Just 3 Things | #26

What a busy week! There were lots of moments of enjoyment, for certain, but there were several tasks that just needed to get taken care of as well. I got the chance to view and listen to granddaughter, Lydia's spring band concert since her parents live-streamed it on the school's YouTube channel. There were so many beautifully played pieces and I am so glad that I didn't miss it altogether. Being in the online audience is not nearly as good as sitting in the room with the musicians and experiencing the notes bounce all around but it was still a nice concert and I didn't have to miss it. I also followed along to a couple or three ballgames of grandchildren's by logging on to Game Changer. I really wish I could be there for all their events, but with ten grands, that is almost impossible. Both teams celebrated wins, by the way, and our little players seemed to shine. One turned a double-play and one pitched a perfect three-inning junior varsity middle school game. I'm so glad that they are feeling a sense of accomplishment at things they love and for which they work hard to improve their skills. My volunteer works, our doctor appointments, and even our battle with the birds are tasks which take up time that might not have been a blip on our agendas in years gone by but do make things around here seem busy these days. 

- What I've Been Reading -

It just so happens that both of the books I've been reading this week include amnesia issues. I'm wondering if that is why I have been forgetting a few things lately. I'm still listening to Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera. I'm getting a bit better at listening but I still find that I am better at listening when I am taking a walk than I am when I'm multi-tasking and folding laundry, or cooking, or something like that. I guess that I've spent years of ignoring things and letting it be background noise and I don't really listen. I really like how Tintera reveals little bits and pieces about characters as time goes on. I also like that there are different formats and voices telling the story. At some points it is as if the podcast is revealing the story and at other times a character is speaking to tell the story. 

I'm also reading Caroline B. Cooney's Unforgettable. It is an alright young adult novel. I don't think it measures up to some of Cooney's other books. I think my personal favorite is Code Orange but I also enjoyed Flight #116 is Down. Many of my students loved her Janie Johnson series which began with The Face on the Milk Carton.

- What I've Been Loving -

I have been playing practicing different stitches and creations with my new piece of equipment - my sewing machine. I started off by adding a decorative monogram to some checked napkins that had been here for quite a while. I chose the design because I thought it was a good combination of adding decorative embroidery as well as lettering. 

I stitched the same design on six different napkins. Each one is a wee bit different from the other. I guess that goes along with custom work to a certain degree. Not a single one was completed without some sort of mistake learning experience. On the first one, I did not have a thick enough stabilizer under the fabric. For the second one, I accidentally tapped the stitch button after I had finished the design and it started all over again with the last color - blue. This allowed me to learn how to make the machine go back and start again after I had hooped up and loaded the next napkin. 

For the third one, I forgot to change the thread color. So, the blue flower wound up being stitched in green. On the fourth one I inadvertently skipped a color and spent a little time learning to cancel the design, reload it, and skip the colors that had been completed. On the fifth one, I honestly don't recall what mistake I made with the next one. For the sixth one, the bobbin ran out of thread. So, I had to cancel the design, remove the hoop, load a new, full bobbin, reload the design, and skip some colors. It was good experience and I learned a lot but it made the project go on for multiple hours instead of taking a bit more than an hour. 

I learned that this pre-made design would look pretty as a simple monogram without completing it by adding the flowers. Plus, I learned just how large the largest option for a ready-made design turns out. Since I had no new investment in the napkins and I was provided learning opportunities, I am marking it up as a good experience. Plus, I have some napkins that Mike and I can use every day that are pretty. Win! Win!

This is a somewhat larger learning curve than a lot of things I have done lately. However, I am truly learning loads and loving the precision and smoothness that comes with stitching with this new machine.

- What I've Been Working On -

I've been doing a bit of cleaning and organizing. I know that I don't want my new sewing machine accessories and supplies to get out of hand and clutter up the office. So, I have done some cleaning out to make space, shuffling furniture to make it more efficient, and sorting and organizing to make things most tidy and usable. I realize from watching my mother and daughter and their sewing endeavors that the different supplies need to be handy and easy to reach when one is stitching but also need to have a place to call home in order to keep the different pieces and parts from getting lost or broken. So, I'm in the process of moving a cabinet that my Daddy built into the office to be ready for a helper to hang it on the wall. 

