Day 168

TOO COLD IN THE POOL TODAY

but Hailey and Charlotte liked to dangle their feet in the hot tub

Today was Hailey's last day of first grade and she was dismissed at 11 am, so Shauna brought the girls over so they could swim in the pool. Unfortunately management is still waiting on a new heat pump so the water was only registering 77 degrees. BRRRR. Too chilly for Shauna and me. Hailey swam just a little and Charlotte was too busy shivering to be interested in getting in the water. Unfortunately, at our clubhouse, the hot tub is restricted to those over 18, but how could I say "no" to the girls dangling their feet and hands??

We will try again next week, when the weather is supposed to be warmer and the heat pump will be installed. Back at our house I made a couple of mini-pizzas (gluten-free) for lunch. Then the girls played and Shauna and I talked for a couple of hours. All in all a fun time.

This morning I met a friend, Bobbi, for coffee at Starbucks for an hour and a half, then had to stop by the grocery store to get lunch fixings and be home by 11 or thereabouts. After Shauna left, I took Beemer to the vet for his 16 week injections. He is now current on his shots, including rabies. Glad that task is done!

Day 167

TOO MUCH TRAFFIC

too much road construction

This afternoon I needed to take my aunt to a doctor appointment to follow-up her angina attack/hospital stay last week. We had 40 minutes to drive the 2 miles. Plenty of time. Wrong! It took us 35 minutes to make the trip. Cars backed up and not moving. Road construction. So I went a longer route but still it was very slow going. 

Yes, I was stopped when I snapped this photo. I didn't think to take a picture in time when I was in the middle of the mess! And this is on my way home.

My Aunt Eileen turns 94 next week. She is surely slowing down. She was quite tired by the time we got back to her assisted living facility. I got her a Wendy burger and Frosty since she would likely be a bit late for dinner. She ate it in her room where she could relax. Thankful she is still hanging in there!

Day 166

JENNY'S BABY QUILT IS FINALLY FINISHED

except for the label on the backside due to my machine breaking down

Lots of time was spent free motion quilting the flowers on this quilt. I began hearing a strange clicking sound during the last hour or two but ignored it because nothing seemed wrong. Oops, something was definitely wrong as I couldn't turn the hand wheel and the needle threader wouldn't work after I finished. DANG!! I love my machine and have separation anxiety when I'm away from it! Yup. It is now in the shop. Hope, hope, hope it is a simple fix. And not expensive. I am ALWAYS tempted by the newest sewing machines out there. It's like having a car. "Why, mine is 10 years old now. Isn't it time for a new model??" I did actually sit down and look at the newest BabyLock Destiny. Cough, cough. Just under $10,000 with my current machine as a trade in. No thanks. Just look at this baby, though. It has enough bells and whistles on it to make anyone happy but I'd have to do a LOT of sewing to make it worth the $$$. I mean, I already DO a lot of sewing and my machine is just fine, thank you very much. Well....it will be once I get it back in my sewing room!! My BabyLock Ellegante can do things that most people never dreamed they would need in a sewing machine. Besides in a few years there will be yet another latest and greatest and hopefully my machine will still be putzing along!

Oh, back to the baby quilt. I had to use my little "Audrey" lightweight machine to sew on the binding, then I hand stitched the binding on the back side. HANDSTITCHED!! I have not yet been happy with the results when I have machine stitched the binding in place. I will keep looking for the best technique. No label for the back since my small machine doesn't do embroidery so I may embroider a label and take it with me and stitch it in place when I finally do get to go see little Maggie. Such a sweet name.

Anyway. I bought a jelly roll (40 - 2 1/2" wide precut fabric strips) with the intent of making a baby quilt but I didn't have a pattern. I didn't like what I found for patterns in my book stash so I came upon a photo of this quilt online and then had to do some measuring (ACK...MATH!!!) AND planning (that takes the fun out of it) and hope it worked, since there were no instructions along with the photo.

Refer to my posting a few days ago about my new technique for layering and pinning my quilt pieces.

click here

Day 165

WEIGELA

beautiful shrub but we have to keep whacking it back

I love this beautiful shrub but it is too close to our carport where we have to walk back to our trash cans. Whoever previously planted it didn't take into consideration that it would grow so large (6 feet or so) and that the branches would arch down creating even more spread. It is way too easy to plant delightful shrubs and not think about how big they will end up being!!

Day 164

HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED

how uncomfortable lady golfers look with the clothes they wear?

I've been watching the LPGA Championship at Sahalee this weekend. Dave would tell you that the ladies are much more enjoyable to watch than the men. Duh! They ARE women. Of course, he is really referring to the effortless look of their swing. They really are a joy to watch. 

