my kind of crazy...

First of all, I'm going to say that even though I've missed my pottery and exercise classes this past semester, I have to say that I did get a few things done that needed doing. Accomplishing tasks have taken on a new meaning these days.

I have at least a dozen clay creations ready for the kiln when class resumes, I finished several quilted pillows - some for my cousin and some for myself, and the most exciting accomplishment (although it is still in the works) is that I actually have gone through boxes and boxes of old paperwork in the computer room and either shredded or refiled the contents. This is the job that I've been dreading and have started and stopped over the last few years.

Some of the boxes contained old papers and bills from both my mother and my brother's estates. I couldn't throw them out without going through them in case something of importance was stashed inside. I did come across some letters and things that I felt worth keeping.

And in the course of doing this, I came across boxes of my own writings; journals, web pages, letters to my siblings, letters to my kids, essays on life, poems, and stories I have written over the years, both finished and unfinished. This slowed me down as I had to re-read some of these. But by doing this it motivated me to get on with the one I started this past year (The Gift of Time and Money)... and possibly to complete some of the others. I really like the feeling... it's like the creative muse has returned and stirred things up.

Anyway, it's Sunday morning and I've already been up for a while, made pecan waffles for DH, read the Sunday paper (yes, we still occasionally pick up a Sunday newspaper - very 'old school' I know) and done a few things around the house. Now it's time to write this blog and perhaps get back to working on "The Gift...".

Oh, another thing I want to mention. It's most likely not going to be of any interest to any of you, but like anything else that has us use our brains to learn new things, I think it could be helpful. (I'm not a game player, but I do enjoy this) My grandson put a program on my laptop called "MindCraft". I guess it could be called a computer *game*, but in creative mode, it simply allows you to build a world... from the ground up: create towns, houses, gardens, caves, etc. and people it with villagers and animals. The villagers and animals move about on their own, the chickens lay eggs (which you collect), the wolves chase the rabbits (and I chase the wolves), and day turns to night. 

So far I've built 2 walled towns a good distance apart, planted gardens, built homes, guest houses, corrals, etc. -  and in one I made 'a maze' that is interesting to watch either the villagers or the critters get lost in... but eventually find their way out.  There is another mode to this game - survivor mode which is very different and not to my liking  - although my grandson prefers this one. In this one you have to create things 'in order to survive' - like weapons and tools, etc. (and in this one there are Zombies!). 

Anyway, it is an interesting diversion - makes me wonder what other computer programs like CAD for architecture or programs created for animation must be like. Creative technology - I like it! 

While I was googling a saying I once knew to end this post, I came across this and it seemed fitting:

"Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort."   

 - Franklin Roosevelt

Have a great Sunday!

You might think I like cats...

Pretty Boy (outside feral) in the bushes

Well, March has finally arrived... and the sun with it! We have had 2 days so far that have been really nice.  Tux is sunning himself in the window at the moment. The front and back yards are a bit soggy with all the rain we've had -  so perhaps the sunshine will help dry that up.

I have kept busy this past week working on a *cat planter*. I have almost finished the sculpting of it. Now it needs to dry a bit so I can cut out the back area for inserting a plant. Haven't decided what color I will glaze it... perhaps black and white like our Tux. We'll see.

cat planter

And I'm thinking about quilting one of these 2 next quilts that I found on Pinterest. I really love that pastel log cabin quilt... and although I like the book quilt too, I'm thinking the log cabin one may take precedence. (There's a cat quilt that I thought was interesting too...)

pastel log cabin quilt

book quilt

I'm a slow quilter, so either may take me a very long time. 

This morning I was vacuuming and sucking up cat hair... as well as cat toys from beneath furniture. Here is a picture of Julie with some of the extra toys found here and there.

Julie with all the extra cat toys

Ghost and her own toys


and

Tux in my quilted bag

(This last pic is an old one you may have seen before... but couldn't leave Tux out)


Happy Friday!!

Today was the day...

Today was the day! Had my 2 week post surgery check-up and all went well. Glad to put that behind me.

The doctor said that I could go back to all normal activity... which includes driving and walking. Of course I was able to walk before today, but found when I did try to walk too far or too long, I got a few twinges where my surgery sites are. Since I've had no problem with pain since the surgery, I simply have foregone the walking my 10,000 steps (actually I hardly ever get more than 5,000) for a bit longer.

Sending you some pics of my youngest grand daughter visiting the beach for the first time. My son and DIL took her to Galveston Beach this past weekend. 

 





I think she thoroughly
enjoyed it! 











