Distractions

 Tomorrow I will leave at 5 a.m. to go to the airport on my journey to Palm Springs. Yes, I'm taking every precaution possible and I will self quarantine upon my arrival. I have to thank Elaine and Lorne for so generously loaning me their house in PS for my quarantine. I have the dancing boys scheduled for 2 p.m. the next day!

Since I get weirded out by this travel bit every year, I have decided to distract myself this year to keep the nerves down to a dull roar. And this is my big distraction. 

Yesterday, I decided to put away the scraps and fabric from my last projects. At this point, that means putting the fabric in a large toter by color. Those suckers are heavy to move around! (Yep, back is sore today.) But of course, I continued tidying up my cutting table (aka card table) ... So now it doesn't look like a bomb went off in my sewing room but it does look like a fabricholic needs to make 80 zillion more quilts to deplete the stash.

I found quite a few UFOs. As any quilter knows, those are UnFinished  Objects. And in various places, I found random blocks. I'm sorry that's all of the pictures for today. Unless I find something interesting.

These are from years ago in "vintage" fabric. It was a way for a fabric shop to sell fabric. I 

dropped out after a couple of blocks (it was one a month) because I didn't really like the colors and I lost interest.

You might recognize the goof above.

Yes, I know that's embroidery on the right. I did it so long ago that I don't even remember doing it.

The mostly purple one has potential.

The bottom purple one needs serious trimming! I do believe I did not think this was good enough to include in Sherylann's all purple quilt. I'll bet I could cut it differently and salvage it.

This poor little misfit will not be used in the lap quilt that only needs binding. I might cut the binding today ...

This was my attempt at a log cabin block. After I made two, I thought, "I couldn't stand a whole quilt of these!" So I stopped. 

Many years ago, I went to Arizona (before I had even been to California) and I was so amazed at how different their mountains looked from anything I had seen. This piece, which needs serious ironing, is about 2.5 feet wide. It's made  from slacks and a shirt. 

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

I've got the second and last load of laundry in. I've filled a bag with non-eaten food from the fridge for Phyllis. Of course, since she was supposed to pick it up soon, it has been raining like crazy. 

I have packed a goody bag of snacks for the trip. Let's hope I don't forget it like last year, lol. The fridge is clean. 

I'm all packed -- sort of. The big suitcase is totally packed. But I have to rearrange my purse and the carry on bag. Sigh. I keep rethinking -- will I have a need for dressy clothing? We can't go anywhere. Then I think, 'Well, I'll just dress up for the heck of it.'

As much as I love the tech stuff (computer, phone, Kindle), there's a lot of gear such as cords, ear plugs, and chargers to stow somehow.

And this 'puter will be the last packed.

I have made a radical decision: I'm not bringing any lipstick or makeup. I don't wear it in Massachusetts, but I always wear it in CA. But my stuff is so old, I can still hear Lisa admonishing me to throw out makeup once a year. Ha! These lipsticks have been to California at least 3 times. 

And this is also what I'm leaving:

That's at 3:30 p.m. Am looking forward to some sun!

It has dawned on me that since last May when I got back to Amherst, I have only had one shot of Jameson's on election night. I'm going to have to work up to the imbibing of the Mexican Train Dominos Gang! But I have always said that I would rather eat my calories than drink them. 

Cheers! Be well. Don't forget that the phone works in California and I'd love to hear from you. (Just not at 6 a.m.) I'm off ...

Yada Yada Yada

 Working on day 10 of a marvelous cold. (No, no fever but a wonderful cough.) I do believe I got it from my fabulous foster grand baby. Julius is a love, but I kind of wish he hadn't sneezed in my face.

Emily's favorite toy was Buster. When I saw one on EBay, I had to get it for Julius. Oddly, this one is older than Emily! Buster is the name Emily gave to the horse. They don't make them any more, which I don't understand because he's really a lovely horse. Julius scoots around happily on him.

1976 Vintage Buster

I was rummaging around today and I unearthed some fabric landscapes which would look better framed. I'm not up to doing a real framing job, including buying frames and matting and trimming, but this is what I taped together.

This actually has a black frame. I think it needs a bigger frame and matte.

This is only matte, no frame

Two days ago, I couldn't stand it any more and cleaned the glass baker's rack. Rearranged a bit too. Some of the pieces were gifts and they remind me of the donor. I love seeing the sun shining through the colored glass.

It took me a while to wash all of those suckers!

I did finish the hand quilting on the above surprise quilt. I'm working on sewing the binding. Wish I were as good at it as Jeanne is. But you know what? My heart is in it and it's still very warm and snuggly. I will wash it before mailing it to be sure no cold germs lurk in its folds. 

I'm almost at the last episode of Silent Witness. Boy, I will miss this series. It's about a forensic pathologist and her adventures (in England and, later, in Ireland). Of course, she's always fighting with the cops who thinks she's too intrusive into their investigations. She really is, but (of course) she's always right. You have to be able to look at an autopsy without fainting to enjoy this series. (It's on Amazon.)

Speaking of which ... also on Amazon is Quiet Explosions: Healing the Mind by Jerri Sher. (She is my ex husband's cousin.) It's a masterful documentary of people with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). In this film there are people from all walks of life: a Marine, a gymnast, a heart attack victim, accident victims. All suffered life changing personality changes and many contemplated suicide. But the doctors in the film have devised new strategies that are saving people's lives. This is a very important film, especially if it can steer even one person to these life saving therapies. Tell your friends. 

I was finally able to get some Red Rose tea today. I have been drinking so much tea that I had run out. I found out that 3 large mugs of tea is the limit for one tea bag. ("It's a potent cup of tea.") Gotta stay hydrated.

Also in the hydration category: I have discovered that I can make a decent chicken soup in 20 minutes or so starting with boneless chicken thighs. Last time I threw in frozen chopped spinach. I kind of overdid it because the whole soup was green but that's o.k. Spinach is good for me.

Today was the first day in 7 that I went out of the house to the supermarket. I still have some frozen protein, but I had zero veggies! And no Red Rose tea! And no peanut butter! I'm not sure that peanut butter cookies are on the agenda tomorrow ... maybe the cookie fairy will come in overnight and make some for me. 

I've decided that 65 F. is too cold for me in the house. So I have turned on the heat. It was 50 F. but it's supposed to warm up again. The weather is weird lately. Warmer is ok. I hate wearing heavy coats and sweaters. 

I'm so grateful to have a warm house, plenty to eat, and friends nearby. I hope you are as blessed as well. Cheers!