Day 213

I LOVE MY FLOWERS

pretty flowers in the garden light up my life

The two vanilla strawberry hydrangeas are in full bloom in their FIRST year!

Up close you can tell that the bottom petals are turning pink.

Neil Diamond Rose

Aren't roses the prettiest?

I used to always have trouble growing roses because of the deer chomping them all. Not now!

Drimys Lanceolata or Tasmanian Pepper Bush is that tall plant and it has red stems and the new leaves appear coppery-red and later turn light green. I thought it would have tiny white flowers by now. Oops. Maybe they will sill appear, since there should be black berries replacing the flowers in the fall.

Yup, just a simple container.

This container was a bit bigger so I stuffed it with plants.

Day 212

BEAUTIFUL DAY AT PENROSE STATE PARK

family camping trip, but we were just day trippers

Part of the extended family at the BEST campsite. Very private and large enough for the crowd.

Another family with a Cavalier came to talk about the joys of Cavaliers with Dave and me.

Hailey and the BIG 2nd cousins playing in the water.

Charlotte needed a snuggle time with her dad.

It's so fun to see the nieces and nephews little ones. We're getting old!

Day 211

SO MANY FEET FOR BERNINA MACHINES

that they made a 239 page book to cover them all!

Today was the day that I officially became an employee of Sewing Machine Service in Renton, who sell and service industrial machines and Bernina and Janome for home use. Just part time and no selling! I will be working from home creating their monthly newsletter and perhaps updating their website. I'm quite pleased with this arrangement! There are several things that I can do from home and that suits me. Since I already create our community newsletter what is another one on my plate?

Getting back to this book. There are loads of presser feet that are special to Bernina machines. Most machines have extra feet to do certain sewing tasks, but Bernina has really been ahead of the game in creating the best feet for a wider variety of tasks. Their machines are truly a work of art and give the seamstress the quality results we want. Of course, Janome makes a series of wonderful machines as well. If someone can't or doesn't choose to pay more for the Bernina name, they can be very well satisfied with the results from Janome. Most sewers have their preferences in machine brands and with the advancement of all the bells and whistles the decision for one purchasing a machine becomes quite difficult.I love my Babylock but one day I want to step up to a Bernina. Shhh. Don't tell Dave!

So, this part time job is just perfect for me. I'm not out to make a bundle of money but I can bring my sewing experience and computer knowledge to good use for them. The owners are wonderful and easy to deal with. The best part is that I don't need to clock in! So there you have it. Life is always interesting and I don't let the grass grow under my feet very often!

Day 210

A FEW HOURS WITH TWO OF THE GRANDDAUGHTERS

and I'm pooped!

For some reason I was really tired by the time Pete came to pick up the girls. I guess babying my knee has taken a toll on my energy level. Plus I haven't been getting any exercise for the last month or more. I just needed a nap. And I didn't do much, except take them to the pool (I even drove the car so I didn't have to walk more than I should,) came home and made us lunch, then moved my portable sewing machine onto the kitchen table and I helped them each make a simply bag and a smaller bag to put their sunglasses in. That's it! They are such good girls and always bring their lunch plates back to the sink and put their napkins in the garbage. Grandkids are the best!! I can't wait until I'm done with my next surgery and able to do more things with all the grands.

I sat in the shade (would rather have been in the sun) and talked to another grandma while the girls played in the pool. Kids and grandparents were coming and going all morning.

Dave was trying to watch golf and the girls watched a little bit in between their sewing projects.

Day 209

TODAY IS BEEMER'S FIVE MONTH BIRTHDAY

and he is always by my side on on my lap

Kari encouraged me to begin doing some "clicker" training with Beemer. She has had good success with their dog, Maple. After she showed me what to do a couple of weeks ago, and gave me a clicker, I have been doing a little bit of training with our guy. He is smart! Since he has been ringing the bell when he needs to go potty, I figure that he should be able to learn some tricks! He has been sitting for many, many weeks now and he is getting "down" part of the time. His biggest problem is that he is so eager for the treat that he can't focus! He wants to jump at my hand for the treat. He knows how to roll over but once again he is not consistent. 

For the past week he has been jumping up onto my lap when I'm in my chair, so I don't always have to pick him up. Dave weighed him today and he is somewhere between 11 and 12 pounds. He is becoming a dog...only 4 to 6 more pounds until he is full grown. He is not chewing on our fingers like he used to so that is a good thing. His toys are strung all over the place and he continues to bring me much joy. So, happy 5th birthday, Beemer!!

