Day 913

There are so many things I love about my life. One of my most favorite is the time I get to spend working on charity quilts for kids. It always makes me thankful for my circumstances.

Joy is a choice.

Day 912

Today found us sleeping too late to see the balloons over Boise. Strawberry pancakes. A cold french dip sandwich. A training at school. Melted then frozen miniature candy bars. Receipt of a chastising email. A late afternoon-evening nap.

And cheerful fabrics in a quilt.

Day 911

If there was a messy way to decide on colors for a quilt, I think I found it. Lately it seems I pull all kinds of fabrics off the shelves and out of the drawers to make my decision. We'll see how many of these fabrics actually wind up in this next little girl's quilt.

Day 910

We've been skipping all over the menu to get finished up. This one is #20, Camarones al Mojo Ajo.

Day 909

Another little baby step on a quilt for a little guy in Alaska.

Day 908

Every day is a blessing. The universe works in my favor and knows what is best for me. It was confirmed again today.

I received an email this morning canceling a meeting that was scheduled at my second job (or is it my third?). That meant no driving, no dress clothes. A day in my home by myself, a day to work through infusion side effects. An unexpected semi-free time day.

It may have taken me forever to make tonight's dinner but I did it. If I didn't have today to myself I wouldn't have been able to pace myself like I did. The first meal I've cooked in ages. Oven baked chicken, homemade oven baked onion rings, some frozen veggies, and the easiest (and most delicious) homemade peach cobbler.

Day 907

When I dragged myself in the door yesterday I found that a new set of pictures came. Pictures from the military base in Alaska. Pictures of kids and dads and moms in the service. Pictures for me to put into quilts.

Then today I kept rubbing and reading my tattoo - a way to get myself out of bed, a way to motivate myself to try to overcome post-infusion side effects.

Put the two days together and I made it to the sewing room long enough to pick out some of the new fabrics to use in one of the new quilts.

Baby steps.

Day 906

I finally got proof that there is an owl close by. A single feather left on our patio.

Day 905

I wonder which picture would win a bizarre picture contest.

A close up of a drop of water on the tablecloth at today's meeting or the infusion I had after today's meeting.

Day 904

I got to kitty cat babysit at our place in Boise last night. While kiddo's kitty got in a bit of trouble by trying to jump on a kitchen counter during the night it sure is hard to scold her.

Just look at those eyes! Such a doll.

Day 903

While going to Boise for meetings isn't my favorite thing in the world, I do get a chance to spend time with my daughter. And today was a special shopping day. Me, kiddo, her fiancé, and her maid of honor. (I'm told it isn't all that unusual for fiancé to be part of this kind of shopping these days.)

Today was wedding dress shopping. Kiddo tried on several dresses, finding something good - and not so good - about each one. She's such a gorgeous girl they all looked great on her (yeah, that's a mom talking), but she easily narrowed it down to her favorite. While I'm forbidden to share her perfect choice she did give me permission to share some of other dresses she tried on.

Day 902

Selling on eBay is good because you make money off your clutter.

Selling on eBay is bad because you have to make frequent trips to the post office.

Making frequent trips to the post office is good because Alejandra's is about 10 steps away.

Being close to Alejandra's is bad because we're getting near the end of eating through the menu.

Being near the end of the menu is good because then we'll get to go back and eat some of the items that were our favorite.

Getting to eat some of the items that were our favorites is bad because there were too many to choose from.

Just look at today's choice. Fajita steak. Covered in peppers, onions, and melted cheese. Yum.

But look at that other picture that looks like a white rope. The bottom of the "rope" is the steak and the top of the "rope" is my fork. But it isn't a rope. It's the melted cheese. Have you ever seen anything like that?!

Day 901

You know dinner is going to be good when hubby says, "I was thinking Alejandra's."

Sizzling beef and shrimp fajitas for us to share. Just look at the bubbling hot concoction. Oh, yeah!

Day 900

No big excitement on this big day. 900 days of taking a picture a day. Who knew it would go so long? Certainly not me.

I guess there was some excitement. I had forgotten I bought a bag of cotton candy at the fair on Friday. It's been sitting in my car since. But today when I woke up from my nap and headed to my recliner hubby had taken out of the car and had put it in my chair.

It was like Christmas. (Or like day 900 I guess.) Who knows how long it would have stayed in that hot car before I remembered it!

Day 899

We love having a daughter who works at Macy's. While she doesn't get an employee discount (she'd have to have a store credit card and she stays away from those), she still knows when the good sales come on and which rack to find the best bargains. And with hubby needing new school pants and Macy's having a one day sale, today was right for a nice savings.

Just two pair of expensive pants for under forty dollars. How expensive? Take a look at how much we DIDN'T pay for them.

Day 898

I had a hard time settling on my pictures today. See, today for the first time since kiddo was in elementary school, we went to the Western Idaho Fair.

When junior high started she had volleyball practice. When high school started she had volleyball practice. When college started my knee was on the verge of replacement. When she left college the knee was finally replaced but then so many health issues arose for me I never could get back. Until today.

So thanks to scooter I went from one end of the fairgrounds to the other more than once. Kiddo, hubby, me.

Good food, good fun, great project ideas. Just look at this dollhouse that looks just like a quilt store! And for food, how about an ice cream potato? Vanilla ice cream rolled in cocoa powder to make it look like a potato. Cut it down the middle, add some whipped cream to mimic sour cream. Add Oreos and nuts. Oh, so tasty!

Day 897

It turned out better than I could ever have imagined.

Inside my arm, just above my left wrist. A constant reminder to me that despite all my health issues - all my pain, all my huffing and puffing and not being able to catch my breath, having to rely on a scooter to get around; despite the infusions and chemotherapy and all the side effects that go along with them - life is here to be lived.

And I intend to live it.

Day 896

After my meeting in Boise today I made a stop. The picture gives a big hint as to where I'll be spending some time tomorrow after my next meeting. I'm going for it!

Day 895

Kitty has the right idea. Sleep on top of the comforter. Don't forget to cover your eyes to block out the daylight!

Day 894

In a break from the expected, dinner in Marsing tonight was not at Alejandra's but at the pizza place. Too bad hubby doesn't like au jus. If he actually dipped his sandwich he would have realized it would have made it oh-so-tasty. You can bet I would have dipped his delicious melted brisket sandwich! (He didn't give me the chance.)