What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Oh crap --- it's likely that I messed up the links again. I'll repost the link for that video on how learning a second language can save your life. Please tell me that it is only some links, not all!!!

Here is the missing link from yesterday. 

I cannot tell you how happy I am these days! Getting those niggling little UFOs done does way more for my happiness level than money or happy pills ever could. And I've taught (forced) myself to be persistent and focused. And get the darn thing DONE - don't just move it ...

OH, I just realized that the title of yesterday's blog AND the first picture you see of a volcano erupting were perhaps a bit dramatic!! BUT getting that much work done in the office was dramatic! 

I listened to this audiobook MANY years ago when I started my decluttering journey. I just checked my blog and the date was March 10, 2014!!!!! Well, I listened to it somewhere, and I suspect it was before I started because the first room I tackled was the bedroom, and that's the first room mentioned in the book. For the record, and ...

To stop you from guessing, the picture on the jigsaw puzzle is Mount Etna, and it erupted on December 27th in fine form! Fascinating to see the photos of the red-hot lava against the snow. 

Mount Etna erupted on December 27th

OK -- I warned you, and I hope you are sitting down because what I'm about to say is shocking! I even shocked myself. 

So Miss Murphy and I were on our walk, and we were chatting. And then she said to me, "Mom - Enough is enough. I'm tired of sleeping in that office with all your junk ...

And so the decluttering continues! I have NOT found that file folder that initiated this current cleaning frenzy, and I NEED that folder. I've promised the contents to someone. So I have a couple more spots to look - actually, at this point, just one, and if it's not there, I will have to recreate the files. I have some of it in hard copy, but it needs to be digital. Sigh...........

Well, that's OK, but the darn thing is I remember sorting and cleaning that folder. I did NOT throw it out. Where the heck is the ...

Thanks for the wishes and the vote of confidence on my 2026 word - GOALS. Someone mentioned they had goals for 2025, and while they met some, they didn't hit the mark on all of them. And you know what they said? They FORGAVE themselves for not making the mark! That is a critical statement because if you set a goal and don't achieve it, and then you beat yourself up, what is the point of that? 

If you have to change a goal, there's likely a good reason. Was the goal too aggressive? Did family or health ...

I had a super productive day yesterday. I really wanted to start and finish one project that needed to be done. I almost completed it, but it's still likely to take another two hours. It involved some quilting, and at 7:30 pm, I was exhausted, so I went to read for a bit. I'll be able to finish this morning. 

As a result of going to bed so early, I was up VERY early and decided that while also doing some writing, I'd send out some emails. After I sent them, I forgot that people could ...

OH - I love the comments, and I need to ask a few more questions, so I'll be answering them this morning. I didn't get the reference to the matches in the bathroom? Am I missing something? 

I got an email in the afternoon about one of my posts that said to call them because I might be going down the wrong path. Yikes!!! It concerned the vinyl we cut for the Terrifying Tower, which we're going to machine embroider in a couple of weeks. 

Here is the picture and the wording that scared several of my savvy ...

Yikes—after the clothes comments, I'd better get myself organized and get rid of some of these excess clothes! I use the dryer all the time, but I don't wear once and wash. It's a T-shirt, I'm in the house and practically have a desk job, I'm not a stinky person, and YES - most of my clothes are old. I wear them until they wear out, which takes a long, long time. The poor sweatshirt I'm wearing this morning is probably 20 years old. It's faded, and I am hoping to replace it ...

OH MY --- I LOVE the Christmas gift exchange idea that was posted as a comment on the blog yesterday. Give a recycled item in good condition to someone! Of course, you don't spring this on people - you ask first if they are OK with the concept. It must have been a hit because they are doing it again this year. An elegant way to recycle and gift at the same time. I love it! Imagine the conversations you could have about the items you are giving? That would be the best part! 

And I have several suggestions for fixing ...

Hmmm - about the manual shifting in the car. I'm not so sure it's "manual" shifting because you have to change from reverse to drive or park. I am not accustomed to driving a North American car, and I find it awkward. I'm always trying to remember how to get into reverse and then into drive. With most automatic vehicles, you simply turn a knob or shift the gear stick to shift into each gear. With this one, getting into each gear requires a DIFFERENT move of the stick. I'm definitely not a fan. But no worries ...