I've ordered some storage tubs and begun to organize items as well. I'll create a separate post for that but there are just so many options and ways to organize threads, stabilizers, and other supplies. I sort of feel like that by planning and trying to get ahead of it all, I can keep things in better shape. I know that cleaning out and planning out organization really did make my remodeled kitchen work better and stay cleaner as we use it. Being organized also makes me look forward to jumping in a working on different projects, too.

I'm glad to have opportunities for volunteer work these days. Even though those volunteer duties tend to take more time than I ever dreamt they would, it is good to have purposeful tasks to take care of from time to time. Fulfilling doctor appointment commitments and such also seem to take up more time than I might have realized when I was squeezing them into a too-busy schedule. Now, instead of stopping off to have my eyes checked after work, I find that we are showering and dressing for them and preparing for them as if they are day-trips - and I guess they are. We give up our leisurely morning tea and news reading for grabbing a bite and dashing out the door. I am still ever so thankful to be able to schedule my time or just have a quiet day where the beds get made and reading a book and laundry fills the hours. So, our busy may not be the same as the busy-ness that we used to have or that our children or others now have but, busy or not, I'm thankful to be able to enjoy all of the experiences that become opportunities for us - online concerts, ballgames, as well as trips to the ball field or completing volunteer tasks. I could do without a battle with the birds but that is temporary, I guess, and better than having to trek off to work each day. I hope you have a restful weekend and thanks for stopping by!

Just 3 Things | #14

We are bracing for a BIG weather event and I'd be willing to bet most everybody I know is doing the same - no matter where they live, it is probably going to hit them in some way. Our trucks and machinery are full of fuel. There is plenty of hay laid by for the animals and we have heat sources to protect their water sources. We have plenty of food in the cupboard and in the fridges. Our prescription meds have been filled. So, we feel ready for whatever hits. Right now the meteorologists are predicting that we will start with freezing rain of some sort - either pelleted ice or rain that freezes after it hits. We would prefer the pelleted version, of course. Then, it is anticipated that we will get snow atop that. Here in the south, that can be problematic for folks who must get out and go about their lives and work. For us, it is just an inconvenience - I hope. What's the weather like where you are?

- What I've Been Working On -

Finally. Finally. I got the all the Christmas decorations packed up and stored away. The little kitchen tree came down a couple of days ago. (This was a planned and somewhat organized disassembly of the tree that had fallen three different times since it was first put up.) Yesterday, I felt fairly normal and decided that I had completely recovered from the creeping crud that has been lurking around here. So, I took down the big Christmas tree that Lydia and Luci had helped me to put up and decorate. I tried to organize ornaments as I took them off the tree - sort of. Upon completion, I told myself that next year I need to do a better job and have a better system. I also made note that I've got to figure out a better way for the kitchen tree before next year. I hope I remember that and my intentions to scout for a good organizational method for storing ornaments of all shapes and sizes and bead garlands and all of the things that go on the two trees. I also have plans for scouting out a better option for the kitchen tree. Another thing I did was go round the house and pick up all the twigs and bits of faux greenery and berries that I had tucked here and there and boxed those up. The little blue wagon that Mike insisted he needed last year was really handy. I could fill the tubs and boxes that I have for different decorative elements and stack those into the wagon and pull it to the basement entrance. It is so much easier than trying to trek up and down the stairs while toting tubs and boxes of stuff. A couple of wagon loads and I was done. I was also mindful of where I stashed the items I used for holiday decor this year and made a mental note that I need to take some time and go through all the decor I have and weed some things out.

By the end of the two trips out the back door and down to the storage room downstairs, I was puffing and gasping and coughing. So, normal is not the state I think of when all that is going on. However, I feel so very much better than I have felt at any other time during the month of January that I am sticking to my guns and saying that I'm recovered!

- What I've Been Watching -

We have been watching mindless television. We have streamed a couple of series using Amazon Prime and those have been a good change from the sappy movies of last week. Crossing Jordan with Jill Hennessey is one of the series that has captivated us. I recall watching an episode or two when it was on mainstream television but it has been an interesting series for seeing how things were during that time in our country and for seeing how technology has changed. It is not too gory or too predictable. So, Mike and I have made conjectures from time to time when there was a crime and chuckled with satisfaction when we were correct and raised eyebrows when we were not.

