The apples did not fall far from the tree

I've been totally lazing in bed this morning and not getting my butt up to write the blog! It's OK to be lazy every once in a while. 

My presentations went well yesterday, except that I brought the WRONG cable for the projector, so I had to run out at lunch time to buy a new one. That irks me as I have plenty of these cables at home. So it's a lesson, don't just grab and put in the bag - double check the ends! I have no one to blame but myself. 

At the end of the day, I literally threw everything into the suitcase and now it's a bit mess, so I'll have to sort it out before the next presentation. So many samples cross various topics - it's not just a clear cut preocess. And sometimes, you're not sure what you are going to need. 

OK -- so you all know about my Mom and her hoarding tendancies. Actually my Dad is probably up there as well. 

I have struggled with hoarding, but never in a huge way. Or am I kidding myself on that one? Anyway, I recognized it a number of years ago for two reasons. One, we had the water leak (the first one) in the basement, where we were super lucky as nothing was damaged. We had a second leak and again, nothing was damaged, but we are on our third floor in that space. 

The second wake-up call ws when we had to start moving the parents and cleaning house. 

I wasn't sure when I started this entire decluttering/organizing thing, but it's been a while. At least ten years. 

Last night, I was chatting with my brother and his wife and we were talking about the purging thing. They asked if I had seen their dressing rooms. WHAT???? I did NOT take pictures to protect them -- LOL. But seriously -- they have converted TWO of their bedrooms into dressing rooms - his and hers. Let's just say that my jaw dropped when I saw that. It is beyond my comprehension. 

What is worse is that many of the clothes they no longer wear or won't fit and yet, it's difficult to get rid of them. I was speechless. So that prompted me to find the blog post where I purged my closet at home. That was in 2014. Here is the link if you want to see that exercise.   OH -- dare I say that they have already given away some of their clothes. Yep --- they have a LOT of clothes. 

After that conversation, I am itching to get home and repeat that process as there are a lot of clothes in the closet that I'm not wearing. Yes -- it's time for a complete overhaul on what clothes are remaining. I'd like to get it down so the amount of clothes will fit into one suitcase. I know that sounds a bit harsh, but I mostly wear the same thing day in and day out, so I don't really need much variety! 

Around home, I'm usually in a t-shirt with a bicycle on it. Sadly, some of them are starting to show their wear and I really want to make a t-shirt quilt from them. So it's time to retire them. And there are some t-shirts in the drawer that I constantly pass over, so those need to be culled. Yep --- I feel a purge coming on, but I won't have time until October to make that happen. I have ZERO issues to keep stuff if I'm using it. And I've noticed brand new clothes in my closet still with price tags on. So I either get rid of them or I start using them or they are gone!!!

So during our upbringing, those apples fell right at the trunk of the tree. Now if I were to rank the siblings in order of who has the worse hoarding tendancies - older brother first, younger brother, and then me. Based on what I've seen over the last couple of years, I'm miles ahead of them in getting rid of stuff and how much stuff is in my house. It will take them a long time to catch up to me!!! I might just even tackle that office. 

I have to be home in the month of October as DH is having some surgery and will need some assistance, so I have an entire month in which to get things tidied up!!! Phew -- that makes me feel so good and knowing that I'm going to be getting rid of more stuff? I'm practically chomping at the bit to get home. 

Yes -- it's time to get realistic about what is left and I bet I can reduce what I have by 50% or more. So I'm going to use that blog post as my guide and go through. I reread that post and I think there are some things that got put into those baskets in the closet and have NOT been touched since I put them there ten years ago. That is NOT good. 

WHOA -- that was a bit of an eye-opener!!!!!

However, one thing that my SIL kept was this. 

One of my first quilts

This is a quilt that I made for their first born - back in 1999. It was one of my first quilts and they kept it! I had always wondered if they kept it and once you give it away, you can't ask. It looks like it has been used and hopefully they will give it to their son when he has kids. Of course, he may not want it, but you never know. OH -- and it's hand-quilted!!! Not a lot of quilting, but still!

