Welcome to May and the new "I AM." So, so many instances happen in our lives where it feels as though ideas are just below the surface and wanting to burst out. Right? Mostly at 2 a.m. when one is trying to sleep, but they are there no matter what. Putting our thoughts into action is what causes the whole thing to derail at times, BUT the energy is always there. Let it happen. Sit down and write out your ideas when they appear to your mind. Allow them to grow and develop. Being creative is what we are. It's what makes us tick. Let it happen.
If you are new to the blog, you may be asking, "just what is a monthly update?" I decided long ago that I just can't keep up with blogging daily. I just can't. Sooooo, what happens is I document a day in my life within one post and if something special happens, a separate post takes place. See, you can stay caught up with a once a month check and then, if you're interested, see the other posts too. It's a great system for me.
In years past, I have set goals for each month and I will continue to do that simply to keep myself on track. I AM still in an ongoing UFO mode around here and trying oh so hard to use or clean out the stash. It will be an continuing project this year. If I want something to come in -- something has to go out. That is one goal. The balances change each month (hopefully) and will always show up at the bottom of the update if you read that far - and they are joined by links to the previous monthly updates for the year.
Now, grab a cuppa and sit back for a fun read and perhaps a new idea or two. (P.S. I format on a computer, so if you are reading on a phone, well sometimes the pictures will be before or after the story. It is what it is.)
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So --- here's May and all the wonderful fun it provided. Please remember that any links in here will open in a separate window so that you can keep your place on this page at the same time and there are no ads or popups EVER.
1st - May Day! I DO love May and all the joy that it brings. It's MY month and here is the Birthday Season Fun link for you to see what we did. At any rate, the month begins on a Saturday and that means time with my sweetheart. Breakfast out - complete with actual cartoons - then some civic duty.
On the way home, a quick stop at an estate sale has us buying a new dining room table. Naturally, because we just don't have enough in our house. Oh my.
2nd - After a morning walk at the zoo (yep, exercise and fun), and a stop at the farmers market, some time on the computer and a little or a lot of blogging ensued. Mister called me outside to check out the peach tree and oh my goodness, it is loaded with peaches and I can absolutely guarantee that we won't get to eat a single one. I have no idea what happens in our yard, but the little green peaches disappear overnight each and every year. It never happened in Montana, but, then again, I didn't have squirrels and raccoons up there. Why green though? So bizarre.
3rd - Spending time with Jack today. For the second time, I am taking out the quilting on this little wall hanging. I do hope I'll be able to blot our the stitching before a third attempt.
Since I'm leaving Thursday, Guitars and Growlers for some fun time together. Our charcuterie is wonderful and fun with Star Wars trivia keeps us entertained.
While there, Cass and kiddos call and sing such a sweet song to me. All FOUR of them. Well, Mairead didn't really sing, but the others did a great job. Perfect way to end my birthday.
6th - I am off to retreat and here is the Call Me Irresistible LINK so that you can follow along with our fun.
My project for today is the get more of the string blocks for Orca Bay made. It would be lovely to finish them, but my heart is really not in it, so that's pretty doubtful. I do love the color though.
7th - Day 2 and an errand to town means lunch at Babe's. Oh yeah.
8th -Day 3 has me, once again, working on a project I couldn't finish in Virginia due to lack of pieces. This time, it's done and ready for applique. Woohoo.
9th - Happy Mother's Day. Today is day 4 and the first retreat comes to an end. Our days off begin and here is the Tweener Time LINK . My project for the day is to create all the tops for my fat quarter bags. By the time the day is done -- they are together and ready for the next step.
Jen and I took a little drive into Glen Rose for some "sightseeing" and a treat. Click the link in the above paragraph to learn all about the places we went. It's pretty cool.
Being able to spend Mother's Day with Jen has become an annual tradition and it makes my heart just oh so happy. She truly is my best friend as well as my daughter.
Once back, I am ready to begin the process to make my center block for an Round Robin group I am in. I do love these as they take me out of my comfort zone and teach me new skills. This time, I bought a line of fabric and today's task is to get them all pressed and ready to cut.
Lunch in town and then back to the center, switch out peoples, and off to Granbury for pedicures. Everyone's toes turned out so pretty and after a grab for dinner, a crazy storm where we did at a gas station (actually getting gas) and a drive back to the house - it was time to do some work.
11th - Day 6 of retreat. My main focus for today is this block. As soon as I get started I discover a glaring flaw in my plan. I wanted to make this half-size the pattern so I cut my pieces half-size. No, no, no. In that wonderful mistake, the seam allowances were ignored. NOW, in order to not recut all these pieces, 1/8" seam allowances are being used. Oh my goodness, these are definitely the smallest flying geese and half-square triangles I have ever made. Remember what I said above? Round Robins teach you new skills. One was basic math -- the other? Patience. Lots and lots of patience along with stiletto work. By the end of the day, I was rewarded with a completed block that is 18 1/2" inches square.
After that, my evening needed some work that required a bit less mental work. Pillowcases happened.
12th - Day 7 of retreat and we have another road trip. This time to Stephenville to visit a quilt shop that is closing. I find a couple of panels that I LOVE and a new project to try as well.
The masked shoppers gather for a picture and then it's back to selecting the treasures that will join us on the trip back.
My own personal lovelies. I'm excited to use these but have no idea when. Isn't that how it goes? 13th - Day 8 of retreat and the beginning of the second group. Here is the Casino Nite LINK so you can see all the pretties that are created. We have lots of games going on and one is a "Guess the weight - in grams - of Deb's name badge. Fun right? The prize is a jelly roll. It's worth an attempt.