However, as I was watching I told Dave that their clothing makes me itch.Well, not really itch, but they just look so uncomfortable! I suppose they would wonder just what I'm talking about, but if you watch the guys, they have nice loose-fitting slacks and shirts. They don't have to walk around all bound up! The ladies, on the other hand, are wearing skorts, shorts or tight pants. Their tops are all tight. Some of them had stretch pants on (tight and wrinkly) and some hems were above their ankles. 

As I watched them, I remember how I usually feel on the golf course. My clothes are usually my biggest issue. Everything is too tight! TIGHT, TIGHT, TIGHT! We have bumps in front and our shirts would look like tents if we tried to wear our tops as loose as the men. And don't those lady golfers feel their underpants bunching up? And don't they have a bra strap that slips from time to time?

I wonder how the men would golf if they had to wear some of the get-ups that ladies wear. I'm just sayin'!

For example:

I mean really, doesn't this look more comfortable??

Day 163

NO MORE GETTING ON THE FLOOR

to pin my quilt layers together

Boy was I happy when I somehow discovered this technique for pinning my quilt layers together. With my knee problems, this will be a real "knee saver!" Here is a link to the tutorial if you want the details. 

I had Dave go to the hardware store and purchase two 4" x 8' pieces of MDF. He cut them down to 2 five foot pieces (I doubt I will be making quilts wider than 60") and the remaining 3 foot sections I can use for pinning narrow wall hangings.

I'm not going to write out all the details of this, but you can get an idea from the photos of how this works. LOVE IT!!! Both the backing and quilt top are rolled onto the slats, then unrolled one turn at a time with the batting flipping back and forth and smoothed down before pinning the layers. I pinned it together this morning and am in the process of free-motion quilting the layers together. Then binding and putting a label on it and it will be finished. I will post a photo of the finished quilt as soon as I get it done. Not tonight!

Day 162

BLOOMING

just a few beauties

One of several hydrangeas

This lily is blooming, others are not open yet

I bought this perennial from Riz Reyes (RHR Horticulture) a few years ago when he came to our garden club to do a presentation. This is a rather difficult to find plant and I can't remember the name of it. Notice the lavender underside of the petals.

Day 161

VITAMIX

is the best

 We've had this machine for 20 plus years

That center gear finally gave out and I found a replacement on Ebay for about $8. Easy Peasy!

We were rather disappointed when tour Vitamix began making a horrible screeching noise a couple of weeks ago. Uh-Oh! It has finally pooped out. Upon further inspection we discovered that the center gear thingy was cracked. After removing the old one we could tell that the motor was still intact. Yippee!!

I know there are some other good super-blenders out there but I didn't want to have to replace this one or try a different brand. So, when I found the part on Ebay I quickly ordered it and we are back in blender business!

Day 160

 PRESCHOOL GRADUATION

tonight was the almost two hour ceremony

Both Hailey and Charlotte have each spent 3 years at the Children's Garden School

The masks that the children wore as they entered the room

watching the "bee" video that the kids took part in

Honey Bee teachers

Intermission. Time to have a snack and visit

Kids are playing as parents watch and talk

Charlotte swinging with her friend, Eloise and cousin, GiGi

Hailey and her cousin, Ella. Such love!

Charlotte listening to the teachers remarks about what makes Charlotte special

That's all folks!

Day 159

WHAT?? JURY DUTY AGAIN?

I just served on a jury last June

Look what came in today's mail. Another jury duty summons. I have already served on 3 trials. First was a 2 day drug deal at the Seattle courthouse fifteen or more years ago. Then I had a month and a half or was it 2 month murder trial more than a dozen years ago. Then last June I served on a two-week civil trial. All guilty verdicts. Since the last trial was a civil trial, we DIDN'T find the defendant guilty. But finding FOR the defendant made me feel like the plaintiff was GUILTY. Really, that plaintiff needed a spanking! And the plaintiff's attorneys needed to get in line for a spanking for taking this case! Seems like a pattern, doesn't it!? Yup, you guessed it....I'm tough on crime.

So why do I have yet another summons?? I know lots of people who never even get called for jury duty. I guess once you are in the system, your number keeps popping up. I should be so lucky with the lottery. Oh, I forgot....I have to buy a ticket first. 