Here's the label. Hand decorated and written!!!

The quilt label

This is one of the samples in the store (Black Rabbit) and it's an embroidered Halloween quilt. It's so adorable. I need to get home and get out all the rest of my Halloween stuff!!! I need to hang up my Haloween quilt that took so long to do!!! I need to get home - I'm motiavated and I'm not home for days!!! 

Halloween quilt

Now here's a cool idea that the local (to here) teacher made to protect the screen on her Designer Epic. She made a quilted wrap. I love it!!!  I need this as I'm not one to put the machine back in the box for transport, and I use a quilt to wrap it in. This would be a lot easier!1!!

Screen protector

OK -- so here is my task to you! Get prepared because (if I can remember) we're going to have the second edition of the great clothes purge! And it's going to happen in Otober. It means you're going to have to empty all your dressers, closets, under-the-bed-storage tubs and wherever you have squirreled clothes away. 

We are going to sort them and then decide what stays and what goes. This is something that has to be done for almost all of us. I'm going to compare pictures from this time to ten yeas ago. Hopefully that initial pile in the middle of the floor will be a lot less that it was ten years ago!! I also need to buy a new pair of jeans because the ones I'm wearing now have a big hole in the knee - yes - I kow it's the style these days, but the rest of them are becoming a tad too thread bear for me. So new jeans are in order. 

Get prepared!!!! 

On that note, I'm out of here. It's a travel (by car) day and so I'm hanging out here in the mountains until lunch time. Hopefully I can remember to get some pictures of the view!!!! And I might stop and take a few pictures on the drive. 

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

In the beginning

How could one pass up such a beautiful day? I abandoned everything in the house and spent the entire day outside! I think I came in around 8 PM when it was starting to get chilly. I know! Not a single twinge of guilt!

I started the day by heading out on the bike. Managed to ride 46 KM. It wasn't warm when I went out in the morning but that's OK. It was beautiful none the same. There were loads of cyclists out. Probably more than I've ever seen in one day around here. And the traffic was practicing physical distancing with the cyclists so that made life a whole lot safer!

I stopped for one picture. The last time I was out, I went along this same road and there was this herd of sheep by the side of the road. No fence, just a herd of sheep. BUT there was also a SHEPHERD with them. Same thing yesterday. Seriously?? Who knew that people still did that? I don't think it was the property owner (the house looked way too fancy for the likes of the shepherd! but I shouldn't stereotype!).

A shepherd and his sheep

I hadn't taken any snacks with me so I knew it would be a shorter ride. I dared not attempt to eat anything on the bike or my darn crown would fall out! I even stopped for drinks as I had visions of the water bottle touching the crown, knocking it loose and the crown falling out only to be picked up in the tread of a car tire before I could rescue it. I was very careful!

I moved out to the gazebo when I got home where I listened to my audiobook, did a bit of ripping, and tucking ends in on the serged seams of the pet mats. And oh yes - I had a nap. Which is hard to do when you have those big headphones on. I couldn't move my head sideways and well - apparently, it wasn't pretty! Thank goodness, I didn't' drool.

I'm reading the Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance which is read by the author. Hmm - I've yet to see the point of the book. It's another memoir by a boy who grew up in the hills of Kentucky. OK -- so he was dirt poor, had a terrible family life, and turned out OK. Well, I guess I just need to get to the end. Let's just say that I don't think a memoir should be read by the author. I don't know why - I just don't like it.

So as you can guess, I didn't get much sewing or quilting done. Am I worried? Nope - it just means I'm going to have to work a little bit harder each day this week to catch up. I've committed to a lot and it ALL has to be done this week!!! Oh well - it's going to be rainy so do I care? Not in the least.

