From Lorelei

 It's Gus again...he is my grandpup....Lorelei sent me this and the one below the other day.

He is just such a sweet dog...and so loves his daddy.  If he has to work beyond Gus's bedtime, Gus whines till he comes home...and soon as Jeremy is there, Gus is in his lap, by his side, claiming him as his own.  Letting him know he was missed.

I won't risk saying Roger is all better, but he does seem to feel better tonight.  He felt better yesterday morn but when evening came he still did not feel too well.

So we will see how it goes.  

Artistic view

 This has been published before.  I have no idea how I got to this, but I still like it.  It is Cougar, but whether first or last I am not sure, but I think the second one.  I would dearly love to be able to hold either of them again.

It has been busy the past two days for me...I won't go into details.  Nothing actually fun though...and part of that is I am just slower than I used to be.  

Last night Roger said he was not feeling too good, but did eat a little bit.  Tonight he is refusing anything.   Says he just feels sick at his stomach.  So will see how he feels.  I have had that feeling a few times myself and it did not amount to anything.  But it always worries me when he feels bad.

From our basement window box

 When my daughter gets home, she sets her lunch bag up here and takes her work backpack downstairs.  Copper is always so anxious to go down with her.  I hear her, and I cannot tell if she is upset with Copper or laughing at him.  Then she yells for me to come down.

This soft shelled turtle was down in her window box...I don't know what else to call it.  She has two big windows in her basement and they are below ground level.  The top of the wall that holds back the dirt is over 5 ft tall..maybe even 6 ft.  About half way down is like a bed of hostas...then it is another 3 ft or more to the ground.  This window box has the iron fencing around it so we have no idea how it got down there.

She climbed down in and put him in the box...it is 12 inches long,, and I forget how wide....

She just the other day caught what we think is the last bullfrog and took him out back to the drainage pipe and set him free.  We have taken one to the big retention pond.  This turtle we took to the retention pond that we can sort of see from our back yard.  It is not tiny.  This is what they look like when tiny.

I am posting a different pic over on my other blog.  

Yard art

This was taken several years ago at at Day Lily farm just north of where I used to live.  I love things like this.  They did not have a lot of art, just a piece here and there.  None of it was for sale.  But they had hundreds of varieties of day lilies.  Since then, it has went out of business.  I do not know if they moved, or had health issues or what.

******It felt like fall, today.  And even sounds like it.  And I haven't even heard the geese.  I wish I really was a poet, I would probably write about autumn at least half the time.  

I have did bits of this and that today...have not accomplished a lot but have been busy.   I do find that I pick up my cordless vac and do the hardwood floors just whenever I feel like it.  I never really noticed the weight much before using it, but when using it, it is so much lighter to maneuver around...I just could hardly believe it.  And I don't have to move the cord from here to there. and then somewhere else.

We had BLTs for supper...one of my favorite things in life..  

I need to get Roger a snack now, and head upstairs to feed the kitty...not sure I will do anything more as I am ready to just sit a spell.

 

Deciding what to eat next...

Another from the archives, but I don't think it has every been posted.  Taken out at the strip mining area near our old home.

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I feel like I have been worthless today.  Daughter and I did go shopping and one of those was a quilt shop.  I did buy a couple half yards of fabric...but more or less to support them.  We just wanted to be around fabric and see what they had.  They do have a long arm quilting machine to rent.  But even that is expensive.  So guess I will just keep on figuring out how to get things layered and basted.

I am sitting here with Kitty on my legs...she keeps me warm if I am cold.  She can hardly wait till I sit down at night.  

I did do a little quilting this afternoon...still have decisions to make.  And also I am thinking ahead to what next.  Plus, I would like to just sit and make something that I could make in an afternoon and have a quick finish.  As in zippered pouch or pot holders.

So many things call to me...and it is always my indecision that keeps me from getting things done.
 

Spotted on a country drive...

 I used to love seeing cats out at other places...and took photos when I could.  I loved seeing them in someone's window most of all.  It has been ages and ages since I have seen one in a window...

I have did very little this day.  Will be leaving in about half an hour to go see Lorelei/marching band run through their whole routine.  It should be fun to watch.  

This is a late night for me.  I am usually in my pjs before dark.  LOL  I just like to get comfortable.  Get my flipflops on.

It is still warm enough for me to wear flipflops all the time, but if I have to walk out in the yard, I am much better off having shoes on so I have started wearing them of the day again.  

I love flipflops--always have.  Even back when they were the cheapest thing you could buy...they were under a dollar when I was a kid.  We could not wait to get a pair.  And they were worn totally out by the time summer was over.  I just like my toes being free!  And they are so easy to slip on and off.

