Small things

Sometimes it is the small things that make us happy, right? I spent the first half of the day doing the biweekly cleaning.....tubs, sinks, shower, toilets, vacuuming, mopping, dusting...then In the afternoon did the grocery shopping. I wanted to try to organize something today but didn't have a lot of time. I saw something on the internet I wanted to do....

I used command hooks (love those!) to hang my measuring spoons in my spice cabinet.

I love this little spice rack. It was only a two shelf unit, but a few years ago I found a small wire basket and wired it in the center to make a third shelf. We write the name of the spice on the lid so it is a bit easier to tell what we have except on the ones with black lids....

That little quick project of hanging the spoons, made me happy!

 

A little organization

I did a little bit of organization in the laundry room today. Just one cabinet but it is a big one.

During:

After:

This is where I store all my homemade cleaners. I'm thinking maybe I can tackle my organization needs like I am tackling the star blocks, just shoot for one or two cabinets a day. Sounds like a plan.

I also got in a good four mile run today. Kind of cold to start with but felt great. I am continuing with the 5/1 intervals and that seems to be working well. No soreness, no injuries. Trying to remember to stretch good afterwards. I'll continue that until after the 15k race in February. I'm kind of excited about my first 15k race.

 

 

The continuing scrappy wonky star saga

I've been working on these blocks for ages now. This week I decided to try the block a day method. It has actually worked pretty good. I'd like to shoot for ten blocks a week. I've made ten in about a week or so just doing two at a time.

When I first started making these star blocks I wanted to use any kind of light, but I really don't like the ones with all the busy lights or darks. The top two are those I am not that fond of anymore. I am not sure if I'll keep them in the quilt. I figured out that I can use the wrong side on some of the lighter printed fabrics and it mutes the busyness a bit. Making progress. I like that. Ten a week will put me ready to make the top in about 5-6 months.....certainly better than the six months I've done nothing on them.

....yeah, looking at the busy ones just now.....I probably won't use those.....the others look so much better. Just hope I have enough scraps using the muted lights and the true darks.

 

Over fifty fashion

I follow a fashion blog or two and sometimes I get some good ideas for what to wear. One blogger used the Pinterest picture on the left for inspiration for an outfit. So did I.

The tan/beige isn't good with the gray hair. Maybe I'll add a teal scarf rather than the animal print. I do like the sweater. I found it on sale at JCPenney and with my reward points it only set me back $3.28. The scarf is one I recycled. The pants are capris I had, along with the white t-shirt and boots. Do you ever look to Pinterest for fashion ideas? I think it is kind of fun to get ideas and see if you can reproduce the look with what you already have.

 

Remembrance Quilt

My next project is a remembrance quilt for a co-worker. Her husband passed away last year from Parkinson's. She brought me the shirts on my last day at the job. I would love to have this one done in a week or so. It might be a little tricky because a couple of the shirts don't really stretch but the fabric moves when I cut it. We shall see how it turns out. This is the best pattern for remembrance quilts. It goes together really quick.

I've found a lot of men have similar shirts. This pattern uses one lighter than all the rest and one darker. I had to use some of my black fabric and actually will have to buy more or maybe pick up a large black shirt somewhere. He only had seven shirts, but I've made them before with only that many, so it will work. It should turn out to be 64x72, which is a nice lap size, with no border. I think lap size are the best for remembrance quilts. Good size to snuggle up under.

 

New life for old scarves

I've had these old scarves for around 12-15 years. Tonight I realized how easy it would be to make them into infinity scarves.

Just sew them end to end but place a right side against a wrong side. Wallah!

New stylish infinity scarves.

 

 

Iron and blocks

Seriously, how does an iron get so gunked up? I used baking soda, vinegar, a magic eraser, then borax, and lots and lots of scrubbing.

I read on a blog where a quilter is doing a block a day strategy to try to get enough blocks for a quilt without getting burned out. I burned out on this one last year. Each block takes so long and they are small at 6" finished. But I made two today. Now I have 34, only......about 220 more to go for a queen quilt.

I also made another little zipper pouch.

 

 

 

Second finish for 2015

I think I'm on a roll here. Love this quick quilt. It is from the book Growing up Modern by Allison Harris. Her blog is Cluck Cluck Sew.

I'm still trying to be very frugal with my quilting. Everything came from my stash/scraps but the navy and striped binding. Love the punch the binding brings.

