Fickle Friday #2

Yeah, I know; it’s not Friday. But this was what I was going to post yesterday except I was too sick to get on the computer. So if you’ll just forgive the 24-hour lapse, we’ll call it good. Fickle Friday is going to be a bunch of little thoughts or comments that have been building up all week, or have just entered the picture.

Yup, girls can’t go alone.

CaTT (cat toilet training) Update:Both cats are using the CitiKitty on the toilet for #1. Someone (or both) is often using it for #2. Though we did have an incident today, which was not their fault. Since I was sick yesterday, I did not get a chance to check on them and clean up. So this morning when I checked, the CitiKitty tray was full of clumps of #1. And there was a #2 deposit on the floor in the bathroom. I wasn’t upset because it was too dirty for them to use the tray anyway. I was pleased (if that is possible) that the deposit was right next to the toilet. So I think they are getting it!

I just finished reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Wonderful book, but made me sad that this behavior occurred, and probably still occurs in many areas. I grew up with little direct knowledge of racism. When I moved to Florida in 1985, I was shocked to find it so prevalent. And when the local news reported that one of the high schools was going to have its first integrated senior prom–in 19fricking85–I was flabbergasted!
Can’t wait to see the movie.

Drum roll please. This blog just received its first award!!

The goal of the award is to spotlight up and coming bloggers who currently have less than 200 followers. The rules of the award are:
1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.
5. And most of all – have bloggity-blog fun!

So let the fun begin! I sincerely  thank Cheryl at Kangaroos of the Scrubby Bush for presenting me with this award. And if you have not been to her blog, please go now and read about Merrilyn, the kangaroo. You won’t be sorry.

This is a difficult decision because a couple of my favorite blogs has lots of followers, thus breaking the rule. So without further ado, here are my top 5 picks that I’m selecting for this award.

• Back to Boise is a new blog written by a friend who has a wicked sense of humor.
• Quilty Goodness with the Ottos inspires me to get back into quilting and playing with my embroidery machine. I thank her immensely!
• Momma Be Thy Name is a blog I just started reading. The author has three little ones under two; how does she stay sane? Read and find out.
• I’m Having the THAIme of My Life is a blog about a young couple living in Thailand. Fascinating stories across the world, and beautiful pictures. Besides, they have a rabbit and a puppy as pets; what more could you ask for?
• Young American Wisdom provides a constant reminder of the wonderful, silly, inane things kids say. If you need a kid fix and a quick chuckle, this is the place to be.

Quilting Envy

I started this blog as an effort to make myself more accountable for getting my life back on track. The first goal was to get the house cleaned up so I could relax and be less stressed about my lack of action. Wahoo — that has been working fairly well and the house is presentable for company! I now only have two more rooms to do: the quilting room and my bedroom.

I’m especially eager to get the quilting room done because:

• I miss the sense of completion when I finish something. Of course, I would never admit that I have over 20 unfinished projects, so that is quite the challenge.
• Quilting fulfills my need for order, balance, and symmetry.
• Playing with colors opens up unplanned options and helps reduce my over-planning anxiety.
• I like love it!

So my immediate goal is to get the quilting room back into order and ready for action. And as a personal inspiration, I have been seriously thinking about what project to work on first, and priority for other projects.  Am not going to share that now because even thinking about it would interfere with the clean-up activities. However, this is a block for a bed quilt for a dear friend. I came across it while moving boxes around. It’s inspiring for me; think I’ll just temporarily hang it on the wall to keep me on task.

Tracie's quilt-to-be

Wish me luck for a quick clean of the quilting room! I want to quilt!

Clothes to Sell ?

Daughter has been working hard on cleaning her room. And I spent some time today going through the clothes she decided to part with. Am astounded at the amount of clothes she’s getting rid of: t-shirts, pants, sweaters, pajamas, sweatshirts, hoodies, hats, and so on. I hung up the nice stuff on hangers and packed the rest away until the August garage sale.

As part of the garage sale, I also plan to get rid of some of my books, I think for now I will leave them in the bookshelves as I don’t have any place to store them until the garage sale. Am also considering putting my tons of quilting magazines out too. I don’t know if anyone would want them, but maybe so.

One of the best things about getting some of this stuff all packed and ready for a garage sale, is that I’m sorting through stuff in the sewing room too. Am getting excited about quilting again! And what could be better timing since the recipient of one of the little quilts I was working on will be visiting July 9.  I have the top done and the back done; just need to put them together and quilt it.