What I've really enjoyed watching has been college basketball - in particular, SEC basketball. I've watched men's games and women's games.  Of course, around here our blood runs orange for The University of Tennessee. It was good to see the different teams acknowledging the impact Pat Head Summit had on women's basketball. I always love to see the interviews with different people who were players she coached or folks who coached with her. They all seem to support the fact that she was a coach who was devoted to the betterment of the players, to the betterment of the sport, and to the attitude and devotion of putting in the work to be a part of a winning team. While watching those interviews, I often thought about how far things have come since she was a player; how far things have come since she began coaching at a very young age, and the number of young women she really made a direct difference for. I also wonder how the new NIL situation would have impacted they way she thought and how she managed her players and the game. 

- What I've Been Reading -

This week I did some serious reading. His Truth Is Marching On by John Lewis.  There were so many memories the book stirred for me and so many impactful statements within those pages. I think I am most moved by Lewis's afterword. Perhaps the most important paragraph of all said, 

"There are forces today in America trying to divide people along racial lines. There are forces today that are still preaching hate and division. There are forces today that want us to return to the old ways, to lose ground, to take our eyes off the prize. It makes me sad, for we don’t want to go back. We want to go forward and create one community—one America."

Yet, Lewis still encouraged hope, 

"We chose community once, in the 1960s, and I believe we can choose community once more...the means by which America redeemed part of her soul then can guide us now. When you see something you believe is unfair or unjust, you have to say so. Silence is not the answer. So much of what makes America truly great is hanging in the balance."

Many of us are asking what we can do to make a difference. Lewis's response:

"How to march forward? We all can study our history and thus learn what has worked in the past and therefore might just work in the present and in the future. We all can be trained to find our way or to get in the way. The teaching of individuals like James Lawson, Gandhi, and Dr. King lift us. They move us, and they tell us over and over again if another person can do just that, if another generation can get in the way or get in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble, I, too, can do something. I, too, can get in trouble for the greater good."

 

I don't know that I am doing much more than airing how I believe injustice is taking place or sharing my perspective on the current state of our world with those who have no choice but to listen to me. However, when the opportunity presents itself, I certainly have intentions of getting in the way or getting in good trouble.

I hope the snowmageddon doesn't bring big trouble for folks. I do hope it allows folks to take a bit of time. To take a breath. To enjoy the beauty of nature. To take a break from the demands of living in a positive way. Be safe out there and stay warm!

Patience and Organization

 After procrastinating, I finally painted the island. Then, I learned that I needed to let the paint cure for thirty days. THIRTY DAYS!?! 

Well, I did follow that suggestion. The items that had been stored on those shelves sat here and there and some perched on the dining table and were moved back and forth and around for all that time. 

Finally, the cure time was met and I sorted and have been reading through cookbooks. The reading continues but I have begun loading styling them back onto the shelves.

There is not so much styling for beauty as for organization and for storage. I love all the cheerful colors and happy titles. I also love that they are handy and can provide inspiration and ideas for good meals. Of course, we also stash other items there for easy access. Those items might not be so happy and cheerful looking but I'll concede that it is a good storage space for The Mister's necessities.

I decided that baskets would keep those corralled and would look sort of happy and cheerful as well. Most of the time nobody will even notice these shelves because we keep our small table that we dine at daily there.

Still, I know what's there and how it looks and it makes me smile to have a new refresh!

Today I noticed...I REALLY like digital accessibility!

I have become a person who really appreciates and looks for ways to make almost anything digitally accessible. 

Since my retirement, I have volunteered a bit in our local community. One focus of my efforts has been with the Nolensville Historic Cemetery. I am in the process of digitizing all of the records associated with lots at the cemetery. Each lot is assigned a certificate of ownership. Since the 1930s, the deeds and certificates of ownership have been on paper and need to be digitized. Each of the sales receipts, each burial documentation, each transfer of ownership upon resale from one owner to the next has been documented with paper. There are more than a dozen four-inch notebooks full of documents. So, I am in the process of scanning page after page of documents and saving them to cloud storage. Plus, I am linking each document into a couple or three spreadsheets to make searching for information more streamlined and easier. Already, we have found this to be helpful and efficient. 

