Thanks, and an August sale.

Thanks to all of you, for sticking around through my 10 months of griping about my headache.

Yes, it really has been 10 months.

WHO has a headache 24/7 for TEN months?

Yeah, unfortunately, I know the answer to that one.

I woke up at 5 a.m., to a screamer, which I guess surprised me, because last week overall was pretty good.   I call anything under a FIVE good, and last week, it hovered right around a 3-4, so that was bearable.

Today, I couldn't settle on anything, therefore, I didn't get much of anything done.

I work at accepting days like this.  

What else can you do.

I can't say that I am in the best mood though.  It would help if I could get this vise off my temples.

Anyway, on to something nicer............here is the woven bag I made, now it is lined.

It's kind of a hobo bag, and I love it.

I am in the process of making another one.  Just for fun.

Yes, we are having a sale.......because we can.
10 lb bags of loopers, the ones with the little textile threads that you have to pick off, usually are $39.95,  on sale for $27.95 through August.  Just email me.
Also, buy a Hip to Be Square looper loom, and get a free refill, also through August.

Going to have a giveaway soon, I feel one coming on.  Just haven't decided what yet.

Started some looper placemats on the Union on the porch.

When my head hurts this bad, I start thinking about downsizing, selling looms, fabric, houses, everything.
Moving into a one room cabin in the woods.

This headache has got to go soon, doesn't it???
Please say yes.

I can't take much more of it.

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Number one.

Yesterday when I decided to make blueberry muffins, I wanted to make totally, over the top, delicious blueberry muffins.
I perused the internet for a while, then I remembered one of my fave blogs, so I skipped on over, and grabbed a recipe I was pretty sure I could count on.
Thank you, Smitten Kitchen.
They were perfect in every way.
I made a double batch, and they are half gone.
They are the BEST BLUEBERRY MUFFINS EVER.

Numero Uno grandson was busy on his computer today.
My first grandchild.  I remember the day he was born.

At 14, he is already 6'3", taking advanced courses in high school, getting great grades, and generally being a fantastic kid.
I miss when he was a bit of a blond haired toddler, back when he would let his Mimi hug him and kiss him whenever.
But I am still pretty fond of him just the way he is.
Roy agrees.

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Keep up, will ya?

I've been on a tear all day.   Whizzing around, doing this, and that.

Can barely keep up with myself.

Did a little garage sale stuff early on, before the heat became unbearable......which it has.

I found this cool pie carrier.........for $1.

 I am thrilled.  I have been looking for one for a while.  And you can't beat the price.

I bought a bunch of books.......total $3.
There were a few more than this, but I had plans for them other than reading.
You'll see what at the end of this post.

And here's something else I have wanted for a while......a Health o Meter scale...........$3.
Love, love, love it.

Then we went to the Farmer's market, where I bought a bunch of fresh veggies.  I think it is important to buy local, and to support the farmers in the area.  And besides, everything tastes so much better.
I bought basil, green beans, 2 kinds of lettuce, cukes, red potatoes, scallions, tomatoes, and corn.
Yum.

Then I went to the studio, where I did some computer work.   The old house stayed cool, and I can't imagine how.

I then attempted to sit out on the porch for a bit, where Next and Enough were languishing in the heat.
I took some small loopers out there, and proceeded to chain them together to make placemats with.
The colors are vibrant.
Enough thought it was great fun.
The heat drove me back inside.

For any of you that have the little metal or plastic looms, these small loopers will fit them perfectly, and they are bright!!!   You can shoot me an email.

On the way home, I stopped to get cat litter for the gang, and saw that they were having an adoption clinic at the pet supply store.

Here's Kat, 2 years old, abandoned by her owners, tied outside of a church with a note.
Are people crazy?

And here's Bella, who looks like she could be Roy's sister, she is also 2 yrs old, and wicked sweet.

Both these girls need a forever home......they are at the Countryside Vet's in Queensbury, NY.

The number is 518-793-7083.

I wish I could take them both.

Still on the move, I came home and cooked up some summer squash.

I also made some "Crash Hot Potatoes" that I found over at Pioneer Woman.

You can find the recipe HERE

I thought this needed some protein, so I added black beans.
It's for me anyway, so I can do what I want, as no one else in this house would touch anything as healthy as this.

Still on overdrive, I made myself a cuppa tea, sat in my kitchen where the AC was keeping things soooooo comfortable,  and got out the 'rest of the books' I bought.