The color pink

 I forget what this hibiscus was called.  I only had it one year.  I had it and two more, and the following winter, it had subzero days and none of them survive.

*********                                                                                                                        I did some of the normal household chores...vacuuming, and dishes.  And of course going outside with Copper.  He really likes to have company when he is outside.

I did not read any outside today, but would have been a perfect day for it.  However, yesterday I had two reading sessions.  

I am heading upstairs here in a minute...I went up last night but did not sew.  I took a shirt apart.  I have quite the collection.  I want to make another quilt from them at some point.   I get them from Good Will, I only get 100% cotton, and get them when they are half price.  And mostly limited myself to Large size and above.  There is a lot of fabric in shirts.  

I guess I best publish this and get on upstairs if I am going to go....

Latest puzzle...

 This is my latest puzzle...it is one that I could pick the whole think up by holding on to two corners.  It is the Cross & Glory brand...I get them on Amazon.  They were out of this one for a while and soon as I saw it, I ordered it.

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I made a meatloaf today for the first time in ages and ages.  Usually I put off making it because it is hard to make a small one for just Roger and I.   But older daughter requested it and she will take some to work with her.  And younger daughter came and ate with us.  

And older daughter made a big pot of vegetable soup to have after work this week.  She likes to cook one or two big pots of stuff, and will take one to work and have the other one for her evening meals.  I will be sharing some of the soup since it is one of my favorite things to eat.

********

Re the quilting on my quilt.  A couple mentioned the orange peel parts/not quilting or not having to quilt.  Technically, I could not find anywhere on the batting how far apart the quilting could be.  That is one thing that always has to be considered.  If it is not quilted close enough according to the batting's specifications, the batting could shift and just be lumpy messes between the quilting.

This was bamboo/??batting...I just looked at a website and found that the batting is not quite 50/50 bamboo and cotton...had a polyester scrim in it.  And on a different sized batting, did find that it can be stitched up to 10 inches apart.  Usually if there is a polyester scrim, it means one can quilt farther apart.  So I could skip stitching the orange peels if i wanted.  But when it is washed, they would be all puffy and not look as good as the rest.  As a general rule, I want the same density of quilting all over.

I hope everyone had a nice weekend...it was quiet here which is a good thing.

Quilting continues

I just now noticed one area looks more densely quilted than the other.  But that might be partly due to the one has lighter background materials.    Next is a view of the back:

I suggest clicking and opening in the new tab to get a better view.

I just go upstairs in bits of time and quilt a little.  I am not sure how many more of these areas I have yet to quilt.  And I will need to add quilting to the orange parts as well.  I am considering handquilting inside of them.  Plus I had two borders to quilt.

I did not do any much at all today.  I had to go pick up one thing at the pharmacy.  But I came straight home.  It has to be kept refridgerated.  

I am so very tired tonight but do hope to go up and quilt a little bit after I give Roger his meds.

 

From the archives

These make me smile every time I see the photo.  Some people are just so creative.

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NOT been busy today...I did not sleep at all last night till after I gave meds this morning.  Then I slept 2 1/2 hours...I tried reading, I tried coming and getting in the recliner, then back to bed.  Tried reading some more.  I tried a  word game I do when I am having trouble going to sleep.  Finally about the time for meds, I started having to work to stay awake.  I knew if I went to sleep, I would completely sleep through the time.  So gave them a few minutes early till I could sleep a little bit.

Just one of those nights.  I was not worrying about anything.  

  

Still blooming

 The hibiscus is still blooming...but only a few these days.  Actually, early on it had a couple days when it had more than 20 big, gorgeous blooms.  Then it really slowed down to a few a day.  I didn't count.  Then the last couple of days it had 7 or 8....and this evening i think I counted 11.  It has sure been fun to have.  And the neighbor has one that I think is the same color and it has bloomed and bloomed and bloomed.

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It has been a busy day for me.  I had a couple loads of laundry, vacuumed, dishes, and  a bit of dusting in our room.  And just now came down from quilting just a little bit.   I had loaded this photo earlier, or might have completely forgot to post tonight.

Seen at Lowe's today

 I just love Snoopy....and think this is so fun.  I did not buy it...don't know what I would do with it if I had it.

************                                                                                                                 I took a generic Zyrtec evening before last...I feel my sinuses draining, and throat just always feels kind of scratchy and sore.  I did not read about the medicine...Roger takes one every day.  It is the last time I will take something without reading the side effects.