We all have them - UnFinished Objects that relate to our hobby of quilting. I have them, I have way too many of them, but I've been very fortunate to have room to hide them out of sight. But the UFO creep is hitting Studio B, and I need to do something about it. I have several places where I store my UFOs - in giant tubs under the long arm, two shelving units in the storage room where the community projects reside, three shelving units in the stash room, a closet in Studio B, a closet in one of the ...

 As predicted, I didn't even turn the sewing machines on yesterday. I hope today will be a more productive day! I also quilted a quilt, but you must wait to see it! Let's see - what did I do then? 

I have a major computer project on the go. I started it yesterday, and it's turning out amazing! Let's hope it continues in the direction I envisioned. If all goes as planned, you'll see the results next week. 

I had to make an appointment to get our travel shots, and that's next week, as I ...

 Oh --- another bonus about the TruEarth laundry strips—they are Canadian (Port Moody, BC). I remember seeing that on a website, but I forgot. Thanks for the reminder! I'm excited to give them a try!

I'm almost embarrassed to show you what I did for my 60-minute-or-less challenge, but as I said, it doesn't matter what you do, and if it takes only 60 seconds but gets done, that's perfectly OK. This item had been sitting near my computer in Studio B for months—probably close to a year. I finally tackled it yesterday. 

I have ...

So --- did you give any thought to those almost completed UFOs that could be done in 60 minutes or less? 

I stared around Studio B, and oh boy—the number of projects I found in that category would blow my mind. I'm not even tempted at this point to group them. So this is what I started with. Two pet mats were sitting beside the serger; all they needed was one seam to close them up and tuck the ends in. 

Two pet mats - DONE

And now they are done and sitting in the Pony Express area. Seriously? That ...

Thanks for all the insights into retiring! I think I will be one of those who phase out of things rather than quit cold turkey. So, I will continue to look at my calendar and evaluate the deadlines, and then I'll go from there. 

What I want is more time to do my things! I have many UFOs that I want to work on. There is more decluttering, and I want to explore some creative stuff, but I don't have the time or the energy after the necessary stuff is done. That's just in case you're ...

Oh my --- I do not want to get old. WAIT! That's not right. I guess I don't mind getting old because the alternative isn't great. But I want to get old gracefully, or as gracefully as I can manage. I want to get old by maintaining my body as best I can. And I want to get old by keeping my brain active and asking questions, being curious, and having a purpose each day when I get up! 

Can I control those things? Not 100%, but I will do my darndest to make that happen. I guess ...

We had a conversation about my magazines at the Virtual Retreat yesterday. Just throw them away - AHA! - They didn't listen that I need to do it my way! 

But here are a couple of reasons why I need to do it my way. I gave this a lot of thought during my morning walk with the girls and my afternoon walk. 

• I may find inspiration for something in the magazine.
• I may find something (or multiple somethings) that then become a story for the blog. 
• Or my warped sense of humor may just be amused by a tidbit I ...

Not only did I cave and put my pants back on (from wearing shorts instead of not wearing any pants at all!), but I also turned the heat back on in the house. It's cool outside! The girls are loving this weather! 

And the decluttering motivation has hit again! I swear - once you start to see those open spaces and NOTHING to fill them up, well, it's inspiring! 

I started by pulling everything from that corner in the office. Yes - another instance of pulling everything out, but will I actually deal with it? 

The current pile of crap ...

Now you see why I'm not a gardener! I got the names of these flowers wrong. These are hyacinths, not hibiscus. Why did I do that? I know these flowers, but obviously had a moment. Oh yes - flowers - love them, but not my thing! I just enjoy the beauty! Thanks for catching that! I went back and changed it! 

Hyacinths!

And I spotted another TREE that's in bloom. What kind of tree? No clue! And I don't really care - it's just pretty! 

A blooming tree in the neighborhood

A lot of things happened yesterday! If you ...

One thing about decluttering your house is what to do with all the stuff! Most of us don't want it to go to the landfill, but I can see a lot of good things going there because people don't want to take the time to find a good home for things, nor do they want to take the effort to deliver them. 

When Yagana cleaned out M's stuff upstairs, about 10 or 11 boxes were sitting in the hallway. Five boxes remain, and I'll deal with those later. I sorted half of the boxes, and now ...