Thursday, January 16, 2014

Really Random Thursday, 1/16/14

I'm not really one who makes resolutions, but this year I decided to choose a word. Or three. I can't seem to narrow it down. I started with this one (you can check out other words here).
Then decided "aspire" was better. Or maybe "achieve." I have a list of things I aspire to achieve: To actually finish some quilts rather than just start one after another. Learn how to use the manual setting on my camera. And then become at least somewhat proficient in Photoshop. And organize all my digital photos. *sigh* I have trouble with follow through. I probably should have chosen "commit." What about you? Have you chosen a word?

I always seem to get inspired to organize as soon as the calendar turns to January. I had hung my Starbucks mug collection in the laundry room and when I started exchanging "you are here" mugs, I needed more hooks. I marked and drilled. It ended up looking like this.
 However, in the process of drilling up through the bottom of the cabinet, my drill bit went completely through the wood. Into a bottle of ammonia. Oops. I thought Mark would be kind of irritated. He just laughed. But the mugs look great, right?
We are having some electrical work done, which was not even on our radar. Until the other night when we smelled something hot and electrical. Our media power strip plug. Yikes. It was scary. We are in the process of having all the receptacles updated.
I love this picture. Our almost 2 1/2-year-old superhero grandson doing a puzzle with my 86-year-old father.
 So I was downloading all the pictures off of my iPad. I hardly every take photos with my iPad, mostly screen shots. And then forget about them. This was from a few months ago. With Captcha you mostly get nonsense words. I got this one:
Our son asked me to make a pillowcase for a college friend who is pretty much part of their family (ever since Christa was her third grade teacher). He ordered the fabric himself and everything. I found this pattern, the Bob Pocket Pillowcase Pattern by Dog Under My Desk. The pocket for a cell phone seemed perfect.
The funniest statement a few weeks ago, especially coming from our son: "Hang on, I need to check on my fabric order...."

And I'm also working on these blocks (the pattern is "Waiting" by Crazy Mom Quilts). Yay for self-threading needles to get all those threads to the other side.
 Friends invited us for dinner and this was the centerpiece. So simple and beautiful.
An Instagram friend tagged me when she saw someone had made my Neon Ninja block from the
Modern Bee book.
Mark and I went to the coast the other day as he had to meet some clients who are doing a house remodel. It was a beautiful day.
 I did a little knitting (perfect knitting bag made by my good friend using her daughter's fabric.)
 And we had lunch while watching the waves.
Since I seem insistent on taking these wine glass photos, I'm going to start a gallery at the top of the page and start documenting what and where. In the meantime, this seems appropriate:

 Indeed.

Your turn.


26 comments:

05 08
Quilt Art Design said... #

Love your "waiting" blocks - going to be interesting.
I totally agree with the prayer at the end.... seems legit.....
Janeen@Quilt Art Designs

Teje Karjalainen said... #

Hi! Wonderful and fun post! Your mug collection is impressive! Good idea also to collect the wine glass photos! Thank your for hosting great party! x Teje

Lucy | Charm About You said... #

The electrical stuff looks really scary! Very sensible having them all done. Love the generational game playing :) Your blocks look gorgeous and you are very patient to pull all those threads through. It will be worth it though. Lovely words for the year, mine is 'better' - which can also be achieved through coffee and wine ;)

Susan said... #

Love that last quote! Very true....

pcquilter said... #

Learn learning the settings on my camera has been on my list for as long as I can remember! Take the camera and books on vacation and use either the point and shoot feature or the small camera. My word for this year is accomplish....

Erin Quinn said... #

Oh that electric burning thingy would freak me out. I love the photo of the socket though. They look like little faces. The top one is surprised and horrified, and the bottom one is opened mouthed with shock as to why he has a black eye ;-) Ok, I'm a little crazy...
Lovely bunch of random today!
E xx

Anonymous said... #

What a fun read - except for the electrical stuff. Been there. I can't commit to just one word so I'm choosing a new word every month. I think I'll add 'decaf' and 'pinot' to the list. Take care, Byrd

M-R Charbonneau said... #

Love that meme. :) Glad to hear the electrical is getting sorted out before something more serious happened. That drilling thing is totally something I'd do. :)

Sara said... #

Ah yes using manual on my camera and using Photoshop a little better wpuld be wonderful wouldn't it?! :)