His tail is a blur of waggleness.

Day 208

QUICK SEWING PROJECT

free motion bird kitchen towel

Day 207

BERNINA BANNER

finished this a few days ago to hang in the Bernina Store

I also used my Scan n Cut to make a "Set Sail With Bernina" sign

Day 206

I MISS MY MOM

it has been a little over 15 years since she passed away

I remember making the appointment for my mom, daughter and me to get our photo taken together. I'm so glad to have this picture! When I realize that she died when she was only about 8 years older than I am now, it rattles my brain! My mom always wanted to live until she was 100 and if not for her diabetes, I believe she would have! At the time, as I watched my mother's health deteriorate, I felt that despite the fact that she wanted many more years here on earth, she had lived a pretty darn good life. Over 40 years of type one diabetes had taken a horrible toll on her body and if she hadn't been such an optimistic and strong lady I'm sure she would have succumbed to the disease much earlier.

As I am approached that big milestone of 70...yeah, in a couple more years.....I definitely feel like I'm still an 18 year old. And yet, my body says otherwise. But I'm so young! It is funny or maybe just reality, that when we are in our 30's and 40's old age seems so far in the future and it is easy to see people as elderly. Now that some of our dear friends are in their late 70's and 80's it is difficult to see them as elderly. I remember when they were young and vital!

Today's lesson is to enjoy each stage of life and don't take for granted the future. Or your friends. Or your family. So, today I am missing my mom. We used to talk on the phone almost every day. I took her shopping at the mall. I took her to her doctor appointments. It seemed like she was always there. And then one day she wasn't. Now I talk to my daughter on the phone almost every day. Roles have reversed and I can't help but wonder if my daughter sees me as elderly. 

HEY, girl....the answer is NO! I'm still a kid!! A kid in an aging body for sure.

Day 205

KNITTING WITH MY NEIGHBOR

and other Saturday joys

I am the most blessed person. I have the BEST friends in the world. My next door neighbor, Jennie, has been coming over for the past few Saturdays and spending a couple hours visiting while we work on our projects. She is crocheting a bag and I am knitting a stole. Then while she was still here I had a call from my friend Bobbi saying she wanted to stop by with her friend Kay who is here visiting from Indiana. Jennie had barely left when Bobbi and Kay arrived. She brought 2 fun dog toys for Beemer. Awwww. She loves dogs. We had a nice visit and while they were still here  Merrely stopped by with 2 hamburger patties, buns and ears of corn for dinner. What??? How special. Merrely and I had a good visit after the other ladies left and before long Ann B. called to check in with me so I phoned her back after Merrely went home. 

I am pleased to report that my knee is feeling much better since I have been trying to avoid as much walking as possible. I was even able to get comfortable in bed and had a nice night's sleep for a change.

There has been no time for sewing today and I am kind of sad to see the sunshine and not be able to get to the pool. Hopefully next summer I will get back to my lazy summer days poolside.

Jennie

Yippee, I checked and I'm finally over half done with this stole....maybe by fall.....

aption

Day 204

PUPPY LOVE

he's a keeper! Well, actually, they both are!

Back home after their evening walk

TV time with mom

Day 203

HE'S BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN

after a few years away due to knee and shoulder problems

So far so good. Dave has been working really hard to keep fit and for the past two weeks he has been riding his bike instead of walking. He is a happier camper for sure. He has really missed riding and we are hoping his knee and shoulder will hold up for the long haul. What a beautiful day here in Renton for a bike ride. Wish I could go out and ride too!

Dave with his beloved Eddy Merckx bike

Day 202

AGAIN WITH THE BALLOTS!

now who is running for what?

Why are there so many elections throughout the year? Why not just save them up so we only have one ballot? Someone needs to revamp this whole election process. And who would vote for Goodspaceguy for governor?? Sigh.....

Day 201

MACHINE EMBROIDERY

love this Bernina machine...no jamming or thread snarls

Fun! Freestanding embroidered butterflies with magnet glued on the back

Day 200

SLEEPING LIKE A BABY

beemer

almost five months old

Day 199

TODAY'S PROJECT

quick and easy table runner

Tomorow I will hand stitch the binding and I may do some free motion quilting on the yellow portion

Day 198

PIZ BERNINA

who knew??

