Memorial Day

It is a day for remembering those who gave all so that we can live this wonderful life in a free country.  Please take a moment to do so, and be grateful for them.

On the homefront, I went for the allergy testing and it showed that I am allergic to dust, dust mites, mesquite, sagebrush, airborne molds, and just about everything else that grows here in the desert.  The desensitizing will begin a week from Wednesday with shots every Wednesday.  In the meantime I was just glad to be able to get back on my allergy meds.  We've been cleaning and cleaning what we thought was a clean house.  Have you any idea how many places dust can hide?  Every wicker basket has to go, along with most of the knick-knacks.  What is left has to be put into boxes that have lids and that can be wiped clean often.  I should really have a yard sale but haven't decided if I want to go to the trouble or not.  It is getting hot here and I don't think the time is right.  But then if I do someone else would haul it away for me wouldn't they?  (Here, you can have this whole box of stuff for 50 cents!) LOL  Anyway, it's a slow process because I can only handle so much of it at one time.

I've spent the majority of the last few days with my new computer and it is awesome!  The one thing that drove me crazy at first is that outlook express does not exist in windows 7.  If that is what you are used to using for your email, be aware of this.  I finally found Mozilla Thunderbird mail program and it imported all of my outlook files from my old computer and is easy to work with and is almost just like outlook.  I'm sticking with it because I didn't like windows live mail at all.  I think I finally have most of the programs I used before installed on this new baby and they are running so much faster now.  The Bose speakers I splurged on are so awesome.  I am listening to KFROG country music station live streaming on the internet thru the Bose speakers and it is just too cool.

In the meantime my quilting is lagging behind for lack of time and energy.  I need lots more of both.  It will all come together one day.  Of this I am certain. 

Ya'll have a happy day now.

I'm Still Here!

Don't give up on me.  I'll do better.  I just have had blogger's apathy the last week or so.  That and not feeling good and having a slow computer have kept me away from the blog.

The good news is Dell has finished building my new computer and has shipped it!  It should arrive on Thursday so I can spend all of next weekend getting everything transferred to it and learning more about Windows 7!  I can hardly wait, as I am certain this old one is on its last leg.

It has been cool and windy here and today beats all I've ever seen in May.  At noon it was raining sparsely and was 54.  Yes - 54!  I think it is up to 64 now with the wind still blowing.  All I can say is thank God for global warming because without it we'd be freezing to death!  This is the desert, isn't it.

On Tuesday I go for allergy testing - lots and lots of drops of stuff up and down my arms.  In the meantime, for the last week I haven't been able to take any of the 3 prescription allergy drugs that I usually use and have for years.  Can you say swollen face, crusty eyes, clogged nose, trouble breathing?  Yep, all of the aforementioned and more.  Of course she will probably tell me I'm allergic to sand, or dust, or maybe even cotton fabric and sewing machines.  Whatever the allergies are I'll be happy to take shots for them because nothing else has worked.  Plus, this is the worst spring ever for pollen.  Even Jody said he can't talk because the allergies have caused so much drainage into his throat that his voice is gone.

In the meantime, I've been sewing and playing with fabric.  I need to take some pictures, but haven't yet.  I did get these pictures of the apron and basket I made for my friendship group's brithday party.  We call ourselves "Hot Needles" and every May we have a party and potluck to celebrate all of our birthdays.  We also bring handmade gifts to exchange.  We do the exchange by picking a number and choosing gifts in numerical order, being able to steal a previously chosen gift if you like it.  It is always lots of fun.  My gift was well received and exchanged a few times.  What I received was a gorgeous set of 6 placemats with napkins.  Plus, I received a special gift of a beaded bracelet of gold beads!  I've wanted a beaded bracelet from this particular friend forever.  I am cherishing this one.  This picture is of most of the members of the group.  The redhead standing behind me is Connie, by best friend.

Yesterday I made two little aprons for a friend's church's missionary group.  They go to Peru every year and they take aprons to the ladies there.  They report that the ladies cherish them and even bring them back to show to them year after year.  I've also been working on a precious pink and  mint green baby quilt for a little unborn princess.  It is still not together yet, but coming along.

Joe is having a lot of bad days lately.  When he does I just let him sleep.  But I know he needs to be up and about also so I try to keep a balance in his life.  What else can I do.  He keeps working on his guns and he loves it.  He also does a lot of the housework, for which I am grateful because it gives me more time to sew, sew, sew.

The cleaning out has been halted by my allergies.  I'll get back to it but right now it's about all I can do to deal with the allergies indoors without adding the garage to it. 

Now, I've written a book.  Maybe I'll keep up a little more frequently in more short bursts.  I'll try.  Hope you all are having a great day wherever you are.

Allergies and Other Thoughts

Is it really May 12?  Where has this last week gone?  I can't say I've accomplished a lot, but I have done a few things.  I've ordered a new computer and Dell is putting it together for me.  I've been working at cleaning out a little at a time.  You know how sometimes things look worse before they look better?  Well that is the state we are at right now.

