Sunday I didn't make it through the full session at the gym, but as I was "apologizing" Deb assured me it's not a competition, and reminded me that at least I do show up each week.  So far we have not been able to get any of the buff men to join us (maybe they're worried a group of old women will show them up) but we keep trying. I did mention that I would invited Alex.  

After a month's moratorium on calf raises (even without any weight they kept bothering my bad foot) I did some on Sunday since my foot has been doing quite well the past week or two.  Now here it is Tuesday and (hope not to jinx things) I can say that that my foot still feels fine! 

After the gym I headed to the store to buy some salmon and fresh veggies for dinner, but just as I was getting ready to check out Patti texted to invite us over to watch the SuperBowl.  It's always more fun watching with others; just ask Andy and Ed -  few years ago they got to watch with a LOT of "others"!

However with all the football food Patti  put out I can't feel quite as righteous about what I ate.  Tyga got to go with us, and immediately made himself at home, trotting around to explore all the rooms in the house.  Todd from next door also came over and brought Salvadore (and grilled steak to share.)  Todd and Corey are both firefighters who work 24-hour shifts, so Patti dog sits on a regular basis and her house is a second home for Salvadore.  He was obviously hoping to 'meet' Tyga, but Tyga was not at all interested in him and artfully managed to evade and ignore him.  Poor Sal!  

It turned out to be quite a game (XI turned out to be the first OT Super Bowl in history) though after the first half it sure looked like a runaway for the Falcons.  There were some memorable commercials, and we all roared during the Melissa MaCarthy one (Save the Whales, Save the Trees, Save the Ice Cap, Save the Rhinos, which turned out to be for an Eco Car) but many of the ads did not seem worth the $5.5 million price tag.

Alex called during the game to ask me to open the guest house and put his car keys (which we have when he's gone) back there for him.  He was on his way home and going to surprise Aja at work (we all thought he was staying in Vegas to watch the game and would drive home on Monday) but of course we weren't at home.  Good thing I've got a key stashed in the garage.  It's well hidden, but does come in handy just for situations like that.

I slept incredibly well Sunday night, not even waking up for a bathroom run - then was beyond surprised when I saw how late it was when I woke up...8:00! And that was without taking any sleep aid the night before. Sure can't figure these things out!  Did have a couple of dreams that I can still remember, though.

Monday morning, before I headed off to lunch with Perri, I finished the placemat top, and in the aftenoon I quilted it.  It took many hours of cutting, pinning, sewing, and of course it still needs the binding, but the end is in sight and I'm pleased with it. Not quite as pleased with Tom, who (when I asked him to take a look at it) turned it over to check out the back and announced that he liked that side better.  Admittedly the back does have a great fabric on it, but still!

Perri and I had a wonderful time at Wildflower yesterday catching up on stuff while pigging out on their great food.  She looks terrific, and she's feeling reasonably well considering the chemo.  Of course some days in the cycle wipe her out more than others.  The best news is that it seems to be working because she found out at the doctor's that morning that her numbers are responding well.  Of course they'll know more after the year is up, but so far, so good!  

I loved the batik purse she brought, which of course she made.  It's the perfect size and has lots of pockets inside and out so I asked which pattern it is.  When I found out she's planning to make another one for someone I "volunteered" to come over and make one of my own along with her... "just in case" <LOL> I run into any snags and need help! 

I invited Alex and Aja for join us for dinner last night : grilled salmon, steamed broccoli, rice, Caesar salad, melon & berries, and croissants.  Pretty sure Alex hasn't eaten for a month or two.... he cleaned his plate, then Aja's (she has a small appetite), then had what were effect thirds... and then fourths!  Not a leftover in sight....

Afterward the four of us sat around, and while Aja tried to figure out the eyesight-vs-vision photo (Alex wanted me to show it to her) he picked up what turned out to be a puzzle eraser I had gotten in one of my goodie bags at quilting.  As he was rolling it around in his hand it fell apart, and after massive failure at putting it back together we found a YouTube video that showed how to do it.  After he eventually got it back together I asked how it had fallen apart since the final piece gets jammed through an opening, and he started to roll it around in his hand to show me, and guess what happened!  Maybe you heard us all cracking up?

