Family Fabric

Mom visited and helped me get so many projects done. She transplanted cactus and moved rocks, painted and held the ladder for Jason (aka ladder talk,) prepared food and cleaned the kitchen- what a dream! And now she’s finished the quilt.

It’s a log cabin style quilt top from Nan Nan, my grandmother. I bought material for the border and started pinning and quilting it all together with the help of our friend Aunt Bev.

I am a perfectionist and an overdoer. I keep quilting and quilting- more! More! As I begin another layer of stitches, the fabric starts to feel more stiff than I want. So I stop, but now the stitching is not symmetrical… I consider quilting more on the other edge or all the edges but it’s already too much so I hesitate to continue.

I lie the quilt across the couch and step back to look at it. As my eye wanders, I see the little yellow square in the center of every single larger square …except THAT one, yes, that one- right there smack dab in the middle of the quilt. That yellow square is not in the right place! It should be kitty corner to it’s current spot. Did they notice that it was off and place the incorrect square, square in the middle on purpose? Is this a sign for me to stop being a perfectionist? Will the quilt still keep me warm if the stitching isn’t symmetrical? Does this run in the family?

When I trim the quilt sandwich (front, batting and back) before the edging is added, a couple of corners are too short in the back. Instead of making the border thinner, I scrap together one of the last shreds of fabric on hand to extend the shorter corner. Lesson learned- I’m scrappy, not perfect!

Now mom has come to visit and we are getting the sewing machine running again. Lord keep that bobbin in the case! I print out the necchi manual and show her how to sew on the bias, like Bev showed me. Then we iron and sew the edging onto the front of the quilt.

Finally, mom pins and hand stitches the edging to the back of the quilt as we sit on the couch and talk. Axel comes over from next door and helps her put the pins back in the stuffed tomato.

Short Walk

You know it’s been a long week when your wash your face with toothpaste and don’t even realize it until you’re about to brush your teeth with the face wash. Just throw the house out the window. My face was minty fresh- I’ll tell you that!

Fantastic Fungi

We just watched Fantastic Fungi on Netflix and it was awesome! Mushrooms have so many applications from breaking down oil and plastics, to bug control, to immune support and maybe the next antibiotic that slows a pandemic! Mushrooms can save the world.

The documentary explores studies on Turkey Tail for cancer, Lions Mane for dementia and of course the magical Psylocybin for depression and anxiety.

Once again, regenerative agriculture comes to mind where fungi and bacteria benefit the life of our soil, plants, animals and climate.

I’ve started using mycorrhizal fungi when we put a plant in the ground because it helps the roots reach out into the soil and bring back nutrients. It also holds water. And sequesters carbon. Good stuff!

Found a dried praying mantis at the front door yesterday; it was a blue moon. Does anybody know what that means? LOL

On Covid

I don’t often post about the pandemic; I prefer to focus on finding my joy. But when I do, you’ll find me reading Matt Shapiro’s blog Marginally Compelling. I got hooked and recently became a subscriber for access to all of his content. In a recent post, I appreciate the reminder that it’s NOT ABOUT MORALITY!!

I sense from his writing that he is an independent thinker. He’s not trying to control or scare anyone. Shapiro is driven by curiosity and critical thinking.

I encourage you to subscribe to his newsletter! Or read some of his public posts and get hooked like I did. He does a monthly update for each state by region; check out his post for July. Here is one that talks about how Friends Don’t Belong in Buckets.

I also found this video to be a helpful reminder of the importance of maintaining proper perspective; it’s about Covid vaccinations and base rate fallacy.

For the last year, I am using an RSS reader for news. This let’s me pick the sites I follow and avoids me watching a news PROGRAM. I reserve my TV time for important shows like:

Love Island UK/AUS/USA, Catfish, 90 Day Fiance, Before the 90 days, Happily Ever After, the Other Way, Darcey & Stacey, the Single Life, the Family Chantel, Married At First Sight USA/AUS, Sister Wives, sMothered, Extreme Sisters, Welcome to Plathville, My Big Fat Fabulous Life, Seeking Sister Wife, Return to Amish, So Freaking Cheap, You, me & my Ex, Total Divas, Total Bellas, Miz & Mrs, Below Deck Med/Sailing, All Real Housewives franchises, Shahs of Sunset, Summer House, Southern Charm, Don’t Be Tardy, Vanderpump Rules, Marrying Millions, Family Karma, Doubling Down with the Derricos, the Farmer wants a Wife, I love a Mama’s Boy, Unexpected, Lost Resort, Camp Getaway, Toddlers & Tiaras…

Lemon Leaf Tea

Since I learned to feed my lemon tree three times a year, it gives me fruit! Right now the fruit is still green and camouflaged in the leafy canopy. I checked in with my tree yesterday and noticed that some of the “branches” were not woody or thorny; they were suckers that need to be pruned. Without the suckers, more energy can flow to the fruit-bearing branches.

I cut and bundled the suckers in my hands and as I did, a soft hint neroli tickled my nose! The tree is not flowering yet, but looks AND smells like it’s getting ready.

As I enjoyed the sensory experience of these prickly branches, I remembered being in the kitchen of a client and his wife. We were sitting at the island and she was heating up dinner for him and the contractors who were working out back. She had beautiful citrus trees and grape vines covering her yard. As I admired them, she told me that both lemon and grape leaves make a nutritive tea. She served me a cup with honey.

I’m going to make lemon leaf tea!

It was quite the epiphany. I removed leaves from the stems, then washed and dried them. I weighed 2 ounces of leaf into a 1/4 gallon mason jar, poured boiling water to the brim and sealed with a lid for 4-12 hours. When I popped the seal and strained the tea it was an amazing almost neon yellow color! And the flavor was just as inspiring- a harmony of light, lemon and leafiness. Next time I’m going to crush the leaves a bit before brewing.

It’s hard to find any information about lemon leaf and it’s preparations or beneficial qualities. If you have any stories or recipes, I’d be happy to hear them.

Stop the drama; Start a new life

This book changed my perspective on every social interaction I’ve had since. I feel like I cannot unsee what it showed me! Every one can benefit from reading this e-book, “Stop Being a Victim! The Secret to Inner Happiness” by Sharon Stewart. It’s affordable, short and life-changing. I highly recommend!

I wish I could buy this in print. It is definitely worthy of the home library. Here are some excerpts that really resonated with me:

Yoga Space

Well, we rearranged the entire house this week and deep, DEEP cleaned the thing as we went!

It all started when I had to move the dining room table to make space to pin a quilt. But before I got to pinning, it turned into a yoga space. So then I had to find a new yoga spot with room for the trampoline. Then the sauna got shifted, and the couch too.

Elvis the cat was nervous with all the upheaval, but once it all settled, he approved of the changes. Can you tell that he’s the boss? Now we are happy campers with a yoga space, a basted quilt that’s ready for quilting and a quilt fort for Elvis!