But really. This is getting a little ridiculous. I must admit that it is interesting to serve on a jury. It is nothing like TV! I have found myself questioning the lawyers. "Object, object!" I shout to myself. What are they thinking anyway? Why isn't the judge stopping this banter? "No, no, no....don't have her testify!" But, I am relegated to taking notes. Page after page of notes that later I have trouble deciphering! And then when the trial is over and we need to deliberate, we look over all the physical evidence, our notes, court documents and we discuss. Verdict reached. It's finally time to go home. Oh wait. The prosecutors, defense attorneys and the judge are available to those of us who want to talk with them and ask questions. Like "Why did this ever come to trial??" That's me. I DO, I DO, I DO want to meet with them! That part goes quickly and we discover things that couldn't be admitted in the trial. Now I get to go home. And I can finally talk about the trial. That is the difficult part. Having to keep it all to myself, make up my own mind, discuss and perhaps strongly disagree if necessary. Vote. Discuss. Revote. Sternly discuss and you guessed it. REVOTE! And let it go. On to real life. 

If you haven't served on a trial, and you receive a summons in the mail, I suggest you go. You might just find it interesting and you will have the pleasure of knowing you exercised your brain and made a difference. Oh well, for me, I definitely made a difference. GUILTY!! Gosh I hope it is not another long trial........

Day 158

SHEETS, SHEETS, SHEETS

how much do I need to spend for comfortable sheets?

I have complained for many years about sheets. Who would think that is a huge problem?? I guess I do! I remember the old days....prior to the '80's....when you could find cotton percale sheets at Sears and JC Penney's that felt nice and crisp and cool. Now mostly what I see is 400 or 500 or 600 and even 800 count Egyptian Cotton sheets. They are too soft, wrinke easily and become worn and torn quickly. 

So enough people buy these sheets and don't seem to complain, so what is my problem?? I hate buying new sheets when I cannot find what I want. One problem over the years has been to find the right "pocket" depth. If it is too small, the bottom sheet slips off and if it is too big, it gets wrinkled when you are tossing and turning while trying to sleep. Ugh. OK, so Tempurpedic to the rescue. Love our mattress. Um, now I don't need the deep pocket bottom sheet, but do they even make regular ones anymore?

There are now so many choices, with price tags that are exorbitant. Flannel sheets are way too warm and not for us. Jersey sheets are too stretchy and still too warm. Polyester sheets just don't sound right. Rayon? No. Silk? Never tried them, but maybe I should. Then there is microfiber.

Enter Costco. When I was shopping a month or so ago at Costco they had a representative promoting Jennifer Adams Microfiber Sheets. $99.99 for a king size set. Gulp. At the high end (for me) but I bought them hoping they would live up to the Costco standards. I finally put them on the bed last week. The first morning Dave said, "These sheets were making me too warm." As the nights went on, we both found that though they were comfortable enough, neither one of us could stand trying to sleep with these sheets making us overheated. It must be that they are microfiber. So, off they came and Dave will be returning them for a refund. (Thank you Costco!)

Oh, and yes, we do have air conditioning so it was definitely the sheets! Since it has been a few years since I have purchased new sheets, I may have to look and see if there are some improvements in the current supply of cotton percale sheets. Or maybe I should look at the Goodwill and see if I can find a set of 1960's sheets. NOT!!!

Day 157

NAPPING AND WATCHING TV

tomorrow can't come soon enough

Day 156

GUESS YOU CAN TELL WHAT IS ON MY MIND

still....

I've been trying to diagnose my knee problem, but not having much success. I cannot walk without serious pain. I'm frustrated. I'm loopy from the hydrocodone. My body itches from the hydrocodone. I am bored just waiting until Monday morning's doctor appointment.

or none of the above.

Day 155

A VISIT FROM SHAUNA AND CHARLOTTE

love, love, love that they live close enough to just pop in

Shauna and Pete have been talking about moving. Perhaps selling their house and moving to Snoqualmie Ridge. I'm happy for them. I think it could be a great experience for them to live in a neighborhood and have fewer projects to do around the house.

However....I'm not as happy for me! I like having them close enough that I can babysit at the drop of a hat if needed. Or just pop by for a visit. After all, when our boys were toddlers, we built a house that looked out over my parents four acres. We could just go through the pasture to get to their house. My parents babysat for us often. And it was easy since they were so proximate. My dad used to drive his backhoe up the driveway to our house from time to time and the kids really knew their grandparents. I always hoped we would have the same experience with our kids and grandkids, but the reality is that it is just too complicated.

I know lots of people who have followed their kids and grandkids to a new city or even state. But, how can we leave our friends and our church family? I would have no problem as far as making new friends and getting established, but the thought of moving away from those with whom we have shared so much of our lives seems just too sad.

