Good Friends, Good Times . . .

I had a great time! Seeing my friends felt so good. Everyone looked great! We are a good group. We have laughed, cried, and loved together. We shared our good times and our bad times. I really miss my MLK friends. It's nice to have colleagues that you can call friend. We've been through the trenches and through the battles together and through it all we have survived. God has been good to all of us. The dinner was good but the camaraderie was even better. I was so glad that the scarves I made fit their personalities. Just being able to laugh made me feel so good. I felt so free, and then I remembered I had to get back home to my sister. For a minute there I wanted to keep on going. I wanted to go dancing. I'm not even sure if they have a place for you to do that at anymore. 

What Happened? Thursday, January 30, 2014

Well, as you can see I didn't enter anything on the thirtieth of January. I knew I hadn't and once again I'm off track. I decided to buy some more yarn; why? I didn't need it. I felt I had to make a different scarf for Tara. I completed one scarf and wasn't satisfied with it so I made another easy quick pattern. Of course they are all infinity scarves. I took my mom and sister to the doctor and then we had lunch. We also went to Wal Mart to pick up some items.  It turned out to be a full day. I didn't get home until four thirty. I was going to go to an artist reception at Rutgers, Newark. But I changed my mind. I was too tired and didn't want to have to drive there.

Made 13014

Sew

I did absolutely nothing today. I was suppose to work on my Big Bag. Nope! I was suppose to was clothes. Nope! I did go to Home Depot to get the weather proofing strip for the door. I'm not sure if I got the right one but I put it on the left side. The air is still coming through. I came home and put a penne pesto chicken dish in the oven. It was already prepared. Got it from Whole Foods.  Ate too much and then I plopped myself down in front of the television and stayed there. Did I sew today? NO, NO, NO! Why not? Have know reason. I'm so crazy. Maybe tomorrow I will sew!

Try Again!

If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again. That's me all the way. I keep trying to eat it one bite at a time. But I keep going back two steps. Tonight, I am going to quilt with my quilt group. It's so pleasant to be with a group of extraordinary women from all walks of life. We sew, discuss the latest issues, and even critic books they have read. I can always count on one of my friends to enlighten me about a good book or movie they read or have seen. We each have our own special skills, and we share them amongst ourselves. I did work on my Big Bag. I had my iPad, so I could get the tutorial if I need help with putting it together. My bag isn't completed but if I work on it by Friday it will be. One bite at a time!

Off the Track . . .

I've been off the charts again. I've been trying to eat the elephant by taking more than one bite. I'm all over the place. My plate seems to be overflowing and yet it's not. I'm thinking all the time. What to do? What do I have to do now? How am I going to get that done? And yet I've done nothing! I crochet another Infinity scarf last night. I started two hours before the Grammy's. Mind you, I still have my throw that I should've been knitting and I need to start my quilt challenges. Needless to say, I still have to clean my house. I'm not thinking it through or scheduling myself so I can get these projects done. Instead I started on another one. I did finish that one but I still have so many more to do. So back to the drawing board I go. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!!!! Today, I will work on one of my quilt challenges, and then when I finish that I will work on my knitting. That's all for today. Until tomorrow . . .

 

Infinity and beyond . . .

I'm on an infinity scarf kick. I'm making four more this week. I want to give them away to some friends. I'm still knitting my panels.

Continue the Journey

Well, I'm getting better at working towards less process foods and cooking fresh. This past week I ate Burger King twice. The other days I prepared our meals. I baked some turkey legs yesterday for dinner. If I don't have fresh vegetables I use frozen. Tonight we had leftover vegetables and brown rice with fish sticks. I'm working on my knitted throw. I'm knitting two panels at a time. I have given myself until the end of February to complete it. One bite at a time!

two more panels

What to do . . . ?

?????

Another Day . . .

Blood work is done and off to the store to pick up prescriptions and a few grocery for my mom. Next week we go to the doctors again. Now blood work results and dental. On my way home I decided to go to Little Zion. I want to drop off bulletins, fliers, and envelopes. Fee and I shared our lunch with Sis. Jo and Sis. Pat. It was nice to do something different for lunch. Tonight I'm going to my grandson's winter school program, so I have to cancel my quilt night with the seniors. I'm going to start sewing and quilting again. I have so many quilt projects to make. Enough said . . . Until tonight . . . 
Wow, I was able to attend both things. The concert and giving the seniors forty-five minutes of my time. So happy that I made them both.  

The Next Day . . .