No offense to Danielle Steele.
I bought these books on purpose.
And then I tore them apart.

While I'm folding, I'm thinking.

A few weeks ago, unnerved by the constant headache, and discouraged by how exhausted I was every single day, I asked my doctor if he would order a sleep test.
He did.

And I failed.  Miserably.  Stopped breathing 17 times an hour.

Went back to the sleep lab the next week, where they calibrated me with a mask on.

I got my machine last Friday, and I have been using it for a week.
Unfortunately, it does not do anything for my headache.

But I do think that it is doing something for my energy level.
Don't you?

Other than the headache, I almost feel my crazy, normal, speeding self.
Oh, my.

Off to Joann's to buy glitter for my trees.  Then I have to weave on my funky purses, and go in the pool, and make a salad, and maybe some blueberry muffins, and ...and.....and.....
well, you get the idea.
:)

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Reality bites.

Yes, it does.
Sometimes doing the 'right' thing isn't the 'easiest' thing.

Let me tell you about my day, or at least part of it.


Grandson came to mow my lawn, which is not on my list of preferred tasks any longer.
We were having lunch out on the porch, when my daughter said, "What the heck was that?"
Well, it turned out to be yet another stray cat, on a dead run for the food bowl.
Next and Enough looked unconcerned.
This little cat let me get close, I went and got her a can of the good stuff, which she gobbled up.

She was so small, she looked to be about 5 months old.  She was so thin, her spine was this bony ridge on her back, and I could feel ever single one of her ribs.  She was a manx kitty, like Kizzy, with no tail.

So after she ate, I put her in a crate, and drove her to the vet's.
Yes, to feline leukemia test, to worming, to rabies prevention, to neutering.  Calculating the impact to my checkbook.
Oh, well.


She was obviously someone's cat at some point, because she was very sweet.  She also did not appear to have any claws.
But by the emaciated state she was in, it was easy to conclude that she had been wandering for some time.

I no more than got back to the studio, when the phone rang.
The vet.
BAD NEWS.
This cat is 4-5 YEARS old, missing teeth, enlarged liver, enlarged kidneys, in other words, one very sick kitty.
Most likely very contagious, and not a good candidate for treatment of any kind.
After a long conversation, I agreed with her suggested option, euthanasia.
The cat had not been neutered, could still have kittens, that could be born sick.
She could make other cats sick, and her quality of life sucked, pure and simple.
I know it was the right thing, but it felt like a kick to the chest.

Then, adding insult to injury, I could pay $150 to dispose of the body, or come fetch it.
Back to the vet's.
Then back to the studio to dig a hole, and bury the little kitty that I had hoped to save.

Sometimes, you just have to accept that life can be hard.

But in the back of my mind, I wonder......how did this little girl get to this place.......someone cared......she was so friendly, and de-clawed even......don't get me started on that barbaric practice.
Yet, she was out wandering, sick and thin, searching for food and comfort.
What happened?
I only wish she had shown up sooner, when she still had a chance.
Yup, sometimes, reality bites.

I guess I have to concentrate on what I can do, and not on what I can't.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
the courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference.


But no one said that would be easy.
"Enough" said.

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Toodles, FB.

There is so much in this world to feel good about.

Sometimes, we forget.

I love to go through my pictures, there are so many reminders of what I love.

Nature, color, texture, serenity.....to name a few.

There are friends, and good times, good food, books, looms, threads to be woven.

Life is pretty pleasurable.

Unfortunately, everything in this world is not wonderful.

I am not finding FACEBOOK to be a positive experience.

Last night, I was pretty wild, to be honest.

Yes, we all have the right to vote for who we want, and to support the political party we like.

And hey, you can argue your point of view until you are purple.

But I do not see why it is necessary to talk trash about the President of the United States, who was voted in by the MAJORITY.

Hello.

Have some respect.

I will be honest, here, and hope not to offend.

I did not care for George Bush.  Not one bit.  I did not, however, question his religion, 

or call him names, or be disrespectful.  O.K., I told a couple of small jokes, but they were in fun, and he would have probably laughed too, if he had gotten them.

But please, ENOUGH on FB already.  Go work for the party of your choice, quit politicking on FB.

And this Chic-freaking-Filet thing.   Over the top.  The picture on FB was of American servicemen in uniform at one of these establishments....which is fine.  The caption, however, said that they were good Americans.  The message was clear, and just another form of gay bashing.  

