Nice view

Enjoyed a little time on the lake today.

 

New addition to the family

This little stray started visiting us about two months ago. It took almost six weeks before we could even pet him. He was really thin but very solid. After he let me pet him the first time, he really took to me. He was a little aggressive with our other cat so we decided to have him neutered....and vaccinated....ching$ ching$...

Anyway, guess he is ours now.....he will be an outside kitty. Jim named him Gray Beard.

His surgery was yesterday morning and he hasn't peed or pooped yet. I know cats can hold it a long time, but I sure wish he would do his business. The vet recommended we confine him to the screened in porch for a few days.

 

Burrito pillowcase

Ever made one of these? Fast and easy pillow cases, using the burrito method.

They go together really fast. I decided to make a couple for the new swoon quilt.

 

Quilting finished

Finished up the quilting of our Threads of Love quilting ministry quilt, it will be donated to our annual church auction in September to benefit the youth mission work.

Love these bright colors. Binding isn't sewn down yet.

And I finished up the quilting on my Swoon quilt. Not a great picture. I'll try again later when I have the binding finished and the sun goes down a bit.

 

Staycation

I've had a wonderful week off from work. Got a lot of things marked off my do-list. Finished the quilting on my swoon quilt. I'll try to make a full picture tomorrow, after I get the binding done.

Even though it has rained off and on since the EF0 tornado we had on Tuesday evening......

(our tree)

(our neighbor's car)

... I've still thoroughly enjoyed the week.

 

Swoon with pinwheels

I used some of the 144 extra half square triangles from the flying geese units for a border. It isn't perfect but I think it will do. I really liked this pattern but.....I don't know, maybe I'll like it better after it is quilted. I guess thirties fabrics just aren't my favorite but it is what I had. I am too frugal to go out and buy more fabric when I had plenty to make a nice quilt.

....well, it does look like a summery quilt.

 

Cross training

Enjoying my staycation this week. Took to the water again to paddleboard.

This time I rented one from a new local outdoor store. I got to see what it was like loading it in the truck. They give you a pad and straps that are easy to put on and hold it very secure.

This was an 11' board, but it was really wide and heavy. I think it weighed more than 30 pounds.

I really prefer the boards the guy has down at the park. I did paddle all the way to the bridge and back in only an hour and a half with a stop to rest a bit. This board didn't seem to glide as smooth or fast as the other one I've used. It definitely was a workout and I was paddling against the wind just about all the way to the bridge. It was probably only a mile to a mile and a half, and took me 35 minutes to get there. Too bad, I don't have a waterproof phone. There were some great photo ops.

Since I was by myself I wore my life jacket the whole time and stayed fairly close to the shoreline. It was an adventure.

 

Emma visit

I got to visit my grandbaby and babysit her a little this weekend. Bear with me, all of you......this is the most precious child ever. She smiles so much. Wakes up smiling. I even had her laughing. There are no words to express how much I love her.

I know other grandparents feel the same. It is amazing, isn't it? That love.

She will be four months old tomorrow. They plan on moving to Scotland in the fall, so I know my time to visit with her is limited. I thought I might get teary leaving her, but I really didn't expect to have free falling tears before I even left their apartment.

She slept in my arms during church. Ahh. Precious. Then later she fell asleep in my arms after her bottle. I put her down for a little bit, she woke up again, had a bit more lunch, then back to asleep again. When I left we had put her in her Mamaroo (moving lounge seat type thing). I looked over at her and the tears started. My son smiled but looked at me like I was nuts. I am. Nuts over her.

I left a bit later than planned, but thought I could still get back before dark. I could have, except I did a very dumb thing. Locked my keys in my car at a gas station. Thank goodness for AAA! And the sweet ladies at the station who let me call my son long distance (to get the AAA number and our account number), because of course my card and phone were also locked in the car. That and some construction traffic caused a four and a half hour trip to turn into an almost six hour trip.

....but I have so much to be thankful for. Today, I start my week long staycation. And before I get to my list of to-do's I am taking a few minutes to relish the weekend, and count my blessings.

 

Voice of the Children 5K

I have a running blog, Lateliferunner, but since I print this blog each year, if there is anything I want to remember, I put it here. Two work friends and I ran a 5K this morning. Proceeds went to support a children's home in Haiti. The young man who organized it is the son of my favorite dental hygienist.

My friend, in green, and I took first place in our age groups. She is incredible. She just started with the couch to 5K app about a year ago and at age 62 can run a 5K in 30 minutes! I'm quite a bit slower than that. Because it was a small race, there weren't many in our age groups. Guess that is one good thing about getting older, you don't have a lot of competition when it comes to running.