Woke up at 8:10 am. Before I went to bed I finished another Infinity scarf. I'm going to stop making them, so I can get other things done. I found myself crocheting and not doing anything else. Yesterday I needed to finish washing clothes, but instead I crocheted. Oh well, what will today bring? I have to go outside and clean my car off and start it up. It's been two days since I started it. It's very very cold outside I can feel the air seeping through the cracks in the window. I'm going to prepare the mix for salmon cakes. I want to prepare lunch and dinner for Fee and me. I posted some pictures of what I've completed. I think I eating that elephant one bite at a time each day. Even when I try to take more than one bite. I rethink what I'm doing and try it again. My plate is still full but not the way it was.  

Sage Butter Scarf

 

Where did it come from?

It started early this morning. Snow! I looked out the window and first you see small dots of snow. As time goes on the flakes get larger and the snow piles up. The temperature drops and the apartment feels chilly. What to do? I've been crocheting and watching Bones and Castle. I also used the Internet to check on the New Jersey 12 News. Today Governor Chris Christie was sworn in. He won another four years. What will he do now? Jobs are still scarce and the cost of living is sky high. People going to college/universities to get a degree, and when they graduate they can't find a job in their field. They have loans up the gazoo, but they persevere. Thank God for His many Blessing! Until tomorrow . . . 

Outside of my house.

Crocheting a Cowl

Stayed In . . .

I missed adding Monday's entry to my blog. I stayed in all day. I washed Fajer's clothes and her linen. We put clean sheets on the her bed. I still have to do my laundry. I received a call from Penn. I was so surprised and I was glad to hear his voice. We talked for awhile. I was so happy.  I know nothing will come of this but I felt like a school girl talking to the boy I liked for the first  time. I've been crocheting again trying to make five scarves before Friday. I've made three infinty scarves two more to go. Until tomorrow . . .

Gray Infinity

Purple Infinity

Shades of Brown Infinity

A Full Day

Today was a good day. We went to church and the message was heartfelt. I pray that God would show me my gifts. The gifts that He has given me. I pray that I open my heart and seek His face. After service I went to Shop Rite and bought facial tissue for church and my mom. Next on the list was to pick up Fajer's medicine. When I got to the pharmacy at Stop & Shop I picked up my mom's script too. I called my sister to see if she would meet me on the first floor to get the medicine. After that I came home and fixed lunch for Fajer and I. We got to sit down for an hour and relax. The last thing on our list was to attend Isaiah's birthday party. I had a good time with Stacey, food, and conversation. I came home and began working on the first scarf. Until tomorrow . . .  

The Group . . .

This day finally came, and I was elated to be member of The Tea Cups (quilting group) that met today at St. George's Church. This was our annual gathering (the north and south unite) for 2014. We began at 10:00 a.m., and would end at 6:00 p.m. (although we had to end earlier than usual).  I started a new project. I wanted to make a Big Bag that I saw on Missouri Quilt Company's tutorial.  Yes, I did start it! During this time we had fellowship, ate lunch (good food), had show and tell, and shared ideas! I've attached a picture of the beginning of my Big Bag. Although I've started a new project. I'm still eating that elephant one bite at a time. Until tomorrow . . .  

Big Bag: Batiks

Macaroni and Cheese and Then Some . . .

Last night (1-16-14) I completed part of my Friday dinner. I bake macaroni and cheese. It smelled so good, but it was really too late for me to taste it. I let it cool down before I put it in the fridge. I'm going to fry some fish and add a green vegetable with it. I'm still working on my knitted throw. I have a deadline. It will be finished by the end of February. I've given away all of the items that I either knitted or crocheted. I'm excited because tomorrow the Tea Cups will have their yearly gathering with our southern partners and all of those who haven't joined us in awhile. I've decided to sew all of the pillow cases that I was going to give to the seniors. I'm still working on cleaning my house. The kitchen is in desperate need of an overhaul. I try to make sure I wash the dishes every night. I know it's only Fee and I here but sometimes I get lazy and leave them in the sink. So I am working on changing that too. I wen to my MQG (Modern Quilt Guild) meeting last night. It's always good to go because you hear and see such amazing things.  The talents and creativity of others really make me want to work on my skills. I even signed up to demo something. Giving back of yourself is a great thing.  I'm thinking about a quick project I can demo. Prayerfully it will come to me. I had a colleague who would finish his letters or messages with the words "Enough said." that was his signature, so for now I'm eating that elephant one bite at a time. Enough Said . . .

Thread a Needle Quilting Club

Yesterday the quilting club started at Avon Ave. School. There were five girls. Wannetta (one of the instructors)was giving a quick overview on the parts of the sewing machine. Then the girls had an opportunity to practice sewing a strip. I suggested that they learn how to thread the machine and learn a bobbin. This will make them independent which helps us when we get more involved with our quilting. They also learned how to unplug the machines to be put away. I really enjoyed working with the girls. I'm going to enjoy working with the club this school year. I'm going to take pictures next week to show the progression of the club. Until tomorrow . . .