I've been watching a lot of TCM lately.  They've been showing films that garnered Oscar nominations, and with one wonderful film following another I've found it almost addictive.  The other day I finally watched Camille, and found myself waiting the entire movie to hear one of Dad's favorite lines, "courage, Camille". While Greta Garbo's character was named Margueritte, I was disappointed there was not even a "courage, Margueritte" line.  Guess I still need to read the book...

Every time I answered the house phone yesterday it was a robo call, so the last time it rang I ignored it.  Of course that turned out to be a real call, from Cheri, and once the recording started I grabbed the phone.  She needs some help with a backing for her canning jar quilt, so the plan is for her to come over after I get home from the gym today.  

Yesterday was cloudy - and chilly, despite a forecast high of 70 which I'm pretty sure we never reached.  The sky this morning looks like more of the same.  Strange!

I had a wonderful LONG soak in the hot tub this morning, and the jets helped to work out some of kinks in my back and neck.  Then I did some sewing; I had just enough of the two fabrics I pulled from my scraps (one turquoise, one purple) to make twelve 4-patches. While I still have to do some cutting and resewing (to "disappear" them) I've made a good start on my retreat placemat.

Before I could get to the cutting Jeannie texted me to see if I wanted to join her when she walked down to visit our new neighbors, Tracy and Mike, who will be closing on the 'adobe' house in about ten days and were meeting up with work people today.  (Tracy is one of her quilting clients.)  When we got there a guy was measuring for blinds, then the fence guy arrived, and when I left they were still waiting on the painting guy.  The house is beautiful, though the kitchens and bathrooms are only roughed in and need to be done - but Tracy and Mike are working hard, hoping to hit the ground running as soon as the papers are signed and then move in about 90 days from now!

Lucy and Molly, big boxers, really wanted to play with Latina, their chihuahua.  But she was much happier up in Tracy's arms even though the girls really just wanted to frolic. Tracy and Latina did walk back here with me, and Latina was thrilled to run around the yard with Tyga who was more her size.

Tom did a LOT of raking and bagging today, though there should still be plenty left when Alex gets home (Monday?)  He also fixed the doorknob over at the guest house, which was the problem the other night when I thought Aja had accidentally locked it.  Today I had to struggle with it for several minutes when I went over, and so had "suggested" to Tom that he try to do something before we couldn't get in at all.  

Very tired, and did doze a little this afternoon.  Hope to get a good night's sleep tonight, though my headache has made a reappearance this afternoon.

Yesterday started out great.  First I had a productive day at the gym, and before I showered I swept the porch and driveway (yes, again) and watered all the plants out there.  (Tyga, however, did not get to come out and help this time because I worried he might wander off.)  

Then it was off to Park Meadows where I tutored three boys in Diane's class, working on a writing assignment.  All did a wonderful job, listening and responding well.  It was especially rewarding for me when one asked if I could come help every day (nope), and another said he hoped he would get to work with me again next Friday.  Diane, of course, is always appreciative.

When I got back Tom was fixing Creepy (which hasn't been happy this past week) and vacuuming the leaves from the bottom of the pool.  He had gotten started on some of the mowing earlier (all that rain caused intensive growth) until a major belt in the riding mower snapped and he had to call a repair place to come pick it up.  I had actually thought about mowing earlier in the week, but with Tom and all his visitors out in the shop didn't think he'd appreciate all the noise and dust.  (And it's a good thing I didn't, because if the belt had broken while I was mowing it probably would have been my fault!)

By late afternoon I had developed a crick in my neck. That caused a headache which made one eye weep, and the pain soon radiated to the jaw and ear on that side.  By early evening I was nauseated, and crawled into bed, bucket at the ready, trying to get comfortable.  At one point I was finally able to crack my neck, which gave me a little relief, and I did eventually fall asleep.  

But now I have been up since before 3:00, so it's a good thing there's nothing on my agenda today!  While my headache isn't completely gone, it's only a headache - without the jaw and ear pain or the nausea!

I whipped up the spool block for the drawing at the upcoming retreat, and pretty pleased at how it turned out.  One lucky lady will go home with all the blocks...

Jay called during dinner last night, but the connection was so bad I couldn't understand his excuse for not appearing on Tuesday, or calling before Thursday night.  But he is okay, which is the good news, and did apologize for not calling sooner.