The cats are all fine. They are missing my being in bed with them during the day - as since my energy has returned, it hasn't been necessary anymore. However, I do still take a short reading time in the afternoons and do occasionally do fall asleep. This seems to satisfy them. And Tux seems to have calmed down now that things are back to relatively normal.

I finished the 2 quilts I've been working on. Here are some pics. The first is a baby quilt and the second is a quilted tablecloth for my kitchen.

This is the 2 sided baby quilt...


 

This is a close-up of the 2 sides...

 

close up of 2 sides

 

Quilted table cover

Well, that's about the news for now. I'm practicing with my watercolors since I had to drop the course for now.  

Getting used to colors with their tints, shade, tones, and de-saturations...

Practicing using some of the colors on sketches... 








There's so much that I don't know, but possibly I'll pick up some techniques while I wait out until the course becomes available again... which probably won't be until next summer.

Well, have a great week. The 4th of July is fast approaching (as well as my 72nd birthday which follows on the 6th)!  Life is just one big (or little) adventure after another... and I will try my best to keep up.

clay, fabric, doctors, grandkids, and guilt

It's been a busy week. One where I had a dentist appointment (I really really don't like to go to the dentist - not even for cleanings!), quilting, pottery class, and baby sitting 2 days this week. Now this may not seem like much for some of you who are extremely active, but for me it was a lot. And it's not that I don't enjoy all of it (except the dentist part) - because I do.... but I've found that I work better at a slower pace (having a quiet day once or twice a week works best).  

IMO - by now - we all know our own bodies, minds, and souls well enough to know under what conditions we work best. And I work best when the pace is not hectic. Not that I haven't had to endure hectic times. I imagine we all have. But some people (my daughter included) work best under these conditions. They like the pace, and feel lost when things slow down (although this may change as she ages). But age isn't the culprit in my case, I've always been more comfortable when there *time* to spare.  

Owning my own time is extremely important to me. And the freedom to do this since retirement is something I don't take lightly. Sometime I wonder why this is. Is it because we go from elementary school to high school to college to marriage to kids to work, to caring for parents - that this sudden free time offered by retirement is held so dear.  Although school and school work were never my favorite things, they were tolerated well and I got good grades. Marriage and kids filled my days with love and responsibility, work helped meet our expenses and I got to work with animals which was an additional boon , and taking care of mom when she moved in with us was a bittersweet joy.  

When I look back, I always disliked deadlines. If I could work at my own pace, life would be simpler. Of course there are always deadlines in life... but now... not so much. If I wake up and don't feel like doing something, I can just not do it (for the most part anyway). It's a small thing, but means so much. Perhaps because I own my own time, there's less guilt?

I can remember when being sick, I'd feel guilty if I didn't go in to work... because I knew it meant more work for someone else. Now looking back, not exposing others to illness is more important. Hindsight.  But guilt comes with the territory. Being brought up Catholic, guilt is built-in.  I remember somewhere sometime being told by one of the nuns that taught us that chewing gum made the Blessed Mother cry.  How's that for a guilt-getter for a child?  Fairly harmless, but effective. I never chewed gum.

Moving on - Here are a few photos of some pottery I'm playing around with:

And lastly, here are some pics of a few of my favorite things:

left to right: Julie, Molly, and Tux

Molly (21) hugging Tux

Great Dark Chocolate!

Oh, and my finished small quilt now looks like this:

my 'almost' fall...

Well, I guess I've fallen victim to the old folk's curse - falling.  It happened Tuesday morning when I was picking up clay at the clay supply house. Had just given the man in the back my receipt (you order up front and then go around back and hand over your receipt and they put the 2 boxes of clay -100 pounds- into your car trunk) when another workman walked in. He distracted me by saying "warm vanilla sugar?" I turned around and said, "Pardon?" or possibly "What?" (can't really remember exactly).  And he repeated it, "warm vanilla sugar, right?" 

Then my mind clicked in and I realized that he was referring to a fragrance I wear. It's not a perfume as I'm allergic and get migraines from some perfumes. This is basically a body splash that I get from The Bath and Body Shop.  Anyway, once I realized what he was talking about, I said, "oh... yes, you're right."  And then he said something about it being his favorite. At the same time, he handed me back the receipt and the other man was putting putting the clay in the car and as I turned around, I tripped and almost fell (caught myself before I hit the floor by grabbing a wall) over a box of clay left in the middle of the aisle. Scared the both of them to death as they ran over and acted really worried.  I told them that I was fine, just tripped over that box. They immediately picked it up as I left.