Quilting Friends to the End . . .

Last night was great; Tea Cup Time! It's really refreshing when you get together with a group of quilting/sewing/knitting/doing anything buddies and not be judged, ridiculed, or talked about. Just come as you are and do what you please. I enjoy my Tuesdays. I truly do! Last night I knitted, others did whatever made them happy. Even doing nothing was good. This is a retreat of solace. It's good to see those who you haven't seen and you miss those who aren't there. I'm so thankful for the Tea Cups. I'm still working on my knitted throw for Hope. I hope to have it completed by next month if not sooner. That's another thing that I have to do. I have to set a time limit on my projects, and work on no more than two at any given time. I still have seven UFOs (unfinished objects) to complete from my 2012-2013 year. Since then I've added several new UFOs and other small block challenges. That's why I'm making a list of all of my projects and a deadline or close to a deadline for completion. One bite at a time! Until tomorrow . . .

Knitted Throw

Planning . . .

Last night before I went to bed I made a list of meals for lunch and dinner. I'm trying to plan ahead. I also cooked two meals yesterday. I made enough spaghetti for two days. This helps a lot. I am going to work on making at least three or four meals for the week. I'm going to concentrate on preparing dinner first because I can always use left overs for lunch. Breakfast isn't that taxing. We usually have cereal, but I'm going to work on making a smoothie for breakfast and for snack time. Today I spent time with a dear friend of mine. She needed to go to the Learning Center so I told her I would take her. We went and then we went to City Dinner for a late breakfast, early lunch. I really enjoyed this time. After that I went home and took the recycle items to the recycling place, and I went to the post office to mail a bill. I came back and completed my wash that I hadn't finished. While I was at the center I poster sized a blank calendar, so I hung it on the back door and began filling it in with my chores or activities that I have for the week. I'm working on making a monthly schedule. I fixed Fee lunch and now I'm going to prepare for my quilt session tonight. I really enjoy spending time with my quilting buddies on Tuesday night. I'm eating the elephant one bite at a time. I Thank God for His Love and Mercy. Until tomorrow . . . 

Planning and Preparation

I remember my dietitian saying that in order to change my lifestyle I had to plan and prepare. This is so true with everything you do. I haven't done this for a long time now, so that's why everything becomes overwhelming to me. I'm working on making these changes. A slow progression but one that will come to fruition. I'm really ready to eat that elephant one bite at a time. I am going to prepare three days worth of meals so that I am not rushing when I have to have lunch or dinner ready for Fee and me. I am also going to make a list of projects that I want to start or finish. I have to make a large calendar or grid and have it laminated so I can write down my weekly or monthly task. I will have it in plain sight. It will help me remember. Until tomorrow . . . 

Reminder to Self

This is just a reminder to me that I didn't actually begin on the first day of January. I began on the fourth day. I also missed writing on the eleventh day. So from this day forward I will write everyday until January 2015.

Schedule . . .

No matter how many times I say it. I still manage to put something on my plate that wasn't scheduled. I went to my nephew's basketball game. My sister told me about it, but I really forgot to add it to my plate. So yesterday morning she called and asked for directions to his game. That's when I remembered. I got up, and woke up Fee and got ready to go to the game. Now I'm not sure what I really had plated for the day but I knew this wasn't on the plate. After the game was over I went to buy the last two skeins of yarn that I needed for the hats. I was glad that I went to his game. To support his efforts, but because I hadn't scheduled this time in I didn't get up early enough to write my morning pages or other blogs. Then I wanted to finish the hats, so I stayed up half the night crocheting. Poor decision, but I'm satisfied with the end product. I'm still working on eating that elephant; one bite at a time!

Karen's Senior Quilters

Last night was my night with the senior quilters. This begins a new year. I can't believe it's been a year. I really like working with them. They are a real joy. I'm really glad I volunteered to help Karen. They are really enthusiastic about quilting. We had an addition added to the group. Now there are six ladies. Karen had a session on measuring and cutting your shapes. How to use a rotary cutter, ruler, and/or scissors to cut your fabric. The ladies have had several projects throughout the past year. Now they have to start completing some of their UFOs (unfinished objects).

Busy Day . . .