 

A new hobby?

This was so much fun! I know, I know, I really don't need a new hobby, but it was a blast. Can't wait to do to again.

We live really close to the lake. I just may have to get one of these. They say I t is a great upper body and core exercise, although I am not sore at all today. The hubs said I could load it on his boat and go with him when he fishes. It is kind of like learning to roller skate. Balance is the big thing when standing. It is even easier if you get on your knees. It is a feeling of freedom gliding across the lake.

Thirties Swoon

Six down, three more to go.

....and my DIL sent me some pictures of Mamaw's little wiggle worm....

...the hair bow cracks me up.

 

Restoring wood deck

I am so thankful for a hubby who wants to take care of things. He can't power wash and stain the wood deck himself any longer due to his weak legs, but he hired the young, strong teenager who lives next door. The young man did a great job.

The second picture shows the truest color - the color of clean! It looks great. Hopefully it will dry out enough today to roll on the stain.

 

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day!  Thank you to those who gave their all for our freedoms.

Jesse was feeling rather memorial, and chose the patriotic quilt for his nap while I sewed all afternoon.

He didn't even mind my DIY air conditioner sitting on the bed softly humming.  I elevated the bottom and put several smaller frozen water bottles inside. It made a difference. The air was cooler.

I worked most of the afternoon on my Swoon quilt.  The one, I had as a 2014 goal finish, but forgot about until I found my goals the other day.  I am making great progress.

There are a lot of leftover triangles from the flying geese units.  I want to use them somewhere, maybe a border on the top and bottom.  Or maybe make a few throw pillows to go on the bed with the quilt.

This is how the border would look.  Hummm.....just not sure if that is what I want to do.

DIY Air Conditioner

I saw this on a YouTube video and just had to try it. My sewing room upstairs gets pretty hot in the summer time, unless we keep the AC on "ice" downstairs. You use 1 1/2" ID PVC pipe pieces, a five gallon bucket with lid, either a form styrofoam bucket liner (I couldn't find one), or other insulation, a small desk type fan, and frozen water in a gallon milk jug.

Use a 2 1/4" circular drill bit to cut the holes (easy).

 

Then I used the rolled foam to put a few layers inside. I think I did three, then another three layers above that. Taped them together to hold them in place with duct tape. I also put 5-6 layers in the bottom. I cut the insulation around the holes and then sealed up around the holes with the duct tape. (easy)

You cut a hole in the lid of the bucket to fit the fan. This was difficult. I used a utility knife but it took some time and was hard to do. Drop in your gallon of frozen water and wallah!

 

It said "make a $454 air conditioner for $15"....well, not exactly. The air blowing out isn't as cold as an air-conditioner but it is cool. My cost for everything was $34 tax included. It was about $5 for the bucket and lid, $2 for the PVC, $10 for the fan, $9 for the circular bit, and $6 for the foam insulation. My friend thought a styrofoam minnow bucket might work too in place of the styrofoam bucket liner and may be easier to find, especially this time of year. I turned it on last night around 9, and ran it until about 2-3 am. When I turned it on this morning around 8:30, I noticed the air was still cool. The ice had hardly melted, so I think my insulation may have worked better than the styrofoam bucket liner.

So, there you have it! I do plan to use it upstairs or for the hubby in his boat garage in the summer.

Update: I've had it on upstairs for a few hours. It really isn't cooling very much. It might help in a very small room, maybe 10x10 or smaller. I can tell it won't be of much help in the hubby's garage.

Well, I've been thinking about this....I've got a few ideas to improve it. Stay tuned...

 

Lists

I admit it. I am an obsessive list maker. But the truth is I love making lists, and I love marking things off my list. I've even been known to put things on my list just so I can mark them off. Evidently I am not alone....there are ...at least three of my coworkers the same way.

I've started my list for my staycation in June. I get so excited thinking of ten days off from work and all the things I will get to accomplish. No major projects planned this year but hopefully a lot of sewing, cleaning, and organizing. Oh yeah, and I plan to make my own DIY air conditioner. Hint: a five gallon bucket, PVC, small electric fan. Google it. Can't wait to try it. My sewing room is upstairs where the summer heat rises.

I also made up my next half marathon training plan. I used Jeff Galloway's run/walk method but stretched it out from now till November. I hope to do one half marathon at the first of November and another at the end of November. Hopefully I can progress so slow and easy the knee won't give me any trouble.

Lists keep me on track and help me to accomplish my goals. Are any of you list makers?