My cellphone was down to two bars last night so I put in on the charger overnight, and then turned it off so a random sales call wouldn't wake me up.  But this morning the phone wouldn't turn on, so a trip to the Verizon store was penciled in for later in the afternoon.

This morning Lisa helped me with my iPod mini - and now (I think!) I can put music and podcasts on it and will be able to take it with me to the gym (when I eventually get around to going more than just on Mondays with Jim.)

We went to brunch at The Eggery (where The Good Egg used to be.)   The restaurant has been totally remodeled, and seemed bigger; I'm pretty sure they knocked out a wall and added another store that used to be there.  In any event now it's much more open, bright and airy.  Lisa and I loved our breakfasts, though Tom was not as happy with his.

Then it was off to the airport to drop off Lisa after taking a couple of pictures.

 

Once we got back I headed over to Verizon, where it turned out to just be the battery. Somehow (?) it had come loose, and taking it out and putting it back in seemed to fix the problem.  I did have her check the charge (did not want it to die on me again) but she said it showed a fully functioning battery.  And I was certain I was going to need to buy a new phone.

Since that hadn't taken long (despite the crowdedness of the store I was seen within about 15 minutes) I headed over to Acura, not that far away, to see about fixing the plastic panel that had broken off.  The tabs used to attach it had broken off which is why Tom was not able to reattach it himself.  

They didn't have the part in stock so new one needs to be ordered, and will be in Tuesday. As I was getting ready to leave I thought to ask what the panel costs, which turns out to be $75.  The reason they hadn't mentioned it is because the car is still under warranty (until 50,000 miles) so there won't be a charge.  Pretty pricey bit of plastic!

Jeannie and Patricia just invited me out for dinner as I was writing this up, so that's the reason for the paucity of pix in this post.  Hope you're not too disappointed!  And no time to proof-read before I post.  So I apologize for typos, etc.

I started yesterday morning off with a chat with Mom 

and we caught up with all the 'news' at each end.  

It always makes me remember how Dad used to stress out about the length of our long-distance calls, saying, "You talk like you're right next door!"  I finally got him to understand that that was exactly the point, and was worth the few dollars it cost to not feel so far away!  

And of course now it doesn't cost anything.

I made more progress on the book challenge quilt, but now have to wait until Wanda comes over on Tuesday to help me start the next phase.  Mom and Lisa, both of whom have seen it, have approved. 

The exterminator came yesterday, and Alex was already at work so I finally got to see his new living room arrangement.  (He'd invited me over the other night when Lisa went over, but I figured I'd let them visit alone.)  It looks nice; I approve.  Mom: I'll take a picture (after Alex gets up for work) and share it with you.

We had lunch at Wildflower (delicious, as always) and were glad we got there before the usual noon rush.  And now I have yummy salad leftovers (mine and Tom's) for lunch today.  Lisa ate all of hers.

Lisa loaded the podcast app and then showed me how to put podcasts on my iPad.  Now I just have to find time to listen to them....!  Should have asked her to help me with the mini, so I could listen more easily at the gym (when I finally get back into going other than Monday mornings.)

Yesterday afternoon/evening we had irrigation, so naturally there was a chance of rain in the forecast (although that didn't actually happen.)  

Of course by this morning the water had already all soaked in (triple digits will do that) and you'd never know to look at the yard.

I grilled steaks for dinner last night, though there was a 'slight' delay getting started due to a towering inferno (because of 'leftovers' that had dripped down below from when Tom did all that chicken last week.) I should have taken a picture, but this one is pretty damn close - really!

Alex was thrilled to be invited to dinner (I did peek in the fridge yesterday when I was over there, and it was pretty empty.... not even full of beer) but Lisa missed her last supper because she was out with Bailey.

I started HRC (Rachelle was reading it when I visited her a while back) which is about Hillary's time as Secretary of State, and I'm learning all sorts of behind-the-scenes stuff I never knew.

Today we take Lisa to the airport to start her next adventure, 

in San Francsico.

Got started on my Book Quilt for the Foothills challenge (due in October) and I'm pleased with how it's starting out.  I brought the squares I'd stitched together to The Other Quilt Shop to match fabric, and Sheri swooned over it; she wants to track down the fabric for her store!  This challenge is going to be so much more fun than the Ugly challenge - and will produce a quilt I'll want to keep!