I was so sleepy all day long yesterday, even had nap where I knew nothing that was going on.  I could do okay when busy, though thinking about when blowing off the patio, I really did not feel stable on my feet.  I had the thought if someone saw me that might think I had been drinking.

Last night when I gave Roger his meds around 6:30, I got in bed and slept till he came to bed around 9:00 or a bit after.  I laid there a while longer, got up to go to the bathroom, came in here and turned off the lights cause I had not told my daughter I was going to bed.  I knew she would just figure I was doing somthing for Roger.

Then I thought I will read a while.  So I did that but was soon sleepy again, so got back in bed and slept till around 4:00 I think it was...got up then and got in the recliner and slept till time for Roger's meds.  I even laid back down a little while after that.  But didn't sleep.  But that is the most sleep I have had in a 24 hour period since Roger had his stroke and/or the first day after I broke my leg.  I should have energy to burn but I don't. 

I did think to look up Zyrtec and it can cause drowsiness till you get used to it.  If I had read that beforehand, I would not have taken it.  Anything like that just knocks me out.

Wouldn't you like to sit a spell

 This house is over in Illinois...I could probably even take you right to it.  It is not far off the beaten path and is surrounded by farmland.  I would dearly love to see inside as everything about it seems to be so well taken care of.  It is well loved!  If it were mine, I would always be sitting on the porch when friends came and would invite you all to come sit and have a glass of iced tea, or a Coke or whatever you wanted.         

**************                                                                                                                 Finally, the laundry sink is installed.  It has been stressful.  The company we got are always so on time...this was just a confusing time.  The guy that came gave the estimate, tried to schedule it himself...or thought he was scheduling it.  He was not ignoring my daughter's texts.  

He was supposed to come today.  She texted me this afternoon to see if he had come or if I had heard from him.  I had not so she called the company back and asked what she had to do to get it installed.  They thought it already was.  She told them the deal with it...and told them the guy was very polite, and did not ignore texts, etc.  

So the girl she talked to said dispatch had to schedule things and told Rachel it might not be done today.  Rachel told her she didn't expect that...but that she would like to know because we couldn't keep just waiting and waiting and no one showing up.

In a bit dispatch called and  told her it would be done this afternoon.  And due to all the confusion, they are going to give her this deal where for one year she can get a AC inspection, heat inspection, and drain and flush the water heater.  And any work that needs to be done will get 15% off.  So they are trying to do right.  

Me, I am so thrilled to have it done...and actually glad to have it.  It will be so convenient when I want to add water to the washer before starting a load of bedding. 

But waiting for someone to come really wears on me.  First of all, there is always dealing with Copper.  I have to contain him some way.  If it was a woman, I don't think it would be as bad, but a lot of guys she just does not want anything to do with them.

I feel like I cannot sit out back because if they came without texting or calling, I would not hear them.  I barely feel free to go to the potty when waiting, etc.  I

Anyway, thankful it is done.

At a standstill

I got the circles and half circles finished a few days ago, but now cannot seem to make up my mind how to fill in the melon shapes.  I think I will have an easier time deciding on the other but would not bet on it.  I have set and drew melon shapes on my Kindle scribe and tried drawing in different designs for quilting and nothing at all seems right...and even if it did, I am not sure how good I would be at doing it.

Either I have gotten weaker in my old age or something because it really is a chore to move the quilt under the needle.  Even when using the walking foot.  The rest will be done either freemotion quilting, which is when I move the quilt under the needle with no help from the pressure foot.  Or I have at least considered hand quilting within the melon shapes.  

***********                                                                                                                   The plumber was supposed to come today to install the laundry sink.  He was supposed to come in the afternoon.  No one texted, called, or showed up.  A wasted day.  I did not start anything because I was afraid if I vacuumed they would text and I would not hear it.  

And any place I have dealth with will say they will text when when 3o minutes, I thin some say 20 minutes out.  I swear I don't think any have ever been even 10 minutes away.  They text and are here in about 5 minutes most of the time.  So I did not want to be upstairs and have to rush down.

So tomorrow is another day.  Maybe it will happen tomorrow.

Scratching in the dirt...

 I ran across this picture...I did not pay attention to the other photos enough to register where it might have been taken.  But it is from 2013 I believe.

I have had time to get this post up but have been doing a bit of this and that, and listening to The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony.  I read the book a few years ago, and it has remained in my mind as one of the best books I have ever read.  I then got to wondering if it was as good as I thought it was and was planning to read it again when I ran across it on audible.   It is absolutely as good as I remembered.

Here is a video about him and his experience: