I had recorded the national Geography Bee, and got around to watching that yesterday - as if I needed reminding about all the things I know nothing about.  The ten finalists, ages 10-14, answered questions about some places I'd never heard of.  It was exciting, though, when the Havasupai tribe was part of one question!

Alex, who is only going to home another week, looked into setting up a trip to Supai with some friends (he even asked me if I wanted to go with them) but doesn't look like that's happening.

After the exterminator left I made a trip over to visit Carol and bring her some things.  The plant should help brighten things up in her room.  She had planned to put it on the "balcony" outside her window, not knowing the window had a screen it.  And the playing cards I picked up at the Low Vision store have such large numbers that they made her laugh, saying even she could see those.  

She was quite disappointed, though, after that morning's appointment with the eye doctor; he said there was nothing he could do to her lenses to help improve her vision (dry macular degeneration.)  She had really been counting on stronger correction to help with her vision.  I know she really, really misses being able to read.  I would, too!

I did, however, rearrange her furniture like she wanted 

(if she waited for 'them' to do it she'd be waiting a long, long time.

Colleen brought over 3 of her grandchildren (Grace, 7; Anna, 4; and Harrison, who will turn 3 later this month) to swim yesterday afternoon. What fun!

Too bad you can't really see Grace's smile - she's missing her two front teeth.

Anna started out a little timid in the water, but soon got more comfortable.

Harrison was also unsure of the water, 

and spent much of his time here on the step.

He was also quite worried about Pokey, and at one point really cracked up Colleen and me when he was racing around the yard (not looking where he was going, which is apparently the norm for him) and came up behind Pokey.  Despite the fact that she was lumbering away from him, he still freaked out.

Colleen insisted the water wasn't cold.... though I remember her telling me that she likes cold water.  It was such a cool May here (our electric bill was 50% lower this May than last) I'll wait a little longer for the water to truly warm up.

 As they were piling into the van to leave, Mr. Peacock hopped up on Joy and Dick's fence, then walked across the street and sauntered into Tom's driveway.  The kids, of course, were enchanted.  (So were the two girls riding by on bikes.)  I'm so glad I was able to arrange <g> that for them.

Last night I started reading Kate Mulgrew's memoir Born With Teeth.  I'm enjoying it, though around 8:30 I got really tired and eventually put the book down and turned off my light.  So I was actually asleep when the phone rang.  It was Alex, telling me he was at the back door.  

I did mention irrigation is tonight, and wondered if he'd be around at 10:35 to let it go. ( Obviously <g> that's way past my bedtime.) Alex bartended Wednesday and Thursday nights, but has no idea what his plans for tonight are.  Guess I can always set my alarm....

Today is the birthday lunch with Carolyn and Jan.  Carolyn and I share our September 3 birthdays; I was born on her 10th birthday.  Unless one of us is out of town we lunch together.  Jan, who shares Lisa's September 2 birthday, is 'allowed' to join us.  But Carolyn is moving back to Kansas this month (to be closer to her son and granddaughter) so we're having one last birthday lunch together.

There was a larger than usual turn-out at Foothills yesterday, possibly because of the Mystery Quilt class starting in the afternoon.  While I am not participating in that (I already have way too many projects started...) I am looking forward to seeing how their quilts turn out.  

We also have been getting new members at practically every meeting (and several more possibles showed up yesterday) which is always nice.

  

  New member Irene brought in several things to share.  She received this pig fabric in an Ugly Exchange (though most of us thought it was pretty cute) and made a mini apron.

These pillowcases are for (grandsons?) Michael and Jason.

I don't remember the backstory on this, but do like the bright colors she used.

Another newer member made a couple of stack-and-whacks.  I still have yet to make one, but do have some wonderful peacock fabric set aside.  The main issue is that I like the 8 pattern better, but only have enough repeats for 6.  It's always something, right? 

8-piece pattern

6-piece pattern

Ruth showed off this UFO - 

which she started when she lived in Hawaii (MANY years ago!)

I have the same "appliequed" flowers that Louise used here for her four center blocks (Marty passed along the fabric to me before she died) but I have a whole different plan for what to do with mine.  Even have the fabrics bought.  Just don't hold your breath...! 

This is the bargello Jan made at the recent Busy Bees class.  

So bright and cheery!

Janie brought in a pile of pillowcases for the shelter, and agreed to make the pillowcases to go with my teddy bear quilt (also slated to head to the shelter once I quilt it.)  So I guess now I'd better find some backing fabric and get started on that!

After the meeting I popped over to Quilter's Bee looking for lizard fabric so I can make the backing for my scrap quilt, but Margaret didn't  have any.  She did, however, have other bright fabrics I brought home for other projects.

I picked up some books at the library, where I saw a young man wearing a Slipknot t-shirt.  I'd never heard of the band (no real surprise) until I heard that Alex will be on tour with them this Fall.