When I dropped the sewing machine off the day before, I knew that Karen would have no supplies. And how bad would that be to drop off a sewing machine and NO SUPPLIES? So I ran around the house to find stuff for her. I had some supplies that were given to me with just this purpose in mind. I had a long ruler, a rotary cutter, and a big cutting mat that got passed along to Karen. I gave her a smaller ruler as well. A spool of thread, snips, seam ripper, pins. I found a couple of extra magazines (I know there are more, but I was in a hurry) and I knew I had two copies of this book so she got that as well.

Two magazines and a book for Karen

I found one of the nicer pieces of upholstery samples and threw that in the bag along with a bunch of fabric samples that she could use to practice cutting and sewing and make something out of. She lives close to Thimbles and Things so she can pop in there at some point and get herself organized if she needs other stuff.

Upholstery sample

There's the bag of goodies that went with the sewing machine.

A goodie bag for a new quilter

That felt good to get rid of some of that stuff. It was all very good stuff indeed, but Karen will get more use out of than I will and it was all duplicate stuff so I won't miss any of it. 

I want to share something else with you today. I also gave Karen this book. Singer Quilt Projects by Machine. It's still available even though it was published in 1992. I started to seriously quilt in 1998. I've no idea where I bought the book, but I suspect it was Fabricland since I had no idea quilt stores existed.

Singer Quilt Projects by Machine

This was my bible for quilting. It's been sitting by the computer for quite a while as I wanted to share with you where and how I learned to quilt. Giving it to Karen meant it was now time to do so.

I opened the cover and found this receipt taped inside. Hmm! This was dated February 11, 1993. So it can't have been for quilting. I suspect this was the fabric that I purchased to make a duvet cover and drapes, but even then, the dates don't seem right. Plus the yardages wouldn't have been correct since I purchased a LOT of fabric to make drapes. And no - the pattern on the fabric was very simple, but can you imagine the dust? M wasn't born so it was nothing for her. I've no idea. But it was purchased at the Fabricland near me so who knows. 

A mystery receipt from Fabricland

When M was moving to her big girl bed (a queen), I thought it would be a great idea to make her a quilt. A BABY BLOCK quilt. See -- there's the pattern in this book.

Baby block quilt

So I did go to Fabricland and purchased three different colors of a chintz fabric. White, and two shades of blue floral. You'll see in a minute.

This quilt also started my desperate search to find specific rulers. The book used this EASY SIX to cut the diamonds required for the quilt.

Easy Six Ruler

I don't remember where or how I searched for that ruler. Keep in mind that we didn't have easy access to the internet like we do now. But I found it! And I cut and cut and cut.

The Easy Six ruler in the project box

I guess I could say that this is my oldest UFO. I made two placemat-sized pieces that were for her night tables.

My night table covering of baby blocks

There are pieced sections in the box, as well as blocks (three diamonds sewn together), diamonds, and yardage. I wonder what I should do with it? I could cut everything that's there and make something as big as I can make it. At least use up all those cut diamonds. I bet my seams will be a bit neater. Yes -- I put a lot of work into this project - I should finish it! Or at least use up what's in the box.

Bits and pieces of the baby block project

I also found this that I was going to use as the label for the quilt.

Original label for the quilt

So what did I do with all the fabric once I realized that I was in over my head with the Baby Block Quilt?  (This is also known as the Tumbling Block quilt).

Back to my Singer book and I choose the Ocean Waves quilt. I'll use the same fabrics and that should work. And there's my Ocean Wave quilt inspiration in the book.

Ocean Waves Quilt in the book

 Here's my version of the quilt. And yes - it's queen size. And yes it's finished. All the stitch in the ditch quilting was done by Carol Cunningham. I had her leave the center white square unquilted as I was going to HAND quilt something in there. Well, that didn't happen, so I ended up machine quilting something in those squares.

Ocean waves quilt

I don't think M ever used it on the bed. It took me a long time to get it finished. But it even has a label on it!!!

I ended up taking a quilting class with Mary Dodd. I finished my first project in her class and before the class was over, I was onto a second quilt. Back to my Singer book where I was intrigued by this quilt.

A pieced sashing

I loved the sashing and thought the gradations of value were extremely clever (still love that today). There was also this picture of using bright colors for the sashing.

Bright colored sashing

Well - I liked that a lot and this is what my quilt looks like. Look at those wonky log cabin blocks. I've no idea where that idea came from. My sashings were made from striped fabric, but LOOK how they match up at the cornerstones! Oh - I was hooked!!!!

My second completed quilt

I think you'll love this next picture. I wanted to stitch in the ditch and I had NO IDEA what that meant. This is my attempt at the stitch in the ditch quilting.

My first attempt at Stitch in the ditch quilting

You gotta love that. This is why we keep those first quilts. It's hilarious and I guess I can say that I've come a long way!!!!

There was also a section on string quilts so that was always in the back of my mind and I've done loads of them. I do love making string quilts.

Instructions for String-pieced quilts

 There was also an excellent section on machine applique. You can't beat those pictures. They were excellent.

Great pictures on machine applique

 I don't want to say that everything I learned about quilting, I learned from this book, but it certainly influenced my direction in quilting and YES - I learned so much from this book. Even though the darn thing is almost 30 years old - it's a very valuable book. I hope Karen gets as much pleasure and knowledge from it as I did. Of course, there were many other projects in the book, but I didn't do them all.

 Even though I did a lot of walking yesterday, I did some without the dogs and that alone made a huge difference. I've just come to the realization that they are too unpredictable to take for long walks. If only I could communicate that to them.

We passed the local high school and saw this sign in the window. The world is just in a very weird place right now. Things are getting back to normal slowly. But will it ever be the same normal? I doubt it!

Sign in the local high school

But we're strong and resilient and we'll make it through to the other side! DH was on the golf course yesterday. The system crashed when they attempted to book their tee time. They finally got something like 5:20 PM. I don't think they cared - they just wanted to play golf. I know all the golf courses I passed on my bike ride were jammed!

On that note, I'm off to cut and sew and write and take pictures today. ALL day - no slacking!

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!


Don't forget if you want to participate in the Virtual Retreat that you should be getting your stuff ready to make the most of the sewing day. I've always found that prepping takes forever and then you have no time to sew. The dates for the Virtual Retreat are May 27 - 31. I'll be hosting a ZOOM meeting all day from 9 AM EST - 9 PM EST. You're welcome to join in and share what you're working on. If the connections are good - we can chat all day! I'll be posting the links for the ZOOM meeting nearer to the event.

Tidy up time!

Really? What's with the weather here? It's above zero - the snow is melting in the dog park and if it keeps warm like this, it's going to be one big mud bath!  No!!! We can't have that!  Although, it does make for a pleasant time at the dog park when it's milder, two muddy dogs???   ICK!

So let's talk about labels for a quick second. I made this quilt a couple of years ago.

Baby quilt

Someone gave me the cut off bits and not knowing what was going to happen to them, I made half square triangles from them. Then I made pinwheels. It took a while to find a matching yellow for the quilt and then the border. But this is what I ended up with. And to think that a good part of it came from something that was going to be thrown away!   It was quilted last summer (2015) and the binding put on.  I was going to give it to someone, but never got around to making that happen. At last, it's going out the door but to a different recipient.  I want to make that other baby a different quilt!  I washed it last night so the recipient wouldn't be shocked when they washed it.  It looks beautiful!

The question is - how to label the quilt. The person receiving the quilt isn't a quilter, probably won't value it as a handmade quilt - it's a favor to DH. They don't really need or care for the how and why this quilt was made. There is no pattern involved, I just made it up!  So does it need a label??  I decided that it does NOT need a label. BUT I would like it to have something to identify who made it without a formal label.

My friend Lorna (Sew Fresh Quilts) has been using these labels on her quilts and I decided that for some of my quilts that this kind of label would suffice.

Nice way to label a quilt

Honestly, I think some of the younger crowd would appreciate a label like this since it looks like a purchased item rather than a hand made item.

I tried to order my labels yesterday and the darn web ordering system didn't like my postal code!!!!   Sent them a message and going to try again after the holidays!!!

But pretty cool - don't you think???  On Monday, I'm going to show you something else that I'm doing with this quilt and it all ties back to The Task Master and getting stuff done. My quilt will go out into the world with NO label. I'm OK with that.

What am I putting on my labels??  You'll have to wait until I get them and then I'll show you.

I'm not sure why I'm so put off with Christmas this year. It's not like I don't want to have anything to do with it. But one of the local radio stations started playing Christmas music ALL the time at the end of November. I can't handle it. I switched back to my other radio station from time to time, but I can't stand one of the morning people.  I NEVER switch radio stations, but I'm doing it a lot these days.  Trying out yet another radio station. Might have to get audio books for the drive to and from work!

Anyway, the radio stations are FILLED with ads - buy this, buy that! And the sales!  There are PRE-BOXING day sales.  It's enough to drive one to madness.  I'm EXTREMELY happy with my decision about Christmas this year.  I plan on sewing all day, well except when I'm at the dog park and the movies!  The pressure on EVERYONE to buy presents, have dinner, spend time with people they don't like (well - and people they do like!)  but - I just don't take this kind of pressure well any more.   Oh my GOD - I'm my MOTHER!!!!!

As I was browsing my book case to find the next book to read, I came across this book.

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

HA!!!   Someone gave it to me years ago and this is the perfect time to read it. It's fast and easy - I'll probably be done by tonight or tomorrow.   Yep - I agree with everything they've said so far, but I know they slip and end up celebrating.  What tipped the scales for them???   When I'm done, the book goes in the give away pile so if anyone wants it.................


And look what I found in the book.

Chickadee magazine

Good grief - that must have been a LONG LONG time agao.  Let's check the date??

September 2004

I think it's time to move on!!!!   Nuff said!

I'm making good progress at reading the books on my shelf. While it doesn't look like it, there are major holes.  I'll maybe have a recap one day in the new year. As I've mentioned before, a lot of my books belong to a series  (and they are sorted by author on my shelf!). And people have given me books (NO - I don't want any more!) and so I find out the next book in the series and if I have it on my shelf, I'll read it. If I don't, then I get it from the library.  Today, I lucked out. I checked TWO series for the next book - one had to be ordered from the libary, the other one was on my shelf. I should count the books at the beginning of the year and see how many are left at the end of the year. Not that it matters, just curious!

I'm making great progress on that darn project!  If I were to count ONLY the part that I wanted to have done by Friday, I'm almost 1/4 done. If I count the additional part that I located in the studio, then I'm 1/6 done!  Not to worry, I'm making progress. The old me would have moved on as this is VERY fiddly. But I think I can get it all done by Wednesday AM????   That's my new goal and I should be able to meet that deadline as I have the next FOUR days with nothing to do but sew!!!  Well except for the dog park and the movie!

One of those days will be spent with a few friends sewing in the studio. You know what means......

The studio from one direction

And the opposite direction

 I would say a bit of tidy up time is in order.  I'll do a little bit everyday. It alreadys looks better after about 20 minutes. Every spare bag will be called to duty to make the tidy up happen.  Now if I could only find a hiding spot for it all.  Then I could pull out ONLY what I'm working on.  I doubt that is going to happen, but we'll see what we can do!

On that note, I'm out of here to get some work done!!!!  I'm debating whether I keep working ONLY on that fiddly project or do I swap just to get a break.  Hey - I could quilt a quilt. Yep - that's what I'll do.

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

BTW - I do believe Lexi was at the computer earlier this moring.

The ROOT of all evil!!!

Oh boy - another crazy day!!!

I am not sure if I LIKE having quilting friends or are they the ROOT of evil to me???

It started "badly" when Sandra came to work on a quilt on the long arm. When she showed me the quilt - I LOVED IT and so much want to make one like it.

Sandra's scrappy quilt!!!!!

Detail of one block

Another block detail

I have done stuff like this before - it is a style that I first saw with Gwen Marston - Liberated Quilt Making.