14th - Day 9 of retreat. I finished the rope for my trivet and worked on some fat quarter bags - of which I took zero pictures. The evening is fun and games where I actually win one of the rounds. That's almost unheard of. I think I've won about 4 or 5 times in over 150 games. Yeah, not going to Vegas anytime soon. Or any other casino location.
15th - Day 10 of retreat. As I was working on my fat quarter bags, I stood up to talk with the ladies about my wonderful phone charger cords and within 20 minutes I was sitting in ER. Life sure hands you stuff you least expect. That lead to a quick pack of my stuff and being drove home by Jen. My retreat came to an end one day early. I have no pictures of the day so here's what the trivets looked like as the other ladies made theirs. Someday, I'll tackle mine.
16th - Was supposed to be Day 11 of retreat and then home, but instead it was a day on the sofa. Never moved. These ladies did all the work and I love them so much for it. At one point I did manage to take a picture of my goodies from retreat. So wonderful. This whole REST thing is tough. I have a long list of items to complete. I really need to learn to reduce the stress.
18th - Gifts are still arriving for my birthday/Mother's Day and this stone comes from Rhiana -- pretty cool, huh? It reminds me that I didn't share the other gifts that I received either at retreat or were waiting for me at home when I returned. Flowers from Jen (in addition to 10 days together), steamer from Amanda and Matt, jewelry from Amanda and Cassie.
20th - Today I'm done with the sofa. I even got dressed and went out to run (well walk) errands. My Round Robin block went in the mail, did a charity drop, went and had the car estimate done for insurance, and picked up some items at Costco. I'm done in and back on the sofa watching my grandson's band concert. Whew. Someday, I'll sew again.
22st - Still up and moving. Today is the eye doctor, where I order new sunglasses. A trip to Half Price Books - and that is ALL Kelly's fault. She bought me a book for my birthday and it turns out it is part of a huge series. That means I MUST locate the rest of the books. Today, I now own 5 to go with the one she gave. Also - the regular grocery store. With that ---- I am going to sit down and sew. I am sooooo behind with the Orca Bay quilt-a-long that I'm hosting. If I hadn't gotten ahead to begin with, things would really be bad. However, I still just can't get into the strings, so onto blocks. I get just enough finished to post the weekly step. That's all I got in me today.
22nd - Mister and I decide to go down to the lake where the pelicans live. They are gone and so are most of the other wildlife as well. It is pretty, though, and a special moment with babies happens. Here is the LINK to share in our joy.
23rd - Just when I was thought improvements were happening around here, I'm hit with sciatica troubles and am only comfortable stretched out on the sofa - AGAIN. My sweetie does make me an absolutely beautiful caprese salad for lunch. Oh my.
24th - I'm still trying to stay horizontal and just reading my new books like a crazy person. Back and forth from the sofa to the bed is the days movement. Terry's center block for her round robin arrives today and now I can stare at it and seek inspiration. Bring on the creativity.
26th - I can sit today!!!!! Woot woot. I am FINALLY getting a start on all the pictures from retreat. Yeah, I know, the way this monthly post is set up, one would think I was on top of it back then, but no. I simply had the writing done as I went and had to add the pics later. We even manage to leave the house for dinner. BBQ at Intrinsic. Yum.
27th - So many pictures. I have to be careful though -- if I sit in one place for too long, I feel the twinges coming back. Back to reading.
28th - Okay, NOW I'm definitely behind on Orca Bay and needing to spend some time at the machine. ALL day goes towards making these wing units. One step marked off (but notice how I'm still avoiding the strings).
Around 5 in the evening, we started making our way home once again and I actually lay out my remaining blocks for Orca Bay while we drive. At least it is forward progress of some type.
The decision is made to check out a couple of new breweries along our route. Here is the LINK if you are at all interested in Texas breweries. One was a definite winner. Oh, hey - check out the sidewalk in front of Primal Brewing. Crazy quilt block.
30th - We both were couch potatoes ---- the WHOLE day. Mister usually doesn't hang that way with me, but today he did. Perhaps he just was wore out from the mad dash across the state. Not much else to share except Rhiana called and we got to chat for a bit with her and Mariel. One month until I can hold her again. I can't believe the reunion is coming up so quick. It seemed forever away when we first got word, now, plans are happening and people are getting excited. That's about it for our day -- as you can see, I'm still reading my books, but I'm starting the hunt for more of them.31st - First up --- coffee at the lake. Just sitting on a bench and visiting. Dang nice. Still no waterfowl to really speak of.
Next, today is Craigslist postings ---- time to let some more go. I REALLY need to downsize a lot. This Janome Memory Craft and all it's "stuff" went up today.
That brings us to the end of the month. May was crazy challenging for me (I was so excited at the beginning) and as a result, June is meeting me head on and a certain streak within me is rising. Tenacious is a nicer word for it. Can you overcome something this month? I AM going to face this month with a tenacious frame of mind. Come along.
Thank you for reading this far. If you made it here, kudos to you. Hope you have a great month and find a way to bring joy into your life. Stay creative y'all.
UFO's to quilt:
BOM #2 - quilted and bound
BOM #3 - quilted and bound
Winter Wonderland - quilted and bound
Current Projects:
UFO Items to work on:
All Neutral strings -
1 Row by Row block - another ready for applique
BAD blocks as leader/enders -
Stash Buster project -
UFO Handwork Items:
Hand Quilting --
Links to Previous 2021 Monthly Posts
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