Win! Win!

The other day, when our daughter-in-law sent me a photo and explained that she is organizing her classroom library, my immediate thought was that we need to enter that information into a spreadsheet so that she has a digital listing and can easily search her inventory.

We can use her color-coding strategies that she is applying, include the author's name, title, and reading level information, (and more) as ways to label columns. This will make it easy and efficient for her to search and sort book information.

Of course, I volunteered to help out with creating the spreadsheets. This sort off nudged me to notice that organizing and making lists and files and documents digitally accessible is something that makes me happy - and does the same for others!

Summer Project #2

While Luci was here for her Days, I decided that we needed a project to do that would keep her busy.  We usually do some baking or cooking together and after we had done that, I got her to help me with a cleaning and organizing project.  One of my cabinets had just become a place for all sorts of junk.  So, I decided we would do a bit of organizing of that space.

I really hate that I didn't get a before or even a photo of her pulling all that junk out of the cabinet.  I'm telling you it was a jumbled up mess!  We threw out lots and made a box for donations.  Then, I filled a bowl with soapy water and Luci took a cloth and scrubbed the shelf and cabinet really well!

She was such a good helper!  Then, I handed her a bin and asked her to test it out on the shelf and she was so proud that it was a perfect fit!  So, we put some empty jars into one and vases into another and she tested to see what would fit and what would not.  Then, I handed her things and she found the perfect place for them and we called it a job well done!

The cabinet holds odd jars, extra spice jars, antique bottles that I sometimes use for vases, canning jars, vases, the vintage juicer (that big metal thing behind the large bottle on the left), a bottle of champagne somebody gave us, and liquor that I use to make marinades.

When we finished, Luci asked if we were going to do tackle another cabinet.  So, I decided that while she was willing, we would clean the island shelves.  She got down on the floor and handed me all the cookbooks and pottery.  Then, she got to Mike's side and started fussing about "all his trash!"  He had a stash of plastic bags, some empty soft drink bottles, an old farmer's magazine, and his medications poked into a basket and a bowl.  

She sounded just like a little old lady fussing about his "mess" as she took things off the shelf.

Again, I fixed a bowl of soapy water and she took a cloth and scrubbed the shelves well!

We let them air dry and added the things back onto the shelves - minus the trash that she fussed about in Mike's little corner!  

One of the things we didn't put back into the cabinet was a stack of cups she found.  She told me that she had a good idea of what she could do with them.  So, she took them to the bedroom and closed the door.  After a few minutes, she called me in to see her creation:

After Luci returned home, the house sure did seem quiet without her.  Plus, I certainly did have a good helper while she was here!

Summer Project #1

Summer has traditionally been the time when I work on projects and get things done. Most of them are home-improvement-type endeavors where I'm organizing or repairing or updating or simply making something work better around the house.  My first project was out of necessity.  The drain hose for the dishwasher cracked and was leaking.  So, one day there was a puddle in the kitchen floor.  I mopped up and did some investigating under the kitchen sink only to find water standing under there as well.  First, I cleared everything out from under the kitchen sink and mopped up all the water.  I left it to dry overnight and called a plumber.  

In the meantime I went online and ordered some clear plastic bins that would organize the cleaners, jars, etc. that I store down there.  I was inspired by Ann at On Sutton Place.  She talked about how the handle made it easier to pull out the items that were in the back.  So, I found these nice see-through bins and ordered these as well.  After weeding out the junk and throwing some things out, this is how my tidy under-the-sink cabinet looks:

• The left-hand cabinet has a trash can and a container that holds dishwasher pods. (You can see the pod container there on the left with the green label.)  
• That is one of my scrubbing brushes sitting on a clear plastic coaster right in front.  
• The clear bin right behind it is 14.5" long and just fits in that space with only about a hand's width to spare.  In the front, it has a tub that contains silver polish, brass polish, tooth paste for cleaning spots on silver, and that sort of thing.  In the back of that bin are oils for my butcher block counter top and cutting boards and front porch rockers.  
• On the right, I have two of the bins with handles.  The one in the back holds some empty jars and a couple of empty cans that can be used to discard something like bacon grease when I need something of that sort.  The front bin holds extras of dish soap and hand soap to refill the containers on the counter by the sink as well as window cleaner and the gloves I use for hand-washing pots and pans.  I also have an empty spray bottle in it for when I mix dish soap and vinegar to clean things.