Halfway home I realized that my right foot was hurting.  I think I jammed my big toe into that box of clay and twisted my foot. It was still sore last night so I taped it up. Clumsy, yes?  But at least I didn't hit the floor...  (I've almost fallen a few times in the house - tripping over cats - perhaps I need to get back to my Yoga to improve my balance?)

But it did amaze me that someone recognized the fragrance since it is not a famous perfume. I had a dear friend who passed away a few years ago that always wore "Happy" by Clinique (sp?).  I loved it. It smelled so fresh and clean. But when I tried it, it just wasn't the same on me.  Years ago when I was in college, I wore an Este' Lauder cologne called "Youth Dew" and DH loved that. But as I aged, I found that some perfumes did seem to bring on migraines, so I stopped wearing them and went to baby powder and my vanilla splash.  

Update:  Have cut out the pieces for my new *under Keurig quilt square*.  Now just have to sew them together, add the batting, find a backing, and a binding (going to use that blue for binding) and sew it all together. 

And next I've decided to do a *doggie quilt* for a friend who's old dog isn't doing very well. He just went through chemo for cancer and now is being treated for diabetes. He's already gone blind, but the insulin seems to be helping as she says that he has perked up a lot. She knows that he may not be with her for too long, but I thought a doggie quilt for him to lie on would be a nice idea. He isn't a big dog, so I think maybe 24x24 would work. Meeting a friend for coffee today and we will check out the fabric store afterwards for suitable doggie patterns. 

And ceramics/pottery class started again last Saturday. It was good to have my hands back on the clay. Made several cups, bowls, vases, etc. on the wheel just to see if I still could.  Did OK... better as the morning progressed.  We do have one project for the whole class that is going to be done in groups... making hand-built kilns. Should be interesting - will keep you updated.

And one sad fact that was just told to me: my daughter lost 2 of her chickens recently. She suspects hawks, but can't be sure. And they were her favorites... 2 Frizzles.

one of her Frizzles

visiting a friend... quilting, and cats

old fashion stove in tool shed

Hello everyone! Just wanted you to see this old fashion stove in my friend's tool shed. I spent a few days this week working on my quilted valence at her place.  This picture is of the large work shed where their cats and kittens are fed.

You can see the 2 mama cats and their 6 kittens.
One is fond of sleeping under the 4-wheeler...

As I said previously, we worked hard cutting and piecing together the squares I would need to make the quilted valence. Although we didn't finish, we did get most of the basic work done. We will need to add one more row of squares at the bottom (as it wasn't quite deep enough when I took it home and checked it out), and then stuff it, quilt it, and put a border on.

Here's what we have so far...

The 2 valences are lying on a green cutting mat.  Eventually it will have a brown border that matches the one on the bed quilt.

And since my friend is a quilting addict, I thought I'd share a few of the many quilts in varying stages of completion around her house. She appliques on them also.

This is her Texas quilt she has hung up on a wall. You can't see all the little applique areas, but they're there.

close-up of applique butterflies

The next one is a baby quilt she made recently. The giraffe has tiny tuffs of black hair... so cute!

And there are several more:

log cabin pattern

close up of log cabin pattern

Christmas tree

My favorite pattern is the log cabin one.  I had planned to use that pattern until I saw the one we ended up making hanging up in a quilt shop.  But I still love the log cabin and if we ever make another, it definitely will be that.

That's about all I have to post today. I've been out of the house most of this week and have fallen behind in my reading and commenting, but I will try to catch up soon.  Rose, one of our old cats (21+) is limping on her right rear leg. We're watching her and it seems to be getting better. She jumps down from our kitchen counter and at her age she may have aggravated an old injury.  When she was an outside cat (one of those that show up in our yard) she broke her leg and we had to take her to the Vet to have it set and cast (that's when she became an inside cat). Anyway, she seems to be doing a little better this morning... putting a little weight on it... and not hopping about so much.

So I'll leave you with a pic of Rose and my new *grabber* I found at Walmart (which helps me get things that fall behind the washing machine)... and a few pics of Tux and Julie with grand daughter's dinosaur that she dragged into the kitchen.

Rose and grabber

Have a good week!
(Oh, I forgot to mention, my friend had made a great granola recipe that I sampled while visiting... and have since made it here at home for DH and me (Tux liked it too!).  It's mostly oats and nuts, but you can add dried fruit if you like. I like it without the fruit as it stays crunchy longer. Anyway, I will post it later in the week.)