Also, I don't ever want to live in a multi-level home again. I've had too many foot and knee problems over the years and can only anticipate a future which includes mobility problems. Aside from medical issues, I much prefer living on one level. I especially like the ability to go directly out to the patio and carport. Have you looked for a one level home recently? Sure you can find them here and there but mostly they are in older neighborhoods that can be quite run down. So, moving nearer the kids, should they actually make the decision to move, would be pretty much impossible, because newer neighborhoods are almost all multi-level. And no thank you.....I would hate having to rely on an elevator. What happens when the power goes out?? Not my kind of lifestyle for sure.

Another thing is that we love living in an over-55 community. It is so peaceful with no little ones screaming, teenagers revving their engines, crowded sidewalks with kids on trikes, bikes, skateboards or rollerblades. I always have someone nearby to talk to or play a game with. There are loads of activities to take part in if you are so inclined. Dave and I have always enjoyed being in the company of older folks, so this neighborhood just feels right. I have never understood how some people feel like they aren't "old enough" to go to the senior center or move to a retirement community. To me that seems silly. Age is just a number. People are people. We like younger adults as well as oldsters. I would hate to be so vain that I wouldn't want to admit my age. I'm pretty pleased that I have lived as long as I have!

It is almost impossible to find an over-55 community. Have you looked? I have, and the options are few and far between. There is nothing in all of Snoqualmie Ridge. Not that we are moving! I have asked Dave over the past 30 years or so, "Why don't you build an over-55 community? There will be a huge need by the time we are ready to downsize." It always came down to land cost and zoning. Where can you find a hunk of land close to amenities that is big enough to create the kind of environment we would want? There is the reason we don't see any newer age-appropriate communities being developed. But, wah, wah, wah....sob, sob, sob. I want what I want!!

Getting back to the idea of moving. Dave and I are definitely opposites. I can't quite stand the thought of living in one house my whole adult life. I like change too much. Dave is content to live wherever he finds himself! Shauna is just like me. She also has a bit of wanderlust, and is happy to move and meet new people. The older she gets, the more I see how much we have in common. Right down to loving turquoise. I am so happy that the good Lord saw fit to bless us with a daughter. I love my two sons, so don't misunderstand! There is just something special about a daughter. We get each other. Girl to girl. 

Silly Charlotte, still doesn't want her picture taken

Day 154

THANKFUL

for good friends

This afternoon we went out to lunch with Ann and John. I have gotten to know Ann through my pinochle group and Dave has helped her husband with computer problems over the past few months. They wanted to take us out to dinner to "repay" Dave for all his geekish help.

My knee was hurting so bad I could barely walk and after we got home Ann called to ask if I would like to borrow her walker. She brought it right over. (They do not live in our neighborhood but only a couple of miles away.)

What a relief! I had just told Dave that I thought I should borrow one for a while so I can get around a bit better and it was perfect that Ann recognized that I could benefit from using one.

Once again, I am thankful. Thankful for people who will go out of their way to lend a hand. Not so thankful for my bum knee, but in time it will get better. I also began using a stronger pain medication so I feel just a bit of relief. Even though I'm somewhat groggy! 

Day 153

HOMEMADE MAC AND CHEESE

a family favorite

I have been making homemade macaroni and cheese forever. Of course, it is the same recipe my mom used. Very simple, but always with Kraft American Cheese in the two pound block. I haven't been able to find said cheese for a long time. When Dave suggested we have his brother over for dinner, my first thought was mac and cheese. Bob is a picky eater and I was certain he would enjoy it. Now I needed to figure out where I could find the box of cheese. When I searched online I discovered that Kraft had discontinued the 2 pound block and that others had used deli American cheese. 

QFC was my favorite grocery deli and I did find Boar's Head American cheese so I bought 1 3/4 lb of the yellow American cheese (they also had white) which was almost fifteen dollars a pound. Pricey cheese! But it tasted good so think it will make a very creamy mac and cheese. By the way, everything I try made by Boar's Head has been top drawer. I'm spoiled and hate paying the higher prices that they charge, but it is so much better than Safeway's deli cold cuts. Or Costco. Yup, you get a good buy, but at the cost of wonderful taste and texture.

Ready to go into the oven.

After baking. Everyone loved it!

Bob and Beemer

Wiggly dog wants to give Bob a kiss. 

Yum Yum. Jason had to leave shortly after dinner because he has 3 volleyball games this evening.

We talked about football, golf, the Mariners, cell phones, Jason's work, among other topics. Bob had 3 helpings of mac and cheese. I guess he approved!  We also had some green beans with bacon bits which Bob didn't eat, as well as some sweetened fresh strawberries with a dab of balsamic vinegar. Then....the coup de gras...ice cream for dessert. 7:45 pm and Dave just arrived from taking Bob home. A fine evening.