In response to the electrical outlets in your house, isn't it frustrating sometimes when things pop up out of nowhere just when you think you are on top of it and ahead a a few dollars or so?? ugh......I have that going on right now with a couple thing sprouting up out of nowhere. i.e. getting my backflow tested on my house that is a necessity once a year, getting my hubby's like new Dodge Challenger in for a look over to make sure everything is good, getting my car key fixed because it fell just hard enough to break the shell part...blah,blah,blah

Spermatozoa made me giggle and so did your son checking on his "Fabric" order:):)

Terri said... #

It can be hard to stay focused and follow-up! especially when you have such fun hobbies and interests. I often have to force myself to finish something, or set aside time to get a project or task done.

I'm always working on sorting and organizing my digital photos. There's just so many. I learned a tip from a customer at the Apple store who said he burned each year's worth of photos to a DVD for backup, which also freed up space on his hard drive.

Your mug collection is fun! Do you use them? I used to collect mugs as souvenirs when we traveled. But now I'm thinking about simplifying and just getting as set of plain white or clear mugs.

ChristaQuilts said... #

Ha ha! such fun things you are sharing this week! Yes, your mugs look great and I love the black/bright combo of your waiting blocks!

Rachel said... #

That knitting bag is super cute. I love the button handle idea!

Cathy O said... #

Superhero with grandpa......priceless♥

Terry Johnson said... #

Love what you share in your blog. I would have done the same thing with the drill. Glad your husband could chuckle about it. Glad your home is safe with the electric issue.

Mrs Flying Blind... said... #

Still shuddering at that plug socket!

Katy Cameron said... #

Ha, I thought I was the only one saving things up! Eek on the plug, I have also had that smell once, and never want to again!

charlotte said... #

I love your randomness. Every time it makes me smile.

Lorna McMahon said... #

I chose the word ENCOURAGE. And I encourage make up your mind! Ha, ha!

Anne / Springleaf Studios said... #

Love that last phrase. Pinned to my inspiring words board. Good for a laugh. I am so with you on needing to commit instead of starting one thing after another with few real finishes. haven't chosen a word but am thinking about it the more I read what others are doing.

Farm Quilter said... #

Love the Waiting blocks...but why are all the threads on them? I can't tell if they are quilted. I love the self-threading needles for burying my thread tails when I quilt. Really love the picture (but substitute tea for coffee)!!

Vicki said... #

I love your stories and pics! I'm so glad that your plug didn't burn while you were at the coast.

Susan at TheBoredZombie.com said... #

You're always so busy! I'm always interested in what you're up to. Thanks for sharing it all! :)

OPQuilt said... #

I don't drink coffee or wine, but I smiled when I saw that last quote. Perfect ending for another great Random Thursday post. I'm glad someone's using your block--it's wonderful. And I love that centerpiece, too. Did she have all those colors of roses in her yard?

Elizabeth

DaisyLiz said... #

I agree with Susan - you're so busy! And I love how small the quilt world seems to become to me - Susan's in my local guild! I wanted to comment because you mentioned you wanted to learn how to use the settings on your manual camera. I've recently really enjoyed Brian Petersen's Understanding Exposure (I may have misspelled his last name). He's written a couple of great books on photography. My word for the year is "curate," and so far it is going quite well. Cheers!

FlourishingPalms said... #

So I'll be interested to know if you settle on a word... and whether you find it difficult to stick to. I like the Origami Owl tags, but the company doesn't make any of the words I'm looking for. Had to go to Etsy to get custom-made ones. Sure like your friend's dinner table setting. I need to cut loose with color like that, rather than sticking with "home decorator safe." How many You Are Here mugs do you have!? I've got only three, but they each have special significance. I sure do like the size and feel of them. Funny about the ammonia bottle you punctured. You probably wouldn't have done so well if you'd actually aimed for it!

Sarah said... #

I can't settle on words or resolutions. Just set myself up to fail! Probably focus or commit would suit me, in the sewing arena anyway. Glad you found the electrical fault early. My BIL had a house fire two years ago caused by the same thing. A bad power point. He wasn't home and luckily someone driving by saw the fire early before it got hold of the whole house. Fortunately only one room suffered significant damage. Was still horrible though.