The next project turned out to be sort of a consolation prize.  I had hoped to redo and update our kitchen this summer but we decided that our budget just wasn't ready for that, yet.  Plus, there is the Coronavirus and we just didn't feel good about having folks coming in and out of our house.  So, I decided that I would just make the things we had work better for us!

I had gotten frustrated with spices and things falling out of the cabinet every time I tried to get something out for cooking.  It seemed that every time I reached for one thing, another couple of things fell out as well.  So, again, I decided it was time to organize and followed Ann's advice! I ordered more of the clear bins with handles that stick out, a couple of these turntables, and large jars and small jars.  I hate I didn't take a before picture but these two will give you an idea of some of the jumbled up conglomeration that I had up there:

I threw out things that were out-of-date or simply looked yucky.  I combined a couple of containers into one jar when I had more than one opened.  It was really quite rewarding to get this spiffed up! I wiped down the cabinet and shelves and placed the turntables inside and filled them up!

• The bottom shelf has spices that we tend to use most on the turntable.  The jars behind the black pepper container are baking soda, baking powder, and corn starch.  There are a couple of bottles of flavored oils and a bottle of vegetable oil along with salt for refilling the shaker and some vegetable spray.  All tidy and within quick reach when cooking.
• On the middle shelf, the turntable holds spices that we use less frequently.  On the right are jars with tea bags, cocoa mix, lemonade mix, and bottles of different extracts and flavorings such as vanilla, almond, maple, etc. 
• I followed the advice that I read online in several places and put the items on the top shelf in clear bins with handles to make them easier to take down.  One bin holds bar-b-que rubs and it is in the middle because it is most frequently used by Mike as well as me. 
  
  The one on the right holds sprinkles and sugars for baking with/for the Grands.
  

The one on the left holds extras for refilling the jars.

I smile every time I open this cabinet now!  Everything is easy to find, easy to access, and easy to return to it's rightful place.  

I still hope to update and revamp my kitchen someday and when we do I will still be able to use these bins and turntables and jars.  For now, making our kitchen work efficiently for us and tidying it up are good enough.

Randomness on a Tuesday

All our different family gatherings for Christmas are complete and this old lady is tired.  They hype.  The anticipation.  The excitement.  We took it all in and enjoyed every second of it.  The scurry and bustle of preparation and the enthusiasm and excitement of the little folks for the treasures hidden behind bright wrapping paper and tissue has all been absorbed.

This morning I wandered round the house gathering up stray boxes and bits of tissue that had escaped the first sweep a day or so ago.  I wore my sweat pants and Tshirt and a smile on my face as the memories of the grandchildren and children flitted through my mind.  Ah! The joys of young exuberance!  That is truly what makes Christmas memories.

I think of the pauses as we lifted up thanksgiving for the multitude of blessings we enjoy.  Everyone in the household stops and gives pause.  Then, we are back to living the life and enjoying those blessings to which we just paused and gave thanks.  The dollops and spoonfuls on the plates of the littles before doing the same for ourselves.  Next, we sit in fellowship and enjoy the bounty prepared for sharing.  The chatter and laughter ring out and warm our hearts.

When the last morsel is swallowed, we set aside our plates and move to perch in front of the twinkling lights on the tree.  Soon, paper is ripping and tissue is flying as treasures are uncovered and joy is exclaimed.  Oohs and Ahhs can be heard round the room along with statements like, "I've been wanting one of these for a year!"  The excitement can hardly be contained and toys must come out of the packaging as soon as humanly possible  Trucks and tractors are pushed and scooted along on the hearth and the floor.  Books are thumbed through in anticipation of the places the words will take us.  Clothes are draped across bellies and chests in anticipation of wearing.  Shoot-guns are aimed and scooters and toy trucks are rolled as knees scoot across the floor imagining bigger worlds of the future.

