What Makes Me Happy?

 Earlier this week I was asked to pick a word that described or defined me. I chose JUGGLER. I've written about it before, but the suggestion made me rethink it, and I realized that I am happiest when I am juggling several things at one time, and moving forward with each thing. 

Now, don't get me wrong, if I have too many things up in the air, or if there are deadlines that are out of my control, or if my time is limited, then the juggling may produce stress, and that brings no joy at all. I do not thrive on stress.

But, this week I juggled a number of projects. I worked on cleaning up our lanai and front porch. The weather is perfect for sitting outside, and the oak trees are finished with most of their pollen production that results in a coat of yellow dust on everything! I worked a bit in the garden, pulling annoying weeds, removing some plants that didn't make it through the winter, and repotting and replacing a few plants to fill the voids. I wrote a letter to a friend; a real paper and pen sort of letter! And, I worked on quilting a few quilts on the long arm machine and sewing pieces of fabric together for another quilt. 

Working with the long arm machine has brought me the most satisfaction this week (I think!). I am getting to the point where I know what buttons to push to tell the machine what I need it to do. And I can do this without laying the manual out on the quilt next to me so I can follow each step, moving my finger along the text! Today I am finishing my "Pinwheel" quilt. I finished the top of this quilt two years ago. What I especially like about the finished quilt is that I changed it up to make it mine! This is the original pattern. 

I used fabric that I had purchased at Missouri Star, the publisher of the pattern, in 2016!

So, here it is 2026...ten years later, and it looks like I might actually finish the quilt!

Once I finished the quilt in 2024 I realized that I did not care for the open spaces in the middle of the stars. That's where I changed up the pattern! I ripped open the seams and inserted folded triangles in a way that made the four pieces look like a child's pinwheel.

I knew when I put those pieces in that I would have to be careful quilting around them. I didn't realize that I would be telling a machine not to quilt around them! 

Here's a closer look at the pinwheel. You can see how the foot and needle of the machine could easily be tripped up by the pieces of the pinwheel. 

Here's a shot of the computer screen and the block.

On the screen you might be able to see the red line forming a square, set on point.

That's where I told it not to stitch....

and it worked! 

I'll soon be on the last pass of the long arm quilting machine. Thus, I will need to roll the quilt up, one more time and realign the needle to where the quilt is now positioned. I'll need to redefine the edges and the bottom of the quilt, and push "Start". 

If all goes well....my quilt will be sewn according to the design!

My Bonnie Lies Over the Long Arm

 I finally completed the 'flimsy' of Lupine and Laughter, Bonnie Hunter's 2025-26 Mystery Quilt. 

Ta daaaaa!

And, of course, no quilt is acceptable until it gets the 

Two Corgi seal of approval!

(and is thus blessed with Corgi glitter)

Iron Deficiency?

 During the pandemic I became enamored with online auctions. I didn't go overboard with it, but I did come across some interesting finds. One was a collection of toy irons. I have since added a few toys and salesmen's models since then:

While we were in Asheville I came across another iron. 

I asked the Mister if this should become part of my collection,

because obviously, my collection was lacking!

The iron was created by Reed Todd a quirky nod to the

"flat iron" building in Asheville, built in 1927. 

Escape Room

I had never participated in an 'escape room' adventure until my family came to Lake Lure. It seemed like a good family activity, and it didn't disappoint! 

We participated in "Merlin's Apprentice" at Lake Lure Escape Games, helping fairytale characters solve riddles in order to escape. We were led to a room with a large, central console. The console had drawers and doors and lights and sounds that all did their thing if we touched the correct buttons, in the correct sequence. There were interesting objects and illustrations on the walls that may or may not have been clues. We were asked not to take pictures so as not to ruin other's fun, but I had to take a few (and they didn't really give away any of the puzzles!)

For just over an hour we rolled up our sleeves and worked together to solve a number of puzzles. It was so much fun to watch the family interact. Everyone participated and each of us played a key role in solving one or more of the puzzles. 

Puzzles were presented on various sized panels,

and a reusable tablet was provided to jot down notes.

Ah hah! 

Chris thinks he has found something...

Could it be over there?

Yes! 

This has to be it!

Yup! 

We rocked that puzzle!

We ultimately solved all of the puzzles, 

needing hints on two of them.

.... most important,

we escaped the escape room!

Truth be told...

it took us slightly longer than the allotted hour,

but the puzzle master wanted to boost our egos!

Lake Lure Escape Games has another 'game' - it takes place in an elevator in the '20s

That sounds like it might be fun for a group of our contemporaries...

maybe we should have a 20's themed party and participate in escaping from the elevator!!

What Were They Thinking?!!

 Seriously?

It makes one wonder!

Last year we bought a used motorhome. When we transferred our belongings from the old motorhome to the new-to-us motorhome we realized that the new-to-us RV didn't have the vacuum accessories. Odd that someone would take them off when they traded in the RV, but, OK, so be it. We took the accessories from the RV we were trading in, and then found out that we needed a different hose.

I finally ordered it. It was delivered to NC where we stayed last week. I could vacuum. (And with two Corgis, I must vacuum!) 

Yesterday we were packing up to head home. The new-to-us RV is going to stay on the lot in NC. As I mentioned, I was packing up. I needed a few shopping bags to transport our stuff. I usually fold them and toss them behind the seats in the RV. 

There I was, practically standing on my head looking for the bags behind the seats. The one I was specifically looking for was my large blue IKEA bag. If you have shopped at IKEA, you know. It's a great conveyance for clothes. It holds a lot. 

So, as I said, I'm practically standing on my head, and I see a corner of blue material peeking out from a space under the arm rest of the chairs. I reach down and tug. Tug some more, and ever so slowly I pulled out .....

a bag of vacuum accessories! A bag of brand new, never used vacuum accessories! 

What?! The former owners never vacuumed? The former owners never had an occasion to practically stand on their heads to search for something behind the seats? The former owners never saw that little piece of blue poking out from a space that extends under the arm rest, and can ONLY be accessed from the back! 

Brand new vacuum accessories:

Where they were hidden:

I can't fathom the thinking that may (or may not) have gone into the decision to tuck away the bag of accessories in that location 

A Magical Spot

A picture just doesn't do it justice.

This is our special grotto, with a bridal veil fall of water

that looks like strings of pearls. 

What you can't judge in the picture is that everything 

above the heads of my son and grandkids rises vertically. 

The picture makes it looked steeply sloped, 

but drips from the top most ridge fall on the lip of the ridge below it,

and they fall on the edge below,

and so forth, until the last drips fall into a small pool behind the kids. 

It's a short, but fairly steep hike to get to the falls.

I spent a few hours earlier this week trimming laurel out of the way

for most of the ascent. 

Our son made comments about how neat it would be to create a walkway,

perhaps with a little bridge, and some steps,

all leading to the falls where there would be a small bench

to rest on and enjoy the water music. 

The Mister and I had similar thoughts over the years!

 

Picnic Rock

Then...

My sons, David and Chris

1997

Now....

My grandkids, Kellan and Lex

(That's poison ivy up there...Kellan wasn't too keen in sitting down!)