Day 31 of 2020

Fireball and I had a very late lunch at home. 

We started movie night at 6:00 in the den. 

The movie is over and 

we are not hungry. 

There is no reason for dinner. 

Post-movie popcorn will tide us over until breakfast. 

Day 30 of 2020

I'm still having trouble with decisions. 

Why is this so hard?

Day 29 of 2020

Now that the cards are done, 

I took the opportunity to flip through a few of my favorite magazines 

that had gone unopened and piling up since before the holidays.

Day 28 of 2020

I was going to caption this 

with something about eating a toad in the morning 

until I realized that I had actually gone to the grocery in the morning 

and started this procrastinated job in the afternoon. 

It then did take me all afternoon, 

but now the job is done 

and I'll make a trip to the post office tomorrow 

for stamps and to get these in the mail box. 

While researching the origin of the saying about the toad or frog, 

I came upon an article that gave the argument 

that any one of multiple sources,

 multiple versions, 

and multiple meanings may have been the original.  

In the end I decided to not use it as originally planned.

Day 27 of 2020

Today's baby step was loading the batting. 

Done. 

While I was there I laid the quilt over the rails. 

This does not mean I loaded it.  

Baby steps. 

I did take an extra step today and started to pull thread colors 

that I may want to use in the different colored sections of this quilt. 

For those wondering, here is a post on the quilt top with a full picture.

Day 26 of 2020

This many tulips at the end of January in Indiana can only mean one thing. 

We're visiting the Home Show today. 

Day 25 of 2020

Obviously it's another show. 

Does anyone recognize this set? 

Let's do a "Where am I?" with the question "What show did we see?"

Day 24 of 2020

This sweatshirt is Fireball's. 

It's a hand-me-down. 

I wish I had taken a before picture, but I forgot.

Believe me when I tell you that this 'V" opening in the front

 is a huge improvement from its previous condition. 

A former owner cut it down the front and then proceeded to try to tame the edges

 by turning them under and putting globs of glue all over it. 

The glue was all over the back side and the front. 

There was also lots of weird zigzag stitching,

 including the odd spot resulting in the small tuck at the bottom. 

How uncomfortable and unattractive! 

I have no idea how Fireball could stand to wear it. 

So this long story ends with me trimming out some of the larger chunks of glue 

and then stitching some t-shirt ribbing I had on hand 

that actually matched the color over the rest of the slashed and glued edge. 

Fireball owns a second sweatshirt that has suffered a similar, 

but even more troublesome, neckline fate. 

I'll show you the results of that when I attempt it.

Day 23 of 2020

One small decision should not be this overwhelming.

Day 22 of 2020

The valentines go on for miles.

Day 21 of 2020

We still have a couple meals from the last meal prep, 

but I'm already looking for the next one to do. 

If this Chicken Parmesan Bake is part of it, I think I've found a winner.

Day 20 of 2020

Quilt back is loaded. 

Baby steps.

Day 19 of 2020

Isn't this how everyone uses their chip clips?

Day 18 of 2020

I changed the dishes to the black, white, gray and all the blues a couple weeks ago

 to give it a frostier feel to match the season. 

The weather will certainly be mirroring this tomorrow

 with temps that will not get above the teens.

Day 17 of 2020

After a couple delays, I have finally received our 2019 holiday cards. 

Since Fireball has a rare Saturday workday tomorrow, 

I will be addressing envelopes and prepping another week of meals.

Day 16 of 2020

The new appliance delivery and installation was early and quick. 

My normal laundry day is Monday so I've done five loads today to catch up. 

So far everything has turned out well.

It occurred to me as I put this quilt back in its place on the wall,

covering the breaker box seen in yesterday's photo,

 that I don't think I have ever posted it. 

The quilt that hung here previously was pretty and hand quilted,

 but I am enjoying the cheeriness and pop of color this one provides.

Edit:  I did find a picture of this quilt from 2017 when it was still on the machine

 and I had just finished the quilting. You can see it here.

Day 15 of 2020

If I start in the middle of this story it goes like this. 

Our new washer and dryer will be delivered tomorrow. 

Today we moved the dryer out of the room 

and moved the washer away from its spot.  

I did not take a picture

 of the twenty years worth of gunk and dust on the floor and walls.  

You're welcome.

Day 14 of 2020

Old-fashioned torture device.

Day 13 of 2020

Christmas gift.

It cooked five pounds of chicken in twenty minutes.

That is very helpful for weekly meal prep.

Day 12 of 2020

If you'll remember the other day I mentioned my crochet project

 and my need to schedule time for completion. 

I completed my first one (yarmulke) today 

with the exception of weaving in ends and blocking, of course, 

and now have forty-nine to go. 

Since these need to be done by fall, 

my plan is to finish them by late summer 

so I don't have any opportunity to go into panic mode. 

After I verify size, I will be aiming to complete seven each month, 

a doable goal as I'm sure they will go faster with each one I make.

Day 11 of 2020

I took a quick puzzle break between dinner and dishes.

Day 10 of 2020

When you meet a longtime friend for the first time in a long time, 

and you go to The Cheesecake Factory, 

of course you have cheesecake.

Day 9 of 2020

I have a very important crochet project

 which hasn't really gotten off the ground yet. 

I need to figure out a way to schedule time to work on it.

Day 8 of 2020

Road congestion was quite an issue everywhere I drove today. 

I'm not sure exactly what they are doing here

 but they are making it hard for me to get home, just ahead over that hill. 

But if I have to be stuck, it's nice to be stuck on such a pretty day.

Day 7 of 2020

Not my work.

This sweet Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt

 was show and tell at tonight's quilt meeting. 

The quilt top is antique and the quilting just finished by one of my group's members.  

The only thing left is for her to bind it. 

Her business is quilting for others but this one is for herself.

Day 6 of 2020

Last week I did my first week of grocery shopping

 and then prepping those foods for a week of meals.  

It went well so I am buying groceries today so I can prep meals for week two. 

My hope is that more home cooked meals that don't require decisions every day 

will result in healthier us. 

I don't usually come down this aisle but I did need to pick up some frozen corn.

Day 5 of 2020

I love a moon in the afternoon.

Waxing Gibbous 75%

Day 4 of 2020

If there's a DJ, there must be a party. 

It was fun to get out.

Day 3 of 2020

Mentally I'm ready to take the Christmas stuff down, 

but I'm not actually able to do that yet,

as other things must take priority, 

so I will appreciate my favorite things until I am able.

Day 2 of 2020

This year I am making working with fabric a priority, 

something that has been lacking the last couple years. 

Over the last two days I have measured a few quilt tops in preparation

 for finding fabrics for backings and selected a few. 

I've washed the fabric for one backing, and pressed at least three. 

Tomorrow I intend to piece at least one of these into a ready-to-use backing.

I feel that my goals will be easier to reach if I break them down into smaller goals. 

Any progress, no matter how small, is better than no progress.

Day 1 of 2020

It's a new decade.  It's a new year.  It's a new month. 

It's a new day.