But now comes the hard part: applique!  Wanda is going to come over on Tuesday and help me.

Unfortunately I can't share any pix of the quilt until October, after the voting (our quilts are supposed to be a surprise.)  But I "might" give updates along the way...

We took Lisa/Chas's furniture over to Scottsdale (to be stored at his folks' place) and visited with Sue while we waited for Alex to get off work (at 8:00) and go for a late dinner.  Since Chuck is out of town during the week, we invited Sue to join us.  The 5 of us had a very pleasant evening at Touch of Thai. 

My analog watch has a date function, but since many months don't have 31 days it's very easy for the date to get off track.  

Not that it really matters, because I really don't look at the date on my watch (the numbers are tiny plus there's a scratch on the watch face right over that spot that makes the number even harder to read.)  But on the ride home from Tucson on Tuesday I noticed the date was way off (by a couple of weeks!) and since I had nothing else to do I decided to fix it.  I ended up winding the stem for well over an hour, and figured I might end up with a blister on my index finger.  And yesterday I was sporting a fair-sized blister as a reminder of all my 'hard' work.

Carol has been mucking out her sewing room, and yesterday she brought in a large stack of completed tops to donate to Busy Bees charity.  After Monica and Mel had finished showing them to the group, I asked what the protocol would be if we wanted to buy one.  (I don't have a Carol Quilt.)  So for a $25 donation to Busy Bees I came home with one.  (Can you guess which one?)  That started an avalanche of  sales, and when all was said and done there were only a couple left going to charity - but our treasury (used to buy more fabric/batting/backing) is healthier.  

For Show&Tell I had brought in my UGLY quilt (the ladies had heard about it and been wanting to see it) and they all liked it.  Obviously there's no accounting for taste!  And then Carol said she wanted it, so now it's going to hang in her sewing room.  I will not miss that ugly thing!

By the time I dropped Carol off and stopped at the store for some melons I was dragging - have not been sleeping well - and so watched a little TV while I waited for Lisa to arrive from Tucson.  I was just about to drop off when she got here.  So no nap for me.  She was a tad stressed out from everything, and also had not been able to locate her car registration paperwork.  The original may eventually turn up at some point,  but I saved the day by calling DMV for her to start the process for a replacement.  Within a minute (!) I had a real person on the line and was directed to the correct website.  I merely entered the info (license plate, VIN, and her driver's license # - plus my credit card for the $4 fee) and then printed up a duplicate registration.  One less crisis in her life.  Even I was amazed at how fast/easy it was from start to finish.

Jeannie picked me up at 5:00 and we had dinner at Claim Jumper and then headed up to Cheri's (in Anthem) for book club.  Everyone (including me) had enjoyed the book, although I was not terribly impressed with the actual writing.

The Whip is inspired by the true story of a woman, Charlotte "Charley" Parkhurst (1812-1879) who lived most of her extraordinary life as a man in the old west.  As a young woman in Rhode Island, she fell in love with a runaway slave and had his child. The destruction of her family drove her west to California, dressed as a man, to track the killer.   Charley became a renowned stagecoach driver for Wells Fargo. She killed a famous outlaw, had a secret love affair, and lived with a housekeeper who, unaware of her true sex, fell in love with her.
Charley was the first woman to vote in America (as a man). 

Also enjoyed the food.  I had brought honeydew slices, which go with anything, right?.  But Myra, the group's 'resident' baker, had made s'more pastries from scratch, and they were indescribably delicious!

Nothing on for today other than hanging out with Lisa.

We had uneventful drives to/from Tucson towing the trailer, and shared a delicious lunch with Lisa while we waited for the movers... who were supposed to get there in the early afternoon (I waited at the house 'just in case' while Tom and Lisa picked up lunch), but didn't arrive until very late in the afternoon, long after we'd loaded up the trailer and left.   And then there were (unknown) additional snafus, so last I heard the movers were still there, and Lisa unfortunately had to cancel her "saying goodbye" plans for this evening.  Moving is never easy, but these movers certainly did NOT help the situation!

Shortly after Tom and I got home Estera and Julianna came over to deliver a dozen fresh eggs (the shells are lots of pretty colors.) They stayed and visited for a while, and we had fun playing with the blocks and ball.  Wish I'd snapped a pic or two... but <sigh> didn't even think of it.

