, I listened to a short meditation. It wasn't long, but enough that after I made breakfast, there was not time to eat it. I put it into a jar and took it along with the lunch I packed last night. I grabbed my sewing machine and stuff and drove to the church on Westmoreland. All of the ladies but one were waiting in Linda's suv. I put my stuff in the back and the last lady drove up. Linda was so absorbed in programming her Garmin, that I ate my breakfast without asking if I could eat in her car. We drove a little over an hour north and I realized that we were at Hammers, the same place I went with the Tuesday group on Friday. I did buy a few pieces that either were not there on Friday or I missed. We were there to pass the time until Dechard Needleworks opened. It was not far away. He specialized in 30's prints, and civil war prints. I was hopeful of finding the gold/cream fabric that I ran out of a year ago, but he did not have it. Lunch was delivered for those who ordered and paid. I ate broccoli with hummus, an apple, an egg and coconut water. After lunch I sewed at my machine. Other ladies had handwork, or just sat and talked. The owner showed us some of his quilts and said he gives classes for free as long as you buy the pattern and fabric there. When I paid for the fabric I bought, I elected to get an electronic receipt. He said the database already knows what e-mail to send it to. I thought that was a little scary, but he said it only knows because I entered it in some previous transaction. Little did I know it would get sent to Chris.  Around 2 we loaded up in the suv and came home. My carload wants to get together for another road trip to other stores. Three of them are also taking the bus to Paducah. I picked up my car at the church and came home. The ladies said it would rain tonight so I mowed as much of the backyard as I could. I plugged the mower in to recharge then came upstairs to read e-mail. I found my seedlings exceedingly dry, so I watered them really well.  At 6:30 I went out to mow again. It did not last long, but I got the yard inside the fence done. I did some tapping for old issues (from 7^th grade I think). I listened to a couple of audios. I made a new batch of nut cheese. I put out ant bait, and wiped down the countertops and scrubbed the sink. I worked on the binding for the wonky block quilt. I practiced my trombone music for Easter. I defrosted some ground beef, but then it was too late to eat it, so it went back in the fridge. Around 10 I wrote to my blog then went to bed.

A lovely card

I got up at 6:43. I read e-mail, and put on an audio. I did my drybrushing, and anointing. I wrestled with how to wrap something Chris wanted me to send him. I put old stamps on it to make proper postage for 3 oz, but the glue was old and needed help. Finally I got it in the mailbox. I called the Volkswagen dealership to check on the cost of a new transmission, but their price was not any better. I tapped for the fear that if anything happens to me, no one will find my body. I will lie here while the roaches nibble me to death. Then I did range of motion exercises, and juiced. I meditated while drinking the juice to maximize absorption. Then it was time for breakfast. I watched a long video on birthing in the U.S. They think other countries do it a lot better for a lot less with midwives. It was such a nice day that I opened some windows, and mowed part of the front lawn. I also picked up sticks to get enough sun (1 hour) to go into the basement and not feel deprived of light. I finished another audio, and ate some ham for lunch. I sewed on the scrap quilt, then cut strips for the next strip exchange, and packed a box for tomorrow. I prepared a project for Sunday. I boiled water to pour over the quinoa which had been soaking from yesterday. I mowed again, still in the front yard. I worked on a math problem, geometry actually, for a border for sri yantra. When I noticed the time, I made a quick salad, and changed my clothes for choir. There were not many people who showed up. It was handy to have the tablet to keep me on pitch, but without my glasses it was hard to tap the right notes. I used my sewing glasses, but they are not the same as having bifocals. When I came home, I ate the quinoa with home canned tomatoes. Now I have to get ready for tomorrow and hit the hay early to meet the ladies by 8. 

*  this is the card Rebecca made for me.  *

Seeing the eye doctor

I got up about 7, thinking about Jodie coming at 9. She went on the trip Friday and said she'd be over at 9 today to teach me how to drive stick. When she asked me what I wanted to learn, I think she meant quilting lessons. Anyway, I had not heard from hersince and not knowing her, did not know what that meant. I cleared e-mail quickly. Chris wrote last night that he would skype me at 1, so I looked forward to that. Then I did my range of mobility exercises. I tried bouncing, but it did not feel good. In fact, my back was giving me pain. So I decided to take the meds. But first I put the check in the mail, and then juiced because the meds are not to be taken on an empty stomach. I was listening to an audio and I saw a roach. I decided it was not worth the risk to go after it. Then Jodie called, saying she'd been sick but was feeling better and could come right over. I told her I needed to lay down and take care of my back. She prayed for me over the phone. After she hung up, I got out my meds and laid them by the glass of water. Then I fixed breakfast. Since one is not supposed to drive after taking the meds, after breakfast I drove to post to check the mail. On the way back, I stopped for kimbap and cashed a check that has been sitting in my wallet for some time. I was feeling better, so I ate some of the kimbap and took my laptop outside to watch the latest episode of The Quilt Show. It was hard to see the screen, but the sun on my skin felt so good. I would have rather laid out in a bathing suit, but did not want to take the chance that I couldn't get up again. Due to the weather, I opened some windows. I made up a weeks worth of supplements, and got online to order more. I skyped with Chris at 1. It was 6am his time. After that, I checked the snail mail. Rebecca sent me a card she made, and a note on paper she made. It was beautiful. Then I took a shower. I sewed panels of scraps together in the basement until 3:35. Then I sat outside to wait for Carolyn. She drove me to the eye doctor and walked around the strip mall while I filled out paperwork and had my eyes examined. I had to read sets of letters with both eyes and then with each eye. You'd think I would have them memorized by now. She said I had a lot of astigmatism in my right eye and thought it was too much to correct all at once. Then she dilated my eyes and put me back in the waiting room for awhile. Carolyn was there waiting for me. Then I got called back. She shone lights in my eyes to see the retina. But she seemed concerned about the left eye – my good one. I had to sign a form authorizing special pictures. More bright lights. Then she told me I had an abnormal freckle on the retina and wanted me to see a specialist. I paid and then asked if they could put the new prescription in the old frames. She said they could so I had to surrender my glasses for a week or two. Then Carolyn took me home. I might have been able to drive, but was glad I did not have to. I collected greens from the backyard to add to my salad. I ate some ham defrosted from the freezer. I put quinoa in a jar to soak, and some cashews with sunflower seeds in another jar. I did a lot of tapping, some with Youtube and some with scripts on my laptop. I practiced my trombone, both standing and walking. I put my meds away, glad that I did not have to take them after all. Then it was time for bed.
*  These tiny blooms are sweet and remind me of honeysuckle.  *