Today, in doing a bit of research on Bernina sewing machines, I discovered that the name Bernina was taken from the name of the tallest mountain in the eastern Alps. The prefix Piz is taken to mean any mountain in southeastern Switzerland. I found this interesting because Switzerland has been one of my favorite countries since I was in 4th grade and did a report on the cities of Switzerland. What goes around comes around, I guess! Who knew I would grow up to love sewing and have the pleasure of knowing that the best home sewing machine on the market is named after a mountain in Switzerland. And that I actually traveled through Switzerland and fell in love with it.

Nope, I surely didn't take this photo of Piz Bernina. It wasn't even close to the area I was traveling through in Switzerland last fall. 13,283 ft elevation, a bit shorter than Mt. Rainier at 14,410 ft.

By Iter1 - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3608632
This photo was labeled Piz Bernina and the Bernina Express.

Bernina and I share the same tag line...."made to create."  I'm definitely the happiest when I can create something!

Day 197

AFTERNOON/EVENING IN BELLINGHAM

dinner and wishing Annika a happy 9th birthday

The kids have been learning to play their recorders and Kari joined in, prior to Kyle arriving home from work.

Our gift to Annika....her own sewing machine!

Day 196

ALMOST THERE

vanilla strawberry hydrangeas are blooming and will soon become two-toned.

so far they are just vanilla, but wait.....

Day 195

GARLIC HARVEST

such as it is

It was all I could do today to go out and dig up my garlic. My knee was in such pain that all I managed was to dump them on the potting bench. Maybe next year I will have a better crop. For some reason most of them didn't form heads like they should have.

Today I went in for some physical therapy on my knee in preparation for surgery. Ugh. It was actually a good session because she understood why my knee is in such bad shape. The knee cap is bone on bone and is grinding with every movement. So the exercises I need to do are very mild and hopefully will keep my muscles in shape.

Day 194

TENS MACHINE

not a proven device but it helps me cope

My neighbor, Peggy, sympathizes with me because of my knee pain. She has had one knee replaced and had surgery a couple of weeks ago on her other knee because of a tear of some sort. She is my age. Peggy has had good results from using her tens machine, so she loaned hers to me. It doesn't take away the pain, or cure it, but rather sends electrical impulses to the painful area and somehow tricks your brain into lessening the pain. It sure doesn't take away the pain, but I have found that when I am using the device I am able to walk mostly without limping. Of course, as soon as I turn it off, I'm right back where I started! 

This is an Arista 2000 model which sells for $49, but I found a less expensive unit on Amazon and it is only $30 with free shipping. Looks similar in many respects. Here is the link:  click here  I figure it will come in handy after my knee replacement as well.

The MSM is from my friend, Mary S. and I haven't found much help when using it. Also, the Tramadol pills that my doctor prescribed for pain don't help at all. I am trying to get off the Ibuprofen as my doctor does not want me taking it regularly and so far, it is the only thing that takes the edge off a bit. Other medications have some nasty side effects including to the heart so she prescribed a different cream that I have to go pick up from the pharmacy so will be anxious to see if it will work.

This, too, shall pass.

Day 193

I'M LOVING THIS BERNINA 790

sure my Babylock can do most of the same things, but this machine is the bomb!

Changed up the colors more to my liking

Day 192

WHERE ARE ALL THOSE FIRE VEHICLES GOING?

must be a training session for the fire department

Right here in Leisure Estates. Do you think they have enough rigs?

And look that big rig is from the City of Seatac

Looking from our rather useless tennis court to the electrical tower

There is one guy on the tower

Day 191

MY NEIGHBOR GAVE ME A LARGE, OLD OAK DESK

it works great in my newly configured sewing room!

A few days ago, Jennie  (lives next to us) told me I could have the big oak desk that was in her shed. It was hers, previously her dads and she really wanted it out of her shed so she had more room to organize her stuff.  After looking at it I determined that it would make a very solid place to do my sewing. My current sewing table had a broken leg and was a bit jiggly, so this one will definitely be an improvement. Since it is a heavy desk, and Dave has a bad back and I can barely walk with my bum knee, I called on two of the strongest guys I know....Jason and Pete. They had it moved over here lickety-split!

With a little bit of shuffling things around and filling drawers, I am back in business and have already sewn up a few seams in a blouse. I LOVE IT!!

Jennie and Jason

The master of everything

 

Pete and Shauna and the girls

Much improved sewing room

Day 190

SEPTEMBER 2nd

must wait 3 months after cortisone injection to have surgery

Bummer.