 

 

Update on grout cleaning

I spent several hours today cleaning the rest of our grout. I am SO PLEASED with how it turned out, even though it took time and elbow grease.

Before:

During:

After:

I realise it wasn't really bad, but I knew it was dirty and could tell in places.

...and in the master bathroom....

Before:

After:

I have hated having tile because of the grout stains. Now it looks great. The hubby is happy because now he isn't worried about coming home one day and finding the tile all broken up! ....I've threatened to do that, and replace it with vinyl.

I already feel like retirement is making a huge improvement to the cleanliness and organisation of our home. It does something uplifting to my mood to have a clean and organised space. And I really enjoy the work it takes to get there. Likewise clutter and dirt in my home really bother me. It stresses me and puts me in a bad mood. So yay for time to really clean and organise!

 

 

Zippered pouch

If you haven't ever seen the Missouri Star Quilt company tutorials, you should look them up. I watched one this evening on how to make a zipped pouch....and then made one!

You use fabric scraps, a zipper, and fuseable fleece. I didn't have any of that so I made some with HeatnBond and batting.

It took me, maybe 40 minutes or so to make it. I would stop the video, do a little, then start it or set it back to watch a step again. I made mine a bit larger than hers but I think her measurements would be better. Still, it is a great little bag for makeup, or phone accessories, or any small things you want to keep together for your purse or for travel. These would make great gifts too!

 

First finish of 2015

This will go to the new born daughter of one of my co-workers. Due in March.

 

 

 

Cabbage and cleaning grout

Cabbage first. I made some roasted cabbage tonight. It was good. A friend gave us a huge cabbage at the end of summer. We've eaten on it several times. I always wrapped it up in Press N' Seal afterwards.

Amazingly, it only needed trimmed up and IT WAS STILL FRESH INSIDE. There must be a world of difference in home grown cabbage and store bought.

Now to the grout. Although our grout didn't seem that bad, it bothered me seeing the discolouration from ground in dirt. Magic grout cleaner to the rescue.

Check out the difference in the cleaned grout and the "not cleaned yet" line in front. I bought it at Lowes's. You spray it on, leave it for 3-5 minutes, scrub it (I used an old toothbrush), wipe and rinse. I'll be scrubbing grout probably for the next week or two. Have two bathrooms, a laundry room, and a hallway to clean.

I love retirement!! Cleaning and organising are some of my favourite things to do.

 

 

Goals for 2015

 

I love goals. I love lists and goals. My goals last year were pretty aggressive and I didn't meet some of them. That's ok, I did meet some. First draft for 2015.....

• Make three baby quilts for gifts
• Make a remembrance quilt for my co-worker
• Make a friendship quilt from my retirement blocks
• Run at least 600 miles in 2015 (did 561 in 2014)
• Run a half marathon, a 15k, and a few 5ks
• Run faster in 2015
• Work on a morning routine of stretches, lunges, and planks
• Attend more book club and quilt club meetings at church
• Continue with daily bible readings (Spurgeon's daily Morning & Evening, Beth Moore's Praying God's Word Everyday, and Jesus Calling)
• Work on being more like Jesus
• Shop grocery sales and cut our food budget

...I also love goal quotes...

So, go ahead, set yourself some goals. Make some that you think you can't do. Stretch yourself. You grow by doing things you think you can't do. I'd love to hear your goals.

 

 

Retired 1/01/2015

My last official day at work was yesterday.  I've had a wonderful two weeks preparing for my departure.  I work with THE BEST people. My boss made this notice and put it up on the entrances to our building.

I loved it!  One of the gifts they gave me will be a quilt.  They brought 4 inch squares for everyone to sign their names and well wishes.  I'll make them into a quilt.  I am very excited about that.

I am going to close my other two blogs, lateliferunner and latelifepaddler, so I hope you quilters don't mind seeing a bit more running and paddling stuff on this blog.  I'll just keep all my hobbies and activities on one blog. I always print my blog at the end of each year or two, and it is nice to have all my posts and hobbies in one book.

Starting 2015 off right!

The first day of 2015 began with a 5k race. My unofficial time was 33:02 per my garmin for 3.1 miles, however the race distance was not truly 5k (3.1 miles) it was 3.34 miles. So my garmin time for that was 35:31. Whichever, I am very happy with that. It was my fastest 5k since last New Years.

The hubby went with me and made pictures. And we saw some friends there.

I really tried to be faster, so it was a little tough.

Now to organising, cleaning, quilting, and black eyed peas!