Aja dropped off Tyga before heading to work last night.  She's going to be working LONG hours through the weekend and didn't want him to be alone (though he does seem to be recovering nicely.)  However she didn't want to not see him all weekend, so the plan was for her to crash at the guest house when she gets home in the wee hours of the morning see him then.  To that end I took him over around 10:00 before I headed to bed... but even though I had no trouble unlocking the deadbolt, the doorknob (for which we have NO KEY!) was locked.  So I had to bring Tyga back over here, and text Aja Plan B: that I would leave the door unlocked and she could sleep in Lisa's bed.

When I got up this morning Tyga was MIA, Aja was not asleep over here, and once I turned on my phone and got her text (she got home about 3:30) it seemed that she had no trouble getting in over there.  

Now I'm getting ready to head to the gym.  According to the latest numbers on my scale I really need it!

Jay never appeared Tuesday evening (we waited to eat until almost 9:00) or on Wednesday.  I'm a little concerned about what happened to him, but since I have no phone number for him (he called on the house phone) there's no way to check up on him.  Maybe he simply lost my card?

Barb Jansen's presentation at Busy Bees yesterday was wonderful. She will be giving a class at BB some point later in the year, and I hope I'm not out of town then.  Patti and I, art quilt neophytes, took a class from her YEARS ago when Quiltz was at its old location, but 3 hours was not nearly long enough for us.  Though we had lugged our machines, fabrics, thread, etc.as instructed, we never did get to the actual construction of our projects.  Of course now that I've made a couple (of very easy, basic ones) on my own I feel much more confident.  Barb's beginner class will give us the option of making one of these designs:

Her work is gorgeous, and here are some of shared yesterday
while pointing out various techniques of design and color.

While pictures never do a quilt (or any artwork for that matter) justice, these close-ups may help.

This quilt was my personal favorite yesterday.  Be sure to notice her sashing fabric; when she couldn't find what she wanted she decided to put her own pictograph/petroglyph designs onto the fabric!

The scenes are from all around Arizona, which she documented on the back.

Here are shots I took of the individual blocks:

Now it's Quiz Time!

How many of you noticed that there were 9 blocks in the quilt, but only 8 individual shots?  Not sure how I missed one...

After the salad luncheon (terrific spread, ladies!) a library run on my way home netted me 3 books waiting for pick up.  So I'm set for the next few days at least.

All these early mornings lately, waking before 4:00, have taken their toll.  I was really tired yesterday afternoon and tried to doze on the couch for a little while watching a movie , but I didn't have much luck.  So in order to make it through book club last night I had a cup of coffee in the late afternoon before "cooking": my red/white/blue dish to share consisted of a platter of red grapes, white jicama, and blueberries.  Of course it was nothing compared to the goodies Myra whipped up.  She always brings 3 spectacular desserts... even though she can't eat any of them, and doesn't even taste them during 'production'!  Naturally she always worries about how good they are, but I'm here to tell you that not only were they a delight to look at (she gets so creative) but there were practically orgasmic oohs and aahs when the ladies tasted them last night.

We did eventually get around to discussing the book, The Traitor's Wife, and all agreed that Peggy Arnold was quite a manipulative piece of work!  Most of us really enjoyed the book (I basically read it in one day) though a couple of ladies did wish there was more about Benedict Arnold himself.

Afterward one of the women left without her phone, and as Myra and I were getting ready to drive off she was pulling up at Cheri's house to collect it.  We had just made it onto I-17 to head home when Cheri called to see if we'd picked up Nancy's phone (no) because they couldn't find it at the house. That had to be big stress because Nancy, areal estate agent, uses it for work and is in the middle of a closing!

A few minutes later Cheri called back to ask if we'd look in Myra's notebook (that holds the wonderful magnetic name tags) which sounded strange to me.  But I reached into the bag in the back seat and started flipping through the pages - and sure enough, there was the phone.  (Since Myra would not be likely to look inside that notebook until the next meeting 2 months, Nancy would have been SOL!) So I called Cheri back, we got off at the next exit, turned around and headed back north, and then rendezvous-ed with a VERY relieved Nancy at the Circle K off of the Daisy Mountain exit.

Tom had just walked in the door from his trip to Tucson as Myra dropped me off.  Sadly his connection yesterday did not work out as hoped (they wanted tonnage of raw rock, not the finished cabs) but maybe Tom will have better luck with Bruce, the jeweler driving up from Tucson today.

And now I'm looking forward to my nothing-on-the-agenda Thursday!