It was a worrisome weekend as Joe was feeling very poorly.  Fluids built up in his chest from his congestive heart failure.  He spent most of 3 days in bed and I didn't do much but worry and check on him.  In spite of it he managed to get me flowers and a card for Mothers Day.  And my son sent me a new quilt novel for the occasion.  He apparently put some thought into it because it is the latest in a series I have been reading.  I was thrilled and surprised when the packaged arrived last Friday. 

Allergies are bad for everyone right now as we are having a banner season of pollen.  They are really bothering me.  On Monday my friend Connie and I made a trip to Palm Desert which included a visit to my sinus doctor.  He says my sinuses are healed and looking great but there is still lots of pressure and irritation from allergies.  Thinks I need allergy testing which may lead to allergy shots once a week for a long, long time.  Right now I'll agree to anything for relief.

Today I am going to sew on my new Bernina sewing computer.  So what if I need to be cleaning out and things are still piled up.  My dreams are still of quilting so I HAVE to get to it.  Monday's trip included a trip to Joann's for a new cutting board and interfacing for a couple of items I have planned.  Also have to get my gift made for the friendship group birthday exchange next Wednesday.  I think it is going to be an apron and maybe a basket.  We'll see how the next few days go.

By the way, it is pretty cool here in the desert for May.  How are things in your part of the world?

A Busy, Busy Day

I had sort of planned to stay in bed and rest today but it turned out to be a day that I was full of energy instead.  I made a list when I got up and stuck with it and polished it off and lots more.

The weather is so beautiful right now that I decided it was time to tackle that much put off  job of the garage.  It will take months, maybe even years, to get it done, but a girl's gotta start somewhere.  Now tell me why did I ever think I needed to save 273 shipping boxes of various sizes and at least half that much packing air pockets and bubble wrap?  I dunno.  But they are outta there now - all broken down and in the recycle and trash cans.  The back of the truck is filled with the first load to take to the donation place also.  All of that and I can see the first few feet into the garage.  A box a day and I'll have it clear by next May Day. 

I also backed up a lot of files on my computer today onto my new external hard drive.  I don't really know what I need to back up and what Carbonite will have for me, but I'm trying.

Then I watched the video twice more for my new sewing computer.  I've cut strips and will sew them together tomorrow as I experiment with it.  I called the local dealer (Redlands) and I can't get into an instruction class until June 1.  Now you know I can't wait that long to start using it.  I'll have to learn the old fashioned way - with instruction book in hand.

Joe got to play with his new power washer today.  He washed the car and said it worked great.  Before that he washed the kitchen blind after he repaired it.  It is always hard to get clean because of the greasy dust that settles on it and it looks like new now.  I think the power washer will be well worth the money for my honey.  He is really working on his new Sweet Sixteen shotgun, refinishing the stock to a nice dark walnut color.  It is coming along nicely.

It has been a day of accomplishments for us and we should sleep well tonight.

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

I feel like I am among the living again!  Almost everything is put away from the trip.  The weather here is gorgeous even while other parts of the country have been suffering.  We had winds but they are gone now.  We have much for which to be thankful, and we are.

Monday was my quilt guild meeting.  I always love the meetings and visiting with the ladies, but am getting a little tired of it being so cold in the meeting room.  I understand some of the ladies being hot, but I think 75% of us were really very cold on Monday.  The speaker was an expert on applique, which is not my thing.  I've mentioned before that I am chairperson for the Senior Outreach Program and I am just overwhelmed with the kindness and outpouring of our members.  I collected lots of adult bibs, walker totes, lap robes, and pillowcases on Monday that members have made of their own fabrics and on their own time.

Yesterday my friendship group met and we had a good time.  I worked a little more on my English paper piecing.  Some of the ladies were making the dammit dolls for hospice, only they officially call them slammit dolls.  I won one at the guild meeting on Monday and they are quite cute and useful when you just want to smack something or someone. (Not that I'd ever want to do that)

Joe went to the range yesterday and had a good day of shooting.  He came home happy!

My new "stitching computer" has arrived!  My beautiful Bernina 820 arrived Tuesday afternoon.  I unpacked it yesterday and managed to thread it and sew a little bit.  There is a lot to learn about it and I'm going to try to take a few classes on it, but have to travel to do that.  I can't wait to just get to sewing with it.  I keep dreaming of quilts and quilted items.  I'm making myself reorganize my sewing space a little before I spend much time with it because I know I function much better when things around me are organized.

Looking forward to a quiet weekend and lots of sewing and maybe time to work on my computer some.  I need to save all my files in an acceptable form on the external hard drive so I can then get a new computer and transfer them.  My wonderfully knowledgeable son has advised me and I've decided on the insides of the new computer I want but am waiting to order it when I have time to devote to it. 

I thought retirement meant leisure time!  Not around here, it doesn't.  I'm always busy and I like it that way!