Liberated Quilting II by Gwen Marston

Here is my box of "liberated quilt" materials. The one I made was in solids!

OH DEAR - that just lead to something REALLY BAD. I thought I would get a picture of the liberated quilt picture. I know it is in the buckets of  "quilts to be quilted", but which one???

In case you think you have a lot of tops to quilt - these tubs are filled to the brim with quilts that need to be quilted. JUST MINE - I found the liberated quilt in the fourth tub, but while I was in there, I labeled the tubs. Guess how many are in the tubs on the right hand side?????   

I counted 49 quilts to be quilted. Each has the binding and backing already to go!!!   There are table runners, wall hangings, lap quilts and a couple of queen sized quilts. The stuff on top of the stack on the right needs to have the borders/bindings etc complete, but I think the group of four tubs and what's on top on the left is already to be quilted. Then there are two more tubs (you can just see them peeking on the left of the photo) and a laundry basket - those need borders/bindings and backings and they too will be ready. I might resurrect that project in 2014. Every week, I set the goal to finish the borders, binding and backing of ONE item.

Good thing I am MOTIVATED to quilt some of my own stuff these days!!!!!!!!!!! That is a LOT of quilts. If I said there were 150 quilts to be quilted in that area, I don't think I would be off by much!!!!    Never mind what has not progressed to that stage yet!!!   That is STAGGERING!!!!!!!!!!!   And Helen Anne - I only came across ONE PATTERN - the rest are nameless. Better correct that!!!!


Well here is what I went searching for -

Liberated quilt

There is a new book with a similar technique that is all the rage these days - called 15 Minutes of Play by Victoria Findlay Wolfe

15 Minutes of Play (sorry Amazon - I scooped your picture - I do have the book, but didn't want to take the card out of the computer to take the picture!)

Now if you remember my scrap boxes - they would be perfect for this kind of thing. But WAIT A MINUTE - what about that big bag of scraps that I haven't had a chance to finish sorting yet!!!!   OH GOD - hold me back!!!!!!!!!!!!    I grabbed the bag, and the 15 Minutes of Play book and threw it on the pile of stuff I am taking to the retreat. More on that in a bit - maybe tomorrow - I am running out of time this morning.


Last night was our guild meeting for Mississauga. First we had an AMAZING display of the Block of the Month. Mary and I are meanies in that we are not giving out the pattern unless we know the members are actively working on their quilt. So they have to bring it in for show n tell.

Linda is my tester and here is her FINISHED TOP - Sorry Mary - Linda FORCED me to give her the entire pattern!!!!!

Sorry - this is so small, but just a sampling of the different colour ways. They are ALL going to be stunning quilts. The colours people have chosen make me want to make a second one or maybe a third or a fourth - oh STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then we had members show n tell. And Heather showed this quilt that I LOVE. I didn't get a picture of her quilt, but here is the link to the pattern on Moda Bake Shop. I have to say that Heather's look way better than the original. And I know EXACTLY what to make mine out of.

Stacked Squares

And then our speaker was talking about quilts that she has made using Japanese techniques - Sashiko, scraps using Japanese fabrics AND quilts she has made with fabric that she dyed Indigo Blue. WELL - I just so happen to have a bag of fabric that I dyed Indigo Blue when I was at school.

My Indigo Blue

When I was at Sheridan College in the Textile Program (which I would love to do again!!! - I didn't finish the first time - GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!! but it was my own fault.

Anyway - they would set up a vat of Indigo Blue from time to time and we could dye our little hearts out. I find the dye is VERY unstable and you can get blue on EVERYTHING very quickly. I must check with the speaker how she stabilized it. You can wash it and that does stabilize it, but you lose the DEEP DEEP blue colour.


Here's an update on those baby quilts................

The top of the second pieced one is done (well it was done days ago)

This is what I had left over after I put on that scrappy border

Second one quilted

Binding DONE on the first one

Binding on and hand stitching started on the second one

Binding for the panel cut, quilt is trimmed, but that is as far as I got

and CRUDE - look at the leftovers I have!!!!!!!!!!!    Almost enough to make a small quilt. 