Later I dropped off the fabrics for the pillowcases at Janie's house.  She sure has some pretty quilts, but not nearly enough room to display them all.  As she was pulling them out of the closet and from boxes under the bed she was thinking about which ones to donate to a good cause.

It was time for more gas (I never top off the tank once the nozzle automatically turns off, so was surprised when the car took exactly $31) and a stop at the grocery store.  Given the time (almost 5:00) I should not have been surprised by the lines.  What does surprise me is that they only had one regular lane open - and I avoid the self-serve ones because the scanner almost always has issues with the items I'm buying.  If stores aren't going to use their lanes during the busy before-dinner rush, when are they going to?

Yesterday's mail brought no checks (Alex and I are both waiting on the one from the second half of the All Time Low tour) but lots of hefty bills. Lately it's been mostly junk (which goes right into recycling) and I 'complained' about that. So look what happened!

Yesterday the quilt store in Goodyear did not have any fabric I could use for my backing, and the woman "helping" me was absolutely useless; she had NO clue what Southwest fabric, or even bright child fabrics, are.  It was beyond incredible.

On the plus side, the chiropractor was able undo the 'damage' done since I had to relocate Pokey out of the garage 3 times in 2 days.  And after he heard the reason why I was having to manhandle her, he had a pretty good idea how to correct the problem with that door. So when Alex came home yesterday afternoon and I told him about it, he was able to fix the door in about 5 minutes.  Only time will tell if it can hold up to Pokey's strength, but it's definitely a major improvement over the way it was.

I did stop in at The Other Quilt Store on my way home yesterday afternoon (they opened back up Tuesday after last week's flooding) to see how things are.  While many bolts of fabric were ruined, luckily no quilts were damaged!  

I'd hoped Sherri might have some fabric I could use for my backing, 

but no such luck.  Guess I'll be looking on-line later.

This morning I woke up to a wet world, although I never did hear any rain last night.  Now I'm off to Foothills, but maybe this afternoon I can get a little weeding done.

I found a 'secret' door on the back of the printer, so now I (think) I have all of the paper jam removed.  Which means I should be able to print again, right?  Except that now I can't get the power to the printer to come back on.  There are two cords connected (and no dangling cords looking for a home) so I have no idea now what the current issue is.

Pokey got back into the garage this morning; that latch definitely needs attention.  Getting her to return to the step, and then "convincing" her she needs to climb up it, are no easy feats.  Just ask my back!

I did not get the quilt backing sewn yesterday because the one yard of lizard fabric I bought at the quilt show in Prescott turns out to be not nearly enough.  Sigh.  

So I'll just have to play with something else until I can buy more lizards.

But not until later, because I have a routine check up with the oncologist this morning, and then another tune-up with the chiropractor this afternoon.

But maybe the quilt store near the chiropractor will have the fabric I need?  

At least it's a good excuse to stop in there!

This afternoon Alex and I went across the street so he could meet baby Tommy, and he was really surprised at how Julianna had grown.  Poor Tommy has a really bad case of eczema, but is sure a sweetie!

Then it was out to dinner.  I let Alex choose, so we ended up at Carrabba's.  (If I'd have chosen, we'd still have ended up there!)

Neither of us could finish our dinner, which means yummy leftovers for tomorrow.  Then I ordered dessert (the Chocolate Dream, what else?) but we barely made a dent in that.  In fact I was so full I actually had to force myself to take a few bites...

My printer is out of commission at the moment due to a paper jam.  I was able to get the larger pieces out, but there are some small bits that are really stuck down in there.  

Then my e-mail stopped working, saying "it's not a valid account".  After trying to resolve the issue myself (and guess how well that worked...)  I called COX.  Darcy was very helpful - and assured me it was an easy fix.  Of course I knew better (computers really don't like me, Marilyn) and after half an hour she decided she needed to bump me up to the next level of tech help.  So I got to sit on hold (again) and wait for another technician.  At least my e-mail is working again... for the moment, anyway!

I did get several errands run this morning, one of which was a stop at JoAnn's for sock yarn and circular needles.  Perri is going to teach me how to make socks next week.  Isn't this pretty yarn?

Now it's time to go make a quilt backing.  

I worked in the yard yesterday morning, hoping to beat the heat (and 40% humidity!) After raking up the droppings from the orchid tree (the seeds from its pods really do a job clogging up Creepy) and filling up one of the big green cans I was happy to come inside and do more mopping and vacuuming.  The house keeps looking better and better.  And with just me here for time being it should be easier to keep the floors clean.

Alex came over last evening when he got back from the 4-day party in Parker.  I was surprised (but glad) that they had good weather and missed all the rain we got here Friday.  He showed me some of the go-pro footage of Wednesday's trip to Fossil Creek. 

 Looks like a fun place, though the 3-hour hike each way 

is not at all appealing, especially in this heat.

I have a number of errands to run this morning, and this afternoon I plan <g> to make up the backing for my scrap lizard quilt.