If you want to say it, then say it, COWBOY UP, and say it.

And don't get me started on how the chickens you eat there are raised, by these fine, upstanding Christian folk.  Don't even get me going.

The highlight of my night though, was a comment after the quote, "You don't choose to be gay, you do, however, choose to be a bigot."  The comment said that "you don't choose to get cancer either, but you can treat it, or not."

ACK ACK ACK

At that point, I was ready to puke.  Seriously.

Am I being too strong here?  If so, I apologize.

This morning, I ranted on my 3 mile walk with Roy.

Don't worry, he's used to me.

We are all the same, folks.  We are no different, no better, no more entitled, than the next person.  We are blips on the screen, a flash of light in the sky.  Then we are gone, and the only thing that matters at all, as far as I am concerned, is NOT how much money we made, NOT how famous we are, not how smart we THINK we are, not how good we THINK we look.  Not what color we are, or what religion we practice, or what our politics are.

 What matters is how honest, and loving, and kind we are.  That's what matters.

How can it be otherwise?

I do not understand people who can't live and let live. 

There are so many ways to spend your energy other than spouting off at the mouth about things that are really none of your business.

Who other people sleep with?   Nope, doesn't matter to me.

Go volunteer someplace.  Save a shelter animal.  Do something POSITIVE.  Grow the F up.

Whew. I'm sorry.  I had to say all that.

And Facebook, I am SO OVER FB.  I can not even tell you.

Ask yourself this.  How many of your FB 'friends' have you actually SEEN or even TALKED to  in the last year???

Yeah, that's what I thought.

We are like the Stepford Wives........mesmerized, hypnotized, brainwashed.  Facebook ......"social media"........what a joke.  It's mind numbing, time wasting, drivel .......for most of the time.

I am so done with it.

There are books to read, weaving to be done, crossword puzzles waiting, knitting on my needles, cats to love, dogs to walk, and grands to spoil.

Yup, life to live.

Thank you very much.

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Striped Star

I stayed up sewing and watching the Olympics way to late last night.

This Striped Star pattern from the Purl Bee has been bookmarked for a while.

And I thought it might be the perfect block for my fat quarters of Summersville.

As much as I love the fabric, I found it a tough group to use with all it's light backgrounds. But I'm pretty happy with how the block turned out adding the gray Quilter's Linen.

The tutorial is spot on, but be aware that you waste a lot of fabric with all the trimming. I have a nice pile of pieced scraps and triangles left.

The block is around 20" square. I think I'll add some borders (maybe using some of those scraps). I'm thinking maybe a little pop of red around the star might be in order. I'm open to suggestions!!

. . . Cindy

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Perspective, again.

I have been playing. I admit it.
I brought my Wolf Pup home.  For those of you who don't weave, it's a small portable, floor loom.
I am making handbags: funky, colorful ones.
Now there's a surprise, right?


It's that or watch baseball.
Occasionally, the Olympics are part of our viewing pleasure, but I can see them from my loom.

What I'm really doing is having a good time.  Playing with color, and texture, and using up bits and pieces of stuff.

I have finished the baby blankets, more pictures tomorrow.

As long as I had the fan on me, it was comfortable weaving.  The sun seemed to light up the floor.

I always feel comfortable in this old house.   It's like an old friend.

I hope to grow old/older here.

But then I have always been one to choose used over new, shabby over shiny, old and antique over right out of the box.

When I was younger, I used to be quick to 'refinish' things, make them look like brand, spanking new.
In fact, I was so into it, that I started a business in my 20's, to take old paint off furniture.  It was called "The Strip Joint".  I've told you that, right?
I stripped furniture, refinished it, caned chair seats, replaced rush seats and flat woven seats.

Ha.
I've changed.

This speaks to me.  Volumes.
I think there is a lesson to learn here.
When you age, you realize  the incredible rewards of 'having been there'.  And you wouldn't want to erase all signs of that, now would you?
Would you?

It's the reason why I didn't  attempt to make my old house look fashionably new.
I wanted it to keep its personality, I wanted to "treasure" and respect  its past.

So while the house has been refurbished, and cared for, it looks very much ( I hope) like it did 100, even 200, years ago.

 Except that the bathroom would have been outside.

Well, hey, you have to draw the line somewhere.

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