 So the other day we had embroidery club at my house. There were eight of us and that meant I had to do some tidying.

Room for eight for hand stitching. 

But LOOK at the other side of the room!!!!!!!!!!!!    Actually it isn't that bad. A very organized chaos. M said I should just lay a big quilt over it and no one would see the bits and pieces!!!!

Shoved all the paperwork on one table

But look - the ironing board is clear!

And the cutting table holds the baby quilts!

Of course, that was a couple of days ago - the room looks completely different yet again!!!!   Well not that different, but already some stuff is DONE and gone.

Customer quilt

Quilting detail

Customer quilt

Quilting detail

And I got the binding on a quilt to take to the guild last night.

Binding on community project quilt

Hmmm - seems like I didn't do much yesterday. Well - I did and I will tell you about it tomorrow. I also had a few library books from the guild that I had to finish reading!!!   Oh yes - we all leave it until the last possible moment. I try - I really try to keep ahead of the game. There is just so much exciting stuff that I want to do it ALL!!!!!!


And if I had less stuff to shuffle from table to table - that might help????   Anyway - this HUGE basket keeps rearing its head. I finally had a peek in it and what did I find?????

|Big basket of ???????   ( I knew what the fabric is designated for)

BUT - I found a bag of PRE-CUT pieces - ready to make HOPSCOTCH patterns. Oh goody!!!!   I threw that on the RETREAT sewing pile. 

 BUT I also found this in that basket.

More FQs and the scraps for the borders. Hmmmm - do I need to cut this???   How many quilts are in that bag of pre-cut stuff?????

 So I went to the dentist the other day about my tooth. Here are a couple of facts to keep in mind when you read this story - I have VERY low blood pressure and I RARELY take medication. After THREE tries, the technician finally gets an X-ray of my tooth. The dentist comes in and throws the X-rays on the big screen in front of me. Hmmmmm - we seem to have the start of a problem here. Yes - that tooth has an abscess and needs a ROOT CANAL. I could have cried.

I HATE HATE HATE needles - I HATE HATE HATE root canals (although it has been years since I had one). He asked me what I am taking for the pain. Hmmmmm - Oh - that would be Advil. How many milligrams???  I have NO IDEA - I don't look at that stuff. I said the gel-caps so he said 500 milligrams. (when I cane home and checked the bottle - it said 400!!!!)    But he gave me a prescription for antibiotics - DO NOT ask me which one - I NEVER check that stuff or if I do - I don't retain it. And he gave me some stronger pain killers.

Now those pain killers are to be taken with food!  And there is a good reason for that. They can cause upset stomach, dizziness and drowsiness. I had been doing fine until this morning. I thought - hey - I am feeling up to going to spin class. I could feel my tooth this morning so I took the pain killer with my pre-spin class snack. Oh boy - that was NOT enough food. Soon I was feeling pretty crappy and thought I had better NOT go to spin class. For fear that I would either pass out, fall asleep, or throw up or all three!!!!

So I have learned NOT to take those little white pills UNLESS I have a full stomach.  I am finally starting to feel better.

Speaking of blood pressure - I stop at Shopper's from time to time  and take my blood pressure. It is always low - this week - 95 over 62 - pulse 57. According to my chart that is VERY borderline, but it is in the ATHLETE category so I feel I am OK. I so want to put 10 of those readings on one of the cards and hand it to the pharmacist so they can calculate my 10 year risk of heart attack!!!!   The one time I did show the pharmacist my reading - he didn't believe it!!!!

Anyway - I have LOADS more to tell you, but I have to get to work. And I think I will be working slowly until this med situation settles down. And for some reason - my tooth is VERY SENSITIVE. I can't even put ANY pressure on it. Oh crude and I don't go for the first treatment until the 19th. Oh happy day!!!!


Well - high ho high ho - off to work I go.


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1