Got up late, should've been up at 6:30 that would have given me enough time to thoroughly write my morning pages. Anyway I did write a little before I had to leave out and take my mom to the podiatrist and she also had to have a CT scan. Which had to be done at the hospital. I'm so glad that everything in a close proximity to where she lives. Podiatrist appointment was at 9:15 and the CT scan was at 11:30. What are we going to do for an hour? Well we hadn't had breakfast, so to DD we went. We went to the Kosher DD down the street from the podiatrist. Oh, by the way her feet are okay. My mom's diabetic so visiting the foot doctor several times a year will be preventive care for her. When we got the hospital she had to register at the out-patient area before she went downstairs for the scan. We had know idea that she would have to drink some liquid stuff before she could have the scan. She was told that she had to drink three cups every forty-five minutes. Oh no! we were going to be there all day, however we only had to wait for an hour and she only had to drink one and a half cups of stuff. She frowned up while she was drinking it. Boy was she happy when this was over. So off to the grocery store another event that has to be done for her, but this time she wanted to go home instead of coming with us to the store. Off to the house we go. I drop her off and then to Shop Rite we go, my sisters and I. I can't believe that we spent over two hours in the grocery store, that's what happens when you don't have a list. I was tired and hungry. They tell you not to go shopping we you are hungry because you will buy things you don't need; So true! Finally finished, checked out and of course I spent more than I was suppose to. No more shopping for me. Dropped off my sister and off to my house we (Fajer and I) go. Carry bags out of the car, upstairs, now comes the most exciting part, ha ha ha yeah, I'm just kidding; putting away the food. Not only do I put away the food but now I have to fix a late lunch early dinner for my sister and I. It never stops! So as I sit and type this entry I'm having my lunchdinner. The day's not over tonight I go quilt with the seniors. I really like working with the ladies; helping them with their quilt projects. Maybe when I get back I can knit a little or start crocheting that hat. So until tomorrow that's if the Lord spares me tonight. :)  

Last Night. . .

I've been blogging since the fourth day of the new year. I'm going to record a years worth of my life; short recordings but hopefully fulfilling ones. I want to keep track of what I do. My day to day occurrences. So last night while I was with my quilting/sewing/whatever you like to create group I made a No Sew Throw for one of my grandsons. It's for his birthday. I have three more throws to make. I'm still knitting panels to make a throw for a friend of mine, and I still have to complete the rib hat by this Sunday. I want to give it to another friend. So as you can see I've filled my plate up again, but I'm doing each project one bite at a time. There was a time when I would literally be working on several projects at the same time, on the same day, and staying up very late to complete them. I'm working on weening myself from those days. It's going to be like a 12 step program for me because I always want to go back to what I'm use to doing. I truly think that blogging this years events will help me work on my goals for this year. My eating one bite at a time and letting go of things that I have no control over. Oh well, until tomorrow. . .

Slipped . . . and another Bite

Didn't prepare my dinner last night. Instead I went to Burger King, Bad Move! My sister didn't want anything to eat she wasn't feeling well so I guess that gave me carte blanche to eat out and of all places the King. One step backwards for 2014. It's okay as long as I continue to go forward. On the other hand; I am still working on my knitted blanket and I have to start the rib hat soon. I'm trying to eat that elephant one bite at a time. I've just added making fleece tie blankets to my plate. I'm making them for three of my grandsons. They have birthday's coming up, so that will be a gift from me to them. Oh well, and after all those bites I have to thoroughly clean my kitchen. 

How Do You Eat an Elephant?

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. I put so much on my plate and then become overwhelmed by it that I don't want to do any of it. I know I can only take care of one thing at a time it and I want to give it all my best. I think about how I'm on a roll with crocheting and knitting, but what's the rush. I need to make sure that what I am creating is my best and not a race to see how many projects I can complete. I realize that I've done this all my life. I take on so much and then get angry because I have to do it or because I promised that I would do it; what ever the task may be. I need to step back and take a long look at how I handle situations. And if I do take on these task I have to remember that I can only eat one bite at a time. Therefore this will ensure me that I will complete them all just not at the same time. I realize too that I procrastinate more when I have too much on my plate. My goal is to take my time and work on one thing at a time no matter what it is. 
So far this new year I've made sure that I have had wholesome meals, and I'm really working on cooking more non-processed foods.

Last Night . . .

I decided to begin my next project. A knitted throw instead of the ribbed hat. I have to knit seven panels 72" long and then weave them together. I'm working on my first panel. I added a yarn that doesn't really fit with the other texture, but I didn't take it out. As I knit the other panels I will not use that yarn again.

On a Roll

I'm getting a little better each day. Yesterday I fixed lunch and dinner for WP1 and Fee. It wasn't like Thursday's dinner everything was freshly cooked, but it was fixed and we did not eat fast food. My daily goal is to spend less, focus on the kinds of foods we eat on a daily basis, and try to complete on project weekly; if not daily. So far I've completed another hat and scarf. One day at a time is all I am asking for. I have three hundred and sixty-one days to go. Hopefully by the end of this journey or season I would have accomplished many of my goals. Each day starts a new goal.

Completed Projects