Then, the bounty is gathered up and loaded up.  "Take a little of this ham home with you for tomorrow."  "Can I leave a few of these cookies for you for later?"  The kitchen is cleaned and the food stored away while the bags and boxes are toted to the truck for transport.   Hugs and kisses are shared all around and then out the door they all go to their respective homes and beds leaving our house empty, quiet, and hollow.

We flop onto the couch and comfy recliner and prop our feet up to catch our breath.  After a bit the dust settles, the furniture stops rocking, and the quiet normalness of home returns.  We rest a bit and share some remembrances from our visitors.  Then, I wander round the house gathering up stray boxes and bits of tissue that had escaped the first sweep a day or so ago to store them away until I use them again next year.

When I was catching my breath, I noticed a few things worth sharing...

I loved this series and thought what a wonderful idea this was.  Maybe sometime I can wander through our little town to capture a similar series.  Or wouldn't it be fun to put together a series from years gone by?

I got quite a chuckle when reading this article.  Hallmarks which can be found in my own home.  Yep.  Every. Single. One.

As all the posts from blogs start populating my inbox, I noticed this one and wholeheartedly agree - I'm OK with a mess sometimes!  However, I have been contemplating ways to tidy up my pantry which has grown into quite a mess and needs some straightening and organizing.  I'm thankful that one of our children gave me a little jump-start with some large glass jars for storing staples and items in the pantry that will make it easy to see what we have and what might need to go on the shopping list.  I've saved some inspirational photos like the one here and made a note to myself that I need to get some of those baskets.  Or, maybe I should get some of those inexpensive wire shelves and flip them upside-down for my canned goods.  I also like the idea of the lazy susans used in this one.  So, now you know what one of my upcoming projects might be.

I noticed once again that I need to do something to make my cabinets more organized and have the out-of-the-way items that we only use occasionally easier to access.  To be honest, I'm getting too old and am far too out-of-shape to be crawling on the floor to get things out of the bottom cabinets.  I thought number 23 in this post would be an inexpensive fix for just that.  (I also like 3 and 20.)  I'd like to have one of these made instead of having a drawer where all our knives are stored and knocked around on one another to dull.

Just when I was chastising myself for just rambling and not getting more accomplished, I stumbled upon this post and was affirmed that rambling can be a good thing sometimes.  Happy randomness and rambling to you today!

Had a Helper

I had a little helper while one of the grands was here for her Days.  I enlisted her assistance to clean and straighten my napkin and placemat stash.  I do hate that I didn't take a BEFORE photo.  There was a jumbled up mess in the lower half of my Granny Cabinet.  Honestly, it sort of looked like I had opened the door to the dryer!

Lillie sat in the floor and pulled out stack after stack and pile after pile of cloth napkins and placemats.

I sat in a nearby chair and sorted and created a give-away pile of those things I rarely use.

Neat stacks of napkins!

Then, we organized and stacked things back inside in a more organized fashion.

Tidy stacks of placemats, napkins, and fingertip towels used for napkins or placemats

Now, I just need somebody to help me sort through, clean out, and organize the junk on the top of the Granny Cabinet!

Bridgette took a few of the things out of the give-away pile.

I took a set of baseball placemats to Harris for his enjoyment.

The rest took a trip to Goodwill (at least a garbage bag full).

A day or so later, I got this photo from Bridgette in a text message along with the message:

NO YOU CAN'T HAVE THESE NAPKINS BACK!!!

Cleaning and Organizing

Well, we have entered the new year and I'm thinking about and beginning to organize my pantry.  So, I have been gathering ideas and pinning them to my kitchen board.  I guess I actually began the process with some intention this morning when I poured the grits out of the flimsy cardboard storage container from the store and into an over-sized canning jar.  

I thought I'd better label them so I wouldn't forget what the contents actually are and the instructions for preparation.  So, I found these printable labels  and added the information to them.  Maybe that is what I need to use...Now, should I print that onto a sticky label or simple card stock?

Should I glue it to a little wood tag and tie it round the jar or stick it to the jar itself?  Do I need to put the instructions on the back side of the tag or on the back side of the jar?

More organization needs to follow once I formulate my plan!