By mid-afternoon I was working on a headache (maybe I didn't drink enough water today in this heat?)  Tylenol has helped some, but not gotten rid of it.  Hope it's gone by morning; I have a full day!   

Mopped all the floors yesterday but otherwise didn't get much done.  I do like how it feels on my bare feet; sweeping just doesn't give the floors that 'crisp' feel.  

And today we're off to Tucson again to pick up some of Lisa's furniture that is not going to San Francisco.  Sometime today the movers should be picking up all that is going. 

or maybe not...

Didn't get as much done yesterday as I'd planned (gee, that happens a lot...) but at least got most of the front yards mowed before the mower quit on me.  Tom got it fixed while I was running errands, and then (lucky for me) had finished up the yard by the time I got home, which was a pleasant surprise.  

We are now all set for irrigation Friday.  With a toasty week ahead of us it will be most welcome.

Dinner and Mexican Train originally planned for last night at Jeannie's got cancelled (she woke up miserable with a sinus infection) but Tom and I feasted here on his BBQ chicken and very sweet corn-on-the-cob.  The price of corn had dropped and Tom remarked that it was best 15 cents he'd spent in a long time.

Even though I pigged out and ate lots of chicken, there's still a LOT left.  

I see a number of yummy chicken dinners (and lunch today?) in our future.

This morning I got an earlier start to the day than I had planned.  (That happens a lot also <g>)  When my phone rang at 6:45 I was still asleep (at first I thought it was my alarm, set for 7:00) since I'd been up quite a bit during the night.  Turned out to be Alex, who needed a ride home from Scottsdale.  He'd gone to a concert yesterday, and 'somehow' in the aftermath partying/drinking got separated from his DD ride back here.  

We made it back home by 8:00, at which time I had breakfast, took a shower, and then actually made it to the gym with minutes to spare (after letting Jim know I might be a few minutes late.)  I worked up a sweat, and I may be sore tomorrow.  But I always feel good (like I've accomplished something) after my weekly workout.  Now if I could just get myself back to going to the gym more than once a week.  

Hummers seem to be out of food (again) at one of their stations, so I guess I'd better fill it up (again.)

By the time I made it over to Patti's yesterday it was after 3:00.  She'd spent her first day of vacation cleaning her house, so she was ready for a break.  We watched Labor Day, which didn't have a whole lot of surprises, but was enjoyable nevertheless.

And Patti did show me her happy dance.

This morning I have written a whole bunch of bills and cards, done some more laundry, and mucked off one desk.  Now I'm just waiting for JoAnn's to open (at 10:00) so I can pick up some specialty batting and finish our watermelon placemats.

This morning I rescued a fledgling that had fallen into the pool.  At first I thought it was fine except for being (understandably!) freaked out. But upon closer inspection I discovered that it had a deep gash in its breast (down to the 'pink') that may mean a cat had gotten hold of it.  In any event I saved it from drowning, sat in the sun with it until it was all dried off, and then set it in the grass under one of the cottonwoods, where hopefully Mama/Papa would be able to deal with it. 

AUDUBON: What To Do If You Find A Baby Bird

The following is a quick guide to help you make the right decision when a baby bird is found.

Many species of birds such as robins, scrub jays, crows and owls leave the nest and spend as many as 2-5 days on the ground before they can fly. This is a normal and vital part of the young birds' development. While they are on the ground, the birds are cared for and protected by their parents and are taught vital life skills (finding food, identifying predators, flying).

Taking these birds into captivity denies them the opportunity to learn skills they will need to survive in the wild. Unless a bird is injured, it is essential to leave them outside to learn from their parents.

Fledglings are typically fully feathered, with a short tail and wings. They are able to walk, hop and flap, and they may attempt short flights, but are still being cared for by the parents.

If you find a fledgling, it should be left alone or at the most placed in a nearby shrub. Keep people and pets away so the parents will continue to care for it until it can fly.

When I just now checked it was still in the vicinity, but hopping/fluttering around like any other fledgling, so maybe it will be okay.

This front porch pic is for Tracy.  See the pig planter?  That's the one I mentioned yesterday which I found in the same store in Cottonwood where I scored your little tin.  

I've been doing some housecleaning and laundry, and shortly will head up to the library for drop off/pick up, then swing by Patti's.  She's done with school (as of yesterday) so I want to see her happy dance!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AX3_m2sMs8